August 8th 2014

C M Y K

O

RT

XPRESS

P

O

P

UN TY E

The Morung Express

press x E y t i n u t r po oY uthNet Op

www.morungexpress.com

1

ESS” S” UCC T E S S E E C ET SUC ITYMEM TUNITY TURN P“WPHEOREROPPO l. 1 O E Issue 2 Vo Dimapur R “WHE -27,2014

“

neurs ls & Entrepre Professiona r Students, fo rm fo at g Pl ation Sharin The Inform

Editorial

February 21

VOL. IX ISSUE 216

www.morungexpress.com

f the Week

Quote o all We actors: being a citizen is not living in society, it is changing it g Jamir are sts of the g to the fore crew, Ajun

in it for cabinboys who tease my sisterfa- wesenhageversthewhdifo refficusultespauptos-plusit s “Whaortldwise arbuetdoa mirror reflevctesioann ofd towonhate w the le of kS y is the lim ck oursel one d bu or just being ES and fight- down an lence. What am we are doing to r.”

Odisha floods kill 34, affect nearly 10 lakh people

Priyanka Chopra to be on the hot seat in ‘KBC-8’

CS concerned over poor attendance of govt employees

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 9]

anothe hi mous G.I JO hts with my the turbu there is no typiGand saying is, al day for a ing sword fig ys.” rm ― Mahatma neighbour bo admits that cal or no w. In fact there She also ofession is cabin cre I can promise ng pr her current accident than is one thi two days are ever more of an “I've never you - no e. There is no 1 to tional. ming a the sam rking a birthen never ma int , dle co can be ng and you’re start est, all fires a small burni planned on until I bumped 10 here, re how your day Whether it is wildfire consuming a forbe a blessing or a cabin crew, rtisement on- quite su out! In short this r ing n ve tur day, or a rag spark. And it can eithe man-made. Either a ad into an ht, submitted will ssion that will from a little fire, big fire, it is still gligence. line one nig and then one is a profe allenge you and curse. Small of man’s wit or his ne t Japfü, considered as resume d always ch toes. on one's toe my ng led to the other an keep you on your is the manifestati t forest fire at Moun t history, is also susery ev ep a will ke d one who is thi am today in Doha e unpredictability The recen y’s worst in recen elessness of trekas ha Do ntr eck. An l”, she d in car w”, Th here I one of the couve been caused by the ep themselves warm. Base w with the Qatar on ch taneous ought to love rking as a cabin cre soul of this job, I fee o the mpses int pected to ha ght have lit a fire to ke d much further, be- cabin cre Ajung Jamir has spon bit of it”, she says. wo e says. it, throws gli kers, who mi had eventually sprealunteers and commu- Airways, travelled the every scribing her two sh Before she got into life of a cabin crew. deat That little fire trol of hundreds of vo ir best to douse off extensivelyt has firmly re- De journey with Qatar e further recalls th s Ajung Jamir would ople world, bu ded to her years’ quite remark- sh ofession to her wa ibe herself as a pe yond the con who were trying the ers suming mained groun is extreme- Airways as es on to share this pr t a pretty face, scr n even as she elabo nity memb a week, con or, it abou perso e go the fire. fire had raged on for . According to reports, roots. For he to know one’s able, sh had the privilege all g good, smiling to es by saying, “I love pe m, est na The for of flora and fau y of India that the ly important and she that, “I've me amazing lookin ngers and doing rat working with the so ,a lot sse ntity tor along with it, first time in the his other than the newly- roots and ide awn valu- of meeting m around the the pa demo before take- ple king with them, helpthe this is also rce helicopters, none r, a military utility- has clearly dr m travel- people fro rn about life, a bit of t that opinion has tal them- I just love being pte

By Sandemo bat the able lessons fro be even globe, lea d growth, off. Bu ged a lot since ing people. This being Indian Air Fo ssian Mi-17 V5 helicoNgullie used to com y chan the glo hip an around se, there are inducted Ru aerial machine are beingand. ling across t, “Trav- friends ubt I would clearl ned, even as she of cour t and-comba o first tested in Nagal raging fire contained as she shares tha me about which I do I been home she joi add, “who knew said, when I require my d t forest fire, alss good news to have the does not end here. elling has taugh pect- it have had, ha gst people goes on to professionally times t space" (I’ll be inWhile it’ the issue of forest fire we stand in terms humility and res pect and just amon le with.” about being st aid, or se- "quie ut it), and this is y, fir res tho ere tab on the 7th daould make us think wh ich, technically speak- taught me how to board I am comfor e also re- trained on rtificate and a sane wi e I read, write and aner on end, sh r pro- curing a ce e is given the tim Rather, it sh g our environment, wh my To this equally a cle recent I would the CEO of members one of he llege, license before on fly? This think.” e is not flying, the of protectin . in ity to as co vers ck from eing the green card of brain When sh ieve the baing, is our life aginable loss of biodi le of this generation company.” y fessors ba ‘b The unim mething the peop best we can con- Working in a compan m who told them that, dis- job needs a lot Brain to she tries to ach as catch on r. so fro lp us such how forest fire is er upon and think of incidents from hap- of almost 7000 crew goes around people he tter and and will powe ember, the sics first, do her laundry, e nd ate es sh po , should rt such unfortun k years and decad all over the world first cover ourselves be re with study and rem take in ev- her sleep, for her famous tribute to ave near future. What too area had been wildly on to say, “when the s is I couldn’t agree mo real- will power to thrown at cook and sit d aloo fry dinpening in the ity conservation in the Imagine, how much estion a stranger ask it him because I now ved as erything that is rice, dal an . Once these of biodivers just a matter of days. the loss, caused by a qu here are you from?", ize how I have evol ofes- you.” ner or lunch complished, ow , there are "w pr ac consumed in it take us to rebuild portant to kn ty, a person and this d me Apparently for a cabin goals are d about Doha, im ry ve uld is longer wo of fire. rmal days is un- she is out an vie spree, to call upon e's roots and identi or sion has also helpe no d ha no t en small spark that the state governm reflection of the lack on remain grounded, hone my PR skills.’ s a crew. “Each flight n way, be it on a mo g a book in she wa predictable in its ow ers. shopping, readin catchThe fact tain the fire is also ch calamity. That to will be just one of rking as cab Yet, when con ng ve we just th su They are wo vel and to save the Centre to mechanism to deal wi w prepared we are else es that serve them , nobody would ha r thanks to the passe pas- in her room or ends. tra he kid the r fri on not only of our own us to the question of ho nment mechanisms the facen with rice.” her to be in as It won’t matter to had the ing up with he also abso- This professi s of meeting crew to ough money to go d ine ag s ver im also bring ers strike. Putting go also the duty and re- chick e would think the oes today. Because, s sengers if you just the She would e more open avenue erse back- -save en ir own home the when disast ething else but it is y a part in saving the On flight attendant is sh says, “as a child, I wa biggest heart break of had lutely encourag join a people from div o help in back to d start up their an t life of a th glamour she , mischievous and in place is somof every citizen to pla or you jus at- Naga youths to rs even grounds but alss own per- country n private law firm, ughty wh filled wi e' he ve century sponsibility active role in , one le, and while that na venturous. I don’t ha a your period because "have profession like ross that achieving on . I had the very ow for higher studies/ pro a y nt. pla sty y g me ity ms u ad ac d environ ople can especiall tem, our biodivers an true to a certain of ownin ever it may be, yo s- while putting vel and sonal drea ing with a finance ion or open up a s rie mo me pe Young heritage, our ecosys ness, by first of may be ofession is any a dress, I was out your pa s job pays to tra r privilege of fly micro- specializat pr attend to a thi aware our extent, the t without chal- Barbie or t exploring the fa- to" ers. Period. You will t only that, she furtheon lawyer from Cairo, n and clinic. ntd. on page 2 preserving way in creating more themselves. hra no d ou ng Co and lead the tious, careful and aware an entire forest. And certainly no hen I get ready and ab lak river near our se babies crying non- adds, “you get to spen and biologist from Te m South ve rn Mi fro ay re y cau r “W ha bu us nl lid he s. kt ing to cto tai ho mo ge be ou ko all, ion can cer len ty, I am clueless of rd/colony in Mo , stop, hyper active ill of yourself, help and then also a Do name a few). a little spark It takes only step in the right direct a ref for du ct out of that wa th my brothers uired n- Africa (to ng req nti if wa le re rs litt the therefore, a rld. what to expe The unpre- chung wimarbles, climbing make and wines, first tim- t to save in your perso ge save the wo day or flight.of this job is playing aling plum (fruit), beerstrying all the buttons bank account too. al dictability challenging trees, ste g school glasses, ers handset, and then d what I fin same time. breakin scare to the little on the the and Fun at ofession that giving a This is a pr

ark of fire That little sp

[ PAGE 8]

reflections

Dimapur | August 7

The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Do you support oil exploration in Nagaland?

Yes

no

Others

Details on page 7

NPMHR calls for inclusive growth August 9 is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

C M Y K

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 7 (MExN): The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) is scheduled to celebrate the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9. A press note from NPMHR informed that the event will be held at 11:00 am, at Tati Hall, Dimori Cove, Kohima.

NPMHR informed that, at present, indigenous peoples constitute about 370 million or 5 percent of the world’s population. Out of this, 70% live in Asia, including the Nagas.

However, NPMHR stated that indigenous peoples still constitute 15% of the world’s “poorest of the poor” and that they are “at their most vulnerable stage…” It stated that exploitation of natural resources has largely contributed to “total displacement and destruction of many human communities” and that “cultural practices and traditional control over land, territories, and its resources stand threatened in the name of development and modernization.”

NPMHR stated that Nagas, like many indigenous peoples, are faced with common issues involving Natural Gas and Oil, Land Resources, Mineral Resources, Forest Resources and its Products, etc. It said that the “confronts of state-directed development and indigenous wisdom – whether it is over matters of control, equitable access and benefit sharing, or sustainable use – have the dangerous potential of completely destroying the social and cultural fabric of our society.”

It asserted that NPMHR supports a “right-holder model of inclusion rather than a stake-holder model of negotiation,” which it stated is “imperative for the collective growth.”

[ PAGE 2]

Cambodia tribunal convicts Khmer Rouge leaders

”

Friday, August 8, 2014 12+4 pages Rs. 4 –Augusto Boal

Order restored as Sharapova, Serena advance in Montreal [ PAGE 12]

Boundaries: claims and counter-claims Morung Express news

`You think they`re going to flush us out? Silly boy. Have you been taking hallucinogens again? Thut!’

C M Y K

UNTABA claims 4,947.16 sq miles of Naga areas transferred to Assam Assam govt claims nearly 80,000 hectares encroached by other states

The United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) has claimed that 4,947.16 square miles of Naga areas were clandestinely transferred to Assam since 1898, without the consent and knowledge of Nagas.

According to a booklet published by UNTABA titled entre‘A brief historical aland Job C Nagaccount of Naga lands in in Nagaland Job Opening Assam,’ (1 post) Naga areas, presok 1. Coently under occupation rden 10+2 (1 post) 2. Hostel Wa te Assam, of include the ua ad Or Gr l) oca n-L (no north-eastern Naga areas t post) 3. Receptionisod in accounts (1 12 pass go bordering Tirap district ntre/ Ce Job d an gal please call Na of ForArunachal Pradesh to more detail ice r off , Wake into ou nk Midland and Sibsagar Lakhimpur pp. ICICI Ba Dimapur-O hima-Old NST Ko ume districts Assam and your resof Please bring Naga areas transferred out from old Naga RIAL Hills disRIME TofUGreeTnwOood School trict toPNowgong, Sibsagar, An initiative Admission ) ND ash Course 14 Kachar An(Cachar) nouncing Cr (Main + Advance 20 nts and Karbi E OF NAGALA de PMT / JEE ing + passed stu ERNMENT STRIES & COMMERC ar V O G ss XII appe AnglongFoforrAICladistricts.

U D ys and IN bo F th O bo A ATE - Hostel for The Specibooklet, a compial features: DIRECTOR NAGALAND: KhiOmHa, IMthe 14thFebuary 2014 ials Girls d Ko - Study mater ility teshed Da 14 lation of historical docu20 fac A set on fire by Assam police at a disputed area in Dikoi village, at the Assam-Nay 5/ - Librar ulty /ADV/3 fac NO.IND/EST EMENT border - First rate ck-Test ur) post of galand ADVERTIS Mo ments, stated initially, to fill up 4 (Fo mmerce. on April 22, 2014. Disputes over land between the states of Nagaland and - Weeklythat of Nagaland Co th 1st March inhabitants orate of Industries & given Assam rise to much unrest in the border belt. Morung File Photo indigenous of the Dirhave university wi ect conducted ond above will al ed be loc niz ll the BritishAperecognized the ga og wi t Na rec nt 70% an rmance tes e from any invited from establishme • rfo d students who secure age as s are hereby t (District) under the ate from any disciplin of ion rs cat yea an pli 35 du Ap 14 traditional 20boundary of the re than government r Assistan ation shall be gra discount. 2014. mo ute fee t mp % no d Co 50 an rs state be given nces on 3rd March LDA cum e minimum qualific s than 21 yea policy of the me Th plication. didate should not be les governed by existing 1424 1.the • Class comNagas Ahoms and 943509as the head less with east Nagaland-Arunachal jee to Desoi (Tsurang) beand much computer ap edge 74425485 / y signed by diploma in e minimum age of a can upper age limit will rtificate dul contact: 89 Ce the on ” Th of ati on n cti 2. e ts. tio orm j For inf 89 Sd/applican consent h “No Ob political boundary.

The relaxa the ed nis 4. pp fur ent as noti-the Naga 01 of border to Tizit (Tawkok) (ii) From Desoi crossing 2 ica to 1. nm 0 nd 35 . ed on 31 / 961297 state Gover ysically Ha employees are requir ph the d of an s licy employee ng Government l seal. existing po DiBut later on, when the River, the old boundary Kakodanga, Mukhurup of ssed to the d officia Tribes shall be as pr the Opening dre 3. Servi th namepeople. an ad d an t ard t wi the applican seats of backw ly signed by British Government setofdepa4.artmReenserP&vatARionDeoflarge of tea gar- between Assam and Naga ung and Geladari upto a in paper du ing documents:partment. submitted in planumbers low fol the be the y by fied by e Applications ma d accompanied eet. an firm footing in Assam and within the Naga ter- boundary is clearly de- point on the Doyang de5. Th dens with mark sh Commerce, Industries & of HSLC/P.U/Graduate Cards Authority. particularly after the As-rector•of AdBirmithtritory shifting the marcated on the ground marcated on the ground Competent ate Certific rtificate issued byrequired • s Ce ice of /Indigenou ficate. sam Bengal Railway was ed in the off • ST‘Inner Line’ deeper by ‘Ladaigarh.’ (ii) From by ‘Naga bund.’ t exchange. rti 14 en Ce r ym 20 ute all h plo sh mp s em batc AGE INCOME • CoRegistration Card of theotographs. rejected. The applicationto 2: P.Mbe. Threceeilasvt date forionrecseishovinginside Foraround uld catexclude ly Hills M . ph pli A • : constructed in and ari ap N ord 10 e TO mm TIO the Naga to Tawkok to Dikhu River, the Sector ‘C’: Under this m Th ssw su 000/ 5 ICA te. fro be RS. t pa da d.

QUALIF • 2 recen plete applications shall erce, during office hours ved after the specified ll be summarily rejecte BELOW 26 20500/- PER VACANCY TO 10adminIncom ustries & Comm ions shall be recei thout which it wi RS 6.the 1899, for their own 59 boundary is demarcated at sector the maximum Naga cat Ind gardens” wi , the booklet NTH TE OR YEA t pli of MO DUA ap can te o GRA pli N ora . ap 14 the Direct ll be 24-04-20 MALE / FEMALE EQUIVALENT d Address of e) plications sha of Contact Number an krunietuoKir istrative convenience, big theapstated. most places on the ground area was transferred inSd/-(Er.The ustries & Commerce tain details con Ind of NTACT Directorate CO S L areas of Naga territory were I A The areas transferred by Ladaigarh and clearly cluding the best forests.

ET D R FO L KOHIMA transferred to the adjoining of Naga territory to As- supported by the southern It covers the present eastOFFICER’S HIL 98626671out / 59 districts of Assam in e1898, No.:8974998178 sam, according to UNTA- revenue border pillars of ern block of Mikir Hills 1901-1903 and 1923.Phon BA, fall under 4 sectors.

Sibsagar district. ((iii) From District and part of North “All these transfers were Sector ‘A’: (i) From the Dikhu to Thanjee (Melak). Kachar Hills District, done without the knowl- Teok River on the NorthSector ‘B’: From Jhan- starting from the conflu-

Job vacancy TH

GUwAhATI, AUGUST 7 (PTI): Nearly 80,000 hectares of land belonging to Assam are being “occupied” currently by “six neighbouring states”, the government today claimed in the state assembly.

Replying to a query during Question Hour, Environment and Forest Minister, Rockybul Hussain said, a total of 77,531.71 hectares of Assam land across 15 districts are “under the control of six neighbouring states at present.” “These include Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura,” he claimed.

The Dispur revenue circle has lost over 40 hect-

ares of land to Meghalaya, the minister said. Out of all the occupying states, “Nagaland has possessed the highest amount of land 59,159.77 hectares. Tripura 25 hectares of land, the least among the six states.

Arunachal Pradesh has occupied about 13,211.11 hectares land, while Meghalaya, Mizoram and West Bengal have grabbed 2,885.82 hectares, 1,986 hectares and 264 hectares respectively in Assam”, the minister claimed.

The 15 districts, having faced the situation in Assam, are Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Cachar, Sivasagar, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup Rural, Kam-

rup Metro, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Karimganj and Kokrajhar, he said. Hussain, who replied on behalf of Border Areas Development Minister, also said that 46 persons have been killed so far since 2001 due to different inter-state border problems with three states -- Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

Hussain said the government will soon hold a discussion with concerned officials and MLAs from the border areas to solve various issues. Talking about measures that the government is taking to minimise conflicts, Hussain said Border Peace Committees are being formed.

ence of the Dhansiri and Doyang rivers.

Sector ‘D’: The present North Kachar (Cachar) Hills District is mainly inhabited by Zeme Nagas and its forms a contiguous part of the present Nagaland state. Prior to 1886, the then Naga territories were administered at Asaloo, the headquarter of sub-division of Nowgong district until the Naga Hills District was formed in 1866 with Samaguting (Chume-

kedima) as the new district headquarter of Naga Hills.

The sector-wise break up of Naga areas transferred to Assam, according to UNTABA, is as follows: Sector ‘A’ (132.12 sq miles), Sector ‘B’ (586.88 sq miles), Sector ‘C’ (2,825.76 sq miles) and Sector ‘D’ (1,430.40 sq miles) taking the total area of Nagas land transferred to Assam to 4,947.16 sq miles.

UNTABA further stated that in the late 1970s, there

were 41 tea estates listed as falling under sectors ‘A’ and ‘B’. Besides the listed tea estates under sectors ‘A’ and ‘B’, the association stated that there are “uncountable numbers” of tea estates/gardens under sectors ‘C’ and ‘D’. “We cannot imagine how many tea estates/gardens have been leased out till today starting from 1972 Interim Agreements that cover only few Reserved Forests”, UNTABA stated.

ANCSU temporarily suspends agitation KSU to launch ‘non-cooperation’ movement

KOhIMA, AUGUST 7 (MExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has “temporarily suspended” its proposed agitation, which was scheduled to begin on August 1. The ANCSU had proposed the agitation to protest against the non release of post matric scholarships to students for the year 2013-14.

A press note from the ANCSU informed that the decision was taken with “special consideration to the written request appealed by the Commissioner & Secretary, Director and Deputy Director of the Nagaland state Department of Higher Edu-

cation (DHTE).”

Representatives of the ANCSU held a meeting with the said state government officials on August 7 in Kohima, where the former raised concerns on the delay in release of scholar-

tion” of marking system by the NBSE and NU. It further expressed concern at the enhancement of percentage of marks for eligibility to Nagaland state merit scholarship from the academic session 2014-15.

Government assures to start process for release of scholarship by August 14 ships and inadequate allocation of fund for Higher Education. It apprised the government on “encroachment of government lands, particularly at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma.”

The union also censured the “conservative evalua-

A separate press release signed by the ANCSU President and Commissioner & Secretary, DHTE, FP Solo informed that the government officials provided assurances that “process for release of post matric scholarship for 2013-14 will begin

from August 14 onwards.”

They further assured “timely release of scholarships in the future.” In return, ANCSU representatives stated they would “try their best to convince” members and volunteers not to go on agitation.

Despite suspending the agitation, ANCSU however informed all college students in Nagaland to wear black badges till August 14, as a show of “resentment” for delay in disbursement of scholarship.

The union further cautioned that failure to abide by assurances, would compel it to “resort to any course of action without any further notification.”

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 7 (MExN): The Kyong Students Union (KSU) has asserted that it will intensify its agitation if the Nagaland state government continues to remain unresponsive to issues raised by the former on oil exploration and the Nagaland Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulations/Rules. The KSU imposed a total shutdown of Wokha district on August 7 after the government failed to respond to a representation submitted by the union on June 26 and subsequently an ultimatum, served on July 19.

The 15-day ultimatum expired on August 3.

KSU President, Amos Odyuo informed that the union, along with Lotha Youth Hoho has unanimously decided to launch the second phase of its agitation, which

will be in the form of “non-cooperation” on Independence Day, August 15. Odyuo said more details will be informed later.

Meanwhile, the August 7 bandh, Odyuo said, passed off peacefully. “The bandh was successfully implemented with no major incidents occurring,” he said, speaking from Wokha.

He sought explanation from the government on the basis of the NPNGR and the allotment of permit to the Metropolitan Oil & Gas Private Limited (MOGPL).

As maintained by the KSU, Odyuo said that MOGPL was floated only after the ‘Expression of Interest’ was sent out by the Nagaland government raising questions on the competence of the company.

To study or not to study English: India debates

NEw DElhI, AUGUST 7 (IANS): Nearly two centuries after Lord Macaulay championed the introduction of English as a medium of education in India in 1835, a debate is still raging on the suitability of what many describe as a “foreign language” in a polyglot nation that has 22 official languages and over 350 dialects.

The debate was rekindled as civil services aspirants thronged in large numbers demanding that the Civil Services Aptitude Test - which they said was a glaring disadvantage to students from non-English backgrounds - be scrapped.

