C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 31
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
Kejriwal: AAP named ‘corrupt politicians’ for four reasons [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dimapur | February 2
Throughout the human being’s existence on earth, the general belief is that each person aspires to lead a happy life. Living consists of engaging in daily activities or the lack thereof. Activity and inactivity both produce outputs. For example, the main output of farming is food, with the desired outcome being that enough Be patient, we are still ex- food is produced to adploring various possible an- equately nourish the body gles of this case. Ok? in order to carry out other activities, such as thinking, The Morung Express working and maintaining being. Consequently, POLL QUESTIOn well human beings want to be Vote on www.morungexpress.com engaged in some activity SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 that will enhance their quality of life. Do you agree that Understanding what Bureaucracy in Nagaland still holds the activities people are enactual realms of power? gaged in is important to understanding output, and its subsequent outcomes. This Yes no Others brings us to the question of Do you think that social media what the current output of is being misused in nagaland? people living in Nagaland Yes 67% is. Are we able produce to 25% no meet our basic needs? Or, 08%
Details on page 7
CM to begin official visit to Myanmar from February 3 KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 2 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, will begin an official visit to Myanmar from February 3. He and his delegation will meet the Prime Minister of Myanmar, the Union Border Affairs Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, and the Chief Minister of Sagaing Region amongst other dignitaries and officials. A press release from the Chief Minister’s office informed that the CM will be accompanied by Parliamentary Secretaries, Yitachu and C.L. John, Commissioner & Secretary to the CM, L. Kire, PRO to the CM, Neibalie Rio and Advisor to the CM, Abu Metha. Rio has been invited to visit Myanmar by the Naga Members of Parliament in Myanmar and the visit has been cleared and approved by the Government of India, informed the press release. The Chief Minister and his delegation will visit the capital of Mayanmar, Nay Pyi Taw and other places including the cities of Mandalay, Rangoon and Monya.
NE women assaulted, allege police inaction
C M Y K
NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 2 (AgENcIEs): Two women from Manipur were allegedly assaulted last week by some men who hurled racist abuses at them in South Delhi’s Kotla Mubarak area. The incident came to light after a boy from Arunachal Pradesh was beaten up and later died on January 29 in broad daylight. Delhi Police has arrested one man in connection with the assault on the Manipuri women and promised strict action. Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat said, One arrest has been made in connection with the incident in Kotla Mubarakpur. The arrested man is a local resident. According to the police, the women, identified as Tharmila Jajo and Chonmila, were beaten up by a group of men, who were in their late 20s. Detailed story on page 3
‘Being a mother is closest to me’
Monday, February 3, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Nelson Mandela
Major issues: Roads, healthcare, employment & power [ PAGE 2]
Thai elections peaceful, but crisis far from over
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 9]
Maria loses in Paris Open semis
[ PAGE 12]
What is nagaland state’s economic output? Abokali Jimomi
Others
”
In my country we go to prison first and then become President
C M Y K
what do we exchange for things we need but do not produce? What do we produce? Rice? Pork? Salt? Electricity? Mineral water? Gold? IT professionals? A majority of Nagas live in villages. The 2011 Census Report indicates that 70-80% of the people of Nagaland live in villages and rural areas. In order to have an accurate understanding of Naga people’s real economic and social status, we have to know what activities the majority is engaged in that supports their livelihoods. We need to know what the skills and capabilities of the majority are. This includes examining variables such as the political and social environment—have our government’s policies been encouraging or restrictive in the last 50 years? Have equal opportunities been made available allowing each person to exercise their capabilities and reach their potential? In an ideal world, I will
In nagaland, almost 90% of vegetable farmers, small farm workers as well as vegetable sellers are women—but what does nagaland actually produce to help its import?
