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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 65
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark
Woman must be free to choose career, marriage: Modi [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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48-hour bandh along Dimapur-Imphal road
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imphal, march 8 (NNN): A 48-hour bandh on the Imphal-Dimapur road began at 6 pm, Saturday. The bandh is being imposed by the Manipur Inter-State Taxi Service Workers Association, in protest against the killing of driver Md Muna Ali in Sadar Hills, Manipur by unidentified men. A sit-in protest was also held on Saturday, in this connection, by the transporters at North AOC, Imphal. The Association, while strongly condemning the killing of the driver, has threatened to intensify its agitation, in collaboration with civil society organizations, if the culprits are not produced by the Government by March 10.
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nagaland urged to ‘empower women’
Malaysia Airlines plane missing, presumed crashed
Kohima, march 8 (mExN): Nagaland Governor, Dr Ashwani Kumar today said that it would be a great achievement if all voters, especially women, exercised their democratic right during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state. He said that, as per available statistics, the total number of voters stand at 11, 74, 633 in Nagaland, out of which 5, 80, 091 are women. “Nagaland has established an enviable reputation for participation in the electoral process. Democracy has seeped into our very blood stream,” he said, while speaking at the observation of the International Women’s Day here today. Dr. Kumar made an appeal to all to go to the polling stations and cast their votes, and requested the people to exercise their right to elect a candidate of their choice in a free, fair and responsible manner.
Arsenal into FA Cup semis
Putin’s body language studied for clues to decision-making: Pentagon
Aacha. Give me 125. Rs.120 for the auto driver and 5 for God, I mean offering.
5, 80, 091 women voters in Nagaland
–Rabindranath Tagore
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Govt committed to empower women: Rio
KUala lUmpUr/haNoi, march 8 (rEUtErs): A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew went missing off the Vietnamese coast on Saturday as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and was presumed to have crashed. There were no reports of bad weather and no sign why the Boeing 777-200ER, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent (RR.L: Quote, Profile, Research) engines, would have vanished from radar screens about an hour after take-off. By nightfall in the region, there were no signs of the plane or any wreckage, some 17 hours after it went missing. A large number of planes and ships from several countries were scouring the area where the plane last made contact, about halfway between Malaysia and the southern tip of Vietnam. Related story on page 9
Sunday, March 9, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
Nagaland celebrates International Women’s Day
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A Naga woman selling vegetables at Supermarket, Dimapur. Most Naga vegetable vendors in the state are women, trying to earn a livelihood to support their families. Photo by Caisii Mao
Chizokho Vero Kohima | March 8
Nagaland Governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar today stressed on the need to ensure that women are guaranteed equal opportunities in social, economic and political spheres. “Let us together decide to remove all obstacles that prevent women from achieving their full potential. There is a need for us to have a re-look at our old traditions and customs so that our youth and women can become equal partners in our journey into the future,” Dr. Kumar said, while speaking at the observation of International Women’s Day in Kohima on Saturday. He said that several incidents over the past one year have jolted “our collective conscience.” First was the gruesome murder of a housewife at Dimapur. Then, the molestation of women engaged in the service of the Church, the horrible torture inflicted on a woman in Kohima and the exploitation of a physically and mentally challenged girl. The Governor said that these incidents indicate how cruel “we can be to our women folk.” “How can our rich traditions, culture and customs fail to prevent such shameful incidents?” Dr. Kumar condemned these “acts of gender insensitivity, atrocities and inequalities” in Naga society. “There is urgent need to
Let us together decide to remove all obstacles that prevent women from achieving their full potential: Governor
empower women and make them equal partners in the progress of our country,” he added. Dr. Kumar said that it will be impossible to create an economically prosperous and a healthy/ happy society, without addressing these issues and ensuring full participation of women in the decision making structures.
