27th February 2014

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 55

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www.morungexpress.com

Thursday, February 27, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4

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Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge SC issues arrest warrant against Sahara chief Subrata Roy

Katy Perry Under Fire For Dark Horse Video

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reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Talk held for better implementation of RTI

–Lao Tzu

Mighty Kohli powers India to 6-wicket victory over B’desh

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Militants kill 58 students in school attack

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strengthening relations Indefinite blockade on Nagaland enters day-2 between thais and nagas refrain from newmai news network

He came to tell us he is not involved in any scams .. in advance.

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

Rahul evades question on withdrawal of AFSPA GuwahatI, February 26 (PtI): Evading a direct reply on withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the insurgency problem there like in Assam could be solved through discussions, devolution of power and love. “I am inspired by Mahatma Gandhi that any conflict can be resolved through discussions, love and peace.

So that is my answer,” Congress Vice-President said, sidestepping a specific response on being asked if the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would be withdrawn from Manipur where it has been held responsible for stirring up social disharmonies affecting women and students. “I am really confident that the problem in Manipur like the problem in Assam can be resolved and will be resolved soon,” he said during an interaction with students at the Don Bosco University here. “You cannot solve problems without discussing them and by using force against these people. They must have the power to do what they want to chart out their own destiny and fulfil their dreams. So more power to the youngsters and the people,” he said.

Morung Express news

Dimapur | February 26

Kohima | February 26

The indefinite economic blockade, called by Karbi Anglong based organizations, against Nagaland state, entered its second day on Wednesday, with people in the state resorting to panic buying of commodities.

Two battalions of IRB and large number of police personnel have been deployed in the Nagaland-Assam border near Dimapur. CrPC 144 continues to be promulgated in the areas where the blockades are being enforced by agitators. A large number of youths with placards and banners were also seen on National Highways 29 and 36.

Reports from Karbi Anglong, Assam informed that no untoward incidents have taken place in connection with the agitation.

Sources further reported that there have been no new developments regarding talks to call off the indefinite blockade. The organizations imposing the blockade have allege that their “Nagaland counterpart has already encroached a large area of our forest land and that intruders, cut jungles, construction of roads and houses etc have become the order of the day.” The organizations further allege that when Assam Police had asked the encroachers to evict the areas, “they resorted to fight back.’”

Meanwhile, Shopkeepers in Dimapur informed Newmai News Network that the availability of food items is doubtful if the indefinite economic blockade continues for the next few days.

The blockade has been imposed by the Karbi Students and Youth Council (KSYC), All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU), All

“I will go back and see what can be done in Thailand,” said Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, during her brief visit to the Nagaland University (NU), Meriema Campus on February 26, who has suggested to offer scholarships to Naga students, exchange programs and send Thailand officials to visit Nagaland University.

Professor Lanunungsang, Pro-Vice Chancellor, while giving a brief introduction of NU, considered the Princess’s visit as history in the making for Nagaland University. The program was chaired by Dr. Jano L. Sekhose, Associate Professor while a folk song was presented by students of NU. Brief presentations were given by Professor Akali Sema; Imkonglemba, Commissioner and Secretary, School Education and F P Solo, Commissioner and Secretary, Higher Education.

While presenting on the topic, ‘Agricultural system in Nagaland and Agricultural Education in Nagaland University’, Professor Akali Sema suggested three points for possible Thai-Naga collaboration: skill development programs, turnkey projects and research work for PhD scholars.

Imkonglemba, Commissioner and Secretary, School Education informed that education in Nagaland is 140 years old and that the pre-primary education in Nagaland is way ahead of the Indian level.

FP Solo, Commissioner and Secretary for Higher Education spoke on ‘Higher Education System in Nagaland,’ where he suggested the need for strengthening of existing colleges in Na-

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand receiving traditional naga jewelry during her visit to nagaland University, Meriema Campus on Wednesday.

galand, establishment of more agricultural colleges, engineering and medical colleges and provision of quality education.

The Princess assured the faculty and state officials of future collaborative programs where Nagaland and Thailand can work together, such as invitation of Naga students and teachers to Thailand for interaction with their counterparts, short-term courses and scholarships.

Following the interaction with the faculty, the Princess also inspected classroom teaching modules and interacted with the University’s students.

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of Khonoma at the Damant Memorial by Charles Chasie. On reaching the Khonoma Fort at Semoma, various indigenous activities were exhibited by the villagers.

Princess Sirindhorn also interacted with the village leaders at Thevoma Khel Dahu. She was offered local food items like rice beer and puffed rice. An informal programme was held at Khonoma community hall, where the Princess unveiled the monolith erected in honor of her visit. Village youth sang a song for the Princess, followed by exchange of gifts and mementos.

With DIPR inputs

DIMaPur, February 26 (Mexn): In view of the border dispute between Assam and Nagaland, along the KA area, the Karbi Anglong Peace Forum (KAPF) has appealed for the public and all organizations to refrain from imposing bandhs or blockades. KAPF, in its meeting today, urged the states of Nagaland and Assam to respect their respective territorial integrity. A press note from KAPF President, Pankaj Teron expressed regret at the border issue between the two states and appealed that the issue must be solved between the two state governments.

“The governments must take the steps to resolve the problem instead of civil bodies from both sides,” it asserted.

Stating that the peace forum is against any action that deprives the human rights of any person or peoples, the KAPF said that any misunderstanding or dispute must be addressed through dialogue and mutual respect.

Assam Gurkha Students’ Union (AAGSU), Karbi Unemployed Youth Association (KUYA), KSA, ADSU, AAGSU, Karbi Re-Awakening Organisation (KRAO) and United Students Union of Karbi Anglong (USUKA), in protest against the alleged encroachment of Assam’s territory by people from the Nagaland side of the border.

The Essence of a Naga woman “Ocean of change” in MDH

BP reading in both arms key for healthy heart: Study

new york, February 26 (IanS): In a significant news for blood pressure (BP) patients and doctors alike, researchers have suggested to take BP reading in both arms, rather than the present system of measuring BP using one arm, for better cardiovasvular health. The difference in interarm systolic blood pressure - where both arms are used for BP reading - has now been linked to greater risk of future cardiovascular events. Measuring interarm blood pressure involves taking two readings, one for each arm. Increased interarm systolic blood pressure differences are defined as 10 mmHg or greater. “In this large community-based study, an increased interarm systolic blood pressure difference was found to be present in nearly 10 percent of individuals and is associated with increased levels of traditional cardiovascular risk factors,” explained lead investigator Ido Weinberg from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Thai Princess visits Khonoma The Princess also visited Khonoma on Wednesday. On reaching the British Bungalow, she was officially received by Minister for Social Welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie; Parliamentary Secretary for Justice & Law, Land Revenue, Neikiesalie Nicky Kire; Chief Secretary, Banuo Z. Jamir and village elders. Youth, womenfolk, students and children in traditional attire throughout the village, lined up to welcome the Princess.

Along the way to Khonoma fort, the Princess was briefed on the history of the famous battle

imposing blockades, says KAPf

Young Konyak Naga girls in their traditional fineries. (Photo by: Ato Lemanghu)

naro Longchar Kohima | February 26

Puffing the smoking pipe with red lips from chewing ‘tamul,’ she would walk ever so slowly for any mundane task. But the one thing that I remember distinctly about my grandmother was the traditional jewelry and clothes she adorned herself with. Her ears lobes drooped down low from the weight of the heavy white traditional earrings; the traditional Ao necklace (red bead with alternate bell shaped brass) around her neck and the red and blue Ao mekhala wrapped around her waist was her everyday getup. As a child I would stare at her sagging earlobes, and wonder if it hurt and why she would go to such lengths for an earring.

Of course I did not real-

ize then that she was born into an era where the now ‘traditional’ attire was an everyday getup and very much a part of being a naga woman. Wearing a pant or anything other than the mekhala would have been completely unthinkable or even a ‘taboo’. Over the years with the advent of Christianity and ‘modernization,’ the modern Naga woman is but a whisper of what she used to be. In a male dominant society she has blossomed into a strong, independent woman and work efficient outfits have replaced the traditional wear.

Our traditional attire has more of a formal feel and is not very comfortable for everyday wear unlike ‘Jainsem’, the traditional attire of Meghalaya. A two piece garment which is the basic everyday outfit of almost all women folk there and ‘Jain-

kyrshah’, a checkered cotton cloth knotted over one shoulder; sort of an improvised apron for home wear.

With changing times, comes a need to adapt. If history is any indication, civilizations have been lost or suppressed because they refused to change and instead clung on to their traditional ways.

Having said that, our past and our traditions constitute our identity and preserving them is preserving ‘who we are’. Many in the younger generation do not even know how to wrap a mekhala around their waist or to walk around wearing it.

Wearing traditional attires should not become a societal issue imposed through some authority, a certain group or an organization. One should wear it because one wants to and is proud of what it stands for.

It should come from within a home; simple things like a mother teaching her daughter on how to wear a mekhala; passing on the rich tradition, so that years down the line, things do not come to such a point that an internet search on ‘how to wear a mekhala’ is needed.

Maybe my grandmother went to the lengths of wearing the heavy traditional earrings and the uncomfortable getup everyday because she was used to it or maybe because it was her way of clinging on to the past when everything around her was changing, replaced by something alien. Or maybe the getup was a part of who she was, the essence of a complete Naga woman.

MSF hands over management of Mon district Hospital; urges health department to keep commitments and ensure standards

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Imkong L Imchen, with other dignitaries at the presentation of symbolic handover keys for the Mon District Hospital on February 26.

Mon, February 26 (Mexn): Wednesday marked a milestone for the Mon District Hospital, as Medecins sans Frontieres/ Doctors without Borders (MSF) handed back the management responsibility for the hospital to the Nagaland state Department of Health and Family welfare (DoH&FW).

MSF has been partnering with the DoH&FW since 2010, in tireless efforts to improve health services in the said hospital by providing additional local and international medical staff and technicians, free medicines and laboratory tests, medical equipment, including a state of the art digital X-Ray machine.

Minister for Health

and Family Welfare, Imkong L Imchen, speaking on the occasion, stated that there has been an “ocean of change” in the hospital, since the collaboration between MSF and the DoH&FW. Acknowledging the efforts of MSF, Imkong expressed that “our doctors will rise to the occasion and provide a good delivery system for people of Mon, who deserve good healthcare system as others.” “I do not see any reason why we can’t be successful after MSF leaves us,” he added.

Luke Arend, Country Director of MSF noted that this partnership has “brought big improvements to the hospital over the last four years.” Con-

gratulating everyone involved in the project, he urged the DoH&FW to “ensure the supply of the agreed essential medicines as our provision stops, to contract the 28 additional staff committed previously by DoH&FW as soon as possible, and to find a solution for the power and water supply problems in the hospital, as fuelling the generator and trucking the water will be difficult to sustain.”

As part of their efforts, MSF has worked towards integration of laboratory services, upgrading the waste disposal and water provisioning systems, facilitating quality blood transfusion services and setting up a tirage system

in the hospital.

MSF has supported free ambulance services for referrals, refurbished parts of the hospital and implemented standardised medical and management procedures to improve the working practices and culture. It has also built a chest ward for treating sensitive Tuberculosis and for the more severe form of drug resistant Tuberculosis, as well as increased the capacity of the hospital from 50 to almost 90 beds, informed a press note from MSF. The note further cited a recent patient satisfaction survey conducted in the hospital in January 2014, where 80% of respondents said that “they feel good about the level of treatment that they received in the hospital”.

89% of respondents said that “they would recommend this hospitaltootherfamilymembers and friends”.

MSF will continue to provide technical support until the end of June 2014, to ensure stabilization and smooth operation of the hospital.

The handover ceremony was also attended by Angau I. Thou, Deputy Commissioner, Mon; Dr Neiphi Kire, Principal Director, DoH&FW; Dr Neikietuo Chiesotsu, NRHM Mission Director; Dr U K Konyak Chief Medical Officer, Mon; Dr. Leamnyei, Medical Superintendent Mon District Hospital and Manlip Konyak, Konyak Union President.

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Dimapur

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Thursday 27 February 2014

The Morung Express C

Talk held for better implementation of RTI

Pensioners informed on GPF Final payment cases

Dimapur, February 26 (Dipr): Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland, Lalhuma IAS (Retd) along with his colleagues, Information Commissioner, Kevinino Meru and Bukchen Phom held a sensitization cum interaction session on RTI with officials of the Directorates/Head Offices, District Officials, PSUB and NGOs/CSOs at DC’s Conference hall, Dimapur on February 25.

Speaking at the interactive session Lalhuma stressed on the importance of RTI discussion for better implementation of RTI. Explaining with the aid of power point presentation, he gave an overview of RTI stating that it was started in Sweden in the year 1776 which was then known as the Freedom of Information (FOI). In India, it was passed in the parliament enacted only by the year 2005 and as of today there are 82 coun-

tries which have passed the FOI Laws, he informed and further said that where there are FOI Laws there is more transparency and accountability.

The objective of RTI is to secure both transparency and accountability, to grant statutory RTI for every citizen and contain corruption and Public authorities’ attitude to information seekers should always be courteous and friendly, he reminded.

Pointing out that RTI Application has been increasing year by year, he observed that public are getting more and more aware. CIC also stressed on the importance of sensitising NGOs in our state in order to read the benefits of RTI implementation. A short feature film on RTI and theme song was also screened which was followed by an interactive session. ADC Dimapur Tarep Imchen chaired the pro- Two elderly women seat along as they dry the harvested paddy out in the sun in Thetsumi village of Phek district. (Morung gram.

Photo/Chizokho Vero)

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): All retired Nagaland state government officials are informed that GPF Final payment cases settled upto the month of January 2014 have been uploaded on the AG Nagaland website.

Pensioners may log on to the Office of Account General, Kohima web-site at www.agnagaland.gov. in by clicking at Felicitation and GPF Felicitation or by directly clicking on the Sticky Note written” Click here to view list of settled GPF final payment cases” An Online Grievance Redressal System is functioning in this Office and can be viewed on this Office website. Any person having grievance with any Entitlement function (GPF and Pension) discharged by the Accountants General can record his/her grievance on-

Kohima, February 26 (mexN): With the aim to facilitate a visual rendering of different views on the state and to build up a collection of meaningful paintings to commemorate the 50th Year of Nagaland Statehood, the Directorate of Art & Culture is organizing a painting competition on the theme ‘Nagaland – Past and Present’ on February 27 at the premises of the State Museum, Kohima.

Preliminary selections of students for the competition have been conducted

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The on-going Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) project at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre has reached a very large section of the farming community in almost all the districts of Nagaland. ICAR Nagaland Centre has been providing various services through this project to the rural mass and in particular to the farming community, like agro-advisories, bulletins, meteorological data etc.

To review the functioning and receive feedback from the farmers about the project, field visits, expert-

and other associated problems. Dr. Ebibeni, SMS, KVK Dimapur, delivered talk on the impact of climate change on livestock and their mitigation strategies. Hifzul Hoque, SRF, NICRA explained about the role of weather in relation to crop diseases. Organic remedial measures were suggested to the problems faced by the farmers for managing crop pests and diseases. Apong, SRF. NICRA and Masters in Extension, facilitated discussions between the farmers and the experts by focusing and prioritizing the actual problems faced by the farmers in these villages.

Painting competition on Kisan Mobile Advisory Service for farming community ‘Nagaland – Past and Present’

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Gloria wins interhigh school essay competition

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Kohima, February 26 (mexN): Gloria from Little Star Higher Secondary School bagged the 1st prize in the inter high school essay competition in observance of National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness week from February 2025, which culminated on Monday. Gloria was awarded with a cash prize of Rs. 5000. The second position was bagged by Hinotoli Zhimomi, Little Star Higher Secondary School and received a cash prize of Rs. 3000. 3rd prize was won

by Ankita, a student of Government High School, Lingrijan who got Rs.2000.

The event was conducted by PHED Rural division, Dimapur, the topic was on, "Water, sanitation and their impact on human health" for schools in and around Dimapur. After the competition, Er.Mersen led the students in taking a pledge not to litter the surrounding, to clean up their own mess as a first step to sanitation. He also encouraged the students to inculcate good and clean habits to live a healthy life. Er. Bursenla SDO, PHED Store division delivered welcome address. Imojungla, Sanitation and Hygiene Consultant, PHED (R) Dimapur pronounced invocation.

by the schools. However, interested youth between 15 and 20 years of age can also participate in the competition under direct entry category on first come first serve basis, Art & Culture Director Vevo Chakhesang stated in a press release.

The Department will provide paper and acrylic colours. Participants should bring their own brushes and other requirements to work.

There will be 5 awards of Rs. 5000 each and 50 tokens of appreciation for works of

outstanding merit. However, the jury will not be bound to select the stipulated number of awards if adequate number of deserving works are not found. The selected works from this painting competition will be exhibited at various places in the state to mark the 50th Anniversary Year of Nagaland Statehood. The competition will be inaugurated by E. E. Pangteang, Minister for Art & Culture after a brief inaugural function on February 27 at the State Museum Premises.

LoNgLeNg, February 26 (mexN): Materials and Spawn Distribution Programme under ‘TSP on Low Cost Mushroom Production Unit’ was organised

by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre on February 21 at KVK office, Longleng.

Chief Guest, T. Wati Aier, Additional Deputy Commissioner,

Longleng graced the programme and distributed the materials.

Different programmes have been undertaken under Tribal Sub Plan by KVK, Longleng for the year 2013-14. Low cost mushroom production unit being one such programme is implemented to the Self Help Groups and individual farmer of the nearby villages.

Low cost mushroom production

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Members of Nagaland Christian Ministries Fellowship care team during the meeting held on February 25 at GYCM.

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The care team of Nagaland Christian Ministries Fellowship (NCMF) meeting was held on February 25 at GYCM. The fellowship was started on October 22, 2013 which was attended by 46 leaders representing 27 different Ministries working in Dimapur.

The care team members are: Olem Jamir

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Pastor Louw Ronquest Pastor David Humphrey Spirit Ablaze Ministry Manning Family Worship Centre South Africa Canada

Place

Date

(President), Rev. Robert (Secretary), Mhonbemo Patton (Treasurer), Rev. J. Thungjamo Lotha (Member), Rev. R. Meren Jamir (Member), Khunitoli Chishi/Paula (Member), Rev. C. Bendang (Member), Hamie Phom (Member), Rev. Mangyang Chang (Member).

To accelerate the work of NCMF website will be

Chris Lindberg Evangelist Canada

Venue

Phek 28 Feb – 02 Mar Phek Town Baptist Church Kohima 04th – 06th Mar Phezoucha Nagamese Baptist Church th

unit have been constructed and materials like boiling pot, Sprayer, Weighing balance, poly bags, rope and spawn have been distributed to the selected groups. Chief Guest of the programme, T. Wati Aier, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Longleng exhorted the gathering.

He called upon the villagers to cooperate with the officials and avail the technologies that are being

NCMF care team meeting held

Organized by SPiRiT AbLAzE MiNiSTRY & SiNAi MiNiSTRY Hosted by Local baptist Churches Speakers:

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the programme, wherein they were told and demonstrated use of the KMAS. Farmers were encouraged to utilize the service to overcome the vagaries of climate, prevent crop failures, yield loss and for betterment of their livelihood.

