Thursday, 3 January 2019
Stray dogs get past civic body in Bhubaneswar
civic body official claimed that they had intensified sterilisation and dog catching activities mainly around Kalinga Stadium, Exhibition Ground and major roads of the city, but the lack of kennels was making it difficult to control them."We did intensify dog catching activities around the event venues and major roads, but in the absence of infrastructure we are unable to fully contain the menace," said in-charge of animal birth control programme Subhransu Mishra. He added they were conducting 300 sterilisations a month.According to the veterinary department, the population of stray dogs in the city was around 20,000 during 2014-15. The figure has increased to 42,000 at present. A veterinarian said that if the BMC continued the practice of steady sterilisation, the dog population would increase manifold."We are helping the civic authorities in catching stray dogs and conducting sterilisations. However, the number of such operations should be increased to a 1,000 per month, rather than the present 300. If that is not done, it will be difficult to control their growing population," said People for Animal Convener Amulya Nayak.Amiya Mishra, a visitor to the city festival on Wednesday, said that it was disgusting to see that the civic body did not have the ability to control stray animals. Dailyhunthttp://www.penninetroutfarmandfishery.co.uk/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/1756192/Default.aspx
INTERVIEW | We don't know if CM had any role in our Sabarimala visit: Bindu and Kanakadurga
The shrine, which was out of bounds for girls and women between 10 and 50 years of age, on Wednesday saw the breaking of centuries-old tradition and infuriating the Hindu right outfits, when the 42-year-old Bindu and 44-year-old Kanakadurga visited it under police protection. In an exclusive interview given to Manorama channel, Kanakadurga said, "Going to Sabarimala was my own decision." Dismissing the conspiracy angle being alleged by the Sangh Parivar outfits and the Opposition Congress that the two women were playing into the hands of police and the government, the women said they "used" the police machinery to enter Sabarimala on the basis of the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill shrine. "We do not know whether chief minister had any role in our reaching the shrine," they said. "We are a group of like-minded people. That's why we have come together to trek the temple. Police or political party agenda, as was being alleged by the BJP and others, is baseless," she said. When asked whether they were devotees or activists, Kanakadurga said there an activist can also be a devotee. "Activists are also devotees. If some activist wants to visit a temple, they can. The September 28 verdict of the Supreme Court allows all women to go, whether they are activists or devotees," she said. Bindu told the channel that they were adamant and wanted to visit the shrine after failing in their first attempt on December 24 when they were forced to return due to violent protests. "If we had gone back to our respective homes, we were sure that we may never visit Sabarimala. So we sought help from the police and SPs from two districts," she said. She also said they did not disclose where they stayed after the December 24 fiasco as they feared the safety of their friends. "We sought security from Pamba, (Sabarimala foothills), and the trip was not in any ambulance as claimed by political parties. We trekked all the way to the shrine," Bindu told the channel. Dismissing the allegations that they have political affiliations, Bindu said those who oppose the entry of women into Sabarimala have always labelled as "Maoists" the women who attempted to trek the hills. "I am not affiliated with any political party or organisation now. I have left all those years back. I was part of the CPI(ML)'s Central Committee and later resigned owing to differences. I am not part of any organisation now," she said, adding that she was a key speaker at a BJP event on Human Rights Day years ago. "That doesn't mean that I am with BJP. Just because I entered Sabarimala will never make me a communist," she said. 'Won't close shop till last porotta is sold!': Videos of people resisting BJP-backed hartal in Kerala go viral When asked about her family's support, Bindu said she has the backing of her husband Hariharan on every issue, including Sabarimala, and he had even accompanied the duo till Sannidhanam (temple complex). When asked about her mother's criticism for undertaking the trip to Sabarimala, Bindu said her mother has got all rights to express her views. "My mother and brother have all the rights to say that women should not enter Sabarimala. This is a democratic country. They can express their views and rights. They are entitled to their views," she said. Kanakadurga said she was staying with her husband and kids but may have some ideological differences. She also said that her husband tried to dissuade her considering her safety. Bindu said the petitions on Sabarimala issue were coming up before the Supreme Court on January 22, and "these riot-mongers" had an agenda to not allow the women to enter the shrine