February 7th, 2016

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www.morungexpress.com

sunDAY • februArY 07 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 35 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

T R u T H

If power was an illusion, wasn’t weakness necessarily one also? — Lois McMaster Bujold As Myanmar owerbrokers talk, could Suu Kyi emerge as prez?

Pawan Negi the star of IPL auction, Watson costliest

Border Peace Committee to be formed soon

PAGe 09

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state govts must spend more on infrastructure, anti-poverty progs

Rescue workers remove people from the site where a 17-storey apartment building collapsed after an earthquake hit Tainan, February 6. (REUTERS) Story on page 9

DoNER officials asked to keep DCs in loop DIMaPur, February 6 one year, he has experienced that district and block level for which the (MexN): Union Minister of State (In- many of the DoNER projects fall short District Administration can prove to dependent Charge) for Development of achieving their fixed targets part- be of immense help. Even in the exercise of preparing of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr ly also because the Union DoNER Jitendra Singh has asked the DoNER Ministry tends to liaison at the State the priority list of projects to be proMinistry officials to keep in the loop, Secretariat level, as a result of which, posed to the State Government by the the various Deputy Commission- sometimes the District Development Union DoNER Ministry, Dr Jitendra Singh said, he would suggest ers or District Development Commissioners in North- DoNER Minister suggest that North to the State Governments to a mechanism whereEastern States by way of regEast States develop a mechanism develop in the Deputy Commissioner ular interaction with them through different means in- wherein the Deputy Commissioner of the district along with local MLA and local MP, has a say. cluding video conference. of the district along with local Since the DoNER Ministry According to a PIB reMLA and local MP, has a say takes up the projects on the balease, the DoNER minister sis of priority fixed by the State stated this while addressing Government, he said, sometimes a a meeting of administration in Di- Commissioners are not in the loop. In order to rise to the aspirations certain project recommended for a brugarh, Assam. This, he said, will ensure a better coordination at the of the common masses and make certain area, later appears to be difground level and overcome the miss- the various DoNER related develop- ferent from the project which the ing gaps in carrying forward the Do- ment projects optimum for public local population desires and this welfare, he said, it is essential to take contradiction can be overcome by NER projects at the micro level. Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last cognizance of the ground facts at the devising a suitable mechanism.

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Are you my son, brother? I don’t have money to give you for offering.

Sealed godowns private not FPS, DC Mokokchung clarifies

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MOKOKchuNg, February 6 (DIPr): In response to the news item on alleged sale of PDS rice in open market and raids conducted by the Mokokchung police personnel, the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung through a DIPR report clarified on Saturday that the sealed godowns are private godowns and not Fair Price Shop (FPS) godowns as rendered in the media. It also informed that an enquiry committee has already been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mokokchung. Members of civil society organizations are also included in the committee, the DIPR report stated adding that the committee is thoroughly investigating into the issue. Meanwhile, stakeholders have been requested not to spread misinformation as it will hamper the ongoing investigation process.

New DelhI, February 6 (ageNcIes): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said he expects states to increase spending on infrastructure and poverty alleviation schemes as the 14th Finance Commission has devolved higher funds to them. “We expect that those states whose resources have been increased after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission will spend further on infrastructure creation and anti-poverty programmes since their income have increased considerably,” Jaitley told reporters here. Several states, in their pre-budget meeting with Jaitley, sought higher allocation in the upcoming budget for implementing Pay Commission recommendations as well as under centrally-sponsored schemes. “The states have discussed their own resources and each one of them is competing for higher resources, higher investment and they are all geared up to fight this environment of global slowdown so that India remains an economy which is on the move,” he said. The 14th Finance Commission had last year recommended a record 10 per cent increase in the states’ share in the Union taxes to 42 per cent, which has been accepted by the Centre. The 7th Pay Commission in November recommended increase in remuneration of about one crore government employees and pensioners which is estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2016-17. The new pay scales, subject to acceptance by government, will come into effect from January 1, 2016. “As far as central government is concerned we would like to cooperate with every state, and as the growth of states increases, the national growth will also increase,” Jaitley said in his opening remarks.

Eradicating poverty is more important than defining poverty. (REUTERS)

He also said that one of challenging area is agriculture which suffered in last two years due to inadequate monsoon. “It’s been a tradition to meet the states to discuss the budget and other economic issues. They gave their suggestions for more resources” Jaitley told reporters after the meeting, that was called ahead of the national budget for the next fiscal, due on February 29. “Most states suggested that they have been concentrating on antipoverty programmes, particularly on the agricultural sector,” he said and assured the states of more funding by the Centre. “Resources of states have also increased after the 14th Finance Commission. We want states to use these for anti-poverty schemes,” he said after the two-hour long meeting, adding: “We also hope they will spend further on infrastructure creation.” Speaking to reporters, West Ben-

gal Finance Minister Amit Mitra also said that the central government must keep its promise of releasing more funds to states. “The last budget had promised 10 percent more devolution to the states,” he added. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam said his state was particularly hit by some of the Finance Commission’s recommendations. “We have been adversely affected due to this horizontal sharing formula,” he said, drawing a distinction between vertical allocations where states can spend the allocated money as they desire, as opposed to transfers based on parameters like poverty levels and fiscal prudence. During the meeting, the states also demanded early release of the long pending compensation for phasing out of central sales tax (CST) and raising state’s borrowing limit as per the recommendation of 14th Finance Commission. With inputs from IANS and PTI

NNagaDAO demand political action, Collective engagement is the to address Naga conflicts release of grant for HIV/AIDS program • way CNA says they should have been in-

