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www.morungexpress.com
MOnDAY • April 24 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 110• 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend — Martin Luther King, Jr. Millions vote in Delhi civic polls amid EVM glitches
Earth Friendly Generation holds debate competition on Earth Day
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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Moa Jamir Dimapur | April 23
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 Do you feel that the overall performance of civil servants in Nagaland is improving? Why? Yes
no
others
Should there be tribebased unions within educational institutions and campuses? Why? Yes
06%
no others
89% 05%
Details on page 7
NHRC delegation arrives in Nagaland DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 (DIPR): A five member delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) headed by Justice D Murugesan Member, NHRC arrived at Dimapur airport on April 23 afternoon. The other NHRC members in the team included JS Kochher, Jt. Secretary NHRC; Chhaya Sharma, DIG, NHRC; D Kammath, Dy Registrar NHRC and SK Rawal, Private Secretary NHRC. On arrival at Dimapur airport, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome along with State Protocol officer Nagaland, Nusieta Rhakho, Additional Commissioner Police and other government officials received them at the airport. Justice D Murugesan will be the chief guest at the NHRC open hearing on various issues relating to atrocities and problems faced by scheduled castes and scheduled tribes at Kohima on April 24, to be held at the Administrative Training Institute Kohima.
In Nagaland, Caesarean Section (C-Section) child deliveries have rapidly increased over the past decades. In 1999-2000, institutional child deliveries through C-Section stood at an almost negligible 1.2%. It gradually increased to 2% in 2005-06. A decade later, according to the latest National Family Health Survey 2015-16 (NFHSIV), C-section in Nagaland was being conducted at the rate of 5.8% of overall institutional deliveries—a percentile increased of 190%. This increase has largely been contributed by deliveries at private healthcare units. 31.4% of the deliveries here were through Csection in 2015-16, as per the NFHS-IV report. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the international healthcare community considers the ‘ideal rate’ for C-Section to be between 10-15%. When medically necessary, C-Section can effectively prevent maternal and newborn mortality but when the rate goes above 10%, there is no evidence that mortality rates improve, highlighted a WHO Statement.
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institutional Deliveries* in nagalanD & inDia
in Nagaland, the rise can be attributed to increased institutional deliveries. For instance, NFHS –IV data on ‘Delivery Care (for births in the 5 years before the survey)’ indicate the increase in institutional deliveries (including public and private) in Nagaland State from 11.6% in 2005-06 (NFHS III) to 32.8% in 201516 (NFHS IV). During the same period, C-Section deliveries similarly increased from 2.0% in 2005-06 to 5.8% in 2015-16. While the number is negligible in absolute terms, the percentile increase of around 190% needs holistic policy orientation.
More than WHO recommended C-sections C-Section births at private health units, as per the NFHS-III and NFHS-IV, have risen from 18.5% to 31.4% of the total deliveries here surpassing the WHO’s recommended level by a great extent—a nearly 70% decadal rise. Meanwhile, C-Section births at public health units depicted a decline from 15.8% in 2005-06 to 13.5% in 2015-16—a nearly 15% fall, and well under the WHO threshold. In other words, private hospitals perform more More institutional births than twice the number Comparing the available of C-Section deliveries as data on C-Section deliveries compared to government
Source: National Family Health Survey (2, 3 & 4), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; *Delivery Care (for births in the 5 years before the survey).
hospitals. Observing the trend, a Gynecologist at the Dimapur District Hospital had told The Morung Express in 2015 that he has been “encouraging colleagues to minimise the number
of such deliveries as far as possible and to operate only when medically required.” The Gynecologist attributed the rising Caesarean deliveries to last minute patients (un-booked
cases) with complications after they were mismanaged at home as a main reason behind the rise in the C-section deliveries at the district hospital. A previous report in The Morung Express revealed
how, as per NFHS-IV (2015-16), Infant Mortality Rate in Nagaland State stood at 29% with only 2.4% of mothers receiving full institutional antenatal care. Preference & other reasons According to the WHO, some of the most omnipresent reasons behind this rise are also the fear of pain during birth including the pain of uterine contractions; the convenience to schedule the birth when it is most suitable for families or health care professionals; or because it is perceived as being less traumatic for the baby. Medical conditions before pregnancy such as obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, and heart related problems are also attributed to reasons for opting for the knife. A consultant in a private Nursing Home in the last Morung story on C-Section attributed the rise to “advancement of medical technology and the resulting term called ‘caesarean on demand’ for patients who don’t want pain during birth.” She also noted that parents opting for small families often prefer Csection delivery, adding that 50% of the pregnant patients in her nursing home demand it. However, allegations are often leveled against private clinics and practitioners that they suggest CSection deliveries as they allegedly earn more money while spending less time on patients.
The overall picture Caesarean deliveries in institutional births in India have witnessed a rising trend from 7.1% in 1999-2000 to 8.5% in 200506, and to 17.2% in 2015-16. Here too, more C-sections were conducted at private health units than at government ones as per the NFHS. While WHO recommends the ‘ideal rate’ for CSections to be between 10% and 15%, it also cautioned that C-Sections could cause significant complications, disability or death, particularly in settings which lack the facilities to conduct safe surgeries or treat potential complications. “Due to their increased cost, high rates of unnecessary caesarean sections can pull resources away from other services in overloaded and weak health systems,” it stated, advising usage only when “medically justified.” According to a Times of India report, the alarming rise in C-Section surgeries in India, mainly in private hospitals, generated an online petition in February 2017 seeking government intervention to bring in accountability and transparency in institutional deliveries. Consequently, the Union’s Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi wrote to Health Minister suggesting to make it mandatory for hospitals to publicly display the number of C-Section surgeries and normal deliveries carried out. Similar measures could be adopted in Nagaland.
Indian Army’s BRO loses civil infra projects due to delays nrMsata 2013 calls off boycott Rupesh Dutta
New Delhi | April 23 (IANS)
The government has taken away some civil infrastructure works from the Indian Army-controlled Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as it has failed to meet deadlines for key roads in strategically-important locations, resulting not only in delays but also huge cost over-runs. Many of these projects are now being transferred to a fledgling state-owned company, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) that was set up in 2014. A cabinet document circulated to central ministries and seen by IANS notes that the BRO is overstretched and has been given work beyond its capacity and mandate. The cabinet note has also suggested that the BRO adopt new technologies and also urgently re-
size its strength. Some of the delayed projects include the 220-km-long National Highway (NH)-53 in Manipur. The delay has escalated the cost to a whopping Rs 1,600 crore ($247 million) from Rs 1,100 crore, the document noted. “Due to very slow progress, the road is proposed to be transferred from the BRO,” reads the cabinet note. Another project is the 126-km NH-39 between Imphal and Kohima, which has been pending since 2011. Other delayed projects are the Ukhrul-Toloi-Tadubi section of NH-102A in Manipur and improvement of the Aizwal-Tuipang section in Mizoram. In response to the cabinet note, many ministries and their departments have accorded the green signal to the proposal that these projects be transferred to the NHIDCL. The Home Ministry has supported
nvco tseminyu demands restoration of transformer
DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization, Tseminyu Subdivision unit today appealed to the Power Department to immediately restore the feeder power transformer at Tseminyu Town. A press note from the NVCO unit informed that the consumers’ forum had called the NH-2 bandh on February 6, 2015 wherein on February 5, 2015, through the initiative of the ADC Tseminyu, the SE (Power) had a consultative meeting with the consumers’ forum of Pugoboto Sub-division, Wozhuro range and Tseminyu subdivision in the ADC’s conference hall Tseminyu, in the presence of ADC Pu-
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c-section child deliveries rising rapidly • Increase in institutional deliveries in Nagaland • C-section deliveries at private health units almost double that at govt health units
Gutkha, Cigarettes, Alcohol, Tamul, kaka sada…Please give them up. You’re beginning to look like our govt high school building.
Rooney scores on return for United
goboto, EAC Wozhuro, EE (Elect), Wokha, SDO(Elect) Wo k h a , J. E ( E l e c t ) Tseminyu, where the SE (Power) Kohima, assured many things to improve power supply to the region. It mentioned that “out of many promises one was to shift the 33KV transmission pole passing through the bamboo groove/Plantation within longsa area under wokha district which disrupt smooth power supply to these three regions.” It however lamented that nothing has been done till date. And to add to the woes of the consumers, the JE posted to Tseminyu has not attended his duties for more than 8 months and department has not
initiated anything so far, the NVCO unit informed. It stated that due to nonpresence of controlling officer in the station, the day to day maintenance works are not carried out, resulting in the transformer breakdown on April 9. The NVCO Tseminyu Sub-division Unit questioned why the 1MVA power transformer sanctioned against the sub-division has not yet been installed till date, also why the department never fulfilled its assurances. It appealed to the department to restore the transformer within 10 days, starting April 24. “Otherwise the department shall be held responsible for any untoward incident,” it cautioned.
the move because “the object of the proposed company (NHIDCL)... is broad enough to undertake the work of construction of border roads”. The Economic Affairs and the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry, in response to the note, said that the “focus on the northeast region may also help in reducing the multiplicity of agencies”. “Some activities of the NHAI and the BRO can be taken over by the NHIDCL.” The Ministry of Law has also supported the proposal as “no legal issues have been raised”. The BRO’s parent, the Defence Ministry, has suggested that projects may be transferred to “the new entity NHIDCL on a case-to-case basis”. As such, the roads offloaded from the BRO and transferred to NHIDCL include several projects in Arunachal Pradesh that connect key areas. A senior bureaucrat at the Min-
istry of Road, Transport and Highways said that NHIDCL would continue working with the BRO that needed to focus more on defence roads and infrastructure. “The BRO should focus only on defence security road issues. Both NHIDCL and BRO are the two arms of the government and are building synergies to build the nation in the best possible ways,” the official, unwilling to be named, told IANS. Records from the NHIDCL reveal that several projects under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Bharatmala initiative have been transfered to the NHIDCL from the BRO. NHIDCL -- initially set up to improve roads in the northeast -- has already been assigned several strategic projects connecting India to Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 (MExN): The NRMSATA 2013 today informed that it has decided to call off its boycott of all government secondary schools throughout the state which was launched on April 20. This decision was taken after the Nagaland State Government invited the executives of NRMSATA on April 21 and 22 for a meeting to discuss settlement of the salary issue and came to an arrangement to make payment of two months’ salary in the month of May. The state government has given a written assurance for release of 2 months salary
at a time starting from the month of June from the state budget till the backlog of salary is cleared. The government has further assured that the salary of RMSA Teachers will be borne by the state government if the money is not sanctioned by the GOI (MHRD) in time, so that non payment of salary will not be a hindrance anymore in the smooth functioning of the schools. The NRMSATA 2013 hoped that the government would abide by their assurance. It meanwhile asked all its members to resume their normal regular classes by Monday, April 24.
cM urges self reliance for nagaland
DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu today spoke at the meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on April 23. He spoke on the need for Nagaland to become a self reliant state. “For my state, the Vision 2030 envisages to chart a course to develop Nagaland where all the inhabitants have equitable access to the fruits of modern society wherein the state creates conditions favourable for all round development of the people, fully integrated to the economy of the country and the world, leveraging its unique geographical location to realise the benefits of the Act East Policy,” the Nagaland CM stated.
He added that the development of a self-reliant state would encompass a modern agricultural sector, an environment that is enabled for industrialization, a progressive private sector, sustainable use of its mineral wealth and calibrated growth of the manufacturing and services sectors, that will add to the employment opportunity especially of the educated youth. The goal will be to pursue a developmental trajectory which will be sustainable, inclusive and cohesive for a humane society wherein all its citizens are content and are able to grow according to their potential, he said. In this, the CM looked forward to “synergize our Vision with that of the rest of country, to bring about a new and
reinvigorated India under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister. “ Meanwhile, on the agenda items on—rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Skill Development and Swachh Bharat Mission, Elimination of poverty and Agriculture development—he agreeed on the recommendations submitted to the NITI Aayog. On the appraisal of the 12th Five Year Plan, the CM commented that there has frankly been disruption in the implementation of various projects approved by the then Planning Commission. “I would like to request that the NITI Aayog’s recommendations should be treated as binding on other Ministries, including the Union Finance Ministry, otherwise the efforts of
the NITI Aayog and its successor role to the Planning Commission is called into question,” he stated. For instance, he said that after much consultations, the NITI Aayog has submitted recommendations to the ministry of Finance with regard to the SPA, but yet they remain unapproved. He therefore asked the PM to consider the problems faced by Special Category States, in particular Nagaland and approve the SPA backlog. The unfinished projects will otherwise never be completed by the meagre resources made available to the State, he added. Regarding GST, the CM stated that Nagaland has already enrolled 54% of the taxpayers online. The remaining taxpayers are being encouraged to enroll
at the earliest and “I believe that my state will be ready for the GST regime,” he said. The CM also informed the PM of the state’s performance in the Digital India Programme. Reminding that the state has been recongnised in the national level for its e governance initiatives, the CM stated: “It is my goal to make the state of Nagaland as the next IT hub in South East Asia.” He meanwhile also apprised the CM on the need to expedite the Framework Agreement. “This bold agreement will finally bring to a close the long standing political issues, allowing for a vibrant Nagaland to fully participate and be an equal part in the march towards a great India,” he said.
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MonDAY 24•04•2017
NAGALAND
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Earth Friendly Generation holds debate competition on Earth Day
Kohima, april 23 (mExN): Earth Friendly Generation (EFG) observed Earth Day cum 1st InterSchool Debate Competition on the topic ‘Should plastic shopping bags be completely banned’ on April 22 at Indoor Stadium Chiephobozou Town, Kohima. It was supported by UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All) under the initiative of Deputy Commissioner, Kohima. EFG in a press release stated that Menuoneituo Chadi, Chief Operating Officer, Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, speaking on the occasion said that platform like this should be created more often for students to come together. He encouraged the teachers who had accompanied the students
Participants of the Earth Day cum 1st Inter-School Debate Competition organised by Earth Friendly Generation at Indoor Stadium Chiephobozou Town on April 22.
to take up such activities in days to come. “Co-curricular activities like this makes the students to do research and explore themselves to unknown where they find solution besides the book-
ish knowledge taught in the class room environment and helps in overall education development. Things are changing even in our society and thus we are bond to change to the
worst unless we as responsible citizens do it on our part at our own level to save the environment to save the Earth,” he added. The judges for the debate were Kelhoumedo Andrew
and Kevidenu Sylvia Kulnu. Mokthoi Shiu from Baptist School, Botsa bagged the 1st position and Daveilu of Silas Memorial School, Thizama bagged the 2nd Position. The winners were awarded with a cash prize and citation by event Critics’. All the participants in the competition were also received the participation certificate. The programme was chaired by Vizosu Kikhi, Project Co-ordinator, Earth Friendly Generation followed by Invocation Dziesetuolie Chadi, Pastor, Baptish Church Chiephobozou Town, Kohima. Keynote address was delivered by Keduolhoukho Chadi, Director of Earth Friendly Generation. Vote of thanks was propounded by Medoneisa Chadi, Chairman, Earth Friendly Generation.
The Sangphur and Wapher village council signed a joint council ‘Treaty’ meet on April 22 at Wapher village to maintain age old relationship between the two village council at Wapher Village. The Joint council resolved to uphold the treaty meet as practice by forefathers since time immemorial and also decide to look for each other during the times of difficulties and grief.
Students pledge to protect earth NPYC set for state-wide tour
St. Clare Hr sec school Peace Club member’s engaged in conducting social work to commemorate World Earth day.
Dimapur, april 23 (mExN): In an effort to create awareness among the students on Environment protection, Peace Channel in collaboration with St. Clare Hr sec school Peace Club member’s Kacharigaon, Dimapur conducted social work to commemorate World Earth day. The students were engaged in cleaning the school compound, clean-
ing the school washroom and toilet, clearing and repairing the school Road, plantations of trees and maintaining of school garden for peace club. The students also made placards with a slogan “Water is precious, Green St. Clare, Talab Free toilet, plastic free St. Clare, Clean St. Clare etc” and were kept in every corner around the school compound to aware the other fellow students.
Later, the students took a pledge to restore the rich bounties of nature by taking up responsibilities to protect the mother earth and also encourage their fellow friends to protect our mother earth and create a sustainable environment. All together 60 students along with the Peace Channel staff, peace animators of St. Clare and teacher in charge actively participated for the programme.
Kohima, april 23 (mExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress (NPYC) is all set to go for state-wide tour (Organizational) from the last week of April to May 2017. The tour will be in phase-wise manner covering the whole state of Nagaland. The NPYC intend to put a message across to the people that the youth can play a vital role towards bringing positive change in reviving the present state of decaying governance infested with corruption at all levels. The state is facing continuous unrest in political, social, economic, religious, etc. Therefore, towards these realities; the youth will initiate contact with the grass-root so as to ventilate the multi-facets grievances and issues facing the people. A press release issued by Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress alleged that “The future of our youth is in bleak darkness seeing the corruption in its heights under the present NPF-BJP DAN government.” “As can be seen; regularly in the media, the numerous updating fact and figures of the detected irregularities and abnormalities in various department had indeed become a matter of problem for us to even store records in our brain memory. As yet we are sure there will be more to it once the corruption Pandora box actually opens,” it added. In this regard, NPYC urged upon the NLA Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by CM Chang, MLA to exert an impartial initiatives so as to bring about much needed transparent justice in the larger interest of the general public. While stating that Nagaland is pre-dominantly a Christian state and while respecting the secular fabric of the country, the NPYC said it will “continue to protect our identity and existence at all cost unlike NPF-DAN which is having an unholy marriage, taking unholy bath for 14 years in the state.” The youth congress went on to allege that “after long years of acting as habitual puppet to the centre BJP-RSS, the NPF and allies had become indistinguishable from who is who.” “Therefore, we call upon the youth to read between the lines of the impending dangers around us and shun away from what is not right for us which may lead to disharmony and disintegration amongst us. Instead, we call upon the youth to come together; to reason out. And on the basis of NPCC ‘Roadmap’ we will bring out people’s manifesto to work upon,” NPYC added while making a call to all to “join hands together today so that our future will be bright tomorrow.”
