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wednesdAY • june 01 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 149 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend
PAGe 08
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
NBA: Warriors beat Thunder to book title showdown with Cavs
Short stay home for People Living with HIV inaugurated
16 dead in fire at India’s biggest arms depot
PAGE 02
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New breed of Naga officers strive to be different
Four young Naga officers in remote areas working to educate and motivate students Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | May 31
Wah, Where did that building come from, and where is our hut? Etu encroachers bhi fast toh fast ase de!
GoI assures funds to kick start Tuli Paper Mill
DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): The Government of India (GoI) has assured to sanction Rs 30 crore to the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC), out of which an amount of Rs 12 crore would be made available to the Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Limited (NPPC Ltd). The amount will clear outstanding dues amounting to around Rs 12 crore and machineries sent for repairs would be delivered at the earliest. Informing this, a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang had convened a meeting on Tuesday at his residential office to discuss various issues confronting the revival package of the Tuli Paper Mill. The Chief Minister pointed out that out of the Rs 100 crore released by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in 2013, Rs 60 crore was diverted by HPC Ltd, and asked the Ministry to find the underlying cause of the matter and ensure that mistakes and errors are rectified. He also reminded that the Tuli Area Joint Council Forum had submitted a Representation in connection with the revival of the Paper Mill. He instructed that works on the ground should commence without delay. The Chief Minister said the sentiments of the landowners in the area who have donated their land for the Paper Mill should be respected and they should not be given any reason to be disenchanted. The Chief Minister further insisted that the number of State Government officials in the present Board of Directors should be enhanced, and that the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district should be included in the Board. Presently, only the Secretary, Industries and Commerce is a Director in the Board of Directors. He also insisted that a fulltime Managing Director should be appointed for the Tuli Mill. The Joint Secretary and the CMD agreed to look positively into this matter and assured the Chief Minister that the revival works of the Paper Mill shall start as early as possible. It may be mentioned that an amount of Rs 552 crore was announced as revival package for the Paper Mill in 2007, but only Rs 54.62 was released. Furthermore, another revival package was announced in June 2013 amounting to Rs 679 crore, out of which Rs 100 crore was sanctioned, but Rs 60 crore was inexplicably diverted by the HPC Ltd.
— Thomas Jefferson
There is a new brand of young NCS (Nagaland Civil Service) officers posted in the interior areas of Nagaland, who are making a difference by voluntarily teaching school children and motivating young people in their spare time. While most of these remote places have little or no access to basic human rights like electricity coupled with poor network connectivity, many schools in these areas also lack subject teachers, which is where the role of young officers fit in. For 29 year old, Sentilong Ozukum, who is currently posted as EAC in Monyakshu, located 130 kilometers away from Mon, developing human resources is one of his major concerns. Education is one of the ways through which this can be developed, he stated. For the past three months, he has been voluntarily teaching Mathematics and Science in a church-run school called “Beijing School” before office hours. Prior to that, he has been helping students with their studies, while young people continue to gather at his house in the
evenings for a session of interaction, learning and motivation. During the summer break, he along with the teachers will also be providing extensive coaching classes to the students of GHS, Bumei, which is the only government high school under Monyakshu subdivision. Stressing that without grassroot development, there cannot be development in the true sense, the young officer asserted the need to focus on issues such as education, sanitation and healthcare. Sentilong Ozukum has, in the meantime, taken initiatives in these areas in collaboration with the Eluetheros Christian Society (ECS) with the view to help people get basic health care. Few sensitization programmes on sanitation and medical camps have been conducted in different villages under Tobu also with assistance from the CMO Mon. Interestingly, he has received calls from parents based in urban areas like Kohima and Mokokchung asking if they could send their children to his place of posting so they could spend a month learning about village life. A staunch believer of education for all round de-
A batch of students from Beijing School, Monyakshu writing their exams.
