THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l tuesday l august 20, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Nepal to export close to 1,000 MW of power to India, says Jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called it a new milestone after holding talks with his Nepalese counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba in Delhi 251 MW to be sourced from 12 projects Nepal was already exporting 690 megawatts (MW) of electricity from 16 hydropower projects to India. Now, an additional 251 MW of power, sourced from 12 hydropower projects, will be exported, taking the total power exports to India to 941 MW. Nepal exported electricity worth more than I10 billion to India in the last fiscal, a statement said ■ 10,000 MW power exports to india grow 24 times ■ Nepal’s electricity exports to India began in October 2021 when New Delhi approved the import of 39 MW. In less than three years, this figure has grown over 24 times, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said “Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1,000 MW of electricity to India, a new milestone,” Jaishankar wrote on X of power to be exported by nepal over the next 10 years, as per an agreement CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Calcutta High Court lawyers stage a protest in Kolkata on Monday against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar College and Hospital | PTI Intimidation steps up protests in Kolkata E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kolkata With the streets of Kolkata continuing to see protests by people from all walks of life against the horrific rape and murder of a PG student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court fearing arrest, and two leading doctors faced police questioning for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media. The CBI continued interrogation of former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh for the fourth straight day and also prepared for a polygraph test on Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer arrested in the case. The CBI got a local court approval for the lie detector test, days after performing a psychoanalysis test on him. “I have moved Calcutta High Court against the illegal notice of the police, intimidation and high-handedness. The matter is likely to be heard on Tuesday,” the MP said. On Sunday, the police summoned Ray, a three-time member of the Upper House, for his post on X, which said: “CBI must act fairly Custodial inter. rogation of Ex Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated suicide story Why wall of hall . demolished, who patronised Roy to be so powerful, why sniffer dog used after 3 days.100s of such questions.” Senior doctors Kunal Sarkar and Subar na Goswami responded to another crackdown attempt by the police for posting about the incident on social media. They led a march of hundreds of healthcare professionals from Calcutta Medical College to Kolkata Police headquarters, before they appeared for questioning. Doctors on strike tied black rakhis as a mark of protest. Hema Panel report reveals how women in Malayalam film industry are subjected to sex abuse, harassment, gender bias RG Kar ex-principal Sandip Ghosh Transfer racket A senior CBI officer said, “A racket of transfer-posting of doctors was functioning at RG Kar. The going rate for each transfer was around I20-30 lakh. The victim protested against the illegal system in various forums.” Prepare a module/ scheme for protection of doctors and medical service personnel against any violence in the hospitals — Delhi Medical Association plea to SC, which will hear the case suo motu at 10.30 am today ‘No licensing regime for OTT apps’ RA K E SH K U M AR @ New Delhi The government has decided not to bring over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, and Telegram under the licensing regime. According to sources, the exclusion of OTT apps from the consultation process during the formation of the Telecom Bill makes it impossible to subject them to any licensing. The Cellular Operators Association of India, which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, has been pushing for the inclusion of OTTs under the licensing regime, citing similarities in the services offered. However, several industry bodies, including the Internet & Mobile Association of India, Nasscom, Broadband India Forum, and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum have cautioned against this move. 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express SCRIPTED, DIRECTED BY ‘MAFIA OF MEN’ bonds of unity A student ties a ‘rakhi’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Raksha Bandhan celebrations with schoolchildren in New Delhi | PTI Modi to visit war-hit Ukraine on August 23 Y e s h i s e l i @ New Delhi Narendra Modi will travel to Kyiv and hold talks with President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy on August 23, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since 1992. Modi’s visit comes a day ahead of the Ukraine National Day, which falls on August 24. It also comes weeks after he visited Russia and held talks with President Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism from Zelenskyy “Prime Minister’s engagements in Kyiv . will touch a range of aspects of bilateral ties,” a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. The two leaders are also likely to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. remuneration. Even after she demanded the director refused to delete the intimate scenes, said the report. Almost five years after the committee submitted it, the state government released the report on Monday under the RTI Act, after a slew of legal battles before the State Information Commission and the Kerala High Court. The three-member panel, headed by Justice K Hema, had former IAS officer K B Valsalakumari and veteran actor Sarada as its members. The government released a 233-page report after removing close to 65 pages from the original document, which is based on testimonies of more than 50 professionals, including actors and technicians. The most important finding of the panel is about a male power group. About 10 to 15 individuals who stand in the forefront of the Malayalam film industry constitute the core power group, it observed. “Certain actors in cinema (some of them are also producers, distributors, exhibitors or directors) — all male — gained enor mous fame and wealth and they are in full control of the whole industry now,” reads the report. Many individuals, including famous actors, were banned from cinema. Offending any member of the power group, knowingly or unknowingly, even over a silly reason, could invite a ban. “If a member from the power group is not pleased with someone in cinema (be he/she an actor, producer, director or anyone in cinema, however efficient), because of even personal prejudice, all the members of power group join hands, and such a person is prevented from working in cinema,” ● More on P4 said the report. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ T’Puram Sexual harassment, blackmailing, unofficial ban, mafia-like industry casting couch, gender dis, crimination, lack of basic facilities including toilets and changing rooms, alcohol and drug abuse, denial of roles and remuneration, forcing artists to compromise, in addition to lack of proper legal system to address the problems have been identified as the key issues faced by women working in the Malayalam film industry . The Justice Hema Committee, constituted to look into harassment faced by women in the field, observed that the industry is in the clutches of an all-male power group comprising 10 to 15 people. The group controls everything and can impose unofficial bans on anyone. The report also mentioned about a powerful lobby in the industry, which it termed as “mafia”. The committee observed that casting couch is a reality in Malayalam cinema. The report narrated plenty of instances including blackmailing and sexual harassment attempts. In one such instance, the actor was told about the extent of nudity that will be exposed, before the shooting started. She was told that only a portion of her backside will be exposed. But during shooting she was asked to do a lip lock scene. Similarly an actor, who was donning the title character, was informed that there will be an intimate scene. One day the director told her that there will be nudity and lip lock scenes. She was forced to do a kissing scene and expose her body. Later, she was told that there will be nudity and a bath tub scene. She refused to continue and left without taking Damning revelations Major observations & findings by JUstice Hema Committee Sexual demand made to women for their very entry into cinema Sexual harassment, abuse and assault on women at work-place, places of accommodation, during transportation, etc. Gender discrimination in remuneration Violation of human rights of women by not providing basic facilities like toilets Unauthorised and illegal banning of individuals working in cinema Silencing women through threats of ban from work Malayalam film industry is under the control/clutches of certain producers, directors, actors – all male. About 10 to 15 individuals who stand in the forefront of the industry constitute the core power group Torture of women if they express resentment and unwillingness to sexual demands Unofficial ban imposed on anyone who consciously or unconsciously ruffle the ‘power group’ even over mere trifles like smoking in front of them or not getting up in their presence, etc Junior artists told that they will have to adjust & compromise if they want to enter the film industry The powerful lobby in the industry — termed as “mafia” in the report — is capable of banning even prominent figures in the industry. The mafia will not even pay heed to the Internal Complaints Committee ‘Power Group’ 1 2 3 Independent forum The Hema Committee members handing over the report to CM Pinarayi Vijayan in 2019 | FILE PIC The concept of graveyard tourism may initially seem morbid, but it is emerging as a lucrative industry worldwide—and Kerala is rich with untapped potential. Driven by increasing interest in genealogy and funerary history, cemeteries are becoming valued sites of shared heritage. With historic graves of Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish, and British settlers scattered As Internal Complaints Committee alone won’t solve problems, the Hema panel report suggests that there must be an independent forum constituted by the government, as per a statute, to deal with the problems of women in cinema No loo for hrs: Junior artists treated ‘worse than slaves’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ T’Puram Being on the set for 19 hours at a stretch, that too without even basic facilities like toilet, or at times, food. Worse than slaves is how junior artists are treated on certain sets, observed Justice Hema Committee. The report narrates in length the inhuman treatment meted out to junior artists in many sets. They are not even considered to be part of the industry though there can be no cinema without junior artists, observed the report. Once, “the shooting was going on in an open ground extending to a very vast area. They were all made to stand in the hot sun for a very long time, whereas others who were working on the same set could use umbrella. The junior artists who were all made to stand in hot sun were not even given anything to eat or drink,” the report quoted an artist. Though there are exceptions and food is provided in some sets, in general they are not given even water from the set. The committee pointed at inhuman behaviour and treatment towards the junior artists. “Even Kerala cemeteries gold mines of untapped tourism potential throughout the state, Kerala has the potential to transform the solemn sites into vibrant cultural hotspots for tourists. Fort Kochi-based Cochin Collective is leading an initiative to raise awareness among government and Church authorities on the benefits of opening these cemeteries to visitors. The effort aims to preserve the historic tombs while rekindling cultural connections with the descendants of those interred. Cyber attacks by ‘fan clubs’ on those who had the misfortune of drawing the ire of ‘power centre’ Sexual harassment included the infamous casting couch syndrome and ‘knocks on the door’ at untimely hours, on the presumption that all women would be willing to compromise to any extent peEk into past R a j e s h R a v i @Kochi Resistance or reluctance to allow women into cinema especially on the technical side, and lack of opportunity “There’s an urgent need to protect our cemeteries, and tourism offers a way to fund their preservation,” said Stephen Robert, patron of Cochin Collective. “The Dutch Cemetery in Fort Kochi, once a symbol of our shared heritage, is now in a state of neglect. The same goes for the Jewish cemetery and several historically significant churches. It’s time to pay attention and preserve this slice of history Stephen ,” noted. He draws a parallel with Paris’ Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, where notable figures like Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried. The site attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually, ranking The Dutch Cemetery in Fort Kochi, once a symbol of our shared heritage, is now in a state of neglect. It’s time to pay attention and preserve this slice of history — Stephen Robert, patron of Cochin Collective among the world’s top tourist destinations. Similarly, London’s Highgate Cemetery, home to Karl Marx’s tomb, draws large crowds, contributing to its upkeep and supporting local communities. Fr Dr Douglas Pinheiro, Parish Priest of Infant Jesus Church in Ernakulam—one of India’s oldest Anglo-Indian churches with a 200-year legacy—emphasises on the cultural richness embedded in these ● More on P4 graves. The Dutch Cemetery in Fort Kochi | A Sanesh if only hundred persons are required, thousands of junior artists would be required to come to the set. Only a few will be chosen and food coupon will be given only to the selected lot. But the others will be asked to remain on the set and not allowed to go back. They will not be given any facilities. In some sets there will not be any space for them to sit or take rest when there is no ● More on P4 shooting.”
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