Sessions began with brief introduction about the project and KMAS by Imtisenla Walling, Technical Officer (GKMS). She highlighted the usefulness and benefit of KMAS, mentioning that the services will help farmers not only increasing productions but also reducing losses due to changing weather patterns

Low cost mushroom production materials distributed

Healing Crusade and Powerful Teaching on Healing

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farmers interactions and awareness programmes are conducted time to time at different locations. Likewise, day long awareness programme was conducted under the project at Dhasiripar village and Dhomokia village under Dimapur district. KMAS – Kisan Mobile Advisory Service an initiative under GKMS provides location – specific and crop, livestock specific farm advisory services to the farming community. It improves farmers’ decision making ability so that they may increase their production and productivity. Altogether 67 farmers had participated in

nd

Timing- 10:00 am and 5:00 pm (Everyday) For details, kindly contact: +19 8974010446/+91 9774049958 or email us at: thesinaiministry@gmail.com

launched soon. A press release issued by NCMF President Olem Jamir informed that all the Ministries in Nagaland, irrespective of denomination (Evangelicals) of tribes, races are all encouraged to contact @ 8730083663 / 9436013621, email: nagalandchristianministries@ gmail.com for necessary information.

made available by the KVK. He also asked the SHGs to work sincerely for the success of the programme as demands for mushroom is very high and market potentiality is available. E. Lireni Kikon, SMS (Plant Protection) delivered brief report of TSP on Low Cost Mushroom Production Unit.

Dr. Lily SMS (Animal Science) chaired the programme and vote

Church repairs public road

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The Lotha Assembly of God Church, Sewak Road, gate II Dimapur conducted massive social work on February 22 on the public road measuring approximately 500 to 600 meters starting from Dobhinala auto parking to Sewak gate II. Church Associate Pastor, Rev Thebemo Yanthan informed that the church board took the initiative to volunteer to repair the road funded by the church treasury. Almost all the church members attended. The release reported that 8 trucks load of sand stone bolters were purchased, one road roller engine and one JCB were hired for the work. The social work began with a prayer by Rev. Moses Murry, Sr. pastor.

of thanks by Lily Rangnamei SMS (Horticulture). The president of the SHGs on their group behalf expressed gratitude to the KVK officials for implementing such programmes to generate additional source of income for the farmers particularly the women groups and to Dr. B.C Deka, Joint Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre for the support.

HMIS awareness prog in Tuensang conducted

tueNsaNg, February 26 (mexN): As part of a yearly sensitization programme, the State Health Society, National Health Mission, Department of Health and Family Welfare conducted block Level awareness training on Mother and Child Tracking System (HMIS) and Health Management Information System (HMIS) for health workers under Tuensang district from February 18 to 20 at CMO conference hall, Tuensang.

Additional Director, Dr M Kithan, Join Director Dr John Sweyeivisa RCH, Dr Tiasunep IDSP- SPO, Easter Lanukumla HMIS Consultant and Abeni Humtsoe MCTS Coordinator were the resource persons. The main aim of the training was to impart and equip health workers to take corrective measures in filling

up of work plan format for HMIS, MCTS and ANC registration.

The topic included early registration of all pregnancies, within the first trimester (before 12th week of pregnancy) and to ensure that every pregnant women makes four Ante natal checkup (ANC),Post natal checkup(PNC) and full Immunization of mother and child. The officer pointed out that irregularity of medical staff in some health unit lead in delaying and non-reporting of HMIS and MCTS report.

The medical directorate team had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Tuensang, Mhabemo Yanthan, who is also the chairman of the District Health Society and lauded the DC for taking up commendable job in the health sector.

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line. Along with text of the grievance, relevant documents can also be uploaded.

Acknowledgments would be provided both via SMS and e-mail, along with status updates via SMS. They can also write to the Deputy Accountant General (A&E) Kahoto J Yepthomi or e-mail at kahoto_j@yahoo.co.in or agaenagaland@cag.gov.in for immediate redressal of their grievances.

This is also to intimate all serving State government officials once again, that a special drive for missing credit adjustment and balance transfer cases has been initiated in this Office w.e.f. September.2013.

Therefore,complaint if any of non-adjustment of missing items may be submitted indicating Reciept number and Account Number for immediate redressal and action at this end.

Legal Aid Clinic launched in Chuchu Town

moKoKchuNg, February 26 (mexN): Inauguration of Legal Aid Clinic, one-day seminar on legal awareness and literacy programme was jointly organised by the Nagaland Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and Chuchuyimlang Kaketshir Telongjem Chuchu Town at Town Hall, Chuchu Town, Mokokchung on February 22.

Addressing the gathering as the main speaker, Niechochiyi Suyi, Additional District & Sessions Judge, Mokokchung said that National Legal Services Authority has set up offices like the front office and legal aid clinic in the form of giving legal services to the poor and marginalized members of the society.

Suyie also informed that free legal aid can be availed by members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, women, children, persons with disability, victims of ethnic violence, industrial workmen, persons in custody and those whose income does not exceed Rs. 1 Lakh, as provided under Article 39-A of the Constitution of India.

Panel lawyers, Temjenkokla, Sentiyanger, Sentilemla, PokyimYaden, TongpangJamir and Temjenmoa presented topics on Lok Adalat, Medical Negligence, RTI, Para-Legal Volunteers, consumer rights and domestic violence.

CKTCT President Pangeryapang chaired the programme, Temjen Pastor CTBC pronounced invocation prayer, welcome address was delivered by Nungsangmar, Vice Chairman, ATC and vote of thanks was given by Tako Jamir, Treasurer CKTCT. Representatives from Chuchuyimlang Village Council, institutions and Government offices also attended the programme.

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Cultural event held in honour of Thai Princess

Jotsoma, February 26 (Dipr): An entertaining and impressive cultural and music programme was organised by the State Government in honour of Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Music and Performing Arts (RCEMPA) Jotsoma on the evening of February 25.

On arrival of the Princess, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio; Minister for Tourism, Art & Culture, & Election, E.E. Pangteang and MLA & Advisor Music Task Force, Khriehu Lezietsu received and escorted the Royal Highness to the Auditorium.

Later, MLA & Advisor (MTF) felicitated Princess

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand with Chief Minister of Nagaland and others during the cultural and music programme of February 25. (DIPR Photo)

Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the seating arena with an Angami Tati and Angami traditional attires.

Before the start of the musical programme, Minister for Tourism, E.E. Pangteang delivered the welcome note, wherein he observed that the visit of

HRH and esteem delegation would lead to more sisterly ties in the near future. Mentioning about the Handshake concert held in Thailand in 2012 with the Rattle and Hum Music of Nagaland, the Nagaland Tourism Minister said that event like this strengthens

the ties between the two countries and desired for up-keeping the proximity by visiting each other.

Stating that Thai’s and Naga’s resemble in physical appearance, food, and culture etc Pangteang was optimistic that the visit of HRH to Nagaland would

draw more Thai’s to visit Nagaland.

The Princess of Thailand and her entourage was entertained with a forty five minute cultural and music performance which included Sekrenyi blessings/ greetings, tribal couples of Nagaland, Zeliang dance, modern fusion music. Nise Meruno and Zowe Madrigal enthralled the visiting guests and the audience with a medley of English, Hindi and Thai songs making the programme all the more entertaining. Other performers included Tetseo sisters, Nagagenous, Naga Orpheus 2013 and finally the curtains of the evening closed with a beautiful presentation by the Nagaland Chamber Choir in traditional attire.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Thursday

27 February 2014

Dimapur

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Quality of education worsens in Assam: ASER IMPHAL, FebRUARy 26 (NNN): The percentage of children (aged 6-14) studying in government schools in the state of Assam is 77.2%, while those in private schools accounts to 17.1%. Those not in schools accounts to 3.8%, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2013. The report was released recently in Imphal.

With the initiative to examine whether basic education is imparted, and to monitor if students in rural areas go to school, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2013), North East India, is the largest annual household survey of children in rural India focused on the status of schooling and basic learning.

The ASER survey facilitated by Pratham, is conducted by local organizations and institutions in each rural district. ASER 2013 reached 550 districts and close to 16,000 villages, 3.3 lakh households, and 6 lakh children

in the age-group 3-16.

With regard to Assam, as far as the reading levels achieved by children is concerned, 13.5 % students studying in Standard III in Assam could not even read letters, 26.8% could read letters but not more than that, 28.5% could read words but could not read Standard I level text or higher. While 19.2% could read Standard I level text but could not read Standard II level text and 12.1% of them could read Standard II texts.

It was however noted that reading level of the Class III students who could read Standard I level text was 44.2% for government, 52.1% for private and 45.1% for both government and private in the year 2010, while in 2013, it was 27.4% for government, 50.5% for private and 31.1% for both government and private schools. For Class V students however, the figures were 42.6% for gov-

ernment, 57% for private and 45.1% for both government and private in the year 2010 while in 2013, it was 31.2% for government, 53% for private and for both government and private schools, it was 34.9%.

The findings for the Standard III children in Assam with arithmetic skills were that: 10.1% children could not even recognize numbers 1-9, 36.2% could recognize numbers up to 9 but not more than that. While 32.7% children could recognize numbers up to 99 but could not do subtraction, 18.4% could perform subtraction but not division, and 2.5% could perform division.

Comparing the arithmetic skills of the children in Assam, it was found that those who could at least do subtraction in government schools studying in Class III were 29.1%, 50.6% for private and 31.8% for both government and private in the year 2010 while in 2013, the fig-

ures were 16.6% in government, 44.1% in private and 21% for both government and private.

Students in Class V who could perform division were figured as 22.6% in government, 36.9% in private and 25.1% for both in 2010. On the other hand, in 2013, it was recorded as 7.9% in government, 27.5% in private and 11.2% for both kinds of schools.

The ASER survey also recorded the percentage of children attending paid tuition in Standard I-V as 12.2% for government schools, 28% for private and 14.4% for all schools in 2010 while in 2013; the figures were 12.2% for government, 30.9% for private and 15.7% for all schools.

Regarding the children of Class I-V attending government schools with no tuition was 75.3% in 2010 and 71% in 2013, while those children attending government schools

UNC leaders to hold talks on 'Alternative Arrangement' DIMAPUR, FebRUARy 26 (NNN): Leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) have rushed back to New Delhi today in connection with the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur outside the state government.

Interestingly, the UNC leaders had returned to Manipur from Delhi last Friday after meeting the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials on the 'Alternative Arrangement' issue. The Naga leaders had held a series of meetings last week with the MHA officials in the national capital following which the Government of India has decided to set up a 'high level committee' (HLC)

on the matter within this week itself.

Sources from New Delhi informed NNN this evening that the UNC leaders had arrived in the national capital to hold further meetings with the MHA officials. "Yes, we are here again today as the need for a 'joint exercise' with the Ministry of Home Affairs has cropped up," confided a UNC source.

Meanwhile, speculation within the Naga circles is that, this time the Government of India has begun its real spade-work on the Alternative Arrangement issue. However, what really goes on in the meetings between the UNC leaders and the Gov-

ernment of India representatives will only be known in the next few days.

On February 6 for the first time, the talks on the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur was held at a 'political level' in Senapati district headquarter involving the Government of India, the Government of Manipur (represented by Manipur cabinet ministers) and the United Naga Council (UNC). That development was significant because the previous six rounds were mere meetings of UNC leaders with bureaucrats for which the Naga body had expressed ire.

UCM reacts to 'Alternative Arrangement' IMPHAL, FebRUARy 26 (NNN): A strong reaction has come from the United Committee Manipur (UCM) with regard to the report that the Government of India is all set to constitute a 'high level committee' (HLC) in connection with the United Naga Council's demand for Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur outside the state government.

Talking to reporters here today, UCM president Y Nabachandra alerted the people of Manipur to be ready to face any eventuality in connection with the outcome of the ongoing 'Alternative Arrangement' talks. Nabachandra said, "Any arrangement designed for any community in Manipur that is a threat to the Manipur territorial and social integrities will be opposed tooth and nail by the people of Manipur," cautioned Nabachandra, adding, "The people will never allow such thing to happen."

UCM president Y Nabachandra's comment was a reaction to Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Shambhu Singh, who had

commented to a news agency in Delhi two days ago that a 'high level committee' is being set up to study in detail the demand for an "alternative arrangement" for the Nagas in Manipur and

recommend practical measures to settle the issue.

UCM, a conglomerate of several civil society organisations of Manipur, was formed in the year 2001 to protect the territory of Manipur.

Regd.No.4092/14 Dated: 26 /02/14

I, Daniel Hriizhiini resident of Punanamei village, Senapati of Manipur do hereby declare that my father’s name Late BESII DANIEL and mother’s name ASOSII BESA is the extended name from B.Daniel and A.Besa.

SWORN BEFORE NOTARY PUBLIC, Dimapur, Nagaland

DECLARATION

Regd.No. 2119/2013

in 2010, increasing to 52.1% in 2013 for the same class.

The pupil-teacher ratios (PTR) in Assam over the years were recorded 33.6% in 2010 and 31.3% in 2013, while the classroom-teacher ratios (CTR) were 67.7% in 2010 and 66.1% in 2013.

Regarding drinking water facility at schools, 23.3% in 2010 and 21.6% in 2013 were recorded with no facility, 16% in 2010 and 12.7% in 2013 were recorded with facility but no drinking water while 60.9% in 2010 and 65.6% in 2013 were recorded with availability of drinking water at schools.

Schools with no toilet facility was 19.1% in 2010 and 7.8% in 2013, schools with unusable toilet facility were recorded as 47.8% in 2010 and 31.3% in 2013 and schools with useable toilets were 33.1% in 2010 and 60.9% in 2013.

Schools with no separate

Dated: 23/02/2014

I, Shri. THEJA TSEIBU RUTSA aged about 17 permanent resident of Keyake P.Khel, Kohima Village, Kohima District declare that: 1. I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That in all my academic records my name has been recorded as THEJA RUTSA. 3. That in fact my full name is THEJA TSEIBU RUTSA as I intend to include my father’s first name to my middle name.

4. That the statement made in the above Para 1 and 4 are true and nothing has been concealed therein.

And I sign this declaration on this 23/02/14.

DEPONENT

Solemnly declared before me by the deponent on 23/02/14.

NOTARY PUBLIC

provision for girls toilet was recorded 52.2% in 2010 and 25.7% in 2013, those with separate provision but locked toilets are 18.5% in 2010 and 16.7% in 2013, while those with separate provision, unlocked but not useable toilets were recorded 15.6% in 2010 and 14.6% in 2013. The useable, separate and unlocked ones were recorded as 13.7% in 2010 and 43% in 2013.

Regarding schools with no library facility in Assam, the records were 79.2% in 2010 and 59.4% in 2013, available libraries but no books used by children on the day of visit to the school was found to be 10.3% in 2010 and 22.3% in 2013 and for those where books in library were used by children on the visit day was 10.5% in 2010 and 18.3% in 2013. Mid-day meal served to children on the day of visit was recorded as 67.3% in 2010 and 68.1% in 2013.

TO LET

Kohima Town opposite old NST

3 Storied Building Ideal For:

Office, Bank, Showroom Contact between 11 AM to 4PM Mobile: 9856327750

V.J’S COACHING CENTRE

DECLARATION Regd.No. 2117/2013

Dated: 23/02/2014

I, Shri. JONATHAN TSEIBU RUTSA aged about 15 permanent resident of Keyake P.Khel, Kohima Village, Kohima District declare that: 1. I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That in all my academic records my name has been recorded as JONATHAN RUTSA. 3. That in fact my full name is JONATHAN TSEIBU RUTSA as I intend to include my father’s first name to my middle name.

4. That the statement made in the above Para 1 and 4 are true and nothing has been concealed therein.

And I sign this declaration on this 23/02/14.

DEPONENT

Solemnly declared before me by the deponent on 23/02/14.

NOTARY PUBLIC

D.C.COURT DUNCAN DIMAPUR

For detail contact: 03862-234272/248605/9436600530 Hostel attached for both boys and girls (separately)

Offered courses AIEEE, AIPMT, NERIST-I & II, JEE (MAIN)

 Regular classes from Monday to Friday  Expert faculty  Printed upto date materials will be provided  Mock test, interacting hrs with students Class starts from 3rd March

DECLARATION Regd. No: 99/14

Date: 26/02/14

I, Shri. G. K.Rengma, s/o. Shri. R. Khetso, r/o.Thahekhu village Block No.1, Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under: 1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India and hailing from Rengma (Naga) community.

2. That I am the sole and absolute owner of land with RCC building situated at Thahkhu village, Block No.1, Dimapur covered by Thahekhu Village Patta bearing TVC/Issue No. 78/2013 and measuring an area of 10, 000 Sq.ft.

3. That I have not gifted any of my properties including my land with residential building situated at Thahekhu village, Block No.1, Dimapur, Nagaland to any persons even to my legitimate children.

4. That any persons dealing with my children or third parties by way of mortgage and sale in regards to my land situated at Thahekhu village without my consent or knowledge is doing at his/her/their own risk and I am not held responsible.

VERIFICATION. I, hereby verify that the statements made in paras 1 to 4 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and beliefs and nothing is concealed therein.

G.K. Rengma.

DECLARANT.

Solemly declare before me.

MAGISTRATE/NOTARY PUBLIC

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF WOMEN DEVELOPMENT NAGALAND :: KOHIMA

NO.DWD/ESTT/IWD/2007/54

Dated Kohima 24th Feb. 2014

ADVERTISEMENT The Department of Women Development in collaboration with Nagaland State Commission for Women and State Resource Centre for empowerment of Women, along with the rest of the World will be celebrating the International Women's Day, from 8th -10th February 2014 at Khouchiezie (Local Ground) to commemorate the social, political and economic achievements of women."Inspiring Change" is the theme for the year 2014 and encourages advocacy for women's advancement in every field.

Beside other activities/programmes during the three (3) day event, platforms will be provided to women artistes to showcase their talents and achievements, With an aim to create awareness on gender issues a Prepared Speech/ Elocution competition will be held to voice out their opinion on the topic: "Women Empowerment: Global Conscience and Local Responsibilities".

SL. ACTIVITY NO 1 Art gallery

AFFIDAVIT

with tuition was 10.4% in 2010 and 9.8% in 2013. For private schools with no tuition, the records were 10.3% in 2010 and 13.2% in 2013. For private schools with tuition, the figures were 4% in 2010 and 5.9% in 2013, for Classes I-V. Regarding school visits in the state, 503 schools with primary classes were visited in 2010, 483 in 2011, 468 in 2012 and 531 in 2013. For Primary and Upper Primary Classes, the visits were numbered 16 in 2010, 27 in 2011, 24 in 2012 and 28 in 2013. Thereby, the total number of schools visited in 2013 was 559 in Assam.

Percentage of schools with total enrolment of 60 students or more was 40.9% in 2010 which decreased to 35% in 2013 for Standard I-IV/V while for those schools where Standard II children were observed sitting with one or more other classes was recorded as 43.8%

CATEGORY

REMARK

Established or upcoming Participation women artistes 2 Prepared speech/ Students of Higher sec- Competition elocution (Topic; ondary and above (Word Women empower- limit 500 ) ment! Global conscience and local responsibilities) 3 Women's Car Rally 18 Years and above.

Contact State Resource Centre For Empowerment of Women

Interested women participants are requested to kindly confirm their participation with the Department on or before 3rd March 2014 for necessary preparation and arrangement.

For further necessary information please contact the Department through; Womendev_nlg@yahoo.in or 9856867772(WDO); 9612382942 (WDO) Sd/(NEILAVOU KEDITSU) Director

NOTICE INVITING TENDERS MILITARY ENGINEER SERVICES

HQ 137 Works Engineers, C/O 99 APO on behalf of President of India invites applications from eligible enlisted Contractors of MES and enlisted/unenlisted Contractors working with other Govt. Departments meeting eligibility criteria for selection of Contractors for issue of tender of under mentioned work:Name of work

: SPECIAL REPAIR TO ROAD FROM MAIN GATE (KALIBARI TCP) UPTO JUNCTION AND ROAD LEADING TO KESHAB NAGAR INCL FOOTPATH, DRAINS ETC AT MASIMPUR MILITARY STATION. Estimated cost of work : Rs. 20.70 Lakhs (Rupees twenty lakhs seventy thousand only) Completion period : 06 (SIX) Months Amount of earnest money : Rs. 41,400/- in the shape of Call Deposit receipt from and of the contractors not en- Scheduled Bank. BGB not acceptable listed with MES Cost of tender : Rs. 500.00 in the shape of DD/Bankers cheque from and Scheduled Bank in favour of GE Silchar Last date of receipt of Ap- : 01 Mar 2014 plications Eligibility Criteria : Class: ‘E’ Category: a(i) (a) For MES Enlisted Contractors (b) For other Contractors : Meeting enlistment criteria of MES with regards to having satisfactory completed requisite value of works, Annual turn over, Working Capital, Fixed Assets, no recovery outstanding in any Govt. Deptt., Security clearance etc.