Though the government announced on August 4 that marks in English language comprehension skills of the UPSC aptitude test will not be included in the merit list, protestors remained far from satisfied, impelling many to ponder that resentment against the English language is probably more intense than imagined.

Pavan Verma, former diplomat and author, said English is not a language of social inclusion. “English is a foreign language and has created a literary upper tier where people with a certain fluency and accent are more privileged,” he said.

Macaulay had, in justifying the introduction of English education, said its purpose was to create a “generation of Indians” who were “Indians in blood and colour but English in tastes, mannerisms, opinions and intellect.” “Nobody is denying the importance of the English language, but we cannot allow it to become a barrier to those whose knowledge of English is limited or who have not studied in English medium schools,” Varma added.

Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a political commentator, described English as a “colonial hangover”. “I think the ongoing protest has its merits. It is not just about UPSC. The way people are selected in various competitive examinations clearly demonstrates a colonial hangover,” Thakurta said.

“The ability to read or write English invariably has a class connotation. It is reflective of people who are wealthy.

Any leading English daily fetches more advertisements than a leading Hindi daily which may have a greater circulation. This is because advertisers recognise English readers as wealthier people,” Thakurta maintained.

Experts from the south, however, have a different perspective. MSS Pan-

dian, author and political commentator based in Chennai, said the friction between English and Hindi languages is an artificial construct and politicians from the Hindi heartland are to blame.

“The very phenomenon of English versus Hindi resistance is created by Hindi heartland politicians who destroyed possibility for Hindi heartland students to be conversant in English by not providing equibalance between the two languages,” Pandian said.

He objected to English being seen as a “colonial hangover”. “English is to begin with our language. When the constituent assembly debated the question of language, the Anglo-Indians said we belong to this country and our language is English. Similarly, Engish is the official language in Nagaland. If you want Nagaland and Anglo-Indians to be a part of India, you have to recognise English as part of India. Where is the question of colonial hangover here,” he asked.

Thakurta summed up: “We need English as it can continue to be the linking factor in a country with many languages, but using proficiency in this language as a measure to ascertain a person’s capability to be a good administrator is not reasonable.”

C M Y K

C M Y K

2

Dimapur

Friday

Saturdays giving the office a deserted look. She also cited that some directorates and big departments, which normally should have many visitors in their offices, were found deserted with poor attendance of its officers and staff.

The Chief Secretary urged everyone to apply their minds saying there were ways to improve. She called upon everyone to contribute and make a difference for the welfare of the state. Banuo directed the departments of Law and P&AR to take disciplinary and punitive action against the poor attendance. She also said one’s office and the working place is part of his home so also the surrounding his responsibility to be taken care of she added.

Reminding the AHODs & HODs to attend the National Day such as Independence Day she said they were required to attend

Vigilance Committee visit F&C Supplies store at Kiphire

C Y K

State Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir addressing the monthly meeting of AHODs and HODs at the Secretariat Conference Hall held on August 6. (DIPR Photo)

the function and that their presence should commensurate in a function like the ‘Governor’s At Home’ in Raj Bhavan. She also stressed on the dress code.

The Chief Secretary expressed that on self-certifi-

Y K

cation a simple guideline to deal with the matter should be regulated. She said for utility of the government portal a place was yet to be identified for easy accessibility. Chief Secretary suggested that the adminis-

trative officers should visit districts once a year. Banuo said it was her last address to the AHODs & HODs meeting as the Chief Secretary and gave a note of salutation to the officers and encouraged them to use

the forum for interaction for the welfare of the state.

Additional chief Secretary & Finance Commissioner Toshi Aier requested all the departments to submit Memorandum of Understanding under-

taken by the department with any firm, agency and the Central Government departments. Home Commissioner, Temjen Toy said that the Gender Budgeting initiated by the Planning department should have capacity building provision. He informed that there would be a meeting with all the peons in the Secretariat on August 14.

Director General of Police, Besesayo Kezo, presented a presentation of a general observation to solve the traffic congestion in Kohima town.

The meeting was informed that the department of Power and PHED would be deputing one Junior Engineer each in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat.

The site for construction of public toilet by PHED for 50th year celebration initiative has been identified and the concern department gave confirmation to complete the construction

Our Correspondent

Women groups resolve to address problem of govt schools Notice to Special

Vigilance Committee for Food and Civil Supplies headed by the Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the committee, Neposu Theluo visited the food and civil supplies store at Kiphire on August 6. The team checked the distribution of rice qualities and other commodities that come under the department concerned.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed satisfaction of the work that the department is undertaking and gave suggestion for better service, which the department can do for the citizens. He asked the department to maintain good beneficiaries list and the department to intimate the administrative officer in respective circles when

Y K

Mass social work at Kohima on Aug 9 been requested not to venture out with vehicles unnecessarily without any valid reason for smooth conduct of the social work during the mentioned hours. Further, all the Directorates and district are also to participate by keeping their respective office surroundings clean.

Meanwhile, the Upper Agri colony Council, Kohima has called for a mass social work on August 9.

Besides the Clean Kohima campaign organized by the Deputy Commissioner Kohima and the area allotted in this programme, the residents of upper Agri

food grains are being sent so that there are no anomalies while distributing.

Superintendent of Supplies, Kiveyi Sumi highlighted about the activities of the department and said that the department is giving best effort to help the citizens in availing the schemes available under the department. He highlighted about the food security bill and said that once the bill comes into act, food grains will be cheaper which will benefit all.

In presence of the Vigilance Committee, 273 beneficiaries received annapurna rice through respective village council. The vigilance committee also held a meeting at the conference hall and discuss about the progress and the work needed to be undertaken by the committee.

M

before end of 2014. As per the decision taken by the Civil service management board to identify garbage disposal area in the Civil Secretariat complex for all the departments in and around New Secretariat complex.

The meeting resolved to have the mass social work in all the Directorate offices and the Secretariat on August 13 at 1:00 pm onwards. The other agenda discussed were Bill arrears of Power Department, Transfer and Posting of Departmental officers in the District with their names/ designation and contact number to be intimated to concern Deputy Commissioner and compulsory attendance of all officers and staff during Independence Day celebration.

The Director General of Police presented a presentation of a general view to solve the traffic congestion in Kohima town.

Kohima, august 7 (DiPR): Deputy Commissioner, Kohima W. Honje Konyak has informed all concerned that a mass social work will be conducted on August 9 from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. in and around Kohima town as part of clean Kohima and Independence Day celebration. In this regard, all shops are to remain closed and movement of vehicles will be restricted except for emergency purpose/para military/police/ magistrates/medical doctors, since all the citizen of the town are expected to participate in the social Kiphire Deputy Commissioner Neposu Theluo (left) during work. All the public have

Kiphire | August 7

C

C

Directs departments of Law and P&AR to take disciplinary and punitive action against poor attendance

his visit to the food and civil supplies store at Kiphire on August 6. (Morung Photo)

M

The Morung Express

CS concerned over poor attendance of govt employees Kohima, august 7 (DiPR): The monthly meeting of AHODs and HODs was held on August 6 at the Secretariat Conference Hall, chaired by State Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir. The meeting deliberated at length on poor attendance of the officers and staff in the offices as a major issue and consequent upon which the first list of the agenda for the day action taken on office attendance

by AHODs and HODs was discussed further.

Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir expressed her serious concern over the poor attendance in office saying that it reflects upon the government. She lamented that in spite of repeated instructions several departments and offices were found empty without any soul being there in several rounds of checking that has been done in the Secretariat in recent time on normal working days and on working

M

LocaL

8 August 2014

Info on body guards in Secretariat complex Kohima, august 7 (DiPR): The Home Department Secretariat Administration Branch ‘A’ vide circular No. SAB29/1/84 dated Kohima the 1st August 2014 has stated that in supersession to the Circular No. SAB-29/1/84 dated 3rd September 2014, 1 (one) Body Guard in full uniform shall be allowed to accompany the Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Advisors, Chairman’s and MLAs in addition to their respective PSOs inside the Secretariat complex.

colony have been asked to clean their own colony. The cleaning starting from 6:00 a.m. by the Council members and youth leaders.

Tipper and pick-up trucks would be made available to collect and dispose off the garbage, leaves and other waste materials. In this connection the council office has informed all residents of the colony that at least one member from each and every household (kitchen) should participate in the social work. Attendance would be taken and absent households would be fined one day’s wage of Rs. 500/-

C M Y

Base on specific input, a combine team of Dimapur District Excise and Mobile squad raided a residence at Diphupar near Referral hospital Dimapur and recovers 423 bottles of assorted liquor stacked away in water tanks, cooking utensils and secret chamber underneath the bed. In this connection, one Alibo was arrested and brought to commissioner office. The department compounded the case and the accused penalized under relevant section of NLTP Act '89. The seized articles were confiscated and kept in the Mobile Squad Malkhana.

K

Education Teachers

A section of the gathering during the two days workshop for all the associate pastors (women), self-help group leaders, women society representatives held at Phek.

PheK, august 7 (mexN): The Tizu Area Baptist Church Council Women Department and Women welfare Society conducted two days workshop for all the associate pastors (women), self-help group leaders, women society representatives at Phek from August 6 and 7.

Wekhro-ü Chüzho Secretary, Welfare Society Tizü Area and Shetalü Medeo, Chairperson Tizü Area Baptist Church Council women department in a press release stated that during discussion session, the gathering discussed the problem of government schools in villages, which were marred by deplorable con-

dition, shortage of teachers, irregularities of teachers and negligence of government towards the most under develop villages It was resolved to take the following actions to be carried out in their respective villages: to approach the VCC and VEC, to approach the government to grant the required teachers and take serious responsibilities towards the proper functions of the school; have fellowship with the teachers and share the concerns; visit teacher’s home for prayer and give encouragements and visit schools. It is also requested the concern higher authority to look into the matter seriously to

take necessary actions.

The house also expressed that due to scanty rainfall, the villagers could not cultivate paddy fields and the women were in grief for fear of food shortage.

During the programme, Neingupeü Kazhie, Women Secretary, CBCC; Cünehülü, Children ministry Promoter, CBCC; Zecheteü Nusory, Project Coordinator, CWWS and Velhüvolü, CWWS were the resource persons. They spoke on sanitation, social etiquette and clean election; parenting, health and hospitality; SHG book keeping; practical session on pickle, squash and jam making respectively.

Kohima, august 7 (DiPR): The Department of School Education has directed all the Special Education Teachers (SETs) appointed by the Department of School Education Nagaland under IEDSS (Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage) to report in person to the Directorate of School Education Kohima between 11:00 am - 2:00 pm on all working days from August 8 to 14. The SETs are directed to come along with original Appointment Order and Performance Certificate from respective HM/AHM/Controlling Officer without fail. Any person failing to report within the specified dates without any information or reporting without the prescribed documents shall be deemed non-existent and their services shall be terminated without any further notice.

C M Y K

SETAN informs Dimapur, August 7 (MExN): The Special Education Teacher Association of Nagaland (SETAN) has once again informed all its members that, the submission of original appointment order and the performance certificate to the Directorate of School Education, will be done by them individually and not by the association or through DEOs office. It is also informed that in case of any confusion, the member can contact the association President, Vikato I. Chishi (9089840269) or its general secretary Akhono (9615336933) or the district representative.

Plans for positive changes among Naga women underway

C M Y K

Kohima, august 7 (DiPR): The department of Women Resources Development conducted a review meeting with PNGOS and Sub-PNGOS at Directorate of Women Resources Development conference hall, Kohima on August 7.

The Parliament Secretary for Women Resources Development & Border Affairs, N. Thomas Lotha was the chief guest.

Speaking at the function, Thomas said that the department has started a road map for positive changes among the Naga women, in partnership with the Government of India, UN and the State government. He asked the 11 district women apex bodies to voice out and to bring about changes in the society for the benefits of the Naga women. The Parliamentary Secretary informed that under the department of Women Resource Development, solar lighting system will be installed in the rural areas within 2-3 months and added that

Parliament Secretary N. Thomas Lotha addresses the review meeting with PNGOS and SubPNGOS at Directorate of Women Resources Development conference hall, Kohima held on August 7. (DIPR Photo)

bio-gas would be given to the rural people. Thomas appraised that health care programme especially for rural women with cervical cancer will be implemented in the State for which a team of cancer experts will be visiting the state. In this regard, he informed that the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi assured that she would launch the programme when it is started by Nagaland. Therefore, he urged upon the women organizations to be more active and show good par-

ticipation. He informed that a proposal for construction of a Women Hostel at Delhi is under consideration with the Ministry. He felt that Self Help Groups should be organized into a federation which should play an effective role and be instrumental in the Micro finance schemes. He said that he was making direct contacts with the UN forum for highlighting the problems of Naga women. Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang assured to extend cooperation to Naga women for bringing changes. The Par-

liamentary Secretary also gave away the grant-in-aid to the various women organizations for their office expenses.

Additional Director Women Resource Development, T. Haralu gave a power point presentation where he said that mandate of women department would be to ‘strive towards economic empowerment of women in Nagaland’, through a revolving fund support to women entrepreneurs by creating and extending credit mechanism and facilities, under the enterprises programme

to give fillip to the aspiring women entrepreneurs and as a part of the socio-economic empowerment process for the women in the state. He said that to achieve these ends, an interest free loan of Rs. 5 lakhs has been extended to 38 innovative women entrepreneurs. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi who said that “when you educate a man you educate one, but when you educate a woman, you educate the whole family”.

Director Women Resource Development, Neilavou Keditsu while President KNSK gave short speech on behalf of PNGOs, chaired the programme. One of the members of Border Area Employees Project shared their grievances. Deputy Secretary for Women Resource Development also attended the programme.

During the programme, seven computer sets were given to various women organizations and other organisations would be given in the next phase.

C M Y K

REgional 3 In a first, Andhra rice reaches Tripura via B'desh Mizoram governor Kamla Beniwal Friday

The Morung Express

allow Bangladeshi trucks 7 km inside Indian territory from Akhaura border. "The trucks carrying rice will be going through truck scanners installed at the Akhaura checkpost," he said.

The Tripura government made arrangements such as medical facilities, rest house and food for Bangladeshi truck drivers at the Nandannagar FCI depot, Tayeng added. "The first consignment of 5,000 tonnes of rice in small ships from Kakinada port in Andhra Pradesh reached the Ashuganj river port in (eastern) Bangladesh via Kolkata port Aug 5," Tayeng said. He said around 20 trucks each carrying 17 tonnes of rice are expected to arrive in Agartala everyday from Ashuganj port for the next 12 to 13 days from Thursday.

Tripura Food, Civil Supplies Minister Bhanulal Saha said: "The rice is being ferried via Bangladesh to avoid the long and mountainous surface road up to Tripura via Assam

and Meghalaya." Another 5,000 tonnes of rice will be similarly ferried to Tripura in the next phase.

Ashuganj river port in eastern Bangladesh is around 40 km from Agartala. The trucks will reach Agartala from Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria district of Chittagong division of Bangladesh within two hours. The eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, are largely dependent on Punjab and Haryana for foodgrains and essential commodities.

The minister said train services in Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and southern Assam will be stopped from October this year to June next year as the tracks will be converted from metre gauge to broad gauge. "In view of this, carrying foodgrains and other essentials from different parts of the country to the northeastern states of India via Bangladesh is very vital," he added.

The Bangladesh government agreed to trans-

port 10,000 tonnes of foodgrains for Tripura across its territory without charging any duty under a special transit facility.

The move came after diplomatic and strategic parleys that went on for three years.

On getting a positive response from Bangladesh, the FCI started the process three years back to transport foodgrains and essentials from southern India using the Ashuganj river port, Tayeng said. "The FCI had earlier floated tenders to select Bangladeshi transporters. After a series of diplomatic and administrative parleys involving various Indian and Bangladeshi ministries, the long pending matter was settled recently," an official of Tripura's food, civil supplies department told IANS. Earlier in 2012, Bangladesh had allowed India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to ferry heavy machinery, turbines and cargo through

Only Centre can decide asylum issue: Assam

Dimapur

axed for ‘misuse’ of office in Gujarat

NEw DElhI, August 7 (PtI): In a surprise move, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday sacked Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal with barely four months left for her tenure. Beniwal, who had crossed swords with PM Narendra Modi as Gujarat governor, was only recently transferred to Mizoram.

The move had come after a nudge from home secretary Anil Goswami to several UPA-appointed governors to quit did not elicit any response from Beniwal.

Government sources said the decision to sack Beniwal was taken after it came to light that she had misused the governor's office (in Gujarat) to make several unauthorized air travels, including to her home state of Rajasthan, at the expense of the state exchequer. Citing Gujarat Raj Bhavan records, media reports said Beniwal flew out

of Gujarat 63 times using the state aircraft between 2011 and 2014. As many as 53 of these trips were to Jaipur.

However, observers saw it through the prism of the uneasy relationship that Beniwal as Gujarat governor shared with Narendra Modi when he was chief minister.She had run ins e with the Modi government over the appointment of Lokayukta and other issues such as appointment of vice-chancellors and some important legislations.

During her confrontation with Modi, Beniwal appointed retired Justice R A Mehta as Lokayukta in Gujarat against which the state went in appeal to the high court and later the Supreme Court which upheld it last year. She is also reported to have procrastinated over legislations passed by the state assembly, one of which provided for 50% reservation for

women in local bodies.

As chancellor of universities, she had allegedly started taking keen interest in appointment of vice-chancellors. She surprised the government by selecting Hemaxi Rao, whose family is active in the Congress, as vice-chancellor of Hemchandracharya University, Patan. She also got the registrar of Saurashtra University removed.

The direction issued by the President's office on Wednesday said Manipur governor V K Duggal would hold additional charge till interim arrangements were made. The move is being seen as a clear message to those governors who have refused to resign even after a nudge from the government. These include Kerala governor Sheila Dikshit and Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan among others.

Assam submits 605 Cr proposals to Ministry for Minority Affairs

A forest official holds the tusks of a wild elephant that was electrocuted after removing them ahead of burial in Udaipur village bordering the Rani forests on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam on Thursday, August 7. The tusker which strayed in to the village in search of food was electrocuted Wednesday night as it touched one of the unauthorized electric fences erected by the villagers to keep away the wild animals. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

guwAhAtI, August 7 (PtI): The Assam government has submitted proposals amounting to Rs 605.16 crore to the Central government for Multisectoral Development Programme, the state Assembly was informed on Thursday.

Replying to a query by AIUDF MLA Mazibur Rahman during the Question Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilamani Sen Deka said the submitted proposals are "under consideration of the Ministry of Minority Affairs". On behalf of Welfare of Minorities and Development Minister Nazrul Islam, Deka also said, "For the 12th Five Year Plan under MsDP, the tentative allocation...is Rs 525.26 crore as communicated by the Government of India."

He said this allocation is

Doctors asked to contain Japanese Encephalitis spread in Arunachal Pradesh, toll rises to 3

AIR FORCE WAR VETERANS-1965 WAR

On the Golden Jubilee of the 1965 war with Pakistan, it is time to reminisce the sacrifices and bravery of those who took part. We solicit participation of all air veterans of the 1965 war in the events planned between 05 Sep 2014 to 22 Sep 2015 to commemorate this momentous occasion. Veterans desirous of participating may kindly forward their details by 14 Aug 2014 through the following means: - Air HQ Tele No 011-23010231 (Extn-5084) - E-mail on vasksep2014@gmail.com - Fax No. 011-23792473

Davp 10802/11/0149/1415

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

(A Registered Society under the Govt. of Nagaland)

Directorate of lnformation Technology & Communication Below New Secretariat, Thizama Road Nagaland: Kohima

Dated Kohima, the 5th August 2014

coRRiGeNDum

No. Nsecs/eDistrict-5/2013/ :: ln view of the technical issues relating to SSL and Digital Signature Certificates (DSC), this office is constrained to postone the e-Tender for Selection of eDistrict System lntegrator for Nagaland. The revised Bid submission Schedules for the same are as follows:Sl. No Activity 1 Bid Submission Start Date 2 Bid Submission End Date

DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

(K.D.Vizo), ITS ceo, NSeGS & commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland

NAGALAND : KOHIMA

In continuation of this Department notification dated 5th & 19th July 2014, applications are invited from the candidates belonging to Indigenous Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland, to undergo 2 (two) years vocational training at Vision University College of Jeonju, South Korea under the following criteria’s laid down.

1. Qualification: Graduate in Electrical, Computer and Automotive Engineering with 55% pass percentage and above from recognized Institute approved by AICTE and Graduates in science/ Arts/ Commerce etc, with a minimum of 45% pass percentage and above from recognized Institute approved by UGC. 2. Age limit : 25 years 3. The total cost for training (tuition fees/ living expenses) including to & fro flight fare from Dimapur to South Korea per head is Rs.6, 00, 000/- (Rupees six lakhs only) of which 35% of fees is to be borne by the students 4. Selected Students will have to undergo 6(six) months Korean language training at Dimapur, starting from August 2014.

5. The expenses for boarding and lodging during six months Korean language training at Dimapur shall be borne by the Students. During this course no scholarship will be granted. All expenses to be borne by the candidate.

6. Registration fee of Rs. 10,000/- shall be collected from the selected candidates which will be refundable after the successful completion of Korean language training at Korean language Institute, Dimapur.

7. Candidates should be willing to serve any where in the world after two years training at Korea.

8. Candidates are required to acquire their Passport before the completion of the Language Training Course at Dimapur.

9. Selected students will have to sign an undertaking during the initial stage of training.

Application with complete bio-data, correspondence address with Tel/mobile, email etc, along with self attested Photostat qualification certificates from HSLC onwards should reach the Office of the Director, Technical Education Nagaland (for Engineering) and Director, Higher Education Nagaland (for graduates in Sciences/ Arts/ Commerce etc), latest by 16th August’2014 during office hours.

(A.KATHiPRi) Director

ES

PEOPLES’ DIALOGUE

SOCIATIO AS N

We

United

coRRiGeNDum

D NAGA TR IB

Dt. Kohima, the 7th August’ 2014.

TE NI

No. DTe/ eSTT-108/2013

Date Time Day 11th August 10.00AM (Server Time) Monday 2014 30th August 3.00 PM (Server Time) Saturday 2014

For more details kindly visit the following websites: 1. www.nagaland.gov.in 2. www.itngl.nic.in 3. www.nagalandtenders.gov.in

ON

BORDER ISSUE BETWEEN ASSAM AND NAGALAND

9th. August 2014 Town Hall, Naga Shopping Arcade, Dimapur.

RESOURCE PERSON : SHRI T. N. MANEN, IAS, ACS, Rtd. Govt. of Nagaland.

