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tuesDAY • MArch 08 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 65 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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T R u T H
The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar — Confucius Nancy remembered for her forceful, private style PAGe 09
Mkg DPDB visits State Agri Research Station
India is top-ranked team in ICC World T20
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23.25 crore sanctioned for special unit for NER Morung Express News Dimapur | March 7
Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned an amount of Rs 23. 25 crore from Nirbhaya fund for the much awaited Delhi Police Special Unit for North East Region (SPUNER) at Nanakpura, New Delhi. According to Robin Hibu, Joint Commissioner of Police Delhi, the GoI has already allotted 1.21 hectares of prime land at New Delhi in the month of November 2015 for the ambitious project which was proposed by Delhi Police. Hibu said SPUNER will not only be a police station but will also have provisions for auditorium, counseling halls, mediation rooms, legal aid centre, research and library, self-defense training hall, anti eve teasing flying squad by karate trained Delhi police women commandos, information and social media centre, crèche for children, outdoor training lawn, latest self-help IT based cafeteria, underground parking, PCR standee, CCTV/CCTNS centre, office of North East Nodal Officer etc.
Govt notifies on working day KohIMA, MArch 7 (dIPr): In view of the ensuing Legislative Assembly session and financial year ending activities, it is brought to the notice of all Government employees located in Kohima that March 12 and 26 shall be working days. All Administrative heads and Heads of Department are directed to ensure attendance of their respective officers and staff as per the notification issued on February 29, 2016.
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PAGE 12
India: Women among most excluded groups
• March 8 is International Women’s Day • Almost 43 percent of women confined to domestic work MUMBAI, MArch 7 (ThoMson reUTers Protecting women’s dignity a FoUndATIon): Women are among the most excollective responsibility: Prez cluded groups in India, with almost 43 percent of working-age women confined to domestic work, while many who do work outside the home face exploitation and low pay, according to the India Exclusion Report. Despite rising levels of literacy, the proportion of working-age women in India’s formal labour force is only about 27 percent, compared with almost 60 percent in Britain and the United States, World Bank data shows. Domestic work is not considered as productive and is neglected in policy, leaving the women at a severe disadvantage, said the report by the Centre for Equity Studies in New Delhi. Besides cooking, cleaning and caring for children and elderly family members, Indian women also perform unpaid work in family businesses and lowpaid labour in factories and enterprises in the so-called informal sector, where they are discriminated against and paid less than men. “Social status and poverty intersect to make women from historically
A woman carries empty containers to fetch water from a municipal water tap in New Delhi, February 21, 2016. (REUTERS)
marginalised groups especially vulnerable to exploitative labour arrangements, forcing them to provide cheap labour,” wrote the authors led by social worker Harsh Mander. “With women in conditions akin to bondage, factors such as confinement of workers engaged in this work in homes or hostels and the mediation of the
employment relationship through the male head of the household -- for instance, in brick kilns and quarries - further serve to render women invisible.” Women in India do almost 10 times as much unpaid work as men - a much higher ratio than the global average - leaving them out of the formal workforce and unable to contribute to
the economy, consultancy firm McKinsey said in a report last year. If that work were to be valued and compensated in the same way as paid work, it would contribute $300 billion a year to India’s economic output, it said. Indian women are also denied equal access to services including education, health care, housing and
public transport. Single women and socalled Devadasis, girls who are forced into sex work from the time they reach puberty, are among the most vulnerable, the 2015 Exclusion Report said. Sex workers and women in hazardous occupations such as construction and mining are routinely discriminated against.
new delhI, MArch 7 (IAns): Women’s right to equal opportunities and a dignified life must be respected, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday on the eve of International Women’s Day. “On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I extend warm greetings and good wishes to the women of India and thank them for their contributions over the years in the building of our nation,” the president said in a statement. “Women have always been given the highest level of respect in our country. Their protection and safety is a sacred duty of society as a whole. We must respect the right of women to equal opportunities and a dignified life,” he added. Mukherjee said it was a collective responsibility of all the Indians to “create an ecosystem that ensures the safety, security and dignity of women in society.” “On International Women’s Day, let us redouble our efforts for achieving gender equity and empowerment of women. Let us strive to enable our women realize their full potential and participate meaningfully in all aspects of our country’s development,” the president said.
Lower-caste Dalit women who are forced to clean up excrement from dry toilets and open drains, face threats of violence, eviction and withholding of wages if they try to give up the practice. Recent campaigns including #SelfiewithDaughter and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti padhao, beti bachao’ (educate your
One held with 23,120 spasmo proxyvon capsules Revoke ‘arbitrary’ appointment of Mission Director- NHM or face agitation: NIDA says Morung Express News Dimapur | March 7
One man from Imphal was arrested and charged with possession of restricted pharmaceutical drugs at the Khuzama inter-state Excise (Narcotic Cell) checkpost. The man, identified as Md. Mujibur (29 years), was found smuggling 23,120 capsules of spasmo proxyvon (SP). The man was travelling in an Imphalbound taxi when the vehicle was stopped for routine checking at Khuzama checkpost. According to the Excise Narcotic Cell, frisking of the taxi revealed a cache of neatly packaged SP capsules, which was being smuggled by the man. A mason by profession, the Narcotic Cell stated that the accused revealed during interrogation that he was en route Imphal from Kolkata via Dimapur. He had procured the drug at Kolkata for Rs. 50,000 to be disposed off in Imphal for Rs. 80,000. As per his statement, it was his second try at drug trafficking following a successful first attempt using the same route. Mujibur, hailing from Khomidok Mamang Leikai, Imphal West was charged and
The accused along with the seized consignment of spasmo proxyvon under the custody of the Excise (Narcotic Cell) in Dimapur on March 7.
booked under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. Kolkata has become an accessible source-point for prescription pills where drugs like spasmo proxyvon and nitrazepam – the former a pain-reliever and the latter a sleep-inducing drug – are reported to be easily available. Law enforcement agencies in Nagaland have over the years intercepted several relatively small consignments of such drugs en route with Kolkata as the source-point.
KohIMA, MArch 7 (Mexn): Nagaland In Service Doctors Association (NIDA) on Monday demanded that the appointment of Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) under the Department of Health & Family Welfare be revoked within ten days with effect from March 3 or face phase-wise agitation. In a press statement, NIDA president Dr Kedozeto Punyu and general secretary Dr Vezokholu reiterated their earlier stand on the appointment criteria of Mission Director which it asserted should be held by the medical fraternity and in the line of senior-most and not otherwise.
Even if he or she declines to hold the post, it should be given to the next senior most in line, it said. Alleging that the recent appointment of the new Mission Director was made ‘arbitrarily’ in spite of the repeated request by the Association, it said the policy of pick and choose can lead to demoralization, insincerity, indiscipline leading to collapse of health care system in the state. The association asserted that it upholds the seniority criteria in appointment to avoid misunderstandings/ mistrust among its members so as to create conducive working atmosphere and fraternity relationships in
Morung Express News Dimapur | March 7
After a prolonged legal hassle interspersed with two viva-voce and a re-evaluations, Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) has finally declared result of the 2014 NCS, NPS, NSS & Allied Services Exam. The NPSC had issued an advertisement various categories of posts on May 5, 2014. A notification from the NPSC informed that 70 candidates were selected for various post under the Government of Nagaland on the basis of marks obtained in the Main Written Examination, Viva-voce & Medical & Police Fitness Examinations and options exercised by the candidates. It includes 20 Extra Assistant Commissioner, 3 Deputy Superintendent of Police and 40 Secretariat Assistant. While the declaration of the final result may have bought jubilation as well as disappointment for many, it bought about a closure to many of its aspirants who has undergone a whirlwind journey. In an extreme case that has elicited both consternation and shock among the examinees and aspirants of the NPSC, it was found that majority of the questions for the General Studies (Paper I) for NPSC (Mains)
Exam held on September 9, 2014 were ‘copy-pasted’ straight from a particular book. The Morung Express had reported that in the Current Affairs section of the question paper, all 50 questions were lifted from the model questions for current affairs (page 99-103) of the book from Tata Mc Graw Hills’ ‘General Studies Manual for Civil Services Preliminary Paper I’ and nearly 130 questions out of 200 questions were taken from the book. Consequently, following widespread complaints, the Commission in a notification dated September 12, 2014 announced that 119 will not be evaluated but later issued a corrigendum, whereby 119 marks were allotted to all candidates who did not even attempt the questions. Following the same, some aggrieved petitioners citing “unjust and unfair” practice appealed the High Court, Kohima Bench by filing a writ petition challenging the action of the NPSC and the court by an order dated October 13, 2014 directed the NPSC not to declare the result. A single judge bench initially passed an interim order not to declare the result, which was vacated after the NPSC filed an application. The candidates then filed a writ appeal in the principal bench of the high court in Guwahati.
