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tuesDAY • JAnuArY 19 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 17 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real Protests over Dalit student’s suicide, central minister booked
P o W e R
T R u T H
— Iris Murdoch
‘Mokokchung witnessed peace in border areas during 2015’
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Gayle equals Yuvraj’s T20 world record with 12-ball 50
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Lifting poverty in NE needs greater engagement • FICCI reports 34.28 percent of North East population below poverty line • Move beyond monetary parameters and recognize poverty as multidimensional
Morung Express News Dimapur | January 18
Any framework designed to help develop the economy of the North East and alleviate poverty should be designed in context of factors that characterize the region, says a recent paper published in the online journal ‘The Eurasia Review.’ The paper titled ‘Creating Opportunities: For Poverty Alleviation in Northeastern Region: Economic and Geopolitical Perspective’ by Lalita Joshi, an Assistant Director of All India Radio with research areas consisting of the ASEAN region and the North East demanded a greater engagement with the complexities of the NE to deal with poverty alleviation here. State agencies and corporate sectors, it advised, need to take a lead in designing a framework to start educational initiatives which do not target poverty in an abstract form. Further, it said that understanding poverty as “multidimensional” and “subjective,” is essential towards any effort to address it. It asked the before formulating policies, agencies should first move beyond monetary parameters and focus on other factors which are reinforced by poverty in the region. The paper listed out several factors which it attributed to the “complex situation” of the region. These include: a geographical disconnect from the mainland; presence of un-
CNC declares January 20 as ‘National Fasting & Prayer Day’
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DimaPur, JaNuary 18 (mexN): The Council of Nagalim Churches (CNC) has informed all national workers that January 20, 2016 has been declared as National Fasting and Prayer Day. Therefore, all the National workers, wherever they are, are requested to fast and pray from morning till evening 3:30 pm for the on-going peace talks, informed a press note from the General Secretary, CNC, Seksim Kasar. “Those who live in and around Dimapur district are requested to come up to Hebron for the said the program.The political dialogue with India has become a serious business as it enters into a crucial stage,” it stated. The CNC further asked all citizens who long for an honorable solution to willingly engage themselves in fasting and prayer on this day. “God’s intervention is what India and Nagas needed most now.” It expressed hope that “so as the Collective leadership’s declaration, all the national workers will obediently and respectfully suspend their personal and official businesses on this day (very important, however, it may be) and join in the fasting program. By doing so, God will be gracious to us (to you and me particularly).”
‘Richest 62 people own same wealth as 3.5 billion people’
LONDON, JaNuary 18 (ThOmsON reuTers FOuNDaTiON): The wealthiest 62 people now own as much as half the world’s population, some 3.5 billion people, as the super-rich have grown richer and the poor poorer, an international charity said on Monday. The wealth of the richest 62 people has risen by 44 percent since 2010, while the wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion fell 41 percent, Oxfam said in a report released ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Almost half the super-rich individuals are from the United States, 17 from Europe, and the rest from countries including China, Brazil, Mexico, Japan and Saudi Arabia. “World leaders’ concern about the escalating inequality crisis has so far not translated into concrete action - the world has become a much more unequal place and the trend is accelerating,” Oxfam International’s executive director, Winnie Byanima, said in a statement accompanying the report. “We cannot continue to allow hunHomeless people picking through a garbage dump in Dimapur. A paper published in ‘The Eurasia Review’ has called for dreds of millions of people to go hungry while resources that could be used to help greater engagement towards the alleviation of poverty in the North East region. (Morung File Photo) tapped natural resources; militant movements; and a literacy rate higher than the national average. According to a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), 34.28% of the population in the NE is below poverty line as compared to the national average of 26.1%. The report informed that states like Nagaland and Manipur have relatively high poverty rate with the percentage of poor out of total population as high as 31% and 47%. While the region has rich natural resources and accounts for 34% of the country’s water resources,
with almost 40% of India’s hydro power potential, the lack of an industrial base raises the need for a diversified industrialization to catch up not only with rest of India, but also with the South East Asian neighbours, the paper said. It referred to the agricultural sector as the first area of focus in the NE, with 70% of livelihoods supported by this sector. Despite fertile land, abundant water resources, evergreen dense forests, high and dependable rainfall, mega biodiversity and agriculture-friendly climate, the region has failed to convert its strengths optimally into
growth opportunities. The need of the hour, it advised, is to add more Agricultural Research institutes imparting technical training to the local farming population, especially the youth, and to increase the number of Krishi Vigyan Kendras imparting new and superior technical farming practices. In addition, the paper said that the issue of agricultural credit also needs focus. It lamented that the Kissan Credit Card, which enables farmers to avail concessional credit for investment and technical up gradation, at present covers only a low proportion of the
