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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 91
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Rahul Gandhi’s application for Amethi domicile cancelled
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‘Mary Kom’ film to release on Gandhi Jayanti
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dimapur | April 3
The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Do you support the NLA decision to set up Nagaland Special Development Zones? Yes
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EC asks Nagaland CM to clarify his statement Imphal, aprIl 3 (pTI): The Election Commission has asked Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to clarify his reported statement criticising Manipur government as “Anti-Naga Administration”. The reply of Rio would be forwarded to the Election Commission of India, state Chief Electoral Officer O Nabakishore told reporters in Imphal on Wednesday. It has been reported from Senapati and Tamenglong districts in Manipur that Rio, during recent election campaign in these districts to support Naga People’s Front candidate Sosho Lorho, had blamed the state government for “division of the Nagas and acting asanti-Nagaadministration.” Nabakishore said concerned deputy commissioners of the districts had also been asked to submit their reports on Rio’s speeches. Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said Rio’s visit to the state did not follow rules as no such prior information had been given to the state government. Although Ibobi Singh did not react to Rio’s reported statement, but Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said Rio will not succeed in breaking up Manipur. Manipur NCP unit president Laishom Ibomcha said his party would complain to the Election Commission of India against Rio for violating Model Code of Conduct.
CWGC delegates arrive in Kohima Our Correspondent Kohima | April 3
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An official delegation from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has arrived in the state capital today, for a visit which will last till April 4. The delegation is in Kohima in connection with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, which falls on April 4. The delegation includes Air Chief Marshall Sir Joe French (Retired)- vice chairman of CWGC, Barry Murphy- Director of Africa and Asia PacificAreaoftheCWGCandLt Gen Ravi Eipe (Retd)- Honorary Liaison Officer- former Army Commander, Eastern Command. Formal programe is scheduled on April 4 at 9:30 AM at the 2nd World War Cemetery Kohima.
–Baruch Spinoza
[ PAGE 2]
Hunt for missing MH 370 will press on
Ronaldo leads Real past Dortmund [ PAGE 12]
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right to education without a school building?
Morung Express news
If nOTA gets majority the EVM will not become our MP. The candidate with the highest vote will.
Friday, April 4, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
Nagaland’s irrigation & flood control dept goes global
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 8]
reflections
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Fear cannot be without hope nor hope without fear
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If you thought the peripheries of Nagaland remain outside the purview of the Right to Education, the story of 75 students and 10 teachers of a Government Primary School (GPS) in Dimapur will leave you thinking more. For over a month now, they have been forced to make “school” of a tin shed in a “children’s park” in the wind, rain, and sun. In 2010, the GPS Ward 13, Landmark Colony (Dimapur), was set up in a cylindrical structure out of World War II. Sources suggest it was constructed as a warehouse for arms and ammunition by the British. When the colony (village) Councils concerned (Landmark colony, Midland colony and Residency colony) decided to shift the 75 currently enrolled students from the warehouse to a new structure, problem began, leading to the students and teachers “schooling” in a children’s park at Landmark colony. “We were directed by the three colony councils to shift the school to a newly constructed structure on February 25 (2014),” says teacher-in-charge of GPS Ward 13, Ahoi Sema. “We wrapped everything up, and even shifted all papers, benches etc. to the new premise immediately. On February 26, when we tried to take the children to the new structure, we
students of a government school in Dimapur forced to study in a park for more than a month
(L) Students from GPS Ward 13, Landmark Colony, Dimapur, being taught at a shed in a children’s park; (R) the hazardous old warehouse that housed the GPS Ward 13 before the students were left “school less” (Morung Photos)
found armed IRB cadres there—the district administration was obstructing the students from entering the new building,” he informs. In order to save the children of “psychological damage” from guns being pointed at them, the teachers kept them away from the new building at Landmark colony. As of April, “we’re in the middle of nowhere,” say teachers Tsuktinungla, Rebikha and Alemsenla. Since February, they have been forced to conduct “learning exercises” at a children’s park, a sandy ground opposite the old
premise. There were no toilets or drinking water facilities before; they are obviously missing now—a neighbour lent his toilet to the students and teachers the last four years. “It is very windy, and the harsh sun does not permit us to take more than two hours of classes,” informs teacher Tsuktinungla Jamir. “We give them homework and conduct learning exercises. We are all falling sick from the excessive dust—influenza, dust allergies—and dousing their curiosity at an age they could be learning. But how can we teach? How can they
learn?” she wonders. The land that the colony councils decided to make the new structure on turned out to be owned by the Government of Nagaland’s Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges, and Housing). Half of this land has been allotted, as per sources, to the ruling regional party of Nagaland. Another part of the rest of it has been allegedly “encroached” by a private entity. The remaining, according to sources, has been set aside by the PWD (R&B&H) for a planned “Phase III rental house construction.” This is where the new struc-
ture for the GPS was constructed, finding itself in an “illegal” zone. “We have been pursuing the allotment of this empty piece of land for the school with the highest authorities for the past four years,” reveals chairperson of School Managing Committee of the colony, Wapang Aier, but to no avail. The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union stepped in to help in early March, 2014. The NSF wrote and spoke to the Commissioner & Secretary (Works and Housing), Chief Engineer of the
department concerned, Parliamentary Secretary (Housing) and the Minister of Roads and Bridges. “We are awaiting a positive response from the government in regard to the letter we submitted to the Parliamentary Secretary (Housing) on March 25 on the said matter,” informs NSF president, Tongpang Ozukum. The NSF also asked the PWD (R&B&H) to “reconsider their decision to build the Phase III rental house construction” in the interest of education. They have been informed that the matter will be dealt with “after election.”
