June 23rd, 2016

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C M Y K

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

ThursDAY • june 23 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 171 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

You have to respect your audience. Without them, you’re essentially standing alone, singing to yourself North Korean missile reaches new heights, “intensifying” threat to Japan

Nagaland IPR launches Smartphone app ‘NagaNews’

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T R u T H

— K. D. Lang

Record-breaker Messi fires Argentina into Copa final

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PAGe 12

Home Guards in nagaland: A 24 hr job with meagre wages Morung Express News Kohima | June 22

Two young boys smile and laugh as they play with a makeshift cart on the road between Impur and Mokokchung. Photo by Manen Aier

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Lightning kills 57 in Bihar, 12 in UP

PATNA, JUNE 22 (PTI): At least 57 people including women and children were killed and dozens injured by lightning in different parts of Bihar in the last 24 hours, an official said this morning. An official of the state disaster management department confirmed that five people were killed by lightning in Rohtas district followed by four each in Patna, Aurangabad, Nalanda and Purnea. According to the official, three each were killed in Buxar, Saran, Kaimur, Saharsa and Katihar district. Two each were killed in Bhojpur, Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Monghyr and MadHe said his name was ‘Or hepura district and one each in West Champaran and Gaya district. Else.’ In Patna and Rohtas alone, 16 people were injured by the lightning. Over a dozen people were also injured in Kosi region of Saharsa. Five people including a minor student were killed when they were returning home on Tuesday evening in Rohtas, a district official said. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the vicCITIZEN UMBRELLA tims’ families. Lightning strikes during the Wholesalers may contact monsoon season which started from the CITIZEN UMBRELLA MANUFACTURER LTD. H.O.: 147, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata-7 second week of June to October is comPh. No. 033-2268-1396, 2271-2152 Fax : (033) 2271-2151 E-mail : citizenkolkata@gmail.com

CBI gets more time for Dimapur lynch probe GUWAHATI, JUNE 22 (TNN): A division bench of the Gauhati high court, comprising chief justice Ajit Singh and justice Suman Shyam, on Tuesday granted 6 months additional time to the CBI to submit its final report on the Dimapur lynching. The extension was granted after the CBI sought more time to complete its probe and prepare the final report. The original deadline for the report was June 9, 2016. On March 5, 2015, a mob had broken into Dimapur Central jail, dragged 35-yearold rape accused Syed Sarif Khan out, and beat him to death. The court had directed the CBI to take over at least four cases from Nagaland Police. “The investigation requires questioning and interrogation of many witnesses and accused persons, including several from remote areas,” the CBI said to justify its request for more time. “We need to get expert opinion on the electronic evidence collected during the investigation, which is a time-consuming process,” it added. Besides inspecting the crime scene, the CBI has examined more than 150 witnesses and questioned around 90 others in the four cases. Senior advocate Bhaskar Dev Konwar, counsel of one of the petitioners, said, “The progress of the CBI probe is satisfactory.”

mon in Bihar. The rains that started earlier this week were the first of this monsoon season. Meanwhile twelve people, including six minors, were killed after being struck by lightning in Ghazipur and Ballia districts of Uttar Pradesh, as rains and thundershowers lashed many places in the state. In Ballia, six persons, including five minors, were killed in lightning strikes in different parts of the city yesterday, police said today. A minor was among six persons killed, while four others were injured after being struck by lightning at various places of Ghazipur district yesterday, they said. Moderate to heavy rains and thundershowers occurred at many places in eastern Uttar Pradesh and at a few areas in the western parts of the state, the MeT department said. Lalganj, Raniganj, Chayal received 10 cm of rainfall each, followed by 8 cm rains each in Manjhanpur and Baberu, 7 cm each in Gyanpur and Rajghat, while Mirzapur, Varanasi, Safipur, Ballia and Mau received 6 cm of rainfall each, it said. Churk recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius in the state, the MeT department said, and predicted rains or thundershowers at a few places.