before that. "This was a clear cut political agenda played by the Sangh Parivar organisations to uproot the left ideology from Kerala and come to power," she said. "It has been exposed that there were no objections from the devotees but the protests were from these riot-mongers. The Kerala society has understood the same. They have been exposed," Bindu said. Meanwhile, a top police official confirmed to PTI that at least 20-30 anti-Maoist commandos escorted the women to the shrine. However, It was not clear from where the police escorted them. Kerala was in ferment on Thursday, a day after the two women entered the Sabarimala temple, infuriating saffron outfits, with protesters blocking roads by placing burning tyres and granite blocks, and clashes leaving 31 police personnel and many others injured. The dawn to dusk shutdown called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups, and the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), plunged the state into turmoil, as hundreds of Hindu right-wing activists disrupted vehicular movement and vandalised shops and offices of the ruling CPI(M). Dailyhunthttps://www.intensedebate.com/people/peeggerrizza
Swachh Survekshan 2019: PMC hires another agency, this one to spruce up its 'brand'
In the 2018 survey, the PMC managed to clinch the 10th rank, three notches higher than its 2017 position (13th), and a rank higher than what it got in 2016 (11th). The civic body has inked a three-month contract with the agency - Indian Magic Eye Pvt Ltd - and is shelling out Rs 18 lakh for it. The agency will post social media updates, advertisements and promotions for events pertaining to cleaning up the city. It will also undertake a promotional campaign for the PMC on social media, promote the Swachhta App, arrange celebrity endorsements, and put together radio spots, TV commercials and sky signs. A month ago, the civic body had appointed KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, also on a three-month contract and at a cost of Rs 35.30 lakh, to improve its performance in the survey. KPMG's tasks included setting up a project implementation unit to study the PMC's cleanliness initiatives, and planning programmes and projects to improve the civic body's 'problem areas'. The agency is also going to coordinate with other agencies that are undertaking on-site inspections across the city, and encourage local residents to participate in the survey. Yet another agency, again on contract with the PMC, will help the civic body prepare a draft plan for its solid waste management department, and help implement it. The PMC will pay the agency Rs 99.49 lakh, for a period of 12 months, to impart specific training to civic staff, execute new programmes to increase revenue, and collect data on cleanliness initiatives. Dailyhunthttps://www.mobypicture.com/user/zincovitzenz
Make 2019 year of MSMEs
Financial support is also expected to come from the surplus funds of the Reserve Bank. A committee formed by new RBI governor Shaktikanta Das will decide the surplus that the RBI needs to retain in its reserves. So the rest could be used to finance MSMEs. His predecessor Urjit Patel had resigned in protest against the use of the RBI's surpluses by the government. The importance of nurturing MSMEs cannot be underestimated. These provide nearly six crore jobs and are the backbone of our exports, accounting for nearly 49 per cent of exports. Many could become big corporates of tomorrow. The government also needs to source more goods and services from MSMEs as this could be a game-changer, particularly in rural India, which is home to nearly 60 per cent of our MSMEs. ... Dailyhunthttps://diigo.com/0dij8i
NDA not one party, says Shiv Sena as it backs call for JPC on Rafale
Our demand should be taken positively. We want both the deals probed so that the truth comes out," Raut said. The Sena had echoed Rahul Gandhi's demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and asked questions about the deal like the Opposition, leaving the BJP embarrassed. "A JPC will give an opportunity to the government to prove the deal is clean. Why should we in the NDA be scared of a JPC probe when the Rafale deal is clean?" Raut asked on Thursday.BJP leaders, however, linked the Sena's stand with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP feels the Sena is using the Rafale and the Ram temple issue to drive a hard bargain on seat-sharing. 1680714 1680150 Dailyhunthttps://www.openlearning.com/u/deekoojeekoo
Difficult Conversations: 10 books of 2018 by Indian authors that strike a chord