While there is a question of “legally not right” occupation of land for the school, the question is why do students have to bear the brunt of “legality”? It doesn’t help that children at the school are from poor and peripheral backgrounds. Their textbooks came late, some are still carrying on with old school uniforms, and now this. “How can free and compulsory education be imparted without a school building?” questions Ahoi Sema, wondering what meaning the Right To Education Act, passed in April 2010, has for these children.
clP leader alleges ‘highhandedness’ India in 102nd position
DImapur, aprIl 3 (mexN): CLP Leader, Tokheho Yepthomi today alleged “highhandedness” on the part of the Peren district administration and sought clarification from the Election Observer and the Nagaland Chief Election Officer on actions of the EAC (Sadar) Peren. A press note from the CLP leader informed that on April 3, he was in Jalukie to attend a meeting at the Town Council Hall. “I was informed that the EAC (Sadar) Peren came to check my briefcase which I had kept in the vehicle,” he stated.
Tokheho added that he came out from the meeting and “asked under whose order he was sent to frisk my belongings.” On the EAC’s response “that that election commission had issued an order,” Tokheho said that he asked the former to produce the order. However, the EAC could not produce it, “as there is no such an order,” he stated. The EAC then said that the ADC, Peren had sent him to “check my vehicle and belongings,” alleged Tokheho. “I reiterated that there was nothing illegal in my briefcase therefore he
need not check my vehicle and belongings. I also explained to him that there was nothing except my note pads, first aid medicine and Bible . . .,” He added. However, on the insistence of the EAC that he had to “perform her duty as per the directive given by the higher up,” Tokheho “opened the briefcase.” Stating that he has “no reservations” to have his vehicle checked “if there were any genuine reasons to do so,” the CLP leader lamented that the search was conducted “without any rhyme or reason.” He stated that the “credibility of
the sate administration” needs to be “questioned.” “The intentions and motives of the state administration have been clearly demonstrated that there exists a nexus between the helpless administration and the party in power,” he alleged. “Perhaps they presumed that I would have been in possession of illegal arms and ammunitions and money like the NPF Party leaders,” Tokheho added. The CLP leader, while expressing concern over the incident, urged the Election Observer and Nagaland Chief Election Officer to clarify on this issue.
An EVM that ‘votes’ only for 289.974 acres acquired by BJP stuns poll staff in Assam state govt during 2013-14 GuWahaTI, aprIl 3 (TNN): An electronic voting machine raised many eyebrows across the state during a mandatory mock poll in Jorhat on Tuesday. Every time a button was pressed, the vote went in favour of BJP. The Jorhat parliamentary constituency returning officer and deputy commissioner Vishal Vasant Solanki informed that all EVMs in his custody are being put through a second level of test by engineers of the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), one of the two companies from Hyderabad, which manufactures EVMs. State chief electoral officer Vijyandra on Wednesday said, “An EVM in Jorhat was found malfunctioning yesterday. It is a defective machine and it was noticed when EVMs were readied in front of representatives of all political parties. We will not send the faulty unit to any polling station.” An EVM consists of two units, a control unit and a
balloting unit. Both unites are connected with cable. The balloting unit is a small box-like device, on top of which each candidate and his or her election symbol appears. The voter selects his candidate by pressing the blue button. The returning officer said, “These EVMs were here for long. Usually, EVMs are kept in the custody of the deputy commissioner and during elections they are taken to strong rooms.” Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India on Wednesday and demanded thorough inspection of all EVMs in just not Jorhat, but the entire state. Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Ranjan Bora, who lodged the complaint with EC, said, “The mock poll was done at random and the EVM for Teok assembly constituency took everyone by surprise. When the hand symbol button was pressed for Congress, the vote was found to be recorded in favour of BJP.”