In the course of the hearing, the NPSC declared the main result on December 2014 and conducted Viva-voce for 214 candidates from January 6-27, 2015. But the result was not declared in compliance with court’s stay order issued on December 20, 2014. Finally, after a lengthy legal tussle, the Guwahati High Court in an order passed September 9, 2015 directed the commission to re-evaluate the answers of the 119 questions and give the examinees marks according to their performance. Following the court’s order, NPSC re-evaluated the 2014 general studies (GS) paper-1 and declared the same in January 2016 replacing previous results of December 2014. Consequently, the Viva-voce held in January 2015 on the basis of first declaration was also annulled and another viva-voce commenced from February 16, 2016. The selection of 70 candidates declared today was on the basis of the same. The annual NPSC exam, despite everything, has become the most sought after examination. It has even spawned its own cottage industry in the form of burgeoning coaching centres in Nagaland. It is the annual fixation of every parents, graduates and students. Results on page 3
the department. Informing of the March 2 general body meeting, NIDA warned that if the appointment of the Mission Director was not revoked within the given timeframe, it will resort to phase-wise agitation starting with a mass casual leave on March 15, followed by total cease work of all administrative and managerialworksincludingcentrallysponsored schemes with effect from March 16 onwards-both at state and district level. This will then be followed by total closure of all hospitals and health units, CMO office, MS office till the department revokes the appointment order, the association added.
OTS @ 25: Sowing, Nurturing and Flourishing
NPSC declare 2014 exam result, 70 selected
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daughter, save your daughter) have helped increase awareness of women’s rights. But India must get more girls into secondary and university education, expand skills training and provide greater access to financial services, while also dispelling deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes, the McKinsey report had said.
Bade Youth Folk choir performing at the Musical Concert held on March 6 at OTS as part of its 25th anniversary celebration. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News Dimapur | March 7
Music makes for the soul of a community; sport gives it the energy to drive forward. In its consistent efforts to empower communities thus, the Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS) is celebrating their 25th anniversary with the neighbourhood of the Urra area here this year. With the theme ‘Sowing, Nurturing and Flourishing,’ the OTS ‘trinity’ lies at the heart of the celebrations— education, sports and music. “We want to encourage and empower young people through the year long celebrations,” explained Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Principal of OTS and the driving force behind the ‘trinity.’ Dr. Wati, alongside his wife Alongla P Aier, set up OTS in May 1991—it is a Seminary of higher theological learning established (owned and sponsored) by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. With the theme ‘Life through Sports and Music,’ the OTS kicked off its 25th-year celebrations last week with football and volleyball tourna-
ments, ending with a music concert. The Youth Fiesta, held from March 4-6, was an effort to build better relationships with the neighbourhood, exercise evangelism through sports and music, infuse discipline in the youth and encourage them to pursue music and sports as a means for dignified livelihood. “Celebrations begin at home, and our eight neighbouring villages have been with us throughout our journey of 25 years,” said Avi Vadeo, a lecturer at OTS who, along with other teachers and students, is organising the events. “This is also the celebration of our friendship.” The football and volleyball matches saw the full-hearted timely participation of the youth from the area, after which the grounds were promptly cleared of the garbage. The participating teams of Kiyeto, Bade, OTS, Urra, Murise, Tsitrongse, Diezephe and Selouphe encouraged each other throughout, lines of who won or lost fading away. At the music concert on the evening of March 6, every choir, band
and individual musician was cheered with equal enthusiasm by a gleeful, yet disciplined, audience. Performances were put up by Bito Lohe, Transformers, Zian, Diezephe youth, Bade folk choir, A Kezo, Ave Cho-o, OTS choir, Aoyimti Baptist Church band and Gloria Patri, among others. The environment of the celebrations and prayers was clearly based on ideals practiced on a daily basis. The year, however, remains at large and so does the excitement. The venture will be expanded to an intellectual/academic, as well as secular, level entailing workshops on art/music/literature/media with the young generation. This will entail the second part of the Youth Fiesta, scheduled from September 10-17 this year. “We are a community oriented society, so we want to bring young people from varied walks of life to interact with each other. It is only then that we will be able to understand each other and develop a vision of their future, our future,” highlighted Vadeo. OTS’ goals to knit the community together through sports and music as a means of “distressing, fitness and learning outside the classroom” has been extended to the whole year of 2016 as a result of “imagining” celebrations beyond one-day mega events. Scheduled in October, November and December are the formal culmination functions to the 25 enriching years for students and faculty alike. As we make the journey with the OTS family, it becomes important to remember the focus of the Seminary on the development of a student’s mind, body and soul—education, sports and music inculcating the message of change.
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tuesDAY 08•03•2016
NAGALAND MEx File
Meeting of Select Committee today kohIMa, March 7 (DIPr): The meeting of the Select Committee on the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015 has been fixed on March 8, 2016 at 11:00 A.M in the Committee Room of the Assembly Secretariat for adoption of the Committee's Report. All the concerned Committee Members have been requested to attend the meeting.
ANTA Dimapur unit informs DIMaPur, March 7 (Mexn): All Nagaland Taxi Association Dimapur unit has directed to all the ANTA Dimapur unit registered members to avail yearly registration on or before April 30 without fail, failing which the ANTA Dimapur unit will take action against the defaulter.
B Khel sub-committee meeting DIMaPur, March 7 (Mexn): The ‘B’ Khel subcommittee set up by the Khel authority has verify various documents in favour of the land and area allotted to various individuals and the committee is about to submit their final report to the Khel authority. Therefore, a meeting is hereby convened on March 19 at 11:00 Am at TL Angami Park. The Sub Committee Convenor Theja Angami in a press release has requested all concerned members to attend the said meeting positively. It also direct all those who have submitted Xerox copy of Patta in favour of their allotted land to bring forth their original Patta before the khel chairman TL Angami for authenticity immediately. Further, failing to produce their valid documents in favour of their land in the given stipulate time shall stand cancelled.
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Mkg DPDB visits State Agri Research Station
Mokokchung, March 7 (DIPr): Mokokchung District Planning & Development Board meeting cum picnic was held at State Agricultural Research Station (SARS), Yisemyong on March 7. The meeting saw a record attendance of the members from all over the district including officers from central government posted in the district Headquarter. Deputy Commissioner & Vice Chairman of the DPDB, Sushil Kumar Patel who presided over meeting welcomed all the members and informed them that the intention of the DPDB meet being held at SARS is to enable all the members to see themselves agricultural research activities at Yisemyong, to reactivate the Officers Club Mokokchung followed by picnic. He also introduced a few senior officers who were recently transferred to Mo-
Mokokchung DC Sushil Kumar Patel and DPDB members taking part in the fun games during DPDB meeting held at State Agricultural Research Station Yisemyong on March 7. (DIPR Photo)
kokchung including Commanding Officer 44 Assam rifles Col. B.N Nayak. The 44 AR Commanding Officer, in his short speech sought cooperation from the members and assured all possible help for the well being of the people in the district.
Project Officer, SARS, Yisemyong, Dr. D.K Chetri, while a presentation on the activities of the centre informed the members that a total of 857 Land Races of Rice in Nagaland state had been documented out of which two verities: SARs-1
Teacher’s orientation conducted at Razeba
CAPF expresses dismay
MangkoleMba, March 7 (DIPr): According to an official report by Dr. Akum Jamir, SMO, CHC, Mangkolemba, the free distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINS) under NVBDCP programme by the Department Health & Family Welfare was officially launched on March 5 for all the villages and towns under Mangkolemba Sub Division. Besides the administration officials, members of Mangkolemba Town Baptist Church and Adhoc Town Committee also attended the distribution programme.
Participants during the combined orientation course for the teachers of St. John School, Razeba and St. Joseph School, Zhavame held at St. John school, Razeba on March 5.
kohIMa, March 7 (Mexn): One day combined orientation course for the teachers of St. John School, Razeba and St. Joseph School, Zhavame was held at St. John school, Razeba on March 5 with Rev. Fr Anthony R. Dukru, Vice Principal of Joseph College Jakhama, as the resource person with the theme, ‘To lead and accompany children to excel.’ At the outset of the
KCCI condemns kohIMa, March 7 (Mexn): Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) strongly condemns the incident at Khedi Market Kohima on March 4, where a woman's (wife of a trader) handbag containing a cash of Rs 2 lakh was snatched at gunpoint by perpetrators who were in police uniform. KCCI demands the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprits at the earliest for the safety and security of the traders and the citizens. “Such anti social acts in broad daylight should be condemned by every right thinking citizen and that justice be brought to the victim at the earliest,” added KCCI in a press release.