PANELISTS: 1. Shri K. Khekiye Sema, IAS, Secy, Rtd. Govt. of Nagaland.

2. Dr. P. S. Lorin, Principal, Tetseo College, Dimapur 3. Shri P. Leonard Aier, Principal, City Law College, Dimapur.

4. Shri T. C. Kithan, NCS, DC Rtd. 5. Dr. Visakhonu Hibo, Principal, Japfu Christian College.

6. Shri K. Temjen, Publisher & Editor, Tir Yimyim MOdERATORS: 1. Mr. Nzanthung K. Yanthan, Former President, KSU 2. Ms. Aren Pongen,Secretary,Get Gorgeous Society U

AIR HEADQUARTERS (VAYU BHAWAN), NEW DELHI वायु मुखय ् ालय (वायु भवन), नई दिल्ली

infected mosquitoes then transmit the virus to humans and animals.

Culex mosquitoes, the principal vectors, are prolific in rural areas where their larvae breed in ground pools, especially in flooded rice fields.

The JE virus is transmitted seasonally. In temperate regions, it is transmitted during the summer and early fall, generally from May to September, he said.

NAGALAND STATE E-GOVERNANCE SOCIETY

March

भारतीय वायु सेना

(breeding ground for JEcarrier mosquitoes) and spraying of insect repellent like DEET ((N, N-diethyl-mtoluamide) in the affected areas, Pul said residents of rural areas in endemic locations are at the highest risk.

The virus cannot be transmitted from person to person, but mosquitoes carry the virus by feeding on domestic pigs and wild birds infected with the JE virus. These

The funeral service of Shri. Govito Zhimomi (Xuyivi) Retd.

Asst Election Officer shall be held at his residence, South Point Zunheboto, August 8 at 10 a.m.

RDER ARE BO A

INDIAN AIR FORCE

a senior officer of the Union Health Ministry is expected to arrive here on August 11 to assess the situation.

The minister made a fervent appeal to the people to use protective clothing, bed nets, and repellents as there is no specific treatment for JE and no effective anti-viral drugs to treat it have been developed so far.

Advocating drying up stagnated water sources

FUNERAL

F

ItANAgAr, August 7 (PtI): With Japanese Encephalitis (JE) claiming three lives in Arunachal Pradesh, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Kalikho Pul today called upon the medical fraternity to contain the spread of the disease.

While a 14-year-old girl from Upper Subansiri district lost her life to JE on July 24, a 17- year-old girl from Longman village and a 37-year-old woman from Laktang village, succumbed to the disease on July 31 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital at in Dibrugarh, official sources said.

The minister had convened a high level meeting today to assess the situation, the preventive steps initiated, and the steps required further. Pul said that

meant for 118 minority concerned blocks and one minority concentrated town in Assam. The Centre has so far sanctioned and released Rs 1.20 crore in 2013-14 under the 12th Plan for MsDP. In a written question by AIUDF MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, Islam said the Centre had allocated funds of Rs 703.5 crore under MsDP during the 11th Five Year Plan.

O

guwAhAtI, August 7 (thE hINDu): The Assam government on Wednesday told the Assembly that only the Centre could take a decision on granting asylum and Indian citizenship to Bangladeshi citizens, who entered the State due to alleged persecution.

The State government noted the government request to the Centre to frame “a policy of granting asylum to those persons who were subjects of British India at the time of partition and who have had to face religious persecution and discrimination later compelling them to come to India for shelter.”

The Cabinet also noted that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had submitted a memorandum to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which submitted that “Indian citizens at the time of partition, who were compelled to leave the partitioned country due to religious persecution, atrocities and discrimination, deserve humanitarian consideration. Under the existing system and laws, no such persons are liable to face prosecution, expulsion and deportation.”

Minister in-charge of Assam Accord Implementation Rockybul Hussain spelled out the government position in a written reply to a question by All India United Democratic Front legislator Aminul Islam if the State Government had recently taken any decision to grant asylum to Bangladeshi citizens, who have entered the State fearing for their lives. The AIUDF member also wanted to know if such Bangladeshi citizens would be granted Indian citizenship and how the government would determine if someone had come to the State because of threat to his or life or some other reasons.

Ashuganj port for the 726 MW Palatana mega power project in southern Tripura.

The Indian government had spent several millions of rupees to develop the port and related infrastructure.

After Tripura, it is likely that foodgrains will be ferried in a similar fashion for other northeastern states, the FCI official said. A Tripura minister said the northeastern states suffer from poor foodgrain supply due to shortage of rail wagons and inadequate storage facilities, beside other issues.

Surface connectivity is a key factor as the region is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China. The only land route to these states from within India is through Assam and West Bengal. For instance, Agartala via Guwahati is 1,650 km from Kolkata and 2,637 km from New Delhi, while the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just about 350 km.

ES

TD-2 014

S

AgArtAlA, August 7 (IANs): After diplomatic and strategic parleys that lasted for nearly three years, for the first time rice from Andhra Pradesh reached Tripura via Bangladesh Thursday, an official said.

Three Bangladeshi trucks loaded with rice entered India through the Akhaura integrated check post Thursday afternoon in the presence of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Tripura government officials. "For the first time, Bangladeshi trucks transported rice from Ashuganj port in Bangladesh directly to the FCI warehouse at Nandannagar (on the outskirts of the capital city)...," FCI general manager Bidol Tayeng told IANS. The usual practice was to shift contents from Bangladeshi trucks to Indian trucks before entering Indian territory.

Tayeng said the external affairs ministry had earlier given clearances to

8 August 2014

U N TA B A

FIRST SESSION - TIME : 10:30 AM 1.

2.

3.

4.

Invocation : Rev. W. Lohe, President, Dimapur Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship.

Introductory Note : Mr. Hukavi T. Yepthomi, Chairman, UNTABA Keynote Address : Resource Person Short Speeches : i. Mr. Yeangpong Konyak, Member, Advisory Board, UNTABA ii. Mr. Hamnyei Phom, Former President, Phom Peoples Council iii. Dr. Sangyu, President, Ao Senden iv. Mr. N. N. Ngullie, IPS, IGP Rtd. v. Mr. G. K. Rengma, Advisor, Rengma Naga Peoples Council vi. Mr. Hokiye Yepthomi, President, Western Sumi Hoho vii. Mr. Raitu Elu,Vice President, Zeliangrong Baudi

INTERCESSION

SECONd SESSION - TIME 02 : 00 PM

Short Note: 1. P. Chuba Ozukum, President, Naga Hoho 2. Mr. Neangba Konyak, President, Eastern Naga Peoples Union Dimapur 3. Discussion Hour: 4. Adoption of Resolutions: 5. Summing Up : Mr. Ejanthung Ngullie, General Secretary, UNTABA

GENERAL INvITES

1. All policy makers including Parliamentarians, Legislators and Bureaucrats are requested to attend the programme.

2. All the mass based organizations, tribal Hohos, Students, Youth and Women Organisations are kindly invited to participate and give valuable contributions towards framing policies on the issue at hand.

3. The UNTABA cordially invites all the right thinking and sensible Naga people to attend the Dialogue and contrib-ute valuable inputs.

UNITED NAGA TRIBES ASSOCIATION OF BORDER AREAS

The Morung Express 4 public discoursE On backward tribe & job reservation policy- from a job seeker’s perspective Dimapur

Friday

8 August 2014

T

he Indian constitution provides rights for equality to all the citizens of India, regardless of colour, creed, sex, religion... Equality on personal liberty, against discrimination, job opportunities, governance and much more for the well being and upliftment of the state economically, socially and in all aspects to the citizens, as a whole. Legislations are enacted, passed and commissions appointed to achieve these desired specific goals.

Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference- Voltaire Yes, we are all born free and equal in dignity and rights as the United Nations declares in their Article 1 of humans rights declaration. It is an inherent quality of every individual on this planet earth by virtue of their being human and no one can be subjudiced.

Social evils of caste distinction and stratification were so much prevalent during the 18th and 19th century among the Indians and which served as a huge bottleneck for unity, for creating a sense of brotherhood and which ultimately delayed the process of Indian independence, I presume. Post independence too, these evils were a major issue and still, it is

conspicuous, being prevalent in some certain section in the Indian society. I wonder who and why such caste system and social stratification among the humans should have its origin.

In our Naga society, from the historic cultural lineage and from the information I learnt through my parents, my grandparents and from respected elders and through reliable books on our naga culture, in no way have I read and heard about the prevalence of social stratification and the caste distinction.

It must be my ignorance but what information to be proud of. The Head hunting culture, an act of valour, pride and a legacy maintained in yesteryears and which we, the present generation today proudly claims it, did the Indians practice it?? They call it Barbarism!!

We Nagas are socially, culturally, physically, historically unique and different and rich and indeed we believe we are different from the Indians too, don’t we? And in fact, with this Mongoloid features and with so much affinities with the SouthEast Asian nations (excluding India), it does not give us any lineage with the Indians and to its culture or does it? Why talk about Naga Sovereignty then?

So where did this social distinction, the so called Backward

O

n a lone cold evening, when the wind dipped to bow, I decided to take a stroll on the road. The trees were swinging with vividness as I passed them.

As I walked all along the roads I reached a secluded spot where there were no street lights and were quite dark. With visibility being nil, I took out my faithful Nokia torchlight to find my way out. As I moved on towards the other side of the road I heard a “thud” noise, the noise was loud and scary. Then with outmost curiosity I looked around, only to find that an accident has occurred.

The road stretch was dark and it was hard to make out what was really wrong. I ran towards the epicentre and was shell shocked to find a man on the road moaning in pain. Apparently the man in his forties had hit a cow in the dark and was again knocked over by a speeding Tata sumo. With a gory sight lying on the road my body free zed... I was out of options and didn’t feel any of my nerves. Within seconds swarms of crowd ran over- everyone was an onlooker and no one could

Tribe had its origin in our Naga Society?? Yes, for holistic, inclusive growth and to be at par with the fast changing scenario, those sections of the society, who are economically and socially backward in area needs to be specially focused and addressed. But, is backward tribe tag a necessity? Why can’t we do away with this demeaning “backward” tag? And in reality, is it not at the expense of these sections, only those creamy sections are really benefitting in the reservation system in our state? Is this equality?

“Poverty Trap” a condition in Economics is explained as, if the unemployment allowance provided by the government is more than the possible income through employment, there will be a tendency to continue receiving unemployment allowance than trying for. Now, in Nagaland, those sections of the society are so dependent and assured and imminent that they will not be disappointed by the government, the quality and the optional resources available are no more seen and utilised for the best possible outcomes. And these further leads to underdevelopment and poverty.

Dear sir and madam, intellectual brothers and sisters, give a thought on the backward

tribes and their reservation policies in Nagaland. I am neither against reservation nor against the so called “backward tribes (BT)”, in fact I support “reservations” but I strongly stand against and condemn the prevailing system in reserving jobs for “EVERY” backward tribes.

Let the reservations be under a common category and not as the prevailing system for the every tribe in the category. Why employ those under par individuals?? Even among the BTs, the quality and meritorious individuals are deprived. Further, it is the area that is backward and underdeveloped, a known and a visible fact. And why should the Government too compromise, be complacent and allow social stratifications for underdevelopments?

In NPSC Exam, different cut-off marks are given to the different backward tribes. Why not a common cut-off mark??

They are all BT after all!! It is ridiculous. I understand clearly that it is for equal representation among the deprived sections. But in doing so, don’t you think that our rights and privilege are also being infringed upon?? In UPSC exam, say, if the cut off for the STs is 100; then 100 it is for every STs, irrespective of the STs from the different states of India. IMAGINE, what

if there were different cut-offs for the different STs, say, Nagaland=90, Mizoram=95, Orissa= 98, Maharashtra=100...etc., it is imminent; every year there will be an IAS/IPS officer from Nagaland too. What a thing to be proud of! But this is not the policy. We have to compete among ourselves and with the other STs too and that is fair enough.

And this is not the scenario in our state. Instead there is “Tribal” BT quota, quotas within a quota. With some exceptions, but, now the so called backward tribes are so well ahead and well fed that they cannot be called backward and we cannot out run them in the race to the finish line. And still more demands pour in. Maybe a time has come to reverse the tagline instead. Not a jibe but this Backward Tribe Tag has become a jinx for me in job opportunities. And it really does hurt when you are always excluded in job opportunities and in the competitive exams by a mark or two and even by a decimal, not once, twice, but thrice! Always has been on the receiving end.

Let me be straight to the point. I have some few thoughts, questions and suggestions in mind, which I wish to express.

1. Poverty, income, occupation, place of habitation may all

The Honest Naga- VI move a feet. Then suddenly a young man ran over and led us forward, he told us to help him move the seriously injured man to the other side; then with all collective effort we moved him to safety and awaited the outcome. As the elders in the crowed took over, they removed the helmet of the injured man with outmost care and precaution. Everyone was nervous as no one knew whether he would make it or not; luckily he did and everyone was relieved. Though he was breathing he had a hard knock in his head and was slowly bleeding out. We looked around for all sorts of help, but being a secluded spot, there was not many. In this tight scenario many vehicles came and passed by, some even winded up their windows as they passed us. We waved around for help all over, but all in vain. We thought that it was completely over when finally after much adieu the “108 ambulance” came and took over, completely reliev-

ing everyone. We carefully lifted him to the ambulance and with a wave we gave him to good hands.

Memories flashed back. This accident reminded me of an incident where a car was crashed on the road between kohima and Dimapur. The scene was horrific; the occupants of the car were severely injured. I was in my mid twenties then and here I panicked more- as me and my friends were among the first to witness it. Even then many people passed by and looked by but no one responded to our calls. Finally as the clock ticked to nearly one hour we were able to take him out to the hospital. He made it to see another day.

Yes accidents are real and can happen to anyone of us, irrespective of who you are, where you are.

Many must have witnessed it, as a passerby or as a Good Samaritan.

Man is a social animal dependent on each other for survival, and yes accidents are such situations where the other needs your help.

How would you feel when your

close ones meet with the same scenario and no one helped him/ her and abandoned him/her?

Today I strongly urge every one of us to understand the value and meaning of life. Being alive is a blessing. Yes, Life is short; but all it matters is that we need to get each other’s back and help each other to live a short but a meaningful life.

A salute to all the Good Samaritan who would go the extra mile to help each other and are making this world more vibrant and meaningful. Knowing that you guys are out there makes everyone of us feel safe and secure. Thank you.

Along this thought I also like to question the ambulance service in Nagaland. Yes, kohima and Dimapur may be going smooth but, accident doesn’t happen in these two districts alone. The other districts are all lacking behind in this arena. So in the interest of all the people I strongly suggest for good reliable Ambulance service in all the districts.

be relevant factors to be taken into account. But, what are the parameters that are taken into account in our state by the government for being recognised as backward? Can a Minister, a Gazetted officer or a Govt.

Employee, unless a 4th grade (say, from a backward tribe) be called backward? If, yes, on what grounds? Why not exclude the “backward tribe” tag and instead include “backward area” tag then? - It could be a town or a village for their underdevelopment. By virtue, I am from a so called “Advance Tribe”, but when it comes to practicality, I come from an economically and educationally backward area, underdeveloped and bordered to a so called backward village and struggling to keep up pace even with my so called BT friends. Had I been born on the other side, I would have been tagged a “backward tribe”.

2. If this backward tribe tag has to persist, why not put some year limitation for it, expiration of which will be subject to a commission’s review and approval for further renewal based on the examination of the area’s developmental results?

3. In NPSC exam, the BTs are given different Cut-off marks, why not different cut-off marks for the different tribes of the

An urge to the govt also for a highway emergency response team in and around sensitive areas so that such emergencies are well taken care into.

Most importantly; message to all the citizens of Nagaland- have a good heart and respond positively to such urgent calls. Yes, it is horrific and takes a lot of heart to face such situations- but it’s not only you, everyone gets tensed out in one way or the other. Please don’t be the guy who rolls up his glass and leave when faced with such scenario. It is very heart breaking to see such obnoxious behaviour when in times of need. It is indeed very critical to take the lead, but knowing that you have saved someone’s father, mother, sister, brother make you feel proud. Everyone may forget the incident but the joy that you have brought to the families will live on forever and will be greatly thankful to you.

Such deeds bring joy which also makes you a true Christian.

“Safe Journey” Abeno N Kithan.

Adozo Ki. Burma Camp, Dma

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.

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 2959

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2966

Answer Number # 2958

General Category too?? This would be so fair.

Now with all this, is not the Government’s policy a little too biased? Reservation is for sure optimistic as it is for the upliftment and betterment of those poorest sections of the society but let’s do away with this backward tribe tag and the tribal quota system. This is in itself an evil - a social stigma for the society. Who is benefiting anyway? Merit and Quality is, but, scarce and soon will be a myth in Nagaland. With such scarce in quality and merit in the manpower and the resources of the state, can we not blame it to be a reason for the state’s lack in progress too?? Time has changed. There is a need for deep retrospection and for new legislations. Let there be reservation but not based on individual tribes. No Naga tribe is backward. And it sounds demeaning! I doubt, in the near future lest there might be another quota to come, “Cocktail/ hybrid quota??”

Equality of rights means that some people cannot simply impose obligations on others, for the moral agency and rights of those others would then be violated- Tom G. Palmer Imtichiba Jamir Lower Chandmari, Kohima

Significance of Metümneo (the festival of Yimchungrü)

M

etümneo is one of the important festivals of Yimchungrü. It is celebrated from 4th - 8th August every year across the Yimchungrü land after the harvest of millet. The word ‘Me’ means ‘soul’, ‘tum’ means ‘wrapped’ and ‘neo’ means ‘fest’.

Thus Metümneo in full sense means ‘sanctification/ purification of soul’. In other words, Metümneo denotes the prayers for the souls of the departed ones.

It is a sentimental ceremony for those dear ones who left for their heavenly abode during the year. An elder known as “KHEAMPURU”, after due prayers, inaugurates the festival. The festival is spread over five days and has separate names for the days viz, SHITO, ZHIHTO, ZUMTO, KHERESUK and SHERESUK. On the first day, the village is cleaned by community efforts, the damaged roads and homes by heavy rains are repaired. On the second day, the path leading to the field is put in right shape, land slide which are very common during heavy rains are cleaned. Unwieldy growth is also cut. On the third day, inter-village roads are taken up. On the fourth day, water points and springs are cleaned giving a new look to the village and its surroundings. The villagers enjoy their millet.

Friends are invited, gifts are exchanged. They dance in their finest and go round the village to charm young and old.

As the festival has a strong agricultural base, the agricultural implements are sharpened and worshipped the three important things such as Spade, Dao and Hoe. During Metümneo festival, the young boys and girls get engage and those already betrothed exchange presents for new born babies. Special prayers are held and offerings are made. If the child happens to be male, the parents offer six pieces of the meat to the priest and if the child happens to be female, parents offer five pieces of meat. This signifies that the male has six souls and female five. \ M Yinkiu President, Yimchungrü Union Kohima

poETry

An identity of poor

W

O

TERMINAL UNIONSTATION INTERLINE DEADHEAD TIMEPIECE MOTORCOACH NEWFLYER PULLOUT TRIPPER YEILD BLOCK TRAILBLAZER REGIONAL EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION FAREBOX FREEMETRORIDE RUNBOARD TERMINAL ADAPAXPASSUP RECOVERY BLOCK

R

P V I U O C H G V Y N B S N Y J J G B E

D

Y E K R G K G V U D L Y G E J K K A Z Q

D R A O B N U R J N P F S W J L O B U I

S

T E E V M P R X X E O A D F I E J I A S

E G T V F N K T F V K C O L B L O C K X

E

R I K F O P F B Z X O J B Y J Z N D P J

M O T O R C O A C H X O B E R A F A H T

I N O D F E E T L K S A C R U L D E A F

N A G W L P E R R S F E I N Z A W H Z U

A

A L V N V I A M E A I P I P P N J D S B

L T R I P P E R E P I O V A Q I R A O W

R

S D G D P N P Y E T N L X Z Q M F E I I

U I J Z Z X R M U S R P B D N R I D G R

R G L I E L I D T V A O P L B E A L K X

C

Y L E H G T R A N S P O R T A T I O N I

P U L L O U T P S P F I E I K Z O H R M

C P A C D I H U O R S G I H D P E Q X Y

H

V Y A R O J P Q Y N A O A A G E Q R Q Y

I R E N I L R E T N I L U D I N K O A U

C Z W O F E R D G W A U X I D Z N Q Y Y

ACROSS 1. The bulk 5. Tablet 10. River of Spain 14. Ancient Peruvian 15. Melodies 16. Midday 17. Officer 19. Boorish 20. Many millennia 21. Not written exams 22. Queues 23. A canvas shoe 25. Kick out 27. Chief Executive Officer 28. Grinding 31. Unit of luminous flux 34. Highly favored 35. Enemy 36. Creative work 37. Fight on horseback 38. Barely 39. 16 1/2 feet 40. Employs 41. The general activity of selling 42. Subjugated 44. Skirt’s edge 45. Adores 46. A style of roof 50. Not dead

52. Gangs 54. Prefix meaning “Modern” 55. Broad 56. Huskiness 58. Not under 59. Big name in computers 60. Away from the wind 61. Not more 62. Discourage 63. Wagers

DOWN 1. Units of distance 2. Scallion 3. Display 4. Letter after sigma 5. Record player 6. Pertaining to the moon 7. A Freudian stage 8. Tautness 9. Eastern Standard Time 10. Make wealthy 11. Plentiful 12. Was a passenger 13. 1 1 1 1 18. Keepsake 22. Enumerate 24. Cards with 1 symbol 26. Widespread 28. Pasted 29. Schnozzola 30. Obtains

31. Old stories 32. Atop 33. Landslides 34. Tool for looking in tight spaces 37. A style of jazz 38. Photocopier problems 40. Possess 41. Feel 43. Admirers 44. Large heavy rope 46. European blackbird 47. Anoint (archaic) 48. Adjust again 49. Units of medicine 50. Absent Without Leave 51. Not pre-recorded 53. Awestruck 56. Possessed 57. Apprehend Ans to CrossWord 2965

Legacy handed down sayin’ ‘No leprosy, no poor can hide.’

Look at the poor At their fireplace— No metal grate, stood A triplet stone to hold a meal pot.

Breakfast over, Nothing left in for noon An empty pot on a grate Won’t subsist seemingly.

Look at the poor On their bed— no woolen, no fur Only a set an old sack To rest in chilly night.

A bird’s nest is warmer then.