Our Correspondent Kohima | April 3
“The Government has no land of its own and in order to accelerate the pace of developmental activities, it has to acquire private land,” states the annual administrative report of the planning & coordination department 2013-14. The report was tabled in the
recently concluded assembly session. During the financial year 2013-14, land measuring 289.974 acres was acquired at the cost of Rs. 1946.27 lakhs. However, an amount of Rs. 1500.00 lakh only was paid due to paucity of fund during current financial year. The remaining amount of Rs. 446.27 lakh is to be paid in the next financial year, the report said.
Developmental activities for lanD acquisition name of project 5 MWA/33/11 KV Sub Station NSSO (Field Operation Disvion) office cum residential quarters Police beat post Road diversion B.Ed College PHED water supply treatment plant KMC dumping site
location Keyakie Chieraliezie ‘D’ Khel, Kohima
NH-61 Tsiesema Basa village Naga Bazaar Kohima Mokokchung Chumukedima Dzucha Pekhro on NH-51 and Medi, Dzuruzou (Medi- Meriema) Fire and emergency training centre Chiechama Patients’ guest house Shillong Weavers service centre Toluvi village, Dimapur Planning staff quarter Wokha Blind school cum vocational training institute Ekranipathar 1st NAP company Hovishe Village in Niuland Police outpost Longsa village Civil defense & home guards office Tuensang Helipad Yanmung, Wokha NAP post Saring village under Longchem circle Planning office quarter Mongsenbai ward, Mokochung Fire station Jalukie under Peren district Agur factory Razhaphe Basa Dimapur Police outpost Longto, Changki, Mokokchung
in social progress index
lONDON, aprIl 3 (ThOmsON reuTers FOuNDaTION): New Zealand came first in a global index published on Thursday that ranks countries by social and environmental performance rather than economic output in a drive to make social progress a priority for politicians and businesses. The Social Progress Index (SPI) rates 132 countries on more than 50 indicators, including health, sanitation, shelter, personal safety, access to information, sustainability, tolerance and inclusion and access to education. The SPI asks questions such as whether a country can satisfy its people’s basic needs and whether it has the infrastructure and capacity to allow its citizens to improve the quality of their lives and reach their full potential. “The index shows that economic growth does not automatically lead to social progress,” Michael Green, executive director of the Social Progress Imperative, a non-profit organisation that publishes the index, told Thomson Reuters Foundation. “If we are to tackle problems such as poverty and inequality, it shows that measuring economic growth alone is not enough.” New Zealand received high scores for personal rights and freedom, internet access and school enrolment. It was followed in the Top 10 by Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Denmark and Australia. Some of the world’s largest economies did not fare so well, with Germany in 12th place, the United Kingdom in 13th, Japan 14th, the United States 16th and France 20th. All of them except Germany scored poorly on environmental sustainability. The United States also ranked
poorly on health and wellness - despite being a top spender on healthcare - and on access to basic knowledge, with just 92 percent of children in school. France lagged Slovenia (18th) and Estonia (19th) and had low scores on sustainability and opportunity, especially tolerance and inclusion. Italy was in 29th place, hurt by poor access to advanced education, sustainability and tolerance and inclusion. The low rankings of China (90th) and India (102nd) showed that their rapid economic growth is not yet being converted into better lives for their citizens, said Green. Chad ranked last, below Central African Republic, Burundi, Guinea, Sudan, Angola, Niger, Yemen, Pakistan and Nigeria. MEASURING BEYOND GDP Even though economic growth and social progress are correlated, especially for poorer countries, the connection is far from automatic, said Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, one of the index’s backers. “The SPI finds that all economic growth is not equal,” he said in a press statement. Social upheavals around the world prompted by citizens’ frustration over a lack of opportunities and inequality are also a sign that economic performance alone is not an adequate measure of progress, said Green. A 2014 survey by Deloitte found that the majority of the almost 7,800 millennials (people born in the 1980s and 1990s) it had surveyed in 28 countries prioritised education, health care, employment and protection from crime above improving their financial situation. They also believe social progress lies not just with governments but also with businesses.
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