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CARES Fund
NEW DELHI, March 29:
President, Union
ministers, ministries,
government-run
organisations and
individuals and private
bodies contributed or made
a pledge to donate to the
newly created PM CARES
Fund on Sunday and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
thanked them for
contributing to India’s
fight against the new
coronavirus. – PTI
PMO panels
NEW DELHI, March 29:
The Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO) on Sunday
constituted 10 different
high-level committees to
suggest measures to ramp
up healthcare, put the
economy back on track,
reduce pain and misery of
people as quickly as
possible post 21-day
lockdown imposed to
contain the coronavirus
pandemic. – PTI
Exemptions
NEW DELHI, March 29:
Union Home Secretary
Ajay Bhalla on Sunday
asked all states and Union
territories to allow
transportation of all goods,
without distinction of
essential and non-
essential, during the
lockdown period. He said
the newspaper delivery
supply chain was also
allowed under exemptions
given for print media. –
PTI
Boris appeal
LONDON, March 29:
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson, who is self-
isolating after testing
positive for the
coronavirus, has written to
every UK household to
ask people to stay at home
and follow the social
distancing rules to fight
the pandemic, warning
them things will get
worse before they get
better. – PTI
Assam Police Fire Service personnel distributing food to the needy people near Sukreswar temple during the lockdown, in Guwahati on Sunday. – UB Photos
NE will have to continue screening
people coming from outside: ICMR
R DUTTA CHOUDHURY
GUWAHATI, March 29:
The North East region will
have to keep screening of the
people coming from outside
at least for some time even
after the lockdown period is
over to prevent the spread
of coronavirus. This is the
view of the Indian Council for
Medical Research (ICMR).
The ICMR also pointed out
that till now there is no
evidence of newspapers
spreading coronavirus.
Talking to The Assam
Tribune, Director of the
ICMR, Dr Rajni Kant said
that making people aware of
maintaining social distance is
the key to stop spreading of
coronavirus. Assam is very
lucky that not a single coro-
navirus positive case has yet
been detected in the State,
but no one should lower their
guard and efforts to make
people aware of the impor-
tance of maintaining social
distance is the key to halt the
spread of the disease.
Dr Kant pointed out that
No evidence of newspapers
spreading coronavirus
the North East region would
have to keep screening
people coming from outside
even after the lockdown is
withdrawn. As the region is
surrounded by foreign coun-
tries, a close watch should
also be maintained to check
all the people coming from
abroad to ensure that no
affected person can enter the
region, he said. He said that
even after the lockdown is
withdrawn, screenings of
people should continue in the
entry points to the region
including the airports, rail-
way stations, foreigners’
entry points on land borders
etc for some time to prevent
the spreading of the disease.
The ICMR Director said
that till now, there is no evi-
dence of newspapers spread-
ing coronavirus. However, at
the same time, he said that
precautions should be taken
and everyone should wash
hands after reading a news-
paper. At the same time, he
said that such precaution
should be taken after touch-
ing any material brought in
from outside including the
currency notes. No one
should take any chance and
adequate precautions should
be taken, he added.
As many as 122 laborato-
ries in the country are now
certified to test COVID-19
and a few private laborato-
ries have also been allowed
to carry out the tests. Dr
Kant said that Assam now
has four laboratories to test
COVID-19 and as no posi-
tive case has been detected
so far, these laboratories are
enough to deal with the
situation. However, he said
that in case of any require-
ment, the number of labo-
ratories in the State can be
increased and if necessary,
private parties can also be
roped in.
SEE PAGE 6
340 lockdown
violators held
across State
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, March 29:
Around 340 lockdown viola-
tors have been arrested
across the State till Sunday
evening, Assam Police said.
Till the fifth day of country-
wide lockdown, 263 incidents
were reported in the State,
and 178 cases registered. The
number of vehicles detained
stands at 906, of which 147
are four wheelers.
Around Rs 4 lakh fine has
been realized so far.
Sunday was more or less
peaceful, with people more
or less adhering to the lock-
down norms. While supply of
essential commodities were
streamlined by the adminis-
tration through various
means, police personnel
were also engaged to distrib-
ute food stuff among the un-
der privileged at various plac-
COVID-19
cases rise to
1,024 in India
NEW DELHI, March COVID-19 status
29: The nationwide tally of in INDIA
confirmed coronavirus
cases crossed the 1,000-
● Confirmed 1,024
cases
mark and the death toll ● Cured/ 96
reached 27 on Sunday, Discharged
even as the Central gov- ● Death 27
ernment ordered sealing
■ Including foreign nationals
of all state and district bor-
ders to check community As on 29/03/2020 at 07:30 pm
Sourch : Ministry of Health
transmission of the dead- & Family Welfare
ly virus by migrant work-
ers and asked those hav- reach 1,024 and eight more
ing left already to be quar- persons died in this period
antined for 14 days. to take the nationwide toll to
The national capital alone 27, according to the latest
reported 23 fresh positive official figures.
cases, taking its count to 72, As the 21-day lockdown
while more people tested entered its fifth day, the exo-
positive in adjoining Noida as dus of migrant workers from
Alert TODAY
Alive TOMORROW
also in Maharashtra and Bi- the metros and other big cit-
har, among other states. The ies continued unabated, des-
new cases included a Spice- perate to return to their vil-
Jet pilot with no history of lages after being left jobless
and many of them without
international travel.
The total number of posi- food or shelter.
tive cases has increased by
106 in the last 24 hours to
SEE PAGE 6
PM seeks forgiveness
for decision on lockdown
NEW DELHI, March 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on Sunday sought the nation’s forgiveness for imposing a
monumental lockdown on the country, saying it was a ques-
tion of life and death, and he expressed confidence that “we
will definitely win the battle” against the coronavirus men-
ace that has claimed 25 lives in India so far.
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address to the na-
tion, Modi also praised the frontline workers in the fight
against the virus as well as
Says India will countless workers in the es-
surely defeat sential services who are ensur-
coronavirus ing the country doesn’t come

Concern over racism against NE people

NOTICE
Today’s issue of the
Campus supplement
could not be published
due to technical prob-
lems.
JOCOSERIOUS
Don’t mind. I am maintaining
social distance!
SPL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, March 29:
Following reports of inci-
dents of racism and discrim-
ination against the people of
the Northeast during this
time when the country is fac-
ing the COVID-19 outbreak,
the Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative (CHRI) has
urged Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to stress the
need for extensive informa-
tion, social media campaigns
as well as stringent action
under the law.
In a separate letter to chief
ministers of the region, the
CHRI also called for setting
up of emergency hotlines and
nodal cells, and sought bet-
ter coordination with the
Centre and other states to
prevent racial attacks.
“As you are aware, in the
past few weeks, persons
from the Northeast have be-
come targets for racist at-
Rights body writes to PM
tacks, physical and verbal,”
CHRI chairperson Wajahat
Habibullah and international
director Sanjoy Hazarika
said in a letter to the Prime
Minister.
“They have been beaten,
dragged out of restaurants,
threatened with boycott, told
to leave rented accommoda-
tion and spat upon. This has
been an ugly reflection of
prejudice across the coun-
try,” the letter added.
The CHRI has suggested
setting up of a nodal group
with emergency hotlines
which are widely circulated
in the media, especially so-
cial media.
Habibullah and Hazarika
noted that even when per-
sons from this region have
“engaged with and embraced
this country and travelled
widely to study, settle and
earn livelihoods,” they con-
tinued to experience “the
sting of discrimination and
prejudice”.
“Working professionals,
students and ordinary resi-
dents of this country have
been called ‘corona’ or ‘Chi-
nese’ and held responsible
for ‘bringing the virus’ to In-
dia,” the letter said.
In a separate letter to As-
sam Chief Minister Sarba-
nanda Sonowal, the CHRI
said there have been numer-
ous incidents of hate crimes
and racial abuse, especially
of people from the North-
east during this time, and
they are deeply concerned
about it.
SEE PAGE 6
es, including Guwahati. to a complete standstill in the
Chief Secretary Kumar 21-day lockdown announced on March 24.
Sanjay Krishna reviewed the “I seek forgiveness... I strongly feel, you will forgive
status and action for manage- me. When I see my poor brothers and sisters, then I defi-
ment of COVID-19 in the nitely feel that they would say what kind of prime minister
State at the daily meeting of is this who has put us in this trouble. I specially seek their
State Level Task Force. forgiveness. You had to undergo problems. I understand
The meeting elaborately but there is no other way out to fight the coronavirus for a
discussed about the actions
taken so far and the current
country with a population of 130 crore,” he said. “But this
is a battle for life and death.”
status of social distancing
measures as a preventive SEE PAGE 6
strategy and the stringent
actions to contain the spread
of COVID-19 in the State.
Later, the Chief Secretary
had a video conference with
all the Deputy Commission-
ers of the State and took stock
of the situation. The Chief Sec-
retary directed all the Deputy
Commissioners to ensure
that essential commodities
should reach the people.

Assam’s response far better than Italy’s, says returnee student

RITURAJ BORTHAKUR
GUWAHATI, March 29: It was
around February 22-23, that Lopa-
mudra – then in Lecco, about 40
minutes train ride from Milan –
heard reports that there could be a
possible lockdown in Italy. Her in-
stitute – Architectural Engineer-
ing at Politechnico di Milano – re-
scheduled its reopening which was
slated for February 24, and
launched online classes, prompting
Lopamudra to return to Assam on
February 29.
By February 29, the death toll in
COVID-19 in Italy was 29, with the
number of active cases pegging at
1,049. Boasting of a high doctor ra-
tio, Italy, which today has the high-
est number of COVID-19 death
cases, had reported its first novel
coronavirus positive case on Janu-
ary 30.
“But as we left for the airport,
there were no signs of any restric-
tions, forget about lockdown. Of
course, there were lesser crowds
at Milan which is normally teem-
ing with people and many were
wearing masks. But trains, buses
were running normally, restaurants
and hotels were open, and business
was as usual. There were no signs
of any sanitisation initiatives,”
Lopamudra, who completed her
quarantine and regular screenings
after returning, told The Assam
Tribune.
She had boarded a flight for New
Delhi via Poland on February 29
along with a friend who hails from
Indore. They were subjected to the
only medical screening of any type
at the airport in Poland.
After spending the night at a ho-
screened.
‘Even after At Dibrugarh airport, however,
she was made to fill up a form with
over 1,000 all details, including mobile phone
corona positive number, and within a short time of
reaching home, the office of the joint
cases, there director, health department, called
her up and asked her to remain in
were no signs home quarantine for 14 days.
of any “The precautions didn’t stop
there, as a team of two ASHA
lockdown or workers and a nurse visited my res-
idence the same evening to check
restrictions my health parameters. The team
in Italy’ came over for routine screening for
any possible symptoms every day
during the quarantine period. Me
tel near the New Delhi airport, she and my family maintained utmost
reached Dibrugarh airport in the caution,” she exclaimed.
afternoon of March 2 and it was Her mother Mrinali Saikia in-
then that her screening for any formed that after Lopamudra
possible symptoms started. Even reached home from the airport, she
at Delhi airport, the girls were not had been staying at her separate
room upstairs taking all possible
precautionary measures and did not
come out of the residence com-
pound.
As the girl completed one month
of her departure from Italy – where
the death toll has now surpassed
10,000 – and has remained healthy,
her mother today applauded the ef-
forts of the State government to
ensure safety of her daughter as
well as all citizens.
“We don’t have a positive case in
Assam as yet. But seeing the war-
footing preparedness of the author-
ities here from a month ago, I want
to express my gratitude to our ad-
ministration, each health depart-
ment worker, each security person-
nel, each and everyone who have
been working day and night to fight
this unseen enemy,” she wrote in a
social media post.
 2 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI
Privacy rights next victim?
KILLER
PANDEMIC
WASHINGTON, March
29: Digital surveillance and
smartphone technology may
prove helpful in containing
the coronavirus pandemic –
but some activists fear this
could mean lasting harm to
privacy and digital rights.
From China to Singapore
to Israel, governments have
ordered electronic monitor-
ing of their citizens’ move-
ments in an effort to limit
contagion. In Europe and the
United States, technology
firms have begun sharing
“anonymised” smartphone
data to better track the out-
break.
These moves have
prompted soul-searching by
privacy activists who ac-
knowledge the need for tech-
A man sits alone in a pew at St James Cathedral, the Cathedral for the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, in an otherwise
nearly-empty sanctuary where hours have been limited because of the coronavirus outbreak on Saturday, in Seattle.
The church has suspended all masses in the cathedral, but is live streaming a daily mass every morning. – AP /PTI
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nology to save lives while
fretting over the potential for
abuse.
“Governments around the
world are demanding ex-
traordinary new surveillance
powers intended to contain
the virus’ spread,” the Elec-
tronic Frontier Foundation
said in an online post.
“Many would invade our
privacy, deter our free
speech, and disparately bur-
den vulnerable groups of
people. Governments must
show that such powers would
actually be effective, science-
based, necessary, and propor-
tionate.” The measures vary
from place to place.
Hong Kong ordered peo-
ple arriving from overseas to
wear tracking bracelets, and
Singapore has a team of ded-
icated digital detectives mon-
itoring those living under
quarantine.
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INTERNATIONAL
Governments around the world are
demanding extraordinary new
“ surveillance powers intended to
contain the virus’ spread
Israel’s security agency
Shin Bet has begun using ad-
– Electronic Frontier Foundation
vanced technology and tele-
com data to track civilians.
In perhaps the strictest
B’desh Army says troops will be on streets until Govt recalls
COVID-19
DHAKA, March 29: The
Bangladesh Army on Sunday
said some 3,500 soldiers
would maintain their pres-
ence on the streets to strict-
ly enforce social distancing to
combat the coronavirus
threat and would return to
their barracks only on the
orders of the government.
Chief of Army Staff Gen-
Merkel shines
in virus crisis
even as power
wanes
BERLIN, March 29: In her
first address to the nation on
the coronavirus pandemic,
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel calmly appealed to cit-
izens’ reason and discipline to
slow the spread of the virus,
acknowledging as a woman
who grew up in communist
East Germany how difficult it
is to give up freedoms, yet as
a trained scientist emphasis-
ing that the facts don’t lie.
Then, wearing the same
blue pantsuit from the tele-
vised address, the 65-year-old
popped into her local super-
market to pick up food, wine
and toilet paper to take back
to her Berlin apartment.
For her, it was a regular
shopping stop, but photos
snapped by someone at the
grocery store were shared
worldwide as a reassuring sign
of calm leadership amid a glo-
bal crisis.
With the coronavirus out-
break, Merkel is reasserting
her traditional strengths and
putting her stamp firmly on
domestic policy after two
years in which her star
seemed to be fading. – AP
move, China gave people
smartphone codes displayed
in green, yellow, and red,
determining where citizens
can and cannot go.
eral Aziz Ahmed said that his
troops would do “everything
possible” under Prime Min-
ister Sheikh Hasina’s leader-
ship to fight the deadly coro-
navirus pandemic as their
presence on the streets ap-
peared to have “highly-ener-
gised” the common people
and the civil administration.
The virus has claimed the
lives of five people and infect-
ed 48 others in the country,
German minister commits suicide after
‘virus crisis worries’
FRANKFURT AM
MAIN, March 29: Thomas
Schaefer, the Finance Minis-
ter of Germany’s Hesse
state, has committed suicide
apparently after becoming
“deeply worried” over how
to cope with the economic
fallout from the coronavirus,
state premier Volker Bouffi-
er said Sunday.
Schaefer, 54, was found
dead near a railway track on
Saturday. The Wiesbaden
prosecution’s office said they
Local residents watch as the USNS Comfort departs Hampton Roads en route to New York to help in the response to the
coronavirus outbreak on Saturday in Hampton, Virginia – AP/PTI
China is also among the
countries enhancing censor-
ship about the crisis, human
rights watchdog Freedom
House said, while others are
blocking websites or shutting
off internet access.
“We have observed a
number of concerning signs
that authoritarian regimes
are using COVID-19 as a
pretext to suppress inde-
pendent speech, increase
surveillance, and otherwise
restrict fundamental rights,
going beyond what is justi-
fied by public health needs,”
said Michael Abramowitz,
president of the group.
Some activists cite the
precedent of the September
11, 2001 attacks, which
opened up the door to more
invasive surveillance in the
name of national security.
“There is a risk these
tools will become normalised
Spain, Italy demand EU virus help
BARCELONA, March 29:
Spain and Italy demanded
more European help as they
fight the still-surging corona-
virus infections amid the con-
tinent’s worst crisis since
World War-II.
In the US, authorities urged
millions in the hard-hit New
York City region to stop
traveling to keep the virus con-
tained.
From Milan to Madrid to
Michigan, medics are making
tough choices about which pa-
tients to save with the limited
breathing machines they have.
The confirmed global death
surpassed 30,000 and new vi-
rus epicentres emerged in
key US cities like Detroit,
New Orleans and Chicago.
Even rural American has not
according to health officials.
The Army will render its
service in aid to civil power
as long as the government
wants, the Daily Sun news-
paper quoted the four-star
general as saying.
General Ahmed said that
the troops’ deployment
seemed to have mentally re-
lieved the people and the of-
ficials amid fears about the
course of the pandemic in the
believe he died by suicide.
“We are in shock, we are
in disbelief and above all we
are immensely sad,” Bouffi-
er said in a recorded state-
ment.
Hesse is home to Germa-
ny’s financial capital Frank-
furt, where major lenders
like Deutsche Bank and
Commerzbank have their
headquarters. The Europe-
an Central Bank is also locat-
ed in Frankfurt.
A visibly shaken Bouffier
and continue even after the
pandemic slows,” said Dar-
rell West, who heads the
Brookings Institution’s Cent-
er for Technology Innovation.
But even some digital pri-
vacy defenders say it may be
prudent to use some of the
available data to help control
the outbreak.
“I’m not against fighting
this epidemic with data or
tech,” said Ryan Calo, a Uni-
versity of Washington re-
searcher affiliated with Stan-
ford’s Center for Internet and
Society.
“The problem with imple-
menting surveillance in an
emergency is that it might
acclimate people to that.”
Calo said it is a difficult
trade-off, noting that even the
awareness of being tracked or
monitored has an impact on
people’s feelings of privacy
and personal security. – AFP
NEW YORKERS AVOID TRAVEL
been immune, as virus
hotspots erupt in Midwestern
towns and in Rocky Mountain
ski havens.
Spain and Italy alone ac-
count for more than half of the
world’s death toll and are still
seeing over 800 deaths a day
each.
Experts say, however, that
virus toll numbers across the
world are being seriously un-
der-represented due to limit-
ed testing and political deci-
sions about which bodies are
being counted. Unlike the US,
France still does not count
deaths that take place in nurs-
ing homes or in homes among
its virus numbers even though
nursing homes are known to
be a key coronavirus hotspot
around the world.
coming days.
Prime Minister Hasina
called the campaign against
COVID-19 a “war” as her
government has called out
the armed forces to assist
nationwide the administra-
tion in combating the pan-
demic in the country.
A Defence Ministry
spokesman, meanwhile, said
that some 3,000 military per-
sonnel and 400 Navy troop-
Thomas Schaefer
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
‘’Europe must demonstrate
that it is able to respond to this
historic call,’’ Italian Premier
Giuseppe Conte said late on
Saturday.
The crisis “involves all of the
economic and social systems
of the member states,” he said.
“I will fight until the last drop
of sweat, until the last gramme
of energy, to obtain a strong,
vigorous, cohesive European
response.”
President Donald Trump
backtracked on a threat to
quarantine New York and
neighbouring states amid crit-
icism and questions about the
legality of such a move. But
the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention issued a
travel advisory urging all res-
idents of New York City and
ers were deployed across the
country mainly to enforce
“social distancing” while the
Air Force was kept ready for
ferrying men and medical aid
to any part of Bangladesh.
He said that the new batch-
es of troops will replace pe-
riodically the personnel al-
ready deployed on the COV-
ID-19 duty while the previ-
ous ones would be quaran-
tined on return to their bar-
recalled that Schaefer, who
was Hesse’s finance chief for
10 years, had been working
“day and night” to help com-
panies and workers deal with
the economic impact of the
pandemic.
“Today we have to assume
that he was deeply worried,”
said Bouffier, a close ally of
Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“It’s precisely during this
difficult time that we would
have needed someone like
him,” he added. – AFP
others in New York, New Jer-
sey and Connecticut to avoid
all non-essential travel for 14
days.
Shocking as that is for
Americans, that stopped short
of the restrictions imposed in
Europe or elsewhere. Parisi-
ans are fined if they try to leave
the city and South Africans
can’t even walk their dog or
buy liquor. In Italy, coffins are
piling up despite three weeks
of strict confinement and bur-
ials are being held with only
one family member.
Spain’s government moved
to tighten its lockdown and
ban all non-essential work on
Sunday as it hit another daily
record of 838 dead. The coun-
try’s overall official toll is near-
ly 6,000. – AFP
racks for safety.
Defence Ministry’s Inter
service Public Relations Di-
rectorate earlier said that
the personnel would pre-
pare lists of coronavirus-in-
fected persons, extend co-
operation to the local ad-
ministrations to ensure
quarantining of people who
returned from abroad along-
side enforcing the social dis-
tancing. – PTI
Coronavirus
global death
toll crosses
31,000
PARIS, March 29: The
worldwide number of offi-
cially confirmed fatalities
from the novel coronavirus
rose to 31,412 on Sunday,
according to a tally compiled
by AFP from official sources.
More than two-thirds of
the deaths from coronavirus
have now been recorded in
Europe.
Over 667,090 declared
cases have been registered
in 183 countries and territo-
ries since the epidemic first
emerged in China in Decem-
ber. Of these cases, at least
134,700 are now considered
recovered.
The tallies, using data col-
lected by AFP offices from
national authorities and infor-
mation from the World
Health Organization (WHO),
likely reflect only a fraction
of the actual number of infec-
tions.
Many countries are only
testing cases that require
hospitalisation.
Italy, which recorded its
first coronavirus death in
February, has to date de-
clared 10,023 fatalities, with
92,472 infections and 12,384
people recovered.
Like Italy, Spain has more
fatalities than China with
6,528, as well as 78,747 in-
fections.
China – excluding Hong
Kong and Macau – has to date
declared 3,295 deaths and
81,394 cases, with 74,971
recoveries. – AFP
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
STATE THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 3

