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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 52
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it
ABCD of corruption is Congress identity: Modi [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dimapur | February 23
The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Is Naga society doing enough to create, develop and strengthen its democratic culture? Yes
no
Others
Will an anti-racism law protect the rights of people from north East? Yes
06% 89%
no Others
05%
Details on page 7
NFHRCC response to PWD (W&H) Full text on page 4
Assamese woman gang-raped in Delhi
How do you translate words like “protein” or “biodiversity” in Nagamese or in a Naga language? Statistics reveal a high literacy rate in Nagaland. However, functional illiteracy remains high. A functional illiterate person is one who does not have adequate reading and writing skills to “manage daily living and employment tasks.” A science teacher in a rural Government High School in Nagaland narrates, “My biggest challenge is teaching Physics… it is painful to explain terms like ‘Aerodynamics’ or ‘Simple Harmonic Motion’. Science is about everything we do, see, touch and feel… it is interesting for children but when the curriculum is theoretical, it becomes so abstract that children cannot relate to the concepts no matter how much you lecture… you cannot expect a child to understand atoms, electrons and protons by memorizing textbooks. Besides, the only equipment in the lab is an old microscope. These are
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Ukraine Parliament speaker takes prez powers [ PAGE 9]
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children of illiterate parents, and they hardly understand English even in Class 10. We have to start form fundamentals.” For example, she says, “An exam question was, ‘what is the root cause of pollution?’, and the student’s answer was ‘Papaya Root’!” An NRHM official describes, “We try to convey meanings using examples, diagrams… like the process of childbirth and the functions of the reproductive system. It gets difficult to find equivalent words for scientific terms… we often use names of objects they can relate to such as ‘Aloo’” According to a Naga woman farmer, “we got this new ‘Seed Packet’ and were informed that it has instructions at the back in English, I don’t know what it says… I can hardly write my name,” holding a packet that also read “Treated with Thiram Poison.” When reading ‘Expiry Date’ on medicine bottles has no meaning to an illiterate person, it is futile to make her read about the risk of pesticide residues in food or to become an ex-
Replace defensive Dhoni with aggressive Kohli: Ian [ PAGE 10]
DiMaPur, February 23 (MexN): The Action Committee against Unabated Taxation Nagaland has stated that “as far as unabated taxations are concerned, all factions stand sullied.” ACAUT Nagaland, in a press note, stated that the “NNC/ FGN stand that they do not collect taxes but receives only free will donations deserves ridicule.” It further termed it unfortunate that the NNC/FGN do “not believe in the unification of the warring NPGs.” It appreciated the Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry for their appeal to the NPGs not to tax the business community of Kohima. It added that the KCCI is “right in pointing out that unabated taxation has reached sickening levels in Nagaland” and that ACAUT Nagaland “fully
endorses the stand of KCCI that unabated taxation taking place under coercion should not take place.” It reiterated its appeal for the Naga public not to pay tax to any of the NPGs as long as the factions remain divided. It further appealed to the chamber of commerce of all districts to take a stand similar to the one taken by KCCI. Quoting Victor Hugo, ACAUT Nagaland said that, “there is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world; and that is, an idea whose time has come.” It added that, “perhaps this stands true for Nagas today.” Stating that Naga future and aspiration lies in unity and that it is reverberating into the interiors of every Naga villages; the committee called for concerted efforts, “setting
pert in ‘Management Practices’ of nutrition, diseases or new scientific methods of cultivation or livestock rearing. According to the WHO, “Health Literacy means more than being able to read pamphlets… im-
proving people’s access to health information and their capacity to use it effectively… it goes beyond narrow concepts of health education and behaviororiented communication, and addresses environmental, political and so-
aside each other’s differences and mistakes for a better future.” It then cautioned, “Uncompromising and self righteous stance by NPG’s at this juncture will neither bring peace nor reconciliation and is an utter disrespect for the feelings of Nagas who yearn for peace and normalcy.” It then further appealed for the various NPGs to desist from targeting individuals airing facts in public interest. Citing that of late, “NPGs have made a habit of targeting moral voices such as Khekiye Sema and T. Solo,” it stated, “Selective victimization of individuals will only serve to further alienate the former from the public.” ACAUT Nagaland further condemned “any form of intimidations to muzzle voices.”
