18 THE BIG STORY * SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI
JUNE 28, 2009
STRAIGHT TALK
Young people in India are increasingly at ease with homosexuality, finds a TOI-Synovate
T
he coming out party may be becoming bigger in urban India but
for many, the closet door is still firmly shut. Earlier this month,
two young girls in love decided to push it open a crack. The girls,
who belonged to conservative middle class families in the sleepy
survey, even as Delhi plays host to its second Queer Pride march today mining hamlet of Sillewara, 25 km from Nagpur did something all gay
,
couples dream of but few have the courage to execute. They got married
Neelam Raaj | TNN Jerusalem Mumbai to reach out to the straights, says
and told their families. Recriminations and even death threats followed.
the gay community could also do
Hounded out of their homes, Shobha, 19 and Rupali 18 (not their real
S
traight meet gay — it’s a bit of soul-searching. “We
names) are still together Neelam Raaj caught up with them in the city to
.
pride season. But once the should not think of ourselves as
which they fled. Excerpts from the diary Shobha might have written when
feathery floats have rolled unique or different. There is no
she and her lover were run out of their village:
off into the distance and shame or pride in homosexuali-
the rainbow flags are put away, ty,” he says. June 9 | Tomorrow Rupali and I will tell our parents we are married.
will the two worlds ever be able None of this is to diminish We have thought about it a lot and finally worked up the courage. Both
to find common ground? Warsaw the enduring force of deep-seat- of us can’t live without each other and we want to be honest with the
Much of the debate about ho- ed cultural and religious preju- people we love.
mosexuality in India has focused dice against homosexuality Even
.
on Section 377, which criminal- though Indian men are always June 10 | Morning: All hell has broken loose. My parents shouted at
izes same-sex activity But life goes
. publicly holding hands or wrap- me, even my mother, who I thought would at least try to understand. I
beyond legal issues. Be it Meerut ping their arms around each oth- couldn’t even say goodbye to my younger brother and sister.
or Mumbai, people are sorting out er, they don’t like to be called gay. June 10 | Afternoon: We are at Rupali’s house. She lives in the same
more fundamental questions — Mexico Even the government had to coin mohalla in Sillewara — that’s how we got to know each other. Her par-
like how to integrate the gay and the term MSM (Men who have ents were shocked when we told them. I guess they were angry with
straight worlds. Everyday life is Sex with Men) in order to pro- themselves too for not raising a `normal’ daughter. We have begged them
about confronting stereotypes mote condom use as the term to let us stay the night because we have nowhere else to go.
about one another and testing was disliked.
comfort zones. “We still feel threatened by June 11 | The villagers arrived and told Rupali’s parents there was no
The parades on Sunday are expressions of love,” says Mum- way we would be allowed to stay here. Long-forgotten relatives also
definitely a step toward assimi- bai-based Onir who is making a turned up, started telling us we were be-
lation. “It is about showing peo- UNITED COLOURS: All across the world gay people are coming out of the closet and bringing some of their short film on the harassment smirching the fami-
ple that we aren’t different. We friends and family over to the pro-gay camp, making it easier for others to live openly gays face at the hands of police ly name and insist-
because of Section 377. ing we leave. The last
port,” he says. Even fundraising of all respondents said they ing whether gays are promis- Later this year, the Delhi high straw was when the
Be it Meerut or was both a gay and straight af- found it offensive, 33% said they cuous. Almost two-thirds said court will deliver its verdict on police came. Rupali’s
Mumbai, people are fair this year. did not and 23% said they would they were not. Another asked Section 377. Whatever the judg- parents simply told us
increasingly sorting So is there a growing accept- disapprove only if the display people whether all homosexu- ment, the community has come to clear out and never
ance of homosexuality in the last was overtly sexual. In a country als got infected by AIDS. About out — and in force. As a slogan return. It hurts even to
out more fundamental two decades? An eight-city sur- that even frowns upon displays 30% said yes they do, 42% said coined for Sunday's pride puts it: think about it. We had
questions — like how vey conducted by leading mar- of affection among heterosexu- gayness and AIDS were not con- ‘I Am Queer, Do You Hear’. no idea what to do but
to integrate the gay ket research agency Synovate ex- al couples, the responses suggest nected and the remaining 28% help arrives in strange
and straight worlds clusively for TOI clearly indi- a much greater of acceptance of pointed out that unprotected sex ways. A reporter who
cated that the winds of change gayness than is generally be- could lead to AIDS irrespective had come to the village
are blowing across the country . lieved to be the case. of whether one is homosex- to write about us was
pay our taxes and our bills like And it is the ‘Dostana’ genera- Activists say it is math — each ual or heterosexual. moved by our plight and
everyone else and we should have tion that is leading the way with
, person who comes out of the clos- For creative profes- put us in touch with
the same right to fall in love,” the survey showing that the et brings at least some of his sional Harish Iyer, the gay- Sarathi Trust, which LOVING BOND: An earlier photo of Shobha and
says Monish Malhotra, a mem- younger age group (18-30 years) friends and family over to the pro- straight divide has disap- works with gay people in Rupali at their village
ber of the Delhi Queer Pride was more at ease with homo- gay camp, and this in turn makes peared in the workplace. Nagpur.