Suklabaidya reviews Karimganj scenario

ANN Service
NILAMBAZAR, March 29:
State Forest, Excise and Fisher-
ies Minister Parimal Suklabaid-
ya, who is incharge of Karimganj
and Hailakandi districts in regard
to arrangements made to fight
the dreaded Covid-19 pandem-
ic, reviewed the post-lockdown
In an effort to check spread of the coronavirus pandemic, villagers of Sonapur in New situation on Saturday with civil
Sonowal near Mariani have temporarily blocked entry of outsiders to their village, as seen administration and police officials
on Sunday. – Photo: Mousam Agarwalla. at the conference hall of the Kar-
imganj Deputy Commissioner.
Speaking to mediapersons,
Suklabaidya said he had a discus-
sion with the district administra-
tion and police officials on the en-
forcement of lockdown across
the district.
He claimed to have asked the
administration to take strong
steps against any violation, but
also ensure that people involved
in emergency and essential serv-
ices were allowed to do their job.
Retailers were allowed to open
their shops from 7 am of Satur-
for distribution of vegetables
during the lockdown period as
directed by the state govern-
ment.
He appealed to the people to
cooperate with the administra-
tion by adhering to various re-
strictions put in place during the
lockdown period.
He also reviewed steps taken
to ensure that those people re-
turning home from outside the
state in recent times, and who
were issued isolation notices,
taken all necessary measures to
treat an possible Covid-19 case.
He said the administration was
coordinating with the tea garden
managements for implementing
all the necessary measures, in-
cluding sanitation and hygiene
during the lockdown period.
The Minister informed that
steps were taken for smooth
supply of essential commodities.
MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purka-
yastha, Karimganj Deputy Com-
missioner MP Ambumuthan, SP

22 Silchar hospitals ink MoU with Suklabaidya also took stock of

other preventive measures tak-
en against the outbreak of novel
Govt on cashless treatment coronavirus.
day until further order.
Suklabaidya said he was
briefed about the measures un-
dertaken by the administration
were following the guidelines
mentioned.
Suklabaidya said the Karim-
Kumar Sanjoy Krishna, ADC
Ruth Liyenthang were among
the senior officials present in the
ganj district administration has meeting chaired by Suklabaidya.

STAFF CORRESPONDENT Roy and other functionaries. down and maintain social distanc-

SILCHAR, March 29: Alike

Later, talking to mediaper-
sons, Dr Sarma said, “the Gov-
ing, controlling the situation and
keeping the disease at bay will
Complete lockdown in
Guwahati and Dibrugarh, the
State Government signed a
ernment has signed the MoU
with 22 private hospitals for
be impossible. We do not have
excellent treatment facilities in
western part of Dhubri
memorandum of understanding cashless treatment of regular Barak Valley. Hence, we must CORRESPONDENT
with 22 hospitals of Silchar to patients. The rates of the treat- follow the guidelines and save
provide cashless treatment to ment shall be as per the Ayush- ourselves from the grip of the GAURIPUR, March 29: People in the western part of Dhu-
patients for the next two months. man Bharat scheme, which virus,” the Minister said, adding bri district, including border villages, observed complete lock-
This move was taken keep- would be reimbursed by the that so far out of 300 samples down today, i.e., on the fifth day of social distancing declaration
ing in view the cessation of Sil- tested across the state, including by the central government.
char Medical College and Hos- COVID-19 some samples from Mizoram, People in villages like Halakura, Jinkata, Kherbari, Gharial-
pital (SMCH) from Monday for Government. As a preemptive the results have been negative. danga, Kaldoba, Bhamandanga, Jhaskal, Satrasal, Ratiadaha,
exclusive treatment of Covid- measure to fight against the Asked about the arrangement Biskhowa, Kanuri, Lakhimari, Nalia, Kedar, Berbhangi, Binna-
19 cases. The private hospi- coronavirus pandemic, SMCH of ventilators, the Health Minis- chara, Bhogdanga etc.
tals, including an eye hospital shall be reserved for Covid-19 ter said, “entire India is facing are aware of the appeal
under All Assam Non-Govern- patients, except maternity, burn crisis for want of ventilators. made by the government
mental Health Establishment unit and emergency cases.” However, we have been fortu- and news media that
Association, Barak Valley chap- He also informed that the nate to procure 50 ventilators. everyone should main-
ter signed the MoU in the pres- Government is also planning to Talks were held with the CMD tain social distance and re-
ence of State Health Minister come up with a 300-bed hospital of Tata Motors and Mahindra main at home to contain
Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, For- equipped with ICU facilities for Motors, who have assured to as- spread of coronavirus.
est Minister-cum-minister in- treatment of Covid-19 cases for sist us with ventilators.” With much caution,
charge for Covid-19 monitoring which a recce of suitable location Meanwhile, Nilava Mazum- they visited the local
in Barak Valley, Parimal Sukla- is under way. der, president of All Assam Non- market for purchasing
baidya, Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep “Unless we follow the lock- Governmental Health Estab- their essential commod-
lishment Association informed ities. Not involved in pan-
ic buying, the villagers
DNPL donates Rs 10 lakh that a donation of Rs 1.5 lakh has
been given to the Assam Aro- purchased only the es-
sential goods by standing
to CM’s Relief Fund gya Nidhi account, the Covid-
19 relief fund. in queues and following
DULIAJAN, March 29: A joint venture of Assam Gas Company Also, the Sadou Assam Zila the guidelines of the ad-
Limited, Numaligarh Refinery Limited and Oil India Limited un- The deserted NH-31 at Gauripur. ministration.
Prashasan Karmachari Santha of – Photo: Ambu Nath Sharma.
der the Government of Assam, DNPL has joined hands with the Cachar district has stepped up to This kind of behaviour
government in its fight against the coronavirus by making a dona- donate Rs 1 lakh to the relief shown by the people has been hailed by the law enforcing
tion of Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. fund. In the meantime, the All personnel. The people are fighting against spread of Covid-19
Ajay Kumar Bhattacharyya, General Manager (Technical) of Assam Non-Governmental and hope to win the fight with the prescribed behaviour.
DNPL stated that the company gave a donation of Rs 10 lakh to the Health Establishment Associa- Not surprisingly, village roads and markets and NH-31 pass-
Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to fight the dreaded Covid-19 pan- tion, Barak Valley chapter donat- ing through these areas was deserted.
demic. The company, it may be mentioned, donated to the Chief ed a cheque worth Rs 1.5 lakh to Meanwhile, shortage of cattle fodder was reported from
Minister’s Relief Fund on March 26. Health Minister Dr Himanta many areas of the district and the concerned farmers had to
Bhattacharyya in his statement further assured to provide any Biswa Sarma for the Covid-19 purchase fodder at high price from the hoarders though no
possible cooperation required to fight the virus. – ANN Service relief fund. steps were forthcoming from the authorities.
 4 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020

How far have we travelled?

MESSAGE FOR TODAY
The power of imagination makes us infinite.
– JOHN MUIR

■ Vidya Krishnamurthi sufferings, the subject of fear is dealt

place to give plausible explanations quences, as seen in today’s given
by playing around plague as a result
to the mysterious appearance of situation. We can note that the world

Left stranded
With a lockdown in place throughout India as the na-
tion tries to slow down the spread of Covid-19, its vast
migrant workforce appears to have received the thin
end of the stick! Visuals are rife in the media of lakhs of
men, women and children, spooked by the alarms being
sounded from all quarters, leaving the inhospitable en-
vironments of urban conglomerates where they had
dwelt, some for a number of years, and scurrying for the
‘safety’ of their native villages. This is a phenomenon –
that in a time of crisis migrants head in numbers to-
wards ‘home’ – which has been noticed on numerous
previous occasions; for instance, when attacks had tak-
en place at a pan-Indian level on people from the North-
east working in other parts of India, thousands of them
had made a beeline for their homelands! It has, there-
fore, been a failure on the part of the authorities not to
have anticipated the crisis that would be the result of a
sudden announcement of a total lockdown without giv-
ing the populace much time to prepare itself. By now it
has become clear that the lockdown, which had in the
first place been imposed belatedly, should have been
done in a phased manner, with at least surface transport
being made available to the urban poor some of whom
are currently trudging hundreds of kilometres in a bid
to reach their villages.
The negative nature of the exodus has been aggra-
vated by the outrageous behaviour of the police forces
in different regions, which have been resorting to
heavy-handed actions against migrants, as well as peo-
ple who are supposedly in ‘violation’ of the lockdown.
No doubt there are some elements who have not taken
the measures imposed seriously enough, but this is no
excuse for the police to mete out summary ‘justice’ on
all and sundry, without following the due process of
law, thereby eliminating the distinction which exists
between a democracy and an authoritarian State. To be
fair to them, the various Central and State administra-
tions, once they have seen the outcome of their mis-
takes, are trying their best to deal with the situation,
and providing food and transport to the migrants. How-
ever, with scores of them piled up in various modes of
transport, it has become apparent that in India ‘social
T
he idea that washing
hands is an important
step in fighting disease
may seem common
sense now but it didn’t come as
easy as that. This is a ‘discovery’
that took some time getting accept-
ed by the world. It was in 1844 that
the Hungarian physician Ignaz
Semmelweis first noticed at an ob-
stetric clinic in Vienna that the death
rates at two divisions in the hospi-
tal were different. In one, students
came directly from the dissecting
room to the maternity ward. The
disease that caused death rates as
high as 30% and was the scourge of
maternity wards was child-bed (pu-
erperal) fever. He surmised that the
probable cause of the disease was
doctors carrying germs from the
dead to those who came to deliver
at the hospital. He instructed his
students to wash their hands with
chlorinated lime solution before
entering the maternity ward and the
mortality rate fell.
However, his findings did not find
acceptance among the medical fra-
ternity. Eventually, and after years
of rejection and humiliation, Dr Ig-
naz Semmelweis suffered a break-
down and died in a mental hospital
in 1865. Only later was his work
and persistence acknowledged as a
significant contribution to germ the-
ory, a widely accepted theory only
from the late 19th century. Google
wrote when honouring him with a
doodle in the midst of the Covid-19
pandemic a few days ago: ‘Today,
Semmelweis is widely remem-
bered as ‘the father of infection con-
trol,’ credited with revolutionizing
The sociology of Covid-19 pandemic
■ Dr Nazimuddin Siddique
not just obstetrics, but the medical of the ‘wrath of God’, echoing the marks and scars in the body. has dramatically changed due to
field itself, informing generations prevailing religious, socio-political From about the late 19th centu- Covid-19 within just weeks. De-
beyond his own that hand washing milieu. Some of the literary works ry, when the germ theory gained spite the medical strides, establish-
is one of the most effective ways to
prevent the spread of diseases.’
based on the situation in England currency, the writing narratives
such as A Journal of the Plague Year
around plague and epidemics
ments like the World Health Or-
ganization, better diagnostics,
The germ theory of disease was (1722) by Daniel Defoe, playwright changed the tone to what may be equipped health workers, among
accepted only around today called as Science others, we still fear of spilling of
1880, and it establishes Fiction (Sci-Fi). In the millions of pathogens, undiscov-
that microorganisms like Despite the medical strides, 18th century, English ered, mutating, dangerous and un-
bacteria or virus cause novelist Mary Shelley’s known, into the human population.
many diseases. Before
establishments like the World apocalyptic novel The The 21st century media narratives
this, the dominating ap- Health Organization, better Last Man (1826) talks keep warning us about this fact. The
proach was a fuzzy idea about immunization, re- recent Netflix docu-series warns us
that said diseases were diagnostics, equipped health
flecting the scientific re- about the deadly consequence of a
caused by miasma, a workers, among others, we still search and studies under- pandemic and asks the fundamental
Greek term for pollution, taken during the 19th as well as difficult question whether
bad air, also called ‘night fear of spilling of millions of century. The apocalyptic the world is prepared to tackle the
air’, emanating from rot- pathogens, undiscovered, novel of early 20th cen- flu pandemic. The answer to it can be
ting organic matter, or tury, the Scarlet Plague seen in the ongoing world health cri-
other unexplained social or mutating, dangerous and (1912) by Jack London, sis. Although our worldview may
moralistic modes of trans- unknown, into the human reflected last century’s have shifted since the Middle Ages
mission. breakthrough acknowl- to contemporary times, still one
The evolution of the population. edgement of the germs theme that resonates is that humans
germ theory has been re- theory, i.e., scientific dis- (recently human technology) are to
flected in the literary coveries of pathogens, be blamed for their destruction, be-
works, particularly novels on Thomas Nashe’s plays (1590s) and mechanism of disease transmissions sides the point on scientific discov-
plagues. Early writers had been fas- Thomas Dekker’s Plague Pam- that causes epidemic-like situations. ery of other pathogens. Environmen-
cinated with capturing the horrors phlets (1600s), centred around It was a shift from the paradigms of tal degradation, deforestation, in-
of the epidemic, and its consequenc- plague as a divine rage against the divine punishment or rage. How- creasing consumerism (animals used
es – misery, pain, suffering and cruel intentions of human; most of ever, the theme of fear among the for a pet, delicacies and medicinal pur-
death. The dreaded epidemics fea- the reasons sorted were the divine people remains the same through- poses) have displaced our flora and
ture in the scriptures, too. For in- disappointment/disapproval of out the centuries in plague and epi- fauna, due to which the threats of path-
stance, the Book of Samuel carries a greed for riches, exploitation of poor demic literature. “During the Mid- ogens are much higher these days.
story of the stolen Ark from Lords by wealthy lords, lack of charity, the dle Ages, the fear was around the Further, scientists and zoologists
of Israelites (Bubonic plague in the decay of moral and social values god’s wrath, and in the modern sec- rightly point out that animals are
Book of Samuel, Journal of the Royal among men, ingratitude, myopia, ular world, people fear that a dis- mixing in weird ways that have nev-
Society of Medicine). Interestingly, etc. Along with the theory of divine ease may take control of a man” er happened before, with accessible
one of the Hindu scriptures, Bhaga- displeasure, some agreed with dis- (Reet Hiiemae, Journal of Folklore), commutation mode, invading wild-
wat Purana, enumerates measures tempered air (miasma theory), and which is also seen in the present life habitat and displacement, etc.
to be taken when the plague strikes, the contagions, which were referred context of Covid-19 pandemic. How Maybe the Covid-19 is the first-ever
such as deserting the habitat as soon to as ‘natural instruments’ that God different is it in today’s times, one warning alarm to humans ‘that en-
as rodents seen dying and other rit- used to spread the plague. When the wonders. vironmental damage can kill humans
uals to be performed. In the novel scientific knowledge wasn’t ade- Epidemics have led humans to fast too’.
narratives, along with portraying the quate, stories and myths took the witness the unimaginable conse- (The Billion Press)
work in the world, connecting eve- resources, food and cash supplies to people in detention camps are some
ry region of the country, from Jam- their homes. Whether the Govern- of the severely vulnerable catego-