Date of issue of tender : On or after 03 Mar 2014 Date of receipt of tender : O4 Apr 2014 upto 1200 hours

Note: 1. Applications not accompanied by requisite value of DD/Bankers Cheque towards Cost of Tender shall not be considered for issue of tender.

2. Contractors not enlisted with MES will be required to enclosed necessary documents to prove their eligibility as given above including Affidavit for no recovery outstanding.

3. In case of rejection of application for issue of tender, the applicant shall be refunded the cost of tender. However, contractor may appeal to next higher Engineer Authority i.e CE Shillong Zone for rejection of his application for issue of tender whose decision shall be final and binding. However contractor shall not be entitled to any compensation what so ever for non issue of tender.

4. The above details are also available on MES website. www.mes.gov.in. and Indian Trade Journal. Full Notice of tender IAFW-2162 & Enlistment criteria is available in all office of MES and also on MES website.

Davp: 10102/11/2113/1314

St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama Community College Program at 4th Mile Dimapur

VACANCY

Teaching position for Tourism and Service Industry Qualification:

M.Sc. or B.Sc. (Tourism and Service Industry or Hospitality) Applications may be sent on or before March 8, 2014 tostjosephc@gmail.com For more information call 9436437544

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY of

Lt. Jevotso Lohe

A year has been passed since you left us for your heavenly abode.

We always remember you.

Loving wife & children

C M Y K

4

businEss

Thursday

Dimapur

27 February 2014

The Morung Express

Salary hike in 2014 to be lowest in a decade: Survey

neW DeLHi, February 26 (bL): Employers are expected to go for a 10 per cent salary hike in 2014, according to a new survey. This increase is the lowest India has seen in a decade, except for financial year 2009 when the economy was unstable post the global financial crisis.

The survey conducted

by Aon Hewitt, human resources solutions business of Aon, said that this increase is marginally higher than the projections made in September 2013.

There is reason for cheer for those employed in sectors such as pharmaceutical, chemicals, engineering services and consumer goods. They can

expect hikes between 10 per cent and 12 per cent.

These sectors are largely dependent on domestic economy, with salary costs forming a small percentage of the total cost structure.

However, those in hospitality, retail, and financial services sectors, where salary costs are a significant component of total cost structure, may get less than 10 per cent hike.

The survey added that about 69 per cent of industries have reduced the salary increase budget for 2014 compared with the actual increases paid out in 2013.

Companies are also not hesitating to differentiate sharply on the basis of performance as top perform-

poETry BoYGONE

ers are projected to get an average 15.3 per cent increase in 2014, which is almost 1.5 times the average increment provided to employees meeting expectations.

Anandorup Ghose, Rewards Consulting Practice Leader at Aon Hewitt India, said, “Fundamentally, this is the most distinctive change in the approach towards pay management.

With shrinking pay budgets, companies are providing higher pay increase budgets to better performers.”

Aon Hewitt conducted the survey across 565 firms and data was collected durIndian laborer loads brick debris on a horse as he clears the site for new construcing the period of December An tion in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. Economists predict India’s economy 2013-Januray 2014. would grow 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2014, according to reports. (AP Photo

Air India joins fare war, Google to focus on SMBs in India February 26 Google has already made signif- roughly at $10 billion in 2013 is slashes ticket prices by 30% HyDerabaD, (ianS): The world’s most-used icant investment in India in terms projected to touch $80-100 billion

MuMbai, February 26 (LiveMint): State-run Air India Ltd on Wednesday launched a sale with discounts of about 30% on ticket prices on advance bookings, joining a fare war triggered by private airlines to tide over the lean season. Air India is offering discounts on tickets booked between 27 February and 1 March for travel between 29 March and 30 September.

“The sale is on select domestic and the domestic leg of international flights,” Air India said in a statement on Wednesday.

The scheme covers 115 flights and offers discounts of about 30% on the advance purchase of 30, 60 and 90 days, it said.

The state-owned airline said some of the fares on offer are as low asRs.1,586 for a Goa-Mumbai ticket, not including taxes. A Delhi-Lucknow ticket costs Rs.1,889, Mumbai-Kolkata Rs.3,470, and Thiruvananthapuram-MumbaiRs.2,557.

India’s second-largest low-fare airline SpiceJet Ltd’s latest fare cut seems to have sparked off a season of passenger bonanza with most domestic airlines, including Jet Airways (India) Ltd and GoAir, joining the race on Tuesday with discounts of their own. Jet Airways, India’s second-largest airline by passengers carried, is offering hefty discounts till 27 February.

web search engine Google plans to help half a million Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in India to go online by the end of next year.

With India set to become second largest internet market in the world overtaking the US by 2015, Google sees India as a key market and is focusing on SMBs, which contribute significantly to its global revenues.

Allan Thygesen, vice president and global head of SMBs for Google Inc, told the media here that the firm has already launched an initiative to give SMBs a cost-effective way to reach out to customers.

“It’s a key growth initiative in India, which is the fastest growing market for us among top 20 markets,” he said.

of increasing the headcount and developing new products to drive the growth in SMBs sector. It is also offering services in English and nine regional languages in India.

Google has 1,200 partners across India to help SMBs manage their businesses online. In the last two years, it enabled 300,000 SMBs to go online. Its premier partners cover 65 cities and this number is expected to go up to 100 this year.

With over 200 million Internet users, India is on its way to become the second largest Internet market in the world after China.

K. Suryanarayana, head of SMBs, Google India, said the surge in affordable smartphone was bringing more users online. The e-commerce industry, which was

by 2020.

Out of the 50 million SMBs in India, only five percent have online presence.

“Indian SMBs have been slower to adopt online strategies because of lack of time and understanding of the Internet medium and self service model,” he said.

Google helps SMBs to get started online by creating a website, a social page, a mobile ready site and also bring them on Google search, Google maps and on other medium like the YouTube. The SMBs may also track their efforts through Google analytics.

Google has designed products like AdWords Express, that makes it easy for SMBs to run advertising campaigns online.

India smartphone sales surge almost 3-fold to 44 million in 2013

neW DeLHi, February 26 (Pti): Smartphone sales in the country grew almost threefold to over 44 million in 2013, buoyed by a strong uptake of affordable devices made by local firms such as Micromax and Karbonn, research firm IDC said today.

Smartphone shipments stood at 16.2 million in 2012.

“India was one of the fastestgrowing countries worldwide in terms of smartphone adoption in 2013. This surge has been mainly powered by homegrown vendors, which have shown a tremendous and consistent growth

over the past four quarters of 2013,” IDC said in a statement.

Korean player Samsung maintained its leadership with a 38% share of the Indian smartphone market, followed by Micromax (16%), Karbonn (10%), Sony (5%) and Lava (4.7%) in Q4 2013.

There was a remarkable migration from feature phones to smartphones last year, primarily because of the narrowing price gaps between the two product categories, it added.

Overall phone shipments in the country rose 18% to about 257 million units in 2013

from 218 million units in the previous year.

“Growth in the smartphone segment is expected to outpace the overall handset market growth for the foreseeable future. The end-user shift towards mid-to-high screen size products will be amplified by the declining prices and availability of featurerich localised product offerings,” it said.

In the overall phone market, Samsung was the market leader with a 19% share in Q4 2013, followed by Micromax (13%), Nokia (12%), Karbonn (10%) and Lava (6%).

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box co ntains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 2804

In the October-December 2013, vendors shipped 15.06 million smartphones compared with 5.35 million in Q4 2012.

There was a spike in smartphone shipments by smaller domestic vendors such as Lava and Intex in the quarter.

“Growth in the smartphone market is being propelled by the launch of low-end, cost competitive devices by international and local vendors which are further narrowing the price gaps that exist between feature phones and smartphones,” IDC India Senior Market Analyst Manasi Yadav said.

International vendors have understood the importance of creating a diverse portfolio of devices at varied price points and are striving to launch cost competitive devices that cater to every segment in the target audience, IDC India Research Manager Kiran Kumar said.

The 5 inch-6.99 inch screen size smartphones (phablets) accounted for about 20% of the overall market in Q4.

The overall mobile phone market (feature and smart phones) stood at 67.83 million units in Q4 2013, up 16% yearon-year.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2815

if my past was a dark-haired boy with eyes filled with skies his breath like strawberries i’d bend down to peck on his tear-stained cheeks i’d hold him tight and tell him to fight to death his yearning to return to me!

~~LoviSenla~~

public discoursE Non-arrival of school textbooks is now more than a month since all the schools in the Igovt.tstate have been re-opened but the text books for the schools children is yet to reach and to be distrib-

uted .It might be due to various problems ,either official or technical in the delay of the books which is hampering the progress of these educational institutions.

Everyday the teacher and students comes to school takes the roll-call and the class gets over. Many schools are said to have given holidays as it heard that the books will be arriving only in the month of March. With the introduction of the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system, workloads as well as the burden of both the teacher and the taught has increased tremendously.

By the Right To Education (RTE )Act every schools are ensured to have at-least 180- 220 working days depending upon the sections. Four quarterly tests have to be conducted besides numerous re-tests in-case a student cannot secure the required marks in a particular subject or is absent on the day of the test.

The teachers are said to be apprehensive that even if they start taking lessons from the old text books if the syllabus and books are changed completely it would be a waste of time. Whatever maybe the reason(s), the concerned department(s) owes a moral responsibility and an explanation in this fiasco. This is also not the first time such delays have been experienced .I am sure some people working in the School Education Directorate ,NBSE,SCERT can throw some light of these delays every year .Also the changing of the text books every year has become a regular affair which makes it not only for the students but the teachers as well to have a proper grasp on their particular subjects though keeping in mind about adapting to the latest textbooks to suit with the changing times.

Many a times also, it has been noticed that either just a chapter is added or deleted and some slight edition done, so it should not be a reason to delay. If the books are to be changed, isn’t it the responsibility of the concerned departments to make proper provisions that they reach before the academic session starts or at-least by January last or February first week? The NSF,ENSF and other NGOs should also look into this matter with seriousness.

With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner there will be a notification shortly informing the teachers for the electoral trainings and election duties , so another month that should be running on full swing is likely to be adjourned and the school children’s academic session affected. Are we denying the very essence of the Right to Education Act (RTE) to these lesser privileged children of the Govt. schools ? Hoping that the school text books will arrive at the earliest possible time without any delay.

Jonah Achumi Dimapur

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2803

KOHIMA

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

O

R

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTIANITY

MARGARITA

CLAIM

NINA

COLUMBUS CUBA DISCOVERY

PINTA RICHES SAN SALVADOR

EXPEDITION

SANTA MARIA

GENOA

SPAIN

GENOCIDE

TAINOS

HISPANIOLA

VOYAGES

ITALY

WEST INDIES

D

Q P G E N O C I D E I D A A O G

M I A L C F Q N M A R R I N E E

S

W E S T I N D I E S E I O E N N

E

C O L U M B U S J N E R C I E O

S P I N T A Q I E E I T K H Y A

A I M D I S C O V E R Y T F E T

A

N T A I N O S R V I T A L Y E S

S N I C H R I S T I A N I T Y N

R

A N I S A N T A M A R I A N T B

L I A T I W W P E I I X Q E O R

V T D A E M U A T O O C U B A G

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A R A B A Z S P A I N Q I B H O

D N E X P E D I T I O N N O Q U

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O I I L L O S E G A Y O V C Q U

R D X N L X B M A R G A R I T A

CROSS

N E I E A H I S P A N I O L A R

1. Narrow opening 5. Fire residues 10. Fortitude 14. What a person is called 15. Downy juicy fruit 16. Dwarf buffalo 17. Restlessness 19. Cozy 20. Cry of disgust 21. Row of shrubs 22. Hockey footwear 23. False belief 25. A nine-piece musical group 27. Half of a pair 28. Mental posture 31. Kiss lightly 34. Excellence 35. Carpet 36. Kiss lightly 37. A gold coin of ancient Persia 38. A tart spicy quality 39. And so forth 40. Faultfinder 41. Angers 42. Fighter aircraft 44. Hasten 45. Leave out 46. Female deity

50. Outfit 52. French for “Queen” 54. Animal doctor 55. Norse god 56. Tableware 58. All excited 59. S S S S 60. Border 61. Unit of force 62. Catkin 63. Ale

DOWN 1. Perceive by inhaling 2. Female demon 3. Drive forward 4. Orange pekoe 5. Each 6. Squalid 7. Suspend 8. Oddball 9. Female pronoun 10. A ring that seals 11. Abnormal 12. Brag 13. Wise one 18. Express gratitude to 22. Hissy fit 24. A door fastener 26. Ear-related 28. Eagle’s nest 29. A ridge of sand

30. Hens make them 31. Gush 32. Anagram of “Meat” 33. Growth 34. Idiosyncrasy 37. Twosome 38. Fastened 40. Paper holder 41. Equestrian 43. Drop 44. Truthful 46. Donated 47. Avoid 48. Twilled fabric 49. Drive 50. Incite 51. Jittery 53. If not 56. Ocean 57. A spider spins this Ans to CrossWord 2814

DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/101 (O) 9436601225 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862-282777/101 (O) WOKHA: 03860-242215 (O) 9402643782 MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/101 (O) 9856872011 (OC) PHEK: 03865-223838/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

TUENSANG: 03861-220256/101 (O) 8974322879

08974997923

MON: 03869-290629/101 (O) 9856248962/ 9612805461 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

W

KOHIMA: 0370-2222952/101 (O) 9436062098 (OC)

ZUNHEBOTO: 03867-220444/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

222246 222491

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The Morung Express

Amur Falcon conservation highlighted at 8th ARRCN

LOCAL ANIEF asks payment for pending cases without re-verification

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The 8th Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Network Symposium (International Raptor Conference) was held in India this year at Pune, Maharashtra, from February 6 to 9, 2014. The Nagaland Forest Department was represented by Lokeswara Rao, PCCF & HOFF; Bhaskar Hemant Kamdi, Wildlife Warden, Kiphire Wildlife Division; and Zuthunglo Patton, Divisional Forest Officer, Doyang Plantation Division.

A press release from Zuthunglo Patton informed that there were two presentations from Nagaland.

The first presentation on the topic “Conservation of Amur Falcon in Nagaland – The Falcon Capital of the World” was about the unfortunate scenario in the past and the scenario at present of the successful conservation of the Amur Falcon by the Forest Department together with the local community and NGOs. The presentation by the Nagaland representatives highlighted the special status of Nagaland as accorded by the Indian Constitution; about the tribes and their culture and tradition and the socio-economic conditions of the Nagas so as to facilitate an understanding from the people as to why mass harvest of the falcons happened then.

It also underlined the massive contribution of the villagers of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro towards the conservation of the species by co-operating immensely well with the Forest Department and the NGOs working there. The need to find suitable alternate livelihood options for

these people so they would continue to refrain from hunting the birds was also stressed upon. These efforts were received well by the participants who specifically stated that people live far away and without knowing about the ground reality, find it very easy to condemn, referring to the severe criticism of the Nagas in the year 2012 by the global community for the mass harvest of the Amur falcons, the note stated.

The second presentation was on the topic “Satellite Tracking the Autumnal Migration of the Amur Falcon Falco amurensis from Nagaland, India, to Africa” by Ramani Suresh Kumar, Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

Owing to the seriousness of the issue, the release said, it was decided in the final meeting that a resolution to “Recognise threats to Amur falcons and other migratory birds during migration to India and safeguard their stopover sites” would also be included in the list of resolutions which would be submitted to the Government of India as outcomes of the 8th ARRCN. The note expressed that Nagaland will receive many visitors this season from all over the world as a result of its success story about the safe passage provided to the Amur falcons by the locals. So far, accolades have been received from reputed organizations like the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), it added.

moN, February 26 (Dipr): As part of the National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness week, an essay competition on the topic ‘Importance of safe drinking water & sanitation’ was organized by the PHED, Mon Division for students on February 24 at council hall, Mon. Altogether 11 students of Mon Headquarter participated in the competition.

The first prize was awarded to N. Yungmei. Konyak of Model School while the 2nd prize was bagged by Aiswariya C. Nair of Christ King School. The third prize was bagged by two individuals Nonphe Konyak of Don Bosco School and Shahjung of Model School.

The winners of the competition were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 3000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 1000 each

Kohima, February 26 (mexN): In order to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity, a seminar on ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ was organized at Government Middle School, Lerie Chazou, Kohima on February 17 by Lokro Multipurpose Cooperative Society in collaboration with Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) - Regional Resource Agency (RRA) of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC).

Khriekeyieno Zashümo, who was the resource person highlighted on the

importance and threats to biodiversity. She pointed out that man has begun to overuse and misuse natural resources as a result of this; productive forests have been turned into wastelands.

Stating that environment responsibilities starts with each individual, she urged upon the students to be aware of their responsibilities in conserving natural resources, show consciousness and save various energy sources.

She also encouraged the students to plant and care for trees which save water,

conserve energy, prevents water pollution, soil erosion and shields from the Ultra Violet Rays.

Depletion of Ozone Layer was briefed on, supplemented with a short video on ‘Ozone Layer and Hole’.

A drawing competition from standard 4 to 8 was conducted after the seminar basing on the theme.

The seminar was attended by the staff and students of the school. Trash bins were also donated.

Altogether 102 including the staffs and members of Lokro M.P.C.S participated in the seminar.

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): An environment awareness campaign on the theme ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ was conducted on February 22, at Penuel Christian School in Loyir Village, New Showuba under Dimapur district.

Maple society secretary, James in a press release said that the programme was facilitated by Maple society: channel for socioeconomic action.

The topic primarily emphasised during the community participatory session was on ‘how to promote traditional medicinal herbs’. Participants from various backgrounds like

community youth leader, academician, teacher, politician, media, medical staff, social worker, etc shared the importance and value of medicinal herbs.

Thongpi Janger, headmistress of Penuel Christian School said, “It certainly brings pain within when we commit such arduous acts like recklessly burning those green forests, especially the mountain tops, we often witness, just for a meagre, bagful of paddy harvest.

Definitely we hardly can do anything as a commoner, but imagine the damages with its effects to environment and of course

ceived here. To mitigate this problem, a Solid Waste Management Facility is coming up at Lerie, Kohima started in the year 2012 under the State Investment Program Management and Implementation Unit (SIPMIU).

This project, with a 50 tonnes per day capacity, if completed, would segregate the municipal wastes and the compostable components will be used for making manure while the rest will be disposed by sanitary land filling. The project is expected to be commissioned by the end of the year.

Kohima, February 26 (mexN): All Nagaland Industrial Entrepreneurs Federation (ANIEF) has unanimously resolved that pending cases under Central Transport Subsidy and Central Capital Investment Subsidy for the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 should be given their one share of payment without resorting to or adopting more process of screening or reverification at this stage.

A press release from the Federation’s general secretary, Orenbomo Humtsoe and president, Povotso Lohe informed that in its general meeting held on February 25 at Red Cross Complex conference hall

here, ANIEF thoroughly deliberated the latest position of the pending cases under Central Transport Subsidy and Central Capital Investment Subsidy for the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 under the State department of Industries and Commerce.

