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tuesDAY • APRIL 26 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 113 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge Searing heat continues across India, Bengaluru breaks 85 yr old record
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Kohima | April 25
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SSSUD lifts ban on transport of sand DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): The Sand Stockist and Suppliers Union, Dimapur (SSSUD) will lift the ban imposed on transport of sand from Manja route from April 26, 2016 onwards. This was resolved in an emergency held between the three organizations- Sand Mohaldars and Suppliers Association, Karbi Anglong Chamber of Commerce (KACC) and Sand Stockist and Suppliers Union Dimapur (SSSUD) at Naharijan, Karbi Anglong, Assam on Monday. According to a press note received from SSSUD secretary Nito Sumi, the three organizations also resolved to work in coordination in future on any matter related to sand. KACC was represented by Augustine Kramasa, SSSUD by Avishe Zhimo and Nito Sumi and SMSA by Jackson Kramasa, the note added.
Even though 2011 census puts Persons with Disability (PwDs) in Nagaland at 29,631, a conservative estimation, this large section continues to live on the fringes completely deprived of their rights and dignity and facing exclusion and discrimination from society as a whole, Nagaland State Disability Forum (NSDF) Advisor Diethono Nakhro told a press conference here today at Kohima Press Club. Despite the existence of various laws as well as guidelines and court orders that have been notified from time to time to ensure equal rights and full participation of Persons with Disabilities, she stated that, without reservation, the Nagaland government has consistently failed this section of its citizens over the years. “There is gross violation of the rights of persons with disability in all areas of life, Nakhro accused. “Yet our state government remains apathetic and tragically, also ignorant of the laws and the issue in general. Today we are saying that this is no longer acceptable.” “We are speaking up … because it is our right to have equal opportunities and choices as everyone else,” she further clarified. On inclusive education, the NSDF Advisor argued that majority of children with disabilities and special needs do not receive any formal education despite an inclusive education programme in existence. “Inclusive education must be strictly implemented in our education system at all levels. We want answers on the misappropriation of Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) funds under the school education department,” she said. The NSDF also demanded the implementation of 3% reservation in toto for PwDs in government jobs as per the PwD Act 1995 and Supreme Court order 2013 and expressed its desire for setting up of the office of the State Commissioner for PwDs and appointment of a qualified per-
son with proper and special knowledge and experience in disability matters. Demanding a review disability pension, the NDSF pointed out that only 1,833 PwDs out of the 29, 631 are availing disability pension as per social welfare department information. The pension amount of Rs. 200 currently being given is the lowest in the entire country. However, even this unacceptable amount is not being disbursed to the few beneficiaries in time, it alleged. In regard with tourism, NSDF told the press conference that the forum has already met Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism C. Apok Jamir recently regarding accessibility for PwDs at Hornbill Festival events and demanded taking up and implementing the same immediately. It also called be putting in place in a “Tourism for all” policy in the tourism department. Nakhro further pointed out that while a single rehabilitation centre for PwDs Dimapur District Rehabilitation Centre - was set up in Dimapur few years ago, this has become defunct since the last two years or so due to lack of funds. Revival of the Dimapur Centre and setting up of Rehabilitation Centres and other services in all districts is an urgent need, she added. The NSDF expressed the need for vocational and resource centre of PwDs in the state and districts; training institute for teachers/caregivers/NGOs workers, other health workers/parents of CWSN etc; residential rehabilitation facility for severely disabled who lack family support or whose families cannot afford adequate care and for those in need of long term intensive care and therapy; and rehabilitation centre for persons with severe mental health and developmental disabilities. Due to lack of such facilities in the state, persons with such disabilities are abandoned, neglected, discriminated and even brought to police station by family or community members to be locked up when they are unable to manage them, NDSF maintained. Among other demands, the NSDF further called for review and streamlining of Disability Certificate issuance process by the health department; accessibility in the built environment (offices and other public buildings), all public areas and in all public events; and supply of reasonably priced disability aids and appliances at regular intervals for those in need.
