Saturday, September 3, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Road accidents should be prevented or reduced in number' that was published in Newsband
Road accidents should
be prevented or reduced in number
India’s high rate of road accident fatalities is the inability to get timely
medical treatment for victims. Fifty
per cent of accident victims can survive if they get medical attention within
an hour. But there exists fear among bystanders that they could be embroiled in
a police investigation or be subjected to harassment due to the legal
procedures involved. This is why a ‘Good Samaritan’ legal protection is vital.
Parliament has not enacted such a law,
In January
2016, a guideline was introduced saying that the police should not compel Samaritans
to disclose their particulars or to be witnesses. The Union Health Ministry also
directed hospitals that they should not detain those who bring accident victims
for admission and that they should not be required to pay for admission or
registration.
Accidents can
be reduced if everybody follow the traffic rules strictly. Further if accident
occurs bystanders think 10 times before ferrying the injured person because of
the fear of police investigation. Accident and
emergency cases should be exempted from the payment of fees and the victims
should be attended without delay. Furthermore they should be attended by senior
doctors.
In Our country,
Many Driving license are not being issued properly. Many drivers who are given
license don’t know the driving rules as well as proper driving. Overloading, high
speed and poor roads are the main reason for accident on highway. Government as
well as public should provide timely help to victims because all victims are
not responsible for accidents.
Poor infrastructure
(road, illumination, signage etc.), bad working conditions for drivers (long
driving hours without break, lack of rest & toilet facilities ), outdated/poorly
maintained vehicles, lack of adherence to safety rules are primary cause of the
accidents.
India is the
world leader in road deaths with over 1,20,000 killed on our roads every year.
The fact is our public services are not numerous or fast enough to respond to a
traffic accident. An ambulance bleating in traffic
is ignored by vehicle drivers around while government cars zip by with their
sirens. Among other things, the fear of harassment by the police and being
identified as the accused prevents good Samaritans from giving aid, however
simple.
Strict traffic
laws and speed limits would prevent 75% of fatalities. If only the RTO and the
Traffic Cops including Highway Police are sincere to their job 75% of the
accidents could be averted. All of them are only interested in issuing Chalans
or in its lieu extracting bribes.
It is also
necessary to educate the masses on how to respond to such situations like
whether to offer water to the victim or not, how to handle leg injured, head
injured etc. Many deaths take place due to lackadaisical attitude of the people
(driving in inebriated condition, speeding, not knowing the road conditions
during night etc.). How much time will it take paramedics to reach the spot? We
are speaking about the statistics that pronounce one government doctor per
11,528 people, whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) gives one doctor per
1,000 people. How much does government spend on its annual budget to health
care and pharmaceuticals? The nation has survived on Samaritans only, if not
the figures will be dismal. One can quote Tennessee Williams who in his famous
play ‘A streetcar named desire’ says – “I always depend on the kindness of
strangers”.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Commercial Surrogacy - Right or Wrong?' that was published in Newsband
Commercial Surrogacy - Right or Wrong?
There should be
a proper law to regulate surrogacy. India has become a global hub for the
practice of women being contracted to carry others’ babies, usually for a
payment. Most of these women are with uncertain
legal and compensatory protection. The
Union Cabinet has approved the
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, but it has many problematic provisions. The law, says commercial
surrogacy will be prohibited. But the Bill allows Indian couples, who must have
been married for five years without a child, to take the help of surrogates,
but without any payment.
Surrogacy is
used to beget children who are genetically related to the parents when the
parents are unable to beget one by themselves naturally - at least, that seems
to be the logic for surrogacy (else, they could adopt, if an unrelated child is
ok).
If since 2002
it was unregulated but nothing tragic as killing of people or exploited
children and women have happened and people did not come out to face pellet
guns then it is high time we understand the real intentions behind changing the
policy from earlier draft.
Why Commercial
Surrogacy should be banned while so-called "altruistic" surrogacy is
accepted. What is wrong if the poor do some commerce for their benefit? Must
Surrogacy also come under Big Money role to make this government accept it? It
is the role of the government to regulate and see that these women are not
exploited, their minimum charge is fixed, they be provided all sorts of
nutrition or paid well to obtain good nutrition and all that. But stepping in
saying you can't earn money this way is mean. Banning foreigners is another big
negative here. Foreigners pay well but the Government seems to have panicked
because of a few bad experiences which can easily be tackled with proper
legislation and demanding certain legal ratified guarantees from the
commissioning parents' countries without which they should not be allowed to
obtain Indian surrogates. Finally, yearning for a child is a common intense
desire across all cultures which this bill shuns.