LLNS distribution at Old Ministers' Hill kohIMa, March 7 (Mexn): Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLNS) distribution was officially launched at Old Ministers' Hill, Kohima Ward -14 on March 4 by the District Vector Borne Officer, Kohima (NVBDCP). The program was chaired by the Chairman who thanked the department for selecting the colony in the scheme and appealed to the beneficiaries/residents on proper usage of LLINS. Dr. Bendangsenla Ao DVBO (NVBDCP) emphasized on the Do's and Don'ts and highlighted the government program in controlling mosquito borne diseases. The program was attended by DVBO officials, GBs, NGOs, ASHAs and colony leaders, informed Nothükedu Sophie, General Secretary, Old Ministers Hill Panchayat Kohima
Naga Kuotsu Union General Conference kohIMa, March 7 (Mexn): The Naga Kuotsu Union 14 General Conference 2016 will be held at Zhadima Village, Kohima district on April 9. It is therefore requested that Kuo-u descendants from any village within and also outside Nagaland are requested not to fix any programme coinciding with the said Conference for maximum participation.
course students welcomed the teachers with melodious voice which was followed by Rev. Fr James Sangtam who briefed about the course and welcomed the resource person. The resource person speaking on the theme told the teachers that, “An excellent and outstanding teacher not only inspires but creates wings for the students to come out with
flying colours”. He added, “As teachers you need to have right attitude which is the fuel of progress and growth of the children”. Rev. Sr. Anupa Jose CMC in a press release said that the orientation concluded with the words of gratitude by Venyi Zholia the Assistant teacher on behalf of the teachers for enabling them to realize what they ought to be as a teacher.
The Department of Cooperative Kiphire organized under RKVY organized a one day programme on skill development and enterprise at the Hopongkyu hall with L. Vishiyi Chishi Assistant Soil Chemist as resource person. Speaking on maize cultivation and important insect’s pest and their control, L. Vishiyi Chishi said that using of chemicals or pesticide in our field should be avoided, instead we should use locally available medicinal plants which are easily available in the jungle. He also taught the participant to prepare various types of pesticide and insecticide using locally available plants. Speaking on the measures to control the pests from the field, the resource person said that we should know how to make pesticide and insecticide by using locally available material. He also said that plants like local neem when crushed and mix with de-
Participants during the one day programme on skill development and enterprise at the Hopongkyu hall, Kiphire. (Morung Photo)
tergent and kept overnight can use as pesticide. He also said that in maize field, mix cropping can be done where maize can be cultivated with groundnut, soya beans, kholar etc and added that by taking up crops like this can help our economy to a great extend. He also spoke on the importance of soil and the type of crops grown in different soil the resource person asked the participants to take care
of soil by constructing contour bund and half moon terraces to save the top soil from erosion. S. Kakuto Chophy SICS sharing on the objective of the training stress on the mobilization and objective of the RKVY. He also said that the pattern of the funding is 1000 % central and RKVY will help n increase of 4% in agriculture. Tinglichem LDA proposed vote of thanks.
CM chairs Peren DPDB meeting 6th National Labour Cooperatives Congress held
KBBD revival camp held DIMaPur, March 7 (Mexn): The Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Dimapur (KBBD) on Sunday concluded the three days long revival crusade which was held from March 4 to 6 on the theme ‘Spiritual Awakening.’ The speakers for the crusade were Rev. Kilang Jamir, Youth Harvest Ministry, and Rev. T. Moina Konyak, Atlarge Missionary. The Counselors for this crusade included members from Konyak Baptist Church Dimapur and Konyak Baptist Church Mon (KBCM). The members who attended this crusade had a time of spiritual renewal by re-committing their faith and to live a life more worthy.
Skill development and enterprise prog held at Kiphire Kiphire | March 7
Craft Bazar at Mokokchung
Distribution of LLINS at Mangkolemba
ing up a plan to open Gene Bank in the centre. Official from District AIDS Prevention Control Unit Mokokchung presented HIV scenario from April to January 2016. Up gradation of GPS Mekhuli, Registration of Society, Northeast
Morung Express News
DIMaPur, March 7 (Mexn): The Chessore Area Public Forum (CAPF) has expressed dismay over the non fulfillment of demand for construction of bridge at Langa Kepeak, where the state Home Minister Y. Patton has laid the foundation stone on March 30, 2015. CAPF President, A Akhum in a press release stated that the Forum with good faith has urged the concerned authority to initiate the construction at the earliest before the monsoon seasons falls.
Mokokchung, March 7 (Mexn): The Nagaland Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. Dimapur is organizing Craft Bazar at Mokokchung town from March 15 to 24, sponsored by office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, New Delhi. Interested Societies, NGOs SHGs, Artisans etc may apply to the Project Cell, NHHDC Ltd., Half Nagarjan, Dimapur, along with the Xerox Copy Artisan card issued by the Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Govt. of India on or before 12th March 2016 during the office hour. The stall shall be provided free of cost with lump sum daily allowances to each stall shall be provided. This was informed in a press release issued by Er.S. Temsulong Jamir, Additional Director, Industries & Commerce & Managing Director.
and SARS-6 are under registration with Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Authority, New Delhi. He also informed the members about research works on organic farming. To preserve varieties of rice in the state SARS is draw-
Alliance for leadership Education & Social Transformation (NEALEAST) and renaming of Paper Nagar Post Office to Tsudikong Town Post Office were discussed and decided to forward its recommendation to the concerned departments. After the meeting the members had discussions on reactivating the Officers Club Mokokchung and to continue its service for the welfare of the needy people in the district in times of emergency as enshrined in its constitution. The meeting was followed by picnic at Yisemyong Recreation Park where all the members took part with great fun. Among others the meeting cum picnic was attended by Assistant General Manager, RBO, Mokokchung, G. Sekar, General Manager, Lead Bank K. Bharali and SBI Main Branch chief Manager, S.C Das.
Chief Minister T R Zeliang addressing the Peren DPDB at DC’s Conference hall, Peren held on March 7. (DIPR Photo)
Peren, March 7 (DIPr): The Peren DPDB was held on March 7 at DC’s Conference hall, Peren under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, TR Zeliang. The house welcomed new members namely, District Urban Development Officer, Pangshang Koleba, SDO (Electrical), Er. Solomon Sekhose, EE (Irrigation & Flood Control), Ketuzo Sophie and DHO, Eyongol Angami. Chief Minister TR Ze-
liang reviewed the departmental activities of SP Office Peren and enquired about the law and order situation in the district including the activities of BSNL, PHED, PWD, Urban Development, Peren Government College, DEO Peren and LSRO Peren. The board also discussed on up gradation of GMS, DC colony Peren to high school which was brought up by DEO Peren and approved by the members. TR Zeliang in his remark thanked the board members for attending the monthly meeting and requested the DC and DPO to maintain attendance register of the planning board. He asked the officers to shift to the new headquarter on completion of their office and requested the officers who do not have office in the new headquarter to submit their proposal for construction of office and staff quarter to the departments concerned as early as possible.
DIMaPur, March 7 (Mexn): Advisor Cooperation, Government of Nagaland, Imtilemba Sangtam attended the 6th National Labour Cooperatives Congress at Conference Hall of IAPDD, Siri Institutional Area New Delhi on March 4, 2016 under the theme ‘Role of Labour Cooperatives in Make in India, Skill India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.’ Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Sudarshan Bhagat graced the function as the chief guest. The main focus of the congress was the role of labour cooperatives in Make in India, Skill India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as per appeal made by the Prime Minister of India. The Congress reviewed the implementation of recommendation of 5th National Labour Cooperatives Congress and also considered the achievements, problems of Labour Coopera-
Advisor Imtilemba Sangtam with Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya and others during the meeting.
tives in details. Delegates from Labour Cooperatives and special invitees from Central and State government, NABARD, National Cooperatives Organizations, NGOs, International Organizations participated in the Congress. A DIPR report
also stated that the Advisor was accompanied by Velasa Nakhro, Registrar of Cooperatives Societies and Department Officers from the State. Advisor Imtilemba Sangtam also met Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mohanbhai Kaly-
anjibhai Kundariya and discussed department projects like ICDP, NCDC and other projects. The Union Minister assured to extend all possible help to the State. The Union Minister is planning to visit Nagaland in the first week of May 2016.
