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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 44
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www.morungexpress.com
All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions
Kejriwal violated oath of CM’s office: Shinde [ PAGE 8]
Workshop for people living with HIV/ AIDS
Kohima prepares for visit of Thai Princess [ PAGE 2]
God is finishing His mission now
[ PAGE 05]
[ PAGE 7]
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Sunday, February 16, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Leonardo da Vinci
Australia crush South Africa by 281 runs [ PAGE 12]
All nagas must be given equal opportunities: rio
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Newmei News Network Tamenglong | February 15
What I you miss most? Well, I miss my wife and kids but I miss fresh air the most.
President’s rule in Delhi NEW DElHI, FEBRUARY 15 (IANS): The union cabinet Saturday decided to impose president’s rule in Delhi following the resignation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his council of ministers Friday. The assembly will now be kept in suspended animation. Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung had earlier recommended that Delhi be placed under president’s rule by keeping the legislature under suspended animation. The 49-day old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government resigned Friday over the failure to table the Jan Lokpal bill in the assembly. The bill was a poll promise of the AAP. The AAP had recommended to Jung to dissolve the Delhi assembly and hold fresh polls. An official notification is likely to be issued Sunday.
Severe cold wave hits Kohima KoHIMA, FEBRUARY 15 (MEXN): Nagaland state capital, Kohima is reeling under a severe cold wave since early Saturday morning. The cold wave was accompanied by a drizzle, forcing many denizens to stay indoors due to the low temperature, which came down to a minimum of 4 degrees Celsius as of Saturday. In Dimapur as well, the minimum temperature came down to 11 degrees Celsius, accompanied by a steady drizzle on Saturday.
Special cell, helpline launched for people from the North East
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NEW DElHI, FEBRUARY 15 (IANS): The Delhi Police Saturday announced the setting up of a special cell and a helpline for northeast people here. The helpline - 1093 - will have five lines in the police control room and promises to “immediately” redress the grievances of the northeast people. “This exclusive helpline will redress issues related to northeast people immediately,” Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said. In addition, a special cell was also constituted for people from the northeast. “It will be supervised by Kime Kaming, deputy commissioner of police (fourth battalion)... Working under the close supervision of Robin Hiboo, joint commissioner, who is the chief coordinator,” said Bassi.
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Members of the North East Students Organization (NESO) hold placards as they participate in a protest in Gauhati. A memorial servie for Nido Tania, who was assaulted in New Delhi and succumbed to his injuries, was held at the Indian capital on Saturday. The gathering at the memorial service urged the government to take urgent steps to curb discrimination against people from the North East. (AP Photo)
naga Hoho appeals for unity DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 15 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has appealed for unity of all Naga Political Groups. A press note from the Naga Hoho Vice President and General Secretary stated that “time has come for every Naga to retrospect the challenging task and situation that is confronting our society, which needs strong resolution to achieve the desired dream.” Naga Hoho lamented that the reconciliation process among the Naga Political Groups, which is going on under the banner of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, “is yet to come to a logical conclusion.” It urged all mass based civil organizations to play a major role
Time for strong resolution to achieve the desired dream in bringing forth unity and called upon the Naga political Groups to extend their sincere co-operation and political maturity. Naga Hoho stated that the reconciliation process among the Naga Political Groups “is not only to put on halt towards fratricidal killings and unwarranted situations,” and added that ceaseless joint efforts must be made to resolve the Indo- Naga political issue. Stating that “Naga national aspiration is the foundation of our people and it will remain thus un-
til it is achieved,” the Naga Hoho viewed that there should be “no conflict of interest on the question, when dealing with national aspiration and the struggle of our nationhood.” It further questioned why the “Naga family with one goal and aspiration cannot come together and work under one umbrella for the peoples cause.” Asserting that nation building is a continuous process, the Naga Hoho iterated that “it is for the people to understand the possibility to live together
as one people, one nation.” It then appealed for all tribe leaders to selflessly work towards bringing about peace and unity among the Naga National groups. “. . . There are various divisive forces in and outside the Naga family to defeat our desired goals and those forces are tirelessly working against our national struggle,” it added. The Naga Hoho stated that “it is time for all Nagas to unite and put our heads together to work for the common aspiration.” “History speaks that nations may fall but can be rebuilt as long as the people are united and steadfast with devotion and vigour,” it added.