All the participants touched upon financial hardships being faced by the entrepreneurs of Small Scale Industrial (SSI) units in running their business for not getting payment since 2007 till date, it affirmed.

The meeting stated that all the pending cases have been verified or re-verified several times by the State department of Industries & Commerce after clear-

ance from State Level Committee (SLC). Therefore, it resolved that status quo be maintained as far as the selected units of the 3 years pending cases are concerned and payment to the selected units be made starting from 2007 up to 2009 on year wise basis.

Some of the units under the pending cases were preaudited by the Audit of the Department of Industrial Promotion & Policy (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Government of India during 2011. As a matter of fact, the release added, the meeting in a resolution strongly urged the state department of Industries and Commerce to ensure that

the audit from the ministry be deployed to Nagaland in order to pre-audit the remaining cases without further delay.

The Federation also resolved that it will extend its support and cooperation to the State department of Industries & Commerce to solve the genuine grievances of the pending cases under the schemes. Further, it appealed to all the political parties in the State to extend their cooperation and support to expedite early release of funds to make payment to the selected units under pending cases for promotion of industrial activities for the educated unemployed in Nagaland.

Essay competition on water & sanitation held

Dimapur

5

MEx FILE KPK calls meeting Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The Keltomi Phuthemi Kuposhukulu (KPK) has called for a meeting on March 1, 2014 from 10:00 am onwards at the residence of L.K. Achumi, retired District and Session Judge, Purana Bazaar. Therefore, all the members of the Silver Jubilee Planning Board, office bearers of KPK and all the GBs have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

Leaders of societies and NGOs informed

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): Welfare Inspector, DWO Dimapur, Y Shikato Jimo has requested the presidents and chairmen of the following societies and NGOs to attend the meeting in the office of District Programming Officer, Diphupar, Dimapur on February 28 at 10:30 am: Caring Neighborhood Ministry, Dimapur; Rev. Longsa Memorial Orphanage, Dimapur; Development Association for Disabled, Dimapur; Cad Foundation Dimapur; Langjang Society, Dimapur; Transformation Research, Dimapur; Asian Evangelistic Fellowship, Dimapur (Underprivileged); Shepherd Society of Research Welfare, Dimapur; Lakpan Welfare Society, Dimapur; and Dimapur District Disabled Association. For further information, call 9856584959.

Kohima DC informs GBs

Kohima, February 26 (mexN): Kohima deputy commissioner has informed all the GBs under Kohima district who have not submitted, to submit a copy of appointment order, a documentary proof for date of birth and two recent stamp size passport photographs to their respective administrative sub division for obtaining identity card.

Kiphire, February 26 (Dipr): Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer Kiphire, Neposo Theluo (NCS) has informed that training for polling personnel would commence from February 28, 2014 at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall Kiphire from 10 am onwards. In this connection, the DC & DEO Kiphire has directed all Heads of Department to inform their respective employees to attend the training without fail. If any employees fail to attend the training, the responsibility will be borne by respective Heads of the Department and disciplinary action as per the provision of Section 134 of Representation of People Act 1951 will be initiated against the absentees, the notice stated.

Winners of the essay competition along with departmental officials on February 24 at council hall, Mon. (DIPR Photo)

respectively. The Executive Engineer, PHED Mon Division, Er L. Leyang Khiamniungan exhorted the students on safe drinking

water and sanitation, and its importance of awareness to the people.

It may be added that an exposure trip to Lam-

pong Sheanghah and Tumei village for all the WATSAN Chairmen of Mon district was carried out on February 25.

pheK, February 26 (mexN): Chakhesang Women Welfare Society in collaboration with Public Health Education Department, Phek organized a mass social work on February 22 in Pfütsero town in view of National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness Week. A

press release informed that the EAC of Pfütsero graced the occasion as chief guest.

The program saw a gathering of different schools, leaders of various capacities, organizations and government departments. Social work was conducted in all the 11 colonies of Pfütsero

town, which was followed by another social work by students of various educational institutions. The program saw a very successful outcome with sincere cooperation from students, teachers and lecturers of educational institutions and many other noble individuals, the release stated.

PCCI resolves on taxation GHSS Wokha

those plentiful of valued plants too.”

Yimso Yimchunger, proprietor of the school, Lakiu kips, General Secretary JDU-state, Imli Yanger, academician, John, Freelance journalist, Nazim Ahmed, Patkai College faculty, Mungtsu, Village youth leader etc also spoke during the campaign.

Further, two special days - World Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (June 5) are going to be observed doing activities like hiking (identify medicinal herbs for planting in school garden and planting saplings in the school and village areas).

pheK, February 26 (mexN): The Phek Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) had its annual meeting on February 25 at Phek Town Hall. The house resolved to take severe action against those practicing business without proper registration from the authority concerned or the Union.

The Union is strictly against people doing business from door to door/fly business as “it encourages theft and selling of stolen goods.” If caught, befitting action will be taken by the Union. Any scrap collector without proper counter/ shop will be considered under this category.

Selling of calendar, donation, lottery ticket and any fund drive to the shop within its jurisdiction shall not be entertained. The hotels providing food are exempted from restriction to open shop on Sunday for the con-

venience of outside visitors.

PCCI President Khosheta Rhakho in a press release said that the house had a good discussion hour regarding various activities usually taken up by the Union. PCCI discussed the taxation burden faced by the business community and resolved to support the ACAUT’s stand of one tax one government.

The union also requested the NPGs to understand the hardship caused by/ through taxation to the business community from various groups of NPGs. Khelo Lasuh, Vice President chaired the programme. Presidential note was pronounced by Khosheta Rhakho, PCCI president.

He highlighted various tasks undertaken by the union like night bazaar and weekly bazaar and encouraged the members to participate. Huvechiyi Hoshi, Advisor of the union exhorted the meeting.

WoKha, February 26 (Dipr): The first general conference of the Lotha Youth Hoho was held on February 22 at Tiyi Hall, Wokha Town. The conference was held on the theme ‘Mmhonka Tsukona Mhanka’ (Strive for Better). Chairman, Wokha District Village Council Chairman Association, Tsutsamo Ovung and president, Wokha Town Council Union, Mhonlumo Odyuo graced the occasion as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

Addressing the gathering, the chief guest called upon all to respect their leaders and extend support in their activities as they strive

ahead with a vision to take the community forward. Let us all put our heads together and co-operate in their effort to bring about change in the society, added the chief guest and expressed hope that the community will prosper through the youth hoho’s hard work and initiatives.

The guest of honour, who is also the convenor of search committee for new team of Lotha Youth Hoho office bearers, informed that as per the decision of the search committee, the term of office for the present LYH executive members has been extended for another one year. Appreciating the hoho’s efforts in initiating and taking up

various issues for the uplift of the society, chairperson, Kyong Eloe Hoho, Thungjano Tsanglao and president, Kyong Students’ Union, Amos Odyuo assured their fullest support and co-operation in their venture to bring change in the society.

General Secretary, LYH Likao Humtsoe highlighted some of the activities undertaken by the Lotha Youth Hoho during their tenure.

Representatives from Lotha Naga Cultural Society, Kohima and Ete Yithen, youth organisations from various villages, officials and delegates from 28 colonies under Wokha Town and elders attended the programme.

MLA Amenba visits Municipal Lotha Youth Hoho first general conference Solid Waste Management site

Kohima, February 26 (mexN): MLA & Chairman of Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) Amenba Yaden on February 24 visited the upcoming Municipal Solid Waste Management Facility site at Lerie, Kohima.

Recently, Kohima had been facing many waste disposal problems, as the Kohima Municipal Council could not find a suitable waste dumping site. Finding suitable municipal wastes dumping place is becoming a major issue not only in Kohima, but also in other cities/ towns, stated a press note re-

27 February 2014

Training for Kiphire polling personnel

Seminar on ‘biodiversity conservation’ Water and sanitation awareness

Environment awareness campaign continues

Thursday

playground renovation

WoKha, February 26 (mexN): 17 Assam Rifles in Wokha is helping renovate the playground of Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Wokha.

A press release issued by Team Metamorphosis Chief, Thungdemo Kyong informed that Wokha Circle Students Union (WCSU) had approached 17 AR for the renovation, “which has been totally unattended since the time it was first constructed.”

The renovation work does not have any particular fund allotted from the state government, as such, the note urged for help from the department concerned.

It stated that the playground hardly looks like one, but due to less availability of infrastructures for games and sports, public have been using the facility all these years. Especially in March and April every year, many schools use the playground for conducting annual games and sports.

The note added that Deputy Commissioner Wokha, Vyasan R has also taken special interest in improvising the facilities for the uplift of not only the institution, but the citizens of his district. The Team Metamorphosis has lauded the Deputy Commissioner and his colleagues, WCSU, Government Higher Secondary School authority, 17 Assam Riffles, land owners and all the well wishers for contributing for the betterment of the community. It also appealed to one and all to extend all possible cooperations so Wokha can have better facilities.

Session on international humanitarian laws & AFSPA

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): An interactive session on International Humanitarian Laws and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act will be held on February 28, 2014 at Hotel Orchid, near War Cemetery, Kohima from 9:30 am onwards. Therefore, Programme Manager Enoch Kithan has requested all the invitees to attend the programme positively. The programme is being jointly organised by Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre Dimapur, Youth Action for Rural Development (YARD) Kohima, Kekhrie Foundation Kohima and Zion Welfare Society Baghty, which is supported by North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF).

DFO Phek informs eco-club teacher in-charges

pheK, February 26 (Dipr): All Eco-Club teacher in-charges (Phek District) under National Green Corps have been informed to meet the Divisional Forest Officer, Phek Division/Head Assistant immediately along with the Annual Performance Report of NGC for 201213 for receipt of grant under NGC for the year 2013-14.

ENPO convenes consultative meeting

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has convened a Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting and a consultative meeting with all Eastern Naga National Workers of different factions on March 4 and 5 respectively at Longleng town. ENPO Joint Secretary, Manlang Phom in a press release has informed all ENPO tribal bodies, frontal organisations, sub units, CEC members, advisors, steering committee members and Eastern Naga national workers of different groups to attend the proposed meeting as informed without fail.

SBAK youth sports evangelism

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): The Youth department under Sumi Baptist Churches Association (SBAK) would be organising Youth Sports Evangelism (Boys- Football, Girls- Volleyball, etc) from March 3 to 6 on the theme, “I belong to Jesus” at Sumi Christian Centre Aizuto. The Youth department is expecting at least 35-40 teams and the Youth Secretary has requested all churches/youth leaders to arrange their own team for the event.

SBAK Nito Mount condoles

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): Sumi Baptist Churches Association (SBAK) Nito Mount has deeply condoled the passing away of Iholi Rochill after prolonged illness at Chekiye village, Dimapur on February 21. SBAK Nito Mount in a condolence message said that late Iholi Rochill is the wife of former SBAK Nitomount Council Chairman, Phoishe Rochill and mother of Hokiye Rochill, the present principal of Nito Theological College, Zunheboto. It expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to God for courage and solace.

Dr. Vikuosa Nienu appointed for wildlife conservation Napa County

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): Dr. Vikuosa Nienu has been appointed, and sworn-in, as the Commissioner for Wildlife Conservation Commission for the Napa County, California, USA, on February 24, 2014. His term of office expires on February 1, 2017.

SWWS conducts seminar

Dimapur, February 26 (mexN): Semkash Women Welfare Society along with the rest of the state observed and conducted a seminar on "National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness Week" on February 21 and 22 at Kashanyu Village and CRBC Centre Zunpha, Tseminyu Sub Division, Kohima District under the sponsorship of WASSO, PHED Nagaland.

A press note informed that Khontele Seb, Kethonuo and Bensinle Semy were the main resource persons of the Seminar. The participants were Village Council members, Church organizations, Women SHGs, Student bodies, house wives etc.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express THursDAy 27 FEbruAry 2014 volumE IX IssuE 55

Democracy langston Hughes

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course.

Tomorrow is another day.

I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.

I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need.

I live here, too.

I want freedom Just as you.

lEfT wiNg |

Tim Dahlberg AP Sports Columnist

A pop quiz for things learned in Sochi games

Y

ou've just spent two weeks of your life watching things you won't even think about for another four years. Worth it?

Perhaps, though putting up with Bob Costas in nerdy glasses wasn't an Olympic moment to remember. But how much did you really learn from it? Were you really paying close attention?

Here's a pop quiz to see: What was the biggest controversy in figure skating? a-Johnny Weir committing a fashion faux pas by mixing a hairpiece of yellow flowers with a champagne dinner jacket. b-An ice dancer being disqualified when she accidentally jumped. c-Somebody actually thinking they could explain the scoring.

Why don't NHL owners want their players in the Olympics? a-They disrespect the game by not allowing players to punch each other in the face. b-NHL fans are beginning to realize there's a lot of Russians playing on their favorite teams. c-It makes people pay far too much attention to hockey.

Why do the Norwegians win so many medals in cross country and biathlon? a-The nation of 5 million people has 6 million skiers. b-They're good at trash talking in the middle of a forest. c-Just to irritate the Swedes.

What new sports made their debut in Sochi? a-The non-Nordic combined, where ice dancers race each other in short track, then have their outfits judged by Johnny Weir. b-Stray dog catching. c-The traditional Russian whipping contest, won in a medal sweep by the Cossacks.

Who are the breakout stars of the game, according to social media? a-Luger Kate Hansen and her hall-roaming wolf. b-Lolo Jones, who keeps getting noticed for all the wrong reasons. c-Bobsledder Johnny Quinn for gold in bathroom door smashing.

Why did NBC pay $775 million to televise the Olympics? a-People love seeing Russians win medals. b-There's nothing Americans enjoy more than cracking open a beer and watching a good cross-country ski relay. c-Johnny Weir needed a job.

Why did U.S. Olympic officials claim this was a great Olympics? a-They were under the mistaken impression Lindsey Vonn won seven golds. b-They know U.S. athletes would have done better if they had better yogurt. c-For once the figure skating controversy didn't involve any Americans.

Why was women's hockey suddenly popular? a-Russians discovered their women players can all score more than Alexander Ovechkin. b-In an age of parity, people like to see only two teams with a chance at the gold. c-With a collapse for the ages, the U.S. team finally figured out way to make it interesting.

Why do Olympic officials like to pretend ice dancing is a real sport? a-Besides running the Olympics, they also control the cartel that makes ice dancing outfits. b-Johnny Weir wants them to. c-If ice dancing isn't a sport, what would they do with synchronized swimming?

What did Vladimir Putin gain most for himself from the games? a-His presidential mansion in Sochi is now worth more because there's a vacant hockey arena nearby. b-He gets to keep the three Olympic mascots. c-He bolstered his image as a lovable and benign ruler.

Where should they hold future Winter Olympics? a-On a remote mountaintop in Nepal, where security won't be an issue. b-Costa Rica. c-Any place with a benevolent president/dictator/ruler with $51 billion burning a hole in his pocket.

What will be sure to happen at the 2018 games in South Korea? a-The North Koreans will look for an excuse not to show up. b-When they do show up, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will win gold in bobsled, luge, cross country and ice dancing. c--There will be a figure skating controversy.

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

N

TRANSITION

agas are going through a rough transitional period. The issue of unabated taxation has stirred up a lot of awkward but relevant subjects that have been bottled up for so long by the masses, unable to express themselves in fear. There has been a slow but steady increase in the voices of the people beginning to appear in the print media for a change and a trickle of responses from the NPGs however confused or negative. It is for the NNM leaders to understand and appreciate that 67 long years has gone by since the Nagas declared their independence, creating a generation gap between the old and the new in its wake.

The older generation who had seen and suffered the worst of inhuman treatment meted out by the Indian Army are slowly but surely passing away. The new generation analyzes their circumstance by what they see as routine roadblocks being raised against their future wellbeing due to unreasonable taxation by the NPGs. It is more likely for those of us who have had the unpleasant experience of the 50s to understand the complexities of our situation and interact with frank thoughts and well intended suggestions but the same cannot be expected of the younger generations brought up under an entirely different environment. Given the provocation beyond their tolerance they could react without further restraints and create a situation that could alter the foundry of our existence. Such a time is bound to come eventually when patience and tolerance peters out. In a confused situation such as this, the need for clarity is of the essence. In order to revive a cohesively united community backing that it once enjoyed, it has become a paramount necessity for all the NPGs to explicitly explain their 'National principle' as has often been referred to. What is this National principle that each of the NPGs harp about? The only pathetic picture that the public sees day in day out is the unrestrained butchering of one another in the name of sovereignty and the tax turf that goes with it... the frequent defections of individual(s)/group(s) from one faction to the other for one flimsy 'national' reason or the another with a condemnation of the faction they had otherwise abandoned. This continuous defections and aftermath condemnations has left the public thoroughly confused as to who are the real group(s) and who is/are not. Is this all there is to national principle or is there something else?

The masses deserve to unequivocally know the fundamental working principles which drive the NPGs in their separate ways! The time for blind following must come to an end...and the true national working group...identified.

The simplistic response that the NPGs are fighting for the Naga sovereignty no longer command the respect that it once had. The fear induced indifference, rampant amongst the Nagas, has thus far lulled the total populace to silence but the irrational irrelevance of being led with a suffocating blindfold must end and the stark naked questions, however uncomfortable, must be openly asked and openly be answered. For the past 67 years Nagas have been passively following the NNM without question but the circumstance are undergoing a drastic transformation. The time to define the ground realities is gradually and positively building up steam as it should. Our future is on the line and it is as much our right as is our responsibility to demand and to know what is being negotiated on our behalf. This is an imperative necessity. Unfortunately the Plebiscite of 1951, which lent potency and legitimacy to the Nagas, now lies locked away in the cold storage within the ruins of disunity. The oft repeated claim of public mandate being claimed by all the NPGs has begun to ring hollow. The only way to make the people truly believe that they have the public mandate is to explain how such a mandate was acquired. A mass gathering or consultation being conducted at one place or the other does not necessarily amount to a mandate of the Nagas as a whole in the magnitude of the 1951 Plebiscite. It still remains limited to a sectoral kitchen exercise. The very fact that NSCN (IM) is unable to disclose the terms of negotiation with the GoI, explains the critical lack of trust within the family of NPGs with their divergent per-

O

Khekiye K. Sema IAS (Rtd) Forest Colony, Kohima, Nagaland

ur cities are a mess. Rapid urbanisation is one of the signs of economic development, but filthy overcrowded, unsafe and unhygienic cities are not necessarily a corollary to development. In this era of inverted snobbery, pleading for aesthetics is asking for Marie Antoinette's fate. However, perhaps I can plead my case on a more important ground. Is public health a criterion worth considering?

A study conducted by the Royal Institute of British Architects has found a clear, positive correlation between greater availability of green spaces, lower housing density and higher overall health of the local population. When a city is organised in such a way that people are encouraged to walk and run outdoors and children have safe, open spaces to play, its population is healthier.

Now cut across the world to our cities, say, for example New Delhi. There aren't enough open spaces and well maintained parks/play grounds in comparison with the population density. The safety of women and children is so uncertain that a normal outdoor activity like walking is restricted to that which arises from unavoidable compulsion. Pavements are either nonexistent or broken and battered on account of being dug up at least three times a year, if not encroached upon by shops, slums, cars and the like. There are no cycling tracks. Traffic rules are broken as a rule. People literally have

spectives and a complete loss of faith in the Naga populace who they claim to represent. What earth shaking justification can there be to warrant the fate of the majority being decided at the whims of a minority? It defiles every fibre of rationality...and yet the majority sleeps over it complacently. This unknown quantity has generated innumerable wild speculations which naturally are more negative in nature than positive. It is high time for the NPGs to clear the air. The only option that we perceive for transparency to effectively take roots is to have all the NPGs standing together as one body and discussing the pros and cons of the ongoing negotiation objectively and pragmatically...duly endorsed by the Naga populace as a whole. Once this strength is fostered and harnessed, the God given birthright of the Nagas' claim for self-determination cannot be treated with such contempt and disdain by the GoI. If not for greed and ego factor the simple logic of gaining strength through unity should not be too hard to understand...but for the NPGs the simplest things seem to be the hardest to adopt. The personal inability to forgive and forget the past by the NPG leaders is crippling the future of the majority. Verbally invoking the name of Christ in everything does not necessarily mean a thing when our actions defile the name of Christ every step of the way. The unforgiving, unrepentant NPGs have not only managed to fragment their existence to insignificance with a complete focus on taxation but have effectively alienated and silenced the voice of the people without whose genuine blessings the movement will never gain the momentum required to create an impact. The imperative time to recreate this legitimate potential must be acknowledged.