Monitoring committee for private TV channels Mokokchung, March 7 (DIPr): Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung in pursuance to the Department of Information and Public Relations has notified that the district committee for private TV channels is constituted with
Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung as Chairman and the following as members. Senior Superintendent of Police, District Public Relations Officer, Principal, Fazl Ali College, Dr Yanger, Watsu Mungdang and Director, Care & Support Society.
NU Meriema Campus appeals
kohIMa, March 7 (Mexn): Having come to the notice of the Nagaland University, Meriema Campus that unwarranted activities such as damaging boundary fencing, felling of trees, jungle burning, hunting, partying, random gardening etc are taking place inside the University Campus, the University has appealed to one and all to refrain from The Board members of Longleng Town Baptist Church during the retreat cum exposure trip such activities so that conducive academic atmosphere is maintained in the to Shillong and Guwahati held from February 22 to 26.
interest of the University's growth which should be a concern for all citizens. The University being the highest institute of learning needs to be revered and its sanctity maintained by one and all, the NU appealed. The District Administration, neighboring village authorities and youth organisations are requested to extend all possible help and co-operation to restrain such activities, informed Pardeshi Lal, Pro-Vice Chancellor.
TuesDAY 08•03•2016
NORTH-EAST
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
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Nagas of Arunachal lament suffering; assert ‘Voice has fallen silent but deeds democratic process as a perquisite for peace will always be remembered’ • Extend ceasefire to all Naga inhabited areas: ANSF urge interlocutor RN Ravi • Within the Naga solution we want to stay independent state or Union Territory
• At funeral, PA Sangma accorded full state honours, 21-gun salute • Dignitaries pay glowing tribute to the strongman of NE politics Tura, March 7 (MExN): The mortal remains of the strongman of Northeast politics fondly called as “King of the Garos” Purno Agitok Sangma or PA Sangma was accorded full state honours, including a 21-gun salute at Dikki Bandi stadium here today. Meghalaya police personnel brought the casket carrying the mortal remains of Sangma at Dikki Bandi stadium at 11 am for the state funeral ceremony, which was attended by over 15,000 people. Meghalaya speaker AT Mondal, chief minister Mukul Sangma and his Cabinet and parliamentary secretaries, Nagaland speaker Chotisuh Sazo, former Nagaland chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, former union minister Arvind Netam, opposition leader of Meghalaya, Donkupar Roy, former Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang, former Manipur chief minister Radhabinod Koijam were amongst thousands who took part in the funeral. The ceremony lasted for about three hours with dignitaries recalling Sangma’s contribution to the state of Meghalaya, Northeast and the country as a whole. In the words of the different dignitaries, Sangma's death has brought an end to an era of politics in
Nagaland MP Neiphiu Rio along with legislators from Nagaland paying their last respect to the mortal remains of PA Sangma during the state funeral service at Dikki Bandi stadium, Meghalaya.
Garo hills. The speakers said that in his four decades political career, he has connected the people of Northeast to the rest of India and emerged as the most prominent and acceptable face in India’s politics, making the Garo tribe and the title “Sangma” known. Mukul, recollecting his association with the departed leader said, “Voice has fallen silent but his (Sangma) deeds will always be remembered. He has been an inspiration to many young politicians. He has taught us pull and pushes of political challenge.” He also said that the departed leader was instrumental in connecting Northeast to the rest of the country and the world. “He has enlightened me in politics. We will all miss him and his work will always inspire us,” said the Chief Minister. Recollecting Sangma's contribution, Rio, speak-
CM Ibobi flags off of ImphalKangchup-Tamenglong road Our Correspondent Imphal | March 7
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh here on Monday flagged off development of the Imphal-KangchupTamenglong road. The function was held at Kangchup Chiru in Imphal West. Speaking at the flag-off, Ibobi stated that the 103.030 km-long road will be developed into a world class highway at the cost of Rs 1114.18 crore funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). While stating that completion of work on the British era road will take three and a half years, he urged upon all sections of the society to extend support and prevent causing any kind of hindrance. Stressing on the importance of bringing about peace, Ibobi said that Manipur as a multi-ethnic state it is imperative that law and order is improved to bring about development. Tourism, he added can aid in that direction, while stating that it can materialize when there are attractive tourist destinations in the state. Ibobi further expressed happiness that Imphal has been selected under Smart City Mission of the Government of India and that it was recently adjudged as one of the cleanest cities in the country securing 15th position among 300 such cities. He also informed that the state government will soon start construction of the Imphal Ring Road. Today’s function, among others, was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Works Minister Dr. Kh. Ratankumar Singh.
Gogoi dares Centre GuwahaTI, March 7 (IaNS): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has dared the BJP-led central government to also file sedition charge against him as he agrees with some of the statements made by Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar. Gogoi said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi supported Kanhaiya Kumar's statements on freedom and sedition charge was slapped against him. "I too agree with some of the statements made by Kanhaiya Kumar and they (BJP) should slap sedition charge against me also," he said. "Kanhaiya Kumar has rightfully pointed out that they want freedom guaranteed under the Constitution. There can be different opinions and ideologies in democracy, and the BJP and the RSS have attacked the Constitution by restricting freedom of speech and expression, which is tantamount to curtailment of fundamental rights."
AFFIDAVIT
I, Miss. Zevelou Koza D/o Shri. Tezulhou Koza R/O 7th Mile Village Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare that I shall at all times here after in all records, deeds and writings and in all proceedings, dealings and transactions, private as well as upon all occasions whatsoever use the name of Zevelou Koza as my name/surname in place and in substitution of my former name/surname Zevelou. Deponent
ing on behalf on Northeast MPs Forum said, “He (Sangma) fought for his commitment till his last. He was the pride of Northeast and the tribal people of the country. His legacy will remain with us all times to come; we will always feel his presence.” Koijam described the philosophies of Purno Sangma as “innovative” and “progressive”. The speakers referring their association with Sangma acknowledged him as the man of the masses, a friend of the downtrodden and the poor. Pala, while terming Sangma as a “political titan” said, “His concern for the Northeast will be cherished and all MPs from the region will champion his cause.” Roy felt that someone from his family should take the mantle and fulfill the unfinished task, which Sangma had dreamed for Meghalaya and Garo hills in particular.
After the condolence speeches by different dignitaries, Agatha Sangma expressed her gratitude to the people of Garo hills, the President of India, Prime Minister and all other politicians from across the country for extending their condolence to the bereaved family. Later, Meghalaya police personnel handed over the folded national flag to Sangma’s wife Soradini, who was accompanied by Conrad, Sangma’s youngest son, a former Cabinet minister of Meghalaya. The motorcade carrying the mortal remains was taken through the streets of Tura, witnessed by a massive crowd of people, who thronged the 8-km stretch of road from Dikki Bandi stadium to Cathedral church at RC Road. After a prayer service at the cathedral, Sangma’s mortal remains was buried at the cemetery near Bishop House.
DIMapur, March 7 (MExN): Nagas living in Tirap, Changlang and Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh would wish to stay as an “Independent State or a Union Territory” within the Naga solution. This was conveyed to the Government of India (GoI) through Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga Peace Talks, RN Ravi by a delegation of the Nagas inhabiting the three districts of Arunachal on February 29, 2016 at a consultative meet. The meeting which was held at Dibrugarh,
Assam was convened by Arunachal Naga Students’ Federation (ANSF), with the objective of having better interaction between the two parties. According to a press statement received from ANSF president Nokchai Boham and general secretary Pharo Khamthin, the people of Tirap, Changlang and Longding while welcoming the ongoing peace talks between the GoI and the Naga people stated that “within the Naga solution we want to stay independent state or Union Territory comprising three Districts (Tirap, Changlang & Longding).” The delegation also apprised RN Ravi on the various problems encountered by the people of the three districts, like for instance, military torture as a con-
sequence of the many insurgent groups in the Naga territory. It blamed the GoI for neglecting the Naga people living in the three districts of Arunachal. The delegation also urged the interlocutor to extend ceasefire to all Naga inhabited areas, especially in the three afore mentioned districts of Arunachal. The ANSF statement also reported that RN Ravi has assured the delegation that the GoI would not take any decision without the knowledge of people and that the ball is now in the court of the people, as per the latest development of the peace talks. The ANSF further stated that RN Ravi informed the delegation that such consultative meetings would
be ongoing till the final accord is signed. In the coming days, a meeting of such nature would be held in the territory of Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, he is said to have assured. The ANSF meanwhile said a democratic process is a perquisite for the peace talk. Stating that Naga people of the three districts have suffered a lot in the past, the students’ federation pointed out that they were not included during the 1951 plebiscite, excluded from the Nagaland statehood in 1963. As a consequence, the Nagas of Arunachal have been living with extreme backwardness in terms of job opportunities, infrastructures and the denial of political and social freedom, it stated.