Look at the poor At their door—no lock hanged An wooden-post leanin’ on door That kinda notice visitors ‘no owner.’

Look at the poor A poor machete—that cane is binder.

String cost little sum Yet rem’ber second feed.

Look at the poor At the shop—a small buck In their closed palm For no specified ounce.

What justice is this Independent Nation, Nowhere the poor to depend?

The rich axer richer The poor spearer poorer.

Bausha Pauwung Buchem, Nyengching, Longleng

LOCAL

The Morung Express

MEx FILE NFHRCC meeting today

Nukhu initiates to open Model College in Wakching

Dimapur, august 7 (mExN): There will be a meeting of NFHRCC on August 8 at 3:00 pm at treasurmoN, august 7 er's residence, Khermahal, Dimapur. All the committee (Dipr): With an eye to members are requested to attend the meeting. A press promote development and release from WY Kithan informed. to create platform for the underprivileged students Lost and Found of Mon district, ParliamenKohima, august 7 (mExN): A VISA DEBIT CUM tary Secretary for Higher SHOPPING CARD of SBI bearing the name of one Education and SCERT, Deo Wongtochu Chongphu has been found and is being Nukhu initiated a comprekept at Kohima South Police Station. The owner may hensive approach to open come and collect it from the Police Station during of- a Model College in Wakchfice hour. ing town in Mon District, where he had a meeting CM extends Metemneo greetings with the public of WakchKohima, august 7 (mExN): State Chief Minister, ing area on August 6.

While addressing TR Zeliang has extended warm greetings to the Yimchunger community on the auspicious occasion of the people of Wakching, Metemneo festival which is celebrated on August 8. A Nukhu said, “My mind press release from the Media Cell of the CMO stated. was convinced to open a The chief minister further expressed hope that the com- college in Wakching town munity will celebrate the festival with the spirit of love because of these many and brotherhood and that the festivities will usher in reasons: It is one of the biggest village in the Konyak peace, prosperity and tranquillity among the Nagas. community, oldest administrative centre in Mon NSCN (IM) informs on District, the first Christian collections and taxation village and it fits the criteKohima, august 7 (mExN): The NSCN/GPRN (IM) with a view to streamline all forms of financial collections and taxation within Kohima district has informed that henceforth, prior confirmation should be obtained before making any such payments. All concerned are requested to contact Medo Angami, Dep- Kohima, august 7 uty Kilonser Chaplee Affairs, through phone number (mExN): On receiving @9436002522 so that the petty contradictions on the certain complaints from taxation are sorted out before making the actual pay- different sources that inment. Anybody making such payments without prior spite of giving awareness confirmation would be doing so at their own risk, for to both government and which the Chaplee Affairs should not be held respon- private schools about the sible, a press release from Medo Angami, Deputy Kilon- provisions of the RTI Act 2009, some schools conser Chaplee Affairs, NSCN/GPRN (IM) informed. tinue to use corporal punishment in schools causPSU to resume checking ing fear psychosis in the government offices minds of the students topErEN, august 7 (mExN): The Peren Students' ward their teachers and Union, Nagaland has stated that it will resume regular the school administration. and surprise checking in government offices. A press reThis was stated by Dislease from the union President Mireulung Sephe, Gen- trict Education Officer, Koeral Secretary Heigum Herie, and Assembly Speaker hima in a release received Haichenbeu Ndang, stated that in case the absence of here today. any government servant in their respective offices durFurther, some schools/ ing office hours is detected, the union shall take its own course of action. “The case of such erring government officials shall be publicized in the print media, for which the union shall not be held responsible. This action of the Union pertains to the strict implementation of Govt.

Policy, ‘No work, no pay’,” the union stated.

ria to open a college.”

Nukhu said that the less opportunities for higher education, the local students who cannot afford to go outside for further studies, the isolation that many students face, will be broken by introducing the Model College at Wakching and added that “it is in you to have the sense of ownership, protect, support and make this project a successful one.”

Introducing the contractor Arep Changkija to the public, Nukhu urged them to work together sincerely for smooth completion of the project. Nukhu also explained the pattern of funding under RUSA project. Tittered saying 'seeing is believing', Nukhu said he would like to visit the place again to

see the implementation of the project.

Expressing his gratitude, MLA YM Yollow thanked the Department for taking the initiative and advised the public to extend cooperation to the Department and the contractor for smooth implementation of the project.

He also stressed on the sense of ownership that Nukhu mentioned.

Deputy Commissioner Angau I. Thou (IAS) chaired the meeting while Pastor, Wakching Village Baptist Church, proposed invocation prayer and P. Ayong delivered welcome address. T. W. Manching presented special number while vote of thanks was proposed by C. Nyangpong and benediction by Longme Deacon.

DEO Kma against corporal punishment

PAPO condemns factional killing phEK, august 7 (mExN): The Phek Area Public organization (PAPO) has strongly condemned the killing of Veripa Soho, allegedly by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khalpang on August 3 at Phek Town. A condemnation note jointly appended

by PAPO President Vezhiehu Vero and General Secretary Zechete Mekrisuh, stated that the union in all seriousness felt that instead of solving the differences through peaceful means, resorting to senseless killing of one’s own brother is highly condemnable. When all peace loving Nagas are putting all efforts to bring all Naga political groups under one umbrella, it is a pain to observe blood being shed despite repeated pleas from the public, PAPO asserted.

Further maintaining that such ugly incidents pose a hindrance to the peace process, PAPO urged all functionaries to desist from killing.

ANGPTA Kohima unit meeting Kohima, august 7 (mExN): The All Nagaland Graduate Primary Teacher Association (ANGPTA) Kohima unit will hold its meeting at Khonoma Rüffüno Building, D. Block, Kohima on August 16 at 11 am. All the members have been requested to bring their documents from matriculate onwards, 2 passport photos, appointment order and regularization. An amount of Rs. 500 will be collected as membership fee. For further information, contact 80214316622/9856107388.

DCF offers support to The Watchmen

D i m a p u r , a ugust 7 (mExN): The Dimapur Christian Forum has written to the The Watchman offering its support for the proposed rally to conscientize the public about the prevailing social evils.

The letter made available to the media stated that after receiving a letter from The Watchmen requesting the Forum’s participation in the proposed rally, the Forum deliberated on the matter and decided to actively support it. The letter, signed by DCF Secretary Fr. Chacko Karinthayil, suggested that The Watchmen hold a joint meeting with representatives of the organizations supporting the rally.

teachers are in the habit of giving home assignments beyond the capacity of the students and parents/ guardians who are being asked to consult/download materials from the internet to do their home works which many still have no access to these facilities.

It is presumed that the motive behind the teachers to give such home works to their students is to get the ideas on the answers of textual/critical questions from students/ parents/tutors which the teachers themselves do not have much ideas or

not teaching themselves in the classrooms, according to a release issued

by Ruovihulie Angami, joint director, additional charge of DEO, Kohima.

He also added that, henceforth, any school/ teacher found indulging in corporal punishment to the students instead of adopting other alternative like counseling approaches to discipline the students and giving home assignment beyond the capacity of the students without giving enough teaching to them will be seriously dealt with by the higher authority.

CondolenCe messages GPRN/NSCN: The GPRN/NSCN has expressed ‘deep pain’ at the demise of Sergeant Major Pfokrehru Adakho of Shepoumaramth Region who expired on August 3. A condolence message from the MIP GPRN/NSCN coveyed.

“Our late brother is a native of Maopungdung Village who was a sincere and a dedicated worker and we acknowledge the 'selfless service' rendered towards the 'national cause,'” MIP informed.

While sending condolence to the bereaved family, GPRN/NSCN prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Kejong Chang : Parliamentary Secretary Horticulture Kejong Chang has expressed sadness to learn of the passing of Beso Chejing Chang, vice president, All Nagaland GBs Federation and President of Tuensang District GBs Federation, on the morning

of August 7 at Tuensang.

A condolence message received here conveyed.

Late Beso had served as “D.B during North East Frontier Agency and after his retirement from Government service, he was then appointed as GB and initiated the formation of Tuensang District GBs Federation,” the condolence note informed. “He was a man of word who contributed a lot to the people of Tuensang in various capacities particularly in ensuring peace and tranquillity in the District. On his demise, the people of Tuensang in particular and the Nagas in general have lost a senior citizen created a vacuum, which would be difficult to fill up,” the condolence read.

Kejong Chang while conveying condolences to the bereaved family members prayed for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

Friday 8 August 2014

Dimapur

5

abam resolves to uphold nlTP act Dimapur, august 7 (mExN): The Ao Baptist Church Association (ABAM) has affirmed to continue upholding the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act. A press note from ABAM informed that it conducted an emergency meeting and had “a serious deliberation on the emerging debate regarding NLTP Act.” The meeting, it stated, was convened “after learning that the State Government has proposed to debate the NLTPAct in a special session of the Assembly.”

ABAM stated that it has been spearheading the movement “against the evils of liquor, even long before Nagaland Government passed NLTP-Act.” For the past 60 years or so, it informed, “the association has been fighting this evil tirelessly and will continue to do so, no matter what ever the decisions maybe, for we have a covenant with the Lord.”

It meanwhile appreciated the Nagaland state gov-

ernment for passing the NLTP Act in 1989 and “the support and measures taken in this great fight against evil.”

“We dare not forget what happened just 25 years ago. Can we simply ignore as if nothing has happened, as if NLTP just popped up from nowhere?” it questioned.

ABAM further stated “Daring death they prayed and fasted, even upto the extent of willingness to sacrifice their life for the future of the Nagas.”

It stated that ABAM and its Churches “have sacrificed much; time, talent, resources and labour for this noble cause and will never dare to turn back.” “Inspite of how hard the task maybe we have never lost hope that we shall overcome this battle someday,” it affirmed.

It recalled that ABAM’s 2011 General Council had “strongly resolved to completely destroy liquor from Ao land within 10 years.” In this regard, ABAM informed that its

Social Concern Committee convened a consultation this year and invited Churches, Village Councils, ward executives, Student bodies, Women Hoho, administrators etc. and deliberated on the issue. The Consultation, it stated, had resolved to “support, co-operate and continually work together to achieve the long cherished dream.” ABAM added that the Association had called upon volunteers for a “100 Day Prayer Marathon for the eradication of liquor,” which started on August 1 and that it was “responded by around 3000 volunteers.” It further informed that ABAM, with its 157 Churches, have “many on-going programs to fight against this evil.”

It expressed hope on the Nagaland state government that the “common desire and aspiration of the Naga Christians will not be ignored, hence reenforce, find remedies so that NLTP will become effective and a reality.”

Urra area mass social work to repair road Dimapur, august 7 (mExN): The Urra Area Villages’ Union is organising a mass social work to repair the Doyapur Road from Tuolazouma to Kiyeto Village on August 8 and 9. A press release from the union President Thrilongse Sangtam, and Secretary, Ruokuozhalie Rutsa, informed that the road has been in a “deplor-

able condition for many years” and that “UAVU was expecting from the department to repair the road as the condition has turned from bad to worse.”

“However, there has been no sign of positive response from the department till date,” UAVA stated.

While requesting all the member villages to participate actively, the

union also appealed to the concerned department, PWD (R&B) administration, R.D. Department, media and well wishers to participate or contribute in any form towards the work. The union requested machinery donors to send their machinery and report at Singrijan Government High School ground at 6 am on August 8.

BRO attending to affected NH 29, NH 2 roads Our Correspondent Kohima | August 7

With the onset of heavy monsoons, the DimapurKohima-Mao road (NH-2 & 29) has been severely affected which is effectively being tackled by the BRO on a war footing.

The effort being put in is commendable with more

than 120 labourers and Supervisory Staffs getting committed for potholes repairs and clearance of roadside drains. The staffs including officers seem well motivated and energetic in ensuring rectification of the damages to facilitate bituminous works post-monsoon.

BRO has in turn re-

quested the learned citizens to ensure that the damages due to rampant quarry activities be stopped forthwith, failing which the road conditions may deteriorate further.

It has been learnt that the organization is committed and well geared up to get the road fully functional by Mar 2015.

Süngkotenem Angling Festival from Aug 11 m o p u N g c h u K E t, august 7 (mExN): Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) will be organizing the annual Süngkotenem Angling Festival at Süngkotenem Lake, Mopungchuket Village from August 11 to 23.

Angling sessions will begin at 5 am and go on till 5 pm on all days. Entry tickets will be available at the Süngkotenem Park main gate. Only two single-hook

fishing rods will be allowed per individual.

Mopungchuket through the years has been the forerunner in promoting the sport of angling in the region and in order to take the level of the sport a notch higher, MCTS is for the first time introducing an angling competition this year. The competition will be held on the first day of the festival.

The angler with the biggest catch will be awarded a cash

prize of Rs. 10,000/- and the runner-up will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 5000/along with certificates. Entry tickets for the competition is priced at Rs 500/- and tickets will be available at U$ Dollar Store Mokokchung and at the Süngkotenem Park main gate. Interested parties may contact at 9402402427 or 9436016099 for queries. Food stalls will remain open on all days in the vicinity.

PubliC sPaCe

status of Professional institutions and higher education scenario

I

t will be very interesting to note that Tamil Nadu has about 19 State Government Universities, one Central University (another in the pipeline) and about 29 Private and Deemed Universities. There are about 538 engineering colleges Government and Private excluding IIT, NIT and IIM. There are about 37 medical colleges offering medicines, dentistry, Pharmacy and nursing. Side by side the Industries and service based organisations are also growing giving employment opportunities. Professional institution especially the engineering colleges were once considered very potential to earn by way of capitation fees/ donation. It became so commercilaised that you will find engineering colleges in every nook and corner of the street.

Today, it has gone to such an extent that there are no takers and Industries/employers often complain that most of the engineering graduates are not employable as most of them

lack the required skills and competencies. It was mostly academic oriented and not practical/application oriented as per the need of the Industrial houses. Now, some of the institutions have realised the need to change the educational system and are tying up with the Industries either manufacturing or sectors including the Government establishments and so on to have more practical oriented kind of learning. Accordingly, executives/administrators/officers/entrepreneurs are invited from various organisations to delivers lectures/conduct workshops/seminars to the students so that they have the knowledge of the real life situations and current practices.

The students are also exposed to the Industries/Organizations by way of internship. The Indian Express, 27 July 2014 reported that about 80,000 Engineering seats were lying vacant in the year 2013 and on 4th August 2014, the Times of India reported that more than 1 lakh

engineering seats were lying vacant. Only few of the top 100 engineering colleges are able to fill the seats and the rest are left with no takers and therefore, the survival of the Institutions especially the private colleges are in questions. Therefore, the these Institutions are trying to reach out to various parts of the country by way of advertisements/conducting educational fairs, appoint consultant and so on. Parents/students must be careful in selecting the type of institutions. See that they are recognised and approved by appropriate authority. Today, information is easily available from the net and one can find the institutions from the google search, have direct contact and get the admission done instead of going through third parties where you will lend up paying huge amount. I have come across some institutions offering me to be their agent/consultant where you will earn commission for each seat you sell. However, I tell them frank-

ly that I am not interested. For some it may be a kind of a profession/occupation but for me I feel unethical. Wherever, possible it should be our responding to guide and advise the students’ community. Therefore, students/parents must be very careful and wise enough to approach the right people.

To make it more attractive and beneficial for the students, some of the institutions have introduced 5 years integrated programmes (ie B.tech + M.Tech), integrated Ph.D course in just 4 years (M.Tech+Ph.D), Double Degrees at one go and so on.

However, as per the report in Times of India July 29, the UGC has stated that from this academic year 2014 onwards such integrated programmes will not be accepted. That means each Degree will have a separate no of required years individually, for example for B.Tech and M.Tech-it should be 4 years and 2 years and not 5 years. So also 5 years integrated courses like BA, LL.B, B.Com, LL.B etc are

also in question. The matter has been taken up the bar council of India. Now, technical/Professional and higher education has now come to such a saturation state in all the southern states. The situation is the same in other parts of the country ecept the north eastern states.

Recently, Modi Government has announced that that there will be IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in all the States in a phase manner. Tamil Nadu Government is trying its best to pressure the Modi Government to set up AIIMS in their state first. Medicines are still on high demand, and the seats are selling like a hot cake and many institutions are making a huge profit in out of it. Now, coming back to our state, Nagaland, where do we stand? We neither have enough professional/technical institutions nor Industries /Organisations where our boys and girls will get employment opportunities. It appears that even before such institutions are born, it has already become saturat-

ed. Today, we fine many technocrats who are unemployed. I feel that something needs to be done in order to solve these issues. Productivity is nil. We neither have manufacturing sector nor the service sectors. We are just a consumer state and literally dependent on central funding. Funds come through various ways-schemes, projects, grants etc. for the development of the state but there is no visibility of the development taking place. The Public Utility services systems (basic essential) are very poor or non-existent, but on other hand, we can see the increase of consumption on luxury items such as expensive cars, construction of palaces where there are no roads. But who is bothered anyway? life goes on. It is extremely painful to see the scenario that is taking place and what will be the situation in the next 10 or 20 years down the line. I think the worst is going to come unless we do something about it. The other parts of the world are so busy-

looking for every opportunity for development, growth and advancement, whereas we are busy with the petty problems of –ism/community issues, village issues, and so on which are undesirable.

Much of our times and energies seem to be lost handling all these affairs rather than focusing on development, work culture, governance, accountability etc. We have the human resources (technocrat and other professionals) but are we creating the avenues for them? We need such specialist people to handling a specilaised jobs rather than the generalist handling a specialised jobs that is where we land up into problems. Let’s hope that good sense prevail and the government do something for the betterment of the future generation.

Ditalak M Assistant Pofessor Dept of Management Studies Nagaland University (A Central University) D.C. Court Junction, Dimapur Nagaland-797112.

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper.

Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express FrIDAy 8 AuGusT 2014 volumE IX IssuE 216

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

The Way Forward Defeating the Culture of Corruption & Extortion

N

agas have become so used to corruption and extortion from within that for most of us this has become a way of life and also a collective failure. Everyone of us should contemplate as to why even after so many years of Statehood or the Naga movement we remain at the bottom of economic and human development. A former Union Home Secretary gave a matter of fact observation when he said that extortion in the northeast region had become an industry and how many of the so called armed struggles operating in the region were nothing more than a ploy to generate money at the cost of the common people. The State may blame the so called extortion culture of the underground groups but its indulgence in corruption is as bad if not worse. Among several things that we must do in order to grow and progress as a people is to defeat this culture of corruption and extortion that is hampering our way forward. But how do we even begin to dismantle and change this deep rooted system?

One way to go about is for the public to speak out more against such ills prevalent in our society. For too long, we the people have remained mute as though nothing is wrong. As a result, those who govern us, whether government, national groups or civil society organizations, they have all taken public support for granted. It is time for people’s voice to be heard loud and clear. Sometime during last year (2013), the Naga Students Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) had strongly resolved not to allow any form of tax imposition on teachers’ and educational institutions. The two student bodies had in fact approached the various Naga Political Groups on the matter. The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) is now at the forefront trying to address some of the known concerns.

Both ‘unabated taxation (extortion)’ and corruption whether it is prevalent in the government, armed groups, trade bodies, student unions, tribal hohos, church etc should be tackled with the same amount of force if Naga society is to improve.

A sensible thing that can be done is for those running the affairs of the State and society to put into motion, corrective reform measures within their respective organizations. Reforming our institutions is in our national interest. Not only will it guarantee order and legitimacy to the establishment, but this will help us meet the challenges that we will be faced with as we prepare towards greater self-rule and sovereign decision making. In fact the popular notion that Nagas are corrupt and large scale extortion takes place in our land only belittles our national aspiration to be an independent and sovereign people. All the high sounding mantra of Vision 2020; political solution; embracing common vision; peace and development; shared future etc will come to nothing if we continue to give space and feed the prevalent culture of corruption and extortion. While an honorable solution or national unity is much talked about and desirable, the State government, Naga civil society and the Naga political groups must also prepare the ground for a future political mechanism and one that is capable of delivering transparency, accountability and Just peace.

(Feedback can be sent to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)

lEfT wiNg |

Latifah Azlan Foreign Policy in Focus

When Diplomats Misbehave

D

iplomatic immunity has long been a staple of goodfaith diplomatic relations between governments in the modern state system. But although the privilege was designed to reduce the incidence of conflict between states, its abuse has often had the opposite effect. The 2013 New York arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade triggered a diplomatic rift between Washington and New Delhi.

Charged with visa fraud and perjury, Khobragade was also accused of violating U.S. labor law by underpaying her housekeeper while making her work longer hours.

At the time, many Indians expressed outrage at the treatment the diplomat received upon her arrest, which included a strip search. However, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara defended the federal government’s conduct, claiming that Khobragade had been “accorded special courtesies” because of her diplomatic status. Khobragade claimed that she was “cloaked in diplomatic immunity at the time of her arrest” and left the United States for India in January.

Less than a year later, a similar diplomatic standoff has occurred, this time involving Malaysia and New Zealand.

Last May, New Zealand officials charged Muhammad Rizalman Ismail, a defense staff assistant with the Malaysian High Commission in New Zealand, with committing burglary and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman.

Much like Khobragade, Rizalman flew back to his country of origin and claimed diplomatic immunity.

But the similarities between the two cases end there. The latest reports indicate that Malaysia has promised to extradite Rizalman back to New Zealand to face his charges, although it is unclear when this will happen. The diplomat is still in a Malaysian military hospital undergoing psychiatric evaluations for depression.

The incident has caused an uproar in both Malaysia and New Zealand, where citizens on both sides of the divide have criticized their respective governments over the handling of the case.

Many Malaysians condemned the government’s decision to retain Rizalman’s diplomatic immunity in light of the heinous crimes he stands accused of. Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Malaysia’s minister of Foreign Affairs, responded by saying that New Zealand officials had allowed the defense officer to return to Malaysia and even offered him the option of invoking diplomatic immunity.

Anifah’s version of the affair did not hold for very long, however. On July 1, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released documents contradicting Anifah’s claims and confirming that New Zealand had, in fact, requested that Malaysia waive Rizalman’s immunity. Malaysia refused, asking that the charges be dropped and the matter be swept under the rug.

New Zealanders have also condemned their government’s failure to ensure that Rizalman stood trial for his crimes. Tania Billingsley, the woman at the center of the affair, has spoken out against the “poor mismanagement” of her case. More interestingly, even as it fired back against Anifah, the New Zealand government has admitted that it might have given Malaysian authorities the impression that Rizalman could invoke diplomatic immunity and return to Malaysia. There is now a growing call for New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully to resign from his position due to his role in the matter.