distancing’ can only be afforded by the middle-class!
Two facets of the current migration are of particular
concern. One is that the urban dwellers are most likely
to carry the coronavirus to the rural sector, thereby
enlarging the range of the epidemic and defeating the
very purpose for which the lockdown has been im-
posed. Equally disconcerting has been media reports
that with Covid-19 being at the focus of the system,
patients afflicted with other diseases like HIV and can-
cer too are finding themselves left stranded!
Stimulus needed for NE
With the country facing an unprecedented crisis
along with the rest of the world in the wake of the
Covid-19 invasion, the governments – both at the Cen-
tre and in the States – are going to be tested in a nev-
er-before manner in the days ahead. Tiding over the
crisis will entail a huge expenditure which is unlikely
to be met by the States’ own resources and this is where
the Centre will have to play a key role. While Assam
and its neighbouring northeastern States have not yet
found themselves in the thick of things in view of very
few Covid-19 positive cases, this can be no reason to
cheer and exhibit complacency. Rather, this lull should
be utilized to garner our resources and evolve a match-
ing arrangement to counter the looming threat from
the deadly virus. Given that the northeastern region
has historically suffered from the Centre’s neglect for
decades, resulting in weak infrastructure in terms of
transport and communication, healthcare, et al., the
region is not properly placed to tackle the Covid-19
scourge on its own. Healthcare infrastructure across
the Northeast including manpower, facilities, equip-
ment, etc., are inadequate to say the least to be effec-
tive against such a massive invasion that has left even
the advanced nations clueless. While the northeast-
ern States must strive to augment their healthcare
facilities on a war footing, the same will also require
substantial expenditure – more so in the event of a
large-scale outbreak of the disease. Here the Centre
will have to intervene in a big way. The Centre must
assist the State governments’ build-up process to pre-
pare for a catastrophic emergency. The ability of the
States to arrange for facilities, equipment including
protective gears for doctors and other healthcare staff,
trained manpower, and over all medical supply will be
severely tested but it is apparent that they will not be
able to cope it with their own resources.
In the light of all this, the Centre has to intervene
with a mega bailout package for the Northeast which
desperately needs such assistance. DoNER – the Un-
ion Ministry dedicated to the Northeast – has an-
nounced Rs 25 crore for the region but that is far from
adequate. Among other things, the Centre needs to
take the burden of testing for the virus which is quite
costly at Rs 4,500 for a person. In fact, given that the
spread of the virus across many States of the country
has now gained noticeable momentum, a mega bailout
package should be put in place by the Centre for the
entire country. Governments in affected countries
across the globe have come up with such stimulus
aimed at providing succour to the masses, industry
and business. Healthcare ought to be the Centre’s big-
gest focus right now, failing which easing of the situa-
tion vis-a-vis Covid-19 will be impossible.
T
he Covid-19 or corona-
virus pandemic has in-
vaded many countries of
the world. In no time it
has travelled from Wuhan of the
Hubei province of China to the US,
UK, Iran, Spain, Italy, India and
many more nation-states. Sudden-
ly we have found ourselves in the
midst of an unprecedented crisis we
were never prepared for. Most of
us have not witnessed such a crisis
in their entire lifetime.
As of today, the country has test-
ed more than 900 cases positive and
25 people have reportedly died of
the pandemic. These numbers are
conservative since the country is
testing only those who have a trav-
el history from abroad and those
who have not only symptoms but
had a contact confirmed case.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
declared a nationwide lockdown in
the country for 21 days to effective-
ly arrest the outbreak, which com-
menced from March 25, 2020. The
lockdown was initially rehearsed as
‘Janata curfew’ (people’s curfew) on
March 22, 2020, before imposing a
full-fledged lockdown. His call to the
people to bang plates, clap, etc., in
gratitude to the service providers
and medical staff at 5 pm on that day
did not go well, as many came out in
Letters
to the
EDITOR
Sir, – Through the columns of
your esteemed newspaper, I would
like to applaud the role of the
media persons during the global
pandemic of Covid-19. They have
been working day and night to
keep people updated about the
ground realities by risking their
lives. But sadly what we see is
people criticizing journalists and
media houses over silly and petty
things and trying to point out faults
and mistakes of reporters and
media houses. They do not
understand why these media
persons are risking their lives and
working selflessly but instead call
them greedy over TRP, money and
fame. With complete lockdown in
place, it is only because of the
media including newspapers,
channels and online news portals
that the people in general are
being able to keep track of the
happenings around the world.
People must appreciate them as
much as they appreciate the
doctors, police, nurses and other
emergency professionals. I hope
the general public will see the
large numbers while clapping, bang-
ing plates, etc., at the cost of social
distancing.
India has a shattering healthcare
system, and the response of the Gov-
ernment has been completely slow.
It spends only 1.28% of its GDP in
healthcare. The country has 1.33 bil-
lion population with many of them
under deep poverty. Statistics say that
India presently has one hospital bed
for 1826 people, one doctor for
11,600 people, one isolation bed for
84,000 people and one ventilator for
3,33,333 people. Healthcare work-
ers are not provided with protective
gears. Tracing the contacts of the in-
fected people is very important in
order to quarantine them. With an
impoverished healthcare system,
how this country will fight a high-
scale Covid-19 contagion remains a
question. The hospitals of India are
simply not ready to take the burden
of the Covid-19 outbreak.
In China the outbreak happened
largely in Wuhan, and China could
mobilize doctors and other staff to
Wuhan, from other provinces. But
in India, positive cases are surfacing
from all the corners of the country.
It happened because the federal
government did not stop the train
services until recently. The Indian
Railways is the largest railway net-
Media deserves an applause
gravity of the matter and appreci-
ate the role of journalists and
media houses during the global
pandemic. Yours etc.,
ASHUTOSH ROY, Cotton
University.
No end indeed!
Sir, – Your editorial ‘No end’
(AT, March 27) sums up the
situation in Afghanistan accurately
that there is no future for the non-
Muslims in that god-forsaken
country. Further, it is futile to
expect any improvement in the
ground situation in Afghanistan
from the so-called peace talks with
Taliban or any other rebel groups.
The editorial correctly observes
that even if Taliban or Pakistan
remains in denial mode, the two
cannot escape responsibility from
the gurudwara attack in Kabul
because entities such as the ISIS
now and al Qaeda earlier have
been sheltered in collusion and
with active support from jihadi
groups inside Afghanistan and by
Pakistan’s ISI from outside.
As in 26/11 Mumbai terror
attack, there is a trademark ISI
footprint, that of a plausible denial,
in the gurudwara attack too. This is
not to say that the jihadis care too
much for diplomatic niceties or
mu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari
and from Tripura to Gujarat. Do-
mestic flights were suspended only
on March 25 and will continue to be
so till March 31.
Though the imperative of the
lockdown is indubitable, but it un-
questionably remains a difficult task
in the context of Assam or for that
matter in other States of the coun-
try. It is not efficaciously implement-
ed so far in many places, especially
in the rural areas of Assam. People
living in the fur-flung areas from cit-
ies and the district headquarters
need special monitoring. Many peo-
ple are not aware about the unprec-
edented danger the virus has
brought.
A large section of the population
of Assam is engaged in the informal
or unorganized working sectors as
daily wage earners. Discontinuation
of work for this group will take a toll
on their livelihood. The economic
impact on the impoverished popu-
lation is bound to be severe. Losing
or abstaining from their jobs will
force many into starvation since
most of the population do not have
any supportive income or surplus.
In such trying times, providing them
rations and money to their homes
will be a very challenging task for
the state. People will need medical
legal formalities while giving shape
to their vision of a world free from
the pollution of quffar (un-Islamic
practices). The capture of Kasab
after 26/11 or the discovery of
Osama bin-Laden near a Pakistani
military base in Abbotabad hardly
had any sobering effect on the
Pakistani army which continues to
aid and abet international terror-
ism through global jihad via its
surrogates LeT, JeM, JuD, etc.
The editorial aptly concludes that
it is time for the Indian Govern-
ment to intervene and evacuate the
population of 3000-odd Sikhs and
Hindus still alive in Afghanistan.
Yours etc., AJAY TYAGI, Con-
naught Place, New Delhi.
Quarantine facilities
Sir, – As the country is presently
reeling under Covid-19 pandemic
threats, under the leadership of
Health Minister Dr Himanta
Biswa Sarma, the Sorusojai
stadium in Guwahati is being
converted into a temporary avenue
for home quarantine (for the family
members of the patients infected
with the dreaded coronavirus)
within a week or so with 1000
beds. If the situation worsens,
provisions have been made to turn
the Nehru stadium also into a
ment will be able to do this is un-
certain. The Union Finance Minis-
ter declared a Rs 1.7-trillion eco-
nomic package to help the econom-
ically peripheral population survive
in this trying time, but how this an-
nouncement reflects on the ground
remains to be seen.
The Covid-19 outbreak has been
a challenge for many countries in
the world. Death tolls in countries
with advanced healthcare systems
such as the US, Italy, Spain and Eng-
land are increasingly rising. It is
scary to contemplate the devasta-
tion this virus can unleash in Assam
since the healthcare system of the
State is undoubtedly in a poor state.
The State does not have sufficient
ventilators, ICUs, or isolation wards
for its 3.09 crore population. The
medical staff too is deficient to tack-
le the exigency. In such a difficult
time, the State Government can
seek help from educated young vol-
unteers. A short period of training
can truly prepare these volunteers
to take up many uncomplicated but
important jobs.
Assam is a State that has a huge
number of poor and underprivileged
population. The vulnerable condi-
tion of these people makes the con-
tagion easier. Poor, homeless, inter-
nally-displaced people, jail inmates,
temporary hospital for the same
purpose with same numbers of bed
in the near future. This is a timely,
commendable and innovative step
in the right direction. Though till
date Assam has not registered
even a single Covid-19 positive
case, the situation may deteriorate
at any moment and the spread of
the dreaded virus may rise at an
alarming proportion as the State is
densely populated, with the influx
of people from the infected areas
still continuing and the awareness
about the virus abysmally low,
particularly among a large segment
of the rural populace.
The Health Minister’s opinion of
pressing both final year MBBS and
Nursing students into service after
adequate training to treat Covid-19
patients is also laudable. Yours etc.,
Dr RAJIB BHATTACHARYYA,
Rupnagar, Guwahati.
Between the lines
Sir, – Opacity has since time
immemorial been universally
accepted to be a staple of Chinese
governance, and it is primarily this
fact which makes the vigilance of
outsiders trying to peep inside the
communist country to find clues
for solving the Covid-19 puzzle
non-negotiable. Foreign media has
ries in the State. Frequent hand
washing with soaps or sanitizers is
one of the preventive measures,
experts suggest, towards fighting
Covid-19. But many thousands of
the poor of the State are either not
aware of or cannot afford these prac-
tices. Here comes the role of the
State and the civil society. Conduct-
ing awareness camps by volunteers
shored up by the Government can
be instrumental in spreading infor-
mation. The supply of resources for
hand washing in addition to the cash
transfers and food items are the
pressing priority. These actions of
course need to be discrimination-
free, for the attacks by the virus are
fairly indiscriminate.
Millions of human lives are in jeop-
ardy today. The perilous effect of this
crisis cannot even be imagined. The
worst affected will be the poor, home-
less and the people with weak im-
mune systems. Now is the time for
the Government to mobilize most of
its resources to healthcare with war
footing and to support the poor dur-
ing the lockdown. The time that is
coming is certainly going to be diffi-
cult for all of us but social distancing
can do miracles in containing the pan-
demic. As we remain locked inside
our homes, Nature is working at its
best to help humankind.
been inundating the world with
reports of the ‘success of China’ in
combating the proliferation of the
coronavirus in Wuhan. Now, prima
facie, those reports do appear
legitimate, as they are commensu-
rate with the claims of the Chinese
Government itself which, apart
from releasing an official count of
only 3,277 deaths from a reported
81,171 infections, has also
proclaimed zero new cases, while
beating the drum for remaining
alien to a potential second wave of
infections.
However, a recent report in
the Epoch Times makes one
seriously reconsider the afore-
mentioned. The report reveals
the alarming disappearance of
around 21 million cell phone
accounts in China over the past
three months, which is a number
grossly inconsistent with the
statistics released by Beijing.
This development makes the role
of the independent agencies as
well as the media imperative in
finding out the truth. Yours etc.,
GAURAV AGARWAL, Guwahati.
Articles (within 1000-1100 words) and
Letters to the Editor for publication in
the editorial page may be sent to the
email ID: editor@assamtribune.com.
 MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
CITY THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 5

WEATHER
GUWAHATI
LOCAL FORECAST:
Partly cloudy sky with haze
. Maximum and minimum
temperatures are most
likely to be 35°C & 22°C
respectively on Monday.
TEMPERATURE:
Max 36.1° C
Min 21.8° C
Second phase
of sanitisation
drive in city
from today
CITY CORRESPONDENT
GUWAHATI, March 29: The
first phase of disinfectant opera-
tion being carried out by the Gu-
wahati Municipal Corporation
(GMC) with the help of the State
fire and emergency services end-
ed here today.
The second phase of the disin-
fectant operation will start on
Monday.
The six-day programme that
started on March 24 aimed at the
prevention of the spread of coro-
A quarantine centre being readied at the Sarusajai Sports Complex amidst COVID-19 fears, in Guwahati on Sunday. – UB Photos
Govt urged to introduce effective
home delivery system in city
AJIT PATOWARY
S everal leading personalities here are of the
opinion that to rule out all possibilities of
chaos at the grocery stores, which may add to
ering the goods and services, which are inac-
cessible through internet delivery system, at
the doorsteps, as the fight against COVID-19
is likely to continue for quite a long time. The
government may involve NGOs to ensure
should develop the home delivery system as
an effective tool in the country’s fight against
novel coronavirus. If possible, voluntary or-
ganisations should be involved in the distribu-
tion of grocery items, vegetables, etc., at the
Earth Hour
observed
across State
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, March 29: Assam joined the rest of the country in
observing Earth Hour last night by switching off lights for an hour.
Households and government establishments that remained open
during the lockdown, besides the essential service providers, switched
off non-essential lights from 8.30 pm for an hour to mark the occasion,
which is observed on the last Saturday of March every year.
“Earth Hour and Lights Out became the global symbol of a binding
resolution to protect and conserve our planet. As the world grapples
with COVID-19 pandemic, forcing nationwide lockdowns across the
globe, Earth Hour 2020 was observed with the mottos ‘Be the Voice
for the Planet’ and ‘Take the Step Up for the Planet Challenge’,” a
WWF India statement said.
The Earth Hour campaign, the largest grassroots global campaign on
conservation by the WWF network, has always endeavoured to bring
conservation issues to the forefront by engaging governments, lead-
ers, businesses and civil society.
The simple act of switching off lights for an hour has led to bigger
changes around policy at a global level. In India, the campaign takes
forward the ‘Give Up to Give Back’ initiative through Earth Hour
2020, in an effort to build awareness and engagement around the need
to give up excessive consumption and move towards a more sustaina-
ble lifestyle for the planet and its people.
Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, coordinator, WWF India, Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh State Office, added that going digital with Earth
Hour brought out the creativity in people. “We at WWF India hope that
it will make people think about the future and the choices they will
make to preserve planet earth,” she said.

navirus in the city.

Shops, parks, garbage bins,
public toilets, markets, supermar-
kets, hospitals, schools, etc., were
sanitised during the six-day drive.
On Sunday, the GMC along with
the team of fire and emergency
services have sanitised the roads
at Lokhra Chariali, Jyotikuchi,
Odalbakra, Lalganesh, Battalion
Gate, Colony Bazar, Cycle Facto-
ry, Gorchuk, Datalpara, Manpara,
Ganesh Para, Dhirenpara, Itabhata
Road via Cricket Stadium ltabhata
Road, Lalganesh and few other
localities.
GMC asked to stop
using children in
garbage collection
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, March 29: Ado-
lescent and Child Rights Net-
work, Assam (ACRNA), a net-
work of organisations working
on the issue of adolescents and
child rights in Assam, while laud-
ing the efforts of the GMC in
ensuring a clean and sanitised
Guwahati, said the reports of en-
gagement of minors (below 18
years of age) in the door-to-door
garbage collection vehicle teams
are distressing and urged the
GMC to direct the NGOs en-
gaged in the household garbage
collection not to engage any chil-
dren for the task.
GPC appeal to
the coronavirus threat in Assam, the State
government should introduce an effective home
smooth distribution of grocery items, vegeta- doorsteps of the people, he added.
Former tea executive Bolin Bordoloi said
NF Railway ensures
Tackling COVID-19
delivery system for distribution of grocery and
other edible items and medicines, without af-
fecting the norms of social distancing. bles, milk, fruits, etc., he added.
the government’s notification directing the
grocery shops to supply the essential edible
commodities is a welcome step. But, to avoid
safety of employees
If required, the government may also in- BC Patowary, former head of the National any unruly behaviour on the part of the buyers STAFF REPORTER coaches, as well as railway colo-
nies, are also being sanitised.
volve NGOs of the individual localities to exe- Institute of Hydrology, Guwahati Regional during the lockdown period, he suggested that
cute its plans for delivering such items at the Centre, said that the government should the government should actively involve the GUWAHATI, March 29: The “Fitness of officials and their
Northeast Frontier Railway family members regarding symp-
doorsteps of the common people, they said. evolve an effective home delivery system well-known NGOs, voluntary organisations or
Nayan Baruah, former Dean of the Faculty which can serve the common people. religious functionaries of the respective local- (NFR) today said it has taken a toms of COVID-19 are being close-
number of measures to ensure ly monitored as per norms of the
of Commerce, Gauhati University, said there Save Guwahati Build Guwahati president ities to help the owners of the grocery shops
should be a permanent mechanism for deliv- Krishno Kanto Barooah said the government operate in a disciplined manner. that its staff and workers, who are World Health Organization
doing essential services duty in (WHO). Training on reception and
this period of lockdown, are safe. transportation of suspected COV-
Ripun Bora releases Daily wage earners in “Railway staff deployed for per-
forming essential services at dif-
ID-19 patients and use of ventila-
tion has been imparted in various
Rs 1 cr from MP fund city demand foodstuff ferent locations like goods sheds,
stations and control offices are
working round the clock for
railway hospitals to doctors and
paramedics,” Chanda said.
He added that railway staff in
STAFF REPORTER CITY CORRESPONDENT rickshaw pullers and handcart pull- smooth plying of freight trains. We all five divisions of NFR are mak-
GUWAHATI, March 29: APCC president Ripun Bora today announced ers, are finding it extremely diffi- have taken steps to ensure that ing masks and sanitisers for use
allotment of Rs 1 crore from his MP Local Area Development Scheme GUWAHATI, March 29: Short- cult to make their ends meet. bare minimum staff are deployed by essential staff on duty.
funds for purchase of ventilators and other medical equipment and crea- age of money to buy food items However, Finance Minister Nir- for goods train operation at offic- “Home delivery of essential com-
tion of health infrastructure to help the government in its fight against forced nearly 300 daily wagers of mala Sitharaman recently an- es, stations, control centres as modities like groceries and vegeta-
the coronavirus pandemic. Bora, a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, the city to come out on to the nounced a relief package focusing well as for security and infrastruc- bles are being arranged in various
has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur in this regard. streets amid lockdown on Sunday. primarily on migrant labourers and tural maintenance. Thermal locations in order to restrict the un-
“... I am to request you to release and place Rs 1 crore at the disposal The daily wagers of the Bishnu- daily wage labourers. But, there are screening of staff is being done necessary movement of staff look-
of the Health department of the Government of Assam or any head of pur area of the city under the Bhar- countless daily wage earners who before the commencement of ing for such items,” Chanda said.
fund created by the Government of Assam for COVID-19 from my alumukh police station gathered at do not have bank accounts. duty. Proper sanitisation of work- He said stations are being
MPLADS fund for 2020-21. This fund may be utilised for the purpose 10 am and started demanding food City police rushed to the spot to places is done and our staff are cleaned regularly in spite of the
of purchasing ventilators and other medical equipment or infrastruc- items for their families. tackle the situation. ADCP West using masks and practising social suspension of passenger train op-
ture for the temporary hospital as the Assam government may deem Daily wage labourers are the Suprotiv Lal Baruah said they have distancing while on duty. Use of erations.
fit and proper in accordance with the Assam government’s fight against worst hit due to the lockdown as it been provided food items at the sanitisers and hand wash is being “The Railways is also convert-
coronavirus,” Bora stated in his letter. He also donated his one month’s has robbed them of their only doorsteps. The Assam Police with ensured,” said Subhanan Chanda, ing train coaches into isolation
salary of Rs 1 lakh as a Rajya Sabha MP to the CM’s Relief Fund, while means of livelihood. Those work- the help of various organisations chief public relations officer wards to prepare for a fight
his wife Monika Bora, a former MLA, donated her one month’s pen- ing at garages, construction sites, provided free food to the stranded (CPRO) of NF Railway. against the coronavirus pandem-
sion of Rs 40,000 for use in the fight against the pandemic. hotels, eateries, not to speak of the people in the city, he said. He said railway locomotives and ic,” the NFR CPRO added.
Raids against illicit liquor Saikia writes to Shah over racial
CITY CORRESPONDENT

media houses
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, March 29: The
Guwahati Press Club (GPC) has
urged the management of the
city-based media houses to issue
an advertisement or appeal to the
common people so that the va-
grants, street animals and temple
creatures do not die of starvation
in the lockdown period.
A statement issued by GPC
president Manoj Kumar Nath and
general secretary Sanjoy Ray
urged the Guwahatians to prepare
a little more food in their houses
every day and distribute such ex-
cess amount of food among the
street animals, temple creatures
and vagrants without affecting the
norms of social distancing and oth-
er required cautions and with sup-
port from the local police and civ-
ic authorities.
GUWAHATI, March 29: One Robin Boro of Bheta-
para Chariali was arrested in connection with illicit liq-
abuse against people from NE
uor trade in a raid conducted by the Excise department STAFF REPORTER Mongoloid features, who hail compelled to lodge an FIR with the
in different parts of the city today. from the North-Eastern states.” Delhi Police against the culprits.
The raids were conducted at places like Beltola, GUWAHATI, March 29: Ex- “I have already received infor- He further urged the Union
Bakrapara, Bhetapara, Dhirenpara, Adinggiri Hill and pressing concern over reports of mation about several such inci- Home Minister to instruct the
Maligaon. people hailing from the North dents in which persons from the Delhi Police to book and take ap-
The department has destroyed five sets of distilling East being subjected to racial North East have been abused as propriate action as per law against
apparatuses, 2.5 quintals of rice and sugar used for man- abuse in other parts of the coun- ‘Chinkis’, bat-eating tribes, etc. At
the persons responsible for har-
ufacturing illicit liquor, 500 litres of fermented wash, try following the spread of coro- a shopping mall in Pune, a middle-
assing the lady on social media.
100 litres of illicit liquor (sulai) and also seized six car- navirus (COVID-19), Lead- “It needs to be borne in
tons of foreign liquor. er of the Opposition in the Novel coronavirus effect mind that this sort of abuse
Assam Legislative Assembly aged woman abused a young girl is not only racist, but it violates
Librarians’ body move Debabrata Saikia has called upon from the North East ostensibly the Scheduled Caste and Sched-
STAFF REPORTER Union Home Minister Amit Shah because the culprit suspected the uled Tribe (Prevention of Atroc-
to ensure prompt action against victim of being a Chinese national ities) Act, 1989. I would like to
GUWAHATI, March 29: The Assam College Librar- perpetrators involved in such in- and, therefore, responsible for request you to issue strict in-
ians Association (ACLA) through an online executive cidents. spreading coronavirus. In another structions to the administrations
meeting, has taken a resolution to donate one day’s In a letter to Shah, the senior incident, a scooter-rider in New of all states and Union Territo-
salary of its members, the librarians of the provincial- Congress leader stated that “at a Delhi spat on a young lady from ries to take immediate and effec-
ised colleges of Assam, to the Assam Arogya Nidhi ac- time when our country is strug- the North East for apparently the tive steps to protect domiciles
count to fight COVID-19 in Assam. gling to cope with the threat same reason,” Saikia said. from the North East from all
General secretary of the association Dr PK Deka posed by COVID-19, certain rac- He added that a lady in the na- kinds of physical and mental har-
urged the librarians to deposit their net salary in the Food items being unloaded during the lockdown ist elements in some parts of In- tional capital was so appallingly assment on the pretext of coro-
ACLA account on or before April 25. in Guwahati on Sunday. – UB Photos dia are targeting people with abused on social media that she was navirus,” Saikia said.

