Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Who is on the wrong – PAPs or govt?' that was published in Newsband

Who is on the wrong – PAPs or govt?

The project affected persons (PAPs) of the proposed Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link have demanded that the state government give them a package similar to the one being offered to the PAPs of the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project. But the PAPs of the proposed NMIA project are still not happy with the government’s latest offer. If this is going to be the attitude of the PAPs even in the future they stand to lose a golden opportunity. This attitude of PAP might prompt the government to shift the airport project to some other place and this will deny the Navi Mumbai residents of an airport.

 In the mater of NMIA project, it is difficult to know whether the PAPs are acting adament or the government is acting miserly. But somewhere a compromise should be made and that too very soon or else there are chances of Navi Mumbai residents turning out to be the losers. PAPs must not display a selfish attitude and should think in terms of the interest of all the Navi Mumbai residents. PAPs should think with an open mind whether the latest offer made by the state government is worth accepting and come to a decision at the earliest before the government changes its mind.

Now that the PAPs of Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link are also demanding a similar package as that offered to NMIA project’s PAPs, the government might find itself in a situation where it might find it necessary to change its mind in the matter of the latest offer that it is making to the airport project’s PAPs. So the PAPs of airport project should grab this golden opportunity immediately.     

The state government will be acquiring the land from Jasai, Gavhan, Chirle, Shelghar, and other villages for the sea link project. The PAPs from these areas are demanding a proper rate and satisfactory rehabilitation. The latest offer laid down by the government beofre the PAPs of airport project have made their mouths to water and hence they are insisting that they get a package similar to the one offered to the NMIA project PAPs, so the sons-of-the-soil will be benefitted and their future is secured. The 22-km Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link project is expected to cost over Rs 1,100 crore and will include the construction of five flyovers.

According to a state government official, the rate demanded by the PAPs is high, therefore constructing an airport in the sea is feasible. According to him it will be easier to construct the airport on sea than on land. Since the state government and CIDCO are facing a lot of difficulties in procuring land for the ambitious project, it will be viable for them to consider constructing the international airport on the sea on the lines of the one constructed in Osaka, Japan. It will be economically feasible since the state government will not have to go through the process of acquiring land, thereby reducing the cost of the project considerably.

A major hurdle in acquiring land for the NMIA project is the adamant stand of the PAPs whose demands are too high. They are not budging from their stand. If the state government agrees to PAPs’ demands, the cost of NMIA project will increase considerably, thereby making it economically unviable, following which Navi Mumbaikars will lose the opportunity of having a huge infrastructure such as this in their surrounding. Now if the PAPs continue to remain adamant and if the government changes its mind and decides to construct the airport on the sea or somewhere else, then who will be the losers? Think about it!

Video: Dinesh Kamath captures Bollywood Star and Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Amrita Rao while speaking in Konkani

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Motorists dread Arenja corner at Vashi' that was published in Newsband

Motorists dread Arenja corner at Vashi

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The area around Shahu Maharaj Chowk near Arenja corner at Vashi is a sensitive place for motorists. It is one of the busiest areas in Vashi. This area has an elevated patch blocks which poses problem to the motorists and hence some of them have asked for the removal of this elevation to enable them to drive smoothly at this particular spot.

The motorists have asked NMMC to have a look at this place and do something drastic so that no traffic hazard is experienced at this spot.

The motorcyclists particularly find this place very dangerous. But they can avert the danger if they stop taking short cuts at the circle. There were some accidents that took place at this spot when the motorists were taken by surprize.

NMMC did want to solve the motorists’ problems over here by removing the circle but they were not able to do it owing to the presence of electric line there. NMMC is thinking of coming up with a flyover at this place to make it convenient for the motorists.

The danger at this place increases particularly at night or when signals are not functioning and also when rash drivers increase the speed of their vehicles at this spot. The youngsters who drive vehicles are found most vulnerable when they arrive at this spot. The removal of this elevation can solve the problem, feel many motorists as well as top traffic police officers.

Both NMMC and Traffic officials are making desperate efforts to make this spot safe for vehicle drivers. It is left to be seen whether they will meet with success or not. 

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'NMMC to try new method to avoid constant road-digging' that was published in Navi Mumbai

NMMC to try new method to avoid constant road-digging

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The civic body has come up with a solution that will make digging of roads every now and then not necessary. This it intends to do by providing underground cables and pipes via ducts. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is in talks with companies which can do this job for them. These companies will come up with detailed maps very soon.

There will be two separate ducts - one for general utility service providers and another for electricity cables. The Mahanagar gas pipeline will be excluded. This will make digging of roads not necessary and also this is a part of Rs 7,000 crore-One Time Planning proposed by Thane guardian minister, Ganesh Naik.

