THURSDAY www.thestatesman.com 16 JULY 2020 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PUTIN AND POST-COMMUNIST AGE A FOOT IN THE PAST P6 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light rain/thundershowers. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 36 and 28 degrees Celsius respectively. P10 Sachin Pilot says he is not joining BJP Min. 58% Max: 37.0°C (+2) SUN RISES 05:35 hrs MOON RISES 02:22 hrs Min: 28.8°C (+2) SUN SETS 19:21 hrs MOON SETS 15:27 hrs THUMBNAILS Indian nationals after returning from Sharjah, UAE on a special flight wave from the windows of a bus taking them to a quarantine facility in AFP Ludhiana on Wednesday. Delhi's Covid recovery rate nears 82 pc: The recovery rate for the coronavirus (Covid-19) patients has been improving continuously for the past several days in Delhi, which rose to 81.79 per cent on Wednesday. The cumulative total of Covid cases in the city was now 1,16,993, including 1,647 fresh coronavirus cases identified Wednesday, according to the Delhi government's latest health bulletin. The national capital recorded 41 fresh fatalities due to coronavirus, which took the tally of such deaths to 3,487. ADB appoints Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa as new vice-president: Multilateral fundp ing agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has appointed Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa as vice-president for private sector operations and public-private partnerships. “He is currently one of the Election Commissioners of India and previously served in a range of senior posts including as Union Finance Secretary of India; Union Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change...” ADB said in a statement. I am not joining the BJP ,” Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Wednesday, asserting that the speculation about his switching sides was being fuelled by certain leaders in Rajasthan to tarnish his image. Pilot’s remarks come a day after the Congress sacked him as Rajasthan’s deputy chief minister and the party’s state unit president. Two loyalists of Pilot were also dropped from the state Cabinet. “I have worked very hard to bring the Congress party back in the government and defeat the BJP,” he said. In an apparent reference to chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s camp, Pilot said some leaders in Rajasthan were trying to fuel speculation that he is joining the BJP and that he would like to categorically state that he was not doing so. “Such a speculation is being fuelled to tarnish my image,” he said. After being sacked, Pilot had tweeted in Hindi on Tuesday, “Truth can be rattled, not defeated.” Pilot had kept away from two CLP meetings held on Monday and Tuesday after which the action against him was taken. Pilot has been upset since the Congress picked Gehlot as the chief minister after the 2018 assembly polls, while his own supporters insisted that he deserved credit for the party's victory as its state unit president. Pilot’s remarks come a day after the Congress sacked him as Rajasthan’s deputy chief minister and the party’s state unit president. 2 Pilot loyalists were also dropped from the cabinet Pilot had kept away from two CLP meetings held on Monday and Tuesday after which the action against him was taken. “Truth can be rattled, not defeated,” tweeted Pilot. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, however, did not mention Pilot by his name but said the “former Pradesh Congress Committee president” was himself doing the (horse trading) deal. The current crisis erupted last Friday when the Rajasthan Police sent a notice to Pilot, asking him to record his statement over the alleged bid to bring down the government. The same notice was sent to the chief minister and some other MLAs, but Pilot's supporters claimed that it was only meant to humiliate him. The Special Operation Group (SOG) had sent out the notices after tapping a phone conversation between two men, who were allegedly discussing the fall of the Gehlot government. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot of involvement in horse trading with the BJP to topple his government in the state. In an interaction with reporters here on Wednesday, the chief minister, however, did not mention Pilot by his name but said the “former Pradesh Congress Committee president” was himself doing the deal. We have the proof that horse trading was being committed. Money was offered. And who gave the clarification that nothing was happening? Those who were themselves part of the conspiracy are giving clarifications, he said. Disqualification notices will be issued by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi to Sachin Pilot and other MLAs who did not attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Monday and Tuesday, a senior party leader said. India records highest single day spike of 29,429 cases Over 85 pc students in Delhi pass class 10 CBSE exam STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JULY SNS & PTI India, however, remains the third worst-affected country after the US and Brazil,it said. During the last 24 hours, 3,20,161 samples were tested, as the testing lab network continues to expand. As on date, more than 1,206 labs have enabled people to undergo coronavirus tests. Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state, with 2,67,665 cases and 10,695 casualties followed by Tamil Nadu with total 1,47,324 cases, including 2,099 deaths. With 1,606 new coronavirus cases and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours, the national capital recorded a total tally of 1,15,346 cases and 3,446 deaths. States with more than 10,000 cases included Gujarat (43,637), Uttar Pradesh (39,724), Rajasthan (25,571), Madhya Pradesh (19,005), West Bengal (32,838), Haryana (22,628), Karnata- NEW DELHI, 15 JULY 9,36,181 3,19,840 29,429 20,573 24,309 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. WEDNESDAY 15 JULY 2020 ka (44,077), Andhra Pradesh (33,019), Telangana (37,745), Assam (17,807), and Bihar (19,824). Delhi recorded a pass percentage of 85.86 in the class 10 CBSE examinations ~ an increase of over 5 per cent over last year ~ with girls again outshining boys in the exams whose results were declared today. In Delhi East region, 88.90 per cent girls cleared the exam, while 83.04 per cent boys passed. Similarly, in Delhi West region, the pass percentage of girls was 89.03, while that of boys was 83.28. Private schools recorded a higher pass percentage than government schools in both the regions. However, the pass percentage of private schools dropped. The pass percentage of government schools in Delhi East region was 81.39, recording an increase of over 10 per cent as against 2019 data, while private schools saw a pass percentage of 91.29, witnessing a drop of 2 per cent. In Delhi West region, the The results were announced adopting an alternate assessment scheme after the pending exams were cancelled in view of the spike in Covid cases. pass