In both incidents, public pressure impacted how the situation played out. In Khobaragade’s case, Bharara lamented the fact that the Indian public was more outraged at how the diplomat was treated than the crime she committed. The federal government indicted Khobragade again in March on the same charges. She faces arrest should she ever return to the United States, which is unlikely since India has refused to revoke her immunity.

Malaysia and New Zealand have responded more appropriately to the public’s sharp criticisms, thereby avoiding the mistakes the United States and India made last year. All that’s left to do now is to pay for Rizalman’s ticket to New Zealand.

C O M M E N T A R Y

THE EDIT PAGE

T. Meren Paul Kohima

Why not a Partial Prohibition?

O

f late, two pertinent issues emanating from Church perspective has hit the local dailies. One is regarding the public discourses on Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 and the other is controversy on missing bible verses from NIV Bible.

Unlike the controversy of NIV Bible that confines interests to believers and more so to theologians, the liquor prohibition issue is interested to believers and more so to the drunkards and non believers.

The State Govt. is understood to have consented for further debate for lifting or continuance of the NLTP Act, 1989, and has opened a fair playing field giving opportunity to public to put forward their good counsel so that the Govt. of the day dispense justice in the larger interest of the public. Having placed the issue in open public domain we are coming across differing discourses with churches reaffirming the stand for prohibition after all church cannot say yes to alcohol. Let us also expect, in addition to what has already been presented in the paper so far, the expertise view and opinion and candid experience from concerned citizen of the state without prejudice or jeopardy to anyone. Understandably NBCC has already issued statement on 2nd August 2014 reiterating its stand on the liquor prohibition followed by brief treatise on 4th August 2014.

I remember vividly how Assam and even New Delhi were under partial prohibition, sale of liquor being permitted once in a week when Nagaland was wet state. But when Nagaland became a dry state the other two states went wet considering the need of the people. Thus requirement of partial or total prohibition policy depends upon the felt of necessity. The hue and cry for and against prohibition became so acute today due to emotional approach to the issue at the threshold by the Church. Factually, the concern expressed by our Churches was very relevant as at that point of time there were more liquor available in the state than safe drinking water as those days the bottle waters industries in India has not set in. Something has to be done to halt the unlimited and disproportionate flow of liquor to our tiny state. To my obtuse mind, the move taken by the Church was pertinent but approach was hell bend emotional.

If I recollect correctly, the Church leaders called for two member volunteers from each church in the state and launched a “Fast unto Death” hunger strike at the then Phoolbari, Kohima. I hosted two of the volunteers representing my village Baptist church. To my simple reading of the text of the bible the very slogan “fast unto death” was against the teaching of the bible as the bible says “Do not kill”. Insinuating believers to “Fast unto Death” was asking the believers to suicide by fasting. Among the hundreds of volunteers fasting onto death, few were hospitalized in serious condition presenting an alarming and grave situation. Govt. of the day immediately conceded to enactment of the “Total Prohibition Act” and saved the situation. This is why I call it emotional approach. We should have tried the method of weaning, withdrawal from alcoholism through the process of attrition instead of banning the alcohol substance. Application of partial prohibition should have been the first attempt as a process of attrition and during the course of this partial prohibition the churches, NGO and the believers should have won over the youngsters and our children through inculcation of morale value to desist and despise alcohol and educate them the evil effect of alcohol both biblically and socially. Then by now (25 years) we could have produced a brand new generation of alcohol free society leaving microscopic minority population of old alcohol addicts. But sadly we are firing full salvo on the substance alcohol instead of addressing the habit/character of alcoholism. When alcoholism is eradicated from our society the need and want for the substance alcohol shall frizzle out by itself. Human tendency either by default or wickedness raises curiosity for restricted and prohibited things, the forbidden fruit was sweet in the Garden of Eden too. (The original sin) To speak pure chemistry, (my chemistry is limited to 41 years old at graduate level only) Liquor means distilled beverages called Alcohol having chemical formula of C₂H₅OH (Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol) which includes Whisky, Brandy, Rum, Gin, Vodka etc. Fermented beverages such as Beer, Wine, Cider do not come within the meaning of Liquor as they are not distilled. Although the content of alcohol in these fermented beverages may be very low but they falls empirically within the Alcohol family and could be intoxicating when taken in excess drinking.

In the western country the permissible consumption limit of alcohol to drive a motor vehicle is two pint of beer that does not caused disruption of mental coordination that triggers physical impairment. The presence of alcohol below 30 milligram per 100 milliliter of blood is the prescribed limit of alcohol to drive a motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Acts, 1988.

We are now in the 25th year of Total Prohibition of liquor in Nagaland and we all know it has not produced the desired effect as anticipated but pride goes before prejudice therefore it is the emotional pride of the Christian predominated state that we are a dry state. I would not go into facts what previous writers have already highlighted about bootlegging and elicit spurious local liquor that is openly available in would be black market.

No wonder we often notice truck load of empty liquor bottles going down to Dimapur from Kohima etc. These empty liquor bottles are going down to Dimapur and Khatkhati for refilling with elicit spurious locally made liquor (could be with methyl alcohol) to be again transported back to our towns bootlegger for further merry go rounds. All these liquor are consumed by our people in our midst but none of us raises even an eyebrow where, how and why liquor are found in our dry state. We are focused more unto propagating moral ethics than spiritual value, should be searching the perishing soul rather than the substance (alcohol). Every Naga is a believer, a member of a particular local

church but none of us tries winning the drunkard, the substance abuser, the bootleggers, drug peddler for Christ because it is an unpleasant and herculean task and may even cost our life. Should we not have compunction on those perishing souls who shies away from church and teach them as Jesus commissioned us to do? Or, do we just keep singing, we shall overcome through Govt. Legislation, come whatever may, let it be the bounden duty of the Govt. to stop the public from drinking, take away the alcohol temptation from our society but nay, not by us complacent churches and believers. Over the years I have travelled a lot in around Nagaland. An odd spectacle along the road is motorist picnicking liquor on the roadside lay bay or under the shade of trees. You look for a suitable site to relieve yourself of nature call or stopping at any water holes, there will be no dearth of strewn empty liquor bottles. Surely yearning for alcoholic drinks is very high on the ride in our society. The daring million dollar question is, should we let our people continue drinking the highly poisoned bootlegged elicit spurious liquor?

Time is the greatest healer that usher changes and much scenario has also been changed in our state during the last 25 years period of the wettest dry state in the world. Today, besides the alcoholism we are beset with more serious social problem of drug addiction, HIV Aids problem and the casualties due to consumption of elicit spurious liquor. Believe me, I am not on liquor but I would advocate for partial prohibition under strict regulation such as sale of alcohol once in a week, sale to above 18 years of age (age proof certificate mandatory) sale restriction of limited quantity to a person, persecution for selling of alcohol on dry day, persecution of drinking on dry day, persecution of drink and drive, persecution of drinking in public, so and so forth.

Today we are witnessing alcoholic casualties of as young as 20 years old that indicates they started drinking at young age of 15-16 years. Who is at fault?

Let us not point fingers at anybody but let us introspect and honestly admit that we, means I and you as parent, a believer, a church member, intellectual and as a human being have miserably failed to dissuade/ wean away alcoholics from drinking. The church has taken for granted that the Total Prohibition Act, 1989 would control liquor in the state and leave it to the Government machineries to tame even the alcoholism. When Government control the substance alcohol the churches, the society down to the family should try to control the alcohol substance abuse.

Perhaps the first and the foremost imparting of life molding teaching to children at home is lacking due to poor parenting. We hardly see people becoming alcohol addict after marriage but 99% alcoholism takes place on young people. I praise the brain behind the “Fathers School” now being conducted in many of the local churches. This new approach of imparting education on biblical and social approach on parenthood and parenting to the fathers will produce sea of changes in our society within a decade or two. The church should bring out a “Vision Road Map” on how to eradicate alcoholism from our society. The reason why I advocate (who am I to advocate?) partial prohibition is to make available branded liquor to those alcohol consumer, the addicts and addict on the making, so that they are given a lease of life and get a live opportunity to change their life and meet Jesus as personal Savior through the church Vision Road Map. A mere single drunkenness does not turn one into alcoholic but regular drunkenness makes one an alcoholic. In drunkenness brain coordination fails and leads to physical impairment, some may shouts and few may brawl but soon the alcohol effect wears out and returns to normalcy. Except in few cases, there is turning point in alcoholics to come back to normal life. How many testimonies do we have in our church in a year? We give baptism to our teenager being born to Christian family and count them as church members. We have many Outreach Mission fields of the churches but back home we are grappling with alcoholism, drug addic-

tion and HIV Aids problem because soul winning at home is neglected. We should be more conscious of drug addiction and HIV Aids problems. I am told a single dose intake of drugs turns one into addiction with hardly few cases of turning back chance. So also, one night stand or single sexual intercourse with HIV positive person is enough to get HIV Aids infected with no cure. Drugs and HIV Aids are silent killer but sadly there are no expressed emotion and advocates from any corner for those poor souls but are rather despised and stymied. Before the constituent Parliament of India two different opinions cropped up.

The Hindu majority congress wanted to enact Ban of Cow slaughter but Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed it saying that even in democracy the majority cannot deny food of the minority (Muslim) whereas; Gandhi wanted total prohibition but the majority opposed it. Delhi bans cow slaughter but not prohibition. In some states like our there is Total Prohibition but no ban on Cow slaughter.

Keeping in mind the Total Prohibition as final frontier of our state, the first phase towards alcohol eradication should come through partial prohibition as corollary with all the required regulation string attached to it. Let every believer endeavor to save the alcoholics during this period and make our society alcohol free. Prohibition or no prohibition, liquor will be always available in our place because the demand shall prompt bootlegger to invent new modus operandi to transport elicit liquor to the state where a culpable vicious circle may be available to give a wink. I am told in one seminar that the impregnable Great Wall of China was breached thrice by enemy not through military might but through bribery. Admit that we neither have Great Wall nor Great Well, one has to simply cross the border to Assam/Manipur/ Arunachal and get drunk as much you want. If we expect Govt. machinery to implement the Prohibition in letter and in spirit, it will require a battalion of Excise personnel to police the streets, joints, frisking of all kinds of motor vehicles entering Nagaland at the interstate check gate and further frisking all vehicles coming to Kohima from Dimapur etc. Surely, the Check gate at Pakla Pahar and the Golaghat road Interstate check gate would require widening to create road shoulder to provide frisking lay bay so also at the entry point to every District Headquarter. No exemption of any VIP, Police, Armed Forces and Para military vehicles. Look at the gate crashing red beacon light of VIP vehicles, displaying name/institution plate in the vehicles (nowadays even church uses name plate) with mad rush, inter alia, show of authority and position, imagine what ruckus scenario it will create at the frisking point?, We can expect the unimaginable harangue where there will be test of our nerve and patient as hours ticks by in the vehicle que waiting your turn for frisking. The nerve and temper of our motorist raised to its height every minute, everybody honking and honking the horn, usually don’t have even few seconds tolerance of staggering of vehicles in the road. Implementation of Total Prohibition would be more than a herculean task and irritating to many of us.

I may be a poor judge of the matter.

This is purely my personal view whether good or bad taste to churches and believers, I am fully aware that my writing shall invoke criticism and condemnation by many and may be even shocking to many of my good friends why I have written it. But I am not raking up a new issue but participating in the ongoing open debate through the news media basing on my personal experience. Let us all participate in the great effort of removing alcoholism from our society not just parroting and prescribing task to other and discerning only the failure at the end of the day, but bottom line let us propound task to be result oriented where we also participate in actual execution. Let us be progressive Christian and shun any bigoted approach on total prohibition but give a try to new view point in order to give a chance to the perishing soul after all they are also fellow human being. God forgave me if I have erred.

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.

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.

7

Friday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

8 August 2014

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

HOME SCALE PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING OF MUSHROOM Jessica dohtdong Programme Assistant (Home science) KVK, Wokha, ICAR, Nagaland centre

M

ushroom is a simple form of plant life which is a rich source of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Among various preservation and processing methods, pickling and drying are the most common method of preserving mushroom at home. Before preserving and processing any food commodities, general cleanliness is very important. Washing and removing all the dirt and unwanted materials from the food is the basic necessary steps before preservation and processing method. Cleaning should be strictly followed as dust particles adhering to the raw materials contains micro-organisms and by doing so the number of organisms can be reduced considerably.

Mushroom pickle making process: Is a processing and preservation methods that involve use of spices, salt and oil in order to preserve the food material. Methods of mushroom pickle making are given as follows: Ingredients: Mushroom – 1kilogram Salt – 100gram Vinegar – 100 ml Red chilli powder – 5 kilogram Turmeric powder – 10 gram Coriander powder – 15 gram Aniseed powder – 5 gram Cumin powder – 5 gram Fenugreek powder – 2 gram Black pepper powder – 2 gram Cinnamon powder – 1 gram Clove – 5 numbers Garlic paste – 20 gram Chopped onion – 100 gram Tamarind paste – 50 gram Mustard oil – 350 ml Method Mushrooms are sorted, washed, trimmed and fried with spices in a little oil (except salt and vinegar) till mushrooms become almost dry. This is followed by cooling of the product and addition of salt and vinegar. Content is then filled in a glass jar. The remaining oil is heated and cool when it’s cool it is then added to the content sufficiently to cover the pieces. The glass jar is then sealed properly and stored in ambient temperature.

Drying of Mushrooms Mushroom can also be process by drying or dehydration. Microorganisms need moisture to grow, so when the concentration of water in the food is brought down below a certain level, Microorganisms are unable to grow.

Moisture can be removed by application of heat as in sun – drying or by mechanical drying. Sun – drying is the most popular and oldest method of preservation or processing. With the advancement of technology, different kinds of dehydration processes have been developed e.g. Sun drying, mechanical drying, air drying, micro-wave oven drying, etc. Among these

the microwave oven drying is the best method. Vacuum drying process is followed in reduced pressure. In this process, the produce is subjected to a vacuum drier in which steam is present at about 1.0 to 1.5 bar. A vacuum pump is used to reduce pressure inside the product. The end product is obtained after completion of vacuum drying process.

This is the simplest and most versatile way of preserving mushrooms.

The principle is quite simple, by driving off all of the water the mushroom stops metabolizing, and no spoilage organisms can grow. The only problem is that most of the mass of the mushroom is actually water.

• Drying Mushrooms with The String Method: If you only have a few mushrooms to dry, then this is the simplest way of doing it. Slice the mushrooms thinly, and use a needle and cotton to string all of the mushrooms together. If the mushrooms are really thin, such as fairy ring mushrooms or anise caps, you can thread them onto the cotton whole. Use real cotton rather than nylon or polyester as this is less likely to stick or melt during drying. Once you have the mushrooms threaded string them up in the airing cupboard, in the kitchen, or in any similar warm location (a luke warm oven will do). When they're fully dried, and not before, unstring them and pack them away into airtight jars. It can take about 8hours or more in an airing cupboard.

• Drying with The Tray Method: If you have more than a couple of handfuls of mushrooms to dry, use the tray method. Many people use wire or wickerwork trays for this, it is found that ordinary baking trays lined with some newspaper and a sheet of baking parchment work fine.

Arrange your slices of mushroom around the tray, making sure that they're not overlapping each other, and discarding any slices that have maggots in them. Dry them in a warm place, as above, and when they're dry (it takes about 8 hours or so in my airing cupboard) pack them away in airtight jars. This Drying works especially well for the boletus mushrooms. Cep in particular is dried as a matter of course by many pickers, who claim it tastes far more intense. You can add a few mixed dried mushrooms to soups, stews and even gravy, and find that this imparts an intense flavour to most things.

Most mushrooms can be dried, but some are harder to dry than others.

Anything picked on a wet day has more moisture to drive off, so drying takes longer and the mushrooms may be more likely to spoil during the process.

Drying slices of giant puffball takes skill, patience, and more than a little bit of luck. Chicken of the woods and other edible polypores also dry very badly, produces something more like wood than fungus. But other than that this simple technique will allow you to enjoy the fruit of your autumn expeditions well into the next season. If you haven't got an airing cupboard, or if you need to dry more mushrooms than you have space for, then you might want to consider building or buying a drying cabinet. I've never had need of one myself, but the principle is very simple, and involves rigging up a small, low power lamp at the bottom of a cabinet with shelves for drying off the mushrooms on. Despite its simplicity this kind of rig is normally only used by the real fanatic! Another option is to use a food dehydrator; I've used one, and while it works well, it's not significantly better than the airing cupboard or a low oven.

Canning mushroom Due to highly perishable nature preservation of mushrooms is necessary to minimize the post harvest losses,. For this, the processing techniques such as Canning, Individual Quick Freezing (I.Q.F.), Vacuum Freeze

Drying (VFD), Drying, Vacuum Drying, Pickling, Steeping Preservation, Radiation Preservation etc. have been developed. These are used on the basis of their merits per se market demand and end use.

Canning is an established process of preserving mushroom pieces in brine, butter, oil, vinegar etc. It involves six basic operations like cleaning, blanching, can filling, sterilization, cooling and labeling. Through all these operations, mushrooms are graded, cleaned, blanched (pre-cooked), filled in brine solution of cans and ultimately sterilized with heat and cooled through water spray and labeled for storage. Canned mushrooms form major share of world trade.

Individual quick freezing is another popular processing method followed in large industrial units. In this process, raw materials are washed at processing units after receipt from farms, and then the mushrooms are inspected, sliced and graded according to quality. After that, blanched and water cooled mushrooms are subjected to tunnel freezing stage. At this stage, these are cooled in a system having temp - 40oC and the core areas of mushroom pieces acquire a temp around –18oC. Subsequently, packed in multi-layer polybags and stored in a cold storage having temp–20O to –25oC. Vacuum freeze drying (V.F.D.) is a further development in mushroom processing technology. In this process the original shape, quality, colour size, texture, freshness properties of 4 thermal sensitive produce are retained. This processing technique involves the cooling of mushroom much below the freezing point i.e.

–40oC where moisture present in mushroom is converted to tiny ice molecules which further directly sublime into vapour when subjected to vacuum with a slight rise in temperature resulting in a dried end product.

Freezing Mushrooms Depending on what you plan to do with your stored mushrooms, freezing might be your best option. This is not going to keep the flavour as well as drying, and it doesn't intensify the flavour of the mushrooms in the same way, but if Downsizer: for a sustainable & ethical future you plan to make pates or sautees with your mushrooms then this is the way for you. Many mushrooms will require some kind of pre-cooking. I recommend slicing them, and frying them in a little olive oil with some chopped browned onion and garlic, and just a little black pepper. Freeze them in small portions, and when you're ready to use your mushrooms just melt a portion in a pan.

That said, when I have an excess of chicken of the woods or blewits, I freeze them as is with no more pre-treatment than a quick wipe, and they seem none the worse for it. Boletus also seems to cope well with freezing raw, if you're only storing them for a short while.

You can take pre-cooking a step further by producing a duxelles. This is a paste produced by chopping the mushrooms and onions very finely and frying with some butter or olive oil over a low heat for a long time (an hour or so) until you has a crumbly, dryish mixture. Again, freeze in small lots so you can defrost what you need when you need it. There are innumerable variations of this, incorporating different herbs and flavours, and if you have the time the duxelles is unsurpassed for richness and intensity. Alternatively you can prepare your mushrooms for freezing by blanching, a brief boiling or steaming will do. Give the mushrooms a wash to remove any grit or dirt, and drop them into boiling water. Bring back to the boil and cook for two minutes, before draining and refreshing in cold water. This isn't the tastiest way of preserving mushrooms, and you lose a lot of texture, but if you're in a hurry and you’ve got a huge haul it's better than nothing. A slightly better result can be obtained by steaming rather than boiling the mushrooms.

Impact of climate change on crop production imtisenla Walling

Technical Officer gKMs Project, ICAR Nagaland Centre

C

limate change is the biggest threat of the present century.

According to a study, it is already contributing to the death of nearly 400,000 people a year and costing the world more than US$ 1.2 trillion, thus wiping 1.6% annually from the global GDP. Human activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are increasingly having a major effect on the interactive global systems driven by climate, land, water and vegetation. Change in land use pattern and urbanization is one of the most visible effects of global population growth. Increases in emissions of anthropogenic CO2 and other radioactively active gases are causing changes in the composition of the atmosphere. In the recent past, it has become a burning issue in every part of the globe to access the climate change behavior using past records and to predict the future expected global change.

Climate change is affecting our agriculture due to 0.740C average global increase in temperature in the last 100 years and atmospheric CO2 concentration increase from 280 ppm in 1750 to 400 ppm in 2013. Climate change is likely to have a significant impact on agriculture. In general, the faster is the climate changes, the greater will be the

risk of damage. According to the IPCC, potential global food production is projected to increase with local average temperatures rising over a range of 1-30C, but projected to decrease over this level. Agronomic studies suggested that extensive warming could cause significant reduction in crop yields.

Food security is unlikely to be threatened at the global level, but some regions are likely to experience food shortages and hunger.

Impact of climate change on crop production are given below: 1. Studies showed that wheat yield could decrease as much as 130-150 kg/ ha for each degree rise in night temperatures during reproductive period. Further experiments on rice in India, showed that higher temperatures and reduced radiation associated with increased cloudiness caused spikelet sterility and reduced yields in rice to such an extent that, any increase in dry matter production as a result of CO2 fertilization proved to be of no advantage in grain productivity.

2. Increase concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could increase the net productivity of many crops as a result of increase of carbon 'fertilization' upto a certain level, which results in increased photosynthesis.

This effect varies between crops. It has a positive fertilizing effect on some crops, known as C3 crops. C4 crops such as maize, sorghum, sugarcane and millet do not respond well to carbon dioxide.

Since some C3 weeds may respond well the effect would be to depress C4 yields.

C4 crops are the major food staples of tropical African and Latin American agriculture (IPCC 2001).

3. According to the IPCC, globally averaged annual precipitation is projected to increase during the 21st century, though some regions will experience a decline. In areas where an increase is projected, larger year to year variations are likely (IPCC 2001). Water stress during flowering, pollination and grain filling stages is known to depress yields in maize, soybean, wheat and sorghum. Agriculture, which accounts for almost 70 percent of global water use and up to 95 percent in Asia and West Asia, will be severely impacted by water stress as stated by FAO 2005. Precipitation change will also affect soil moisture. Asian monsoon region would experience drier soils in December, January and February.