The ducts might be laid alongside roads or under pavements and there will be manholes made at regular intervals so whenever repairing work have to be done there will be no need to do any digging work again.

To do this work NMMC will need spend a lot of money. Whether it is affordable will be decided by the top NMMC authorities.

This kind of system has been applied in many foreign countries, especially the advanced ones.

Digging of roads causes lots of convenience to all. Hence application of this system will solve the problem. Digging of roads spoils the roads to a great extent. The roads are found in a very bad condition  after the digging work. And when the monsoon arrives the condition of these roads become still worse. Both the motorists and pedestrians find it problemmatic while using such roads. Also water gets accummulated all along the roads resulting in health problems.

Laying of duct might provide a long-lasting solution to end the menace of endless digging. NMMC is very keen to try this method and if they meet with success the residents of the city are bound to heave a sigh of relief. 

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movie-releases in Navi Mumbai’ (Delivery Man, Bullett Raja and Frozen) that was published in Newsband

New movie-releases in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Delivery Man

Delivery Man is a 2013 American comedy-drama film directed by Ken Scott, produced by DreamWorks Pictures, and starring Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, and Cobie Smulders. It is a remake of Scott's 2011 French-Canadian film Starbuck.

The film has an interesting plot. David Wozniak, using the alias "Starbuck", is a sperm donor who learns that he has fathered 533 children. When a large group of them petition the sperm bank to reveal his identity, David has to decide whether or not to come forward. Simultaneously, his girlfriend is deciding whether he would make a suitable father.

The film depicts as to what happens if an aimless, irresponsible fortysomething who made hundreds of donations to a sperm bank in his youth learns one day that he has 533 kids?

David Wozniak (Vaughn) has to maintain his anonymity, but he starts going through the list of his kids, trying to secretly connect with them. The first child Dave uncovers turns out to be an NBA star. The next turns out to be a struggling actor and jerky bartender. Then there’s the beautiful junkie. The street musician. The African-American manicurist.

At one point, one of Dave’s more intellectual kids (he wears black and quotes Tolstoy) uncovers the secret, but wants this father figure all to himself, so he moves in;. Even Dave’s pregnant girlfriend, Emma (Cobie Smulders), supposedly a motivating factor in his decision to become a responsible father, just pops in whenever it’s convenient for the story.

After Dave brings one daughter (Britt Robertson), a junkie, to the hospital following an overdose, he has to decide between signing her out (which is what she wants) and signing her up for rehab (which is what a kindly doctor wants). It’s a tense, serious little scene, as Dave walks back and forth between the doctor and the daughter, torn about the first actual parental decision of his life.

The film depicts Dave’s interactions with one particular child, a severely disabled man who seems to have been abandoned in a nursing home. Dave’s own father (played by Andrzej Blumenfeld), a Polish immigrant, gets some touching scenes as well.

Bullett Raja

Bullett Raja is a Hindi action film, written and directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and produced by Rahul Mittra, Nitin Tej Ahuja and Tigmanshu Dhulia, under the banner of BrandSmith Motion Pictures and Moving Pictures. The film is presented by Fox Star Studios. The film features Saif Ali Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Jimmy Shergill in leading roles, whilst Chunky Pandey, Ravi Kishan, Gulshan Grover and Vidyut Jamwal will feature in pivotal roles. The film is set against the backdrop of West Bengal-based mafia while dealing with the underworld.

The movie has Saif Ali Khan in a never before seen avatar. He essays the role of Raja Mishra a commoner who gets transformed into Bullett Raja - a notorious, care-a-damn attitude gangster. A faithful friend and a loyal lover, living life on his own terms, setting his own rules, commanding respect and fearing no one, Bullett Raja in his true inimitable style takes on the system that creates people like him in a compelling struggle for power and ambition.

The film consists of seven tracks composed by RDB and Sajid-Wajid and lyrics written by Sandeep Nath, Kausar Munir, Shabbir Ahmed and Raftaar. The film has songs like Tamanche Pe Disco, Saamne Hai Savera, Jai Govinda Jai Gopala, Don't Touch My Body, Bullett Raja, Satake Thoko and Jai Govinda Jai Gopala (Remix).

         

Frozen

Frozen is a 2013 American computer animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen, it is the 53rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Featuring the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, the film tells the story of a fearless, yet optimistic princess who sets off on an epic journey alongside a rugged mountain man, his loyal reindeer, and a hapless snowman to find her sister, the Snow Queen, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

There are two Princesses of Arendelle: Elsa (Idina Menzel), the soon-to-be Queen, and Anna (Kristen Bell). Elsa has the ability to create snow and ice, yet has been suppressing these powers after a traumatic childhood incident involving her sister. After letting her cryokinetic powers get out of hand during her official July coronation, she goes into hiding, only for her emotions to trigger a magical, eternal winter that freezes the entire kingdom. The arrogant Duke of Weselton (Alan Tudyk) plots to turn everyone against "the monster" Elsa for his own devilish needs.

