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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 186
The Morung Express
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www.morungexpress.com
Sushma, Hague discuss plans to broaden IndoBritish economic engagement [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance Emma Watson named UN Women Goodwill Ambassador [ PAGE 11]
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –George Bernard Shaw
Keeping alive traditional values [ PAGE 2]
Shevardnadze: Fearless life, sad political ending [ PAGE 9]
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Rare 5-test series for England & India
[ PAGE 12]
india seeks to invigorate its wobbly railways Increased allocation for rail connectivity in North East region
NEW DELHI, JULY 8 (REUTERS): The bulk of India’s future railway projects will be financed through public-private partnerships, the country’s railways minister said on NEW DELHI, JULY 8 Tuesday, in a bid to mod(IANS): The Indian Railways ernise the vast but underwill spend Rs.5,116 crore on funded network. In his projects in the Northeast to maiden budget, Sadananincrease connectivity in the da Gowda said his ministry region. This is 54 percent jump would also seek cabinet apover allocations in the previproval for allowing foreign ous fiscal. Also, the railways direct investment in the would take up eco-tourism state-owned network, but and education tourism servicpassenger services would es in the northeastern States. be excluded. “The bulk of Presenting the railway our future projects will be... budget in the Lok Sabha That`s it. I am selling the TV. by the PPP model,” he told Tuesday, Railway Minister India’s parliament, referD.V. Sadananda Gowda said ring to public-private partthere are 23 projects undernerships. way in the northeast, of which The decision to push 11 are national projects. private investment signals He hoped the Dudhthe appetite Prime Minisnoi-Mendipathar new line, ter Narendra Modi’s new Lumding-Badarpur-Silchar government has for taking tough and unpopular deci- Indian children of railway workers play in water from a tap inside a railway yard in Ah- gauge conversion, Harmutisions he has said are need- madabad on July 8. India’s new rail minister Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday proposed Murkongselek and Baliparaforeign investment to modernize the country’s cash-strapped state railways. ed to revive the economy. allowing India has one of the world’s largest railways, which transports 23 million passengers a Bhalukpong sections will be However, no details of how day. Indian Railways is one of the world’s biggest employers with more than 1.3 million commissioned soon. it would lure investors were employees. The network lost 300 billion rupees ($5 billion) last year. (AP Photo) Related news on page 3 given. Investors had harboured expectations for percent of revenues on op- tails of how the wider goals “There is nothing in this modernization, preferring Modi’s government to use erating costs, leaving next would be met and how entire budget which tells instead to use the system to the railways budget - which to nothing for investment. Gowda would get foreign you how they will make it provide cheap transport for precedes the full budget by Gowda’s speech promised companies such as Bom- attractive for private sec- voters, and jobs for 1.3 miltwo days - to detail wide- to get the railways’ finances bardier and General Elec- tor,” said Manish R. Shar- lion people. That sensitivity spread reform. India’s state- in order, complete long-de- tric to invest. Stocks fell ma, executive director of was on display on Tuesday, owned railways are the layed projects, seek cabinet sharply following Gowda’s capital projects and infra- when supporters of India’s fourth-largest in the world. approval for a long-standing speech, with the Sensex structure at PwC India. main opposition party They have suffered from plan to allow foreign direct closing down 2 percent af“Given that in the past gathered outside Gowda’s years of low investment and investment and jumpstart ter the government dashed PPP has not taken off in residence to protest against populist policies that have ambitious plans for high- investors’ hopes for greater railways...it would be very a recent fare rise, and one kept fares low. But that has speed rail. The budget con- spending on the railways, important to see how protester removed the minturned a once-mighty sys- tained some minor mea- while bond yields rose. they come up with imple- ister’s nameplate from his tem into a slow, badly-con- sures, such as a greater use India’s use of a railway mentable mechanisms gate, local TV showed. Mogested network that crimps of “mechanized laundries” budget separate from the which the private sector di’s government pushed economic growth. to eliminate the washing by national one is a relic of will buy,” he said. Reform through a fare rise last The railways cost the hand still employed to clean British rule, when the net- of India’s railways has long month, but partially