C M Y K
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SunDAY • April 02 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 89 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter Heat wave continues; Chandrapur, Balangir sizzle at 44.2 deg C
T R u T H
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Leadership demands inclusivity, sacrifice
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o F
Coutinho inspires Liverpool to win Merseyside derby
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Nagaland: CAG points to flaws in distribution of uniforms & books
‘It is evident that there was inadequate planning, coordination and implementation’ Morung Express News Dimapur | April 1
Konyak men, women and children decked in traditional attires at the Aoleang Monyu, the premier festival of the Konyak tribe, which was celebrated at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on Saturday under the banner of Konyak Union Kohima. (Photo by Chizoko Vero)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Pangsha area citizens objects to joint survey work at Indo-Myanmar border Demands immediate removal of border post 146 and realignment as per traditional boundary
DIMAPUR, APRIL 1 (MExN): Citizens of Pangsha range in Nagaland’s Tuensang district has expressed dismay that a survey team of India and Myanmar are in Pangsha to conduct joint survey work as per the existing imaginary line- between BP145 and BP146 of the Indo-Myanmar border at ITC Dan- which it claimed, has bifurcated the land of the Khiamniungan tribe without their knowledge. On working days you make Objecting to the proposed joint suremployees work like mules, deduct 24% from their salary. vey work, a representation from the village councils of New Pangsha, Old Pangsha, ITC Then on Sunday you hide. Dan and Wonsoi villages addressed to Nagaland Chief Minister, said the “BP146 (border post) was installed erroneously within our land where 3500 acres of cultivable land has been compromised to the foreign country for no wrong of the land owners.” In this connection, the Pangsha range citizens has demanded that the BP146 should be immediately removed and the existing boundary be realigned as per the traditional boundary of Pangsha (India) and Kingphu/ Woilan, Ponyu (Myanmar) village. The representation also appealed the
Wokha village bans hunting and trapping DIMAPUR, APRIL 1 (MExN): The Wokha Village Council (WWC) has banned hunting and trapping with effect from April 1, 2017. It has also prohibited taking away of any forest medicinal plants and herbs from Mt Tiyi reserve forest. Informing this in a press note, WVC chairman S Yanphamo Tungoe and secretary Zujanbemo Lotha cautioned that anyone found violating the order would invite seizure of their materials and penalized, and action would be taken as per its Village rules and regulation.
EDSSU ten-day deadline for cancellation of appointments
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DIMAPUR, APRIL 1 (MExN): The East Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (EDSSU) has reminded the Department of Land Records and Survey to act on its demand for cancellation of the alleged backdoor appointments of four LRSO and eight Survey Grade-I within ten days commencing from April 1, 2017 onwards. A press note from the EDSSU cautioned that it would begin an indefinite strike at the Directorate office, Dimapur if the department failed to meet their demands. The reminder comes in response to an appeal made by the department to call off the proposed indefinite strike while asserting that the “matter is under serious consideration by the government,” but delayed by the pen-down strike by CANSSEA.
GoI to withdraw the survey teams of both the countries from the spot and that no activities of any form by the concerned governments should be taken up until and unless rectification is made. It also urged the concerned authority to take up this issue on a war footing in order to “maintain a conducive and peaceful atmosphere between the two nations in the border area.” Just recently, on March 28, 2017, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the budget session had resolved to request the GoI to impress upon the Myanmar government to permanently drop the project of construction of fencing on the Indo-Myanmar border with a view to continuing the cordial and fraternal relations amongst the Nagas living on both sides of the border. Since the beginning of 2017, various organisations across Nagaland and Myanmar have been protesting against the fencing of the India-Myanmar border in Nagaland’s Tuensang district after the Myanmar government begun fencing in its Naga selfadministered zone; 10 metres from the demarcation borderline last December. However, after alarm and protest raised by the different Naga organizations, the construction of the border fencing was put on hold.