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wednesdAY • June 28 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 175• 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
In the case of news, we should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation Trump urges Modi to fix deficit, but stresses strong ties PAGE 08
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Ghokuto & Viheto villages are cut off due to landslide
NBA: Westbrook wins MVP award after historic season
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Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 In today’s present scenario the necessity for Nagaland State government to honestly implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is indispensable? Yes
no
others
Price of Petrol in Kohima for June 28 Rs. 62.22/litre Price of Diesel in Kohima for June 28 Rs. 52.17/litre Applicable from 6:00 a.m. on 28th June 2017
NLA informs on Prez election DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly today informed that with regard to the Presidential election scheduled for July 17, if any Member, due to unavoidable circumstances requires to cast his vote at New Delhi may obtain the Application Form from the Commissioner & Secretary, Nagaland Legislative Assembly and submit the same latest by July 3 for onward submission to the Election Commission of India. Option once availed will be final and no change will be allowed/entertained by the Commission thereafter, said a press note from the NLA Secretariat.
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Dimapur sees increase in road fatalities Dimapur | June 27
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
As per statistics, India accounts for 10 percent of the world’s road-related fatalities. While this statistical account dates to 2011-12 data, the latest figures point to a further increase in the numbers. Data compiled by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways state that India recorded 5.01 lakh road accidents in 2005, an increase from 4.89 lakh in 2014. The number of road fatalities increased to 1.46 lakh in 2015 from 1.39 lakh in 2014. It translates into around 400 people dying every day as a result of road accidents or roughly 1 death every 4 minutes. “This calls for an urgent, almost an emergency like situation, to address this epidemic – ‘road accident,” said Nagaland state Transport Commissioner, Elias T. Lotha delivering the keynote address at a road safety awareness programme in Dimapur by the Motor vehicles Department on June 27. An initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in association with the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings, the day’s programme was a continuation of the yearlong road safety campaign launched in December 2016 at Kohima. Stating that the rate of road accidents is also on the rise in Nagaland, Lotha termed road safety as an urgent issue “that cuts across every sector” requiring passion, dedication and a sustained collaborative effort stretching beyond the present. He said that while most accidents are traced to human error, “we the ci-
Dignitaries at the road safety awareness programme held in Dimapur on June 27.
vilians” do not bother to follow established traffic rules. On the other hand, he added that the community can directly or indirectly engage in road safety campaign by ensuring that roads are strictly built adhering to safety standard. Commissioner of Police, Limasunep Jamir, speaking on ‘Impact and Prevention’ said that road fatalities account for more deaths than the crimes that enter the police registry. Citing NCRB figures of road accidents, he said that along with the loss of lives also comes a significant impact on the economy. Road accidents are said to
account for a 3 percent loss to the GDP. In Dimapur’s case, he said that the city is witnessing increasing incidence of vehicular accidents. Of the 27 roadrelated cases registered in 2015, he revealed that 14 were fatal. It increased to 49 accidents and 25 fatalities in 2016. In 2017 (upto June), the city has already recorded 22 road accidents and 20 death already. “And this we are talking about those reported to the police,” he added. Rapid increase in population together with increase in the number of vehicles, length of road against the growth of vehicles, pressure from ‘sat-
ellite townships’, absence of footpath amenities, human error and importantly, a glaring lack of civic consciousness were attributed as some of the contributing factors. This however can be reversed with a constructive and coordinated approach, he added. While referring to the 4Es (Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency care) of road safety as recommended by the MoRTH, he added that strict legal enforcement and personal awareness can go a long way in preventing road fatalities. Stating that Traffic offences, including drunk driving should not be
taken lightly, he added that accident ‘blackspots’ or accident prone sections should be addressed with urgency. Limasenla Longkumer, Legal Aid Counsel & Trainer, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority called for an understanding of the fundamentals of road etiquette and the rules. While expounding the rules, Longkumer called upon the enforcement personnel for strict implementation irrespective of the status of the person on the wheel. Citing real life happenings, she pointed out the instances of vehicles with additional high beam lights taking the roads with impunity. Besides enforcing the rules she said that putting to good use the CCTVs installed at important intersections, which reportedly are not functional, more flyovers, street lights, sustained awareness campaigns, and drivers obeying the rules are some of the things that would aid road safety. Highlighting the salient features of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016, she said that the amendment includes higher penalty for drunk driving and also the ‘Good Samaritan guidelines, which seeks to encourage on spot accidents witnesses to aid victims. “We have learned to keep our house and compounds clean but beyond we have not,” observed SI Jaimr, Advisor, Urban Development, in his address as the chief guest. Stating it is high time “we take conscious decision and act” he called for change in civic mentality if the roads are to be improved and safety ensured. “As a leader I also feel uncomfortable” seeing the condition of roads, he admitted. He however also wondered as to “Where the money allotted for road development has gone?”