DIMaPur, February 6 (MexN): Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (NNagaDAO) on Saturday pulled up the Nagaland State government for its lack of political action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and related diseases. It expressed anguish over the stark indifference - in not releasing funds meant for HIV/AIDS program for several months which, according to the organization, was lying in the State treasury. A press statement from NNagaDAO president, Abou Mere has voiced fear that the apathy of the State government will seriously hamper the HIV/AIDS program. This may lead to many new infections and create more grave challenges with more health and financial burden in the near future, Mere said. It pointed out that National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) grant

to Nagaland AIDS Control Society (NSACS) was routed through the State exchequer to ensure more transparency, accountability and effective implementation of HIV/ AIDS program in the State. In spite of this, NNagaDAO expressed wonder why “the life saving HIV money is being kept for several months by the State government and in the process denying and weakening HIV intervention and other health programs and putting our people life at risks” Harm reduction commodities (HIV prevention commodities) are getting exhausted in NGOs Drop-In Centres, Mere pointed out. It therefore demanded that the State government immediately release the “fund lying in the State treasury for controlling new HIV transmission and HIV related death.” NNagaDAO has also expressed unhappiness over the tepid ap-

proach of the State AIDS Council which is notably the highest body on HIV/AIDS in the state and headed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. It alleged that the DAN III government did not conduct any meeting to take political decision and action to end the communicable diseases (HIV and Hepatitis B and C). “The hopes for ending the communicable diseases depend in large measure of political leadership and action, uninterrupted resources for prevention and treatment program to all who need it,” Mere said. To this, NNagaDAO has called upon the State AIDS Council chairman/Chief Minister to convene the State AIDS Council meeting at the earliest possible so as to ensure achieving desirable epidemic control and treatment for the State.

formed on the Naga Hoho-ENPO peace mission • Wrong approaches may jeopardize the dynamics of Naga movement for self-determination

DIMaPur, February 6 (MexN): Council of Naga Affairs (CNA) has stated that initiative like the recent peace mission of the Naga Hoho (NH) and Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO) to Myanmar to meet NSCN (K) should be extended further through proper collaboration among Nagas from all corners to bring peace and solution for the Nagas. A press statement from CNA, while welcoming the peace initiative undertaken by the two organizations, however termed it unfortunate that for executing such important peace mission in Eastern Naga land, they were not informed. It sought to point out that “Naga affairs in Myanmar are not only of individual or portion of segments” and that the ongoing Naga conflicts can only be addressed through col-

lective engagement by right representatives of Nagas in Myanmar. The press statement asserted that the CNA and another organization namely Naga Tradition and Culture Committee (Yoya) are the only mandated and right bodies to facilitate such missions in Myanmar side. It informed that CNA was formed in 2014 as the civilian representative entity and the mandated body to guide the political, social and economic affairs of the Nagas in Myanmar during a conference of the Naga Nationals. The conference was organized by the Nagas in Myanmar. And since then, the CNA has been actively engaging in affairs of Nagas in Myanmar, the press statement claimed. The CNA also said it was confused on the meeting of NH and ENPO with so-called NSCN-K emissary Kyaw Win Swe, a Burmese while expressing wonder on how a Burmese man became an emissary for the NSCN (K). Such nature of wrong approaches may jeopardize the dynamics of Naga movement for rights to self-determination, a concerned CNA pointed out.

‘Nagaland resource constraint due to change in funding pattern by Centre’ New DelhI, February 6 (NePs): Nagaland Minister for National Highways and Mechanical Engineering, Nuklutoshi has drawn the attention of Union Finance Minister on the “acute resource constraints” faced by State due to the “alteration of funding pattern to Nagaland since 1990.” Attending the Pre-Budget Meeting with Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister at Hotel Shangri-la, Ashoka Road on Saturday, Nuklutoshi, who was attending on behalf of the Chief Minister TR Zeliang, informed the Ministry that Nagaland was perhaps the only State which was created out of a “political agreement.” “The agreement pro-

vided special provisions with respect to governance and funding for the State,” Nuklutoshi reminded. He however said the change in the funding pattern to Nagaland since 1990 was not in accordance to the political agreement. Drawing further the attention of the Ministry, Nuklutoshi said Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and some States of the Northeastern region should be treated more special than the other Special Category States. The Nagaland Minister also said that without taking into consideration the Special Status of Nagaland, the 13th Finance Commission had recommended

Nuklutoshi (middle), Minister for National Highways with Kakheto Sema, Nagaland State Finance secretary (right) during the Pre-Budget Meeting with Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister, at Hotel Shangri-la, Ashoka Road, New Delhi on February 6.

normative funding to all the Interest Payment and penState restricting salary ex- sion. penditure to 35% of the total “If we are to go on the revenue expenditure, net of basis of the 13thFinance

Commission recommendations, we would have to terminate the services of about 45,000 government

employees, which is not possible,” he pointed out. Although the Government of India had created the special window of Special Central Assistance (untied) to cover the BCR Gap, the distribution of the fund was neither proportionate to the BCR Gap of the State nor sufficient, Nuklutoshi asserted. Because of this, he explained, the Nagaland State, at the close 13th Finance Commission period, ended up with a huge deficit of Rs 1542 crore. The Minister, however, disclosed that the 14th Finance Commission understood the problem faced by the State and “their recommendations are found to be

more realistic as compared with the previous Finance Commissions.” “However, the backlog deficit created during the 13th Finance Commission period is so huge that even the award of the 14th Finance Commission is not sufficient to cover the pending deficit of the State,” he informed the Ministry. He further requested the Government of India to give a one-time grant to waive the deficit to enable the state to focus on developmental activities. Nuklutoshi attended the Pre-Budget meeting with Kikheto Sema, Finance Secretary to Nagaland Government.


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