Anna, a fearless and daring optimist, must journey with extreme mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and reindeer sidekick Sven in an epic journey, encountering mystical trolls, a comical snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad), Everest-like extremes and magic at every turn in a race to find Elsa (now known as the Snow Queen), save their kingdom from eternal winter, and make things right before it's too late.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indian women need total security' that was published in Newsband

Indian women need total security

Just recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB). It will focus predominantly on women, apart from being staffed largely by them.

Women, who constitute about half the country’s population, account for 80 per cent lower per capita credit compared to men. Also that there is a gender bias in banking services is clear. It was precisely these factors that led to the creation of women's cooperative banks such as the Shri Mahila Sewa Sahakari Bank Ltd.

The branches of BMB should also be launched in a rural area or in remote corner of banking starved area of the country and not just in Metropolis where the banks have reached saturation. More branches should get opened in Rural and select semi urban areas. If they are started in the Rural areas, where most people hardly hold bank accounts, there might be relatively higher number of enrollments once they are educated about these banks. In urban areas where there is better participation of women in the workforce, the women may not be much interested in such a concept.

This is indeed a bold move by the government ahead of the 2014 general elections, especially at a time when economies of some developed nations are in a state of doldrums. This is a perfect example of a robust economy. BMB, undoubtedly is a boon to the women folk in India. What is important is RBI must take enough attention so that it caters to the needs of working women, women who run their own business and daily wage earners, accordingly.With population growing by leaps and bounds this would be a better alternative to the Indian women. It is now left to the women of India to utilise the most of it.

Any developmental step initially looks like heading towards a thorny path. But again this is a good step taken to focus upon the financial inclusion of women.

The BMB will ensure focused women empowering in rural India, thereby ensuring requisite livelihood opportunities to them. A very good initiative of Indian government. Further BMB would certainly ensure availbilty of credit to the marginalised women in rural areas to enable them to supplement their family incomes to reach to a viable standard of living in rural areas. This will also go a long way in mitigating the rural poverty in particular besides reducing the incidence of migration to urban areas.

 Women should not only be expected to enjoy equality with men in financial sophistication, but also she needs to have safety (in society, at work), employment, education, good health, housing, food, water. She must be allowed to survive without being maimed physically or harmed mentally as a wife, an unmarried adult, a blossoming youth, a carefree developing child, a dependent baby. She must not be killed after birth or selectively murdered before birth. The Government must know that girls and women in India enjoy none of these most basic of human rights. At some places in India, girls and women cannot even attend to unavoidable call of nature - without risking attack, rape or murder. Hence government must take steps to provide full security to women.  

Dinesh Kamath is totally impressed by the performance of Gauhar Khan in Bigg Boss 7

I'm totally impressed by the performance of Gauhar Khan in Bigg Boss 7

By Dinesh Kamath

Gauhar's strong opinion and her stand for what she thinks is right are making her fans go gaga about her. The model turned actress has also charmed her audiences with her looks and impeccable fashion statements. She is a unique combination of ideals and entertainment.

I saw her film "Miss India: The Mystery", 2003. She was younger that time and she looked extremely cute. She has retained her beauty even today. She has played an important role in the 2009 Yash Raj film, "Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year". I liked her performance in that film too. She was seen in an item song Parda Parda..which became very famous number of 2010 movie "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai". What a way Gauhar danced to the tune of Parda Parda….! She was fabulous. I’ve seen her anchoring the film gossip show on Zoom Television and she was really impressive there too.

What I like about Gauhar is that she takes a firm stand on any issue. Gauhar's stand is being widely appreciated. She has the guts to stand by the right. She never loses her respect and dignity even when she is victimized. At one stage, she had worn a saree in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss 7’. She looked extremely cute in saree. In fact, any kind of dress suits Gauhar.

Gauhar deserves to be the winner of ‘Bigg Boss 7’. Whether she wins or not I will continue admiring her super qualities which makes her one of the most beautiful women in India. I luv U, Gauhar!!!!

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'NMMC and water supply' that was published in Newsband

NMMC and water supply

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has found that water is being misused in the city in a big way. Hence it has decided to penalize those found wasting or misusing potable water. NMMC will appoint its officials to keep a watch and report those cases where water is misused.

