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wednesdAY • AUGUsT 31 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 239 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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T R u T H
Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners — Laurence Sterne NSWON coordination meet: Strengthening of relationships
US and India sign military logistics agreement PAGE 08
Djokovic beats scare, Nadal eases at revamped US Open
PAGE 02
PAGe 12
nagaland: Quality education in govt schools remain illusive
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Morung Express News Kohima | August 30
Apuni khan bi na! Well don’t complain if I set up a stall and start collecting toll fee from you.
Sikkim pips Nagaland as safest place for women Morung Express News Dimapur | August 30
Sikkim has pipped Nagaland as the safest place for woman in India, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2015 released on August 30. While Nagaland topped the survey as the safest place for women in 2014 with only 67 cases of crime against women reported in the state, in 2015 there were 90 cases, which included 35 rape cases. Sikkim with 53 reported cases was the lowest among the states while Lakshadweep with 9 reported cases was lowest among the Union Territories. Overall, there were 327394 reported cases of crime against women with Uttar Pradesh topping the list at 35527 cases. Among the North Eastern states, Assam was highest with 23258 reported cases.
Efforts on to improve North East air connectivity: Minister
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AGARTAlA, AUGUST 30 (IANS): Government is trying to improve air connectivity among northeastern states and between northeast India and adjacent countries, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said here on Tuesday. “Central government is trying to improve the air connectivity between the eight northeastern states. Air connectivity between northeast India and the adjoining countries is also vital,” Sinha told reporters. He said: “Efforts are on to start air connectivity between the northeastern states and the neighbouring countries. If there is air connectivity between northeast India and Bangkok, Dhaka and Yangon, one need not take the longer route through Kolkata. This would also boost trade and economy.” Currently, Guwahati and Imphal are the only two cities with international airports in northeast India. After holding a long meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Transport Minister Manik Dey, the union minister said that the Civil Aviation Ministry has undertaken a Rs 400 crore project to upgrade Agartala airport to international standards by providing world-class facilities. The junior Civil Aviation minister said the central government expects some private airlines to soon introduce more flights in the northeast and operate international flights from there. “To improve regional air connectivity at fair price, MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) would be signed with the governments of the northeastern states,” he added.
Demonstrators try to hurl stones at an Indian police vehicle during a protest in Srinagar against the recent killings in Kashmir, August 30. (REUTERS)
NSCN (K) claims attack on AR in Arunachal
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 30 (MExN): The NSCN (K) on Tuesday claimed that its “special counter-ambush team of Naga Army attacked the Indian Army near Rilangkang village under Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh” during wee hours of August 28 and “inflicted heavy casualties and injuries” on them. According to a statement released to the media by the MIP, NSCN (K), the Naga Army laid a counter ambush on the Assam Rifles when they were returning to their camp after
a failed ambush. “The Naga Army counter-attacked the Assam Rifles with concentrated heavy bombardment with machine guns, sub-machine guns, 40 mm grenades, explosives and hand grenades for more than one hour,” the NSCN (K) maintained. Later when the Naga Army sanitised the area, they recovered one night vision goggle, several blood stained first aid-paraphernalia and bloody cotton and bandages strewn all over the spot, the MIP re-
lease stated. “Heavy casualties and injuries are expected on the attack; however the Naga Army sustained no death or injury,” it added. The NSCN (K) further claimed that its elite strike unit of Naga Army, on combat patrol detained several armed security personnel at a bridge near Barak Sibilong Village at Jiribam-Imphal Highway 37, Tamenlong District on August 29 around 5pm. However, on learning of their identities as “indigenous WSE-Asians from
Manipur” belonging to 2nd MR, they were freed unharmed but the Indian Government supplied weapons which included two AK rifles and two Insas rifles along with ammunitions were confiscated, the NSCN stated. It has cautioned to all the ethnic WSE Asians serving in the Indian Security Forces and “engaged in activities detrimental to the cause, that action deemed befitting shall be taken against them henceforth, unless they exercise restraint.”