4. Abiotic stress like heat wave, cold wave, drought, flood, storm, tropical cyclone, heavy precipitation events etc is likely to increase the coming years particularly in the tropical regions and are known to negatively impact crop production and farmers' livelihood 5. Incidence of pest and diseases would increase.

6. Seasonal changes in rainfall and temperature could impact agro climatic conditions, altering growing seasons, planting and harvesting calendars, water availability, pest, weed and

disease populations, etc 7. Evapo-transpiration, photosynthesis and biomass production is altered.

8. Land suitability is altered.

9. Severe impact on production both under rainfed and irrigated conditions.

10. Gradual loss of agri-biodiversity, thereby endangering food production and security in the long run.

Crop growth and yield is affected by a number of biotic and abiotic stresses starting from sowing to harvest. In both developed and developing countries, the effect of climate on cultivated crops persists despite irrigation, improved varieties and the growing use of chemical fertilizers.

Conclusion: Present population growth suggests that global food production is unlikely to satisfy future demand under predicted climate change scenarios unless rates of crop improvement are accelerated. Some measures should be undertaken to cope with the future climate change - Water management, land and soil management, agri-biodiversity conservation, cropping patterns and cycles, crop residue management, better pest and disease control for crops, more use of water harvesting techniques, developing new drought and heat-resistant varieties, understanding the weather changes over a period of time and adjusting the management practices towards achieving better harvest is a challenge to the growth of agricultural sector as a whole.

Weather based integrated agro advisory for the month of August Crops

Advisories

1

Paddy

If nursery has not been raised go for direct seeding. transplanting should be done with higher number of seedlings per hill for late planting and adopt closure row and plant spacing

2

Oilseeds

Intercultural operation should be carried out to remove weeds and use it as mulch and thinning of plant population should be done to optimum level.

3

Maize

thinning of the plant population should be done followed by earthing up. Resowing should be carried out if plant population is poor.

4

Citrus leaf Avoid pruning live branches more than once a year, so that the cycles of flushing are uniform miner and short. Once the leaves harden, the pest will not be able to mine the leaves. Do not prune off leaves damaged by citrus leaf miner because undamaged areas of the leaves continue to produce food for the tree

Livestock • All the animals should be dewormed.

• Animal should be vaccinated against all infectious disease.

• Provide ample supply of clean drinking water.

• High humidity is favourable for occurrence of coccidiodial disease especially in poultry and rabbit. Provide anti- coccidial drugs.

• Keep the vicinity of the farms clean to control ecto as well as endo parasitic infestation.

Agro Met Field Unit ICAR, Jharnapani. Medziphema

AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS ACT, 2001.

T

he Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) was enacted by the Govt. of India in 2001, in order to provide for the establishment of an effective system for the protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers and plant breeders and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants. In order to implement the provisions of this Act, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture established the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority on 11th November, 2005. The chairperson is the chief executive of the Authority and the Registrar General is the ex-officio Member Secretary of the Authority. There are other fifteen members as notified by the Government of India (GOI): eight of them are ex-officio members representing various Departments/Ministries, three from SAUs and the State Governments, one representative each for farmers, tribal organization, seed industry and women organization associated with agricultural activities. The PPV&FR Act, 2001 differs from patenting which deals with IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) over devices of industrial applications whereas PPV&FR Act confers IPR to plant breeders who have bred or developed plant varieties.

The objectives of the PPVRFA includes the following1. To establish an effective system for protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers and plant breeders, and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants 2. To recognise their contributions made at any time in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for the development of new plant varieties

3. To accelerate agricultural development by stimulating investment for research and development in both public & private sector for development of new varieties 4. To facilitate the growth of seed industry in the country and ensure the availability of high quality seeds and planting materials to the farmers.

And the functions are 1. Registration of new plant varieties, essentially derived varieties (EDV) and extent varieties 2. Developing DUS (Distinctiveness, Uniqueness and Stability) test guidelines for new plant varieties 3. Developing characterization and documentation of registered varieties 4. Compulsory cataloguing facilities for all variety of plants 5. Documentation, indexing and cataloguing of farmers’ varieties 6. Recognizing and rewarding farmers and communities, particularly tribal and rural communities engaged in conservation, improvement, preservation of plant genetic resources and their wild relatives 7. Maintenance of the National Register of Plant Varieties and 8. Maintenance of National Gene Bank.

Some specific Rights of farmers under PPV&FRA, 2001 • Access to seeds- Farmers are entitled to save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell their farm produce, including seed of protected varieties, in the same manner as they were entitled before the coming into force of the PPV&FR Act. • Benefit sharing- Any person or groups of persons (citi-

zens of India) firm ( Government or non-Governmental established in India) can file a claim for benefit sharing before the authority if the genetic material of claimant has been used in the development of any registered variety in respect of which benefit sharing is included.

• *Farmers’ recognition and reward for contributing to conservation- Farmers who have been engaged in PGR (Plant Genetic Resources) conservation and crop improvement, and who have made substantial contributions in providing genetic resources for crop improvement, receive recognition and rewards from the National Gene Fund.

• Registration of farmers’ varieties and exemption from registration fees-The PPV&FR Act allows for the registration of existing farmers’ varieties that fulfil requirements for distinctness, uniformity, stability and denomination free of cost. *The PPV& FR Authority annually confers a)“Plant Genome Savior Community Awards” to five farming/tribal communities in Agro biodiversity hotspots in accordance with rule 70(2)(a) of PPV&FR Rules, 2003 each consisting of a citation, memento and rupees ten lakh. b) Ten “Plant Genome Savior Farmer Reward" each consisting of a citation, memento and rupees one lakh. c) Twenty “Plant Genome Savior Farmer Recognition” each consisting of citation and memento.

Information regarding registration and submission of crop varieties to the PPV&FR Authority is available on the website: www.plantauthority.gov.in

Happy Anniversary Dear Readers On 02.08.2013, a year back we started the journey to meet you and try to simplify the curiosities in Agriculture through our articles, news items, advisories etc. We expect that we are able to fulfil the objective to certain extent.

We value your feedback in terms of queries, suggestions, reasoning or input to the articles we have been publishing through this esteemed daily. To make it a two way process, we expect to hear from you and the concern subject expert shall try to reach you, answer your queries through the paper via the following email: icarmex2013@gmail.com Note: Next month onwards the usual pattern of publishing the articles will be continued on the first Friday of every month.

Dr. Patu Khate Zeliang SMS, Plant Breeding KVK, Longleng

The Morung Express in collaboration with the ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre will be publishing articles with regard to Agriculture and the farming community on the first Friday of every month.

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Friday 8 August 2014

The Morung Express

Odisha floods kill 34, affect nearly 10 lakh people

B h u B A N e s h wA r , August 7 (Pti): Flood waters engulfed vast areas of the delta region of Mahanadi river system in Odisha even as the death toll due to heavy rains and floods in the state climbed to 34. As many as 9.95 lakh people in 1,553 villages of 89 blocks in 23 districts have so far been affected due to the floods, the Special Relief Commissioner said.

“Though river Mahanadi is flowing above danger mark at several places, there is no threat of substantial damage as the water flow into Hirakud reservoir has come down,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra said. The death toll due to floods and heavy rain in different parts of the state went up to 34 with seven fresh deaths reported since Wednesday, the SRC said, adding, most of the casualties were due to drowning and wall collapse.

“It is a matter of relief that fear of a major high flood has been averted.

Volume of water flowing down Mahanadi at Munduli stood at around 11 lakh cusec as against over 12 lakh cusec anticipated earlier,” he said. The level in Hirakud reservoir stood at 628.08 ft as against its full

An aerial view shows villages partially submerged by monsoon floods in Kendrapara district of eastern Orissa state, on August 6.The annual monsoon season, which runs from June through September, is vital for the largely agrarian economies of South Asia but every year also brings floods and landslides that kill thousands and submerge hundreds of villages. (AP File Photo)

capacity of 630 ft and 50 of the 64 sluice gates were opened for discharge of excess water, said Biswajit Mohanty, Chief Engineer of Hirakud dam.

However, as flow of water into the river went down, it has been decided to first close three gates and subsequently more

One lakh children go missing in India every year: Home ministry

New Delhi, August 7 (tNN): On February 5, 2013, a Supreme Court bench, angry over 1.7 lakh missing children and the government’s apathy towards the issue, had remarked: “Nobody seems to care about missing children. This is the irony.” Close to one and a half years later, government data show over 1.5 lakh more children have gone missing, and the situation remains the same with an average of 45% of them remaining untraced.

Data on missing children put out by the home ministry last month in Parliament show that over 3.25 lakh children went missing between 2011 and 2014 (till June) at an average of nearly 1 lakh children going missing every year. Compare this to our trouble-torn neighbour Pakistan where according to official figures around 3,000 children go missing every year. If population is an issue, then one could look at China, the most populous nation, where official figures put the number of missing children at around 10,000 every year.

National Crime Records Bureau, in fact, deciphers missing children figures in India in terms of one child going missing in the country every eight minutes. More worryingly, 55% per cent of those missing are girls and 45% of all missing children have remained untraceable as yet raising fears of them having been either killed or pushed into begging or prostitution rackets.

Maharashtra is one of the worst states in terms of missing children with over 50,000 having disappeared in the past three and half years. Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh are distant competitors with all recording less than 25,000 missing children for the period.

Worryingly, however, all these states have more missing girls than boys. In Maharashtra, 10,000 more girls went missing than boys. In Andhra Pradesh, the number of girls missing (11,625) is almost double of boys (6,915).

Similarly, Madhya Pradesh has over 15,000 girls missing compared to around 9,000 boys.

Experts say several children from rural India and among the urban poor run out of home due to poverty or physical abuse. Once on the street, without protection, they could be pushed into any racket or abused. What’s worse is that in the law and order machinery there is no special focus on tracing of missing children. In fact, in the states with a missing persons’ bureau in their police department, good officers are seldom posted as it’s not considered a coveted division.

gates after assessing the situation, he said, adding flow into the reservoir from upper catchment areas was now around 7.8 lakh cusec. As river Mahanadi and its tributaries were flowing above the danger level at several places including Naraj, Jobra and Daleighai, flood

water submerged many areas where relief and rescue operation was intensified.

Many parts of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda and Puri districts were hit by flood in Mahanadi, even as situation in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts continued to be

grave due to submergence of vast areas by flood in Baitarani though water level in the river is slowly falling, the SRC said.

As many as 9.95 lakh people in 1,553 villages of 89 blocks in 23 districts have so far been affected due to the floods, the SRC said, adding around 26

small breaches took places causing inundation of vast areas. Steps would be taken to repair the breaches soon after the water recedes, he said.

Around 1.11 lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas to safe places and about 240 kitchens were now operating to provide them free cooked food. As many as 2,41,658 people were marooned in 398 villages as surging water of Baitarani and Mahanadi and their tributaries flooded vast areas in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Angul, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, he said.

Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been kept on stand-by for use in relief operation, if necessary, the SRC said, adding at present the entire operation was being carried out with the help of boats. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called up Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and pledged all necessary assistance in relief operations in flood-hit areas.

About a dozen NDRF teams have been mobilised in Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Kend-

Political vendetta, says Congress on Beniwal sacking; BJP denies

New Delhi, August 7 (iANs): The sudden sacking of Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal, just two months after she was shunted to the northeast from Gujarat, triggered a controversy, with the Congress and its allies Thursday terming it “political vendetta” by the Narendra Modi government as the ruling BJP justified the move and denied any politics behind it.

A day after Beniwal was given the sack orders, Congress leader Ajay Maken tweeted: “If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back? #VendettaPolitics.”

Beniwal, 87, who had open runins with the then Modi government as governor of Gujarat, was transferred to Mizoram two months ago after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power. Beniwal had two months left in her tenure.

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha

in a tweet said: “Mr Modi’s govt is unleashing vicious political vendetta on those who questioned him like sacked 87 yr old Governor Ms Kamla Beniwal. #shame.”

Sharad Pawar, chief of Congress ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said: “There is one Supreme Court judgment and this is a clear violation of the judgment. It is a political vendetta. It is the most unfortunate thing that a government has acted against a lady governor.”

Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said: “This has happened before also. If they wanted, then they could have waited for two months more for her to retire. This is not a good message that they are giving.”

Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu denied any politics in the move to sack Beniwal as Mizoram governor.

“Action against Kamla Beniwal was taken in accordance with the Constitu-

UPSC exam to be held as per schedule: Govt

New Delhi, August 7 (Pti): The civil services examination will be held as per schedule on August 24, the government declared on Thursday in Parliament, while saying that consultations will be held with various parties and stakeholders on the matter after the current session.

“As for this year, there is no scope for postponement of (UPSC preliminary) examination,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said as opposition created uproar in Rajya Sabha demanding an allparty meeting immediately. Civil services aspirants are agitating against more weightage given to English in the exam.

Naidu said the UPSC issue requires

tion and there is no politics in it,” Naidu told reporters outside parliament. He said there were “serious allegations” against Beniwal, due to which the government took action. Manipur Governor Vinod Kumar Duggal is to hold additional charge of Mizoram.

Congress leader and former minister Manish Tewari wanted to know why Beniwal was transferred to Mizoram and then sacked. “Governors are constitutional authority, they cannot be trifled with. It is a violation of the apex court judgment,” Tewari said. BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said “there are charges against Beniwal and that the BJP does not find her fit to hold this position”.

“It’s not unusual of the Congress to defend corruption,” Rudy added.

Beniwal, a former member of the Congress party, was at loggerheads with then Gujarat chief minister Modi over the appointment of a state Lokayukta in 2011.

“deep” study and discussion with political parties and other stakeholders as there are both sides of the argument about the CSAT in UPSC. “...After the session, government is ready to discuss it with all” to reach a consensus, he said.

As members insisted for all-party meeting before August 24, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said there is already a view among many members that it will not be possible to find a solution to the issue immediately. “An allparty meeting has to take place to discuss wider reforms. We will inform about the date later on,” he said.

Earlier, government had announced marks of English will not be included for gradation or merit in UPSC exam. As soon as the House met for the day, opposition parties including SP and BSP raised the issue and

nalists will be flown in from New Delhi for the two events.

This is a huge departure by the Ministry of Defence from its unwritten, unspoken norms of decades of taking press parties for important functions all across the country, particularly those attended by the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister.

As the Modi government has completed 70 days in power, all ministries are silently putting in place gag orders on journalists.

This writer had written at length about why PM Modi is not taking journalists on his foreign trips, here. Clearly, all major and sensitive ministries are following suit.

Ministers have discreetly issued instructions to their staff to ensure that journalists should not be allowed to roam about in the corridors, sniffing for stories.

In most cases, these instructions are oral. The security staff has been told to look very carefully for journalists’ personal devices like pens and cameras as mentioned in this dispatch by this writer here.

An insider in the defence ministry told this writer that the

real intent of keeping journalists away from what he described as ‘junkets’ was not austerity but an attempt to ensure that journalists do not snoop around during these trips and get pally with civil and defence officials.

Significantly, when Prime Minister Modi had dedicated INS Vikramaditya to the nation in Goa on 14 June, the Defence Ministry had sent a large number of defence correspondents to Panaji for the event. But then Modi was barely 20-day-old as PM and hardly had any time to tinker with the decades old procedures and norms of the Defence Ministry.

But now Modi knows exactly what he wants – and more importantly what he does not want.

Throughout his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat he did not reach out to the media, knowing full well that he is the chief boss of the state and the media will have to reach out to him. Therefore, he fed media what he wanted to and thus managed to micro-manage the media.

But micro-managing media at the national level is a different ball game altogether. Here Modi

is up against not only the national media but international media too. No prime minister howsoever powerful he may be can tame the media without adverse consequences.

An example of this was seen on 27 July when The New York Times carried an editorial titled “India’s Press Under Siege”.

Though the NYT editorial is talking about how managements in Indian media outfits have been getting after top journalists and does not attribute motives to the Modi government, it is a known fact that all the sacked journalists mentioned by the newspaper were vocal critics of Modi.

Nonetheless, the editorial makes a stinging point that “press censorship seems to be back with a vengeance in India.”

This is the first time when a major international newspaper has raised a voice about “press censorship” in India. More foreign newspapers will inevitably come up with more damning reports if the Modi government continues with its “Off limits to media” attitude.

Modi is a hard task master.

water level in rivers like Baitarani and Salandi are receding.

The flood situation in Brahmani and Subarnarekha rivers was also under control, he said.

Floods in Baitarani have affected around 1,52,721 people in Jajpur district where over 5,500 people have been evacuated to relief centres from marooned villages.

The SRC office said there were some small breaches in Baitarani river system in Jajpur district which have caused flooding in Jajpur, Korei and Dasarathpur blocks. Water would soon recede from submerged areas, it said. A total of 156 villages were affected and 26 villages marooned due to the inundation in the three blocks.

A report from Kendrapara said road link in Rajkanika block in Kendrapara block was affected as floodwater of Kharasrota was flowing on CuttackChandbali r oad at Ganjaghati under Aul block.

Similarly, three panchayats of Marsaghai and Derabis blocks in Kendrapara district were surrounded by flood water of Karandia river following a breach in the river embankment at Basapur, it said.

‘Delhi becoming world’s e-waste dumping yard’ New Delhi, August 7 (iANs): The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) is fast turning into the world’s e-waste dumping yard with the capital alone getting 86 percent of waste generated in the developed world, a report said.

“Delhi-NCR is emerging as the world’s dumping yard for e-waste and is likely to generate to an extent of 95,000 metric tonnes (MT) per annum by 2017 from the current level of 55,000 metric tonnes per annum growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 25%,” The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) said here Thursday citing their latest study.

The study further indicates that the US accounts for the bulk of the e-waste imports into the country, followed

by China and the European Union. Over 250,000 workers are employed in the various organized and unorganized recycling units in the state, the report noted. Alarmingly, only a small fraction of the total e-waste generated in the country is getting recycled.

“Less than 2% of India’s total electronic waste gets recycled due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework,” said D.S. Rawat, secretary general, Assocham. The country produces approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of e-waste per annum. Mumbai generates the highest quantity of e-waste, followed by DelhiNCR and Bangalore.

demanded that government should imme- said participating in a discussion on rising diately call an all-party meeting to resolve the crimes against women. Other members advocated empowering of women. matter as it affects lakhs of students.

“Law is not the solution. The solution is giving the woman equality. Empowerment means equal opportunities,” Congress MP Sushmita Deb said. Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Pappu Yadav said: “This issue is discussed during every budget session but no solution has been found as of now. Rapes are New Delhi, August 7 (iANs): increasing”. He said: “Social exploitation in Decrying the rising atrocities on women, villages needs to be focussed on”. members in the Lok Sabha Thursday adAccording to Jyoti Dhurve of ruling vocated strong legislation and a change Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), most of in the mindset of people on gender is- the people who exploit women are their sues. “Police should ensure that there is close relatives. Another BJP MP, Bijoya no under-reporting of cases. By increasing Chakravarty said there is need for transthe overall representation of women in po- formation of the male mindset so that lice forces we can make a huge difference,” they do not look at women as “property Samajwadi Party member Dimple Yadav for enjoyment”.

Strong legislation needed to check crime against women: MPs

After PM Modi, defence ministry to keep media at arm’s length

New Delhi, August 7 (AgeNcies): The Ministry of Defence has taken cue from the Prime Minister’s Office and has decided not to take journalists for two upcoming major events of national importance - the commissioning of INS Kolkata in Mumbai and INS Kamorta in Vizag - later this month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be commissioning INS Kolkata, the country’s largest indigenously-built warship touted as a technology demonstrator that will showcase India’s giant leap in the shipbuilding industry. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will be commissioning INS Kamorta, the first of the four indigenously-built anti-submarine stealth corvettes that is in the works for the Indian Navy in its bid for self-reliance.

The exact dates of the two functions are yet to be announced. However, Sitanshu Kar, chief spokesperson of the defence ministry, indicated to this writer on Wednesday evening that both the events are likely to take place in the third week of this month.

Kar also confirmed that no jour-

rapara and Puri districts to assist in rescue and relief operation. Over 184 boats were engaged in the operation. Around 30 units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were also deployed in vulnerable areas, SRC office said, adding fire brigade personnel were put on stand by.

In Jagatsinghpur, the focus was on relief work as around 20,000 people were marooned while about 7,000 persons have been evacuated, District Collector S K Mallick said, adding areas like Tirtol and Kunajang were affected.

In Puri district, water level in rivers like Bhargavi and Kushabhadra had risen inundating several villages in Nimapara, Kanas, Delang and Gop, while road link between Pipili and Nimapara was snapped, SRC office said.

Mohapatra said now there is no threat of any major breach in the river system.

As districts like Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Buodh, Khurda and Nayagarh are likely to be affected due to flood in Mahanadi river system, concerned authorities have been asked to take preparatory measures, he said, adding

Those of his colleagues in the cabinet who did not know this earlier, know it by now. For example, he calls up ministers in their offices on their landline numbers early in the morning. Heavens have not come down if the minister was not in his or her office when he called but the message has gone out loud and clear to all the ministers and their staff.

In one specific case, Modi called up one of his senior ministers on his office landline at 9 am and after not finding him there called up at his residence. The minister, a diabetic and suffering from cardio problems, told him that he was under medication and would be working from home.

While Modi can deal with his ministers the way he wants to and get away scot free, his policy of keeping media away from domestic and foreign trips is increasingly being seen as an exercise in futility. Already news stories have started appearing how miffed the ministers are. Ironically, it is the same media which Modi wants to tame or regulate, which is bringing to light such stories.

‘Only curbed consumption can make India tobacco free’

New Delhi, August 7 (iANs): India cannot be a tobacco-free country until the people in the country adhere to the ban on tobacco consumption, Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan said here Thursday.

He said that the health ministry with the help of several institutions has been framing policies to ban tobacco in the entire country, but tobacco consumers protest against these, which creates barriers in the proper implementation of the ban. Health ministry is committed to curb tobacco consumption so that people can be insulated from several dreaded cancers of lungs, mouth, and larynx. However, due to the lack of will among the citizens to quit tobacco consumption the commitment remain unfulfilled, Vardhan said speaking at the launch of a tobacco control mass media campaign “Sunita”.

Sunita is a 27-year-old cancer survivor who has agreed to become the face of campaign. The 30-second advertisement has been dubbed into 17 languages for use under National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP). According to the Report of Tobacco Control in India (2004), 8-9 lakh people die every year in India due to tobacco-related diseases.