“Meiteis are our neighbors; they are not our enemies and we should remain that way,” said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today. He stated this while speaking as the Chief Guest at the Manipur Naga’s seed sowing festival, Lui-Ngai-Ni, in Tamenglong district headquarter on Saturday. Rio termed it very unfortunate that “Nagas are divided into different administrative zones.” However, he added that all Nagas, “regardless of their place of residence, must be given equal rights and opportunities as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.” He donated Rs 2 lakhs to the celebrating committee of the festival. It may be noted that Rio’s visit to Manipur was marred with confusion as the Manipur state government had said on Friday said that it was not informed about the Nagaland Chief Minister’s visit to the state. On the other hand, the Nagaland CM’s media advisor had told NNN that they had informed the Manipur Government about the visit. Also speaking at the occasion, President of the United Naga Council (UNC) L Adani urged the non-Naga communities to work towards promoting mutual respect for each other’s history and situation, “so that every people can live with dignity and honor.” “We have always main-
Lui-Ngai-Ni celebrated in Tamenglong
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio speaking at the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival of the Manipur Nagas in Tamenglong on February 15. (NNN Photo)
tained that we are not communal and that we respect the cultures, identities and aspirations of other communities just as we wish that ours is respected,” asserted the UNC President. He stated that the Nagas have “no agenda other than to pursue our quest for political empowerment, that is due to one and all in a democracy.” He assured that while “pursuing what is our due, we do not intend to deprive anybody that is due to them
or their space. By respecting the history, aspirations, identities, ways of life, the land and resources of each other, we can live in peace and in good neighborliness with each other.” He maintained that the UNC would remained vigilantly engaged as far as its demand for an “Alternative Arrangement” and the tripartite talks, involving the Government of India and Government of Manipur and the UNC are concerned. TS Warngam, Vice President of the United Naga Council (UNC) and Convener of the festival’s central organizing committee welcomed all the dignitaries, especially leaders from other communities viz. Zomi, Hmar and Kuki. Nagaland Education Minister, CM Chang and Nagaland Planning Minister, TR Zeliang also attended the function as Guest of Honor and Chief Host respectively. K Guite, Advisor for the Zomi Reunification Organisation; Dr. John Pulamte, President of the Hmar Inpui and Jangsat Haokip, President of the Kuki Inpi Manipur Tamenglong- Jiri Zone attended as the special invitees. Nagas from all parts of Manipur attended the festival, which was declared as a state holiday by the state government. Participating tribes in the festival included the Anal, Chothe, Inpui, Kharam, Lamkang, Mao, Maram, Maring, Monsang, Moyon, Poumei, Tangkhul, Tarao, Thangal and Zeliangrong.
Foothill Road: No suspension of work Board Exams versus ‘Joy of Learning’ Morung Express News Dimapur | February 15
Work on the highly anticipated Foothill Road will continue as scheduled. The uncertainty that followed the fate of the project after the Kyong Hoho’s appeal for “temporary suspension” of work has been laid to rest. The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) convened an emergency meeting on Saturday in Dimapur to hammer out a solution and end the stalemate. The meeting, lasting over five hours, was attended by representatives from the
Kyong Hoho granted 3 days to resolve issue with Class I Contractors Union, Wokha
Kyong Hoho and Class I Contractors Union, Wokha. The Kyong Hoho was led by its chairman, Yansathung Jami. The Kyong Hoho had in a statement, which was published in the local dailies, appealed that work be temporarily suspended pending a solution to the Class I Contractors Union, Wokha contending that none of its members were allotted work in the project. This contention was at the crux of discussions at to-
day’s meeting. The house finally resolved that the Kyong Hoho would take up the matter as early as possible with the Class I contractors Union, Wokha to reconsider its contention, keeping in mind the interest and survival of the project. Considering the gravity of the issue, the Kyong Hoho requested that it be given ample time to sort out the differences with the contractors.
The NFHRCC after the meeting stated, “After much deliberation, the NFHRCC along with the Kyong Hoho in conjunction with the Class I Contractors Union, Wokha, the committee after examining the pros and cons of the issue granted three days to the Kyong Hoho to solve the pertaining issue which is still pending before the Kyong Hoho.” Meanwhile, the Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation asserted its commitment to the completion of the road, declaring that it will not allow any party or individual to interfere with the progress of the project.
