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www.morungexpress.com
MonDAY • DeceMber 21 • 2015
DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 347 • 12 PAGes • 4
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ESTD. 2005
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T R u T H
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough — Albert Einstein Spaniards vote in unpredictable national election PAGE 09
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PAGe 12
crores spent; Police gets inferior supplies
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
imkong Walling Dimapur | December 20
Auto accident? How’s that possible, Christmas’ eve ain’t here yet!!!
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 This Christmas, should the Church be doing more to uplift the underprivileged and living in poverty? Why? Yes
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no
others
Is Nagaland government providing the space for protection of freedom of the press and freedom of speech and expression? Yes
10% 66%
no others
24%
Details on page 7
Daily magnesium intake can prevent pancreatic cancer
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NEw YoRK, DECEMBER 20 (IANS): Daily magnesium intake may be beneficial in preventing pancreatic cancer, researchers from Indiana University (IU) have found. Previous studies have found that magnesium is inversely associated with the risk of diabetes, which is a risk factor of pancreatic cancer. “But few studies have explored the direct association of magnesium with pancreatic cancer. Of those that did, their findings were inconclusive,” said Daniel Dibaba, PhD student at the School of Public He a l t h - Bl o o m i ng t o n , who led the IU study. Dibaba and colleagues analysed an enormous trove of data on over 66,000 men and women, aged 50 to 76, looking at the direct association between magnesium and pancreatic cancer. Of those followed, 151 participants developed pancreatic cancer. The study found that every 100-milligram-per-day decrease in magnesium intake was associated with a 24 percent increase in the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. The study also found that the effects of magnesium on pancreatic cancer did not appear to be modified by age, gender or body mass index but was limited to those taking magnesium supplements either from a multivitamin or individual supplement. “For those at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, adding a magnesium supplement to their diet may prove beneficial in preventing this disease,” Dibaba added. People should strive to get the daily recommendations of magnesium through diet, such as dark, leafy greens or nuts, to prevent any risk of pancreatic cancer. The study appeared in the British Journal of Cancer.
Chennaiyin win a humdinger to emerge ISL champs
DLCC Mon deliberates on govt schemes
A Kuwaiti man kisses his falcon during a training session in Al-salmi district. (AFP Photo)
NRHM employees to enforce ‘No Pay, No Work’ from Jan 2016 Morung Express news Dimapur | December 20
Success of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Nagaland chapter stands on the verge of being adversely affected as disgruntled employees announced on Sunday that it will go on a “No Pay, No Work” course of action starting from January 2016 onwards because of nonpayment of salaries. The NRHM employees said the State Government is yet to release pending salaries for the month of October and November. Earlier, they were assured that the three month pending salary would be released by December. “But, the State treasury has released salary only for September, and now we are being told that the remaining salaries of subsequent months would be released only by March 2016,” a doctor working under the NRHM told The Morung Express on Sunday. According to the doctor, who did not wished to be named, the State Government gave no reason why their salaries are withheld. There are more than 900 technical and non-technical staff under NRHM in Nagaland which includes a sizeable number of doctors and nurses. This is not the first time that Nagaland employees of NRHM have endured hardship due to non release of their salaries on time. This is also not the first that the employ-
ees have appealed the State Government for release of their pending salaries through the media. Earlier, in September last, NRHM employees were demanding for release their pending three month salaries. In August 2014, NRHM employees from over the State remained absent from work as they protested the non-payment of their salaries by the health department since April 2014. “Actually, our salaries have always been kept pending and released only at irregular intervals since inception of this programme here in the State,” the doctor rued. “This is a centrally sponsored flagship scheme, and the Centre had already released the fund meant for the salary of the employees. The government is withholding our salaries intentionally so as to see us suffer,” another NRHM staff alleged. While the NRHM employees cannot provide evidence, there have been reports about the funds meant for their salaries being diverted to other projects or kept in the bank to accumulate interest. Earlier, the NRHM funds were directly transferred to the account of Department of Health and Family Welfare. However, with alleged misuse of funds, the Centre has been transferring the funds to the State treasury, with optimism that there would be more accountability. The employees have also been
demanding that the government give proper explanation through media as why they have to suffer when the Centre has already released the funds. The government however has remained nonchalantly tightlipped. NRHM employees also said they cannot even form an association or a union to collectively fight for their rights. “We were cautioned that no association or union should be formed. If we do so, we are afraid of facing job termination,” the NRHM staff revealed. According to the doctor, non technical staffs are scared to voice out protest since they are aware that they can be replaced anytime. “Though they support us morally, they cannot afford to be vocal because they don’t want to be victimized,” the doctor pointed out. Already, the NRHM employees, particularly the nurses are losing morale, motivation to be sincere in their duties, the doctor observed. Except NRHM, employees of other medical programmes such as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) have received all their pending salaries, the doctor informed. “We fear that if this irresponsible attitude of the State Government continues, it is going to affect the programme,” the doctor voiced out.
