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VIRUS WATCH
28 military
RBI hacks rate by 75 bps, steepest in a Less is good! Lowest 3
+ve cases after Mar 19
hosps to handle
Covid-19 cases
Twenty-eight military hospi-
tals have been shortlisted to
decade; you can defer EMIs by 3 mths COVID POSITIVE CASES
RECORDED DAILY IN GUJARAT
Total Liquidity At 2%, India to 11
manage Covid-19 cases, while
A Deep Cut ...And Release Of
another five have begun the
testing procedure. MP on Now Amounts In Interest Rates... 3.7 Lakh Crore... post fastest eco TOTAL
CASES
Friday took over two private
To 3.2% Of GDP Repo Rate growth: EIU
hospitals by invoking a
British-era law, becoming the Oct 4, 2019 5.15% -0.75% Repo cuts 1 lakh cr 47 6 6

T
he Indian economy
third state after Rajasthan [email protected] March 27, 2020 4.4% would grow by 2.1% in
and Chhattisgarh where
1% CRR cut 1.37 lakh cr 2020-21, while all major
5 5 5
private health centres have Mumbai: The Reserve Bank
Reverse Repo Rate Marginal G20 economies would 4
been taken over. of India on Friday cut inter- Oct 4, 2019 4.9%
-0.9% standing facility 1.37 lakh cr shrink, the Economist Intel-
2
3
est rates by 75 basis points March 27, 2020 4.0% ligence Unit (EIU) said on
NEET UG put off, JEE (M) (bps)—the sharpest in over a Repo rate is interest rate at which banks borrow from RBI Total 3.74 lakh cr Friday even as global rat- March 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
next: he National Eligibility decade. It also made available and reverse repo is rate at which RBI borrows from banks ings agency Moody’s
cum Entrance Test-Under Rs 3.74 lakh crore of addition- slashed India’s growth fore- each. The state has recorded
Graduate (NEET UG) 2020 al liquidity to banks and al- ...Is Aimed At Delivering Across-The-Board Relief cast to 2.5% for this year State Prevents three deaths – one each from
scheduled for May 3 has been
postponed to the last week of
lowed almost all borrowers to
defer loan repayments by Borrowers short All types
RBI circular But if you are not from the earlier 5.3% due to
the impact of the Covid-19
Migrant Workers Surat, Ahmedabad and Bhav-
nagar.
covers credit short of funds,
May. Admit cards will be
issued after assessing the
three months. of funds can of loans— card dues too keep repaying pandemic. From Travel, Jayanti Ravi, principal se-
The measures are aimed pause repayment home, auto, on schedule. Meanwhile, IMF chief cretary (health & family welfa-
situation post April 15, the at buying time for the govern- of loans for 3 months, personal, MFI, project— Moratorium defers, Kristalina Georgieva said, Opens Helpline re), said Rajkot Medical Colle-
National Testing Agency said. ment to deal with the corona- won’t be tagged defaulter eligible for moratorium “It is clear we have entered a TIMES NEWS NETWORK ge has got permission for Co-
doesn’t extinguish, EMIs
The JEE (Main) will also be recession that will be worse vid testing. “Gujarat has now
rescheduled as the lockdown FULL COVERAGE Objective is to ensure businesses remain For the first time, RBI is funding purchase than in 2009.” Ahmedabad/Rajkot: Eight six government facilities for
will continue till April 15. P 2-4, 5, 6-8, 9, 11 & 12 afloat, banks don’t pile up NPAs and of private bonds by banks and has eased The EIU said the global days after Gujarat tested its Covid testing. It would not only
economic activity continues prudential norms to smoothen lending economy would shrink by first two positive cases on help us with quicker analysis
BS-IV vehicles deadline virus crisis by preventing 2.2% while India, China and March 19, the state recorded its but also distribute load if there
eased: In a relief to automo- stressed borrowers from be- RBI has taken giant steps to We are living through an Indonesia would record ex- lowest daily positive of three is a sudden spike in samples,”
bile dealers, the Supreme ing ejected from the banking safeguard our economy... extraordinary situation. A war effort pansions. If the EIU fore- cases on Friday. All three Co- Ravi said.
Court on Friday allowed the system and avoiding bond Measures will improve liquidity, is being mounted to combat the cast comes true, India will vid-19 patients are from Rajkot, Meanwhile, Gujarat on Fri-
sale of BS-IV-compliant markets going into a freeze reduce cost of funds, help the virus involving conventional and emerge as the fastest grow- taking the total tally to 47. day reiterated it would not al-
vehicles beyond the March 31 due to the sudden cessation middle-class and businesses non-conventional measures ing major economy in the Top health officials in Raj- low mass exodus of migrant
deadline and till 10 days after caused by the lockdown. —PM Narendra Modi —RBI guv Shaktikanta Das world even at the sharply re- kot said the three were in qua- workers to other states any mo-
the lockdown is lifted. The Advancing the monetary duced rate, and along with rantine facility of the district re. A helpline — 1077 — was
court, however, made it clear policy committee meeting by structive force of the corona- above all, preserve financial ty made available amounts to China and Indonesia will re- administration and are close launched to address issues fa-
that dealers will be allowed to a week, RBI governor Shakti- virus. It is intended to miti- stability.” 3.2% of the country’s GDP. cord expansion against the contacts of a Dubai-returned ced by migrant labourers after
sell only 10% of their existing kanta Das said, “This deci- gate the negative effects of Das said that along with backdrop of the devastation man who had tested positive they have been requested to
BS-IV stocks and those sion was warranted by the de- the virus, revive growth, and earlier measures, the liquidi- Continued on P 11 caused by coronavirus. two days ago. stay put wherever they are, sa-
vehicles won’t be sold in His two friends — aged 37 id Ashwani Kumar, secretary
Delhi. and 39 — tested positive on Fri- to the CM.

Give shelter to stranded migrants, 15L who flew day along with the 33-year-old Thousands of migrant la-
wife of one of the friends. All bourers had started marching
back to India three are under treatment in a
private hospital.
on foot from major cities in a
bid to reach their homes in MP,

make them stay put: Centre to states Jan 18-Mar 23 Ahmedabad has the hig- UP, Maharashtra and Rajast-
hest 15 positive cases followed han since the past few days,
under scanner by Vadodara and Rajkot with
eight cases each. Surat and
which some termed was defea-
ting the purpose of the 21-day
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [email protected] Gandhinagar have seven cases lockdown.
each while Kutch and Bhavna-
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: New Delhi: With reports of New Delhi: Some 15 lakh pe- gar have recorded one case Continued on P 4
India’s first images of SARSCoV2 thousands of migrant labour- ople who returned to India
under a microscope are in — it’s ers on the highways and strand- between January 18 and
round like other coronaviruses,
about 70 to80 nanometre (a
human hair is about 80,000
ed at various places, the Centre
has sent an urgent advisory to
states asking them to provide
food and shelter to unorganised
March 23, when the comple-
te ban on international arri-
vals kicked in, are at the
centre of an intense scruti-
Fresh cases zoom
nanometre) and has a cobbled
surface structure sector workers to ensure they
stay where they are and do not
take to the roads during the on-
ny to ensure they do not be-
come Covid-19 transmitters
with the cabinet secretary
to new high of 120
No OTC sale of anti- going 21-day national lockdown. writing to states and asking DurgeshNandan.Jha
malaria drug: In a bid to The home ministry has them to track individuals @timesgroup.com 2 MORE DEATHS,
stop the misuse of anti-
malarial drug hydroxychloro-
stressed that the lockdown is in- who have not been accoun- New Delhi:Led by a rush of ca- TOLL NOW 22
tended to ensure people stay ted for in the screening-qua- ses in Kerala, the daily count of
Cases
quine, the government has where they are as mass move- Police try to regulate a surging crowd of migrant workers, who are returning to their native places after the rantine surveillance pro- new Covid-19 infections in the State /
on
Total
Deaths
notified it under Schedule-H1, UT Cases
ment from cities to the hinter- national capital was put under lockdown, at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border on Friday cess. country zoomed past 100 for the Friday
restricting its sale only based land will defeat the purpose of Many of these people are first time on Friday. As many as Kerala 39 176
on prescription and making it
mandatory for chemists to
maintain records. The move
comes in the wake of reports
the exercise intended to ensure
social distancing and isolation
to break the chain of Covid-19
transmission and prevent a
Citizens and NGOs reach out to part of home or institutio-
nal quarantine program-
mes launched by the go-
vernment for foreign travel-
120 fresh cases were reported
from states, 39 from Kerala alo-
ne, taking the total number to
850 so far. The previous highest
Mah
K’taka
17
9
147
64
5
3

of panic buying of the

drug.The advisory said health
workers under the prophylax-
wider, potentially much more
dangerous, community spread
that might overwhelm the
the needy with food and cash lers but officials said that
there were “some gaps” and
states have been asked to
single-day count of cases, as
per confirmed reports received
by TOI from states, was 99 on
T’gana
UP
Raj
11
7
7
59
50
50 2
is must self-monitor their healthcare system. [email protected] food, utility packets, even pro- end. track missing links as inter- Monday (March 23). Guj 3 47 3
health and report to the The Centre has said that dai- viding cash, to aid them du- “We knew that the situa- national travel has been the Kerala’s Kasaragod hurt-
authorities in case they Delhi 1 40 1
ly wagers be provided support New Delhi: From Delhi to ring the lockdown. tion would only get worse as key link to Covid-19 cases. led towards a health crisis as 34
become symptomatic. and sustenance as well as an ou- Bengaluru, Mumbai to Hyde- In Hyderabad, lawyer-tur- the lockdown is not going to Some of these individuals of the new cases were reported Rest 26 217 8
treach aimed at reassuring rabad, starvation is as much a ned-businessman Shaaz Meh- end anytime soon. So we hur- would have completed 14 da- from the district, which has Total 120 850 22
10-month-old baby tests them that the lockdown will not threat as Covid-19 for daily mood has raised funds to pro- riedly put out a poster on our ys after arrival and are now emerged as one of the top coro-
+ve: A10-month-old baby boy mean lack of food and shelter wagers, many of them mig- vide ration for 5,000 such fa- social media handles. The re- safe. There are others who navirus hotspots in the count- ses and said 67 patients have re-
with no travel history abroad and will not last beyond a stipu- rants. Concerned over their milies. The 31-year-old, who sponse has been overwhel- can be potential spreaders ry. Kerala also became the first covered. Delhi reported one
has tested positive for Co- lated time. plight, a group of activists, runs a restaurant chain, has ming,” he told TOI. and need scrutiny. state to report Covid-19 cases fresh case, taking the total to 40.
vid-19 in Karnataka’s Dakshi- NGOs and citizens are raising decided to help out after a Fa- from each district. The health
na Kannada district.The baby, Continued on P 7 funds and distributing cooked cebook exchange with a fri- Continued on P 8 Continued on P 6 ministry has confirmed 808 ca- Continued on P 7
who had accompanied his
parents to Kerala, seems to
be the youngest Covid-19
patient in the country.

MARKET WATCH
Cops enforce lockdown with blows & insults ‘Non-essential’ tag that an investigation has been
Brahmakumaris
chief Dadi Janki
SENSEX
BSE: 29,815.59 ▼ 131.18
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
An inquiry was ordered into
the death of a 49-year-old am-
stalls 60% of trucks initiated. The case came to
light when the son of the am-
bulance driver, who was ac-
passes away
Jaipur: Rajyogini Dadi Jan-
▼ 18.80
NSE: 8,660.25

WEATHER
bulance driver on Friday after
he was allegedly hit by police
companying him when the in-
cident occurred, said they we- Ripple Effect On ki, the chief of Brahmaku-
maris Sanst-

Max
in Pune on suspicion that he
was ferrying passengers ille-
re stopped at a toll naka and
cops assaulted his father. He Supply Chain han, the
world's lar-
32.0°
................................... gally in his vehicle during the claimed that they were allowed TIMES NEWS NETWORK gest spiritual
Min all-India lockdown. to proceed only after making a organisation
22.0°

T
Ahmedabad Forecast: Mainly clear
Pimpri Chinchwad’s addi- payment of Rs 3,000 to the poli- he domino effect of the run by wo-
sky. Maximum temp will be around 35°C tional commissioner of police cemen. The video of the crying three-day-old lock- men, passed
Ramnath Pokale confirmed THE LONG JOURNEY man has now gone viral. down continued to tell A man walks past parked supply away at the age of 104 after
Times Classifieds P 6 trucks at a yard on the outskirts
on the goods supply chain prolonged illness.
across states on Friday, with of Kolkata on Friday She breathed her last at 2

On Kodinar beach, shrines bind interfaith worshippers

government intervention am on Friday at a hospital in
failing to resolve operatio- Drug sellers face Mount Abu. She was suffe-
nal complexities like 60% of disruption in ring from respiratory and sto-
the 1.2 crore trucks stuck on mach-related problems for
Hindus Visit Dargah, Sodav, took it upon herself to en- highways and cities being medical supplies the last two months, an offici-
sure Jannasha is fed. The young held up because they are la- al statement said. Her last ri-
Muslims Temple;
Claim Worship
girl brought him hot meals com-
prising khichadi, bajra rotlas
den with "non-essential"
FMCG cargo.
D rug wholesalers,
distributors and retailers
are facing major disruptions
tes will be performed on Fri-
day at a ground located in
and milk daily. Jannasha was The All India Motor Shanti Van campus of Bra-
Incomplete Otherwise overwhelmed by Sodav’s love Transport Congress
in supplies, especially to
remote areas and states hamkumaris headquarters.
Dilip Jiruka and dedication and once when (AIMTC) said these trucks which do not have PM Narendra Modi ex-
she was serving him food, said: have to be allowed to reach manufacturing units. Drug pressed grief over her demi-
Rajkot: While the Arabian Sea "I take you as my little sister.” their destinations quickly manufacturers and retailers se.
is a mute spectator to the many With the pronouncement of and unload the cargo before said while warehouses have “Rajyogini Dadi Janki Ji,
upheavals that have touched its his brotherly ties, Sodav cemen- they can be deployed to car- stocks for around 15 days, Chief of the Brahma Kuma-
The temple dedicated to Sodav Mata (L) and the dargah of Muslim saint Jannasha Pir
shores across the centuries, it ted their bond by tying a rakhi ry essential items and reple- panic buying may lead to ris, served society with dili-
also stands a testimony to love visit both the shrines together – 'Chundadi' (silken stole) to So- Karan Mali, a believer in fa- on Jannasha’s wrist on the nish stocks in markets that shortage of essential and gence. She toiled to bring a po-
that blossom unhindered on its a firm belief that has ruled he- dav Mata, while Hindus offer ith, claims, “I have been visiting Rakshabandhan day. The love are being allowed to open commonly used medicines if sitive difference in the lives of
beach in Kodinar – of humanity arts down the ages. 'churma' laddus at the dargah. both the dargah and temple for of this brother and his little sis- but don't have much to sell. hurdles in the supply chain others,” he tweeted. The PM
and interfaith. Narrating the history of this “Hence, we receive more many years now. These places ter even spread to the villages "Our trucks usually car- continue. said her efforts towards empo-
The beach town in Gir-Som- peculiar bond, manager of So- Hindu devotees at the dargah are so intrinsically interwoven around it and soon they became ry vegetables and fruits wering women were note-
nath district has a temple dedi- dav Mata Temple Trust, Kala than probably Muslims. At a ti- that the temple lives in the he- popular as interfaith icons of from villages to the cities been stopped," AIMTC pre- worthy. "My thoughts are
cated to Sodav Mata and a dar- Ram said that ever since the two me when communal mistrust arts of Muslims and the dargah amity and kinship. After they and, on the return journey, sident Kultaran Singh At- with her countless followers
gah of a Muslim saint, Jannas- shrines were built, there has be- reigns supreme, this place acts in the hearts of the Hindus.” both left died, Janansha’s follo- they mostly carry packaged wal said. in this sad hour. Om Shanti,"
ha Pir – two shrines that serve en a belief that in order to fulfil as a soothing balm to the woun- Lore has it that a long time wers along with the Ahir com- goods of FMCG companies. Empty trucks not being he wrote. Rajyogini Dadi Jan-
as the bedrock of love and kins- religious vows after their wis- ded hearts, scarred by commu- ago, Muslim Pir named Jannas- munity built a dargah on the We are operating at reduced allowed to ply on some roads ki was born on January 1, 1916
hip between a Muslim brother hes come true, the Muslims per- nal hatred,” says Gulam Husse- ha started living by the Arabian Pir’s tomb, and a temple by its capacity because trucks is adding to the problem. in Hyderabad city located in
and his Hindu sister. Worship form puja at the temple offering in Bapu, the caretaker of the Sea. Taking pity on the poor side for his sister, Sodav, to keep carrying FMCG cargo dee- Sindh province now in Pakis-
here is incomplete if you do not 'Shreefal' (or coconut) and dargah. mendicant, a young Ahir girl, their memories alive. med as non-essentials have Continued on P 7 tan. PTI
 TIMES CITY
Kutch Ahmedabad Gandhinagar

Coronage 1 15 | 1
G U J A R A T
POSITIVE DEATHS
THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD, SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 CASES
COVID
HOSPITALS AHMEDABAD VADODARA SURAT RAJKOT
18,453 47 3
Tested on Friday: 88

240 50 40 40
Negative: 33
PERSONS WALKING TO Positive: 3
ICU BED NATIVE PLACES SENT TO Result pending: 51

54 STATE-RUN LODGING
AHMEDABAD
GENERAL BEDS 960 200 140 160 FACILITIES
Rajkot

8
Bhavnagar Surat

1| 1 7 |1
Vadodara

LOCKDOWN
DOUBTS App to keep track of quarantined persons
WRITE 20K-Plus In NEW COVID HOSPITALS BEING READIED
CM chairs core Police drones to
TO US Isolation In panel meeting
To make your life easy during the coronavirus
lockdown. TOI invites its readers across Gujarat to
The State CM Vijay Rupani chaired a
meeting of the core committee
keep watch on you
TIMES NEWS NETWORK to tackle coronavirus, in which Ashish.Chauhan
send their queries at [email protected] four key decisions were taken. @timesgroup.com Lockdown to get
We will seek answers from Gujarat Police and other Ahmedabad/Gandhina-
authorities. Please keep your questions brief. gar: A smartphone applica- ➤ The state government Ahmedabad: Many of us ha- stricter
decided to arrange for food
Keep track of our edition on https://epaper.timesgroup.com tion, developed initially by ve got a WhatsApp message Ahmedabad:The police is
and stay of Gujarati passengers
the Surat Municipal Corpo- that says people feel like they going to be stricter from
stranded in other states in co-
ration (SMC) to track per- are in Big Boss house during Saturday and will impound
An our plant, monomers and This practice is being operation with Gujarati Samaj
sons under quarantine, this period of lockdown anno- vehicles of people moving
flammable liquids have been irresponsible and should be and district authorities in
will be used across Gujarat unced by the government to about on the roads. DGP
stored for the manufacture of prohibited right away for RAJKOT respective states.
from Saturday. The app was fight coronavirus. Sola police Shivanand Jha said during the
finished goods. Continuous the safety of themselves launched in four other ma- ➤ Respective district of the city have made it a bit past 24 hours 287 vehicles were
monitoring and control is and others. This is not social jor cities of Gujarat — Ah- more real by deploying drone
administrations will arrange for impounded. A senior police
required to prevent fire and distancing. Please understand, medabad, Vadodara, Raj- cameras to keep a watch on pe-
food and stay in coordination official said implementation of
over-polymerization hazards. the Covid-19 virus is highly kot, and Gandhinagar — on ople's movements.
with voluntary organizations of the lockdown is set to get
We need to have a team of 7-9 contagious and spreads fast. Friday. Sola police have hired
migrant workers. stricter. “Any person roaming
people for regular monitoring Playing cricket and gossiping Jayanti Ravi, principal three cameras from private
and control during this on benches will only make ➤ Those covered under about on a two-wheeler will be
secretary (health & family parties to keep a vigil on peo- booked under Section 188 and
lockdown period. Please advise you and others vulnerable. welfare), said that the app ‘Antyodaya’ scheme will get ple's movements and restrict
as to who we should approach If reported to the police and essential commodities for April his vehicle will be impounded.
uses Geographic Informa- gathering of more than four Only two persons can be in a car
in our town municipal corporation, they tion System (GIS) to track 2020 quota offline. The persons. Police commissioner
can take strict action for biometric system will not be and if the rules are being
You should contact the the person’s device in real Ashish Bhatia has imposed
negligence and for violation of implemented. flouted the persons will be
district collector, district time. “The application has section 144 of Criminal Proce-
the notification issued under booked and cars will be
superintendent of police or a ‘geo fencing’ feature, ➤ Essential items like dure Code, which restricts as- impounded,” the senior police
your area police inspector IPC Section 144. which alerts authorities if sembly of more than four per-
vegetables, fruits and groceries official said. On Friday evening,
immediately. Show them the a home-quarantined per- will be made available near sons in the city. the Rapid Action Force (RAF)
list of hazardous/explosive I’m an engineer in an son moves out of a specific people’s housing societies. "Cops of Sola police sta- conducted a flag march in
materials in your facility and automotive unit at Sanand but area,” Ravi added. SURAT VADODARA tion are keeping a close watch sensitive areas of the city,
inform them of your safety my home in Ankleshwar. Due to As on Friday evening, over you with drone cameras. including Fatehwadi in Sarkhej.
requirements. Special passes the lockdown, I’m facing many the state police have recor- als are alerted. The users Mobile-phone Technology ment is approaching ex-ser- Please do not think that you “We announced on the public
are being given in such problems regarding food and ded 570 instances of viola- also provide details such as for Community Health vicemen to manage and ma- can escape legal action if you address system that from
circumstances. living. My room partners have tion of quarantine rules in symptoms of fever, cough, Operators) app will be ex- intain discipline at the faci- are sitting in a garden or mo- Saturday if anyone is seen
already left, our cook has left. Gujarat. The offenders ha- or difficulty in breathing tended to state-based doc- lities, said officials. ving in an internal lane. If you roaming about without reason,
So my query is, is there any way ve been sent to govern- twice a day. tors and health professio- Ravi also appealed to the are in the assembly of five peo- he will be dealt with strictly,” a
Many people from our society ment-run quarantine faci- “As of now, Gujarat has nals. “The doctors are enco- healthcare community to ple, then you will face action. If
go out every few minutes and I can ride my motorcycle to get police official said. TNN
back to Ankleshwar? lities. 20,103 per- uraged to report COVID-19 come forward to provide vo- you are caught violating the
come back. They may have
come in contact with infected It is advisable that you stay
Health
department
SMART MOVE sons under
quarantine
symptoms such as severe
acute respiratory illness
luntary service for treat-
ment or training. “While
law by our drone cameras,
then you will be booked. Mind exercise from today onwards
people outside our society. Then where you are right now and officials said that the app including 19,377 in home (SARI) to the state govern- we are procuring ventila- well, this drone cameras may and will continue it to restrict
some of these people gather seek delivery of provisions at asks the users — persons quarantine and 575 at go- ment for quicker identifi- tors, we will need about fly over you any time." police people's movements."
in the evening to gossip on our your doorstep by calling the under quarantine — details vernment-run facilities,” cation of patients,” said the 3,000 experts for operating said. This is an announcement Jadeja said this will help
society’s premises. Some people helpline recently announced by such as their travel history. said Ravi. “Cumulatively, principal secretary. “So far, 1,000 ventilators,” she said. being made by Sola police in put psychological pressure on
play cricket. Can they sit on the municipal corporation and The app detects location 236 complaints have been fi- about 150 doctors have be- “Thus, we have appealed to Gota, Thaltej, Sola, some parts people. "If they know drone ca-
benches? Can they play cricket retail chains. It is for your safety and records information on led against persons for the come part of the initiati- doctors to train technici- of SG Road and Chandlodia. meras can anytime catch
within the society premises? and that of others as well. hourly basis. If the device violation of quarantine ru- ve.” ans. We will provide an Inspector JP Jadeja of Sola them violating the law, they
is out of the house, stipula- les.” For the four newly- email on our official Twit- police said, "We will capture will themselves stop moving
Special CP, Ahmedabad Ajay Tomar, Medical officer AMC Bhavin Joshi, Chief ted by the distance specifi- In another initiative, constructed facilities for ter handle soon for the pur- violators from their housing out of their homes to meet
fire officer M F Dastoor and Mahidarpura, Surat, PI P A Arya
ed in the app, health offici- the ImTeCHO (Innovative COVID-19, the state govern- pose.” societies. We have started this others,"

IF IN NEED, CALL
104 for fever or COVID-19
related information
Medical college dean, doctors Most cases in city, least local transmission
108 for health-
related
emergencies
among 100 quarantined Parth.Shastri @timesgroup.com
Ahmedabad:The city of Ah-
medabad accounts for 34% of
64% OF POSITIVE CASES
Text: Parth Shastri

155303 for
TIMES NEWS NETWORK spital is run by the state go-
vernment. “The dean’s wife
pore and Thailand last
month.”
Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, 15
persons, 14 under treatment
IN 3 DAYS OF LOCAL INFECTION
AMC-related Ahmedabad: Over 100 people, works as a pathologist at some She was hospitalised after and one dead. But Ahmed- The state recorded its first two COVID-19 positive cases on AGE-WISE DISTRIBUTION OF
complaints including the dean, doctors, other hospital and may have her test reports confirmed her abad, the most populous city
and
March 19. The number was 47 as on Friday evening, with three POSITIVE CASES
and health staff of a medical got infected during her work,” infection, Prakash added. Ho- in Gujarat, has one particu- deaths. The first case of local infection was recorded on
information college and hospital — run by deputy commissioner of Ah- wever, her husband is healthy lar distinction, it has had the 21-30 10
March 22, fourth day from the first case; it was an 80-year-old
9013151515 WhatsApp the Gujarat Medical and Edu- medabad Municipal Corpora- and has not shown any specific lowest local transmission woman in Gandhinagar. Ever since, 36% cases have been 31-40 11
chatbox for COVID-19 related cation Research Society tion Om Prakash said. “There symptoms of coronavirus in- (LT) cases so far. identified as local infections. The analysis of the cases reveals
(GMERS) — have been quaran- are two other possibilities. On fection so far. “As a precautio- Compared to Gandhina- 41-50 5
queries that 64% of the patients over the past three days — March 25
tined after the dean’s wife tes- March 15, some of her relatives nary measure, we have also qu- gar and Rajkot, where LT ca- 51-60 8
1075/+91-11-23978046 ted positive for coronavirus, of- from Mumbai had visited the arantined over 100 people, who ses make up 71% and 62% of
to 27 — have no travel history within or outside India. “It’s
National helpline with the focus on these cases that the lockdown has been 61-70 9
ficials said on Friday. family,” he said. “That could had come in contact with the the total, the city has only
The woman, 55, had tested have led to the infection. We al- couple, including their relati- 13% LT cases, according to imposed so that the infection doesn’t spread further in the 71-80 3
HELPLINE FOR FOOD FOR THE community at large,” said a senior state health department
positive on Thursday, they sa- so learnt that her daughter-in- ves, doctors, and members of the state health and family 81-90 1
ELDERLY THROUGH NGOS: official.
id. The medical college and ho- law had returned from Singa- the college staff,” Prakash said. welfare department statis-
Ahmedabad: Prashant Pandya | tics.
Age-group

155303 The city also has the most COUNTRIES VISITED BY Finland China
POSITIVE PATIENTS

Note travel history of patients,

Surat: R C Patel | 9824345560 diverse travel history of per-
Vadodara: Krishna Solanki | son found positive, 12 per- 1
sons having travelled to six UK
0265-2459502
countries -- Finland, France,
4
Rajkot: Chetan Ganatra |
0281-2476874
Jamnagar: A K Vastani |
relatives: AMA to members Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and
USA. The age distribution of
patients shows that close to
LOCAL
TRANSMISSION
CASES
US

2 France
UAE
Total
0288-2553417
Bhavnagar: D M Gohil |
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BE PATIENT,
her their clinics and hospitals
will be sealed after a potential
District Cases
1 7 28
Ahmedabad: It’s not only the case. We have assured doctors DATA ANALYSIS Gandhinagar 5
0278-2424814
government and private ho- SAY DOCTORS that their services are essenti- Ahmedabad 2 Spain
Gandhinagar: Amit Singhai | spitals that are busy recor- ➤ City-based doctors appealed al, and they should continue 50% are below 40 years of
9909954709 ding as much details about to the patients to avoid seeing their OPDs,” she said. age. The only death recorded
Rajkot 5 1
Junagadh: Hitesh Vamja |
9898146865
the patients as possible, your
general practitioner will ask
general physicians for routine
ailments
It’s also about setting up
rules for the patients. AMA
in the city was also the oldest
patient, at 85 years old.
Surat
Vadodara
2
3
Saudi
Arabia Sri Lanka 57% of the
total
patients (25 of
Helpline for civil supplies and you at your next visit, apart ➤ If you must visit the clinic or secretary Dr Dhiren Mehta Due to high number of pa- Total 17 8 3 44) are men
amenities during lockdown | from the questions like com- hospital, wear mask said that they have issued a tients, the number of per-
mon symptoms and what did guideline for the doctors to sons under quarantine is al-
1070 and 079-232-51900
you have for dinner, where we-
re you and your relatives past
➤ Furnish details of your or
your immediate relatives’
distribute among patients.
Dr Pragnesh Vachhraja-
so the highest in the state, at
more than 4,000. “One factors
2 of the total
patients had 34% of the total
cases include 30% of
11 — highest single-day spike in
positive cases, recorded on
March 23
travelled to local infection with no the positive
fortnight. foreign or domestic travel in ni, joint secretary of Federa- for the high number of cases travel history
SNIPPETS Dr Mona Desai, president past 15-20 days tion of Family Physicians of is of course the presence of
Delhi, both
succumbed to
patients are
61 years old 74 is the mean age of persons who
succumbed to the infection, all
of Ahmedabad Medical Asso-
ciation (AMA), said that they the patients for further proce-
India, said that they have ad-
vised the senior members to
the international airport.
Area-wise, the cases are qui-
the infection 0 patients discharged
so far or older had reported co-morbidity
Top cops donate have started the initiative to dure quickly. “We have made stay home to avoid infection te scattered. Thus, at the mo-
a day’s salary
he IPS association of
ensure that the GPs can also
identify potential COVID-19
infection cases and can guide
representation to the state
authorities about apprehen-
sion among doctors on whet-
and instead get involved in
creating awareness about CO-
VID-19.
ment, we don’t see cluster
transmission,” said a senior
health department official.
80-100 PERSONS SURVEYED FOR EACH POSITIVE PERSON FOR ANY
SIGNS OF COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

