23th March 2014

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www.morungexpress.com

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 79

The Morung Express www.morungexpress.com

You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it

BJP is being encroached by outsiders: Jaswant Singh [ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

I have no problem with Land grabbing, breaking and entering. But threatening people! Aren’t you ashamed?

SSA teachers urged to call off strike KOHIMA, MARCH 22 (MExN): The Department of School Education, Nagaland has appealed to the Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) to call off the pen down strike. Urging the SSA teachers to resume their duties, the Principal Director, School Education, Kesonyu Yhome, IAS, in a press release stated, “the Directorate of School Education would like to make this earnest appeal to the SSA teachers to call off the strike since the reason for the inability to release the pending salaries and arrears has been made clear which is an issue beyond the control of the State Government and the Department.” It reiterated the department’s stand that pending salaries will be released “once the GOI sanctions the 2nd Instalment,” while adding, “(it) is imminent.”

NSSATA 2nd phase agitation from today

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KOHIMA, MARCH 22 (MExN): In view of the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Kohima Police has enhanced security measures around the district and also begun the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. In this connection, one company each from the Mizoram Armed Police and the 155 Bn. BSF have already reported to the district for election duties and are engaged in pre-poll duties, stated a press release from SDPO Kohima. It was also informed to all passengers embarking and disembarking from the Lerie Heliport that their baggage and person will be subject to search and frisking. Passengers embarking from Kohima have been requested to report at least one hour before the scheduled flight.

Sunday, March 23, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Samuel Butler

India must do away with her dream to annex Nagaland: FGN president [ PAGE 2]

[ PAGE 11]

Pope warns mobsters they risk going to hell

Chelsea Destroy Arsenal [ PAGE 12]

[ PAGE 9]

World Water Day: ‘If you nagaland have water, you are rich’ KOHIMA, MARCH 22 (MExN): Putting forward water concerns in relation with the theme, “Water and Energy”, the Sustainable Development Forum Nagaland (SDFN) in collaboration with the Regional Centre, National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), Department of Soil & Water Conservation and Department of Power, today made a landmark achievement by organizing World Water Day for the first time in Nagaland State. After thorough deliberations on the papers presented on the topics, “Kohima Water Study”, “Water and Biodiversity”, “Water, Rain and Data”, and “Water and Energy” respectively, the seminar formulated ways forward, suggesting measures and recommendations for the State Government to adopt as a means to improve livelihood of the people, considering its direct impact on humanity. The recommendations, amongst others, stressed on the need to conduct research and studies on women and water, quality of drinking water, study of key catchment areas and river ecosystems in Nagaland while calling for revival of traditional water springs and for each village to have vision documents. It further called upon the State Government to have a concrete plan on rain water harvesting system and frame a State environment and forest policy as the national policy in this regard is not applicable to Naga-

A young girl is seen drawing water from a well for household purposes on Saturday. World Water Day is observed annually on March 22 as a means to recognize the global need to save, conserve and manage water resources for future generations. (Photo by Sungjem Pongen)

land State due to a different land holding system. The seminar also called for the need to check on the random issue of mining license, apart from the development of a policy for equity sharing instead of compensation for land. It recommended that the export of unfinished forest products from the State be stopped, further express-

ing concern on population explosion and the need for the Government to iron out conflicting policies and the need for land use plan and strategy development. Addressing the opening session earlier, Chairperson of Nagaland State Women Commission, Dr. Temsula Ao pointed to the alarming shortage of water worldwide while impress-

ing upon water and its importance in the maintenance and wellbeing of the human species. Quoting a Changki saying, “If you have Water, if you have firewood, you are rich,” she related to the past and added, “the streams from which water is being extracted were nurtured almost as sacred sites and guarded by village laws for its purity.” Stating that our present context of long rows of empty containers begs a host of questions, she asked, “have we been guilty of neglecting to ensure proper distribution of water? Why have we not taken rain harvesting seriously?” She impressed upon that shortage of water can be socially disruptive while elaborating that it could lead to social disruptions. In this regard, she also said, we are faced with manmade shortage and urged that, “we have to introspect and come out with workable solutions.” Former Chief Secretary and Advisor to SDFN, Alemtemshi Jamir IAS remarked that the only source of water in Nagaland is rain. “We have nothing except rain,” he pointed out while noting that despite meager resources, there are conflicts even amongst us. He said that climate change is a reality, therefore urging on the need to start thinking of policies. “Our immediate concern is how to bring in the legal systems,” he emphasized, while adding that, “our forefathers could make a law but then it’s up to us to make such systems available.”

govt turns to nsDZs Nagaland Special Development Zones: resolution introduced Our Correspondent Kohima | March 22

Minister for planning & coordination, evaluation and geology & mining T.R. Zeliang today moved a government resolution to introduce the setting up of Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) at the ongoing assembly session here. Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo, said the resolution will be considered on March 24. The resolution stated that there is an imperative to promote and facilitate faster industrialization and urbanization of Nagaland, “to achieve faster growth and development of the State’s economy, and to generate more employment opportunity for the youths.” The Government of Nagaland has resolved to create NSDZs along the foothills of the State, wherever possible. By tradition, noted the resolution, almost all Naga villages are on hill tops, with serious problems of logistics in providing infrastructure for development such as roads and other means of communication, water supply, electricity etc., and whereas on account of these, the people of the State have to gradually come down to the low lying areas of the State to take advantage of better facilities available there, that could eventually meet the aspirations of the future generations. The resolution stated the exact identification and demarcation of the areas to be included in the NSDZs will be done by the State Government, in consultation with Deputy Commissioners, tribe Hohos and the people/land owners concerned. After this, cadastral survey of land concerned will have to be carried out and a proper system of issuing pattas to land owners have to be established. The resolution said that the State Government will acquire only such lands in the NSDZs that are essentially required for setting up common infrastructure and facilities