Leo Club of Dimapur undertook a project on ‘save the planet’ on April 23 for which the club members planted trees and put bamboo dustbins in and around Dimapur under the chairmanship of Leo Ankit Paharia.
Participants of the three days music camp organised by Kidima Catholic Youth Association (KCYA ) at St Xavier's School from April 21 to 23. The resource persons were Keneisaho Joseph, Pekronyu Pius, Vimetsil Lawrence and Vipoto Victor. Total 75 members including Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary of the Angels (FSMA) congregation also took part in the Camp. Appraisals of the hymns practice were highlights of the programme.
Church leaders training at Assam Valley Baptist Mission
NaKachari, april 23 (mExN): Two day leadership training for the church leaders under Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) was held on April 22 and 23 at its Mission HQ at Nakachari in Jorhat District. A total of 105 Church workers from 31 churches under the aegis of the AVBM participated in the programme which was sponsored by the Senso Mission Board of Mangmetong Baptist Church, Mokokchung. Pastor I. Lolen Imchen, Mission Secretary, Neken Longchar and Youth Director, Meralong Langur of Mangmetong Baptist Church were the resource
Church leaders under Assam Valley Baptist Mission with the resource persons during the leadership training held on April 22 and 23.
persons in this training session. Besides, AVBM evangelists Huni Gogoi and Nimrudh Mandal had assisted in the training sessions. The Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) is a common Baptist Christian
venture initiated by Baptist Churches mostly independent churches located in the district of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Golaghat and bordering with Nagaland in the year 2005. The Mission has a total of 51 churches as on date.
With an aim to uplifting in spiritual growth of all the neighbouring churches through true Christian living and by employing Evangelists for nurturing the already planted but sick churches with a great theme
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all Nations”, the mission is also looking forward to establish a fully residential junior school with Bible as a subject for its varied children under AVBM through the active partnership of any Associations, Churches and individual volunteers as a stake holder in near future. Er. Temsu Wathi Ao, President of AVBM in a press release expressed gratitude to the resource persons who had spared their most valuable time in educating the members of its mission and Mangmetong Baptist Church Senso Mission Board for their support.
People participate in the colourful celebration of Tsükhenye festival at Chizami village in Phek district on April 22. (Photo by Chizokho Vero)
8605 MT fish production in Nagaland 20th ABPF conference held at Kumlong Baptist Church Our Correspondent
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 23
Mokokchung | April 23
Nagaland registered a total quantity of fish production at 8605 during 2016-17. The availability in the state is further supplemented by imported fish of 3850 MT. Taking into account the domestic production and the import, the state’s per capita consumption of fish in 201617 was 6.23 kgs (anticipated). Nagaland has large tracts of land with potential for fishery activities. However, only a negligible tract is utilized for the purpose, according to Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17 tabled in the recent state assembly session here by parliamentary secretary for economics & statistics Tovihoto Ayemi.
The 20th Ao Baptist Pastor Fellowship (ABPF) conference which commenced from April 21 culminated today at Kumlong Baptist Church here today which was attended by pastors from 126 Ao Baptist churches from all over the state. The conference which was held on the theme, ‘Zungkumshidi’ (roughly translated as revitalize) was attended by 157 delegates and the main speakers were Rev Dr Wati Aier (principal OTS), Rev Bendangmeren of Kohima Ao Baptist Church, Rev Dr Mar Pongen (Principal CTC) and Rev Maong Lemtur of Dimapur Ao Baptist
Presently, out of the total area of 1, 12, 500 hectares with potential for inland culture fisheries and 5558 hectares for inland capture fisheries, only 6022 hectares have been utilized for inland culture fisheries, the survey report added. During 2016-17, fish production increased to 8605
MT from 8220 MT in 201516. Fish production from ponds and tanks recorded 7090 MT, paddy cum fish culture recorded 1147.85 MT, Doyang Reservoir recorded production of 358.20 MT, rivers/streams etc. 3.01 MT and lakes/ weirs/swamps recorded production of 5.94 MT.
Pastors of Jangpetkong range, Mokokchung, presenting a special number on the last evening of the 20th Ao Baptist Pastor Fellowship at Kumlong Baptist Church on April 23. (Morung Photo)
Church. On the last service held on Sunday evening, Rev Maong Lemtur, Associate Pastor DABA, who was the main speaker, challenged
congregation to be led by the Holy Spirit so that they can better serve the Lord. He also said that though one might face a lot of troubles and even humiliation
while serving the Lord, yet one should bear all the troubles and should wholeheartedly serve the Lord with one’s whole heart. He also encouraged the gath-
ered pastors to be focused in their ministry, to read the Bible and accept it as the truth and the Word of God and serve the Lord for His glory. Meanwhile, a new team of office bearers was also nominated during the conference. The ABPF will be led by Lipok Jamir (pastor of Diphupar Ao Baptist Church) as chairman; Dr Akok Amer (pastor, Mangkolemba Baptist Church) as vice-chairman and I Kilen Longchar (pastor, Sungratsu Baptist Church) as Correspondence secretary. The pastors from Jangpetkong range also presented a special number. The conference ended with a Lord’s Supper.
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THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Witch-hunting in Assam: Stringent law needed Kangana Acharya Firstpost
Jamila Rabha wept as she touched her brother’s feet to beg pardon for an offence she said she'd never committed. It was a moment of agony — one that reminded her she was a woman, and hence doomed to fail in asserting her rights as an individual in a patriarchal society. Rabha, who belongs to a tribal community of Assam, was accused of witchcraft by family members after she claimed her right to her ancestral property. She was among the more than 35 women who were saved by the NGO ‘Mission Birubala’ from being hunted as witches. Branding someone a witch is not a serious offence as per prevailing laws. So to ensure the victim's safety even without any legal protection, the NGO sometimes has to make peace between the victim and the perpetrators. In such compromise deals, the women victims often have to stoop to survive. In this case, Rabha had to beg her brother — the perpetrator — to pardon her, so that she would get to live in her ancestral home without being called
Birubala Raha has become the face of the anti-witch hunting crusade in Assam.
a witch anymore. The incident that took place in the Goalpara district of Assam in 206 certainly wasn't an isolated one. Birubala Rabha, the crusader against witchhunting in Assam who is also the leader of the NGO, told Firstpost that nearly 20 cases of witch hunting has been reported over the last two years. 12 persons have been killed in Assam over the last two years, on suspicion of being witches as per data provided by Mission Birubala. Witch-hunting is a horrendous superstitious
practice prevalent in rural India. The New York Times video that narrates the story of Jamila Rabha mentions that nearly 2,000 persons have been killed in India in the last 15 years in cases of witch hunting and most of the victims were women. Dr Natyabir Das, an activist associated with Mission Birubala says that "Sometimes more than one unfortunate incident takes place in a single village. People in the grip of superstition tend to believe that such incidents are outcomes of witchcraft by witches and seek help from ‘oja’, ‘bez’ or witch-doctors,
who sometimes identify a person in the village as the witch and the culprit behind the incidents." Kula Saikia, special director general of Police (Law and Order) Assam, told Firstpost that health issues in rural areas also often lead to witch-hunting. “Village folks have a tradition of visiting a witch doctor when they fall ill rather than seeking advice from qualified health practitioners, who in turn tell them that disease is an outcome of witch craft, after which the hunt for the witch begins,” he said. As per this report, witch hunting involves branding
of victims, especially women as witches, either after an observation made by an ‘ojha’ or ‘bej’ or a witch doctor. The victim who is branded as witch is subjected to numerous forms of torture and sometimes even raped. In many cases, persons named as witches are lynched by villagers. As per records available with Mission Birubala, more than 400 persons have been killed in Assam during the period from 2007 to 2014 in cases of witch-hunting. Since witchcraft is a part of Assam’s traditional belief system, witch-hunting or killing of ‘witches’ cannot be attributed to a single community or geographical location of the state. Even the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, of which Guwahati city constitutes a major part, has also witnessed such incidents time to time. Superstitious traditions find a suitable breeding ground in Assam, not only because of illiteracy among the people, but because of their historical fascination with black magic. Mayong, in the Morigaon district of Assam, for instance, is believed to be the hub of black-magic and witchcraft.
According to traditional beliefs a ‘bez’ or ‘oja’ from Mayong can turn a human being into an animal and vice-versa in a matter of few seconds. Unscrupulous elements have found ways to use this belief system for their vested interests. Kula Saikia said that witch-hunting is often used as a tool to assert domination in property feuds, personal rivalry, and to crush new power centres in a village. “There are instances of witch-hunting being used against families who have newly emerged as powerful, challenging the existing power structure of villages,” he adds. Debojani Bora, a national level athlete in Assam, was branded a witch in 2014 at Serakani village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. “She was not just wrapped with a fishing net, grabbed and overpowered by the head priest of a Naamghar (a community prayer hall) at Serakani village in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district in broad day light, but was punched repeatedly while many others just looked on. The male priest grabbed her like a wrestler and rained blows till she managed to flee
with injuries on her chest and back,” wrote Nandita Sengupta in Firstpost. Explaining why women often become victims of witch-hunting, Dr Natyabir Das said that allegations of sorcery are brought against them to deprive them of their rights to their family property. “Asserting patriarchal dominance over family property is often the reason behind witch hunting.” says Dr Das. He also adds that victims are thrown out of their homes, treated as outcasts by the villagers and even killed. Sometimes even men become victims of witch-hunting, and these cases too, can usually be traced to property related feuds. In 2015, the Assam Assembly passed The Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act/Bill. But the Bill has reportedly been referred back by the Ministry of Home Affairs for review. Though the heinous practice of witch-hunting in Assam has been going on for ages, it remained mostly unreported. This changed in 2001 when Kula Saikia unearthed a major incident in the remote parts of Kokrajhar district, where five persons were killed after being branded 'witches'
in one night. Saikia, who was the first to introduce a new movement named Project Prohori in Kokrajhar district said: “It was felt that only law and order enforcing agencies could not adequately tackle such social crimes. It required the participation of women groups, students’ organisations, science clubs, health workers. The objective of Project Prohori was basically a collaboration of different stake holders of society to fight against the menace.” A number of bridges, roads have been built and water canals dug up in the 100 villages in which Project Prohori is extended as a state-level police project. The initiative attained much success in curbing the menace of witch-hunting and is a case study as a model of ‘change management’ in the Harvard Business Review. Project Prohori is also taught as a social innovation model in various B-Schools including IIM(A),INSEAD Singapore and International School of Business India. Asserting that a law needs to be implemented as soon as possible, Birubala Rabha says a legal deterrent is the need of the hour to rid Assam of witchhunting.
Arunachal leaders slam China for renaming places in state BJP will oust Left in Tripura: Ram Madhav ITANAGAR, APRIL 23 (ET): "Will naming Beijing as Mumbai make China's capital an Indian territory," asks the president of the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries summing up the mood of locals on China renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh. People and political leaders cutting across party lines here have strongly denounced China's move to 'standardise' official names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal BJP president Tapir Gao said China's claim over Arunachal is "baseless". Gao said the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama had stated many times at various international and national fora that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. "So renaming of plac-
es in Arunachal by China is baseless and Beijing should learn from history that they forcefully occupied Tibet and their claim is meaningless," he said. Criticising China's move, he said India has no boundary with China but with Tibet since 1914 when MacMohan, the British India representative, had signed an agreement with the Chinese representative at Shimla over the boundary. W h e n c o nt a c t e d , Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Shakuntala Doley Gamlin refused to comment on the issue. "We have nothing to say on the issue as the External Affairs Ministry will handle it", she said. Senior Congress lawmaker and former chief minister Nabam Tuki also ridiculed Beijing's claim over the state's territory and said, "There is no logic
in such claim. Everybody knows that Arunachal is an integral part of India. The Centre should take up the matter seriously and resolve the matter once and for all". China had announced 'standardised' official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh, days after it lodged strong protests with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to the frontier state. The state media in Beijing had said the move was aimed at reaffirming China's claim over the state. India had hit out at China for giving Chinese names to some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, saying assigning invented names to towns of the neighbour does not make illegal territorial claims legal. APCC president Takam Sanjoy said that there is no doubt and confusion that
Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the Indian Union. "The indigenous and ethnic people of Arunachal Pradesh have got integrated with the Indian mainstream. Some ethnic tribe leaders had even participated in the freedom struggle. Therefore, Arunachal being disputed as claimed by China is absolutely absurd," Sanj oy said. China's move evoked strong protests here with the apex students' body the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) terming it as "intriguing and uncalled for". "China is unnecessarily interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. The development is an unwarranted act on the part of the Chinese government. "We reject outright the renaming which has been done without the concern
and certification of the indigenous populace of Arunachal Pradesh," AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said. "Arunachal was never a part of China at any given point of time and such a parochial approach and idea won't have any takers in Arunachal Pradesh", he said. Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Tchi Lala and general secretary Tarh Nachung pooh-poohed China for renaming six places in the state and called it a "whimsical move". "Will naming Beijing as Mumbai make China's capital an Indian territory? "China is ignorant of the democratic development through which Arunachal Pradesh has evolved into its present status, or else it would not have made a mockery of itself by making such an announcement," they said.
JAC demands Khongjom Day observed in Manipur resignation of five MLAs Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla and Newmai News Network Imphal | April 23
AIzAwL, APRIL 23 (NNN): Champhai Joint Action Committee (CJAC), a conglomeration of all NGOs and all political parties of Champhai town situated in the Mizoram-Myanmar border demanded the resignation of five MLAs elected from Champhai district in the wake of the shortage of doctors at Champhai District Hospital. Mizoram’s eastern district Champhai is still tense following the protest over shortage of doctors at Champhai District Hospital carried out by the influential student body, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) that turned to violent last week leading to torching of five vehicles including 4 government vehicles and a private car at Champhai’s DC campus. The JAC has demanded that the five legislators hailing from the Congress party namely education minister H. Rohluna, parliamentary secretary TT Zothansanga, JH Rothuama, former health minister Lalrinliana Sailo and T. Sangkunga should resign as MLAs for failing to raise their voice and paying indifference to the problems faced by the people of Champhai over shortage of doctors.Meanwhile, Champhai district headquarter of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo Students Federation that sponsored the agitation said it strongly appreciated the initiative taken by the JAC that received involvement of many people in the agitation demanding the posting of more doctors at the district hospital.
Chief Minister N. Biren led the people of the State in paying homage to the martyrs, who laid down their lives in the Battle of Khongjom (1891) on Khongjom Day today. The Government of Manipur organised the State-level function at Khongjom War Memorial Complex, Khebaching in Thoubal district. Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla, Chief Minister N. Biren, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar, Ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, civil and police officials and large number of people offered floral tributes at the Khongjom War Memorial atop Khebachig. They also paid floral tributes to the statue of Paona Brajabashi, located at the foothill of Khebaching before they offered Tarpan at Khongjom river. A contingent of Manipur Rifles gave guard of honour, general salute, reverse arms, sounding of last post, two minutes' silence, slope arms and order arms in honour of the martyrs. Since Chief Minister, N. Biren left the memorial complex after paying homage at Khongjom War Memorial, Paona Brajabashi’s memorial and Khongjom river as he had to catch a flight to Delhi to attend an urgent meeting, Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla and Deputy Chief Minister, Yumnam Joykumar graced the main function held at the memorial complex as chief guest and president respectively. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Najma Heptulla urged the people
of Manipur to build memorials for the martyrs and freedom fighters in their hearts apart from paying homage to the existing memorials. The Governor said that paying homage to the war heroes would be meaningful only when people of the current generation collectively take a pledge to fight against poverty, deprivation, illiteracy, underdevelopment, discrimination and other social evils. Dr Heptulla recalled that brave Manipuri soldiers valiantly faced the mighty colonial British forces although they knew that they would be defeated. She said that Khongjom war heroes knew that British troops were far better in weaponry and larger in number, but they did have the will and desire to protect their motherland. “While paying homage at the Khongjom War Memorial, we can imagine how the Manipuri war heroes fought the British forces with swords and little shields”, she added.
The Governor said, “We are living in a free country today because of the supreme sacrifices made by these martyrs and freedom fighters.” Dr. Heptulla also urged the people of the pressent generation to ask themselves everyday whether they had contributed their bit in nation building and bringing development. In his speech, Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Joykumar reminded the gathering that Manipuris had to fight the Khongjom War with British forces due to disunity among princes. He said, “Even today, we will get to see many discords and unwanted happenings if we are divided.” The Deputy Chief Minister further said that while observing the Khongjom Day, people need to remember and pay homage to all those unknown soldiers as well. Apart from Khongjom Parva performance, a play based on the battle of Khongjom was also staged on the occasion.
DhARmANAGAR (TRIPuRA), APRIL 23 (IANS): The BJP on Sunday vowed to oust the Left from power in Tripura in the 2018 assembly elections "to script history". Addressing the BJP state executive meeting here, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav said: "We will surely win the 2018 elections, ending the 24 years of uninterrupted rule of Left parties in Tripura." He said top leaders of the BJP, including many Chief Ministers, were keen to campaign in Tripura to vote out the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist. "We will throw out the Left Front from Tripura to script history." Ram Madhav, the BJP in-charge of northeastern states and Jammu and Kashimir, said Tripura was very important for his party. "In view of this, Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi and (BJP President) Amit Shah will soon join the campaign in the state. "To win assembly polls in Tripura and to oust the corrupt Left Front government is a vital political objective of the BJP. "The Left has been in power for 24 year and it is high time the Left was thrown out of power democratically," he said. Ram Madhav accused the Left government of cheating people and keeping them in poverty and backwardness despite being in power for several decades. Since there was no alternative to them earlier, they continued to be in power, he said. "Now that the BJP has emerged as a real alternative, we should try our best collectively to ensure the ouster of the antipeople Left Front government." BJP Tripura President Biplab Kumar Deb and party leader Sunil Deodhar also spoke at the two-day meeting that ended on Sunday.