NMMC has taken this step after receiving complaints from the residents about wastage of water taking place at many places. According to the complaints the water that is meant for drinking were being used for other purpose.

There are many residents in the city who receive just two-hour water supply. Some are lucky enough to receive much more supply of water and they don’t hesitate to use this water indiscriminately and for washing vehicles and for watering gardens.

The NMMC supplies drinking water to the entire city through the existing supply system like pipelines and service reservoirs. This water is being used by many for wrong purposes. Hence NMMC has appointed officials to catch hold of and penalize such residents who waste the potable water. Also bulk domestic meters have been installed at some residences to prevent wastage of water. Notices will be issued to those people in whose residences water had overflowed from the safety tank or potable water is being misused. Some officials have been appointed to find out where there is leakage of water and to plug or repair any leaking pipeline.

It is a good thing that NMMC is keeping a watch on the residents to see to it that they don’t waste drinking water. But sometimes NMMC itself is found on the wrong. For example, a few days back, after water cut-off on a certain day, the residents of Turbhe discovered that the water which was supplied to them by NMMC had a foul smell. Now whose fault is this? NMMC authorities, instead of penalizing the officials responsible for this defended them by saying that the water had foul smell only for a short time because the pipes were being cleaned.

But NMMC should not have started supplying water while the pipes were in the process of being cleaned. So the fault here lies with NMMC. The burst of dirty water while the pipes were being cleaned could have created severe health problems among the residents had they consumed the contaminated water.  

It is true that the residents of the city should be careful while using the water. So also NMMC should do the job of water-supplying to the city in most responsible manner. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Only one blemish in Sachin’s otherwise clean career' that was published in Newsband

Only one blemish in Sachin’s otherwise clean career

Sachin Tendulkar became a sporting icon due to his feats on the cricket field. Tendulkar rose as an unprecedented nationwide hero-phenomenon. For a generation starved of heroes, and short on confidence, he served as a source of inspiration and motivation. Even when Indian cricket got mired in charges of fixing and bribery, Tendulkar was left untouched. He deserved the extraordinary outpouring of emotions at his farewell match on his home ground in Mumbai. He is deservedly being honoured with the Bharat Ratna. He was rightly nominated to Parliament last year.

At 40, the cricket icon is the youngest ever to receive the award. His performance in the field of cricket was so powerful that many held him indirectly responsible for our lack of performance in Olympics since Indian masses got more inspired by Sachin than by sportspersons like Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar or Abhinav Bindra. He was instrumental in making a game played by only 7-8 nations more attractive than sports played by all the countries of the world.

Some people say that Bharat Ratna should have been reserved for better cause than for cricket which is more as an entertainment than sports. But Sachin took cricket to such a high level that the entire country was united in applauding Sachin’s style of playing this sport. Sachin did what no political leader could ever do. He was instrumental in uniting all our countrymen.  

Sachin is one of the best sportsmen of our country. No doubt about that. But he had made only one mistake in his life and career. He had surrendered his captaincy due to his inefficiency in concentrating in batting while doing the job of captaincy. That’s the only drawback in his entire career which is otherwise without any blemish. But Sachin is human, not a God, and hence may be forgiven for this blemish.

Sachin deserves the Bharat Ratna that has been bestowed on him by the Central Government. Whether Dhyan Chand should have got that award before him is debatable.

Whether Sachin's achievements are on the same platform as JRD Tata, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Vinoba Bhave is debatable.  But when scientific achievements (C. V. Raman, CNR Rao), film making (Satyajit Ray), artistic excellence (Lata Mangeshkar, Bismillah Khan, Bhimsen Joshi) are eligible for Bharat Ratna, why not sports achievements?

There is no doubt about the fact that giving Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar is a highly obvious political move bearing the elections in mind. It could have been given to him a year or two back. Why now?

Anyway, this phenomenal cricketer is part of India's identity and is venerated in country and abroad. He already is a Bharat Ratna in true sense. With his phenomenal game and unblotted career he has set up a true example and inspiration for present and future generations. We can have an award after his name in few years. Such is his credibility. Presenting him the Bharat Ratna is the right decision.

Dinesh Kamath's cartoons based on 'Alooramji' that were published in Newsband

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'School managements, students and parents should behave themselves' that was published in Newsband

School managements, students and parents should behave themselves

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: There have been many cases in Navi Mumbai where the parents of the school students had differences of opinions with the school managements. If this type of incidents continue what will be the plight of the students? Both the school management and parents should give a thought to this.

Just recently about a 100 students of Vidya Prasarak Mandal (VPM) school were denied entry to the school for non-payment of fees because the parents of these students were against the fee hike staged by the school management. The parents informed the Education officers from Thane and Navi Mumbai as well as police officials. Parents also assembled at the school gate.