percentage of government schools was 84.89, while that of private schools was recorded at 89.09 per cent. Expressing happiness over the results, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tweeted, "Our children have made us proud again! After record breaking result of Class 12, upward graph of Delhi Education continues in Class 10..." The results were announced adopting an alternate assessment scheme after the pending exams were cancelled in view of the spike in Covid cases. A section of Delhi students had to bear the brunt of cancellation of board exams thrice. SEE ALSO PAGE 4 110-year-old woman survives Covid, but not social stigma T N HARASANKARAN CHENNAI, 15 JULY A 110-year-old woman of Thirupathur in Tamil Nadu may perhaps be the oldest patient to recover from Covid19 in India. But unfortunately she also became a victim of social stigma, instead of a model of survival. Tirupathur district currently has 188 cases of coronavirus. Hameedabhi, who recovered from Covid-19 and returned to her residence in Thirupattur district after her hospitalisation, is now sur- Mantra to stay relevant is to skill, re-skill and upskill: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JULY NEW DELHI, 15 JULY India recorded the highest single-day spike of 29,429 coronavirus cases and 582 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 9,36,181 cases with a death total of 24,309, the Health Ministry's data stated on Wednesday. This includes 3,19,840 active cases of Covid-19 infections and 5,92,032 cured and one migrated case, as per the data by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On Tuesday, the country had crossed the nine lakh mark, adding over a lakh cases within three days. India had crossed the eight lakh cases on July 11. According to Health Ministry data, as many as 5,92,031 patients have recovered, almost twice the number of active patients at 3,19,840. The rate of recovery has touched 63.02 per cent. P12 SNS & PTI Max.81% TEMPERATURE P7 Gehlot accused Pilot of horse trading with the BJP to topple his govt RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY ROOT’S RETURN BOOSTS UP ENGLAND USA WALKS BACK POLICY ON FOREIGN STUDENTS viving after the district collector’s intervention and help of local MLA after she met with social stigma and fear over the coronavirus. Hameeda’s neighbours in Periyavarikam village near Ambur allegedly want the family to vacate the house and leave the area. Hameeda lives along with her daughter, granddaughter and great grandson in Periyavarikam village. While her family members believe Hameeda is 130 years old, health department officials say she is around 110 years of age. Hameedabhi complained Neighbours of Hameedabhi, who recovered from Covid-19, allegedly want the family to vacate the house and leave the area. of a cold and was taken to a primary health centre in Nariyampattu on 29 June. Based on the advice of the doctors, her swabs were collected and sent for Covid-19 testing. On 1 July, Hameeda tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was taken to the Ambur Government Hospital. The centenarian responded well to the treatment and she recovered. She was also discharged from the hospital and was sent home on 12 July. However, upon her return, Hameeda faced social stigma and ostracism by her neighbours. The neighbours allegedly told Sama, Hameeda’s granddaughter, to vacate their home and leave the area. They also allegedly threatened her of consequences if they refused to vacate their home. Even after the inter- vention of district collector, the behaviour of the neighbours has not changed, according to her family. Sama is quoted as alleging that neighbours had told them to leave even the village but they did not have enough money to shift to another rented place. Following this, the Tirupattur Collector promised protection for the family. Ambur MLA Vilwanathan of the DMK visited Hameeda and her family members. The MLA then handed over Rs 5,000 aid and groceries for the family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday exhorted youths to take advantage of the skilling infrastructures developed in the country over the last five years and ‘skill, reskill and upskill’ themselves for not only remaining relevant in the job market but also supplement global demand particularly in the healthcare and maritime sectors among other areas. The Prime Minister’s remark came at the virtual Digital Skills Conclave organised on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day a n d t o m a rk t h e 5 t h anniversary of the ‘Skill India Mission’. He said about five crore youths had been skilled since the launch of the mission. “Skill India Mission launched five years back on the same day has led to creation of a vast infrastructure for skilling, reskilling and upskilling and enhancing opportunities to access employment both locally and globally. It has led to hundreds of PM Kaushal Kendras being set up across the country and increase in the capacity of the ITI ecosystem,” Modi said. Describing skills ‘a treasure trove’, Modi said it was a gift that one can give to oneself. He said skills were means to become not only employable but also lead a satisfying life. He said the recent launch of a web portal on skilled employees and employers would also help The Prime Minister’s remark came at the virtual Digital Skills Conclave organised on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day and to mark the 5th anniversary of the ‘Skill India Mission’. Describing skills ‘a treasure trove’, Modi said it was a gift that one can give to oneself. He said skills were means to become not only employable but also lead a satisfying life He gave the example of the healthcare sector where Indian skilled manpower can supplement the global demand. migrant work force get job opportunities and help connect both employers and prospective skilled employees. “The portal launched recently for mapping the skilled employees and employers would help the skilled workers, including the migrant workers who have returned to their homes, access jobs easily and the employers contact skilled employees at the click of a mouse,” Modi said. He said skilled migrant workers would also help in change the local economy. “He (Modi) further highlighted the potential of the country to capitalise on the skilling opportunities available in the country. He gave the example of the healthcare sector where Indian skilled manpower can supplement the global demand. He stressed the need to map this demand and align Indian standards with those of other countries. Similarly, he suggested that the Indian youth with a long maritime tradition can contribute as expert sailors to merchant navies across the world due to the growing demand in this sector,” a PMO note quoting Modi later said. Besides Modi, Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship R K Singh, and Larsen & Toubro Ltd. Group Chairman A M Naik and concerned stakeholders including lakhs of trainees participated in the virtual conclave.