The Home Guards in India was established in 1946 to serve as an additional help to the police force. Although a voluntary organization, mostly intended as a part time work for citizens, being a Home Guard in Nagaland is a full time job. Considered as wage laborers, Home guards in Nagaland earn Rs. 150 per day for their full time duty. It may be noted that from July 1, 2015 the National Floor Level of Minimum Wage has been raised to Rs 160 per day. “Our duty is 24 hours duty. There is no promotion, no pay enhancement,” says Caleb (Name Changed) a Home Guard posted with the Traffic Police in Kohima, who wished to remain anonymous. He had joined as a Home Guard in 1995. With unemployment rising high in Nagaland State, many join the voluntary organisation sometimes with the hope of getting inducted into a regular job or perhaps having their wage enhanced. Another Home Guard, Remy (Name Changed) who was inducted in 1996 and posted with the Power Department in Kohima, while wishing to remain anonymous states: “Till today, there has not been any raise in our salaries. We cannot even take leave because our salaries will be deducted. The most disheartening part is that we can’t even take up other part time jobs even though we cannot survive on our Home Guard wage alone.” He further informs that even though the duty of the Home Guards is part time, they are being used by

to the government. However their attempts were reportedly suppressed by higher officials on the grounds that the voluntary organization is prohibited by law to form unions. Caleb further claims that two leaders of the union were laid off from their jobs after they formed a union to petition the welfare assistance of the Home Guards. The chance of Home Guards getting inducted into the police force is also very less, he says. It is only the few privileged, the ones who have ‘backgrounds’ that have higher chances of getting regular jobs. “Upai nai. We do not have the power to speak out. In this file photo, a couple of Nagaland Home Guards are We are just wage labourers. If the higher ups remove seen during a training drill. (Courtesy: NagalandHGCD) us, we have no other way to most units to the maximum. passed by the State Leg- earn,” he adds. Home Guards are assigned islature on May 12, 1988. in Traffic duty, as house They perform the duty of Roles of Home Guards guards in guesthouses, var- any other police personIn Nagaland, the Home ious government depart- nel in sunshine or rain, Guards assist in maintements, and banks wherever says Medozhalie Pienyü, nance of internal security, there is a shortage of police DIG Home Guards. The law and order duties bepersonnel. In Nagaland only difference, and a sig- sides providing protection there are more than 2100 nificant one at that, is their to the important instalHome Guards deployed in wage. The home guards are lations for both Central all 11 districts. Despite their paid Rs 150 rupees daily for and State establishments, tireless service, the Home their 24 hours duty. banks, VIP house guards, Guards do not have bene“Our pay is low but the and traffic duties especialfits, pensions or welfare as- respect is much lower,” la- ly in Dimapur, Kohima, sistance apart from their Rs ments Remy. Home Guards Mokokchung and Wokha. 150 per day wage. who have families face the The Home Guards also The Nagaland Home problem of earning for their assist the community in Guards Organization was family and providing edu- emergencies such as air established on March 1, cation to their children. raids, fire, floods, epidem1998 by an ordinance of Meanwhile, Caleb re- ics etc. At present there are 1987 under the Home de- veals: “We do not have any 240 cadres working in the partment. Civil Defense in pension. When we die, the State Disaster Response Nagaland, which preceded department will provide Force (SDRF) for the State the Home Guards, was re- us a coffin. That’s it. For the Disaster Management Auactivated, where both or- home guards working in thority in Nagaland. ganizations complement offices, unless the DirecAnd despite providing each other and co-existed tor releases the order, they these crucial services to under a common Head of cannot leave.” Parking duty the State, the Government Office with the Comman- is the longest, he adds. and the people, the Home dant General HGs as the A few years back, some Guards have so far been Director of Civil Defense. Home Guards attempted left in a limbo as far as their The Nagaland Home to form a union in order wages and benefits are Guards Acts of 1988 was to highlight their plights concerned.

Earning only Rs. 150 a day, a Home Guard personnel laments “Upai nai. We do not have the power to speak out. We are just wage labourers”

Golden opportunity for permanent No decision on separate passport, flag for Nagas: Rijiju solution to naga issue: nscn (r) Wangtin Naga says that, “It is only love and forgiveness which will bring us together and not by force and violence”

DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): The NSCN (R) today stated that a “golden opportunity” has arisen for both Government of India and the Naga people to come out with a “lasting and permanent” solution to the Naga political issue. A press note from the President of the NSCN (R), Wangtin Naga stated that previous agreements or accords “taught a good lesson that old formulas should be avoided and find out inclusive formula to ensure permanent solution.” It said that leaving aside even a single group will “inflame the entire future political scenario because of continuation of tug of war between the Indians and the Nagas.” “The entire political scenario drastically changed in the recent past. The Naga people blamed for floating of multiple Naga Political factions and the NSCN/GPRN –Reformation is not exceptional. Yet, its formation changed entire scenario from blood path to peaceful atmosphere because of visionary leaders who chose to provide peaceful environment to the Naga people,” it added. The NSCN (R) stated that the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India cannot guarantee a solution “unless it