Thane education officials asked the management to allow the students to attend classes and find alternate means to solve the dispute. As per the RTE Act, students cannot be denied entry. The Education officer promised that a probe would be initiated into this dispute.

The parents even approached the child rights commission to intervene in the dispute but the latter refused owing to a high court order earlier.

This was not the first time that this school had hiked the fees. They had done the same thing last year too in spite of ‘Parent Teacher Association’ not having approved it.

Here is another similar case. The students of VPM School, Airoli were made to wait outside their school gate for nearly an hour as the fee hike dispute between parents and the management continued. The management relented only after education officers from the zilla parishad issued notices. It was decided that the inquiry committee would be set up by the deputy director and the decision they would arrive at should be accepted not only by the school management but even by the parents.

The parent teacher association (PTA) in Nerul’s St Xavier’s High School and Junior College had threatened to file a contempt petition against the Thane Education officer for disobeying the high court’s order which had asked him to resolve the school’s change in management through hearing within six weeks of the order. The high court had directed the education officer to conduct a hearing of the trustees, petitioner and other persons including principal and submit a report within six weeks. But the education officer didn’t obey the court’s order.

However, the education officer convened the hearing after the date of submission of report had expired and they just recorded the statement of all the stakeholders.

The school’s functioning hadn’t been smooth ever since the issue of fraudulent dealing by the earlier trust, in 1985, cropped up. The old management allegedly transferred the school trust to another party, keeping the rules and regulations aside. They used an identical name to cheat City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which owns the land. This provoked CIDCO authorities and they filed an FIR with the Nerul police station for the alleged fraudulent. The issue finally reached the high court and the court directed the Thane Education officer to sort out the issue through a proper hearing and submit a report. But what is shocking is the career of 6,200 students was at stake as the change in management of the school was not done as per rule.

There are schools in Navi Mumbai which fail to maintain basic sanitation and hygiene. Access to clean and well-maintained toilets is a basic requirement, within educational institutions. This aspect often gets neglected. In some private schools, students refrain from going to washroom as it is not cleaned regularly. The other aspect is purification system for drinking water. There should be a water purification plant in schools and that should be maintained as well, so students get clean, potable water. The Education Department of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) went to the extent of threatening these schools’ management that if the general hygiene was not maintained, the schools would be issued notices.

Most private schools in Navi Mumbai do have a very good sanitation system since the monitoring by NMMC is commendable. In one of the schools, in fact, lakhs of rupees are spent on sanitation and hygiene. The school's washrooms are cleaned with disinfectant three times a day. This proves that such schools genuinely care for their students.

NMMC had also been playing an important role in this matter by cracking down on lax school facilities. It went to the extent of cutting the salaries of the workers or contractor who are tasked with maintaining general hygiene in civic schools and who failed in their task.

It is the duty of Education Department of NMMC to pay due attention to the sanitation facilities within both private and civic run schools.

The good news is that the department officials and the employees under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) promised to not only focus on administration work but also keep an eye on the conditions of washrooms. Parents were also encouraged to bring their concerns to the notice of the department. Managements of schools were threatened that they would be made answerable to the department.

There should be a system which should ensure that NMMC schools have clean washrooms and heavy penalties are levied in cases where the standard is not maintained. Daily inspections in every school should be conducted. Budget allocated for this purpose should be adequate.

The dispute between parents and school management had even taken place on the sports ground i.e. at the Fr Agnel basketball court. Agitated over the disqualification of their wards’ team, angry parents took over a basketball court in Fr Agnel Sports Complex in Vashi. Stalling the finals of the under-14 girls tournament, parents of students from Vibgyor high school, Goregaon, parked themselves in the middle of the court for two hours before local police intervened. Vibgyor was disqualified by the Districts Sports Office (DSO) on the ground that it fielded students from more than one board. This is the height of competitiveness, where players are sitting at home and their parents are hitting the court. The sports department of the school was of the opinion that these parents are defeating the very spirit of sports.

There was still another case where police had to be called in to the Gold Crest High school in sector-29, Vashi, after parents protesting a fee hike refused to leave the school premises until the management agreed to call a meeting of the parent teachers association (PTA). The policemen asked the parents and the school administration to resolve the matter amicably.

Such constant disputes between parents and school management will only prove detrimental to the career of the students. In larger interest of the students both the school management and parents should display maturity and solve whatever problems they have between them in a more disciplined manner so that the students are not affected in any way. Such disputes are become so common in Navi Mumbai that one feels bad for the students who ultimately become the losers. It is the duty of both school management and the parents to set an example to these students by solving problems in a more civilized manner since after all, these students are bound to be the parents and teachers of the future and they should be taught right from now the right way to settle such minor and petty disputes.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why is the value of Rupee eroding?' that was published in Newsband

Why is the value of Rupee eroding?