The Nagaland Police department is said to account for 30 percent of the State’s non-plan expenditure. In monetary expression, it is estimated to take up around Rs. 1000 crores of the State’s annual non-plan allocation of Rs. 5000 crores. The spending, besides accounting for salary of the workforce, include supplies ranging from arms and ammunition to food to clothing, down to basic personal items for the personnel. But is the government getting its money’s worth on the crores spent for police supplies? According to records available, supply of clothing items and other basic items alone consume over Rs. 10 crores annually. The list of items in the ‘Clothing items and Equipment’ supplies category include basic personal needs such as boots, uniform, loadcarrying kit, caps, soap, etc. The items listed in the category numbers 89 in total, which the personnel are entitled to receive annually. While translating spending into end-user satisfaction is considered a primary goal, if not the ultimate, of any deal, the quality of items supplied to the personnel has remained far from satisfactory in stark contrast to the crores spent. Paying scant regard to enduser satisfaction is usually the overriding refrain when it comes to critique of the personnel on the quality of stan-
dard issue items supplied clothing and other basic items in particular. A policeman’s comment would sum up the quality of material the personnel are supplied. “There is discontent among the personnel on the quality of clothing and other personal utilities issued. The issued items are not fit for use or wearing.” Stating that substandard and cheap replicas is what they eventually get, the policeman added that a majority of the personnel have to shell out from their own pockets to buy the necessary uniform, boots and other utilities from the market. Asked what they do with the items supplied by the department, the policeman said that the yearly quota of combat boots and PT shoes are handed away mostly to relatives in the village for menial use. The supplied items are not entirely free of cost, however; as one IRB jawan said, 10 percent of the cost of an item is deducted from salary. Records indicate that a total of Rs. 74, 28, 79,898.2 crores was sanctioned in the past 6 years for acquiring the items listed in the ‘Clothing items and Equipment’ category. In 2013-14, the sanctioned amount was over Rs. 15 crores for this particular category, an increase from Rs. 11.5 crores in 2010-11. Blatant disregard for quality control, and corruption at various levels of the government were cited as the major causes of the crores expended in return for inferior supplies.
“Cuts and commissions” starting from the very top reduces the approved amount by a sizeable margin as it flows down to the contracted supplier, stated sources in the know of the business. The “cuts” often range between 10-15 percent of the approved amount. It affects the expected profit margin of the supplier, who opts for cheap replicas of the items listed for procurement. The items are eventually supplied with the department not bothering to keep a check on quality. Further, it was revealed that the government has yet to revise the price of the listed items for years now, while prices increase in the market. Citing an instance, it was revealed that price of ankle-length boots was approved at the rate of Rs. 593 per pair in 2013-14, while in the market, the price of any useworthy brand ranged between Rs. 1500-2500. Introducing standard guidelines for supplies in consonance with the need of the time and doing away with redundant items and maintaining stringent checks and balances would cut down costs while guaranteeing useable and durable equipment to the personnel, stated a number of policemen interviewed. With an all-women battalion already in active duty, the department must seriously consider the gender aspect of supplies as well. The standard issue clothing and equipments has to be genderfriendly, the policemen stated.
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Ukhrul campaigns against toy guns ahead of Christmas UKHRUL, DECEMBER 20 (MExN): Aimed at the growing toy gun market, Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS) Ukhrul on Sunday called for concerted efforts to dissuade parents from buying toy guns for their children during Christmas season. Termed “Anti-War Toy Campaign,” the society argues that the use of such toys help breed a culture of violence among children. At a press conference held at Ukhrul District Working Journalists' Association (UDWJA) Office, TS Elvis, Peace
Activist of DSSS Ukhrul said the campaign was launched as a part of its peace education program to curb the menace of toy guns that promote violence and create negative impact on the child behaviour. "Ukhrul is one place where parents are indiscriminate in buying toy guns, pistols for their children, while they miserably fail to realize the danger that such toys pose to the psychological and behavioural disposition of their kids," he said. Taking serious cognizance of the dangerous trend, DSSS has been campaigning
at various levels of the community including the churches, schools, colleges, SHGs among others. Elvis claimed that through its intervention, the number of children buying or using toy guns in Ukhrul has been brought down by 30 percent from 50/60 percent since last year. "But of late, with the coming of Christmas this time, the toy gun market in the district has received a boost again," he lamented saying that creating adequate awareness among the public is vital in reversing the trend.