Committee which is organizing sexuality than older people in it easier for others to live openly. His boss, Prateek Kumar,
the city’s second march. the 31 to 45 age group. Two other questions were agrees. “Everyone in the of- June 12 | The NGO activists have given us food and a place to sleep. They
The marches will not be an The response to a question aimed at finding out whether fice knows he is gay but why are also willing to give us some kind of work and shelter in Nagpur but
exclusive gay, lesbian and trans- about whether people disap- popular mythologies about ho- should his sexual preferences we are scared. Our village is not far enough from the city and someone
gender event. “Parents, friends, proved of public displays of af- mosexuality are losing ground. matter.” Iyer, who has could spot us. When we left home, the villagers were threatening to set
colleagues and siblings of queer fection among gays was perhaps The responses indicate that they launched an online group us on fire or kill us. It’s too much of a risk to stay in Nagpur.
people will all show up for sup- the most surprising. Only 43% are. The first was a question ask- called ‘Friends of Gay’ June 13 | Sangini Trust, an organization that runs a support programme
has offered to relocate us. We have accepted it. There is nothing to pack.
We only have to wait for the train tickets.
June 17 | Board the train from Nagpur.
June 18 | Arrived in our new city. We are a little scared but also excit-
ed about starting a new life.
June 21 | We have got new clothes and haircuts. We look like city girls
now.
June 22 | Met other women like us. It’s so good to know that we
aren’t crazy Tomorrow, a job interview has been set up for us.
.
June 24 | We both have jobs and even a one-room place of
our own. We wish our parents could see how happy we are.
One day we know they will accept us.
,
KANDLA PORT TRUST Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd.
TENDER NOTICE NO. 34/09 Haj unavan complex , aner iioaa , i’une -411 UU(
(A Wholl y owned Government of Gujarat Undertaking)
Sealed Item Rate tenders are invite d for the work of “Providing security
NOTICE OF TENDER Tender Notice No. 8 of 2008-09
Phone No. - 25608007/8033. CORRIGENDUM NO. 3
cabin and barricade at Entrance of Kandla Port ” with an esti .cost of Rs. 1. The Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard,Mumbai-400023, invites
TENDER NOTICE sealed tenders for Offloading Refit of Ferry Craft on board Vihar. Onl i ne Tender was i nv i te d bb the Superintending Eng i neer ,
y
27 .64 lakhs , EMD Rs . 69 , 200=00 , contract period 03 (Three) months .