BJP promising corruption-free govt in Manipur IMphal, March 7 (IaNS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is promising a corruption-free government in Manipur if it is voted to power after the February 2017 state assembly elections. To keep up the winning streak of the party after it won the two byelections to the assembly in November last year, the Manipur BJP president and others are harping on the allegation of "the rampant corruption of the Congress government". The state BJP had exposed what it called the Rs.500 crore "scam" in clearing the floating biomass concretion in Loktak, the largest fresh water lake in eastern India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers
had assured of appropriate actions into the "scam". However, the Loktak Development Authority officials told IANS they were yet to receive any official information about the CBI or vigilance investigations. Speaking to party workers on Sunday evening here, state BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba said: "The Congress government cooked the book to claim that there were 100 days of works in a year in Manipur under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. On this basis, Manipur got an award as the best performance state." "In fact, there was no work even for 20 days in a year and the govern-
ment should be ashamed of it." He was also very sceptical about the implementation of the National Food Security Act in Manipur under which a beneficiary will be given 35 kg of rice in a month at Rs.3 per kg. Chaoba said, "...the new scheme will give a free hand to the ministers, MLAs and agents and sub-agents." "Though the BJP has not had an MLA for last 15 years, we won both the byelections to the assembly last November. Besides, we had opened accounts in the nagar panchayat and municipal elections," he said, adding there is a likelihood that the BJP would win majority in the forthcoming Imphal Municipal Corporation elections.
NAGALAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION KOHIMA
NO.NPSC/CON-35/2009
Dated Kohima, the 7th March, 2016
NOTIFICATION
BIG BOOK SALE
ts Presen
BIBLES I BOOKS I MUSIC I GIFTS 7th - 19th March 2016 (Sunday Closed), 9:00 am -5:00 pm OM Books, City Tower, Dimapur - 03862-229370 Discount on all books (Except on local books & gift items)
1st Death anniversary of our beloved
Lt. H. Inato Yimchunger
I
t hurts to think that you breathed your last on this day the 8th March 2015. A year has passed since you left for your heavenly abode, but we cherished the fruitful moment of our lives together when you were with us. You know how much you meant to us, there's nothing that we can cherished more than your love. Your fond memories are always in our silent tears. We miss you deeply.
8th March 2015
From loving Family me mbers
APOLOGY
The Chisomi Youth organization would like to issue this public apology regarding declaration of Raffle Draw scheduled on 18/03/16. The CYO is compelled to cancel the said draw due to some unavoidable circumstances and logistic constraint. Further, all ticket customer are requested to reimburse their money from respective vendors. Inconvenience caused is highly regretted any queries may contact the undersigned. Kadzupfelo, President, CYO Ph. No: 8974945967
HOSTEL ADMISSION OPEN An undertaking of Semoma Students' Welfare Board Trust in collaboration with Tata Trust for girls students from class 5 to 12. Security deposit Rs. 500/-, monthly fee Rs. 1500/-. Free admission, tuition for Science, Maths & Hindi, medical services, vocational, professional, career counselling, guidance, pastoral care, at Govt. High School Area, Kohima RURAL AREA GIRL STUDENTS HOSTEL CONTACT: +919089064293
In pursuance of the Nagaland Public Service Commission Advertisement No.NPSC-1/2014 dt. 03.05.2014, Notification dt. 05.05.2014, Addendum/Corrigendum dt.23.05.2014, Notifications dt. 21.07.2014,14.01.2016 and 19.01.2016, the Commission conducted Written Main Examination and Viva-voce for NCS, NPS, NSS & Allied Services 2014. On the basis of marks obtained in the Main Written Examination, Viva-voce & Medical & Police Fitness Examinations and options exercised by the candidates, the Commission is pleased to declare the list of successful candidates in order of merit for the following post(s) under the Government of Nagaland. I. 20(Twenty) Posts of EAC (Extra Assistant Commissioner) (Cl-I Gazetted, Junior Grade), under Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st 1 SUKHALU CHISHI 7350 SARATHO KATIRY 7275 2nd NUKSHIMATONG 7351 3rd ECHUNGBEMO ERUI 7484 4th CHENITHUNG OVUNG 7403 5th 6th ROHBI SANGTAM 7074 BENDANG LONGKUMER 7392 7th 8th TUMBEN P TSANGLAO 7376 ARHOMO YANTHAN 7289 9th 10th NUHUTA TUNYI 7250 7061 11th PICHANO KIKON 7035 12th RUMBEMO T KITHAN 7301 13th RENBITHUNG JAMI 7365 14th ABEINUO JASMINE ASHAO 7410 Sangtam 15th ROZY SANGTAM 7426 Yimchunger 16th KIHOMONG YIMCHUNGER 17th WIRIDIN 7195 Zeliang 7125 Chang 18th SAKUCHINGMAK 7062 Pochury 19th LÜCHUI FITHU 7011 Khiamniun20th P PUKHA LAM gan II. 3(Three) Posts of DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) (Cl-I Gazetted), under Police Establishment Branch, Home Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st 1 AKETO CHISHO 7437 2nd H ENYU 7238 Phom L HOLISE SANGTAM 7145 Sangtam 3rd III. 1(One) Post of Youth Resources Officer (Cl-II Gazetted), under Youth Resources & Sports Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st ATOLI YEPTHO 7015 1
7th 8th
7333 7326
30th 31st 32nd 33rd
BENTHUNGO HUMTSOE SEKETOUNYU CHIESOTSU CHUMRENTHUNG TUNGO YAPANGMENLA JAMIR Y NYANBEMO SHITIO NEIVISIELIE IMTINUNGLA LONGKUMER VELUZOLÜ EKONTHUNG EZUNG VINIKA HOLO VITOLU SWU ANUZO VADEO NGUKATO K K JOHILE THIRAH SHALO KHING RUKUO SORHIE KEVIZASINUO LUCY YHOME JANBENTHUNG ODYUO KUTHOPHUYI TETSEO Y TOKUMLA JANGRU T THSALISE NUNGSHIKABA PHOM KUSHEM YEMJONG CHANG LIPOKSANGLA SANGTAM PUNGBAGONGBE NDANG C MAN-IE PHOM CHUBAKUMLA
34th 35th 36th 37th
Z GUIDER PFITHU PHEANGNA KONYAK PEMEI KONYAK AMITOLI S SUMI
7098 7037 7108 7450
38th
7477
39th
SHIANGJIU KHIAMNIUNGAN LILY NGULLIE
40th
DAVID H YIMCHUNGER 7160
9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th
7468 7367 7176 7417 7091 7428 7471 7258 7119 7266 7054 7088 7454 7352 7391 7338 7396 7405 7060 7153 7334 7242 7487 7030 7497
7214
Chakhesang Yimchunger Sangtam Phom Chang Sangtam Zeliang Phom Phy. Handicapped Pochury Konyak Konyak Sumi (Kiphire) Khiamniungan Phy. Handicapped Yimchunger
VI. 1(One) Post of Research Assistant (Cl-III Non-Gazetted), under Art & Culture Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No LONGSHEN SHEU 7124 Khiamniun1st gan
IV. 2(Two) Posts of Station Superintendent (Cl-II Gazetted), under NST, Transport Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No METSIVIKO MEYASE 7274 1st 2nd S MEJU 7260 Khiamniungan V. 40(Forty) Posts of SA (Secretariat Assistant) (Cl-III Non-Gazetted), under Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st 1 KEVISEZO SIRIE 7300 ZUBENTHUNG NGULLIE 7436 2nd AKUMTONG 7156 3rd I IMNAMAR JAMIR 7400 4th N NYANBEMO HUMTSOE 7321 5th VILHOULENUO GRACE 7456 6th BELHO
VII. 1(One) Post of Research Assistant (Cl-III Non-Gazetted), under Administrative Training Institute. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st 1 VANTHUNGO Y EZUNG 7490 VIII. 2(Two) Posts of Assistant Jailor (Cl-III Non-Gazetted), under Prisons. Roll Rank Name Remarks No st JENITHUNG TUNGOE 7068 1 SANGPANGCHANG 7278 2nd LONGKUMER
Note: Any selected candidate intending not to accept the post for which he/she is selected may submit a NonAcceptance Letter within 7(Seven) days from the date of issue of this notification. Sd/- SARAH R. RITSE Secretary, Nagaland Public Service Commission, Kohima
4
TuesDAY 08•03•2016
Business
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
ED slaps Mallya with money-laundering case New Delhi/MuMbai, March 7 (iaNS): The Enforcement Director (ED) on Monday registered a money-laundering case against founder of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and liquor baron Vijay Mallya, official sources said. “We have filed a case against Mallya on Monday. The case is specifically based on the case registered by the CBI against him and others in 2015,” Assistant Director (Enforcement Directorate) A.K. Rawal told IANS in New Delhi. The businessman and the top executives of what was once Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) have been booked under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Rawal said. The measure follows an audit of the Rs.7,200 crore loan that a consortium of 11 public sector banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) had extended to the KFA which the airline failed to repay. The KFA is alleged to
Kawasaki Z125 Pro introduced New Delhi, March 7 (NDtV auto): Kawasaki has introduced a new, 125cc mini motorcycle, aiming to tap into a segment which is largely dominated by the popular Honda Grom. Like the hugely popular Grom, the Z125 Pro will target new riders and anyone looking for a fun little ride. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro is powered by a four stroke, single-cylinder, SOHC, 2-valve, air-cooled, fuelinjected engine tuned for responsive acceleration on the street. The engine is mated to a traditional four-speed transmission but it features a link-type shifter like larger capacity sportbikes. Weighing just over 100kg, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro comes equipped with a LCD instrument panel which displays fuel level, clock, trip meter in addition to the speedo. What it doesn’t get is a gear indicator, which the Grom has. The overall look is similar to Kawasaki’s larger bikes in the Z series, with a similar LED taillight. Braking is managed by a single 200mm petaltype disc at the front and a single 184mm petal-type disc at the rear. The suspension consists of 30mm
