C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 227
The Morung Express
“
www.morungexpress.com
[ PAGE 08]
Zhaleo Rio inspects developmental projects
By Sandemo Ngullie
Where are all the coins? 2004 BomB BlASTS: Imkong Walling Dimapur | August 19
Rupee slips below 63 against dollar MUMbAI/NEw DElhI, AUGUST 19 (IANS): The Indian rupee hit another record low Monday, slipping below 63 against a dollar for the first time, and key indices of the stock markets dropped sharply for the second straight session, despite a slew of measures announced by the central bank and the government to defend the currency. The rupee posted its biggest single-day loss in nearly two years. It slumped by 2.3 percent, the biggest loss since Sep 22, 2011. The partially convertible rupee slipped to a new record low of 63.22 against a dollar at the inter-bank foreign exchange market here, surpassing its previous record low of 62.03 hit on Aug 16. The rupee ended the day at a record low of 63.13 against its previous session’s close at 61.65 against a dollar. The Indian currency has lost nearly 15 percent of its value since the beginning of the current financial year. The Indian currency has hit new lows thrice in the past two weeks despite a series of measures announced by the government to curb current account deficit and revive economic growth.
ACAUT condemns extortion demand
C M Y K
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Action Committee against Unabated Taxation has condemned the “demand of Rs 1 Crore from M Longri Pongen by unidentified miscreants and the threat to eliminate his family in case the amount is not paid.” A press note from the Media Cell of the ACAUT expressed alarm that individuals can resort to such anti-social activities with the threat to eliminate the family members and added that it must be taken with utmost seriousness. “At a time when there is a huge public outcry against unabated taxations and anti-social elements, the demand of Rs. 1 Crore is most insulting. Some sinister conspiracy to destroy the victim and family members economically cannot be ruled out either,” the note added. The ACAUT said that it stands by M Longri Pongen and his family and that it is ready to render any help. However it added that under no circumstances should the family succumb to pressure from these miscreants. The ACAUT also urged the police to arrest the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment.
[ PAGE 10]
[ PAGE 09]
Scarcity of small change is ‘artificial’
God will sustain us. God will take away all our potholes. Stop load shedding, give us Good roads....
”
–Adlai E. Stevenson
Pistorius indicted on [ PAGE 02] murder Disgraced Chinese politician Bo charge Xilai to stand trial next week
Naomi Watts says Diana gave permission from ‘beyond the grave’ to play her [ PAGE 11]
reflections
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4
The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum
Train kills 37 pilgrims
C M Y K
Go to a shop in Dimapur, say a grocery store or a pharmacy, and the attendant will nonchalantly hand over a few one-rupee-worth candies to the customer claiming “shortage” of small change. Call it pride or ego—the customer will quietly collect the candies and walk away preferring to keep his or her self-esteem intact rather than bicker over a miniscule sum of unreturned money. This somewhat accepted yet irritable practice of shop-keepers appears to have caught on. However, in modern economics, there is no official decree yet of candy replacing small change as a medium of exchange. That notwithstanding, customers choose to remain mute, while businesses make windfalls over an apparent scarcity of low denomination coins and notes in the market. Dimapur, in particular, has been feeling the pinch of the “shortage of coins” for some years now. While shop-keepers put the blame on scarcity, banks here maintain that enough small denomination coins are being distributed as per the demands of the market. “There is enough change but the apparent reason is that it is not being circulated in the market,” commented SK Srivastava, Assistant General Manager of
State Bank of India, Dimapur Main Branch. Maintaining that the bank is doing its part, Srivastava said that as per the norm, SBI’s Dimapur main branch regularly makes indents (requisition) for small denomination coins from the Reserve Bank of India. The consignments arrive on a quarterly basis. As of now, it is said to be the only bank branch which makes requisitions for coins. Quoting from the bank records, Srivatava disclosed that during the preceding financial year, coins (one, two and five rupee denominations) amounting to Rs. 32 lakh were requisitioned and distributed accordingly. For the current financial year, Rs. 11 lakh in coins have already been distributed. “If properly used (circulated), Rs. 32 lakh in coins would be sufficient for a market like Dimapur,” Srivatava said. “I feel the scarcity is artificial. Maybe