Not aware of other cultures, people and foods. Thukpa for all beautifully rounds everything up. This book, told from a blind child's perspective, opens up an important conversation about the differently-abled and how they are usually treated. The story revolves around Tsering inviting his friends and neighbours over for a delicious meal of Thukpa cooked by his grandmother. But then the power cut strikes. While everyone wonders what to do, for Tsering, it is business as usual. He is just a normal child who does things a bit differently. On our trip to Ladakh, we tasted thukpa, and learnt that power cuts were a way of life. It is a world far removed from the isolated existence of a city. The community thrives on cooperation, mutual trust and care. And life waits for a warm bowl of thukpa despite what we might see as hurdles. The story normalises differences beautifully. Susie Will Not Speak Author: Shruthi Rao Age group: 7+ The younger one used to speak with a slight lisp when he started talking. By the age of four he had figured out how to say 's.' At that time it used to sound cute. But today when I think back, I shudder at the horrors he would have had to face had it not gotten resolved on its own. Children can be fairly mean to people who are different. And articulation and phonological disorders are just not considered serious enough by our society to evoke any kind of empathy training in kids. In fact, just like an adult in the book Susie will Not Speak (written by Shruthi Rao; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu) most of us end up making fun of it all. Movies freely use such characters as a comic relief. It is simply acceptable to laugh. Very few stop to think. Books like these are the precise reason why I love hOle Books. They bring issues relevant to the targeted age group without the story sinking into seriousness of the problem. They make it relatable. Susie has a lisp and she could be any of our children's classmates. The kids in the park who tease her exist. So does the boy who decides to be her friend. The speech therapy is bugging her as much as the people who find her strange. The last straw is a school assignment that would require her to make a presentation on a topic with an overdose of the alphabet 's.' The story follows her troubles, her friend standing by her side and Susie eventually finding her way. Latest Videos Shruthi Rao deftly opens up a conversation about an issue mostly ignored. Books like these are important if we are to raise mindful kids. Give it a go. The Manic Panic Author: Richa Jha Illustrator: Mithila Ananth Age: 5+ As an exercise, try noting down the time you are on devices. You'd be surprised! As a second exercise, look around you - on the metro, in the mall, markets - everywhere we find people on devices. Even more worrisome are the little babies happily swiping on the screen. Manic Panic is a take on that. Daddy and Mommy are mostly found glued to their devices. One fine day, the wi-fi betrays them and all hell breaks loose. They whine and howl much to the child's dismay who finally declares, ' Mommy! Daddy! BEHAVE! It is NOT the end of the world' The child then goes on to drag them to the big world out there. The story is hilarious and worrisome at the same time. It talks about our times, it talks of us. And it gives us a glimpse of possibilities without screens! And the twist at the end will get you rolling on the floor. Manic Panic achieves a rare balance. There is a message in there for all of us - grown-ups as well as kids who are screen dependent. Yet the story is hilarious with the illustrations making it all funnier and even more ridiculous. Soda and Bonda Author: Niveditha Subramaniam Age: 3+ I have five dogs and a cat. And believe me they are walking lessons in accepting differences. The Rottweiler is scared of the slightest sounds, the cat thinks he is one of the dogs, the oldest dog thinks he is the family elder, the smallest thinks she is a ninja. Soda and Bonda is easily as much their story as it is ours. Bonda the cat feels and behaves like a dog. The story is about Bonda coming out and Soda accepting her as a dog. Sound familiar? We are all stuck in roles defined by different conditions - age, gender, religion, culture, caste - the list never ends. Soda and Bonda gently shake that all up and form a welcome platform to discuss differences and acceptance. I do not think it is limited to a toddler picture book. It transcends ages and should be read by all. The illustrations mae me fall in love with my mad band of dogs and a cat all over again! When Morning Comes Author: Arushi Raina Age :14+ My love and appreciation for history is fairly recent. So to go to another continent for something which never found a mention in our history books was out of question. My introduction to South Africa was limited to Gandhi and what he did there. It is no different for our children. I know apartheid existed but it was this clinical, objective condition, limited to a few paragraphs in a long forgotten history textbook. I'd frown, thinking about it but that's about it. There was a comfortable emotional detachment. It was the same for the boys. Then we read When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina. It is the kind of book that needs you to rest between pages, to find your breath, to hope that things go well, that the characters live. That Zanele lives. The Soweto Uprising changed the course of history for the region and to think it was a group of school kids who started it all! Fiction gives voices to the people who might have existed around the time. There might have been a Zanele fighting for her basic rights as a human being, there might have been a Jack, who despite being white and completely ignorant of what was going on around him, cared very little about the skin colour. There might have been an impossible love story