rolled government around 300 bil- much of the bedding on work was the country’s proven politically sensitive. it back later, under political SENAPATI, JULY 8 lion rupees ($5 billion) a year sleeper trains. major industrial asset and Successive governments pressure. (MExN): The United Naga in subsidies and spend 94 But it was short on de- a major revenue earner. have backed away from Related news on page 8 Council (UNC) has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi administration to leave no stones unturned to book those responsible for the death of Wilungbou Chawang of Oklong village, Se- AgARTALA, JULY 8 BJP-led NDA government napati District, whose dead (IANS): The BJP led NDA came to power with the help body was found in South government at the Centre is of rich men and millionaires. Delhi, Chirag Dilli area on contemplating revocation Due to the MGNREGA, these July 6. A press note from of the rural job guarantee rich men and millionaires the UNC stated that “mur- scheme MGNREGA to help are not getting workers at a der, violence, rape, humili- millionaires, Tripura Chief cheap rate. “Hence, the central govation and discrimination Minister Manik Sarkar alernment is contemplating leged Tuesday. The scheme upon our people staying under the Mahatma Gandhi withdrawing MGNREGA to in Delhi for study or em- National Rural Employment help them (millionaires).” ployment has been taking Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) “After increasing rail fares and place unabated in spite of mandates 100 days of employ- prices of petroleum products the assurances of the con- ment in a financial year to at and cooking gas, the central cerned authorities to pre- least one member of each ru- government is now considvent such occurrences.” ral household. ering revoking MGNREGA,” It urged that such crimes “If the BJP government said Sarkar, a politburo memmust be stopped and called withdraws MGNREGA, a ber of the Communist Party of upon the authorities to en- storm of protests would rock India-Marxist. The chief minister said the sure the security and safety the nation,” he said while of the people “irrespective addressing a public gather- BJP-led government assumed of their looks or their place ing organised in connection office with a slogan that “good of origin.” The UNC further with the July 15 election to days are ahead”, but prices of Sumi women perform at the Tuluni festival in Dimapur, Nagaland on Tuesday, July 8. extended its condolences to the three-tier gram-pan- essential commodities are in- Tuluni is am important festival of the Sumi community and is marked by celebrations and feasting as it occurs in the bountiful season of the year. Photo by Caisii Mao the family of the deceased. chayats in the state. “The creasing every day.
UNC demands justice
centre plans to revoke MGnreGA: tripura cM
RAIlWAy BUdGEt HIGHlIGHtS Receipts in 2014-15 estimated at Rs.164,374 crore, expenditure at Rs.149,176 crore Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore Receipts in 2013-14 were Rs.139,550 crore; expenditure was Rs.130,321 crore Spent 94 paise of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paise Twenty three railway projects underway in the northeast; Rs.5,116 crore allocated for this in 2014-15 - a jump of 54 percent from the previous fiscal First bullet train to run on Mumbai-Ahmedabd route Trains on select routes to be speeded up to 160-200 km per hour Ticketing to be further modernised to issue 7,200 tickets per minute Dedicated freight corridor projects to be closely monitored Rs.5 lakh crores required in 10 years for ongoing projects In the past 30 years, 676 projects worth Rs.157,883 crore sanctioned, of which 317 completed and 359 incomplete and would require Rs.182,000 crore Rs.40,000 crore needed for track renewal, elimination of unmanned railway crossings and for road-under and road-over bridges. To strengthen security, 17,000 RPF constables have been recruited; 4,000 women constables to also be recruited. Port connectivity taken up on priority in PPP mode Fifty eight new trains, among them five Jan Sadharan trains, five premium trains and six AC express trains to be introduced; run of 11 trains to be extended Special festival trains to continue Wi-Fi at select stations and on some trains Paperless railway offices in five years Innovation Incubation Centre to be set up Pre-cooked ready-to-eat meals to be introduced Food courts to be set up at major stations to provide regional flavour; pilot project on New Delhi-Amritsar and New Delhi-Jammu Tawi routes Forty percent increase in expenditure on cleanliness; CCTVs to monitor cleanliness at stations; cleaning activities at 50 major stations to be outsourced to professional agencies; separate housekeeping wing to be set up; onboard housekeeping services on 400 trains Railways backbone of supply chain of defence establishment Carry one billion tonnes of freight every year Decline in traffic growth in 2013-14 With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to Australia’s population Open mind to correct shortcomings