DiMaPur, February 23 (MexN): The Nagaland state unit of the BJP today stressed on the urgent need to improve development and infrastructure in the border between Nagaland and Myanmar, for peace and stability in the region. The BJP, in a press note, stated that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s recent visit to Myanmar has “highlighted the problems and plight of Nagas in Myanmar.” Terming the CM’s visit as “historic,” the BJP said that the visit will help to enhance India-Myanmar bilateral ties and bring people of both the countries closer. Meanwhile, the party appealed for the Government of India and the Prime Minister to continue to “extend help and support to the suffering Naga people in Myanmar, in order to bring more development and progress.”
Opinion poll suggests BJP will emerge as single largest party
in the survey, conducted in February, picked Modi as their favourite candidate for prime minister, four points more than in the agency’s January survey. Gandhi trailed with a rating of 18 percent, though he picked up three percentage points from January. The poll predicted the BJP and its allies would win 236 of 543 seats at stake in parliament’s lower house, while the Congress and its allies would drop to double-digits. More than 800 million people are eligible to vote in the world’s largest democratic exercise to choose a new government. India, Asia’s third largest economy, is growing at its slowest clip in a decade, choking off
cial factors that determine health.” A Government official once said in frustration, “We give so many trainings every year, yet these villagers fail to incorporate these practices… they are lazy and useless, no matter how much
we teach, they just go back to the old methods… nowadays they just attend to collect their TA/DA; it’s all about greed and money now!” Whereas, villagers grumble, “These Government people are making money out of us. They come and train us for one day, we hardly understand what they’re saying but out of politeness we sit, sometimes sleep in the class. After they leave, maybe we can practice 5 of the 100 things taught… yet they expect us to be experts and rich like them!” For both the learner and the instructor, communication barriers hinder productivity, cause conflicts and misunderstandings, and disable them from achieving their targets. For a Naga villager who never attended ‘School’ or cannot make sense of the Roman Alphabet--the only script used in Nagaland-- it is a mammoth task to comprehend not just the English words thrown around but the concepts and ideas of any new knowledge system. A linguistics scholar says, “It is sad, this is to do with the education system.
It is not because people don’t have the ability to understand; sometimes it is also their attitude towards the [foreign] language.” Our system of information dissemination needs complete reformation. An illiterate Naga villager who has never even been to Dimapur or Kohima can only be as productive as the body of knowledge she possesses; her worldview formed through the language she understands. What is the difference between an illiterate Naga villager and an illiterate English farmer? One has the advantage of language even if she cannot read and write. If all information a villager, rural student, illiterate mothers receive is in their own language, with related cultural concepts, it would be easier for them to comprehend ideas and meanings. Our rural development programs need an approach that is designed from the target learner’s perspective rather than “this will work for you” instructions. Productivity can increase only if the learner is made capable first to understand what is taught.
DiMaPur, February 23 (MexN): The Adivasi National Convention Committee (ANCC) and the All Adivasi Students’ Asso¬ciation of Assam (AASAA) have called for a 48 hour Assam bandh from 5:00 pm on February 24 to 5:00 PM on February 26. A press note from the AASAA, Karbi Anglong district informed that the bandh is being calledto protest the visit of Congress Leader, Rahul Gandhi. ANCC
and AASAA have appealed to all Adivasi social organizations to extend their support and make the 48 hour bandh a success. The two bodies expressed “sentiments of betrayal from both the central and state Governments on the matter of scheduling the Adivasi tribes of Assam (Santhal, Oraon, Munda, Kol, Bhils, Ho, Kharia etc) before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.” “The Govern-
ment has no commitment to safe guard and protect the community socially, economically and politically,” it added. The bodies appealed for transport agencies, private parties and social bodies in Assam and Nagaland to extend their support to the Adivasis by keeping their vehicles off the roads. The bandh will however exempt medical situations, school college exams, milk and water supply etc.
A woman is seen here in a village near Pungro, Kiphire, coming back from a hard day’s work at her field. As functional illiteracy in Nagaland remains high, people are unable to draw from the wealth of information and knowledge available in today’s world.