T Gujarat has decided to

donate one day’s gross
salary to the CM relief fund
for fight against COVID-19.
Narsimha Komar, secretary
For 1st time, Jama Masjid empty for jumma prayers Clubs to offer food
packets to needy
TOI
of the association, told TOI
that donating a day’s salary TIMES NEWS NETWORK ligious heads even circulated
was decided unanimously in videos and informed devote-
a meeting. Ahmedabad/Surat: For es about the situation.
perhaps the first time in the “Most mosques are lock- TIMES NEWS NETWORK
1,485 calls to helpline city’s recorded history, its Ja- ed and in some only the
Officials of EMRI said that ma Masjid was empty, with imam, muezzin and a couple Ahmedabad: The lockdown
on Thursday the fever only enough devotees to fill of others come. The general has forced most of us to be at
helpline (104) had received one row during the Friday public has been advised to home but several daily wa-
1,485 calls related to CO- congregation, after which stay away,” said former coun- gers and the homeless have
VID-19 inquiries out of total such royal mosques were na- cilor and social worker Javed been left without essentials.
16,000-odd calls. The calls med. Dhupelwala. While civic authorities are
had reached to its highest There were not more than In Surat too, Muslims of- ensuring food packets are de-
on March 21 when 2,979 30 persons offering namaz on fered Friday namaz at their livered to the homeless and
calls related to COVID-19 Friday afternoon with Pesh homes and stayed away from the needy, city clubs have
were received. Imam Mufti Shabbir Ahmed the masjids following the ad- shown philanthropy in the ti-
who attended the khutba, the visory issued by Qari Rashid mes of corona. CARING FOR HUMANITY
Ward shifted ritual Friday surmon that ta- Ahmed Ajmeri, high priest of Ahmedabad-based Kar-
The women and children kes place before the prayer. There were not more than 30 persons offering namaz on Friday afternoon Rander, to contain the spread navati and Rajpath Club have food packets for lunch and
wards, which were shifted “Only those who live beside of Covid-19. joined hands to prepare 10,000 5,000 for dinner will be prepa-
to 1,200-bed hospital, moved the mosque and those who re- mally, thousands fill the es and they could offer namaz and it took place in its courty- Ajmeri told TOI, “Bar- food packets in a day and red and dispatched to the
out of the hospital on Thurs- gularly come to his mosque to 75x66 square-metre complex at home. ard,” he said. ring imams of the respective supply them to the Ahmed- AMC by the authorities of
day. Senior Civil Hospital offer namaz were present. We during Friday prayers. Local historian Rizwan The scenes were no diffe- masjids and helpers, all com- abad Municipal Corporation two clubs.”
authorities said that they have been maintaining pro- An hour before of the Fri- Qadri said that is was per- rent at other towns too. Pray- munity members offered Fri- (AMC). “All the arrange- The initiative began on
have taken precautions to per distance between devote- day congregation and azaan, haps the first time the Jama er gatherings at mosques ha- day prayers in their homes. ments have been made,” said Friday itself. Modi also con-
provide all necessary space es during namaz. Just the repeated announcements Masjid has been was empty. ve been discontinued for the We advised the community to Jayesh Modi, vice-president, firmed that as the logistics
and equipment to these two first row that was occupied were from mosques across “Even after the 2001 earthqu- last couple of days in Vadoda- strictly follow the lockdown Karnavati Club. “The clubs fall into place, the number of
departments. today,” the mufti told TOI af- the city that devotees should ake, there was a rush to offer ra. Barring a few exceptions guidelines and stay at home have joined hands for the ini- food packets may be increa-
ter the Friday prayer. Nor- not insist on going to mosqu- namaz at the Jama Masjid most mosques are closed. Re- and offer the Friday namaz.” tiative, as part of which, 5,000 sed in the days to come.
 3 TIMES CITY | Coronage THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

Guj sealed, 18k sent to 54 facilities HC extends bail period;

State Stops
Homeward
Builders, factory owners told to
stop labourers from fleeing
evictions in abeyance
WHAT THE PILS DEMANDED
March Of R ajkot police commissioner Manoj Agrawal on
Friday issued an order to all builders and factory ➤ Allow volunteers to work,

Migrants owners to prevent migrant labourers working in

their units from leaving the city. The order was
restrain police from acting
against them because people
TIMES NEWS NETWORK issued after thousands of labourers were seen are hungry, some are eating
returning to their natives on foot, leaving the city. from waste
Ahmedabad: State admini- “The builders and factory owners have been asked ➤ Ask the government to
stration escorted 18,000 mig- to provide their labourers free food, boarding and provide personal protection
rant labourers to 54 facilities lodging. If any builder or a factory owner is unable equipment (PPE) kits to health
where they will be provided fo- to do so, he may contact NGOs to provide the workers to protect them from
od and shelter, DGP Shivanand facilities. If it is found that any builder or factory infection
Jha said on Friday. These labo- owner has asked his labourers to leave the city, he
➤ Ask cops not to arrest people
urers were headed to their ho- will be booked for the violation of the government’s
during the lockdown period
mes in other states like Rajast- lockdown order.” TNN
han, MP and UP on foot, and ➤ Ask authorities to supply
their mass exodus could have packaged food to the poor and
needy, and mid-day meals
caused a public health risk.
Authorities thus sealed the
Exodus not caused by lack Migrant ➤ Make passage easy for those
state’s borders. who attend to ailing people
In Ahmedabad, 3,000 mig- labourers try
rant workers were accommo-
dated in 512 flats in the new
EWS housing behind Rajpath
of employment: Collector to leave in
ST BUSES HELP MIGRANTS REACH
STATE BORDERS: As the state is witnessing
an exodus of migrant workers from large cities
LEFT TO NETAS’ CONSCIENCE: A PIL sought
directions from HC for all elected representatives at all
levels, from panchayats to MPs and MLAs, to stay put
club. “Six people have been ac-
commodated in each flat,” said
TIMES NEWS NETWORK TOI
supply vans and people are walking on the highways, the
state government told the high court that it
in their constituencies and supervise implementation
of government schemes and relief measures. “We are
deputy municipal commissio- Ahmedabad: Even as the Ahmedabad: In a bid to reach helped 4,039 such persons reach the state afraid that such direction cannot be issued. While we
ner Mukesh Gadhvi. state government has swung their native places, migrant la- borders and to their destinations within the state are of the firm view that it is the moral duty of the
Many labourers sat in the into action over large-scale bourers tried to leave even in on March 25. According to the government, it elected representatives of all class to serve their
police vehicles under the im- exodus of migrant workers trucks carrying containers of deployed 55 buses in 10 districts to send 1,958 electorates subject to the restrictions imposed as per
pressions that they were being following announcement of grocery items and vegetables persons to the Rajasthan border, 1,371 to the the notification of the lockdown, but we leave it to their
taken to border posts. the lockdown, district collec- which are not stopped in the Madhya Pradesh border, and 710 to their places conscience to take such measures as they deem fit,
A casual labourer, who tor K K Nirala said the ex- lockdown. inside the state. and in no case are we inclined to issue such direction.”
works at a garment firm in Ba- odus is not because of unava- At Chiloda circle, cops stop-
punagar, said while boarding a ilability of employment or ped a giant truck containing a TIMES NEWS NETWORK that help from civil society/ high court extended the bail pe-
truck at Chiloda that he was shortage of food, but because container of grocery products NGOs and other organizations riods by one month for all priso-
going to his native place in Pa- of panic among workers. Ni- having RTO registered num- Ahmedabad:The Gujarat is required, it will be conside- ners who are at present out on
li. “Police have been making rala said the large-scale mig- ber of Nagaland. Around 100 high court on Friday issued va- red and appropriate guidelines interim bail. The court also or-
arrangements to send us to our ration is happening because people moving towards Eta- rious directions to the state aut- will be framed, the government dered the government – the ho-
native place,” said the labou- workers want to be with the- The collector said that shelters have been erected for migrant wah, Agra and Kanpur were horities in response to a flurry told the HC. me department and all police
rer. ir families in times of crisis. workers at Viramgam, Mandal and other places stuffed in the vehicle which did of public interest litigations, The government listed the heads – not to send any accused
A senior police official sa- The collector said that not even have ventilation. for the benefit of the poor, sick efforts of various departments person to prison without ascer-
id, “We have been instructed while force is not being used who employ migrant wor- shelters have been erected at One of the travellers, Rin- and vulnerable people during to help those in need and their taining that he is not a corona-
not to allow any person to mo- to prevent people from lea- kers. They have been warned Viramgam, Mandal and kal Yadav, who worked at a steel the Covid-19 lockdown. capacity to take care of the el- virus patient or suspected of
ve out of the state. Besides, Ra- ving, they are being actively to ensure that no exodus ta- other places. “The district factory in Odhav GIDC, said The state government filed derly, physically challenged pe- having the virus, else it would
jasthan government has bar- discouraged from leaving. kes place. People are not lea- administration has been de- that he wanted to reach native a lengthy reply to all PILs and ople, as well as children. create problems in the crowded
red entry of any outsider and He added that employers of ving because there are no livering more than 50,000 fo- place in Kanpur. “Some of the claimed that all measures are After hearing the state go- prisons and the purpose of enti-
they will be stopped at Rajast- these workers have been jobs or food is scarce. It is be- od packets every day for the labourers had arranged this being taken to meet their requi- vernment, the bench of Chief re exercise of social distancing
han border.” warned that they will face pe- cause there is a natural anxi- past three days. Besides, do- truck to move us to our respec- rements and asserted that the Justice Vikram Nath and Justi- would be defeated. The HC did
The official further said, nal action if they do not assu- ety for people to be with fami- nors have also been provi- tive native places. We do not state government is capable of ce A J Shastri said that the go- not grant the request for a blan-
“All of them will undergo ne- re workers that their food, lies and loved ones during ti- ding food and other assistan- have money to survive in Ah- handling this crisis. The go- vernment has been complying ket order for anticipatory bail
cessary medical tests. If their medicine and other basic re- mes of trouble,” Nirala said. ce. The onus is on the employ- medabad,” said Yadav. vernment submitted that as of with most demands made in during the lockdown period.
reports are Covid-19 negative, quirements will be taken ca- Asked about what is be- ers and leaders of workers’ Another traveller Kashi- now, “the state has sufficient the PILs. However, the court so- The high court also ordered
then arrangements will be ma- re of. ing done about several hund- organizations to assure the ram Patel, chose to travel in a manpower to deal with the cri- ught a report by April 3 on what that all directions for eviction
de to send them to their native “We have held a series of red labourers who are wal- workers that their require- grocery container. But he was sis”. actions they continue to take of people, dispossession or de-
places. By then, the lockdown meetings with industries, king back to their native pla- ments will be met properly,” unsure of succeeding to reach When the need arises or it is over next week. molition be placed in abeyance
may be eased.” factories and other units ces, the collector said that Nirala said. his native place . TNN felt by the state government In various directions, the till April 30.

AMC distributes food, essentials 10 cases of swine flu CM appeals for donations to fight Covid-19
registered in March: AMC TIMES NEWS NETWORK emptions in income tax under Sec- hai Patel, has made a donation of
TIMES NEWS NETWORK TOI Five new families were ad- Ahmedabad: Amid Covid-19 cases, nearly 20 tion 80-G of the Income Tax Act. Rs 1crore.
ded in the list of those quaranti- swine flu (H1N1) cases have been registered Gandhinagar: Chief minister Vi- So far, nearly 3,500 individuals In addition to these, other major
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad ned in AMC-run facilities and since January this year. In March alone, 10 ca- jay Rupani on Friday appealed to ci- and institutions have contributed donors to the CMRF include Kun-
Municipal Corporation has be- private facilities on Friday, ta- ses of swine flu have been registered in the ci- tizens to donate generously to the to the CMRF. Providing details, daldham Swaminarayan Temple,
en making sincere efforts to king the total number of such ty, AMC data updated till last week shows. The ‘Chief Minister’s Relief Fund’ Ashwsni Kumar, secretary to the which made a contribution of Rs 25
provide support to those in ne- families to 200. As of today, total health department has advised that citizens (CMRF) to fight against the novel CM, said that former chief mini- lakh, Sardar Dham Trust with a
ed. On Friday, civic body offici- 5,561 people were quarantined should maintain hygiene and ensure that ear- coronavirus pandemic. Rupani sa- ster Keshubhai Patel has donated contribution of Rs 21lakh, and Kho-
als distributed food and essen- by AMC of whom 1,641 have ly care is given when initial swine flu symp- id that those who donate to the Rs 1lakh to the fund. Besides, Shree daldham, which contributed Rs 21
tials to families in home qua- completed 14 days quarantine toms start showing. TNN CMRF will be eligible to seek ex- Somnath Trust, chaired by Keshub- lakh to the relief fund.
rantine, homeless people, and said civic body officials. Those
slum dwellers. currently in quarantine recei-
Families in home quaranti- ved 3,603 food packets and 871
ne received 1kg each of cabba- kits.
ge, coccinea, cauliflower, Officials said that on Friday,
500gm each of potato and AMC distributed 40,450 food 227 vehicles from AMC sold
onion, 100gm each of ginger, co- packets to homeless people and 10,715kg of vegetables in vario-
riander and green chillies and 3,100 packets of vegetables in us parts of the city.
four lemons. These families al- slum areas on Friday The corporation has been
so received four half-litre milk carrying out fumigation in the
pouches and four 1kg tetra milk Civic body officials said city and 34 vehicles covered a
packs. that takeaway food packets we- road length of 130km across dif-
The AMC also distributed re given to those who had just ferent parts of the city. Officials
40,450 food packets to homeless arrived from abroad and will said that in all, areas in the im-
people and 3,100 packets of ve- have to remain in quarantine mediate vicinity of 430km road
getables in slum areas. for the next 14 days. length have been fumigated.

BENNETT rtt' ? ? ? i k r ._ ?•
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1 1'w ,

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 4 TIMES CITY | Coronage THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

HATKESHWAR ZUNDAL PANCHKUVA

KINDNESS SERVED: A group of Good Samaritans preparing food for

stranded people

Vegetable supply from other states takes a hit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
TOI

Ahmedabad: Vegetables
grown in Gujarat are abun-
dantly available in local
In talks with retail chains for
markets, but supply of kit-
chen essentials like ginger,
lemon, green peas among
others have registered a de-
home delivery of essentials: DGP
TIMES NEWS NETWORK they should dial 1077,” Jha said.
cline of 50% as these usually
He added that 54 camps POLICE CHIEF
come from other states like
ALSO SAID
D
Rajasthan, Maharashtra GP Shivanand Jha, the have been set up and
and Karnataka. state police chief, has already and 18,000
Police have been
Traders in vegetable said that more person- people trying to
given masks and
markets say the number of nel will be provided for imple- cross the state
gloves in adequate numbers
goods trucks arriving from mentation of the lockdown and district bor-
to keep themselves safe
Rajasthan, Maharashtra and they will keep strict ders on foot have
watch on wholesale markets to been sent to Cops are working in close
and Karnataka have decli-
prevent people from gathering in them. coordination with private
ned sharply as the truckers
large numbers. He added that senior police offic- On helpline num- and social institutions
fear harassment on their
way back when they do not ers will be assigned to maintain order at each bers remaining busy, not working at State police thinking of
carry essentials and are big market and large grocery outlet. all, or staff giving unsatisfactory an- recalling suspended
mostly empty. “We are also in talks with big retail swers to queries, Jha said people can policemen to help in
“When these trucks en- chains and grocery stores for home deliv- call 100, 112 and state police control implementing lockdown
The supply of kitchen essentials such as ginger, lemon, and green peas have registered a decline of 50% as ery of essential items,” said DGP Jha. room for help.
ter the state they are loaded these usually come from other states such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka Jha said that people will be stopped Condemning irresponsible be- Bad behaviour with doctors
with vegetables and hence
from moving to other districts or states on haviour of some factory and business treating Covid-19 patients
they are not stopped by the requirement of 3,000 quin-
police or the authorities, tals,” Patel said. Overcrowding leads to closure of foot. “They will not be able to do that. The owners, Jha said strict action will be will not be tolerated
district administrations have made taken against those who threat-
but on their way back the
empty trucks are stopped at
One Aslam Shaikh, a ve-
getable wholesaler, said that
riverfront veggie market adequate arrangements for en the workforce to leave MORE OFFENDERS
them, including food and lodg- their local residences due
each and every crossroads on Thursday morning, the- Ahmedabad: The AMC was forced to shut down the makeshift
ing. If such people need help to lockdown.
BOOKED, DETAINED
and harassed by cops, despi- re was a scare as the prices vegetable market on the Sabarmati riverfront after police
te showing the receipt of sa- shot up when the market reported overcrowding on Friday. Municipal commissioner Vijay ➤ The number of people
le of vegetables,” said one of opened, but by afternoon Nehra said that on Friday, police informed AMC officials that ‘Don’t go out without strong booked under Section 188
Cops to check inside societies Home-quarantined IPC for violating the police
the big traders in Jamalpur prices stabilized with ade- social distancing was not being being maintained at the market. persons missing in reason’
APMC. quate supply coming in. Immediately, AMC teams closed the market. By the time the Jha said there have been commissioner’s notification
complaints about people large numbers While speaking to reporters, the DGP
has gone up to 1,083 with
Another trader, Ahmed Another trader said that market was closed, most vegetable vendors had already sold made an appeal to citizens not to exit
Patel also said there has be- there had been a 10-15% in- their vegetables.Nehra said that the vendors will return on gathering in large Many people who 343 added in the last 24
numbers inside had been home their homes without emergency. He said
en a drop in the number of crease in wholesale market Saturday. However, AMC officials had a detailed discussion with hours.
housing societies, and quarantined are only a single person of a household
trucks coming from other prices because retailers the vendors and have asked them to sit at a distance from each should go out to buy essentials. Two- ➤ Similarly the number of
states. “The APMC has been rushed to the market in lar- other.Officials said that on Thursday, the AMC had to ban the sale police have been missing. “We are
instructed to check searching for them. wheelers carrying pillion riders without people booked for violating
getting about 50% of the qu- ge numbers to stock up. of vegetables at the Kalupur market because of overcrowding. emergency will be detained.
inside societies to prevent Strict legal action will home quarantine has gone
antity of ginger, lemon, gre- There is a mild shortage From Friday only those wanting to purchase in bulk were
such gatherings. be taken,” said Jha. up to 570 with 273 added in
en peas, coriander and cap- in potatoes and onions, and permitted into the market. TNN
the last 24 hours.
sicums they receive daily. potato which was priced
The prices of these vege- around Rs 10-14 per kg on Ashwin Prajapati, a ve- lable even on app-based mar- ‘If possible, pray from home’ ➤ The number of people
tables are rising in the Wednesday sold at Rs 15-18 getable vendor in Bopal, sa- kets as the prices are fluctu- detained for acts increasing
The state police chief appealed to community leaders not to gather
APMC. However, the city is per kg on Friday. The trader id, there’s shortage of ging- ating daily and these app-ba- the threat of spread of
at religious places in large numbers. He said everything matters
receiving a supply of 3,200- said that ginger sold at Rs 50 er and lemon and even if av- sed markets take four to five infection under Section 269,
only if there is life and so people should pray from home if possible.
3,500 quintals of vegetables per kg on Wednesday but it ailable, the prices are high. days to deliver, by which ti- 270 and 271 of IPC has gone
He said that in case going outside home for prayer became
daily, on an average, and this was Rs 62 in the wholesale He pointed out that ging- me the prices may have up to 1,653 with 615 added
necessary, it should be ensured that large gatherings are avoided
is adequate to meet the daily market on Friday. er and lemon was not avai- changed considerably. in the last 24 hours.
and proper social distancing is maintained.

Time At Home Can Be Spent Productively, says Niyati Parikh

Surviving lockdown: Focus State govt estimates `4k crore hit on revenues
[email protected] toll, sources said. “Collectively, the loss of pact of the lockdown may
“Revenue collection un- overall income of the state go- last for about two quarters af-

on hobbies and health Gandhinagar: The lock-

down for the Covid-19 pande-
mic may lead to a revenue loss
of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore to the
der various heads increase in
March due to the end of the fi-
nancial year. But this time,
GST collection is expected to
vernment may extend to Rs
3,000-4,000 crore,” he said.
The official said the possi-
bility of reduction in grants-
ter the lockdown period and
state government revenues
will continue to be hit for so-
me time. “The state govern-
T he lockdown to prevent further spread of the
coronavirus disease has not just cast a shad- Art practice for charity state, sources in the govern-
ment said on Friday. Lower
drop sharply and the Centre’s
share will also plummet. The
in-aid from the central go-
vernment can’t be ruled out
ment may have to borrow mo-
re money to fund the state’s
ow on all socializing plans but has also made
people feel suffocated at home. A sif Shaikh, a fashion designer who
specializes in embroidery, saw an
opportunity to unwind in the lockdown,
GST collection stemming
from complete shutdown of
shutdown in real estate and
other sectors has stifled inco-
as the Union government will
also be facing similar reduc-
planned expenditure as bud-
get allocation has already be-
manufacturing and service me from stamp duty and regi- tion in revenues. “Things will en announced. The govern-
and use his practice for a cause. “In the
sectors, drastic reduction in stration fees,” said a senior be clearer only after the lock- ment may also have to anno-
daily grind, we seldom pause and look
income from electricity duti- government official. He said nerated from sales of motor down is lifted and tallies ma- unce additional resource al-
for inspiration, but this lockdown is es, and lack of real estate the government is also sta- vehicles, and electricity duty de,” the official said. location after the lockdown
indeed a time to pause for a while and transactions will take their ring at a drop in revenues ge- from from industries. Sources added that the im- is over,’’ said an official.
start a constructive pursuit,” said
Shaikh. “Even though there
are very few tools at home,

Back to Painting & Cooking

I decided to pick up
embroidery to keep myself Essentials on track: Another Declare force
B akhtiyar Alam Syed, who is a scientist at a molecular sane.” Shaikh said: “I am
diagnostic centre, is supposed to work alternate days
due to the lockdown. “Since my wife and child are at our
home town, I am all by myself at home so I’m catching
using a running stitch to
create this and once done,
I will auction this as an
milk train leaves for Haryana majeure at Kandla
up on cooking and painting which I’ve always been fond
of,” said Bakhtiyar, who began painting since the age of
five when he was forced to miss school due to a kidney
ailment. “I was frequently hospitalised back then and
artwork and whatever
funds are raised
will be donated
for the welfare
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:A goods train loa-

port: Businesses
ded with 6.90 lakh litres of milk TIMES NEWS NETWORK
used to spend most of my time painting,” said Bakhtiyar. of people has left for Palwel in Haryana
“However, I had stopped painting, amid the daily affected on Friday. The railways have so Rajkot: The Gandhidham
rigmarole. The lockdown and some alone time at home by the far sent trains carrying 448 lakh Chamber of Commerce
is a good opportunity to begin with painting.” lockdown.” litres of milk from Gujarat to and Industry (GCCI) has
Delhi and Haryana, urged the central govern-
Learning, bonding over board games Officials said that the Indian ment to declare force maje-
Railways has stopped running ure at Deendayal Port

A t a time when kids are increasingly getting addicted to digital

screens, Saumil Shah, a software firm owner, has been
encouraging his daughters to play board games. “My wife and I are
passenger trains due to the na-
tional lockdown. The railways, that the division was monito- and the other from Palanpur to
Trust (DPT), formally
known as Kandla Port, and
however, has kept the supply of ring the situation and was rea- Palwel. Western Railway offici- suspend the non-essential
very fond of board games and have been playing them regularly. essential commodities run- dy to ensure that there was no als said that 1,200 locomotive pi- cargo till the time lock-
The lockdown period is a boon in disguise,” said Shah. “We play ning. On Friday, 6.90 lakh litres shortage of transport for essen- lots and assistant locomotive pi- down continues in the co-
board games with our daughters.” Shah added: “It is interesting to of milk in 16 RMT tank wagons tial commodities. lots worked in goods trains on untry.
see how my elder one is increasingly developing an interest in were loaded from Palanpur and Officials said two trains we- Monday across various divi- The six-decade old tra- unable to load and unload
strategy-based board games.” Shah went on to say: “It is good as sent to Haryana. re sent earlier to other states loa- sions namely Ahmedabad, Va- de body wrote a letter to cargo at specific time and
it helps her develop and sharpen her analytical skills while also Divisional railway manager ded with Amul products. One dodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, union minister of state of as a result we have to pay
reducing the screen time — which otherwise is a challenge. (DRM) Deepak Kumar Jha said went from Kankaria to Jhansi, Mumbai and Ratlam. shipping Mansukh Manda- the demurrage. We want
viya stating the problem port to declare force majeu-
due to the continued opera- re so that we don’t have to

No fuel for those without masks in Surat 342 booked for lockdown violation tion during this lockdown pay demurrage or penal-
period. ty.”
Continued from P1 Gujarat Police took a ster- Force majeure absolves “The stakeholders in
Melvyn.ReggieThomas ner stance towards those on companies from meeting this sector are being torn