‘NORTH EAST RISING’ Re-energize ‘the spirit of giving’
GUWAHATI, FEBRUARY 15 (MExN): Kunti Bora, from Nagaon formed 22 self help groups, encompassing hundreds of women in 6 districts of Assam. Lalthanzami, from Mizoram is a victim of domestic violence, who has set up a piggery project to help other violence affected women of her region. Prosper Marak, from Meghalaya brought together the youths of Garo Hills to stop illegal coal mining and deforestation. These are a few names in a long list of inspirational people, making efforts to bring positive change in the North East. To further the cause of such change-makers, Foundation for Social Transformation (FST), will launch the North East Rising Campaign on February 17. A press note from FST informed that this campaign is an effort to re-energize “the
spirit of giving” in the region for the development and peace. FST says that it is an initiative to garner people’s support from the region as well as around the world by crowd-funding financial support for 7 “grass-root change-makers” from the North East. The FST press note cited its Executive Director, Gayatri Buragohain as saying, “Community giving is an age old tradition in the North East where the community has always pitched in with whatever they can to support those in their community who are facing a calamity or hard times. North East Rising Campaign is a novel way to re-energise this custom in an organised manner.” Under this campaign, FST will choose seven “grass-root changemakers” from the seven NE states and provide them financial support
as well as capacity building needed in their work for a period of one year. FST stated that the North East is a “colourful mosaic of rich natural and human resources, and unique social and cultural practices of a variety of indigenous communities.” However, it lamented that owing to the challenges of being regarded as a frontier region and due to decades of conflict, the region has suffered immense loss of resources and has lagged behind the rest of India in many development indices. FST expressed confidence that through a little financial support, the work of such “change-makers” can be scaled up by many folds and enable them to emerge as new leaders of the region, “who will be pioneers of peace building too.” Since its inception in 2008, FST has provided grants to 54 partners from the seven NE states.
Students look at their question papers after appearing for their board examinations, conducted by the Nagaland Board for School Education in Dimapur on February 12. The maddening rush to compete for the top has taken away the joy of learning for many students. (Photo by Manen Aier)
Naro Longchar Kohima | February 15
With the NBSE Class 10 board examinations underway, thousands of students across Nagaland state are feeling the immense societal pressure and expectation to perform well. For most, the road that has led them to the hard cold bench and desk of the examination hall has been a long and tedious one. Dozens of tests, pre-selections and selections have grilled and prepared them for this defining moment of their lives. Along the way, fellow comrades who did not fare well in the ‘drilling sessions’ were dropped and only the competent ones have moved on towards the finale. Board exams have always been a determining factor of a school and now with the upsurge of so many private schools in recent years, competition has become fiercer. Most schools prepare their students for the board exams from the
beginning of the year, classes start as early as January for the 10th standards. By the time they sit for the actual board exams, students have undergone so many tests that appearing it becomes monotonous and robotic for them. The pressure of the board exams is even more on the students of reputed schools who have had cent percent results consecutively for years. These schools have a reputation to uphold and failure is not an option for the students. In such cases some students develop an examination fear psychosis, learning becomes a task and they lose their ability to enjoy learning. “The joy of learning is more likely to make an appearance when teachers permit students to work at their own level and their own pace, avoiding making comparisons among students. Children should be taught to evaluate and monitor their own learning so they can tell when they’re
making progress. Some pupils will take longer than others,” quotes Finnish educators, Rantala and Määttä. For some schools, the filtration process for the board exams begin early. “Only those students who are competent and are “sure” to get through the board exams are promoted to the 10th standard,” says the teacher of a reputed private school in Kohima. A school’s credibility is established through the board exam results, examination at the end becomes more school centric and less about the students. Once the results are out, the primary focus is on which school holds the most positions in the coveted top fifty and which school has cent percent results. The joy of learning is lost somewhere along the way in this mad craze of competition. What is the purpose of such examinations then? Are the board examinations just a means of getting into good institutions for the students? Or is it a means of establishing the credibility of schools? Are the learning abilities of students being compromised in the process? “Developing a capacity for joy is a fundamental human right in education,” says Annie Murphy Paul. The existing code of conduct of examination has to be seriously questioned and evaluated to bring back the joy of learning into classrooms where there is more to education than just sitting for exams and getting good grades.
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