sambalpur l tuesday l january 19, 2021 l `7.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Chinese economy grows 2.3% in 2020, bucks global trend China, the 1st to be hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the earliest to recover too, registered 6.5% growth in the 4th quarter of 2020 Size of GDP swells to $15.42 trillion Only major economy to grow last year GDP of the world’s second-largest economy grew to $15.42 trillion in 2020, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The growth, though the lowest in 45 years, is a remarkable achievement considering the country’s economy had suffered a 6.8% slump in the first quarter in 2020 after it went into lockdown following the Wuhan virus outbreak ■ ■ ■ Chinese economy staged a steady recovery on the back of radical virus containment measures and emergency relief for businesses China is the only major global economy to have grown last year China’s job market also grew at 5.6%, creating 11.86 million new urban jobs in 2020, completing 131.8% of the whole-year target 8.2% Projected growth of China’s economy in 2021 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Odisha plays on the front foot, Day 2 score 102 pc A Covid-19 vaccination centre at Unit-IV in Bhubaneswar | irfana E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e turned up. Of the targeted @ Bhubaneswar 2,864 beneficiaries at 39 sites only 1,947 got the shot. Surpassing expectations, Commenting on the day’s Odisha on Monday achieved achievement which went be102 per cent (pc) of the Day 2 yond the target, Additional target of Covid-19 vaccination Chief Secretary of Health dethat resumed after a one-day partment PK Mohapatra said, break. The day saw 32,526 peo- in anticipation of absentees, ple getting the first dose even more beneficiaries were listed as the target was to vaccinate and called to the vaccination 31,902. sites. “That is why 16 districts Health department sources have achieved more than 100 said of the total 30 districts, 17 pc of the target. Overall the notched 100 pc and above. Ken- vaccination coverage is satisdrapara topped the chart with factory as the HCWs in many a whopping 163 pc followed by remote places are voluntarily Bhadrak (136 pc), Koraput and coming to get the shot,” he Boudh (127 pc), Deogarh (126 said. The State reported two pc), Kandhamal and minor cases of adSonepur (125 pc), No free vaccine if verse event followBalasore (123 pc) ing immunization you miss and Jajpur (121 pc). (AEFI) with one the date, Govt Nuapada, howeveach health worktells HCWs er, recorded the lower in Balasore and est tur nout with The State government Nabarangpur dison Monday made it only 58 pc HCWs tricts suf fering clear that the getting their shots. from nervousness beneficiaries, who Among the poor and nausea. They wilfully refuse p e r fo r m i n g d i s recovered followtricts, Jagatsingh- vaccination, will not get ing treatment as pur managed 70 pc, a free Covid-19 vaccine per the protocol. in future. If they later Balangir 72 pc, CutSo far, 46,506 HCWs tack and Rayagada come forward, they will have been vaccihave to buy it. P2 82 pc and Angul 83 nated and five pc. Seven other disAEFI cases reporttricts recorded over 90 pc ed in the two days. coverage. Odisha had earlier received The vaccination drive was 4.28 lakh doses of Covishield conducted at 375 sites on Mon- and Covaxin vaccines. Mohapday. Despite being a hub of atra said, 3,34,500 more doses healthcare facilities and a of Covishield vaccine are hotspot of Covid-19 infection scheduled to arrive in the State for over three months, immu- on Tuesday The State govern. nisation coverage in Bhu- ment has planned to complete baneswar was abysmally low the vaccination of 3.38 lakh as only 68 pc beneficiaries HCWs by January 25. first woman fighter pilot will be part in R-Day parade Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth will be part of this year’s R-Day parade, the first woman fighter pilot to do so. Rafale fighter jets too will be part of the Indian Air Force’s flypast this year — also a first | P7 State seeks 90:10 sharing pattern for Central schemes E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar With pre-budget consultations between Centre and states kicking off, Odisha government on Monday reiterated its demand for fixing the sharing pattern in the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) on par with North-Eastern (NE) and Himalayan states. The sharing pattern of CSS for NE and Himalayan states is 90 per cent for Centre and 10 per cent for the latter. Participating in the consultation meeting convened by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video-conference, State Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said that the Centre should give advance indication on Central assistance for CSS and release funds as per commitment. The Centre should stop off-budget transfers of funds for CSS, he said and added, even if it is an off-budget resource, it should be routed through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He also requested Bombay HC finds media trial in rajput case contemptuous E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Mumbai The Bombay High Court on Monday held the media trial by Republic TV and Times Now against Mumbai Police in the case pertaining to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput was prima facie contemptuous. “Criticism of city police by TV media was unfair, in view of the material placed on record. The city police was at the very basic stage of probe,” the court said. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice G S Kulkarni observed that the media ought to avoid discussions and debates relating to criminal investigations and said they should confine themselves to informative reports in such matters in public interest. During the hearing of the matter over last six months, the high court had expressed concerns over media trial. It asked the media not to cross boundaries, and indicated that it will lay down guidelines. The court said trial by Investigator, media interferes with the prosecutor criminal investigation and and judge runs counter to the code “If you become framed under the Cable TV the investigator, Act. It directed that the prosecutor and Press Council of India’s the judge, what guidelines on crime reportare we here for?” ing be made applicable to the bench had electronic media as well till asked the the electronic media foradvocates mulates its own norms. representing The bench said the meRepublic TV dia should observe restraint in discussions about ongoing investigations so as not to prejudice the rights of the accused and witness. It said publishing an alleged confession by an accused as if it is admissible evidence without letting the public know about its inadmissibility should be avoided. Calling for sensitivity in suicide reportage, the bench advised against character assassination of