UNC hopeful govt will keep commitments Newmai News Network Senapati | April 23
Tripartite talks involving the United Naga Council (UNC), the State Government of Manipur and the Central Government could not be resumed as planned on the district creation issue. In the last tripartite talk on March 19 in Senapati it was agreed upon that the “next round of tripartite talks will be resumed within a month’s time at political level”. The one month’s time lapsed on April 19. Speaking to NNN this evening, UNC President, Gaidon Kamei said that they are eagerly waiting for the initiative of the Government of India pertaining to the resumption of the tripartite talks on the district creation issue. The UNC President also said that “series of intense consultation between the UNC and the Naga frontal organizations including UNC units were held on the issue in the past three weeks.” The UNC leader further said that “we are all ready for the resumption of the talks on the district cre-
ation issue.” In the March 19 tripartite talk the “grievances of UNC that led to the imposition of economic blockade were recognised as non-adherence to the four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and the Government of India’ assurance on the matter”. In that talk “the Manipur government agreed to start consultation with all stakeholders
to redress the same”. Following this, the UNC lifted the four and a half months old economic blockade on the National Highways linking Manipur from the midnight of March 19. Meanwhile, the UNC President expressed hope that the Government will keep its commitment to adhere to the four MoUs and assurances.
PRANAB VIDYAPITH H.S. SCHOOL (For BOYS’ & GIRLS’)
Milan Mandir Road, Dimapur, Nagaland Phone : (03862) 232455/233012
Admission Notice for Science & Commerce – 2017 1. Form & Prospectus for admission to Class- 11 is available at the School Office from 24/04/2017 (From 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.) 2. Admission will start immediate after declaration of HSLC result . 3. Admission on first come first serve basis. For details see Notice Board and Prospectus.
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4
MondAY 24•04•2017
business
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
World cranberry leader Ocean Spray eyes Indian market VancouVer, april 23 (ianS): With Indians reporting high rate of urinary tract infections, the world’s top cranberry producer Ocean Spray is eying the huge Indian market for its products. An egg-shaped dark red fruit native to North America, cranberry is a natural remedy or antibiotic for urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers. With annual sales of over $2.5 billon last year, Ocean Spray -- which is the marketing cooperative of cranberry farmers in the US and Canada -- operates in over 90 countries where it sells over 1,000 products that include fresh and dried fruits, juices, snacks, cocktails and sauces. The move by Ocean Spray to enter India now assumes significance after a recent World Health Organization report that increasing resistance to antibiotics could become
a major threat to people’s health. Indo-Canadian Peter Povitar Dhillon, the Ocean Spray chairman who re-
cently visited India as part of a seven-member delegation, said: “We went India to explore opportunities of doing business there.”
new York, april 23 (ianS): Google has introduced the first code for a new feature called ‘Copyless Paste’ in its Chrome app running on Android OS that will take data from Chrome usage and use that to improve the experience in other apps. Users can now enable ‘Copyless Paste’ in chrome://flags in Chrome Canary for Android, although turning it on might not do anything, a report in VentureBeat said. “If you looked at a restaurant website and switched to the Maps app, the keyboard would offer the name of that restaurant as a suggestion to enter into the search bar,” the flag’s description said. Data is only stored locally and never sent to Google. Chrome flags are a way to enable or disable functionality in Chrome that may not be fully implemented, standardised, or that might still be a little buggy.
Shared bikes climb to the ‘roof of the world’ lhaSa, april 23 (ianS): China’s bike-sharing fever has spread to Tibet, with 500 shared two-wheelers appearing on the plateau. The fleets of bright yellow Ofo bikes have been placed in 22 spots in Xigaze, the region’s second largest city, Xinhua news agency quoted Lyu Shuang, the company’s regional manager, as saying on Thursday. “We hope shared bikes become low-carbon, cheap transport for locals and tourists alike in Tibet,” Lyu said, adding that the company’s next stop would be Lhasa. The bike-sharing business, which took off in big Chinese cities last year, allows riders to hire bikes for as little as one yuan (15 cents) per hour via a mobile app and drop them off anywhere for the next user. Backed by twodigit economic growth for over 20 years, car sales in Tibet have been booming. The underpopulated region now has 300,000 vehicles, with half of them in Lhasa. However, the four-wheelers have led to traffic congestion and parking problems in downtown Lhasa.
new York, april 23 (ianS): Southern California-based social media company Snap Inc., which highly publicised IPO in March with value at $24 billion, faced backfire as CEO Evan Spiegel was accused of claiming that Snapchat was an app “only for rich people”. Snapchat, which was labeled by business analysts as the strongest rival to Facebook, had to start damage control urgently, saying Spiegel never made such remarks and “these words were written by a disgruntled former employee”, Xinhua n ews agency reported on Sunday. The quote, which Snapchat called “ridiculous”, came from a recently unredacted court complaint by Anthony Pompliano, who was hired away by Snapchat from Facebook then served as the company’s growth lead for a few weeks in 2015. Pompliano’s lawsuit filed in redacted form in Los Angeles Superior Court in January. Snap Inc.
leisure
CROSSWORD # 3923
Answer Number # 3919
dropped its efforts to keep the unredacted complaint under seal and released it in a public filing last week. In the complaint, Pompliano recounted an exchange he said he had with Spiegel in a September 2015 meeting about the app’s international growth plans. He said he presented methods to address the issue, but Spiegel abruptly cut him off. “This app is only for rich people,” Spiegel said, according to Pompliano. “I don’t want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain.” These words sparked outrages from all around world, especially in India. Hundreds of thousands users voiced their disapproval via social-media posts and one-star reviews in Google and Apple’s app
stores. “Mr. CEO of Snapchat, we may be poor but we have bigger hearts than you,” a user named K.P. Naik said in a recent onestar review in Play store. A n o t h e r tweet posted by Shreyas Singh on April 15 said: “I am very poor so uninstalled #snapchat but thanks for entertaining for this m a n y days. @ evanspiegel @ Snapchat don’t mess with India.” “This is ridiculous,” as statement released by Snap argued, saying those words were written by “a disgruntled former employee”. “We are grateful for our Snapchat community in India and around the world,” the statement said. However, Snapchat would face huge challenge in this lawsuit more
than PR works as Pompliano also claimed that he learned the company had exaggerated its user data and that top executives were “completely misinformed” about key metrics. According to report of Variety, in the lawsuit, Pompliano said that on his second day of the job he met with two data analysts, who confided to him that Snapchat had “an institutional aversion to looking at user data”, and its efforts in that area were marked by “utter incompetence.” Pompliano said he found Snapchat’s daily active users (DAUs) was much less than the company’s boasted number, 100 million DAUs at the time, moreover, the user base increased only one to four per cent per quarter, far less than the doubledigit month-over-month growth the company was claiming. Pompliano also claimed that he was fired because Spiegel determined that he “presented a risk to Snapchat’s IPO”. std code: 03862
DiMaPUR ACROSS 1. Unit of capacitance 6. Hurried 10. A ball of yarn 14. Small African antelope 15. Fail to win 16. Hoopla 17. Yellowish-brown 18. “Oh my!” 19. Dull pain 20. Mystifying 22. A noble gas 23. Flipper 24. Ceased 26. Chinch 30. Binge 32. Bay window 33. Useless repetition 37. Zero 38. Pals 39. Doing nothing 40. Secret 42. Moisten 43. Absurd 44. Equine animals 45. Bonkers 47. Hearing organ 48. A Maori club 49. Mollycoddle 56. Keen 57. Skin irritation 58. Personal journal 59. Wan 60. Japanese wrestling 61. Express a thought 62. Beers 63. Hastens (archaic) 64. Dishes out DOWN 1. Froth 2. Troops 3. Bones on your sides 4. Foment 5. Frightening 6. Killed 7. Game on horseback
Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Game Number # 3920
dle class is very affluent and they are becoming very health conscious.” Citing the WHO report about growing resistance of the human body to antibiotics, Dhillon said: “But cranberry is the nature’s way to give you natural antibiotics and prevent infections.” Dhillon, who also is the biggest cranberry farmer in Canada, said he has personal reasons to see Ocean Spray enter India as early as possible. “My parents came to Canada from Punjab and they started growing cranberry here. Now I have the unique opportunity to take this fruit to India. So in a way, things are coming full circle.” As a follow-up to his team’s visit to India, Dhillon said: “We have some people from Ocean Spray going to India next month. It is a marketplace that we must understand first before we take steps to enter it.”
Snapchat struggles in ‘rich people gate’
Google tests ‘Copyless Paste’ in Chrome for Android
SUDOKU
“As a global company, we recognise the huge potential of the Indian marketplace. India has the fastest growing middle class
and it is the world’s youngest country in terms of the age of its people.” During their 72-hour trip, Dhillon and his team met Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, the CEO of Invest India, the chairman of Tata Global Beverages and many senior government and business leaders. According to Dhillon, considering that young people and pregnant women in India report higher incidents of urinary tract infections, cranberry products can be the best natural remedy to prevent bladder problems. “We went there to understand the marketplace because the culture of doing business in India is very different. It was a very positive trip. Now we are thinking about the best ways to educate Indians about the unique benefits of cranberry,” he said. “India’s growing mid-
8. Brother of Jacob 9. Sweet treats 10. Branched lighting fixture 11. French school 12. Ancient Hebrew vestment 13. To fancy (archaic) 21. 18-wheeler 25. Prefix meaning “Modern” 26. Part of a skeleton 27. Historical periods 28. Prank 29. Sermon on the Mount 30. Condiment 31. Mountain lion 33. Not fat 34. Probabilities 35. Delight 36. Evergreens 38. Tiny lobster-like crustaceans 41. N N N N 42. Tedium 44. Derisive laugh 45. Pertaining to the oceans 46. Practical 47. Community spirit 48. Dad 50. Decorative case 51. Highest point 52. Fully developed 53. Entice 54. Sea eagle 55. Colors
Answer to Crossword 3922
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MuMbai, april 23 (Dna): The personal details of nearly 1.5 million pensioners of Jharkhand, including Aadhaar card details, bank account details, and more, have been made public on a state website of social security. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, a programming error has made public the personal details and sensitive information of over 1 million pensioners. The report says there are about 1.6 million pensioners in the state and 1.4 million have linked their bank account with their Aadhaar numbers to get direct benefits of subsidies. Surprisingly, the officials of the Jharkhand government were non-chalant when the publication’s reporters approached them. They said, they were aware of the breach since a week and were working to fix it. This isn’t the first time personal data of the general public has been made available online due to a technical glitch. Earlier this year, the website of a Central ministry had several Excel sheets with the details of thousands of minors who had shared their personal data, including name, address, bank account numbers, name & address of the university, roll numbers, course, and PAN card and Aadhaar number, available to the public through a simple Google search. The documents were later taken down after several news reports carried the data breach. Read the full story here - Is your personal data like Aadhaar, PAN card safe with the government? However, a data breach of this level (over 1 million users) brings back the question that has remained unanswered or evaded by the government so far. Is it equipped to keep the personal and biometric data of users safe? So far, the answer, despite Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Broadcasting and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying otherwise, seems like a ‘no’. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) recently said that it had blacklisted 35,000 agencies for not maintaining standards. The Minister said the agencies were blacklisted for “polluting” the UIDAI ecosystem. In fact, the government claims it has blacklisted 1,000 operators since December 2016, and one more for making the personal details and Aadhaar number of former Indian Cricket Team captain MS Dhoni public on Twitter. This week, the Supreme Court questioned the government about making the Aadhaar card mandatory for social schemes when its previous order had clearly stated that it was supposed to be voluntary and not compulsory. In a bid to make the Aadhaar card a single identification proof, the government has extended its use to getting a driving licence, filing income tax returns, linking it to the PAN card to extend its validity, to get a new PAN card, to continue with the existing mobile connection, and more.
Birthday Greeting Hey Asen Well, you are another year older and you haven’t changed a bit. That’s great because you are perfect just the way you are. Happy Birthday..! Frm Sang’s
Dear Paul .. Wishing you lotsa happiness and success in your life as you turn a year more older :) Happy Birthday Buddy
TaHaMZaM
std code: 03871
(formerly senapati)
Police station Fire Brigade
222246 222491
Civil Hospital
232224
emergency
229529 229474
MH Hospital
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Fire Brigade
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naga Hospital
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shamrock Hospital
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oking Hospital
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KOHiMa
Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 8575045502
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Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652 131/228404
Airport Indian Airlines
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KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers north Ps
Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506 Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps
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229366 242441 225212
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Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777
W
Aadhaar data breach: Personal data of over 1 mn pensioners available on government website
Kezocha Ps
8575045549
nikos Hospital and research Centre
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nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre
women Cell 248302, 09856006026
8575045509
eden Medical Centre
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8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)
S
E
A
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Officer-in-Charge 8575045538 Officer-in-Charge 8575045519
C
Control room
H
FiRE STaTiONS
KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC) MoKoKCHUnG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHeK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUnHeBoto: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) tUensAnG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline
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Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital
9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216
woodland nursing Home
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CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)
Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan
63.05 80.48 7.85 47.37 45.05 46.75 57.47 67.41 1.77 0.0536 16.61 8.86
66.17 84.73 8.77 49.90 47.45 49.25 60.95 70.95 1.98 0.0601 18.58 9.91
MONday 24•04•2017
NAGALAND
State Judicial Officers attend Judicial Enhancement Programme guwAhAti, APril 23 (MexN): Ten Judicial Officers from Nagaland attended the two days ‘Judicial Enhancement Programme for Grade-I Judicial Officers of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh’ organized by the Gauhati High Court in association with Judicial Academy, Assam and Nejotiat Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, Guwahati on April 22 and 23. According to a press release, the delegates from the state were: Khape Koza, Principle District and Session Judge, Mokokchung; YM Imchen, Principle District and Session Judge, Kohima; GH Ramlia, Principal District and Session Judge, Dimapur; Hukato Swu, Principal Judge Family Court, Dimapur; N Suyie, District and Session Judge, Zunheboto; K Koso, District and Session Judge, Wokha; L Ezung, District and Session Judge, Phek; Y Longkumer, Registrar Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench; Nino Iralu, Member Secretary Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and Special Judge TDP Vigi-
KDLSA organises Legal Literacy Programme kohiMA, APril 23 (MexN): The Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) organised a Legal Literacy Programme at Pinewood High School, Kohima on April 22. According to a press release, the programme was attended by students and teachers of Pinewood High School besides Panel Lawyers, PLVs. Sunjib Rana, Panel Lawyer (KDLSA) in his opening remarks gave a brief highlight about the Legal Services Authority and its functioning of the Legal Aid clinics and added that the services were being given to the weaker sections of society. Resource persons for the programme were KDLSA Panel Lawyers Thejapfutuo Khezhie, Wapangienla Kichu and Nancy Lotha. Khezhie spoke on Child Right & protection of Children from Sexual offence (POCSO) Act 2012. He stated that before 2012 there was no special Law for children, but the parliament enacted a law called the "Protection of Children From Sexual Offence
(POCSO) Act 2012" for children under the age of 18 years. Highlighting that 40% of children in India and 53% in the world are facing sexual harassment, he advised the students to avail the child helpline if they face any problems/harassment or inform trustworthy teachers/dear ones. Kichu spoke on the topic "Protection from Human Trafficking & Child Labour" and stated that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Trafficking means the buying and selling of humans especially children, she stated and revealed that a child goes missing every 8 minutes in India. Viewing that human trafficking is caused mainly due to poverty/lack of education/lack of employment and social media, she stated that the traffickers lure children money/lucrative jobs and also for prostitution. On Child Labour, she apprised the students to spread the message that having a child below the age of
14 years for domestic help is a serious crime according to the Constitution of India and punishable by law. Meanwhile resource person Nancy Lotha spoke on the topic “Protection from Online Violence & Cyber Crime” and stated that cyber crime is one of the fastest growing crimes. Cyber crime is an offence committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally cause physical/mental harm directly or indirectly using modern technology like chat rooms, e-mails, SMS, MMS. She added that cyber crimes are also made through social media by creating fake accounts/sending messages from someone else’s account and cautioned the students to refrain from publishing personally sensitive information on any social media platform. At the end of the programme, clippings were shown to the students on Child Rights and Cyber Crimes.
Judicial Officers from Nagaland at the Judicial Enhancement Programme in Guwahati.
lance Commission; and Neiko Kanuo, District and Session Judge, Mon. On the first day, Justice JR Midha, Judge of High Court of Delhi apprised on the latest amendments and speedy techniques for disposal of motor accidents claims. While discussing on the topic of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), Justice Joymala Bagchi, Judge, Calcutta High Court, informed the gathering that cases involving children are to be
taken up only by a Special Court who is the District and Session Judge and Special Prosecutor who is the Public Prosecutor, the release stated. He also urged the Judges to be proactive in trying to find the truth and deliver speedy justice. On the second day, topics on The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Arbitration and Conciliation Act were taken up by Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya, former Judge of the Su-
Members of the Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA) along with village council members, church leaders, women leaders and youth leaders in Zuthovi village. The DDLSA on April 22 visited legal aid clinics around Dimapur district at Medziphema, Sochunoma, Zuthovi and Diezephe. The visitation was led by Ajongba Imchen, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dimapur and Secretary DDLSA. The Secretary and his team of panel lawyers spoke on topics such as legal aid, role of PLV, functioning of legal clinic and welfare schemes.
preme Court of India, and Justice (Dr.) BB Parson, former Judge Punjab and Haryana High Court respectively. Earlier,the inaugural address was delivered by Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Judge Gauhati High Court. Grade-I Judicial Officers of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, senior police officers of Assam and senior Officers of insurance company participated in the enhancement programme.