Installation of supercomputing facility at IITG okayed

PRANJAL BHUYAN
GUWAHATI, March 29: The supercomput-
ing power in the North East is set for a major
boost. The Technical Advisory Committee of
National Supercomputing Mission (MSM-TAC)
has approved the installation of a supercomput-
ing facility of the compute power of 650 TF (ap-
proximately 838 TF peak, 70:30 CPU and GPU
Hybrid Supercomputing System) at the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati (IITG).
The installation of this supercomputing sys-
tem at IIT Guwahati has been initiated under
the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
The Department of Science and Technology
(DST), along with the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MEITY), is coordi-
nating the mission and the Centre for Develop-
ment of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune,
and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru,
are the implementing agencies of the mission.
“New Supercomputer at IIT Guwahati with
650 TFLOPS is more powerful and a technologi-
cally superior facility which will play an important
role in the field of scientific and engineering appli-
cations such as quantum mechanics, climate re-
search, oil and gas exploration, molecular model-
ling, weather forecasting, spacecraft aerodynam-
ics, computational systems biology and detona-
tion simulations including the handling of large
databases using Artificial Intelligence (AI) mod-
els. The IIT Guwahati has a large HPC user base
already involved in solving many crucial problems
that require more computational resources than
that provided by using the existing 250 TF Param
Ishan supercomputer at our computer centre,”
said Dr TG Sitharam, Director of IIT Guwahati.
The institute will organise training courses
to popularise the use and applications of super-
computers in the Northeastern region and oth-
er major missions of the Government of India.
“The IIT Guwahati is also planning to link
this facility with our new interdisciplinary mas-
ter programme on data sciences jointly initiat-
ed by Electronics & Electrical Engineering
(EEE), Computer Science & Engineering
(CSE), and Mathematics departments,” he said.
C-DAC Pune will install the supercomputing
facility using the build approach of NSM at IIT
Guwahati, which will provide necessary data
centre space, power with backup, cooling, among
other things, for the facility.
This new hybrid supercomputing system will
not only boost the HPC usages and research
environment in the institute but also enhance
the research capability of the North East, since
around 40 per cent of the compute power will
be allocated to the external users as per the
guidelines approved by the NSM-TAC. This also
aligns with the policy of IIT Guwahati to build a
‘Network of Excellence’ among the institutes
of Northeastern region, said Dr Sitharam.
The IIT Guwahati has been connected through
dual redundant NKN connectivity with 10Gbps
bandwidth and already has another supercom-
puter ‘Param-Ishan’ of 250 TF computing pow-
er, which was inaugurated in September 2016.
This facility has been extensively used by the
faculty and researchers of the institute to solve
complex problems in the field of Chemical Engi-
neering, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD),
Biotechnology, Quantum High Energy Physics,
Cosmology, Molecular Dynamics, Nanotechnol-
ogy and Environment. Software like
GROMACS, NAMD, WRF, LAMPPS, COM-
SOL, Ansys, OPENFOAM, and GERRIS are
available in the system for various uses.
Prior to the ‘Param-Ishan’, the IIT Guwahati
was an active partner for the GARUDA Grid
Computing project, India’s national grid comput-
ing initiative, which was a CDAC programme
funded by the Department of Information Tech-
nology to deploy a distributed, networked infra-
structure for universities, research laboratories,
industry and the government throughout India.
The NSM envisages empowering the national
academic and research and development institu-
tions spread over the country by installing a vast
supercomputing grid comprising of more than
70 high-performance computing facilities.
 6 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI
NATIONAL MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020

Jobless, homeless and miles to go to reach home
COVID-19 triggers mass exodus of workers
NEW DELHI, March 29:
Some are finding their own
villages in Bihar blocking their
entry; a few had to make trees
their temporary homes in
West Bengal; hundreds left
relief camps and hit the roads
in Kerala in protest. And thou-
sands of migrant workers are
still walking on highways and
railway tracks even at the risk
of getting quarantined.
This COVID-19 pandemic
has spawned a new crisis in
India – of a mass exodus of
migrant workers engulfing
various parts of the country,
including the national capital.
Thousands of daily wagers
and others having been ren-
dered jobless and homeless
due to a nationwide lockdown
to check the spread of the
deadly coronavirus, appear
determined to reach their
hometowns and villages.
One migrant worker died
of heart attack after a long trek
from the national capital on way
to his hometown in Madhya
Pradesh, while a large number
of them were worried that
they would die of hunger much
before any disease.
Worried about this large-
scale movement of people
triggering a risk of mass in-
fection, the Central Govern-
ment ordered sealing of all
state and district borders and
said violators face a 14-day
mandatory quarantine.
Migrant workers along with their family members wait to board buses to their respective
villages, amid a nationwide lockdown, in Ghaziabad on Sunday. – PTI
State governments also ap-
pealed to the migrant work-
ers to stay put and announced
special measures for provid-
ing food and other facilities to
them, while a few arranged
special buses to ferry them
to their native places.
In Kerala, hundreds hit the
streets on Sunday, demanding
transportation to travel to their
native places. The state gov-
ernment deployed police forc-
es and sent administrative of-
ficers to pacify the agitating
migrant workers, who are
called guest labourers in the
state, and managed to send
them back to their camps.
They were promised all fa-
cilities for a comfortable stay in
the state during the lockdown
period, but their demand for
travel facilities was rejected.
The Haryana government,
on its part, said it has provided
over 800 sanitised state road-
ways buses to Uttar Pradesh
to ferry migrant workers
stranded on the Delhi-Ghazia-
bad border to their villages.
On Saturday evening, cha-
os, confusion and a stam-
pede-like situation prevailed
at the Delhi-Ghaziabad bor-
der as hundreds of migrant
workers fought amongst
themselves to get seats on
the limited number of buses
the Uttar Pradesh adminis-
tration operated to ferry
them to the hinterlands.
Hundreds of migrant
workers from Delhi, Harya-
na and even Punjab reached
Anand Vihar, Ghazipur and
Ghaziabad’s Lal Kuan area
after taking arduous treks of
many kilometres on foot to
take buses to their respec-
tive native places. Delhi as
well as industrial towns in the
neighbouring states of Hary-
ana and Punjab employ thou-
sands of workers from states
such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
and West Bengal.
“We will die of hunger be-
fore any disease if we stay
here. There is no one to even
take care of our cremation,”
said Savitri, who set on foot
for her home in Uttar
Pradesh’s Kannauj district.
Savitri (30), who lived in a
slum in Rajouri Garden area,
had no option but to undertake
the arduous trek as the nation-
wide lockdown due to COVID-
19 pandemic left her jobless and
with no means to arrange food
for her two small children.
“People are talking about
the danger of some virus which
can kill all of us. I don’t under-
stand all these. As a mother, I
am pained when I cannot feed
my children. No one is there
to help. All are equally wor-
ried about their lives,” Savitri
told this news agency as she
walked along the Mathura
Highway Road carrying her
belongings on her head.
Some corporates also came
forward with help with DLF
Foundation announcing it has
provided meals for nearly
25,000 migrant workers in
Delhi and Noida in coordina-
tion with the district adminis-
tration and other authorities.
Some NGOs and individu-
als have also pitched in with
food and other essentials for
migrant workers, while the
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Man-
agement Committee said it
is providing free food to
around 50,000 people in the
national capital daily amid the
lockdown. – PTI
Frustrated at not
getting liquor,
2 commit suicide
MANGALURU, March
29: In continuing cases of tip-
plers in the southern states
ending their lives due to non-
availability of liquor during
the lockdown, two men com-
mitted suicide in Karnataka’s
Dakshina Kannada district.
Tomy Thomas (50), a rub-
ber tapping worker in an es-
tate at Kutrupadi village of the
taluk, was found hanging at his
rented house on Saturday. Lo-
cal people said he was desper-
ately moving around in the last
few days, asking about places
where he can get liquor.
In another incident, a 70-
year-old man, belonging to
Kodimbala village in the
taluk, allegedly hanged him-
self from the branch of a tree
near his house at Nakur.
The deceased has been
identified as Thomas, who
had been working in Kerala.
He had returned here only a
few years back. He was an
alcohol addict and having
health problems. – PTI
Centre orders closure
of State borders
NEW DELHI, March 29:
The Centre on Sunday asked
State governments and Un-
ion Territory administrations
to effectively seal state and
district borders to stop the
movement of migrant work-
ers, who will be put in 14-day
quarantine at destinations for
violating the lockdown.
During a video conference
with chief secretaries and
DGPs, Cabinet Secretary
Rajiv Gauba and Union Home
Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked
them to ensure that there is
no movement of people
across cities or on highways
as the lockdown continues.
“There has been move-
ment of migrant workers in
some parts of the country.
Directions were issued that
district and state borders
should be effectively sealed,”
an official statement said.
States were directed to
ensure that there is no move-
ment of people across cities
or on highways and there
should be strict implemen-
tation of the lockdown.
Only the movement of
goods should be allowed.
Those who have violated
the lockdown and travelled
during the period of lockdown
will be subject to minimum
14 days of quarantine in gov-
ernment quarantine facilities,
the statement said.
Later, at a press confer-
ence, Joint Secretary in the
Ministry of Home Affairs
Punya Salila Srivastava said
those migrant workers who
have violated the lockdown
and travelled during the curb
would be put in 14-day quar-
antine at their destinations.
“We have asked the States
to make arrangements for shel-
ters so that the migrant work-
ers who have violated the lock-
down and travelled could be
put in quarantined for 14 days
at their destinations. Health
workers are being prepared
for this,” Srivastava said at a
press conference here. – PTI

COVID-19 cases ...

(Contd from page 1)
Charitable organisations, volunteers, religious institutions
and government bodies, including the Railway Protection Force,
fed tens of thousands of people across the nation, but many
more remained outside the safety net. While the total number
of deaths in India is still low compared to many other countries,
there are widespread concerns including among the experts
that the count may see a sudden spike and social distancing
remains the only way to prevent community spread. – PTI
NE will have ...
(Contd from page 1)
He assured that there would not be any shortage of laborato-
ries in Assam. Replying to a question on whether the COVID-
19 virus spread will reduce as the temperature rises, Dr Kant
said that many virus and bacteria cannot survive in hot weather.
But there is no evidence to prove that COVID-19 cannot sur-
vive in hot weather as no such study has yet been carried out.
Moreover, there have been instances of spreading of the dis-
ease in relatively hot areas of India and other countries. How-
ever, at the same time, he said that the droplets coming out of
a person when he coughs or sneezes would evaporate quickly
in hot and dry conditions, which would reduce spreading of the
disease.
Concern over racism ...
(Contd from page 1)
This calls for not just strong action under the law but also
robust public messaging, social media campaigns and sensiti-
sation of communities about this treatment even after dec-
ades of trying to educate fellow Indians about their brethren
from the North East, who move, work and study among them.
“By drawing your attention to incidents of racism and dis-
crimination against persons from North East, we urge your
government to launch extensive information and social media
campaigns on the issue and coordinate with other counter-
parts of the region and with chief ministers of those states
where the incidents have occurred,” the CHRI said.
PM seeks forgiveness ...
(Contd from page 1)
This (lockdown) was the “only way left” looking at what the
world is going through, the Prime Minister said. “After all, the
safety of you and your families has to be ensured. Once again, I
apologise for any inconvenience, any hardship caused to you,” he
said. To drive home his point, Modi referred to an ancient Indian
adage that means an illness and its scourge should be nipped in
the bud because when it becomes incurable with passage of time,
its treatment is very difficult.
He also described as “unfortunate” incidents where some of
those suspected coronavirus carriers under home quarantine
are being ill treated or ostracised by others.
“I am greatly pained to learn of these instances. This is very
unfortunate. We need to understand that in the current circum-
stances, we need to ensure social distance, not human or emo-
tional distance. These people are not criminals,” he said.
He pointed out that these people are merely suspected to be
infected with the virus. “These people have isolated and quaran-
tined themselves to protect other people from getting infected,”
he said.
“Coronavirus is bent on killing people... therefore, entire hu-
manity must unite and resolve to eliminate it,” he said in the
address that lasted more than 30 minutes and featured his inter-
action with two former coronavirus patients and two doctors.
In a stern warning to those not following rules during the 21-
day lockdown, the Prime Minister said no one wants to overstep
the law and break rules wilfully. “But there are some who are
doing so, since they are not trying to understand the gravity of
the matter. To them I will say that if they don’t comply with the
lockdown rule, it will be difficult to save ourselves from the
scourge of coronavirus,” he said.
“The world over, many people nursed this delusion (that they
will not be affected by coronavirus)... All of them are regretting
now... Those breaking the rules are playing with their lives,” he
said. Modi also referred to “daily life heroes” who are helping
people run their daily lives smoothly. These include plumbers,
electricians, grocery shop owners, e-commerce delivery per-
sonnel and those maintaining telecom and internet services.
He said India has been able to fight a battle on such a massive
scale only due to the zeal and grit of frontline warriors such as
doctor, nurses, paramedic personnel, ASHA and Anganwadi
workers and sanitation staff. – PTI
 MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
WEATHER
NORTHEAST
Forecast for North Eastern
States : Rain/thundershower is
very likely to occur at a few
places over Arunachal Pradesh,
rain/thundershowers is very
likely to occur at isolated places
over Assam and Meghalaya and
weather is most likely to remain
dry over Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram and Tripura. Maximum
temperature likely to be 3 to
4°C above normal in the
planes.
Warning: Thunderstorm with
lightning is very likely to occur
at isolated places over
Arunachal Pradesh.
Temperatures :
Max (°C) Min (°C)
Dibrugarh 30.8 19.2
Tezpur 34.5 22.0
Silchar 35.8 20.8
Dhubri 31.9 22.9
Jorhat 33.2 18.8
N Lakhimpur 34.2 19.3
Shillong 26.8 19.1
Cherrapunjee 23.6 14.9
Aizawl 27.6 NA
Kohima 23.8 12.6
Pasighat 27.6 19.8
Itanagar 33.0 18.8
Imphal 31.1 18.5
Agartala 36.2 13.1
Over 2,500
under home
quarantine in
Nagaland
KOHIMA, March 29:
Over 2,500 people, who re-
cently returned from other
parts of the country, have
been put under home quar-
antine in Nagaland. Howev-
er, no person has been test-
ed positive for COVID-19 in
the State so far, officials said.
Of the 17 samples that
were sent for testing, results
for 13 were negative and the
reports of the remaining four
were awaited, government
spokesperson and Minister
for Planning and Coordina-
tion Neiba Kronu said.
A total of 2,719 people, in-
cluding students, who recent-
ly came back to the State, re-
ported to the respective dis-
trict surveillance teams and
were subsequently placed
under home quarantine for
the stipulated period, he said.
Kronu said all efforts were
being made to expedite de-
livery of essential medical
equipment and accessories
amid the ongoing nationwide
lockdown, and there is
enough stock of essential
commodities in the State.
He also said the COVID-
19 control room is monitor-
ing the situation round-the-
clock in Nagaland.
Police personnel and oth-
er district officials are man-
ning strategic locations, re-
stricting movement of peo-
ple, Kronu added. – PTI
Ministers to supervise efforts to check virus spread
CORRESPONDENT
IMPHAL, March 29: To supervise the
efforts to combat COVID-19 and ensure
uninterrupted supply of essential com-
modities, the Manipur Government has
appointed 10 ministers, including Dep-
uty Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar
Singh, as district in-charges.
Additional Chief Secretary Dr
Rajesh Kumar, who is the Officer on
Special Duty to the Chief Minister, is-
sued an order to this effect.
As per the order, the Deputy Chief
Minister would be the in-charge of
Imphal West district where the State
capital is located while Works and Pow-
Virtual classes for Meghalaya
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, March 29: Amidst
the lockdown, two schools in
Meghalaya have started online
classes to keep the students
preoccupied and also to complete
the syllabus in time.
One of the schools is Pine
Mount which has begun prepara-
tion for the online classes. It
involves a simple online registra-
tion process through which the
student’s name, class and contact
details are collected.
Once the registration is done,
the students or their parents will
NORTH EAST
Daily wagers bear the brunt
of lockdown in Tripura
CORRESPONDENT
AGARTALA, March 29: As the
lockdown entered its fifth day today,
providing essential items to the poor,
particularly migrant labourers, tea
workers, day wagers and brick field
workers, has became a major con-
cern for the Tripura Government.
A large number of poor people and
day wagers have lost their livelihood
due to the 21-day lockdown and they
are now facing immense difficulty to
make ends meet.
Milkmen, too, are facing tough
times as people have stopped taking
high protein food and beverages be-
cause of the coronavirus scare.
“People are not taking milk ever
since the coronavirus outbreak. We
are selling milk at Rs 20 per litre
which was being sold at Rs 60 per
litre earlier, and sadly there are few
takers even at that price. Hundreds
of families, who are earning their live-
lihood by selling milk, are spending
sleepless nights because of this un-
fortunate development,” said
Ramesh Yadav, a resident of Gowala-
Manipur launches website to
help stranded people
CORRESPONDENT
IMPHAL, March 29: Chief Minister N
Biren Singh today launched a website to
reach out to the people of Manipur who
are stranded outside the State and in need
of help to overcome hardships in the
wake of the nationwide lockdown im-
posed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The website (www.tengbang.in) was
developed by CubeTen, a private firm,
in coordination with the Information &
Technology (IT) department of Manipur
for free as part of their corporate social
responsibility activity. ‘Tengbang’ means
assistance in Manipuri.
Launching the website here today, the
People maintain social distancing while buying essential items at Abhoynagar in Agartala on Sunday. – Photo: Correspondent
er Minister Thongam Biswajit would
be in charge of Imphal East district.
Similarly, Health & Family Welfare
Minister L Jayentakumar will be in
charge of Bishnupur district, Revenue
Minister Karam Shyam of Jiribam dis-
trict, Water Resource Minister Letpao
Haokip of Chandel and Tengnoupal dis-
tricts, Tribal Affairs & Hills Minister N
Kayisii of Tamenglong and Noney dis-
tricts, Public Health & Engineering
Minister L Dikho of Ukhrul and Kam-
jong districts, Agriculture Minister V
Hangkhalian of Churachandpur and
Pherzawl districts, Social Welfare Min-
ister Nemcha Kipgen of Kangpokpi and
Senapati districts and Education Min-
students during lockdown
be provided a login password.
After login, each student will be
given assignments by their
respective class teacher.
The assignments will have to be
completed by the students at their
Two children of migrant workers being given food packets and water at
Kanchanpur in North Tripura district on Sunday. – Photo: Correspondent
basti on the outskirts of the city. an official of Gomati Milk Union which
“Distribution of milk has been re- runs the State’s lone dairy.
duced by about 50 percent due to Keeping all aspects in mind, Chief
COVID-19 scare. People are not buy- Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today
ing milk and milk products for the tried to reach out to the affluent peo-
past few days even though milk is a ple with an appeal for lending a help-
balanced and high protein drink,” said ing hand to the people in distress.
Chief Minister said that it was launched
with an objective to reach out to the
people of Manipur who are currently
stranded outside the State.
The website was also integrated with
a payment gateway so that anybody who
wants to donate to the Chief Minister’s
COVID-19 Relief Fund can do it online.
The CM’s COVID-19 Relief Fund was
created on March 23.
Urging the people of the State to stay
at home, Singh stated that the govern-
ment has taken certain steps like home
delivery of essential items.
Informing that the condition of the
only COVID-19 patient of Manipur, who
is undergoing medical treatment at the
ister Th Radheshyam of Thoubal and
Kakching districts.
Meanwhile, the district administra-
tions in the valley have allowed people
to purchase the essential items, partic-
ularly groceries and vegetables, by re-
laxing the curfew for few hours while
some MLAs of both valley and hills dis-
tributed rice among the people during
the curfew relaxation hours.
So far, one woman was tested posi-
tive for COVID-19 in Manipur while
1,84,375 persons were screened and
486 have been kept under surveillance.
In the meantime, the State Govern-
ment has worked out a methodology
to open grocery and other shops sell-
homes and submitted to the
teachers online for assessment.
The registration process is on but
the actual online classes are yet to
begin.
Apart from Pine Mount School,
Shillong Public School has also
initiated e-classes with a similar
registration process. Both
Shillong Public School and Pine
Mount are run by the State
Government.
The decision to start online
classes was taken since the
country is bracing for disruption
of the academic session this year
due to the coronavirus outbreak
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 7
Mizoram rush to
set up COVID-19
test centre
Deb appealed to the tea planters CORRESPONDENT
and brick field owners to provide food
and other basic necessities to the peo-
AIZAWL, March 29: The Zoram Medical College, Mizo-
ple engaged in the unorganised sec- ram’s lone medical institute, has been working round-the-
tor in this hour of crisis. Besides, he clock to set up a Bio-Safety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory to
made a request to the businessmen,
test samples for COVID-19.
contractors and government employ- The TB research centre at the medical college, formerly
ees to contribute generously for the State Referral Hospital, is being upgraded to a BSL-4 lab and
cause of the people in distress. is expected to be ready next week, official sources said.
Sources said money has been start-
Four microbiologists are currently undergoing training at
ed pouring into the Chief Minister’s the Silchar Medical College on conducting the COVID-19
Relief Fund with the Ministers, tests, the sources said, adding that once they return, they
MLAs, MPs and various organisa- would be able to perform the tests.
tions contributing to help the hapless As of now, samples are being sent to the Silchar Medical
people. College by road, the nearest testing centre from Mizoram.
On the other hand, Deb has written “As the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) wants
letters to the Chief Ministers of Del- to set up as many testing centres as possible, we hope to get
hi, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, license without much problem,” an official said.
Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu From Saturday, the Zoram Medical College provided an
to take care of the people of Tripura ambulance for those who want to get tested but facing trans-
stranded at their respective States portation problem. After one person was tested positive,
because of the nationwide lockdown. Mizoram has so far sent 28 samples of which 26 tested neg-
In the letters, the Chief Minister ative and results of two samples are awaited.
requested his counterparts to pro- Meanwhile, State Rural Development Minister Lalruat-
vide food, accommodation, security kima said arrangements would be made to provide daily
and medical aid to the stranded peo- employment to rural households under MGNREGS during
ple of Tripura. “I do believe that we the lockdown period. He also said that Rs 2000 each has
will get cooperation during the coro- been credited to the bank accounts of 16,350 farmers in the
navirus pandemic,” he said. State on Saturday under the PM Kisan Scheme.
NHPC airlifts
medical
Arunachal Guv
supplies to donates month’s pay
Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical
Imphal
SPL CORRESPONDENT
to fight COVID-19
Science in Imphal, is improving, he called GUWAHATI, March 29: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Brig
upon the people to pray for the speedy NEW DELHI, March 29: (Retd) BD Mishra has donated his full pay for the month of March
recovery of the patient. The National Hydro Power to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to battle the coronavirus.
Many people of Manipur, mostly stu- Corporation (NHPC) has air- Joining the all out effort of the State Government in the
dents, are stranded in various States af- lifted 2.6 metric tonnes of fight against COVID 19, the Governor has made this per-
ter the Ministry of Home Affairs or- medical supplies to Imphal sonal contribution in this hour of crisis, stated a press re-
dered suspension of all passenger flights on Saturday. lease from Raj Bhawan in Itanagar.
and trains for 21 days. “The NHPC is fully com- The Governor has also appealed to the people to stay in
Chairman of MANTRON & MANID- mitted to stand with the na- their homes and cooperate with the civil administration dur-
CO Dr Radheshyam Yumnam, Chairman tion in this moment of crisis ing the lockdown. He emphasised on social distancing to
of Loktak Development Authority L and has already earmarked maintain one meter physical distance and to approach the
Susindro, Additional Chief Secretary Rs 4.5 crore to fight the nearest hospital in case of any emergency.
(IT) Dr Rajesh Kumar and Director (IT) COVID-19 pandemic in the Rising to the occasion, the Eastern Army Commander Lt
Nambam Deben besides Haobam Joy- country. The timely supply of General Anil Chauhan has volunteered all help from the
remba of CubeTen were present during medical material is most cru- Army to the Governor for the people of Arunachal Pradesh
launch of the website. cial and therefore, we have in fighting the coronavirus in the State. The Governor
aided the airlifting of medical thanked Lt General Chauhan and expressed confidence that
material to Imphal which is with the joint effort of all, the pandemic will be defeated by
remotely located and difficult the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
to reach by road,” Chairman In another development, State Minister for Industry, Textile
and Managing Director of and Handicrafts Tumke Bagra has donated Rs 2 lakh for distribu-
NHPC AK Singh said. tion of clinical masks, sanitizers, gloves, etc, among the people.
On receipt of a request According to a press release, the administration of West
from the Manipur Govern- Siang district held a meeting today with all stakeholders on
ment, the NHPC has ar- home delivery of essential commodities and closure of small
ranged to airlift the cargo. shops and markets to curb gathering of people.
The 2.6 metric tonnes of The supply of essential commodities started in residen-
medical materials included tial colonies and sectors today after complete shutdown for
sanitizers, thermal scanners, two days on account of a mass ritual at Aalo.
masks, etc. The landlocked Chairing the meeting, West Siang Deputy Commissioner
region of Manipur has a diffi- Swetika Sachan instructed all departments to work out con-
cult terrain and sending med- tingency plans beforehand to deal with any eventuality, in-
ical items by flight would save cluding utilising the services of retired trained officials of
crucial time in fighting COV- medical department, providing government aid to the wage
ID-19 in the State, he added. earners, incentives to poor people hit by the shutdown, etc.
2 held in Mizoram for spreading
fake news on COVID-19
AIZAWL, March 29: Two sexagenarian men
have been arrested in Mizoram for spreading
sociation, the officer said.
Another 60-year-old man from the same
ing essential items, according to an of- fake news on social media claiming that a per- village has also been arrested for spreading
fice memorandum issued by Special son travelling with the lone COVID-19 pa- the fake news, he said.
Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash. tient from the State has tested positive for They have been booked under Sections of
Under the new methodology, it has the disease, a senior police officer said on IPC and CrPC, Neihlaia said.
been decided that shops selling milk Sunday. Fifteen people were earlier arrested for
and dairy products, meat and fish, ani- With the fresh arrests on Saturday, the to- spreading fake news on coronavirus.
mal fodder will be allowed to keep open tal number of persons arrested in the State One person was arrested for circulating a
during the period when the shops sell- for spreading fake news on novel coronavirus fake circular issued in the name of Chief Sec-
ing grocery and other essential items has risen to 18, he said. retary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo asking Mizos
are allowed to remain open. “The fake news was posted on a WhatsApp residing outside the State to return home, fail-
Earlier, these shops were not al- group by a 62 -year-old man from South ing which they will be “declared” non-Mizo.
lowed to open due to want of a strand- Chawngtui village in Hnahthial district and A 33- year-old woman was arrested on
ed operating procedure. Meanwhile, was widely circulated,” Mizoram Inspector March 24 for hiding her travel history.
the State-owned central dairy plant at General of Police (Headquarters) John Neih- The woman, after returning from Macau
Porompat has resumed production of laia said. on March 10, lied to officials at Lengpui air-
‘Chumthang’, the pasteurized milk for- He is a leader of a local task force on COV- port, claiming that she was coming from Kolk-
tified with vitamin A and D. ID-19 and a member of the Young Mizo As- ata. – PTI
and the subsequent lockdown,
experts said.
The State capital of Meghalaya
is an educational hub and there are
hundreds of schools run by
various organisations and an equal
number of hostels and guest
houses for students from outside
the State.
The State Government has
set up two shelter homes here
for students from outside the
State who have been unable to
return home. These shelter
homes will provide accommoda-
tion and food to the stranded The two youths reach their village at Nongnah in South West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya
students. on Saturday after walking around 100 km from Shillong during the lockdown. – UB Photos
8 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI
STATE MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020

