Ahmedabad Lockdown News

Ayeesha S Aiman: Bollywood Alert!!
Ahmedabad Mirror | 14 hours ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
14 hours ago | |

December 01: Aeronautical Engineer turned Miss India international Ayeesha S Aiman will be seen in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Film “India Lockdown”, which is set to release on ZEE 5 on 2nd Dec.The film is based on the initial days of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic when the government called for a 21-day lockdown across the country. The trailer will send shivers down your spine as it recreated the horrors of the time when it was plain chaotic. The trailer of the film highlights how many people became jobless, the issue of migrant workers going back to their native places, and sex workers being deprived of their source of income.The film, helmed by Madhur Bhandarkar, revolves around the traumatic experiences that transpired during the covid-19 pandemic. In the film, 26 years Old Ayeesha S Aiman will be seen essaying the role of a Sex worker in Kamathipura in Mumbai, who is forced to adapt to the changes brought about by the lockdown.The former Beauty queen said, “I watched films like Mandi and Chandni Bar, which helped me portray the emotions and struggles of S*x workers living on the margins in a realistic way. I also saw Waheeda Rahman’s Pyaasa”. It was necessary to watch these films and understand the struggles of the characters,” She added. “I met few S*x workers to prepare for the role. I am a keen observer. I observed how they would walk, how they live their mundane life and tried to understand their hardships,” the actress added.When I was offered India Lockdown, “I said yes, without hearing about my character, I have chosen to do this film not by the length of the character but heart touching stories of the people during lockdown’. I immediately got interested in this film and role as I had full faith in Madhur Bhandarkar Sir,”Ayeesha Added, “Normally, Miss India has their debut with the Glam role, but I opted for a very strong role where I had almost carried no make-up look and normal clothes. I had really different choice when it was about my debut in Bollywood, I had many offers, though, but I wanted to choose something where I could learn the craft of acting, so there was no better opportunity than India Lockdown. I have not chosen this film because of the length of my character but the story of which touches the lives of everyone,” Added AyeeshaInspired by true events, written by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Shah, ‘India Lockdown’ will depict four parallel stories and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people of India. The trailer of India Lockdown had its premiere in IIFI Goa, and Ayeesha’s performance has already created a strong buzz among peers in the Industry.’India Lockdown’ is set for a direct-to-digital release on ZEE5 on December 2. The film is produced by Jayantilal Gada of PEN Studios, Bhandarkar Entertainment and Pranav Jain’s PJ Motions Pictures.

Ayeesha S Aiman: Bollywood Alert!!
Royals resurrect heritage weave from their heirloom collection
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A timeless Indian heritage textile - Baroda Shalu - not just carries the legacy of the Vadodara royals but is a weave so exquisite that its appeal transcends generations. Woven by weavers from Varanasi only for the royals on special occasions since the late 19th century, Baroda Shalu is now a fading textile craft. After their stint with Chanderi, the Vadodara royals have yet again drawn inspiration from their prized heirlooms to conserve the Baroda Shalu. The fabric gets its name from the royal patronage of the Baroda state. It will now witness a resurgence, thanks to the meticulous efforts put in by Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad and other textile revivalists. A limited collection of the weave is being showcased at an exhibition titled, 'White on White', put together by the CDS Art Foundation in Ahmedabad. The exhibition is an ongoing project aimed at reviving, exhibiting and promoting heritage Indian textiles. Soon after the Indian Independence, the Baroda Shalu, a craft dating back to the 19th century, lost patronage. "Over the years, we realized Baroda Shalu is not woven anymore. Preservation of this fast-disappearing heritage textile craft is important so that it reaches more aficionados," said Radhikaraje. The revival project, therefore, began in 2019. "I first saw the textile with the Vadodara royal family and proposed to revive the craft again. It was a mammoth task. After researching and understanding the yarn, the zari for the saree was first developed and the work on reviving the textile took off. We have kept the heirloom of the Vadodara royals as a reference, and accordingly attempted to achieve the nearest similarity," said Asif Shaikh, founder, CDS Art Foundation, who is part of the revival project. The intricate motifs woven into the warp and weft of cotton and tissue are so fine that the zari work appears embossed, giving a fluid 3D imagery in gold and silver. Florals, stars, zigzags, and crosses, among other motifs, are commonly used in the Baroda Shalu weaves. The royal family roped in 10 weavers from Varanasi to recreate this fabric. Contemporary versions of the sarees were showcased at CDS Art Foundation's edition of Walking Hand-in-Hand in Vadodara in January 2020. "However, there is no official record of Baroda Shalu in any museum. There is no reference even for the drapes or yardage. At present, keeping our personal collection as a reference, we are in the process of documenting the textiles, weaving techniques and various motifs that were used. Simultaneously, we are also working with the weavers to create a new collection," said Radhikaraje. The revival project had hit a temporary roadblock due to the pandemic but resumed soon after the lockdown. "Reviving any heritage textile craft is an uphill task. Finding the right quality of raw material and skills is often a challenge. During the lockdown, we connected with several craftsmen through social media and the project kicked off yet again," said Radhikaraje.

Royals resurrect heritage weave from their heirloom collection
10 Interesting facts about Beauty Queen Ayeesha S Aiman Every Fan should know
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 weeks ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 weeks ago | |