that could have existed and quietly faded away. There might have been a Meena, who despite being brown, found herself at the centre of it all. On 16th June 1976, I was not even a year old, happily bundled up in my mum's arms, protected in my privileged life. And on that very day about 700 people, mostly school students were killed. Because they decided that it was them who had to stand up, and do something about their rights. Little children, the age of my own and perhaps younger. Zanele, Thabo, Jack and Meena - they together reveal a forgotten part of world history that today, more than ever, is significant. The story moves forth in their voices, their lives and their changing perspectives. The story needs to be read, for on the foundation of history, future stands. Pink and Blue Author: Ritu Vaishnav Age Group: 5+ Pink and Blue, written by Ritu Vaishnav and illustrated by Vishnu M Nair is a perfect starting point for conversations on gender stereotypes. Girls like pink, boys don't cry, and many more such stereotypes are called out one by one without the book receding into a serious monologue. The illustrations ensure that the balance is maintained and the detailing would get the reader to linger on the pages a tad bit longer. Since the concepts are simply stated, they leave a lot of scope for discussion. Colours, hair length, sports, tears - none of them have a gender and our kids not only need to know it, they need to see it in terms that are familiar to them. Pink and Blue does just that - uses everyday situations in a child's life to gently put across the ridiculousness of gender stereotyping. Ahimsa Author: Supriya Kelkar Age: 12+ Supriya Kelkar's Ahimsa is the kind of book I wish we had when we were kids. Anjali is a 10-year-old girl living in a fictitious small town called Navarangpur somewhere in India around the time just before we gained independence. The story revolves around the struggle as seen through the child's eyes. Gandhi's philosophy in current times incites extreme reactions like everything else. So to see the narrative treat Gandhi as a human who was also capable of making mistakes was extremely refreshing. The story leaves windows for thought and discussion. It makes the reader question at places and nod at others. I have no memory of an inclusive book from recent years, at least none that stuck past the last page was turned. Ahimsa is different. It talks about the riots, it discusses Gandhian philosophy, it questions ideas, introduces Ambedekar's journey, it makes Dalits visible, and introduces the reader to their struggles without mollycoddling. And while it does all this, the plot is not lost. It is all conversational and provides perfect grounds for opening discussions with children around freedom struggle, different philosophies and the caste system. The Seed Savers Author: Bijal Vachharajani Illustrator: Jayesh Sivan Age: 8+ The beauty of Pratham books is that they travel to unexpected places and hence the stories that these books tell become even more impactful. The Seed Savers is a story inspired by real life events. This is a story of possibly the most important people in our society who are also one of the most neglected. This story is also about the power of choice and community. The people of the village choose to stick to organic seeds, and they come together to form a seed bank when they face a crunch. The Seed Savers is important not only as a conversation starter on the issues that our city-kids stay blissfully ignorant of, but also as a seedling of an idea in a community facing similar problems. This book can be most suitably used to discuss the problems that our farmers face and also possible solutions to the problem. We need to talk to our children if we hope for a better tomorrow. Year of the Weeds Author: Siddhartha Sarma Age 13+ The path-breaking decision by the Supreme Court on the Niyamgiri Hills is lost in the pages of history. Most of us have either forgotten or have no clue about it. Siddhartha Sarma's Year of the Weeds is set in a small Gond village on Odisha based around the same judgment. Korak is a teenaged boy quite content in being a gardener at the Forest Officer's home. He speaks very little, unlike Anchita, the Forest officer's daughter who likes to sketch and considers Korak her friend. Korak's very common, unnoticeable life changes when the Government tells the Gonds to vacate their land since a company wants to mine the sacred hill for bauxite. What follows is the circus we see everyday from the other side, sitting pretty in our living rooms and lapping it all up. The difference here is that the circus is seen through the eyes of the Gonds. Korak's innocent observations are cleverly layered by the writer shoving the truth gently in your face leaving no room for the reader to hide. Without naming any names, he has managed to take a potshot at every politician and system running the show today. Little things that went into the making of this story get you to think. Anchita's insistence on feeding Korak 'kek ' (cake), for instance, is something we, standing from where we do would see as a perfectly normal thing to do. What if stuff we think of as delicacy and hence a privilege, is unpalatable to the one who seems (to us) to be in need of everything ? It gets you to stop and rethink. And hence opens up yet another world to discover with your teenager. Flying with Grandpa Author: Madhuri Kamat Illustrator: Niloufer Wadia Age: 8+ I read it this book and emerged with mixed feelings. What age group do I pin it to? Just the middle graders? Or all the way up to the forever-worrying parents? Xerxes's mother wants him to be like JRD Tata but Xerxes just wants to be like his grandpa, Mamavaji as he fondly calls him. Both of them indulge in imaginary games, share laughs and take life as it should be taken - with a bucketful of fun and a just a pinch of worry. But his mum disagrees like all mums of her generation. And she frowns. A lot. This is a must read for both parents and children as it has the potential to open conversations up and help parents address their anxieties while understanding the child's perspective. I felt truly sorry for Xerxes. He represents the children of today, fighting to retain their dreams while trying to fullfil those that are not theirs. Do read. And reflect. And talk. Dailyhunthttps://able2know.org/user/supperrkeep/
Inherent demand to help steel overcome hurdles: Tata Steel
But China PMI at 49.4 indicates the country is technically in an economic contraction zone and expectation is high that there will be policy easing to ensure growth. Moreover, we are neither seeing a structural demand collapse like 2009 post the financial crisis nor a huge supply glut in the seaborne market like 2015-16. Hence, what we are seeing is normalisation from the peak stimulus fuelled growth. Also higher production during pre-winter closing is playing out from an inventory liquidation point of view. Q: Raw material prices are yet to come down as much, putting pressure on margins. What is your outlook on prices for the industry and margins for Tata Steel's India operation, Tata Steel BSL and European operations?A: That the raw material prices are stable gives a clear indication that the steel cycle will be range-bound over the medium term though there may be mini cycles with shorter peak-trough duration. In Tata Steel, the margin play is not solely dependent on the steel prices but also on the value-added product profile strategy, customer centricity, operational excellence covering cost and efficiency programmes. For years, the Indian operations have focused on creating an all-weather business. In Tata Steel BSL (erstwhile Bhushan Steel), we have a structured programme to improve its operations, maximise its potential on volumes and realise synergies. The European operations are normally more vulnerable to externalities but the market spread has not decreased significantly. We have had operational issues in the last quarter but that should stabilise in this quarter. Q: Tata Steel is looking at long product assets for acquisition. Following the correction in steel prices, will the company go slow? Or will it continue to look at assets such as Jai Balaji, Visa or Adhunik?A: When we are building a facility or acquiring a business, the long-term strategic factors have an important weight in decision making and not the monthly steel prices. We will look at organic and inorganic options to increase our long product portfolio over time. I don't think we need to rush into anything. I can't comment on any specific names that you have given.Q: Do you think valuations of steel assets will moderate following the correction in metal prices? How will it impact the IBC process in finding a buyer?A: In the next round of IBC, there are medium to smaller-sized assets that will be available if the creditors press the button. The financial creditors and distressed funds typically find these assets as their sweet spots because of the lower capital outlay and smaller risk exposure. So there may be some investors who may play the consolidator in this segment as happened in the US in early 2000. But strategic or financial investors looking at IBC assets must be comfortable with the cyclical nature of the industry and have the ability to access large capital given the complexity of the business.Q: Tata Steel was looking to bring in a strategic partner for Southeast Asia operations or hive off completely. Any progress? Will moderation in prices slow down finding a partner?A: We have been in discussions and the talks are progressing well. We do not talk about such corporate actions till it reaches a certain stage of maturity. Again, I don't think these issues depend on near-term steel prices, it is more strategic in nature. Q: Give us a road map on the sale of the Usha Martin steel business. How soon do you expect coal and iron ore mines can be transferred?A: It is a slump sale process and, hence, there are several hoops to cross before we close the transaction, hopefully before the end of the year. The coal and iron ore mine has several regulatory approval requirements that will take its usual time. The steel business transfer, will, however, close faster and we are prepared for the opening day and follow up with an integration plan, much like what we did in Bhushan Steel. Dailyhunthttps://www.polygon.com/users/zikkergikkers
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