People are no longer prepared to take a ride into an unknown destination. Therefore the people of Nagaland expects each of the NPGs to clearly define their 'National principle' for a better understanding and appreciation of their ideology ...and restore the willingness of the masses to bear the burden of taxation as a warranted act on their part. Without this enlightenment, the right to tax the people loses all relevance. The people cannot be expected to perpetually put their money into a bottomless pit called NNM without an end in sight. The nuisance of tax collection day in day out is the only visible activity of all the NPGs except for NSCN (IM) who are equally involved with taxation but have at least registered a semblance of negotiation going on with the GoI, but that too in total secrecy. God seems to have blessed the Nagas with an overdose of negative patience and indifference...imagine...67 years down the drain and still so silently oblivious to our suffocating, unjust surroundings.

Define the present reality carefully...how do you read into a situation where the total populace lives in fear of our own freedom fighters? Just think...we fear our own more than our adversary! It is obvious that something somewhere has terribly gone wrong. No matter what the constraints, the people ought to be standing solidly behind our national workers if their efforts were transparent and honourable. That, I would have assumed, should have been the normal acceptable reaction of the masses as was the case in the fifties when we were united as one people and the goal being fought for had an honourable appeal. It made the Government of India sit up and take cognizance of our existence, even as they fought us. That national honour has been obliterated to ignonymity replaced by extremely self-indulgent priorities. How can a people feel proud of our so-called freedom fighters when they have literally reduced themselves to a Mafia institutions, killing one another for control of their revenue turf in the guise of sovereignty and in the name of 'Nagaland for Christ'... blasphemously? No amount of playacting can recreate a truth but truth itself and the Nagas must insist that the truth be shared with us if we are to seriously take issues forward in unison. With this many Factions, which one are we being expected to follow

in terms of a genuine value based following? The NPGs should not deceive themselves by thinking that they have the public support based on tax being received because at this point in time the people have indifferently been reduced to a blind following of all the factions without a question bring raised...on the dictates of fear without reasoning. The Nagas must wake up to follow and support an issue that is upright and honestly in our interest and bravely reject those not in our interest. We ought to consciously be asking ourselves: what are we paying the tax to the NPGs for, year after rear...and they still have nothing concrete to write home about?

What substantial achievement have they got to show us towards the final settlement of the vexed issue? Is Cease Fire and the repeated extension of it, being accounted for as an accomplishment? Beyond that...what? Sitting on the fence and do nothing else except extract tax from the public through threats? To the general public, Cease Fire is beginning to look more like a curse. We have divorced our reasoning faculty and have married fear...fear to the left of us, fear to the right of us, fear before us and fear behind us. We come home to curse each and every Faction from within the confines of our kitchen in a whisper. This is not helping the dreadful situation to improve other than worsen it. Therefore it is about time for the people to start asking each of the NPGs to clarify their stand and to give us the reason(s) as to why they want us follow them and pay tax to them. They should clarify why they are averse to a united front effort for the greater interest of the Nagas. The clarion call for "one tax, one Government" aptly explains the will of the people who NPGs claim to serve.

The exception has been the NNC Accordist group who have unequivocally made their stand against unity on grounds that they are the ultimate "Institution and Government" based on the mandate of 1951 Plebiscite. Dealing with a fool is less arduous than dealing with an intellectual fool.

An honourable patriotic fool learns to accept the historical truth when facts are presented...but not the blind intellectual fool who stubbornly refuses to see the facts. All Nagas accept that the 1951 Plebiscite was a monumental achievement of NNC under the leadership of Mr. Phizo as its President, that laid the foundry of Naga legitimacy for selfdetermination. That Shillong Accord 1975 threatened this legitimacy is beyond dispute. The existence of a Faction under the nomenclature of NNC "ACCORDIST" in the NNM says it all without the need for further explanation even to a fool. It is the hypocritically patriotic, blind intellectual fools who need to perceive that this faction is responsible for still upholding the attempted act of sticking up the 1951Plebiscite on a pole along with a white flag with Shillong Accord written all over it...otherwise why call themselves NNC "ACCORDISTS" in the first place? ACCORDISTS in simple English terminology are those who condone the accord.

Clause No.2 of the Shillong Accord gave birth to Transit Peace Camps that once was funded by the GoI for sure...and perhaps still is, who knows.

The inmates of these camps shamelessly threaten those who wave these historical facts at their faces, backed by the intellectual fools who profess patriotism without really knowing the meaning of it. It would be a tremendous help to the people of Nagaland if the NNC Accordists respond to all the dubbed "wild allegation" questions that were raised when this writer had responded to the caution notice served to him, without taking assistance from the intellectual blind loyalists. This would serve their interest, if they desire to legitimatise their status as they claim... without misinterpreting and distorting history which will not help their cause in any which way.

As the saying goes "you can fool some people sometime but you cannot fool all the people all the time". The people now want honest answers first, if NPGs want the support of the people, (NNC Accordist included). Why lead the Nagas down the road of damnation and self destruction? ... Instead usher in a positive transition.

Can we ever hope for safe, clean, green, slum-free cities?

Archana.G.Gulati IANS

to risk their lives if they decide to cycle; and walking as a means of commuting is just a shade less dangerous. While the rich can afford gym memberships, personal trainers and tennis lessons for their offspring, the rest of the Indian population may well be doomed to avoid outdoor activity and thereby to obesity and lifestyle diseases.

Government land that could be used for parks, schools or recreational facilities, etc., has been taken over by slums and nobody has the courage to assert that public property belongs to the public and not to any individual even if he/she is the celebrated aam admi. A report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), cited in The Economist, has debunked the fond and fashionable notion of slums as launch pads for individual and national progress. It states that people in slums rarely break out of the poverty trap.

However, in the Indian context I am not so sure about that. A hardworking villager who migrates to Delhi, rents accommodation on the outskirts of

Delhi and commutes to his workplace should perhaps be labelled a fool. Why not just put up an illegal jhuggi (shack) on vacant land around government colonies in New Delhi? This is a sure shot way to get rich quick.

Slums are not only a source of noise, filth, crime and diseases but also a source of cheap labour and votes. Anybody who protests against their illegality will be shouted down for being insensitive to the common man and uncaring of the fate of the rural migrant and the labour class. It is outmoded to speak about laws and rules these days.

The truth is that slums show us that we have failed to create opportunities and facilities in rural areas in spite of years of lip service and millions of rupees being spent on rural development programmes. They exist because they are a source of easy votes and cheap labour. The differential in the market price of well fed and housed citizens or labour force, by way of the facilities provided to slums, is borne by tax payers.

wRiTE-wiNg

Now, imagine an alternative scenario. What if the government was to ensure the availability of low-cost housing in and around cities with good facilities such as schools, hospitals and playgrounds as is done by, say, the Singapore government?

What if we had excellent public transport to commute from the suburbs to workplaces in Delhi? What if women and children could actually move around freely instead of darting hurriedly clutching their mobiles for dear life? What if pavements could actually be used for walking? What if walking or cycling for serious commuting were possible because drivers were forced to stick to their lanes and to obey traffic rules such as stopping at the zebra crossing (as is done in most civilised parts of the world)? What if Delhi and other Indian cities were clean, green safe and slum free?

Would this make all urban Indians healthier and happier or would it make the aam admi worse off ?

I may be wrong, but it appears to be stylish nowadays to perversely ignore the legality or long-term consequences of issues. Therefore, because we must not appear snobbish, the poor must continue to live in unhealthy slums and the relatively better-off must compulsorily become progressively obese and unfit. Every one must suffer what are certainly amongst the ugliest cities in the world. I could be hanged for saying so, but it is true.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

7 PERSPECTIVE Global Citizenship A Statement of Epic Proportion Key to World Peace

Thursday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

27 February 2014

T

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

he energetic and frenetic Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has finally resigned after being in a roller-coaster political ride for 49 days. Ever since taking up the reins of power in Delhi in the last week of December 2013, Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP party-men had been the apple’s eye of the media and were at the centre of all news cameras, TV channels and journalists.

They apparently tried their best to deliver on all their promises made during their election campaign. However, Kejriwal’s tryst with destiny came to an abrupt end over the Lokpal bill. And now it remains to be seen whether Arvind Kejriwal will ever make a comeback in Delhi politics or more interestingly at the national level.

The tactics and euphoria exhibited by Arvind Kejriwal and his party during their 49 days rule in Delhi do not appeal much to me in any manner. However, I probably will remember Kejriwal for one comment / statement which he made during his short tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi.

In the last week of January 2014, one boy from Arunachal Pradesh was beaten to death by some local Delhi boys in an altercation that erupted over a comment made on the hairstyle of the victim. As a result, the whole North-East community of Delhi took to the streets to protest against this apparently racial attack. The North-East community even went to the extent of demanding an anti-racial law to check the occurrence of any such mishaps. As per the news report, both Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal joined in the protests to show their solidarity with the north-east people.

It was during this solidarity-showing encounter that Mr. Arvind Kejriwal made this most important statement which I consider to be of epic proportion.

In his solidarity speech, Arvind Kejriwal said that the history of the northeast people would be included in the syllabus of the Delhi schools so that it would bring about better understanding and appreciation of the history and culture of the people coming from the North Eastern regions of India. Sadly enough, the government of Arvind Kejriwal is no more and therefore it remains to be seen whether this utterance will ever have any bearing in the times ahead.

However, as I ponder over this utterance of Kejriwal, I am made to wonder

Khrietuonyü Noudi

Straight From The Heart History, Politics, Culture… whether the present syllabus of the Delhi schools contain any information at all about north-east India. And if it contains some information about the region, are the information honest, accurate and authentic? Or do they reveal only the fabricated Indian side of the story?

As mentioned above, it is unclear whether Arvind Kejriwal will ever make a comeback in Delhi politics or at the national level. And even if he makes a comeback, it has to be seen whether he will remain true to his words and really do something about the inclusion of the right and authentic history of the northeast in the syllabus of the Delhi schools.

However, whether Arvind Kejriwal returns or not, I believe that the many student bodies of the north-east can take this matter forward by appealing to the concerned authorities for the inclusion of the correct, authentic and uncorrupted histories of the northeast not only in the syllabus of the Delhi schools but also in the syllabus of schools all over India.

I believe that such an inclusion will go a long way in fostering better understanding amongst the north-east people and the people from mainland India and thereby bring about national integration in the country as well which is also an enshrined principle of the constitution of India. It will also definitely bring about greater respect amongst the northeast people and the mainland Indians to-

wards each other’s race, history, culture, religion and way of life.

Some of the topics which can be included in such a syllabus (should it materialize) are: 1) The geography, topography and climate of the region.

2) The accounts of how the northeast people came to occupy their respective regions.

3) How Christianity got implanted in places like Nagaland and Mizoram.

4) How these regions were administered and controlled during the British Raj and what were the areas that did not fall under the purview of the British administration.

5) What were the roles (if any) played by the people of this region in India’s national movement?

6) The attitude and mentality of the national freedom fighters towards these regions and people during India’s struggle for Independence.

7) The political aspirations and struggles of the people in the region past and present.

8) How the lands of the Nagas came to be divided between India and Burma after India’s independence and how many Nagas still live beyond the international border in Myanmar.

9) How the Mizos rose in rebellion against the Indian government and how a settlement was brought about.

10) The political stand of the Nagas past and present.

11) The extraordinary circumstances under which the state of Nagaland became the 16th state of the Indian union in 1963.

12) How the creation of Nagaland necessitated the creation of other northeastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

13) Special status that are accorded to some people of this region by the Indian constitution like the special status accorded to the Naga people by Article 371.

14) A brief account of all the underground militant groups in operation in the northeast.

15) Why autocratic laws like the AFSPA are still in force in parts of the northeast like Manipur and Nagaland and what this kind of laws has done to the people over the years.

Indeed, if an honest and authentic information about all these can find a place in the school syllabus of the children of India, I believe it can go a long way in fostering in a new era of peace, understanding and mutual respect between the people of mainland India and the so-called hill people of northeast India. Here, it is worth remembering that even during the Naga movement for total independence, news of what was happening in the Naga hills never reached the outside world or even the Indians living in mainland India because of an Indian imposed news-embargo. And the Indian government has always tried to brainwash its citizens with its own distorted and fabricated side of the Naga story.

The result being that many in India still believe that the Naga political movement was a total nuisance and stupidity. Thus, we are not foreign to what fabricated and distorted versions and accounts can create in the hearts and minds of people.

Therefore, as mentioned by Arvind Kejriwal himself during his solidarity speech about the need to include the history of the northeast people in the syllabus of mainland schools to foster in better understanding and mutual respect amongst the hill people and the mainland people, I believe it is now up to us (the so-called northeasterners) to carry this message and proposal forward for a better and promising future for all of us……….

North Korea: Totalitarianism in Transition?

alex Franquelli t is recent news that the North Korean regime has purged Jang Song Thaek— uncle of the hermit state’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un—with accusations ranging from “traitor” to “careerist” and “womaniser”. All direct relatives of the once second-most-powerful figure in the regime were executed in ways the popular media, not without the usual hint of sensationalism, have defined as both “horrific” and “shocking”. Apart from the array of unconfirmed and truculent details—120 rabid dogs, it was suggested, had mauled the man’s body, a rumour that had instead originated from a Chinese social network—the episode brought the North Korean regime to the attention of the general public once again.

But what direction is the new North Korean leadership taking? Is there a logic behind the apparently incoherent series of actions undertaken? Any analysis is inevitably burdened by the secrecy of this totalitarian regime but we can start with the Korean Central News Agency statement on Jang ’s execution. Behind the rhetoric and the somehow naïve comparisons (“worse than a dog”) and imputed petty motives (Jang was said to have confined an autograph sent by Kim Jong-un, carved on natural granite, to a “shaded corner” in front of a state building), the statement tells a much more compelling story.

First, the elite is undergoing a transition that sees the younger generations (represented by the Supreme Leader himself) replace the older functionaries. Whether this could result in a new set of reforms remains to be seen.

Secondly, and perhaps more alarmingly, Jang, one of the most tenaciously pro-China figures, had been accused of selling off coal and leasing out land at Rason port in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for 50 years. In both cases, the beneficiary was none other than China, thus sparking a controversial debate as to whether Pyongyang is indirectly sending a bitter message to Beijing.

Reassurance has come from one of the most senior officials in the State Economic Development Committee, Yun Yong Sok, who told the Associated Press in December that things continue to be “the same as before”. But doubts remain as to whether the accusation implies a reopening of the agreements signed with the Chinese government, especially since these transactions had allegedly been carried out by Jang without any consent from the Korean elite. This apparently contradictory behaviour reveals an important change within the leadership, which in the first year has appeared more domestically focused than under Kim’s predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. A contributing factor has been the lack of a clear strategy by the Obama administration.

I

Sanctions US-led economic sanctions had forced the North Korean leadership to adopt a more conciliatory stance, preventing the construction of nuclear weapons or the implementation of a long-range missile programme.

Such plans were routinely announced by Pyongyang to maintain a state of fear in the region and gain material benefit in aid. The Agreed Framework of 1994 managed to put a stop to the North Korean nuclear-weapons programme in return for aid from the west and the Clinton administration worked on sorting out the causes for concern between the two countries, before leaving the stage to the George W Bush presidency.

Bush forestalled the negotiations and included North Korea in the now infamous “axis of evil”, before initiating the six-party discussions which would later bring substantial aid to Pyongyang on condition that it abandoned the nuclear-weapons programme. This hard-line approach and the significant stop in the negotiations resulted in, among other things, the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, not far from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport in 2010, and the sinking of a South

Minh Le

N

Inter Press Service

obel Laureate Betty Williams started her speech to a peace forum at the U.N. headquarters on February 21 with perhaps the last thing the audience would expect her to say.

She urged them to stop glorifying working for peace.

“We could sit all day here and glorify it, but it’s not a thing that should be glorified,” she said. “It’s a thing that should be done in reality, every single day of our lives.”

Williams, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for promoting a peaceful society, believes that each person, as a global citizen, has a role to play in bringing peace to the world. “We can’t say ‘I don’t have to do it. Let them do it.’ Every child that dies in our world from conditions of malnutrition, from disease, from war, we are all guilty.

As a human family, we are all guilty,” she said. Her sentiment for global solidarity and responsibility was echoed by many others at the forum, where diplomats, educators and peace activists gathered to discuss the topic of “Global Citizenship and the Future of the U.N.” The Feb. 21 event, sponsored by the U.N. Alliance of Civilisations and organised by Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency and the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research, also saw the launch of “A Forum for Peace: Daisaku Ikeda’s Proposals to the U.N.” The book is a collection of 30 years of annual peace proposals by Buddhist thinker Ikeda, whose recommendations for global change and for the U.N. are seen as words of wisdom by Williams and other speakers at the forum. “This is the book that really needs to be read by all of us,” said Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former under-secretary-general and high representative. “No human being in the world history has written so consistently and so substantively about the work of the U.N.,” he said, adding that many of Ikeda’s proposals, including the empowerment of women and young people in creating peace, have been reflected in the way the global body operates.

Ikeda’s concept of the “Culture of Peace,” Chowdhury said, is essential to make the world a secure place for future generations, by promoting peace through dialogue and nonviolence.

Global citizenship In his remarks sent to the forum, Ikeda said he has “repeatedly stressed the importance of fostering an awareness of our role and responsibility as global citizens,” which he considers the spiritual basis for countries to resolve conflicts and the source of hope for the future of the U.N. He then called for a brand new programme of education specifically for global citizenship to be promoted by the U.N. Education, Ikeda said, needs to deepen understanding of challenges facing humankind and promote a shared pledge among all people “not to seek one’s happiness and prosperity at the expense of others.”

In 2012, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched “Education First,” an initiative aiming to get every child into school, increase education quality and foster global citizenship.

According to the U.N., it is not enough to only produce students who can read, write and count, but they also need to learn how to “think and act for the dignity of fellow human beings.” The problem with the current education system is that the values of peace, human rights, respect, cultural diversity and justice are not often embedded and emphasised in the ethos of schools.

William Gaudelli, associate professor of social studies and education at Teachers College, said in order to have a new generation of global citizens, first it is necessary to have teachers who are more open to and more thoughtful about the world. The concept of global citizenship, he said, is not a novelty and in fact can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, who described himself as “a citizen of the world”.

Gaudelli said while it may seem a “crazy” idea now to ask people who live in “neatly divided countries” to think of themselves as global citizens, the world really needs to come together to solve ongoing problems. “There are so many challenges, from infectious diseases, small arms trading, human trafficking, global warming, animal extinction and the list grows,” he said, calling for all members of the global society to truly listen to and learn from others, rather than waiting for “an opening to talk.”

Protesters shout anti-North Korea slogans with placards of defaced images of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the late leader Kim Jong Il in the background during a rally in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday, February 16, 2014. North Korea Role of the U.N. Olivier Urbain, who edited the book, said he was immarked the anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il, on Sunday. The banners in foreground read: "The strength of the South pressed by Ikeda’s firm belief in the power of ordinary Korea-U.S. alliance, left" and "North Korean people's revolution immediately!" (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Korean naval vessel that same year. Once again, this was rewarded with aid by the US, Japan and South Korea.