“From her education to her foray into the Movie Industry, here are some interesting facts about the Beauty queen”Former Beauty Queen Ayeesha S Aiman has an interesting journey so far, ever since she was crowned Miss India International 2015, Ayeesha S Aiman has been a household name in India. While she was being referred to as the “Most glamours upcoming face in the Bollywood”, the former beauty queen also proved herself by achieving so many milestones in her life. With Beauty queen title and numerous accolades to her name, the 26 years old often makes headlines but is known to keep her private life on the down low. From her Schooling to Debuting in acting, here are ten interesting facts about Ayeesha S Aiman.Here is everything you need to know about Ayeesha S aiman. She is the perfect combo of Beauty with Brains; people are very curious about her as everyone wants to know about her education and upcoming films.Ayeesha S Aiman hails from a highly educated professionals, her grandfather Late Ramnath Prasad was Custom and excise superintendent while her Father Shri Krishna Prasad is a business man and Mother Asha Devi is a Public Prosecutor in High Court Patna.Aiman was born on19 September 1996in Patna, Bihar and did her schooling from Ravindra Balika Vidyalaya, Patna. Aiman is an Indian actress, model, and young beauty pageant titleholder. She is famous for winning the “Miss India International 2015” and she represented the state of Bihar and later on proudly represented India at Miss International 2015.Aiman Was pursuing an Aeronautical engineering before she entered in Showbiz, she was all India entrance topper and ranked no. 1 in CWJC Aeronautical engineering entrance exam besides her Aeronautical engineering degree Aiman also holds Bachelor in physics (Hons.) degree, she secured no. 1 rank in her graduation exam as well “How Studious”, isn’t she?Ayeesha has many titles attached to her name, Winning the coveted crown of Miss India International was milestone of her life. she was a Japan Tourism ambassador in India and represented many renowned brands, Ayeesha won the title of Asia Star Model 2018, also she was honoured with Indian Achiever’s Award 2019 and Women’s Achievers Award 2020.Ayeesha is trained in classical Kathak dance under Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, she is a passionate Writer and loves to write stories and Poem which she often posts on Instagram. Beauty queen is a fitness freak and love to workout daily.Ayeesha plans to open a non -profitable University in Bihar on her Father’s name in the future. Ayeesha loves Aromatherapy, she said “she counted it as one of the best ways to wind down after a long day”.Ayeesha S Aiman also attended National School of Drama for her acting and have taken several other workshops to brush her acting skill.Ayeesha S Aiman was named as one of the top hottest female personalities in India by recent survey. Before her rise to fame in Mumbai, she had started her modelling carrier when she was in her school.Ayeesha is now making her debut in the acting by National award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar’s India Lockdown, where she is playing a key role in the film. She Said “film India lockdown is about repercussions of Covid Pandemic on our daily lives and I am excited to be a part of this films as Film throw spotlight on government’s 21 days lockdown decision.10.The Former Beauty queen wishes to venture into direction someday “She commented, “I do want to direct a movie someday and I have put my time and energy to work on it. I should be seriously thinking about it, my colleagues have always teased me and said, “why don’t you turn into a producer or director and make a film of your own? “maybe, a few years down the line, I should be able to live up to it but right now I am totally focusing on my acting carrier”.Ayeesha S Aiman frequently post her glamourous videos and photos on her Instagram:Ayeesha S. Aiman (@ayeeshasaiman) • Instagram photos and videosAyeesha S Aiman Facebook PageAyeesha S Aiman | Mumbai | Facebook

10 Interesting facts about Beauty Queen Ayeesha S Aiman Every Fan should know
Madhur’s Covid-themed movie in the works
Ahmedabad Mirror | 4 weeks ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
4 weeks ago | |

After getting positive response to his comedy-drama ‘Babli Bouncer’, national award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar, is set to direct another film, and no marks for guessing, it will be Inspired by true events like his earlier films like ‘Chandni Bar’, ‘Page 3’, and ‘Fashion’.Titled ‘India Lockdown’, the film will follow four parallel stories and the repercussions of the covid pandemic on the people of India, and is the first Indian feature film on covid pandemic.The movie stars Shweta Basu Prasad, Aahana Kumra, Prateik Babbar, Sai Tamhankar and Prakash Belawadi in key roles.Madhur Bhandarkar said, “Lockdown was a tough phase for many as people struggled to make ends meet and that gave seed to a thought to make a film on people affected by the lockdown. ‘India Lockdown’ is a product of my observations, and it depicts raw stories of real people across various walks of life. This is a film that will resonate with many in some or the other way and I am glad that it will be released on ZEE5 and reach out to so many people across the world”.Written by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah with Madhur Bhandarkar, ‘India Lockdown’ explores the lives of disparate characters who are catapulted into an unforeseen dramatic situation instigated by the lockdown due to the corona pandemic.IANS

Madhur’s Covid-themed movie in the works
Ahmedabad: Financiers assault former recovery agent in Satellite
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 30-year-old man from Satellite on Monday filed a complaint with police alleging that his former employer, who runs a private finance firm, and his two sons, assaulted him over a dispute pertaining to the recovery of money for them. Deva Parmar, in his FIR said he worked for the accused, Satish Bhati, and his sons Rahul and Ramesh in 2019. Satish and his sons are private financiers and also provided recovery agents to other private firms. Parmar said he could not recover money during the Covid lockdown and night curfews, for which Satish held him responsible for his losses and demanded Rs 2 lakh from him. Parmar said Satish took jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh from him and was still demanding Rs 50,000, which he could not give. On Monday night, Satish and his sons came to Parmar's house and attacked him with knife, causing Parmar injuries on his hand. Then they hit him with iron rods and when his wife intervened, they attacked her as well. Parmar and his wife were taken to Sola Civil Hospital where a medico-legal case was filed. Satellite police later registered a case of causing grievous hurt against Satish and his sons.

Ahmedabad: Financiers assault former recovery agent in Satellite
A film for those who dare to dream ‘big’
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago | |

Actress Huma Qureshi revealed that the story of her upcoming film ‘Double XL’ with Sonakshi Sinha started out as a fun conversation in her life as all actors were lamenting about “post lockdown weight”.Huma took to Instagram, where she shared a note on how the idea came. She wrote: “What started out as a fun conversation with my closest friends & family - Sonakshi, Zaheer, Saqib and Mudassar - literally in my living room, has now resulted in this film. All the actors were lamenting about the ‘post lockdown weight’ that we had gained and Mudassar spun a story around it, impromptu.”“This story found more and more friends in the following months as well as partners as we chugged along on this journey. This is a film written and made with a lot of love.”She then thanked everyone who joined the ‘Double XL’ dream and made this a reality. “We are now releasing this film in the THEATRES. If someone had told me, when I had just arrived in Mumbai, almost a decade ago, that I would be instrumental in backing content which would not only resonate with me but also have the potential to strike a chord among many others, I would not have believed it. But then again, Dreams Do Come True!”She concluded: “This film is for everybody who dares to dream BIG!!! (pun intended).”The film is a slice-of-life social comedy drama for which both the actresses underwent massive body transformation and had even piled on the extra pounds for their roles in the film, which has been shot extensively in India and the UK.The film explores the journey of two plus-size women, one from Uttar Pradesh heartland and the other from urban New Delhi, and also stars Zaheer Iqbal and Mahat Raghavendra. Agencies

A film for those who dare to dream ‘big’
Kejriwal’s Ahmedabad ‘autowala’ host Vikram Dantani, whose pro-BJP family is at a crossroads
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