Nockpai Konyak
Yanithung Ngullie
Sentilong Ozukum
James Renbi Kikon
velopment, Sentilong Ozukum is hopeful that change will slowly take place. Yanithung Ngullie, who is serving as EAC, Mopong in Mon district has been instrumental in the performance of GHS Mopong that has set a record of 2 students passing the HSLC from the school in the current year. Past records suggest that
students barely get through HSLC while the literacy rate in the Mopong circle stands at only 30% according to 2011 census. Here, one student passing HSLC is a big thing, he stated while insisting that it was with the collaboration of the teachers that the school has performed better. He has been teaching
Social Studies and English in the government school before he attends office and hopes to make the GHS a model school. Shelling out from his own pocket, he has also procured notebooks and chairs for the needy students. Electricity being a big problem, the young officer further plans to procure solar lamps for
the school students. What he would call “supplementary teaching” has undeniably helped students perform better. “In other districts, we may not get so many opportunities but here, we have so many opportunities to work for the people”, he stated. James Renbi Kikon, EAC, Phokhungri is a re-
cipient of Governor’s commendation certificate on Republic Day 2016 for his humanitarian work in Phokhungri under Phek district. There was tension in the area when he initially joined and students were afraid to attend school. However, he helped them overcome the fear and taught in the GHS Phokhungri last year while also observing the shortage of subject teachers. Pointing to the lack of access to many modern facilities, he said his involvement with the school keeps him active in a way, even while asserting that, “I just feel that being with students and interacting with them is a part of my administrative duty.” Nockpai Konyak, EAC Satoi under Zunheboto district has been helping and motivating young students, who are preparing to appear for civil service examinations while terming it his duty to help school kids. He also pointed to the lack of subject teachers especially Mathematics, Science and Language in some government schools and said, “Considering the plight of the students, we are bound to help them.” Impressing upon that many NCS officers fill this gap as part-time teachers, he felt that it also serves as an encouragement for the students to work harder and also be more sincere and obedient.
ANSTA, NSSFOF begin indefinite cease work protest from today BCCI prez weaves big
DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) and the Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers’ Federation (NSSFOF) have decided to undertake an indefinite total cease work protest starting June 1. The cease work protest is part of the two organization’s 2nd phase agitation against the State Government’s failure to address the issue of total bifurcation of Elementary / Secondary from the Higher Secondary sections. A press note from the two organizations informed all concerned members to “strictly comply with the directive for effective implementation of the agitation.” Meanwhile, the ANSTA and the NSSFOF have reacted strongly to the Nagaland Education Minister’s response to the issue. They asked the Minister to explain how “bifurcation is against the interest of the students.” They stated that “tussle in the schools between the two sections” has impact upon the students as “there is no peaceful environment in the school.” The organisations further pointed out that the demand for bifurcation would
not affect the Composite School Policy, provided the village communities have accepted the policy. Refuting claims that their demand would entail wasteful expenditure, the ANSTA and NSSFOF informed that they have provided an expenditure free bifurcation notification model on the request of the Commissioner and Secretary. “As committed by us to wait for the Government in respect of separate infrastructure and appointment of ministerial staff for higher secondary establishments in the state, we will stand by our commitment,” they added. The organisations then stated that “milder approach as in the form of assignment distribution was demanded but not done properly.” Demands for rectification, they claimed were in vain, thereby accelerating the situation. They added that the organisations have studied the feasibility of bifurcation before making their demands. They however lamented that the Minister’s “parochial attitude on his part is the problem to concede to any demand as it is.” “We have no trust of any commitment
now and have no second option,” they said. The organisations then alleged that the Minister had given “different promises to different associations” attempting to allegedly “divide and rule the department...” The ANSTA and the NSSFOF said that the multiple problems in the department including the practice of randomly establishing schools are “the creation of the Government.”
The Nagaland Government Primary Teachers Association (NGPTA) and the All Nagaland Graduate Primary Teachers’ Association (ANGPTA) have appealed to its members to “abstain from the second phase of ANSTA/NSSFOF agitation.” A joint statement issued by NGPTA President, Heikieleung Zeliang; General Secretary, Kezhalesa Kin; ANGPTA Vice-President, James Ruokuoselhou and General Secretary, Hoshika H. Sumi asked members to refrain from agitating “for the sake of students who are undergoing assessment and compartmental exam on humanitarian ground.”
