TUESDAY 03 OCTOBER, 2023 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard twitter.com/TheMornStandard Weissman and Karikó Medicine nobel goes to 2 whose discoveries led to Covid vaccines TRAGEDY IN MEXICO 10 DEAD AS ROOF OF CHURCH COLLAPSES Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoveries that enabled the creation of mRNA vaccines against coronavirus Search for survivors continues, 63 people were treated for injuries and 23 still hospitalised. $1 MILLION A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12+8 PAGE 9 is the cash award from a bequest left by Alfred Nobel Khalistanis stage protest near Indian mission in UK Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi `10CR FUND FOR GOVT STUDENTS TO PURSUE ENGG PG Stalin also honoured nine ISRO scientists from Tamil Nadu, including K Sivan, Mylswamy Annadurai, and P Veeramuthuvel, with `25 lakh prize each | P5 INSPIRING MAHATMA President Droupadi Murmu pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, at Rajghat in New Delhi, Monday | PTI Bihar BC head count at 63% STATE CASTE SURVEY OUTCOME MADE PUBLIC; YADAV BIGGEST CASTE @ 14.3% Tomorrow, at 3.30 pm, a presentation on the findings of the survey will be made before representatives of all 9 parties that gave consent for the survey — Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister Thebigpicture TOTAL POPULATION: 13.07 CR Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs): 36% Other Backward Classes (OBCs) 27.13% 10 CASTES WITH HIGHEST POPULATION CASTE PERCENTAGE(%) POPULATION Yadav 14.27 1.86 CRORE Dushad 5.31 69.43 LAKH Chamar 5.25 68.69 LAKH Koiris 4.2 55.06 LAKH Brahmin 3.65 47.81 LAKH Rajput 3.45 45.10 LAKH Mushar 3.08 2.87 37.62 LAKH Bania 2.3 Islam 17.7% (2,31,49,925) 40.35 LAKH Kurmi Religion-wise Hindu 82% (10,71,92,958) Christian 0.0576% (75,238) 30.26 LAKH Kayasth 0.60 7.857 LAKH Panel identifies 164 spots of waste-dumping in city EX PRESS N EWS SERVICE @ New Delhi IN order to check burning of waste in the open, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has identified 164 vulnerable waste dumping spots – the areas where industrial waste is dumped. Government sources said the committee will conduct regular patrols during daytime and at night and those violating the norms will be penalized. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) have also been told to ensure that the waste is lifted on time so that it cannot be burnt. The officials said those points have been identified following patrolling last winter. These spots have been identified across all the 24 major industrial areas of the national capital. It was also found that the problem is worse in the outer Delhi areas. Experts have said a similar action is required across the city to improve the air quality . With as many as 3,182 industries located across the DelhiNCR, industrial pollution adds about 18.6 per cent to the poor air quality Emissions in the or. der of 200-1000 tonnes/year is found over industrial zones next to the most used arteries of roads. In 2019, the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC) has fined 910 industries for directly releasing toxic effluents into drains. TOTAL POPULATION 13.07 CRORE; OBCs CONSTITUTE 27.13% OF IT, EBC 36% RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi BIHAR’S backward castes on Monday got an authentic number for the first time — 63% — with the state’s caste ‘survey’ report being made public. In the process, Bihar became the first state to share the findings of its gamechanger caste census. It is expected set off caste assertion of a kind that has the potential to overshadow the Hindutva and nationalism cards the BJP is preparing to use during the next general elections in 2024. While the population of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) is 36%, that of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) is 27.13%, the census revealed. The state has a total population of 13.07 crore. A visibly elated Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sidestepped queries about whether the survey would prove to be Mandal 2.0, triggering demands for revised quotas for different castes in proportion to their population. “It would not be proper for me to go into such details right now. Let me share the findings with all parties tomorrow. After that, our focus will be on making policies targeted at castes that may be deemed to be in need of greater assistance. The survey will benefit all castes, without exception,” he said. Yadavs (14.27%) unsurprisingly constitute the biggest caste group amongst the OBCs. They form the primary vote- bank of ruling RJD, which alone with the support of the Muslim population comprising 17.70%, ruled the state for 15 years in a row through the MY (Muslim-Yadav) formula from 2005 and are back in power after Nitish’s somersault from the BJP and his JD(U) leading the grand anto-BJP alliance. RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav is Nitish’s deputy . RJD president Lalu Yadav said the survey will set the tone for ‘a nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when we form the next government at the Centre’. The Scheduled Castes comprise 19.65% (2,56,89,820) of the state’s population while the total head count of Scheduled Tribes is 1.68% (21,99,361). The population of upper castes under the unreserved category stands at 15.5%, which has already triggered calls for revisiting the 10% EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota carved out by the Modi government at the Centre. The break-up of the four upper castes in the state is Bhumihar 3.66% (47,81,280), Rajput 3.45% (45,10,733), Brahmin 3.66% (47,81,280) and Kaystha 0.6% (7,85,771). The survey was approved by state cabinet on June 2 last year with a budgetary allocation of `500 crore. As many as 3 lakh officials were deployed for task. For its part, the Opposition BJP in Bihar termed the report an eyewash, as it did not capture the economic profile of the people. ON a day when India and Indians across the world were celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Khalistan supporters chose to protest in the proximity of Indian High Commission in London. This incident came barely two days after three Khalistani supporters prevented the Indian High Commissioner to United Kingdom (UK), Vikram Doraiswami, from entering a gurudwara in Glasgow. The High Commissioner was told he wasn’t welcome in the gurudwara. They threatened the gurudwara committee members who looked on helplessly as the High Commissioner got into his car and left the place. On Monday, amid a heavy police cover in front of the Indian High Commission (IHC) in London, Khalistani protestors chose to continue with their protests