is made inclusive and transparent…after all the issue is between the two entities.” “Unilateral abrogation of fourteen years old cease fire agreement by SS Khaplang is also another political contribution towards permanent solution because his walking away from cease fire with GoI is right decision he have taken because he too have similar political engagement with Union of Myanmar for Naga solution in Myanmar side. If we deeply analyze the situation, ultimately we believed it to be God’s programme for the Nagas,” it added. Meanwhile, it stated that the formation of ACAUT and its “counter attack on NPGs for taxation is another serpent that bites and poisons Naga National Movement.” “Yes, the collection of various taxes has become intolerable burden for the Nagas. In many cases, the selfish workers forcibly collecting multiple taxes for their selfish interest…” it conceded. However, it stated that “some case may be of genuine one.” “…one government and one tax is common desire and we all are for it. We all believe, although it could not be possible at this juncture, yet solution table will provide one government where we don’t require to pay any tax to any government anymore,” it stated. It expressed concern at the alleged “deployment” of volunteers in all districts and towns of Nagaland by ACAUT against “genuine taxes for the survival of Naga National Movement by collaborating with enemy...” It stated

that ACAUT branding “donation and few amount of taxes from Naga Businessman and Government Employees by different NPGs as ‘extortionist’ sounds too radical and more of anti-Naga.” Regarding the Framework Agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, the NSCN (R) stated that it had come out openly appreciating both GoI and NSCN (IM) for the agreement believing that, the NSCN (IM) would “open their hearts and welcome all other NPGs.” “The leaders of NSCNReformation only want NSCNIM to act like elder brother of all NPGs but they only want everybody to join them which is impracticable. The President and General Secretary of NSCN-Reformation met at least five times with NSCN-IM leaders which include two times sitting with Th. Muivah, General Secretary NSCN-IM but the profit of coming closer with them was arresting and torturing of NSCN-Reformation workers by NSCN-IM which only sown the seeds of bitterness,” it alleged. “It is only love and forgiveness which will bring us together and not by force and violence,” the NSCN (R) stated while asking the NSCN (IM) to act in a matured manner towards other Naga political groups. “The Naga issue is a sacred cause and no Naga should lose their hearts because the movement/struggle will continue till we achieve our goal and the NSCN-Reformation have committed for it,” it asserted.

NWE DELHI, JUNE 22 (PTI): Government today denied having agreed to a proposal of Naga insurgent outfit NSCN-IM of granting separate passport and flag for Nagas saying peace talks with the group was still continuing. “Government recognises the unique Naga history and is committed to it. Talks with NSCN-IM is going on. News of

granting separate passport and flag are not true,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters here. Rijiju’s comments came in the wake of reports which suggested that the government has agreed to NSCN-IM’s proposal for separate passport and flag for Nagas. With an aim of ending insurgency in Nagaland, government, had in August last year

signed an accord with NSCN-IM which Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a “historic” step to usher in peace in the state. The pact was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval by the outfit’s leader T Muivah and government’s interlocutor R N Ravi at the PM’s residence here.

For a greener and cleaner Kohima

Participants of the marathon held under the banner of KABA CARE in Kohima on June 22.

Our Correspondent Kohima | June 22

Several young people under the banner of KABA CARE today participated in a marathon race to spread awareness on cleanliness and on the importance of being environment friendly in the State capital Kohima. The marathon was a part of the Kohima Ao Baptist Church’s (KABA) initiative towards ‘Creating Awareness for Restoration of Environment’

(CARE) to raise consciousness and awareness towards a greener and cleaner Kohima. This marathon race, organized by the KABA youth ministry with the theme ‘Stride for a green cause,’ started from PHQ junction and culminated at High School junction. Over 60 youth from 7 fellowships under KABA joined the run early morning as a mark to stride for a cleaner and greener Kohima. KABA Youth Director Tiatoshi Longkumer told The

Morung Express that this marathon race was organized to generate awareness among the citizens of Kohima city to have greener and cleaner Kohima. He also stated that through this run, personal health can also be improved and at the same time contribute towards an environment friendly Kohima. It may be recalled that KABA CARE was launched last year to create mass awareness through public participation to restore the environment and to make Kohima cleaner, environmentally greener and healthier. KABA CARE has ever since engaged with eco-friendly activities, the latest of which is the ongoing pedestrian footbridge beatification project in Kohima. The KABA CARE which is administratively as well as logistically supported by Kohima Municipal Council aims to clean, renovate and beautify the four pedestrian footbridges on varied themes such as academics, nature, music, tradition and vegetation.


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