Keviphe village under Kohima district has not produced a single matriculate. “The officials make fun of us when we go to the Department and voice our problems,” says Sabu Sote, Chairman Village Education Committee. Quality education is a far cry for this village. The Government Primary School here, established in 1978 is run by a single substitute teacher. 10 years ago, the two teachers running the school were suspended due to irregularity. The enrollment of students has dropped down to 8 students this year, and the substitute teacher single handedly manages four classes, class I-IV, for the eight students every day. “This village is no place for education. No one can receive good education looking at the conditions of our school here,” laments Sote. The Village Education Committee sent a memorandum to the Department of School Education and Governor in June this year appealing for deployment of new teachers in the School, however no action has been taken so far. Sote recalls writing and sending applications and memorandums every year to the concerned department with the results being futile. Further a storm that occurred in May this year destroyed the school kitchen. A request to reconstruct the kitchen was given to the administration and concerned authorities, however the village has not received any response till now. Sote, the Chairman of the VEC, now cooks meals for the students from his own kitchen. “We just receive rice and cooking costs for the mid day meal. We bear from our own expenses for cooking the curry,” says Sote. Meanwhile, at Government Middle School, Kijümetouma, the replacement of a teacher who was transferred 20 years ago was never sent. A Math teacher was appointed when the school was upgraded but the teacher never came. It does not matter if the school was established in
1958. After 58 years, instead of progressing the student enrollment has dropped down to 34. The teachers here informed that many parents are now sending their kids to towns. No school grant has been received in two years. The teachers have to collect money to pay the admission fee of students because according to the VEC Chairman, “Only poor kids come to this school. Even a hundred rupees is a huge amount for poor parents. Parents pay with great difficulty.” At Government Middle School, Kijümetouma, five computers lie unused because there are no computer instructors. One finds the same case in Government High School, Dikie in Dihoma village where the school received seven computers but no computer instructor. “The students do not even know how to operate a computer but they are expected to download their scholarship forms through the internet. Our students don’t even know how to switch on a computer. How can they be on par with the others? Where do you get quality education? How do you ensure quality education?” questions Thepfuneilhou Yashü, Head Teacher. Besides the major issues of non-deployment of teachers, shortage of non-teaching staff and failure to pay the salaries of teachers on time, most government schools under Kohima district are also affected by problems such as insufficient supply of mid-day meal, sports materials, school grants, lack of libraries and laboratories. The failure to ensure quality education in government schools has compelled many parents, sometimes many belonging to the BPL, to send their children to private schools in the capital. This has a direct impact on the economy of the family, often leading to poverty. “Parents today send their children to private schools with great difficulty, where one parent has to work in the village while the other parent has to move to town to look after their children pursuing education in towns,” says the Village Chairman of Dihoma.
India failing to protect journalists: CPJ Public irked by Court order to release impounded oil tankers
NEW YORK, AUGUST 30 (AGENCIES): The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent watchdog body, released a report Monday saying India fails to protect journalists at risk of violence, creating a challenging environment for those exposing corruption. New York-based CPJ records show that 27 journalists have been killed in India since 1992 and many other cases remain completely unpunished. “This has created a challenging environment for the press, especially small-town journalists and those reporting on corruption, who are often more vulnerable to attack and whose legitimacy is questioned when they are threatened or killed,” the report said. The Committee to Protect Journalists found only one case in the past 10 years where a suspect has been charged, prosecuted and convicted for killing a journalist. The suspect, however, was later released on appeal.
“Even if a court hears the case, there will be delays,” the CPJ report said. The 42-page report focuses on the death of three reporters -- Akshay Singh, Jagendra Singh and Umesh Rajput, who were allegedly killed after investigating graft and corruption. President of New Delhi’s press club, Rahul Jalali, said that press clubs around the country are increasingly demanding safety and better laws. “Journalists have become vulnerable to pressure from local media, businesses, newspaper management and government,” Jalali said. At the end of the report, the CPJ recommends that governments condemn publicly all killings of journalists, study best practices by other nations that faced similar situations, work to set up a system to provide security, and investigate attacks on the press and freedom of expression. “No government in India has been an ardent champion of press freedom,” the report said.