across the road and waved flags along with posters of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Old men, women and children were part of the protest. The protestors were demanding justice for Nijjar. PM Modi’s defaced c u t o u t w a s p l a c e d by t h e protestors. The Metropolitan Police warnd the protestors not to cross over near the IHC. India hasn’t responded on the incident. Ambassador Doraiswami was busy with the day’s engagements which included paying respects to Mahatma Gandhi in front of his statue at Parliament Square. Meanwhile, the gurudwara committee in Glasgow has regretted the incident of preventing High Commissioner. Engineer among 3 IS suspects held in Delhi U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi THE Delhi Police Special Cell arrested three suspected ISIS terrorists, including one who is on the most wanted list of the National Investigative Agency (NIA) and carrying a reward of `3 lakh on his head. The suspected terrorist, identified as Shahnawaz Alam alias Abdullah alias Md Ibrahim alias Prince (31), an engineer by profession, was hiding in Delhi after fleeing from Pune, the police said on Monday The other two were identified as Moham. mad Rizwan Ashraf (28) and Md SEVEN-DAY Arshad Warsi (29). POLICE REMAND Special Commissioner of PoAll three were produced lice (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal before a special UAPA said the arrested persons were court in Delhi, which taking instructions from their sent them to a seven- handlers in Pakistan and were day police remand planning to carry out terror activities in India. “They were in advance stage of preparations and had procured arms, ammunition, and explosives for this purpose and had also set up a base in Delhi,” he added. Dhaliwal said Delhi Police received credible inputs that Pakistan’s spy agency ISI was using terrorists to carry out attacks in India. “One such module was identified with footprints in UP Uttarakhand, Jharkhand & Mahar, ashtra. Two ISIS operatives namely Imran Khan and Yunus Saaki were arrested in Pune by Maharashtra police. However, Shahnawaz Alam managed to escape from the police custody he added. P3 ,” EXPRESS READ Shivamogga peaceful, 60 held for stone-throwing INDIA TOUCH 60 Priti (L) and Parul Chaudhary After another good day in office on Monday, the nation is inching closer to its biggest ever haul of 70 at the Asian Games. Here are some of the highlights ATHLETES SIZZLE AGAIN Parul Chaudhary and Priti secured silver and bronze medals in the women’s 3000m steeplechase while Ancy Sojan grabbed a long jump silver. The 4x400m mixed relay team’s bronze was upgraded to silver after Sri Lanka was disqualified for lane infringement Speed skaters dazzled with two surprise bronze medals in men’s and women’s 3000m team relay events PADDLERS SUTIRTHA-AYHIKA WIN BRONZE Sutirtha Mukherjee and Auhika Mukherjee’s giant-slaying run ended as they lost the closely-fought women’s doubles semifinal 3-4 to North Korea on Monday. They finished with bronze | MORE ON P11 POSITIVE TREND Women take the lead in organ donation drive GIVING LIFE AFTER DEATH K A V I TA B A J E L I - D AT T @ New Delhi WOMEN have taken the lead in donating their organs under the recently launched Ayushman Bhav campaign, under which over 61,000 Indians have pledged to donate their organs and tissues after death. Since President Droupadi Murmu launched the campaign on September 13, as many as 35,000 women have so far taken the pledge to donate their organs and tissues. In shar p contrast, only around 26,000 men have come forward. Maharashtra, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh have emerged as the top three states with the highest participation in the campaign, show government data. People from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Under the scheme, a person after his/her death can give new life to up to nine others by donating vital organs such as kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, and intestine, besides improving the life of many more by donating tissues like cornea, skin, bone, heart valve and Uttarakhand have also responded positively to the call. According to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, people in the age group of 30-45 years are coming forward in large numbers to do- nate their organs, followed by 18-30 years, and then 45-60 years. There are not many takers in the age group of 60 years and above. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday urged more people to come forward for the noble cause. India faces the lowest organ donation rate worldwide, with a mere 0.1% of the population donating their organs after death in stark contrast to 7080% in Western countries, say experts. With over 2 lakh Indians needing organ transplants annually a unified national pol, icy can address the critical issue effectively, they point out. “If we properly harvest even 5-10% of all brain deaths for organ donation, it could render the need for living donors obsolete,” said Dr L K Jha, director, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Delhi. Underscoring the need for collective efforts to increase organ donations, Dr Prashant Jain of the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre said: “India must promote and streamline the process of cadaveric donations actively .” The police have arrested 60 people for throwing stones at Ragigudda on Sunday. The city was peaceful on Monday. Rapid Action Force have been deployed across the city and Section 144 has been imposed in the area. Twelve people were hurt, seven houses and four vehicles were damaged in the incident. | P5 Count of families using BPL cards up in Gujarat One-third of Gujarat’s population or over 31 lakh families are living Below Poverty Line. The poverty line is estimated at `816 per capita per month for rural areas and `1,000 for urban areas or `32 per day for rural and `26 for urban. In 2020-21, 1,047 families slipped into the BPL category while just 14 came out of it. | P8 Auction of PM’s gifts: 912 articles on offer With the highest reserve price of `64.8 lakh, painting on Varanasi ghat— ‘A tribute to timeless charm of the city,’ by noted artist Paresh Maity is the showstopper of this year’s auction of PM Narendra Modi mementos. A total 912 articles are part of the auction including idols, replica of iconic structures, among others. | P7 Kuki-Zo groups demand release of arrested tribals Kuki-Zo organisations in strifetorn Manipur registered a protest on Monday against the arrest of five tribals by central agencies for killing two students. They demanded release of the tribals within 48 hours. All shops and business establishments remained shut while vehicles were off the road. | P8