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report for the year ended March 31, 2016 has pointed out several deficiencies in the implementation of the Right to Education Act in the state. One of the areas where discrepancy was detected was in the distribution of text books and uniforms under Section 3(2) of the RTE Act. The report informed that the receipt and issue register of text books and uniforms were not maintained in the schools. During interaction with the head teachers/teachers-incharge of 90 sample schools, the CAG found several irregularities. These included delay in receipt of books and uniforms; distribution of books based on previous enrollment data leading to insufficiency of books and poor/inferior quality of books received. “It is evident that there was inadequate planning, coordination and implementation in provision of free textbooks and uniforms,” the CAG concluded. While examining records at the directorate level, the CAG discovered that the fund approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) during the current year for purchase of free text books were utilized for the purpose only in the subsequent year. Further, the requirement of books was assessed based on the data of enrollment furnished by the SDEOs and DEOs. It also reported that the department purchased books in excess of the actual requirement every year except in 2013-14 and during the last five years, a total of 106,921 books were procured in excess. Despite purchase of excess text books, some schools reported insufficient receipt of text
Festival is not only for drinking, eating, dancing or singing: Chotisuh Sazo Our Correspondent Kohima | April 1
Minister for public health engineering, Chotisuh Sazo today said festival is not only for drinking and eating or dancing and singing but it is also for sports activities, making new friendship and preserving age old friendship. He said traditionally our people use to work, earn and use to celebrate the festival and to prepare ourselves to face the next season of working as per the agricultural cycle. “But today, we see the festivals observed by the different Naga tribes, instead
of working and earning on our own we collect/seek donation from the rich people, officers, contractors etc. and use it to celebrate,” he said while gracing Konyak Aoleang Monyu festival at Kisama as the chief guest. Sazo also pointed out that traditionally Naga ancestors used to drink and eat in order to strengthen one’s body so as to face the next season of work but today during observation of the many festivals, “we drink and eat excessively and spoil ourselves.” In this, he requested the Naga people to understand well the value of the festival so that the good values that have been practiced by forefa-
thers is preserved. Further, he said, “When we talk about our culture and traditions the younger generation in this modern society use to think that it is for wearing traditional dresses, singing and dancing alone.” Sazo made it clear that these are not only the culture and traditions “but we have so many good culture and traditions like, respect to elders and women, hard working and obeying the traditional and customary laws.” “Today we are trying to divert ourselves from all these good values of our traditional practices,” he regretted.
Number of text Number of students Excess(+)/Shortage (-) books set procured entitled for text books 2011-12 260,364 189,938 (+)70,426 2012-13 277,047 248,249 (+)28,798 2013-14 223,353 247,726 (-)24,373 2014-15 230,078 227,794 (+)2,284 2015-16 239,133 209,347 (+)29,786 TOTAL 1,229,975 1,123,054 (+)1,06,921 Year
Year wise number of text books procured and actual enrolment Year
Amount Number Date of approved of supply by GoI (In Students order Lakhs)
2011-12 815.31
203,827
2012-13 758.97
189,743
2013-14 777.54
194,386
2014-15 765.52
191,879
Name of the supplier
M/s Baid Brother, New Delhi 09.11.2011 & M/s I Kraft, Dimapur M/s I Craft 12.11.2012 Dimapur M/s I Craft, 21.12.2013 Dimapur NA NA
Distribution details of school uniforms
books. This, the CAG said, points towards “inadequate monitoring mechanism in the department.” The State Mission Director (SMD), SSA on its part, while accepting the facts, stated on October 2016 that the matter has been noted for compliance, informed the CAG. Regarding the distribution of uniforms, the CAG reported that procurement of uniform has not been decentralized as mandated. Instead, the uniforms were procured by the State Mission Authority (except in 2014-15) and distributed to the districts for further distribution to the blocks/schools. It further informed that no uniforms were purchased during 2015-16. According to the CAG, the fund approved by the PAB for procurement of uniforms was not sufficient to cover the cost. To meet the additional expenditure for procurement of uniforms, Rs 15.14 Crore was diverted from the fund meant for special training under SSA. Further, it was observed that uniforms were supplied and delivered to the districts and the Education Block Resource Centers (ENRCs)
Source: Depart figures/U-DISE
Actual Cost Date of incurred supply (In Lakhs) 1299.64
25.04.2012 to 02.05.2012
1342.34
3/2013 to 08.07.2013
1227.51
N/A
765.52
N/A
Source: Departmental figures
after a delay ranging from 20 days to five months, resulting in delay in distribution to the students. The CAG specifically pointed out that in the academic year 2016, cloth was distributed instead of stitched uniforms. “Therefore many poor students could not afford the stitching charges,” it added. Meanwhile, the CAG also reported that from the U-DISE data, the actual number of students enrolled in government schools was only 573,879 during the year 2011-15. However, it noted that the department procured uniforms for 779,835 students by “inflating the enrollment figure.” This, it stated “resulted in avoidable excess expenditure of Rs 11.96 Crore towards the purchase of uniforms.” Regardingthis,theSMD,SSAinitsreply on October, 2016 stated that the PAB approvesasperthefiguresofstudentsenrollment based on U-DISE and therefore thereshould not beamismatch. The CAG however pointed out that the government needs to ensure that adequate number of uniforms are procured and distributed timely to the students.