NVCO welcomes NHRC’s Open Hearing L Hotovi Village Church kohiMA, APril 23 (MexN): The Na- rective through PIL, the State Government celebrates 50 years galand Voluntary Consumers’ Organisa- fails to establish State Human Rights Com-
tion (NVCO) has welcomed the Open Hearing of the National Human Rights Commission which is scheduled for April 24 in Kohima. Eight cases pertaining to Nagaland would be taken up in the Open Hearing which will be led by Justice D. Murugesan, Member NHRC. The NVCO in a statement from its Media Cell claimed that violation of human rights has become a “day to day event” in the society and insisted that human right is the “need of the hour”. Pointing out that there is no State Human Rights Commission in Nagaland, the NVCO termed it “unconstitutional” on the part of the state government for not extending co-operation to the NHRC. “Despite repeated direction sent to the State Government by the Central GovernA portion of road in deplorable condition along the National Highway between Pfutsero ment, Apex Court and also High Court diand Chizami in Phek district. (Photo: Chizokho Vero)
mission,” the NVCO stated. The consumer organization stated that Nagaland “is an example of being a slaughter house of human rights” and as an argument cited a number of incidents of “atrocities and barbaric killings” which took place in the state in the past 4 years. “Insurgency, problems of drugs, alcoholism among youths and adults, child abuse, extortion, delay in receiving justice… have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity of the citizens in the state,” the NVCO argued. It further argued that the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958, was “one of the main problems” faced by the citizens of the region. “A major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act 1958 widely seen in this state as ‘Draconian’”, the NVCO maintained.
Campaign on fertility and Medziphema orgs accuse state management of dairy animals govt of being indifferent, callous zuNheboto, APril 23 (MexN): The Chief Vety. & A.H. office, Zunheboto flagged off an awareness campaign programme on fertility and managemental aspect of dairy animals at Sataka Town, Zunheboto district on April 18. Following the flagging off, similar campaign programmes were conducted at Hoishe, Zhekiye, Sataka old, Sataka village and Sataka town. According to a press release, resource person Dr. Bocto Sumi delivered various topics including traits for selection of dairy animals, heat detection, care of dam and calf during the period of pregnancy and after parturation, artificial insemination (AI) and clean milk production. This was followed by group
discussions and interactions. In a separate note, the CVO Zunheboto Dr. Toshi encouraged AI and said that while technically considering all the good managemental practices in a farm, adoption of AI technology too has become very important, without which in today's context, farming in the state might be incomplete for increased/enhanced productivity and fertility. However, he said, the department through the implementing agency, Nagaland Livestock Development Board of (NLDB) is successfully implementing the technology in different parts of the state. He further informed that more camps would be conducted for other villages and towns of the district.
MeDziPheMA, APril 23 (MexN): The Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho (MTMK) and the Medziphema Town Women Organisation (MTWO) today issued a statement accusing the state government of being “indifferent and callous” to their demands. Stating that it was constrained to issue the press release, the Mechü Krotho (Public Organisation) and the women’s organization pointed to the Road Repair work carried out from Zero point, Town junction to SASRD Gate, Medziphema,
and accused the state government of being “apathetic” to the issue. “It should be noted that the Road Repair Work Order had an allocation of Rs. 47,07,000 whereas the contractor repaired only potholes which deteriorated within the first month of the work being completed,” the two organizations alleged. “The demand of the Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) on this issue which remain unfulfilled till date despite repeated write-up published in the local dailies,” it added.
The MTMK and the MTWO also accused the present state government of still not resolving the Infrastructure Development work at Medziphema Town which was started in 2015. “Despite the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two contending parties, all works have come to a grinding halt,” the two bodies claimed. In this regard, the MTMK and the MTWO reiterated the stand of MTYO and vowed that it will “pursue the matter until it reaches a logical conclusion”.
Work towards OGOT: ACAUT appeals NPGs Cleanliness drive held at Alempang ward DiMAPur, APril 23 (MexN): ACAUT Nagaland has appealed to all the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to work toward the “much desired” One Government One Tax (OGOT). In a statement, ACAUT expressed appreciation to the NSCN (IM) for making changes in the taxation pattern. “It is without exaggeration that the Naga public are undergoing untold misery with the rampant multiple taxation directly or in-
directly, and therefore the decision of the Collective Leadership of the NSCN (IM) to make changes in the Taxation pattern in view of the plight of the common people is a matured and a responsible one and a step in the right direction,” a press release from the Media Cell, ACAUT stated. “In any nation building the voice of the people reigns supreme and it’s only right that the NSCN (IM) heeds this voice,” ACAUT
stated while appreciating the “sensitivity and the concern” shown towards the woes of the general public. Terming OGOT as the “dream of the Nagas”, ACAUT called for “complete rethink” of the whole taxation system prevalent in the state. “The scrapping of the ‘Syndicate’ system should be the beginning of much needed change,” ACAUT stated and appealed to all NPGs to “work toward this dream of the Nagas”.
where all the party men/individuals are as important as any other. He also claimed that the BJP is not an anti-Christian party and urged the gathering not to be deterred by, what he termed, “propaganda” spread through social media but rather focus on strengthening the foundation of the party from the grass root level. “Let us change the aged old practice of candidate based politics into a party based politics,” the release quoted Longkumer as saying.
MEx FILE CBCC conducts conference for men Phek, APril 23 (MexN): The Chakhesang Baptist Church Council’s Men Conference was held from April 21-23 at CBCC Mission Centre, T. Chikri, Pfütsero, under the theme “Righteous Living”. The speakers for the conference were: Rev. Dr. Vezopa Tetseo, Rev. Khrutsoyi Luruo and Rev. Tseibu Rutsa. Neichute Doulo was the resource person on “Livelihood”. About 2000 persons attended the conference. Vekhoneyi Venuh and Khriehuzo Lohe shared on Clean Elections. Clean Election Pledge Card were distributed and a signature campaign was carried out during the conference to commit towards free and fair election, a press release informed.
Free sterilization camp held at Tsürangkong MokokchuNg, APril 23 (MexN): A free sterilization camp was conducted at Tsürangkong Primary Health Centre (PHC), Mokokchung on April 20. The entire team was led by Dr Temsuyanger DPO (UIP & RCH). The sterilization team consisted of Dr Ademla Gynaecologist from IMDH, Mokokchung who was assisted by Dr Ayangla ZLO and OT team from IMDH. The team conducted 18 Lap ST and 5 CuT insertions. The DPO in a press release has thanked the Medical Superintendent IMDH for allowing the team and also the School of nursing for granting the school bus. The DPO also thanked Dr Moa, Medical officer Tsürangkong, and his staffs for their contributions during the camp.
BJP Alongtaki Mandal holds Executive meeting loNgtho, APril 22 (MexN): The office of the Bharatiya Janata Party held its 2nd Mandal Executive Meeting with Unit office bearers on Saturday with Co-Convener (Finance) and State Executive Member BJP Nagaland, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer as the keynote Speaker. According to a press release, Longkumer while addressing the gathering, emphasised that the BJP is a cadre based party and not an individual centric party
DiMAPur, APril 23 (DiPr): L. Hotovi Village Baptist Church celebrated its Golden Jubilee on April 20 with Rev. Dr. Hevukhu Achumi, Executive Secretary, WSBAK, as the main speaker. Exhorting the congregation, Rev. Hevuku termed jubilee as a holy occasion and a time to help, love and forgive one another for seeking God's continuous blessings now and in future too. "If Jubilee is not celebrated and received according to the will of God, curse and unfortunate times would befall, yet if the moment is embraced with unity and God's will, multiple blessings will be received," the Reverend reminded. When you are released from the bondage of sin you have to go out and witness to the world, he added. He delivered the word of God from Leviticus chapter 25. Earlier Rev. Hevuku unveiled the Jubilee monolith in the church compound and released the jubilee souvenir. Marking the day, L. Hotovi village women made the occasion more colourful with folk song presentation while Toluvi Baptist church members presented a special song and enthralled the gathering. Head GB Hotovi Yepthomi delivered the welcome note while President, Western Lithsami Union conveyed word of greetings. Associate Women Pastor, Kheholi said the offeratory prayer. The jubilee programme was chaired by Lujeto Yeptho, Pastor LHGBA while vote of thanks was proposed by Vitokhu, Chairman, Jubilee Planning Board.
MokokchuNg, APril 23 (MexN): The Alempang Sanitation Committee carried out a cleanliness drive to clean all dumping areas within Alempang ward on April 22, which also coincided with the commemoration of World Earth Day. A Garbage Dumping Vehicle provided by the MMC under Swatch Bharat Campaign was also launched on the occasion. The drive saw the participation of volunteers from Alempang Youth Association
in large numbers. Along with the cleaning of the garbage disposal spots, the Alempang Youth Association members sensitized the people of the ward on proper waste disposal and management. The Alempang Youth Association also conveyed their willingness to lend all possible hand to the Alempang Sanitation committee to keep the ward free from garbage and also resolved to be vigilant in order to make this programme a success.
1 held for possession of banned drugs PereN, APril 23 (MexN): Peren Police on Thursday arrested one person for possession of the banned drugs – Spasmo Proxyvon and Nitrosun. Acting on a tip-off, Peren Police under Athibung Police Station conducted a surprise MVCP at Athibung Town and recovered 6400 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon and 700 tablets of Nitrosun from the possession of one Langkhongam Hangsing (40 years). The accused was booked under relevant section under the Drugs & Cosmetics (DC) Act and further investigation is underway.
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Monday 24•04•2017
IN FOCUS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express volume XII Issue 110 By moa Jamir
Quest for an elusive vision
T
he Nagaland Government has recently outlined the broad contours of development in the form of its ‘Vision 2030’ documents released in December 2016. A cynic may squirm at its preamble titled 'Nagaland Vision 2030 - Our Land, Our Future' which envisages, “A well governed, peaceful, inclusive and prosperous State with a sustainable and diverse economy, where a skilled and healthy population with equitable opportunities for growth, success and happiness live, work and play without fear in a safe, clean and green environment.” It highlights key areas which the State of Nagaland is committed to achieve in partnership with its citizens. Incidentally, the State was a pioneer in bringing out a State Human Development Report in 2004, including a chapter called ‘Nagaland 2020 – A Vision.’ It mentioned that peace was pre-requisite to achieving any objective. In retrospect, while the State has had relative peace during the intervening years, objectives such as formulation and implementation of a comprehensive agriculture and forest policy; promotion of industries based on agro-forestry; sustainable exploitation of oil, gas and mineral reserves; heavy investments in infrastructure development and connectivity through State Road Policy; and equitable access to quality education and health care services etc. remain only on paper. Maybe as a course correction, the present document was prepared with more comprehensive strategies and analysis. Predictably, this time too, it puts up a foolproof disclaimer that without “Peace and Good Governance,” no Vision or perspective plan can be put into place. “The Vision is written with the anticipation that peace will prevail as an outcome of the early settlement of the Naga political problem now that a Framework Agreement has been arrived at.” Again stressing that “Good Governance” has to be the cornerstone for fruitful implementation, the Vision 2030 document noted that only with “Good, effective and equitable governance,” the Government will be accountable and transparent in their use of public resources. However, while the document, running over 115 pages, mentions accountability and transparency seven and three times respectively, it is conspicuously silent on accountability and transparency of those at the helm of affairs. While calling for a “citizen centric inclusive and accountable government with a high degree of fiscal responsibility and prudent stewardship of public funds,” the strategies to enable such an environment is minimal, barring a recommendation to set up a Statutory State Development Commission to implement the various policies outlined and recourse to technological assistance. A mission statement can be viewed as meaningless if it is not supported by action on the ground which needs to be visible as well as involve all stakeholders. Implementing a strategic plan is more important than the strategy. In the absence of this, a well-crafted vision statement, though striking, just ends up filling pages without corresponding changes on the ground. The documents states that an estimated 13,000 educated young people enter the job market annually. Estimating a vacancy of about 3500 to 4000 in Government sector annually (taking attrition rate of about 2.5-3 % by way of retirement, deaths and resignations etc out of the current estimated 1,20,000 employees), it said that there is need for creation of at least 10,000 employment opportunities annually. Adding the current 70,000 educated unemployed to this, the task ahead is insurmountable. “Creating employing opportunities for these 9500 educated youth and the space to absorb the backlog of unemployed will be one of the main challenges for the Vision.” In health, education and other social sectors, the vision has many novel strategies. To be fair, the document is comprehensive, and the strategies provided therein are commendable and envisaged by keeping in mind the context in which the State operates. However, does the Government possess the requisite political will to implement the same? Is the citizen equally willing and ready to take the journey without being a collaborator to perpetuate the current state of affairs? Are those at the helms of affairs ready to evaluate themselves through SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis and undertake necessary rectification, if required? Most importantly, does the leadership have the trust and the confidence of its citizen to make them yearn and collaborate for the grand vision? Without adequate measures to check accountability and transparency at all levels, the Vision 2030 will just be an illusionary mirage. For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
lEfT WING |
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Scorching drought forces farmers into debt bondage
O
ne of the worst droughts in decades across south India is forcing tens of thousands of farmers and labourers to take out loans to survive, pushing them into debt bondage and increasing the risk that they may be exploited for work, activists said. Villages across southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have been declared drought affected by the government, following the failure of the 2016 monsoon rains. With soaring temperatures, parched reservoirs and little agriculture-based employment, villagers are being forced to take loans to buy food, water and pay for school and medical fees, activists said, calling it the "point of no return" for farmers. Debt bondage is the most prevalent form of forced labour in India where an estimated 18 million people live in some form of modern slavery, according to the latest Global Slavery Index by Walk Free Foundation. In India, borrowing from moneylenders and labour agents at high interest rates forces debtors into offering themselves for work in brick kilns, rice mills or farms as security against the loan they have taken or have inherited from a relative. They spend months - or more - working to pay it back and are trapped in the cycle of debt bondage, rights activists say. Hit by consecutive years of drought, unseasonal rains and fluctuating global commodity prices, more than 12,600 farmers and agricultural labourers committed suicide in 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). According to the National Human Rights Commission, over 100 farmers committed suicide in Tamil Nadu in January 2017. Most suicides are related to bankruptcy and indebtedness or farming-related issues, said the NCRB. With payments for the livelihood programme being delayed and a cash crunch in the rural economy, many are desperately looking for jobs, campaigners say. Many from the marginalised Dalit and tribal communities who worked as agricultural labourers are suddenly without work, leaving them to turn to village moneylenders. Across the region, young men and their wives have left their homes in search of employment on construction sites and as day labourers in towns and cities putting them at risk
C O M M E N T A R Y
Mohamad Bazzi Reuters
Why Assad used chemical weapons
I
n the early hours of April 7, the U.S. military launched a series of missile strikes against an air base in northern Syria, in retaliation for the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons attack against civilians three days earlier. The strike shows that President Donald Trump is more willing to use military force in Syria than his predecessor, Barack Obama. But it raises another crucial question: Why would Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has consolidated control over Syria’s largest cities in the past year and put the rebels on the defensive, risk a new international backlash by using chemical weapons? If he's winning, why would Assad take such a risk? The answer lies in Assad’s refusal to compromise or offer any significant concessions since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011, and later morphed into a civil war. Assad overplayed his hand this time, after being emboldened by recent statements from White House officials that it was time for Western powers to accept the “political reality” of Assad’s continued dominance. Assad likely decided to test those boundaries, not expecting Trump to respond militarily because the U.S. president has made it clear that he sees fighting Islamic State as his highest priority in Syria and Iraq. Aside from his brutality – the war has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced nearly half of Syria’s population – Assad’s staying power is rooted in a convoluted foreign policy, pioneered by his father, Hafez al-Assad. Syria played the role of a regional broker and Arab nationalist standardbearer since 1970, when the elder Assad seized power through a military coup. He perfected the art of creating defensive alliances, nurturing proxies in neighboring countries and keeping his enemies stalled in costly battles. Since he rose to power after his father’s death in June 2000, the younger Assad learned to keep all of his options open, and to play Syria’s friends and enemies off one another. Assad has portrayed himself as the only one capable of keeping Syria’s army and other state institutions from disintegrating, and preventing the country from falling entirely into the grip of Islamic extremists. To the West, Assad projected himself as the lesser evil – compared to Islamic State, and other jihadists affiliated with al Qaeda – even if his regime has instigated more death and destruction than his enemies. Assad seems determined to replicate the foreign policy of his past, when he was able to hold on to power by being brutal, focusing outward and waiting for regional dynamics to change in his favor. To endure the pressure and international isolation imposed by the George W. Bush administration after its invasion of Iraq in 2003, Assad relied on his father’s foreign policy. The younger Assad feared that Syria was vulnerable to an American invasion, so his regime facilitated the recruiting, training and safe passage for hundreds of Syrian and foreign volunteers to join
A man breathes through an oxygen mask, after what rescue workers described as a suspected gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib, Syria April 4, 2017. (Reuters Photo)
al Qaeda in Iraq to fight U.S. troops and destabilize the Iraqi government. When popular protests first swept the Arab world in early 2011, Assad was confident that he had nothing to fear because he continued his father’s foreign policy legacy – he did not depend on American military and political support like the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen. Instead, Assad and his allies formed the “axis of resistance” – Iran, Syria and the Islamist militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. They boasted that the revolts had proven that they are the true representative of the majority of people in the Arab and Muslim worlds, who for decades had been stifled under regimes that “sold out” to the United States. In refusing to make substantial concessions, Assad has relied on another tactic he learned from his father: The Syrian regime does not make compromises under pressure, whether external or internal, and this principle had served it well in times of crisis. Assad also saw the initial response to popular protests in Tunisia and Egypt, and he likely concluded that by not cracking down forcefully, those rulers appeared weak and encouraged protesters to broaden their demands. So when his own people revolted, Assad decided to
hunker down and crush the uprising. At the start of the rebellion in 2011, Assad used Islamic militants to destabilize his opponents, as he had done nearly a decade earlier in Iraq. The Syrian regime released hundreds of al Qaeda activists and other militants from its prisons, and they went on to become leaders of Islamic State and other jihadist groups. Many of those militants ended up fighting Assad’s regime, but they also became the focus for Western leaders worried about jihadist attacks in their own countries. Throughout the presidential campaign, Trump said he wanted to avoid direct U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict, which has expanded into a regional proxy war. Russia and Iran, along with Shi’ite militias like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, helped Assad consolidate control and regain territory he lost to the rebels. In December, with intensive Russian air strikes and Iranian ground support, Assad recaptured the rebel-held sections of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. It was Assad’s biggest victory since the war began. After Trump was elected, Assad became more confident because Trump had pledged to end U.S. support for rebels fighting the Syrian regime and direct most American efforts to fighting Islamic State. Assad and his allies
have rarely fought directly against the jihadist group, which established its self-proclaimed capital in the eastern city of Raqqa. Since November, the United States has helped mobilize nearly 50,000 Kurdish and Sunni Arab fighters to encircle Raqqa, and cut it off from all sides. The offensive is supported by American air strikes and hundreds of U.S. troops. But Trump’s missile strikes could slow the offensive to oust Islamic State from Raqqa and other parts of eastern Syria. The Pentagon coordinates with Russian forces in Syria, especially in launching air strikes, and Russian officials threatened to suspend the communications hotline after the April 7 U.S. attack on the Syrian airfield. Assad has now suffered a setback because of the American attack, but Trump’s limited intervention is unlikely to change the course of the Syrian war – and Assad will continue his scorched earth policy against rebels and civilians, even if he will now think twice about using chemical weapons. Mohamad Bazzi is a journalism professor at New York University and former Middle East bureau chief at Newsday. He is writing a book on the proxy wars between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Survivors of Sex Abuse Say UN Neglected Them
“Initially, UNICEF said that they would make sure that the soldier was imprisoned and take care of the mother and baby to help us. But then, nothing, no one came to visit …” Yakupitiyage
S
Inter Press Service
everal survivors who were sexually abused by peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to be neglected by the UN, an investigative team has found. Three years after cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeeping forces in CAR became public, a Swedish film team located a number of survivors who have said that the UN’s children agency (UNICEF) promised support never arrived. “The exposure isn’t that these atrocities were committed against the kids, but that they were then promised support and just vanished,” Co-Director of AIDS-Free World and its Code Blue Campaign Paula Donovan told IPS. The organization first documented the cases of sexual abuse by French peacekeeping troops in 2015, causing public outrage. Children between the ages of 8 and 15, who were living in a refugee camp at the time, reported that they were forced to perform sexual acts in exchange for food and other goods. Fourteen French soldiers reportedly were suspected of being involved. After speaking to UNICEF representative in CAR who said that the children are cared for and followed up with, investigative reporter Karin Mattisson and her team spoke to children
who said otherwise. One such survivor is Martha who became pregnant and contracted HIV by a peacekeeping soldier when she was 14-years-old. “Initially, UNICEF said that they would make sure that the soldier was imprisoned and take care of the mother and baby to help us. But then, nothing, no one came to visit. It was left to us to take care of the child,” her friend said. Martha said that all they received was a “present” of money equivalent to US$15, a bag of rice, milk and sugar. Meanwhile, the peacekeeper was sent home and it is uncertain if any punitive action was taken. Two boys, who were also sexually abused and provided testimony to the UN’s initial investigation, similarly claimed that they did not receive any help. “We are trying to get it together on our own. We pick up water for people, we wash cars—that is how we have lived since then.” In response to the allegations, UNICEF spokesperson Najwa Mekki told IPS that the agency has provided assistance to children whose cases they are aware of and that they have scaled up their reporting procedures, victim assistance, and staff capacity since 2015. “We are following up on the children identified in the Swedish TV programme, providing assistance when appropriate, and will continue to give the necessary support to any victim
of sexual exploitation and abuse who comes forward or is brought to our attention,” she told IPS. Former Under-Secretary General and High Representative of the UN Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, who is also involved in the Code Blue Campaign, noted that UN bureaucracy often stands in the way of action by preventing clear and concise information on such cases to travel up the chain of command. “Finally when it reaches the Secretary General, [information] is already absolutely diluted,” he told IPS. And without complete evidence, any investigation becomes a “sham inquiry,” Chowdhury added. Despite steps taken by the UN to address the scandal in 2015, including the creation of a review panel which characterized the UN’s response to sexual exploitation and abuse as a “gross institutional failure,” little to no punitive action has been taken. Most recently in January, a French investigation into the cases closed without anyone being charged. Senior UN officials accused of abuse of authority for suppressing information rather than reporting cases have also remained largely untouched, Donovan said, adding that the initial “gross institutional failure” has only continued. “Justice is being delayed and it is being denied,” Chowdhury told IPS. Donovan also pointed to the prob-
WRITE-WING
lematic use of “UN insiders” in addressing the issue due to concerns of their own legacy and reputation. “The people who are part of the problem have been tasked with the solution…they don’t want to come forward and say ‘here’s what is so broken and so awful about the UN and I’ve decided to fix it’ because they presided over all of it,” she told IPS. Early this year, Secretary-General António Guterres announced the creation of a task force to investigate UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse. Among those in the task force is former Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jane Holl Lute and Department of Peacekeeping Operations’ Military Adviser Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey. Chowdhury said that no task force will help. “If it is with UN insiders…they will not do anything to put their own into this abuse,” he told IPS. Both Donovan and Chowdhury called for a special courts mechanism to deal with sexual abuse by UN peacekeeping forces. Chowdhury also highlighted the need for a independent unit to conduct inquiries and report cases which may help bring about more punitive action against perpetrators whose actions are often shielded by their colleagues. “The UN needs to save itself from itself,” Donovan told IPS.
