C M Y K
C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
SunDAY • julY 31 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 209 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well Hillary Clinton’s campaign also hacked in attacks on Democrats PAGE 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
PAPO outraged over deprived power, water and SBI service
o F
T R u T H
— Voltaire
Yonex Sunrise 40th Inter-District Badminton C’ship concludes
PAGE 02
PAGE 12
Assam flood situation ‘really serious’ Union Home Minister Rajnath makes aerial survey, no special package announced
You know who stole your car? Well then don’t waste time..Go and steal it back!
Stand in transformer malfunctions Black out in a section of Duncan Basti since July 29
Morung Express News Dimapur | July 30
A section of Duncan Basti drawing power from the 250Kva distribution transformer near Carewell School is facing yet another extended case of blackout in a space of a week. Power supply to the neighbourhood went off on the evening of July 29 and was still to be restored till late on July 30. According to a Power department official, the transformer was malfunctioning and had to be disconnected from the supply grid. As a result, power supply to a good portion of Duncan Basti was disrupted. The transformer was installed about a week back as a stand in after the one preceding it conked out on July 21 and had to be sent for repairs. The official said that the department has asked for another replacement as a substitute for the stand in and if all goes well a spare will be available by Sunday evening. If not, resumption of supply will have to be delayed till Monday.
Ao organizations warn social media users against derogatory remarks DIMAPUR, JULY 30 (MExN): Ao organizations from Dimapur, Kohima, Chumukedima and Medziphema on Saturday warned social media users to desist from making comments or statements against the Ao community and its organization. A joint press statement from Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD), Kohima Aor Telongjem (KAT), Ao Senso Telongjem Chumukedima (ASTC) and Ao Union Medziphema (AUM) said it has come across some derogatory and demeaning remarks against the Ao Senden and its endorsed organizations including NTC, CNTC over its formation and functioning by some individuals in the social media, particularly facebook blogs. In this connection, the four organizations have warned that strong action would be initiated against any person indulging and making such comments or statements against the Ao community and its organizations. They also cautioned those involved against “misleading or creating room for confusion without knowing the basis and the ground reality.” In case of any doubts or misconception, those concerned can approach the respective organizations to clear the same and not resort to making “callous remarks” which may invite strong penalty, the joint press statement also added.
GUWAHATI, JULY 30 (IANS): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday made an aerial survey of the flood-hit Nagaon and Morigaon districts and Kaziranga national park area and assured the state government all possible help to deal with the situation even as he asked the state government to prepare an effective action plan. Singh was accompanied by DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior bureaucrats during his visit. The Home Minister also visited a relief camp near Jagiroad in Morigaon district and interacted with the inmates there. “I have visited some of the flood-hit areas of Morigaon, Nagaon and Kaziranga national park to review the situation. I felt that the situation is really serious. I have requested Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to help the flood-hit people in the best possible way and the Central government will extend all possible help to the state government to deal with the situation,” said Singh while interacting with reporters at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport before leaving for New Delhi. He said about 36 lakh people of the state have
floods spread, bring india to its knees
NEW DELHI, JULY 30 (AGENcIES): A day after major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR hogged the headlines for the waterlogging they faced, attention on Saturday also turned to other parts of the country that have been facing flood-like situations. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam all continue to suffer from floods, while heavy rain in Karnataka pushed parts of downstream Tamil Nadu closer to inundation.
Displaced people travel in a boat across a submerged area in Assam.
been affected by the current wave of floods in 28 districts of the state. “A total of 26 people have died due to floods within one week,” he said while appreciating the way the state government is dealing with the situation. Asked about any financial package for Assam to deal with the floods, the Home Minister said that there state government has an amount of Rs. 620 crore under the State Disaster Rescue Force (SDRF) and that more funds will be given to the state as per the requirement to deal with the flood problem. “Let this amount be utilised, the Centre will give more funds. Funds are not going to be a constraint for the state government,” he said. “The Chief Minister has already submitted a
memorandum to me and on my return to New Delhi, we are going to consider all the demands included in the memorandum,” he said adding that the Central government will give more funds to the state government after the Central team visits the state and assess the overall flood damage. Appreciating the role of agencies like the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Disaster Rescue Force (SDRF) and the Army, Singh said they have been working effectively with the concerned district administrations to help the marooned people and they have saved over 6,000 lives in the last few days. Singh expressed his happiness to see that all the peoples’ representatives in Assam
are there with the flood-hit people in their respective constituencies. On asked about declaring Assam’s flood as a national problem, he said by declaring flood as a national problem will not solve the matter. “We must find out what is the cause of the floods andhowtomitigatetheproblem. We have already asked the state government to prepare an action plan in this regard,” he said. Singh further stressed that the embankments of the rivers in the state should be strengthened and repaired as a shortterm measure to stop floods but added that the Central government has been contemplating some long-term measures to find a lasting solution to the flood problem in Assam.
