C M Y K
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 19 • 12 PAGes • 5
www.morungexpress.com
thursDAY • JAnuArY 21 • 2016
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough Militants storm Pakistan university, kill at least 20 PAGE 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
— Frank Crane
PAGE 02
PAGE 12
connectivity the hinder for ne development
Morung Express News Dimapur | January 20
Dr. Kamei Aphun wins ‘Asian Most Critical Contributor Award’
T R u T H
Kohima Press Club observes Djokovic, Williams storm 15th Foundation Day through in Melbourne
Indo-Japan workshop in Dimapur dissects key issues; to embark on sector specific studies to identify potential products which can craft the ‘Make in Northeast’ not just a phrase but an actual reality
Sir, will you please stop screaming and howling? Road’s bad, but we’re not going to die ok? Beside... we’re already inside your office compound now!!!
o F
Can the North East region ever rise from the vicious cycle of under development? Can the initiative ‘Make in Northeast’ be finally linked with the production network of South East Asia? These were key issues that various commentators deliberated on Wednesday at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on “India-Japan partnership towards meeting the challenge of infrastructure development in India’s Northeast” at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur. While various perspectives were put on the table, at the end, there was a common consensus that ‘Connectivity’ (or the lack of it) was the apparent root cause as well as the remedy for the dismal underdevelopment of the North East region.
to development in NE are both topographical as well socio-cultural realities. The reality, he opined, is the fact that, most of the populace in the region are primarily tribal society practicing agrarian economy manifested in form of shifting cultivation often associated with old and subsistence technology. Life style revolves around the shifting cultivation, Jamir maintained, inhibiting to some extent, the transition to industrial process. Strict land tenure system often protected under constitutional mechanism act as an obstacle to industrialization process, he further implied. “Unemployment problem is a myth,” he argued backing his assertion that enough land are available for cultivation as the density of population in the NE is very low at about 77 per Sq Km. Likewise, in his presentation, the former North East Council Member and Union Secretary of Tourism, MP Bezbaruah expressed concerns that while NE has
Former North East Council Member and Union Secretary of Tourism, MP Bezbaruah speaking at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on “India-Japan partnership towards meeting the challenge of infrastructure development in India’s Northeast” at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur on January 20. (Morung Photo)
huge comparative advantages the region possess in form of huge forest coverage, good socio-economic indicators , hydro power potential as well mineral reserves, the potentiality often remain unutilized. For instance, he informed that in 2015, India’s trade with South-East Asia was to the tune of $ 100 Billion, but the share from NE was miniscule at 0.01% adding that trade from the region to its neighbor is only a meager1-2%ofthetotalpotential.
bottlenecks, Bezbaruah batted for making ‘connecting corridor’ under Act East Policy to Eastern development corridor. Identify products with comparative advantages, produce items that reduces import and demanded in South Asia, he offered. Among others, he saw potential for Make in NE product in food processing, limestone based industries, horticulture and exotic cash crops, polymers, fishing, and high value export oriented plastic Strategy for Make as well as health care services. For sustaining Inin Northeast Attributing unutilized do-Japan Cooperation in potential to infrastructural NE, Bezbaruah suggested
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 20 (MExN): Dr. Kamei Aphun who is presently teaching Sociology at the prestigious Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi has won the ‘Asian Most Critical Contributor Award’, jointly awarded by Peking University (China), Nippon Foundation (Japan) and Asian Dialogue Society (Singapore). Son of late Achong Kamei and Amurei Kamei of Sangaiprou Rongmei Challenges to Colony, Dr. Aphun has rep- development resented India at many InFor former Nagaland ternational Conferences Chief Secretary, Alemtemacross the globe and has shi Jamir, the challenges been participating at the “Building a Better Asia: Young Leaders Dialogue” held at Japan, China, Thailand and India from 2008 to 2014. In recognition of his overall leadership and critical thinking, he was NEw DElhI, JANU- fund for startups,” Singh startups which will bring awarded with this prize. ARY 20 (PtI): In a first- said. The declaration of dynamism, new thinking of-its-kind initiative, the Sikkim as the first organic and create jobs,” the MinisCentre is planning to have state of India has opened ter said. Israel’s Ambassador to a venture fund to promote up new vistas for startup startups in Northeastern initiatives in organic farm- India Daniel Carmon said Urges law enforcing states of the country. Ad- ing in Northeast, he said. A startups can grow almost dressing a conference or- 3-day mega NE festival will anywhere, but in order to agencies to initiate ganised by industry lobby be held at Pragati Maidan really cultivate them an ecoprompt action and ASSOCHAM, Minister of here from February 12 to system has to be in place. arrest the culprits State for Development of 14. It will aim at showcas- “Israel applauds this initiaDIMAPUR, JANUARY NE (DoNER) Jitendra Singh ing the vast resource and tive and would be happy 20 (MExN): The Changki said India is on the verge