A
@timesgroup.com ping utmost care while hand- cross cities, migrant on the streets and those part of their contractual obliga- apart between two diamet-
ling the customers wanting roads were escorted to the mass exodus. “We re- tions for reasons beyond rically opposite forces, na-
Surat: If one is not wearing a to make payment through EWS housing for lodg- quest people of Gujarat to their control. mely the necessity to rema-
mask, he or she won’t get pet- cards. ing and boarding during the stay home and stay safe. We According to GCCI and in locked in their houses
rol or diesel at the petrol The customers are not al- lockdown period. Shivanand kept close watch on places custom house agents, they and the demand to attend to
pumps in Surat. lowed to hold the point-of-sa- Jha, DGP, said that a total of where we received com- are not able to handle the the work in these services.
Petrol pumps across the le swipe machines. The at- 18,453 have been sent to the 54 plaints for crowding and cargo from container fre- GCCI strongly recom-
city have initiated efforts to tendant at the pump holds facilities run by different dis- have deployed police person- ight station because of mends that all ports must
contain the spread of corona- the machine and that the cus- trict administrations. nel at wholesale markets. We shortage of manpower and declare force majeure and
virus by refusing to serve the tomer must enter the card Kumar said the state gov- will be sterner for the safety lack of transportation ser- only limited essential com-
customers who come witho- and PIN. ernment has also launched a of the citizens,” said Jha. In vice. The district admini- modities be listed to be ope-
ut covered faces. Shailesh Pandya, a resi- helpline — 1070 — for persons past 24 hours, police booked stration allows limited rated till the lockdown pre-
The South Gujarat Petrol dent of Rander said, “In a from Gujarat stuck in other 343 persons for violation of manpower to handle the vails.
Pump Dealers’ Association hurry, I forgot to wear the states who need help. CrPC Section 144 and 272. operation. All other cargo opera-
(SGPPDA) has taken the de- mask and went to the petrol The custom house tions must be suspended
cision that those customers pump. I was told that he will agents are required to file till the situation clears
not wearing masks will not not refuel my vehicle as I was
Man bites shopkeeper for not giving him liquor money the shipping bills and need out,” the letter stated.
be sold fuel. Also, the vehicle not wearing a mask. So, I visi- Ahmedabad:In a bizarre incident on Thursday, Sonu Goswami, to do other necessary docu- GCCI also demanded to
owners will have to maintain Vehicle owners will have to maintain social distancing at petrol pumps ted the nearby medical store of Gomtipur, bit a shopkeeper, Deepak Sharma, on his left hand mentation by sitting their suspend the import and ex-
social distancing at the pet- and bought a mask to get my as Sharma refused to give him money for liquor. An FIR was office, but they are not allo- port of non-essential com-
rol pumps. the virus. Thus, all the petrol rule implies to the car ow- tank refuelled.” lodged by Sharma at Gomtipur police station. Police lodged a wed to open the office and modities from the port to
President of SGPPDA, pumps have unanimously ners visiting the petrol Rajesh Patel, owner of a complaint under Section 324 and 294(b) of IPC and are looking for call the staff. allow them to observe the
Suresh Desai told TOI, “Pet- decided not to entertain cus- pumps. The car owners are petrol pump in Adajan said, the accused. According to the FIR, Sharma runs a farsan shop at GCCI secretary Aas- lock down.
rol pumps comes under es- tomers who are not covering asked to sit in their car at the “We even refuse entry to ma- Push Estate and lives at Gomtipur with his family. “At 1pm on hish Joshi said, “We are Adani Ports and Special
sential commodities and we their faces.” time of refuelling of the ve- ny customers coming witho- Thursday, Gosawami approached him and demanded Rs 300 for supporting the lockdown, Economic Zone Ltd (AP-
can’t ignore the aspect of cle- Desai added, “We have hicle.” ut wearing masks or at least liquor. When Sharma refused, the accused started abusing him. but there are severe pro- SEZ) has already declared
anliness and hygiene when started this mandatory rule According to Desai, the covering their faces with When Sharma asked him not to abuse, the accused bit him on his blems because of port be- force majeure at Mundra,
the city is under the grip of since last two days. Even this petrol pumps are also kee- handkerchief.” left wrist,” said a police official. TNN ing operational. We are Tuna and Dhamra ports.
 TIMES NATION
| Coronage 55
THE TIMES OFOF
INDIA, AHMEDABAD
THE TIMES INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 GUJARAT
COVID-19
ROUNDUP ‘Do not drive out or sit in Homebound natives stuck
groups inside your mohallas’ on NH-8 near Vadodara
PAK RETURNED
QUARANTINED MAN GOES
MISSING: : The man who was
home quarantined after TOI
returning from Pakistan was [email protected]
TOI
booked after he went missing
from his home in Sanjognagar
locality of Bhuj on Thursday.
Rajkot CP complaints that people are
gathering in their own ‘mo-
hallas’ to talk or play cricket
Vadodara: While the lock-
down has brought out the
Police said the accused,
identified as Shermamad
Saiyed (53), had recently
Tells Cops To or for any other kind of social
gathering. This gathering in-
good in police, the uniform
is also tainted at times with
returned from Pakistan, after
which he was put under
Ensure Full side the society or mohalla is
strictly not allowed and cops
will take action on anybody fo-
shades of rudeness someti-
mes. Such an example was
reported in Kapurai Cross-
home quarantine.
Lockdown und participating in such gro-
ups.
roads on Friday, when 120-
odd people from Surat were
14 COPS PUT UNDER HOME TIMES NEWS NETWORK A total of 51 FIRs had been stopped from going to their
ISOLATION: A total of 14 registered in Rajkot city on hometown in Amreli dis-
cops including three women Rajkot: With more and more Friday on charges of violating trict. Among the lot was a Those detained were asked to go to RTO which is shut down
constables were placed people venturing out on the the notification which prohi- woman who was around 4-5
under home quarantine in roads just for leisure, Rajkot People going out for leisure get treatment from cops in Rajkot bits assembly of more than fo- months pregnant and two back in Surat. So we were on When we asked the cops
Bhavnagar on Friday after it police has further tightened ur persons and also opening small children. our way to our hometown in how can we pay the penalty,
came to light that one of the lockdown not to take out vehicles and lable at the doorsteps for the shops and establishment “If you are pregnant, Bhavnagar. Our vehicle was they told us to pay when the
them had come into contact by deciding walk for their need within the- convenience of the people. which falls in the category of why are you travelling right detained at about 11am and RTO opens and then take
with a COVID-19 patient who not to allow ci- ir respective areas. The municipal corporation non-essential. Maximum ca- now? Show me your medical we were forced to sit by the our vehicles,” he said.
died on Wednesday night. tizens from All police stations in the ci- has also made a plan to ensure ses have been registered aga- certificates,” a cop on Vado- roadside all day. They didn’t When asked why the
Police said an assistant sub- even crossing ty have been asked to mainta- that people get essentials at inst people who gathered in dara border allegedly as- even care for the two kids cops made a pregnant wo-
inspector (ASI) had their mohal- in a strict vigil through their walking distances within re- groups and opened shops de- ked, stopping the diamond travelling with us,” alleged man wait by the roadside for
accompanied the COVID-19 las. beats to see that people in the- sidential areas so that they spite the restrictions. workers on the highway. Mohan Vadadariya. hours, B H Rathod, PSI, Var-
patient to Delhi in a flight on Rajkot police commissio- ir respective jurisdictions don’t need to go out in their According to the police, Even after an entire day was Vadadariya told TOI that nama police station said,
March 8. Both had returned ner has instructed cops to deal don’t venture out. two-wheelers or vehicles to two people on one scooter or spent convincing the cops the cops then took their “She was just four to five
together in March 11 flight. strictly with people seen co- Talking to TOI, commis- buy essential commodities motorbike is not considered that they were going to their samples for Coronavirus months pregnant. They sho-
“While the ASI resumed his ming out of their homes wit- sioner of police Manoj Agar- and medicines.” social distancing. It's advisab- own hometowns, they re- tests. uldn’t have been on the ro-
duty, Sheikh was admitted to hout valid reason, while the wal said, “Now, the essential According to Agarwal, le that only one person moves portedly didn’t relent and Jayesh Bhataiya, a resi- ad.”
Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar people have been instructed things are being made avai- cops have been getting several on a two-wheeler. made them sit in a bunch by dent of Amreli who was also “We detained about 20
where he tested positive for the roadside for six long ho- travelling with his family vehicles that were moving
coronavirus and died. After urs, flouting social distan- from Surat, alleged that on the highway amid the
his death, the ASI and 13
other cops, who had come in
contact with the ASI, have Son of COVID-19 positive textile US-returned cing norm suggested by the
government.
“I showed the cops medi-
they were not stopped any-
where within Surat, but no
sooner they entered Vado-
lockdown. Some of them
were from Surat and Navsa-
ri while some were from Ma-
been placed under home
quarantined cal papers of my wife Sangi- dara, their vehicles were de- harashtra. We allowed the
quarantine,” said an official
from Bhavnagar police
control room.
trader admitted to NCH in Surat File photo girl booked
ta but they argued that there
was no need to travel as she
wasn’t expecting soon. I
tained.
“Cops issued a memo to
us and asked us to pay penal-
people to go later,” he said,
while defending the action.
When asked where they
TIMES NEWS NETWORK work as diamond polisher ty at the regional transport would stay, Rathod said that
Gujarat-Maha TIMES NEWS NETWORK in Surat and didn’t want to office (RTO). But the RTO is the mamlatdar will decide
117 FISHERMEN
QUARANTINED ON THEIR
Surat: The son of the Corona-
virus positive 62-year-old tex-
border sealed Rajkot: A woman who was
take any risk by staying closed due to lockdown. on that.

BOATS: As many as 117 tile trader has been admitted Surat: Gujarat-Maharashtra home quarantined after re-
fishermen who had come to
Bedibandar port in Jamnagar
from Jakhau near India-
Pakistan international
in the isolation ward of the
New Civil Hospital (NCH) af-
ter he developed suspected
symptoms of the virus on Fri-
border in Valsad district has
been sealed by the
administration to prevent
people from crossing the
turning from Chicago in the
USA was booked on Friday
after she went missing from
her home in Kings Heights
Cops promote indoor Ambaji trust
donates `1.1cr
maritime border in Kutch
were quarantined on their
boats on Friday. The
day.
Health officials said that
the 32-year-old son, resident of
borders to further prevent
the spread of COVID-19.
Talking to TOI, Valsad
Apartments on Amin Marg
Road in Rajkot since Thurs-
day morning.
games to kill boredom to relief fund
Palanpur: To help strengthen
Jamnagar district Parvat Patiya, who was under district collector C R Kharsan Police said the accused, TIMES NEWS NETWORK be open for those under 30 ye- the government’s plan to fight
administration officials said quarantine at the Samras Hos- said: "We have also identified as Eva Khanpara ars of age. It will also be open the deadly Covid-19, the Aara-
that the fishermen were tel facility of the Veer Narmad prohibited labourers to go (20), had been put under ho- Rajkot: Surendranagar po- for the prisoners who will ha- suri Ambaji Mata Devasthan
quarantined as a part of South Gujarat University from Dindoli having travel walking to their native me quarantine since March lice have come out with an ve to write essays of their ex- Trust (SAAMDT) Ambji dona-
precautionary measures. (VNSGU) started having bre- history to Maharashtra was villages from towns in Valsad 17. innovative way to encoura- periences in jail. ted a check of Rs 1.1crore to the
athlessness and heavy coug- admitted in the isolation ward district and also asked all “We spoke to Eva’s fat- ge people to stay at home and The contestants will have CM Relief Fund on Friday.
hing and was immediately of the NCH on Friday. She was factory owners and her Sanjay Khanpara who beat their boredom at the to submit their work on Su- Talking to TOI, Banaskan-
143 ARRESTED FOR
shifted to the isolation ward of shifted in the isolation ward construction site owners to said that Eva was with her same time. rendranagar police control tha collector Sandip Sagle, who
LOCKDOWN VIOLATION: A after she developed suspected
the NCH. keep their labourers at the family members in his villa- Accoring to a statement room’s WhatsApp number is also the chairman of the
total of 143 people were
Sources said that about 12 symptoms of the virus. sites only and to provide ge,” said J S Champavat, issued by the Surendrana- 9687690100 or via email to trust, said, “Our aim is to
arrested for the alleged
close contacts of the textile Talking with TOI, deputy them food and essential sub-inspector with Malavi- gar district police, an array control-sp-srn@guja- strengthen the government’s
violation of lockdown order in
trader were under constant municipal commissioner (he- items. If anyone who does not yanagar police station. of activities have been orga- rat.gov.in. The contestants plan to fight the fatal disease
Rajkot city and district,
surveillance regarding their alth and hospital), Dr Ashish get food, they can call on toll “I forgot to ask name of nized as part of the indoor will have to give their names, and also provide food to the po-
Jamnagar city and district
health after the trader, wor- Naik said, “After the textile free number.'' TNN the village. However, once competitions which include address and their respective or people.” He said that Ambaji
and Junagadh city and
king at the Radha Krishna trader was tested positive of we find the location, we will drawing, decorative arts, areas’ police stations, said temple trust has always been
district in the past 24 hours.
Textile (RKT) market at Saha- COVID-19, more than 85 textile Dr Naik further said that go there and detain Eva and wooden craft, embroidery, the release. on the forefront during times of
In Rajkot city and district, a
ra Darwaja and having travel markets in the vicinity were the report of five patients who transfer her to overnment floral decoration, pottery, The first, second and crisis and expressed his hopes
total of 63 people were
history to Kolkata was tested disinfected and the traders were admitted in the isolation quarantine,” said Champa- stone art, jewellery art, tex- third prizes will be adjudged that more such donations will
arrested. In Jamnagar city
positive of COVID-19 on Wed- therein along with visitors to ward of NCH are negative. vat, adding that Eva had be- tile handicraft, origami, po- on the basis of best out of pour in to help the government
and district, a total of 43
nesday. the market in the last 15 days “Now, we have only two pati- en booked under Epidemic etry, essay, short story etc. waste concept, added the re- defeat the fatal disease that has
people were held, while in
Health officials said that were asked strictly follow ho- ents whose report are pen- Diseases Act of 1897. These competitions will lease. almost crippled the world. TNN
Junagadh city and district, 39
another 84-year-old woman me quarantine. ding,” he added.
people were caught.

SMC’s home quarantine app Three migrants

returning home
replicated in four Guj cities die in accident s ee 10 Ag e=,

TIMES NEWS NETWORK File photo warning to them,” Pani added.

"Till Friday evening, we ha-
Palanpur: Three of the six la-
bourers, who had hitch-hiked
201
Surat: The Diamond City, ve 4,331 people under quaranti- from Kamrej in Surat to go to
which had experienced a horri- ne including those at home in their native in Rajasthan, were
fic plague outbreak in 1994, has Surat city, the largest numbers killed and two others injured
taken the lead in fighting novel in the state,'' Pani said. when the truck in which they
Coronavirus pandemic in Gu- SMC has adopted three Ts were travelling overturned near
jarat. Surat Municipal Corpo- approach to deal with the out- Mehsana town on Friday mor-
ration (SMC)'s three unique break - Track, Test and Treat. ning.
initiatives to fight against pan- Surat’s municipal commissioner Eight FIRs have been filed The accident took place abo-
demic has found place in 'Ma- Banchhanidhi Pani against those found violating ut 4km from Mehsana town ne-
naging COVID-19- good practi- home quarantine. ar Mau toll plaza. The truck was
ces in 100 Smart Cities'. These house team developed the app SMC's two other initiatives loaded with sugar bags.
initiatives can be replicated within 48 hours. Google and also found place in good practi- According to police, the labo-
anywhere in the country to ef- Apple are not approving appli- ces. These include self declara- urers were leaving for their nati-
fectively fight against global cations quickly at present, so tion forms on its website by tra- ve in a truck as no other means
pandemic. we are distributing this app vellers in the city and volunta- of public transport was availab-
In fact, Gujarat govern- from our website. Till now, 3005 rily declaration of their travel le due to the lockdown. The dece-
ment on Friday announced people have downloaded this history. The civic body has has ased were identified as Tararam
that the COVID-19 Tracker App, app and we are constantly mo- started a toll free helpline num- Meghwal, Ramesh Meghwal,
\A T
A 'Y
developed by SMC, will now be nitoring them,'' Banchhanidhi ber (1-800-123-800) where citizen native of Danhrdi village in Ra-
replicated in Ahmedabad, Pani, municipal commissio- can share details about travel- jasthan. The third deceased was
Gandhinagar, Vadodara and ner, Surat, told TOI. lers or suspects. The details are from Palanpur, but is yet to be
Rajkot to effectively monitor "Every home quarantined verified by SMC team inclu- identified, said police.
home quarantined people in re- person has to upload their sel- ding health officials. A field te- In another accident, an SRP
spective cities. fie and status twice in a day on am visits the location and if the jawan Mukesh Rawal and his re-
"SMC was the first civic bo- this app. This has helped us details provided on helpline is lative Kanti Rawal were killed
dy to develop a special app to warn 42 home home quaranti- verified, the individual is asked after a speeding truck hit their
track home quarantined peo- ned people who were violating to stay in home quarantine and motorcycle from behind near
ple on a real-time basis. Our in- the rules and we have issued assigned unique tracker ID. Deesa. Both died on the spot .TNN

Safai worker defeats fear for swachhata Gaurang Joshi

Melvyn.ReggieThomas @timesgroup.com ficials to not stay at home. “I have to dri-

MOVED FROM
ve the tractor, collect the garbage and
Surat: Anil Rathod’s five-year-old drop it at the collection centre in Ada-

RENTED TO
daughter Pooja wakes up as soon as he jan all alone. My co-worker who used to
prepares to leave home at 6am every collect the garbage is ill. Clearing gar-
day. “Pappa tame bimar thay jaso, ba- bage from the housing societies is very
OIN
GOT THEOUSE.
har na niklo’ (Dad you will fall ill, plea- important during this period, which I
se don’t go outside),” she pleads with know very well” says Rathod, who
him. earns a paltry Rs 8,000 per month.
But Rathod, a safai worker with He is quick to mention that the atti-
FR EEDOM
LIVE 0UR TO
Bhesan village panchayat, gives her a tude of the people in the residential so-
reconciling smile and promises to re- cieties has changed after the spread of
turn home safely by afternoon. COVID-19. The residents are offering

_
Amid the lockdown and the corona- him with tea and some are also feeding
virus scare, this 34-year-old moves out him snacks, water and giving clothes.
with his tractor to collect garbage from “Earlier, nobody used to care, but
the residential apartments falling un- now people have become compassiona-
der the panchayat’s jurisdiction in Je- te. They have changed a lot after the di-
hangirpura. Anil Rathod collects garbage from 15 housing sease spread in the city,” he said..
Wearing gumboots, covering his societies in Surat’s Bhestan daily “Two days ago, a woman approa-
hands with gloves and a handkerchief ched me while I was emptying the gar-
tied on his face, Rathod is on the duty to chief ” says Rathod, while emptying bage drums in my tractor. She enqui-
load his vehicle with the garbage col- the garbage drums kept outside Vaish- red about my children and their age Moving from a rented house to your own is a great feeling!
lected from 15 housing societies and naodevi Apartment in Jehangirpura. and asked me to wait for her. After 15 It not just upgrades you from a tenant to an owner, but

magicbricks
dump it at the collection “I have been doing minutes, she came back clothes for my also bears your name, and your signature sty le! Whatever 1.5 Lakh+
facility of the Surat Mu-
nicipal Corporation
LOCKDOWN this job for the last six
years and I am alright.
children,” said Anil.
When asked if he is worried on
be your budget, or choice of location, we've got a wide
P r o p e r t y Options
range of properties and all the relevant information to Property Sahi. Milegi Yahin.
(SMC) at Adajan.
“They say some dang- HEROES If I would stay home
fearing the disease,
handling the garbage when the virus is
spreading fast, Rathod said, “I know
help you choose the one you'd like to make your own. So
find your new address on magicbricks, and own your life!
erous disease has spread my family will die of the consequences would be dangerous,
in the city. I don’t know much about it, hunger,” he told TOI. but I have faith in god. If I don’t lift the F-
but I was informed by my superior to Few days ago, Rathod’s colleague to- garbage, it will harm the health of se- Rateal
wear gumboots, gloves and handker- ok ill and was told by the panchayat of- veral thousand people.” Download m agicbricks app r
 6 TIMES NATION | Lockdown-Day 3 THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

Mosques across India deserted on a Friday Cops enforce lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Piyal Bhattacharjee
are undoubtedly very impor-

R
esponding to a clutch of
fatwas and police notices
and urged by clerics,
Muslims across India stayed
tant in Islam. At the same time,
exceptions are allowed in un-
avoidable situations.”
Mumbai’s Jama Masjid
near Crawford Market roped
with blows and insults
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
away from mosques on Friday, in Mufti Abdul Ahad to make

A
perhaps an unprecedented an appeal against visits on Fri- n inquiry was ordered in-
event in living history. Groups day. But at the Jama Masjid in to the death of a 49-year-
limited to five, including Mahim, police had to act tough old ambulance driver on
imams, muezzins and workers to dissuade a group of 10-15 Friday after he was allegedly hit
called khadims, offered Juma from entering for prayers. by police in Pune on suspicion
prayers at mosques across the “Once the cops intervened, that he was ferrying passengers
country while the masses these people retreated and just illegally in his vehicle during
stayed home and offered the zu- five people offered namaz at the the all-India lockdown.
har prayer. From the 17th cen- mosque, which is otherwise fil- Pimpri Chinchwad’s addi-
tury Jama Juma in Delhi to the led to capacity on normal Fri- tional commissioner of police
historic Mecca Masjid in Hyde- Jama Masjid in old Delhi wears a deserted look on Friday. Only Imam and a handful of mosque staff offered days,” said trustee Fahad Path- Ramnath Pokale confirmed
rabad and Eidgah in Lucknow, special Friday prayer as others were not allowed inside an. that an investigation has been
all wore a deserted look as lay Similar scenes were report- initiated. The case came to light
worshippers preferred to stay ter: “Due to Novel Coronavirus gates of the mosque shut and chief Mufti of Maharashtra, ed from Uttar Pradesh where when the son of the ambulance Workers walk to their native places near Delhi-UP border on Friday
home and offer zuhar prayers pandemic, Muslims are recom- had started to announce on Azizur Rahman Fatehpuri, to places of worship wore a de- driver, who was accompanying
due to fears of a pandemic in- mended to offer Zuhur at home speakers that since there are allow Muslims to call off Fri- serted look. At Lucknow’s Nad- him when the incident oc- es, there have been cases of po- home. Police have denied any
stead of assembling for Juma instead of praying Jumah at restrictions against mass gath- day prayers due to the spread of wa Mosque, Eidgah Jama Mas- curred, said they were stopped lice assaulting journalists, de- assault. The man’s postmortem
prayers. mosques. Don’t come out for erings, people should stay Covid-19. In Kerala, where for jid and Teele Wali Masjid just a at a toll naka and the policemen livery boys or those venturing report said he died of chronic
Alarmed by last Friday’s congregational prayers and home and pray," said Imam the first time all the mosques handful offered prayers. "To- assaulted his father. He claimed out to buy essential items. Two diarrhoea and cardiac arrest. A
prayer congregations, the com- stay at home (and) save lives. It Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama closed its doors to believers, day only those who look after that they were allowed to pro- cops in Indore were suspended probe, however, has been or-
munity’s religious leadership is mandatory upon all to avoid Masjid in Delhi. Sunni Yuvajana Sangham certain arrangements of these ceed only after making a pay- on Friday after they hit a TOI re- dered by Howrah police com-
had launched a campaign to causing harm to their fellow ci- In Mumbai, general secre- (SYS) leader Abdul Hameed mosques offered prayers while ment of Rs 3,000 to the police- porter who wanted to purchase missioner Kunal Agarwal.
suspend the practice. Taking tizens." tary of the All India Ulema Faizy Ambalakkadavu said, the general public offered na- men. The video of the crying milk during curfew break. ADG (Meerut) Prashant Ku-
the lead, the All India Muslim Imams too pitched in with Council, Maulana Mahmood “Islamic laws are flexible and maz at home," said Imam of man has now gone viral. According to the complaint mar said that “disciplining dis-
Personal Law Board appeals "We had announced Daryabadi, sought fatwas from practical. Five times prayers Eidgah Masjid, Maulana Kha- But it’s hardly the only vid- filed with the police, health cor- obedient crowds is the biggest
(AIMPLB) announced on Twit- earlier that we will keep the prominent Muftis, including and mass prayers on Fridays lid Rasheed Firangi Maheli. eo of its kind. Social media is respondent Antriksh Kar challenge in containing spread
flooded with footage of police Singh was accosted by ASI KC of Covid-19”. Sudhanshu Saran-
highhandedness, attracting Parashar and constable Atul gi, police commissioner (Bhu-

Working on local kits to test

Covid outbreak shows up
shock and alarm from across Sharma, who were in a private baneshwar and Cuttack), main-
the country, as they punish peo- SUV. Singh showed them his tained that force was being used
ple for coming out of their media ID card and pointed out to ensure lockdown “if people
coronavirus, says ICMR homes in the lockdown. The
Pimpri Chinchwad incident
that the Indore administration
had exempted journalists from
don’t follow directions” and
“don’t discipline themselves”.

global health rankings [email protected]

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),

which has been at the forefront fighting the Covid-19 out-
comes days after another viral
video showed three Punjab cops
raining blows with lathi on the
soles of a young boy’s feet as he
curfew restrictions but despite
that he was beaten up by them.
Elsewhere, those trying to
buy groceries have had to brave
If not brute force, cops are
humiliating people by making
them rub their noses on the
ground or do sit-ups. In one pho-
Rema.Nagarajan break in the country, is also making strides in research and cries in pain and for mercy. lathis. A 35-year-old out to buy to shared on Twitter, cops are
@timesgroup.com TAMIL NADU TOPS IN development of local testing kits and other therapeutics to
tackle the novel coronavirus.
And in Badaun, migrant la-
bourers on their way back
milk for his three children in
Kolkata died of a cardiac arrest
seen deflating tyres of a vegeta-
ble seller’s vehicle to keep him
HOME QUARANTINE of the street.

A
n article in Lancet has The government’s research wing is evaluating “repur- home were made to crawl and soon after an alleged thrashing
questioned global posed molecules”or redevelopment of molecules for use in do frog jumps on the road by po- by cops on Wednesday. Lal Swa- Patna SSP Upendra Kumar
health rankings point- Maharashtra has the highest number of reported cases, but different diseases like Covid-19 and will soon go for in-vitro licemen in UP. mi’s wife, Annu, alleged that po- Sharma admitted they have re-
ing out that the country that ranks No. 8 among states in home quarantine. On the other hand, testing, Dr R R Gangakhedkar, head of epidemiology and While the nationwide lock- lice beat him in the market and ceived a large number of com-
ranked at the top of Global Jharkhand, which had zero cases, had quarantined over 40,000 communicable diseases at ICMR said. down exempts essential servic- he collapsed when he reached plaints against police.
Health Security Index 2019, people in their homes. Of course, one needs to remember that
the US, has tackled the Co- quarantine is a preventive measure and numbers could be high
if more people had flown into the state from affected countries.

Doc dies, surgeon-son ‘infected’ States step in to help

vid-19 pandemic worst while
lower ranked South Korea Delhi, which sees the highest number of international travellers,
(9th), China (51st) and other has less than 3,000 in home quarantine
Asian countries have done Quarantined At Home Govt. Hospital
better in providing effective
and often innovative re-
sponses.
States
87,425 | 284
Positive
Cases
Sumitra DebRoy &
Malathy Iyer TNN lakhs of stranded
The global health security Tamil Nadu 26 Mumbai: An 85-year-old sur- Prafulla.Marpakwar ban district 2,000, and Raigad
(GHS) index is an assessment 76,010 geon-cum-urologist died of @timesgroup.com 2,000. Ratnagiri and Sindhu-
of 195 countries’ capacity to Kerala 118 suspected coronavirus early durg had the remaining few
112
face infectious disease out- Jharkhand 40,579 | 0 0 on Friday even as his 50-year- Mumbai: Three days after hundred. “We will provide
breaks. The UK had ranked Gujarat 30,000 | 1,495 38 old cardiac surgeon son, who Prime Minister Narendra Mo- them dry ration or cooked food
second in the index. The arti- was operating on patients till di declared a 21-day lockdown and temporary shelter. We will
cle by Sarah Dalglish of the Punjab 30,000 | 8 31 Wednesday, is said to have to halt the spread of coronavi- ensure every stranded person
Johns Hopkins School of Pub- Andhra Pradesh 25,962 | 90 10 contracted the infection. The rus, the Maha Vikas Aghadi gets food and shelter. Officials
lic Health pointed out that the West Bengal 25,072 | 217 9 news of the death started a government led by Uddhav of the revenue department are
US and UK governments have scramble to trace contacts Thackeray has provided food working at the grass-root level
provided among the world's Maharashtra 14,502 | 932 122 across two of the city’s major and shelter to an estimated one to locate stranded people,”
worst responses to the pan- Karnataka 14,066 | 172 51 hospitals where the cardiac Firefighters spray disinfectant at Siliguri district hospital on Friday lakh people stranded across Daund said.
demic with neither wide- Haryana 30 surgeon visited to operate the state. Jalgaon collector Avinash
9,097 | 126 Gujarat has
spread testing available, nor and for his father’s treat- rus saying confirmatory going CT scan, the cardiac The lockdown announce- Dhakne said besides employ-
treatment and robust contact Assam 8,439 | 0 maximum 0 ment in the last few days. tests were being carried out surgeon son is believed to ment brought buses, trains ees of the revenue and other
tracing, as strongly recom- people at Kasturba Hospital. “The have gone near one of the departments, he has roped in
Rajasthan 7,100 | 200 38 One of the hospitals shut and flights to a halt, leaving
mended by the WHO. It added in govt down the cardiac catheteri- man was a diabetic and had a OTs to meet people. Saifee many stranded in the state, far NGOs to provide food and shel-
Uttar Pradesh 5,152 | 73 hospitals 38
that health workers in these sation lab, while another pacemaker too,” said state has been told to cancel sur- away from home. ter. “As of now, we have made
two countries have neither ad- Odisha 4,015 | 36 2 sealed a part of the building epidemiologist Dr Pradeep geries and not have OPDs for Thousands of poor mi- arrangements for 5,000 strand-
equate access to personal pro- Himachal Pradesh 1,895 | 14 3 for a disinfection drive. Awate, who also said two of a few days, a civic official grant workers who could not ed persons. Their arrange-
tective equipment nor are Jharkhand, which Sources said the octoge- the family members had re- said. get a toehold in the last jam- ment has been made at mangal
Uttarakhand 1,681 | 50 5
there nearly enough hospital has no positive narian’s grandson, who had cently returned from the UK. At Breach Candy Hospi- packed train home found karyalayas (marriage halls) in
beds to accommodate the on- Bihar 1,228 | 50 4 returned from the UK about At least two other family tal, where the cardiac sur- themselves staring at starva- the district. We are following
cases, has
slaught of patients. Telangana 1,200 | 43 quarantined over 41 a fortnight ago, has also test- members had tested positive, geon had operated on a pa- tion. Many of them had social distancing norms. If
In contrast, Asian coun- ed positive. sources said. The state main- tient on Monday, the entire worked construction or la- more persons are located, we
Chhattisgarh 900 | 6 40,000 people 3
tries, including China, South Maharashtra’s cases tained Maharashtra’s death catheterisation lab was shut boured at industries for daily can make arrangements for
Korea, Singapore and Tai- Madhya Pradesh 890 | 394 Total 20 went up to 153 on Friday from toll remained at five as on for disinfection. Around 15 wages. They were left with lit- them too,” Dhakne said.
wan, were hailed for provid- Goa 683 | 69 Quarantined 3 130. Though that meant 23 Friday, the same as on Thurs- people from the department, tle money and no shelter. Akola collector Jeetendra
ing “rapid, effective and often new cases, the state govern- day. including doctors, techni- Konkan divisional com- Papalkar said the district ad-
innovative responses” proba- Union Teritories 3,96,021 ment said 27 fresh cases had At Saifee Hospital, civic cians, ward boys and sweep- missioner Shivajirao Daund ministration had made ar-
bly due to their recent experi- J&K 3,061 | 80 11 been added but kept the total sources said 14 people were ers were put under home said preliminary reports indi- rangements for 500 persons.
ence with outbreaks of Mid- Delhi 2,921 | 27 35 count at 153. The discrepancy found to be high-risk con- quarantine. While hospital cated about 11,000 people were “We have made arrangements
dle East respiratory syn- J&K tops the list could possibly be on account tacts and quarantined at the authorities couldn’t be reac- stranded at 67 locations in the in municipal schools. Cooked
Puducherry 1,524 | 68 1
drome (MERS) in 2015 and the of quarantined of some of Thursday night’s hospital, while 26 found low- hed for comment, sources seven districts of the coastal food is from local NGOs. All of-
2002–03 severe acute respira- Chandigarh 450 | 9 people among UTs 7 patients being added to Fri- risk were advised home said the hospital was putting region of the state. ficials have been asked to en-
tory syndrome (SARS) epi- day’s list, it is said. quarantine. The OT area and together a list of patients the Palghar had 1,700 stranded sure no stranded person re-
demic. *All figures till morning of March 26; Assam figures till March 23; State officials didn’t attri- part of the ICU were sealed. doctor had visited in the people, Thane 2,000, Mumbai mains without food and shel-
Punjab hospital quarantine figure till March 18
Full report on www.toi.in bute the death to coronavi- While the father was under- ward. district 3,000, Mumbai subur- ter,” Papalkar said.

