April 13th, 2016

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C M Y K

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

wednesdAY • APRIL 13 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 100 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

T R u T H

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today — H. Jackson Brown, Jr. India to get normal monsoon after two drought years: IMD

Maruti ‘Vitara Brezza’ launched in Nagaland

PAGe 08

LeBron on form as Cavaliers wrap up home advantage

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PAGE 12

Why corruption thrives in nagaland? rAise: imagining an era of empathy

• CAG Report points to State Government’s inaction • As of March 31, 2015 there were 34 cases of misappropriations and loss amounting to Rs. 616 crores in 15 departments Morung Express News Dimapur | April 12

Pervasive Corruption of multi-dimensional nature seems to be thriving in Nagaland State due to government inaction at all levels. Or so this year’s CAG report suggests. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on State Finances for the year ended 31 March 2015 was recently tabled in State Legislative Assembly but given a silent burial at the implementation level. Timely submission of utilization certificates (UCs) is a major area of concern, it noted, highlighting that at the end of March 31, 104 UCs involving an aggregate amount of Rs. 217 crore were pending for submission even after a lapse of one to five years from various departments. Additionally, CAG said that as of March 31, 2015 there were 34 cases of mis-

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Profile of misappropriations, defalcation or loss Age profile of Pending Cases Years

Number of Cases

0-5 5-10

30 4

total

34

NAture of PeNdiNg CAses No. of Amount Nature of Cases Cases (rs. in Crore) Theft 6 2.11 Misappropriation 22 580.58 Defalcation* 6 33.62 34 616

Source: CAG Report 2016. * Defalcation is an amount of funds misappropriated by a person trusted with its charge

Reason for Outstanding Cases Number Amount of Cases (rs. in crore) 30 210.67 1 0.01

reasons for Pending Cases 1 2

Awaiting departmental or criminal investigation Departmental action initiated but not finalised Criminal proceedings finalised but the execution of 3 0 certificate for recovery of the amount pending 4 Awaiting orders for recovery or write-off 5 Pending in the Courts of Law 3 total 34 Source: CAG Report quoting Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Data. appropriations, defalcation or loss amounting to Rs. 616 crores in 15 departments pending finalisation. The story is same every year.

Business as usual

According to CAG, while the cases of anomalies are reported each year, the case often lies inactive at the implementation level. For instance, out of the 34 cases reported this year, the age profile of the cases range from 0-10 years with the government or respective department/s failing to act on the matter. A careful analysis of the report further depicts how administrative apathy and

inaction has resulted in these ‘business-as-usual’ responses to such findings, and corruption continues unabated. For instance, most of the cases (30 nos.) are still are waiting departmental or criminal investigation reflecting the inaction at the implementation level. Only 3 cases have reached the Court of Law so far. The highest amount of misappropriation and loss amounting to Rs. 402.66 Crore involves two cases in Food and Civil Supply department where final action has not been taken by the State Government, CAG maintained. Youth Resources Department

0 0 405.63 616.31

at Rs. 74.38 crores is the second highest, ironically followed by the Finance Department at Rs. 43.69 crores. Case-wise, the Health & Family Welfare has the highest number, with 9 cases of misappropriation and defalcation. Transparency International said corruption thrives where temptation meets permissiveness; where institutional checks are missing; where decision making is opaque; and where civil society is disempowered. Looking at CAG Report, one can safely assert that Nagaland is the most fertile ground for corruption to thrive unabated.

Regional Action on IncluSive Education for children with special needs is launched Vibi Yhokha Kohima | April 12

The Regional Action on IncluSive Education (RAISE) North East was launched on April 12 in a jubilant and emotional atmosphere of Children with Special Needs (CWSN) along with parents, teachers and stakeholders at Hotel Japfü. “We need to move from the era of sympathy to the era of empathy,” said Bibhu Dutta Sahu, Director, RAISE NE while highlighting the objectives of RAISE stating that the background work for the project was done for two years. The main motive behind RAISE is to complement the SSA to improve the quality education of children with special needs. “When it comes to quality education there needs to be change of attitude among parents, other children, teachers and agencies. We are dreaming a dream and within that dream what role can we play as stakeholders to provide inclusivity of the children?” asked Sahu. RAISE aims to create a platform for making people understand disability where Sahu pointed out the need to understand one’s culture and how to engage the children with special needs within that culture. “Let the children be active stakeholders in this process,” concluded Sahu. Present at the launch as the Guest of honor was Rovilato Mor, DC Kohima who shared his experiences as a parent of a special child. The Kohima DC, whose second daughter suffers from cerebral palsy, mentioned that the family does not use the words ‘disgrace’ or ‘unfortunate’. “We take it as a pride and special gift in our family. We make it a point to take her everywhere we go on social events and gatherings,” said Mor, asserting the