More than 80 relief camps have been set up to accommodate the displaced people in the three districts. The flood waters have submerged 3,500 hectares of agricultural land in Namsai besides damaging roads and bridges and telecommunication infrastructure.
BIhAr More than 2.2 million people in Bihar have been affected by floods across the state’s 10 districts, with rivers overflowing their banks, officials said on Saturday. An official of the water resources department said nearly 1,800 villages in 49 blocks in 10 districts have been affected by floods. Unconfirmed reports said at least 28 people, including women and children, were killed due to flood.
ASSAM The floods in Assam have affected lakhs of residents of the state and displaced about 5,00,000 people, who have taken shelter at relief camps. Floods have also caused massive damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Rising waters have also sparked concerns over the wellbeing of endangered uTTAr PrADeSh The Uttar Pradesh government has one-horned rhinoceroses in the Kaziset up 41 relief camps to provide aid and ranga National Park. shelter to people who have been affected by flooding. Rain in the upper reaches of MeghAlAyA Three people - a young woman and rivers that run through the Terai region two minors, drowned and two others means water continues to be released were missing in the flood-hit areas of from barrages. The floods have meant western Meghalaya on Saturday, even as farmers face the possibility of a total loss thousands of people are living in make- of the kharif crop on thousands of acres shift shelters. A total number of 1,21,535 of land. people in 258 villages were affected after the swollen Brahmaputra and Jingiram TAMIl nADu Tamil Nadu on the other hand braced rivers submerged many villages under Phulbari, Rajabala, Singimari, Paham, for flooding. Alerts have been issued in Bhaitbari and Hallidayganj areas. The parts of northwestern Tamil Nadu after Jingiram, one of the major rivers in Garo dams and barrages in the region received Hills, caused havoc after a major em- heavy inflows. The inflows continue to bankment was breached. The backflow rise due to heavy rain in southern Karnaof water in the Brahmaputra in Assam taka, that has brought Bengaluru to a halt. aggravated the floods. KArnATAKA A number of low-lying areas conArunAchAl Union Minister of State for Home Ki- tinue to be flooded, with Kodichikkanaren Rijju on Saturday conducted an aeri- halli and Bilekahalli among the worstal survey of flood-hit areas of Arunachal hit. A number of lakes in the city have Pradesh where more than three lakh breached their banks, compounding the problem in surrounding areas. people have been affected.
Nagaland Social Welfare Dept. clarifies on NPRAAF allegations CPO urges BRO to repair NH connecting to Phek district
KOHIMA, JULY 30 (MExN): The Directorate of Social Welfare (DoSW) of the Government of Nagaland has stated that if any staff in the department is found “indulging in illegal practices,” then the DoSW will “initiate disciplinary action against the erring officials/ staff.” The Director of DoSW, T Merangtsungba Aier, stated this in a rejoinder to the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today in response to the latter’s “allegations” leveled against the DoSW on July 4 last. “No deductions in any form have been made at source by the Department. And if any staffs are found indulging in such illegal practices the Department will initiate disciplinary action against the erring officials/ staff,” said the Director.
He further asserted that under the RTI Act, every Department is mandated to disclose information. “The Department has so far been complying. If there are such instances/ cases where disclosures has been denied individuals/ group may take it up with competent authority with supportive proof,” he said. The DoSW also clarified that all registered NGOs seeking Grantin-Aid (GIA) are “verified” through the District Welfare Offices and “basing on their verification” the State Level Selection Committee for GIA “recommends their inclusion” for receiving the GIA. Some registered NGOs, the rejoinder noted, are maintaining multiple homes and “if the State Level Selection Committee finds
them befitting and deserving of GIA then only the Grant is provided to the NGOs under multiple Schemes.” For instance, the DoSW informed, Ebenezer is maintaining a children Home as well as an Old Age Home in Dimapur, and Caring Neighbour Ministry is maintaining an Old Age Home in Mokokchung and a Children Home in Dimapur. “For Implementation of any Central/ State Programmes 3% of the total project cost is permissible for Administrative Expenditure. Setting aside Rs.50,000/- for Office Expenses come up to only 1.1% of the total amount GIA released. Therefore, earmarking the amount for such expenses should not be issue,” stated the Director of DoSW. No GIA is withheld by the Department, he noted, and “pending pay-
ments if any is due to the NGO’s not coming forward to claim the GIA.” The DoSW further clarified that the amount of Rs.5,00,000/(rupees five lakh) available under State Plan during 2013-14 was “primarily earmarked for prevention and rehabilitation of drug abuse not confining to voluntary organizations alone.” “On the recommendation of the National Commission for protection of Child Rights, the State Level Selection Committee had duly endorsed the recommendation made to an individual whose case was deserving and befitting. The Department is of the view that withholding such relief to a deserving individual should be going against the moral ethics,” the DoSW maintained.