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.
MonDAY 24•04•2017
PERSPECTIVE
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
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Why Bicycles are making a huge comeback in China? Knowledgewharton
B
to allow nightly redistribution and maintenance of bicycles. I have not modeled how important this is, but my gut feel is that the economics do depend on highly affordable maintenance operations. 5) The base rate of crime, including petty theft, is lower in China than in many other parts of the world. This is partly the result of culture and partly the result of enforcement of law and order. Still, given the ubiquity of the bikes, their distinctive appearance and the low cost of legally using them, what is the incentive to steal one? Theft might not prove to be a problem in the US, either.
Fair Observer
ike sharing is spreading like wildfire in Chinese cities. Falling costs, dockless designs and unappealing transportation options are helping to fuel it. At first glance, many of the technological innovations sprouting in China are replicas of similar systems in the West. For instance, bike sharing was created in Europe and then diffused to other parts of the world, including China. Now bike sharing in China has exploded over the last year, and at least two companies are attempting to bring Chinese-style bike sharing to the United States, a fascinating example of what some call reverse innovation, writes Karl Ulrich, vice dean of entrepreneurship and innovation at Wharton, in this opinion piece, which was adapted from an essay he recently published on Medium. But what is different about the Chinese system, and how might it fare in the US? SOME BACKGROUND The Flying Pigeon bicycle is the most popular vehicle model in human history, with more than half a billion units deployed. Yet bicycle use in China had been in steady decline since the 1990s. Indeed, the aspiration of most city-dwelling Chinese has been to own a car, which has contributed to clogged streets and air pollution in first-tier cities. Remarkably, bike sharing may spell the return of the bicycle in China. Six months ago, few shared bicycles were on the roads and there were just a few promising signs of adoption. Today, about 500,000 shared bikes are in use in Beijing, with similar penetration in other first-tier cities. At least five separate companies are vying for dominance. Users are crazy about the service. Traffic and subway lines are noticeably better. I’ve never seen adoption of a hardware-based service happen so quickly. What explains this remarkable early success, and what does the Chinese experience imply for other cities? As in Paris, New York and other major global cities, Beijing (and some other first-tier cities) had installed kiosk-based bike-share systems, in which the intelligence of the system is embodied in a fixed station. Smart kiosk bike-share systems are the norm in most of the world as of 2017. The user identifies himself or herself and checks out a bike, which is unlocked so it can be removed from its station. After completion of the trip, the user returns the bike to a kiosk at the destination. In the US, these systems cost about $5,000 per bicycle to install and require long approval cycles with municipal governments, often three years or more. I am an investor in a rival approach by Social Bicycle, in which the smarts and the lock are included in the bike. This allows the bike to be locked to any fixed object, although in most locations, the system in-
This picture taken on June 14, 2014 shows a man rising a public bicycle through a bicycle-sharing station in Beijing. Beijing is acutely aware of an increasing number of angry protests over environmental concerns in the country, where three decades of rapid and unfettered industrial expansion have taken a heavy toll. Premier Li Keqiang announced in March that Beijing was "declaring war" against pollution. (AFP Photo)
cludes “dumb” stations to which the bike must be returned (essentially a designated bike rack). This reduces the cost significantly, to about $1,500 per bicycle. This idea of a smart bike and a dumb station was taken to the next level by Mobike, a start-up that entered the Chinese market in 2016 with a stationless bike-sharing system. (Mobike has raised more than $300 million in venture financing.) The first generation Mobike adopted several unusual design features, including an enclosed shaft drive, die-cast aluminum wheels and a single-sided fork — none of which is essential to the basic business model, but which made the bikes quite distinctive on the street, and possibly reduced the risk of theft. In 2016, the Mobike system was introduced in China and included no fixed stations. The lock simply immobilizes the rear wheel and a smartphone provides the user interface for locating, checking out, returning, locking and payment. BIKE SHARING 2.0 IN CHINA Most observers I spoke with at the time of the Mobike launch were deeply skeptical that the bikes would survive on the street. I shared that skepticism when I first saw the bikes in Shanghai last year. I estimate these bikes, even in high volume, cost about $200 each and so significant losses would doom the model. But, remarkably, essentially no one stole the distinctive orange bikes. Furthermore, the average bike made about seven trips per day, exceeding expectations for capacity utilization. We were just wrong. Competition quickly followed. Significant rivals include Ofo and Bluegogo. Ofo is bright yellow and Bluegogo is, well, blue. (Distinct color tones are quickly being grabbed by competitors, so I expect to see pink, white and black models soon.) Ofo pushed the model even further. The bike is so, so cheap. I bet it costs less than $30 per unit to make. There are no smarts of any kind. The user simply scans a QR code on the
fender with the Ofo app and a combination code is revealed. The code is used to open a plain-old combination lock on the rear wheel. (As of writing, I’m still not sure how the system knows when the ride has been terminated — maybe there is a tiny bit of smarts in the system to send a signal that the lock has been deployed, but I can’t see where it would be. Or maybe it always charges a flat fee of 1 RMB.) Bike sharing in China is almost free. The charge is about 1 RMB per hour (with various fixed plus variable pricing models for different services). That’s about $0.15 per hour. Most trips are, of course, less than an hour, so a trip costs 15 cents for most users. By comparison, the subway in Beijing, cheap by global standards, is a minimum of 3 RMB ($0.50) per trip. Those I spoke to in Beijing, including venture capitalists who financed these businesses, claim there is no government subsidy (other than allowing these bikes to be parked on public sidewalks and the maintenance and provision of bike lanes on most major thoroughfares). But I think the economics actually pencil out. The bike earns about 7 RMB per day ($1), so it only needs to be used for 30 days to cover the manufacturing cost. Of course there are other costs, including night-time redeployment and repairs, but labor is still relatively inexpensive in Beijing (about $3 per hour) and so these costs can be covered. With bikes this cheap, there is no real reason to invest heavily in GPS tracking, fancy locks and parking stations. Mobike still makes a nicer bike, but its current version is much more conventional, and presumably much less expensive, than the first model. Notably, Mobike has gone to a solid urethane tire with lateral holes to provide some additional cushioning. This really reduces the most common maintenance problem: flat tires. I found the tires to be just fine for the short rides I made. We can observe a lot of parallel experimentation by rival compa-
nies. The “green” company (whose name I don’t know— possibly Haoqi based on the seen on the bikes). This bike looks more like the Social Bicycle design, which includes a solar charging feature and a full mobile computer inside. The Chinese market will likely converge soon on a dominant design and just two or three companies will survive. WHY THE AMAZING ADOPTION RATE? Here is what I think explains the bike-share explosion in China. 1) Bike share addresses an acute and deep pain point. At 5pm in Beijing, prior to bike sharing, the line for the subway in the central business district snaked out onto the sidewalk requiring more than 30 minutes just to get to the entrance point. Taking an “Uber” (actually a “Didi” in China) involved sitting in a traffic jam. A bike is simply the fastest and cheapest way to get from A to B. It is three times less expensive than the subway and may cut the travel time by five times or more for distances of up to 3-5 kilometers (2-3 miles). The solution is a “pain killer” not a “vitamin pill.” 2) Chinese cities are extremely dense, allowing high capacity utilization and high availability. Within a city block, there may be 100,000 people. That means that every street corner is effectively a bike-share hub that can have 20 to 50 bikes available at any time. This is not going to work in Topeka, Kansas, nor probably even in Portland, Oregon. It might work in New York. 3) The government, while not directly subsidizing bike share, allows it. It is hard to imagine the City of New York allowing laissez faire bike sharing on its streets and sidewalks. One would think that the communist state would be even more controlling, but in this case, bike share is so popular and solves such critical problems (traffic, subway congestion, air quality) that the government allows unfettered competition in public spaces. 4) Labor is inexpensive enough
WHAT ABOUT THE USUAL OBJECTIONS? I’ve been a bike commuter my whole life. Most people raise three objections to riding a bike for transportation: weather, sweating and safety. Beijing is a northern city. It’s cold in the winter, but a lot of snow on the streets is rare. Think of it as similar to New York City in that respect. Beijingers have happily ridden motorbikes for decades. They dress warmly and don’t typically spend more than 15 minutes on any one trip. With a compelling enough benefit proposition, people will manage the weather. (I sometimes argue that people spend $10,000 to have cold wind in their faces —ski vacations —that they could get for free by riding their bikes in the winter.) Sweating is minimized in China by riding very slowly. In the US, we practically race our bikes! I’m trying to learn to ride more slowly. Safety is a big concern. I don’t think we have good accident statistics on bikes in China. I bet the rates of injury are quite high, but I don’t have evidence one way or the other. CHALLENGES IN CHINA The three main emerging challenges I see for bike-sharing in China are safety, air quality and the aesthetics of the streetscape. Safety concerns are obvious — I’m not sure of the solution. Maybe we’ll see the adoption of stylish helmets that attach to a backpack for storage or something. Most of the air quality challenges in China are due to industrial particulate emissions, not automobiles (e.g., coal-fired power plants), so the air quality concern relates primarily to physical exercise while breathing polluted air. In the long run, I believe China’s air quality will improve substantially, but I bet it takes 20 years. I have not researched the efficacy of the use of masks, which is widespread in China. Perhaps there is an opportunity here for a nice helmet with integrated filtration mask. In my opinion, the streetscape aesthetics are degrading with the use of bike sharing. I think the municipalities could address this by carving out some parking areas. China does infrastructure really well, so I can easily imagine this happening. Most visitors to China will not be able to use the bike-share system unless they have WeChat payments or Alipay set up on their mobile phones, and some apps require
a Chinese ID card. That’s not so easy for most foreigners, of course. If you want to try it, get a Chinese friend to unlock a bike for you. It costs them 1 RMB, so no big deal. Most systems do not allow one user to unlock two bikes, but most Chinese using bike share will have signed up for multiple services, so they can unlock one Mobike and one Ofo bike, for instance, if you want to ride together. Riding a two-wheeler in China appears very dangerous. (No one wears a helmet —I’m going to bring my own on my next trip.) The danger appears primarily because motorbikes share the bike lanes and even the sidewalks (see bike path in Chengdu below), and they often travel in the wrong direction. These motorbikes are all electric in Beijing and Shanghai, so they are essentially silent. It’s very disconcerting. My strategy is to ride very slowly, as most Chinese do, with the flow of a larger group of cyclists, and just yield to the cars and motorbikes doing their thing. Be careful out there!