Help nagas in Myanmar: BJP
‘BJP and allies could bag 236 seats’
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–Margaret Fuller
KNSK appeals for attention towards Civil Hospital Mon
On “unabated taxations, all factions stand sullied”
New Delhi, February 23 (iaNS): A 21-yearold Assamese woman was raped here by two men who have been arrested, police said Sunday. One of the men was known to the woman who recently came to Delhi. Police said she was assaulted at a house in Mahipalpur in south Delhi Saturday afternoon. As the accused escaped, the woman came out of the house and alerted a passerby before police came in. Police said the accused - Rahul and Harun - were arrested late Saturday. According to a police officer, Rahul, who also belongs to Assam, brought the woman to Delhi on the pretext of marrying her. He had befriended her a year ago. “A few days back they came to Delhi and took a room on rent at Mahipalpur where she was assaulted by Rahul New Delhi, Februand Harun,” said the officer. ary 23 (reuterS): Opposition leader Narendra Modi has widened his lead as candidate to become India’s prime minister and his Hindu nationalist New Delhi, Febru- Bharatiya Janata Party is ary 23 (iaNS): India’s likely to emerge as the sinelectoral size has grown gle largest party in coming 34.45 percent from 1998 elections, according to a to reach a whopping 814.5 new opinion poll. million now, an official The BJP also picked up statement said Sunday. The support in Uttar Pradesh country had 605.8 million and is set to get half the seats voters in 1998. Overall, in the heartland state which Dadra and Nagar Haveli sends the largest number of at 53.9 percent registered lawmakers to parliament, the highest growth rate in according to the ABP Newsthe number of voters from Nielsen poll forecast, pub2004 to 2014, followed by lished on Saturday. Puducherry at 39.1 perThe results present a cent. Among states, West challenge to Rahul Gandhi, Bengal registered the high- the fourth generation memest rate of growth at 31.7 ber of the long-ruling Nehpercent. Andaman and ru-Gandhi dynasty, who is Nicobar Islands registered leading the ruling Congress the lowest growth (6.7 per- party-led coalition in nationcent), followed by Jammu al polls due by May. About and Kashmir at 8.9 percent. 57 per cent of respondents
India now has 814 million voters
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Monday, February 24, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
rural citizens lost in translation: Functional Illiteracy in Nagaland Abokali Jimomi
I know this is hard but, if you want to keep our buildings, lands, red beaconed cars, money, tell the police I died last year!
Kylie Minogue opens up about her romance
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employment opportunities for thousands of young people who join the workforce each month. To rule, a party needs the support of 272 lawmakers. The BJP, even with the biggest number of seats, will have to seek out coalition partners if the poll’s predictions are correct. In Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for 80 seats, the BJP was estimated to win 40, up five from the January poll. The Congress party was expected to win seven seats, a drop of one from last month’s forecast. More than 29,000 people across the country were interviewed for the poll. Local opinion polls have had a mixed record in the past, given the country’s
huge and diverse electorate. Gandhi has struggled to draw support for the Congress party, which is mired by corruption scandals and policy paralysis. He has seemed distant at times, unsure of how to stop the slide in the 129-year-old party’s fortunes. Compared with the relatively untested Gandhi, Modi has years of experience as the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, where he has built a reputation as an efficient, business-savvy administrator. But charges that Modi was complicit in riots in Gujarat that killed at least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, have cast a shadow over his ambitions for the top job. Critics accuse him of not having done enough to stop the violence, allegations he has strenuously denied and have never been proven.
48 hr Assam bandh from today
Fostering Unity & Oneness
Angami
Sekrenyi 2014 25th February The Naga Heritage Village, Kisama
Host: SouTHerN ANgAmi Public orgANiSATioN Chief Guest Chief Host Her royal HigHness PrinCess MaHa CHakri sirindHorn of tHailand
Eno. nEiphiu Rio Hon’ble CHief Minister of nagaland
Highlights
Agri Expo at Bamboo Pavilion Exhibition cum Sale at Bamboo Pavilion Flower Exhibition at Hortiscape The Sekrenyi Chef Competition
Cultural Programs, Indigenous Games and many more...
9:30 A.M Onwards
Issued by : Publicity committee, SAPo
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