‘Dream, challenge, experience’ Morung Express News Mangkolemba | July 30
Policy Analyst & Development Consultant, Executive Secretary of SDFN, Amba Jamir today challenged the students to keep a dream, experience it and understand that their life is in their own hands. He was speaking at a massive career guidance seminar cum workshop organized by the Mangkolemba Town Students’ Union (MTSU) and Sub-Divisional Planning & Development Board (SDPDB), as part of the yearlong celebration of Mangkolemba ADC Headquarter 25th anniversary here today. Seventeen resource persons from different fields imparted their knowledge to the students. The policy analyst, Amba Jamir, who was one of the resource persons at the career guidance seminar cum workshop, pointed out to the students that in this world, one needs skills along with an academic degree. In this connection,
Resource persons (sitting front row) and student participants along with teachers during the introductory session of the one day career guidance seminar cum workshop at Mangkolemba Town Hall on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Mangkolemba town. (Morung Photo)
Amba asked the students to dream and imagine about what kind of life they envision in the future. He asked them not only to dream, but to challenge life and take it up with all earnestness. However, he strongly asserted that education is very important and therefore must be given great importance. He also asked the students to communicate with others, especially their elders, to gain knowledge and wisdom from them. Pointing out to the students that they are masters of their own destiny, Amba encouraged them to understand their core compe-
tence and follow their own all total participants were more than four hundred. heart for a successful life. The resource persons Mangkolemba ADc hq were from different fields to celebrate 25 years including administration, Mangkolemba ADC police, military, music, Headquarter covers three teaching, entrepreneurranges under Mokokc- ship, journalism, photoghung district– Jangpetkong, raphy, medical, veterinary, Tsurangkong and Japukong agriculture science, art etc. range – which has more Speaking on the sidethan forty villages. The lines of the seminar cum sub-division has nine high workshop, the Mangkolemschools (8 GHS and 1 pri- ba ADC, Imtiwapang Aier vate High School) and two told The Morung Express higher secondary schools that today’s programme (one private and the other was a part of the yearlong government). celebration of the 25th anThe participants in to- niversary of Mangkolemba day’s seminar were from ADC Hq. He disclosed that Class IX-XII, and the over- most of the students study-
ing in different schools under Mangkolemba subdivision, due to poor transport and communications, are not getting the opportunity or exposure to the outside world like students of other places. Therefore, the SPDB during its meeting decided to wholeheartedly support the initiative of the MTSU in organizing the mammoth career guidance seminar programme, the ADC disclosed. “We have some four hundred or so attending the seminar, but our dream and aspiration is that if at least ten of the students can go on to become successful people because of this programme; then we will be very happy and satisfied,” said Imtiwapang Aier. He also disclosed that the main programme will be held in the month of December, 2016, and before that the Planning Committee has also earmarked other events like a volleyball tournament, a marathon race etc before the grand culmination programme in December.
KOHIMA, JULY 30 (MExN): Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) has urged the Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to personally assess the pathetic condition of the road under NH-29 (earlier NH-150) that connects Phek district with Dimapur, capital Kohima, Jessami in Manipur state via Pfutsero Town. A press statement from CPO President, Kekhwengulo Lea and General Secretary, Mutsivoyi Kotso further appealed to the Director General to order immediate construction of the abandoned collapsed bridge near Chakhabama and incomplete construction of bridge near Mesulumi village. The release men-
tioned that the CPO along with MLA Neiba Kronu had been appealing to the BRO since 2008 for the repair cum up-gradation of NH-29 through press releases and personal correspondences but to no avail till date. Hence, the CPO expressed belief that through this press release the BRO will take immediate corrective measures to ease the problems faced by the daily commuters on NH-29. Meanwhile, CPO lauded the meeting between Neiba Kronu, Parliamentary Secretary, Planning & Coordination, Evaluation & Monitoring Cell and the Director General of BRO, Lt. Gen. Suresh Sharma in Kohima on July 18 regarding the poor condition of the road mentioned above.