Thilixu village organizations submit memorandum to Dimapur DC Morung Express News Dimapur | May 31
Thilixu villagers during the silent protest rally against the May 28 incident at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on May 31.
the persons, namely – Kughaho D. Chophy, Tokiho D. Chophy and Khekiye D. Chophy “as deemed fit and proper as per the Sumi customary law,” adding, “In the event of any untoward incident that may occur, the undersigned organisations shall not be held responsible.” According to the memorandum, the May 28 incident was the fallout of an incident, which occurred on May 16, when a mob led allegedly by Kughaho and Khe-
The boost for Nagaland
• Indoor academy at SCS • A new BCCI funded stadium • Regional junior level tourneys Morung Express News Dimapur | May 31
NGPTA and ANGPTA ask BCCI president, Anurag Thakur on members to refrain from agitation Tuesday shared a dream of taking
48-hr ultimatum given to administration A conglomeration of organisations submitted a joint memorandum to the government today in connection to the alleged attack on a Gaonbura of Thilixu village on May 28. The memorandum, appended by the Thilixu village Head GB, Thilixu Village Council Chairman, President of Thilixu village unit of Sumi Totimi Hoho and the President of the village Youth Front, was handed to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur. It was preceded by a silent procession as a mark of protest against the alleged incident. According to the organisations, the memorandum has been submitted in the backdrop of police “inaction” and not treating with seriousness the FIR lodged against the incident. While outlining the turn of events leading upto the May 28 incident, the organisations in the memorandum stipulated a 48-hour ultimatum beginning today to the Administration to arrest three people alleged to have been responsible for the act. Failure to affect arrest within the stipulated time frame, the organisations asserted that it will be at liberty to put to trial
dreams for cricket in NE
kiye created disturbance during the inauguration of a daily market at Thilixu village Block III resorting to physical force and gunshots. An FIR was lodged in the aftermath but the police “wilfully” neglected its duty to apprehend the culprits which later resulted in the May 28 incident, the memorandum said. Subsequent to the May 28 incident, another FIR was lodged against Tokiho but according to the memorandum, the person was released.
the game of cricket in the North East Region to the next level. Two weeks since taking over charge of the cashrich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Thakur landed in Dimapur as part of a whirlwind tour of the northeast igniting hopes of transforming the standard of cricket in the region, which was no less than a pariah in Indian cricket. His itinerary includes a trip to Shillong and then to Guwahati. “In the next couple of years, we can create a new success story as far as cricket in the northeast is concerned,” declared Thakur. Taking his home state Himachal Pradesh as an exemplar, Thakur highlighted how, from “seven chairs, one iron cupboard and one typewriter,” cricket in hilly Himachal has transformed to now having 5-6 stadiums and its teams making remarkable stride in the national circuit in a little over a decade. According to him, the state of cricket in Himachal was no better a few years ago than it is here (northeast) now. From a hill state himself, Thakur expressed empathy with the problems faced by NE associates representing hill states. The significant changes expected to affect the sport in the region will include a new format of junior competition. According to Thakur, the BCCI will introduce junior level tournaments exclusively for affiliates (not full-fledged members) in the region. Giving a broad outline of how it will work, he said the affiliate teams would compete among themselves. Players at the tournaments will be picked by BCCI selectors to make regional teams. These teams will then compete in national level tournaments allowing the young players to get professional and regular playing experience. Further, making a Nagaland specific announcement, Thakur said a full-fledged “indoor academy” will be established at the Sovi-
BCCI president, Anurag Thakur
ma Cricket Stadium (SCS) within a year’s time. This was in response to Lok Sabha MP and Nagaland Cricket Association president, Neiphiu Rio appealing for a ‘centre of excellence’ for cricket in Dimapur in the form of a regional academy under BCCI sponsorship. On infrastructure, the BCCI president said that first priority should be to create a playing field, dressing rooms and academy. “I think you have taken the right steps,” he added referring to the facilities available at the SCS. The Board will also ensure that the stadium get ground equipments equivalent in quality provided to other stadiums in the country, he informed. In addition, Thakur also proposed a new stadium, fully funded by the BCCI. To this, the NCA was asked to find and provide land. According to Thakur, the BCCI want to make a stadium each in every state of northeast complete with indoor academy. On the pending funds for affiliates from the region, he asked for a comprehensive audit report after which funds will be released within 15 days. On the Lodha Committee recommendation, Thakur held that some of the suggestions are not even practical. Limiting advertisements will affect revenue generation, which ultimately will affect the development of the game and the players, he said. On the ‘one-vote for every state association’ recommendation and demand by state affiliates for full-fledged membership and voting rights, Thakur’s comment was ambiguous. “I’m sure the Supreme Court will look into what is implementable and what should not be considered.” He though said that he was looking forward to NCA becoming a full BCCI member.