total population engaged in agriculture. “Increase in credit facility to more farmers in tandem with imparting knowhow of latest technologies is the road towards ending poverty in the region,” it posited. The paper further proposed that government regulated microfinance involving local communities needs to be combined with technical and marketing training which can enable the agricultural population to acquire a direct access to the market they cater to. It cited rubber production in Tripura and Bamboo in Mizoram as examples of the agricultural potential
Conduct study before opening coal mines: NPCB Our Correspondent Kohima | January 18
The Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), in a report, has cautioned people and agencies involved in coal mining in the state on its impact on the land. In a report titled ‘Study of coal mining areas in Nagaland and its impact on environment,’ the NPCB said that strip mining severely alters the landscape, which reduces the value of natural environment in the surrounding land. If mining is allowed, residents of human population must be resettled off the mine site, as economic activities, such as agriculture or hunting and gathering food and medicinal plants are interrupted, the NPCB said. Strip mining, it stated eliminates existing vegetation, destroys the genetic soil profile, displaces or
destroys wild life and habitat, alters current land uses, and to some extent permanently changes the general topography of the area mined. Adverse impacts on geological features of human interest may occur in the coal strip mine. Cautioning against indiscriminate mining in Nagaland, the NPCB said that paleontological, cultural, and other historic values may be endangered due to the disruptive activities of blasting, ripping, and excavating coal. Further stating that these activities increase the quantity of dust in the area, the NPCB said this has adverse impact on vegetative life, and constitute health and safety hazards for mine workers and nearby residents. Residents of local communities often find such impacts disturbing or unpleasant, it stated. In cases of mountain top removal, top soil is
removed from mountains or hills to expose thick coal seams underneath. The soil and rock removed is deposited in nearby valleys, hollows and depressions, resulting in blocked (and contaminated) waterways. The NPCB recommended that studies of the immediate environment should be carried out several years before a coal mine opens in order to define the existing conditions and to identify potential problems. The studies should look at the impact of mining on surface and ground water, soils, local land use, native vegetation and wild life populations. Computer simulations can be undertaken to model impacts on the local environment. The findings are then reviewed as part of the process leading to the award of a mining permit by the relevant government authorities, it stated.
in the region. Further organic farming, if combined with technical and marketing skills, can prove to be the best source for fighting poverty in the region, the paper observed. However, it cautioned that rather than targeting individuals as beneficiaries, initiatives should focus on a community level approach, due to strong kinship ties which give the region a unique social identity. Lamenting that states in the region have failed to address resource needs, it advised planned outlays in training and awareness for imparting correct skills-set to the community.
Magistrate Court summons TR Zeliang on February 23 DimPaur, JaNuary 18 (mexN): The Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Peren has issued summons to Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang with regard to a criminal complaint filed against him under Section 125 of the Representation of People’s Act 1951. The court fixed the date for appearance of the Nagaland CM in person on February 23, 2016 at 11:00am. The complaint was filed by one KK Kulimbe through counsels Mohinder Saini, Jitender Saini, Nitya Nambiar and M Wabang. The court, in its order dated January 18, 2016, stated that “I have persused the record and annexures thereto and on being satisfied issue summon to respondent TR Zeliang through registered post.”
Peaceful prelude to YAA Golden Jubilee celebration Morung Express News Shamartor | January 18
Amidst apprehensions regarding law and order, the prelude to the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako (YAA) kicked off peacefully Monday evening here at Shamator town public ground. Student delegates from various Yimchungrü inhabited areas congregated for the 3-day event, to discourse and share ideas on the jubilee theme “Honoring our past, charting our future.” “Initially, we expected and prepared for 5,000 delegates but because of deferment of the jubilee dates at least two times, many Yimchungrü students from other districts and outside the state found it inconvenient to attend the jubilee celebration”, said an office bearer
of YAA, the apex students’ body of the Yimchungrü tribe. However, the jubilee hall was filled to capacity on the introductory evening and the cold and evening did not deter the students to celebrate the jubilee in a grand manner despite initial hiccups. Deputy Commissioner Tuensang, Alem Jongshi, exhorted the students in the introductory session. Earlier, the YAA jubilee scheduled from January 7-10 had to be postponed as the state cabinet disallowed holding of the conference at that point of time. The second tentative jubilee date set for January 14-17 was also deferred as the Nagaland State Cabinet gave assent to holding of the jubilee only on January 15. Talking to the Morung Express outside the jubilee hall, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamator,
Wonchio Odyuo, said the administration and police are maintaining round the clock vigil to facilitate smooth conduct of the jubilee. “The situation is a bit tense but under control. We have posted police, IRB and NAP personnel at all strategic points to ensure that the jubilee is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere”, the ADC said. On Tuesday, Nagaland Minister for PHE, Tokheho Yepthomi, will grace the inaugural function of the YAA jubilee as chief guest and Director NEC Pvt. Ltd., S Bhattarcharyya as the chief guest of the evening programme. Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture and DBs & GBs, Kejong Chang and Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs, R Tohanba, will be the chief guests in the morning and afternoon sessions of the closing function.