TIMES inter :
To book your advertisement,
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Govt asks states to identify all non-monitored travellers
Continued from P1 whereas lesser number of people lance programme so that author- states to immediately identify all in quarantine.
were being monitored. “It is im- ities are assured that they are out such travellers and put them un- “I do not think it needs any evi-

U
nderlining a discrepancy portant that they are put under of the danger zone. The Centre der close surveillance to prevent dence that we started way early.
between arrivals and those close surveillance to prevent the has asked states to immediately the spread of the epidemic. We still do not have community
accounted for in surveil- spread of the epidemic,” the letter step up surveillance and trace all As a key preventive measure transmission,” Dr R R Gangak-
lance, cabinet secretary Rajiv said. these travellers seen as crucial to against Covid-19 which has spread hedkar, head of epidemiology and
Gauba said the home ministry’s “We are keeping an eagle’s eye breaking the chain of transmis- in over 170 countries so far, the communicable diseases at the In-
A Specialised Care Home for Bureau of Immigration had on the arrivals, particularly those sion. Centre started monitoring all in- dian Council of Medical Research
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Hospital have been acquired for treatment Family members carry the body of a 25-year-old woman in Patna on Friday due to non-availability
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“We have a 60-bed treatment facility in patients along with those of Covid-19,” ex- the Chhattisgarh capital, RIMS is the first
state-run MRTB Hospital and a 150-bed plained Dr Jadia. private hospital to be taken over by the
quarantine in the private Jagadguru Dat- The 120-bed Gokuldas Hospital has state to combat the pandemic.
tatreya Hospital. The 450-bed MTH Hospi- been chosen because it has 12 ICUs and as “Covid-19 patients and those under
tal is being used as an isolation facility,:” many ventilators, while Vishesh Hospital hospital observation are being admitted to
said the CMHO, adding that 18 private hos- has 300 beds, along with ICU, OTs, ventila- AIIMS-Raipur. As of now, we can accom-
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pay through Credit/Debit Card, ease. Medical and other staff of both private tals, including AIIMS,” said an official,
“There is a difference between ‘autho- hospitals will be roped into the Corona adding that they are working on a plan to
rizing’ and ‘acquiring’ a private hospital battle. develop facilities at RIMS to turn it into a
for treatment of a disease. Private hospi- Neighbouring Chhattisgarh has ac- Covid-19 treatment hub.
9924036655
 THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 TIMES NATION | Lockdown-Day 3 7

People should stay Roof to food: Lockdown 15,000 trucks stranded

on Gurgaon border
where they are: MHA
 Continued from P1 heroes offer everything  Continued from P1 rakhand have been stranded on
the Gurgaon border for three

W
hile a few lakh out of the days, triggering fears of a short-

T
he idea behind the lock-
down is that people TIMES NEWS NETWORK 30 lakh trucks stranded age of packaged food items, medi-
should stay where they on national and state cines and medical kits. The cur-
are,” said Salila Srivastava, Spark of human kindness is highways started moving on Fri- rent delivery cycle is already two
joint secretary in the home lighting up India in these gloomy day, snarls along stretches wide weeks behind, sources said.
ministry, during the daily offi- days. If there are some offering enough for just two vehicles to For e-comm players, too, sup-
cial briefing on the Covid-19 help to our frontline Covid war- pass are delaying supply to mar- ply has become as daunting a
situation. riors, others are making an all- kets starved of essentials. This challenge as distribution. Offi-
Home secretary Ajay Bhal- out effort to see that no one goes problem is particularly acute in cials of some of the top e-tailers
la has urged all states and UTs hungry — be it a human being or the smaller states of the north- said that while governments had
to take immediate steps to pro- an animal. east that are dependent on fuel started removing restrictions, in-
vide adequate support, includ- A final-year student at Satya- and essential commodities going ter-state movement of goods was
ing food and shelter, to mi- jit Ray Film and Television Insti- from various parts of the country proving to be both a logistical and
grant agricultural labourers, tute (SRFTI) in Kolkata con- through Assam. "Petrol and die- financial bottleneck. Given that
industrial workers and other vinced her father to give out their sel vehicles are standing along trucks now have to travel empty
unorganised sector workers. two flats rent-free to health work- with vegetable, grain, sand and one-way, prices of essentials are
All states and UTs have been ers who are being ostracised for cement trucks. They have to al- likely to go up by 2-10%.
advised to ensure that stu- "handling infection". After the low all vehicles to pass," said Pe- "Inter-state movement is still
dents and working women 26-year-old's post on social ter Thokcham, a trucker from not clear, trade borders are still
from other states are also al- media, two doctors and a nurse Manipur. "The roads leading off sealed. When it comes to local
lowed to continue in their ex- including NGOs, to provide got in touch with her on Thurs- NH 315A and NH 515 are very nar- permission, the authorities have
isting accommodation during food and shelter as well as ba- day. row." been forthcoming. We managed
the lockdown. sic amenities such as clean Suchana Saha had been up- Unlike on the first two days of to get passes in Bengaluru and
The lines of migrant work- drinking water and sanitation set ever since she read about the the lockdown, transporters and Gurgaon, while we are electroni-
ers walking back long distanc- to unorganised sector work- humiliation and abuse that fron- governments have managed to cally applying for the same in Del-
es to their homes have been ers, particularly stranded mi- tline health workers treating Co- prevent more drivers from aban- hi. Hyderabad has asked for per-
triggered in part by the eco- grant workers. vid-19 patients were facing. Her doning their vehicles on high- mission letters, which we have
nomic shutdown, which has Further, states have been businessman father owns two ways by arranging food and wa- submitted. By end of the week-
deprived daily wagers of earn- advised to make these vulner- flats in Kolkata that had been giv- are sharing what they have with ing the needy. He is using the rice and no leftovers from shops that ter at many locations. end, it should be back to normal,
ings and also because many able groups aware of the mea- en out on rent till six months ago. strangers. Noorul Khan, a small- and foodgrains that he has in stray animals survive on, this In NCR, around 15,000 trucks at least for local movement," said
are worried about how long sures taken by the govern- She sought his permission and time caterer from Kurla, and his stock to make food packets for the people have it upon themselves coming from states like Maha- TA Krishnan, co-founder and
the current situation will last. ment, including provision of put out a post, which post had friends have been serving food to needy in Mumbai. that no animal goes hungry. rashtra, Tamil Nadu and Utta- CEO of Ecom Express.
The advisory — which free food grains and other es- been shared 1.4k times since nearly 200 homeless or stranded Fashion designer Nandita
came in the wake of reports of sential items through the pub- Thursday. people since the lockdown to Feeding The Strays Too Thirani has contacted people in
migrant workers heading lic distribution system (PDS). check the spread of coronavirus A group of animal lovers in her apartment off Theatre Road DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
back to home towns on foot in This, it is hoped, would help Sharing, Not Hoarding was announced on Tuesday. Kolkata have formed online to join her in feeding strays on MINISTRY OF SCENCE & TECHNOLOGY,
view of suspension of train prevent avoidable movement At a time when some people Khan says his catering busi- groups to feed stray dogs and cats Camac Street, Russel Street, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
are stockpiling and hoarding es- ness is at a standstill but the loss- in neighbourhoods around Park Street, Short Street, Wood NOMINATIONS IAPPLICATIONS FOR THE POST OF DIRECTOR,
and bus services — suggests of such people, according to CDFD, HYDERABAD ON DEPUTATION
that states involve agencies, the advisory. sential items, there are some who es are not keeping him from help- them. With the city in lockdown Street and Chowringhee. ONCLUDING SHORT TERM CONTRACT /ABSORPTION)
ADVERTISEMENT NO. 0112020
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad is an autonomous
institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The Centre

500 stranded in Iran: SC seeks uniquel y combines two kinds of activities , the first being those of service in the twin areas
of DNA profiling for law-enforcement agencies and diagnostics tests and clincal
counseling for genetic disorders , and the second that of cutting-ed ge basic research -
action plan from Centre various disciplines of modern biology, in such a way that each supports and in turr s
enriched by the other.
New Delhi: Remaining locked down in their homes because of Age Limit: The applicants should be below 58 years of age.
Covid-19, the Supreme Court judges on Friday sought an action Pay Scale of the Post: In Level- 15 of Pay Matrix of 7" CPC with usual allowances as
plan from the Centre by Monday to bring back 500 Ladakhi per Govt. of India Rules.
Shias stranded for weeks at Qom in Iran while on a pilgrimage. The applicants should be Scientists from Central / State Governments . Researc ^
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant oper- Institutes ,Autonomous Bodies , Government funded Research organizator s l a s j tes
ated from the residential office of Justice Chandrachud on etc.
Tughlaq Road while senior advocate Sanjay Hegde argued the (i) Holding analogous post on regular basis in the parent Department.
case through video conferencing from his home office. TNN or
(ii) 5 years service in post with Pay MatrixLevel - 14orequiva lent intne oare ^t c acr e ?
Department and possess the qualification & experience as below:-
Essential Qualification:
ffi Government of West Bengal (I) Ph. Din any fife science discipline/ M.D. or equivalent

D epartment of Power (ii) Minimum 15 years experience of research in the area of orga ^s r 'ial celula•
molecular or systems biology, or biotechnology.
(iii) Excellent track record, hand in publications, patent and awards .
Desirable Qualification:
(i) Experience in successfully running large programme,centre is ::jtor
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EXTENSION OF DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Last date for receipt of nominations / applications in Department of Biotcchcclog y s 3C
The last date for submission of application for appointment to the Post of days from the date of publication of this advertisement in Employment News for local
Director (Distribution) in West Bengal State Electricity Distribution candidates and 45 days for candidates residing abroad and from Andaman & Nic obar
Company Limited (originally published in this newspaper on 26.02.2020) and Lakshadweep Islands, States / Union Territories in the North-Eastern region, Lada k^
is hereby extended to 30.04.2020 (up to 5.00 PM). All other terms and Union Territories, Sikkim, Sub-division Chamba and Lahaul and Spiti districts of
Himachal Pradesh.
conditions of the original Notification remain unaltered. For further details,
please visit www.wbpower.gov.in as well as www.wbsedcl.in. The detailed advertisement and format of application are available at DBT as well as
CDFD websites i.e. http://dbtindia.gov.in and www.cdfd ,org.in,

We Safe Nation S

Free meal at the doo rste p f o r

'*;0:1 hel pless an d seni o r citizens
livin g al o ne in Gujarat

Important decisions ta ken by the sensitive

state government to ensure ease amongst citizens
during lockdown
©BCCL 2020
????? ent along with t
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Standard Pass.
(Relaxable
as per Govt.
9724345560 -
0278 2424814 15, 9879638426 -
ond death in two days, that of a
60-year-old who died late Driver Pay 1900, (b) Must instructions Vadodara : Ms.Krishnaben Solanki Gandhinagar : Mr. Amit Singhai
(Ordinary (Level-02 of possess valid issued from 9909954709
0265-2459502, 9624785427
Thursday night. Neither of
the two victims was a health- Grade) Pay Matrix) driving licence for time to
care worker. The second Co- General both heavy and time) Rajkot : Mr. Chetan Ganatra Junagadh : Mr. Hitesh Vamja
vid-19 death reported on Fri- Central light motor
day was from Tumukuru in Service vehicles. 0281 -2476874, 9909992767 9898146865
Karnataka.
Group 'C' , (c) Should
In Mumbai, an 85-year-old
surgeon-cum-urologist died
Non- have at least two The CM has also instructed to provide essential
Gazetted , years experience
of suspected coronavirus
early on Friday, even as his 50- Non- in driving motor items to the aged and helpless at their doorstep
year-old cardiac surgeon son, Ministerial. vehicles.
who was operating on pa- (d) Knowledge of 'cient micro-planning under d'
tients till Wednesday, is said to Motor Mechanism
have contracted the infection. (should be able to pervision of the Chief Minis
The news started a scramble remove defects in
to trace contacts across two of
the city’s major hospitals. The
vehicles) • The state government shall provide for food and other essential items for
test result on the deceased (b) Mufti OBC-01 Gujarat Level-01 Essential: - 18-27 years the labourers in order to prevent them from returning to their native land
Tasking Region (Rs, 18000- (a) Matriculation (Relaxable
doctor is awaited.
In another suspected Co- Staff 56900) or equivalent pass. as per Govt.
amidst the pandemic
vid-19 death, a 60-year-old Ye- (Chowkidar) (b) Two years, instructions • Concerned senior officials have been appointed to oversee the distribution
men national died in a private General experience as issued from of all the essential items to the citizens.A Centralised Control Room, which
Delhi hospital. His confirma- Central Chowkidar in any time to
tory test results are awaited. Service recognised time) will be functional 24x7, has been set up at State Emergency Operation
Meanwhile, Maharashtra
Group 'C' , institution or Centre for the same.
continued to report a high
number of patients, with 17
Non- organisation. • Citizens can directly reach on the helpline number: 1070-079-23251900.
Gazetted ,
testing positive on Friday.
Non- • Helpline number at the district level is 1077
Twelve of these were from a
Ministerial.
Not a single citizen shout
single family in Islampur,

. .
The details of above mentioned posts can be seen on the web portal of Indian Coast Guard
near Sangli. As many as 24
members of the family have so
far tested positive after four of i.e. www indiancoastguard gov.in. Applications of the eligible candidates, complete
in all respect , should reach Headquar ters , Coast Guard Region (North-West), Gandhinagar
them returned from Saudi
Arabia on March 14. within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in employment news. Let us stay indoors and break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in
davp 10147/11/0009/1920 order to save us and others during lockdown - Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Nitin Patel
8 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

Why India will have to work How literature has helped

us make sense of pandemics
extra to soften lockdown blow [email protected] Several works by master storytellers men-
tion pestilence in passing, which underlines

P
andemics are mass murderers. Dis- that epidemics prominently occupied a writer’s
eases like plague, smallpox, influenza mindscape, especially in the late 19th and
and cholera ruin families, destroy early 20th centuries. Premchand’s “Eidgah” is
Covid-19 has now spread to 175 countries, with more than 40 of them reporting at towns and leave a generation one of his most remembered short stories.
least 500 confirmed cases. Much like India, many governments have implemented scarred and scared. Devastation caused Some might recall that its protagonist,
by outbreaks impacted many major the 5-year-old boy Hamid, had lost his
lockdowns to control the spread of the virus. But the impact of such a lockdown writers across India — Rabindranath father to haija (cholera). In “Doodh
Tagore, Premchand, Suryakant Trip- ka Dam”, a poignant tale on untouch-
won’t be the same everywhere. Workers in India may be among the hardest hit as athi ‘Nirala’, Fakir Mohan Senapati, ability, one of the characters suc-
only 2 in every 10 Indians are guaranteed basic minimum salaries and wages — Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and oth- cumbs to the plague. Many perish to
ers — giving birth to haunting poems, TAGORE cholera in “Rebati”, a well-known story
for the remaining workers, a lockdown could be really punishing short stories and novels. by Fakir Mohan Senapati, often described
“Literature regards each individual with as the father of Odiya literature. Extremely
compassion and goes deeper than what statis- virulent, cholera continues to kill thousands
CONFIRMED CORONA CASES SALARIED WORKERS AS tics or historical records can tell us. Literature globally every year.
(TILL MARCH 26, 8PM) % OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT INDIA may not explain away or fight off things such Writers in Malayalam have penned novels
as pandemics, even as modern science some- on epidemics. In eminent litterateur Thakazhi
INDIA 694 22.1 76.2% times can’t, but it does become a source of Sivasankara Pillai’s novel, “Thottiyude Ma-
PAKISTAN VULNERABLE THAILAND consolation, a way of sharing our common kan” (“Scavenger’s Son”), a contagious disease
PAKISTAN 1,128 39.8 58.9 WORKERS 46.9 humanist concerns, and, in its own way, pro- sweeps through Alappuzha town. Sahitya-
vides the deepest and most insightful re- Akademi award recipient Malayalam
INDONESIA 893 49.8 cord of the events,” says Harish Trive- writer Kakkanadan’s “Vasoori”
di, who taught English literature at (“Smallpox”) explores the reactions
THAILAND 1,045 50.2 Delhi University. of a distant hamlet in central Kerala
ECUADOR 1,211 51.1 India has highest proportion Tagore’s long poem, “Puratan following the outbreak of smallpox.
Bhritya” (“The Old Manservant”), In Kannada writer UR Ananthamur-
of vulnerable workers tells the aching story of a much-reviled thy’s masterpiece, “Samskara”, one of
CHINA 81,782 53.6 INDONESIA CHINA
Another yardstick to measure employment house help who nurses his master to the main characters, Narayanappa, dies
46.7 conditions is the assessment of vulnerable
43.3 NIRALA
IRAN 29,406 55.2 health but succumbs to smallpox. The of the plague.
employment. ILO and UN define vulnerable poem, often recited at elocution contests, In medieval Europe, too, plague and
PHILIPPINES 707 62.7 employment as employment status when workers endures in popularity as YouTube indicates. smallpox killed millions. Hindi author Mrid-
classify themselves as own account workers or One of its several uploads has over 3.25 lakh
GREECE 821 66.1 contributing family workers. These workers are views. Smallpox, which originated in ancient
less likely to have formal work arrangements and, times, killed around 300 million in the 20th CONTAGION CLASSICS
TURKEY 2,433 67.6 hence, lack decent working conditions and social century. On December 13, 2019, the WHO cel- From Albert Camus’s The Plague
S KOREA ITALY ebrated 40 years of eradication of smallpox. In the memories of those who lived through
security. This employment status is characterised
For most other large economies, 23.4 by inadequate earnings, low productivity and 17.0 A moving account of the 1918 Spanish Flu, them, the grim days of plague do not stand
majority of workers are salaried difficult working conditions. Migrant
which claimed an estimated 12-17 million out like livid frames, ravenous and
lives in India and between 50 million
Among other large economies only Brazil, South Korea and workers tend to fall into this category indistinguishable, beaconing a
and 100 million globally, is found in
Italy have less than 80% of their workers working without any troubled sky but rather like the slow,
Ahmed Ali’s novel, “Twilight in Del-
fixed remuneration. In Russia and the US, salaried hi”. The Delhi-born author, who later deliberate progress of some
workers constitute over 90% of their workforces In most large economies, they make migrated to Pakistan, talks of how monstrous thing crushing out all
up a smaller share of workforce shroud thieves stole sheets from the upon its path
CONFIRMED CORONA CASES SALARIED WORKERS AS UK SPAIN graves and how gravediggers raised
Economies such as South Korea, Italy and From Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s
(TILL MARCH 26, 8PM) % OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT 12.9 United Kingdom have more than 10% of their 11.3 their fees four-fold during the pandemic. CAMUS Love in the Time of Cholera
“They did not bother to see that the grave After the first two weeks of the cholera
BRAZIL 2,567 67.8 labour force falling under the category of
was properly dug or deep enough or not. They epidemic, the cemetery was overflowing
vulnerable workers. For others the
had so many more to dig,” Ali wrote.
SOUTH KOREA 9,241 74.9 proportion is less than 10% “Delhi became a city of the dead… But the
and there was no room left in the churches
people of Delhi, true to the traditions of the
despite the fact that they had dispatched
ITALY 74,386 76.9 past, did not miss an opportunity of having a the decayed remains of many nameless
few digs at Fortune. They made songs and sang civic heroes to the communal ossuary
SPAIN 56,188 83.6 FRANCE
JAPAN them and the leaflets containing them were
UK 9,642 84.7 8.4 7.4 sold for a pice each: “How deadly this fever
is/Everyone is dying of it/The Hospi- ula Garg says writers all over the world
CANADA 3,404 84.8 tals are gay and bright/But sorry is constantly wrote about the havoc out-
men’s plight,” he wrote. breaks caused. But she believes that
SOUTH AFRICA 709 84.8 Some writers coped with per- the emergence of a new breed of
sonal tragedy as well. “The Hindi pandemics is linked to human behav-
FRANCE 25,604 88.4 poet Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ lost iour. “They are the result of the de-
half of his family, including his wife struction of forests, closer contact with
JAPAN 1,307 89.7 RUSSIA US and daughter, in the 1918 influenza out- PILLAI wild animals, consumption of newer
3.7 break. He described how there were no breeds of animals as food and consequent
GERMANY 40,421 89.8 5.2 lowering of the biological barrier that kept
wooden logs left with which to cremate the
dead, and how even the Ganga grew heavy the viruses prevalent in animals from affect-
RUSSIA 840 93.4 and seemed exhausted with its burden of ing humans. We writers are concerned about
Note: Data as of March 26 at 8pm. Only countries reporting more than 500 confirmed cases as of March 25 were analysed corpses,” says Trivedi, a scholar of post-co- this phenomenon and some works should
US 69,210 93.8 Research: Atul Thakur | Graphics: Sajeev Kumarapuram | Source: Johns Hopkins, World Bank, ILO, Global Findex database lonial and translation studies. emerge from it,” she says.

Posters appealing for financial aid flood social media platforms

Continued from P1 Sania Mirza, actor Abhishek are looking to raise `50 lakh Child Helpline Foundation, is process on March 22. Currently
IS Kerala recruit among
Bachchan and filmmaker Farah through their initiative, Youth using its volunteers to provide we are providing foodgrain
gurdwara attackers in Af
I
n just 24 hours, Shaaz Meh- Khan. The trio, in association Feed India. They have received help to daily wagers. In Bengalu- packets to at least 1,000 families
mood and his friends, Tanya with SAFA society, then started donations worth `11lakh so far. ru, an NGO, Humane Touch, has of daily wagers. These kits are
Reddy and Deepti Kat, raised a campaign on online crowd- Several posters appealing become a part of a collective made for families of six and will [email protected] Reuters probe showed that Muhsin did
over `25 lakh. They prepared funding platform, Ketto, to re- for financial aid have flooded so- called #MercyMission, which is last for 15 days,” said Humane not figure in any of the existing
packets of food and other utility ach out to 10,000 more families in cial media platforms. Crowd- raising funds for daily wagers, Touch founder secretary Ta- New Delhi: The Islamic State- cases being probed by the NIA,
items for the families. Among Hyderabad, North Karnataka, funding campaigns are offering some also migrants. zayan Oomer. Khorasan Province has relating to those from Kerala
the donors were tennis player Bangalore and Chennai. They multiple schemes. In Mumbai, “We started our planning Full report on www.toi.in claimed that Thursday’s sui- who have travelled out of the
cide attack on a Sikh gurdwara country so far to join IS.
z in Kabul, which killed 25 peo- Sources said Muhsin’s last
4W ple, was carried out by one of known location was the UAE,
eau a ar lur f a HLL Lifecare Limited TENDER NOTICE (NIT) its Indian recruits, who has At least 25 people were killed where he had travelled to from
(NRA ZiidiR ail3dA) ' (A Govemment of India Ent erprise) 1. Tender no .: M442-MSC-BRCP-
CIN: U25193 KL 1966 GOI 002621 GUJARAT STATE now been identified as Moham- and eight were injured in a India in July 2018. “It is not
RT-20202. N a m e o f W o r k :
mad Muhsin from Kasargod, suicide attack at a Kabul known how and when he trav-
HLL Bhavan , Poojappura , Thiruva nantha puram- 695 012 , Composite cleaning contract NARMADA WATER RESOURCES,
including Mechanized cleaning, Kerala. Muhsin, sources in In- gurudwara on Wednesday elled further to reach Afghan-
Kerala , India. Tel: +91 4 7 1 2354949 WATER SUPPLY AND KALPSAR DEPARTMENT dian agencies said, was named istan. A school dropout aged 28-
Rag picking and garbage disposal
for upkeep of Vadodara railway
E -TENDER NOTICE No. 20 of 2019-20 (Corrigendum-1) in the IS message as Abu Kha- by ammunition, with an IS flag 29 years, Muhsin — given the
The Tenders are invited on behalf of Governor of Govt , of Gujarat by the office of the Executive
station 3. Estimated cost of work: lid al-Hindi — which also for the background. ‘kunya’ name Abu Khalid al-
Engineer, Ambica Division , Navsari 'or 'Consvuction of "Residensial Quarters' at Navsari
Tender No. HLUSDIRBD/2019 -20/TENDER /15 DTD 05 .03.2020 Rs. 10,84 ,51,648.64/- (Rupees Ten claimed the bombing as an act Sources said the NIA on Hindi — was allegedly one of
Irrigation Colony, Ta. Dist , Navsari ' in B-2 form through online system
Amendment No 5 Crores Eighty Four Lakh Fifty One of revenge for Kashmiri Mus- Friday corroborated Muhsin’s the three suspected attackers
Thousand Six Hundred Forty Eight 1 . Estimated Cost Rs.3,80 ,84,650.49
HLL Lifecare Ltd., a Mini Rata PSU under Ministry of Health and 2. Date of uploading Up to Of 07/03/2020
lims — but his real identity was identity by getting in touch involved in the Kabul gurdwa-
And Sixty Four Paisa only) 4.
Family Welfare , Govt . of India invites bids from the interested 3, Last Date & Time for receipt of Up to Of 20/04/2020 @ 18.00 Hours instead of Up to confirmed based on his photo- with his family in Kasargod. ra bombing. “Neither was
Earnest money deposit: Rs.
manufactures / distributors for the supply of VENTILATORS as part online tender Of 07/0412020 @ 1&00 Hours graph released by Al-Amaq More details are expected after Muhsin on the NIA radar nor
6,92,300/- (Rupees Six Lakh Ninty
of COVID -19 Emergency Procurement. Two thousand Three hundred only) 4. Physical Documents Submission DL 21-04.2020 to Of 27-04-2020 instead of DL News, a pro-IS media outlet. further probe. There was no had his parents approached
The tender is already published in ourwebsite www.lifecareh ll.com 5. Cost of tender document: Rs. of EMD, Tender fee & other 08-04.2020 to DL15-04.2020 at 18 .00 Hrs . In the The picture showed him bran- clarity on whether a case the police/NIA to report him as
for emergency procurement of various items. The details for 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Documents during office hours. Office of the Executive Engineer, Ambica Division, dishing a gun and surrounded would be registered. Initial ‘missing’,” an official told TOI.
ventilators along with specifications can be seen as per Amendment Only)6. D a t e & t i m e o f Opp. Tata Baug, Near Parsi Hospital, Lunsikui,
No. 5. You may kindly refer the above website and may participate in submission of tender: Not later Navsari-396445 , Phone No:- 02637.258054
the tender.You may also provide your offer to below email ids; than 15:00 hrs of 21/04/2020 in
?dcovidep.hll@lifecarehll .com, sd covidep [email protected]
(Kindly continue to visit the above website for any updates /
prescribed manner 7. Date & time
of opening : On the last date of
5. Tender Opening date for online
tender received
(Due to Corona Virus)
Date: 28/04/2020 instead of Date: 16104/2020 ® 12.00
P.M.The Superintending Engineer, Surat Irrigation
Tribal girl ‘gang-raped’ by
additional products as part of COVID-19 Emergency Procurement) submission i.e. 21/04/2020 at 15:30
In case of any clarification with respect to this tender you may
contact the following officers:
hrs8 . Validity of offers : 60 days
from the date of tender opening 9. 6. Name & Address of Division
Circle, Surat-395001 Ta- & DL Surat
Executive Eng reer, Ambica Division, Navsari Opp.Tata f c1a1 Y ?xr? r 10 persons in Jharkhand
Mr. Aswin AS , Manager (Sourcing), Mob,9400027975 Completion period: Forty Eight Office Baug , Lunsikui , Navsari , Pin code No. 396445, Phone IZQI faltcl f'sl 'kfl 9 I 1) 217- TIMES NEWS NETWORK on Thursday but no arrests
Mr. Vinod G Pillai (Vice President-Sourcing), Mob: 7824001017 Monthsl0. W e b s i t e d e t a i l s : 02637 258054 221/NIT/SLR/Leasing/20: iI have been made so far.
"
Vice President (Sourcing) https://www.ireps.g vin The tender doc.iments 'or the works will be available on the web site wvnv. norocure.com & f'ci%- 20.04.2020. 2) 222-238-NIT-
3,o further derals not ce can ae seed a+. nvnvst at e tend ers rcm
??:,,r.ri sei 2Jn
NFR-2020 :
"
t ft?l (222 230)
i
23.04.2020, (231-238) 24.04 .2020. 3)
A 16-year-old tribal girl
was allegedly gan-
graped by 10 persons in a
Dumka superintendent
of police YS Ramesh said,
“Our investigation is on
239-241-NIT-NFR -PBCM -20: t e a
r r r , r r forest area under the Gopi- and we will arrest the cul-
Development Support Agency Of Gujarat (D-SAG) aR ft f2)- 27.04.2020. 9 fq
ZR 3r 4t
134 4
r kandar police station in prits soon.”
An autonomous society promoted by j Corrigendum No. 1 mmito it 7I
•
Jharkhand’s Dumka dis-
trict on Tuesday.
The girl has been admit-
ted to Dumka Medical Col-
Tribal Develop ment Department, Government of Gu arat
Oft z 31f?v+I A34fi
Commercial Department 334-AJ /20 3cT1 jz
The girl lodged an FIR lege and Hospital.
E-Tender Notice No. VKY/2017/2261/D-SAG In view of the state wide lockdown enforced by Govt. of Gujarat & many other
states in India on account of the Covid-19 being declared a pandemic , in

CORRIGENDUM Vadodara district complete lockdown has been enforced.