Morung Express News Dimapur | August 30
A court directive to release oil tankers impounded from a petrol pump in relation to the fuel adulteration exposé was met with public resentment in Chumukedima today. It resulted in a daylong impasse between the police and the public spearheaded by the Chumukedima Town Youth Organisation (CTYO). The outright display of public anger forced the police to withhold executing the magisterial directive to another day. Police said it was only carrying out an order to release and hand over to the owners, 8 of the 11 trucks (oil tankers), which were found at Nagame Petrol Pump when
ACAUT carried out inspection of suspected adulteration sites on June 27 leading to the exposé. The Chumukedima public and the ACAUT held that the move would be detrimental to the ongoing investigation into the case. The order was passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dimapur on August 10, 2016. It cited two Supreme Court Judgments – General Insurance Council & others Vs State of Andhra Pradesh & Others (2010) and Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs State of Gujarat (2002) – as the basis behind the release. The petition to release the trucks was filed by the Dinanath Prasad Shah. The court order however came on the condition that the petitioner should not create any third party interest
with regard to the vehicles, should not make any alteration and/or modification and the petitioner should produce the seized vehicles as and when required. It also noted that as submitted by the counsel for the petitioner, the 8 trucks “were all empty at the time of seizure” and were kept at the site for “parking and have no connection in the instant case.” The CTYO and ACAUT however pointed out an anomaly in the list of trucks ordered to be released. The two organisations contended that the list of trucks mentioned in the order did not match with the police seizure memo. Cross-checking of the seizure memo with the court order revealed that one truck (NL-08A -3451),
which was listed as loaded in the seizure memo was also included among the trucks set for release. The order on the other hand was only for those which were listed as empty, the organisations contended. Objecting to this apparent anomaly, the CTYO and ACAUT has demanded that it be verified. While stating that it will be appealing the court to cancel the release, ACAUT further alleged that the contents of the truck might have been siphoned, which resulted in it being included in the release list. Meanwhile, it was reported that the SIT investigating the case was neither aware of the release directive nor was it aware of the petition for release of the trucks.
A new beginning for 570-youths trained in multidimensional skills Our Correspondent Tsiepama | August 30
570-youths from Eastern Nagaland are all set to begin a new start with completion of three months capacity building training programme under Underdeveloped Area Programme during 2015-16. The training programme was organized by Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA) in association with Zynorique Initiatives Society. In three-month time, the youths were trained on RCC construction, metal fabrication, painting, food processing, driving, hospitality, wood carving, electrification, basket making, food preservation and marketing, fast food
management, eco friendly souvenir, catering management, etc. Equipped with skills in different areas, the trained youth are looking towards a brighter future along with the machineries and cash incentive provided by the department. Besides, they will also become master trainer and train up others in their respective area of ability. Addressing the valedictory function here today at Midway Resort (Eco village Tsiepama) along NH 29 here, Minister for Power, C Kipili Sangtam urged the youth to appropriately and dedicatedly make use of the skills they learnt at the training. He said self-employment and hard work is the need of the hour today
Ministers, parliamentary secretaries and others with the 570-trained youths during the valedictory function of capacity building training programme on August 30. (Morung Photo)
to survive in this competitive world. Minister for Rural Development & REPA, C L John exhorted that the department is always ready to assist the youth if they are committed to take up selfemployment venture. He also urged upon the youth to acquire work culture degree while pointing out
that one must maintain the principle of “Work & Eat” and “Eat & Work.” N Thongwang Konyak, Advisor of DUDA & LMCP stated that the objective of the DUDA’s capacity building programme is to boost the economy of the state and to make Nagaland a skilled state. “Therefore, the onus is
on you to work hard and set your goals in line with your skills that you have received through this training programme,” he said. DUDA Director K S Anden Konyak said the capacity building training programme aim to build the skill of the youth and enable them to find placement as well as to link them
to market and make them employable. DUDA Secretary Senti Ao informed that 570 youths were trained in 19 multi dimensional skills programmes. He urged upon the youths to efficiently take up self-employment activities, adding that the department will monitor the activities for three years in the respective areas. Richard Belho of Zynorique Initiatives Society said the objective of this capacity building training programme is to generate self employment, to get job placement within Nagaland, target school dropouts and under-educated youths, target employment for girls, provide necessary market linkage, long term
programme for genuine livelihood option. Other objectives of the programme also include training of trainers; village to village training pogramme, indentifying and development of economic route and clusters, branding and positioning of village item/product, establishment of skill resource facility, development of retail outlets and consignment depots, development of cold storage chain, market linkage to metro cities, exposure tours for trainers and entrepreneurs, continuous skill up gradation and value addition training. Parliamentary Secretaries R Tohanba; E Eshak Konyak, YM Yollow and L Khumo were also present on the occasion.