PROSPECTS FOR THE US The boom in station-less bike sharing in China has not gone unnoticed in the US. The Chinese company Bluegogo has entered the San Francisco market directly. Indeed, I first saw a Bluegogo bike in San Francisco a few days ago. The bike is slightly different from its Chinese counterpart, notably including a multi-speed transmission, presumably to accommodate the hills of the city. And Lime Bike recently closed $12 million in venture financing to bring the Chinese model to the US. Bluegogo’s original strategy was to just place the bikes on the streets with no coordination with the city. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) quickly noticed and made an inquiry of the company as to its intentions. The city then introduced new regulations for station-less bike-share systems. The regulation seems sensible, and SFMTA appears to be interested in stimulating better bike-sharing options, and so my prediction is that station-less systems will be allowed soon in many major US cities. Significant uncertainty clouds the prospects for the new entrants. Will the lower density of US cities allow for sufficient availability of bikes? Will higher crime rates in the US result in unsustainable losses? Will labor costs allow companies to preserve the attractively low prices offered in China? Will municipalities support effective and attractive parking solutions? Only time will tell. This article was originally published by Knowledge@ Wharton, a partner institution of Fair Observer. This article is republished with the permission of Fair Observer The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
The Morung Express POLL RESULTS
Should there be tribe-based unions within educational institutions and campuses? Why? Division never promote unity, inSome of those who stead work without partiality voted YES had this to say: • Yes. Tribe based unions are more • No. Why should there be any tribal based union in educaorganized and are able to maintional institutions? What is the tain check and balance among need? When we already have all its members in colleges. Without the EVILS OF TRIBALISM in our them there will be chaos. state and sooner or later it is go• Yes but apex body is also a must ing to destroy us all. In fact all un• Yes. I feel like Im regularly seeking necessary unions or tribal unions interesting features you just read should be banned in Nagaland about a number of subjects, but I and instead broad based organihandle to add in the blog among zation should be promoted for all, our translates every day when and that it is not biased towards you ccdggeceadda. any group of people. • Yes. I see nothing wrong with tribe based organizations so long • No, there should not be any tribe based unions within educational it is for the common good and institutions and campuses. Eduwelfare of all. cation institutions are the seat Some of those who of learning and this is the place voted NO had this to say: where the ideals of inclusive • No, Education institutions should teaching and learning takes place. be the place for imparting the I dont understand why there are concept of 'unity in diversity' not tribe unions in colleges and unitribalist secessionism. The future versities in the first place. Nagas of any nation or society, particukeep talking and shouting about larly of nagas, depends more or unity, but their action is very tribless on the nature of ideas and al based, which is divisive. concepts and perceptions feed by • No because I believe 'ISM' come young minds. Because the other to play inevitability of tribal unions and • No! Because unions are prone bodies is the evil of "us vs them". to become instruments of diviTribal identity can wait. sion. Unions in institutions are • No, it should be absolutely stop. the breeding ground for tribalism This led to tribalism though we and racism....even in religious inknow that nagaland a very small stitution! state probably top in tribalism. • No...Besides being disruptive to • No. Why only educational inacademics, it promotes commustitutions. There should not be nalism, tribalism and cultivates any tribe based organizations or the culture of petty politicking at unions in the first place. For Naan early age. gas to develop it needs to allow its • I remember an incident outside Nagaland where my uncle was thinking faculties to develop and asked to preside over a tribal this means getting out of the tribfunction.He not only refused but al mindset. reprimanded them saying that • No. No, no need among the tribes.
ism and built Nagaland and as a manding excessive representathis union's defeated the very whole and not play one upmantion for participation. We are an purpose for which their parents ship amongst so ourselves. entity, we have no barrier in comwere sacrificing their best. A defimunicating with each other and • No. Except for cultural shows nite, NO! like telling of folklore, folksongs, we are not a crowd of too many • No it breeds ism and gethoisayoung Nagas should come out different people. Lets just be one. tion. Educational institutes are of the tribe-wised cocoons and Our Naga identity is common and meant to broaden our view of the cease all kinds of competitions. definite. Our tribal identity is just world and interact with different Can you realize the foolishness the secondary identity. communities. Tribal based bodplaying football on tribal lines? It • No. Rather they should have ies are an antithesis of this. is time we stopped all tribe wised clubs like writer's forum, garden• Its better to not have tribal unions organisations. If they are from ing, drama, dancers, science etc. within an institution. the same constituency they can 89% collectively approach their MLA for assistance in times of genuine need. There MUST be more interaction amongst Naga tribes, not only in schools and colleges, but also in places of worship on Sundays. • No. the consequences will be TRIBALISM at the end no matter what we say or do to get rid of it 06% that "ism" will always remind!! it 05% is not a good practice in my opinion cause we always think that we are more superior than the other YES NO OTHERS tribe and vice versa. • No. Tribe based unions within educational institutions are in my view-the main reason for • No.... institution is a place where, • No. The College /Institute Stusegregation in our society. The dents body should be enough besides getting formal educaassimilation of our young ones to look into Students related aftion, a student grows socially. at such young ages only makes fairs and others. Too many StuTribal based units will curb the our society to divide further dents body in a single college growth of an individual as a unirather than inculcate "cultural does not do much of help, in versal being. values". There are various ways my opinion. It only give you to • No. Because it does more harm to impart "cultural values/culshow tribalism. than good tural unity". An educational in• No. Our Naga society already has • Absolute no. Tribal Unions within stitution should be solely for the the campus only brings division. a lot of division and difference purpose of giving and receiving There are numerous avenues with inumerable students' tribal education and not waste time in where we can showcase our tribal associations. If Nagas in Nagamindless preconceived organiidentity in colleges or universiland gets so much separatism at zational activities. ties, if that's what tribal unions institution level, the outcome is • Absolute no. Tribal Unions withare for. severe to breeding competition in the campus only brings divionly between tribal while de- • No. Let us do away with tribal-
sion. There are numerous avenues where we can showcase our tribal identity in colleges or universities, if that's what tribal unions are for. • No, I feel It propagates tribalism. Unions should be formed to protect the interests of the students in general. Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • Nagaland being made up of so many tribes we cannot ignore the tribal identity of each tribe. Each has a unique culture and history to maintain. The youth should be aware of the culture and tradition of his background. If the unions of different tribes are formed with the right perspectives, that based on social and cultural values then this will be healthy for the Nagas. Exchange programmes among different tribes in the campus to learn the rich traditions and also healthy competition among the tribes in educational and social fields with add more colours to the Naga society. It should also be a forum to help each other. But the problems arises when we allow political influence to creep into it. • As long as we are alive we can never run away from being a tribal person.....our tribe matters. If anything happens to us it is our tribe that will come first and not as Nagas.....we are identified by our tribes first in our hometown and therefore my answer would be yes. It is important to stay connected with our tribes and strengthen our tribes before we associate with other tribes.
8
MOnDAY 24•04•2017
INDIA
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Millions vote in Delhi civic polls amid EVM glitches
New Delhi, April 23 (iANS): Millions of men and women on Sunday voted amid EVM glitches to pick three new municipal bodies in an election crucial for all three main contenders -- the BJP, Congress and the AAP. At least 42 per cent of the 1.32 crore electorate had exercised their franchise when 9.5 hours of polling ended at 5.30 p.m., the turnout hit by intense midday heat. Residents reported "low" voting in many areas but in many others there were long queues of men and women keen to pick three wings of a municipal corporation that covers almost the whole of Delhi. The balloting was peaceful but both voters and political parties reported numerous cases of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which themselves have come under a cloud. The Aam Aadmi Party, which rules Delhi, and the Congress want to end the 10-year reign of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the civic body, citing poor upkeep of the city's cleanliness. The BJP used Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to reclaim the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats) and East Delhi
Municipal Corporation (64 seats). Polling did not take place in two wards - Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal Thala in North Delhi - where a candidate each of the Samajwadi Party died. Even as the polling was on, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said reports of EVM malfunctioning came from all over the capital. He also tweeted that many people with voter slips were not allowed to vote. BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely, who recently quit the Congress, could
Kerala Minister calls IAS officer 'mad', abuses workers
thiruvANANthApurAm, April 23 (iANS): Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani on Sunday drew flak for allegedly calling an IAS officer "mad" and made disparaging remarks about women plantation workers. Opposition leaders attacked Mani, with two leaders of the BJP and the Congress demanding his resignation. On Saturday evening, the Minister first took on IAS officer Sreeram Venkitaraman, who was involved in clearing usurped government land of encroachments in Mani's home district Idukki. "In Idukki, most religious establishments are located on land that do not have clear title deed. He (Venkitaraman) is a mad man and should be sent to Oolampara (mental hospital in Thiruvananthapuram)," said Mani, who has waded into controversies with his uttrances in the past as well. Later, addressing a public meeting in Idukki on Saturday night, Mani, a CPI-M leader, said he knew what all went on during the strike by 'Pembulai Orumae' (Women's Collective). "It was a stagemanaged protest led by vested interests. I know what all happened. When the strike was on, other activities were taking place in nearby forests," Mani said. Angered by Mani's remarks, women plantation workers' leader Gomathy said they had launched a protest in Munnar town from Sunday afternoon. "Who is Mani to speak about us? What does he
know about us? We will not end our protest till the Minister apologises," a furious Gomathy said. The 2015 strike by women plantation workers in Munnar had forced the then Oommen Chandy government to hike their wages. Congress leader Lathika Subhash said Mani had brought shame on Kerala. "Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should ask Mani to step down for his abusive words against plantation workers. I know the sufferings of these women," said Subhash. On Sunday, former state Congress President V.M. Sudheeran slammed the Minister: "Mani has become a liability for Kerala." Communist Party of India leader Prakash Babu had a Biblical take on the whole affair: "What I can say about Mani is to repeat what Jesus said -- Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." State CPI-Marxist Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan refused to comment. Kerala Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose said Mani should be "put in chains for his utterances". Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promised to talk to Mani. Kerala Fisheries Minister and party colleague J. Mercykutty Amma dubbed the remarks "unfortunate" and said Mani should not have spoken thus. CPI-M MP P.K. Sreemathi echoed Amma's views. State BJP leader Sobha Surendran said the Chief Minister should ask for Mani's immediate resignation.
not vote because the EVM in his polling station - there were 13,022 in all - broke down. By 3 p.m., the AAP "War Room" reported 250 calls from voters complaining about non-functional EVMs. The complaints came from several areas including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's constituency Patparganj. A Maharashtra Congress leader, Shehzad Poonawala, tweeted about the EVMs in Delhi: "Better we call them (E)xtremely (V)ulnerable (M)achines." A total of 2,537 candi-
dates were in the fray. Among others who contested the election are the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United and Swaraj India of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were earlier Kejriwal's colleagues in the AAP. The three civic bodies cover 68 of the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi. The two smaller civic bodies are the Delhi Cantonment Board as well as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Lt Governor Anil Baijal,
Kejriwal, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and Delhi BJP leaders were among the early voters. "I urge the people of Delhi to vote for a filth-free Delhi, a dengue- and chikungunya-free Delhi," said Kejriwal after voting along with his family. Asked if the election was a referendum on his government's twoyear performance, he replied: "We will see when the results come (on Wednesday)." Maken rooted for the Congress. "The BJP has done enough damage for 10 years. The only thing it has done is engaging in verbal duels with the AAP. People want sensible governance. Going by Congress' track record, they will vote for us," he said. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi blamed the Kejriwal government for the capital mess and said she was confident her party would again control the civic body. Some voters complained of poor organisation. "Voter slips have not been given to many. This has created a lot of confusion. My wife and I didn't get any voter slips," Amit Basu, a voter from Chittaranjan Park in south Delhi, told IANS. Through the day, EVMs which broke down were either quickly repaired or replaced by functional ones.
TN farmers temporarily call off Jantar Mantar agitation
New Delhi, Apr 23 (pti) Tamil Nadu farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar here "temporarily" called off their agitation today after over 40 days after Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami "promised" to meet their demands. "The chief minister and the Union finance minister have the power to take a call on our demands. We have decided to call off the agitation for a period of one month based on the assurances given by our chief minister," farmers' leader Ayyakkannu told reporters. "If the promises are not met, we would resume the protest in the national capital in a bigger way on May 25," he said. Ayyakkannu said the decision was taken also based on the assurances given by
Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin, MDMK's Premalatha Vijayakanth, Tamil Manila Congress chief G K Vasan and the BJP's Pon Radhakrishnan. The farmers, who have been staging a protest for the past 41 days demanding a Rs-40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre, had earlier refused to end their agitation despite requests by several Union and state ministers apart from leaders of various regional political parties. "We will be leaving for home today or tomorrow and we will be taking part in a state-wide bandh on April 25 in Tamil Nadu," said Ayyakkannu.
Palaniswami, who took part in a Niti Aayog meeting here today, said he had submitted a memorandum containing demands of the farmers to the prime minister. "Among other issues, we also raised the farmers' issue in the meeting with the PM," Palaniswami told reporters here. During the course of the protest, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues. They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls which they claimed were of farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.
Israel says ties with India more visible
New Delhi, April 23 (pti): Appreciating that Indo-Israel ties were more "visible" after the Modi government has come to power, Israel said today that India's policy of not having a "zero-sum game" while dealing with the Jewish nation and the Arab countries has sent a strong message. Ahead of first prime ministerial visit from India, expected to take place in July, Israeli Ambassador here Daniel Carmon also strongly pitched for deeper cooperation in strategic ties,
spread over wide-ranging sectors, including, defence, security, agriculture, education and culture. There is a lot of "visibility" in Indo-Israel relations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come to power and the Jewish nation respects that change, Carmon said. "India's policy of not having a zero-sum game while dealing with Israel and the Arab nations has sent a positive message. "The relations between India and Israel did not start in 2014, but what has changed is the visibility
of things that we are doing together. What has changed is the very important and very much respected in Israel," Carmon said. The Israeli Ambassador also said that there may be a change in the declaration and policy of India after the Modi- led government has came to power. The current NDA dispensation has been very open about its relations with Israel as compared to the Manmohan Singh government, which was cautious in openly flaunting India's ties with Israel.
GST consensus exemplar of cooperative federalism: Modi
New Delhi, April 23 (iANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday applauded Chief Ministers of states for setting aside ideological and political differences for a consensus on the GST regime which he said will "go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism". In his opening remarks at the Niti Aayog Governing Council's third meeting here, Modi said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) shows the strength and resolve of the Indian federal structure and reflects the spirit of "one nation, one aspiration, one
determination". Urging the states for cooperation, the Prime Minister said the vision of "new India" could be realised only through the combined effort of all states and their Chief Ministers, a NITI Aayog statement said. The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog is working on a 15-year vision, seven-year medium-term strategy, and three-year action agenda, which will be presented at the meeting. It will replace the FiveYear Plans prevalent since Independence. Modi said this effort
required support of the states, and will eventually reflect in benefits to them. During his address, Modi urged the states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation. The Prime Minister also called for carrying forward the debate and discussions on simultaneous elections to the state assemblies and the Lok Sabha. Modi urged the private sector and civil society to work in tandem with the government for national development. Speaking of the change in Budget presenta-
Jaitley raises H-1B visa issue with US authorities
wAShiNgtoN, April 23 (iANS): The vexed issue of the Trump administration mulling curbs in H-1B visas has been taken up with by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the American authorities during his ongoing visit, an Indian official said on Sunday. The issue was raised by Jaitley during his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin here on Saturday, an Indian Finance Ministry statement said. "Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy," it said. The issue stems from recent executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump which indicate a possible tightening of the H-1B visas. "Issues related to terror
funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," the statement said. "Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, infrastructure collaboration, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, collaboration with USA for smart cities development, etcetera, were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added. Jaitley is on a five-day visit to the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. According to the Finance Ministry, Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh, as well as with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Meanwhile, the US, in turn, has alleged that Indian IT com-
panies were unfairly cornering the major share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the current US administration wants to replace with a more meritlinked immigration policy. "The top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant -- they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then they'll get the lion's share of visas," a senior US official said at a White House briefing last week, according to transcripts posted on the White House website. "And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley (US) software engineer's wage is probably around $150,000," the official said.
tion date, the Prime Minister said it will enable timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year. "Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence, the best working season for schemes was typically lost," he said. From this year, the government has advanced the date of Budget presentation by almost a month to February 1. Modi also
mentioned the end of distinction between Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure based on the Rangarajan Committee recommendations in 2011. "Several important items of expenditure were included as Non-Plan and hence neglected. Hereafter, the emphasis will be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on the one hand, and administrative overheads on the other," he said. The NITI Ayog Council meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was attended by the Chief Ministers of most of the states.
Three-year action agenda presented at NITI Aayog meet
New Delhi, April 23 (iANS): NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya on Sunday presented a draft of the three-year action agenda for the nation's development at its Governing Council meeting here. The (NITI National Institution for Transforming India) Vice Chairman noted that over 300 specific action points have been identified under the action agenda covering the whole gamut of sectors. He said that inputs from the states were incorporated in the agenda. Panagariya invited further inputs and support of the states in taking the vision forward. "The action agenda is coterminus with the 14th Finance Commission's award. This gives stability to the funding estimates of both the Centre and states," a NITI Aayog statement said. Panagariya said that apart from the action agenda, there would be a seven-year strategy and a 15-year long-term vision that will replace the erstwhile Five-Year Plans for the nation's planning framework. The 12th Five-Year Plan ended on March 31. During NITI Aayog Govern-
ing Council's third meeting here, presentations were made on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), raising agricultural income and the work done by the Aayog so far, the statement said. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant outlined the initiatives taken in areas like agriculture, poverty elimination, health, education, digital payments, disinvestment, coastal zone, and island development. He said that NITI Aayog will work with states to improve basic services and infrastructure, especially in districts and regions which require specific attention. Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a presentation on the GST, explaining the benefits of the indirect tax collection system and the way forward. He urged the Chief Ministers of states to expedite the legislation of State GST Bills. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a presentation on doubling farmers' income by focusing on irrigation, technology generation and dissemination, and policy and market reforms.
Indian tribal women's 'smart' ride to self-reliance
SAhebgANj (jhArkhAND), April 23 (iANS): Her thumbs flying fast over the touchscreen of her smartphone, Purnima Mahato, 35, of this tribal village in Jharkhand, has just discovered ease of doing business with her ubiquitous companion in an otherwise rocky entrepreneurial journey. Travelling long distances to market homemade pickles and papadum was always tough -- till she started using a smartphone. She now circulates images with small write-ups about her products through platforms like WhasApp to reach out to her customers before making deliveries to them. Payments to buy and sell are also made online. "Ho gaya (done)," she said, raising her head and pointing to the images of her products on her phone.
"Sold. The customer agreed. And it will be delivered by the evening," Mahato said with a winning smile. The wife of an agriculture labourer with four children is one of tens of thousands of tribal women in this state moving beyond the confines of their kitchens and household chores to become economically self-reliant. Aimed at boosting the central government's twin initiatives of "Digital India" and "less-cash economy", as well as to nurture the rural economy, the Rural Development Department of the Jharkhand government has doled out free smart phones to 100,000 "Sakhi Mandals" or self-help groups (SHGs) of women entrepreneurs. Smart phones are given to SHG heads who train the women entrepreneurs. A SHG has 7-15 members each.
The businesswomen, much like their urban counterparts, are increasingly reaping the benefits of the internet. State Rural Development Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda said the smart phone initiative was aimed at further boosting the prospects of the Sakhi Mandal system, which has done "wonders" in boosting Jharkhand's rural economy. "The major aim is to encourage more and more digital transactions to achieve a less-cash economy, but at the same time none can deny the immense importance a smart phone has acquired in modern times, especially for business," Munda told IANS. "The 100,000 smart phones with free network will be handed out to the beneficiaries in the next two months and by 2019 we have plans to hand out 100,000 more smart phones to
the SHGs." He said the smart phone initiative will boost the government endeavours for socio-economic empowerment of women. "Sakhi Mandalis have helped in streamlining women entrepreneurs and coupled with the smart phone initiative it will ensure that benefits of all the women welfare schemes, including the Tejaswini project, effectively reach the beneficiaries," he said. Funded by the World Bank, the Tejaswini project supports adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24 to complete their secondary level education and help them to acquire market-driven skill training. Munda said that over a million women are members of the SHGs
and are engaged in entrepreneurial endeavors like cattle-rearing, poultry farming, dairy products, edibles like jams, fruit squash, pickles, papadum, herbal juices and other household articles. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the smart phone initiative here earlier this month, admitted it was "amazing and equally heartening" to see tribal women using mobile apps with such efficiency. Business interests aside, the women entrepreneurs are also enhancing their social connect with smartphones. "It took time to learn how to operate a smartphone but now we are realising how important technology is for our daily life. It's really amazing to see that just with a touch of a button you can make payments or reach
out to buyers far away with your products," Rina Tudu, an SHG head, told IANS. State Women and Child Development Minister Louis Marandi said the new initiative will also play a major role in women empowerment and security. Marandi told IANS: "In time of any emergency or distress they can seek immediate help or even use them to record any wrong doing, or harassment." While both the government and the SHGs are betting big on the smart phones to change the life of rural Jharkhand, network issues owing to deficient infrastructural facilities is surely a concern. However, Nilkanth Singh Munda asserted the government was working on improving the communication facilities.
mondAY 24•04•2017
WORLD/ENT
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
North Korea says ready to strike US aircraft carrier SEOUL, ApriL 23 (rEUtErS): North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North’s nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies. The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive “within days” but gave no other details. North Korea remained defiant. “Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike,” the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, said in a commentary. The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a “gross animal” and said a strike on it would be “an actual example to show our military’s force”. The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm. North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People’s Army on Tuesday. It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions. North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.