NEWS IN BRIEF
Sivasagar Medical department facing daunting task
CORRESPONDENT all as it would increase risk of expo- Ali, SP, Jt Director Health Services, to cope with any situation that may tals have also been asked by the Dep-
sure to others including the medical Dr DM Sarma and District Surveil- arise. Talking to this correspondent uty Commissioner to be prepared
SIVASAGAR, March 29: The fraternity. Fortunately, none of the lance Team Nodal Officer Dr Heman- at Khemka Maternity Hospital at to accommodate patients if needed.
Sivasagar Medical Department is nine samples sent from the hospital ta Baruah and other senior district Doulmukh Chariali recently, Dr Baru- The management of all the 29 tea
facing a daunting task in screening have been found to be positive, Dr officers about the steps taken by the ah said that his staff is working hard estates volunteered to cooperate
and identifying coronavirus infec- Baruah said. district administration in sending the to arrange for at least 200 isolation with the medical fraternity in this
tion among scores of people who Chief Minister Sarbananda right message to the public and the cabins and the necessary quarantine period of national disaster.
have returned from other States Sonowal accompanied by the Min- restrictions imposed on public move- houses in all the hospitals in the dis- Dr Hemanta Baruah informed
where the pandemic has already af- ister for Revenue and Disaster ment to cope with any probable sit- trict as most of the hospitals lack the that a section of unscrupulous sup-
fected large numbers. Management Jogen Mohan, in uation. necessary infrastructure. pliers of medical equipment have
Dr Rajiv Baruah, Superintendent, charge of the district visited Sivasa- The Ministers visited Sivasagar He said that the major burden will been charging exorbitant amounts
Sivasagar Civil Hospital, told this gar and took stock of the situation a Civil Hospital and Saulung Sukapha be shouldered by the Sivasagar Civil for thermal scanners. The price of
correspondent recently that the sys- couple of days back, following the Multi-speciality Hospital at Rajabari Hospital, Sukapha Super Speciality a scanner has gone upto Rs 12,000
A villager plucking elephant apple (Dillenia indica) to mitigate
tem of identifying affected ones is in announcement of a nationwide lock- to oversee the preparations and Hospital, Urban Model Hospital, Na- here whereas the actual price
the scarcity of food at Kamargaon village near Dergaon in fact the reverse one. He said that out in the wake of COVID-19 out- found them to be satisfactory. zira and Sonari Civil Hospitals, ONGC should be Rs 2500.
Golaghat district during the lockdown on Sunday. the possible carriers or people re- break. The Sivasagar district admin- Healthcare officials in undivided Hospital, Ligiripukhuri Hospital and The Sivasagar Deputy Commis-
– Photo: Sanjoy Kumar Hazarika turning from affected areas must stay istration has undertaken unprece- Sivasagar district are doing the the CHCs at different places. sioner, Lakhinandan Gogoi and De-
where they are. They should inform dented precautionary measures rounds to prepare the department for Quarantine facility is being ar- mow RCO, Indica Gogoi recently
Hand sanitiser made by DRL the nearest primary health centre. against the pandemic. all eventualities in the wake of dread- ranged at Saulung Sukapha Indoor visited the hostels of the ITI, De-
TEZPUR, March 29: Defence Research Laboratory The surveillance team from the The Chief Minister discussed ed COVID-19 outbreak. Dr Heman- Stadium (50 nos), Hotel Brahmapu- mow at Baruah Changmaigaon and
(DRL), Tezpur, the only laboratory in the North East un- PHC would collect necessary blood threadbare the situation with the ta Baruah, incharge, Integrated Dis- tra (40 nos), Civil Hospital (15 nos) suggested keeping 80 beds for iso-
der the aegis of the Defence Research & Development samples from them. The suspected Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner ease Surveillance Programme, in- and Urban Medical Centre (30 nos). lation out of a total of 200 the ad-
Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, has prepared persons should not move around at Lakhinandan Gogoi, DDC Al Azahar formed that his team was bracing up The hotels and the tea estate hospi- ministration requires.
2,500 bottles of hand sanitiser and distributed them to
the district administration, police, banks, armed forces,
journalists, etc., who are playing key roles in containing
the COVID-19 outbreak in Tezpur. DRL sources said an-
other team has been constituted for disinfection of public
Fake news on social media
places like ATMs, grocery and vegetable shops, milk out-
lets, shopping complexes, etc. A high quality disinfectant
has been formulated at DRL and fogging was also carried
creates panic in Dhemaji
out. – Correspondent CORRESPONDENT spreading false information throughout the night, seek-
Salary donation DHEMAJI, March 29:
that a herd of wild elephants ing Goddess Kamakhya’s
PATACHARKUCHI, March 29: The teaching and non- was roaming around in the ru- blessings to save themselves
teaching staff including the Vice Chancellor of Bhattadev Amidst the coronavirus threat, ral areas of Dhemaji, Goga- from coronavirus.
University, Bajali have decided to donate a day’s salary for unscrupulous elements are mukh, Bordoloni, Silapthar and Dhemaji district police is-
the month of March 2020 to Assam Arogya Nidhi so that circulating fake news, which Jonai circles under Dhemaji sued a clarification and asked
the amount may be used by the government in its fight has created panic among the district, which has frightened people not to believe in such
against COVID-19 in the State. – ANN Service people of Dhemaji district. the people and compelled news. “The forest officials are
Task force meeting Many villages have been them to pass sleepless nights. on duty in close coordination
separately locked down from Another rumour said wild with district police. There is
KALAIGAON, March 29: The first meeting of the high-
level District Task Force was held at the Udalguri Deputy March 25 as a precautionary jumbos entered rural areas no report of elephant attack
Commissioner’s office on Saturday, and was presided over measure against the COVID-19 and killed two villagers at Te- or damage caused in the dis-
by DC Prakash Ranjan Gharphalia. The task force was pandemic. The villagers have lam under Jonai circle on Fri- trict in the last two days,” the The daily market and labourers’ quarters at the Hattigorh Tea Estate in Udalguri district
formed to stop spread of COVID-19, treatment of suspect- confined themselves at home day night. But officials of clarification said. Police also being sanitised on Sunday. – Photo: Rewati Raman Sapkota
ed cases and maintenance of law and order. Revenue Cir- to get rid of the dreaded coro- Dhemaji forest division have warned of legal action against
cle officers were told to register arrival and movement of navirus. But, it has been alleged
Lockdown violators to face
dismissed these reports of people involved in spreading
outsiders returning home from other States. Eleven med- that an unscrupulous section, elephant movement and such fake news. Police has
ical teams have been kept ready to counter any possible
accustomed to circulating fake asked people not to panic. set up a control room with the
outbreak. The meeting decided to open quarantine cen-
tres in each Revenue Circle. PHE Minister Rihon Daimari,
BTC secretary Bhaskarjyoti Manta, Superintendent of Po-
lice Ripul Das, ADC Arupjyoti Barman attended the meet-
news on social media, is creat-
ing panic and making the situa-
tion more miserable.
Earlier too, unscrupulous
elements circulated a mes-
sage on social media, asking
phone numbers
9859916060 (call) and
8876444415 (WhatsApp) –
–
strict action: Deputy Speaker
ing. The DC also visited model hospitals at Kalaigaon, Unscrupulous elements are rural women to light lamps for any help. STAFF CORRESPONDENT appealed to all to stay inside for sle in the locality was recov-
Tangla and Bhergaon to supervise provisions for accommo- 21 days which would help the ered by an SDRF team.
dating more COVID-19 patients. – Correspondent
5 held for drug peddling Executive magistrate assaulted; SILCHAR, March 29: As-
sam Legislative Assembly
Deputy Speaker Aminul
nation fight the disease and we
must all follow the message at
all cost to save humanity.”
The deceased was identi-
fied as Moin Uddin Barbhuiya
(26), a tubewell operator. The
JORHAT, March 29: Police on Saturday night arrested
five youths from Charaibahi on the outskirts of Jorhat under
Rowriah outpost on charges of drugs peddling. A police
source said that about 10 grams of some suspected narcotic
many held for violating lockdown Haque Laskar on Saturday said
strict action would be taken
against those found violating
The Deputy Speaker also
said that culprits behind the kill-
ing of AISF jawan Baktar Ud-
body was recovered around
3.30 pm on Saturday. His
brother Kadir Hussain Bar-
CORRESPONDENT elements are trying to desta- huge quantity of country liquor
powder was recovered from their possession. The five were
bilise the society. Sale of at Subha under Tarabari Police the lockdown clamped to de- din Barbhuiya at Sonabarighat bhuiya said that after the inci-
booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985. A feat the spread of COVID-19. shall not be spared. “I am dent earlier in the day at the
sample of the seized substance will be sent to the State BARPETA, March 29: One country as well as IMFL liq- Station on March 25.
person was arrested for as- uor is going on unabated in Police have also increased Talking to the media on the pained over the incident when Sonabarighat market area
Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati for testing. Since sidelines of the recovery of a two persons from my constitu- where an AISF jawan died,
last year, over 30 persons have been arrested on charges of saulting an executive magis- many parts of the district, and surveillance on persons vio-
trate keeping vigil on the huge gatherings of buyers lating the lockdown. Two per- youth’s body from the Barak ency have died. People must there was simmering tension
drug peddling. Several youths were found to bring narcotic
substances from Dimapur in Nagaland via trains. – Staff lockdown in Barpeta on Sat- have been reported. sons were arrested on Satur- river in Sonabarighat, which stay home to keep any sort of in the locality.
Correspondent urday evening. Police seized a huge con- day at Balapara under Sarthe- falls in Sonai from where he has untoward incident at bay. Al- The Deputy Speaker who
been elected, Laskar said, “The ready, a few persons have been rushed to the spot immediate-
Free rice in Dima Hasao Executive magistrate Na- signment of IMFL liquor at bari PS by a patrol team led
message has been sent clearly apprehended and police is in- ly after recovery of the body
HAFLONG, March 29: Due to difficulties being faced by bajit Pathak, the circle officer Sarthebari on Saturday after- by DSP Samiran Baishya.
of Barpeta Revenue Circle, noon. Acting on a tip-off, a The two have been identified to the administration and police vestigating the case. The guilty termed the incident “unfortu-
the people, specially daily-wage earners, in the face of the to act tough against those who shall be punished,” he said. nate”. He appealed to every-
lockdown, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council CEM noticed a youth loitering on team led by Deputy Superin- as Asal Ali and Jaynal Ali. One
Debolal Gorlosa has announced free rice for those belong- the road at Brindabanhati here tendent of Police Samiran Sikim Ali was also arrested violate the lockdown. No one Youth’s body recovered: one to maintain peace and calm
ing to BPL families. Taking up responsibility to bear any in the evening. When Pathak Baishya intercepted a goods on March 26, while six per- would be left off since it con- The body of a youth who had said that as the family of the
loss incurred by the department, Gorlosa instructed the asked him the reason why he carrier and seized 93 cartons sons were arrested at Barp- cerns safety of lives. Prime drowned in the Barak river deceased would be given finan-
Food and Civil Supplies Department of Dima Hasao to dis- came out of his home, the of liquor. The value of the eta Road and a police case Minister Narendra Modi has following a chaos over a tus- cial assistance at the earliest.
tribute free rice to BPL families. The families have been
youth became furious and items was estimated at was registered against them.
asked to contact their cooperative or fare price shops.
Meanwhile, in all houses where home-quarantined people
are staying, stickers have been pasted for alerting people
and to ensure social distancing. Health authorities have
abused him. The youth was
identified as Bhaskar Das, son
of Basudeb Das, a resident of
around Rs 12 lakh. The con-
signment belonged to one
Manoj Deka who allegedly
Two four-wheelers were
seized for violating the lock-
down. Police registered anoth-
Purabi Dutta: a tribute
also started stamping ‘Home Quarantined’ on the hands of Brindabanhati. He was picked tried to store the cartons at er case against one Abdur Our Maju Pehi, Purabi ment in social work. She was
suspected coronavirus patients or those who have recent- up by police and taken to the the residence of his driver. Sabur, the owner of a hardware Dutta (Rina) breathed her an active member of the Ku-
ly come back home from other States. – Correspondent police station. A case has been However, both the owner and shop who opened his business last on March 19 after a brief marpara Shanti Sabha Mahi-
Food distributed by police registered against him. the driver managed to flee. establishment at Deurikuchi. illness. She was the third la Samiti. The Mahila Sami-
At a time when the coun- Sarthebari locals alleged that The administration led by the among seven children of our ti’s cultural troupe could nev-
GOSSAIGAON, March 29: A total of 334 people, both
men of women of different ages who are stranded at vari- try is under lockdown follow- Deka has been engaged in the circle officer also conducted an grandparents. Born on Sep- er be thought of without
ous camps of Srirampur for the last couple of days since the ing the threat of COVID-19 illegal liquor trade for several eviction drive at the Barpeta tember 13, 1953 at Tezpur, Maju Pehi, due to her profi-
declaration of lockdown, were given food items by Kokra- infection, some unscrupulous years. Police had also seized a Colony Bazar. she was 66 at the time of her ciency in Diha Naam, Pal
jhar police on Saturday. The 334 persons who arrived from death. Naam, Jeng Bihu, etc.
outside the State were examined by medical staff, and Maju Pehi, who preferred She had the ability to provide
were later provided shelter. They are said to be in good to remain a spinster, learnt sparks of hope to people when-
health and would remain at Srirampur till April 14. Mean- Kathak at a tender age. She ever they were in distress. To
while, people are facing a lot of problems due to the scarci-
also got herself trained in us, her nieces, nephews and
ty of vegetables at Gossaigaon. Villagers were seen com-
ing out with some vegetables and gathering at the road- Jyoti Sangeet, Rabha Sangeet grandchildren, she was the ab-
side to sell them, but the prices were very high. Army, and Assamese folk music un- solute source of solace when-
CRPF, and SSB jawans were also seen purchasing vegeta- der the tutelage of our grand- management had to extend ever we faced any hardship.
bles from a temporary market on Sunday. – ANN Service ma, late Bimal Prabha Dutta. her service period on several Today on the day of her
After obtaining her BA de- occasions, even after her at- adyasraddha, as we pay trib-
AGCL donates Rs 25 lakh gree from Gauhati University, taining the superannuation age ute to her, we remember
DULIAJAN, March 29: To fight the COVID-19 pandem-
she started her career as a of 60 years. She was working what she inculcated in all of
ic, the Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) has donated
Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of Assam. teacher at Rose Bud High in the school till her death. us – to face all odds with
The contribution of the company was made public by the School in Machkhowa. She Apart from being a suc- smiles. Be happy, Maju Pehi,
Deepak Chetia Phukan, General Manager, Human Resource was so dedicated to her work cessful teacher, Maju Pehi wherever you are.
and Administration department of AGCL. He added that The Pathsala highway chowk wears a deserted look during the lockdown on Sunday. that she was appreciated by was a known figure in Ku- – Jyotisikha,
the company has closed its office and instructed their offic- – Photo: Nava Kanta Kalita the guardians, and the school marpara area for her involve- Abhinandan, Kishalaya
ers and other employees to conduct the necessary official
works from home. – ANN Service
7 found negative at Golaghat
DERGAON, March 29: The blood samples of altogether
Daily wage earners hardest hit in Goalpara district
seven persons, including the three persons who had come ROOP CHOUDHURY People are running out of cash but nai, a mason from Amtoli village un- a crisis due to the want of clay which es as the people who are from poor
into indirect contact with the Mizoram girl, who had tested they dare not venture out due to der Matia revenue circle which has according to them had to be brought economic backgrounds are quite
positive for COVID-19 have turned out to be negative. – GOALPARA, March 29: Thou- some overzealous policemen. Al- around 40 families and where around from a distant place. Also, the plight oblivious of the dreaded virus which
Correspondent sands of daily wage earners and la- ready the low-rung workers in the 30 masons besides the womenfolk of e-rickshaw owners is pitiable and is highly contagious. He also ques-
bourers in Goalpara district have
Limit on food sale in Majuli been badly affected following the 21-
unorganised sector have begun to work as daily wage earners and there their lives have been disrupted by tioned the very purpose of the lock-
JORHAT, March 29: The Majuli district administration feel the brunt and their lives are grad- is every likelihood of food running the lockdown. One Binoy Das from down when people have to venture
has imposed a limit on the sale of essential commodities day nationwide lockdown in place in ually getting devastated. out in the coming days in some of the Mornoi area who drives his own e - out from their homes in these rural
per family in a bid to prevent artificial shortage of food a bid to arrest the spread of corona- Dhiren Hajong of Rakhyasini area poor villages like Lalabori, Khutra- richshaw and earns around Rs 400 areas for want of work and other food
items due to panic buying. In an order issued by Deputy virus. under Matia revenue circle said that para, Tinkuniapara, Hatipara all un- daily said that he has taken a loan items inspite of heightening the risk
Commissioner Bikram Kairi under the Essential Commod- As the lockdown entered the 5th there is no prospect of earning a sin- der Matia revenue circle, Milonna- from a private finance firm and of community transmission in these
ities Act 1955, grocery shops have been directed to limit day today, thousands of daily wage gle penny till the lockdown ends. garshantipur village, Borpahar, Jyo- doesn’t know how he will repay the places. Further, he alleged that many
the sale of food items per family as per the quantity fixed in earners have been left with no other Hajong said that there are more tinagar, Bijoynagar, Bhatipara Natun- monthly instalment as his income grocery shops have empty shelves
the order. The order fixed sale of rice at 5 kg per family, 3 option except to stay indoors and are than 100 daily wage earners from basti, Pahartoli under Balijana circle has been severely affected by the and the problem of availability of
kg of atta, one kg of lentils and two packets of other packed
struggling to feed their families as they his village Milonpara which has and some villages under Lakhipur lockdown. essential items in these shops in
items per family. The order asked retailers to file a daily
report on the stock position at the opening and closing were left without work all of a sud- around 134 families and they are revenue circle. Meanwhile, talking to this corre- these rural areas is getting worse.
time and also the prices charged on the items to the Food, den. They include manual labourers, now struggling for a meal daily. Food Most of the families who are en- spondent social activist Noni Das said He also pointed that the daily in-
Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department. masons, plumbers, carpenters driv- shortages are common and even gaged in the pottery industries lo- the basic hygiene of washing of comes of most of the people from
The order cautioned retailers of the administration initi- ers, e-rickshaw drivers, rickshaw pull- though they have BPL cards, the cated in Dubapara, Mornoi, Palpara hands, social distancing and avoiding Baladmari char area have been bad-
ating action under relevant Sections of the Disaster Man- ers, hawkers, fishermen, small vege- government is dragging its feet and Gohain Guri are struggling to close contacts, which are critical to ly affected which includes the sched-
agement Act, 2005, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and As- table vendors etc. The farmers are not over the promise of providing suc- meet their basic necessities daily as arresting the spread of the deadly uled caste fishermen, carpenters,
sam COVID-19 Rules, if the direction was violated. – Staff also not able to sell their farm produce cour to the needy. they have no income due to the coronavirus remains to be seen in labourers, street vendors, domes-
Correspondent
which are now rotting in the fields. Similar is the story of Nicolas Ba- lockdown and are also going through the poor neighbourhoods and villag- tic helpers etc.
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
CAPSULE
Yamaha, TVS
customer-friendly
initiatives
CHENNAI, March 29:
Two-wheeler major India
Yamaha Motor today
announced it was
extending the Lifetime
Quality Care Approach to
its customers for an
additional 60 days.
“Under the current
circumstances
(lockdown due to
COVID-19), we feel a few
of our customers may
struggle to get their
vehicles serviced on time
or avail of warranty
benefits,” the company
said in a statement. On
the other hand, two and
three-wheeler maker
TVS Motor said, “We all
need to support the
action being taken at
national and local levels
in the interest of entire
community. At TVS Motor
Company, we want to
reassure that we are
taking necessary and
comprehensive action to
connect with our
customers and support
their well-being,” the
company said in a
statement. – PTI
BoI slashes rates
MUMBAI, March 29:
Bank of India today said
it has reduced the
lending rate linked to
external benchmark by
75 basis points (bps) to
7.25 per cent, effective
April 1. The lender’s
external benchmark
lending rate is linked to
the RBI’s repo rate,
which was reduced by
75 bps to 4.40 per cent
on March 27. “The
external benchmark
lending rate has been
reduced by 75 bps to
7.25 per cent per annum.
With this, we have
passed on the benefit of
rate cut announced by
RBI to our home, vehicle
and MSME customers,”
the public sector lender
said in a statement. – PTI
Kalyan Jewellers plan
MUMBAI, March 29:
Kalyan Jewellers has
said it will set aside Rs
10 crore towards fighting
the COVID-19
(coronavirus) pandemic.
The company will partner
with local and govern-
ment bodies to ensure
that the funds are
allocated in a meaningful
and efficient manner,
ensuring availability of
supplies and providing
food and other essentials
to the vulnerable
sections of society,
Kalyan Jewellers said in
a statement on Satur-
day.– PTI
Masks, gloves, sanitizers
NPPA asks
States, UTs to
ensure
availability,
distribution
NEW DELHI, March 29:
National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Authority (NPPA) has
asked all State and UT gov-
ernments to ensure availa-
bility and distribution of
masks, gloves and sanitizers
in the wake of novel corona-
virus outbreak.
In a letter to the Chief
Secretaries of all State and
UT governments, NPPA
Chairperson Shubhra Singh
has asked them to resolve
issues in movement of stock
and manpower on priority to
ensure uninterrupted pro-
duction and supply of medi-
cines and medical devices in
the country.
Stating that it is learnt that
various State governments/
UTs are facing problems in
placing orders for masks,
gloves, sanitizers due to non-
availability of details of manu-
facturers of these items, the
letter enclosed a indicative list
of manufacturers received
from the industry body Asso-
ciation of Indian Manufactur-
ers of Medical Device.
It also asked the Chief
Secretaries to issue instruc-
tions to the district adminis-
tration/concerned authori-
ties to co-ordinate with the
manufacturers, distributors,
chemist association to en-
sure the seamless availabili-
ty of drugs, masks, gloves
and sanitiszers. – PTI
Undeterred by COVID-19 crisis, govt
goes ahead with merger of PSBs
NEW DELHI, March 29: The gov-
ernment is going ahead with the plan to
consolidate public sector banks, unde-
terred by the spread of COVID-19 that
has disrupted business across the coun-
try, including banking operations.
Accordingly, the amalgamation of the
Oriental Bank of Commerce and the Unit-
ed Bank of India with the Punjab National
Bank; the Syndicate Bank into the Canara
Bank; the Andhra Bank and the Corpora-
tion Bank into the Union Bank of India;
and of the Allahabad Bank into the Indian
Bank is being completed on schedule and
will be effective from April 1.
In a press release on Saturday, the
Reserve Bank of India said that branch-
es of Allahabad Bank will operate as
Basel-III norms implementation for
banking services deferred till Jan 2023
NEW DELHI, March 29: In view of the
coronavirus pandemic, the implementation of
Basel-III norms for banking services has been
deferred by a year till January 1, 2023.
Among other steps, the Basel Committee’s
oversight body, the Group of Central Bank
Governors and Heads of Supervision
(GHOS), has decided on deferring the imple-
mentation of the norms which were sched-
uled to come into effect from January 1, 2022.
“The implementation date of the Basel-III
standards finalised in December 2017 has been
deferred by one year to January 1, 2023. The
accompanying transitional arrangements for
the output floor has also been extended by one
year to January 1, 2028,” a BIS statement said.
The Group of Central Bank Governors and
Heads of Supervision (GHOS), has endorsed
a set of measures to provide additional oper-
ational capacity for banks and supervisers to
respond to the immediate financial stability
priorities resulting from the impact of the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the glo-
bal banking system, it said.
Further, the implementation of the revised
market risk framework and the revised Pil-
A staff member of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) inspects beds inside a train coach,
in Guwahati on Sunday. Northeast Frontier Railway is preparing to convert coaches at
the Coach Maintenance Depots at Kamakhya and Guwahati into isolation wards for
COVID-19 patients. – PTI
Labour Ministry allows PF
withdrawal amid lockdown
NEW DELHI, March 29: The La-
bour Ministry has allowed over 6 crore
subscribes of retirement fund body
EPFO to withdraw an amount not ex-
ceeding their three months’ basic pay
and dearness allowance from their EPF
account in view of the lockdown to fight
COVID-19.
Besides, Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO) also introduced
online claim settlement facility without
manual intervention on Saturday morn-
ing for all KYC-compliant subscribers
during the lockdown.
The ministry has issued a notification
in this regard on March 28, 2020 to
amend the Employees’ Provident Fund
Scheme 1952, a Labour Ministry state-
ment said. The decision is taken in view
of the lockdown across the country to
Discoms’ outstanding dues to power gencos rise nearly 32% to Rs 88,311 cr in Jan
NEW DELHI, March 29: Power
producers’ total outstanding dues owed
by distribution firms rose nearly 32 per
cent to Rs 88,311 crore in January 2020
over the same month previous year,
reflecting stress in the sector.
Distribution companies (discoms)
owed a total of Rs 67,012 crore to power
generation companies in January 2019,
according to portal PRAAPTI (Payment
Ratification And Analysis in Power
procurement for bringing Transparency
in Invoicing of generators).
The portal was launched in May 2018
to bring in transparency in power
purchase transactions between the
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
branches of Indian Bank from April 1, the Oriental Bank of Commerce and the
2020. Similarly, branches of Andhra United Bank of India with the Punjab
Bank and Corporation Bank will oper- National Bank and that of the Syndicate
ate as branches of Union Bank of India Bank into the Canara Bank are getting
from the appointed date. implemented from next month, the RBI
All customers, including depositors of did not offer information on its progress.
amalgamating banks, will automatically It was widely expected that the gov-
be transferred to the principal bank un- ernment may defer the consolidation ex-
der the merger process, the RBI said. ercise for some time due to the COV-
The Narendra Modi-led government ID-19 related disruptions. But as all
had announced the mega merger in Au- banks involved in the process are gov-
gust last year. Earlier this month, the ernment entities and there is no imme-
Cabinet gave its approval for the merg- diate plan to restructure branches or
ers that will consolidate operations of move employees, it was felt the proc-
10 public sector banks (PSBs) into four ess could go ahead unhindered. There
‘mega banks’. would only be a change of name for a
Though the other two merger few banks but all will remain under the
schemes involving the amalgamation of PSU tag. – IANS
State govt allows
TEs to carry out
plant protection
lar-3 disclosure requirements have also been measures
deferred by one year to January 1, 2023. AJIT PATOWARY
These standards were finalised with the
objective of complementing the initial set of
Basel-III standards, said the statement.
GUWAHATI, March 29:
The State government has
“The revised timeline is therefore not ex-
pected to dilute the capital strength ofthe glo-
bal banking system, but will provide banks
allowed the tea industry to
continue with its plant pro-
tection measures and irriga-
and supervisers additional capacity to respond tion activities during the lock-
down period.
immediately and effectively to the impact of
State Chief Secretary Ku-
COVID-19,” it said.
mar Sanjay Krishna said in a
Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Chairman of
letter issued on March 27,
the GHOS and Governor of the Bank of France,
2020, that the tea planters’
said: “It is important that banks and supervis-
organisations, through a letter
ers are able to commit their full resources to
from the Assam Valley Branch
respond to the impact of COVID-19. This in-
of the Consultative Commit-
cludes providing critical services to the real
economy and ensuring that the banking sys- tee of Plantation Associations
on March 24, 2020, brought to
tem remains financially and operationally re-
the notice of the State govern-
silient. The measures endorsed by GHOS to-
ment the fact that if adequate
day aim to prioritise these objectives and we
plant protection and irrigation
remain ready to act further if necessary.”
measures are not carried out
GHOS members unanimously reaffirmed
during the lockdown period,
their expectation of full, timely and consist-
there may be huge and per-
ent implementation of all Basel-III standards
manent damage to the tea
based on this revised timeline. – IANS
plants in susceptible areas.
Therefore, the Chief Secre-
tary said, to enable the tea es-
tates (TEs) to ensure essential
plant protection, spraying of
pesticide, weedicide, etc., and
irrigation are allowed to be car-
ried out in the tea gardens dur-
ing the lockdown period.
However, in his letter (No
ASDMA.24/2020/16, Dated-
Dispur, the 27th March, 2020),
the Chief Secretary said only
workers who are willing to
work may be engaged in such
activities. No unwilling work-
er should be forced to work
and the workers so engaged,
must be medically checked
before starting work.
Moreover, he said, com-
plete safety of these work-
ers must be ensured, besides
ensuring adherence to the
norms of social distancing,
hand washing, etc.
fight COVID-19. Following the notification, EPFO has
The notification permitted non-re- issued directions to its field offices for
fundable withdrawal not exceeding the promptly processing any applications
basic wages and dearness allowance for received from members to help them
three months or up to 75 per cent of the fight the situation.
amount standing to the credit of their In its communication, EPFO has stated
EPF account, whichever is less, the min- that officers and staff must process claims
istry said. of EPF subscribers promptly so that re-
The COVID-19 has been declared a lief reaches the worker and his family to
pandemic and therefore employees help them fight with COVID-19.
working in establishments and facto- “We are happy to inform that our on-
ries across entire India, who are mem- line claim filing facility for COVID-19 with-
bers of the EPF Scheme, 1952, are el- drawals has been successfully launched
igible for the benefits of non-refunda- at 11 am today (Saturday). IT (informa-
ble advance. tion technology) division of the EPFO
A sub-para (3) under para 68L has has devised a system of auto settlement
been inserted in the EPF scheme, 1952. of claims through our centralised server
The amended Employees Provident in respect of all such members whose
Fund (Amendment) Scheme, 2020 has KYC (know your customer) data is fully
come into force from March 28. updated and compliant. – PTI
generators and discoms. Power producers give 60 days to
In January 2020, the total overdue discoms for paying bills for the supply of
amount, which was not cleared even electricity. After that, outstanding dues
after 60 days of grace period offered by become overdue and generators charge
generators, stood at Rs 76,192 crore as penal interest on that in most cases.
against Rs 51,453 crore in the same In order to give relief to power
month of the preceding year. generation companies (gencos), the Centre
According to the latest data on the enforced a payment security mechanism
portal, outstanding dues in January has from August 1, 2019. Under this mecha-
decreased over the preceding month. In nism, discoms are required to open letters
December 2019, the total dues of of credit for getting power supply.
discoms stood at Rs 86,948 crore. The Central government has given
However, the overdue amount in three months moratorium to discoms
January increased over the preceding for paying dues to power generating
month, from Rs 75,930 crore in companies (gencos) in view of lockdown
December 2019. till April 14 to contain COVID-19 across
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 9
Contribution by corporates to
qualify as CSR spending: Govt
NEW DELHI, March 29: Contribution by those in the wake of the coronavirus
corporates to PM-CARES Fund will be outbreak.
considered as social welfare spending under “The PM-CARES Fund has been set up
the companies law, the government has said to provide relief to those affected by any
amid ongoing efforts to deal with the kind of emergency or distress situation.
situation arising out of the coronavirus Accordingly, it is clarified that any kind of
outbreak. contribution made to the PM-CARES
Under the companies law, certain classes of Fund shall qualify as CSR expenditure
profitable entities have under the Companies
to shell out at least 2 Fight against COVID-19 Act, 2013,” the
per cent of their three- ministry said in the
year annual average net profit towards memorandum issued on Saturday.
corporate social responsibility (CSR) The memorandum comes less than a
activities in a particular fiscal. week after the ministry said that spending
“... any contribution made to the PM- by corporates to deal with the coronavirus
CARES Fund shall qualify as CSR expendi- outbreak would be considered as CSR
ture,” Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala activity under the companies law.
Sitharaman said in a tweet today. CSR funds could be utilised for various
The Corporate Affairs Ministry, which is activities related to COVID-19, including
implementing the companies law, has those relating to preventive healthcare and
issued a memorandum clarifying that sanitation.
money donated by corporates to the fund Under Section 135 of the Companies
would be considered as CSR expenditure. Act, 2013, every company having net
The government has set up the Prime worth of at least Rs 500 crore, turnover
Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or a minimum
Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES net profit of Rs 5 crore during the
Fund) which would be utilised to deal with immediate preceding financial year has to
any emergency or distress situation like make CSR expenditure. – PTI
DPIIT, Start-up India PSB amalgamation
Union Bank
seek innovative expects
solutions from start-ups Rs 2,500-cr
benefits: CEO
NEW DELHI, March 29: The Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade and Start-up India have launched a MUMBAI, March 29: State-
competition for budding entrepreneurs and companies to come owned Union Bank of India,
out with innovative solutions to fight against COVID-19 crisis. which is amalgamating Andhra
“Help us fight the COVID-19 hurdle together by partici- Bank and Corporation Bank
with it, hopes to reap cost ben-
pating in the United Against COVID-19 Innovation Chal-
lenge,” Start-up India has said in a tweet. efits of over Rs 2,500 crore
Start-up India is an initiative of the DPIIT to promote through rationalisation of
innovation in the country. branches and savings on tech-
It said that the challenge is open to all start-ups, compa-
nies, and innovators whose innovation can plug the gap be-
tween the demand and supply of essential medical items to
nology on the combined entity.
The amalgamation of the
three banks, which will be ef-
fight the COVID-19
outbreak. The compe-
tition can also innovate
Fight against
fective from April 1, is part
of the government’s mega
consolidation of 10 public
technology for applica- COVID-19 crisis sector banks to create four
tions such as motion global-sized lenders.
tracking, geo-fencing and fake news detection. Union Bank said imple-
“As the world is currently looking at a serious healthcare mentation of all the process-
challenge caused by the pandemic COVID-19, DPIIT with es under amalgamation will
Start-up India is scouting for innovative technologies and happen without much disrup-
solutions for precautionary as well as treatment-related in- tion to customers and em-
terventions. ployees of Andhra Bank and
“We are building a one-stop repository of innovative solu- Corporation Bank.
tions for ready access by the government and the private There will be revenue gen-
sector for further development and deployment,” Start-up eration due to cost cutting on
India said. account of branch rationalisa-
It also said the top solutions will be referred to the gov- tion and also on the technolo-
ernment and private stakeholders for further funding and gy side. We are looking at
deployment. more than Rs 2,500 crore of
The solutions will also be published on the Invest India synergy benefits in the next
Business Immunity Platform, which is an interactive re- three years, Union Bank of
source for investors, the business community, and other India’s Managing Director and
stakeholders to access all relevant information about India’s CEO Rajkiran Rai G told PTI
fight against COVID-19. – PTI in a telephonic interview. – PTI
the country. The government has also an overdue amount of Rs 11,007.50
waived off the penal charges for late crore on discoms, followed by NLC India
payment of dues in the directive issued at Rs 4,731.13 crore, Damodar Valley
earlier this week. Corporation at Rs 4,614.49 crore, NHPC
Discoms in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, at Rs 2,548.85 crore and THDC India at
Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Andhra Rs 2,129.53 crore.
Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Among private generators, discoms
account for the major portion of dues to owe the highest overdue of Rs 3,421.68
power gencos, the data showed. crore to RKMP (RKM Powergen Pvt Ltd)
Overdues of independent power followed by Adani Power at Rs 3,201.68
producers amount to 25.94 per cent of the crore, Bajaj Group-owned Lalitpur Power
total overdue of Rs 76,192 crore of Generation Company Ltd at Rs 2,212.66
discoms in January. The proportion of PSU crore and GMR at Rs 1,930.16 crore. The
gencos in the overdue was 39 per cent. overdue of non-conventional energy
Among the central public sector producers like solar and wind, stood at Rs
power generators, the NTPC alone has 6,618.20 crore in January. – PTI
10 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
LEISURE & LIFESTYLE
14:00 Kasam Se 20:00 Jeep Bollywood Trails
15:00 Choti Bahu 20:55 Cyril: Viva Magic
16:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:15 Fear Factor 14:40 Biwi No.1
12:00 Happu Ki Ultan Paltan
17:00 Brahmarakshas 22:00 Ray Donovan 17:05 Chori Chori Chupke
14:00 Raat Ka Khel Saara
12:00 Oggy And The Cock... 18:00 Tujhse Hai Raabta 22:55 Wrath Of The Titans Chupke
15:00 Laal Ishq
14:00 Roll No. 21 19:00 Zee Cine Awards 2020 Red 19:55 Ziddi
15:00 Oggy And The Cock... Carpet 23:05 ABCD: Any Body Can
18:00 Roll No. 21 19:30 Zee Cine Awards 2020 Dance
19:00 Oggy And The Cock... 23:30 Kundali Bhagya
11:55 Fear Factor Khatron Ke
21:00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!
Khiladi Darr Ki Class
17:20 Best Of Comedy Nights
With Kapil 14:05 Rowdy Rajkumar 2
12:30 Best Of Crime Patrol 20:00 Naagin Bhagya Ka 17:00 Aparichit - The Stranger
19:00 Raat Ka Khel Saara Zehreela Khel 19:45 Phir Hera Pheri
17:30 India’s Best Dancer
21:00 Laal Ishq 21:00 Fear Factor Khatron Ke 22:55 Hum Hain Kamaal Ke
18:30 The Kapil Sharma Show
23:00 Raat Ka Khel Saara Khiladi Darr Ki Class