In view of the present situation it is decided to extend the date of closing of
following tenders that are to be opened till 03.04.2020 to facilitate the
- 1 1
Development Support Agency of Gujarat (D-SAG) invites e-tender from intending bidders for implementing of prospective bidders. 11
_
T,7
717;iI
Project implementing Agency for "Selection Agency For GPSC Class-1, 2 & 3 Preliminary Coaching in ITDP Areas
Sr. Tender No . & Actual closing Revised Closing
of Gujarat"The tender document can be downloaded from the website www.dsag.guiarat.gov.in and www.norocure. N Name of Work
Tender Description date & time Date & Time
com from 27/03/2020 , 15 ,00 Hours onwards , I CA450-PRTN- Display of 30.03.2020, 30.04.2020 , •F
010_
ROB-20-1 did. advertisement at PRTN 15:00 his 15:00 his w

Tender Document: 2802.2020 ROB through hoarding

No Particular Tender Document Revised Terms 2 CA450-ND- Display of 30.03.2020, 30.04 .2020 ,
1 Notice Last Date & Time for Receipt Last Date & Time for Receipt (Submission) ZONE-A-20-1 advertisement at ND 15:00 his 15:00 hrs
dtd . 28 .02 .2020 circulating area
Inviting Tender Page No. 2 (Physical Submission) of Bids of Bids 20/04/2020 by 06:00 hours
3 C45-BRCP- Allotment of catering 23.03.2020, 23.04.2020 .
30/03/2020 by 06:00 hours 20-GEN-W-20 stall at Vadodara 15:00 his 15:00 hrs
dtd. 26.02.2020 Railway Station Construction of New 300+ Bedded Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular
2 Notice Physical Submission of certain Submission of certain documents , etc .
4 C78-FCFSLR- Leasing of FCFSLR in 23.03.2020, 23.04.2020 , Sciences & Research Hospital Complex including required Engineering &
Inviting Tender Page No. 2 documents , etc- Submission of Submission of EMD, Tender fee and other 20905-20 train no. 20905 15:00 his 15:00 hrs Hosp ital Serv ices at Humnabad Road, Kalaburag i, Karnataka.
EMD, Tender fee and other Documents as specified in the tender dtd. 13.02.2020
SI. As already notified
Documents as specified in the document 27/04/2020 up to 06:00 hours in 5 C78-SCFSLR- Leasing of SCFSLR in 23.03.2020, 23.04.2020 , To be read as
20905-20 train no. 20905 15:00 his 15:00 hrs No.
tender document 30/03/2020 the office of the Chief Executive Officer, dtd. 13.02.2020
up to 06:00 hours in the office of Development Support Agency of Gujarat , 6 C78-FCRSLR- Leasing of FCRSLR in 23.03 .2020. 23.04.2020 , Date of pre-bid meeting : 30.03.2020 at Date of pre-bid meeting : 30.04.2020
20905-20 train no. 20905 15:00 his 15:00 his 1 11.30AM at SJICR , Bengaluru . at 11.30AM at SJICR , Bengaluru.
the Chief Executive Officer, Block 8/2, New Sachivatay, Gandhinagar did. 13.02.2020
Development Support Agency of -382010 7 C78-SLR- Leasing of FCFSLR in 23.03.2020, 23.04.2020, The last date for submission of tenders The last date for submission of tenders
2 through e-portal is 28.04 .2020 at throug h e-portal is 15. 05 .2020 at
22930-20 train no. 20905 15:00 his 15:00 his
Gujarat , Block 8/2, New Sachivalay, did. 13.02.2020
Gandhina ar -382010 30.04 .2020 ,
4.00 PM 4.00 PM
8 C481-Pay-Park- Contract of cycle/ 01.04.2020 ,
3 Notice Date of Tender opening : Date of Tender opening : 28/04/2020 by PRTN-20 motorcycle/car parking 15:00 his 15:00 hrs Date of Technical Bid Opening : Date of Technical Bid Opening
dtd. 02.03 .2020 stand at Pratapnagar 3 29.04.2020 at 4.00 PM
Inviting Tender Page No, 2 31/03/2020 by 00:00 hours 11:00 hours
16.05.2020 at 4.00 PM
parking stand
Note : You are requested to kindly visit our website for more details www.dsac- ouiarat.oov.in and 9 C481- Pay- Contract of cycle/ 03.04.2020, 30.04.2020 , If bidders have any queries/clarifications, please mail your letters to E-mail ID
www.nprocure.com Park-VS-20 motorcycle/ car parking 15:00 his 15:00 his director (aiavadevacardiology.com and siicrprojectengineer CCD ,gmail.com
dtd. 05 .03.2020 stand at Vishwamitri
Sd/- parking stand Forfurther details, please log onto https ://eproc.karnataka.gov.in
Chief Executive Officer 331 Sd/-
wF 264ang-20 Development Supply Agency of Gujarat, Gandhinagar Chief Administrative Officer.
 TIMES GLOBAL
TRUST IN DREAMS, FOR
IN THEM IS HIDDEN THE
GATE TO ETERNITY
— KHALIL GIBRAN
THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

DEFYING GENDER NORMS, HARRY STYLES DONS DEMI LOVATO, JUSTIN BIEBER AND OTHER CELEBS DONATE
FISHNETS ON THE COVER OF A BEAUTY MAGAZINE FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

US TOPS WORLD IN CORONA CASES

With 86,000+ Cases, US Has More Infections Than China, Italy AFP
Donald G McNeil Jr city of Wuhan, as local offici- peared set to pass the measu-
Xi offers Trump help als suppressed news of the out- re after an extraordinary 96-0
in fight against virus
S
cientists warned that the break. But China’s autocratic Senate passage, but the vote
United States someday government acted with fero- ran into complications. A Re-
would become the count- cious intensity after the bela- publican lawmaker threate-
ry hardest hit by the corona-
virus pandemic. And that
P resident Xi Jinping told US
President Trump during a
phone call on Friday that he
ted start, eventually shutting
down swaths of the country.
ned to delay passage until
most lawmakers return to
moment has arrived.
In the United States, at le-
would have China’s support in Singapore, Taiwan, South Ko-
rea and Japan quickly began
Washington, which could ma-
ke a Friday vote impossible.
TRACKING OUTBREAK
fighting the coronavirus. Xi’s
ast 86,012 people are known to offer of assistance came amid a preparing for the worst. At least 160 million Ameri-
Countries Infected Death
have been infected with the co- long- running war of words bet- The US instead remained cans have been ordered to stay 176
ronavirus, including more ween Beijing and Washington. preoccupied with business as home in states from Califor- United States 86,012 1,301 countries/
than 1,000 deaths — more cases Trump later tweeted, “China has usual. Impeachment. Harvey nia to New York. Schools are
than China, Italy or any other been through much & has develo- Weinstein. Brexit and the closed, often along with bars, China 81,897 3,296 regions hit
The US House debated on Friday on a $2.2 trillion package to ease the
country has seen, according to ped a strong understanding of Oscars. Only a few virologists restaurants and many other
coronavirus pandemic’s devastating toll on the US economy and health Italy 80,589 8,215
a tally by Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity. With 330 million resi-
care system, even as a maverick conservative threatened to delay
the virus We are working closely
together. Much respect!” REUTERS
recognised the threat for what
it was. The virus was not in-
businesses. Hospitals are co-
ping with soaring numbers of
558,502+
passage until most lawmakers return to Washington for a vote Spain 64,059 4,858 infected globally
dents, the United States is the fluenza, but it had the hall- patients in New York City,
world’s third most populous fight it, ensuring there was no blind to the extent of the crisis, ed,” said Angela Rasmussen, a marks of the 1918 Spanish flu: even as supplies of essential Germany 49,344 304
nation, meaning it provides a coherent, unified response to a and a dire shortage of masks virologist at Columbia Univer- relatively low lethality, but re- protective gear and equip-
Iran
25,251+
vast pool of people who can po- grave public health threat. A and protective gear to protect sity in New York. “If these are lentlessly transmissible. ment dwindle. “We are the 32,332 2,378 have died
tentially get Covid-19, the dise- series of missteps and lost op- doctors and nurses on the front the cases we’ve confirmed, The US, which should ha- new global epicenter of the di-
ase caused by the virus. portunities dogged the na- lines, as well as ventilators to how many cases are we still ve been ready, was not. In sease,” said Dr Sara Keller, an France 29,591 1,698
And it is a sprawling, ca- tion’s response. Among them: keep the critically ill alive. missing?” she added. Washington, the House kick- infectious disease specialist United Kingdom 14,751 761 1,27,615+
cophonous democracy, where a failure to take the pandemic “This could have been stop- China’s leaders, stung by ed off debate on a $2.2 trillion at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
have recovered
states set their own policies seriously even as it engulfed ped by implementing testing the SARS epidemic in 2003 and package to ease the pande- “Now, all we can do is to slow Switzerland 12,311 207
and President Trump has sent China, a deeply flawed effort to and surveillance much earlier several bird flu scares since mic’s devastating toll on the the transmission as much as
Source: Johns Hopkins
mixed messages about the sca- provide broad testing for the — for example, when the first then, were slow to respond to US economy and health care possible by hunkering down South Korea 9,332 139 University
le of the danger and how to virus that left the country imported cases were identifi- the outbreak that began in the system. The chamber had ap- in our houses.” NYT NEWS SERVICE

VIRAL BRIEFS
China reports one local Johnson tests +ve,

AP
Lockdown may
trigger a global
condom shortage
virus case, 54 imported Spain reports
Beijing/Shanghai: Main- Tianjin. Shanghai now has

A global shortage of cond- land China reported its first lo- 125 patients who arrived from
oms is looming, the worl-
d’s biggest producer said, aft-
er a virus lockdown forced it to
shut down production. Malay-
cally transmitted coronavirus
case in three days and 54 new
imported cases, as Beijing or-
dered airlines to sharply cut
overseas, including 46 from
Britain and 27 from the US.
The province of Hubei,
with a population of about 60
record daily toll Reuters
sia’s Karex Bhd makes one in international flights, for fear million, where the virus first London: British PM Boris
every five condoms globally. It travellers could reignite the appeared late last year, repor- Johnson said on Friday that he
has not produced a single coronavirus outbreak. ted no new cases on Thursday, has tested positive for the coro-
condom from its three facto- Thursday’s 55 new cases a day after lifting a lockdown navirus, while Spain an-
ries in the past 10 days. That’s were down from 67 a day earli- and reopening its borders as nounced a record number of vi-
already a shortfall of 100 er, the National Health Com- the epidemic eased there. rus deaths overnight. John-
million condoms, marketed mission said in a statement on In effect from Sunday, Chi- son’s office said the prime min-
internationally by brands such Friday, taking the tally of infec- na has ordered its airlines to ister was tested after showing
as Durex, supplied to state tions to 81,340, as five new de- fly only one route to any co- mild symptoms for the new cor-
healthcare systems such as aths raised the toll to 3,292. Im- untry, on just one flight each onavirus and is self-isolating
Britain’s NHS or distributed by ported infections, mostly am- week. Foreign airlines must and continuing to lead Bri-
aid programmes such as the ong Chinese nationals retur- comply with similar curbs on tain’s response to the pandem-
UN Population Fund. REUTERS ning home, now pose the big- flights to China, although ma- ic. “Be in no doubt that I can Several weeks ago, Boris John-
gest concern for authorities. ny had already halted service- continue, thanks to the wizar- son had pledged he would ‘go on
The commercial capital of s.About 90% of current inter- dry of modern technology, to shaking hands with everybody’.
Dogs being trained Shanghai reported the most national flights into China communicate with all my top Johnson, 55, is the first leader of
THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING... TO KEEP #HOPE AND #STAYHOME: Swiss authorities are lighting up
to sniff out virus new imported cases with 17,
followed by 12 in the southern
will be suspended, cutting ar-
rivals to 5,000 passengers a
one of their most famed landmarks, the Matterhorn, to show solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus.
team, to lead the national fight-
back against coronavirus,”
a major nation known to have
contracted Covid-19. British
Local officials in the nearby town of Zermatt have authorised light artist Gerry Hofstetter to splash the
M edical Detection Dogs,
a British charity, has
teamed up with scientists to
province of Guangdong and
four each in the capital Be-
ijing and the nearby city of
day, from 25,000, the civil avia-
tion regulator said late on
Thursday. REUTERS
Alpine peak each night with words and images of encouragement. Images on the snow-capped summit so
far have shown a heart, the Swiss flag, and messages like ‘#hope’ and ‘#stayhome’
Johnson said in a video mess-
age, adding that he had a tem-
perature and persistent cough.
health secretary Matt Hancock
(L) also was confirmed to have
tested positive for the virus
see whether dogs could help Several weeks ago, John-

Mosques open
Blood plasma from survivors Hundreds die in
detect Covid-19 through th- son had pledged he would “go — the world’s second highest
eir keen sense of smell. It fol- on shaking hands with every- total after Italy’s 8,214 fatalities.
lows previous research into body”. Johnson, 55, was the Spain says 9,444 health work-
dogs’ ability to sniff out mal- in Pak despite Iran from drinking first leader of a major nation ers have contracted the corona-

will be given to patients in US

aria and is based on a belief known to have contracted Co- virus. That’s nearly 15% of the
that each disease triggers a virus threats methanol amid vid-19; German Chancellor An- total number of cases.
distinct odour. REUTERS gela Merkel has been in isola- The situation in countries
AP
Islamabad: Worshippers cro- virus cure reports tion since her doctor tested pos- with more fragile health care
wded into mosques in Pakistan Denise Grady lised patients who had a mode- ers will have to be carefully itive for the virus, but her first systems worsened with Rus-
on Friday, defying warnings rate form of the disease and screened. The donors will in- Tehran: Standing over the two tests have been negative. sia, Indonesia and South Afri-

C
about the coronavirus and an blood from coronavi- had trouble breathing but not clude people who tested positi- still body of an intubated 5-ye- Earlier this week Bri- ca all passing the 1,000-infec-
fuelling fears of a public health rus survivors help other for those who are in advanced ve for the virus when they were ar-old boy wearing nothing tain’s Prince Charles said he tion mark. Russian author-
crisis in the impoverished cou- people fight the illness? stages of the disease. ill, recovered, have had no but a plastic diaper, an Iranian had tested positive. Queen El- ities ramped up testing this
ntry. In contrast to many other Doctors in New York will soon Researchers at Mount Si- symptoms for 14 days, now test health care worker in a haz- izabeth last saw Johnson on week after widespread criti-
Muslim countries, Pakistani be testing the idea in hospitali- nai were among the first in the negative and have high levels, mat suit and mask begged the March 11 and she remains in cism of insufficient screen-
clerics and government offici- sed patients. Blood from peo- US to develop a test that can de- also called titers, of antibodies public for just one thing: Stop good health, Buckingham ing. South Africa also an-
als have refused to close mos- ple who have recovered can be tect antibodies in recovering that fight the virus. People who drinking industrial alcohol Palace said on Friday nounced its first two deaths
ques attended by millions each a rich source of antibodies, patients, an essential part of qualify will then be sent to blo- over fears about the new British health secretary from the virus as it began a
week, where hugs and hand- proteins made by the immune this treatment strategy. On Tu- od centers to donate plasma. coronavirus. The boy, now Matt Hancock, who has been at three-week lockdown.
WALL STREET’S EINSTEIN HIT: shakes are common. The coun- system to attack the virus. The esday, the Food and Drug Ad- People who have recovered blind after his parents gave the forefront of nation’s re- The US now has 86,012 con-
Peter Tuchman, dubbed the try’s religious scholars have on- part of the blood that contains ministration allowed for the have antibodies to spare, and him toxic methanol in the sponse to the outbreak, also firmed cases, and Italy was set
‘most photographed trader on ly advised that the old and sick antibodies, convalescent plas- plasma to be used experimen- removing some will not enda- mistaken belief it protects was confirmed to have tested to pass China’s 81,782 infec-
Wall Street’, has tested positive avoid prayers and instructed ma, has been used for decades tally on an emergency basis. nger the donors or diminish th- against the virus, is just one positive for the virus. Britain tions later on Friday, according
for Covid-19. The NYSE trader, clerics to keep sermons brief. to treat infectious diseases. Reich said that an email as- eir own resistance to the virus, of hundreds of victims of an has 14,751 cases of the virus, to a count kept by Johns Hop-
who calls himself the ‘Einstein Pakistan has so far declared David Reich, president king Mount Sinai staff mem- Sachais said. The plasma will epidemic inside the pandemic and 761people have died. kins University. The three
of Wall Street’, revealed the 1,235 cases and nine deaths but and chief operating officer of bers who had recovered to con- be tested to make sure it is not now gripping Iran. Spain’s health ministry re- countries account nearly half
diagnosis on Instagram with there are fears that limited test- Mount Sinai Hospital, which sider donating plasma went “a carrying infections or proteins Iranian media report near- ported another 7,800 infections the world’s nearly 558,502 in-
the picture of a Corona Extra ing is understating the true will be using the treatment, sa- little viral” and quickly drew that could set off immune reac- ly 300 people have been killed overnight for a total of 64,059. fections and more than half of
beer bottle and an emoticon scale of the outbreak. REUTERS id it would be tried for hospita- 2,000 responses. But volunte- tions in the recipient. NYT and more than 1,000 sickened Deaths climbed by 769 to 4,858 the 25,251deaths. AGENCIES
so far by ingesting methanol
across the Islamic Republic.
OTHER TOP STORIES An Iranian doctor helping the AROUND THE WORLD
country’s health ministry sa-
AFP

Bob Dylan releases Political turmoil Netanyahu, rival

id on Friday the problem was
even greater, giving a death
toll of around 480 with 2,850
in Kabul dogs people sickened. AP

first song in 8 years, negotiations Gantz agree deal for Veteran actor
17-min track on JFK with Taliban unity govt in Israel Mark Blum
Roisin O’Connor
Reuters Kabul: After months of delibe-
ration, Afghan President Ash- Jerusalem: Ending a year- day, in a surprise move, with dies of virus
raf Ghani on Friday announ- long political impasse, Israel the support of Netanyahu led

B
ob Dylan has released a ced his 21-member team to ne- inched towards forming a right-wing bloc, a develop- Los Angeles: Actor Mark
surprise track — his gotiate peace with the Taliban, new unity government with ment that left his own Blue Blum, best known for featuring
first original song in only to have his political oppo- PM Benjamin Netanyahu's and White party in tatters and in movie s such ASH CLOUD RISING: Indonesia’s most active volcano Mount Merapi
eight years —about the 1963 nent reject it as not inclusive main challenger, former ar- an eventual split. as “Desperately erupted on Friday, shooting a column of ash some 5,000 metres
assassination of former US enough. Afghanistan’s political my Chief Benny Gantz of the Former finance minister, Seeking Su- (16,000 feet) into the air in its second major eruption this month. Ash
President John F Kennedy. turmoil has impeded each ten- Blue and White party, rea- Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid san” and “Cro- and sand covered areas several kilometres away from the peak of
Little detail was given Bob Dylan tative step toward negotiations ching a deal with party was a ma- codile Dun- the rumbling crater near Indonesia’s cultural capital Yogyakarta
about the surprise track, with the Taliban that are suppo- him. The unsig- jor alliance dee”, has died
which runs for more than 17 ased in 2012. Dylan’s latest re- sed to come next under a peace ned deal, as per partner in the of complica-
minutes, except for a brief lease will no doubt fuel ru- deal that Washington signed local media re- Blue and White tions from Covid-19. He was ‘Harry, Meghan lockdown as part of measures
to contain the spread of the
statement from Dylan him- mours that he is planning a with the insurgents last month. ports, ensures party led the
self: “Greetings to my fans new album of original songs, The deal calls for the even- Netanyahu’s charge against
69.The news of his death was
shared by Rebecca Damon, the
leave Canada to coronavirus pandemic. “Harry
and Meghan have left Canada
and followers with gratitu-
de for all your support and
although to date there has be-
en no confirmation of this.
tual withdrawal of all 13,000 US
soldiers from Afghanistan in
continuity at the
helm of the affa- Netanyahu & Benny Gantz
Gantz accusing
him of “betray-
executive vice-president of
Screen Actors Guild - Ameri-
set up base in US’ now for good,” a source told
‘The Sun’ newspaper.
loyalty over the years. This The song’s lyrics frequ- exchange for guarantees from irs for the first 18 al to voters and a can Federation of Television
is an unreleased song we re-
corded a while back that
ently allude to Sixties events
and pop culture, such as:
the Taliban to fight other mili-
tant groups, including the Isla-
months after which he will be theft of votes”. “We ran toget-
replaced by Gantz. her because Benny Gantz loo-
and Radio Artists.
Blum started his career in
B ritain’s Prince Harry and
his wife Meghan Markle
have reportedly shifted out of
UK police use drones
to stop dog walkers
you might find interesting. “The Beatles are coming, mic State group. The deal has Netanyahu last July beca- ked me in the eye and said he the 1970s and made a mark on Canada permanently with their British police faced criticism on
Stay safe, stay observant they’re gonna hold your been touted as Afghanistan’s me the longest serving PM in would never sit in this bad go- theatre scene with critically- 10-month-old son Archie and Friday for using “over-the-top”
and may God be with you. hand” and “I’m going to Wo- best chance yet of ending its re- the country’s history but has vernment. I believed him.” acclaimed performance in Pla- set up their new base in Los methods to maintain a corona-
Bob Dylan” Variety reports odstock, it’s the Aquarian lentless wars. But Ghani and failed to win a clear mandate Lapid said at a joint press con- ywrights Horizons production Angeles. They plan to settle in virus lockdown, after officers
that a Dylan representative age / Then I’ll go to Altamont his opponent, Abdullah Abdul- in the last three elections, all ference with fellow Blue & of Albert Innaurato’s “Gus and the US and have entered armed with new powers deplo-
said this was the only infor- and stand near the stage.” He lah, have been locked in a po- held in a span of less than a ye- White leader, Moshe Ya’alon, Al”. In Hollywood, Blum is best self-isolation in a secluded yed drones to detect walkers
mation he or his team wo- refers to the killing of JFK wer struggle that US secretary ar. The former Israel defence a former defence minister, known for portraying the hus- compound near Hollywood. far from home. Social media
uld release about the song. “right there in front of every- of state Mike Pompeo could not forces chief of staff was elec- Gantz is likely to serve as band of Rosanna Arquette’s They are believed to have used users compared their actions to
His last album of original one’s eyes” as the “greatest resolve during his visit to Ka- ted the speaker of the Knesset Netanyahu’s Number 2 for character in 1985’s “Desperate- a private jet to fly out of Cana- “the Stasi”, East Germany’s
material, Tempest, was rele- magic trick”. THE INDEPENDENT bul earlier this week. AP (Israeli parliament) on Thurs- the first 18 month s. PTI ly Seeking Susan”. PTI da ahead of a complete border notorious state police.
10 AN ECSTASY OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

A thought for today

Gentlemen, the officer who doesn’t
know his communications and supply
as well as his tactics is totally useless
India Versus Bharat
GEN GEORGE S PATTON They must come together in enlightened partnership, else coronavirus will defeat both
Pavan K Varma Bharat, who have almost no social

Unshackle Them The Great Indian Middle

Class is a peculiar
animal. At one level, it
security safety net? Is the Great Indian
Middle Class aware that there is a larger
less privileged India right outside the
citadel behind which it wants to
Essential supply chains caught in lockdown tangle has remarkable qualities
of entrepreneurship,
withdraw, and thousands are stranded
on roads without a job unable to return
resourcefulness, resili- to their native place?

T
he success of lockdown measures to beat Covid-19 boils down
ence, inventiveness and ingenuity. At The coronavirus pandemic must
to the availability of essential commodities. Huge supply another level, it can be unforgivably teach Indians that this menace can only
chain disruptions have occurred since the lockdown insular, indifferent to the trauma of be defeated by our tradition of collective
announcement, perhaps on account of functionaries lower down those economically and socially below paropkar, not a selfishly segmented
the official hierarchy failing to grasp the full spectrum of dos and it, and even irrationally hostile to society. Either Bharat and India must
don’ts in this situation. As a result truckers are stranded on those of its own who it imagines could come together in an enlightened partner-
highways and border checkposts and delivery personnel have faced threaten its well-being. ship to face it, or both will be defeated.
How else can one explain the reaction There are some excellent examples of
police lathi blows despite Centre’s diktat to keep essential services of some members of this class to health the privileged working to provide food to
afloat. Literal interpretations of orders for people to stay indoors workers who are in the front trenches the hungry during the lockdown. The
led to this pass. Course correction must begin immediately. fighting against the coronavirus Sikh community has opened langars,
Allowing police to discriminate between what goods should or menace, and to airline staff who have free food centres, and other religions must
should not move forgets that supply risked their lives to evacuate hundreds also immediately organise to help the
chains are integrated. Police competence of Indians stranded abroad? Such is the needy. A few public spirited individuals
self-centred paranoia of these residents are collecting money to contribute
is another issue. Supply bottlenecks at that some landlords have given eviction masks and gloves for hospital workers.
manufacturers’ or retailers’ ends will notices to health workers, while many Some in the corporate sector have
both result in shortfalls. Government have publicly harassed and attacked become valuable partners in the

Uday Deb
must allow the logistics industry full those in the airline industry. For those production of ventilators and testing
freedom to operate and move their displaying such panic bigotry, the only kits. Public-private partnership to
goods, trusting that market dynamics concern is their own safety, even when aggressively increase testing, ensuring
the threat is non-existent. these are ‘intruders’ on sufferance. They complete quarantine, and upgrading
will influence what moves and what There are two behavioural inferences are part of the unwashed masses, who hospital infrastructure is the need of the
doesn’t. Alongside, there needs to be a from this condemnable conduct. First, it are best not seen, but whose services Some in the middle class hour. Many states, Kerala and Delhi
liberalised and sensitive regime for movement of people in transport appears that some in the middle class cannot be done without. want the virus to be handled notably, are proactively helping the
and logistics – if their movements are restricted, then goods won’t move want the virus to be handled effectively, And, where do these ‘intruders’ come marginalised. The PM has asked each
either. Many truckers are even abandoning trucks for reasons like but are happy to outsource the battle from? In most cases, they live in the effectively, but are happy to person to feed at least nine poor people
non-availability of support infrastructure like dhabas along highways. against it to others who stay out of their nearby urban slum, where such luxuries outsource the battle against it on each of the nine days of Navratra.
lives. Those on the frontline need to like social distancing are just physically to others who stay out of their The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana is a step in
Delivery personnel at the retail end also need assurances and assistance. be lauded but not seen. They should not possible. Dwelling units are built the right direction, but efficient delivery
Due to the lockdown induced scarcity, prices are shooting up. do their ‘dangerous work’, because in chaotic proximity; people live lives. Those on the frontline is essential. MSMEs and the business
Well stocked shops and hassle-free deliveries will have a salutary someone has to do it, but they should cheek by jowl; several people share the need to be lauded but not sector also need relief and support.
effect. If people are to remain at home and cooperate during the remain on TV screens rather than same room; sanitation facilities are
seen. Admiration for them Self-isolation cannot become
lockdown, essential goods must be available to them. E-commerce threaten People Like Us. Admiration for rudimentary, if at all; sewage disposal is self-centredness. Social distancing
must be enabled, not disabled. Central and state governments as them should be verbal; social boycott poor at best. Large parts of urban India should be verbal; social does not mean distance from social
well as local authorities must prevent any kind of harassment of
should be the practice. consist of such slums. Their existence boycott should be the practice realities. Better hygiene does not
Second, some worthies of the middle cannot just be wished away. mean that we wash our hands of the
citizens. Panic or resentment forcing people to hit the streets in class really think they can secede to Besides, the lockdown has reinforced and issuing homilies to everybody else on tribulations of the vulnerable. Self-
droves will defeat the social distancing measures undertaken at form their own Republic of Corona the India versus Bharat divide. For the importance of staying at home. preservation does not mean selfish-
extraordinary economic and humanitarian cost. Impregnability. Such a Republic those living in India, self-isolation is But, Bharat consists of millions of ness. Social responsibility is not social
would give no visas to anyone remotely occasionally irksome, but endurable. those in the unorganised sector, migrant panic. Concern is not prejudice. The
capable of polluting the purity of this For the affluent it is almost an exotic workers, street vendors, contract workers, coronavirus requires personal