A soldier salutes from atop an armoured vehicle as it drives past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of country’s founding father Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang on April 15. (REUTERS File Photo)
He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike. WORRY IN JAPAN North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea’s recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted. “We’ve all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest,” Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier. Japan’s show of naval force re-
flects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads. Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack. Japan’s navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China’s. The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will “practice a variety of tactics” with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement. The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines. From there, it could take three
days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan’s ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said. U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against. South Korea has put is forces on heightened alert. China, North Korea’s sole major ally which nevertheless opposes Pyongyang’s weapons programmes and belligerence, has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension. Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in “the menace of North Korea”, after North Korean state media warned the United States of a “super-mighty preemptive strike”.
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Pence tries hand at koala diplomacy in Oz SYDNEY, ApriL 23 (rEUtErS): U.S. Vice President Mike Pence crouched down in the shade of a eucalyptus tree on Sunday at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo where Penny, a red kangaroo, dozed in the midday heat, scratching her behind the ears before she lazily rolled onto her back. “That’s my usual position on a Sunday afternoon,” Pence said as a bank of cameras clicked, capturing yet another picture-perfect moment for his family in Australia. Pence, his wife Karen, and their two adult daughters, Charlotte and Audrey, saw some of the sights of Sydney, investing time in soft diplomacy on the last leg of a 10-day Asia tour that has been rich with symbolism about shoring up American economic ties and security cooperation. Karen Pence - who earlier charmed a meet-andgreet with embassy families with her pronunciation of “G’day” - held out a handful of chicory to Widji, an emu who boldly pecked at the bunch. “OK, OK,” she said as Widji’s beak came closer to her fingers.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence looks at a koala with his daughters Charlotte and Audrey and a keeper during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia on April 23. (REUTERS Photo)
The emu declined to indulge Audrey Pence, 22, who wanted to take a selfie - but Penny the kangaroo obliged. Pence is the first senior member of President Donald Trump’s administration to travel to Australia. The visit took on new emphasis after an acrimonious phone call early in Trump’s term with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about refugees. Pence sought to put any sense of lingering tension to rest during his visit, which included meetings with Turnbull and other government officials at Ad-
miralty House, an official residence with spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House. At the zoo, Pence took photos of his daughters on a bluff in front of a panoramic view of the Sydney Harbour. They posed with Bai’yali, a fluffy eared koala with beady red eyes - but did not cuddle the bear - and also got a close look at an owl. But the owl seemed more interested in the clicking cameras than the Pences. “He’s not really sure about the press,” Pence quipped.
Cold weather, fewer sun hours increase alcoholic cirrhosis LONDON, ApriL 23 (iANS): People in colder and less sunny regions of the world have higher rates of alcoholic cirrhosis, a disease caused by excessive drinking which results in irreversible scarring of the liver, scientists have found. A new data from more than 190 countries presented on Saturday at the International Liver Congress 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, suggests that every increase in temperature of 1ºC was linked with a decrease in the alcohol-attributable fraction (AAF) of cirrhosis of 0.3%. Heavy alcohol intake causes a perception of warmth, while fewer sunlight hours have been linked to depression, which, in turn, may lead to alcohol abuse. As a re-
sult, the researchers hypothesised that colder countries would have higher rates of alcohol consumption and therefore an increased burden of alcoholic cirrhosis. “Our research reveals that a country’s climate and geographical location have a startling influence on the burden of liver cirrhosis,” said lead author Dr Neil D. Shah, and senior author Dr Ramon Bataller from the University of North Carolina. “As average temperatures and yearly hours of sunshine decrease and latitude increases, rates of alcohol-attributable cirrhosis increase. This suggests that drinking alcohol excessively to combat the cold and dark could put people at increased risk of suffering from alcoholic cirrhosis.”
French presidential poll Chris Brown’s documentary set for release in June ‘Half Girlfriend’ to release in over 2,500 Indian screens ocumentary on the life of singa bellwether for Europe er Chris Brown titled “Wel-
pAriS, ApriL 23 (rEUtErS): France voted on Sunday in the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election that is crucial to the future of Europe and a closely-watched test of voters’ anger with the political establishment. Over 50,000 police backed by elite units of the French security services patrolled the streets less than three days after a suspected Islamist gunman shot dead a policeman and wounded two others on the central Champs Elysees avenue. Voters will decide whether to back a pro-EU centrist newcomer, a scandal-ridden veteran conservative who wants to slash public spending, a far-left eurosceptic admirer of Fidel Castro or to appoint France’s first woman president who would shut borders and ditch the euro. The outcome will show whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb. A high level of indecision adds to nervousness. Hanan Fanidi, a 33-year-old financial project manager, was still unsure as she arrived at a polling station in Paris’ 18th arrondissement. “I don’t believe in anyone, actually. I haven’t arrived at a candidate in particular who could advance things. I’m very, very pessimistic,” she said. Emmanuel Macron, 39, a centrist exbanker who set up his party just a year ago, is the opinion polls’ favourite to win the first round and beat far-right National Front chief Marine Le Pen in the two-person run-off on May 7. For them to win the top two qualifying positions on Sunday would represent a huge change in the political landscape. The second round would then feature neither of the mainstream parties that have governed France for decades. But conservative Francois Fillon is making a comeback af-
ter being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist JeanLuc Melenchon’s ratings have surged in recent weeks. Any two of the four has a chance to qualify for the run-off. “It wouldn’t be the classic left versus right divide but two views of the world clashing,” said Ifop pollsters’ Jerome Fourquet. “Macron bills himself as the progressive versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists.” The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party’s Benoit Hamon lag behind in opinion polls. By noon (1000 GMT), turnout amid sunshine and clear skies across much of France was 28.54 percent, according to official figures - around the same as in the 2012 first round, in which almost 80 percent eventually took part. Some polls had been predicting a much lower turnout, closer to the 70 percent that took the then National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen into the second round in 2002. Pollsters are unclear about what a low or high turnout could mean in 2017. President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy have failed through both of the past two five-year presidencies to tackle the high unemployment and sluggish growth.That issue, and the general trustworthiness of politicians, stands out, polls say, even though security has re-entered the debate since Thursday’s killing of a policeman. Some argue the incident increases Le Pen’s chances; but previous militant attacks, such as the November 2015 killing of 130 people in Paris ahead of regional polls, have not appeared to have any impact on votes. Earlier on Sunday a polling station in Besancon, eastern France was evacuated after a stolen vehicle was abandoned with the engine running while voting took place.
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ctors Shraddha Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor-starrer romantic drama “Half Girlfriend” will release in more than 2,500 screens across India on May 19. NH Studioz, an initiative of Narendra Hirawat and Co., has bagged the distribution rights of the movie, directed by Mohit Suri. The film is adapted from celebrated author Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name. The statement released on behalf the company on Friday said that the film will release in 1600 screens. However a fresh statement states that number of screens will be more than 2500. “We are extremely happy to be associated with Balaji Motion Pictures for ‘Half Girlfriend’. We are bringing this film to entertain audiences in over 2500 screens,” Narendra Hirawat from NH Studioz, said in a statement. Arjun plays the role of Madhav Jha and Shraddha essays the role of Riya Somani in the film, which is set against the backdrop of three distinct worlds of Delhi, Patna and New York.
come To My Life” will be out in June. The film’s website said, “This compelling documentary moves beyond the spotlight and past the attention-grabbing headlines to give pop superstar Chris Brown a chance to tell his own story. “New interviews with the international phenomenon reveal longawaited answers about his passion for making music, his tumultuous and much publicised relationships, and the pitfalls of coming of age in the public eye.” The documentary will also star familiar faces such as Usher, Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled, Mary J. Blige, Mike Tyson, Rita Ora and Jamie Foxx. It will feature some never-seen-before footage from Brown’s concerts and work projects.
Source: IANS
Source: PTI
I’m not afraid to speak my mind: Frieda Pinto
Auto driver’s son gets Justin Bieber’s concert ticket for free
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ctress Freida Pinto says that speaking her mind can get her “into trouble” but she will still not shy away from sharing her views. “I’m not afraid to speak my mind, and that can get me into trouble. For me (social and political activism) is the only thing that matters,” Pinto says. The 32-year-old, who stars in the Showtime miniseries “Guerrilla”, says she jumped at the opportunity to play the role of Jas, reported People magazine. “As a female actor it is a lot harder to come across roles that explore every aspect of the character, not just her beauty. But Jas and I are similar in our passion,” she says. Pinto considers herself “really blessed” to have a career in Hollywood but is also aware of the fickleness of it all and how fleeting stardom can be. And despite any ups and downs she has had through her career, the actress says she would not go back and do anything differently. “I’m just glad that I did everything I had to do in my 20s and got everything out of my system between 18 and 25. Now I know what I don’t want. I wouldn’t change anything. If you don’t make mistakes, you never learn,” she says.
Rs. 75,000 ticket of singer Justin Biebers concert in India as part of his Purpose World Tour has been given free to a Mumbai-based autorickshaw drivers son, who is a fan of the American pop star. The golden ticket gives people access to merchandise and backstage access. The auto-rickshaw driver, 50, has a 22-yearold son, who has been following Bieber’s music for a while. He had dropped messages on the official page of the tour talking about his love for Bieber’s music while hoping to receive a reply. His wish has been fulfilled by the organisers -- White Fox India. “Yes it’s true, we have given the golden ticket to an ardent fan of Justin Bieber who didn’t have the means to afford the tickets,” Arjun Jain, the man behind the tour, said in a statement. “Bieber has always believed in charity and we wanted to ensure there is greater meaning to the Purpose Tour and we can extend our support to the causes Bieber publicly supports. We are also looking at partnering with NGOs to donate certain proceeds of the concert to a noble cause,” Jain added. The organisers might even arrange a special meet and greet for the fan with Bieber backstage. Bieber will perform at the DY Patil Stadium here on May 10.
Source: PTI
Source: IANS
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MonDAY 24•04•2017
sports
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Warriors put blazers on brink, Gasol's floater sinks Spurs
Los AngeLes, ApriL 23 (AFp): Stephen Curry scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Golden State Warriors stormed back from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-113. Klay Thompson tallied 24 points on Saturday for the Warriors, who seized a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven firstround Western Conference playoff series. CJ McCollum scored 32 points and Damian Lillard added 31 for the Blazers, who will try to stay alive with a win in game four on Monday. "They had a lot of adrenaline but we were able to withstand their runs and get back in the game," said Curry. "I love these kind of moments. I have confidence in myself to make those shots." Elsewhere Saturday, Marc Gasol lifted Memphis to a 110-108 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs with a clutch jump shot at the buzzer that allowed the Grizzlies to level their playoff series at 2-2. Golden State was without forward Kevin Durant (calf injury), guard Shaun Livingston (finger) and forward Matt Barnes (ankle). Warriors coach Steve Kerr also did not attend the game because of illness. His was replaced by assistant coach Mike Brown. After the final buzzer, Curry collected the game ball and said he planned to deliver it to Kerr. "Our coach is going through a lot right now," Curry said. "He told us to go out and 'win one for the Gipper.'" Lillard scored 22 points and McCollum 17 as the Blazers went into halftime leading 67-54. Curry and Thompson were a combined eight for 25 from the field at halftime. In Memphis, Gasol's floater over Spurs defender LaMarcus Aldridge with 0.7 seconds left capped a thrilling back and forth
assists. Conley, who had 11 points in the final quarter, answered with a floater in the lane with four seconds left to tie the game at 96. Leonard then missed a 21-footer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Memphis won despite making a franchise postseason record 23 turnovers that led to 31 San Antonio points. Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan, held scoreless from the floor a game earlier, struck for 33 points and nine rebounds to lead Toronto over Milwaukee 87-76. The visiting Raptors pulled level with Milwaukee at 2-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, which continues Monday in Toronto. In Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks led wire-to-wire en route to a dominating 116-98 victory over Washington, cutting the Wizards lead in the playoff series to 2-1.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, dribbles around Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo)
first round playoff contest Saturday in front of a crowd of 18,100. Kawhi Leonard scored a playoff career high 43 points for the Spurs, including San Antonio's final 16 points in the fourth quarter. "Both teams played their hearts out," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Just a fantastic basketball game. The fans got their money's worth. Marc made a great shot. L.A.
(Aldridge) contested it very well, it (went) down." Leonard added eight rebounds, six steals and three assists. Leonard's fade-away jumper with 12 seconds left in regulation gave San Antonio a 96-94 lead. But Leonard's brilliant performance was in vain as Mike Conley led Memphis with 35 points and had nine rebounds and eight
- 'He's a crybaby' Forward Paul Millsap registered his second consecutive double-double by finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds as the Hawks clawed their way back into the Eastern Conference series. Millsap was 12 of 20 from the floor and had five assists. The only blemish on his night was missing four-of-nine free throws. Game four of the series is Monday in Atlanta. After the game, Millsap and Washington's Markieff Morris continued to fire verbal jabs at each other. Morris called Millsap a "crybaby". "He's a crybaby. You get all the calls when you're a crybaby. That's how I look at it," Morris said. Millsap added: "It definitely got personal now, yes." Atlanta also got 27 points and nine assists from Dennis Schroder. Rookie Taurean Prince scored 16 points.
Nadal wins historic 10th Monte Carlo title Monte CArLo, ApriL 23 (AFp): Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record-breaking 10th time with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Spanish compatriot Albert RamosVinolas on Sunday. The 30-year-old Nadal, who now has 50 clay court titles and 70 in all, will be aiming for a 10th French Open title as well next month. It was Nadal's first title in almost a year and further cemented his place in history as he became the first man in the Open era to win the same event 10 times. He won eight Monte Carlo titles in a row from 2005 to 2012 but then lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final. He won the title again last year and then added the Barcelona crown a week later, yet had not lifted a trophy since, losing three finals already this year, including January's Australian Open against Roger Federer. Nadal's 50 clay titles breaks the record he shared with Guillermo Vilas since April last year when he lifted his ninth trophy in Barcelona. "I cannot explain the feelings that I have," Nadal said. "I had a tough start to the season. When I first played here in 2003 as a qualifier I reached the third round. "Now, a lot of years later, this is something I could have never dreamt. Thanks to life for giving me this opportunity." The great Spaniard needed just 76 minutes and three match points to see off his compatriot on Sunday. The left-hander now has 29 Masters titles, one
Rafael Nadal with the Monte Carlo Masters trophy. (AP Photo)
behind the all-time record of 30 held by Novak Djokovic. He has now won an ATP event for the 14th consecutive year after losing his first three finals of 2017. Nadal was hardly challenged by his 29-year-old countryman, who was playing the best tennis of his career after seeing off world number one Andy Murray on his way to the final. Nadal took victory as Ramos-Vinolas doublefaulted. "What can you say about Nadal," said the losing finalist. "I never expected anything like this week to happen to me (wins over Andy Murray and Marin Cilic).
"Rafa winning here 10 times is unbelievable, he's the best for sure on clay. For me, I still had a fantastic finish to the week." Nadal will now move on to his home event in Barcelona next week where he will be eyeing another magical 10th title. Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas played the fourth all-Spanish championship in the Open Era in Monte Carlo, with Nadal winning the 2010 edition against Fernando Verdasco and beating David Ferrer a year later. Nadal now stand 3-0 versus Ramos-Vinolas and has never lost to a countryman in an ATP final, now standing 15-0 in that category.
public discourse IS THERE A CONFUSION ON GEOGRAPHICAL TERRITORY AND POLITICAL TERRITORY AMONG NAGAS?