The value of Indian rupee continues to worsen. Why? There are domestic factors that seem to be working against the rupee. Trade data

shows acceleration in exports and a significant fall in imports; if these trends continue, the value of rupee will worsen still more.  

It’s government’s illogical policies/pressures that have troubled the Indian economy and has sent us in a state of fix. We are facing stagflation today. If we try to rectify inflation then stagnation worsens and vice versa.

RBI governor tried to control inflation but under the pressure of the government he had to decrease marginal standing facility to help the business houses raise cheap loans so that they may reap more profits by selling more products to consumers.

Can Inflation be ever controlled by these dubious moves? The swing in its value has made investors from abroad to think twice when investing in India.

Rupee slide is detrimental to Indian economy as we import more than we export - especially oil imports, which is the key to inflation, will be dearer due to rupee slide. RBI has to take strict measures to control the stability of rupee which is key to keep the interest rates, inflation and economic instability under control. As election is round the corner, high volatility of prices, rupee and stock market may lead to a volatile marketplace both economically, financially and politically. UPA and RBI should focus on limiting current account deficit, trade deficit and managing financial instrument diligently to make a significant impression rather than looking for last few pennies to make before they

give away power.

Rupee will rebound after the elections. But the future will not be bright because of the structural faults. The structural faults are related to high corruption, lack of discipline, ignorance, poor governance, and lack of unity within the nation. The environment in India is not conducive to fix these structural faults. They still look to the West for approval of their performance and this lack of confidence is a result of the above stated structural faults. A strong and honest government is needed to fix these structural faults.

The Rupee has been weakening ever since the country attained independence in 1947. One had to pay Rs. 4.50 to a Dollar to buy an air ticket to the USA in 1966. Today, the price of an air ticket to the USA is almost the same in Dollars but, in Rupee terms, it is 15 times what it was in 1966. China is manipulating its currency exchange rate to prevent Yuan from appreciating. Here we are struggling to keep INR from depreciating. What a contrast!

Fall of rupee against dollar is matter a of serious concern for a parent

whose son/daughter studying abroad with meager scholarship and need

support from India. Fall of every rupee affects those parents who live on

a fixed monthly salary, though some exporters may be celebrating the weakening rupee.

Successive governments’ misplaced priorities have had their share of influence on eroding the value of Rupee. We need to concentrate more on Primary Sector (Agriculture and allied services) to bring about a structural change in economy. The government must take steps to make agriculture a profitable proposition.

India should try to reduce excessive dependence on Foreign Institutional Investors funds and encourage domestic savings and investments as foreign funds will always be highly volatile depending on world’s economic climate

This is the only way forward to improve our economy and instill the faith in our currency.

Video: Dinesh Kamath sings medley of Amitabh Bachchan's hit songs

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movie-releases in Navi Mumbai’ (Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, Singh Saab the Great, Last Vegas and Battle of the Year) that was published in Newsband

New movie-releases in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (Translation: My Fair Lady, In Your Love) is a 2013 Indian romantic comedy film written and directed by Punit Malhotra. Produced by Karan Johar under the banner of Dharma Productions, the film features Imran Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shraddha Kapoor in pivotal roles.

The movie has an interesting story. Sriram Venkat is the most shallow guy on earth who doesn't value relationships, family, friends, life or the country. Not necessarily in that order - because he couldn't care less about the order. This makes him the clear 'black' sheep of the family.

At some point this shallow man begins to narrate the story of the crazy relationship he shared with Dia Sharma - his ex girlfriend, a firebrand social activist who wanted to change the world. An attraction which was physical initially but then got emotional and finally veered into complex territories resulting in a clash of ideologies and mindsets which drove them apart bitterly. Sriram believed that charity begins and ends at home. Whilst Dia felt that you have to be the change that you want to bring about.

However Sriram realizes that he is not over with Dia and still loves her and that she is the best change that ever happened... and will happen to his life.

But Dia has moved on and is now in an obscure village in Gujarat called Jhumli.

Sriram lands up in Jhumli to take his love back... But Dia refuses to return with him. Frustrated and faced with the ultimate challenge, Sriram realizes the only way he can impress upon Dia to come back with him is by making Jhumli independent. By helping others - something he is just not accustomed to do. This is the biggest irony of his life.

What he doesn't bargain for are the various road blocks he might face, in the face of politics, corruption and clueless villagers. But the biggest hurdle he faces eventually is himself. His own moral fabric which isn't upto the challenge he has undertaken.

