www.freepressjournal.in | twitter.com/fpjindia Reg. No. Mcs/048/2018-20; RNI No. 1541/1957 I M.p.c.s office Mumbai-400001 s&p sees Gdp shrInkInG 9% eonomIc revIval needs a demand-boost I try to be a hands-on father, but It’s complIcated: aamIr 350c. 230c. Sunrise: 06:56 am Sunset: 06:00 pm Vol. 64 No. 182 | TUESDAY | DECEMBER 1, 2020 | 1 4 Pages | EDITIONS: Mumbai*, Pune, Indore, Bhopal, E-Paper Stick to old system, if you like, says PM Pg 13 Modi reaches out to the farmers BETWEEN THE LINES NEW NORMS FOR MARKET PLACES T o check the alarming Covid19 surge, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has issued a new set of guidelines for market places. According to these norms, markets in containment zones will remain closed and only those outside will be allowed to function. The Ministry has also urged that vulnerable categories (persons above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years) stay at home and only step out for essentials. It has further advised shop employees in high-risk categories to steer clear of any work involving direct contact with the public. The Health Ministry ask the Market Owners Associations to implement the advisory. TEST RATES CUT, REPORT IN 24 HRS T he Delhi government on Monday notified two rates of Rs 800 and Rs 1200 for the RTPCR coronavirus tests in private labs; also, the test report will be given within 24 hours of the sample collection. It shall be Rs 1200 if sample is collected through home visit and includes all charges of visit, sample collection and testing cost. The rate shall be Rs 800 (all inclusive) if the sample is collected at the lab, hospital or collection facility or collected by the government teams or by the private lab, as requisitioned by districts or hospitals. The test will be free of cost if done in any government establishment. The new rate of Rs 800 is onethird of the earlier rate of Rs 2400, fixed on October 20. After Nivar, IMD issues warning of cyclonic storm 'Burevi' in south Tamil Nadu and Kerala Pg 12 LISTEN TO OUR MANN KI BAAT NOW: FARMERS OUR BUREAU / New Delhi the Opposition parties about the reforms. He noted a new recent trend of every initiative taken by his government being opposed on mere apprehension and based on misconceptions. He said the farmers are naturally worked up since decades of deceit have made them apprehensive. He alleged that in the name of farmers, many packages and projects were announced in the past, but their benefits never reached the poor segment. CONTD. ON P6 Farmers have come to Delhi for a "decisive battle" and will continue their stir against the new marketing laws, their , leaders asserted on Monday unmoved by the appeals of the Centre and PM Modi. The opposition parties too stepped up pressure, asking the Centre to "respect the democratic struggle" of the farmers and repeal the laws. Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued for the fifth day at the Singhu and Tikri borders with no untoward incident being reported even as the numbers of protestors swelled at the Ghazipur border. "Our demands are non-negotiable," Jagmohan Singh, general secretary Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), said while addressing a press conference at Singhu border. Security has been beefed up by the Delhi Police and concrete barriers placed at all borders points connecting the city with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as the farmers threatened to block all highways to the national capital. Traffic snarls choked the roads as the Delhi Police kept the Singhu and Tikri borders closed and heightened checking at other entry points. CONTD. ON P6 SWAPNIL MISHRA Mumbai virus (HIV) as compared to the pre Covid-19 days. Every month, the MDACS screened around 32,000 people for HIV infections, including suspected patients and individuals from vulnerable groups, like truck drivers, sex workers, prisoners, lesbian, gay bisexual, and , transgender (LGBT) communities, among others. But since the pandemic outbreak, between April and October, on an average, only 11,000 people have been tested monthly according to data. , During this period, nearly 83,190 people were tested for HIV 803 of whom were found , infected with the other deadly virus that attacks the body's immune system. CONTD. ON P6 OUR BUREAU New delhi PM Modi reached out to the farmers on Monday by stating that the reforms will give them new avenues. But, at the same time, the old system also continues, if someone chooses to stick to that. Addressing a gathering in Varanasi, he said the government not only wants to provide them new market opportunities, but also wants to strengthen the Mandi system. He said the NDA Government is working with the pure intention of encouraging the farmers to spearhead the Atamnirbhar Bharat campaign. The Prime Minister said that earlier small farmers were not able to reach the market; but now with introduction of these laws, they have got many options to sell their produce and also have legal security against any malpractice. Modi alleged that misinformation is being spread by EDIT HIV testing takes a backseat to Covid The pandemic outbreak has pushed HIV treatment into the shadows. Data shared by the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) ahead of World AIDS Day (December1), reveals a 65 per cent drop in testing for the human immunodeficiency Sports shoes, laptops OK but not straw and sipper BHAVNA UCHIL Mumbai While a fresh plea for a straw, sipper and winter wear by 83-year-old Stan Swamy is yet to receive a nod from the court, in the past, courts have permitted undertrials the use of sports shoes, laptops, exercise equipment and belts, among other articles. Last month, a special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court had allowed Deepak Kochhar, an accused in the ICICI-Videocon loan default case to carry prescription medication, two sets of eyeglasses, a pen and writing pad and sports shoes without laces and slippers. The court had, on an application by Kochhar’s advocate Rahul Agarwal, called for a reply from the ED. The agency endorsed its no-objection on the plea itself and the court directed that Kochhar be allowed to carry the articles with him. Similarly in December last , year, Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) promoter Sarang Wadhawan was allowed to use socks and shoes in jail, at his own cost. His advocate had produced a medical certificate before the court to support her plea and argued that it was the responsibility of jail authorities to take care of an accused in judicial custody The jail superinten. dent had opposed the plea, citing security reasons. In the drugs case related to the death of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on November 11, Rhea Chakraborty’s brother Showik was allowed a sweater in Taloja Jail after his advocate pleaded that his client was shivering and jail authorities had not allowed his family members to give him a sweater. Showik’s coaccused and friend