12:35 Aquaman
22:00 Courage The Cowardly... ZEE ACTION 15:00 Mission: Impossible -
12:00 American Idol
23:30 Teleshopping 22:55 Hum Hain Kamaal Ke Fallout
12:00 Maharaj Ki Jai Ho 13:00 Freaky Friday
15:00 Gordon Ramsay’s 24 17:35 Fist Of Fury
14:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata
Hai Hours to Hell and Back 19:25 Kung Fu Panda 2
16:00 Modern Family 21:00 I Am Legend
12:30 Super Bheem Hawa... 16:30 Best Of Dance+
20:00 India’s Best Dancer 22:35 What Men Want
18:00 Yeh Diwali Apno Wali 18:30 Last Man Standing
14:00 Chhota Bheem- Banjara... 21:00 The Kapil Sharma Show
19:00 American Idol
15:30 Chhota Bheem 22:30 India’s Best Dancer 13:30 Escape From L.A.
16:00 Super Bheem Ki Planet... 23:30 The Kapil Sharma Show 15:20 Blade
17:30 Chhota Bheem 17:10 Superman III
18:30 Super Bheem-Aakhri... 19:15 Mousehunt
20:00 Grizzy And The Lemm... 12:00 The King Of Queens 21:00 Spy Kids 3-D: Game
22:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated... 14:00 Anaconda Over
16:00 BattleBots 22:25 Event Horizon