Tohanba calls for peace and tranquility
Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs, R Tohanba, today called upon the Yimchungrü people to maintain peace and tranquility during the celebration of the YAA golden jubilee. Tohanba who also represents 58 Shamator-Chessore assembly seat, said jubilee is a time of celebration and togetherness and congratulated the YAA for reaching a milestone while striving to chart a better future. “On this momentous occasion, I appeal to the Yimchungrü people to celebrate the jubilee by keeping peace and goodwill in their heart and not to hurt each other’s sentiments. Violence and intimidations will not bring any solution”, Tohanba said. He also expressed gratitude to the state government for giving assent to conduct the YAA jubilee celebration.
them are sucked up by those at the top,” Byanima added. EXTREME POVERTY FALLING The number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen by 650 million since 1981, even though the global population grew by 2 billion in that time, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Much of this change has been because of the rise of China, which alone accounted for half a billion people moving out of extreme poverty. Most of the world’s poorest no longer live in the poorest countries, but in middle-income countries like India, the OECD said in a recent report. The inequalities are partly to do with differences in income, especially between urban and rural areas, but also differences in access to healthcare, education and jobs, the OECD said. “The figures suggest that the biggest causes of poverty are ... political, economic and social marginalisation of particular groups in countries that are otherwise doing quite well,” development economist Owen Barder is quoted as saying in the OECD report.
Regarding the industrial sector, it called for a relook of the Northeast Investment and Industrial Promotion Policy of 2007, which proposed tax exemptions, subsidies and interest subventions for new investments in the region. These benefits, it said, must be combined with more skill development schemes along with increasing and upgrading the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and introducing other new industrial skill development schemes. Industrial activity, particularly manufacturing accounts for just 6.84% of GSDP of NE States (2011-12) far lower than
the national average of 15.7%(2011-12)4. It pointed to the service sector, particularly ecotourism to unleash the economic potential of the region. The need, it stated is to introduce training programs aimed at empowering local communities to protect environment and imparting them with marketing skills to attract tourists. Stating that the NE today stands on a launch pad awaiting a push to “open the gates of prosperity,” the paper called for international partners to be involved in the region’s development, especially through the ASEAN.
Now harsh penalty on sale of tobacco to minors
DimaPur, JaNuary rupees.” The earlier law called 18 (mexN): With the Juvenile Justice (Care and Cigarette and Other ToProtection of Children) bacco Products Act 2003 Act, 2015 of the Ministry of miserably failed to protect Women and Child Devel- the sale to minors because opment coming into force the fine imposed was only on January 15, 2016, India Rs 200. With this act, India has has become the only nation to impose harsh penalty on become the only nation in the entire world to imsale of tobacco to minors. In a path breaking pose such a harsh penalty amendment to curb the for selling tobacco to migrowing menace of tobac- nors and selling by minors. co, the act has Section 77 of the new modified section 77 as folJuvenile Justice Act says lows: offender punishable with “It is an offence against rigorous imprisonment a child, if a up to 7 years and fine up person gives or causes to to 1 lakh rupees be given, to any child, any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance, except on the order of a duly Nearly 27.5 crore Indians qualified medical practi- use tobacco and a vast mationer. This shall be punish- jority of them start their able with rigorous impris- habit in their childhood. As per Global Adult Toonment for a term which may extend to seven years bacco Survey, the age of iniand shall also be liable to a tiation of tobacco habits in fine which may extend up India is 17 years. Up to 20% of children in India are users to one lakh rupees.” Furthermore section 78 of tobacco. More than 5500 says: “Whoever uses a child, children /adolescents start for vending, peddling, carry- tobacco consumption daily. The use of tobacco is a ing, supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, nar- prominent risk factor and cotic drug or psychotropic almost 40% of Non Comsubstance, shall be liable for municable Diseases (NCD) rigorous imprisonment for including cancers, cardioa term which may extend to vascular diseases and lung seven years and shall also be disorders are directly attribliable to a fine up to one lakh uted to tobacco use.