Vikram Dantani, a 27-year-old Ahmedabad autorickshaw driver, made headlines on Monday evening when he drove Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal in his three-wheeler, escorted by beacon-flashing police cars, to his modest home for dinner.Dantani’s house is located in Devipujak Dantani Nagar in Ahmedabad’s Ghatlodiya Assembly constituency, which is a BJP bastion represented by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. It is also a segment of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat represented by Union home minister Amit Shah.Dantani belongs to the Devipujak community , a Socially and Educationally Backward Caste (SEBC) in Gujarat. CM Patel had addressed a “sneh milan” event of this community on Sunday, which was a part of such meetings he has been addressing since last month to make an outreach to OBCs and SEBCs.The family of Dantani, who is now in the limelight as the “autowala” who hosted Kejriwal, has been living in Devipujak Dantani Nagar for the last 35 years. He got married to Nisha, 25, two years ago and the couple has a one-year-old daughter, Riya. Nisha, who is also a Devipujak, hails from Raghubir Nagar in the Tagore Garden area of West Delhi. Kejriwal told mediapersons after the Monday dinner that he had invited Dantani’s family over to his house in Delhi.Dantanis have been voting for the BJP, but the Covid lockdowns and the consequent price rise have now forced a rethink of their choice. On Monday, his auto had two AAP flags flying on the roof when Kejriwal rode it.“We have been voting for BJP for so many years. We have seen the worst of times during the lockdowns in the last two years. There was no income, no benefits, no subsidies, no schemes offered to us by the MLA from our constituency, or the government. A ration packet containing 5 kgs of wheat flour and 1 kg each of cooking oil, chana daal (split chickpeas), and chana (chickpeas) were given to us during the lockdown. But this was just once, after this no ration was provided to us during the lockdowns,” says Dantani.He has been driving his CNG-run autorickshaw bought by his late father for 10 years, earning up to Rs 12,000 a month. “The daily expense of CNG is about Rs 150, which amounts to about Rs 4,500 per month. About Rs 150 is spent on oil for the auto every 2-3 days. Monthly service of the vehicle amounts to about Rs 1000. This leaves us with a meagre amount to spend on the household expenses,” says Dantani.He is a member of the Rickshaw Chalak Ekta Union, which was founded just before the first lockdown. He estimates about 4,000-5,000 autorickshaw drivers of a total of about 20,000 in Ahmedabad are part of such unions.Watch | #AAP national convenor and Delhi CM #ArvindKejriwal is headed for dinner at an auto driver’s house in #Gujarat#arvindkejriwalingujarat pic.twitter.com/vMrXImpJKq— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) September 12, 2022“Most of the members in these unions are private auto owners. Some of them, who work with Ola and Uber are also with the unions. But the unions only take those autorickshaw drivers who have a licence,” he says.Speaking to The Indian Express, Dantani says that the Union asked its members to attend the Delhi CM’s Monday meeting with auto drivers, following which almost all the members attended it. “I had watched a video of Kejriwal ji, which showed his visit to the house of an autorickshaw driver in Punjab. So, in the meeting, I also invited him over to my house for dinner. And he came,” he says. “Never has any CM or any minister come to our house to visit us and eat in our society. This is Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel’s constituency, even though he never made any visits to any of our houses in all these years.”Dantani’s mother, Vasantiben, and three younger brothers, in their early twenties, also live in the same one-bedroom house, that was built by Dantani’s grandfather. He has two sisters, in their late twenties, who are married and live in Ahmedabad district.Vasantiben complains about how the electricity bill has shot up from Rs 700-1,000 to Rs 2,000, and the cooking gas costs Rs 1,060 a cylinder after the suspension of subsidy.Their family also prefers a private healthcare facility when they need it. “The government hospital in the area is good but there is too much paperwork and long queues, so we prefer the private hospital,” says Vasantiben. The family has been trying hard to get a house under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) but the paperwork has deterred them.“This house in which we live was made by my father-in-law. He had seven sons. We are living in it, and the families of other siblings live nearby. But now our family is expanding as well. So for the last so many years, I have been trying for a house under the government’s Awaas Yojna at various locations, Ghatlodia, Chandlodiya, Vadaj, etc. But again, the paperwork is so much, and they (government offices) do not entertain us. The process is not easy, we are struggling for the bare minimum,” says Vasantiben, whose husband died nine years ago.Dantani studied in the government school at Chandlodiya till Class 7, and then went to a private school. “I have thought about working with Ola and Uber, but the problem there is the fixed rates. This is usually less than the rates in our meter card. The rates in the meter card are decided based on the CNG prices, our expenses and so on. The rates were revised last in 2021. The CNG prices have reached till Rs 90 per kg too. We have made several requests to the government to bring CNG prices down, and to increase the ride rates, but still no satisfactory response came from the government’s side.”Asked whom he would vote for in the upcoming Gujarat elections, given his hosting of dinner for Kejriwal, Dantani says: “I don’t know. There are problems, but let us see what promises the incumbent government makes. If they come up with some schemes or benefits for autorickshaw drivers like us, there is hope. Almost all of us in the neighbourhood have been voting for BJP. It is undecided who should be elected this time to form the government,” adding that “The autorickshaw chalaks at the union are also not clear on this yet. We have a meeting of the union, so it will be decided there.”

Kejriwal’s Ahmedabad ‘autowala’ host Vikram Dantani, whose pro-BJP family is at a crossroads
Start-up ropes in people who lost jobs to Covid
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago | |

By Megha BhattIn a unique initiative, a start-up by a former student of Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) has come to the rescue of those who lost jobs during the Covid pandemic. Of the 50 independent contractors hired by Darwyn Ventures, most had lost jobs during the pandemic. Many of them lived below the poverty line, while some incurred huge Covid treatment bills besides losing jobs.Rahul Gonsalves, founder and CEO of Evzee, which manufactures electric scooters and bikes under the aegis of Darwyn Ventures, kick-started the novel hiring concept eight months ago. The company verifies the prospective contractor’s bank statement or seizure of his two-wheeler due to non-payment of EMIs.They are roped in as independent contractors and given electric vehicles to deliver food, grocery, medicines etc. The start-up has tied-up with various companies for making deliveries. The contractors earn between Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per day depending on deliveries made. The company retains a portion of their income, Rs 200 to Rs 300 depending upon the shift, towards EV charging, maintenance and vehicleecurity.Talking about the unique initiative, Rahul told Mirror, “During the Covid-19 pandemic many people lost their two-wheelers due to non-payment of EMIs. Drivers, plumbers, electricians, small food and grocery vendors were worst affected. What shook me was the suicide attempt by our domestic help’s son who lost his livelihood to Covidpandemic.”The company’s socio-mobile initiative aims to double the household income of the contractors in three years. The start-up is registered with Start-up India and National Skill Development Corporation of India. According to Rahul, each delivery made using an electric scooter prevents generation of 8 kg CO2.Vishal Gulwani (26), supervisor at the venture said, “I was laid off in the first Covid lockdown and my earnings stopped. I got to know about this venture via social media. They verified my financial credentials and how I ended up spending my savings after the Covid treatment of my grandmother. I joined as a delivery boy and earned Rs 21,000.I am now promoted asa supervisor.”Gaurav Rathore (27), a delivery boy who earlier handled delivery orders and dispatching in a restaurant, said, “After the restaurant closed, I tried petty jobs despite being a BSc. My parents are contractual labourers and the current work is a blessing for our family. I earn Rs 700 per day.”Dushyant Sarvaiya (25), a BBA and a delivery man, was laid off during Covid lockdown and not even paid a three-month salary by the firm he worked for. He said, “Today, thanks to this venture, I earn Rs 27,000 per month and have almost paid off my student loan.”