Redouble Efforts for Protection of Women Minister for Social Welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie challenged the gathering to redouble efforts for protection of women and their welfare. “We must strive to ensure that women feel safe and secure at all times in our society.” Peseyie said that the State Resource Centre for Women was established to facilitate the processes that contribute to economic empowerment of women and social empowerment of women with emphasis of health and education. The department also set up a Women Commission in the state. “The welfare of our women is our priority and therefore, let us take optimum advan-
ssA teachers urged to call off agitation
Kohima, march 8 (mExN): The Department of School Education has requested the SSA teachers to call off their proposed agitation, “considering the efforts that have been put in by the Government as it is just a matter of time that the pending salary will be released.” Commissioner and Secretary, T Imkonglemba Ao, in a press note, stated that the hardships faced by the teachers, owing to non-payment of their salary, “is genuinely empathized with” and that fund received under SSA or the other flagship programs has “never been diverted.” He asserted that due priority has been given by the Nagaland Government for meeting the salary requirement, including the release of the State Matching Share for the program, which is 10% of the total outlay. He further informed that the entire SSA Mission Team led by the Commissioner and Secretary (Designate) is currently camped at Delhi for the purpose of pursuing fund release by the Government of India, and therefore “release of the unpaid salary will be done as and when fund is made available.” Regarding the possibilities of finding “ways and means” to release salary through the State’s
own resources and to have it refunded at a later stage, as pointed out by the associations, he said that this would “not be judicious in the end of the financial year.” On the issue of inability of the appointing authority to make regular or timely payment of salary to its employees, the department clarified that the SSA teachers were appointed as per the mandated requirements of the RTE Act, with the understanding that salary for such appointments would be funded by the Government of India through its flagship programs. It also pointed out that “there are other states facing the same problems like our state.” In his statement the Commissioner informed the SSA teachers that, “it is the prerogative of the State Government on how their appointment is to be treated since they were appointed under the SSA program and as such, the mode of payment of their salary, whether Plan or Non-Plan, will be decided by the State Government.” He further clarified that salary for SSA employees have been released till the month of November 2013, and not as stated. Controlling officers have are therefore been directed to take up the matter with their respective Treasuries.
tage of this new initiative,” he said.
“Women Protection Centers” In All Districts Parliamentary Secretary for Sericulture, Cooperation & Women Development, Pukhayi Sumi said that Nagaland is the only state in the country to have a separate department for women development. He assured that the department is doing its best to promote women’s economic empowerment and social participation and also extending loan facilities to promote individuals and SHGs for economic self reliance. The department will soon come up with an ambitious project exclusively for women “Women Protection Centers” in every district, he said.
Women Strongly Fighting Social Evils Chief Secretary, Banuo Z Jamir said that much needs to be done to address safety and security issues for women in Nagaland. She asserted that women civil bodies have come out strongly against social evils and have made their voices
Kohima, march 8 (mExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has stated that the Nagaland state government is committed to pursue its goal of women empowerment and remove all wrong attitudes or any bias in social customs and practices, which may prevent women from realizing their full potentials. The CM, in a press note, extended greetings to all women of Nagaland on the occasion of International Women’s Day and lauded the department of Women Development, the Nagaland State Commission for Women and the Nagaland State Social Welfare Advisory Board for their efforts towards the empowerment of women in the state.
heard wherever there are instances of violation of rights against women. “They determinedly and courageously continue to advocate for peace within the state, in a democratic and mature way, generating awareness amongst the general public not to create a conflict situation. This dimension of the role of Naga women from the traditional family environment to the socioeconomic domain cannot therefore be ignored,” she said. In the decision making arena, she said there is today an encouraging presence of women at every senior level in the government sector. Nagaland has a women battalion in police, which is perhaps a first amongst the states in the country. “However, from the village to the Legislative Assembly, women still need to go that extra mile to arrive at an equal position, at par with men,” she said. The programme was organized by the Department for Women Development with Nagaland State Commission for Women and State Resource Centre for Women, under the theme “Inspiring Change.” It was chaired by Ramango Lotha, Secretary, Department for Women Development. Welcome address was delivered by Bano Vinito Chishi, Chairperson NSSWB while vote of thanks was proposed by Daisy Mezhur, Mission Director SRCW. Related stories on page 2
Indefinite bandh on private bus, winger service to Mnp
DimapUr, march 8 (mExN): The All Nagaland Private Bus Union and Winger Operators have called for indefinite bandh of private bus and winger services to Manipur, starting Sunday morning, to protest the killing of one of its members, Manas Ali, whose body was recovered on March 7 at Senapati, Manipur. A press note from the union stated that it had filed an FIR at Imphal West Police Station, but that the police and administration “showed no seriousness in the case.” The union has demanded that the Manipur government provide compensation to the kin of the deceased driver and prompt investigation into the case.