NSCN (IM) collective leadership back in New Delhi to resume talks Appeals Naga people to be cautious in words and actions at this crucial stage of creating a new history for Nagas DIMAPUR, APRIL 1 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) collective leadership led by Ato Kilonser Th Muivah and Vice President Gen (Retd) Kholi and talk team members left for Delhi to resume the Indo-Naga political talks. The NSCN (IM) collective leadership was here in Nagaland to attend the 38th Naga Republic Day celebration, the NSCN council meeting and the two-day Tatar Hoho Budget session. While informing this, an MIP press release stated that the Indo-Naga talks was on the verge of conclusion to create a new
history for the Nagas and has therefore appealed to all the Naga people to be cautious in words and actions, which could have a detrimental negative impact on the political talks. “It is unwise to indulge in un-farsighted thinking and magnifying rumours that could led to momentary emotional outburst but patiently wait for the better future under the final solution,” the MIP release went on to state. The NSCN (IM) maintained that it is representing the Nagas and is working out what is best for the Nagas and will never let down the Nagas in the anticipated solution. It has therefore urged and appealed to all “Nagas across the length and breadth of Nagalim for constant prayer and policy support for early solution.”
‘Whenever I come to Northeast, it feels like a reunion with people here’
Dalai Lama arrives in Assam, ahead of Arunachal visit
GAUHATI, APRIL 1 (AP): Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Saturday recalled his 1959 flight to India from Tibet ahead of a visit to northeast India’s Arunachal Pradesh state despite objections by China, which considers it a disputed region. The Dalai Lama said he had no option but to escape Tibet in view of Chinese military action. He spoke at a function organized by an Indian newspaper, The Assam Tribune, in Gauhati, the capital of Assam state. The state’s governor and its top elected official were among an audience of nearly 1,500 people.
The Dalai Lama last visited Arunachal Pradesh in 2009. China protested that trip, but there was no major impact on relations with India. He will leave for Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district on Tuesday, at the end of his Assam state trip. He is scheduled to consecrate a temple and give teachings to his followers during his weeklong stay in the state. “Whenever I come to the northeast of India, it feels like a reunion with people here,” the Dalai Lama said Saturday. “When I revisit the Tawang area, I am reminded of the freedom that I had experienced for the first time (in 1959). That was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.” Last month, China
Babita Rajkhowa, Director of Assam Tribune newspaper, presents a Sarai, a traditional Assamese brass handicraft, to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama during the platinum jubilee celebrations of Assam Tribune newspaper in Gauhati on April 1. (AP Photo)
warned of “severe damage” to relations with India and increased regional instability if the Dalai Lama proceeds with his April 4-11
trip to the state. Dalai Lama recalls flight to India ahead of northeast trip Armenia set to hold parliamentary elections on Sunday.
“On March 10, 1959, there were huge demonstrations in Lhasa,” the Tibetan region’s capital, he recalled. “Chinese military
action also increased. I had no option but to escape. On March 17, I fled.” “I sent some of my officers to Indian authorities at the border,” he said. “They readily allowed us in, received us warmly, and today I can tell you that I am the longest guest of the Indian government.” Last month, China warned of “severe damage” to relations with India and increased regional instability if the Dalai Lama proceeds with his trip to the state. Beijing has expressed its concerns to New Delhi on numerous occasions and urged India to avoid offering a place for the Dalai Lama to carry out antiChina separatist activities, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said last month.
China claims the partly ethnically Tibetan Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, and the frontier between the two Asian giants remains tense more than 50 years after they fought a brief but bloody border war high in the peaks. China claims about 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) in Arunachal Pradesh, referred to informally by some Chinese as “Southern Tibet.” India says China is occupying 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau. More than a dozen rounds of talks have failed to make substantial progress on the dispute, although there have been relatively few confrontations in recent years.