the coins are not being distributed here but going out of the city.” Any person can go to the bank and exchange high denomination notes with coins. However there is a limit. One or few individuals cannot have all the coins they want. To maintain balance of circulation, the amount of coins a bank has in stock has to be distributed adequately against the number of requisitions made. On an average, around 50-60 requisitions for coins of varying amounts are made monthly. So, where does loose change vanish and what is the reason(s) behind the continuing phenomenon? Intrinsic value (worth of the metal) of a coin outweighing its face value (imprinted amount) is said to result in hoarding. Citing one such instance, Srivastava said there was a time, 30 to 40 years back, when coins of a certain denomination (like 5p or 25p coins)
went out of circulation after it became known that the intrinsic value of the coin was more than its face value. But in the present circumstances, the chances of such a phenomenon occurring are highly unlikely, he said. On the possibility of unscrupulous businesses resorting to hoarding of small change, the RBI clearly prohibits it as it will result in artificial scarcity. In the absence of small change, consumers will ultimately be compelled to shell out more. Another possible reason attributed was low ‘velocity of circulation’ of coins. It occurs when distributed coins fail to circulate freely or fail to change hands. To cite one example, it is the practice here in Nagaland for households to maintain cash collection boxes, where mostly small change is accumulated over a certain period of time. These are then donated to churches. And also in the weekly Sunday school classes and Sunday mass service, a sizeable number of coins get accumulated. Then there are temples which usually receive lots of coins. However, it has now become a regular practice for businesses to obtain loose change from churches and temples. It means that coins do not necessarily remain dormant at the churches and temples. Without any plausible explanation coupled with no workable remedy to tide over the apparent scarcity, use of debit and credit cards to make purchases is a viable option. As Srivastava says, it will be beneficial for the buyers as well as the sellers.
9 accused under trial Morung Express News Dimapur | August 19
Trial of the nine accused named in the 2004 Dimapur twin bomb blasts could not take place as scheduled on August 19. After nine years, the police filed charges against nine suspects in connection with the blasts in May this year. Ten suspects were initially rounded up, but one died in police custody before the trial began, reportedly by committing suicide. The first hearing of the case was conducted on July 17 at the Dimapur District and Sessions Court wherein charges against the nine accused were considered. All nine had pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges. The next hearing, scheduled on August 19, could not proceed after the prosecution raised objections to the defence not fulfilling the requisite legal procedures to represent the accused. The defence, in response, argued that all the procedures were duly followed. Since a consensus could not be reached on the matter, the next trial hearing was scheduled for September 16. While many questions remain unanswered on the possible masterminds behind the blasts, the nine accused will face trial based on the strength
of the charges filed by the Special Investigation Team set up to probe the case. Five of the accused are charged of planting the first bomb at the railway station on October 2, 2004. The group, reportedly headed by Hukum Ali, and four others— Abdul Kalam, Shajan Ali, Kudus Ali and Sahabuddin—are accused of causing the first explosion resulting in 21 deaths, leaving 110 injured. The second group led by Babul Hussain and four others – Haizul Ali, Nazimuddin (custodial death), Ranas Ali and Nur Jamal—allegedly planted the second bomb at Hongkong Market, according to the charge filed by the police. The second explosion, which occurred a few minutes after the first, claimed 9 lives while injuring 17 others. These ten people, according to the findings of the SIT, had carried out the blasts at the behest of one Abas Ali, whose real identity remains unknown. According to the charges framed, Abas Ali and two reported-to-be Kachari persons had provided the bombs. The circumstances which led Nazimuddin to reportedly commit suicide also remain unexplained. Nazimuddin and the mysterious Abas Ali are believed to be from the same village.