39 IAS officers under scanner for corruption india may ask Myanmar to
NEw DElhI, JUNE 27 (PTI): Around 39 IAS officers are alleged to be involved in corruption and irregularities. The matter is being looked in by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), reported PTI. The DOPT acts as a watchdog of the government and is a nodal authority for Indian Administrative Service officers. Apart from this, 29 other officers from the Central Secretariat Service will also be scrutinised. Enquiry against these 68 officers has begun on the complaint
received against them. Some among the 68 are cemented at a senior level. Reports suggest that the Narendra Modi-led government is conducting a review of its staff. This is being done by the Centre to improve the service delivery and governance system. As per the rules, the performance of government employees is reviewed twice during service. One is fifteen years after qualifying for the service and then after a period of 25 years. The central government, in the last one year, has asked 129 gov-
ernment employees to take retirement due to their poor performance. The 129 employees also include IAS and IPS officers. It has also undertaken an exercise to review the service records of about 67,000 employees to identify non-performers. Nearly 25,000 of these are from all India and Group A services — including the IAS, Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS). There are about 48.85 lakh central government employees, according to latest data.
Study expects 2 billion refugees due to change of climate by 2100
end ceasefire with NSCN (K)
NEw DElhI, JUNE 27 (ThE hINDU): India may ask Myanmar to revoke its ceasefire pact with the National Socialist CouncilofNagaland-Khaplang(NSCNK) when Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi visits Naypyidaw next month. The NSCN-K was banned by India in 2015 for various attacks against its security forces. During earlier bilateral meetings, India had handed over a list of over 20 insurgent camps operating in Myanmar, a few kilometres from the Indian border. The Myanmar Army has denied the existence of any insurgent camps on its territory. NSCN-K patriarch S.S. Khaplang, who passed away on June 6, had been on India’s most-wanted list. After his death, Khango Konyak, who was serving as the vice-chairman of the NSCN-K, was elected the new chief of the banned outfit, which operates from camps in Myanmar.
voke the agreement and hand over its leaders to India. Not only NSCN-K, other insurgent groups are also operating their camps from Myanmar,” a senior government official said. Mehrishi will visit Myanmar on July 6 for the national-level meeting. “The insurgent groups have formed a network on both sides of the border, to smuggle arms and form the backbone of anti-India activities. We need an assurance that the Myanmar government would destroy these camps. We will provide them with the precise location,” said the official. The official also said that leaders of various insurgent groups other than NSCN-K were operating from the bordering areas and were instrumental in ‘anti-India’ activities. “S.S. Khaplang was revered by a large section of Nagas in both Myanmar and India. His demise will definitely have an impact on the organisation (NSCN-K). But we have to understand that violence is bad for everyone and it won’t lead us to a fruitful future,” said Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home.