Start-up ropes in people who lost jobs to Covid
Dowry, abetment of suicide cases up in Gujarat
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: Cases of rape, including those in which the survivors were minors; dowry deaths; and abetment to suicide cases in Gujarat were not only higher in 2021 compared to 2020, but also crossed the pre-Covid figures of 2019. In all, 7,348 cases of crimes against women were registered in 2021, showing a decline of 16.5% over the 2019 figures (8,799) and a dip of 8.5% over the 2020 numbers (8,028). The data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggests that the major decline was in the number of cases of cruelty meted out to women by their husbands or in-laws. In this category, the number of cases declined from 3,619 in 2019 to 2,271 in 2021. In 2020, these cases were 3,345. The data shows that the cases of rape increased in 2021 to 589 from 528 in 2019. In 2020, the figure was 486. The data reveals that rape cases increased by 11.5% in 2021 as compared to 2020. In 2019 and 2020, no case of rape of a minor girl was recorded but in 2021 seven such cases were registered. Police officers said that in 2020, the lockdown confined people to their homes in relative safety. But with the lockdown easing in 2021, there was an increase in crimes. Cases of kidnapping and abduction, particularly those relating to forcing girls into marriage, have increased in 2021 compared to the figures of 2019 and 2020. Gujarat has not seen a dramatic spike in cases of dowry deaths as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have done. But there has been an increase in such cases in Gujarat - to 11 in 2021 from six in 2020 and nine in 2019. However, the data of CID crime indicates that the state in 2021 had reported 66 such cases, which was five more than in 2020. As for the NCRB, its data suggests that abetment to suicide cases in 2021 increased by 30% (384) as compared to the 2020 figures (295). The increase in 2021 was 70.5% as compared to the 2019 figures (225). The NCRB data also reveals that seven cases of kidnapping for ransom were reported in Gujarat between 2019 and 2021. In 2021, the data says there was only one case of kidnapping for ransom.

Dowry, abetment of suicide cases up in Gujarat
  • Five suicides in different parts of Ahmedabad

    • Times of India

    AHMEDABAD SUICIDE NEWS: Five persons including a man aged 81 from Chandkheda and another aged 60 from Naranpura committed suicide on Saturday. Bechar Prajapati, 81, from New Ranchhodrainagar in Jagatpur of Chandkheda, hanged himself as he was fed up with age-related problems. Chandkheda police have registered a case of accidental death and have begun an investigation. In another case, Vijay Bhatt from Rang-Upvan Society in Naranpura committed suicide by hanging himself at his home on Saturday. The reason behind the suicide has not been determined yet. Naranpura police have begun an investigation. Apart from the two, a 17-year-old girl named Swati Sengar from Parijat Heights in Vatva on Saturday committed suicide by hanging herself at her home. A woman from Piplaj in Narol, Khushbu Mahato, also committed suicide by hanging herself. The reasons behind their suicides are not clear yet. According to city police records, a 32-year-old man from Satkar Status Flats in Sardarnagar, Rahul Ailani, committed suicide by hanging himself. Sardarnagar police have registered a case of accidental death.

  • Ahmedabad: Woman murders husband, tries to pass it off as suicide

    • Times of India

    AHMEDABAD: The Krishnanagar police have arrested a woman for allegedly strangling her husband to death and trying to pass it off as suicide. Mangala Divakar almost got away with the murder, except that shortly before the incident, witnesses had heard her telling her husband Anil that she would finish him off. Later, post-mortem revealed strangulation as cause of death. Anil's friends informed his family that they had seen Mangala drag him into the house from a nearby pan shop on Monday. Police inspector A J Chauhan registered a case of murder and arrested Mangala after Anil's brother Sunil filed a police complaint against her. Mangala confessed to the murder and told cops that her husband was an alcoholic and a wife beater and that she was fed up with him. The couple have two children. Sunil stated in his complaint that on Tuesday morning, when he returned from work at the factory, his wife told him that she could hear some noise at Anil's house. When he went to Anil's house to check what had happened, he found him lying on the staircase and bleeding from the mouth. The FIR stated that since Mangala was crying, Sunil did not ask her anything. The 108 and police were called in. The 108 staff informed Sunil that Anil was dead. When the cops questioned Mangala, she told them that Anil had hanged himself from a window grill. Sunil's FIR stated that when he checked the place, he found a bed sheet tied to the window grill and that gave credence to her story. He did not suspect anything amiss. However, after carrying out the last rites, he happened to meet the victim's friends Sunny Kashyap and Madansinh Rajput. They told him that on Monday night, Mangala had come to the pan shop and assaulted Anil in their presence. She then dragged him to the house, saying she was going to finish him. Sunil said that when he went to the police station, he was told that the post-mortem report had revealed that Anil had been strangled to death. His body also bore injury marks, pointing at murder. Based on Sunil's complaint, Mangala was arrested on Thursday.

Sweet and savoury rakhi
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago | |

Sheetal WadhwaniSheetal was prepping to be a fashion designer, but life had different designs for her. “I was passionate about baking, so during the lockdown, I decided it is best to shift gears and get into baking,” recalls Sheetal, adding that she not only bakes for self and others, “I also love teaching and helping other bakers.”From fashioning her own recipes like Tomato Rozella to creating pizza buns and cakes for Raksha Bandhan, Sheetal has her hands full. “The future to me lies in gluten-free, sourdough desserts, customised pizzas, and plant-based culinary products. I am fully prepared to lead,” declares Sheetal.IngredientsFor bread dough: 300gm maida; 10gm yeast; 12gm castor sugar; 7gm salt + 10 ml water; 2 tbsp milk powder; 20 ml olive oil. For pizza sauce: 3 mid-sized peeled tomatoes; 5-6 garlic cloves; 1 sriracha chilli; 1 tbsp oregano; salt to taste; 4-5 basil leavesDirectionsActivate yeast: Take a clean bowl, add yeast, pinch of castor sugar, pinch of maida, add lukewarm water (25 ml), stir with a fork, cover and place in a warm spot of your kitchen until the mixture forms bubbles. For dough, take flour, sugar, activated yeast, milk powder and combine dough, add salt solution and olive oil. Knead dough until its smooth and super elastic. Cover dough and let it rest for 30 mins as the gluten settles. For pizza sauce, mix all ingredients in a pan and cook well, grind ingredients and form into sauce. To shape pizza rolls, roll dough into a rectangle, spread pizza sauce, spread diced mozzarella cheese and tightly roll up the dough and cut into 9-10 pieces, place in a greased pan, cover it and let the shaped rolls rise for 60 mins. Pre-heat oven at 200 C for 10 mins and bake the pizza rolls for 15-18 mins until lightly browned. Serve.Gastronome’s delightDr Niyati KariaSheetal bakes the most indulgent desserts and Italian food I have had in a long time. Her pizza buns, you just can’t stop at one. They make you forget weight-watching.***Shaleen JainI heard about her on Instagram. For any celebration, Sheetal is our go-to chef. This Raksha Bandhan, we are looking forward to her pizza buns.=========================================Jaldhi JadavJaldhi could have been a chartered accountant had it not been for the lockdown. She cooked, people devoured – and a home chef was born. Goodbye CA. “Everyone loves my mom’s cooking. So technically, I have been trained by the best. Be it baking or creating a variety, she has my back; she gave me finger-licking tips,” says Jaldhi.Leading the food fight with burrito bowl, Jaldhi has entered and won many competitions with this dish. “Baby showers, corporate events, family functions, I love to and have catered to all events,” she adds.Aspiring to start a cloud kitchen, Jaldhi is keen on working with Mexican and Lebanese cuisine.Dry fruit Truffle BallsIngredients300gm dark chocolate; 250gm fresh cream; 1tsp butter; 100gm roasted nutsDirectionsIn a microwave bowl, take cream and microwave it for 30 seconds. Add chocolate and mix properly. Freeze for two hours. Make small balls and roll in dry fruits. Serve.Gastronome’s delightChaitali SolankiJaldhi’s truffle balls are super yummy and so are the dips and Mexican bowls. I love her taste and quality.****Vidhi ShahEach and everything made by Jaldhi is very fresh and tasty. She customises her treats. My family loves her dry fruit truffle balls big time.==================================Vandana KamatVandana is a lone warrior. She not only shops for ingredients, but chops, cooks and does everything herself, that too in large quantities. “I have been cooking since I was a child. But when I formally completed a baking course, orders started pouring in and my confidence began building. I also won competitions, all this single-handedly,” says Vandana.From making undhiyu during Uttarayan to sweets during Raksha Bandhan or cakes and Gujarati naashto, Vandana has championed it all. “I prefer consistency in taste and texture so that the client gets a uniform taste,” she explains.Cashew Rose DelightIngredients200gm cashew powder; 80gm milk powder; 50gm coconut powder; 6 tbsp fresh rose petals; 6 tbsp rose syrup; 50 gm condensed milk; dry rose petals for final layerDirectionsIn a bowl, mix all ingredients and make a small-sized balls and final cover with dry rose petals. Serve.Gastronome’s delightShital Trivedi Kothari​​​​​​​Vandanaben’s undhiyu, fresh fruit cake, mango cheesecake and cashew rose delight are a must-try. Not too sweet and extremely classy, we love them.****KalpanaCakes and sweets made by Vandanaben are always so yummy. Bite into a cashew rose delight and you will understand the magic she can weave.

Sweet and savoury rakhi
Communication with workers essential, says Congress leader
The Indian Express | 4 months ago | |
The Indian Express
4 months ago | |

Former MP and chairman of unorganised workers and employees Congress Dr Udit Raj addressed party workers in Ahmedabad Sunday where he emphasised on communicating with workers groups ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls. Ahmedabad News1Chugging in, clearing hurdles: Prime Minister to inaugurate Phase I of Ahmedabad Metro in August this year2Three dead, four injured as ‘speeding’ truck hits van near Ahmedabad3Take steps to ensure treated wastewater is not discharge into Thol lake: NGTMore from AhmedabadHe was speaking at the Kamdar Karmachari Congress (KKC) meet held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in Paldi where over 400 representatives of Gujarat KKC, including its state president Ashok Punjabi, were present. “It is not enough for us to ensure that the workers are fed whenever we meet them… several workers died due to corona… Those who helped them during the lockdown were different… If we communicate with at least 15 workers, then one among them will become politically aware and would want to choose an alternative next time,” said Raj. Express InvestigationThe Uber Files | The Indian Express is part of a global consortium analysing thousands of emails and documnets from UberRead hereHe was speaking at the Kamdar Karmachari Congress (KKC) meet held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in Paldi where over 400 representatives of Gujarat KKC, including its state president Ashok Punjabi, were present. “It is not enough for us to ensure that the workers are fed whenever we meet them… several workers died due to corona… Those who helped them during the lockdown were different… If we communicate with at least 15 workers, then one among them will become politically aware and would want to choose an alternative next time,” said Raj. Express InvestigationThe Uber Files | The Indian Express is part of a global consortium analysing thousands of emails and documnets from UberRead here

Communication with workers essential, says Congress leader
‘Sazzy Sizzler’ still using Yanki sizzler pictures in their ads: Yanki tells Gujarat HC
The Indian Express | 5 months ago | |
The Indian Express
5 months ago | |

Despite an interim injunction order granted by an Ahmedabad court that restrained Ahmedabad-based eatery ‘Sazzy Sizzler’ from “misusing, acquiring, providing and/or offering for sale” the sizzlers by using similar trade dress, data and trade secrets as that of another Ahmedabad-based eatery Yanki Sizzlers, it was brought to the Gujarat High Court’s attention Thursday by that ‘Sazzy Sizzler’ continues to violate the order.In January, a commercial Ahmedabad rural court had granted the temporary injunction order against Sazzy Sizzlers in a trademark suit filed by Yanki Sizzlers. It further directed that the injunction “will remain in operation till the final disposal of the suit.”On Thursday, Yanki told a division bench of Gujarat HC that an advertisement placed by Sazzys contained “similar pictures of sizzlers” as used in Yanki advertisements. Yanki Sizzlers further submitted that when it comes to sizzlers, they have been the “pioneers in Gujarat market from 2012 to 2020 with this product,” and that “there is none except us in this food distribution”.The bench, however, remarked on this submission, “Won’t sizzlers look the same because sizzlers for years have looked the same.” Yanki responded that Sazzy Sizzlers continue to use similar trade dress, restaurant set-up, etc as well as that of Yanki’s.Yanki Sizzlers, established in 2012, had submitted before the Ahmedabad court that an agreement for leave and licence was executed between Yankis and the premise owners for four years (from July 2017 to June 2021) with a condition that the licence could be terminated only by serving 30 days’ prior notice by the respective party. But Yanki’s director upon a visit to the premises in June 2020 when lockdown was eased in phased manner by the Central Government in the aftermath of Covid-19, “was shocked to find” the signboard of Sazzy Sizzlers installed on the premises, Moreover, the director of Yanki’s was not allowed to even enter the premises.According to Yanki, it came to the knowledge of the plaintiff (Yanki) that the defendants (Sazzy Sizzlers, owner of the premises) in conspiracy with each other have taken advantage of the lockdown by removing all the documents, furniture, kitchen utensils, secret recipe details, cheque books, letterhead, computer data etc. from the premises and instead started the same business of sizzlers at the same spot.”The Ahmedabad court had observed that the items prepared by Sazzys through the staff and manager earlier employed with Yanki are similar to the items and edibles prepared by the Yankis.Sazzy Sizzlers moved Gujarat HC in February, challenging the temporary injunction order by the Ahmedabad court. Earlier this month, it was pointed out by Yanki that Sazzy continues to violate the injunction order.Following Yanki’s submissions and the advocate for Sazzy not being present before the court, the bench observed, “Let them (Sazzy) come (before the court). If they (Sazzy) continue with this, we may have to take some stricter actions…They cannot, after the court’s specific directions, continue to do something that is impermissible.”