Will Sriram be able to win back his love? Will he be able to bring about the change in Jhumli as well as in himself??? This is the story of a boy and his struggle to cross a bridge... a bridge that bridges the love and gap between two people.

The film has Imran Khan as Sriram Venkat, Kareena Kapoor Khan as Dia Sharma, Shraddha Kapoor as Shabbu Patel, Esha Gupta as Nisha in a special appearance in song Dhat Teri Ki, Nizhalgal Ravi as father of Sriram Venkat, Avantika Malik Khan in a Special Appearance in song Dhat Teri Ki and Kalyani Natarajan as sister-in-law of Sriram Venkat.

Music for the film is provided by Vishal-Shekhar. There are nine songs in the films. They are Dhat Teri Ki sung by Sanam Puri and Aditi Singh Sharma, Chingam Chabake by Shankar Mahadevan and Shalmali Kholgade, Tooh by Mika Singh, Mamta Sharma, Vishal Dadlani and Shruti Pathak, Naina by Neeti Mohan and Kamal Khan, Dil Duffer by Shruti Pathak and Nitesh Kadam, Moto Ghotalo by Sukhwinder Singh and Sanah Moidutty, Dhat Teri Ki (Remix by DJ Rishabh) by Sanam Puri and Aditi Singh Sharma, Chingam Chabake (Remix by DJ Kiran Kamath) by Shankar Mahadevan and Shalmali Kholgade and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (Mashup by DJ Kiran Kamath) by Shankar Mahadevan, Shalmali Kholgade, Nitesh Kadam, Shruti Pathak, Sukhwinder Singh, Sanah Moidutty, Mika Singh, Mamta Sharma, Kamal Khan and Neeti Mohan (Remixed by DJ Kiran Kamath).

Singh Saab the Great

Singh Sahab the Great is a 2013 Hindi Drama film directed by Anil Sharma. The film features Sunny Deol, Urvashi Rautela and Prakash Raj as main characters. The film also has Amirta Rao and Johnny Lever playing important roles.

Singh Sahab the Great is a story about a common man, who takes pride in his honesty. He leads a simple life and believes in honestly and true values. Sunny Deol plays a Collector of a small city of UP, who fights corruption and injustice. The story is driven by love and its strength. It is a story about change not Revenge.

The kind of power that this collector has is commendable. He has the best of all worlds, whether from judiciary or police. The film preaches that if this power is well exercised, the society can benefit in a major way.

In this film there is this entire system, mafia, government and politicians that Sunny Deol has to battle with; there is a home that he comes back to as well. All of this strikes a good balance in his life and also helps him take all the conflict heads on.

The film, which is set in current times with Sunny playing a collector, isn't all about action though. There is quite a lot of drama involved with an inherent humour forming a part of Sunny's characterisation. Amrita Rao plays the role of a journalist. She essays a very important role, that of a righteous kind of a scribe. Her heart is on the right side of things in this film. The film is to an extent an action drama which is based on the topical subject of education mafia, and will see Sunny back in his very popular macho action image after a long time. The film has the number one bad guy of Bollywood right now, Prakash Raj, and the handsome bad boy, Aseem Merchant. In short, the film is based in North India and is about the education (and cheating) mafia. While Sunny Deol tries to curb the mafia in his characteristic way, Prakash Raj and company, who are on the wrong side, try to thwart his attempts to rid the system of all evils.'

The music of the film is composed by Anand Raj Anand. And the title song of the film is composed by the legendary singer Sonu Nigam. Singers are Sonu Nigam, Kumaar, Sunidhi Chauhan and Anand Raj Anand. The film has songs like Singh Saab The Great, Daaru Band Kal Se, Palang Todh, Jab Mehndi Lag Lag Jaave, Daaru Band Kal Se (Remix) and Heer.

Last Vegas

Last Vegas is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jon Turteltaub, starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline.

Four best friends in their late sixties – Billy, Paddy, Sam, and Archie – decide to have a bachelor party in Las Vegas for Billy, the last of them to be getting married.

An all-star ensemble featuring Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Robert De Niro, the film offers an effective humor and heartfelt dichotomy, with De Niro and Douglas handling the most emotional scenes. The film succeeds in offering a heartfelt theme and decent comedic plot.

When Billy — played by Douglas — gets engaged to a much younger woman, his friends Archie, Paddy and Sam — Freeman, De Niro and Kline, respectively — throw him a bachelor party in Las Vegas. A romantic complication that occurred between Billy, Paddy and Paddy’s dead wife decades ago emerges and ultimately comes to a head during their stay in Vegas. That is how complicated the plot gets.