Suryadeep, who is now out on bail, was allowed on the same day by an order to have access to essential medicines, towel, bedsheet, a quilt and an extra pair of spectacles. Advocate Shahid Nadeem says in terror cases, undertrials have been allowed to use wristwatches, slippers, shoes, belts and prayer mats. The wristwatches were generally sought for the purpose of namaaz. One of the accused in the 7/11 train blasts case was allowed to use the prison’s laptop to prepare his final arguments in his case, though he had sought the use of his personal laptop. CONTD. ON P6 231-year history and the , first person to have served as Treasury Secretary , Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Chair of the Federal Reserve. She has previously been confirmed by the Senate on four separate occasions. Tanden, 50, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first woman of colour and first Indian-American to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Tanden's career has fo- cused on pursuing policies designed to support working families, foster broadbased economic growth, and curb rampant inequality . "Another proud day for Indian Americans to see Neera Tanden be nominated for a Cabinet level position in the next administration. This position at OMB is a wide-ranging role with broad powers to manage trillions of dollars of the US budget. If anyone had any doubts that our community Baba Amte's granddaughter ‘kills herself’ in family feud LALIT K JHA Washington US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named Janet Yellen as his Treasury Secretary and Indian-American Neera Tanden as Director of Office of Management and Budget, as he announced key members of his economic team. If confirmed by the US Senate, Yellen, 74, will be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in its Pg 16 Master Choa Kok Sui SANJAY JOG Mumbai Dr Sheetal Amte-Karajgi, social worker and granddaughter of Baba Amte allegedly committed suicide at her residence in Anandvan in Chandrapur district on Monday . Sheetal was a public health expert, disability specialist and a social entrepreneur. She was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and on the board of a nonprofit organisation, Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), which focuses on helping people disadvantaged by leprosy at Anandvan. The police declined to Couple must state religion and income! ONLINE REPORT / Guwahati Assam is mulling a law that will require the bride and groom to declare their religion and income in official documents a month before the wedding. The move has come on the heels of many other BJPruled states bringing in laws to check "love jihad." However, the Assam government claims its avowed aim is to "empower our sisters". Significantly, the ruling BJP dispensation’s move has come ahead of polls in Assam next year. "Assam's law is a not against 'love jihad'. It would be inclusive of all religions and would empower our sisters by bringing transparency...One will have to disclose not only religion, but also the earning source. Complete family details, education etc.” MODERNA SEEKS FDA APPROVAL ONLINE REPORT / New York Moderna is to seek FDA authorisation and of the European regulators for emergency use of its vaccine. If authorization is granted, the first shots in US could be given as early as December 21. Multiple vaccine candidates must succeed for the world to stamp out the pandemic, which has been on the upswing in the US and Europe. US hospitals have been stretched to the limit as the nation has seen more than 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths. Moderna’s application is based on data that its vaccine is 94.1 percent effective, and that its study of 30,000 people has met the scientific criteria needed to determine whether the vaccine works. The company is “on track” to produce 20 million doses by the end of December, and 500 million to a billion in 2021. Each person requires two doses, administered a month apart, so 20 million doses will be enough for 10 mn people. Neera Tanden to head Biden Budget team Janet Yellen will be President-elect’s Treasury Secretary Do not be overwhelmed by your emotions. A person under the control of his unregulated emotions is a slave to them. has arrived politically this , election cycle is proof enough," Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami, and an eminent philanthropist and venture capitalist, told PTI. This crisis-tested team will help Biden administration lift America out of the current downturn and create an economy that gives every single person across America a fair shot and an equal chance to get ahead, the transition said. comment on reports that Sheetal apparently died by lethal injection at her residence in Anandvan. Her body was taken to Chandrapur, 50 kilometres away for , post mortem. A team of forensic experts from Nagpur has left for Warora and the room in Anandvan where Sheetal's body was found has been sealed, sources said. While the reason for Sheetal’s alleged suicide is not yet known, sources at Anandvan said she may have done so because she was unable to bear the ongoing dispute among family members and the Samiti. She died around 1pm at the district hospital in Chandrapur. Hours before she took the extreme step on Monday , Sheetal had shared a painting of hers, tweeting: "Dr Sheetal Amte-Karajgi (@AmteSheetal) November 30, 2020 'War and Peace', #acrylic on canvas. 30 inches x 30 inches." Recently differences had , surfaced among the trustees over the functioning of the Samiti. The dispute had left Sheetal mentally distressed for the last few days. CONTD. ON P6 YOGI'S FILMI CHAKKAR UP CM has meetings lined up with who’s who of Indian industry and Bollywood SANJAY JOG Mumbai Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s quest for investment will bring him to Mumbai on December 2, where he will be meeting the who’s who of Indian industry and Bollywood. His first engagement in the city will be at the Bombay Stock Exchange when he will ring the bell during the listing of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation bonds. After attending the BSE programme in the morning, he is scheduled to hold meetings with business leaders and filmmakers. The latter may be controversial as UP has earmarked 1,000 acres of land on Yamuna Expressway near Noida to develop a film city which Yogi has announced would be the biggest in India, far bigger than Bollywood. The meetings are likely to touch a raw nerve in the MVA dispensation, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had warned that attempts to malign and "finish off" the Hindi film industry or "to shift it" would not be tolerated. The list of industry majors who will meet Adityanath on Wednesday include Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran, L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, Hiranandani Group Chairman Niranjan Hiranandani, Bharat Forge CMD Baba Kalyani, Simmons CEO CONTD. ON P6