A Sumi woman farmer poses with her weiging scale- she is out to sell vegetables from her field on a rainy April day in Zunheboto Town. (Morung Photo)
TR education qualification case transferred to the JMFC, Peren Morung Express News
The court also took into account that during the pendency of this particular judgment, another criminal A judgment passed today in a case re- revision petition, namely Criminal garding the educational qualification Revision Petition No. 1 (K) of 2016 “on issue of Nagaland State Chief Minister TR Zeliang has transferred it to the • Complainant Case no. 1 Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) of 2016 & no. 4 of 2015 to of Peren district. The judgment was be heard by JMFC Peren passed on Monday by Justice LS Jamir at the Kohima Bench of the Gauha- • Complainant Case no. 5 ti High Court (of Assam, Nagaland, ‘set aside & quashed’ Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh). Cases on the matter were filed in Kohima vide (i) Criminal Revision similar facts” arising out of ComplainPetition No.8 (K) of 2015 TR Zeliang ant Case no. 1 of 2016 was pending bevs. District Congress Committee fore the JMFC, Peren, which was taken Peren represented by its President up for hearing on March 18, 2016. “Considering that both the casHeluina Iheilung (Complainant case no. 5) and (ii) CRP No.9 (K) of 2015 TR es are of similar nature, this court in Zeliang Vs. Maziezokho Nisa. (Com- order to avoid conflicting findings by the two separate Courts, is of the plainant Case no. 4). Kohima | April 25
considered opinion that Complaint Case No.4 of 2015 pending before the learned JMFC Kohima, Nagaland should be transferred to the court of the learned JMFC Peren Nagaland,” stated the judgment and order passed by the judge on April 25. The judgment ordered the transferred case to be considered along with Complainant case No.1 of 2016. Complainant case No. 5 of 2015, however, was “set aside and quashed.” Both the criminal revision petitions (4 of 2015 and 5 of 2015) were thus disposed of by the common judgment and order. TR Zeliang (petitioner) was represented by A. Zhimomi along with Imti Longjem, Joshua, Esther and Vinitoli while the counsel for the respondent consisted of KN Balgopal, Sr. Adv with Nitya Nambiar and M Wapang.
Rajya Sabha MP defines his priorities 2,43,265 taxpaying households under 1238 VDBs in Nagaland
Nagaland govt fails to pay Hindi teachers since Dec 2015 DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU) has, for the umpteenth time, appealed to the Nagaland Government to release the pending salaries of Hindi teachers under CSS at the earliest. A press statement from ANHTU general secretary, AS Yarthotngam informed that 1379 Hindi teachers of 2012-13 batch have been deprived of their monthly salaries since December 2015 till date-which it alleged was ‘discrimination’ against the Hindi teachers. Lamenting that the affected teachers are facing many hardships due to nonreceipt of their salaries, the Union explained that they were even finding it difficult to cover their transportation costs incurred during performing duty. Besides, it was also affecting their children because of the difficulty to cover the expenses of their tuition fees, the Union said. The Union has also urged the State government and the concerned department to submit the Fund Utilization Certificate to the Government of India on time so that there is no delay on release of funds by the centre. It questioned on how the teachers are expected to perform their duties sincerely, if, they are not paid for their work and duties.
PAGe 12
clarion call for rights & dignity Our Correspondent
CITIZEN UMBRELLA
Juventus win fifth straight title
PAGE 02
PwDs lament that Nagaland state government remains apathetic and tragically, also ignorant of the laws and the issue in general
Aree. What s with these people. A glass of whisky and they start acting like educated people.
T R u T H
— Isaac Bashevis Singer
CTSU issue guidelines for schools and teachers
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o F
Nagaland Rajya Sabha MP K.G Kenye
Chizkoho Vero Kohima | April 25
Nagaland Rajya Sabha MP elect K.G Kenye on Monday announced his priorities giving special focus on agri & allied sector, power, road, education, medical and the Naga political issue. “Major portion of the Naga population live in the rural areas, and the mainstay of our people is agribased, which is why I want to accord special attention to this area, Kenye said in an interview with The Morung Express. The Rajya Sabha MP said in order to strength our economy, more focus need to be given to agri & allied sector. “When we say our main occupation is agriculture, we depend on CPO rice from the Centre, which is shame,” he said. Expressing concern over the dependence on import of products from neighboring states, he felt that this was draining both the state’s economy as well as the health of the people. Asserting that the present government has already taken cognizance of the importance of agri & allied sector, Kenye said due focus would be given on promoting this sector so that even if there is no surplus at least sufficiency can be