Kachchh Branch Canal Circle No. 2, Gandhidham , Nannada Bhavan ,
The tender set can be had from the office of the Executive Engineer Sealed tenders are invited from reputed and financially so und agencies 2. The tender documents can be downloaded from the following Ward No. 5B , Opp. Ram Baug Hosp i tal , Rampath Road
(Road) AA0. Building, Gandhidham Ph 02836 - 236165 on any working
. for website www.te nders.oov.in The tender document can also be
Sr. No. Service Approximate EMD Tender Form Gandhidham , Pin Code No. 370205, Dist. Kachchh. Phone : (02836)
day during office hour , on payment of Tender Fees of Rs. 500/- (Non collected one day prior last submission date from the following
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(Non-refundable) Canal Reach 122 .219 Km . to 133.5 19 Km . (PACKAGE-K-TI)
of “Kandla Port Trust” payable at Gandhidham I Kandla (Kutch) and Rs. Post/Fax or Courier :-
in Rs. ( E arthwor kk Lining, Structures an d S erv i ce R oa d) [AAtRi sk & Cost]
, t
100 .00 extra may be added for document to be sent by Post . In case ______________ _____________
Composite 200 00 for Two 2 Lacs 5000/- Manager Commercial vide Tender Notice No. 8 of 2008-09. The details schedule of
of cash , it will be received at 10 .00 hrs . to 14 .30 hrs . on working days . Facilities Years
Naval Dockyard c-tender has been modified and shall be viewed on the tender link
The last date for issue of tenders is two days before the date of Management
- 400 023 of the SSNNL’s website www.sardarsarovardam.org and GOG’s
opening . The tenders will be received till one hour before the time of at MDC ,
M m a
u b i
opening and will be opened 15:30 hours on 23/07109 in the presence YASHADA
Phone No. 22752066, Fax No 22660486 website www.statetenders .com. Tender documents can be
3. The finns would be required to submit earnest money of downloaded from wesbite https:llssnnl.nprocure.coni
of the bidders who wish to remain present . The issue of tender is Tender documents for for above services (for two years) can be
the
approximately Rs. 120 , 000/- (Rupees One Lakh Twenty E-mail kbc_adi@yahoo.co.in
restricted to contractors registered with Port Trust in appropriate class. obtained from the MDC Manager of YASHADA at the above address
Thousand only) in the fonn of a bank guarantee! TR / lPO/ FDRI
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Please visit us at: www .kand laport.pov .in from 10:00 am to 1.00 pm on all working days from 29.06.09 to 20 .07.09
(Except Holidays) Banker ’s Cheque (not firm ’s cheque)/DD alongwith the 1-Bid. Ka chchh Branch Canal Circle No. 2
Librarian KPT l
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KARNATA KA STATE POLICE Last date for submission of tenders is 21 .07.09 upto 15:00 hrs. (a) Bidders should be Indian companies registered with DGQA ruu iv lru nMR iiirri riu
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#59 , Richmond Road, Bangalore—560 025. Ph.: 080-2558 4102, Extn. 317/329, at 16:30 hrs. in the presence of the tenderers present. and DGS & 0 etc or Govt approved/affiliated quality (A Government of Tamilnadu Enterprise)
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arid volume of work undertaken is to be provided. TENDER NOTICE
KSPHC will be conducting single stage two bid system online Offers are invited from Indian IForeign Shipowners or through their
Sd/-
e-Tendering coupled with Reverse Auction event for Supply, Delivery Director General 5. Application for tender will be accepted till 13 July 09. Sealed Authorized Brokers for 1 No. Handysize / Handymax I
/ Super-Handymax
and Mounting of one number Hydraulic Platform of 52 to 54 mtrs YASHADA , Pune-7 tenders may be dropped in the Box maiked MIN OO” kept at the Geared Vessel in the lay days 10-07-2009 to 20-07-2009 for a
working height (Sky lift) for Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Lion Gate , Naval Dockyard upto 1200 hrs on 13 July 09. Late period of 3 months + 3 months Choption +1- 10 10 at chartere rs
days
option for coastal transportation of Thermal Coal.
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along with non refundable tendering charges of Rs. 26,000/- in the form davp 10702/11/0075/0910 28 , 000 DWT to about 55,000 DWT capacity should only be offered.
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upto 5.00 pm. Approx. Value of Work Rs.500.00 Lakhs. EMD: 2% of DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION Tender Opening Time - 15.30 hrs. on 03-07-2009
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are in
the undersigned during office working hours. behalf of President of India , invites applications from eligible enlisted andthe samemaybe downloadedfrom our website :v vtamilship.com
OPEN TENDER contractors of MES and enlisted/unenhisted Contractors working with other at free of cost.