of potential of the Northeast- to share its experience in Union Dimapur (CUD) on becoming a world power ern states, Singh said while developing suitable ecoWednesday condemned on the basis of the strength inaugurating ‘Start Up In- systems, comprehensive the threat meted out to of its youth and are thus the dia 2016’ organised by the mechanisms that will enits bonafide member by real torchbearers of ‘Startup Associated Chambers of courage unique and susCommerce and Industry of tainable economic growth armed miscreants on Jan- India’ mission. “The DoNER Ministry India (Assocham). “We be- in India,” Carmon was uary 18. The incident in question occurred at the is contemplating the feasi- lieve that India’s economic quoted as having said in the residence of Er Sungtiba bility of creating a venture future lies in encouraging conference. Amer at Padumpukhri around 7:30pm. In a condemnation note, CUD alleged that four unidentified fully masked person with fire arms (pistols) jumped KolKAtA, JANUARY 20 (IANS): No- dency would certainly want government’s over the fenced wall of Er bel laureate Amartya Sen on Wednesday help but (it should) not (be) dominant. “We have to cultivate the highest qualSungtiba Amer’s residence said that India needs tolerance “very badity of education, elitism in that sense. Dely” but also underscored the importance and assaulted the caretaktachment would not work,” he said. of skeptical tolerance. er of the house at gun point Calling for scepticism and reasoning in An aluumni of erstwhile Presidency while asking about the College which has now developed into the the activities, be it history or science, Sen whereabouts of the house Presidency University, Sen discussed the the author of “The Argumentative Indian” owner. On reply from the influence and contributions of early 19th - stressed on being relevant to society. caretaker that the owner century poet Henry Louis Vivian Derozio “Presidency has to ask constantly are had gone out, the armed in education and society. we relevant in India or in the world. What miscreants threatened and “The general idea was to accept any we can we do? We live in very difficult intimidated that the house kind of belief that comes from any side. times with violence, with battle against owner’s life would not be Tolerance is a very great virtue, and right hunger, undernourishment, illiteracy and lack of education and bad education at the spared and at the same now in India we need it very badly. “In addition, there is a need for skepti- school level being the dominating feature time warned they would be back, the CUD reported. In cal tolerance which was one of the things of the country,” he added. He also said that democracy was not this connection, CUD said Derozio had. He didn’t have enmity for it was taking the incident any group but questions for every group,” just majoritarian rule. “In India, when we say democracy may seriously and warned that he added. be under some threat, what are the issues? Sen was conferred the D.Litt. (honoris any attempt by any individ“First of all, democracy is not just a ual or group of creating fear causa) by the Presidency University here. Presidency University has its roots in majoritarian rule, it also involves minorpsychosis to Er Sungtiba the Hindu College, established in 1817. It ity rights, it involves liberty and liberty of Amer and his family memwas named Presidency College in 1855. expressions and so on.” bers will not be tolerated “Secondly, what is now called majorDerozio was assistant headmaster of Hinunder any circumstances. du College. ity is not in fact majority... It’s mostly pluThe union also appealed Calling Derozio’s legacy as an inheri- rality... You might get 30 or 39 percent and all right thinking citizens tance, Sen urged current batch of Presi- then you sweep the parliament because to condemn such dastardly dency students to address the major issues the Indian constitution makers were act. It has also requested confronting India. But he cautioned against aware of that, they discussed that in the the law enforcing agencies too much interference by the government. constituent assembly. to initiate prompt action “They didn’t talk so much that minor“When we live in a society where there and arrest the culprits at are major issues to be addressed, we have to ity could become a majority in parliament the earliest and deliver be- address that not as a government college but but they discussed the upper house havfitting punishment. remember our origin is a civil society. Presi- ing a status of its own,” he added.
people to people contact by harnessing strong cultural and historical links as well as establishing institutional linkages. Taking a different perspective, Alemtemshi Jamir said, “Some semblance of economy can come-up if only inter-state trade within the NE Region is enhanced.” “We need to restructure the thinking process and redefine ‘Act East as Act West Policy’,” he argued reasoning that development in Myanmar and others might take some time due to various geopolitical considerations. For him, the manifesta-
tion of Make in NE product need not necessarily be in tangible approach, but in forms of human capital including education, healthcare cares and hospitality and other services industry which the regions has strong endowment. Agrobased, bio-diversity and post-harvest infrastructure were some of his other suggestion. For this to succeed, Jamir passionately advocated for linear cities along the foothill in the region which he claimed won’t affect the present land structural system in the region and in which the Japanese could effectively intervene. The Joint Secretary of Ministry of Development for North East, SL Meena who also spoke on the occasion said the government is doing special focus on NE development to rectify its apparent isolation and geo-political questions.