students from tabitha enabling Academy performing the Chicken dance. (Morung Photo)

need for inclusion of special children in society.. Mor’s daughter is tech savvy, brilliant and continues to score 100 marks in most of her subjects. Sharing the joys of parenthood with a special child, Mor mentioned that despite his daughter’s dependency, the family is dependent on her when it comes to fixing their electronic and technological gadgets. “She continues to be the light, warmth and centre of love and happiness in the family,” said Mor. He challenged the parents, siblings, teachers of children with special needs and other stakeholders to be responsible to provide all opportunities, assistance to develop their skills and talents so that the children become at par with the rest of the society. “You have to believe in yourself. You can achieve so many great things in life,” said Dellirose M Sakhrie, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. As a representative of the government, Sakhrie also admitted her limitations and shortcomings but gave her commitment to give her best to any help possible. There are over 29,000 people with disabilities in Nagaland, which

UNTABA asks DC to AcAUt nagaland questions the review prohibitory order ‘unethical practice’ of a private bank

DIMAPUR, APRIL 12 (MExN): The United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) has asked the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur to review the prohibitory order preventing entry to the Daldali Reserve Forest. Terming the order as defying “all practical, logical and political wisdom,” the UNTABA, in a press release held that the DC should rather adopt i paid you lots of money to means to safeguard the tradibecome a minister, now you tional and historical rights of dare call me a thief? Naga land owners. According to the UNTABA, the Dimapur district administration’s stance of stopping Nagas from “occupying and developing our own land” is a portrayal of the Government of Nagaland’s disregard to the “factual history of our people” and a betrayal to the greater CITIZEN UMBRELLA cause of the Naga people. Wholesalers may contact

“… All the forests and Naga territories were handed over to Assam during British Rule and with tacit approval from the Government of India, our lands are being systematically deforested and occupied by people of questionable origins from Assam with the support of Assam Forest department and Assam Police.” Basing on this, the UNTABA held that it is not the Government of Nagaland’s duty to assist the Assam Police against Naga land owners. It is the duty of the Nagaland State Government to ask the Government of India to re-transfer all the lands and forests to Nagaland as committed by the Government of India in the ‘9 Point Agreement’ and in accordance to Points No. 12 & 13 of the ‘16 Point Agreement’, the UNTABA said.

DIMAPUR, APRIL 12 (MExN): Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has questioned the “unethical practices” of an Indian multinational banking and financial services company based in Dimapur for denying the right to a local entrepreneur in availing loan despite being selected and sanctioned Rs 22 lakh loan under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Scheme. The anti-corruption body also found it as “even more condemnable” that the Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) Nagaland despite knowing the fact that the said bank has “never entertained any local entrepreneurs in the last 7 years would still empanel it as loan dis-

pensing agency.” “It is fishy that KVIC should still patronize the bank despite the latter being openly hostile to the entrepreneurial community,” a press statement from ACAUT Media Cell on Tuesday stated. It alleged that “KVIC even played mischief by refusing to allot a different bank to the said entrepreneur even when he repeatedly complained to the officials regarding the unprofessional and sick attitude of the bank.” It further alleged that the local entrepreneur was made to run around for three months by the bank, after which it offered to pay Rs 1 lakh out of the total Rs 22 lakh. Left with no other option, the entrepreneur had approached ACAUT Nagaland and only after its interven-

tion, the bank released Rs 10 lakhs out of the Rs 22 lakh, the ACAUT statement read. Also expressing shock that the bank in question was flouting all banking norms, ACAUT suspected that it is “operating simply to collect deposits …. while foregoing its responsibility to customers.” Pointing out that this is one example out of thousands cases happening all over Nagaland, ACAUT has warned that it will not tolerate such discriminatory policies against locals. It also appealed to all the PMEGP selected candidates who have faced harassment from the banks to contact its officials. “The ACAUT is ready to expose such dirty-dealings to the public, the RBI, the Finance Ministry, and the Banking Ombudsmen,” it stated.

form one of the larger groups that lack general education in the State as well as in the country. Despite policies, programs and schemes for disabled people, Sakhrie regretted that society has not been able to “pick up momentum to a desired level” while mentioning that both the government and society has failed people with disabilities. A breakthrough has to be made, viewed Sakhrie, to give empowerment to the children with special needs by giving quality education, to integrate them in the mainstream society so that they become responsible citizens, and to make them assets of the society. “We have mindsets which are not changing and it is a grave concern. It is a wake-up call to all of us to right the wrongs which has stayed in our society for too long,” asserted Sakhrie. Testimonies were also given by parents of children with special needs. Performing John Lennon’s famous song ‘Imagine’ in sign language, the hearing impaired children moved the crowd as the last lines resonated among the audience ‘You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one, I hope someday you will join us and the world will live as one.’