‘Sazzy Sizzler’ still using Yanki sizzler pictures in their ads: Yanki tells Gujarat HC
E-bike Yulu exits A’bad
Ahmedabad Mirror | 5 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
5 months ago | |

Even as the Centre promotes e-vehicles, an e-bike company quietly made its exit from the city a fortnight ago. The e-bike Yulu first began its service in Ahmedabad in 2020 just before Covid. Lack of response from citizens and rising costs, however, forced the operators to shut down.The service closed down fifteen days ago. Interestingly, the service had a 60% utilisation after Covid but it did not translate into profit forcing the Bangalore-based start-up to wind up operations in the city.​​​​​​​The service offered 250 Yulu bikes on streets but multiple uses through a single entry caused trouble, a source in the know said. “The entire fleet of bikes has now been moved to Mumbai where the service is a success,” a senior executive of Yulu bikes told Mirror. Those in the know said Covid negatively impacted the business. The night curfew that was put in place even after the lockdown also affected business.“Moreover there were health concerns as people did not want to use a bike that had been handled by many others. The lack of a dedicated lane for cycles and such bikes also made people reluctant to use them,” said the source. The bikes offered chargeable batteries and full safety features. The service was launched with much fanfare during the Happy Street initiative in Law garden. The company had two stands one outside Vastrapur Lake and one near Ahmedabad Mall.Booz bikesMeanwhile, electric kick scooters are offering their service at Kankaria Lakefront. Booz bikes, an Ahmedabad-based start-up, has put 10 such vehicles for use at the venue. “We plan to increase the number based on the response,” Rutvij Dasadia, the founder said.MYBYKAnother bike-sharing service MYBYK has reported good response from Amdavadis. The company has increased its fleet from 1,000 to 3,500 bikes post-Covid. The company has 350 bike stations in the city of which 250 are in the western part alone. Its founder Arjit Soni said the number of users is on the rise, but most ride it for health reasons rather than commute. He said several factors, including lack of dedicated lanes and weather conditions, prevent people from using bikes for commuting.SRFDCL reactionA senior official of Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) admitted that the public bike-sharing system has not received the needed response. “All the three companies that offer the service began their operations just before Covid and then suffered losses due to lockdown,” said the official.“Lack of dedicated bike tracks also added to the problems. Though the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) made provisions for cycle tracks along the BRTS routes they have been encroached upon,” said the official.Interestingly, the Science City road which was developed as a model road has no cycle track. The cycle tracks on the road from Helmet Crossroads to Shivranjani have all been encroached.

E-bike Yulu exits A’bad
Panic buying triggered in Shanghai as mass testing returns
Ahmedabad Mirror | 5 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
5 months ago | |

Shanghai will carry out Covid-19 testing on more than half of its 25 million residents this weekend, fuelLing fears of a return to more stringent restrictions just days after the financial hub emerged from two months of painful lockdown, media reports said.The mass testing announcements sparked fears of a return to stringent, prolonged lockdown among Shanghai residents, many of whom had been confined to their homes for two months or more since March, CNN reportedThose fears have triggered panic buying. On Thursday, Shanghai residents rushed to supermarkets to stock up on food and other daily necessities, forming long lines at checkouts and leaving shelves empty, according to photos and videos that circulated on social media, it reported.At least seven of the city’s 16 districts, with a combined population of 15 million people, will roll out mass testing over the weekend, Zhao Dandan, deputy head of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said at a news conference.The districts include Shanghai’s most populated areas and busy business hubs, such as Pudong and Xuhui.Districts that have reported positive cases since Shanghai lifted its citywide lockdown on June 1 will be placed under “closed management” during the collection of test samples, Zhao said. She did not specify how long the sampling period will last.In China’s zero-Covid policy lexicon, “closed management” usually refers to restrictions that bar people from leaving their residential communities or workplaces, CNN reported.Changning district, home to the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and 700,000 residents, announced on its official social media account that it will carry out mass Covid testing on Saturday.”During the sampling period, closed management will be enforced on residential communities, where (residents) can only enter but not leave,” the statement said.Earlier on Thursday, Songjiang district also said on social media that its 1.9 million residents are all required to undergo Covid testing over the weekend, CNN reported.

Panic buying triggered in Shanghai as mass testing returns
Centre clears 3,364 crore GST compensation for state
Times of India | 6 months ago | |
Times of India
6 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: The Union Ministry of Finance on Tuesday announced it has cleared Rs 3,364 crore of GST compensation for Gujarat. This is the amount due to the states till May 31 this year.GST compensation from the Centre had been pending clearance for months due to shortage of funds since Covid lockdown. The amount will assist the state government in managing its resources and ensuring capital expenditures are made successfully.

Centre clears 3,364 crore GST compensation for state
Lockdown effect: Ahmedabad continued to breathe better in 2021 too, says study
Times of India | 6 months ago | |
Times of India
6 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: Lockdowns had famously healed ambient air of pollutants during Covid-19 pandemic as industrial activity came to a grinding halt and people were pushed indoors. Interestingly, the city continues to breathe better even after lockdowns as a study by IIT Kharagpur researchers claimed that pollutants failed to reach pre-pandemic levels even in 2021. Satellite and ground-level observations for pollution were studied in eight major cities of India including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai. The findings indicated that the city was third among the eight when it came to rise in air pollutants in 2021 compared to 2020 levels. Track the pollution level in your cityThe study, 'Air quality during the Covid-19 lockdown and unlock periods in India analyzed using satellite and ground- based measurements', by G S Gopikrishnan, J Kuttippurath, S Raj, A Singh, and A Abbhishek from the Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL) at IIT, Kharagpur was recently published in a Springer journal 'Environmental Processes.' 'City records 21% drop in NO2 level in 2020' The study took into consideration two air quality-related trace gases, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and tropospheric ozone (O3), for analysis. The data indicated that Ahmedabad recorded a 21% drop in NO2 level during 2020 compared to 2019, but the rise in 2021 was 18%, which was third in India behind Lucknow and Mumbai. Likewise, the decrease in O3 levels was 6.7% in 2020 which rose by 0.8% "The analyses over cities show that there is a large decrease in NO2 in Delhi (36%), Bangalore (21%) and Ahmedabad (21%) in 2020 as compared to 2019. As the lockdown restrictions were eased during the unlock period, the concentrations of NO2 gradually increased and ozone decreased in most regions," said the study. The study also indicated that the majority of cities recorded a reduction in NO2 levels of up to 15% in 2020 and an increase of up to 40-50% in 2021. Prof Dileep Mavalankar, director of IIPH Gandhinagar, said that the readings should be seen from an economic perspective.