A Way Forward: A manifesto for dialogue Along Longkumer, senior journalist and founding editor of The Morung Express explores ‘the idea of a peace accord between India and the Nagas’ in his book titled ‘A Way Forward’ released on December 18 DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 20 (MExN): A book on the Indo-Naga peace process with focus on the proposed ‘Naga peace accord’ was launched on December 18 by three leading Naga personalities Rev Dr Tuisem Shishak, Niketu Iralu and Rev Dr Wati Aier. The book titled ‘A Way Forward—the idea of a peace accord between India and the Nagas’ has been written by senior journalist and founding Editor of The Morung Express, Along Longkumer. In a simple yet innovative way, the book launch was held without any kind of a formal programme with the three personalities dedicating the book in different places. Dr Lanusangla Tzudir of Heritage Publishing House handed copies of the book to the three.
Describing Rev Dr Tuisem Shishak, Niketu Iralu and Rev Dr Wati Aier as the ‘triumphant three’ of our times, the author, who is currently out of Nagaland, has in a press note, expressed admiration for their contribution towards the Nagas and for being true role-models, especially for the upcoming generation. “It is only fitting therefore that the three of them who continue to inspire us all should release this book of mine”, stated the author in the press release. The book, according to Along Longkumer, is an attempt to understand some of the important questions in the peace process between India and the Nagas. How to resolve these have been suggested with possible formulations including on the two core issues
(From left to Right) An edited picture of the three leading naga personalities, Rev Dr Wati Aier, niketu iralu and Rev Dr Tuisem shishak releasing the book ‘A Way Forward—The idea of a peace accord between india and the nagas’ written by senior journalist and former Editor Along longkumer.
of sovereignty and integration. The book explores the idea of a ‘quasi-sovereign’ status for the Nagas, relation with India to be in the nature of an ‘associate state’ on the lines of the United States and Puerto Rico. On the complex issue of integration, the author explores the idea of a ‘cross-border’ arrange-
ment to bring together the Naga inhabited areas. In this regard the author puts forth the idea to “create a compact zone of peace, development and economic cooperation across the entire Naga-inhabited areas”. The book also suggests that Article 244A of the Indian constitution has been ‘tailor made’ to address the complexity of Naga in-
tegration and this provision should be explored as a possible way forward pending the redrawing of State boundaries. Possibilities to bring the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) into some kind of a power-sharing arrangement have also been suggested. According to the book, “a reformed and unified NNC can be that meet-
ing point for all Nagas, including the warring groups to reconcile and come together in some form”. In return for accepting the NNC as the apex institution representing the Naga people, the executive powers or national government should be vested in the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland or GPRN, states the book. A thought provoking suggestion put forward by the author is to remodel the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) into some kind of role within the proposed Pan-Naga structure that is expected to take shape. Further, the ideas of Shared Sovereignty, Special Federal relationship, Pan-Naga body etc., have been discussed along with few suggestions or formulations. The basis for a solution between India and the Nagas is also explored in some detail with an attempt to come out with some outof-the-box ideas for a political solution. According to the author, “the sole intention of writing this book
is not to challenge existing proposals but only to add to the larger discourse both for the present and future consideration”. A summary of this book is presented under the title ‘The Way Forward: A Manifesto for Dialogue’. The author has explained that the core philosophy of the book is “simply to light up the thoughts of readers and point the way forward.” “The thinking behind the formulations presented in the book is to be moderate, to find a balance and chart out a middle-path”, states Along Longkumer while adding that his own belief is that “resolutions can come about if we can find more meeting-points”. Copies of the book will initially be on sale at Signet Book Shop, near Notun Bosti Junction, Dimapur and Starmart, Jail Colony Kohima. For Mao and Senapati areas of Manipur, interested readers may contact Hills Hornbill Express, PNBA Building, Senapati or contact mobile number 8014325689.
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