achieved to meet the requirement of the state. Kenye said he will be approaching the Centre to make agriculture a thrust area by networking with concerned departments, integrating Centre’s nodal agency with state nodal agency and carry forward the programme at earnest. Kenye further stressed on the need to develop the natural resources in the state. He said if public sector and private sector is allowed to participate, then a chain of small and median industries can come up on the basis of natural resources available. He felt that with change of attitude among the landowners, proper industrial policy would usher in era of economy boom for the state. On power sector, Kenye said until and unless Nagaland state have 24 hour uninterrupted power supply, one cannot think of bringing any kind of industries- small or medium. Even those individual entrepreneurs will never be able to compete with others, he said. The newly elected MP felt that Nagas have been focusing too much on the ‘political aspect’ instead of leaving it to the leaders and nationalist groups. “In our pursuit for a ‘settlement,’ we have forgotten other virtues of life, which are much more important in nation building,” he stated. Lamenting that Nagas were once referred to as honest, hardworking, upright and brave, he said such moral values are slowly disappearing from the Naga society. “We have to re-discover our good qualities and virtues of life which our forefathers had,” he said. Kenye pointed out that Naga political issue is certainly one of his main priority. The MP said that he stand by the party (NPF) principle in respect to the Naga political issue. Bio Data of KG Kenye on page 5
Our Correspondent Kohima | April 25
Altogether, there are 2, 43, 265 tax paying households under 1238 Village Development Boards (VDBs) in Nagaland during 2015-16, a manual of State’s Rural Development Department informed. The district wise taxpaying households include; Kohima - 25, 108, Mokokchung - 25, 383, Mon - 29, 788, Tuensang - 23, 432, Zunheboto - 19, 364, Wokha - 17, 335, Phek - 21, 886, Dimapur - 36, 281, Kiphire 15, 124, Longleng - 14, 314 and Peren - 15, 250. “The state of Nagaland has
been exempted from the purview of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution due to the existence of traditional Local Self – Government bodies like the Village Councils and the VDBs,” stated Rural Development Director Metsübo Jamir in the manual. He noted that the manual has been brought out to disseminate information about the vital importance of VDB model rules, procedures of implementing a village-wide approach to community and individual development schemes under state-plan and guidelines of micro-finance and brief note on grant-in-aid
micro-finance, MGNREGA & IAY for the village councils and VDB in the implementation of rural development programmes. All the recognized villages has a VDB to mobilize resources and implement the schemes through the involvement of village community, the activity of which are determined and selected on the basis of their felt needs, Jamir added. The manual also highlighted that all the activities of the department are implemented through the grass-root level organization, “The Village Development Board,” which has been active since its inception
in 1980. RD department has been involved in the activity of development of the rural areas of Nagaland through the implementation of various programmes and schemes with the objective of improving the economic and social living standards of the rural poor through employment generation and infrastructural development programmes, it further claimed. The manual has also includes a section for the VDBs on preparation of planning and implementing of RD programme for in their respective jurisdiction.
Framework Agreement should Bangladesh tightens security not vanish into thin air: NPCC at gas field after ULFA threat
DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): Nagaland Congress Pradesh Committee (NPCC) on Monday stated that the August 3 Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) should not “vanish into thin air” as voiced by Indian National Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Modi in the parliament. NPCC Media Cell in a press statement on the current Naga political problem said the impact of the Framework Agreement, after the “initial euphoria” of the agreement unfortunately, is yet to be felt on ground. It therefore said Prime Minister Modi “should live up to his words since he has been promising moon and stars to the people.” On the other hand, the NPCC also maintained that if Nagaland Government is sincere and has
the courage to propose agendas in the manner of Nagaland People’s Convention (NPC) and willing to take the responsibility before the people, GoI would surely respond. It however stated that the best effort of the 60 MLAs has just been limited to facilitate and support. The NPCC meanwhile asserted that, keeping the aspiration of the people in mind, it has always endeavored to solve the political problem through peaceful and constitutional means that will bring about a good solution for all. It also clarified that the NPCC does not subscribe to the personal opinion of KV Pusa, who, it informed is facing disciplinary proceedings for ideological difference with the Indian National Congress.
DHAKA, APRIL 25 (REUtERs): Bangladesh has increased security at its largest natural gas field, which is operated by Chevron, the government said on Monday, citing a rare threat by a militant group operating in neighbouring India. The United Liberation Front of Assam has been fighting for secession from India and many of its members are based in Bangladesh. Dhaka said it has received warnings from the Indian authorities that the ULFA was planning to target pipelines at the Bibiyana gas field in northeastern Bangladesh. The Bibiyana field, located in the Sylhet district 278 kilometres from Dhaka, accounts for 45 percent of the country’s gas output. “We have taken additional security measures to prevent destructive activities in the gas field or on the supply system,” said Interior Minister Asaduzzamn Khan. In 2014 a Bangladesh court sentenced ULFA’s leader Paresh Barua to death in absentia for his part in a huge arms smuggling operation which was discovered 10 years previously. Chevron said it was aware of the threat to its operations in Bibiyana. “We are working with relevant government agencies to assess the security situation and take appropriate measures to secure our personnel and operated facilities,” a spokesman said.