Surrogacy is
the need of hour for many. It shows advancement of science in this field. But,
it also raises many questions ranging from ethical to legal. Unless these
issues are resolved in intelligent manner it could not succeed in a
jurisdiction.
Many questions
remain even after passing the bill. Surrogacy regulation should address social
issues more comprehensively but the bill has made a partial attempt of
regulating the abuse of surrogacy rules and its technological advantages.
If surrogacy is
an industry, it definitely needs to be regulated. But let us not get carried
away by those who are opposed to surrogacy because it is, as they claim,
against our (Hindu) culture. Let us be practical, move with the times and
consider needs of every section of society. It has been reported that proposed
Surrogacy Regulation law is harsh on individuals who wish to remain single but
wish to become parents too. Hence proposed Surrogacy Regulation law has to
ensure that those who wish to have child through a surrogate mother, are
allowed to do so subject to reasonable conditions. Individuals’ right to have
child through surrogacy cannot and should not be rejected because there are
doctors who have made a business of surrogacy. Of course, rights of surrogate
mothers too should be fully protected.
Surrogacy is
not against our Hindu culture in any way but it is accepted very well in
Hinduism; example is birth of Balram, brother of Lord Krishna. Banning
surrogacy is not an apt solution, considering a lot of couples who tried to
have a baby of their own and failed. Mandating a 5 year marriage period makes
sense and it ensures the couple has enough time to have a baby before
considering surrogacy.
Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Akira, Dark Chocolate, Sunshine Music Tours and Travels, Don’t Breathe, Yea Toh Two Much Ho Gayaa, Skiptrace and Island City) that was published in Newsband
New Movies
Released in Navi Mumbai
Akira
Akira is an Indian action drama film co written,
produced and directed by AR Murugadoss. It is the remake of Tamil film Mouna
Guru and features Sonakshi Sinha in lead role. The soundtrack is composed by
Vishal-Shekhar.
The film is a gripping action thriller about a
college girl Akira, who has grown up with the ideals of being self-reliant. Her
life spirals out of control when she becomes unwittingly involved in a crime
involving four corrupt police officers. The film is titled as Akira, which
means 'graceful strength' in Sanskrit. It is the name of Sonakshi's character
in the film, a quietly intense and misunderstood girl, who is forced to fight
back when she is put in a corner. The film is an emotional thriller set in
Mumbai and Rajasthan with Sonakshi performing action for the first time. The
film has a social message. The focus is on the safety of women in the country,
today.
The film has Sonakshi Sinha as Akira Sharma, Konkona
Sen Sharma, Anurag Kashyap, Teena Singh, Amit Sadh, Raai Laxmi (Cameo
appearance), Akshay Kumar (special appearance), Urmila Mahanta, Atul Kulkarni, Lokesh
Vijay Gupte and Mishiekka Arora as Young Akira.
All music is composed by Vishal-Shekhar. The film has
songs like "Rajj Rajj Ke" (Version 1) sung by Sonakshi Sinha &
Vishal Dadlani, "Purza" by Arijit Singh, "Kehkasha Tu Meri"
by Shekhar Ravjiani, "Rajj Rajj Ke" (Version 2) by Nahid Afrin &
Vishal Dadlani, "Baadal" by Sunidhi Chauhan and "Rajj Rajj
Ke" (Remix)by Nahid Afrin & Vishal Dadlani.
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate (2016) is an Indian Bengali Crime
Thriller film directed by Agnidev Chatterjee and made under Macneill
Engineering studio. The plot of the film is based on Sheena Bora murder case.
The film is adaption of real life murder mystery of
Sheena Bora, daughter of media barons Indrani Mukherjea and Peter Mukherjea.
Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry makes debut into a Bengali film and will play
the role of Ishani Banerjee, a character based on murder accused Indrani
Mukherjea. Riya Sen will play the part of Rina Bardhan, a role inspired by life
of Sheena Bora. Media baron Peter Mukherjea will be portrayed by Sudeep
Mukherjee.