needed for proper development and functioning of the NSDZs. In order to make the NSDZs viable, the Nagaland State Government will simultaneously undertake construction of a four lane foot-hill road from Tizit, Mon District, in the North to Khelma, Peren district, in the South, which will provide road connectivity to the NSDZs. The Indian Railways have also approved the construction of a new rail line along the foothills of Nagaland from Dimapur to Tizit, which will also enhance the success and viability of the NSDZs. Therefore, the resolution stated, this House approves the constitution of a Ministerial Committee comprising 9 members in total, headed by the Chief Minister with the Chief Secretary as member-secretary, with powers to co-opt reasonable number of members of the NLA and also a High Powered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary with the Development Commissioner as member-secretary to assist the ministerial committee who shall review the existing State laws/orders/instructions with a view to amending them to make the NSDZs effective. It will also review and reorient the Nagaland State Industrial Policy with a view to liberalizing entry of, and investment from, non-Nagas and other investors in the NSDZs, to formulate a master plan for NSDZs, to issue instructions to all departments to reorient their annual plans in consonance with the master plan for NSDZs, to suggest mechanisms for cadastral survey of lands falling in NSDZ areas and evolving a system of registration of ownership of lands and issue of patta thereof, to evolve as system of permanent settlement for Non-Nagas for the purpose of investment in the NSDZs in all form of special land access permits to be issued by the State Government in this behalf and to liberalize the system of entry and stay of non-Nagas in the NSDZs for the purpose of investment. The House approved that the Ministerial and High Powered Committee shall consult land owners, tribe Hohos, civil societies and others concerned while evolving framework and mechanisms with regard to NSDZs. Assembly news on page 5

PorK ProDUcers tAlK ABoUt: Market, Hygiene, organization

Meanwhile, NSSATA announced that it will launch its second phase of agitation. “The association stands firm on its decision and declares that the 2nd (second) phase of agitation in the form of ‘indefinite boycott of classes’ will start w.e.f 23rd of March, 2014,” stated a press release from the NSSATA. While contending that the authorities should solve the “present issue” if the government is really concerned about students welfare, the NSSATA asserted that it will not accept any second party negotiating on its behalf with Participants at the Commercial Piggery Workshop, organized by Youth Net’s ‘Impact 5000 the government.

Security measures enhanced in Kohima

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by 18’ at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre from March 18-22, 2014

Morung Express News Dimapur | March 22

With the amount of pork meat consumed in Nagaland, its market value is pinned at over Rs. 200 crore annually. The daily consumer market contributes to nearly Rs. 163 crore (taken @ Rs. 170/kg), a season of weddings (only in Dimapur and Kohima) make up over Rs. 25 crore and other festivals (including church functions) make up over Rs. 78 crore. Unfortunately, it is not local pig farmers who primarily benefit from this market. Under ‘Impact 5000 by 18’, meant to build a healthier and vibrant private sector, the Youth Net organized a Commercial Piggery Workshop from March 18-22 at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre, Dimapur in order to bring some of these issues to the fore, and how, in effect, to scale up pig farming in Nagaland. Participating in the workshop were 15 local pig

farmers, mostly from Dimapur, but also from Longleng and Zunheboto. Pig farmers, over the past decade, have identified why the problem remains for local farmers despite the fact that pork is so widely consumed here— high cost of pig feed, high taxation that affects this in Nagaland and the lack of meat processing facilities. This was highlighted at a press conference marking the end of the Workshop by representatives from the Nagaland Pig Farmer’s Association (NPFA), which has a membership of 40 registered pig farmers. The maximum number of pigs bred by any of these farmers is 125. Not many can make it past a few years in pig farming in Nagaland due to pressures from the market—supply pork, however unhygienic, is available for a cheaper price. And where does one buy this local produce of pork meat from? There is no separate market space

created for this in Nagaland till day. Supply pork, on the other hand, which is available aplenty, has raised questions on its hygiene quotient. While Resource Consultant for the Workshop, Dr. Simon Ao, highlighted these issues with a thorough report, pig farmer from Zunheboto, Tukheli Aye, pointed out that “our sicknesses begin from unhygienic breeding of pork—sanitation should begin from here!” She stressed on the need for high standard (hygienic and clean) local markets and need for government subsidies. Other things required are clean slaughter house facilities, technological assistance and technical knowledge to upscale pig farms and infrastructure to expand these farms. The possibilities for self employment here are numerous. “The positive aspect of young people taking pig farming up is that we are ready to change tradi-

tional mindsets and methods,” said Achum Ngullie, a young person who has been taking care of a piggery for nine years now. While the seniors stressed on the need for professional methods of pig farming to be taken up on priority basis, the young lot encouraged the immense prospects the field has in Nagaland. “We request the government and allied departments to help us organize a festival for our produce,” said farmer K. Katy (also general secretary, NPFA), which will encourage local pig farmers. While suggesting educative visits outside the State, he said, “Only by learning and getting perspectives can we grow.” “The method of rearing pigs in Nagaland is quite hygienic. Government schemes and programs need to highlight the commercial aspect of pig rearing instead of the livelihood aspect to help local producers,” suggested Dr. Simon Ao, who could then become “independent.” While there is no doubt that government intervention might be required to boost the circumstances in which local pork producers thrive, it is also essential that “farmers organize themselves,” as Program Lead for the Workshop, Abokali Jimomi highlighted. Organization could be a crucial aspect to implement the above discussions that the Workshop facilitated.

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