But with the death of the former Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-il, the nation’s foreign relations seem to have been downplayed. True, the 2013 crisis, sparked by the launch last April of the first North Korean satellite, issued in the familiar rhetoric against the usual suspects (the US, Japan and South Korea). But, once again, the mountain brought forth a mouse and the crisis ended with a vague promise of a resumption of talks between the two Koreas.

Kim Jong-un’s focus on domestic politics and the continuing recourse to internal purges may betray uneasiness and distrust towards the military leadership, the Supreme Leader concentrating more on stabilising his authority than utilising the well-known threat-for-aid mechanism. For his part, President Obama has been rather ambiguous, breaking with the hard-line Bush stance of “harsh cautions before a launch, increased sanctions after” when he failed to act decisively on the North Korean rocket launch (which failed to achieve its target).

Washington needs to adapt to the new scenario by toughening its injunctions or, less realistically, finding new channels of possible agreement with Pyongyang. The purges and a leader working on consolidating his position seem to represent the perfect occasion for the US to act but this could irritate China, which remains North Korea’s only ally.

Economic reforms Totalitarian regimes need continually to reinvent themselves to remain the same and for North Korea stability is the real goal, not growth. And North Korea remains a loose cannon, particularly in times like these. The country’s leadership is undergoing a deep transformation, which could even lead to economic reforms following the experience gained in the SEZs. According to some observers, its relatively-untouched mineral deposits could drive the country’s development in infrastructure (mainly transport and processing) and know-how—though this would undermine the existing economic bastions.

In 2015, China will open a high-speed rail line that will connect Shenyang, a major industrial and com-

mercial hub, to Dandong, the city on the banks of the river Yalu which separates the Middle from the Hermit Kingdom. But that will only be the first of a series of projects aimed at intensifying trade between the two countries. Another, probably even more revealing, will see a rail line run from Jilin to Hunchun, a border city strategically close to the Rason SEZ. These assets betray an increasing interest in the advance of Pyongyang’s economy and apparently contradict Beijing’s growing annoyance with this unpredictable and volatile neighbour. Some analysts argue that these investments represent an attempt by the Chinese government to prevent a total collapse of the North Korean economy and to support a shift of focus from the military to a more market-minded mentality, while increasing Pyongyang’s reliance on China and consolidating North Korea’s position as a buffer against the United States.

A state without parallel This unconventional alliance has been criticised following a United Nations inquiry, which catalogued the systematic human-rights abuses in the “Democratic People's Republic”. It reported that “the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world”. China’s practice of sending illegal immigrants and defectors back to North Korea was condemned as "aiding and abetting crimes against humanity", since those forcibly repatriated often ended up tortured or executed.

Beijing rejected the claim, arguing that “politicising human-rights issues is not conducive towards improving a country's human rights”—not thereby contesting the substance of the accusation but rather the UN approach.

China has made clear on more than one occasion that it will not accept charges being laid against North Korea at the International Criminal Court, thus vetoing any UN effort to arraign Kim Jong-un for human-rights violations.

Has North Korea really entered a phase of transition?

Only time will tell. But what appears reasonably certain is that 2014 will say more about North Korea than its recent rhetorical outbursts. It is a story of traitors, purges, money—and a secret, regressive revolution.

people and his trust in the potential of solidarity.

He also noted that Ikeda’s promotion for a world without war does not stop with abolishing actual nuclear warheads, but it also deals with the mentality behind the fact that the world still have these weapons. “It’s not possible to build one’s happiness on the misery of another human being. The same thing with countries: it is not possible to build true lasting national security on the misery and terror of other countries that are so terrified by the weapon,” he said.

Despite conflicts and threats around the world, Urbain said there was “a tremendous sense of hope” when he read the book. “As long as we have the space for personal creativity and solidarity, there is nothing that human beings cannot overcome,” he said.

Urbain said the U.N., therefore, needs to create channels and mechanisms for people’s voices to be heard and, in so doing, let itself be empowered by the people.

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, said the peaceful and prosperous co-existence of peoples and nations is the cornerstone of the U.N. mission. “We are bound together as the international community in the belief that despite different cultures, languages and religions, there are fundamental shared values and principles that underpin our humanity,” he said. “We are bound together as the U.N. family because we recognise that it is through the celebration of our diversity, as well as through the promotion of tolerance and dispelling fears of the “other”, that we will build a more peaceful world,” he told the forum.

Even though it was clear that many speakers were believers in the U.N., they did not shy away from the fact that the global organisation is not perfect. That is why reforms and recommendations proposed by thinkers like Ikeda are important, they said. “The U.N. is all that we have in our world to try and make it better,” said Williams. “I know that in certain areas it could do with a lot of improvements but give me one organisation in the world that is being run smoothly?”

“What could we do if we didn’t have this organisation?

How much worse would it be?” she asked.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Thursday 27 February 2014

The Morung Express

7 sailors hurt, 2 missing in submarine accident

MuMbai, February 26 (iaNS): Seven Indian Navy personnel were injured and at least two were missing early Wednesday after an accident aboard the INS Sindhuratna submarine that was underwater, official sources said here. There were 94 sailors onboard the submarine when the accident took place. The accident - the cause of which is not yet clear - took place in the early hours of Wednesday, about 50 nautical miles (80 km) in the Arabian Sea. Seven injured sailors were airlifted by helicopter and shifted in an unconscious state to the naval hospital, INS Asvini, in south Mumbai. Two more sailors who were on board the submarine, remain “unaccounted for” or are missing even as a search for them has been launched. The remaining sailors, including Commodore Commanding Submarine (West) S.R. Kapur, are engaged in the rescue operations currently underway. Kapur is in-charge of all the submarines under the Western Naval Command here.

Officials suspect that the two “unaccounted for” officials may have been trapped in one of the sealed compartments of the vessel. Details about what caused the accident were not available, but preliminary reports suggest that the toxic smoke may have been caused either due to a fire or a leakage in one of the hydrogen batteries on the vessel.

Navy chief D.K. Joshi resigns

New Delhi, February 26 (iaNS): Indian Navy chief Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned Wednesday taking moral responsibility for a series of accidents that have hit naval vessels over the past few months. The government accepted his resignation with immediate effect, a defence ministry release said.

The resignation came on a day when seven Indian Navy personnel were injured and at least two went missing after smoke filled a compartment in the INS Sindhuratna submarine that was underwater off Mumbai, about 50 nautical miles (80 km) in the Arabian Sea. There were 94 sailors onboard the submarine when smoke was reported in the sailors’ accommodation.

“Taking moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents which have taken place during the past few months, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral D.K. Joshi today (Wednesday) resigned from the post of CNS,” the release said. It said Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral R.K. Dhowan will be discharging the duties of officiating CNS, pending appointment of regular CNS. The navy has been hit by a spate of accidents over the past seven months causing concern. The biggest acciRefitted and renovated in Mumbai last December, the INS Sindhuratna was on a training exercise to familiarize the crew with operations of the Russian built vessel. The vessel was underwater at the time of the incident and it was not fitted with weapons of any kind as it was on a training and familiarization mission.

The Indian Navy has ordered an inquiry into

dent involved fire on the INS Sindhurakshak and the subsequent sinking of the submarine in the Mumbai harbour Aug 14 last year, killing all 18 personnel aboard.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony had earlier this month expressed concern over the accidents suffered by the navy over the past few months.

Antony said that even one accident was “serious” for him and there was need to strictly follow standard operating procedures and draw proper lessons.

the incident - the tenth in recent times - which has hit its elite fleet of submarines. The biggest accident involved the fire and subsequent sinking of the INS Sindhurakshak submarine in the Mumbai harbour Aug 14 last year, killing all 18 personnel aboard.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony earlier this month expressed concern over the accidents suffered by

What ails the Navy Warships: 10 mishaps in last seven months

He also said he cannot give the navy “100 percent satisfaction certificate”. INS Talwar, a frigate, collided with a fishing vessel last year. A fire broke out on INS Konkan at the dry dock in Visakhapatnam in December 2013 when it was in the dry dock for maintenance.

And INS Betwa, also a frigate, suffered damage in January. INS Vindhyagiri, a Nilgiri class frigate, sank after it caught fire when it collided with a merchant vessel near the Mumbai harbour in 2011.

the navy over the past few months. Antony said that even one accident was “serious” for him and there was need to strictly follow standard operating procedures and draw proper lessons.

He also said he cannot give the navy “100 percent satisfaction certificate”.

There have been a string of navy accidents. INS Talwar, a frigate, collided with a

fishing vessel last year.

A fire broke out on INS Konkan at the dry dock in Visakhapatnam in December 2013 when it was in the dry dock for maintenance.

And INS Betwa, also a frigate, suffered damage in January. INS Vindhyagiri, a Nilgiri class frigate, sank after it caught fire when it collided with a merchant vessel near the Mumbai harbour in 2011.

sC issues arrest warrant against sahara chief subrata New Delhi, February 26 (iaNS): The Supreme Court Wednesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy for failing to appear before it in person as directed at the court’s last hearing. Roy was also given till March 4 to comply with the court’s order.

An apex court bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice J.S. Khehar, while noting that Subrata Roy’s plea for exemption from personal appearance was specifically turned down, said: “Since, we have already declined to grant exemption from personal presence ...on Feb 25, 2014, we find no reason to accede to the renewal of the request made today.”

Apparently displeased, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan said: “The arm of this court is very long. We will issue warrants. This is the Supreme Court of the land. When other directors are here, why cannot he be here?” Having declined the plea for exemption from personal appearance, the court said, “Accordingly, we issue non-bailable warrants of arrest Subrata Roy Sahara...

He shall be arrested and produced before this court March 4, 2014, at 2 p.m.”

The court recorded in its order, “Even though, (senior counsel) Ram Jethmalani made a mention Feb 25 before this bench for dispensing with the personal presence of Subrata Roy Sahara...that request was

saudi crown prince arrives in india

New Delhi, February 26 (iaNS): Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived here Wednesday on a three-day official visit during which the two countries are expected to sign an agreement on defence and enhance cooperation in hydrocarbons and security. Vice-president Hamid Ansari received Crown Prince Salman on his arrival.

Crown Prince Salman’s is the highest level political visit from the kingdom after the January 2006 landmark trip by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The crown prince, 78, who is the next in line to the throne and is the deputy prime minister and defence minister, will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also hold talks with the vice president, who is a former Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia.

The two countries were expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on defence for greater exchange of information and training. Also on the cards is enhancing cooperation in areas ranging from hydrocarbons to security. The two countries are also eager to work together in curbing money laundering and drug trafficking.

Saudi Arabia sees India as an attractive investment hub for its business interests in Asia and seeks Indian investments in areas such as consultancy, construction, telecom, information technology and pharmaceuticals. This will be Crown Prince Salman’s second visit to India. He came in April 2010 when he was governor of Riyadh province.

An official visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Riyadh in 2010 and the Riyadh Declaration signed Feb 28, 2010, elevated the bilateral engagement to “strategic partnership” covering security, economic, defence and political areas. “The visit is set to give a major boost to bilateral ties, as the two countries are expected to sign agreements and hold talks to boost cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, investment and energy,” said Mridul Kumar, joint secretary (Gulf) to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest partner with bilateral trade of over $43 billion in 2012-13. Saudi Arabia is also India’s largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of total imports in 201213. Indians form the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia with about 2.88 million Indian nationals working there.

specifically turned down by this court.” The court appeared unimpressed by Jethmalani’s plea that 94-year old mother of Roy was in a serious condition and he had gone to be by her bedside and comfort her.

“His mother is dying. He is by her bedside, holding her hand,” Jethmalani said, pointing to the seriousness of Roy’s mother’s condition.

Jethmalani said that Subrata Roy had not done anything that court should do anything harsh to him. Referring to its Feb 20, 2014, order directing the personal presence of Subrata Roy and three other directors of SIRECL and SHICL, the court recorded the presence of three directors - Ashok Roy Choudhary, Ravi Shankar

Dubey and Vandana Bhargava.

The court said that three directors “who are present today, shall also remain present in court on the next date”. The Supreme Court had directed the presence of Roy and three directors of Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Limited (SHICL) following the failure of two companies to submit to market regulator SEBI title deeds of its unencumbered properties to secure the balance of Rs.19,000 crore of Rs.24,000 crore that it had collected through Optionally Fully Convertible Debenture (OFCD).

Sahara companies have deposited Rs.5,120 crore with the SEBI in December 2012.

New Delhi, February 26 (ageNcieS): The Navy’s tryst with accidents involving its frontline warships and submarines continues, exposing major chinks in the armour. In the latest accident to have hit the Navy, two officers were feared dead and seven other personnel seriously injured following a mishap involving the submarine INS Sindhuratna off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s incident was the tenth in the series of mishaps involving frontline warships. Recently, the Defence Ministry had pulled up the Navy over the recent spate of mishaps involving warships and asked it to take corrective steps, contending that such accidents adversely affect the morale of personnel.

Here’s a look at the recent mishaps that hit the Navy: February 25, 2014: Two officers were feared dead and seven other Navy personnel seriously injured in a mishap involving the Russian-origin Kilo Class submarine INS Sindhuratna off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday. Close to 80 sailors were on board the Sindhuratna when the incident took place early on Wedenesday. The Navy said there was no explosion on board the Sindhuratna but heavy smoke was observed leading to the sealing of compartment 3.

February 03, 2014: INS Airavat, the latest of the Shardul class of tank-landing ships, ran aground off the coast of Vishakapatanam after suffering damage to its propellers. The 6000-tonne warship, which was inducted into service in 2009, had to undergo significant repairs to its propellers. The propellers of the warship were permanently damaged and had to be replaced for it to become operational.

January 22: INS Betwa — a Brahmaputra-class guided missile frigate — ran aground or collided with an unidentified object while approaching the Mumbai naval base. The sonar dome mounted on the hull of the frigate commissioned in 2004 cracked, leading to faulty readings and ingress of saltwater into sensitive equipment. The damage rendered the ship in-

effective. The damage was noticed when it entered the Mumbai harbour after returning from anti-piracy operations.

INSTarkash-aTalwar-classfrigatewhich has conducted several overseas missions - hit the jetty while berthing at the Mumbai naval base. Its hull was badly damaged.

January 17: Kilo-class INS Sindhugosh had to be “grounded” at the Mumbai base after it entered shallow waters at low tide.

The submarine was, however, freed and did not suffer much damage.

January: A fault on board the INS Vipul, a Veer-class corvette that recently underwent repairs and refit, had also come to light. The warship had to be sent back for repairs after a hole was detected in its pillar compartment.

December 23, 2013: A fishing trawler sank after colliding with Navy’s frontline frigate INS Talwar near Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra injuring four of the 27 persons on board the civilian vessel. The fishing trawler was operating without lights and could not be seen in the dark. All the 27 occupants of the civilian vessel were pulled out by INS Talwar and dropped on the shore after being provided medical attention.

December 04, 2013: India’s leading minesweeper, the INS Konkan, caught fire and suffered major damage to its interiors while undergoing repairs in Vizag. The Pondicherry-class minesweeper was undergoing a refit at a dry dock when a fire broke out in its engine room and engulfed much of its interiors before it was doused by fire fighters.

September, 2013: A fire incident was reported on country’s only aircraft carrier INS Viraat off the coast of Mumbai.

The incident took place on board the INS Viraat near the officers’ mess section of the warship.

August 14, 2013: Eighteen sailors, including three officers, were killed when multiple explosions ripped through the torpedo compartment of one of India’s mainstay kilo-class submarines INS Sindhurakshak berthed at Naval Dockyard at Colaba around midnight.

Young members of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community participate in the final prayer ceremony in the presence of their new spiritual leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in Mumbai, on Wednesday, February 26. The final prayer ceremony was held after observing 40 days mourning period for their former leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin who died on Jan. 17 at the age of 102. (AP Photo)

‘Opinion polls should be authenticated’ Centre sanctions fund for

‘...opinion polls, should offer explanations and make full disclosure to the public...’

New Delhi, February 26 (iaNS): Election opinion polls conducted by media should be properly authenticated, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday.

A day after a Hindi television news channel carried out a sting operation that indicated a political conspiracy to manipulate public opinion, Kejriwal said the sting operation aired by the

channel, if assumed to be authentic, represents a dark hour for the Indian media.

“It shows that political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been buying favourable service to manipulate public opinion,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader said.

He said the last few weeks have seen a flurry of opinion polls with successive higher projections for the BJP. Kejriwal also demanded that the News Broadcaster Standard Authority (NBSA) and the Editors Guild should have checked the veracity of the sting opera-

tion and conducted an inquiry into the role of news channels in broadcasting manipulated polls.

He said channels like Times Now, Headlines Today and India TV, which conducted opinion polls, should offer explanations and make full disclosure to the public.

A criminal investigation should be carried out by a Special Investigation Team, preferably under the Supreme Court, to verify all allegations in the sting, he said. The AAP will write to the NBSA, Editors Guild and approach the Election Commission with these demands, he added.

development of backward regions New Delhi, February 26 (iaNS): The central government has released over Rs.15 crore for development of backward regions in selected districts of the country’s various states, an official statement said Wednesday.

Under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), a total of Rs.15,158.11 crore was granted to 272 selected districts in 27 states for development of backward regions, it said.

The scheme is aimed at strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions across the country to

enable them discharge their duties for balanced development.

The BRGF provides untied funds to panchayats on the basis of plans prepared by various ministries and states.

Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to panchayats through the states in the shape of grant for development and for capacity building. Along with BRGF, the Panchayati Raj ministry also builds capacities of panchayats through Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan.

Centre not to execute Bhullar death sentence till mercy plea is decided

Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. (File photo)

New Delhi, February 26 (PTi): The Centre on Wednesday assured the Supreme Court that death sentence of Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar will not be executed till it takes a decision

on a fresh mercy plea on medical grounds. A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam asked the Centre to take a decision on the mercy plea quickly as “delay of every day is a torture for the convict”.

It granted two weeks time to the Centre to take a decision and posted the case for hearing on March 10.

Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati informed the court about the report sent by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor in which he had not favoured execution of Bhullar’s death sentence. The court was hearing a curative petition filed by Bhullar’s wife Navneet Kaur seeking commutation of death sentence.

The LG, in his report sent to the Centre, said, “On principles of human ethics and natural justice, I cannot bring myself to recommend the rejection of the mercy petition of Navneet Kaur (wife of Bhullar) and my comments may kindly be forwarded to the President of India for the final disposal in the matter.” The apex court had on January

31 stayed his execution.

The plea of Bhullar’s wife for commutation of death sentence assumes significance in view of the apex court’s January 21 verdict holding that inordinate and inexplicable delay by the government in deciding mercy plea of death row convicts can be a ground for commuting their sentence. Bhullar’s wife has filed the petition seeking a relook at the apex court verdict which rejected her plea to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment on grounds his mental condition and because of delay on the part of the government in deciding his earlier mercy plea.

She submitted that her husband is not mentally fit and he is being treated by Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences

(IHBAS). Bhullar was convicted and awarded death penalty for triggering a bomb blast in New Delhi in September 1993, which killed nine persons and injured 25 others, including the then Youth Congress chief M S Bitta.

The apex court had on March 26, 2002 dismissed Bhullar’s appeal against death sentence awarded by a trial court in August 2001 and endorsed by the Delhi High Court in 2002. He had filed a review petition which was also dismissed on December 17, 2002. Bhullar had then moved a curative petition which too had been rejected by the apex court on March 12, 2003.