The film has Mahima Chaudhry as Ishani Banerjee, Riya
Sen as Rina Bardhan, Mumtaz Sorcar, Indrashish Roy, Sudip Mukherjee, Kaushik
Sen and Shataf Figar.
Sunshine Music
Tours and Travels
Sunshine Music Tours And Travels is a 2016 Indian
comedy-drama road film, directed by Shailendra Singh and produced by Hayre
Entertainment and Percept Pictures. After producing and distributing 74 films
in Bollywood, with director Shailendra Singh making his debut as a director.
The film revolves around the story of two young boys
who are chasing their dreams and take up a road journey from Kashmir to Goa
along with several strangers. The film features an ensemble cast of debutantes,
including the lead being played by Sunny Kaushal, the son of action director,
Sham Kaushal, and younger brother of actor, Vicky Kaushal.
This is a road movie that revolves around two young
boys who are chasing their dreams. They take a journey from Kashmir to Goa
along with several strangers.
The film Sunshine Music Tours and Travels is an
unpredictable chaotic journey with elements of laughter and drama. A travel
musical set, , it is aimed at people who are young at heart.
Don’t Breathe
Don't Breathe is a 2016 American horror film directed
by Fede Alvarez and written by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues. The film stars Jane
Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang and focuses on three
friends who get trapped inside a blind man's house after breaking in.
A trio of friends break into the house of a wealthy
blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong. They
are, initially, an unsympathetic and even obnoxious bunch, a trio of
resourceful young crooks trying to burgle their way to a better future amid the
economic ruin of Detroit. The most cautious and fresh-faced member of the group
is Alex (Dylan Minnette), who chooses their targets based on secret information
gleaned from the security company owned by his unsuspecting father. Alex’s
partners in crime, a desperate single mom named Rocky (Jane Levy) and her
aggressively swaggering boyfriend, Money (Daniel Zovatto), are at once greedier
and more reckless. They badger Alex into joining their plan to break into the
home of a blind military veteran who lives in a mostly abandoned neighborhood
and keeps hundreds of thousands of dollars stashed in his safe, and whose
disability will presumably make him the easiest of possible targets.
Yea Toh Two
Much Ho Gayaa
Yea Toh Two Much Ho Gayaa (2016) is directed and
written by Anwer Khan and produced by Mudal Unwala, Ali Unwala.
The movie is about twin brothers living in two
different parts of the world who get trapped in sticky situations when they
unknowingly replace each other.
Skiptrace
Skiptrace is a 2016 Hong Kong-Chinese-American action
comedy film directed by Renny Harlin, produced by, starring and based on a
story by Jackie Chan. The film co-stars Chinese actress Fan Bingbing[4] and
American actor Johnny Knoxville.
Hong Kong detective Bennie Chan (Jackie Chan) has
been tracking notorious crime boss Matador for over a decade, whom he believes
to be Victor Wong (Winston Chao). When Bennie's late partner Yung's daughter
Samantha (Fan Bingbing) gets into trouble with Wong's crime syndicate, Bennie
must track down an American conman, Connor Watts (Johnny Knoxville), who
gambles his way through Chinese casinos after being banned in Americas.
However, Connor is kidnapped by a Russian kingpin to answer for cheating his
daughter. Bennie races against the clock to bring Connor back from Russia to
Hong Kong. Connor who has witnessed a murder in China is fearful for his life
and hesitates, he nicks Bennie's passport and burns it. The unlikely pair is
forced to take a scenic route and embark on a perilous adventure from the snowy
mountains of Mongolia to the windswept dunes of the Gobi desert while both the
Russian and Chinese mobsters are on their tail. Reaching China Connor leaves
Bennie giving an evidence that could possibly lead to Victor Wong's Arrest.
Unfortunately the plan doesn't go well and Bennie is arrested, later he escapes
with Connor and follows a clue. He finds Matador was his supposedly expired
partner Yung all along. Fight ensues and when it comes to saving Samantha from
a sinking ship they work together and saves her from drowning. Yung commits
suicide from overwhelming guilt and shame asking for their forgiveness. Connor
goes back to Russia for seeing his child and finds out, the child is one of
henchman's of the mob. Bennie retires to a serene ranch rearing Alpacas with
Leslie.
Island City
Island City is a 2015 Indian drama film written and
directed by Ruchika Oberoi.