Lockdown effect: Ahmedabad continued to breathe better in 2021 too, says study
Gujarat: Temple daan petis brim with gratitude
Times of India | 6 months ago | |
Times of India
6 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: As Covid cases continue to drop, the faithful are making a temple run, and how! Lockdown restrictions are gone, and devotees are flocking to famous temples in Gujarat, showing their gratitude to the gods by filling up the daan petis. Donations at Somnath temple in Veraval, Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka, and Ranchhodrai temple in Dakor, which had dried up when coronavirus struck the state, have not just recovered but surpassed the generosity shown by people in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20. During the Covid-19 lockdown, temples in Gujarat remained shut for at least six months. Even when the temples reopened, people refrained from gathering en masse which resulted in a slide in footfalls, and, therefore, donations too. However, the situation has now normalized, which reflects in the number of visitors and amount of donations received. Somnath temple’s income in the financial year 2021-22 stood at Rs 50.95 crore, up from Rs 46.3 crore in 2019-20. It had fallen to Rs 23.25 crore during the Covid-hit period of 2020-21. Dwarkadhish temple’s income, which had fallen from Rs 11.03 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 6.44 crore in 2020-21, rose to Rs 13 crore in 2021-22. The Ranchhodrai temple received Rs 14.2 crore as donations in 2021-22, up from Rs 14 crore in the pre-pandemic year 2019-20. The temple’s income had fallen to Rs 7.5 crore in 2020-21.The only temple that did not register an increase from the pre-pandemic year was Ambaji. But the temple’s income shows a recovery in 2021-22. Banaskantha deputy collector R K Patel, who is also the administrator of Shree Arasuri Devasthan Trust managing Ambaji temple, said that the income had fallen drastically in 2020-21 as the temple was closed during major annual festivities. “Donations in 2020-21 fell to Rs 31.92 crore from Rs 51.63 crore in 2019-20. It has recovered to Rs 47.76 crore in 2021-22 as more and more visitors flock to the temple,” Patel said. Vijaysinh Chavda, general manager of Shree Somnath Trust, said there has been an increase in the number of devotees visiting Somnath temple. “In pre-pandemic years, average daily footfalls used to be around 8,000-9,000. This has risen to around 10,000 per day, and around 12,000-15,000 per day during weekends,” he said, adding, “The temple now gets around Rs 5 crore every month as donations.”“When the temple reopened, the number of devotees was half compared to pre-pandemic times. This has now risen by 20% more than the pre-pandemic numbers. The income from donations has also risen,” said Ravindra Upadhyay, deputy general manager of Lord Ranchhodraiji temple.

Gujarat: Temple daan petis brim with gratitude
Rajesh accused of getting cops son beaten up
Times of India | 6 months ago | |
Times of India
6 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: While the CBI has tightened its noose around controversial IAS officer K Rajesh over alleged graft charges, a case of alleged violence perpetrated during the March 2020 lockdown period is still pending against him with Surendranagar police. Meanwhile, two videos purportedly showing Rajesh beating people with sticks mercilessly were doing rounds on social media. Apart from those videos, Rajesh was accused of getting a cop’s son beaten up on the morning of March 30 for venturing out of his house to buy groceries. The complainant, Hardeep Jhala, said in his plea before the then Surendranagar SP Mahendra Bagadia that Rajesh instructed his commando to beat Jhala. “When I returned home around 7.30 pm, a car stopped in front of my house. Surendranagar collector K Rajesh was seated inside. His commando stepped out of the vehicle and threatened me for violating lockdown norms. He flashed a stick at me and I told him that I was not aware of the rules and had only gone out to buy groceries,” Jhala stated in his plea. Rajesh allegedly intervened and instructed the commando to beat Jhala with the stick. Jhala was taken to a hospital in Surendranagar where a medico-legal case was filed. However, Surendranagar police did not file a complaint in the case.

Rajesh accused of getting cops son beaten up
OTT subscriptions rose 49% in 2020-21, says MICA report
Ahmedabad Mirror | 6 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
6 months ago | |

In its report on growth of OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms, MICA has found an exponential rise of 49% in subscriptions in the lockdown year. Viewers aged 15-34 consumed the highest content across video OTT, gaming, music, and news apps in 2020-21, said the 4th edition of the OTT Platforms Report 2021 (post pandemic consumption), published by MICA Ahmedabad in association with Ahmedabad-based startup Communication Crafts.The report also mentioned that over 450 million Indian entertainment consumers spent 4.6 hours per day on smartphones in the lockdown year. While all the traditional media verticals reported a negative growth over the previous year, digital subscriptions grew by 49%, and online gaming grew by 18% over the last year. In addition, while Indian consumers love to access content for free, 29 million subscribers paid for 53 million OTT video subscriptions in 2020, the report stated.The report, made by MICA’s Centre for Media and Entertainment Studies (CMES), captures trends between April 2020 and March 2021 across 53 OTT platforms such as video, music, gaming, and news. The report also predicts that India is marching towards the milestone of 1 billion internet users quickly.The report stated that male users on WhatsApp are 1.5 times higher than female users. Among male and female users, the age group of 35+ years constitutes the highest chunk, with 37% male users and 40% female users, respectively. WhatsApp saw a 40% increase in usage at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. For Facebook, the trend is similar as the male users outnumber the female users by 65%. Again, the age group of 35+ has the highest number of users on Facebook, the report said.