Sdl- The Director , D.M.R.L, Hyderabad,on behalf of the President of India , invites sealed Govt. Departments meeting eligibility critetia for selection of Contractors for DIPH/2573/TENDER/2009 CHAIRMAN & MANA GIN G DIRE CTO R
Executive Engineer bkls in Two Bid System i.e. Techno-Commercial Bid and Price Bid from the issue of tender for undermentioned wort-
Manufacturers I AUthOIbOU Fkms of Pliricipal Manufacturers I s having
_ _
Firm Name of Woik P ODICALS CES fl O , COVALOSSIOUM,
(An ISO 9001:2000 & ISO 14001 :2004 Certified Contracts similar Job work experience for the following
stores and job work: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Kamataka State Owned Company) CORrAIJM DBMD HANSA HN HANSATECHAND
SI. Thider No. Nomendatire of lila Due Dato & Tender Cost of WAil) ROOM AREA WDER AGE B/B-I, GE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
No. Stores IJde Walt Thas l el*Ig Tender VASCO
Date
&Thna
Daaesenls
Pto)
___________________________
Estimated Cost of Work Rs. 20.00 Lakhs (RL ees Twenty Lakhs only) METAL & STEEL FACTORY, ISHAPORE
01. DMIV T S11RJl5 H
R## 30.012009 30.0/.2009 1001- Completion Pedod 05 Q lv e) Months
10ATcOSBILP ThHEEI J00I -1Na 12O0Hr l400 His. Amount of Earnest Money Rs. 40,000/- OPEN•I I :1 [‘
ii TENDER NOTICE
State Institute of Health & Family Welfare Compound , Thycaud P0 , for Contractors not Enlisted T he General Ma nager, Metal & Steel Factory v1SF), Ishapore , on behalf
1. Tender documents Inciuding detai Specifications / Scope of Supply / Work
nd / / with MES
of The President of India , invites sealed applications (in two bids fo rm at)
Thiruvananthapura m, Kerala 695014 , Telefax: 0471 4015522 , can be had by post fom the Director, DMR L P.O.: Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad-
r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
email:kmsc ltvm©gmail.com , website: www.arogyakeralam.gov.in Cost of Tender Rs. 500/- in favour of “Gonleon En ieer tIIW . from the Indigenous Tendere rs for the following equipment:
500 058 on lttcn resiest Iethr with Tender Number and submission of fl Vasco ”.ecv le atVesco
TENDER NOTICE re&mdable. crossed Demand Draft as per detailsgiven in the above table on any 1. Tender Enquiry No. T/103/MSF/O9Mr/BFIAF-WW/REV/76/PROJ,
Scheduled Bank towards cost of Tender Documents, in favour of “The Director , Last Date of Recehpl of 11Ju12009
Sealed tenders are invited by the Managing Directo r, Kerala Medical DMRL , Hyderabad ,payable at “Hyderabad”.Th e Last Date for Issue of Tenderr Applications 2. Brief Nomenclature of : Revampi ng of existing “Westerwork” make
the Equipment
__________________________________
Services Corporation Ltd. Thiruvananthapuram for equipping traveller Documents: 17.1162)09. EligibIlIty Cdteiia Electrically Heated Single Ended Bogie
force Ambulance as Advanced Life Saving Ambulances for the Kerala 2. Tender Documents can also be downloaded from our Website: www.drdo.oro (a) for MES Enlisted Class: ‘I)’,Category: e’ Hearth Annealing Furnace (MSF M/c.
Emergency Medical Services Project (KEMP) the specification and for wtllth.cost of Tender Documents In the form of Demand Draft as o det lt
ae Contractors Registration No. - 4738) alongwith
given above has to be enclosedalonowith Techno-Commercial Bid tailina which. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
numbers of which is listed in the bid document. Bids will be rejected. (b) For Other Contractors 0) MeetIng enlistment criteria of MES with regard AAcessories & Spares.
c
Tender Last date to havkig saffsfactedly completed requisIte value
Tender Reference hems
Tender
Document Document and time Date and
time of
3. FIrms seeking Tender documents by post may write on the top of theIr cover as works , AA Turnover, Working Capital, Fixed
nnual 3. Quantity One (1) No.
No. sale for receipt ‘RNlJest far Tesu flososnosits’ but 1JlL t write tender number and due
n Assets etc.