Bhullar, meanwhile, had filed a mercy petition before the President on January 14, 2003. The President, after a lapse of

over eight years, dismissed his mercy plea on May 14, 2011. Citing the delay, he had again moved the apex court for commutation of the death sentence but his plea was rejected.

The apex court had on January 21 held inordinate delay by government in deciding mercy plea of death row convicts can be a ground for commuting their sentence and granted life term to 15 condemned prisoners, including four aides of forest brigand Veerappan. In a landmark judgement, the court had held that prolonging execution of death sentence has a “dehumanising effect” on condemned prisoners who have to face the “agony” of waiting for years under the shadow of death during the pendency of their mercy plea.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Thursday 27 February 2014

Dimapur

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Militants kill 58 students in school attack

DAMATURU, FebRUARy 26 (AP): Islamic militants set fire to a locked dormitory at a school in northern Nigeria, then shot and slit the throats of students who tried to escape through windows during a pre-dawn attack Tuesday.

At least 58 students were killed, including many who were burned alive.

They “slaughtered them like sheep” with machetes, and gunned down those who ran away, said one teacher, Adamu Garba. Soldiers guarding a checkpoint near the coed government school were mysteriously withdrawn hours before it was targeted by the militants, said the spokesman for the governor of northeastern Yobe state.

Female students were spared in the attack, said the spokesman, Abdullahi Bego, though girls and women have been abducted in the past by militants of the Boko Haram movement, whose name means “Western education is forbidden.”

This time, the insurgents went to the female dormitories and told the young women to go home, get married and abandon the Western education they said is anathema to Islam, Bego said. All of the dead were teenage boys or young men.

The militants, whose struggle for an Islamic state has killed thousands and made them the big-

eral government,” Gaidam told reporters. He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to deploy more troops to the region.

Jonathan, who rarely comments on individual attacks, said in a statement that he felt “immense sadness and anguish” by the loss of life at the school, and vowed that the military would “continue to prosecute the war against terror with full vigor, diligence and determination.”

Garba said the militants locked the door of a dormitory where male students were sleeping, then set it on fire. Some students were burned alive in the attack that began around 2 a.m., he said.

The governor said it took hours for troops to arrive, giving the assailants plenty of time to set the rest of the school campus ablaze— six dormitories, the administrative building, staff quarters, class-

rooms, a clinic and the kitchen. Bego, the governor’s spokesman, said the governor will be looking into why the school was left unprotected. “The community complained to the governor that yesterday the military were withdrawn and then the attack happened,” he said.

Soldiers from Damaturu, the state capital located some 45 miles (70 kilometers) away, did not arrive until noon, hours after the

attackers had taken off, according to community leaders. Military spokesman Eli Lazarus confirmed the attack, but could not give an exact death toll because soldiers were still gathering corpses. He had no immediate comment on the charge that soldiers withdrew before the attack.

Nigeria’s military has reported arresting several soldiers accused of aiding and passing information to Boko Haram extremists; a senator has also been accused of similar charges.

On Monday, Jonathan dismissed suggestions the military was losing the war to halt the 4-year-old Islamic uprising in the northeast.

Tens of thousands of Nigerians have lost family members, houses, businesses, their belongings and livelihoods to the rebellion and the fallout from a military state of emergency by soldiers accused of gross human rights violations, including setting ablaze entire villages and summary executions of suspects.

Tuesday’s attack is only the latest in a string of deadly assaults by Islamic militants. Entire towns and villages were under the sway of Boko Haram when Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May. The military quickly forced the insurgents out of urban areas, only to have them regroup in forests and mountain caves where it

through Amazon while holding onto a few keepsakes. They’ll use the money to pay off bills and quietly donate to local charities, Kagin said. Before they sell them, they are loaning some to the American Numismatic Association for its National Money Show, which opens Thursday in Atlanta. What makes their find particularly valuable, McCarthy said, is that almost all of the coins are in near-perfect condition.

That means that whoever put them into the ground likely socked them away as soon as they were put into circulation.

Because paper money was illegal in California until the 1870s, he added, it’s extremely rare to find any coins from before that of such high quality.

“It wasn’t really until the 1880s that you start seeing coins struck in California that were kept in real high grades of preservation,” he said. The coins, in $5, $10 and $20 denominations, were stored more or less in chronological order, McCarthy said, with the 1840s and 1850s pieces going into one canister until it was filed, then new coins going into the next one and the next one after that.

LONDON, FebRUARy 26 (IANS): Current virus detection systems look for viruses that are present on the Internet or computers.

But this contagious airborne virus can badly hit less-protected open access WiFi networks available in coffee shops or airports.

In a first, researchers at University of Liverpool in Britain have demonstrated that WiFi networks can be infected with a virus that can move through densely populated areas as efficiently as the common cold spreads among humans.

The team designed and simulated an attack on Belfast and London in a lab setting and found a virus called ‘Chameleon’. It was able to avoid detection and identify the points at which WiFi access is least protected by encryption and passwords. “‘Chameleon’ behaved like an airborne virus, travelling across the WiFi network via access points (APs) that connect households and businesses to WiFi networks,” explained Alan Marshall, professor of network security at the uni-

versity’s school of computer science and electrical engineering and electronics.

Areas that are more densely populated have more APs in closer proximity to each other, which meant that the virus propagated more quickly, particularly across networks connectable within a 10-50 metre radius.

While many access points are sufficiently encrypted and password protected, the virus simply moved on to find those which weren’t strongly protected, including open ac-

This Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, photo, shows the remains of the burned out Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Nigeria. Islamic militants killed dozens of students in a pre-dawn attack Tuesday on the northeast Nigerian school, survivors said, setting ablaze a locked dormitory and shooting and slitting the throats of those who escaped through windows. Some were burned alive. (AP Photo)

gest threat to security in Africa’s top oil producer, have increasingly preyed on civilians, both Muslim and Christian. Some 300 people have died in attacks this month alone.

Local officials buried the bodies of 29 victims and another 29 were taken to Damaturu Specialist Hospital, according to the hospital records and an Associated Press reporter who went to the mortuary. Most of the victims ap-

peared to be between 15 and 20 years old, Bego said.

Eleven wounded survivors of the attack were being treated at the hospital.

Touring the smoldering ruins Tuesday at the Federal Government College of Buni Yadi, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam decried the federal government’s failure to protect the population.

“It is unfortunate that our children in schools are dying from lack of adequate protection from the fed-

has proved difficult to flush them out.

The military said recent attacks are being perpetrated by militants escaping a sustained aerial bombardment and ground assaults on their forest hideouts along the border with Cameroon, an offensive begun after Jonathan fired and replaced his entire military command last month. On Saturday, the military announced it had closed hundreds of miles of the border with Cameroon to prevent militants using it as a launch pad for attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday condemned the “unspeakable violence and acts of terror” and said the United States was helping Nigerian authorities “to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram, while protecting civilians and ensuring respect for human rights.”

But survivors and local officials charge they get no protection.

“Everybody is living in fear,” local government chairman Maina Ularamu told the AP after Izghe village was attacked twice in a week this month — with militants killing 109 people and burning hundreds of thatched huts in neighboring Adamawa state.

“There is no protection. We cannot predict where and when they are going to attack. People can’t sleep with their eyes closed,” Ularamu said. cess WiFi points common in locations such as coffee shops and airports.

“WiFi connections are increasingly a target for computer hackers because of well-documented security vulnerabilities, which make it difficult to detect and defend against a virus,” warned Marshall. The researchers are now able to use the data generated from this study to develop a new technique to identify when an attack is likely, said the study published in EURASIP Journal on Information Security.

Couple finds $10m in gold coins while walking out dog Airborne WiFi virus new threat to virtual world

LOS ANGeLeS, FebRUARy 26 (AP): A California couple out walking their dog on their property stumbled across a modernday bonanza: $10 million in rare, mint-condition gold coins buried in the shadow of an old tree.

Nearly all of the 1,427 coins, dating from 1847 to 1894, are in uncirculated, mint condition, said David Hall, co-founder of Professional Coin Grading Service of Santa Ana, which recently authenticated them. Although the face value of the gold pieces only adds up to more than $28,000, some of them are so rare that coin experts say they could fetch nearly $1 million apiece.

“I don’t like to say oncein-a-lifetime for anything, but you don’t get an opportunity to handle this kind of material, a treasure like this, ever,” said veteran numismatist Don Kagin, who is representing the finders. “It’s like they found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”

Kagin, whose family has been in the rare-coin business for 81 years, would say little about the couple other than that they are husband and wife, are middle-aged and have lived for several years on the rural property

David Hall, co-founder of Professional Coin Grading Service, poses with some of 1,427 Gold-Rush era US gold coins, at his office in Santa Ana, Calif., on February 25.

(AP Photo)

where the coins were found.

They have no idea who put them there, Kagin said.

The pair are choosing to remain anonymous, Kagin said, in part to avoid a renewed gold rush to their property by modern-day prospectors armed with metal detectors. They also don’t want to be treated

any differently, said David McCarthy, chief numismatist for Kagin Inc. of Tiburon. “Their concern was this would change the way everyone else would look at them, and they’re pretty happy with the lifestyle they have today,” he said.

They plan to put most of the coins up for sale

Pastor Rick Warren acts on mental health

LAKe FOReST, FebRUARy 26 (AP): A year after his son’s suicide, popular evangelical pastor Rick Warren is taking on a new mental health ministry inspired by his personal tragedy.

Warren, founder of Saddleback Church and a best-selling author, will team with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to host a daylong event next month focused on helping church leaders reach parishioners who are struggling with mental illness.

The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church grew out of private conversations Warren had with the local Catholic bishop, Bishop Kevin

Vann, after his son’s death and his own writings in his journal as he processed his grief. Matthew Warren, 27, committed suicide last April after struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts for years.

“I’m certainly not going to waste this pain. One of the things I believe is that God never wastes a hurt and that oftentimes your greatest ministry comes out of your deepest pain,” Warren said Monday as he met with Vann to discuss the March 28 event. “I remember writing in my journal that in God’s garden of grace even broken trees bear fruit.”

After Matthew’s suicide, more than 10,000 people wrote to Warren and his wife, Kay, to share their own

struggles with mental illness, he said.

The conference will address a range of mental health issues, from bipolar disorder to suicide to more easily hidden issues such as anxiety, eating disorders and addiction. Attendees can choose from among 20 interactive workshops within the conference.

“When Kay and I began ministering to people with HIV/AIDS about a dozen years ago, I thought AIDS was the greatest taboo. But actually, I think mental illness is,” he said. “And we want to remove the stigma.” The focus on mental health is a natural outgrowth for churches, which have long been the first stop for the faithful who are suffering and need guidance, Vann said.

Pro and anti Russian demonstrators clash in Ukraine’s Crimea

SIMFeROPOL, FebRUARy 26 (AP): Fistfights broke out between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in Ukraine’s strategic Crimea region on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered massive military exercises just across the border.

The tests of military readiness involve most of the military units in central and western Russia, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised statement. He said the exercise would “check the troops’ readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation’s military security.”

He did not specifically mention the turmoil in Ukraine, which is bitterly divided between pro-European western regions and pro-Russian areas in the east and south. Three months of protests forced proRussian President Viktor Yanukovytch to go into hiding over the weekend as his foes set up an interim government.

In Crimea’s regional capital of Simferopol, more than 10,000 Muslim Tatars rallied in support of the interim govern-

ment. Waving Ukrainian flags, they chanted “Ukraine is not Russia!”

That group clashed with a smaller pro-Russian rally nearby in which participants waved Russian flags. Protesters shouted and punched one another, as police and leaders of both rallies struggled to keep the two groups apart.

The pro-Russian group swelled to about 5,000 later Wednesday as more protesters arrived on buses from the port city of Sevastopol. Some pro-Russian protesters took a Ukrainian flag from the Tatar demonstrators and tore it to pieces, ignoring calls for calm from leaders of both rallies.

The tensions in Crimea — a peninsula in southern Ukraine that is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet — highlight the divisions that run through this country of 46 million, and underscore fears that the country’s mainly Russian-speaking east and south will not recognize the interim authorities’ legitimacy.

Crimean Tatars took an active part in the protest move-

Anti-Yanukovych protesters march in the Independence Square, the epicenter of the country’s current unrest, in Kiev, Ukraine, on Wednesday, February 26. (AP Photo)

ment against Yanukovych and harbor deep resentment toward the Kremlin, having been deported en masse on the orders of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin during World War II. “We will not let the fate of our land be decided without us,” said Nuridin Seytablaev, a

54-year-old engineer. “We are ready to fight for Ukraine and our European future.”

Nearby, separated by police lines, Anton Lyakhov, 52, waved a Russian flag. “Only Russia can defend us from fascists in Kiev and from Islamic radicals in Crimea,” he said.

According to the Russian defense minister, the military will be on high alert for two days as some troops deploy to shooting ranges. The actual maneuvers will start Friday and will last four days, he said. The exercise will involve ships of the Baltic and the Northern Fleets

and the air force.

The order came a day after a Russian lawmaker visiting Crimea said Moscow would protect the region’s Russianspeaking residents, raising concerns that Russia might make a military move into Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Yanukovych’s three predecessors as president issued a statement accusing Russia of “direct interference in the political life of Crimea.”

Russian officials denied any plans to move militarily on Ukraine.

“That scenario is impossible,” said Valentina Matvienko, speaker of the upper chamber of Russia’s parliament, known as the Federation Council. She is a close Putin ally and was born in western Ukraine.

“Russia has been stating and reiterating its stance that we have no right and cannot interfere in domestic affairs of a sovereign state,” she said. “We are for Ukraine as a united state, and there should be no basis for separatist sentiments.”

In Kiev, the capital, protesters who have demanded that

the new government be close to the people, cut down a fence surrounding the Parliament building.

Ukraine’s acting interior minister ordered the disbandment of a feared riot police force that many accuse of attacks on protesters during the country’s three-month political turmoil. Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook page that he had signed a decree to disband the force known as Berkut.

The protesters — who were angered by Yanukovych’s decision to ditch closer ties with the European Union and to turn to Moscow instead — blamed Berkut for violent attacks against peaceful demonstrators.

Those attacks backfired, heightening anger against authorities and helping the protests attract crowds exceeding 100,000 and establishing an extensive tent camp in the capital’s main downtown square.

The force, whose name means “golden eagle,” consisted of about 5,000 officers. It was unclear Wednesday whether its members would be dismissed or reassigned to other units.

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SPORTS

Thursday 27 February 2014

The Morung Express

Dortmund beat Zenit in Champions League

ST. PETERSBURG, FEBRUaRy 26 (aP): Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Borussia Dortmund took a big step toward the Champions League quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory at Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday.

Losing finalists last year, Dortmund made a blistering start with Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring in the fourth minute and Marco Reus doubling the visitors' lead a minute later. Zenit, which hadn't played a competitive game since Dec. 11 due to the Russian winter break, looked rusty, but pulled one back through Oleg Shatov in the 57th.

Lewandowski replied four minutes later, after playing a one-two with Poland teammate Lukasz Piszczek.

Then Piszczek conceded a penalty and Hulk scored emphatically from the spot in the 69th. Lewandowski responded by scoring his side's fourth away goal two minutes later to leave Dortmund firmly in control be-

fore the second-leg of the round-of-16 tie on March 19.

"We were close to optimal this evening," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "It was a great game, no question." After more than two months without competitive football, the home side buckled early on under the visitors' pressure and struggled to keep up with their quick passing game.

The tactics quickly paid off for Dortmund when Reus ran at the Zenit defense, staying on his feet when he might have been awarded a penalty, before Mkhitaryan swept the loose ball past Yuri Lodygin. The visiting fans were still celebrating when Kevin Grosskreutz knocked Mkhitaryan's cross back for Reus to volley inside the right post.

"We stayed compact.

We wanted to pressure them to win back the ball.

That was very important," Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl said. "We brought the game in the right direc-

Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski of Poland, left, scores by penalty during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between BvB Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 15. (AP Photo)

tion and made Zenit uncertain." Zenit's attacking midfielder Andrey Arshavin went off with what looked a hamstring injury in the

15th minute, and last-gasp defending from its captain Nicolas Lombaerts prevented Lewandowski from getting Dortmund's third

shortly afterward.

Zenit was let down by sloppy play and nervous defending, with Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, who came on for

the injured Arshavin, giving the ball away cheaply to highlight his side's travails. Hulk was fired up but his shot failed to trouble Roman Wei-

denfeller and his only reward for taking on three Dortmund defenders was a corner, which came to nothing.

Lodygin pulled off a good save to deny Lewandowski three minutes after the interval, before Zenit responded with a period of pressure. It finally paid off when Shatov scored in fortuitous fashion.

Marcel Schmelzer cleared Hulk's effort off the line and Jose Rondon struck the post from the rebound, before the loose ball fell kindly for Shatov to blast home.

Dortmund soon replied, with Lewandowski playing a one-two with Poland teammate Lukasz Piszczek and firing beyond Lodygin, who got a touch to the ball.

The home side was given a lifeline when Piszczek was adjudged to have fouled Viktor Fayzulin. Hulk duly obliged with his penalty.

But Lewandowski provided another immediate response after Tymoshchuk lost possession. Reus sent the ball into the Poland

striker's path and he fired inside the far corner for his sixth of the campaign. "I don't have the feeling that it was easy," Klopp said in response to a question from a Russian journalist. "I think we had to work very hard."

The game was played with the section normally occupied by Zenit's ultra fans closed due to racist behavior, fireworks and crowd disturbances during a group stage loss at Austria Vienna on Dec. 11.

There was also tight security in place around the Petrovsky Stadium to prevent any further trouble.

Zenit's Italian coach Luciano Spalletti said the tie was not yet decided and that his side still has a chance of going through. "In football there's always a chance of coming back," Spalletti said. "Everything depends on what kind of performance you deliver. It all depends on what you put into it, how much you're prepared to run. It depends on your effort."

Nadal set to earn Rs 6.2 crore a night, say reports

NEw DElhi, FEBRUaRy 26 (aGENCiES): If you thought the Indian Premier League cricket competition is a money-spinner, think again. The Mahesh Bhupathi-developed International Premier Tennis League is reportedly going to offer astronomical sums of money to top players that can put pale the highest paid IPL star - Royal Challenge Bangalore's Yuvraj Singh @ INR 14 crore for a two-month long tournament - to insignificance! According to reports, 'marquee' player Rafael Nadal could earn as much as a million US Dollars (6.2 crore INR) a night or may be just two-three hours of tennis!

The IPTL, a brainchild of India's Davis Cup star Bhupathi, is going to be launched this weekend in Dubai.

Nadal is believed to have committed himself to the tournament that will be played in five cities - Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Singapore and Hong Kong - between NovemBritain's Olympic 2014 winter games gold medal winner Lizzie ber 28 and December 20. Teams will Yarnold smiles as she poses for the media by the doorstep of bid for their players on Sunday in a 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Feb. 25, Yarnold won Dubai hotel and reportedly some gold in the women's skeleton competition.(AP Photo) of the world's top tennis stars have

shown interest. Apparently, the ageing Roger Federer, who is increasingly getting conservative with his selection of tournaments, is not keen.

According to a report in The Telegraph, UK, world No. 1 Nadal will be one of the 'marquee' players standing to earn $1 million a night for his contribution. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is believed to be in talks with Bhupathi, who is now seeking

Skepticism is expected on anything that promises so much money.

It is when the money actually gets credited to their bank accounts will the players start believing in a concept that could really redefine tennis dynamics. Lalit Modi's IPL is now a reality and although the lure of money has brought a large dose of shame, it will be worth watching how IPTL shapes up.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nadal, a winner of 13 Grand Slam singles titles, is the second all-time leader in prize money earnings. In 2014, Nadal already has earning of approximately over 66 million USD. Federer leads with USD 79 million. Murray is sixth at USD 30 million. Nadal could gallop past Federer if the IPTL figures are correct and recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

Sports is really becoming synonymous with big bucks. Wayne Rooney's new contract with Manchester United is reportedly USD 26 million a year. The sheer money factor could straightaway pitchfork the inaugural IPTL to a mindboggling zone of intrigue and numbers.