Vardhan said that the hike in the tax on the tobacco products from 11 percent to 72 percent will help the government to intensify the campaign for tobacco control in the country. “I am happy that that the finance ministry on the suggestion of the health ministry increased the tax on tobacco products from 11 percent to 72 percent. The high revenue will help in intensifying the campaign for tobacco control in the country,” Vardhan said.

“I also want to inform that the revenue expected from tobacco products is so high that the health ministry is looking forward to set up many more AIIMS in the country,” he added.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Friday 8 August 2014

Dimapur

9

Mediators race against clock to extend Gaza truce gAZA/CAIRO, August 7 (REutERs): Mediators worked against the clock on Thursday to extend a Gaza truce between Israel and the Palestinians as the three-day ceasefire went into its final 24 hours.

Israel has said it is ready to agree to an extension as Egyptian mediators pursued talks with Israelis and Palestinians on an enduring end to a war that devastated the Hamas-ruled enclave, while Palestinians want an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza to be lifted and prisoners held by Israel to be freed.

“Indirect talks are ongoing and we still have today to secure this,” an Egyptian official said when asked whether the truce was likely to go beyond Friday. “Egypt’s aims are to stabilise and extend the truce with the agreement of both sides and to begin negotiations towards a permanent agreement to cease fire and ease border restrictions.”

After a month of bitter fighting, the two sides are not meeting face to face.

Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,874 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed since fighting began on July 8, after a surge in Palestinian rocket salvoes into Israel.

An Israeli official said late on Wednesday that Israel “has expressed its readiness to extend the truce under its current terms” beyond Friday morning’s deadline for the three-day deal that took effect on Tuesday and has so far held. But a Hamas leader based in Cairo, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said: “If there had been an opportunity for peace, it was lost with the remains of our children and the rubble of our homes.”

A Hamas source said the group’s military wing was ready to resume fighting once the truce ended unless its demands were met. A Hamas refusal to extend the truce could further alienate Egypt, whose government has been hostile to the Islamist group and which ultimately controls Gaza’s main gateway to the world, the Rafah border crossing.

‘Gaza war not over until demands met’

Masked protesters hold a rally against the bombings in Gaza on Thursday August 7, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. The protesters called for a stop to the bombings in Gaza which have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children. (AP Photo)

Earlier a senior official with the Islamist movement’s armed wing threatened to quit the talks without progress towards achieving its demands to lift a Gaza blockade and free prisoners held

by Israel. Israel has resisted those demands.

Israel’s armed forces chief, Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz, said that if Hamas broke the truce, Israel would use “whatever force necessary to ensure the security of Israeli citizens”. Finance Minister Yair Lapid, accusing Hamas of threatening to “restart the fire”, told Reuters Israel’s armed forces were ready to respond with “very heavy fire”.

Israel withdrew ground forces from Gaza on Tuesday shortly before the 72-hour truce started at 8 a.m. (0500

GMT). It showed signs of expecting the truce to last by lifting official emergency restrictions on civilians living in Israel’s south near Gaza, permitting more public activities and urging everyone to resume their routines.

In Gaza, where some half-million people have been displaced by a month of bloodshed, some residents left U.N. shelters to return to neighbourhoods devastated by Israeli shelling.

President Barack Obama, backing efforts to broker a durable ceasefire, called for a longer-term solution that provides for Israeli security while offering Gaza residents hope they will not be permanently cut off from the world. While condemning Hamas for launching rockets against Israel from population centres, Obama urged an

How does the Ebola virus spread and can it be stopped?

LONDON, August 7 (AP): As a deadly Ebola outbreak continues in West Africa, health officials are working to calm fears about how the virus spreads, while encouraging those with symptoms to get medical care. Typically, outbreaks of the disease have been in other parts of the continent, not in West Africa.

protection, and then touching their nose, mouth or eyes. People can also catch the disease by eating infected bushmeat, as Ebola can sicken animals including bats, chimpanzees and antelopes. Scientist think fruit bats might be the source of the virus, but aren’t certain.

CAN EBOLA SPREAD IN THE AIR, LIKE FLU OR TUBERCULOSIS? There is no evidence Ebola can be spread in the air by sneezing or coughing. “If there was a role for airborne transmission, we’d be seeing a lot more cases and deaths by now,” said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britain’s University of Reading.

Ebola is in some ways similar to the AIDS virus because it is spread through bodily fluids, according to Stephen Morse, of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Unlike those infected with HIV, those with the Ebola virus are considered infectious only when they show symptoms, which include fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

HOW IS EBOLA SPREAD? By direct contact with an Ebola patient’s blood or other bodily fluids like urine, saliva, and sweat. The highest concentration of virus is thought to be in blood, vomit and diarrhea.

The most vulnerable people are health care workers and family members or others who care for the sick. Because of the deadly nature of the disease, health workers should wear protective gear, especially when handling things like contaminated syringes.

Such equipment is not commonly available in Africa, and the disease isn’t always quickly recognized. Symptoms are similar to other diseases like malaria and cholera.

Someone can also get CAN THE SPREAD OF EBOinfected by handling soiled LA BE STOPPED? Yes, by isolating anyone clothing or bed sheets without

with symptoms while testing is done, taking precautions while providing them medical care and tracking down anyone they were in close contact with when they got sick. Those who have had direct contact with an Ebola patient are advised to take their temperature twice a day for three weeks, the incubation period for the disease.

If they show symptoms, they should then be isolated and tested.

Ebola first appeared nearly 40 years ago. In past Ebola outbreaks, many cases have been linked to people burying their loved ones, involving ritual cleansing of the body and kissing the body. The World Health Organization recommends that only trained personnel handle the bodies of Ebola victims.

“We know how to stop Ebola,” said Gregory Hartl, a WHO spokesman. “We have stopped all previous outbreaks in the past using oldfashioned methods.” “From what we’ve seen, there isn’t any reason to think we can’t stop the outbreak in West Africa using what we have done in the past.”

eventual formula to ease the hardships of ordinary Palestinians.

“Long term, there has to be a recognition that Gaza cannot sustain itself permanently closed off from the world and incapable of providing some opportunity - jobs, economic growth - for the population that lives there,” Obama said in Washington.

An Israeli official who declined to be identified said Israel wanted humanitarian aid to flow to Gaza’s 1.8 million inhabitants as soon as possible. But, the official said, the import of cement - vital for reconstruction would depend on achieving guarantees that it would not be used by militants to construct more infiltration tunnels leading into Israel and other fortifications.

gAZA CItY, August 7 (AP): A senior Hamas official told supporters at a Gaza City rally on Thursday that the war with Israel won’t be over until the group’s demands for a lifting of the Gaza blockade are met, insisting that its fighters would never give up their arms.

“Our fingers are on the trigger and our rockets are trained at Tel Aviv,” the official, Mushir al-Masri said, as Egypt struggled to broker a lasting truce between Israel and Hamas, with an Egyptian official saying that Gaza-based militants were refusing to compromise.

Cairo is mediating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on extending a 72-hour ceasefire that expires Friday morning.

Hamas has demanded the lifting of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade imposed on the coastal territory after the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007.

Israel has said the militants must disarm first, which al-Masri insisted was out of the question.

“The war is not over yet. Our men are still in the field, manning forward positions, our fingers are on the trigger, and our rockets are trained on Tel Aviv, and Lod and beyond,” he told several thousand supporters in the first mass rally since the fighting began on July 8. “It is out of the question that the weapons of the resistance should be on the negotiating table. They have not been put on the table, and God willing, they will never be.”

Al-Masri insisted fighters are “in good shape” despite the nearly monthlong war and still had tunnels extending into Israel that could be used for attacks if

Hamas’ demands are not met.

The Egyptian security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the Palestinian delegation’s stance had hardened after the arrival in Cairo of Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders from the Gaza Strip.

He said Azzam al-Ahmad, the leader of the delegation and the representative of Westernbacked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had threatened to withdraw from the talks if the two militant groups do not show more “flexibility,” adding that the delegation, which was supposed to leave Cairo on Thursday, would stay through the weekend.

Palestinian delegates could not immediately be reached for comment. The war stemmed from the killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank in June.

Israel blamed the killings on Hamas and launched a massive arrest campaign, rounding up hundreds of its members in the West Bank, as Hamas and other militants stepped up rocket fire from Gaza.

On July 8 Israel launched a massive air assault on the territory and nine days later it sent in ground troops it said would target rocket launchers and cross-border tunnels built by Hamas for attacks inside Israel. Nearly 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, three-quarters of them civilians, according to the United Nations. Israel says some 900 Palestinian militants were among the dead. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and three civilians inside Israel have also been killed.

Nearly 5million sign up for changing Myanmar charter YANgON, August 7 (AP): The party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had collected nearly 5 million signatures in support of changing Myanmar’s military-drafted constitution and challenging the military’s dominance in parliament.

An article in the 2008 constitution requires 75% parliamentary approval to amend major chapters of the charter, but with the military occupying 25%of the seats, any major constitutional change will be a hurdle.

Another clause prevents Suu Kyi

from becoming president.

Her party’s campaign to change the article requiring the 75% approval garnered 4,941,998 signatures from May 27 to July 19. National League for Democracy party spokesman U Nyan Win said Wednesday the campaign for signatures was successful despite pressure and intimidation by authorities to those who signed, as well as difficult access to villages in the rainy season.

“Being able to garner nearly 5 million signatures was a suc-

cess. Even some government servants and soldiers participated in the campaign,” Nyan Win said at a news conference at the party’s headquarters. Suu Kyi said that the current constitution needs to be amended to meet democratic norms and that the constitution amendment is essential for a free and fair 2015 election.

The Nobel peace laureate called for a meeting with President Thein Sein, commander in chief, parliament speaker Thura Shwe Mann to discuss constitu-

tion amendment, but all parties have shown little interest in the process.

Prominent student activist Ko Ko Gyi said the campaign was “the first step toward charter amendment” and hoped “the parliament will take into consideration the aspirations of 5 million people.” The party will submit the list of signatures to parliament.

Most members of the committee tasked with amendments belong to the military-allied party so it is unclear how the NLD’s campaign will succeed.

Australians mourn victims of downed MH 17

CANBERRA, August 7 (AP): Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that those responsible for shooting down the Malaysian airliner over Ukraine will face justice, as his nation marked a day of mourning for the 38 Australian citizens and residents who died in the crash.

The commemorations were centered on St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne, capital of Victoria state where 16 of the victims lived. Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the multi-faith service that hundreds of Australian police and military personnel had been working around the clock to retrieve human remains and belongings from the war zone where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed on July 17 with 298 people aboard.

“There will be a time to judge the guilty, but today we honor the dead and we grieve

with the living,” Abbott said. “We do rededicate ourselves today to supporting the bereaved, to obtaining justice for the dead and for their families, and to working for a better world,” he added. Flags flew at half-mast and church bells chimed around Australia in honor of the dead.

The West has accused Russia of most likely providing Ukrainian insurgents with surface-to-air missiles that may have been used to shoot down the Boeing 777 over rebel-held territory. Prime Minister Mark Rutte of The Netherlands, whose nationals made up more than half of the victims, said Wednesday that the search involving Dutch and Australian police for victims’ remains is being halted because fighting in the area of the crash site makes it too dangerous to continue.

Mourners console each other during a national memorial service for the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Thursday August 7. (AP Photo)

Cambodia tribunal convicts Khmer Rouge leaders

Cambodian former Khmer Rouge servitors, Soum Rithy, left, and Chum Mey, right, embrace each other after the verdicts were announced, at the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thurdday, Aug. 7, 2014. Three and a half decades after the genocidal rule of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge ended, the tribunal on Thursday sentenced two top leaders of the former regime to life in prison on war crimes charges for their role in the country’s terror period in the 1970s. (AP Photo)

PHNOM PENH, August 7 (AP): Three and a half decades after the fall of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, a U.N.-backed tribunal on Thursday sentenced two top leaders of the former regime to life in prison for crimes against humanity during the country’s 1970s reign of terror that left close to 2 million people dead.

The historic verdicts were announced against Khieu Samphan, the regime’s 83-year-old former head of state, and Nuon Chea, its 88-year-old chief ideologue — the only two surviving leaders of the regime left to stand trial.

The tribunal’s chief judge Nil Nonn asked both men to rise for the verdicts but the frail Nuon Chea, wearing dark sunglasses, said he was too weak to stand from his wheelchair and was allowed to remain seated.

Nil Nonn said both men were guilty of “extermination encompassing murder, political persecution, and other inhumane acts comprising forced transfer, enforced disappearances and attacks against human dignity.”

There was no visible reaction

from either of the accused, both of whom have denied wrongdoing.

The rulings can be appealed, but Nil Nonn told the court that “given the gravity of the crimes” both would remain in detention.

The case, covering the forced exodus of millions of people from Cambodia’s towns and cities and a mass killing, is just part of the Cambodian story.

Nearly a quarter of the population — about 1.7 million people — died under rule of the Khmer Rouge through a combination starvation, medical neglect, overwork and execution when the group held power in 1975-79.

Survivors of the regime traveled from across the country to witness the historic day, filling several hundred seats available to the public at the tribunal. After the verdict was read, many said they felt mixed reactions and questioned if any punishment could fit the crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge.

“The crimes are huge, and just sentencing them to life in jail is not fair,” said 54-year-old Chea Sophon, who spent years in hard labor camps building dams and working in rice

fields. His brother was killed during the Khmer Rouge era.

“But what can I do? I just accept the verdict,” he said, but then added: “Even if they die many times over, it would not be enough.”

Tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen called it “a historic day for both the Cambodian people and the court.

The victims have waited 35 years for legal accountability, and now that the tribunal has rendered a judgment, it is a clear milestone.”

Many have criticized the slow justice, however, and its cost.

The tribunal, formally known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and comprising of Cambodian and international jurists, began operations in 2006. It has since spent more than $200 million, yet it had convicted only one defendant — prison director Kaing Guek Eav, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011.

The current trial began in 2011 with four senior Khmer Rouge leaders; only two remain. Former Foreign Minister Ieng Sary died in 2013, while his wife, Social Affairs Minister Ieng Thirith, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to dementia in 2012.

The group’s top leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.

Khieu Samphan has acknowledged that mass killings took place.

But testifying before the court in 2011, he claimed he was just a figurehead who had no real authority.

He denied ordering any executions himself, calling the allegations a “fairy tale.” Instead, he blamed Pol Pot for its extreme policies.

Nuon Chea, who is known as Brother No. 2 for being Pol Pot’s trusted deputy, had also denied responsibility, testifying in 2011 that Vietnamese forces — not the Khmer Rouge — had killed Cambodians en masse. “I don’t want them to believe the Khmer Rouge are bad people, are criminals,” he said of those observing to the trial. “Nothing is true about that.”

Because of the advanced age and poor health of the defendants, the case against them was divided into separate smaller trials in an effort to render justice before they die.

Both men now face a second trial that is due to start in September or October, this time on charges of genocide, Olsen said. That trial is expected to take years to complete.

10 Final arguments begin in Oscar Pistorius trial Dimapur

SPORTS

Friday

8 August 2014

Oscar Pistorius looks into his bag during his murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, August 7. (AP Photo)

PRETORIA, AUGUST 7 (AP): The chief prosecutor in Oscar Pistorius' murder trial said Thursday the double-amputee athlete's lawyers have floated more than one theory in a dishonest attempt to defend against a murder charge for his killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel made the allegation during final arguments in the sensational trial in a Pretoria courthouse, where the fathers of the Olympic runner and Steenkamp, a model and television personality, were in court for the first time since the trial began in early March. They sat at opposite ends of a long bench in the gallery.

Nel said a criminal trial was a "blunt instrument for digging up the truth" but that he was confident of his case. He then said defense lawyers had argued that Pistorius acted in self-defense, fearing an intruder was in the house, but also raised the possibility that the once-celebrated athlete was not criminally responsible, accidentally shooting Steenkamp through a closed toilet door because he was "startled."

"It's two defenses that you can never reconcile," Nel said. The prosecution has argued that Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013 after a quarrel.

The defense has previously contended that he fired by mistake, thinking he was about to be attacked by an assailant in the toilet and that Steenkamp was in the bedroom. In addition to the murder charge, Pistorius faces three separate gun-related charges, one of which stems from his alleged firing of a shot in a crowded restaurant called Tashas in Johannesburg, months before he killed Steenkamp. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Thursday, some of the state's written arguments as well as transcripts of past testimony appeared on screens in the courtroom. One section questioned Pistorius' defense case: "Is it putative selfdefense? Is it an act of sane automatism? Did he have criminal capacity to act? Or was it all an accident as in Tashas Restaurant where he had the gun in his hand and it purportedly discharged itself?"

AMAM informs on 2nd Mokokchung AutoX

MOKOKCHUNG, AUGUST 7 (MExN): The Adventure and Motorsports Association Mokokchung (AMAM) has in a press release informed that the Supplementary Regulations (SR) and Entry Forms for the 2nd Mokokchung AutoX will be made available from 9th Aug’14 both in print and electronic formats. For the print formats, interested candidates can avail from Auto Gearz Milak Junction Mokokchung and Walim Enterprises, FAC Bus Stand Mokokchung. The electronic format can be downloaded from the link www. facebook.com/Adventure and Motorsports Association Mokokchung (AMAM).

The Morung Express

Landon Donovan lifts MLS All-Stars over Bayern Munich

PORTLAND, AUGUST 7 (AP): Landon Donovan scored the go-ahead goal in a 2-1 victory over German power Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in the Major League Soccer All-Star game. Making his record 14th All-Star appearance, Donovan dribbled the ball to the top of the box before blasting it past German World Cup goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 70th minute. The Bundesliga champions had seven members of the World Cup-winning German national team, but most of them remained on the bench until about the final 10 minutes.

The MLS team included several players from the U.S. World Cup squad that advanced out of the group stage in Brazil, including Seattle's Clint Dempsey and Toronto's Michael Bradley. Donovan, the L.A. Galaxy striker who was left off the U.S. World Cup team, got a standing ovation from the crowd when he was subbed out following his goal. Bradley Wright-Philips of the New York Red Bulls tied it for the All-Stars early in the second half. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Bayern early in the first half.

The event caps a preseason tour for Bayern Munich, which hadn't visited the United States in a decade. The team beat Chivas Guadalajara 1-0 last Thursday night at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

The group of Bayern players from Germany's World

Cup-winning team flew into Portland on Wednesday morning, and whisked to a meet-and-greet at adidas' North American headquarters.

Mario Goetze, who scored the extra-time winner in the final match against Argentina in Brazil, was among the national team players making the overnight stop in Portland.

"It feels like we're only going to be here for 12 hours so we're kind of in and out, but it's exciting," Goetze said.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said he was only playing his World Cup players for some 15 minutes apiece and he was true to his word.

None of them started on Wednesday night.

Bayern midfielder Julian Green, who played for the United States in the World Cup, was also listed as a reserve but he was the first Bayern sub to enter the game in the 36th minute.

Fans at Providence Park chanted "USA! USA!" Green was born in Florida but grew up in Germany and has dual citizenship.

Just 19, he scored against Belgium in the World Cup, becoming the youngest American with a goal in soccer's premier event.

Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando, who was also on the U.S. World Cup roster, started in goal for the AllStars, four days after he had his 112th shutout in a victory over Colorado to match the MLS record set by Kevin Hartman. Rimando leaped with his arms outstretched but couldn't stop Lewan-

MLS All Stars' Clint Dempsey, of the Seattle Sounders, takes a shot against Bayern Munich during the MLS All-Star soccer game, Wednesday, Aug. 6 in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo)

Bayern manager Guardiola angry after loss OREGON, AUGUST 7 (REUTERS): Angry Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola did not shake hands with his opposite number after his star-studded side lost to the MLS All-Star team in a fierce friendly in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday. The Spaniard gave Caleb Porter a one-fingered wave-off, apparently angry at some of the tackles by the MLS players as the German champions were beaten 2-1. Guardiola offered the refereeing panel a token handshake and quickly disappeared into the tunnel. dowski's goal for Bayern in the opening minutes.

Lewandowski joined Bayern on a free transfer from league rival Borussia Dortmund last month.

New York's Thierry Henry had a good chance for the All-Stars in the 41st minute, but his long shot

sailed just over the crossbar before getting caught in the net. Wright-Phillips, the league's top scorer with 18 goals this season for the Red Bulls, skipped across the turf after his goal against goalkeeper Tom Starke in the 51st minute.

Following Wright-

Phillips' goal, Bayern sent in Neuer to finish out the match. The MLS is 8-3-1 against international opponents since the league adopted the current All-Star game format, with losses coming to English Premier League club Manchester United and AS Roma. Ever-

ton won on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in 2009.

Roma, led by longtime star Francesco Totti, beat the MLS All-Stars 3-1 in the All-Star game last year in Kansas City. The Galaxy's Gonzalez scored the only goal for the MLS side in second-half stoppage time.

Top women players tell FIFA: Phelps seventh in 100 WC on turf is discriminatory freestyle at US nationals

TORONTO, AUGUST 7 (REUTERS): Some of the world's top women soccer players say FIFA's proposal to play the 2015 Women's World Cup finals in Canada on artificial turf instead of grass is discriminatory and violates human rights.

The World Cup finals for men and women, contested every four years, have always been played on natural grass. Players and coaches believe there is a higher risk of injury on artificial turf and that it causes more wear and tear on athletes' bodies.

In a three-page letter dated July 28 to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Canadian Soccer Association, lawyers representing players from Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, the United States, New Zealand and Costa Rica, among other countries, said: "The proposal is discriminatory and violates

Canadian law."

"If your organizations will not engage in a meaningful dialogue on how to correct the discriminatory treatment of women players, we are prepared to pursue legal action which we are confident should succeed," the letter said.

A FIFA spokesman confirmed the letter had been received, but declined to comment. The Canadian Soccer Association also declined to comment and referred enquiries to FIFA. In the letter, the players, who include Abby Wambach of the United States and Germany's Nadine Angerer - FIFA players of the year for 2012 and 2013 respectively - said they can suggest "several affordable ways" to host the tournament on grass.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup for men in Brazil was played on grass and there are no plans to shift future men's tournaments to arti-

ficial turf. Some professional soccer leagues and some FIFA World Cup age-group matches are played on artificial turf. Canada will host the Women's World Cup in June and July 2015 in six cities - Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton, where stadiums with artificial turf predominate. One of the lawyers for the group of players, Hampton Dellinger of Boies, Schiller & Flexner in Washington, D.C., said that while all legal avenues will be pursued to convince the World Cup authorities to provide grass surfaces, a boycott is not on the table.

"Canada has very robust human rights statutes, both the provincial codes and the national charter, that ban discrimination based on gender, and I don't think there can be any question but that this relegation of women to a second-class surface is based on gender," Dellinger said.