— —
Cost period oftender
open ing
date on the envelopo. (ii) No recovery outstanding in Govt. Deptt.
4. Last Date of Receipt 11.07.2009
.
Eq uip ping 4. Registered Vendors/Contractors with any one of the DRDO Labs/NSIC/DOS&D/ _________________________ of Applic atI ons
traveller
SSI for supply of slnilt stores I
er executlon at similer lob are exempted from Dato of lssue of lender Onor alterl3Jul2009
o26JArtl Bu- force
15.o oo9 I5.o 2oo9 paying cost of Tender documents and EM!). Hawever ee w w re tra-
5. Last Date of Issue of : 16.07.2009
Amb rn e 5 ,625/- j
of flate of Receipt of Tender Uptol500 hours on OIAug 2IJog Tender Documents
I KEMP1KMSCU2009- 0 lion Certificate has to be enclosed alonawith the ,vauest letter & Techno-
14.07.2009 11 00AM. 11 30AM
Advanced Cosimwrcl al Bid for d ufli exeinollon io wlthth the remalsilon for 1. Applications not accompanied by requisite value DO/Banker ’s Cheque 6. Tender Opening Date , 19.08.2009 at 03.00 at MSF, Ishapore
Life Saving nd Documente I *11be relectot
er BIds
Ambulances towards Cost of Tender shal l not be considered for issue of tender. lime and Place
_______________ ________ ________ ________ ________
5. The completed Tender Docimients are to be deposited by date es nor
Tender document can be purchased from the office of the Managing detsis aiven in the above teblo bY 1 O Hrs. I1Sfl. Late! Delayed Tendeis 2. Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclose necessary 7. Tender Documents Fee : Ra. 1,000.00 on-refundable) lhrouqh D.D.
Director , Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd on any working day for whatsoever reasons will nut be coesidered. documents to prove their eligibil ity as given above including Affidavit for no NOTE; (1) All ralevant details,Detailed Scope of Work, Terms & Conditions
during the period (both days inclusive) from 10.00 A.M to 5.00 P.M on 6. If the tender opening date happens to be a closed holiday,the tenders will be recove ry outstanding. etc. are available on website www.tendera.oov.in and can be
payment of tender document cost (inclusive of all taxes)by way of demand opened at the sanie lime on next woridog day. Only Tecbno-Conimercial 3. In case of rejection of applicahon for issue of tender,the applicant shall be
draft drawn in favour of Managing Director , Kerala Medical Services Bids will be opened on the tender opening date. Price Bids will he opened refunded the cost ofterider.Howeveç Contractor may appealto next Higher direcly downloadedfrom there.
at a later date. EngIneer Authority I.e. ChIef Engineer (Navy), Mimibal for rejection of his (ID All correspondence should be addressed to: The Gen eral
Corporation Limited , payable at Thiruvananthapuram. Alternatively,
the tender documents can be downloaded from the website:
7. ClarIfications If any may be sought by telefaidng to the numbec #91-040 application for issue of tender whose decision shall be final and binding Manager, Metal & Steel Factory, Ishapore , P.0.-Nawabganj,
24343373/24341439. and Contractor shall not be entitled to any compensation whatsoeverfir North-24, Parganas, Pin-743144, West Bengal (Fax: (033)
www.arogyakeralam.gov.in. KMSCL is not responsible for delay or 8. DIrectoi DMRL ,Hyderabad reserves the right to cancel/amend the Tender non-Issue of tender. 25938333/8413, Phone: (033) 25938402-07) and not to any
loss in transit when tender documents are sent by post. The tender at any stage without assigning any reason. Officer by name.
document is not transferrab le. ScIentist ‘F’ 4. The above details are also available on MES website:www.mes.uov.in
SdI- for DIRB TOR and Indian Trade Journal. Full Notice of Tender lAFW-2162 & Enlistment SW- (1K. DATTA)
Thiruvananthapuram DR. DINESH ARORA lAS DP 1L,HYDERABAD Criteria is available in all Offices of MES and also on MES website. AddI General Manager
2525 - 2009
- 06 MANAGING DIRECTOR davp 10301/11/0123/0910 For & on Behalf of the President of India davp 10102/11/036510910 davp 10201/11/0245/0910 For General Manager