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Kaka D. Iralu
hough “Geographical Territory” and “Political Territory” are interrelated terms, in the strictly scientific linguistics discipline, the two terms are entirely two different things. In the scientific Linguistics discipline, “Geographical Territory” means the LAND area (or territory) of a nation. On the other hand, “Political Territory” means the political boundary or limits of a political party. In this sense, “political territory” means an imagined or defined and written boundary, beyond which that particular political party cannot go in expressing the political views of their party. I am asking and making these clarifications in the context of many statements about Naga territories and counter rejoinders by many Naga writers including myself. And in this connection allow me to also apologize to Dr. Somingam Mawon for thinking that he is a member of the NSCN IM (Reference, Morung Express April 23, 2017). Before issuing my clarifications to his writings, I did ask a Tangkhul elder about his name and identity and was told that he thinks Mawon was a Kilonser in the I.M. I therefore wrote with the assumption that he was an official of the I.M. The mistake is squarely my own mistake and I do apologize for it. Now Dr. Mawon in his latest response to me had written that prior to the Geographical map (Territory) stated in the Naga Yehzabo of 1956, the Naga Club had roughly mapped out the Naga regions which were to be included in the supposed Nagaland.” Here I would like to state that I am not aware of any such map mapped out by the Naga Club either in the memorandum or in any attached map. They did make mention of our Naga “country” and also “tribes” but country or tribes are not maps. I would also like to add that Nagaland is not a “supposed Nagaland” but a concrete geographical territory inhabited by a physical race called Nagas for over 2000 years in recorded history. Regarding the Shillong Accord, you have mentioned about
“certain literature “which have mentioned Keviyalie being the “chief architect of the accord.” I have also come across many such fictitious literature written by so many MIPs (Ministry of Information and Publicity and even individuals), which are all purely LIES concocted to cover up mistakes and crimes committed by so many leaders of so many factions that have sprung up using the Shillong Accord as their justification for forming their factions. My question to your” literature” allegation of Keviyalie being the chief architect of the Shillong Accord is this counter question: If Keviyalie had indeed drafted the Shillong Accord, why was he the one who requested the Governor to allow the delegation to first consult their colleagues in Nagaland before signing the document? Logically speaking, shouldn't he have been the first person to sign the document gladly if he had drafted it in the first place? As for Phizo’s alleged silence over the Shillong Accord, please read his reply to the Shillong Accord in page 161 of Shapwon’s book “The Illegal Formation of the NSCN” which you say, you are also aware of. Allow me to also here quote some excerpts from Phizo’s instructions to T. Pushü Venuh who became Vice President of NNC after Imkongmeren. Phizo wrote to Pushü in Angami which translated into English, goes like this: “Some people are raising a hue and cry over a Shillong Accord signed with the black man about which I did not have any foreknowledge and am not even bothered… If they (Indians) raise the accord issue when we meet, they will have to explain its meaning to us and then we will know how to reply them…even in the past they have been talking about a Ten year Agreement which they themselves have rejected but often raised it again and again in order to fool others. Also why was a puppet state imposed in Nagaland if there exist a former agreement? And on top of this, why another Shillong accord? The black man will have to explain these things to our people… Be vigilant because they will always try to keep us divided so that they can establish
their own position over us.” Yet, in spite of what Phizo had written about the Shillong Accord, “some literature” (as you call it), still insist that Keviyalie the younger brother of Phizo was the chief architect of the Shilling Accord! (Phizo’s four paged instructions to Venuh in Angami are available for anyone to see. The letter was dated London, Sept 18, 1979). You have also mentioned about Phizo’s 5 years silence from 1975 to 1980 which prompted Isak and Muivah to form the NSCN in 1980. Muivah and late Isak had also talked about writing three letters to Phizo for advice and guidance after the Shillong accord to which Phizo never replied them. In this connection, one of the first questions that I asked Ms. Adinno whom I met for the first time in my life in London in 2002, was to show me the three letters that Muivah and Isak had sent to Phizo. Her incredulous reply to me was: “So even you have been fooled by other people’s lies. I am your grandfather’s Secretary and no such letter was ever sent by them.” Later on, I had in one of my rejoinders to the I.M. asked them to re-produce those letters so that the Naga public can read what they had written to Phizo. But so far they have not reproduced those letters to the public domain. As for Zashei’s four letters to Isak and Muivah from 1978 to 1984, pleading with them to meet the authorities in Western Nagaland so that the Shillong accord could be explained to them, you will find those letters in page 145-153 of the afore mentioned Shopwan’s book. Neither of them ever replied the FGN President’s explanation of the Shillong Accord or plea for reconciliation. This is not surprising as Shopwan had also written how Col. Subongs suggestions to go and talk with the leaders in Nagaland and also Major Neituolie’s similar desire to go and meet the authorities in Western Nagaland after the Shillong Accord of 1975, were all prevented by Muivah before the formation of the NSCN in 1980. As for S.A. Shishak’s book which you have mentioned, I will search for it and read it.
CITIZEN DEPLORES PATHETIC ROAD WORK Hukiye P. Yepthomi
T
Lhomithi Village
he road between ThahekhuLhomithi tri-junction to Signal Angami penta-junction has been in a deplorable condi-
tion the past decades. People passing through this stretch of road have harrowing experiences to tell though it is less than a kilometer. When the concerned authorities took up the task to re-construct the said stretch of road, the denizens heaved a sigh of relief. But
within less than 2 months, there have been cracks appearing in many places. Therefore, as a concerned citizen, it has appealed to the concerned authority to kindly look into the matter as a priority and let the contractor re-construct the road once again before the bill is passed.
Patient Rights Pelezoto Pius Kikhi Kirha Village, Dimapur
W
hat is Patient rights? Patients’ rights emerged from human rights, constitutional rights, civil rights, consumer rights, codes of ethics of medical and nursing profession. The codes of ethics of medical and nursing profession defines the duties of the doctors and nurses towards the patient. These duties form the basis of patients’ rights. Similarly, the constitution of India gives certain rights on its citizen, e.g.: Right to Life, Rights against exploitation. All these comprises the rights of a patient legally as a citizen of India. Everyone one of us must have visited a hospital at least once as a patient seeking treatment or as a visitor/ attendant of a patient. What was your experience all together from your entry till the exit in the hospital?Earlier,medical professionhas been held with reverence and was considered a noble profession, butat present,it has been commercialized to such an extent that it has been associated with a number of malpractices and negligence over the years. In today’s scenario, healthcare is no more considered as a noble service, but availed like any other consumer services. You pay money and expect to be provided the best care. This may have occurred with the growth of consumerism or increasing awareness of the consumers/patients, resulting in the comfort zone of many healthcare professionals been stretched and the accountability of care and service provided under scrutiny through media, internet information’s, Consumer Protection Act and many more likely to creep up in the coming years of advancement. Unless the public is aware of its rights and makes an individual effort to know their rights, the health care services anywhere else will take its own time to provide a good quality service for the patients. The medical profession has been
brought under Consumer Protection Act, 1986 section 2(1)(o) only after a landmark case in 1995 through the Supreme Court decision in “Indian Medical Association vsVP Shantha”. The following categories of doctors/ hospitals have been included under this section: 1. All medical/dental practitioners doing independent medical/dental practice unless rendering only free service. 2. Private hospitals charging all patients. 3. All hospitals having free as well as paying patients and all the paying and free category patients receiving treatment in such hospitals. 4. Medical/dental practitioners and hospitals paid by an insurance firm for the treatment of a client or an employment for that of an employee. How safe is the health care services? As per CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, a leading national public health institute of the United States): On any given day, about 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.As per WHO (Jul 21, 2011): “Your chances of dying due to an error in hospital is 1 in 300 whereas, the risk of dying from a plane crash is 1 in 10 million passengers. The chance of a hospital erroris about 1 in 10 in most hospitals around the world and 5,000 deaths directly related to healthcare-acquired infections in England each year”. To protect patient from medication/ prescription errors, the Medical Council (MCI) of India published in the Gazette of India on 08.10.2016 (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002,Clause – 1.5 is substituted in terms of Notification as under -“Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs”. This was reinforced again by MCI through letter No.MCI-211(2) (Gen)/2017Ethics/104728, dated 21/04/2017, with suitable disciplinary action by
the concerned State Medical Council/ MCI, against any doctor found violating clause 1.5 of Ethics Regulations. Some important cases to reflect upon by the patient or consumers of health care services are: • Wrong Diagnosis: The patient was initially diagnosed as having Tuberculosis and treatment was given. However later on the basis of other symptoms it was found that he had Jaundice. Allegation that the hospital and attending doctors were negligent in their treatment and diagnosis. Complaint was held to be maintainable. (1993 Consumer Claims Journal 198). • Unqualified Nurse: Wrong administration of injection caused paralysis of leg of a child and the nurse who administered the injection was not qualified. Opposite parties directed to pay compensation and treatment expenses. (1999 CCJ 960) Kerala. • Foreign body left inside after operation of leg which was removed by another doctor. Opposite parties directed to pay Rs. 20,000/- as compensation. (1999 CCJ 99) National Commission. • May 26, 1995: The case of Indian actressSridevi's mother, who was operated on the wrong side of the brain at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York USA. • In Florida, February 1995: surgeon mistakenly removed the wrong leg of his patient, 52-year-old Willie King, during an amputation procedure. This article intention is not to encourage the patients to question the hospital’s treatment but to make them aware of their rights. Just like a customer should know that while buying any productthey should be provided safe/ uncontaminated product with the correct quality, quantity, purityso as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices; similarly, a patient should know that he/she deserves quality treatment and safe environment free from exploitation and malpractices during their visit to the hospital.
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.
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Monday 24•04•2017
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Arsenal set date with Chelsea in FA Cup final Chelsea edge Tottenham in thrilling semi Sanchez caps comeback against City
Chelsea's Willian scores his side's second goal from a penalty conceded by Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, left, during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, April 22, 2017. (AP Photo)
C M Y K
LONDON, ApriL 23 (reuters): Late goals from Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matric settled a rip-roaring FA Cup semifinal 4-2 in Chelsea's favour over title rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday. It was only the fourth time in the famous old knockout competition that a semi-final had featured the current top two in the top flight and it did not disappoint. Brazilian Willian, surprisingly selected ahead of Hazard in the starting line-up, twice put Chelsea ahead in a sizzling contest, first after four minutes with a free kick and then
close to halftime from the penalty spot. Tw i ce Tottenha m roared back with Harry Kane heading them level after 18 minutes and fellow England international Dele Alli making it 2-2 with a superb finish in the 52nd minute. Tottenham, who are four points behind Chelsea in the Premier League after a brilliant run of seven successive wins, dominated at times but their hopes of a first FA Cup final since 1991 were sunk late on by two moments of magic. First Hazard, who replaced Willian, buried a low shot past Hugo Lloris after 75 minutes, then Ma-
tic's 25-metre piledriver sank Spurs who have won only one of their last nine matches at Wembley and have lost seven straight FA Cup semi-finals. It was a huge win for Chelsea who have wobbled lately with two league defeats and they will face either Arsenal or Manchester City in the final when a "double" could be on offer. "I am proud for this achievement," Chelsea boss Antonio Conte told reporters. "This is my first season in England and it is great to fight for the title and reach the final of the FA Cup." After a resounding
ovation for former England defender and Tottenham's Under-23 coach Ugo Ehiogu who died on Friday the semi-final did not take long to ignite. Chelsea, with Diego Costa also on the bench, settled quickly and struck first. Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld was fortunate to escape a red card when his desperate tackle ended Pedro's marauding run, but greater punishment was exacted by Willian who curled a beautiful free kick past a flat-footed Lloris. Chelsea swarmed around the pitch threatening a second goal but their lead lasted only 13 minutes.
DELICATE HEADER Christian Eriksen's corner was blocked but when the ball came back to the Dane he curled in a low cross and Kane, almost kneeling, feathered a delicate header beyond Thibaut Courtois for his 26th goal of the season. As Tottenham assumed control Eric Dier went close to giving them the lead with a glancing header from Jan Vertonghen's teasing delivery that floated wide. Chelsea regained the lead out of the blue. Eating up the ground on a forward run N'Golo Kante slipped a ball towards the overlapping Victor Moses down the right and he was sent sprawling to the turf by Son Heung-min, playing as a left wing back, who needlessly slid in. After a short delay referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the penalty spot and Willian rammed it past Lloris. Tottenham hit back in brilliant fashion seven minutes after the break when Eriksen's teasing ball left Luiz floundering and Alli stole in to stabbed the ball high past Courtois. Conte then played his trump card. Costa and Hazard came on and it was Hazard who stunned Tottenham when he was allowed to much space to fire home after fellow substitute Cesc Fabregas's corner was only half cleared. Matic then sent Chelsea's fans into ecstasy with an unstoppable fourth.
IPL: Punjab beat Gujarat by 26 runs to end losing run Rifle & Pistol Shooting training camp from May 3
Sandeep Sharma of KXIP celebrates after take a wicket of Andrew Tye of GL during match 26 of the Vivo 2017 Indian Premier League between the Gujarat Lions and the Kings XI Punjab held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on April 23. (BCCI Photo)
rAjkOt, ApriL 23 (iANs): Kings XI Punjab put up a strong all-round show to end their fourmatch losing streak with a 26-run victory over Gujarat Lions in an Indian Premier League (IPL) contest here on Sunday. Opening batsman Hashim Amla played a crucial knock of 65 as Punjab posted a challenging total of 188/7 in 20 overs. In reply, Gujarat could muster only 162/7, driven largely by Dinesh Karthik (58 not out) as the eighth-placed team succumbed to its fifth loss in seven matches. Medium pacer Sandeep Sharma (2/40) and the spin pair of K.C. Cariappa (2/24) and Axar Patel (2/36) impressed for the visitors, who now have six points and are fourth on the points table. Punjab, who were coming into the match with four consecutive defeats, had to be thankful to Amla (65; 40b; 9x4, 2x6), who shared a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh (30 off 24 balls) at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here. The partnership came after Manan Vohra (2) edged a Nathu Singh delivery to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik in the second over. Both Amla and Marsh played aggressive cricket to put the pressure on the Gujarat Lions.
While Amla utilised his strong off-side stroke-making to good effect, Marsh decided to take more risk, hitting over the infield. By the end of the Powerplay overs, they reached 50/1, with Amla leading the charge. The partnership was broken in the 10th over when a slow delivery from medium pacer Andrew Tye saw Marsh mistime and giving an easy catch to Suresh Raina at midwicket, with Punjab at 81/2 in 9.2 overs. The same over saw Amla complete his fifty in 30 deliveries and the stage was set for Punjab's power hitters. Amla was joined by Glenn Maxwell and the pair went on the offensive from the word go. Maxwell took only 18 deliveries to score 31 before being dismissed lbw against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over. Amla fell an over before him, driving one straight back at leg-spinner Shubham agarwal. However, the fireworks from Punjab didn't stop as Axar Patel batted with disdain, playing a quickfire 34 off 17 deliveries, of which three went for fours and two were deposited in the stands against Dwayne Smith as Punjab ended at 188/7. Punjab then got about their job of defending the
total very strongly, removing openers Brendon McCullum (6) and Aaron Finch (13) with the batsmen falling to medium pacers Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma respectively. Suresh Raina (32) and Karthik showed some resilience but the former was caught at deep midwicket by Maxwell off a delivery from Axar Patel, as the hosts lost were reduced to 70/3 in nine overs. Later, leg-spinner Cariappa stole the show with two quick wickets. First, he caught Ravindra Jadeja (9) of his own bowling in the final ball of the 12th over and then getting rid of Akshdeep Nath (0) in the first ball of the 14th over. In the 13th over, Dwayne Smith (4) had given Axar his second wicket and following Akshdeep's wicket, Gujarat were looking down the barrel at 102/6, with 87 required of 6.5 overs. However, Karthik, who had dragged Gujarat till then with occasional fours and ones and twos, got a good partner in Andrew Tye to give some hopes to the hosts. Tye played a useful cameo of 22 from 12 deliveries as Sandeep bowled him to further dent the chase of Gujarat, who were at 137/7 in 16.4 overs. Punjab then had no trouble in getting a 26-run victory.
DimApur, ApriL 23 (mexN): The Nagaland Rifle Association (NRA) will be conducting a Rifle & Pistol Shooting Training Camp at the Aries Shooting Range, S. Sorhie’s Complex, Above Lerie SBI, Mohonkhola, Kohima jointly with the Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy, Dimapur, from May 3 to 6. The training camp will be followed by the 1st DS Championship 2017 in Kohima which will be held as per the rules and regulations of the National Rifle Association of India Match Book 2016. A press release from the association Secretary Sentiyanger informed that the training and championship will be conducted by L. Tomba Shooting Coach, Sports Authority of India, North East Regional Centre, Imphal and K. Tijen Sharma, National Shooter. Merang Jamir, ISSF Judge, will be the Jury during the Competitions. The training will be followed by the 8th Aries Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship 2017, and the 3rd Nagaland Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship 2017 at the Aries Sports Complex, Bamunpukhuri-1, Dimapur. Selected shooters will represent Nagaland at the 5th North East Zone Shooting Championships 2017 which will be held at Shillong, Meghalaya from July 10, the release informed. In this regard, the NRA has invited interested new shooters and members of ARAPSA for registration on or before 12:00 noon of May 1. For further details, one may contact Visato Kikhi @ 9436001948 or Viphrelie Sorhie @ 9863174177, or Sentiyanger @ 9856787341.
Alexis Sanchez, left, scores Arsenal's second goal past Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, right, during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 23. (AP Photo)
LONDON, ApriL 23 (Ap): Alexis Sanchez ensured Arsenal's stormy season will end with an FA Cup final after securing a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in extra time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Arsenal will play Chelsea on May 27 in its third FA Cup final in four seasons. The competition has provided a comfort blanket for Arsene Wenger as he has failed to deliver the Premier League trophy since 2004. But with Arsenal languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, and set to miss out on the
Champions League, the heat remains on the manager whose contract expires at the end of the season. Pep Guardiola's first season in charge of City will end without silverware. That's not what City was expecting when it hired the serial winner who had won titles in every campaign with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. City had led against Arsenal in north London, with Sergio Aguero completing a second-half counterattack after Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey gave the ball away in the oppo-
sition half. But Arsenal displayed the resolve lacking so often this year to turn the semifinal around, with defender Nacho Monreal producing a rare goal. And Sanchez came through for Arsenal in extra time, just as he did for the joint-record 12-time FA Cup winners in the 2015 semifinal, producing a winner in the 101st minute. Mesut Ozil's free kick was headed down by Rob Holding, Danny Welbeck missed his attempt but Sanchez demonstrated his poacher's instinct to nudge the ball over the line.
Rooney scores on return for United
Wayne Rooney scores Manchester United's second goal. (AP Photo)
BurNLey, ApriL 23 (reuters): Wayne Rooney scored on his return to the Manchester United startingline up as Jose Mourinho's side enjoyed a 2-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday to close in on the top four and extend their unbeaten league run to 23 games. Rooney, who last started a game on March 4, was given the start for only the second
time in 2017 in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and with Mourinho opting to start with in-form 19-year-old Marcus Rashford on the bench. It was his French strike partner Anthony Martial though who opened the scoring at Turf Moor in the 21st minute, breaking from midfield and then finishing in style after a swift exchange with Ander Herrera.
Rooney made it 2-0, with his 251st goal, in the 39th minute, reacting well to poke home from close range after Burnley keeper Tom Heaton failed to hold on to a low shot from Martial. Fifth-placed United are now just a point behind local rivals Manchester City, who are fourth, ahead of their clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
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