Tribunal halts Diageo’s $75 mn payment to Mallya
Vijay mallya speaks with the media in New delhi. (REUTERS File Photo)
have diverted as much as Rs.4,000 crore of that money to international tax havens like Mauritius and Cayman Islands. Other businesses of Mallya were also being scrutinized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, an official, requesting
anonymity, told IANS in Mumbai. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Anil Sinha had expressed dismay last week in Mumbai over the laxity of the lending banks and regulatory agencies in taking action against Mallya, other KFA directors and officials. It is feared that Mallya
beNgaluru, March 7 (reuterS): An Indian tribunal has temporarily halted a $75 million settlement due to be paid by spirits giant Diageo Plc to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, after he resigned as chairman of Diageo unit United Spirits. The court ruled in favour of a group of creditor banks, owed money by Mallya’s now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, and who had argued they had the ‘first right’ to that money. Kingfisher, which stopped flying more than three years ago, had $1.4 billion in debts as of September 2013, according to corporate filings from the time. Mallya said in a statement on Sunday that he was in talks with banks for a one-time settlement of Kingfisher’s debt, adding that he had no plans to run away from his creditors.
might become a fugitive from law by shifting base to a country where it might be difficult to make him face the law, officials said. The flamboyant businessman recently announced his plans to spend more time in England. He has denied all charges against him and taken exception to being labelled
a “wilful defaulter” by lenders. He has also denied he was planning to flee the country and said he was ready to cooperate with the lenders to settle the debt. Last month, Mallya agreed to quit as chairman of United Spirits Ltd. in return for a settlement by the British alcoholic beverages giant Diageo.
Farmers see Modi’s budget as all promise, no delivery New Delhi, March 7 (reuterS): Farmer Ram Pal Singh voted for Narendra Modi’s promise of “better days” in India’s 2014 general election, but he won’t be backing the prime minister again even after last week’s budget promised more aid to the countryside. Growing discontent in rural India, home to two-thirds of the country’s 1.3 billion people, bodes ill for Modi as he tries to bounce back from a heavy defeat in a state election last year in Bihar and build a support base to keep power in the 2019 general election. In an eyecatching announcement, the budget doubled spending on agriculture and farmers’ welfare to $5.3 billion in support of his promise that their incomes would double by 2022. Yet critics say most of the extra spending is in fact an accounting entry that shifts the cost of an interest subsidy to the agriculture budget that was previously borne by the finance ministry. “We have received nothing from the government. We don’t
even recover our costs,” said Singh, whose 21-acre (8.5-hectare) plot is big by Indian standards. Two failed monsoons, and sudden unseasonal rains, have caused widespread crop damage across northern India. Debtladen farmers like Singh say low state purchase prices and a lack of compensation for crop losses are worsening their plight. Singh lost $4,500 over the past two years because of severe damage to his wheat and sugarcane crops in the Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, 30 miles (50 km) east of New Delhi. It has left him with debts of more $10,000, and despair has driven him to think of selling his land. “We have so much land but we still struggle to survive ... there is only sadness in farming,” said Singh, 60, who does not want his grandchildren to work in the fields. Last month, farmers went on the rampage in neighbouring Haryana state to protest a lack of economic opportunity. Thirty people died and saboteurs cut metro-
politan Delhi’s main water supply. “The budget may give you an illusion the government has tried to address the problems faced by farmers,” said independent food and trade policy analyst Devinder Sharma. He called instead for a package of “immediate assistance” to stop a spate of suicides by farmers from spreading.
budget play seemed designed to improve its standing in rural areas, traditionally a weak spot for the BJP. “For the first time the agriculture sector has figured prominently in budget, and for the first time we’ve seen such a sharp rise in allocation for farmers’ welfare,” Farm Minister Radha Mohan Singh told a news conference. But Jai Kisan Andolan, a peasants’ rights movement, and 35 farming unions counter that the budget offered them no debt relief, and failed to hike either government farm purchase prices or crop-loss compensation rates.”Most of what the budget speech projects as big favours to the farming community is actually ‘business as usual’ with a sleight of hand,” the groups said in a statement after the budget. In addition, the main effort to expand irrigation - adding just 2 percent of net cultivated area of 141 million hectares - is seen as piecemeal. And a new crop insurance scheme is expected to get off to a slow start.
RURAL DISTRESS Modi last year promised higher compensation for crop losses, but more than a dozen farmers interviewed by Reuters on a field trip said they had received no relief. Many have taken out more loans or sold cattle to tide themselves over. All but one said they will not support Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in next year’s poll in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, home to 200 million people. In 2014, the party swept Uttar Pradesh, winning 71 of 80 seats to claim the strongest parliamentary mandate in three decades. The
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‘Women intend to quit jobs due to gender bias, harassment’ New Delhi, March 7 (iaNS): Working women, especially those in the private sector, desire to quit their jobs for a number of reasons, including gender bias and workplace harassment, according to a latest survey. “About 40 percent of working mothers want to quit jobs to raise their kids. Gender bias together with workplace harassment and inconvenient working hours remained top reasons as to why majority of respondents wanted to quit their jobs,” said a survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) under the aegis of its Social Development Foundation. The survey was conducted ahead of International Women’s Day that is celebrated globally every year on March 8. The association had interacted with a total of about 500 working women, including 200 working mothers in 10 cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune during the course of past fortnight to gauge their career related goals. About 25% of the total respondents said they wanted to quit their jobs and cited various reasons ranging from inconvenient working hours or late sitting, pay gap, gender bias, workplace harassment, lack of safety, poor working conditions, pursuit of higher education, family related issues and others, the survey said. Motherhood and lack of quality time with family were the primary reasons to quit for 80 out of 200 working mothers interviewed by the association. Regarding harassment, about 30% of the total women interviewed by ASSOCHAM said they had been harassed at work, were denied promotion and plum assignments. Besides, many of them also said they did not get much support from their authorities if they complained and as a result felt bogged down further due to guilt and shame.
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ACROSS 1. Creative work 5. many millennia 9. Snug (British spelling) 13. Italian for “Wine” 14. Jaegers 16. Curved molding 17. “Smallest” particle 18. Abatement 19. Component of urine 20. Twined 22. Architects 24. Jacket 26. museum piece 27. Follows lightning 30. A person without pigment 33. Echoed 35. Run away to wed 37. Former boxing champ 38. Enlighten 41. Central 42. Skirt fold 45. Increasing twofold 48. Loathsome 51. hogwash 52. Woodworking tools 54. Exploded star 55. had strong suppressed feelings 59. Timepiece 62. Yachting cap 63. mature 65. digestive juice 66. Ends a prayer 67. Serpent 68. Weaving machine 69. Anagram of “Note” 70. delight 71. Terminates
Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”
introducing the Z125 Pro in the Indian market. Late last year, Kawasaki introduced the KLX 110 a mini off-road bike for beginners and off-road enthusiasts and even children and teenagers. The KLX 110 is not road-legal which makes it usable only on private tracks. We sure hope Kawasaki will be bringing in the Z125 Pro as well. And going by the response to Honda’s new mini moto-scooter Navi, the Z125 Pro does seem to make sense to test the waters.