International Premier Tennis League a career in business after a brilliant career as a doubles specialist.

On the women's side, two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and Polish No.1 Agnieszka Radwanska are also believed to have signed up to the project. The format of the tournament will be revealed soon but one ground rule of the competition is that Grand Slam winners and players who have reached the No.1 spot in the rankings can nominate which matches they play and which players they avoid.

Harden power Rockets to win at Kings Saint Savio High School, Chumu,

SaCRaMENTO, FEBRUaRy 26 (aP): Houston's James Harden needed only three quarters to score a season-high 43 points and lead the Rockets to a 129-103 win over Sacramento on Tuesday, tightening the race for the NBA's Southwest Division. Harden was able to sit out all of the last quarter as the Rockets moved within 1-1/2 games of San Antonio for the division lead.

Among the day's other results, Portland had a win over Denver despite the ongoing absence of LaMarcus Aldridge, Eastern Conference leader Indiana comfortably beat the struggling Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota finished powerfully to overrun Phoenix.

Harden helped Houston go ahead by 25 points in the first quarter, 31 in the second and 33 in the third. He shot 11 of 20 from the floor, made 15 of 16 free throws and added eight assists and three steals. Dwight Howard left briefly after banging his right knee but returned to finish with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won 10 of their past 11 games.

DeMarcus Cousins had 16 points and six rebounds for the Kings before getting ejected for vehemently arguing with an official in the third quarter. Portland won 100-95 at Denver, with Damian Lillard scoring 31 points to make up for the absence of fellow All-Star Aldridge. Lillard scored 12 in the third quarter when it looked as if the Blazers were headed for a blowout win, but he saved his biggest shots for late in the fourth after the Nuggets had trimmed an 18-point deficit to two. Aldridge missed his fourth straight game with a strained left groin. But the Blazers had six players score in double figures, including Nicolas Batum's 16 points. Portland overcame a terrific performance by Denver's J.J. Hickson, who pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive side.

Indiana's Paul George scored 12 of his 20 points in the third quarter to set the Pacers up for a 118-98 win over the Lakers. The Lakers, who are the worst team in the Western Conference, stayed closer than expected through the first 2½ quarters and trailed just 59-58 early in the third. But George then scored 10 points in a decisive 14-5 spurt that gave Indiana an 80-68 lead with 2:58 to go in the period.

Evan Turner had 13 points in his Pacers debut.

Kent Bazemore finished with a career-high 23 points for the Lakers.

Minnesota's Kevin Love had 33 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, powering Minnesota to a 110-101 win over Phoenix The Timberwolves trailed by eight with 7:57 to play, Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore, left, goes the basket against Houston Rockets Omer Asik, of Turkey, center, during the fourth quarter and then outscored the Suns 24-6. Love, who of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday Feb. 25. The got his first career triple-double at Utah on Saturday, was 10 for 22 from the field.

Rockets won 129-103.(AP Photo)

annual sports meet inaugurated

DiMaPUR, FEBRUaRy 26 (MExN): The annual sports meet of Saint Savio High School was inaugurated on February 25, with Rev. Fr. P. S. Varghese, Vicar, MGOS Church, Dimapur, as chief guest, and Principal of MGM Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur, as Guest of Honour.

In a short speech, Rev.

Varghese stressed about the lessons to learn from Sports. He stated that “sports or athletics should not be termed as extra-curricular but should be called co-curricular” as it should go along with the scholastic training.

Earlier the invocation was pronounced by the

Parents’ Representative Akato Sema while Mhabeni pronounced the Benediction. The programme was chaired by Amen. The Principal of the school Reji Kuriakose gave the welcome address, while Lanutula gave the vote of thanks.

Notable guests present at the occasion included

R.K. Nair, advisor to KSD, Brother Dynu Kurian from MGOS Church, Engineering students of NIT, apart from invitees and parents.

The programme was highlighted with a welcome song, Drill Display, Aerobic Dance, and March-Past by students who had been divided into four contingents.

SJHSS Chumukedima kicks off Games and Sports

DiMaPUR FEBRUaRy 26 (MExN): St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Chumukedima, kicked off its 16th Games and Sports Meet today with Minister for Roads and Bridges, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, gracing the occasion as chief guest. The inaugural function was attended by board members, parents and guardians of students, Principals of neighbouring schools, and well wishers.

The meet befittingly began based on the Bible verse of I Corinthians 9:24 where it says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The inaugural function captivated the audience with impressive display of aerobics from juniors, rhythmic beats of bamboo dance and parade from seniors. These were accompanied by delightful music from Chief Guest, Azo Nienu addressing the school. (Photo/Soreipam Jagoi) the band of ARTC&S, Sukhovi.

Nienu, speaking on the occasion, emphasized the need for discipline in our lives especially during youth and stated that disciplined students are the need of the hour in our society. The chief guest lauded catholic schools and private schools, and also SJHSS, for moulding students of our society. Lamenting on the fact that government schools are lagging behind, Nienu stressed on the need for a healthy competition among schools and institutes.

The minister complimented the school’s novel effort in the guidance of the careers of its student. Further he encouraged students to start young in choosing their careers, and also discover talents when young - especially in sports. Nienu also encouraged the students not to be daunted by failures but rather strive to excel. At the same time, he urged them not forget that the foundation of lives is God.

Entertainment

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Colours of Sekrenyi festival

Thursday 27 February 2014

Under Fire For Dark Horse Video

star Akon month (Feb14) and has been meeting with top politicians in his native Senegal environmental project in and places including Mali, Africa to provide electric- Guinea, Gambia, Gabon and ity to one million house- Burkina Faso in a bid to win holds by the end of the their support. year (14). The Smack That Asked how the camhitmaker has teamed up paign is going by a fan with charity officials and on Twitter.com, Akon rebosses of local corpora- sponds, Incredible! We are tions for the Akon Lighting getting a great response Africa campaign, which from many of the leaders I aims to have homes across met with. We've got to keep the continent equipped up the momentum. Akon with solar panels to pro- had a little inside help in vide electricity and pro- getting the government of mote energy sufficiency. the Republic of Guinea inThe singer embarked volved - his uncle, Idrissa on a nine-country tour Thiam, is the nation's Minacross Africa earlier this ister of Energy.

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Kapil Sharma

inger Katy Perry has upset members of the Muslim community by featuring blasphemous imagery in the music video for her new hit Dark Horse.

In the promo, the Roar hitmaker plays an Egyptian queen who has the power to zap her subjects with lightning and turn them into sand, and she has offended Muslims by killing one male subject, wearing a pendant reading God (Allah) in Arabic. The jewellery item is also zapped.

Members of the Muslim community have criticised the video, calling it blasphemous and demanding for it be removed from YouTube.com. One of those offended by the imagery has launched a petition on Change.org, which reads, This petition is lodged In (sic) regards to Katy Perry's music video Dark Horse... The video is considered as highly controversial to its viewers as a result of its portrayal of blasphemy.

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is journey from being a standup comedian to a TV show producer has been an inspiring one.

He has the uncanny ability to tickle people’s funny bone with his impeccable comic timing and hi-

Mick Jagger, right, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during their concert at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Wednesday, February 26.

(AP Photo)

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larious gags. Kapil Sharma is definitely the man of the moment, for he has achieved what millions aspire to.

After signing a three-film contract with Bollywood’s most reputed banner- Yash Raj Films- Kapil’s popularity has only multiplied. However, the man will have to cut down on his TV venture in order to look after his film commitments. Fans of popular TV show ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ will presumably be left disappointed, with the show reverting to its one-episodeper-week format yet again.

Kapil has managed to rise above all controversies he has been embroiled in. He bounced back stronger after the set of his show in Filmcity, Mumbai, was reduced to ashes, after a short circuit in September last year.

He made headlines after Sunil Grover (who played Gutthi) in CNWK chose to opt out following differences with the makers of the show. He was also slammed by a Woman’s Rights organization for his joke on a pregnant woman in one of the episodes of CNWP. But Kapil has only emerged stronger. He is a powerhouse of talent and has miles to go. Here’s wishing him success for his film career and may he excel on the big screen too!

(Photos by Caisii Mao)

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Katy Perry

launched R&Bhasan ambitious

The rise of

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celebration at Kisama, some 12 Kms away from Kohima on Tuesday, February 25.

Aiming To Provide Electricity To A Million African Households

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Dimapur

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At 0115 (minutes) into the video Dark Horse; a man is shown being burned, whilst wearing a pendant (also burned) forming the word Allah, which is the arabic (sic) word for God. Such goes to show, that blasphemy is clearly conveyed in the video, since Katy Perry (who appears to be representing an opposition of God) engulfs the be-

liever and the word God in flames.

This is the reason for lodging the petition so that people from different walks of life, different religions and from different parts of the world, agree that the video promotes blasphemy (sic). Using the name of God in an irrelevant and distasteful manner would be considered inappropriate by any religion.

Charlotte ChurCh invites fans to appear in her new video

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i n g e r C h a r l o t te Church asked fans to appear in a latest pop new music video, recently - but, embarrassingly, only one person turned up for filming. The Voice of an Angel singer, 28, put an open invitation on social networking websites for people to star in the promo film for her new single. But only one person - a professional extra actor - arrived for the film shoot in Charlotte's home city of Cardiff on Tuesday. Charlotte who has 70,000 followers on Twitter - had to rope in passing shoppers and

beg them to 'dance like no one is watching'. In a Twitter message she said: 'Yo! People of Cardiff, I'm filming a music video this Saturday for my new single Little Movements. 'I want as many of you beauts in it as possible, I'll be in the city centre from about 2 till 10pm. Feel free to bring your best dance moves.

Loves you.'

But only regular TV extra Julian Gillard, 42, answered her call, travelling 40 miles from his home in Neath to appear in the video. Mr Gillard said he saw the video as an ideal

opportunity for further exposure following appearances in Casualty and Da Vinci's Demons. Determined Charlotte started asking passers-by to dance to her new song which was being played on a boom box. Most shoppers were reluctant to dance with mother-of-two Charlotte, who was dressed in a long blue jacket over black leggings and black boots. But market stall holder Stuart Talbot, 48, saved the day by showing his fancy footwork for the threeminute video. He said: 'I got to dance with Char-

lotte Church. There's not many men who can say that.' After the shoot Charlotte said the day had been 'a great success'. Charlotte, who was once worth £25m, today claimed she 'doesn't have a lot of money'. The singer was down to £11m by 2010 said she has enough to live comfortably - but needs to find a new way to fund her extravagant lifestyle. She said: 'I've got enough to be comfortable if I was reasonable for the rest of my life but I'm not reasonable, so I will have to find a way to sustain my lifestyle.'

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Uninspired, Man United loses to Olympiakos

Athens, FebruAry 26 (reuters): Manchester United's dwindling hopes of lifting a trophy this season are dangling by a thread after they produced an abject display to lose 2-0 at Olympiakos Piraeus in a Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday. Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford on March 19.

"That's the worst we've played in Europe. We didn't deserve to get anything," manager David Moyes told reporters. "I'm surprised, I didn't see that level of performance coming. "I take responsibility, we have to play better. The players are hurting." Defeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium represented yet another body blow in an inauspicious campaign for last season's English Premier League title winners.

United are out of the FA Cup and the League Cup and trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by 15 points with 11 games left to play.

Moyes's men looked sluggish and disjointed against an inexperienced

Moyes mystified by United's Greek tragedy

Olympiakos' Alejandro Dominguez, scores as Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, left, tries to stop the ball, during their Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match, at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, in Piraeus port, near Athens, on Tuesday, Feb. 25. (AP Photo)

Olympiakos side who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history. It was the first time the Greeks had beaten United in five attempts. "To beat a great side like United, the way we did, is something very special and I can't hide the joy and pride I feel for my players," said Olympiakos coach Michel.

"We picked the best moment to show Greek football is alive and kicking," added the former Spain and Real

Madrid striker. Moyes opted to start with two wingers, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, but neither made an impact in a first half in which runaway the Greek league leaders displayed real energy and hunger.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD After a cautious opening from both sides amid ear-splitting noise from an enthusiastic home crowd, the first chance fell to Olympiakos as Dominguez burst

through the middle on a solo run only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Nemanja Vidic. Midfielder Tom Cleverley registered United's only effort of note in the first half with a 17th-minute halfvolley that sailed high over the bar. Strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were peripheral figures for the visitors as pot shots on goal from Giannis Maniatis and Hernan Perez lifted the home supporters.

Olympiakos, wearing

Mighty Kohli powers India to 6-wicket victory over B'desh

India’s Virat Kohli celebrates scoring a century during the Asia Cup one-day international cricket tournament against Bangladesh in Fatullah, near Dhaka on February 26. (AP Photo)

neW DeLhI, FebruAry 26 (tnn): Powered by skipper Virat Kohli's stupendous 136-run innings, India registered a massive 6-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup match in Fatullah on Wednesday. Chasing solid 280-run target, India were boosted by an impeccable 213-run partnership between Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane that saw the former reach his 19th ODI century with the help of 16 smash-

ing boundaries and two scintillating sixes.

Rahane (73) too complimented Kohli's dazzling century with a half-century of his own that took 64 balls and was comfortable to see India through to victory after the skipper was dismissed at the fag end.

India earlier faced a major setback as they lost openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in consecutive overs. Shikhar (28) was the first scalp

when Abdur Razzak was successful in catching him plumb soon after he and Rohit Sharma helped India cross the 50-run mark in the 12th over.

In the very next over, Ziaur Rahman got the better of Rohit's (21) stumps.

Shikhar and Rohit gave India a cautious start after Mushfiqur Rahim led from the front earlier with a sparkling century to propel Bangladesh to 279/7. Mushfiqur, who smashed 117 off

113 balls, was grounded after being hit on his ribs by a nasty beamer by Varun Aaron, but the diminutive captain showed enough resilience to complete his second ODI century, a first for Bangladesh against India since Alok Kapali's ton in the 2008 Asia Cup. The 25-year-old started his innings patiently with Anamul going freely at the other end, but after the opener's dismissal, the skipper came into his own,

ChennAI, FebruAry 26 (PtI): Walking down memory lane, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar today recalled writing letters to wife Anjali in the pre-mobile era and found her handwriting "beautiful," which anyone would "watch and admire". But writing letters to his wife needed some effort from the former batsman.

"Hitting a cricket ball came naturally to me. But, while writing letters to Anjali, I have to doubly check what I was writing," he said with a sheepish grin. ".. in those days when there was no mobiles and the only mode of communication was through landlines or writing letters, I started writing letters. I started with my parents and later wrote some letters to (wife) Anjali," Ten-

dulkar said, during a handwriting promotional event.

Recalling how his parents would sit next to him and taught him to hold a pen and write, he said: "Later when I was away from family, I started writing to my parents and later to my wife." While doctors' handwriting were usually not clear as one would expect, his wife Anjali, who is a doctor by profession, was an exception, the 40-yearold said.

"But my wife, I think, is an exception because she has got a beautiful handwriting, which anyone would watch and admire."

Coming from a family of writers -- father and brother were writers, he grew up seeing his father with hundreds of pens, said the youngest Bharat Ratna awardee, dressed in pink collared tee,

denims and black shoes.

To a query on who, among his cricket colleagues had the best of handwriting, he said, "I think Anil (Kumble) writes quite clearly. Subroto Banerjee is quite skilful."

And who had the worst, pat came the answer, "you generally tend to notice only the good things na?".

As for as his days spent since retirement from cricket, the father of two children, said, "Life is beautiful. I get enough time to spend with my children. I have not played much. Just a few occasions with my son at my house."

Here in the city to promote handwriting initiative for school children for a private company, Tendulkar also said his children -- Sarah and Arjun-- used to scribble on the wall for writing.

"When omebody asked what that was and I would say that was the making of an young artist. As they grew, the height of the graffiti in the wall became higher," he quipped.

Comparing handwriting skills with batting skills in cricket, he said: "Once you learn them, they are there forever.. to start anything in life, basics are very important." "I can't write with right hand. I hope there is some technology that teaches us to use the right hand as well. But, I can eat with both hands," he said, adding children should practice handwriting. Tendulkar is a righthanded batsman but uses his left for writing. It was a pleasant evening to unwind for the legendary batsman, who holds many records in world cricket.

Batting was easier than writing letter to wife: Sachin Tendulkar

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bright red and white jerseys, red shorts and socks, broke the deadlock seven minutes before halftime with a smart piece of improvisation from Argentine forward Dominguez.

Patrice Evra's halfhearted clearance from a corner landed at the feet of Maniatis 25 metres out and his tame, low shot was expertly diverted past keeper David De Gea by Dominguez's flick. United, the European champions in

hitting two sixes and seven fours. The duo was involved in a 133-run third wicket partnership that came after Bangladesh were reduced to 49/2 in the 13th over.

Despite the big partnership though, the lower order failed to fire against a side that boasts of a strong batting line-up. Mohammad Shami was the pick of Indian bowlers, scalping 4/50 from his quota while it was a flop show for Aaron, who gave away 74 runs before being barred after 7.5 overs for two waist high deliveries, with one of them hitting Mushfiqur.

A less than seven thousand crowd in a 17,000 capacity stadium in Narayangonj district in the southern suburbs of Dhaka did not exactly give it a homelike feel for Bangladesh, as India opted for a run-chase.

A disciplined Shami, who made the first breakthrough in the form of Shamsur Rahman (7) and Ashwin's first-ball wicket after a brilliant stumping

by Karthik, reduced the hosts to 49/2 in the 13th over and for a moment it seemed like Bangladesh were playing away from home with the stadium not even half-filled.

But the young Anamul turned it around with his array of strokes in a sensible third-wicket partnership with Mushfiqur as the duo got past their individual half centuries.

1968, 1999 and 2008, were punished again for poor defending 10 minutes into the second half. Campbell, who is likely to feature for Costa Rica against Group D rivals England at the World Cup in Brazil in June, did the damage. He picked up possession 25 metres out, jinked past midfielder Michael Carrick and sent a curling left-foot shot round defender Rio Ferdinand and into the bottom corner of the net.

PIrAeus, FebruAry 26 (AFP): Manchester United manager David Moyes admitted that he had been taken aback by the abject quality of his team's performance in their shock 2-0 Champions League loss to Olympiakos.

The English champions must attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit in the home leg of the last 16 tie on March 19 after a limp display at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus in Tuesday's first leg.

Olympiakos were good value for their victory, secured through goals in each half from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell, who is on loan at the club from Arsenal, but in United they came across surprisingly generous opponents.

Careless in defence and short of ideas in midfield, United failed to muster a single shot on target during the game and did not seriously threaten until Robin van Persie shot over the bar in the 82nd minute.

"I'm just surprised," a shellshocked Moyes told journalists afterwards. "I

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didn't see that level of performance coming. I didn't see that. I still didn't think we were necessarily two goals worse off in the game.

"We have a shot which gets deflected (for Dominguez's goal), but we didn't offer enough on the night to create a goal, really."

Democratic in his criticism of his players, Moyes added: "We never really got to grips with things. To a man, you could hardly pick anybody out (who played well). "We just didn't perform well tonight (Tuesday). We came into the game in good form, with a good mindset, but it didn't show tonight."

The defeat, United's first against a Greek team, was the latest sorry chapter in a season of misery for Moyes and his faltering side. Moyes believes the club can harness the mystique of their famous stadium to turn the tie around in the second leg.

"The players are hurting as well. They know how they performed," he said. "But there's a team here, and we won't change. We'll stick together.

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