NEW YORK, AUGUST 7 (REUTERS): Multiple Olympic champion Michael Phelps finished seventh in a loaded 100 metres final at the United States National Championships in Irvine, California on Wednesday ending his hopes of swimming four individual events at this month's Pan Pacific championships.

Phelps was last at the turn and could make up little ground in the final 50 in the glamour event on the first day of the championships. London Olympic champion Nathan Adrian dominated a race featuring seven Olympians to win in 48.31 seconds, while Ryan Lochte, swimming in lane eight, finished second as Phelps touched in 49.17.

It was the most significant race for Phelps since he came out of retirement

in May, nearly two years after winning his record 18th Olympic gold medal.

His seventh-placed finish ensured he did not qualify for the event at the Pan Pacific Championships to be held on the Gold Coast in Australia later this month, though he still has the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley to swim in order to qualify for the U.S. team.

Adrian described his swim as 'not great' but was nonetheless pleased to win. "The third 25 I took off a little bit and then held on at the end," he told USA Swimming's website "It's an extraordinary field and it's an honour to be part of it." Lochte, swimming in lane eight, was satisfied with the runner-up spot as he works his way back from a serious knee injury

he suffered in November.

"This year has been the biggest rollercoaster of my life," the 30-year-old said.

"I couldn't see the rest of the field. I just had to put my head down and hope for the best."

In the women's 100 freestyle, 19-year-old Missy Franklin mowed down fellow teenager Simone Manuel with almost the final stroke to claim a narrow victory in 53.43, matching her own championships record.

"I knew I was going to have to come home so fast," Franklin said.

In the men's 200 butterfly, Californian Tom Shields swam a personal best as he built a big lead after 100 metres and held on for an emphatic victory by nearly a second in 1:55.09, the third fastest in the world this year.

1st Test, Day 2 : Sri Lanka dig in Milan ends US Tour with 3-0 win over Chivas after Pakistan score 451 in Galle

GALLE, AUGUST 7 (REUTERS): Sri Lanka recovered from losing opener Upul Tharanga to reach 99 for one in reply to Pakistan’s 451 at the close on the second day of the first test on Thursday. Kaushal Silva (38) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) added 75 after Tharanga fell lbw to Junaid Khan for 19. Sri Lanka offspinner Dilruwan Perera took the last five Pakistan wickets as the tourists were finally dismissed for 451 in their first innings, anchored by a magnificent 177 from Younus Khan.

The 36-year-old had dealt Perera some harsh treatment in the morning session but the spinner delivered some retribution by dismissing him in the fifth over after lunch.

Younus advanced down the pitch but could only lob an easy catch to Kithuruwan Vithanage at short mid-wicket.

Sarfraz Ahmed (55) was next to fall trying to attack Perera, the right hander`s smash through the leg side going straight to silly midon fielder Angelo Mathews.

That left the tourists on 3887 with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman taking Paki-

Sri Lankan bowler Dilruwan Perera, center, celebrates with a teammate the dismissal of Pakistan's Younis Khan, second right, during the second day of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, August 7. (AP Photo)

stan past 400 before Perera struck again to remove Ajmal for 12 after he flicked a ball to Mahela Jayawardene at leg slip. Rehman became the fourth Pakistani to record a half century in the innings with an entertaining knock featuring six fours and a six before he

fell for 50, attempting one shot too many as Kumar Sangakkara took a catch at long off. Perera then ended the innings when Jayawardene held onto another smart catch as Junaid Khan attempted a sweep and the ball grazed his glove.

Perera finished with

figures of 5-137 as the hosts fought back after a frustrating morning session where their only breakthrough came with the dismissal of Asad Shafiq for 75. The right-handed batsman failed to read the arm ball from Rangana Herath and was trapped leg before.

HOUSTON, AUGUST 7 (AGENCIES): AC Milan finished its US Tour with a comfortable win of 3-0 over Chivas de Guadalajara in front of a crowd of less than 15,000 fans at NRG Stadium. NRG Stadium’s pitch was risky, mounted with piles of grass, which looked dehydrated because of not photosynthesizing properly. Various crevices were eye-opening because the pitch was filled with areas of green-colored sand. The state of the pitch caused the game to start 15 minutes late because the teams were unsure if the game should go on.

For AC Milan, the summer is coming to an end, a rather quick one because of the World Cup in Brazil, while for Chivas, the season is on and going, and the team is in need to fully click in with what head coach Carlos Bustos wants.

Carlos Fierro sent a smashing hit that rattled the crossbar to begin the match. That was the second shot in goal for him during this US mini tour; the first shot was blocked by Bayern Munich’s Tom Starke.

Chivas would later have another chance to score with a floater that came off Fernando Arce’s boots, and that was it for the Mexican club in the first half, everything else was AC Milan’s speedy attacks, and players falling on the ground after hard hits.

Milan midfielder Bryan Cristante (24) is tackled from behind by Guadalajara defender Kristian Alvarez (3) in the second half of a soccer match at NRG Stadium on Wednesdayin Houston. (AP Photo)

For the first 20 minutes, Chivas tried to create something. It looked like something could be created in the midfield, but the concept of “team” demands for different actors to be acting, in Chivas it only looked like Arce and Fierro were trying to generate something. De Nigris said last night he needed to look at video to know AC Milan’s defensive flaws,

who knows if he saw that video because he never stirred any worry on goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

After Mbaye Niang’s goal in the 19th minute, AC Milan’s offense increased, while Chivas’s attitude crumbled. The attitude change was evident as Carlos Salcido and Fernando Arce picked up yellow cards for getting good hits on Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli is a difficult footballer, complicated to grasp how he visualizes the game. Surprisingly, he did not look for confrontations after three straight tackles, rather maintained an inner peace that led him to score a free-kick just like his compatriot Andrea Pirlo likes to make. The scoreline was 2-0, and sooner than later, Mario Balotelli had his go on a Chivas player, and got booked.

C M Y K

Friday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

8 August 2014

'Just got to FaceTime with Malala Yousafzai'

Dimapur

11 C M Y K

Justin Bieber reveals charitable side during video chat with the 17-year-old Pakistani education activist

R

egularly hitting the headlines for his many run-ins with the law, tumultuous love life and general wild child behaviour, one could be forgiven for overlooking Justin Bieber's good qualities. The 20-year-old is actually one of the most charitable celebrities not only of his age group but otherwise, generously lending his undeniable star power not to mention his substantial wealth - to as many as 16 charities and 20 causes worldwide at last count.

On Wednesday, the singer hinted at yet another endeavour he's throwing his weight behind as he shared a photo on social media in which he can be seen enjoying a FaceTime chat with Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai. 'Just got to FaceTime with Malala Yousafzai. She has such an incredible story. I can't wait to meet her in person and talk about how I can support her and the @malalafund. #love,' he captioned the image of the pair.

While both Bieber's and the 17-year-old's faces are partially obscured in the awkwardly-cropped snap, their wide grins are nonetheless unmistakable. The name Malala echoed around the world

in 2012 when the then15-year-old was brutally shot for daring to voice her opinion about the rights of girls in her country to have an education.

It all began in 2009, when she started writing an anonymous blog for the BBC, in which she detailed the oppression facing her and her friends as well as their fears at living under the constant threat of the Taliban. Ending her blog after death threats against her intensified, her identity as the mystery blogger was revealed when she was featured in a New York Times documentary.

The recipient of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize in 2011 and nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize by Archbishop Des-

mond Tutu, her increasing public profile and criticism of the Taliban led to their decision to shut her up for good. On October 9, 2012, the teenager was shot in the head by a masked gunman as she rode the bus to school, surrounded by her friends and peers, several of whom were also injured in the attack.

Alive but in critical condition, she was rushed to hospital, where her plight immediately made headlines around the world, resulting in her being moved to the UK for further lifesaving treatment once her condition was stable enough.

She was treated at a hospital specialising in military injuries in Birmingham, where she remained until January 3, 2013, when she was discharged and moved with her family to temporary housing in the West Midlands.

The shocking assassination attempt on an innocent schoolgirl received worldwide attention and condemnation, and more than two million people signed the Right To Education campaign - which led to the ratification of the country's first right to education bill.

She subsequently started the Malala Fund to help bring awareness to the importance of the

Rugs NgouRi

makes a huge debut with

'LolliBomb'

Y

education of girls and to empower her peers to stand up for their rights and demand change. During her plight, Malala has touched more lives than she can count - including a number of high-profile celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie, who famously said: 'We are all Malala.'

Along with her new pal

Justin, Malala can also add actress Reese Witherspoon to that growing list of A-list admirers. On Tuesday, the 38-year-old mother-ofthree was lucky enough to spend time in person with the remarkable teenager, later taking to Instagram to share a photo of the pair following their meet and greet.

oung and talent rapper Rhokuosie ‘Rugs’ Ngouri announced the release his highly anticipated debut single ‘Lollibomb’, today through www.ndihut.com.

Moto, a Naga music producer based in Germany, produced the record.

Rugs, at an early age was intrigued by the art of rapping and continued to work on his flows and rhymes and started to pen down fresh flows inspired by his everyday musings.

Clarity and a unique diction defines his style. The young rapper relates his music with simplicity and easy listening, whereas his fans define his music as an addictive adrenalin filled

with beats and rhymes sticking their fingers on the replay button.

Last year, Rugs made his first public appearance at Upstairs Cafe, Dimapur with a powerful performance at the MTF Live Series Upstairs. During the show the young rapper spit out a Non-Stop Tongue Twister for over 2 minutes and won the hearts of the entire audience with his over the top stage performance powered by his own fresh originals and a medley of covers.

The young rapper wrote and recorded the vocals for 'LolliBomb' from his home in Kohima while the producer Moto recorded the entire music from Germany by us-

ing the latest Trap beats filled with explosive bass sounds and music which stands out from the rest in terms of production quality and relevance to the latest genre of music in the global music industry. Dropping in powerful rhymes with lyrical content which might be termed as ‘Explicit’ but the overall flow and super catchy lyrics makes ‘Lollibomb’, one of the best Rap originals to have emerged from the Northeast region.

In light of the announcement of Lollibomb, the Kohima based upcoming rapper is also currently working on his next project ‘Fight. Until.Calamity.Kills’ with DJ Ina due for releasing this fall.

TyRa BaNks Slams Her Own Singing Career

Mathew Knowles teaches students to be like Beyonce M

T C M Y K

he father of Beyonce, Mathew Knowles has announced his plans to teach students how to be famous like his daughter.

The showbiz patriarch who used to manage his famous daughter - is running a training course called, 'The Entertainment Industry How Do I Get In', where he will lecture students on how to break into show business.

Held at the Houston Community College in Texas, USA the £200 seminars will start from September. For an extra £100 classmates can have a meet and greet with Mathew himself.

The 63-year-old music executive and record producer was in charge of his Grammy Award winning

odel/Tv personality Tyra Banks has slammed her own failed singing career, and confessed she should stick to what she does best. The America's Next Top Model host released her first single, a track called Shake Ya Body, in 2004, but did not pursue her new career.

During an interview on U.S. chat show Watch What Happens Live on Tuesday (05Aug14), a fan of Banks' music asked the supermodel if she has any more plans to continue her pop star dreams.

Banks shook her head and said, Let me just do a public service announcement right now. My name is Tyra Banks and I'm here to tell you that you may have a dream, you may have something that burns inside of your heart and desire - but if you do not have the talent for it, boo, let it go.

That includes trying to be a singer when you need to just close your mouth. And only open (your mouth) to host talk shows, be an executive producer and be a businesswoman. Thank you.

daughter's career for over 20 years.

Beyonce left his management in 2011 shortly after it was revealed that Mathew had fathered a secret child with Alexsandra Wright. Later that year, he launched the girl band From Above in the industry after signing them to his label Music World Entertainment in 2008.

Unfortunately, the ladies did not enjoy the same success as Beyonce's girl band, Destiny's Child, as they failed to make the UK Top 40 Music Chart with their debut single, 'Not The Same Girl'. From Above later auditioned for the UK version 'X Factor' but didn't get past the boot camp stage.

C M Y K

PRiyaNka ChoPRa Arrest Warrant Issued For Wiz khalifa fter failing to apto be on pear in court for A misdemeanor possession the marijuana Wednesday (August 6th,) Wiz Khalifa is now officialt a e man. Followhot s 8' lyingahiswanted no-show in El Paso, Ricardo Herrera has - Judge C B K ' issued a warrant for the in rapper’s (real name Cam-

A

C M Y K

ctress Priyanka Chopra will be soon seen in the new season of popular TV quiz show `Kaun Banega Crorepati` hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan. The 32-year-old actress, who is promoting her next film `Mary Kom`, will feature in one of the upcoming episodes of `KBC Season 8` as a celebrity contestant.

However, its telecast date is still under wraps. This season of `KBC` will go on air from August 17 on Sony Entertainment channel.

eron Thomaz) arrest.

According to TMZ, neither Thomaz nor his lawyer attended the hearing. The possession charge dates back to May, when Khalifa

was caught in El Paso airport with a container of less than two ounces of weed on his person. He was arrested at the time and in a widely publicized move that didn’t go down well with the authorities, he took a selfie from jail.

Since there is now a new warrant for his arrest, we’re guessing he’ll have some more photo-ops in the near future. Khalifa, who is just about to release his fifth studio album, Blacc Hollywood (out on August 19)

has been open about his frequent recreational use of cannabis in the past.

In a mildly controversial interview with The Fader back in 2010, he openly stated that he smokes every day and that he often spends more than $10,000 a month on the habit. In 2010, during his Waken Baken Tour, the rapper had his tour bus raided by police in South Carolina and was slapped with one misdemeanor and two felony drug charges.

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT - AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR IDEA OF A ‘VIBRANT LIFE’ THROUGH YOUR LENS. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, ON THE THEME ‘VIBRANT LIFE’, WITH AN EXPLANATORY CAPTION BY AUGUST 30, 2014 TO opinion2mex@gmail.com.

SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE MORUNG EXPRESS 2015 CALENDAR.

C M Y K

C

C

M

M

Y

Y

K

K

India 152 all out Order restored as Sharapova, against England Serena advance in Montreal Stuart Broad bowls out visitors for 152; India equal world record for most ducks

India's Virat Kohli walks from the pitch after losing his wicket for 0 off the bowling of England's James Anderson at Old Trafford cricket ground on the first day of the fourth test match of their five match series, in Manchester, England, Thursday, August 7. (AP Photo)

MANchESTER, AUGUST 7 (AFP): India collapsed spectacularly, getting bowled for a mere 152 on the board with six of their batsmen getting dismissed for nought on Day one of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Skipper Mahendra

C M Y K

Singh Dhoni top-scored with a fighting 71 as Stuart Broad took six for 25.

Earlier, Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat despite the overcast conditions, but the number six batsman soon found himself in the middle after the top-order failed to deal with the swing and bounce

of England new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

India were 63 for five at lunch on the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Thursday. MS Singh Dhoni, the India captain was 25 not out with Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on nought.

All of India's first four wickets fell with their score on eight, the tourists losing four wickets for no runs in 13 balls, with three of the dismissed batsmen out for nought. Gautam Gambhir, recalled in place of the dropped Shikhar Dhawan in one of three changes to the India side that lost the third Test in Southampton by 266 runs, was first to go.

The left-handed opener had made four when he was undone by a rising Broad delivery in the fourth over that he could only edge straight to Joe Root in the gully. Anderson, on his Lancashire home ground, then took two wickets for no runs in three balls as both opener Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli fell for ducks after edging to England captain Alastair Cook at first slip.

Cheteshwar Pujara also exited for nought when, in the sixth over, he got an outside edge off Broad and Chris Jordan, diving to his right, held a fine catch at third slip. India's lowest Test innings total is the 42 they made against England at Lord's in 1974, with the all-time lowest New Zealand's 26 all out, also against England, at Auckland in 1954/55.

Although Thursday's collapse was severe in the extreme, it did not represent India's worst start to a Test innings with the bat.

That came in the second innings against England at Headingley back in 1952 when India were reduced to no runs for four wickets with legendary fast bowler Fred Trueman, making his Test debut on his Yorkshire home ground, taking three of those wickets.

Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Garbine Muguruza of Spain at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament Wednesday August 6 in Montreal. (AP Photo)

MONTREAL, AUGUST 7 (REUTERS): Fourth seed Maria Sharapova rallied for a 4-6 6-3 6-1 second-round win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza while Serena Williams destroyed former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur as order and power was restored to the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Wednesday.

A day after the tournament was left without power and its main attraction when Canada's Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard suffered a surprise opening-match loss, the event enjoyed a return to normalcy as the electricity was back on and Sharapova moved onto the third round. World number one Williams, just days after bagging her fourth title of the year at Stanford, then joined her with a 6-0 6-2 thrashing of 2011 Flushing Meadows champion Stosur in a touch under an hour. "It's been a few weeks since I've been in that competitive atmosphere," said Sharapova, who has not played since her fourth round loss at Wimbledon.

"It's always quite different, no matter how much you train, you try to prepare for

Djokovic, Murray advance in Toronto

TORONTO, AUGUST 7 (AP): Topranked Novak Djokovic edged Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2) on Wednesday in the second round of the Rogers Cup. After a lopsided tiebreaker, Djokovic fist-pumped and yelled at the end of the match that lasted 2 hours, 40 minutes. Monfils pulled out all the stops by hitting a between-the-legs shot and throwing his racket to hit the ball, and each player tried to ignite the crowd to get louder.

"He's probably the only guy in the world, tennis player, that I would pay a ticket to watch the match," Djokovic said of Monfils. "He's really fun to watch but not so much fun to play against. ... He loves jumping around, sliding, he's very unpredictable. You don't know what his next move is, so that's why he's so interesting." Monfils didn't endear himself to fans by arguing with chair umpire Gerry Armstrong after receiving a time violation, even as they were captivated by his dazzling play on the court. As a result, Djokovic had support behind him as he came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third set. "In a way it was fun, of course, and that. "Once you step on the court, you feel a little bit more from the crowd, the energy. You get inspired by everything. But you're ultimately a bit rusty."

The French Open

entertaining to be part of this match," said Djokovic, who will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the next round. "I enjoyed it."

By avoiding what would've been the biggest upset of the tournament thus far, Djokovic kept alive the possibility of facing eighth-seeded Andy Murray in the quarterfinals.

Murray had little trouble winning his opener, defeating 19-year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 6-2 in the first match of the day on center court. "He outclassed me, he did everything better than me," said Kyrgios, who upset Rafael Nadal to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Murray, the 2013 Wimbledon champion who had back surgery last autumn, was pleased with the match. "I thought I did most things like pretty solid," the Scot said. "I didn't make too many errors. I moved well, (had a) high firstserve percentage." Murray will face either Ivo Kalovic or Richard Gasquet in the next round. "It's a tough draw, but it's also good to play against someone like a Novak if you get that opportunity in the buildup to the U.S. Open," Murray said.

"You really see where your game is at."

champion was far from sharp in her return as the promising young Spaniard took advantage of several errors by the Russian to grab the opening set.

But Sharapova, a three-

time winner this season, was able to convert on the big points to stay on track for a first ever title on the Canadian hard courts. "I didn't feel good, I made a lot of errors in the first set,"

said Sharapova. "When you're able to finish stronger than your start, that's always a positive because you give yourself an opportunity to keep playing in the tournament. "When you're in that position, there's always another chance to work in another match to improve and get better."

Sixth seeded German Angelique Kerber, who has four runner-up finishes this season, had no trouble beating Caroline Garcia easing past the Frenchwoman 6-4 6-1. Kerber has had a solid start to her North American hard court campaign after reaching the final in Stanford last week but in four visits to Canada has never advanced past the third round.

Eleventh seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the 2010 Canadian champion, thrashed Czech Klara Koukalova 6-1 6-2 while qualifier Heather Watson provided an early upset when the Briton shocked 10th seed and Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-2 6-7 (3) 7-6 (5).

Ninth seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic was also sent packing in the second round, losing to American qualifier Coco Vandeweghe in three sets.

It's now or never for Indian squash, says disheartened Dipika

NEw DELhi, AUGUST 7 (PTi): Squash sensation Dipika Pallikal hopes her and Joshana Chinappa`s path-breaking doubles gold at the Commonwealth Games raises the profile of the racket sport in India and all stakeholders make a "much needed" effort to meet the dearth of worldclass tournaments in the country. Pallikal strongly feels that the biggest win of her career in Glasgow last week should be used to change the face of Indian squash. "I really hope our win inspires kids to take up the game. It would also be fitting if the sponsors wake up to the sport and start in-

vesting in Indian squash.

If we are not able to make things better now, then I don`t see it ever happening in the future," Pallikal

told PTI. "Ever since I have returned from Glasgow, I have had so many people calling me and wanting to know more about

the game. They said they were all so excited to watch squash on television. Now they all want to see some top quality action in India.

"It is disheartening that no big tournaments are being organised in India.

I take great pride in playing for India and it is such a shame that I am not able to compete in front of the home crowd," said the 22-year-old, who arrived in Chennai on Tuesday to a lukewarm reception.

Other Indian players, including Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal, have also voiced their concerns over the lack of tournaments in the country. India has not hosted a

major pro tour event since 2011 despite the fact that the sport`s world body is headed by an Indian, N Ramachandran, who is also the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president. Talking about the road ahead, World No.10 Pallikal says her dream run in Glasgow has given her confidence to do better on the singles professional tour.

She starts training with five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in Chennai from Monday ahead of the Hong Kong Open (Aug 24-31) and China Open (Sep 2-7), and has also set sights on the Asian Games, commencing from September 19 at Incheon.

St. Joseph’s Inter-Departmental Basketball Tourney

JAkhAMA, AUGUST 7 (MExN): St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama, concluded the three day long Annual Inter-Departmental Basketball Tournament on Saturday, August 2. The tournament organized by the Department of English began on August 31. The Economics Department came out victorious against the General Department in the final 21-15 to lift the Men’s trophy, while the Political Science Department beat the Science team 1310 in the Women’s final. A press note stated that “teamwork and talent were at peak as the Josephites sweated it out on the court in both rain and sunshine for the love of the game.” The final day of the tournament saw seven matches being played.

Published, Printed and Edited by Aküm Longchari on behalf of Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Telecommunications, Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland.

RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) 248854, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952

For news email: morung@gmail.com and for advertisements and circulation contact: (03862) 248854, Fax-235194 or email : morungad@yahoo.com

PO Reg No. NE/RN-722

C M Y K