Whatever It Takes personalised territory. True, some

‘outsiders’ are essential. After all, some-
one has to remove the garbage, clean the
opportunity. Social media is full of celebs
in trendy sports casuals doing yoga,
drinking watermelon juice, watching
lower level employees in worksites
which have closed down, and daily wage
labourers who must go out and work in
order to be able to eat at night. Is India
discipline, but it can only be definitively
defeated by the compassion of all
citizens. The Great Indian Middle Class
is not an island unto itself. It needs to
RBI tries to arrest an economic slide premises, guard the gates, provide
part-time household assistance and – for
Netflix, video conferencing, reading
hitherto unread books, spending quality self-obsessed about self-isolation, aware understand this in its own interest.
the more affluent – drive the car. But, time with family, playing with their pets, of the compulsions of the denizens of The writer is an author and former diplomat

R
eserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee on Friday
lowered the repo rate by 0.75% to 4.4%, supplementing it by
measures to enhance the flow of cheap credit along with a
three month moratorium on repayment of long duration loans. The
far-reaching package aims to combat the economic fallout of the
Zoonotic diseases are rife this century: Globalised world
Covid-19 outbreak. The sense of urgency in RBI’s response showed
up when it opted to advance its scheduled MPC meeting by a week to
announce these measures. In terms of intent, the
requires global code of conduct to overcome this threat
central bank has signalled it will pull out all Chandra Bhushan have had regional outbreaks of passed nationwide laws to ban
stops to combat an unprecedented crisis. bird flu from poultry, the Middle the farming and consumption
The highlight of this package is that RBI A crisis does East respiratory syndrome of wildlife. These laws are
has chosen to prioritise financial stability. A not emerge out (MERS) from camels, Ebola from now being rolled out in the
of thin air; it monkeys and pigs, Rift Valley wake of the Covid-19 epidemic.
lockdown, which effectively brings economic
has underlying fever from livestock, West Nile This is too late, and the global
activity to a shuddering halt, will ripple out into causes. And fever from birds, Zika from community is paying the price
the financial system. Even sound firms will most of the monkey and Nipah from bats. of China’s inaction.
struggle to meet payments and this will rattle an underlying causes, if not all, The root cause of all the But the fact is, the next novel
already fragile financial sector. In this context are in front of our eyes; it’s just above diseases can be broadly coronavirus can emerge due to
the moratorium on repayments, including on that we refuse to see and act on put under three baskets. First, negligence in any country. The
them. The coronavirus disease environmental destruction. Due current social and economic
home loans, will provide space for the system to recover.
2019 (Covid-19) crisis is not a to deforestation and habitat practices around the world are
The steps to boost the flow of credit will act as a force multiplier to black swan; it was predicted loss, wild animals and humans just too poor to stop the next
an interest rate cut. These steps have created a potential extra and could have been prevented. are now nearby, leading to the pandemic. To manage and
liquidity of Rs 3.74 lakh crore, with a big chunk earmarked towards Since the beginning of the spillover of animal diseases prevent the next pandemic, the
bank investment in high quality corporate debt. Over the last two 21st century, we have seen the world needs to come together to
months RBI’s liquidity injection comes to about 3.2% of GDP. Now, emergence and outbreaks of is not restricted to China; it place regulations to improve address the underlying causes
government needs to back this with a fiscal response. multiple zoonotic diseases – Covid-19 crisis is not a exists in one form or another practices in animal farms. But of zoonosis.
infectious diseases caused by across the world. many have not acted on these Zoonoses have killed millions
bacteria and viruses that jump black swan; it was Third, intensive animal issues. And, in a globalised of people in the 21st century
from animals to humans. Some predicted and could farms. The industrial farming world, we are only as strong as (several times more than all the

Thucydides Trap of them are new to humans, and

hence we do not have immunity
against them and some re-
have been prevented
into humans. Ebola, West Nile
of animals, by keeping animals
very close to each other and
pumping them with growth
the weakest link. Weak regula-
tions and poor implementation
in one country have global
wars and terrorist attacks put
together). Their economic cost
has ranged from a few billion
emergence of old diseases. virus, Nipah and Zika come promoters like antibiotics, is ramifications. This is evident dollars in the case of regional
China-US rivalry has made international governance Studies indicate that the under this category. Similarly, another cause. Bird flu and in the case of Covid-19. outbreaks to several trillion
difficult – even as they fight a common threat frequency of these outbreaks livestock is also coming in swine flu both have their origin Since the outbreak of SARS, dollars for pandemics. They are
has increased significantly in contact with wildlife and trans- in intensive animal farms. it was widely recognised that not a national issue; they are
Manoj Joshi the last 20 years. mitting pathogens to people, The above causes are not the presence of a vast reservoir global and require a global
We have had three pande- like the Rift Valley virus. hidden; they are widely known, of coronaviruses in horseshoe response. Countries cannot hide
The US and China had just about declared truce in their trade mics since 2000 – severe acute Second, cultural practices. and different countries have bats and civet cats, together behind sovereignty and not act.
war through a phase I deal in January when the coronavirus respiratory syndrome (SARS) The practice of eating exotic legislation in place to control with the culture of eating exotic The world, therefore, needs a
hit. Now, even as they fight a common threat, the ‘war’ has in 2003, H1N1 (swine flu) in 2009 wildlife, sometimes raw, is them. Many countries, animals in China, is a time universal code of conduct to
shifted to the realm of propaganda: China is aggressively and now Covid-19. SARS and spreading novel pathogens to including India, have strong bomb. Under global pressure, address zoonoses urgently.
touting its success in containing the virus, while the US seeks Covid-19 spread from civet cats/ humans. Both SARS and laws against deforestation in 2003, China did ban the Nothing less will suffice.
to name and shame Beijing on its origin. pangolin and bats in China and Covid-19 have origin in the wild- and for curbing the trade and consumption of civet cats, but it The writer is CEO, International
This should have been a time for a concerted international response; instead swine flu from an intensive pig life markets in China. But the consumption of wildlife. was poorly enforced. It was only Forum for Environment, Sustainabi-
we are witnessing national fightbacks, many of them flailing, with no sign of a farm in Mexico. In between, we practice of eating wild animals Countries have also put in in 2018 that China’s legislature lity and Technology (iFOREST)
concerted global response. Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump had their
first phone conversation yesterday, over 10 weeks after the gravity of the situation
was revealed and the conversation was general, rather than on the specifics of a
dilbert Sacredspace
concerted response using the vast S&T resources of the two nations.
The G7 meeting this week failed to come up with a customary joint Only Connect!
statement because the US insisted on reference to the “Wuhan virus”. The G20
meeting that followed did mention the importance of world trade but in
Three things are important: sachai,
passing, and pledged $5 trillion to spur economic recovery. In the words of a safai and sadgi, that is, truthfulness,
former IMF economist, its statement was “long on generalities, short on speci- cleanliness and simplicity.
fics”. A report says that the US insistence on explicitly stating that the virus Only when your mind, body and
originated in Wuhan has stalled a joint declaration at the UN Security Council. soul are truthful and clean can you
The US and China are in a Thucydides trap and the Covid-19 pandemic has connect with Divinity. Always be
worsened the situation. The geopolitical contest and the pandemic, if prolonged, grateful to the Supreme Power, then,
could upend the world that we have known. you will never experience doubt.
The two countries have moved from being trade partners and collaborators to
strategic competitors, a situation that has made international governance more Rajyogini Dadi Janki
difficult. Their conflict is around technology, the most visible being 5G. The US is 1916—27.03.20
moving to restrict export of a range of “foundational technologies” with dual civil
and military applications – such as biotechnology, advanced

Sanctity Of Holy Week And The Crown Of Glory

surveillance, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and robotics.
altcentre The aim is to constrain the Chinese challenge to US
technological supremacy, but this could impede US innova-
tion because of the level of interconnectedness between the two countries.
There has been a lot of talk of decoupling, but that’s a lot of hype. What we Francis Gonsalves them with glory and honour”. As created buy guns in case goods run out and goons Christ’s passion, death and rising. We come
could be seeing is a derisking strategy by countries and companies who think beings, we’ve dethroned God and crowned run amuck. All this has led to pleas for face-to-face with two crowned characters:

M
they have become too dependent on China. The Covid crisis will add new ost people are staying home, ourselves as demigods with material social distancing to prevent further spread Jesus Christ and Pontius Pilate. Captive
industries like pharmaceuticals to the list. And what we may see is the building complying with the 21-day lock- attachments and power. These crowns have of disease. Christ stands tall with his inner, spiritual
up of redundancies to make our systems more resilient. down advised by the government crumbled. Viruses don’t discriminate between authority, while Roman Governor Pilate
A cooperative approach could make that process benign, a combative one of India. There are some other countries, We feel secure invoking the Ultimate in President and pauper; to viruses, all are the brags of his imperial power. Christ is
will plunge us into deeper waters. The US and Europe are still struggling to meet too, where a similar situation prevails, due places of worship. Most religions teach same, rich or poor, male or female, western crowned with thorns; Pilate, clad in gold.
the twin challenge of containing the virus and keeping their huge economies to the pandemic caused by the novel coro- that God is Spirit and Truth: accessible or eastern. ICUs could make us assure While Jesus is bathed in blood, Pilate
afloat. Beijing may have controlled the epidemic and gotten its economy going navirus outbreak that has taken thousands anytime, everywhere, by everyone. one another, “I See You” as sister, washes his bloodied hands, declaring, “I’m
again, but the reality is that China alone cannot pull the global economic engine. of lives and rendered others ill, worldwide. So, rather than bemoaning the brother, friend, closely connec- innocent of this man’s blood; see to it
With 38% of its exports destined for the US and Europe, China knows that the Since we are prevented from rushing shutdown of sacred places, ted. Mother Earth invites us to yourselves!” Many now revere Christ as
economic health of both regions is vital for its own well-being. In turn these outside, let us venture on a pilgrimage may we feel at home with open up despite closedowns – the risen king wearing the “crown of
regions cannot be unaware of the importance of China to their own economies. inside, deep into the deepest within me – God, while our homes to breathe deeply and savour eternal life”.
The responses of various countries to the economic challenge of the virus the divine gift ‘I’ that, according to the become domestic shrines, the once-silenced symphony of Masks, handwashes, sanitisers,
have been national. The US’s $2.2 trillion stimulus will just about prevent a Bible, is an image of Divinity. The Upa- perhaps with candles, diyas insects and birds. The swans at closedowns and distances call for unma-
social welfare disaster, not revive its economy. India’s modest Rs 1.7 trillion nishads speak of the Atman that “must be or agarbattis illuminating Venice and otters of Singapore sking of pretenses, soul-cleansing, purging
package is unlikely to even address the social distress resulting from the seen, must be listened to, must be thought the Divinity within. are reclaiming their habitats, of prejudices, openness and intimacy with
outbreak. As for the G20’s $5 trillion, well, that’s all it is, a promise. about, must be contemplated”. Haven’t i WhatsApp keeps us abreast of what’s news reports say. Homebound humanity is God, Atman, others, and Mother Earth.
But first things first. Addressing the economic challenge of Covid-19 is egotistically shut out or stifled that Atman? happening, worldwide: number of deaths letting Nature breathe free once again with Covid-19 imposes a crown of thorns upon
important, but it is first essential to extinguish and control the virus itself. Corona, in Latin, means ‘crown’. going up, robots serving food in Wuhan, clearer skies, cleaner water bodies and our swollen heads, but our cooperations and
Be it smallpox, tuberculosis, or polio, only concerted international action Crowns belong to God, Ishwar, Allah – the Korean medicos dressed like astronauts surroundings, unplucked flora, and fauna co-vitality throughout 2020 might raise us,
succeeded in checking a contagion. With a pandemic whose full course has yet Absolute, nurturing our cosmos. The ministering the sick, infected patients venturing out of truncated habitats. not mere victims but victors over corona –
to be run, and whose properties are yet to be revealed in full, cooperation across psalmist says that God has placed human gasping for breath in overcrowded ICUs Christians are currently observing destroying our man-made, infected corona-
national boundaries ought to be the order of the day, and it isn’t, yet. beings “little lower than God, and crowned across Europe and Californians rushing to Lent, in preparation for the Holy Week of tions, too – to attain that “crown of glory”.
‘RBI’S BAZOOKA OF
LIQUIDITY MEASURES’
TIMES BUSINESS THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

The large cut, adjustment in capital Need of the hour was infusion of The RBI has given all the relief that It’s the first time the RBI is doing a Hopefully, we will see more such
conservation buffer, repayment liquidity into the system, which the banks asked for. It stops the clock targeted long-term repo operation. measures that ensure supply chains
moratorium, bazooka of a conventional RBI has done. Second was giving as far as treating borrower as defaulter is They have taken big steps in providing are not severely impacted and vulnerable
CRR cut and the unconventional borrowers more time before they concerned. As cash flow projects liquidity and extending moratorium sectors are extended extra support.
liquidity measure of incentivising are classified as NPAs. Next, what have changed, banks will have to to borrowers. The monetary policy The three-month moratorium on
banks to support CP market will is needed is a restructuring work sector-wise and account- is a signal from the RBI that it will loans will be hugely beneficial,
help financial markets stabilise scheme for affected sectors wise to bring back normalcy do whatever it takes particularly to the self-employed
RAJNISH KUMAR | KEKI MISTRY | RAJKIRAN RAI | AMITABH CHAUDHRY | KAUSHIK SHAPARIA |
CHAIRMAN, SBI VC & CEO, HDFC MD & CEO, UNION BANK MD & CEO, AXIS BANK CEO, DEUTSCHE BANK INDIA

No pain, shame if you RBI move will

stop tagging Tata Motors to hive off
miss EMIs till May 31 of borrowers
as NPAs passenger vehicles unit
RBI Guv Directs Lenders Not To Tag Delayed Continued from P1 Plans To Bring Strategic Partner Into Loss-Making Biz
Payments As Default, No Clarity On Card Dues
T
he rate cut has its impact Reeba.Zachariah India declined for the last 16 On the other hand, the com-
with the State Bank of In- @timesgroup.com IN REVERSE GEAR months till February. Now, pany has been struggling in
[email protected] card dues (given the high in- will not lose if they take ad- dia cutting interest rates with the country under a 21- passenger vehicles, which
terest rates) or those who ha- vantage of the moratorium. on loans by 75 basis points. Be- Mumbai: Nearly three decades Q3FY20 category growth day lockdown due to the coro- clocked just 5% market share
Mumbai: Borrowers, both ve taken a loan against sha- “In line with this RBI anno- sides the conventional rate cut, after it entered the passenger for Tata Motors* (in %) navirus outbreak, sales have in February. In the past, Tata
individuals as well as busi- res where a fall in price trig- uncement, we would work RBI took an unconventional vehicles business, the $44-bil- Medium & heavy vehicles come to a halt. “The recent Motors shareholders had ex-
nesses, can get a three- gers the sale of the security. closely with our members to step of making available Rs 1 lion Tata Motors said on Friday -48 outbreak of the Covid-19 vi- pressed their disappointment
month break from their Banks are advising borro- define the data-reporting lakh crore to banks through that it will transfer the India rus increases the challenges over the poor performance of
monthly instalments and wers who are in a position to framework on the basis of targeted long-term repo (len- unit to a separate entity. The Passenger vehicles faced by the business,” said the passenger vehicle business
credit card dues to help them repay to continue to make pa- the announcements made by ding) operations. This allows move is a precursor to bring in a -26 Tata Motors, which has to the company’s board at sev-
cope with the situation ari- yments as there is no waiver the RBI governor so that, du- banks that have bought bonds strategic partner in the loss- scaled down production at its eral annual general meetings,
sing out of the Covid-19 cri- of principal or interest that ring the moratorium period, from private issuers to finance making passenger vehicles unit Light comm. vehicles various facilities after the with some calling for drastic
sis. The three-month defer- gets capitalised. Many borro- there is no adverse impact on the purchases at a cheap rate. to secure its future. Tata Mo- -16 government directed closure measures. A couple of years
ment for instalments due wers have given standing in- the credit histories and Cibil Another Rs 1.37 lakh crore was tors’s passenger vehicles busi- *
Excluding UK auto unit JLR of non-essential businesses. ago, Tata Motors and Volkswa-
between March 1and May 31, score of borrowers,” a Trans- released to banks by reducing ness has been hit by weak sales The transfer, added Tata Mo- gen explored an alliance to de-
2020 will help borrowers re- RBI’S SHARPEST Union Cibil spokesperson sa- the cash reserve ratio and production disruptions fer of a division of a company tors, will help in providing “dif- velop an economy car. But the
main liquid, avoid the de-
faulter tag and continue ha-
REPO RATE CUTS id in response to a TOI query.
Other credit bureaus also
(CRR)—a portion of deposits
that are impounded by RBI.
amid an economic slowdown
and the coronavirus pandemic.
for a lump sum without assign-
ing any values to individual
ferentiated” focus to the two
businesses — commercial vehi-
alliance didn’t materialise.
The move towards “sub-
Revised repo (%)
ving access to bank credit. confirmed that there will not This reduction in CRR by one The company, India’s assets and liabilities of the en- cles and passenger vehicles — sidiarisation” of the passen-
Those who choose to take Chg (bps*) Mar 31, ’04 be any adverse impact of hol- percentage point of total depo- third-largest passenger vehi- tity. However, certain shared and will help “each of them re- ger vehicle business, said Tata
a three-month break from 6 -100 ding back on repayments. sits will release Rs 1.37 lakh cles maker, will be transfer- services and central func- alise their potential”. Tata Mo- Motors, was “the first step” in
repayments will also not da- Dec 8, ’08 “The RBI has stated that cre- crore to banks. Another Rs 1 ring the car business — includ- tions, said Tata Motors, will re- tors is the largest player in com- securing strategic alliances,
mage their track record 6.5 -100 dit history will not be impac- lakh crore was made available ing employees and manufac- main with the company to “de- mercial vehicles in India, a busi- which will provide the compa-
with credit information bu- ted as the deferment would through a marginal standing turing facilities — to the new liver cost efficiencies” to the ness it launched in 1954 in finan- ny access to “new products, ar-
reaus. RBI governor Shakti- Jan 5, ’09 not be categorised as de- facility for emergency loans. subsidiary on a “slump sale” entire automotive business. cial and technical collaboration chitectures, power trains,
kanta Das on Thursday di- 5.5 -100 faults. We are optimistic that In addition to making av- basis. Slump sale means trans- Passenger vehicle sales in with Daimler of Germany. technologies and capital”.
rected banks to ensure that this will address the con- ailable funds, RBI incentivi-
Mar 27, ’20
they do not report the delay- 4.4 cerns of the borrowers and
-
-75
SBI PASSES ON
EIU and Moody’s slash Cognizant
ed payments as a default. *
help maintain healthy credit
100 basis points = 1 percentage point
RBI’s directions do not scores and financial stabili-
specify the kind of loans, but structions for EMIs to be de- ty,” said CRIF High Mark
ENTIRE BENEFIT
permit lenders across the bo-
ard — including all types of
ducted from their accounts.
Lenders said that because of
CEO Navin Chandani.
“A consumer’s credit sco-
sed banks to buy corporate
bonds by exempting them offers 25%
banks, finance companies,
housing finance companies
and microfinance institu-
tions — to provide relief to
the lockdown, it may take ti-
me to make changes to their
system to enable switching
off of the deductions, if requ-
re is a composite value calcu-
lated after taking into account
product holding (type of loans
and cards one has), leverage
from any writedown due to ri-
se in interest rates in future.
To push banks to lend,
RBI reduced its reverse repo
India’s growth forecast
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
‘gratitude’ pay
[email protected]
term loan and working capi-
tal borrowers. While home
ested by customers. “Those
who are in a position to pay
and repayment pattern to eva-
luate credit risk. Currently,
rate—the rate it offers banks
for their surplus funds—by New Delhi: The Indian econ-
We’ve entered recession: IMF chief Chennai: Cognizant Technol-
loans, auto loans, personal lo- should continue,” said SBI we are waiting to see how the 90 bps to 4%. “The moratori- omy will grow by 2.1% in 2020- Washington: The coronavirus pandemic has driven the global ogy Solutions on Friday an-
ans and loans against proper- chairman Rajnish Kumar, in- EMI repayment moratorium, um provides relief to borro- 21, while all major G20 econo- economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to nounced that it will pay a ‘grati-
ty come under the definition dicating that it is a choice that advised by the RBI, is imple- wers from being tagged as mies will shrink, the Econo- help developing nations, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said tude’ allowance of 25% of basic
of term loans, bankers are will be given to customers. mented by the lenders,” said non-performing assets. Go- mist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Friday. “It is clear that we have entered a pay to more than 1.35 lakh em-
not sure how they will provi- However, credit bureaus Experian India MD Sathya ing forward there will be a ne- said on Friday as global rat- recession” that will be worse than in 2009, ployees in India. This is being
de relief to those with credit are saying that borrowers Kalyanasundaram. ed to have a restructuring ings agency Moody’s slashed following the global financial crisis, she said in paid recognising their efforts
scheme for sectors like hospi- India’s growth forecast to an online press briefing. With the worldwide at maintaining business conti-
tality and aviation that are 2.5% for 2020 from the earlier economic “sudden stop,” Georgieva said the nuity during the coronavirus
COST OF FUNDS TO FALL FOR BANKS most affected by the crisis,” 5.3% due to the impact of the fund’s estimate “for the overall financial needs
of emerging markets is $2.5 trillion”. But she
pandemic. The company’s
said Rajkiran Rai, MD & CEO Covid-19 pandemic. overall India head count is
Measure Impact Union Bank of India. EIU said the global econo- warned that estimate “is on the lower end”. AGENCIES 2,03,700 as of December 2019
Repo rate cut by 75 basis points (100bps = Banks will bring down interest rate on retail loans “As regards the outlook for my will shrink by 2.2%. If and nearly 1.35 lakh of them are
1 percentage point) that are linked to the repo 2020-21, apart from the conti- EIU forecast is realised, In- contract in 2020 as whole, be- the rising costs of the corona- in the rank up to ‘Associate’.
Reverse repo rate cut by 90bps Banks discouraged from keeping money idle with RBI nuing resilience of agricultu- dia will emerge as the fastest- fore picking up in 2021. virus shock particularly for In the past few weeks the
re and allied activities, most growing major economy in Among the G20 countries, advanced economies, and the company has enabled a major-
RBI to lend banks `1L cr to invest in pvt debt Will ease credit freeze by enabling cos to raise funds other sectors of the economy the world even at the sharply the EIU downgraded growth policy responses to combat ity of its offshore delivery
Indian banks allowed to participate in offshore Move aimed at stabilising Indian currency by will be adversely impacted by reduced rate and along with in Italy, Germany and Brazil the downturn were becom- teams to work from home by
rupee derivatives countering offshore sales the pandemic, depending China and Indonesia will re- by over 7 percentage points. ing clearer. “We now expect provisioning new laptops and
Cash reserve ratio cut by 1% to 3% of deposits Banks will get `1.37 lakh cr, cost of funds to fall upon its intensity, spread, and cord expansion against the Although India is among the GDP in the global economy to encrypting desktops and mov-
duration. If Covid-19 is pro- backdrop of the devastation five major economies that contract by 0.5% in 2020, fol- ing them to their homes, as
Banks allowed to grant moratorium of Covid-hit businesses/individuals will get liquidity longed and supply chain dis- caused by the coronavirus. saw lowest downgrade, but lowed by a pick-up to 3.2% in well as by enabling the use of
3 months on term loans relief, avoid defaulter tag and continue getting credit ruptions get accentuated, the Moody’s said the G20 econ- its economic growth is also 2021. In November last year, BYOD (Bring Your Own De-
Interest payment on working capital deferred Will help stressed businesses stay solvent global slowdown could dee- omies, which is a grouping of being cut by about 4 percent- before the emergence of the vice), providing additional
pen, with adverse implica- developed and emerging age points, according to EIU. coronavirus, we were expect- bandwidth connectivity and
Capital norms eased Capital norms will not come in way of lending
tions for India,” said Das. countries, will experience an Moody’s said it had re- ing the global economy to air cards — all with appropri-
unprecedented shock in the vised downwards global grow by 2.6% this year,” ate client permissions and se-

RBI goes abroad to stem ` volatility

first half of this year and will growth forecast for 2020 as Moody’s said in a report. curity protocols.

TIMES NEWS NETWORK Singapore. In this market,

banks place bets on what the BOUNCING BACK
help improve an avenue for lo-
cal participation in the off-
Eco growth i
? r? l
l

Mumbai: Going beyond the value of the rupee will be in ` vs $ this week (inverted scale) shore markets and, over time,
concerns
I!tR E E
country’s borders to stem ex- the future. Unlike domestic likely narrow onshore vs NDF

THE SPEAKIN6'
74.5
change rate volatility, the RBI forward markets where the spreads. This also will be a
said that Indian banks will be
allowed to trade in rupee de-
seller has to deliver rupees on
the effective date, in the NDF 75.19
74.95 channel to control volatility
during instances of height-
drag sensex
rivatives offshore. This marks
a change in strategy for the
market the trade is settled in
dollars by converting the val-
75.5
ened market stress,” said DBS
economist Radhika Rao. down 131 pts
Nile, The Annalist
central bank, which has until ue of the rupee on that day. A panel headed by former
now been trying to bring all RBI officials have said RBI deputy governor Usha TIMES NEWS NETWORK
rupee trading to Indian shores that during times of uncer- Thorat in 2019 had recom-
at the international financial tainty, like the 2013 ‘taper tan- 76.5 mended the deepening of the Mumbai: After a rally of over Grounded at home?
Mar 20 Mar 27
Sail the Nile with
Source: ETIG
centres. The rupee recovered trum’, the onshore exchange local markets to counter the 1,000 points boosted by the
sharply to close at 74.95 on Fri- rate was influenced by these its strategy by allowing do- NDF market. “Over time, RBI’s policy decisions, growth
day, up 38 paise from its previ- offshore NDF trades. Since mestic banks to participate therefore, it would be impera- concerns pulled the sensex , ??k } Y B MANGALAM without
ous Thursday close of 75.33, no rupees are involved, the through their International tive for the Indian regulators down into the red and it finally leaving your armchair
buoyed by RBI’s measures to RBI cannot control these Financial Services Centre to take steps to expand the role settled 131 points lower at
support the financial markets. markets. The Indian central (IFSC) Banking Units (IBUs) of onshore currency markets 29,816 with 17 of its constitu-
The non-deliverable for- bank had been trying to get in the NDF market with effect gradually, lest the disjointed ents in the red. The slide came
ward (NDF) market refers to foreign banks to trade in ru- from June 1. Indian banks can price discovery issue flares up despite a Rs 356-crore net buy- ¦ l¦
¦
the trading in rupee deriva- pee derivatives in India. also participate through their more frequently and in larger ing by foreign funds, the first
tives in offshore centres like Now the RBI has changed foreign branches. “This will degrees,” the report had said. such inflow in almost a
month. Domestic funds were

RBI refrains from GDP, inflation BACK IN THE RED

BSE intraday on Fri

projections due to high volatility

High 0.4%
31,000 31,126
30,500 Prev.Close
[email protected] reflecting the onion price 29,947
30,000
Appreciate RBI governor Shaktikanta shock. “Looking ahead, food ¦Pavan K Varma on the
New Delhi: The Reserve Das’s reassuring words on financial prices may soften even further 29,500
Close Ramcharitmanas ofTulsidas
Bank of India (RBI) on Fri- stability…Also welcome statement: The under the beneficial effects of Low
29,000 29,816
day refrained from providing the record foodgrains and hor- 29,347
any projection for the coun-
macroeconomic fundamentals of the Indian ticulture production, at least ¦Saiswaroopa lyeron Kunti

ARE YOU
economy are sound, and in fact stronger
try’s GDP growth or inflation till the onset of usual summer net buyers to the tune of Rs saying goodbye to Mad ri
due to the heightened volatil- than what they were in the aftermath of the uptick. Furthermore, the col- 1,704 crore, BSE data showed.
global financial crisis of 2008-09
ity and unprecedented un-
certainty in the aftermath of
lapse in crude prices should
work towards easing both fuel
In the debt market, soon af-
ter the RBI announced moves to
Ask your vendor foryour

Vi ts"s -read y
FM NIRMALA SITHARAMAN ON TWITTER
the coronavirus outbreak. and core inflation pressures, counter the coronavirus im- copy of TheSpeakingTree,
RBI governor Shaktikan- on the economy,” Das said. crude prices could, however, depending on the level of the pact, the price of the benchmark this Sunday
ta Das assured that funda-
mentals of the economy were
“As regards the outlook
for 2020-21, apart from the
provide some relief in the
form of terms of trade gains.
pass-through to retail prices.”
The government lauded
10-year government bonds ral-
lied. But then, they again closed
?
stronger and authorities
were keeping a close watch of
continuing resilience of
agriculture and allied activ-
He said downside risks to
growth arise from the spread
the RBI’s move with PM Na-
rendra Modi and FM Nirma-
nearly unchanged from the pre-
vious level after it was clear that, Mental fitness, while facing
the situation but he also ities, most other sectors of of COVID-19 and prolonged la Sitharaman expressing to meet the challenges of the the novel coronavirus pandemic ,
Issue
pointed to the risks confront- the economy will be adverse- lockdowns and upside their strong backing of the economy, the government will
is of paramount importance, writes
ed by the global and the do- ly impacted by the pandemic, growth impulses are expect- central bank’s bold moves to have to borrow much more than March 29,
mestic economy. “Turning to depending upon, I repeat, its ed to emanate from moneta- combat the impact of the Co- what was being anticipated ear- clinical psychologist PULKIT SHARMA
growth in India, the implied intensity, spread and dura- ry, fiscal and other policy vind-19 outbreak. lier. As a result, the yield on the 2020
real GDP growth of 4.7% of tion. If COVID-19 is pro- measures and the early con- Sitharaman said the 10-year papers closed at almost
Q4 2019-20 in the second ad-
vance estimate of the Nation-
longed and supply chain dis-
ruptions get accentuated, the
tainment of COVID-19.
On inflation, the RBI gov-
three-month moratorium on
payments of term loan in-
the same level of 6.14%.
Interestingly, the day’s ear-
The Speaking Tree is a weekly 6-page Sunday newspaper and spiritual
al Statistics Office, released global slowdown could dee- ernor said the prints of Janu- stalments and interest on lier rally had taken the sensex networking website, w?v i from The Times of India group
in February 2020, within the pen with adverse implica- ary and February 2020 indi- working capital give much- to an intraday high of 31,126 Book your copy withyour newspaper vendor or SMS STREE to 58888
annual estimate of 5% or the tions for India,” The central cate that actual outcomes for desired relief, adding that points — a 21.4% gain from its
year as a whole is now at risk bank governor said, adding the quarter are running 30 ba- slashed interest rates need near four-year low level of Ahmedabad: Call 079-67774406 (ioAM to 6 PM; Mon - Sat)
from the pandemic’s impact that slump in international sis points above projections, quick transmission. 25,639 hit on March 24. Email:[email protected]
 TIMES SPORT THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