Misunderstanding can be discussed under proper platform: NSCN (IM) DIMAPUR, JULY 8 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today stated that it holds “Naga reconciliation with utmost importance and with all sincerity we will go by what we all have agreed under the banner of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).” A press note from the MIP, NSCN (IM) stated that “misunderstanding of any kind can always be discussed across the table under the proper platform.” It further reminded the GPRN/NSCN that the “killing of late Maj. Athong of Yimchunger, who ran away with three arms after killing the then Security Commander Lieut. Thouthutho from Pochury tribe in 1998, has nothing to do with tribe or group affiliation but basing on the serious crime and humiliation he had committed against the nation deserving such unwanted consequences.” However, it lamented that the press statements by the GPRN/NSCN on July 4 and 8 have “crossed the limit of tolerance...” and stated that “...such unrelated and unfounded allegation will hold no water.” Further, the NSCN (IM) stated that allegations “saying late Maj. Athong Yimchunger was killed by Major Phongam Tangkhul is fabricated because no such names exist in our government.” It also said that the “allegation of mass killing by NSCN is most outrageous.” “It is a fact that factional clashes had happened many a time but NSCN does not target civilians and tribes,” it added. Full text on page 4
‘Will stand by contractors’: NFHRCC Weak monsoon affecting farmers in nagaland Morung Express News Dimapur | July 8
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The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has asserted that it will stand by contractors – A. Neangba Konyak and Yashitsungba Aier in the backdrop of Roads & Bridges Minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu serving legal notices against the contractors. While assuring the support of the committee, the NFHRCC appealed the contractors to “stand strong and firm in the endeavour to safeguard justice.” The contractors on their part have asserted their intent to “stand by justice”, the NFHRCC
stated following a meeting of the committee on July 8 in Dimapur. The NFHRCC have asked the Dimapur district administration whether necessary action has been initiated against the person(s) responsible for “provoking volunteers” during the bandh on June 30. The NFHRCC informed the media that during the July 1 meeting with the district administration, the latter had assured the committee that action will be initiated on the person(s) responsible “after observing the necessary protocol.” “(In this regard) The committee would like to ascertain the status as to
what extent the district administration has initiated to book the persons responsible, including the R&B Minister,” the Committee said. The committee further reminded the district administration to reveal the identity of the person who was apprehended with arms and ammunition on June 30. “Till date, for reasons best known to the authorities in concern, the same has not been done; and in view of which the committee fervently appeal to the Superintendent of Police, Dimapur to kindly do the same so as to avoid confusion among the general public,” it added.
Chizokho Vero Kohima | July 8
Farmers in Nagaland state are in distress due to their inability to carry out paddy cultivation, as a result of scanty rainfall this year. Due to low levels of rain, large pockets of paddy fields have been left unattended by the farmers in many parts of the state, particularly in Kohima and Phek district where large scale paddy cultivation is practiced by many people. It may be recalled that Phek Farmer’s Club (PFC) had recently encouraged farmers to cultivate alternative crops. The PFC had also requested the Agri & allied departments to look
into the matter by conducting spot assessment of the affected areas. PFC president, Chiekhunieyi Vero and Chief Coordinator Thuputhiyi Venuh informed that around 80% of the paddy field left unattended by the farmers till date in Phek is due to the shortage of rainfall. Many have expressed apprehension that the state could face drought-like situation if there is no improvement in the monsoon. Reports have emerged over the past weeks that the specter of drought looms large over several parts of India this year. Predictions of poor monsoon have gained ground, raising fears of water shortage and
Paddy fields left unattended in Kohima district due to scanty rainfall.
apprehension that there would be a fall in the output of food crops. The Centre, on its part, has asked for coordination from the states in order to tackle the situation. According to various re-
ports, vast swathes of farm land covering several lakhs of hectares in states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka have not witnessed any sowing
this season as they brace for drought-like situation. According to the MET department, rains so far have been deficient by 43 percent in the country as a whole.
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