OTT subscriptions rose 49% in 2020-21, says MICA report
Ahmedabad: Cousin's death put aspiring CFA on path to monkhood
Times of India | 7 months ago | |
Times of India
7 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: Harshit Bhansali, 24, had everything going for him. A native of Mumbai with a father in the diamond market, Harshit was living with his maternal aunt’s family in Bengaluru since 2015. A commerce graduate, he was preparing for chartered financial analyst (CFA) entrance test and looking forward to settling in the US with a successful career in finance. However, the death of Naman Kothari, the son of his maternal aunt and his close friend at the end of year 2019, shook him to the core. “I planned to go abroad to pursue a career in finance, investment banking and capital markets, but the death of Naman was devastating. The lockdown didn’t help and aggravated the depression I was going through,” Harshit recounted.Harshit, who is among the four youths who took diksha at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad from Acharya Rashmiratnasuri on Thursday, got on the path of spirituality through the books he read during the lockdown, when he was battling depression triggered by the death of his cousin.His aunt, Mamta Kothari, said they were shocked when Harshit told them he wanted to take diksha and lead the life of a Jain monk. “It was another blow after the death of Naman. Ours is a pharma distribution firm in Bengaluru with an annual turnover of Rs 400 crore. We were hoping he would take over from us. Thus, we did not give our consent at first,” she said.Harshit was determined. “The accident was so devastating that he (Naman) had died within minutes – no power or clout helped him get one extra breath. This caused a swirl of questions in my head – and I only got respite after finding some answers from the religious texts. Material wealth or comfort meant less and less for me,” he says. His parents and maternal uncle and aunt were counselled by the acharya and senior monks, who asked them not to stop Harshit, who was ready to take the plunge.On Thursday, Harshit got his new identity. The three others were Khush Jain, 19, a resident of Bhuleshwar in Mumbai; Bhautik Baldiya, 18, a resident of Bhayandar in Mumbai; and Rakesh Jivavat, 38, a resident of Mumbai. Rakesh is not married, and wanted to be a monk since the age of 18 years, but his gurus insisted that he take the consent of his family. He also successfully ran a plastics unit, but when the family realized it was not what he wanted in life, they allowed him to take diksha.

Ahmedabad: Cousin's death put aspiring CFA on path to monkhood
35% rise in suicides in Ahmedabad in 2021
Times of India | 8 months ago | |
Times of India
8 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: The city of Ahmedabad reported increases in cases of loot (10%), murder (38.57%), theft (10.5%) and suicide (35%) in 2021, compared to 2020. In the last two years, the state reported an average of 2.5 murders, 20.5 thefts, 5.2 kidnappings and 20.75 suicides every day. The state government tabled this data in the state assembly in response to questions by Congress MLAs. The state government said that in 2020 and 2021, there were 1,024 cases of loot, 1,893 murders, 18,658 thefts, 3,911 kidnappings, 1,679 attempted murders and 5,332 burglaries in Gujarat. In reply to a question by Congress MLA Himmatsinh Patel regarding crime in Ahmedabad city, the state government said that in 2021 the number of murders in the city increased by 27, thefts by 240 and suicides by 254. A city police officer said there was a lockdown in 2020 and as things eased in 2021 there was an increase in thefts. Officials said that in 2020, there were an average of 6.5 thefts a day in the city and in 2021 this number rose to seven. An official said suicides increased as people lost jobs and businesses suffered due to the pandemic. He said that in cases of murder too, financial disputes had led to fights which ended in murders or attempted murders.

35% rise in suicides in Ahmedabad in 2021
15L migrant workers left during lockdown: Govt
Times of India | 8 months ago | |
Times of India
8 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: As factories and industrial establishments downed their shutters following the nationwide lockdown to curb Covid-19, 15.05 lakh migrant workers left Gujarat by 1,016 Shramik special trains. Moreover, 0.96 lakh left the state on 2,547 buses.The government tabled this reply in response to several questions asked by Congress MLAs. The government said it has paid Rs 6.87 crore to Indian Railways from the CM Relief Fund. The government said it received Rs 42.66 lakh from the Centre.The government said that maximum trains, 448, left from Surat while the highest number of buses, 989, left from Rajkot. The government said that maximum migrants left from Surat (6.52 lakh) followed by 2.71 lakh from Ahmedabad.A study by Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute has stated that most workers were sent back home after the Lockdown 2.0 ended. As many as 527 trains from Gujarat left for various states carrying migrant workers from May 15 to May 25. On May 19, the highest number of Shramik trains, 71, departed on a single day. Then 62 trains left on May 20.

15L migrant workers left during lockdown: Govt
State budget on March 3
Ahmedabad Mirror | 9 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
9 months ago | |

The BJP government will present the state budget on March 3, its last before Gujarat goes to polls in December.An official release from the Assembly stated that the budget session of the Assembly will begin on Wednesday, while the state finance minister Kanu Desai will present the budget on Thursday.The budget session of 2020 was cut short due to the Covid outbreak and the lockdown, while the session in 2021 was held amid the second wave of the pandemic.This will be the BJP government’s last budget before the Assembly elections scheduled for December. Sources said it is likely to be a populist budget.budget will be Kanu Desai’s first as he took charge of the finance department following a Cabinet reshuffle last year. AM

State budget on March 3
Ahmedabad: Woman hangs herself after fight over buying groceries
Times of India | 9 months ago | |
Times of India
9 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: A 32-year-old woman from Sola hanged herself on Wednesday night following a tiff with her husband on buying groceries. Namita Jain, a resident of Hariomnagar Apartments in Sola, had been pestering her husband to stock up on the edibles. “However, her husband Kapi, who runs a fast-food centre in Ghatlodia, would argue that he did not have enough money to buy a bigger stock,” said an official of Ghatlodia police station. Jain had been reeling under financial crisis since the Covid-19 lockdown. “He could only buy groceries on a daily basis. This irked Namita who fought with Kapi on Wednesday night after which he allegedly abused her,” said the police official. Hurt, she hanged herself in the drawing room when Kapi and their two-year-old daughter were asleep. When Kapi woke up at night to have water, he found Namita hanging from the ceiling fan. He immediately called up the police and the ambulance. The medicos of 108 ambulance declared her dead after which Ghatlodia police registered a case of accidental death. The neighbours too informed the cops about the frequent fights between the couple over monetary issues. The couple had shifted to Ahmedabad around six months ago from Madhya Pradesh and were married for nine years.

Ahmedabad: Woman hangs herself after fight over buying groceries
Swaminarayan temple kitchen inaugurated
Ahmedabad Mirror | 9 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
9 months ago | |

The inauguration of the bhojnalaya set up by the Swaminarayan temple and Maa Annapurna Dham Trust in Adalaj took place in the presence of MoS Home Harsh Sanghavi and MP Narhari Amin on Sunday.On the occasion, Sanghavi said the hopes of people are attached to the Maa Annapurna Bhojnalaya along with those of the donors who contributed to construct it. He said that during the Covid lockdown newspapers in western countries had proclaimed that people in India would die of hunger. However, in the months of lockdown, when people were away from their families, Gujarat fed those who had no access to food.Devotees who come to visit the temple will be given food at just Rs 20 which will be borne by the donors. More than 500 people will be fed every day. Also, the institution has set up a hostel at a cost of Rs 25 crore which can accommodate 600 students. A marriage hall that can accommodate 2,200 people will be given at a subsidised rate to middle class families.

Swaminarayan temple kitchen inaugurated
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