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saturDaY • februarY 06 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 34 • 12 PAGes • 5
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ESTD. 2005
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Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow — Plato There must be new developmental model for NE: Modi
South Asian Games off to a colourful start
Nagaland Power Dept running at loss
PaGe 03
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Allegations of pilfering & black marketing of PDs rice surface • NPCC demands high level inquiry to probe allegations • MTLT says this issue might be just the tip of the iceberg
mOKOKChuNG/Dimapur, February 5 (mexN): Alarmed over the recent expose of ‘pilfering and black marketing’ of PDS rice by a Fair Price Shop (FPS) in Mokokchung, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) on Friday, through separate press statements have demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. “This issue might be just the tip of the iceberg,” MTLT in a press statement stated. It informed that Mokokchung Police and District Administration had raided one FPS at Arkong ward and another godown at Tongdentsuyong Ward, where suspected Volcanic lightning is seen at an eruption of Mount sakurajima, in this photo taken from Tarumizu city, Kagoshima pre- pilfered rice was found is huge quanfecture, southwestern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo February 5, 2016. A Japanese volcano about 50 km (30 miles) tity. The owner has been arrested and from a nuclear plant erupted on Friday, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said, sending fountains of lava into the night in police custody. The police and administration, in the presence of the sky. (Mandatory credit REUTERS/Kyodo)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Traditions, a living reality in the NE Morung Express news Dimapur | February 5
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24-hour Mariani bandh today
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mOKOKChuNG, February 5 (mexN): Various civil society organisations have called for a 24 hour Mariani bandh on Saturday, February 6. A press note from the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland) informed that the bandh has been called to press the need for expanding the town roads in main Mariani town. The bandh, it stated will be enforced by the local units of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (AATTSA) and Mariani Public Forum. The BPCC has urged travellers from Nagaland not to use this stretch of road during the bandh period. It will take effect from 5:00 am, February 6 till 5:00 am, February 7.
A two-day national seminar and photographic exhibition on “Eastern Himalayan Domestic Architecture in India’s NorthEast” organized by The Global Open University Nagaland (TGOUN) in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Society for Cultural Heritage for North-East India, got underway here at Hotel Acacia. Chancellor, TGOUN, TN Mannen, IAS (retd), the chief guest of the inaugural session in his address said the architecture of indigenous communities of the North-East including Naga tribes is intrinsically linked with their culture and tradition. Mannen said the traditional Naga architecture is marked by creativity and aesthetic beauty. The chancellor TGOUN noted that with the advent of Christianity, the culture and heritage of Nagas including their architectural designs have been “systematically discouraged”, which he said would prove disastrous to Naga people in the long run. Stressing on the need to preserve, protect and promote the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous communities of NE including Nagas, Mannen said the diverse cultural heritage can propel the NE region into a major
tourist destination. Delivering the keynote address, vice chancellor TGOUN, Dr. HN Dutta, said the domestic architecture of North-East India, be it religious or secular, represented a culture of harmonious living and economic sustainability. Dutta said building mediums and materials used were collected from nature and these materials were biodegradable and hence eco-friendly. He said manufacturing of indigenous clothes, ink and dyes, tools and equipment, furniture, treatment of wood, pro-
and “indigenous” people should replace tribals, at least in academic discourses. Handa also called for a balance between modernity and traditional way of living and added, “presently all our thinking, food and houses have become synthetic.” Dr. Heidi Tacier from Switzerland also said the NE has remained “unspoiled” so far and said it was a veritable delight to experience the diverse cultures of the region. Heidi also inaugurated the photographic exhibition at Tourist Lodge. Superintendent archaeologist, ASI, Guwahati, Dr. Milan Chauley, also referred to the nomenclature “tribals” as a remnant of the colonial era and said “westernization has given us many things but also deprived us of many things.” He said the indigenous people should come out of “tribal” mindset as they are inferior to no one in terms of civilization. He also said the NE with its rich culture heritage and bio-diversity has tremendous scope for adventure and eco-tourism. Resource persons of the second session included Dr. SS Singh, assistant archaeologist ASI; Ujjwal Jyoti Das, NIT Silchar; Dr. Milan Chauley Kumar; Dr. Tiatoshi, Nagaland University; Dr. Heidi Tacier, Dr. Kripasindu Dey, asst. curator, district museum Bomdila and Dr. Ditamula Vasa, Nagaland University.