The plot involves three different stories woven under
the common theme of Mumbai. The film follows three comic-dramatic stories set
in Mumbai. The first is about a diligent office worker who wins the office 'Fun
Committee Award', which entitles him to a whole day full of fun. He is most
reluctant to leave the safety of his cubicle but he has to. Prescribed fun
modules have to be completed and non-compliance is not an option. The second
story begins with a domineering head-of-the-family, Anil, who is on life
support. Seeking some relief, his family decides to buy a TV, which Anil had
banned. Now every night the family plugs into a popular soap whose hero,
Purshottam, is a man ideal in every way and they are smitten. Then suddenly,
comes the news that Anil is better and may be home soon. Will they have to let
Purshottam go? The third one centers on Aarti whose repetitive existence is
slowly making her more and more mechanical and numb. Deep inside ferments a
disconnect and unease that she is unable to articulate to anyone. Then one day
there arrives a most intimate letter and everything changes...
The film has Tanishta Chatterjee, Ashwin Mushran, Vinay
Pathak, Amruta Subhash, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Sameer Kochhar, Uttara Baokar and Sana
Amin Sheikh.
Dinesh Kamath's news 'FutureFocusIndia offers free online career guidance to all 13-16 year old students' that was published in Newsband
FutureFocusIndia
offers free online career guidance to all 13-16 year old students
By Dinesh
Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: Navi Mumbai based,
FutureFocusIndia.com is a free online career help & info guide particularly
designed to help 13-16 year old students understand what type of career may
suit them. This is the first ever FREE Online Aptitude Test available in India.
Moreover, it is meant especially for children in Classes VIII to X.
Resource Management Group Plus Pvt. Ltd (RMG Plus), a
20 year old progressive HR Consulting Company has launched
FutureFocusIndia.com, a free online career help & info guide particularly
designed to help 13-16 year old students understand what type of career may
suit them. This is based on the results of a free online career aptitude quiz.
According to Mr. Merwyn Sequeira, CEO -
FutureFocusIndia.com, “This free to access web portal will aid students from
Class VIII onwards to garner insights on their personality, aptitude, interests
via the free online career aptitude quiz in order to make the right career
choice.”
The quiz has been designed by Ms. Shailaja Mulay,
Chief Career Counselor – FutureFocusIndia.com and a well known Vocational and
Career Counselor with 40 years of experience in the field. According to Ms.
Shailaja, “Careers today are the blend of one's interests, talents, hobbies,
passion and aptitude to reach an altitude with a positive attitude. It has to be one's SIGNATURE CAREER. The days
of ‘choosing’ careers is over. Now is the time to create a career. It is time to
be the ENTREPRENEUR in career practice. It has to be an individual's choice,
not one made by anyone.”
She further added, "Days of choosing a career
are over. Now is the time to create your own career. Who said that a
Pediatrician cannot use his/her love for music in their practice? Some of the
other emerging streams include Bio-medical engineering, Forensic Psychology,
Medical Tourism, Culinary Tourism.... the options are wide."
The launch of the site was held at Holy Name High
School in Colaba, Mumbai on August 29th, 2016. Principals and teachers of
various schools in Mumbai attended the function. Also present were other senior
educationists and career guidance counsellors.
Inaugurating the event, Fr. George Athaide, Secretary
– Archdiocesan Board of Education expressed his confidence that projects like
FutureFocusIndia.com was sure to bring out more individuals and talents matched
to their industry. This itself will be a great boost to the Indian education
system.
The reaction of the audience was very encouraging,
especially from Fr. Terence Quadros, Director - Career Counselling, St.
Xavier’s College, Mumbai and Fr. Godfrey D’Sa, Director - Prafulta Don Bosco
Psychological Services.
In addition to the free online career aptitude quiz,
FutureFocusIndia.com will give students an opportunity to write to the team of
career counselors on their career queries for an email chat. The portal will
also contain informative videos and articles on careers, educational games,
quizzes, contests, guides on personality development, grooming, fitness etc.
FutureFocusIndia.com will give students the opportunity to stay connected with
the student community through the online Newsletter – Career Windows.
Following the launch, FutureFocusIndia.com will
implement the campaign across 150 schools in Mumbai, thereafter moving on to
Goa & Karnataka in Phase II and by March 2017, pan India. Phase IV of the
campaign will include Junior & Senior Colleges, add-on services on the
website like Resume Writing, Job Assist, Internships, Group Discussions,
Personality Development Workshops, etc.
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