WANTED
Canon India plans to increase l e i s u r e Daily Cross WorD women headcount to 20% CROSSWORD # 3525
New Delhi, March 7 (Pti): Canon India plans to increase the number of women employees to 20% of its headcount by 2018. Currently, women account for about 12% of Canon India’s headcount of about 1,000 people. “Canon in India is making dedicated efforts to boost women employees, nurture them and help them grow within the system,” the Japanese tech giant has said in a statement. Canon has offices and warehouses in 14 cities across the country and has over 1,000 employees. “At present, we have 12% women employees contributing to the vision of Canon India. But we surely want to take this number to at least 20% over the next two years,” Canon India President and CEO Kazutada Kobayashi has said. Paytm to invest in creating support to encourage women entrepreneurs The company is undertaking a number of initiatives to keep women employees engaged and evolve through various company activities, he added.
inverted forks at the front and a single offset rear shock with four-way preload adjustability. The 12inch aluminium wheels are shod with 100/90 tyres at the front and 120/70 at the rear. The mini motos are quite popular in markets abroad, including in South East Asian countries as well as in the US. The Honda Grom is hugely popular, particularly in the US where in certain dealers it even commands a waiting period. It’s not clear yet whether Kawasaki will be looking at
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TuesdAY 08•03•2016
NAGALAND
Be a resident, not flying visitor: CM chides officials Kohima, march 7 (mExN): Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang today asked Government officials posted in various places to reside in their respective posting places instead of being mere “visitors.” Stressing on the need for providing quality and meaningful governance to the people of the State, Zeliang said this while addressing the monthly Peren District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting at New Peren District Headquarters, informed a press note from Chief Minister’s Office. “Do not make a habit of compelling people to visit you in Kohima or Dimapur to get their works done,” the Chief Minister said exhorting the Government officials to reside in their places of posting rather than paying flying visits once “in
a blue moon.” The CM further expressed concern that numerous complaints have been received all over the State that officials attend only the DPDB meetings and are never found in their offices thereafter. Maintaining that good governance to the people cannot be delivered if Government officials and employees do not attend offices, Zeliang asked whether their conscience justify the drawing of salaries without performing their duties. “Why should the common man suffer because of negligence on the part of Government official and how can we administer the people when administrators do not attend to their offices or duties,” he further chided. The CM said Government officials posted in
Full budget session this year Kohima, march 7 (mExN): The Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang today said that unlike other years when actual Budgets were delayed and only Votes on Account were taken up during Budget Sessions, there will be a full budget session this year, a press note from Chief Minisvarious places should leave behind a legacy of dedicated effort to perform their duties so that fond memories are left behind for future generations to remember them. Zeliang also appealed to all the Government officers in Peren to come and settle down in available quarters at the new District Headquarters before plots are allotted to individuals and people start constructing their houses.
ter’s Office informed. Addressing the monthly Peren District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting today at New Peren District Headquarters, Zeliang informed that the Budget Session scheduled for March 15 would be a “full Budget which could go for 4 -5 days.”
“And those of you who do not have quarters may consult with the Deputy Commissioner and work out alternative arrangements,” he added. According to the CMO release, during the meeting, several departmental heads of the district complained of not having Office buildings and quarters for the staff. The CM, assuring all help and assistance from his side, asked them to work out
DPRs to be included in the works programme in the current financial year if possible. The Chief Minister further asked the departments of PHE and Power to hasten provision of adequate water and power to the district Headquarters saying that without power and water, no habitation can flourish. Reminding the BSNL officials about Government of India’s programme to make India into Digital In-
dia, the CM said the Public Sector Undertaking should provide OFC connection to the District HQ as early as possible He said he will personally take up the matter with the BSNL Chief General Manager’s Office, Dimapur when the officials pointed out that this would require additional sanction from the CGM. The Board meeting today also approved upgradation of Government Middle School at DC Colony, which has a total number of 397 students and caters to several other feeder schools in Peren Town, to Government High school. He further expressed his appreciation to Deputy Commissioner of Peren, Peter Lichamo who shifted the District Headquarters to the new site despite stiff opposition from a section of the public.
NVCO key findings and recommendations on RTI Act
Kohima, march 7 (mExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has published its study of the impact of RTI in the last ten years in Nagaland since its implementation. The book was published by the Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang in Kohima on March 5. A press release from NVCO Press & Media Cell today highlighted few key findings and recommendation for public opinion and suggestions. NVCO said that there is poor awareness about the RTI. It highlighted there is an urgent need for a concerted and professional approach to increase awareness among the public. In addition, information regarding the RTI Act and its relevance to the people should be imparted along with information about oth-
er basic rights, highlighting how the RTI Act can be used to ensure access to these other rights. Dedicated programming on RTI awareness could be broadcast on local TV channels and radio, and also disseminated through social media, it said, adding a module on RTI should be made mandatory in school curriculum. “Perhaps selfhelp groups SHGs) could be mandated to spread awareness about the RTI Act and facilitate the filing of applications and appeals. Information about RTI should also be displayed outside schools, colleges, bus stops, community halls, etc.” Further, it said it might be useful to train school teachers on the use of RTI Act as in many villages, school teachers are an important source of information and support to village communities. The study also found out
that very few RTI applicants were from villages. Therefore, it recommended assessment to be carried out to determine the reasons why there is such poor participation by village populations. Applicants are often intimated, threatened and even physically attacked when they file an RTI, or as a consequence of their submitting such an application, according to NVCO. In such case where the enquiry establishes the guilt of a person who is a PIO, the Information Commission must impose a penalty which is both appropriate to the case and acts as deterrent to other PIOs, NVCO suggested. If the guilty party is not a PIO, the Information Commission must establish a tradition to the enquiry report to the police, where a cognizable offence is made, or otherwise to the relevant
court, and use its good offices (and its moral authority) to ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken, it added. NVCO further said that nearly 75% of the RTI applications seek information that should have been proactively made public without citizens having to file an RTI application. The organization recommended that the state nodal agencies should direct all Public Authorities to designate one or more PIOs to ensure compliance with all the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act. One major constraint faced by PIOs in providing information in a timely manner, according to the study, is the poor state of record management in most public authorities. Further, it was noted that many PIOs have not received any training on the
RTI Act. In this, NVCO recommended that State government and the Information Commission should direct all Public Authorities and training institutions that apart from conducting separate training courses for PIOs/ FAAs and other officers, a module on RTI should be incorporated into all training programmes. Unlike Nagaland Information Commission, there are huge and growing delays in the disposal of cases in many of the information commissions with pendency of cases growing every month, the NVCO study said. Therefore, NVCO recommended that newly appointed information commissioners must be provided an opportunity to orient themselves to the law and case law. “There also needs to be standardized format for In-
formation Commission orders that ensures that at least the basic information about the case and the rationale for the decision is available in the order,” it said. Whenever a commissioner is due to demit office in regular course of time (by way of retirement), the government must ensure that the process of appointment of new commissioners is done well in advance so that there is no gap between previous commissioner demitting office and a new one joining in, it added. Meanwhile, the study pointed out that composition of information commissions across the country has a bias towards retired government servants. It is desirable to have a more balanced composition so that diverse expertise is represented in the commission, it added.