Celebrating womanhood through farming, solidarity Morung Express News Chizami | March 8
Traditional grass rain coats and graduation hats made of leaf—14 women farmers from Nagaland and one from Meghalaya, for the first time in their lives, were honored (with the coat and hat) for their contribution to biodiverse farming during the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations held at the North East Network’s (NEN) resource centre in Chizami, Phek district. These, as well as the 90 other women farmers and 33 men farmers present at the event, have not only kept genetic biodiversity alive on the farmland but also ensured health and nutrition to those many families in the region through jhum agriculture, terrace farming and family/backyard farming. Keeping up with its tradition and commitment towards supporting marginalized communities, especially women, NEN organized a Biodiversity Festival, this year, launching the International Year of Family Farming on March 7. Since women are the primary food producers and care-givers in the context of the North East region, they have been kept central to the project— strengthening farmer solidarity in Nagaland. This continued into the IWD 2014 on March 8 that celebrated womanhood in Nagaland through its women farmers, through the exchange of seeds and agricultural knowledge. While thanking every farmer present at today’s event, Project Team Leader, Seno Tsühah said, “We have to remember the women within our society who have contributed to social change— the mothers who made sure that their daughters were sent to schools and
colleges to ensure a better future for women today.” That women need freedom from violence against them, and political and economic empowerment to be able to do so, as well as to ‘Inspire Change,’ which is the IWD theme for this year. Women who feed societies are the enablers of this model, and were represented at today’s event from villages like Fakim, Therutsuswu, Ruzazho, Phugi, Dzulhami, Phesama, Noklak, Laitsohpliah (Meghalaya), Mesulumi, Sumi, Thetsumi, Sakraba, Enhulumi and Chizami— peripheries merging with other peripheries. As Tsielie Sakhrie and Samhita Barooah, in their solidarity messages noted, it is only through people-topeople solidarity that positive change can be brought about in the neighborhoods and communities. Chief Guest at the event, Menukhol John, Commissioner& Secretary, Land Resources said that respect for women and reduction of violence against women has to start from the kitchen, the home. He noted how many initiatives in Nagaland today have women at their forefront—from a microfinance unit in Tuensang to all self help groups to excelling in education. He was presented with a farmers’ declaration titled ‘an appeal to policy makers’ (see appeal in page 4). The Day was interspersed with traditional folk dances and songs. Invocation prayer was offered by Rev. Puli from New Phor Village. Solidarity messages were given by Samhita Barooah, TISS Guwahati, Niukai Pinglang, Noklak, Khriesino Rikha, Southern Angami Women’s Organisation, Tsielie Sakhrie, Khonoma Nature Conservation & Tragopan Sanctuary.
Stand-off at Indisen over border row Morung Express News Dimapur | March 8
People continue to defy prohibitory orders and intrude into the disputed area at the Dimapur-Karbi-Anlong border. On March 8, Indisen villagers and a group of around hundred people nearly came to blows after the former prevented the latter from going through the village to the disputed site. The situation was prevented from going out of hand, following intervention of the Dimapur district administration and police. According to the Indisen Village Council, the village had passed a resolution on March 5 that no people from outside the village will be allowed to pass through the village to the
disputed site. On March 8, a group of around a hundred people approached the village gate in vehicles, who were asked to turn back. The group of people went back but returned, resulting in an hour long stand-off. The group of people eventually retreated after the district administration intervened. The Indisen Village Council stated that it will continue to keep vigil for the sake of maintaining peace in the border and in the village. The council however informed that people continue to intrude into the disputed site from unguarded sections along the Dimapur-Karbi-Anglong border, while section 144 of the Cr. PC continues to remain in force along the border shared by Indisen and Rilan Yan villages.
foothill road: twist and turns galore Morung Express News Dimapur | March 8
The issue of ‘contract’ was at the core of yet another meeting of the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC). Following the hullabaloo over allegation of favouritism, another has come to the fore. According to a startling disclosure made at a routine meeting of the NFHRCC on March 8, P Imty Ao (Contractor in charge of Wokha Sector), of Trident Enterprises, recieved a proposal from representatives of the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha to sublet the latter
around 27-kilometre stretch in the Wokha Sector. This was informed by representatives of the Union in today’s meeting, who were accompanied by a member of the Lotha Hoho, Kohima, to act as a mediator. It was stated that the Wokha contractors had personally approached P Imty Ao, early on Saturday morning, and was asked to enter into a contractual agreement declaring his assent. However, Imty Ao declined to sign any agreement without the prior consent of the NFHRCC. The Wokha contractors were thus asked to approach the NFHRCC, the representatives
said. The portion of road in question falls between Governor’s Camp and Changpang. Furthermore, it was informed that the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha had taken over the reins in the said sector on March 7. This revelation caught the NFHRCC off-guard, resulting in a five-hour long debate. The Wokha contractors’ bid was however not accepted by the house; while it was resolved that Imty Ao should immediately resume work “in order to avoid the debarment of contract bill in view of the agreement dated 18 January 2014.” It fur-
ther resolved that work started by the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha on March 7 at the Governor’s Camp-Changpang sector be immediately stopped. To hammer out the differences emerging from the latest contract bid, a joint meeting of the NFHRCC, 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha and P. Imty Ao will be held soon, the NFHRCC informed. The NFHRCC further acknowledged the visit of the Road and Bridges Minister and the PWD (R & B) to the Foothill road construction sites on March 6 at Longtho (Mokokchung) and Wokha sectors.
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