GPRN/NSCN cautions state agencies Nagaland deserves quality roads: NSF
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): Cautioning the Nagaland state law enforcement agencies, the GPRN/NSCN has asked the former’s workforce to be taught the “basics of the ceasefire ground rules” as the group will have no option but to “shoot at people entering our premises in civilian clothes in the middle of the night and wee hours of the morning and raiding our residences.” The GPRN/NSCN stated this in a press release from its MIP as a response to an alleged raid of its Security Bureau of Intelligence director’s residence by “some Naga Armed police and Special branch personnel in civilian clothing” on the night of
August 10, and the next morning. According to the GPRN/ NSCN, they were “accompanied by two men who had their faces masked.” “The reason is not yet known for the raid, but this certainly has put doubts on our minds as to why the frequent frisking and taking away of our members have been taking place without providing of any proof and evidences on the involvement of activities unfavourable to the so called law-keepers of the state,” the press release read. In light of this, the group has raised some questions: “In which part of the cease-fire agreement does it say that the agreement is applicable only between the
GPRN/NSCN and the Indian para military forces? That the agreement does not include the state law enforcement agencies and they can go on a raiding spree at the residences of our members and arrest them without reasons? Do the Nagaland police, the Special branch and IR have no knowledge of the cease-fire ground rules or that we have supervisory committee who can be approached in case of anything suspicious found in the movement of our members?” In this regard, the GPRN/ NSCN has stated that the state’s law enforcement agencies should deem this as a “vital issue” and “instruct” its “workforce to tread by the rules.”
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today asserted that Nagaland like other states deserve quality roads and that it is high time for the government and the department to give significant importance and seriousness for the development of all season roads. It also urged for a comprehensive policy approach, which needs to be strictly and sincerely followed by the department officials as well as the contractors. With regard to this, the NSF submitted a Representation to the Commissioner & Secretary Works & Housing on August 19 to voice out against the “untold hardship and inconveniences
NRHM workers seek better treatment
faced by the general public owing to the deplorable road condition in our state.” A press note from the NSF stated that roads, like any piece of real estate, are an asset. However, it added that most of the roads in Nagaland are overused and poorly maintained. As such, it added that commuting in such deplorable roads during monsoon season in particular is a great struggle. The NSF lamented that every monsoon season; almost in all the districts, people face untold hardship and difficulties due to landslides and erosion. “We cannot blame the department for inconveniences caused by natural calamity. However, the concerned
department should own moral responsibility for the overall road condition in our state as it is a consequence of non-compliance to technical specifications, inferior quality of materials used for construction and poor maintenance and utter negligence on the part of the government and the department,” it said. The NSF said that it would monitor the proposed road construction projects and schemes and also seriously check on the workmanship of contractors and the quality of materials being used for the construction. The NSF urged upon the people, particularly the land owners, not to be a stumbling blocks in the course of development.
Morung Express News Kohima | August 19
“We are not objecting the new category but our salary should not be reduced. Providing good salary is not going to enhance regularity of employees. People who are not regular in their work will continue to do so,” said a representative of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) employee unit. After the recent notification (on August 9) by the Nagaland government to revise the salaries of NRHM employees and the addition of a new category, NRHM employees from all districts in Nagaland gathered at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare here today and sent a memorandum to the NRHM Mission Director. The employees are all appointed on contract basis under various categories of posts under the State NRHM on a fixed salary with no additional allowances. “Categories should be performance-based. Just because someone works in a remote area does not mean their work will be better,” said a Doctor from Peren. The memorandum
NRHM employees from all districts of Nagaland are seen at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima on August 19. (Morung Photo)
highlighted the revised categorization of health units which adds a new unit, namely Category-D, which will affect the employees’ pay structure because the salary of the employees of the new unit will be enhanced at the expense of the other existing units. The memorandum stated, “Under the State Program Implementation Plan (PIP) 2013-14, there is no proposal for creation of the new unit. And as such, the order dated 3.8.2013 creating Category D as a new health unit was haste and discriminatory against the existing employees, in as much as under the NRHM guidelines, an appointment once made is not transfer-
able from one place to another.” “We are not asking for more. We are satisfied with the present salary but there is no need to reduce our salary. Looking at our workload, it will hamper our performance,” said another Doctor from Jalukie working at a community health centre. “Our health center does not receive sufficient supply of medicines. Although it is 20 bedded, it has only one bed for labour ward. Sometimes there are 3-4 deliveries happening at the same time so we have to deliver at the general ward,” said a nurse working at the Jalukie community health centre. The nurse who is working on a
contract basis receives Rs. 5000 per month. The memorandum further requested the NRHM to immediately repeal the implementation of the revised salary structure, to restore the employees’ salary based on the approval of the State PIP 2013-14, to renew the tenure of the contract period within time and details, to provide benefits of yearly increment, provident funds, life insurance, and maintenance of service books. “They said they will try to maintain the status quo but the decision is yet to be finalized,” said a representative. NRHM employees hope to receive a positive response by the end of August.
C M Y K