National seminar on North East architecture underway curing thatch, nourishing cane and bamboo and selection of site for building houses were all done respecting nature. “It (NE) is a region where archaeology is not confined to the ossified and fossilized objects, this is a region where the past traditions and practices are still a living reality”, the vice chancellor said. Dr. OC Handa from Shimla said the nomenclature “tribal” used for indigenous inhabitants of NE is demeaning as NE people are culturally more advanced than many other races and communities. He suggested “natives”
civil society and public, duly sealed two godowns. NPCC in a separate statement said the exposure of a FPS owner selling PDS items in the open market has brought to light the level of corruption which has riddled the Department of Food and Civil Supplies (F&CS). Such level of corruption cannot happen unless the district-in-charge and department staffs of F&CS are also involved, the NPCC said. It has demanded the Nagaland Chief Minister, who looks after the department, to initiate action against the culprits and also set up a top level inquiry commission immediately to unearth the scam in the department. According to MTLT, its officials, besides the Ward Council Members, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM), DB’s and public leaders – were also witness to the raids conducted by the District Administration and the police on Sunday, January 31, 2016. The MTLT acknowledged the Inquiry Committee headed by the ADC, Mokokchung, formed by the
Passenger assault case: RPF lodge counter FIR Morung Express news Dimapur | February 5
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has lodged a counter FIR in connection to the assault of a passenger at the Dimapur Railway station on the night of February 3. A RPF personnel was accused of assaulting a passenger during which the victim sustained head injury and lapsed into a state of coma. He was admitted to a hospital in Guwahati where it was learned that he had sustained hairline fracture on a part of the skull. According to the Dimapur police, the RPF lodged the FIR subsequent to the aggrieved party filing a police complaint. Both the complaints were received at the Government Railway Police Station on February 4 with the RPF complaint received late at night, the police informed. Stating that the police have taken up both the complaints, it was informed that the police have recorded the statement of one RPF personnel, who was accused of involvement in the incident. Necessary legal proceedings will be initiated to arrest the accused, it was added. Meanwhile, it was learnt that a joint meeting of RPF, Dimapur police, Dimapur Naga Students Union, Rengma Hoho and Kandinu Union Dimapur was held today to discuss on the matter.
Mokokchung DC to probe the scam. However, it felt that one or two responsible civil society members should be included in the Inquiry Committee since it concerns the public and the main stakeholders are the public themselves. “Besides, the MTLT also questions why the District Administration is still keeping the culprits’ shops open. The shops must have been sealed by now keeping in view the volatility of the scam,” it stated. Reminding that ‘PDS rice’ is meant for the needy people in society, it said that pilfering of such goods should be considered as the “lowliest of crimes as it amounts to depriving the needy of their rice generously given by the government.” Calling for thorough investigation into the matter, the MTLT cautioned that this issue “might be just the tip of the iceberg.” The NPCC also cautioned that if the issue is not addressed immediately and action taken is not made known to the public, it will go to any extent to expose and deliver justice.
Contempt petition against Nagaland police withdrawn Dimapur, February 5 (mexN): The contempt petition filed against Nagaland police for inaction on corruption in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Nagaland which was due for hearing today at the Supreme Court was withdrawn by the petitioners. The petitioners, Dr Rosemary Dzuvichu and Vilanuo Angela Yhome had filed the contempt petition after the police failed to register any FIR and also failed to complete the investigation in the NRHM corruption case. Dr Dzuvichu on Friday told The Morung Express that they decided to withdraw the contempt petition since they have also filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) on the corruption case to which the SC judge had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central government to be impleaded. Notice have been issued in this connection and hearing on the SLP is being awaited, Dr Dzuvichu informed. The petitioners are asking the SC for a CBI investigation into the NRHM corruption case.