To be exact, the three lifelong friends make a trip to Vegas in order to witness the wedding of their oldest pal Billy, who is finally tying the knot — with Lisa (Bre Blair) a 31-year-old “baby.” Only Paddy, isn’t so much going as he is being conned into going, because of an old feud with Billy (Billy didn’t come to the funeral of Paddy’s wife, who had passed away a year earlier, who also was a childhood friend). As it turns out, Billy has been carrying a torch for her since they were kids and simply couldn’t show up and eulogize her because of it.

Still, they have been best friends since childhood, so when Paddy, Archie, and Sam show up and see Billy there, Paddy almost turns around and heads back to Brooklyn. The boys convince him to stay, but when they get to the hotel, it turns out that they don’t actually have rooms because neither Archie nor Sam ever actually made reservations. While sorting things out, they run across Diana (Steenburgen), who is a lounge singer crooning to an empty room. As can be expected, both Billy and Paddy are both immediately drawn to her.

She befriends the group and agrees to travel with them to Billy’s hotel where a funny mix-up (and Archie’s amazing good fortune) lands them in an exclusive VIP penthouse suite with their own concierge, Lonnie (Romany Malco). Now these four must sort out their long-standing differences, while remembering what made them friends in the first place while attempting to sow what is left of their oats in Vegas while attempting to forget their advanced age and relive their glory days. However, the four quickly realize that the decades have not only transformed Sin City but are now testing their friendship in ways they never quite imagined.

Battle of the Year

Battle of the Year is a 2013 American 3D dance film directed by Benson Lee. The film stars Josh Holloway, Chris Brown, Laz Alonso, Caity Lotz, and Josh Peck. Battle of the Year is based upon Lee's documentary about the b-boying competition of the same name. It initially held the working title of Planet B Boy, and includes some cinematography by the original doc DP "Vasco Nunes".

The movie follows Dante and Jason as they try to put together a B-boy team that will win the upcoming Battle of the Year under the belief that proper coaching can take any team to victory.

Josh Holloway (TV’s “Lost”) plays Jason Blake, a former basketball coach enlisted by longtime pal and mogul Dante Graham (Laz Alonso) to whip a team of dancers into shape for the Battle of the Year. Despite his burgeoning alcoholism and a few personal reservations — “I ain’t that guy any more,” he grunts — Blake agrees, recruiting Graham’s sharp-witted, dance-obsessed intern Franklyn (Josh Peck) as an assistant.

Graham assembles his team of the best American dancers from across the country. Blake begins the arduous process of molding a group of individual stars into a cohesive unit. But as dancers like Rooster (Chris Brown) and Do Knock (Jon Cruz) compete for the spotlight, Blake finds his skills as a coach tested, even as Graham begins to exert pressure on him to deliver a team that can bring home top honors at the competition.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why this double standard?' that was published in Newsband

Why this double standard?

The Commonwealth countries are supposed to believe in human rights, democracy, good governance, rule of law and freedom of expression among others. Then how is that Commonwealth Head of Governments’ Meeting 2013 (CHOGM 2013) took place in Sri Lanka which had grave human rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan military against Tamil civilians in 2009 during the last battles against the LTTE?

The Rajapaksa government had hoped that the summit would help in restoring its international credibility. Exactly the opposite has happened. There is a harsher spotlight on the country’s rights record, new allegations have been levelled even while old ones refuse to go away.

Some heads of government vociferously opposed this Meet and stayed away. They included even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

British Prime Minister David Cameron displayed the guts to publicly criticise Sri Lanka’s rights record, issuing an ultimatum to President Rajapaksa to institute by March a credible inquiry into allegations of rights violations. He did what the Indian Prime Minister should have done. He visited Jaffna, connecting with the Tamil people and their problems first-hand. This is what our Indian Prime Minister should have done too. But he didn’t do it.

If our PM had visited Jaffna and interacted with the victims of war, it would have strongly registered India's concern for Srilankan Tamilians. Also it would have registered that India strictly adheres to the Foreign polices imbibed so far. Victims primarily require empathy, only then there can be a proper focus on the alleged crimes caused, which British PM did.

Well, Let us now wait and see how our Indian Prime Minister will deal with Sri Lanka issue in March 2014 at the U.N. Human Rights Council.

It is true that British PM did the right thing by strongly opposing the atrocities against Tamilians in Sri Lanka. But one can’t understand as to how the British PM, who had displayed full sympathies and support for Tamilians in Sri Lanka, could agree to fund for mine clearing in the northern part of Sri Lanka. This double standard adopted by the British PM is not appreciated by any Indian.