One responds to news item Dimapur, march 7 (mExN): With regard to the news item, “Assam Rifles apprehend three”, which was published on March 2 issue of this paper, one of the persons whom the Assam Rifles alleged as key functionary of NCSN (K) has reacted to the Assam Rifles press release as “false publication to tarnish our image for their own personal gain thereof.” In the press release, Assam Rifles had claimed that 32 Assam Rifles apprehended three key functionaries of NSCN (K) from Eros Lane, Dimapur on February 22. One of them was Er. A Kaghoto Assumi, elder
brother of Finance Secretary of NSCN (K), Max Assumi, who was apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 3, 2016 and is currently under judicial custody. Er. A Kaghoto Assumi, who is also the Convenor of International Organization for Human Rights Protection (IOHRP), in a rejoinder recounted that on that “fateful day”, he and his friend had gone to a workshop at Blue Hill Station area where his friend’s bike was under repair. On reaching the workshop, the two were told that the mechanic had left for lunch. Hence, he and his friend de-
cided to have lunch near the workshop. They drove to a hotel and sat there for almost an hour having lunch. His vehicle was parked just opposite the hotel. Later, when the two turned the vehicle to head back towards the bike workshop, two (2) Maruti Gypsy of Assam Rifles “appeared in the middle of nowhere”, overtook his vehicle and asked him to stop and “within a blink of an eye they rounded up my vehicle with gun point and forced us to deport soon,” Assumi said. The two were then blindfolded, hands bound behind the back and pushed into
their M-gypsy without any queries, the rejoinder added. “They took us to their camp and started interrogating us using their first degree. Hence, in response to their queries, I told them that the very vehicle which I was driving was earlier borrowed by my brother twice and from that very vehicle my brother Max was apprehended by (NIA) but since the vehicle belongs to me so I delivered the said vehicle from police custody through Zimanama,” Assumi stated. “…but despite giving all the details to the Assam Rifles (AR) personnel, they again applied the 2nd de-
gree method over me and asked me to reveal the fact beyond my confession.” According to Assumi, the Assam Rifles threatened him with a loaded gun. Assumi alleged that after using their “2nd degree formula” for almost one hour, the Assam Rifles again warned him to speak the truth within two hour otherwise they will apply the “3rd degree.” “But before the expiry of the said time, one officer came and started interrogating me verbally...” Assumi said that only when he gave his personal profile, including that he is a State government servant, the Assam
MEx FILE Excise personnel seize liquor Dimapur, march 7 (mExN): Excise Mobile Squad personnel manning the New Field Excise Check Gate seized 405 bottles of assorted liquor on March 5 from the possession of one Kaka. A press release from Superintendent of Excise (Mobile Squad) informed that the accused has been booked under relevant section of the NLTP Act, 1989 and the seized articles kept in the Excise Malkhana. The Excise personnel were led by Inspector Lichumse Sangtam.
Minister Paiwang condoles Kohima, march 7 (mExN): Minister for Transport, IT&C P Paiwang Konyak has expressed sadness at the sudden demise of Zenon Konyak, SDEO Mon, recently. Informing that Zenon was the first woman graduate from Konyak tribe, Paiwang said “her death has caused an irreparable loss not only to the family but the whole Konyak community.” The Minister further conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to God to bestow strength to them.
MMC fixes rate of coffin moKoKchuNg, march 7 (Dipr): Superintendent, Mokokchung Municipal Council, O. Pangjung Longkumer has informed that the rate of coffin in Mokokchung Town have been fixed as follows with immediate effect: Any designed coffin made of teak wood- Rs. 13,000; any designed coffin made of A class wood- Rs. 8,000; and any designed coffin made of ordinary wood- Rs. 4,000. Further, the MMC Superintendent informed all concerned that at least 3 (three) categories of coffins should be available at any time in the shops.
NSWON emergency assembly Dimapur, march 7 (mExN): There will be an emergency assembly of the National Socialist Women’s Organization of Nagalim (NSWON) on March 19 at Council headquarters, Hebron from 9:00 am–3:00 pm. Therefore, all members have been requested to attend the Assembly positively. This was informed in a press release issued by Alungphy Muivah, Secretary, NSWON.
OCUWT general meeting on March 12 WoKha, march 7 (mExN): The Old Changsu Union Wokha Town (OCUWT) has convened a general meeting for the year 2016 on March 12 at 9:00 am at New Colony Community Hall, Wokha Town. Therefore, all the OCUWT members have been requested to attend the meeting positively.
Police arrest two in Pughoboto Rifles personnel ended the interrogation and left his cell. However, the press release published on March 2 alleged that Assumi and other two were apprehended with a weapon and tax collection receipts and that they were on their way to extort Rs. 1 lakh from a hotel owner on behalf of NSCN (K). Assumi has demanded that the Assam Rifles should come out with “full proof” in the print media on the allegations made against them. He has also asked the Assam Rifles to clarify without fail as to “why they published such uncalled words to tarnish our image.”
pughoboto, march 7 (Dipr): Two persons were injured in a vehicle accident and later apprehended by the police in Pughoboto on March 4, 2016. The vehicle rolled down about 120 feet below the road near PWD colony, Pughoboto. The vehicle was speeding away towards Zunheboto via Pughoboto from the Pughoboto Police team which had signaled to stop the vehicle (gypsy bearing No NL07-0682) at the MVCP checking at Lazami junction. The gypsy rolled down the road while being
chased by the police. They were immediately picked up for interrogation and rushed to the hospital for medical aid with security. Meanwhile, the SDPO said that his team found 29 cases of MC rum and 3 cases of beer in the vehicle. In this connection, an FIR was lodged with the Pughoboto Police Station to arrest the accused persons under section 44 of NLPT. The two apprehended persons have been identified as Pikato Awomi (22) and Puto (23). They have been sent to police custody in Zunheboto.
Public SPace
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2016: Pledge for Parity LLRPO issues rejoinder to news item
I
nternational Women’s Day (IWD) is one day in the year when women across the globe get to celebrate their womanhood and their achievements, as well as their contributions to society, to nations, and to the world. It is an opportunity to recognise and honour the women in our lives – past and present. The theme for International Women’s Day 2016 is Pledge for Parity, providing a global opportunity for men and women to pledge their support to help accelerate gender parity. All over the world, women continue to contribute to the social, political, economic and cultural successes. United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has said, "Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future." The UN’s 2016 theme, “Planet
50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” willreflect on how toaccelerate the 2030 Agenda, and building momentum to successfully implement the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal Numbers Four and Five, which are, to Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning, and to Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, respectively. Coming to the national level, the Government of India has initiated various schemes and programmes to promote women empowerment in India. The National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, aims to empower and uplift the status of women and children, and to bring about their overall development. Taking a step further from this stance, Prime Minister Na-
rendra Modi, while speaking at the recent National Conference of Women Legislators in New Delhi, has called for women-led development, instead of women development. What about the place of women and girls in Nagaland? They are often believed to be better off than their counterparts in the rest of the country, but as we are all witnesses to the realities, there is still plenty of room for improvement. And time seems to move even slower when change is overdue. When the rest of the world is deliberating on Gender Parity/ Planet 50-50 by 2030, and Women Led Development, what does that mean for us here? Is it incongruousto bring home the enthusiasm surrounding the world’s international women’s day celebrations? The challenge to bring the society to recognise the contributions of women has been enormous and the women be-
fore us have struggled their way through, be it in the social, economic, political, or educational fields. What we should all recognise and appreciate, is that when women are empowered, it is only in order to bring about a winning state for everyone. On this significant day, the State Resource Centre for Women – Nagaland chapter would like to congratulate and applaud all the women of Nagaland, and particularly pay our respects to our trail blazers who have had enormous courage and strength to lead the way, defying all odds and disobliging circumstances. They have paved the way for us, and we have come this far because of them. Our concerted efforts must continue to drive to an end the overwhelming challenge of gender disparity. What we ought to think of, most of all at this juncture, is - what kind of a future would we want to leave behind for our
children and the generations following them? The Iroquois (North American Indigenous peoples) have the Seven Generation stewardship concept that urges the current generation of humans to live and work for the benefit of the future seven generations who are coming behind them. This concept holds that the generations we are sworn to protect and revere are the seven we are most immediately connected to. This certainly ensures sustainability in all decisions we make. And if not anything else, this should prompt us to take progressive steps to bring about change in our own circles. Let us start building supportive environments and working towards eliminating conscious and unconscious biases around us. Starting from our own homes and families is how each of us can begin to move towards our pledge for parity. State Resource Centre for Women- Nagaland Chapter
W
ith anguish, we seek to ed through this office. draw the attention of 2. The office of LLRPO had not the people who matinvited any members from the ters with the news item Press Fraternity either from published in the Imphal Free Press Manipur or Nagaland in the dated 15.02.2016 in regard with the meeting on 13.02.2016 or auFeb. 13, 2016 LLRPO (Lotha Lower thorized anyone to go for pubRange Public Organization) meeting lication. Hence, any news is a at Bhandari. creation of an unknown agency to tarnish and defame LLRPO. Clarification had been made by 3 Unfounded statements of the this office dated 17.02.2016 through persons who attended the the Imphal Free Press to clear the meeting shall be held responmisleading news. However, misunsible for the mess and creating derstanding still continues in a larger chaos amongst the commuscale which is confusing us. nity. This is an act of treachery The office of LLRPO is utterly and shall be accountable to the shocked to know persons who atrange. tended the meeting for interpreting at 4. Misleading news and messagtheir will what actually didn't happen es regarding LLRPO meeting in the LLRPO meeting on 13.02.2016. of 13.02.2016 bears no validity Therefore, it is our earnest appeal and hence one should refrain to one and all to take cognizance of and denounce it. the facts before any statement is made We are hopeful that the reality with regard to the meeting of LLRPO. 1. News item which appeared in surfaced will help us clear the misunthe leading local news papers derstanding among us for the better dated 05.03.2016 was a fabri- cause of all. