EC goes EASY way in R K Nagar

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NATIONAL DAILY VOL. XXXIII NO. 199

FOUNDER EDITOR: T.R.R

H CHENNAI H FRIDAY 26.6.2015 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS SATURDAY 27.6.2015 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H

Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82

Set to soar T

he stage is set for the R K Nagar Assembly by-election in which Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is contesting and the Election Commission has made all arrangements to ensure that things are in place. Also, it has implemented a new system called ‘EASY’, for the first time in India. Through the Electors Assistance System (EASY), voters can get all information such as details of the electoral roll, their polling station and also the polling booth’s key map enabling them to reach the spot. In addition to huge number of police personnel and para-military forces who are in duty in the constituency, 28 flying squads are deployed to ensure that the polling is free and fair. Meanwhile, Satnam Singh Bhamra made history by becoming the first Indian to make the NBA draft for Dallas Mavericks. A delighted Satnam Singh said his entry will open the doors for more Indians to play basketball at the highest level in America. Having represented the national team, Satnam moved to Florida for training before making his presence felt in the NBA circuit. The 19-year-old sensation believes that many hoopsters can take a leaf out of his book to dream big. Hailing from a small village called ‘Ballo Ke’ near Ludhiana, the 7 feet 2 inches player has made it to the home of basketball in the world and Satnam admitted that there was lot of anxiety before the result of the draft came in.

EC goes ‘EASY’way in R K Nagar

TRANSFORMING LIVES

q Stage set for crucial by-election amid tight security Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurating multi-crore projects of Adi Dravida and Tribal Welfare department, through video conferencing from the Secretariat in Chennai.

CM opens projects worth Rs 72.93 crore NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has inaugurated Rs 72.93 crore worth hostels, science labs with additional classrooms, community halls, bridge and approach road in various parts of the State, through video conferencing from the Secretariat here. According to an official press release today, the government led by Jayalalithaa has been taking various measures to ensure that people from Adi Dravida and Tribal communities get all facilities and their lifestyle is upgraded.

On behalf of the Adi Dravida and Tribal Welfare department, she inaugurated hostel buildings in Pudukottai, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Thiruvannamalai, Tiruvarur, Vellore, Perambalur, Trichy, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Tirunelveli and other districts. In total, she opened hostels at 83 places, constructed at a cost of Rs 66.88 crore. She also opened other facilities such as community halls, bridge and approach road.

Adi Dravida and Tribal Welfare Minister N Subramanian, Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar, Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan, Advisor to Tamilnadu government Sheela Balakrishnan and other higher officials were present when the Chief Minister inaugurated these facilities. Another release said earlier that she declared open office buildings and additional facilities for district industries centres all over the State. The total cost of the projects inaugurated by the Chief Minister on Thursday is Rs 14.50 crore, added the release.

NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: With just hours left for the R K Nagar by-election in which Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is contesting, the Election Commission has made all arrangements to ensure that things are in place. Also, it has implemented a new system called ‘EASY’, for the first time in India. Through the Electors Assistance System (EASY), voters can get all information such as details of the electoral roll, their polling station and also the polling booth’s key map enabling them to reach the spot. ‘This system will be of great help to the requirements of elector. This facility is available to electors through email, SMS and E-Netra Mobile App,’ said Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Saxena. In addition to huge number of police personnel and paramilitary forces who are in duty in the constituency, 28 flying

D-DAY FOR DEMOCRACY

Huge number of security personnel have been deployed for duty at R K Nagar. (Right) Voting machines getting ready to be dispatched to polling centres. Photos: R THIYAGARAJAN be on duty and 230 additional vigilant eye on campaigning. squads are deployed to ensure employees would also be there At E-Netra, anyone can report that the polling is free and fair. on polling day. Micro Observers violation of model code of The CEO said TASMAC would be on duty in all polling conduct using a smart phone shops would remain closed in booths on the polling day. A host app which can be downloaded Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of independent candidates and from the Google playstore or from till 5 pm on 27 June. CPI’s C Mahendran are in fray through mail to enetra@chenAs many as 987 police perin the by-election, which is of naicorporation. gov.in. They sonnel from Tamilnadu and course headlined by Jayalacan also SMS complaints to 720 para-military personnel lithaa’s presence. 9444123456 or just call 1950. have been drafted for security For the first time, more than On Wednesday, the Elecarrangements so far. A total of 100 number of Internet Protion Commission announced 530 Electronic Voting Machines tocol (IP) cameras have been regulations to be followed from and 265 control units would be installed at important locations Thursday till the closure of polling used for the by-election while in the constituency to keep a for the by-election on 27 June. 1,150 election officials would

2 FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2015 'On important days like Pradosham, people from various parts of the city throng the temple and wait for long hours. During such period, the need for a public convenience is badly felt'

City Centre A convenient solution

New toilets constucted at Gangadeeswarar Koil Street in Purasawalkam. ‘The temple provides drinking water and seating arrangement for the public. But to answer nature’s call there was no option. But now this problem too has been solved as

toilet has been constructed close to the temple by the civic body. On imUR B M A portant days like PER Pradosham, people from various parts of the city throng a new the temple and wait for long hours.

‘Whenever I visit Purasawalkam, I make it a point to visit this temple. I have noticed women with children going to the nearest restaurant to use the toilets. Many a times, I have brought this to notice of the temple authorities to arrange for a facility, but there was no response. Now suddenly, the work of construction of a toilet is going on in full swing. A big thanks to Chennai Corporation,’ says Ganga, a regular to the temple. ‘Due to the lack of a public toilet, nearby streets and lanes were used to open defecate. Now with the new facility coming in place, we hope the streets and lanes surrounding the temple will be maintained clean,’ says Padma, another resident. - NT Bureau

ON THE FAST LANE The flyover on Vyasarpadi is fast nearing completion ,bringing much relief to motorists and commuters. Photo: R THIYAGARAJAN

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n electric transformer commissioned at the junction of Kavarai Street and Kasikulam Street, is expected to provide uninterrupted power supply and minimise voltage problems in nearby stretches.

tributed uniformly to the consumption points’. ‘The functioning of the transformers will be monitored at the control room any complaint will be addressed quickly’, noted a senior ofcial of the electricity board at KR Koil Street.

It may be noted that the southern part of West Mambalam conWith this recent development necting Mettupalayam on the other side, is a congested area, t h e expected to ease power issues in the area, locals are all residents of which had praise for the same. to put up with frequent power cuts. Umapathy, a resiAR This was primadent here said, ‘It is T NAG rily due to the poor good to see a new transfunctioning of the former as we have had bitter expeerstwhile transformer w h i c h riences earlier with frequent power was plagued with tripping issues. failures. Children were the worst affected as they were not able to study in the absence of lights’.

And it was in this juncture that the facility, inaugurated by T Nagar MLA VP Kalairajan, in the presence of electricity board ofcials and residents, has come as a huge relief.

Another woman resident commented that earlier staying inside homes in a clustered area like this, was difcult in times of power failure, and with the new transformer in place, they would no longer need to suffer the same way.

Speaking about its features, an ofcial of the board said, ‘The new one will prevent electricity uctuations and voltage problems to a great extent. Also, the supply of power will be streamlined and dis-

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YAGAVARAYINUM NAA KAAKKA

Voltage uctuation will ease with the new transformer at Kavarai Street-Kasikulam Street junction.

- NT Bureau

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Kamala Theatre, Udhayam Theatre, PVR Cinemas,

04:30 PM 05:00 PM 05:30 PM 06:00 PM 06:30 PM 07:00 PM 07:30 PM 08:00 PM 08:30 PM 09:00 PM 09:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 10:45 PM 11:00 PM

Transformer erected to provide uninterrupted supply in Mambalam

During such period, the need for a public convenience is badly felt,’ says Lakshmi, a longtime resident of the street.

esidents of Gangadeeswarar Koil Street in Purasawalkam are a happy lot. This busy stretch, which houses the 1200-year-old temple of Lord Gangadeeswarar, always buzzes with activity.

‘This is an important link between Perambur and Parrys. Many use the stretch as open toilets, which makes the place untidy,’ say roadusers.

Powered up

New toilets in Purasawalkam

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The growing need here was a public toilet as many used the street corner to relieve themselves. To beat this, ofcials concerned are building a facility at Rs six lakh.

CHENNAI

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Around Town

CHENNAI

Give me a strong mandate: Jaya q Appeals to voters of R K Nagar constituency

NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday once again appealed to the electorate of R K Nagar constituency to give her a strong mandate insisting that the 27 June bypoll here was a result of ‘political conspiracy’ against her. ‘Since you are aware of the web of political conspiracy being spun against me or the innumerable attacks being carried out against me, it is not unknown to you that this bypoll is being held because of fate and conspiracy,’ she said. Addressing a public rally on Monday, Jayalalithaa termed the bypoll as a ‘compulsion’, recalling how the electorate had given a resounding victory to her colleague P Vetrivel in the 2011 elections. Seeking a massive mandate as a ‘precursor’ for next year’s Assembly polls, the 67-year-old AIADMK supremo had vowed to relentlessly work for the people of RK Nagar from where she is seeking election to the Assembly. In a statement here yesterday, Jayala-

lithaa said she had been targeted for the sole reason of working for the people ever since the day her mentor, AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, introduced her to politics. ‘What keeps me moving is the love and affection we have towards each other. I reach out to the people again and again due to this love,’ she said. Referring to the various welfare schemes being implemented by her government, Jayalalithaa urged the voters to vote for her party symbol, the ‘Two Leaves,’ on Saturday and give her a ‘grand victory.’

FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2015

Madras HC directive, a double-edged sword q Uproar over ‘mediation’ mode suggested in rape case NAOMI N/SAHANA AROORAN Chennai, June 26: The recent shocker of a verdict by a Madras High Court judge who directed a rapist to ‘mediate’ with his victim, has evoked mixed responses from various sections of society. It may be noted that on 24 June, Justice P Devadass in his order on a bail plea from a man imprisoned for rape of a minor, directed the case to be settled with a compromise between the two parties. ‘Mediation’ mode is best suited to them, he said in the order. Regarding the case, it is reported that a Cuddalore court in 2012, found one Mohan guilty of raping a minor, who had borne his child. Mohan had later approached the Madras High Court with an appeal against his conviction. And it was in connection with this

petition that the court had ordered for the mediation between the accused and the perpetrator. The controversial judgement, as expected, has invoked angry reactions from members of the civil society. ‘The verdict is outright bizarre and demeaning to the victim. The court cannot possibly conclude that the victim who has been suffering years of agony would agree to marry the

violator’, says Praveena, a techie. Court orders such as these would only erode the belief the common man has in the judicial system, apart from encouraging men to carry out crimes against women, feel many. However, a few others feel that the judgement should be taken in the right sense. Speaking to News Today, a senior police official said, ‘The directive was given based on the current social condition of women in the society. A rape survivor is often looked down upon, with not many willing to marry her. Such women are left to fend for themselves after being usually stigmatised by society’. ‘On the other hand, this order is also a double-edged sword, as men who feel they might actually be let scot-free, by marrying the victim, may take advantage of it’.

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Vocational training courses at TISS NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Tata Institute of Social Sciences - School of Vocational Education (TISS-SVE) is offering vocational training courses in 20 sectors/verticals in association with relevant training partners in 25 different cities across India including Chennai. A press note said TISS-SVE offers two types of courses such as Bachelor of Vocational Education (B Voc) and Diploma/certificate courses. These are work-integrated training programs with higher emphasis on OJT (on the job training). The B.Voc courses will commence from July 2015 and admissions for the short-term programs are on. Further information on various courses available, eligibility criteria and admission timelines can be viewed on http://www.sve.tiss.edu/ In Chennai, TISS has launched courses in the fields of automotive, HR & sales, industrial tool manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

EC to work with ICAI on financial statements

q Awareness meet on financial reporting practices for political parties held NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Election Commission of India will work in consultation and co-operation with Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to make the financial statements of political parties more transparent and accountable, said Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. Inaugurating a programme on ‘Financial Reporting Practices for Political Parties’ organsied by ICAI in New Delhi recently, he said that Election Commission of India is vested with the responsibility to conduct free and fair elections but the concerns have been raised in various quarters about the quantum and nature of expenditure incurred in conducting free and fair elections. So the political parties are accountable for funds raised and expenditure incurred which in turn has made the role of accounting and auditing professionals more critical in lending credibility to the financial statements, he said. He urged the participants (auditors from 27 political parties ) that the

ICAI president Manoj Fadnis and Chief Election Commissioner of India Nasim Zaidi with ICAI and EC members during a programme on ‘Financial Reporting Practices for Political Parties’ organised by ICAI in New Delhi recently. financial statements of political parties on transparency and accountability in should conform to ‘Guidance Note on party funds and election expenditure’ Accounting and Auditing of Political issued by Election Commission of Parties’ as mandated by ‘Guidelines India.

Taking English to school students

q Rotary Club in pact with British Council to offer interactive programme

British Council - South India director Mei-kwei Barker and RCME president VGP Ravidas entered into an agreement in Chennai yesterday to make English language accessible to students. NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) has entered into a partnership with the British Council to make English language learning accessible to underserved schools. British Council’s ‘Learn English for Schools’ programme is based on the research into the learning needs of children aged five to 15 years and consists of educational content that has been mapped to the National Curriculum Framework of India. The organisers said that it consists of a unique approach to language learning involving grammar and vocabulary games, songs, stories and videos that help children learn English in a fun and interactive way. They claim that ‘Learn English for Schools’ is the first ever 100 per cent functional language digital programme that can be deployed on both computers and tablets. President of RCME VGP Ravidas remarked that ‘in a globalised world, where English language is fast becoming a tool

to be successful and employable, RCME is very pleased to partner with British Council, a pioneer in English language learning and Teaching’. He also said that RCME will act as a catalyst to increase awareness among under-served institutions and ensure that this project will be another sustainable and impactful one like all other projects of the club. Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council - South India said, ‘Ensuring greater access through digital content, improving quality and teacher training will be the focus areas of British Council’s English Intervention with Schools’. The organisers said that the English Language Training Centres in Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata provides a range of general and business English classes, specialised skill-based programmes and young learner courses. ‘We work with a wide range of Indian partners in cities all over India enabling British and Indian experts to meet, collaborate and nurture mutually beneficial relationships’, said an official of the British Council.

More coaches for express trains NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Southern Railway will add more c o a c h e s C h e n n a i Mysore Shatabdi Express, Thiruvananthapuram Weekly Express and Bikaner Express. Shatabdi Express train will be permanently augmented by one AC chair car from 29 June. Thiruvananthapuram Weekly Express train will be permanently augmented by one sleeper class coach. The Anuvrat Weekly Express train will be augmented by one AC 3-tier coach (from Chennai Central starting 2 July and from Bikaner starting 5 July.

Spiritual classes at Mambalam NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Sai Seva Chakra, a spiritual organisation functioning at West Mambalam, will organise veda, sloka and bhajan classes at various locations in West Mambalam. A press release said, on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 am, the classes will be held at 28, Vivekandapuram First Street, on Tuesdays and Sundays at 6.30 am at Om Murugasramam, Srinivasa Pillai Street and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6 pm in Jagadguru Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Trust, 4, K V Colony Third Street. For details, contact [email protected].

He explained that detailed disclosures would foster confidence of various stakeholders. He also lauded the efforts undertaken by ICAI for creating awareness among the political parties to adopt better practices in the preparation of financial statements. ICAI organised the programme to enhance the financial reporting skills of the auditors of political parties. ICAI president Manoj Fadnis highlighted the responsibility of auditor vis-a-vis his limitations in conducting audit. He emphasised that in present scenario the expectations of regulators, public and the nation from the accountancy and auditing profession have increased manifold, therefore, the professionals have to understand their responsibilities for the preparation and presentation of transparent financial statements. Election Commission of India Director General P K Dash and ICAI vice-president M Devaraja Reddy also spoke.

Chairman and medical director of Rajan Eye Care Hospital Dr Mohan Rajan and Beno Zephine, who has entered IFS, were honoured at a function organised by Lions District 324-A1 in Chennai recently.

Lions award for Mohan Rajan Beno Zephine felicitated for entering IFS NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Prof Dr Mohan Rajan, chairman and medical director of Rajan Eye Care Hospital was conferred the prestigious ‘Hellen Keller award’ by Lions District 324A1 at a glittering function here recently. A press note said the award is in recognition of Mohan Rajan’s extraordinary service in delivering quality eye care for the past 25 years to one and all

irresrective of caste, creed and religion and socio-economic status. Also, Beno Zephine, who has been selected for IFS, a hundred per cent visually-impaired person was given the ‘Pride of Youth award’ for her achievement despite her disabilty. Lions District governor V S B Sundar was the chief guest for the function. Lions district chairperson Andal Rajaram, presided over the function.

TN will be pioneer in first aid initiative: Guv

q Launches special projects of St John Ambulance NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Appreciating St John Ambulance, Tamilnadu for providing training to one member from each family on first aid, Governor K Rosiah said the initiative will make the State a pioneer in first aid and it would make other States to emulate us. Launching the special first aid project of St John Ambulance, Tamilnadu at Darbar Hall, Raj Bhavan here yesterday, he said in the past three years, St John Ambulance has trained more than six lakh people especially students, factory workers, government and IT employees, tribals, road workers, women self help groups, caretakers of children and senior citizen homes in the State in more than 11 projects. The efforts put in to create awareness and to form volunteers group in districts and to equip them to attend emergencies deserve special mention, he said. Learning of first aid is imperative. Not only social service organisations and social workers should be ready to work for a massive rehabilitation but every man and woman should get trained in first aid and rescue operations, he said. The Governor also appreciated St John Ambulance for offering timely voluntary services during the recent earthquake in Nepal. The initiatives to institute the new project ‘Special First Aid-2015’ to educate teachers of special schools

Tamilnadu Governor K Rosaiah releasing the special first aid book on eleven projects at Raj Bhavan in Chennai yesterday.

Governor Rosaiah said in the past three years, St John Ambulance has trained more than six lakh people especially students, factory workers, government and IT employees, tribals, road workers, women self help groups, caretakers of children and senior citizen homes in the State in more than 11 projects and care takers of orphanages and old age homes in first aid are laudable, the Governor said. A book on 11 new projects of St John Ambulance was launched by Rosaiah and first copy was received by St John Ambulance, Tamilnadu chairman D Vadivel Mugundan. The Governor also distributed

awards to doctors, nurses, voluntary orgnisations and educational insitututions. Consul General of Singapore in Chennai Roy, Honorary Consul General of France in Chennai Raja M Kausalya Devi and Consul General of Japan in Chennai Seiji Baba also spoke.

Blend

4 FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2015 WHAT WH AT NEWS NEW NEWS S TODAY TODA TO DAY Y PRINTS PRIN PR INTS TS IS IS NEWS NEWS THAT THA THAT T COUNTS COUN CO UNTS TS

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Sham system

tudents are judged by the marks they score in the board exams. But they manage a high percentage of marks by mastering the art of cramming at coaching classes. Ironically, schools and colleges take credit for the students’ grades to which their own contribution is insignificant. No wonder the number of students scoring above 90% marks has shot up. This year nearly several thousands of students scored above 90% in the 10th Standard exams and the centums in individuals subjects have run into lakhs of numbers. The same level of profligacy in marks was also witnessed in + 2 exams. This is bound to have a devastating effect on those who scored less. Even students who scored more than 85% begin feeling inadequate, which undermines their self esteem. These high marks are not in sync with their intrinsic worth. Yet the general feeling is that a student is good enough only if he scores above 90%. Parents fail to understand that such unrealistic expectations cause depression and create mental health problems with some students, in extreme cases, even developing suicidal tendencies. Aside from this, it is a very disturbing trend that private schools and colleges are openly associating with coaching classes to prepare their students for tests like medical entrance (national level) and JEE. Even some Commerce streams have tied up with the coaching classes to prepare for the common proficiency test for CA and CS. It is indeed ironical that education institutions have been reduced to being an extension of coaching classes. Many schools have now started offering ‘integrated courses’ or ‘integrated programmes,’ to prepare the students for competitive exams and help them secure admission in technical, engineering and medical institutions (mostly CBSE institutions). As per the tie up, the coaching classes conduct theory classes on the school premises and the students get marked present in their schools when, in fact, they are attending the coaching classes. This is outright cheating as the students do not even take the theory exams of their schools. This is how education in some of the so called reputed institutions has been reduced to a farce. The CBSE clearly bans private coaching on school premises. And yet nothing has stopped the schools and colleges from continuing with this unethical practice. In all this, the principle of equity and social justice goes for a toss. Today students prefer institutions which have tie-ups with coaching classes that prepare them for professional courses. How can socially and economically poor students, particularly from rural areas and lower classes, afford these coaching shops?

khushbusundar @khushsundar If brutal rape of a 4 yr old is not a beastly act 4 HC of chennai,den wl the law appraise n let us knw wat is?whr is law gng in dis country?

‘Ignorance is innocence - stupidity comes with experience.’:)

Anupam Kher @AnupamPkher

Flexible ‘skin-like’ colour display developed TALLAHASSEE: A fully flexible colour display inspired by chameleon skin has been developed by a team in Florida. Its creators say it could be used to alter soldiers’ camouflage instantly, allow normal clothes to change colour, or create low-powered e-reader screens. The colour change is achieved by applying different voltage levels to the display. The team has been given a $300,000 (£190,000) grant to develop the technology further. ‘You create a surface which absorbs some light, and reflects the remaining light,’ Prof Debashis Chanda, of the University of Central Florida. ‘[When we add] the ability to selectively absorb different colours, the remaining amount of light creates the different colour perception.’ He said the technology was some way off being a commercially available product, as he wanted to refine it further. Prof Chanda told the BBC the amount of voltage needed to power

the display was low enough to be safe. ‘We all carry multiple batteries,’ he said. ‘Your pocket has a cell phone having a tiny battery is not really too much of a danger. A tiny battery will be able to power this process.’ Stretchable and flexible Previous attempts at creating similar technology produced displays that could produce only a limited colour palette. Prof Chanda said his technology was the fi rst to offer the full RGB colour model - red, green and blue. ‘The design of the display had been inspired by nature,’ he said. ‘All manmade displays - LCD, LED, CRT - are rigid, brittle and bulky,’ he said. ‘But you look at an octopus, they can create colour on the skin itself, covering a complex body contour, and it’s stretchable and flexible.’ ‘That was the motivation, ‘Can we take some inspiration from biology and create a skin-like display?’ The display is extremely lightweight - thinner than a human hair.

Its creators say it could be used to alter soldiers’ camouflage instantly, allow normal clothes to change colour, or create low-powered e-reader screens

CHENNAI

A far sight indeed  Iran nuclear agreement deadline may slip

VIENNA: US and Iranian officials depart for a final round of nuclear talks in Vienna, even as US officials conceded a deal may not be able to be reached by a 30 June deadline. A senior US administration official said negotiators are expected to be ‘close’ to an agreement on the 30th, if they ‘can get there at all.’ US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif leave Friday for the closed-door talks, being held at a hotel in Vienna, Austria. Also expected to attend are other high-level officials from countries that make up the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, the so-called P5+1. The official said negotiators remained ‘committed’ to the deadline but may ‘miss it by a short bit’ in order

1,900 jobs axed due to emails SYDNEY: The rapid decline of traditional letters due to emails has led the Australia Post to announce 1,900 job cuts over the next three years, authorities said. The Australia Post said losses in its mail delivery business were approaching 500 million Australian dollars ($387 million) this financial year, reported Xinhua news agency. The volume of ordinary mail is expected to fall by more than 10 percent, and the Australia Post has warned it will report its first company-wide financial loss in more than 30 years.

Shopkeeper chases away robbers with vacuum cleaner BERLIN: A German shop assistant in a late-night convenience store chased away two armed robbers demanding money with the hose of a vacuum cleaner she was using to clean her shop in Berlin’s Neukoelln district, police said. One of the two would-be robbers was brandishing a pistol and demanded she turn over the money from her cash register in the attempted robbery just after midnight on Tuesday. But police said the woman, 59, stormed toward the duo and aimed the hose attachment of her switchedon vacuum cleaner at them.

Iran reached a framework nuclear deal with the US, Russia China, France, Britain and Germany. Negotiators are now seeking a final agreement that would restrict Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addresses journalists during a news briefing. to ensure a proper deal is reached. ‘If it takes us a little bit past June 30th to have the right content, as I said a moment ago, what matters here is the substance of the deal and we have to get it right,’ the official said. The official described talks as

‘extremely tough,’ and said some of the most difficult issues were among those being addressed. Those issues include the pace of sanctions relief for Iran and ‘details about access and transparency,’ the official said. Iran reached a framework nuclear deal with the US, Russia China, France, Britain and Germany on 2 April. Negotiators are now seeking a final agreement that would restrict Iran’s nuclear program in exchange

Bobby Jindal rocks the boat A

Race or origin One possibility is for the question about the Census respondent’s race to be worded as asking for the subject’s ‘race or origin,’ with racial options as well as ethnic and national-origin choices. Another possibility is to get rid of ‘race’ altogether as a category. It would expand the identity portion of the Census by asking something along the lines of: ‘Which categories describe Person 1?’ And it would add a category for those of Middle Eastern and North African descent. That latter proposed change makes a lot of sense so much sense that it’s hard to believe the government will actually do it.

day after Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced that he will run for US president in 2016, the way he chooses to identify himself has become the subject of a trending hashtag in India. It’s called #bobbyjindalissowhite. Jindal’s meteoric rise in the Republican Party as a conservative of color has won him many supporters in the United States. But here in India, Jindal is seen ‘as a man who has spent a lifetime distancing himself from his Indian roots.’ ‘I’m sick and tired of people dividing Americans,’ Jindal said. ‘And I am done with all this talk about hyphenated Americans. We are not Indian-Americans, Irish-Americans, African-Americans, rich Americans or poor Americans. We are all Americans.’ His remarks fueled a firestorm of jokes

His argument Your ethnic or religious heritage doesn’t make you any less fully American. You don’t need a qualifier just because your parents or grandparents were born elsewhere. This is America, after all. For the left, being ‘American’ insufficiently describes you for the cultural commissars of modern identity politics. on Twitter that he is trying to pass as white despite his Indian roots. The reason Jindal has come in for such treatment is because he’s an eloquent advocate for integration and the promise of America. They’re not making fun of his background they’re treating him like the Indian Clarence Thomas.

So who’s right? Is a racially colorblind and ethnically integrated society America’s future? Or are we headed for a balkanized culture defined by our differences? The answer, strangely enough, could come from the way the next US Census questionnaire is worded. The Census is taken every 10 years, and the next one is scheduled for 2020. The federal government is considering taking two possible changes, and is sending out test surveys this fall.

Russia doesn’t have aggressive plans: Putin MOSCOW: Russia is not threatening anyone and will always prefer peaceful solutions to international conflicts, President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that military forces are still important as a guarantee of national sovereignty. ‘We are not threatening anyone and we seek to resolve all conflict situations through political means, with respect towards the international law and other nations’ interests,’ he stated in his speech before graduates of military academies. Putin emphasized in his speech that Russia was an open country, ready to cooperate with any nation on equal conditions. The Russian leader added that he saw many challenges to the country, including some in the immediate vicinity of Russia’s borders. And these challenges were the main reason the country needed strong, modern and adequately armed military force, he said. ‘This is a guarantee of Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a guarantee of peaceful and calm life of

NATURE’S FURY

for sanctions relief. Iranian officials favor an immediate lifting of sanctions, if an agreement is reached, while P5+1 negotiators favor phased relief. The two sides have also had disagreements over access to suspected nuclear sites. Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said Iran will not allow international inspectors to have access to military sites, scientists or documents.

We are not threatening anyone and we seek to resolve all conflict situations through political means, with respect towards the international law and other nations’ interests,’ he stated in his speech before graduates of military academies The president mentioned the strategic nuclear forces and space forces as priority for active development. He also reminded the officers that the military were regularly receiving newest weaponry developed by Russian specialists, examples of which were recently presented at the Army-2015 exhibition. Earlier this month one of Putin’s top aides, Yury Ushakov, told reporters that Russia was against a new arms race, but will duly react to all new threats.

NEWS MAKER of the day

millions of our compatriots,’ Putin said promising that the authorities will continue the support of the military and complete the ongoing major reform of the forces. C

VOICE MAIL Helmet compulsory Sir, Keeping in mind the increasing number of road accidents, especially the deaths due to head injuries, Madras High Court’s decision to make helmets mandatory from 1 July is a welcome move. In Kolkata, traffic police has given the picture of a tortoise and have written beside it ‘Even the slowest animal knows how important a helmet is’. Hope such punchlines strike a cord among youngsters. But the problem is even if wearing helmet is made compulsory, people buy cheap quality helmets just to satisfy the law which defeats the very purpose of wearing a helmet. One has to realise that accidents don’t happen daily and one instant of rash driving or negligence can prove fatal, leaving behind grieving family, friends and relatives. T S KARTHIK Valasaravakkam ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO : The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. or e-mail to : [email protected] / [email protected]

L ICK

PIC

People look at a large portion of a road that caved in following heavy rains in Ahmadabad, Gujarat. In the other photograph, a vehicle stuck in debris after a landslide occurred on the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to heavy rainfall in Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir.

Enterprise

CHENNAI

FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2015

5

‘Smart’ move, says India Inc q Industry hails govt’s urban development initiatives

Volkswagen’s chief manager Jacob Kuruvilla, ABRA Motors’ executive director Kannan and vice president Rajkumar at the launch of the New Vento in Chennai Thursday.

Modi to launch ‘Digital India’ 1 July New Delhi, June 26 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on 1 July launch the ambitious ‘Digital India’ programme with top industry leaders like Mukesh Ambani, Satya Nadella, Cyrus Mistry and Azim Premji in attendance. While Modi will present the government’s roadmap for digitising India, four industry leaders will make brief remarks on their idea of taking digital revolution to the masses. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, RIL CMD Mukesh Ambani, whose company Reliance Jio Infocomm is scheduled to launch 4G services by December, Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry and Wipro chairman Azim Premji will make presentations on the occasion, sources said. Other corporate leaders who are likely to attend the event include Bharti Group chairman Sunil Mittal and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani among others. The sources, though added that

Greek effect on domestic stocks New Delhi, June 26 (PTI): The fallout of Greece crisis has largely been factored in by markets even though an immediate jolt is not ruled out and India can be impacted with upheavals expected in stocks and debt markets, Assocham has said. ‘For some time, the markets would stay in a state of flux and the rupee may lose ground if situation in Greece worsens’, Assocham secretary general D S Rawat said. Greece is currently facing a payment crisis, which is scheduled to repay a debt of $1.8 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 30 June, but it’s believed that the country does not have the money to pay.

confirmation is not received yet from all the invitees. The source said with the launch of this programme, the government is taking a big step forward to transform the country into a digitally empowered nation. The Prime Minister is expected to launch the logo of the programme and also unveil various schemes like Digital Locker, e-eduction and e-health, the source added. The government had last year approved the Digital India programme comprising various projects worth over Rs one lakh crore to transform the country into a digitally empowered knowledge economy. The programme includes projects that aim to ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically and people get benefit of the latest information and communication technology. The Ministry of Communications and IT is the nodal agency to implement the programme.

NT Bureau / PTI Chennai, June 26: Urban development initiatives AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All - unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday are expected to help create 34 lakh jobs, industry experts said. The initiative to build 100 smart cities across the country is a ‘decisive step’ and will create a significant multiplier effect for over 250 core and ancillary sectors including infrastructure, logistics and modern retail, Assocham president Rana Kapoor said. ‘Sectors like housing, transport, sanitation and power supply will require significant investment. An increase in infrastructure investment equivalent to one per cent of GDP can create an additional 34 lakh jobs’, he added. Modi launched three urban development schemes, saying urbanisation

11 Indian cos are‘best under a billion’ Singapore, June 26 (PTI): As many as 11 Indian companies including Avanti Feeds Ltd and Borosil Glass Works are ranked among top 200 Asia Pacific corporations in Forbes Asia’s ‘Best Under A Billion’ list. The list covers public companies with annual revenue of $5 million to $1 billion, Forbes said, adding that they should also have positive net income and should be publicly traded for at least a year. Companies from mainland China & Hong Kong (84) as well as Taiwan (36) dominated this year’s list accounting for 60 per cent of the top 200 publicly-traded companies in the Asia Pacific region. ith 11 companies, India was ranked fourth on the list after South Korea which has 17 firms in the coveted list.

Mahindra’s Jeeto comes to city NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Mahindra & Mahindra’s small commercial vehicle Jeeto was launched in the city yesterday. Speaking to the media, senior vice-president (Sales & Customer Care) Vijay Nakra said, that the truck comes with different deck sizes and engine options to meet last mile requirements. ‘The range can handle a payload of 600-700 kilograms. The vehicle is powered by m_Dura, a ‘direct

injection diesel engine’, for refined performance and higher fuel efficiency,’ he added. With a modular range of eight mini-trucks to cater to the varied needs of the sub-1 tonne load segment customers, Jeeto is the first ever product in its category. The price of the vehicle starts at Rs 2.43 lakh and will be available in S, L & X series, catering to mini-truck, micro-truck and three wheelers customers, company officials noted.

Realty bytes Welcoming the smart city scheme, realty industry said the move will provide the much-needed impetus for infrastructure development and strong growth for allied industries. Realty apex body CREDAI’s president for NCR, Manoj Gaur said the initiative will also help comparatively smaller cities mark their presence on development radar. should be viewed as an opportunity and urban centres should be seen as growth engines. While 500 cities will be developed under AMRUT scheme, there would be 100 smart cities over five years and Housing for All aims at construction of two crore houses in urban areas in the next seven years, Modi said. Chandan Chowdhury, India managing director of Dassault Systemes, said if urban growth is unchecked and unplanned, it could lead to mas-

sive energy and water consumption and wastage, and growing carbon emissions. Key challenges that urban areas face include increasing transport demands, depleted ground water resources and poor disaster management planning, he added. In a press release here, KPMG India partner, Infrastructure and Government services, Jaijit Bhattacharya said, the process of building urban infrastructure would lead to an explosive

Ashok Leyland’s Dost touches milestone NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Ashok Leyland Ltd, flagship of the Hinduja Group, has sold 100,000 units of Dost LCV (light commercial vehicle). According to a press release, the company also recently unveiled Dost and its RUV’s (ready to use vehicles) such as Ambulance, Refrigerated container, Steel Container, Serviceat-Site Van etc. Managing director, Vinod K Dasari, said, ‘Dost fulfills an important gap in our portfolio, and 100,000 Dost vehicles on-road, across 11 countries, is proof of good product design, solid engineering, and strong market acceptance. A Dost is sold

every six working minutes’. President, LCV & Defence, Nitin Seth, said ‘Dost has fulfilled its promise of increased payload, improved fuel efficiency, class leading performance, comfort and safety; and can be experienced at 350 exclusive, and modern outlets across the country’. In less than four years, DOST has become the second largest brand in its category; making it one of the fastest growing brands. It is today the largest volume brand in the Ashok Leyland portfolio, with customers, not just in India, but across countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Male, and UAE, the release said.

With an enhanced security feature, currency notes of Rs 100 denomination would now come with numerals in ascending size in the number panels, Reserve Bank said on Thursday. RBI has issued Rs 100 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series - 2005 with this type of new numbering pattern. Now the numerals in both the number panels of these banknotes will be in ascending size from left to right, while the first three alphanumeric characters (prefix) will remain constant in size, RBI said in a release.

New CFO at SBI State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday announced the appointment of Anshula Kant as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kant has been designated as the Deputy Managing Director and CFO of the bank, SBI said in a filing on BSE. She joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1983 worked under various departments of the bank. Prior to her appointment, P K Gupta was the CFO. Gupta moved to SBI Capital as Chief Executive Officer.

NT Bureau Chennai, June 26: Housing.com CEO Rahul Yadav has resigned again. This was the buzz on Thursday evening among those has been tracking Rahul’s recent shenanigans. ET Tech initially reported that Yadav, who has courted many controversies in a short span of one year’s time, has quit. But then the news paper pulled down the report, leaving people wondering whether he has indeed quit. Later the newspaper republished the story, with more quotes from sources, but still with no official confirmation. ‘Thanks for the quick

‘BRICS bank to start by April’ The New Development Bank (NDB), promoted by BRICS nations, is expected to begin operations by April next year, its first President K V Kamath said. Kamath will be taking over the mantle of the multilateral development institution next month in Shanghai, where it is headquartered. ‘I hope to work with BRICS and other member-countries of the NDB over the next few months so as to build project pipelines by April 2016. I am engaged with the government to ensure that there are some Indian projects in the infra space that can be taken up’, he said. Beijing, June 26 (PTI): Finance ministers of 57 prospective founding countries, including India, of the China sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), will meet here on Monday to sign an agreement on formation of the financial institution.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with heads of delegations from the prospective founding countries and Premier Li Keqiang will send a written message to the AIIB special finance ministers’ meeting, Chinese Foreign

Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said here. The meeting is due to take place on 29 June. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to attend the meeting. The AIIB is designed to finance infrastructure construction in the continent. Beijing-based AIIB will have a authorised capital of $100 billion and the initial subscribed capital is expected to be around $50 billion. After signing the agreement, representatives of prospective founding members will take the agreement back to their respective countries for legal adoption processes, the Chinese Finance Ministry said. The bank is expected to be officially established by the end of 2015.

New Delhi, June 26 (PTI): India has been ranked number one in terms of embracing automation as 83 per cent of companies are either already automating business practices or may do so over the next 12 months, says a survey. According to assurance, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton’s International Business Report, companies are switching to automation for lower costs, greater accuracy and increased flexibility to increase or decrease production. India was ranked number one in embracing automation in operations and practices, followed by Mexico and Ireland in the second and third place, respectively.

resolution. Do let me know wherever you guys need my help. Also, given my zero shareholding and not being CEO, I don’t think I need to be on the board as well,’ the report quoted from the email Yadav sent to the board of directors. According to the report, this time round the resignation comes at the behest of the board. This is the second time Yadav is quitting the post in as many months. On 5 May, Yadav had turned in his papers questioning the ‘intellectual capability’ of the board members. He later apologised and returned. Nobody has confirmed the development so far. Moreover, Yadav himself

mocked the ET report on Thursday. ‘Why do you need a girlfriend when you have Times Group,’ he said in a Facebook post soon after the newspaper broke the news. Also the company clarified to Medianama that he has not quit. ‘Responding to a query from MediaNama, Housing.com has said that Rahul Yadav has not resigned from the post of chief executive officer of the company,’ the report on Medianama said. Meanwhile, Rahul Yadav started trending on the social media too, with one of the tweets describing him as ‘India’s Steve Jobless’.

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