ENGLAND’S 37-YEAR-OLD PACER ANDERSON TENNIS STAR DJOKOVIC DONATES 1 MN EUROS

‘HUNGRY’ TO KEEP PLAYING FOR COUNTRY TO HELP SERBIA COMBAT CORONAVIRUS

GALLERY INDIANS WHO QUALIFIED

OLY BREATHER
FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020
Umpire Dar offers free Qualified: 74 l Individuals: 38
food at his restaurant Those part of qualified teams: 36

FOR QUALIFIED
Lahore: In a heart-warming gesture, Boxing (Total 9 individual)
Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar is offering Men (5): Amit Panghal (52kg) l Manish Kaushik
free food at his restaurant here for all (63kg) l Vikas Krishan Yadav (69kg) l Ashish
those rendered jobless by the Covid-19 Kumar (75kg) l Satish Kumar (+91kg); Women
pandemic. “During this lockdown, people (4): Mary Kom (51kg) l Simranjit Kaur (60kg) l
have become jobless. I own a restaurant Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) l Pooja Rani (75kg)
named Dar’s Delighto on Pia Road in

ATHLETES
Lahore. People who are jobless can come Archery (4): Tarundeep Rai (Men’s recurve,
there and eat food for free,” Dar, an ICC individual and team) l Atanu Das (Men’s
elite panel umpire, said in video message recurve, individual and team) l Pravin Jadhav
posted on Twitter. Former captain Shahid (Men’s recurve, individual and team) l Deepika
Afridi is also carrying out extensive relief Kumari (Women’s recurve, individual)
work through his charity foundation.
Athletics (5 individual + 4 team)
Tendulkar donates Rs 50 lakh for
India’s coronavirus fight: Batting
Those Who Have Already Avinash Sable (Men’s 3000m steeplechase) l KT
Irfan (Men’s 20km walk) l Bhawna Jat (Women’s
great Sachin Tendulkar has contributed 5
million rupees ($67,000) to India’s fight Booked Tokyo Games Slots 20km walk) l Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh
(Men’s javelin throw) l 4x400m mixed team
against the coronavirus outbreak, a relay (likely team Muhammed Anas, VK
source close to the former cricketer has
confirmed. Tendulkar, who also took part
Will Keep Their Places In 2021 STILL IN THE RING: Boxer Vikas
Vismaya, Krishna Mathew and Noah Nirmal)

in Australia’s bushfire charity game in Krishan is among those Equestrian (1 individual)

February, contributed 2.5 million rupees who have qualified for the Fouaad Mirza (Eventing Individual)
each to his state government of Maha- now-postponed Olympics
rashtra and the Prime Minister’s relief Hockey (16 + 16 all team)
fund, the source said. Indian men (Likely squad strength: 16) l
Indian women (Likely squad strength: 16)
Bumrah turns ‘gardener’ to utilise
free time: The nationwide lockdown has Shooting (15 individual and team)
brought the gardener out in India pacer
Jasprit Bumrah, who on Friday shared
Paris: Athletes who had already
qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olym-
participants in the conference said.
“One of the main subjects was
athletes, everybody involved in the
Olympic Games and the interna-
GAMES DELAY MAY ALLOW (8 men and 7 women)
Anjum Moudgil (Women’s 10m air rifle and 10m
photos of his time with plants. Bumrah pics before it was postponed will to know when and how to organize tional community”. ORGANIZERS TO WORK air rifle mixed team) l Apurvi Chandela (Women’s
said he is using this off time to reflect on
aspects of my life that are truly impor-
keep their places when sport’s the qualifications. In some federa- Many Olympic sports, such as THEIR WAY AROUND JAPAN’S 10m air rifle and 10m air rifle mixed team) l
showpiece event is held in 2021. tions, many sportsmen and sports- boxing, saw the vast majority of Saurabh Chaudhary (Men’s 10m air pistol and
tant. “Using this time to reflect on the Around 57% of the 11,000 sched- women are not qualified and it their qualifying tournaments ei- UNPLEASANT SUMMER 10m air pistol mixed team) l Abhishek Verma
aspects of my life that are truly important uled participants for Tokyo had takes at least three months for the ther interrupted or cancelled due Tokyo: Every cloud has a silver lining and the (Men’s 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed
and picking up some new hobbies along already made sure of taking part Olympic Games to organize them.” to the global health situation. devastating postponement of the Tokyo 2020 team) l Divyansh Singh Panwar (Men’s 10m air
the way,” Bumrah said in a tweet with when the International T h e 2 0 2 0 To k yo Others, such as sailing howev- Olympics could hand organizers a heaven-sent rifle 10m air rifle mixed team) l Deepak Kumar
photos of him watering plants at home. Olympic Committee Games were scheduled er, already had 90% of their com- opportunity to solve their other massive problem: (Men’s 10m air rifle and 10m air rifle mixed team)
(IOC) pushed the Games for July 24-August 9, but petitors qualified. the summer heat. The historic decision to delay l Sanjeev Rajput (Men’s 50m rifle 3 position) l
ICC board discusses contingency back to 2021 due to the after telephone discus- “The allocated quotas remain the Games due to the coronavirus pandemic gave Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (Men’s 50m rifle 3
plan: The ICC board on Friday discussed coronavirus on Tuesday. sions between Bach and allocated,” confir med another Tokyo a wide range of options when rescheduling: position) l Angad Veer Singh Bajwa (Men’s skeet)
various contingency plans for its flags- The IOC and 32 in- Japanese Prime Minis- participant in Thursday’s meet- the Games will be held “beyond 2020, but not l Mairaj Ahmad Khan (Men’s skeet) l Rahi
hip tournaments, including World T20 ternational sports fed- ter Shinzo Abe, a his- ing. “Thomas Bach has confirmed later than summer 2021”. Sarnobat (Women’s 25m air pistol) l Chinki Yadav
and World Test Championship in the erations held a telecon- toric joint decision was that a decision (on a new date for This leaves open the possibility of a spring (Women’s 25m air pistol) l Manu Bhaker
wake of Covid-19 pandemic. BCCI presi- ference on Thursday taken for the first post- the 2021 event) will be made with- Olympics when the weather in Tokyo is at its (Women’s 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed
dent Sourav Ganguly was India's repre- where it was decided to ponement of an Olym- in the next four weeks,” he said. finest and removes at a stroke the worries about team) l Yashaswini Singh Deswal (Women’s 10m
sentative when it was being speculated respect the qualifica- pics in peacetime. “Some said they prefer May 2021, athletes and fans suffering in the brutal heat and air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team) l
that a former cricket board president tion process. However, there is no others June.” humidity of Japan’s summer. Tejaswini Sawant (Women’s 50m rifle 3 position)
would attend the meeting, held via video “Thomas Bach (the IOC presi- definite date yet for the resched- Some federation chiefs also ex- Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike confirmed the
conference. “The impact of the pande- dent) first explained the reasons for uled Games, with Bach saying on pressed financial concerns, claim- postponement had opened up this tantalizing Wrestling (4 individual)
mic on the sport globally was discus- the postponement of the Games, Tuesday the Tokyo Olympics “must ing in advance part of the sums option that would also give her the opportunity Bajrang Punia (Men’s 65kg freestyle) l Ravi Dahiya
sed,” an ICC release stated. then said that the athletes qualified be rescheduled to a date beyond traditionally allocated after the of reclaiming the marathon, which before the (Men’s 57kg freestyle) l Deepak Punia (Men’s 86kg
for Tokyo 2020 would automatically 2020 but not later than summer Olympic Games by the IOC to the postponement was shifted to the northern city freestyle) l Vinesh Phogat (Women’s 53kg freestyle)
IPL best tournament to prepare for be qualified for 2021,” one of the 2021, to safeguard the health of the governing bodies. AFP of Sapporo over heat fears. AFP
T20 World Cup, says Langer: Austra-
lia head coach Justin Langer feels the IPL
is an excellent platform to prepare for the
T20 World Cup but conceded that health
is paramount as the the league may Six boxers contact coronavirus ECB mulls Barcelona set
become another casualty of the Covid-19
coronavirus
pandemic. “Before this crisis started to
unravel, we were absolutely determined
for our guys to play the IPL,” Langer was
quoted as saying by foxsports.co.au.
after London Olympic qualifiers checkpoints to to slash salaries
“Because with the T20 World Cup coming
up, there’s no better grounding, no better
London: Organisers of a su-
spended Olympic boxing quali-
Back from London, Russian boxers
resume cricket Barcelona: Barcelona said alise, ‘Wow, everybody can be
practice, no better tournament for them fying tournament in London hit London: The England and Wales they were slashing salaries to exposed here, this is very se-
to get ready for that,” he added. back at accusations of irrespon-
sibility on Thursday as the num-
flout self-isolation protocol Cricket Board is planning to install
coronavirus checkpoints and isola-
counter the financial fall-out
from the coronavirus altho-
rious’ and you start to think
about the people that you’ve
Entrepreneur Abhinav Bindra vows ber of competitors and coaches Moscow: Several members of abroad must self-isolate for two tion units at grounds in its bid to re- ugh the Spanish giants did been in contact with and the
to stand by his testing positive for coronavirus Russia’s national boxing team have weeks, barring them from sume international cricket without not specify if all of its employ- other people that can be rela-
‘team’: India’s lone grew to six. posted online pictures or videos attending work and school, and any spectator. The ECB had suspen- ees would be affected by the ted to us. That’s when a bit of
Olympic gold med- The Croatian federation said that appear to show them flouting minimise their presence in public ded all professional cricket till May move. All football has been su- fear comes.”
allist Abhinav Bindra three team members had cont- self-isolation rules imposed to slow places. But several national team 28, delaying the start of the new sea- spended in Spain where the Arteta said he coped with
has announced that racted the disease, a day after the spread of the coronavirus, boxers documenting their daily son, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. virus has so far killed more the symptoms and revealed
there will be no Turkey reported positives for social media posts reviewed by lives on social media either posted However, ECB director of than 4,000 people with 56,000 his wife and children’s nanny
lay-offs in his two two boxers and a coach. Reuters show. The Russian national images of themselves, or were events Steve Elworthy said they confirmed cases. had also contracted the virus.
organizations amid The event at the Copper Box, boxing team returned home last identified in pictures and videos, are looking at ways to resume play “The suspension of com-
the Covid-19 pande- featuring hundreds of male and week after an Olympic qualification taken at training facilities or in inside closed doors and that it wo- petitions, following the epide- Players in Brazil told to
Abhinav Bindra mic. “I can’t claim to female fighters from Europe see- tournament in London was halted public. In one case, Gabil uld need a sterile “bubble” to ensu- mic of Covid-19, entails the take 3-week paid holiday
do much as India king places at the now-postpo- on March 16 because of the rapidly Mamedov, who competes in the re the identification of anyone in cessation of all activities, Rio de Janeiro: Footballers
fights the corona pandemic but, despite, ned Tokyo 2020 Games, was hal- spreading virus. Two Turkish men’s lightweight class, on the vicinity who was carrying the sporting and non-sporting, of in Brazil were told to take a
the uncertainty I am committed to my ted on March 16 after three days. boxers and one coach tested Monday posted a video of himself virus. “We’re mapping out what in- our club,” said a statement re- three-week paid holiday due
team for the foreseeable future. I will The International Olympic positive for the coronavirus after on Instagram at a boxing club in ternational matches would look leased by Barcelona. to the coronavirus pandemic
carry the load for as long as I can. Till we Committee’s Boxing Task Force returning home from the event. Orenburg, 1,230 km (760 miles) like behind closed doors,” Elwort- The club, it added, had ta- on Thursday, with professio-
are back to helping our patients, athletes (BTF), who organised the event All Russians coming back from southeast of Moscow. REUTERS hy told the Guardian. ken a “series of measures to nal clubs asking them to re-
and clients,” Bindra tweeted. after last year’s suspension of The UK government had ban- mitigate its effects and redu- turn on April 20. All four divi-
world boxing body AIBA, wished Mikhail Ostroumov on March 16. place,” he wrote in a letter to bo- ned mass gathering of more than ce the economic consequen- sions in Brazil’s national
Nadal, Gasol launch fundraiser: those concerned a speedy reco- Croatia’s N1 television said ard members of the European 500 prior to current under lock- ces of this crisis.” championships are due to
Spanish sports stars Rafael Nadal and very but questioned the link. heavyweight Toni Filipi, beaten Boxing Confederation. down to contain the virus. “Essentially, it is a reduc- start in early May. The state
Pau Gasol launched a fund-raising drive “Some news reports appea- by Ukrainian Serhii Horskov on The BTF said many other Alluding to the initial govern- tion in the working day, forced championships that began in
on Thursday explaining they wanted to red to draw a connection betwe- March 15, and coach Tomo Kadic sports and public events were go- ment advice, Elworthy said: “The by the circumstances, and January were suspended ear-
give something back to the coronavirus en the affected participants and had tested positive. ing on in Britain at the time be- advice around mass gatherings consequently a proportional lier this month.
hit nation that nurtured them to great- the Boxing Road to Tokyo Euro- “The IOC should have known cause the government had not was 500 people or fewer. reduction in the remunera-
ness. Tennis ace Nadal and NBA hero pean qualifier held in London,” that they ought to have scrapped imposed restrictions. “That was guided by the poten- tion provided for in the re- Australian federation
Gasol have targeted raising 11 million it said in a statement. the qualifiers,” said Kadic. It said precautionary measu- tial impact on critical services like spective contracts.” lays off 70% of staff
euros ($12.3million) in the nation that has “The London event was su- The BBC quoted Croatian fe- res were taken before, during paramedics and doctors. You wo- Melbourne: Australia’s soc-
suffered the second-highest total of spended 10 days ago... and the deration secretary-general Mar- and after the event. uld likely have to work within that Arteta feared infecting cer federation has laid off
coronavirus deaths. “The Spanish people BTF is not aware of any link bet- ko Marovic as saying the third A spokesman for local orga- number (which would be made up entire Arsenal team 70% of its staff as it battles to
have never let us athletes down. We are ween the competition and the in- person was also a coach. “Our nisers said the medical team had of essential matchday staff)... then London: Arsenal manager remain solvent during a na-
what we are because of them,” said fection. Many participants were epidemiologist says they were been in daily contact with Public you have to think about medical Mikel Arteta feared who he tional shutdown to contain
Nadal, a 19-time Grand Slam winner. “We in independently organised trai- most probably infected during Health England throughout the provisions, creating a safe and ste- might have infected when he the coronavirus.
cannot let them down now,” said the ning camps in Italy, Great Brita- (the) Tokyo 2020 qualifier,” he ad- tournament with regular gui- rile environment around that ve- tested positive for coronavi- “This has been an extre-
World No. 2 tennis player. Nadal said he in and in their home countries ded. Turkish Federation presi- dance provided to all teams and nue, so that everyone who comes in rus, but said on Thursday he mely difficult decision to ma-
came up with the idea and called his before the competition started dent Eyup Gozgec said the situa- daily temperature tests for com- is clear. So it’s how you test them at has completed his recovery ke, but necessary to stabilise
fellow Spaniard and friend Gasol to help on 14 March 2020 and have retur- tion was “the disastrous result of petitors. the gate, the isolation units that and is ready to return to work the organisation so that it can
promote his drive. ned home a while ago so it is not the irresponsibility of the IOC Spectators were barred on you have to put in. These are consi- with the Premier League side. continue to service the game,
possible to know the source of in- task force”. the final Monday. “Teams were derations we are thinking about.” Arsenal announced Arte- albeit in a vastly different
‘Rescheduling Wimbledon no easy fection.” “This virus has been around advised on the steps they should England are set to host four te- ta’s positive test a fortnight landscape,” Football Federa-
task’: Britain’s Jamie Murray says The Turkish Boxing Federa- since December 2019. Therefore, take if any members of their de- ams -- West Indies, Australia, Pa- ago on March 12, which ulti- tion Australia (FFA) Chief Ex-
organisers might find it difficult to tion named one of its boxers as it is inevitable to ask why the Eu- legation showed symptoms of kistan and Ireland this year, while mately led to the halt in the se- ecutive James Johnson said
reschedule Wimbledon for later in the middleweight Serhat Guler, who ropean Qualification event was the virus,” the spokesman ad- England’s women are due to host ason as his side prepared to in a statement on Friday. AGEN-
season if the Grand Slam is postponed had a bye before beating Israeli not postponed before it even took ded. REUTERS South Africa and India. PTI face Manchester City. “You re- CIES
due to the coronavirus pandemic. A
decision regarding the June 29-July 12
grasscourt event will be made next
week but organisers have already ruled
out staging the tournament without
spectators. “I don’t know how long they
Oly delay could be blessing for Narsingh TTFI now has time to
could push it back,” Murray, a two-time
Wimbledon mixed doubles champion,
told BBC Scotland’s The Nine. “For them,
[email protected]

Mumbai: In challenges lie oppor-

pain to everyone around the
world and our immediate aim is
to fight the virus,” Yadav told TOI
TOI
World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada)
was to have none of it. It approa-
ched the CAS and eventually won
find a coach: Sharath
optics don’t necessarily look great, I tunities goes the old axiom, and on Thursday. “But now that the the case, leading to a huge loss of [email protected] els having a coach will be a big
guess, if there’s sporting events all over Narsingh Yadav will vouch for it. opportunity has arisen, I would face for the Indian contingent. boost for the players. “We now
the world getting cancelled and they’re The wrestler, who was handed a fo- like to make the most of it.” These sordid turn of events Chennai: The postponement have some time for a foreign
trying to crack on with things.” ur-year ban for failing a dope test by What would come as another were preceded by the joust that of Tokyo Olympics to 2021 co- coach to be hired. There are
the Court of Arbitration for Sport shot in the arm for Yadav is the fact ensued between Yadav and the le- uld come as a blessing in dis- talks with a few coaches but
PCB limits player participation in (CAS) just a day before taking part that the Wrestling Federation of gendary two-time Olympic med- guise for India’s table tennis things will become clearer
T20 leagues to four: Pakistan's cen- in his bout at the 2016 Rio Olympics, India (WFI) has indicated that it allist Sushil Kumar, who too, had team. The paddlers have been only in the coming months,”
trally contracted players would be able to has suddenly got another chance to will not discourage him from re- Narsingh Yadav staked a claim to the spot in the 74- without a head coach since Sharath told TOI.
play in a maximum of four foreign T20 keep his Olympics dreams alive, turning to competition once the kg category when the team was the Asian Games at Jakarta G Sathiyan, world No. 31
leagues, including the PSL, after the PCB thanks to the postponement of the ban is lifted. “We will not stop him suspension four years ago. Yadav gearing up for the Games. Things in 2018 and the Table Tennis and the country’s highest-
announced its new policy for issuing No Tokyo Games to 2021. if he comes to us and says that he was adjudged to have failed two got so ugly that it had to be settled Federation of India (TTFI) ranked paddler, believes the
Objection Certificates to them. AGENCIES His ban will be lifted in July, al- wants to compete. We have discus- anti-doping tests, conducted on in the courts. will now have enough time to new coach should be someone
lowing him to return to the mat sed it. After his ban period is over, June 25 and July 5, 2016, testing “I thought that once the CBI appoint one. TTFI had roped who can give considerable ti-
Road Surcharge of Rs.2.00 will be applicable on this edition for all locations except and start training his guns at a he will be eligible for a comeback,” positive for metandienone. started handling the case, I would in Dejan Papic in 2019 but a me to the team. “The new co-
Abu,Ahmedabad,Anand, Ankleshwar, Baroda, Bhuj, Bharuch, Ghandhi-
nagar, Gandhidham, Jamnagar.Mundra, Nadiad, , Rajkot, Surat, Udaipur. possible shot at redemption. WFI assistant secretary Vinod To- India’s anti-doping body Nada, be able to prove my innocence qu- knee injury had prevented ach must continue not just for
RNI Regn No. 15047/68 published by Mr Montoo Jain for the proprietor, Ben-
nett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. at 139, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 9 and printed by him at “This is definitely not the way I mar told PTI on Thursday. nevertheless, gave him a clean ickly, but that did not happen,” sa- the Canadian from joining the Tokyo Olympics but for
Vardhaman Publishers Ltd Vejalpur and Plot No. 465, POR-Ramangamdi, GIDC
Industrial Estate, Village, POR, Taluka & District : Vadodara. Editor (Ahmedabad would have liked to start drea- The grappler, meanwhile, still chit, buying Yadav’s theory that id Yadav. He added: “I have moved the squad back then. the next edition in Paris as
Market) : Harit Mehta Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act ( C ) All
rights Reserved. Reproduction of whole or in part without written permission is ming about the Olympics again. insists that he was innocent in the there was an attempt to sabotage on today. I will be ready to compe- Sharath Kamal, India’s well. That will ensure conti-
Prohibited : NO. 73 VOL 53
Covid-19 has caused enormous dramatic episode that led to his his progress to Rio. However, the te at the first given opportunity.” most experienced paddler, fe- nuity,” Sathiyan said.
WHAT KIND OF
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 I ADVERTORIAL, BACKBEAT
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROMOTIONAL
PARENT ARE YOU? FEATURE I AHMEDABAD Did Britney
say she
broke Usain
Bolt’s world
record?
PAGE 3
Follow us on: twitter.com/AhmedabadTimes facebook.com/AhmedabadTimesTOI instagram.com/ahmedabadtimestoi I To advertise with us, call 1800 120 5474 OF INDIA Pg4

Non-Navratri gig calendar A scene

from

of Gujarati musicians takes

Ramanand
Sagar’s
Ramayan

a hit amidst #CoronaScare

Jigardan
[email protected]

ast month, we had reported about

L
Gadhavi had a
busy schedule how non-Navratri gigs were
lined up for gaining popularity abroad, and a
concerts in number of Gujarati musicians were
Australia planning to jet off to different countries
for musical concerts in the coming
months. While most Gujarati
musicians travel overseas for garba gigs
every year, non-Navratri concerts
abroad is an emerging trend that’s
giving emerging talent a great
opportunity to connect with their
audience all over the globe. And factors
like the growing popularity of Gujarati
musicians on social media, better reach
of Gujarati films abroad, and
communities settled abroad being
ready to spend more money on inviting
artists for events has fuelled this trend.
But all those plans have been put on
hold due to the coronavirus pandemic,
and the musicians who were looking
AS OF NOW, OUR AUSTRALIA forward to woo their audience overseas

Ramayan rerun will help people

are now rescheduling their gigs. This
TOUR STANDS CANCELLED. WE has not only upset the overall gig calen-
WILL GET CLARITY ON THE dar, but also put event organisers in a
difficult situation. But most artistes are
REVISED STATUS ONCE THINGS hopeful that these events will not be
ARE BACK TO NORMAL completely shelved, but rescheduled.
– Jigardan Gadhavi CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 

Everything went smoothly and we spend time positively: Arun Govil

are proud parents now: Ruslaan
The actor recalls the experience of driving on Mumbai’s empty roads Y
[email protected]

esterday, Union Information and Broad-

casting Minister Prakash Javadekar tweet-
ed that the 80’s mythological show, Ra-
If the show helps people seek god and follow His
teachings, it is good. Also, since it’s a family show,
the entire family can watch it together. This will
help people spend time in a positive way, not ob-
sessing over negative thoughts, and connecting
it on TV. He said, “My grandson finds it strange
to watch me on television when I am sitting right
next to him. I am very happy that every genera-
tion can find a connect with Ramayan.”

mayan, will be re-telecast from today, keeping in with the deeper meaning of the teachings of CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
amidst corona lockdown to reach the hospital with his pregnant wife mind the ongoing 21-day nationwide lock- Ramayan.”
down. One episode each will be aired at 9 am The actor is particularly happy that his
and 9 pm on DD National. grandson, who has already watched the DON’T THINK THAT
The Ramanand Sagar-directorial was im- show, will again get to watch
mensely popular in the 80s and it’s ANYONE ELSE HAS BEEN
RUSLAAN
rerun, too, is likely to garner a good
viewership. We spoke to the show’s
ABLE TO CONNECT WITH
MUMTAZ lead actors, Arun Govil and Dipika MASSES THE WAY HE
and his Chikhlia Topiwala, who continue to (DARA SINGH) DID. IT IS
be synonymous with the characters
wife Nirali
have become of Ram and Sita, on what they think A GREAT BLESSING
proud about the rerun. THAT AFTER SO MANY
An elated Arun Govil said, “Ra-
parents of a
baby boy manand Sagar’s Ramayan connect-
YEARS, THE SHOW IS
ed with the audience then and will GOING TO BE TELECAST
continue to do so, even now. I feel AGAIN”
that the show has been blessed by
god himself; otherwise, why would – Vindu Dara Singh on his
it get revived after so many years? father Dara Singh who played
It is important for people to connect Dara Singh as Hanuman in Ramayan
with the Almighty and seek divine Hanuman
intervention in these difficult times. in Ramayan
PAGE 4

PV Sindhu donates `10 lakh

in fight against COVID-19
A
ce Indian shuttler PV Sindhu on Thurs- salary to the Haryana coronavirus relief fund.
day donated a sum of `10 lakh to combat Former cricketer-turned-politician Gautam
the spread of coronavirus. Sindhu has do- Gambhir also pledged to release `50 lakh from
[email protected] all of us panicked because we had to rush from nated `5 lakh each to Andhra Pradesh and Telan- his Members of Parliament Local Area Develop-
our Juhu home to the hospital, which is located gana Chief Minister Relief Funds in the fight ment Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the equipment
ctor Ruslaan Mumtaz and his wife Ni- at Marine Lines. Due to social distancing, we did-

A rali became proud parents of a baby boy

on Thursday. While the actor is ecstatic
about the birth of his bundle of joy, he cannot
n’t take any of our family members with us. We
did not see a single person on the road and it was
quite eerie. I was scared that we might be stopped
against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hereby donate an amount of ` 5,00,000/-
each (Rs five lakhs ) towards the Chief Ministers
Relief Fund for the States of Telangana and
to treat coronavirus patients in Delhi govern-
ment hospitals.
Even tennis star Sania Mirza stepped forward
to raise money to provide food and other basic
forget the long hours of anxiety preceding it. by the police, but luckily, nothing happened and Andhra Pradesh to fight against COVID-19,” she necessities for the daily wage workers during
Ruslaan told us, “It was a normal delivery and we reached the hospital in half an hour.” tweeted. the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has
the baby was born at 4am on Thursday. Around Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, who works for so far claimed more than 20000 lives across the
9pm on Wednesday, Nirali went into labour and CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Railways, has already donated his six months’ world. — IANS PV Sindhu

‘Shaktimaan was a hit & will be a hit with children today’

Mukesh Khanna, who played the superhero Shaktimaan in the eponymous show,
‘SHAKTIMAAN REPRESENTS
feels that the show was high on values and he’s happy that people want a rerun
[email protected] glad if the ministry considers it. Shaktimaan and a few
INDIA, WHICH FIGHTS
other shows were high on values, their CRISES WITH ALL ITS MIGHT’
oon after the announcement yes- content was such that India watched
Mukesh
Khanna in
Shaktimaan
S terday that Ramayan will be re-
telecast, actor-producer Mukesh
Khanna’s TV show, Shaktimaan, started
them. This lockdown has made people
understand each other better. I welcome
the decision to have reruns, this is the
Surendra Pal, who
played the main antag-
onist in the show, said,
trending on Twitter, with people re- best time for that.” Over a period of time, “A rerun of popular
questing for its rerun as well. the show was accused of tempting chil-
shows will help us
Shaktimaan, a superhero show, was dren to perform dangerous stunts at
aired on Doordarshan from 1997 to 2005. home, and that was one of the reasons bring back our old
Mukesh played the titular role and his for it to be pulled off air. However, Mukesh values into play.
alter ego, Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar said, “The plugs on my show were not Shaktimaan was more
Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, em- pulled because of complaints, but the es- for children and their edutainment. My character was
ployed as a photographer in a newspa- calated broadcasting charges. Kids learnt called Tamraj Kilvish, and he was as powerful as
per called Aaj Ki Aawaz. As a show and a character, Shak- a lot from Shaktimaan; we always warned them, clearly, to Shaktimaan. He wanted to spread andhkaar all over
timaan found acceptance for its novel plot revolving around not repeat stunts from the show.” the world, create misery. Shaktimaan was working to
a common man, who attains superpowers through med- Given that over the last decade, kids have been exposed to stop him and destroy his powers. My character often
itation and the five elements of nature. Every episode a wide variety of cartoons and shows from different coun-
said, ‘Andhera kaayam rahe’. It was a fight between
highlighted a socially relevant subject like the impor- tries, would they tune in to Shaktimaan now? “Yes, they will,”
tance of hygiene, family values and morals rooted in In- Mukesh said confidently, adding, “The shows of that era suc- the good and evil. Shaktimaan, to me, signifies India
dian culture, and it also attacked social malpractices. ceeded because of their content and not visual effects. Shak- which continues to fight crises with all its might and
When we spoke to Mukesh yesterday, he said, “It makes timaan was a hit and will be a hit today, too. It has something problems like coronavirus are like Kilvish’s army which
me happy that people are demanding a rerun, I will be for today’s children as well.” will be destroyed, eventually.”
2
AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
VARIETY/MUST SEE MUST DO SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2020

People who take more

TIMES KAKURO LOOP THE LOOP
Rules
■ Connect adjacent dots with vertical or
horizontal lines, creating a single loop
(Fig A).

steps daily have lower

■ Crossovers or branches are not allowed
(As shown by dotted lines in Fig B). (Fig A) Not allowed
■ Numbers in the (Fig B)

ENGINEERING | MANAGEMENT | MEDIA | LAW puzzle

indicate the number
of lines that should
SUDOKU CHALLENGE
HOW TO PLAY
Fill in the grid
so that every
horizontal row,
every vertical
surround
it, while empty cells
may be surrounded
by any number of
lines.
■ You can’t draw
lines around
blood pressure: Study
iStock

column and zeroes.