make bread, you make the butter and we will exchange these items for mutual benefit. We are equally dependent or interdependent on each other, acknowledging our valuable individual capabilities with mutual respect and trust. Taking this into consideration and with adequate resources each
will produce a surplus of what the other cannot produce. In the process we exchange knowledge about how you tend for your cow and the joy of turning milk into butter while I tell you about how I grow rice, and how beautiful the ripened rice fields look that inspire the patterns in the shawls
I weave. Our interdependence and exchange of ideas is intrinsic to our existence. In Nagaland, almost every item we consume is imported from outside the State as reflected in our GDP which is one of the lowest in the country. We can question the validity of some statistical data and
measurements being true economic indicators, but in our case, using our common sense we can assess how many services and items, including our everyday basic necessities, are produced in Nagaland. One assumption can be that the geographic distribution of natural resources limits people from being self-reliant, and, therefore they have become dependent on others. However, this is not true in the Naga context because we live in one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity. Also, hundred years ago, we were a self-reliant people that managed without having to buy rice and pork or house construction material from other States. This does not mean that we return to the past, living in seclusion and with minimal contact with the outside. The issue is why we have become a totally dependent economy, relying solely on imports, without any substantial production from within Nagaland. When it is challenging
to produce for our basic needs, it seems unrealistic to think about producing surplus to exchange with others. This scenario prompts us to question why we cannot produce. Every Naga person consumes pork almost every day; who raises these pigs? Rice is our staple food; who cultivates, processes and sells rice to us? We need vegetables and fruits all year round. We need essential commodities. Where does all this come from, through whom? A morning jog to Marwari Patti market in Dimapur might give us some insight. Just 0.05% producing pineapple juice, selling cars and fashion garments in Dimapur and Kohima, or 90 thousand of the 20 lakh population holding government jobs cannot be the true and complete picture of Nagaland. What constitutes Nagaland’s real economic output and where is the money coming from to buy the imported items?
‘causes of violence should AIADMK, CPI join hands for LS polls be solved through dialogue’
gUwAHATI, FEBRUARY 2 (PTI): Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today called for dialogues with a sense of concern at all levels for solving the problems of violence in the world. “Just saying we want peace is not enough. But the causes of violence should be solved through dialogue.” “Try to solve local problems keeping in mind solutions to global problems”, the Dalai Lama said while delivering the First LBS Founders’ Commemorative Lecture on ‘A Human Approach to Peace and the Individual’ here. “If local problems are not solved keeping in mind solutions to global problems, the violence will erupt. The use of force will get unexpected consequences. Use of force
Dalai Lama says just saying we want peace is not enough
today is outdated”, he told a huge gathering of Tibetan refugees and others at the Nehru Stadium. Referring to conflicts and wars across the world, the Tibetan spiritual leader said, “the motivation for wars may be good but when the method is not good they have unexpected consequences. That is why we must educate people on non-violence at all level”. “Non-violence method, however, cannot have one sided victory and one sided defeat. Then confrontation will come leading to violence”, he pointed out. “With this belief we (Ti-
bet) are not seeking independence from China”, the Tibetan spiritual leader said. “Look at the European Union. The people there are more mature and think according to reality. Their partners earlier fought each other. But now they developed the idea about EU ...very practical”, he said. “I tell my African friends that their future depends on unity. North and South America can also solve their problems through human ways”, he said. “I often tell people that the 20th century is really a very wonderful special century in the sense
of scientific and economic development. At the same time a very violent century”, the Dalai Lama said. “In the name of faith there is killing in Syria and some countries in Africa. Why? Because there is too much emphasis on concentration on We, They and Me”, he claimed. “The self-centred attitude against human beings has to change. The seven billion people of the earth must have a sense of well being for the entire humanity and a sense of concern for the environment”, he said. “Think about building a happy society. Try to be friends with different neighbours. Today’s enemy can be tomorrow’s friend. With that motivation think more how to solve problems”, he exhorted.