NEw YoRk, JUNE 27 (IANS): people on less land and sooner is expected to top 9 billion peoGlobal mean sea level rise may than we think,” said lead author ple by 2050 and climb to 11 bildislocate hundreds of millions Charles Geisler, Professor Emer- lion people by 2100, according to of people by 2100, making about itus of Development Sociology at a United Nations report. Feeding that population will one-fifth of the world’s population Cornell University in the US. “The future rise in global require more arable land even as -- two billion people -- climate mean sea level probably won’t swelling oceans consume fertile change refugees, says a study. Those who once lived on be gradual. Yet few policy mak- coastal zones and river deltas, coastlines will face displacement ers are taking stock of the signifi- driving people to seek new placand resettlement bottlenecks cant barriers to entry that coast- es to dwell. By 2060, about 1.4 billion Ceasefire agreement as they seek habitable places al climate refugees, like other “The NSCN-K has a ceaseinland, according to the study refugees, will encounter when people could be climate change loNDoN, JUNE 27 published in the journal Land they migrate to higher ground,” refugees, according to the paper. fire agreement with MyanGeisler said. Geisler extrapolated that num- mar. We would request the (IANS): Major firms across Use Policy. Earth’s escalating population ber to two billion by 2100. “We’re going to have more neighbouring country to reEurope have been hit by a massive cyber attack, a media report said. In Ukraine, government departments, the central bank, a staterun aircraft manufacturer, the airport in Kiev and the metro network have all been paralysed by the hack, the Telegraph reported. In NEw DElhI, JUNE 27 (IANS): Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Britain, the advertising The Supreme Court on Tuesday de- the bench that the June 30 deadline firm WPP said its systems clined to pass an interim order on mandating the possession of Aadhad been struck down petitions challenging several gov- haar number for availing benefits unwhile in the Netherlands a ernment notifications mandating der social welfare schemes had been major shipping firm conAadhaar for availing benefits under extended to September 30. firmed its computer terDeclining to pass any interim orvarious social welfare schemes. minals were malfunctionRefusing to pass an order, the va- der, the bench referred to the June ing. The virus is believed to cation bench of Justice A.M. Khan- 9 judgment when the top court had be ransomware -- a piece wilkar and Justice Navin Sinha said: upheld the newly inserted Section of malicious software that “No interim order can be passed ... on 139AA of Income Tax mandating linkshuts down a computer ing of the Aadhaar number with the mere apprehensions.” system and then demands Fixing July 7 as the next date of Permanent Account Number (PAN) an extortionate sum of hearing, the bench asked senior and for filing Income Tax Returns. money to fix the problem, The vacation bench said: “In view counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for the daily said. It comes after petitioners Shanta Sinha and Kalyani of the observations made in June 9 the WannaCry hack in May Women labourers collect coals extracted in and around longtho Valley under Mokokchung Sen Menon, to show if people were judgment ... no further observation which affected more than District. in nagaland, extraction of coal is rampantly carried out in many places, especially being deprived of the benefits under is required.” 150 countries and crippled Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur, Mon, longleng and Peren districts. it may be stated that social welfare scheme for not posThe court said on June 9: “First nagaland Coal Policy (1st amendment), 2015 and the nagaland Coal Mining Rules (1st parts of the Britain’s Na- the thing that is to be kept in mind is that amendment) were enforced by the Government of nagaland in order to effectively control sessing Aadhaar number. tional Health Service. better revenue as well as give more benefits to the landowners. (Morung Photo) The court said this as Additional the Aadhaar Act is enacted to enable
European firms hit by ‘massive’ cyber attack
T R u T H
— Voltaire
Morung Express news
Your dad always blows away his salary on booze... and so since there was nothing to eat i pressure cooked his hunting boots.
o F
In an interview to The Hindu on Sunday, Nagaland Home Minister Yanthungo Patton said that he would request the Centre to sign a ceasefire agreement with the NSCN-K and that they had contacted Khaplang in the “last part of 2015” to convince him to come for talks. The NSCN-K unilaterally abrogated ceasefire in March 2015. Panel constituted On June 12, at a meeting in Aizawl, Home Minister Rajnath Singh constituted a committee to examine various methods to curb the misuse of free movement along the Myanmar border, and said that “it was being misused by militants and trans-border criminals who occasionally entered India, committed crimes and escaped to their relatively safer hideouts.” India and Myanmar share an unfenced border of 1,643 km adjoining Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit a ‘free movement’ regime up to 16 km across the border.
SC refuses interim order against Centre’s notification on Aadhaar
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the government to identify individuals for delivery of benefits, subsidies and services under various welfare schemes. “This is so mentioned in Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act which states that proof of Aadhaar number is necessary for receipt of such subsidies, benefits and services.” The petitioners have challenged a series of 17 notifications making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits including mid-day meal, disability pensions as well as for victims of Bhopal gas tragedy. Shanta Sinha was the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and a Magsaysay award recipient and Kalyani Sen Menon is a feminist researcher.