Level: Easy ■ Each puzzle has
every 3x3 box
contains the
The numbers in the coloured 20 just one unique so-
digits 1-9, squares refer to the sums of the 12 lution.
without digits that you must fill into the How to begin:
repeating the empty spaces directly below or to Example Example (Fig A) -
numbers in the the right of the coloured square Begin with the zero
same row, containing the number. For in- next to 3. Since no
column or lines can be drawn around zero, mark crosses around it, as shown. Now
stance, in the given example, the Note: A digit cannot ap-
box.You can’t there is a cross in one space around 3. So we know the three lines of 3
2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 pear more than once in can only be drawn in the remaining three spaces. Next, these lines can
change the digits
already given in
digits that add upto 12, whereas any particular digit combi- only be extended in one direction each. Continue, using the same logic.
the grid. Every for 20, the 3 boxes placed hori- nation. For instance in the Hints: Keep eliminating possibilities by marking crosses in spaces be-
puzzle has one zontally next to it must add upto example, we cannot have tween dots where a line isn’t possible, i.e., if you have already complet-
solution. 20. No zeroes are used here, only the combination of ed required lines or where a line extension may create a branch or
Level: Medium the digits one through nine. 8+4+8 for 20. cause a deadend (Fig B)

H E A LT H C A P S U L E SCRAMBLE
Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to
each square/circle, to make four ordinary words
GARFIELD

HOW TO PLAY
CCAOO
Now arrange the
ABLII letters in the circles
to form the answer
GINYLT to the riddle or to fill
in the missing word
AHKRNS as indicated

____ is a dream killer. - Barbara Sher (9)

MINDBENDER
H AG A R T H E H O R R I B L E

A woman is approaching a green land with no trees in vicinity.

Now, she has a package with her which must be opened
before reaching the green land. If somehow, she fails, she will The research also finds that one’s BMI might be a mediating
die.
factor in the relation between one’s step count and their blood
What is there in the package that must be opened? pressure
s walking is considered ben- active can help lower blood pressure.

R SPELLATHON A eficial for maintaining a Those with a higher daily step

healthy living and good pos- count had significantly lower systolic
ture, a recent study explored the and diastolic blood pressure.
P O Today’s Ratings: 04 - average 05- good 06-outstanding added benefits of taking a higher In a secondary analysis, the re-
How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in number of steps daily. The study sug- searchers found the association be-
K O
today’s puzzle? In making a word, a letter can be used as many times as it appears gests that people who take more steps tween step count and blood pressure
E in the puzzle. Each word must contain the central letter. There should be at least daily, as tracked by their watch, have was no longer significant if BMI was
V one seven letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper names are not allowed.
lower blood pressure on average than taken into account, which suggests
British English Dictionary is used as reference.
those taking fewer steps. BMI might be a mediating factor in
The findings are part of a study the relationship.
THE DAILY CROSSWORD presented at the Ameri-
can College of Cardiolo-
PEANUTS

gy’s Annual Scientific Ses-

sion Together with World
MEASURING HABITUAL
Congress of Cardiology. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN
Researchers analyzed
data from 638 study par-
COMMUNITY-BASED
ticipants who were asked SETTINGS IN THIS WAY
to wear an smart watch
daily and record their
DISTINGUISHES OUR
blood pressure at home STUDY FROM PRIOR
weekly. STUDIES CARRIED OUT
Over the course of the
study, participants’ aver- – Mayank Sardana, lead author of study
C A LV I N A N D H O B B E S

age systolic blood pres-

sure was 122 mm Hg and
average diastolic blood pressure was However, the study was not
76 mm Hg, levels that are considered designed to discern whether BMI
normal to slightly elevated. affects step count or the other way
“Measuring habitual physical ac- around. “We should look to future
tivity in community-based settings studies to answer the question of
in this way distinguishes our study directionality with a randomised
from prior studies that have looked trial or cohort intervention,”
at either self-reported physical ac- Sardana said.
tivity or used accelerometers to mea- Their findings support the role of

* n
sure daily activity for only a short leveraging the data from wearable
amount of time, usually about a devices in epidemiology research to
BIRTHDAY TODAY You may find that increased responsi- week,” said Mayank Sardana, MD, a enhance the understanding of the re-

-
bilities are interfering with your social clinical fellow at the University of lationship between cardiovascular
Y ou may be given
additional responsibility life and wonder if your friends have for- California, San Francisco, and the risk factors and cardiovascular dis-

FinOlex
at the workplace. gotten you. Success on all levels is
Tip: Your lucky colours are study’s lead author. Although the ease. Over time, elevated blood pres-
gold, orange, bronze, green, filling your life and making you feel study was observational and does not sure can weaken the heart, blood ves-
white and cream. Your lucky absolutely wonderful. Keep moving show cause and effect, the findings sels, kidneys and other parts of the
FORTUNE Anupam V Kapil gems are diamond, topaz, ahead! You may have to put in a lot of align with previous research sug- body.
amber, jade, moonstone, and extra hours.
turquoise gesting that being more physically ANI
For a o r - o r o - r , t_ rv, r [email protected] You share your birthday with: SAGITTARIUS November 21-
or sms on 9822O42295. Akshaye Khanna December 20 Remember what they
say about all work and no play. You
might find yourself a little too consci-
ARIES March 20 - April 18 Job proach to your conversations. This day The first Olympic
requirements may slow you down for
a while, but remember this is only short
will be a good time to concentrate on
completing work or personal matters.
entious. You could stress yourself out
to the point where you tax your strength DID YOU marathon was held
too much. This day will inspire you to

KNOW
term. Rash decisions can lead to big Make some changes at home. Get
mistakes.Take your time. More confir- organised and file or complete initiate projects. Take time to relax and in 1886 with only
mations of career and business paperwork. enjoy your day. 17 competitors
success could come your way today. LEO July 22 - August 21 Making CAPRICORN December 21 -
Don’t bring up buried emotions that you yourself clearly understood is impor- January 19 Use all that you have
he first winner of the the very first Olympic
thought were forgotten.
TAURUS April 19 - May 19 Things
are changing in your career path.
Results depend on your own ambition
tant now.Your timing should be perfect
and those around you should find you
spontaneous and alive. This afternoon
you may agree to help a friend with
learned recently and put it to use in the
practical world. Your workload will in-
crease and it will be important to take
it seriously. There are sudden changes
T marathon was Spiridon Loius. In 1984, Joan Benoit
became the first woman to win the Olympic marathon.
The Boston marathon is the world's oldest yearly marathon.
and drive, which are strong now. You important matters that might, in turn, in the plan. You will have to persevere.
desire to be with friends who are help you. AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18
stimulating and help you stretch VIRGO August 22 - September 21 The Someone you are involved with in a
beyond the usual. sensitive side of you tells you that this social capacity is getting very assertive SOLUTIONS TO GAMES/PUZZLES
GEMINI May 20 - June 20 You deal is a definite step forward for you on and you are not too sure that you like EVENTS
it. Maybe you should put a little TIMES SUDOKU LOOP THE LOOP TIMES KAKURO SPELLATHON
with abstract matters while remaining your spiritual path, but the logical side
practical. Some will think there is a might be causing you to doubt the re- distance between you, at least until you
IF IT ISN’T HERE,
PROVOKE, rook
conflict, but you will work with the ality of it.You will have to become more can figure out what it is they are actu- poker, pork,

complexities and create opportunities assertive and decisive. ally trying to do. IT ISN’T HAPPENING perk, poke,

for inspiration. This is a great day for LIBRA September 22 - October 22 PISCES February 19 - March 19 WHATZIT?
Friends will find you trustworthy and Mail your event details to us two days in advance
you to get up on stage. No matter how There is a great need for you to take
with details, preferably with a photograph: cart
much common sense you use to fig- the lead now. Communicate with dependable and your emotions will
Events Ahmedabad Times, 139, Ashram Road,
Upset the apple
ure out your life situation, use creativ- family, find out about any concerns they settle down considerably. Cooperation Fadia Chambers, Ahmedabad 380009.
ity when setting goals. have. You have a strong inner sense of will exist with your partner and there Email: [email protected] MINDBENDER SCRAMBLE
CANCER June 21 - July 21 You have where you need to go. Don’t be will be understanding. A quiet day will You can follow us on that, she will hit the land and will die. Barbara Sher
a lot of influence in your personal cor- stubborn and selfish, if you want to be help you get on top of things and feel Facebook: @AhmedabadTimesTOI back while she is diving free in the air. If she doesn’t open Answer: Isolation is a dream killer. -
ner of the world. Connect with col- accepted. more secure.You are mostly happy and Twitter: @AhmedabadTimes The package comprises of the parachute which is tied to her Words: Cocoa, alibi, tingly, shrank
leagues and take a conscientious ap- SCORPIO October 23 - November 20 feeling adventurous.

TELEVISION WEB ORIGNALS

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1035 Universal Soldier: Regeneration 1455 Robocop 3 1351 Welcome MX PLAYER GUIDE
1220 Spider-Man 3 1700 The Medallion 1715 Prem Rog
1455 Kung-Fu Killer 1855 Evolution (2001) 2100 Kishen Kanhaiya
1650 Mr. & Mrs. Smith 2100 Conan The Destroyer
1905 Monsters Inc. 2305 Jerry Maguire
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0900 Top 50 ‘Phir Hera Pheri’
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at 2100 Hrs at 2240 Hrs Saavdhan Was Then Better Known As The Crime Capital Of India.
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‘Terminator: Salvation’ 1000 Alvin And The Chipmunks: ‘Kishen Kanhaiya’ Local Influential Personalities And Re-Establishes The
1155 Jerry Maguire 1645 Hulchul 2100 Uri - The Surgical Strike
at 2100 Hrs Chipwrecked 0805 Kasam Suhaag Ki at 2100 Hrs
1425 Landline 2000 The Zoya Factor 2310 Beyond The Clouds Faith Of The Common Man In The Law.
1605 Marmaduke 0700 Marco Polo 1125 What Happens In Vegas 2240 Dishoom 1105 Jaal The Trap 0721 Ajooba
SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2020
AHMEDABAD IS TALKING ABOUT... AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
3
Pics: Gettyimages

THE ‘ANTI-NATALIST’

PARENTING MOVEMENT

TRENDS 2020
From plastic-free parenting to Everyday Take 20,
here are some parenting trends that may Harry and Meghan announced to the world
become popular this year, thanks to very that they will stop at two children to help
save the planet. However, the Anti-Natalist
with-it parents who are being influenced movement is all about forcing people to
by various global events volunteer to not have kids at all. In a
bizarre announcement, a 27-year-old
Mumbai businessman, Raphael Samuel,
said last year that he plans to sue
[email protected] his parents for giving birth to him
without his consent.
hile every parent wants to

W be the best parent for their

children, it’s not easy
balancing career and family, juggling
RED–THEMED
responsibilities and managing the PERIOD PARTY
needs of children and self. However,
today’s parents are more invested,
conscious and savvy about their
parenting choices and are taking cues
from everyone — environmental
activist Greta Thunberg to celebrity
couple Harry and Meghan. Here’s a
look at the parenting trends that may
pick up momentum this year…
ECO-FRIENDLY
PARENTING of families are

93
Till recently, not many were planning to
aware of the possibilities become more Though the first menstruation cycle of a girl has
of environment-friendly environmentally been celebrated in India since yore, the West is
parenting, except for going friendly over the now trying to emulate the same. There is an
for wooden toys. However, next few years, increased interest in celebrating their daughter’s
millennial parents have
started substituting baby
wipes and cloth, using
% by using less
plastic
first period with red-themed food and drinks to
remove the stigma associated with menstruation,
home-made food instead of and this is an idea that’s likely to become more
canned food products and replacing popular in the UK.
plastic toys with those made of wood
and natural colour.

29
dividing the household chores kids that there is no concept called is increasingly being replaced by
EVERYDAY TAKE 20
This can be a fitting trend for 2020, among themselves to show that the weaker sex. family games. Many families are
believe the
two-child
THE GRETA EFFECT
with parents ready to set aside 20 there are no gender-specific chores FAMILY GAMES finding time to play traditional Greta Thunberg was noticed by the
plan will
minutes every day to sit with their at home. They also choose to narrate The old practice of sitting together games and are also buying multi- world when she went vocal about the
stories of inspiring women to tell player gaming equipment for a fam- become
children and talk to them about and watching television a discus- environment. Many parents have now
everything under the sun. ily bonding session.
started encouraging their children to
GENDER-NEUTRAL
PARENTING
STOPPING AT
TWO CHILDREN
% sion point
this year raise their voices about the causes
they believe in. Instead of only
A pronounced trend in the West, Harry and Meghan made headlines listening to adults, these children
when they announced to the world of parents

47
gender-neutral parenting has been on are making sure that their voices
the rise in India. These parents are that they will stop at two children to want to are heard by all. No wonder,
letting their boys and girls choose the help save the planet. Now, many fam- try gaming companies are looking to hire
type of toys they want — no more cars ilies are gung-ho about the idea— a together
conscious decision not to have more children as consultants and
for boys and dolls for girls, as urban in 2020, ambassadors to talk
millennial parents want to break the than two kids so that they refrain from instead of
creating a negative impact on earth. about climate change
norm that pink is for girls and blue is
for boys. These young parents are also
Survey Source: ChannelMum.com
% watching
TV or a film
and environment.

TOP 20 SONGS

Quarantined? Whip up
Last Peak Song Album Dalgona coffee uses a thick,
week Position Title Title frothy layer of beaten coffee on
1 1 1 Dus Bahane 2.0 Baaghi 3 top of cold (or hot) milk
2 3 1 Muqabla Street Dancer 3D
3 2 2 Shayad Love Aaj Kal
4 5 4 Bhankas Baaghi 3
5 4 4 Pyaar Tenu Karde Gabru Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
6 8 1 Haan Main Galat Love Aaj Kal

some Dalgona coffee!

7 7 2 Illegal Weapon 2.0 Street Dancer 3D
8 9 8 Do You Love Me Baaghi 3
9 6 6 Mehrama Love Aaj Kal
10 10 4 Garmi Street Dancer 3D
11 12 9 Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
12 13 2 Sauda Khara Khara Good Newz
13 11 2 Malang Title Track Malang
@aimifoodgram

14 14 1 Dheeme Dheeme Pati Patni Aur Woh

15 16 12 Humraah Malang [email protected]
16 15 4 Don’t Be Shy Bala
ou’re under lockdown, and you’re trying to use all extra time to learn how to cook, or make something

Y
17 18 1 Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare Pati Patni Aur Woh
18 17 1 Ghungroo Song War fancy. However, the weather is getting warmer, and you’ve started to turn your fan on at high to keep
19 19 1 Shaitan Ka Saala Housefull 4 you cool. You might be searching your fridge to check for that carton of milkshake you stashed for an
20 20 2 Naah Goriye Bala emergency, or looking at the empty bottles of soda to find one that has some left, but in vain. But if you like
the phenti hui coffee, or simply want to try making something that’s easy and still looks like it could
be on a five-star’s menu, we have something for you. What if we told you there’s a delicious, sugary twist
to that coffee?
Dalgona coffee gets its name from the Korean spongy toffee, dalgona, also known as ‘honeycomb’ in
Best of Bollywood songs and the US and ‘hokey pokey’ in New Zealand. The drink is a mixture of ice and cold milk topped with a
thick layer of instant coffee that’s been whisked until frothy. It gets its name from the
singles for the week ending coffee topping, which resembles dalgona before the candy mixture, consisting of oil, sugar,
March 28, 2020 and baking soda, is flattened. And if Instagram and Twitter are to be believed, the beverage tastes
delicious!
Shayad
After having just completed the sequel to Love Aaj
Kal, Sara Ali Khan will be seen next in the remake
of Coolie No.1 alongside Varun Dhawan. Rumour RECIPE
has it, that it will feature a recreation of Govinda’s
super hit ‘Main Toh Raste Se Jaa Raha Tha’ Kartik Aaryan and WHAT YOU NEED preference) turns pale and is frothy.
Sara Ali Khan ● Instant coffee (2 tbsp) HOW TO MAKE IT In a glass, put some ice
Source: Radio Mirchi
● Sugar (2 tbsp) In a bowl, combine the and fill half of it with
● Hot water (2 tbsp) coffee, hot water and milk. Top with the frothed

5
WEEK ENDING MARCH 28, 2020
● Cold milk (half cup) sugar. Beat with a whisk coffee mixture, and your
TOP ANGREZI ● Ice (according to or a fork until the mixture dalgona coffee is ready!

Song Title Artiste / Band @RjsDailyLife

1
2
End Of Time
Yummy
Alan Walker, K-391,Ahirx
Justin Bieber The name Dalgona TIP
Wikipedia comes from the You can make
3 Feel Me Selena Gomez
Korean dalgona this with
4 Intentions Justin Bieber and Quavo candy, which is
End Of Time chocolate-
5 Alone. Pt II Alan Walker and Ava Max known by other based drink
This track celebrates how musicians can work from home now.Three music producers Alan Walker, K- names in other powders like
391 and Ahirx, teamed up to showcase the power of 'bedroom producers' with End Of Time. parts of the world
bournvita or
These are Top 5 international songs. Source: Gaana.com milo, or even
use matcha
tea powder, if
DID YOU esearch has consistently

KNOW R shown that the synchroni-

sation of music with repet-
itive exercise provides enhanced
you have
some.
Note: You can
adjust the
Hearing music enhances physical performance,helping peo-
ple to both work out for longer and oc
k amount of
physical performance train more efficiently. In a study, iSt sugar accord-
participants who cycled in time to ing to your
music found that they required preference. If
seven per cent less oxygen com- you make it
pared to cycling with background with no sugar,
(asynchronous) music. In other
words, music provides temporal
the froth will
cues that have the potential to fall flat in two
make more efficient use of phys- minutes.
ical energy. TNN
4 AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
BACKBEAT SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2020

‘The rerun reaffirms Shilpa Shetty Kundra celebrates her newborn

daughter’s first milestone at home, in quarantine
that the show struck [email protected] one coming from outside to go near
her daughter. “The precautionary

a chord with masses’ W

ith two children in the measures we’re following at home
household — seven-year- are simple and basic, but they are be-
old son Viaan and the new- ing followed strictly. Apart from the
born Samisha — Shilpa Shetty Kun- 24-hour-staff, everyone has been giv-
dra is taking no chances when it en mandatory leave. They will re-
comes to safety and hygiene in the sume only after there is a directive
wake of the coronavirus outbreak. from the state government, with-
The actress is especially careful drawing the lockdown. I’m making
about her baby girl, who entered the sure that no one, who has come from
world on February 15. outside, is going into my baby’s
On Thursday, when Samisha room. Anyone stepping out and com-
turned 40 days old, Shilpa shared on ing into the house has to sanitise
her social media page, “Samisha their hands. Also, I don’t let anyone
Shetty Kundra completes 40 days to- into my child’s room without clean-
day. The first milestone for a mother ing themselves completely, head to
and child, revered in Hinduism… toe. Her room is cleaned thoroughly,
Ideally, as a ritual we would have twice a day, everyday,” says the pos-
stepped out of the house for the sessive mommy.
FIRST time and taken her to a tem- When asked about Viaan, the ac-
ple for blessings, but as things stand tress admitted that keeping school-
today don’t have that option. Hence, going children engaged indoors is a
will seek blessings at our mandir at task. She said, “Viaan is attending
home. It only makes me realise that virtual classes every day. Apart from
there are so many other things we that, he has no outdoor activities or
Shilpa and Raj should be grateful for even if some playdates. It’s difficult to keep the
Kundra with things don’t go as per plan. So, for the child engaged in something all day,
their kids Viaan next 20 days, I’m going to document as their energy levels are high and
and Samisha one thing that I’m grateful for you have to find new ways to chan-
EVERY DAY. Starting with TODAY, nelise it correctly. Though he doesn’t
I’m so grateful for just having a step out, he has to bathe twice. As a
Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala, healthy family by my side. Let’s use responsible elder brother, he sets an
Arun Govil and Sunil Lahri this time to thank the universe for all example for everyone by sanitising
in a still from Ramayan the wonderful things and daily man- his hands each time he goes near
ifest positivity in our lives.... (sic).” Samisha. As conscientious parents,
...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The production values and techniques might A couple of days ago, Shilpa had we have to avoid playdates to safe-
have improved today, but our dialogues, execu- told us that she does not allow any- guard children, ours and others.”
When asked how he is coping with the lockdown, tion, story and casting were so unique that it is
Arun Govil replied, “There is no house help, and still the best version of Ramayan. When my
we are doing all our daily chores ourselves. My daughters were younger, they found it strange I’M MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE, WHO HAS COME FROM OUTSIDE, IS GOING INTO MY BABY’S ROOM.
wife and I haven’t stepped out for days, our son
gets the medicines and groceries. We are wait-
that I was staying in the jungle with my husband
in the show! I am happy the show is back on na-
ANYONE STEPPING OUT AND COMING INTO THE HOUSE HAS TO SANITISE THEIR HANDS. ALSO, I DON’T
ing for the situation to improve.” tional television; it reaffirms the fact that the LET ANYONE INTO MY CHILD’S ROOM WITHOUT CLEANING THEMSELVES COMPLETELY, HEAD TO TOE
On her part, Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala told original Ramayan struck a chord with masses
us, “My phone has not stopped ringing since the like no other show.”
news was announced. The rerun will help peo- The actress also appealed to the people to stay

#CoronaScare: Gujarati musicians to reschedule

ple not just in bigger cities, but even in villages, at home. She said, “It’s a gloomy situation and
to connect with the show again. This time around, we haven’t stepped out for days. If need be, my
even the newer generation will get to watch it. husband steps out to buy the essentials.”

IN HIS LAST DAYS, MY FATHER WATCHED THE

ENTIRE SHOW AGAIN: VINDU DARA SINGH
Vindu Dara Singh, son of actor and wrestler Dara
Singh, says his father played Lord Hanuman to
their overseas non-Navratri performances We will get clarity on the revised status is under lockdown. So, it is not fair for
perfection. He is happy that the newer generation Meet Jain was once the lockdown is over and things us to ask for remuneration when the
will get to watch his dad’s performance. He said, looking forward are back to normal.” tours are not happening,” says Aditya
“My father played Hanuman thrice — first in the to performing in Gadhavi, who was to perform in Dubai
Australia in June
‘DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT
movie Jai Bajrang Bali (1974), then in Ramanand in March and in the US in May. He
Sagar’s Ramayan and finally in BR Chopra’s
SITUATION, WE CAN’T ASK FOR adds, “As artistes, we just wish to
Mahabharat. After that, so many actors, including REMUNERATION EITHER’ reach out to our audience, and
As these concerts are planned well we are hoping that things will be
me, played Hanuman on screen, but I don’t think that
in advance, artistes put aside their back to normal soon.” Devang
anyone has been able to connect with masses the dates accordingly and plan the rest Patel, who was planning trips to
way he did. It is a great blessing that after so many of their commitments around various countries, feels that
years, the show is going to be telecast again.” them. this is the time to back
He added, “During his last days, I asked my So, any cancellation of dates each other and not
father if any of his wishes were unfulfilled. After a lot means loss of revenue for think of personal gains
of persuasion, he said, ‘Chal Ramayan laga de, I will the artistes as well as the or losses, “This is not
watch it again’. He used to watch the show with Dimple Biscuitwala was organisers. But in a situa- the time to think of loss
great interest and finish five episodes in one day, it planning non Navratri tion like this, artistes feel it or profit, the artiste
gigs in different countries is not the right time to ask community is in this
was one of his last wishes. My father had a tough
for payment for lost dates. together.”
time playing the character. After getting into the cos-  CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nect with their fans. So, I hope the con- “Nobody had imagined
tume, he couldn’t eat anything and would just sip certs get rescheduled.” Even Jigardan that we will see a situation Devang Patel was
nariyal pani the whole day. Such was his commit- Gadhavi, who was supposed to per- planning some
Dara Singh played ‘HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET TO like this, where the entire
musical gigs in
ment and hard work.” form in Australia, will have to wait. He world
Hanuman in the show PERFORM IN THE COMING says, “As of now, the tour stands can- different countries
MONTHS’ celled.

Rihanna donates safety gear to NY hospitals

ontinuing to lend a helping hand during the coronavirus
For musicians who were going
for such concerts for the first
time, it seems like a big oppor-
tunity lost. But most of them
Gujarati
musicians
reschedule their

C pandemic, singer Rihanna donated protective equipment

to New York State’s overloaded hospitals. New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo took to Twitter to thank Rihanna and
are hoping that these concerts
will be rescheduled after
things are back to normal. Says
singer Meet Jain, who was sup-
musical gigs
abroad due to
#CoronaScare,
visit our
her foundation on behalf of the state for providing the supplies. posed to perform in Australia in
Rihanna Facebook
“I want to thank @rihanna and the Rihanna Foundation for June, “Cancelling such tours 24 FEBRUARY page
donating Personal Protective Equipment to New York State. results in huge revenue losses for
We’re so appreciative of your help and that of so many others
who have stepped up,” Governor Cuomo wrote. ANI
the organisers, and it’s a lost
opportunity for singers to con-
@AhmedabadTimesTOI

Did Britney say Other family members will

WORLD RAP

she broke Usain not be allowed to see the

baby, says Ruslaan Mumtaz
Bolt’s 100 metre ...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Ruslaan added, “Nirali’s father, who is a

world record?
radiologist at the hospital, was already Ruslaan
waiting for us when we reached. The hos- Mumtaz
pital was also empty, with only the staff with his
members present. Thankfully, everything son
went smoothly and we are parents to a love-
ly baby boy.”
ritney Spears’ He added, “We will be in the hospital for

B Instagram post, claim-

ing that she’s faster
than Usain Bolt, a world
two days. Due to social distancing. my par-
ents and other family members will not be
allowed to see the baby. We had finalised a
record holder in the 100 nanny, but now, due to the lockdown, we
metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 are planning to do everything on our own.
metres relay, has gone viral. The hospital staff was very efficient, but I
This week, the Toxic singer was extremely worried about how we’re
posted a photo of her running going to manage it.”
time, which reads that she com- The actor is happy that he was home
pleted a 100-meter dash in 5.97 when his wife needed him the most. He
seconds. That’s considerably Britney Spears took to said, “I was shooting for a film in Karjat
faster than Bolt, who set the cur- Instagram to post a photo of when the lockdown happened, and I re-
rent men’s world record of 9.58 her running time and joked turned home on March 13. Otherwise, Ni-
seconds in 2009. Also lagging be- about beating Usain Bolt’s rali would have had to call me from Karjat
hind would be the current world record when she went into labour. My mom (ac-
women’s record holder Florence tress Anjana Mumtaz) is at home to help,
Griffith-Joyner at 10.49 seconds. “Ran my first 5!!!! Getting over but I want to be a hands-on father. I was
your fear of pushing it in the beginning is key…once I did that I feeling bad that I could not be with Nirali
hit 5!!!!! Usually I run 6 or 7….my first try was 9….and now I did it in her last month of pregnancy, but now
whoop !!!!! 100 meter dash!!!!! (sic)” that I am at home, I will make the most of
The post soon went viral online, causing the singer to finally put it. We plan to watch online videos to learn
an end to all the confusion with a post claiming she was just jok-
ing. “Obviously I was joking about running the 100 meter dash in
more about handling a newborn.”
In an earlier interview, Ruslaan had said
I WANT TO BE A HANDS-ON
5.97 seconds…the world record is held by Usain Bolt which is 9.58 that Nirali and he had decided on names FATHER. NOW THAT I AM AT
seconds….but you better believe I’m coming for the world record!!!!
#joking #workb**ch (sic).” Agencies
for a baby girl. He said, “Now, we will have
to sit down and think of a good name for
HOME, I WILL MAKE THE
the baby. I had many names ready for a girl, MOST OF THIS TIME
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of whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. No. 85 Vol XIX. but not a boy.”