Gossip mongering
19:00 Carol’s Second
20:00 War 19:25 The Unicorn
23:00 Maharaj Ki Jai Ho Kahani 20:00 SEAL Team
Ab Tak 21:00 Grey’s Anatomy
12:00 Avengers: Infinity War
22:00 Love Island UK
14:40 Ant-Man And The Wasp
16:50 Captain Marvel
19:10 The Jungle Book
13:15 Gossip Girl 21:00 Empire 21:05 Iron Man 2
23:00 M.A.D. 12:30 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil 17:00 The Bachelor 22:00 This Is Us 23:25 I, Robot
Is it gossip you’re missing the most while 23:30 Teleshopping Champs 2020 18:20 We’re the Millers 23:00 A Little Late With Lilly Singh STAR MOVIES
12:00 Avengers: Infinity
working from home? War

I
f you are feeling a little low while working older adults. 20:00 Into the Wild: Bear Grylls...
21:00 How Do Animals Do That?
from home despite having all the facilities Women gossip more than men, but only in 21:30 The Lion Kingdom
11:55 Pati Patni Aur Woh
14:40 DJ
that one typically gets at the office or, even neutral, information-sharing, gossip, said the 22:00 Wild Frank 17:20 The Mummy
12:00 Witness To Disaster 23:00 Nature’s Strangest My... 19:55 Marjaavaan
more, coffee, lunchtime or even a short nap at research which looked at data from 467 people - 13:00 Adventure: Primal Survivor 23:30 Epic Earth 11:00 Assamese news 14:00 Biyolir Headline 22:50 Hero No. Zero
14:00 Running Wild With Bear... 11:30 Assamese news
home, it could be because you are missing out 269 women, 198 men - aged between 18 and 58. 16:00 Investigates: Cesar To The... 12:00 Mid Day Live
16:00
16:30
Abelir Khabar
Superfast Prime Time100
on neutral gossiping with colleagues. Contradicting assertions found in popular 17:00 Snakes in The City 13:00 Assamese Feautre film 17:00 City18
18:00 Running Wild With Bear... 16:30 Discussion Show (R) 18:00 Prime Time18
Take no offence. In fact, according to “best habits of the rich” books, the research 19:00 Witness To Disaster 17:30 Guwahati Bisesh 19:00 Dintur Shironam
14:00 Mission Mangal
experts, gossiping, or simply talking about revealed that poorer, less educated people do 11:55 Forged In Fire: Knife Or Death
18:00 Guwahati Live 20:00 Porjyobekhyon B4U
16:55 Vivegam
18:30 Breaking @ 6:30 21:30 Aparadh Nama 20:00 Ghatak
12:50 Car Jackers 19:55 Vardi Ka Dum
someone who is not present, need not always not gossip more than wealthier, better- 13:15 Pawn Stars
19:00 Assamesse Prime Time 22:00 North East Scan 22:30 Son of Sardaar
20:00 Discussion Show (R) 22:30 Noixo Xironam
be negative - it can also be positive or neutral. educated people. 13:45 Storage Wars
21:00 Kotha Barta
14:10 Modern Marvels
“Interpersonal interactions and communica- Parikh, however, said there are no personal- 15:10 OMG! Yeh Mera India 21:30 Talk Time
22:00 Live at 10 11:50 Juaari
tion have always played a key role in people ity types per se that would feel more 16:05 Forged In Fire: Knife Or Death
22:30 Noixo Guwahati 15:45 Mela
17:00 Storage Wars
enjoying work - colleagues from work can be a burdened about working from home. 17:30 Amul Food Factory 23:00 Noixo Batori
15:00 Chah Gachar Maje Maje
20:00 Ghatak
18:00 Dynamo: Magician...
great social support network,” Samir Parikh, It is about individual preferences rather 19:00 Leepu & Pitbull
15.30
16:00
Yuba Darpan
Abelir Batori
director, Department of Mental Health and than personality types. 20:00 Modern Marvels 16:05 Tezaswini (Epi-65) 13:45 Rise Of The Apes
21:00 Food That Built America 16.30 Geetmala Vinaash Ka Aarambh
Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Healthcare, Those who are missing out on office gossip 23:00 Find Your Great Britain 16:00 Upasona 17:00 Nimishote Batori 16:00 Justin And The Knights
17:00 Devotional Slot
told IANS. can take advantage of the digital tools to stay 20:00 Earth Day: 50 Days 50... 1730 B2B Music
17:02 Rong Birong Of Valour
17:30 Rupali Dhou 17:55 Spider-Man:
21:00 Adventure: Primal Survivor
“In the current circumstances, it is natural connected and have healthy conversations. 22:00 Spotlight: Breakthrough
18:00 North East Diva GF 18:00 Dharabahik Homecoming
20:00 Rang Blockbuster 20:55 Dragon Blade STAR GOLD
that people are missing out on that interaction “Given the lockdown situation, it’s a good 23:00 Hidden Gems Of Turkey 12:00 Ultimate Weekends 18:30 Batori
23:00 B2B Music 18:45 NE News 23:45 Kal Ke Baad 14:00 Mission Mangal
15:00 The World’s Most Famous...
and face-to-face contact, which may be leading idea to stay connected with friends and 16:00 Deadly Game
to a sense of boredom and monotony,” Parikh colleagues through individual and group chats 17:00
18:00
Hostile Planet
South Africa
said. and video calls to maintain positive morale and 11:55 The Caiman Hunters 19:00 Birth of a Pride 21:30 VIVO IPL - Themed 2019 HLs 23:30 Best Of UCL 2019/20 HLs
12:40 North America 20:00 Hostile Planet
A healthy gossip, having fun, pulling legs of have meaningful conversations. Social media 21:00 Man-Eater Of The Congo
22:00
22:30
VIVO IPL Countdown
VIVO IPL - Themed 2019 HLs
13:00 Olympic Official Film
each other in the office make office surround- can also play an important role in this, if we 22:00 Africa’s Deadliest 13:00 VIVO IPL - Themed 2019 HLs 23:00 VIVO IPL Countdown 2020
15:00 Unforgettable Moments
23:00 Animals Gone Wild 13:30 VIVO IPL Countdown 23:30 VIVO IPL - Themed 2019 HLs 13:30 Beyound The Boundaries
ings livelier and bring people together. can use these mediums to stay connected, 14:00 VIVO IPL Heroes 2019 14:00 India’s Finest
15:30 UEL 2019/20 HLs
14:30 Nail-Biting Finishes 16:00 March Of The Champions...
According to a study by researchers from spread optimism and encourage social 15:00 VIVO IPL Rivalries 2019
15:30 Cricket Talk 16:30 Serie A Golazo 2019/20
15:30 VIVO IPL Countdown 17:00 Unforgettable Moments
the University of California, Riverside, people responsibility,” Parikh elaborated. 16:00 NZ vs IND 2020 T20I HLs
13:00
15:00
WWE SmackDown
Best of UCL
16:00 The People’s Fighters
17:30 NBA 2019/20 HLs
17:30 Memorable Masterstrokes
17:00 VIVO IPL Countdown
gossip for 52 minutes a day on average. Clinical psychologist Joshi also said people 13:25 Coyote Peterson: Brave... 17:30 VIVO IPL Countdown 2020
15:30 NBA 2019/20 HLs 18:00 The Olympics On The Record 18:30 March Of The Champions
16:00 Olympic On The Record 18:30 India’s Finest 19:00 UFC Main Event 2020
The findings, published recently in the working from home should do once-a-day 13:45 The Lion Queens Of India 18:00 VIVO IPL Heroes 2019 16:30 Best of UCL 19:00 Impact One Night Only 20:00 Serie A Golazo 2019/20
14:10 Icons Of The Wild 18:30 VIVO IPL Countdown 2020 20:30 Unforgettable Moments
17:00 WWE SmackDown 20:00 Nail-Biting Finishes
journal Social Psychological and Personality group video calls for keeping a lighter mood. 14:55 Earth: The Nature Of Our... 19:00 VIVO IPL Countdown 19:00 AO 2020 March Of The... 21:00 India’s Finest 21:00 Best of UCL
15:55 India’s Wild Tales 19:30 VIVO IPL - Themed 2019 HLs
Science, showed that extroverts gossip far Missing office environment by people 16:55 Wonders Of Africa 20:00 VIVO IPL Countdown
19:30 Best Of Serie A 2019/20 HLs 21:30 Words Of Olympians 21:30
22:00
March Of The Champions...
UFC Main Event 2020
20:00 Best of UCL 22:30 Best Of Ashes 2019
more frequently than introverts and younger working from home is quite normal. 18:00 Wildest Africa 20:30 VIVO IPL Heroes 2019 21:00 WWE SmackDown 23:00 Great Centuries 23:00 Best of UCL
19:00 Animal Planet Exclusives 21:00 Vivo IPL Rivalries 2019 23:00 Best Of Serie A 2019/20 HLs 23:30 Impact One Night Only 23:30 Serie A Golazo 2019/20
people engage in more negative gossip than (Source: IANS)

Know your DAY LOCKHORNS CROSSWORD - 6856

By JACQUELINE BIGAR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Monday, March 30, 2020:
This year, new financial opportunities are headed your way, and you can solidify
that foundation you’ve been dreaming about. Be on your toes and be ready to seize
the opportunity as soon as it occurs. You can expect sudden and emotional
reactions to matters in your personal life. If single, you meet a fun and funny
Gemini who delights you but is not ready to commit. If attached, you rediscover all
the camaraderie that brought you together in the first place. LIBRA delights you.
The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-
Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
★★★★ It’s a time of completion. You’re in a good position to act
on your wishes and dreams. You reap what you’ve sown, and
you benefit from your association with a group. Friends play an impor-
tant role in your day. Tonight: Look ahead to your next goal.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
★★★★★ Think “abundance.” Finish what you started at work. Visu-
alize the future and look beyond the immediate. Clear up odds and
ends. Take an inventory on where things are going in your life. It’s a great
THE PHANTOM ® By Lee Falk Across
1 A complete
23
24
Ligurian port (5)
Conflict (5)
7 A small umbrella
(7)
time for self-promotion. Tonight: Online shopping finds you a treasure. failure (6) 26 Gloating cry (3) 12 Ship’s record (3)
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) 5 Front part of an 27 Grasp (4) 14 Gun shop
★★★★ You are busy moving about from place to place, apron (3) 28 Necessary (9) purchase (4)
handling chores and thinking about work matters. Your
8 Polaris bear (4) 31 Legitimate (6) 18 Bird’s home (4)
mental abilities are strong now, and you have an emotional need
9 Epochs (4) 32 Taunt (4) 19 Puts old material
to reinvigorate your studies. A short trip works to your benefit.
10 Set back, 33 Saw (4) into new form
Tonight: Go out with friends.
slacken or slow 34 Go wrong (3) with significant
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
down (6) 35 More compact changes ? (8)
★★★ Unconscious attitudes at work can be difficult, and you
11 One of the (6)
tend to keep your feelings secret now. Relations with women 20 Unit of magnetic
Magi (9) Down
can be hard. It’s a great day for a mystical or spiritual discipline. Your intensity (7)
13 Goya’s “The 1 Conventional (6)
intuition is heightened. Tonight: Journal your most intimate thoughts. 21 Concealed or
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Duchess of __” 2 German
disguised, in a
★★★ A change of scenery would do you good today. You (4) motorway (8)
15 Promissory 3 Rein in (4) way ? (7)
might be involved in a community activity or a humanitarian 24 Chinese dynasty
benefit. You see two sides of an issue. You’re feeling creative and note (3) 4 Authorises,
16 Amidst (5) commands or (3)
have a need to express yourself in writing. Tonight: Early bedtime.
17 Sign up (5) decrees (7) 25 Closer (6)
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
20 Resistance unit 5 African language 26 Not the same (5)
★★★ Your organizational skills are highlighted. Hard work is
called for today to complete a project. Stay focused and avoid
any inclinations to wander off to other tasks. Be methodical and thor-
BLONDIE (3)
22 A snake-like
(5)
6 Alpha’s follower
29
30
Cork’s place (4)
Miner’s
ough. Romance takes a back seat for now. Tonight: Take the night off. fish (3) ? (4) discovery (4)
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
★★★★★ Your creativity, personal grace and magnetism are SOLUTION TO TRIBUNE CROSSWORD – 6856
highlighted. Work finds you soaring high with emotion. It’s Other, 29 Eire, 30 Lode.
also a good day to take a chance or experiment. Pleasure and fun hashes, 20 Oersted, 21 Cloaked, 24 Chi, 25 Nearer, 26
are emphasized. Express your joy. Tonight: Contact an old friend 6 Beta, 7 Parasol, 12 Log, 14 Ammo, 18 Nest, 19 Re-
you haven’t talked to in a while. Down: 1 Formal, 2 Autobahn, 3 Curb, 4 Ordains, 5 Bantu,
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
★★★★ Your experiences are more emotionally intense. You 31 Kosher, 32 Jeer, 33 Eyed, 34 Err, 35 Denser.
could be dealing with a matter concerning shared resources or 22 Eel, 23 Genoa, 24 Clash, 26 Oho, 27 Take, 28 Essential,
possessions. Security is an important issue with you today. Control Balthazar, 13 Alba, 15 IOU, 16 Among, 17 Enrol, 20 Ohm,
your impulses for the time being. Emphasize quality over quantity. Across: 1 Fiasco, 5 Bib, 8 Ursa, 9 Eras, 10 Retard, 11
Tonight: Indulge in a luxurious bath.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
★★★ You want to spend time with creative, witty and well-spo- JUMBLED WORDS
ken people. You feel a need to communicate with great intelli-
HEALTH CAPSULES®
by Bron Smith Given below are four jumbled words. Solve
gence. You get along with others and can resolve any disagreements. the jumbles to make proper words and move
Just don’t get into an argument with an Aries today. Tonight: Date night. them to the respective squares below. Select
the letters in the shaded squares and jumble
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) them to get the answer for the given quip.
★★★ It’s a service-oriented day. You offer advice and sup-
port to those around you. Do a good deed for someone. Be
sympathetic and tolerant. Diplomacy wins the way. An adjustment
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE
in your domestic life may be necessary. Tonight: Special dinner
with family.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
★★★★ It’s your day to play it your way. You attract financial suc-
cess, especially if you are open to a new approach. Be the person
you always imagined you might be. Play with different personas. You’re
playing with power so be careful not to hurt others. Tonight: Relax.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
★★★★ It’s a day for hard work that will make the rest of the
week go easier. You have an emotional reaction concerning Books are the ever _____ ____ of
your home or parents. You’re dealing with the foundations of who you accumulated wisdom. – George William
are and who you are becoming. Tonight: Treat your sweetie. Curtis (7,5)
★★★ SOLUTION
William Curtis
Thought for the day lamps of accumulated wisdom. – George
Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. Health Capsules is not intended Answer: Books are the ever burning