the victim. Also, reconstructing of crime scenes, interviews with potential witnesses and leaking of sensitive and confidential information should be avoided. five-star Speechless Siraj rises above tears and jeers SWAR O O P SWA M I N AT H A N @ Chennai Being in hard quarantine in a foreign land while grieving the loss of a family member can be soul crushing. The easier option is to go back, to comfort as well as be comforted. Being racially abused is dispiriting. It can leave one feeling worthless. Leading the bowling attack in just the third Test can be equally daunting, in a different way . It’s fair to say Mohammed Siraj aced that latest challenge, becoming just the fifth Indian bowler to grab a five-for at The Gabba. Even though India may not chase down 328 (if weather relents) on the final day to win the series, Siraj held his end of the bargain on the fourth day of the final Test against Australia. And how. His latest act in what has been an emotional series left the Hyderabadi speechless. He visibly struggled to hold back the tears while returning with the match ball. The tears, though, also told a wider story of his struggles. His father died days after India landed in Sydney in November. The son of an autorickshaw driver, the 26-year-old driver hadn’t even bowled with a proper cricket ball till seveneight years. He spent his time playing tennis ball cricket, admitting that concepts like seam and swing were alien to him. But, thanks to a common trait running through this Indian team — ability to fight and create your own destiny — he has fought his way through the system. Through tennis ball tournaments. Through Ranji Trophy Through India A tours. . Through the IPL. Through a tragedy Through racial abuse. . At the Gabba, he went to fight for his father’s dreams and his dreams. He emerged with a smile on his face and happy tears down his eyes. “My dad had wished that his son would play and the entire world would watch him,” he said after the day’s play “I hope he could have . been there to watch this day Be. cause of his blessings I have got a five-wicket haul. I am speechless. I got strength after talking to mom and my focus was on realising my dad’s dreams.” India chase 328 on Day 5 India were set a challenging target to chase on the final day of Brisbane Test. If India manage to draw against hosts, they will retain the BorderGavaskar trophy | P11 13 wkts No of wickets for Siraj in this series, the highest by an Indian  DEMANDS 90:10 CSS sharing pattern `7,200 cr for railway infra `5,650 cr for telecom sector Amendment of Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 to prohibit misuse of ‘C’ forms that states should be allowed to operate CSS directly instead of opening separate scheme-based bank accounts. In the 2020-21 budget, the State government had estimated its share in Central taxes at `36,300 crore and grant-in-aid of `32,000 crore, which, totalling `68,300 crore, was 55 per cent of its own budget of `1,50,000 crore. However, the budget went haywire because of the Covid-19 pandemic as the economy came to standstill. In view of the fluid situation prevailing now, the Finance Minister said that adequate provisions should be made for piped drinking water projects, livelihood and employment generation programmes. Pujari said that steps should be taken by the Centre for addressing power sector issues like amendment in tariff policy to terminate very old power purchase agreements (PAAs) and amendment of Electricity Act, 2003 to allow all hydro projects under the Renewable Purchase P5 Obligation (RPO).  Didi’s Nandigram googly FIR filed Tandav cast, to upset Suvendu’s plans crew forced to Mamata’s game plan Mamata wants to confine Suvendu’s campaigning to Nandigram She also wants to cut the Adhikari family’s influence in the district. Suvendu’s younger brother Dibyendu and father Sisir Adhikari are TMC Lok Sabha members from Tamluk and Kanthi. Both gave Banerjee’s Nandigram rally on Monday a miss E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kolkata UPPING her game in the upcoming West Bengal elections, Trinamool Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she would contest from Nandigram against her once trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP last month. It was Nandigram, the epicentre of farmers’ movement, that propelled her to power 10 years ago. “It is my lucky place. I will contest from here,” she said while addressing a rally in Nandigram, adding that she would also contest from her own Bhowanipore constituency in south Kolkata. Banerjee’s is a political move to challenge the Adhikari family members, who claim to be the king makers in the district with 16 seats. A senior TMC leader said Mamata wants to confine Suvendu’s political activities to Nandigram. “The BJP has assigned Suvendu to secure victory in all 35 seats in East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram districts. The CM’s announcement is a pressure tactic as Suvendu’s political activities will be confined to East Midnapore district,” the TMC leader added. Accepting Mamata’s dare, Sunvendu said he will defeat her by 50,000 votes or he will quit politics. The Bengal unit of the BJP said the decision shows Mamata’s ‘nervousness’. express read BJD warns of stir over anti-farmer policies The BJD on Monday announced a State-wide agitation against the anti-farmer policies of the Centre. The decision came a day after the BJP sounded its plans for holding a rally in Sambalpur on January 21 over irregularities in procurement | P3 Tomar says agri laws a brave step by PM Classical show Vidushi Sudha Raghuraman, noted Carnatic vocalist, and her group performing at Rajarani Music Festival in Bhubaneswar on Monday | irfana A day before the 10th round of talks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said the new farm laws were a brave step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after years of deliberation | P7 issue apology E x p r e s s N e w Se r v i c e @ Lucknow/Patna/New Delhi At least three criminal complaints were filed in various parts of the country against Saif Ali Khan starrer web series Tandav, forcing its cast and crew to issue an apology on Monday evening. While an FIR was filed in Lucknow, two complaints were lodged with the courts in New Delhi and Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus and promoting discord among communities. The series, released on Jan 15 and aired on Amazon Prime, is said to be a commentary on the prevailing political situation of the country Other than . Khan, the other prominent actors are Dimple Kapadia, Gauhar Khan, Sunil Grover and Zeeshan Ayub. A statement from the cast and crew said Tandav is a work of fiction and they did not have any intention to offend any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. “The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” said the statement. Amazon Prime refused to comment on the controversy .