cHENNAI, FEBRUARY 2 (PTI): Attempting to form a “secular and democratic alternative” to dethrone Congress from power at the Centre, AIADMK and CPI today announced their decision to enter into an alliance ahead of the coming Lok Sabha polls. Addressing the press at her Poes Garden residence here along with CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Sudhakar Reddy, AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said, “AIADMK and CPI have decided to enter into an alliance to face the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together.” Senior CPI leader Bardhan said “I endorse whatever she has said. Our alliance will lead to victory. We will succeed.” To a query on the increasing clamour among
AIADMK cadres to project Jayalalithaa as their Prime Ministerial candidate, Bardhan said “If we succeed in the election, as I said the prospects RPT prospects will open up.” Jayalalithaa intervened to say “All that will come later. Our aim is to win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.” “Our slogan for the elections is Peace, Prosperity, Progress,” she said, replying a query on what would be the issues her alliance would project for the polls. Reddy said the alliance is a “secular and democratic alternative” to win the elections. Today’s announcement emerges as a possible third front in Tamil Nadu politics for the coming Lok Sabha elections, with BJP already announcing its alliance with MDMK, while the Congress is attempting to have partners.
Kholar—the economic pulse of the east
Drop in Kholar yield this season
Ashikho Pfuzhe
Shamator-Chessore | February 2
They may not swear by it but this small bean has been the ‘manna’ to generations of the Yimchungrü Naga tribe living in Tuensang and Kiphire districts and on the other side of the Indo-Myanmar border. ‘Kholar,’ the local name for frenchbeans or ‘rajma’ is grown extensively in the Shamator-Chessore belt of Tuensang district and Pungro sub-division in Kiphire district and it is the “pulse” or main source of sustenance and livelihood for many families in these two districts. During mid-winter season, the hill ranges can be seen dotted with Kholar fields. If you visit any Yimchungrü home in the interiors, you will always find a pot of Kholar simmering on the hearth. According to local villagers, there are about 22 varieties of Kholar grown in the region with interesting names tagged (in Yimchungrü dialect) to each variety, like ‘Jepshiak’ (pure
T
he yield of Kholar this harvest season dropped as compared to previous years reportedly due to late sowing and rainfall. According to official sources, the annual yield of kholar from the 25-odd ‘Kholar villages” in Shamator-Chessore belt is estimated to be 250-300 MT. However, this season the harvest dropped to 50-60 MT. Sub divisional agriculture officer of Shamator, S Yongchang Phom, said the reason may be due to late sowing and continuous heavy rains in first week of October 2013. Agriculture department sources said the best sowing time for Kholar is from August 20-30 and the crop is harvested from November end till January. Most Kholar farmers are now adopting ‘Kholar’ beans, the economic pulse of mix sowing to cut losses from failure of a parfarmers in Tuensang and Kiphire districts. ticular variety in that season. yellow), ‘Aphimbea’ (flying), ‘Moho’ (irresistible), ‘Amurak’ (pure black) and ‘Amurum’ (dog’s liver). ‘Jepshiak’ comes on top of the price list for its unique flavour. A tin (13-15 kg) of ‘Jepshiak’ costs Rs. 500-600 compared to Rs. 350-400 per tin for other varieties. ‘Aphimbea’, the small white bean which becomes slippery after it is cooked is believed to have medicinal value and is recommended as post-surgery diet as well as for replenishing bone marrow. Villagers, in jest,
refer to ‘Aphimbea’ as the seed dropped from a plane by the Britishers. Villagers say ‘Moho’ is so named as the crimson pods of ‘Moho’ are so enticing that thieves or strangers cannot resist the urge to pluck them. According to Yimchungrü folklore, one of their ancestors named Khomong discovered the bean seed in the wilderness and so Kholar is a combination of two words (‘Kho’ after Khomong and ‘Larü’- rich or plenty, meaning rich curry of Khomong). For the common
Yimchungrü villager whose staple diet consists of Kholar throughout the year, even a meat-laden feast is incomplete without a spoonful of boiled Kholar. And now ‘Kholar’ is also travelling places and to palates of many tourists flocking to the annual Hornbill Festival. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, tasted the protein-rich Kholar gravy during his visit to Nagaland in May 2012. Interestingly, ‘Kholar’ is also the name of a Yimchungrü village in Myanmar.
C M Y K