– GEORGE S PATTON to be of a diagnostic nature. Words: Grain, nylon, makeup, gasbag.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
SPORTS THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 11

Smith again eligible for captaincy Tokyo organisers eye July 2021
after two-year ban ends for delayed Olympics: reports
TOKYO, March 29: endure, meaning they could decision unprecedented in
Tokyo Olympics organisers be held in the capital peacetime.
SYDNEY, March 29: Steve Smith’s two-year might be some meetings over the next few days to and fresh and, if it goes ahead at some point, then are eyeing next July as a instead of in northern Prime Minister Shinzo
leadership ban ended quietly on Sunday, leaving discuss what the go is with it all. great. And if not, there’s plenty going on in the world start date for the postponed Sapporo city, where the Abe said they would be
him eligible again to captain Australia at a time of “I’m just trying to stay physically and mentally fit at the moment. So just play it day by day.” Games, Japanese media International Olympic held in around a year
uncertainty over when international cricket will It seems unlikely Smith will return to the cap- reported on Sunday, Committee (IOC) had instead as a testament to
resume. taincy when cricket resumes. Tim Paine is firmly following the historic decided to move them. humanity’s victory over the
Smith was stripped of the captaincy and banned established as Australia’s Test captain and at 35 is decision to delay the event The Tokyo 2020 team led pandemic.
from leading Australia for two years over his in- not immediately considering retirement. Aaron due to the coronavirus. by Yoshiro Mori is currently The decision had been
volvement in the 2018 ball tampering scandal in Finch has captained Australia successfully in white Given the ongoing discussing possible dates with seen to open options for
South Africa. His sentence ended on Sunday and ball cricket. pandemic and need for the IOC, according to the Tokyo, with IOC chief
Steve Smith
he can again captain Australia if called upon. The conclusion of Smith’s ban ends the period of preparation time, the most Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Thomas Bach saying that
Australian players were due this week to con- upheaval in Australian cricket that followed the ball likely plan would be for the On Saturday, Mori told a “all the options are on the
clude a series of matches in New Zealand and, for tampering incident in the second Test at Cape Town Games to begin on July 23, Japanese TV station that table” and rescheduling “is
some, to join the Indian Premier League. But it in 2018 when Cameron Bancroft, with the knowl- 2021, public broadcaster “some kind of conclusion” not restricted just to the
wasn’t clear on Sunday if the IPL will take place edge of Smith and his vice-captain David Warner, NHK said, citing sources would be reached within a summer months”.
this year and when international matches will used sandpaper to change the condition of the ball. within the organising panel. week. Meanwhile, NHK said the
resume. Australia’s scheduled mid-year tours to Smith and Warner received one-year bans from It came after Tokyo The Olympics were Olympic flame would be
England and Bangladesh are in doubt. international and most domestic cricket and Ban- Governor Yuriko Koike scheduled to open on July displayed for a month at the
Smith told Channel Nine television’s Sports croft was banned for nine months. The scandal also raised the idea on Friday of 24 this year with the J-Village sports complex in
Sunday he is doing his best to stay mentally and resulted in the resignation of coach Darren Leh- moving the event to a less Paralympics on August 25, Fukushima, which was used
physically fit, training in his home gym, going on 10 mann and the departure of Cricket Australia’s chief hot and humid time of year. but Japan announced last as a base camp for thousands
kilometre (6 mile) runs and practising the guitar. executive, James Sutherland. She argued that this week it had secured of relief workers in radiation
“It’s obviously not looking likely (the IPL will go Warner remains under a career-long leadership would make marathons and agreement from the IOC to protection suits during the
ahead) at the moment,” Smith said. “I think there ban. – AP other races easier to postpone the Games – a 2011 nuclear disaster. – AFP

Isolated footballers learn to Italy’s sports minister Osaka disappointed but

deal without the game to extend ban on events supports Olympic delay
LONDON, March 29: The riches, glamour rest of the Blues squad were forced into self- ROME, March 29: Italy’s ers have tested positive for WASHINGTON, March
and glory of playing football in front of packed isolation when team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi sports minister is planning to COVID-19. 29: Japanese star Naomi Os-
stadiums attracts the world’s top players tested positive. extend the ban on games and Overall, Italy has nearly aka says she’s disappointed
across borders but with the European game “It’s hard not to be able to see my children,” competitions in the country 100,000 positive cases and not to compete at the Tokyo
in lockdown, many have been left isolated Pedro Rodriguez, whose children live in Barce- through all of April. days ago surpassed the total Olympics this year but sup-
from their families. lona, told Spanish radio station Cadena SER. “I
The current nationwide in China, where the outbreak ports the decision to post-
Coronavirus has forced governments across imagine there are many people like me.
Europe to impose swingeing restrictions on trav- “I tell them to stay in the house and that I lockdown is due to expire on began in late 2019. pone the event to 2021.
el and personal freedoms. miss them.” Birmingham boss Pep Clotet sent Friday but Italian health ex- Spadafora says he’s hoping The 22-year-old former
Footballers’ daily routines have been upend- his family back to Spain before a state of emer- perts have said the need to Serie A officials show “a se- world number one said on
ed with no games to play for the foreseeable gency was declared in his homeland, but re- try to contain COVID-19 will rious desire to change. The Twitter on Saturday that she
future and training sessions now conducted alone mained in England to do what work he could. likely last weeks beyond that. big clubs live in a bubble, be- thinks the event will be bet-
at home or via video-conferencing to maintain “I am caught between two worlds,” said Clotet. Minister Vincenzo Spadafo- yond their means, starting ter for moving to next year
some semblance of team spirit. “I feel I cannot do my job properly. I keep think- ra tells Italian daily La Repub- with the millionaire wages of in the wake of the coronavi-
“It is a way to keep in contact with each ing ‘Maybe I should go back?’ But I cannot go blica that talks about restart- the players. They need to rus pandemic.
other, to start a little bit of routine because I back because I am working.” ing the Serie A soccer league understand that nothing will “Sport will eventually
think that is important,” said Brighton manager For others, the greatest concern is filling time Naomi Osaka
Graham Potter, who has his squad doing com- and the void left by no football.
on May 3 are “unrealistic”. be like before any more af- unite us again and be there
munal morning sessions via video. “Our guys “I am obviously a little bored since two weeks He adds: “(On Monday) I ter this crisis.” for us always, but that time
are all here in the UK. That is why it is impor- have passed since the beginning of the quaran- will propose extending the To that end, on Saturday is not now,” Osaka wrote.
tant for us to keep in contact and regular dia- tine at home,” Juventus’ Polish goalkeeper Wo- ban on sports competitions Cristiano Ronaldo and his Ju- Japanese Prime Minister
logue and make sure everyone is alright. jciech Szczesny told Sky Sport Italia. at every level for all of April. ventus team-mates along Shinzo Abe and the Interna-
“They are away from families, they are miss- “I am alone in Turin because my family went And I’ll extend the measure with coach Maurizio Sarri tional Olympic Committee to participate in my home 2019 Australian Open cham-
ing families and that is something we under- to Poland. Having said that, however, I must say to training an area where we agreed to forgo 90 million agreed to postpone the Ol- country. Of course I’m disap- pion, asked the Japanese peo-
stand. We sympathise with that, but we felt it that I am having a peaceful time. I sleep a lot.” hadn’t intervened because euros (USD 100 million) in ympics after athletes world- pointed that it won’t happen ple to stay strong.
was right to limit international travel and to stay The unexpected downtime is even allowing there was still a possibility of wages to help the club dur- wide expressed concern this year,” Osaka said. “This is the time for peo-
at home and be safe.” some players accustomed to globe-trotting ex-
holding the Olympics.” ing the crisis. about trying to stage the “But we’ll all be ready to ple from all countries, back-
Other clubs allowed their stars to jet home. tra quality time with their nearest and dearest.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and Thiago Silva Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega has spent the Some clubs like Lazio and Spadafora also says that he spectacle amid so much un- go stronger than ever in grounds and races to rally to-
returned to Brazil and Edinson Cavani headed vast majority of his playing career in Spain, but Napoli had been pushing to will allocate 400 million eu- certainty. 2021! I support Prime Min- gether to save as many lives
to Uruguay before France went into lockdown. the 65-time capped Argentine international is restart training as soon as ros (USD 450 million) for re- “Everyone knows how ister Abe’s brave decision and as we can,” Osaka said.
By contrast, Chelsea’s Spanish winger Pedro used to hopping back and forth across the Atlan- this week. covery efforts at amateur much the Olympics means to the IOC 100 per cent.” Osa- “To me that’s the Olympic
Rodriguez was stuck in London as he and the tic to represent his country. – AFP At least 15 Series A play- sports associations. – AP me and how proud I will be ka, the 2018 US Open and spirit.” – AFP

16-year-old India
cricketer Richa
donates Rs 1 lakh
KOLKATA, March 29: Six-
teen-year-old all-rounder
Richa Ghosh, who represent-
ed India in the Women’s T20
World Cup earlier this month,
has donated Rs 1 lakh to the
Bengal Chief Minister’s relief
fund for the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Richa’s father Manabendra
Ghosh went to the Siliguri dis-
trict magistrate Sumanta Sa-
hay’s residence to hand over
the cheque on Saturday, Crick-
et Association of Bengal said.
“When everybody is fighting
COVID-19 and the Chief Min-
ister has appealed for a united
battle against it, I thought of
contributing a bit as a responsi-
ble citizen of the country,”
Richa, who played two match-
es in the T20 World Cup in-
cluding the final, said.
Having made her debut in the
tri-series in Australia before the
T20 World Cup, Richa and Sha-
fali Verma were the two 16-year-
olds who played the final which
India lost to Australia by 85 runs
on March 8.
CAB affiliated units and of-
ficials too came forward and
announced their contributions
through the state body.
“66 CAB match observers
have pooled in Rs 1.5 lakh,
while 82 scorers contributed
their day’s pay aggregating to
an amount of Rs 77,420,” CAB
stated.
Representative of Moham-
medan Sporting Club at the
CAB, Dipak Singh donated Rs
2 lakh to the Relief Fund.
Former Women’s Test Play-
er Mithu Mukherjee has ex-
pressed her desire to contrib-
ute Rs 25,000.
Coach of Bengal Women’s U-
23 team Jayanta Ghosh Dasti-
dar would contribute Rs 10,000.
Among the affiliated units
Juve, Ronaldo agree to forgo England captain Knight Rijiju donates
one-month salary
90 million euros in wages joins NHS as volunteer NEW DELHI, March 29:
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on
Saturday donated his one month
ROME, March 29: Cris- uled, the club will negotiate coach for their commitment LONDON, March 29: Eng- salary over and above Prime
tiano Ronaldo and his Juven- in good faith with the players at a difficult time for every- land women’s cricket team Minister Narendra Modi’s direc-
tus team-mates along with and the coach conditional in- one,” the club concluded. captain Heather Knight has tive to all BJP MPs to contribute
coach Maurizio Sarri agreed creases of compensations ac- All sports in Italy have been joined the National Health Rs 1 crore from MPLAD funds
to forgo 90 million euros cording to the actual resump- suspended under a nationwide Service (NHS) as volunteer in the country’s fight against
COVID-19 pandemic.
($100 million) in wages on lockdown through April 3 but to help the healthcare system
Ronaldo “PM Narendra Modi ji an-
Saturday to help the club health experts have said the fight the COVID-19 pandem-
nounced #PMCares Fund to
during the coronavirus crisis. need to try to contain the ic in the United Kingdom.
strengthen disaster manage-
The club said the money COVID-19 will likely last The 29-year-old Knight ment capacities and to encour-
amounted to four months weeks beyond that. League who has played 7 Tests, 101 age research on protecting citi-
worth of wages, a third of officials have discussed re- ODIs and 74 T20Is for Eng- zens. It accepts micro-donations
players’ salaries. suming Serie A in May. land will help in transporting too. Let us contribute to make
The first agreement of its Three Juventus players – medicines and spreading India healthier and more pros-
perous for our future generations.
kind in Serie A since play was Daniele Rugani, Blaise Matui- awareness about the pan-
I’ve donated my one month sal-
halted three weeks ago means di and Paulo Dybala – have test- demic in the United King- Heather Knight
ary,” Rijiju wrote on his Face-
Ronaldo, the highest-paid play- ed positive for COVID-19. dom that have reported at
book page.
er in the Italian league, will give Overall, Italy has nearly least 14543 cases of the nov- England to the semifinals of Besides helping transport “Also keeping in touch with
up 10 million euros (more than 100,000 positive cases and el coronavirus. the Women’s T20 World Cup medicines, Knight will also District Administration and au-
$11 million). tion and finalisation of official days ago surpassed the total “I signed up to the NHS’ recently, is now living under speak to people about the im- thorised my nodal DC to use my
Juventus captain Giorgio competitions,” Juventus said. of China, where the outbreak volunteer scheme as I have a the UK’s lockdown rules. portance of self-isolation under MPLAD funds to purchase
emergency medical kits to fight
Chiellini, who has an econom- Aiming for a record-extend- began in early 2020. lot of free time on my hands “My brother and his part- the current circumstances.
#COVID-19.”
ics degree, led the negotia- ing ninth straight Serie A title, Earlier this month, the Ag- and I want to help as much as ner are doctors, and I have a “One of my close friends,
tions with the club and fel- Juventus leads the standings nelli family that controls Ju- I can,” Knight wrote in her few friends who work in the Elin, works on the ward at The country is under a 21-
day lockdown to contain the
low players. by one point from Lazio. ventus donated 10 million column for BBC. NHS, so I know how hard they the Royal Liverpool Uni-
spread of the deadly virus that
“Should the current sea- “Juventus would like to euros in relief funds to Italy’s Knight, who returned are working and how difficult versity Hospital,” Knight has claimed more than 30,000
son’s matches be resched- thank the players and the civil protection agency. – AP from Australia after leading it is for everyone,” she said. wrote. – PTI lives globally. In India, 25 peo-
ple have succumbed to the dis-
ease. – PTI
Stand together and overcome these challenging times: Chhetri BFI starts online
KUALA LUMPUR, March 29: Indian cap- such as Lionel Messi in the international goal vice of the World Health Organization and the “Let’s work together – as a team – to break coaching
tain Sunil Chhetri on Sunday featured in an scoring charts, joined the chorus of Asian icons best medical practices put in place by your the chain and stop the spread of COVID-19. I NEW DELHI, March 29:
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) campaign showcasing their support. local governments. It is our responsibility to stand with everyone in India and around the Their training halted by the
to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and request- “Everyone is struggling in these challeng- do our part by maintaining our hygiene and if world to put these challenging times behind coronavirus-forced national lock-
ed people to do all they can to overcome ing times. I must urge you to follow the ad- necessary, to stay at home. us and hope that we can all return to our nor- down, India’s Olympic-bound
“these challenging times”. mal lives soon,” said Chhetri. boxers will be provided online
classes by their coaches from
In the latest instalment of the continental Let’s work The Indian was on Monday picked among 28
Monday to ensure that aspects
body’s ‘BreakTheChain’ campaign, the Indi- together – as a past and present stars for world governing body such as mental well-being and
an talisman was accompanied by Chinese Foot- FIFA’s campaign to combat the pandemic.
ball Association (CFA) vice-president Sun
team – to break Sun, who was named FIFA Female Player
nutrition are taken care of.
Nine Indian boxers – MC
Wen, acknowledged as one of the greatest the chain and of the Century alongside USA’s Michelle Ak- Mary Kom (51kg), Simranjit
women players to have graced the world stop the spread ers in 2001 and winner of both the Golden Kaur (60kg), Lovlina Borgo-
stage, and Myanmar captain Kyaw Zin Thet. of COVID-19. I Ball and Golden Boot awards at the 1999 FIFA hain (69kg), Pooja Rani
(75kg), Amit Panghal (52kg),
The campaign was launched earlier this stand with Women’s World Cup, offered a message of
Manish Kaushik (63kg), Vi-
week to combat the spread of the COVID-19 unity and hope: “One for all, all for one – this
everyone in India kas Krishan (69kg), Ashish

of CAB, White Border Club and
Vijay Sports Club announced
a donation of Rs 50,000 each.
Uttar Pally Milan Sangha,
Suburban Club and Rangers
Club would make contributions
of Rs 25,000 each.
Among the District Sports
Associations (DSA), Cooch
Behar DSA agreed to donate
Rs 10,000 to the State Re-
lief Fund, the statement add-
ed. – PTI
“
outbreak, and it also feature former India cap- is the best expression of football at this mo- Kumar (75kg) and Satish
tain Bhaichung Bhutia. and around the ment.” Kumar (+91kg) – have qual-
The campaign, which garnered the support world to put “Please follow the advice of medical ex- ified for the Tokyo Games,
of more than 50 Asian players and officials in these challenging perts and local medical authorities, wash your postponed to 2021 due to the
less than 48 hours since its launch on Thurs- hands frequently and maintain a proper social global pandemic which has
day, encourages people not only to adopt the
times behind us distance. By doing so, you are indirectly sup- caused thousands of deaths.
best hygiene practises as underlined by the
and hope that we porting our medical frontliners combating the In a conference call with
World Health Organization (WHO) but also can all return to pandemic.
these boxers on Sunday, Box-
ing Federation of India (BFI)
“inspires hope and solidarity in these chal- our normal lives “You are not just doing it for yourself, but President Ajay Singh took stock
lenging times”, an AFC release stated. soon. also your family, especially your elders and of their preparations amid a na-
Chhetri, who is only behind Cristiano Ron- the whole world. Break the chain, let’s unite tional lockdown till April 14 to
– Sunil Chhetri
aldo and leads the likes of mega superstars to defeat our common enemy.” – PTI fight the pandemic. – PTI
 12 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020

Janasanyog/DF/3384/19

Printed and published by Ganesh Ch. Das on behalf of Assam Tribune Pvt. Ltd. at the Tribune Press, Tribune Buildings, P.O.- Assam Tribune, M.R.D. Road, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003. Tel. 0361-2660102 (EPABX), 0361-2661360, 0361-2668807 (News Desk), FAX 0361-2666396. E-mail: advt@assamtribune.com; news@assamtribune.com; atribunenews@gmail.com. Editor: Prafulla Govinda Baruah