RMSA candidates suspend agitation after assurance from Nagaland government our Correspondent Kohima | April 12

The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Phase 2 & 3 candidates suspended its indefinite agitation after receiving a written assurance from the Nagaland Government. RMSA candidates told The Morung Express that a written statement was received from the Minister of School Education & SCERT, Yitachu in a meeting held on Tuesday assuring that their appointment orders would be issued within the month of April. Following the assurance, the agitation have been suspended till April 30, 2016, the candidates informed. The Minister in a letter dated April 12, had directed the Mission Director, RMSA “to issue the appointment order of the 111 graduate teachers waiting list against the post of Headmaster under RMSA post creation by April 2016.” However, the RMSA candidates cautioned that they would resume the agitation if they do not get positive response as assured by April.

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Nagaland State for implementation of 24x7 Power for All DIMAPUR, APRIL 12 (MExN): ‘24x7 Power for All’ (PFA), a joint initiative of the Government of India and Nagaland Government was signed between Secretary Power, Government of India (GoI) P K Pujari and Secretary, Power, Government of Nagaland, K I Yanger in the presence of Union Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal on April 12 at New Delhi. This was informed by Er Khose Sale, SE (Distribution), Department of Power, Kohima on Tuesday.

Naga cyclist gears up to embark on an eco-friendly mission Cyclist and eco-activist Sievituo Solo to attempt longest distance travelled on a bamboo frame bicycle across Europe and the USA Morung Express News Kohima | April 12

Cyclist and eco-activist Sievituo Solo has set sight on new frontiers to circumnavigate on his bicycle - and attempt to set a new world record at the same time. The latest epic challenge for the young adventurer is to bicycle the length and breadth of Europe, and the United States within a span of 180 days, which is six months time. He is expecting to crisscross 20 countries starting with France.

For this expedition, Solo is going solo. His partner of previous cycling expeditions across South East Asia on ‘Re-Cycling for Greener Environemnt’ and ‘Cycling for sustainable world: Wheels of Change,’ Ruokuo Kire, is on a break to devote time to family, and other responsibilities. Solo, who is gearing up to hit the road by last week of April, or first week of May, said he would be pedaling under the theme ‘Innovative, Eco-Friendly, and Healthy Lifestyle. For this, he will particularly address awareness on the versatility of the Bamboo plant which are abundant in Nagaland and try to harness investors or companies for its production. To prove the limitless possibility of the eco-friendly bamboo which can be used and made into almost anything,

sievituo solo with a trial product of the bamboo cycle on which he will pedal across europe and the usA (Photo: facebook)

Solo has his own bicycle framework - harvested and assembled out of bamboo - which sounds very practical and sustainable, of course, if one is not travelling thousands of miles on the thing. While bicycle frames crafted out of bamboo is not a new con-

cept, bamboo plant is not as easily available in countries outside Asia and therefore its production is expensive. Besides, hi-tech carbon fiber bicycles have firm stamp of popularity in the west. Which is one reason why Solo will be flaunt-

ing his Nagaland crafted bamboo bicycle on the highways of Europe and the United States while underscoring the importance of eco-friendly travel. Business is also another agenda. “I want to take this bamboo product from Nagaland, advertise it to the world, and see if I can find business for export of its production,” Solo said. The components of the bamboo cycle have been sponsored by Theja Meru’s Dream Corp while Richard Belho, founder of Zynorique, an architecture firm will build the bamboo bicycle. Chief Minister TR Zeliang is the chief patron for the expedition. Solo will also be attempting to set a world record in the Limca Book of Records on the ‘Longest distance travelled on a bamboo bicycle.’ The expedition will be like a

fact finding mission of sorts to test the endurance of the bamboo bicycle; whether it can last the whole length of the journey. This evidently means Solo is undertaking a chancy expedition. But these are concerns Solo seems least bothered about. “I go with my gut. When you have the thing (opportunity) in your hands, just put it on the road,” is his mantra. According to the young cyclist adventurer, Nagas are so cautious about readinesswhich is obviously one reason why “we start so late in our careers or never start at all.” So what happens if something goes wrong with the bamboo bicycle while out there? It’s a question which Solo is not fussy about - “Whatever happens, I will figure it out when or if it happens.”


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