A case of mistaken identity: Dead body remains unidentified Morung Express news Dimapur | February 5
The body of a woman found dumped in a sack with hands and legs tied from Parda Bagh footpath, Netaji Subhash Marg, New Delhi on Friday morning has turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Initially the deceased was believed to be from Nagaland. However, Joint commissioner of Delhi, Robin Hibu while speaking to The Morung Express on Friday night clarified that the identity of the deceased woman had not yet been established. Widespread alarm and condemnation poured in at vari-
ous social networking sites and WhatsApp after the pictures of the deceased were circulated for identification by Delhi police. The deceased, who had mongoloid features, was initially thought to be of a woman hailing from Mokokchung and currently residing in Jharkhand. Upon verification, the Delhi police later found out the woman is very much alive and with her husband in Jharkhand. Till the filing of this report, the identity of the woman, suspected to be from the North East, is yet to be ascertained and is kept in a morgue awaiting identification. A case has been registered at Darya Ganj police station.
Project to treat HiV+ drug addicts in ne to start soon ‘Project Sunrise’ aims to diagnose 90% drug addicts with HIV and treat them by 2020 New Delhi, February 5 (TNN): To tackle the rising HIV prevalence in north-eastern states, especially among people injecting drugs, the government is set to launch a new initiative called ‘Project Sunrise’. The project is aimed to diagnose 90% of such drug addicts with HIV and put them under treatment by 2020. The project is expected to kick-start from this month itself, an official source said. North-eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland
account for highest adult (15-49 years) HIV prevalence in the country, latest government data showed. Estimates of 2015 show Manipur tops the list with adult HIV prevalence of 1.15%, followed by Mizoram (0.80%), Nagaland (0.78%), Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (0.66%), Karnataka (0.45%), Gujarat (0.42%) and Goa (0.40%). The national average for adult HIV prevalence is estimated at 0.26% in 2015. Besides these states, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Tripura and Tamil Nadu have also shown estimated adult HIV prevalence greater than the national prevalence. However, the government is particularly concerned about the northeastern states because it feels the adult HIV prevalence rate in these states is driven by drug injecting
source: nACCo
people. “The HIV epidemic in the North Eastern (NE) region is primarily driven by injecting drug use and this is compounded by unsafe sexual behaviours. The porous international borders, hilly terrain, poor road and transport communications, disturbed
law and order situations pose many challenges for NE states in scaling up HIV prevention, care and treatment efforts among key populations and the general population. This has adversely affected the scale and quality of services,” an official note on Project
Sunrise said. According to the note, the national average for prevalence of HIV among drug addicts is 7.14%, whereas in Manipur it is 12.9% and in Mizoram it is 12%. The Project Sunrise, steered by National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO) under the health ministry, will also aim to create more awareness about the disease in these N-E states. The project will be funded under the Centre for Disease Control and will be implemented in coordination with state AIDS control organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs) working in this area. The government also plans to employ consultants privy to local settings in these states who can help improve the outreach of various initiatives planned under the project. “The Sunrise Project will be implementing a data-driven approach that will strategically focus on geographic areas and populations to ensure that we are doing the right things, in the right places, at the right time to achieve epidemic control among
people who inject drugs,” an official said. Other initiatives planned under the Project include enhancing capacity of state-level institutions in high burden areas, community mobilization, intervention among females injecting drugs and spouses of such people. The government also plans to establish a real-time data capturing and program monitoring software solution side by side. This would automate flow of information in near real time at site, district, state and national level, enabling the Centre to timely review the developments and take required action to fill in the gaps. Latest estimates by NACO estimates around 21.17 lakhs people living with HIV in India in 2015. Of this 6.54% were children below 15 years of age.