The Road ahead
How attractive is the region as a potential market and as investment destination? What are the bottlenecks inhibiting development? How policies are formulated and decimated to the general population? If there is agro-based potential, where are the markets? These were some of
the questions raised at the roundtable session held after the presentation. In his concluding observation, Director of ICRIER, Rajat Kathuria said that while a landlocked problem can be solved by connectivity, there was a coordination failure in the NE policy implementation and called for better monitoring and accountability. Ram Muivah, the Secretary of NEC said infrastructure like roads and other utilities being public goods, it was the responsibility of the government to provide required amenities to the public in order to facilitate development of the region. “Honestly, who wants to visit or bring development if there are no roads to that particular region?” Muivah alluded stressing the importance of connectivity. The workshop, which was conducted by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations along with India Foundation, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and the Government of Nagaland, concluded with a task to embark on sector specific studies to identify the potential products which can craft the Make in Northeast not just a phrase belted out in policy corridor but an actual reality for the people of the region.
Govt planning ventures fund to Pope tells Davos elite: Consider promote startups in north east your own role in creating poverty
CUD condemn Jan18 incident
‘India needs tolerance very badly’
C M Y K
DAVoS, JANUARY 20 (REUtERS): Pope Francis told members of the world’s wealthy political and economic elite on Wednesday that they should not be deaf to the cry of the poor and must consider their own role in creating inequality. New technologies such as robotics must also not be allowed to replace humans with “soulless machines,” he said in a message to the World Economic Forum in Davos. “To all of you I appeal once more: ‘Do not forget the poor!’”, he said. The pope, who wrote a major encyclical on climate change and protection of the environment last year, also urged business leaders to see to it that the planet does not become “an
empty garden.” The annual Davos meeting brings together many of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people to consider issues such as economics, climate change and war, with an eye to working on solutions to them. It has been criticised by antiglobalisation activists and others, however, as a forum for organisations that have been responsible for the problems in the first place. They are boosted by reports such as one from charity Oxfam estimating that 1 percent of the world’s population owns 99 percent of the wealth. Francis, who has made the defence of the poor a hallmark of his papacy and has in the past called money “the dung of the
devil”, said businesses and wealthy societies must acknowledge their role in creating poverty. “Weeping for other people’s pain does not only mean sharing in their sufferings, but also and above all realising that our own actions are a cause of injustice and inequality,” he said in the text of a message read for him by a top Vatican cardinal. “Once we realise this, we become more fully human, since responsibility for our brothers and sisters is an essential part of our common humanity. Do not be afraid to open your minds and hearts to the poor. In this way, you will give free rein to your economic and technical talents, and discover the happiness of a full life, which
consumerism of itself cannot provide,” he said. Francis, the first pope from the global south, has in the past excoriated unbridled capitalism, calling for the redistribution of wealth and for economic policies that put people above profits, positions that have prompted criticism from economic leaders. “We must never allow the culture of prosperity to deaden us, to make us incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and sensing the need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own,” he said in the message read by Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, the Vatican’s justice minister.
‘Unemployment problem, a ticking time bomb’ Morung Express News Dimapur | January 20
Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome IAS has said that the rising number of educated unemployed youth in Nagaland was extremely alarming and added that the issue was a ticking time bomb. Speaking at the one day programme on Pradhan Mantri Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) at Pinnacle Skills, Dimapur on Wednesday, Yhome stressed on the urgent need to address the issue in right time although he added that the time to attend to the problem was overdue. “The alarming number of 70, 000 registered educated unemployed youth is extremely disturbing not forgetting those who have not been registered yet,” Yhome said. With the advancement of technology, many people have been thrown out of employment since it is now about people who have skills to works, he added. He pointed out the irony of education system stating that illiterate or
DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome IAS addressing students in Dimapur on Wednesday. (Morung Photo)
uneducated people somehow find avenues to earn livelihood while educated people find it difficult to do so. “This is the tragedy of our education system,” Yhome asserted.
However, Yhome also gave due credit to the education system of the past which his contemporaries have all evolved. “But what was relevant in the past is not relevant today,” he added. He urged upon the people to understand this matter and reorient their entire horizon to a new direction reiterating that the 21st century does not have space for unskilled people. He expressed the hope that the central flagship programme of PMKVY would take the youths for a giant leap and begin a new chapter towards a positive direction. Dr. Sapna, in charge of Northeast, National Skills Development Corporation talked about availability of potentials for self employment in the northeast region. She said that the region has been isolated for sometime but that it was high time to give importance to northeast. More than hundred students were registered to attend the PMKVY programme.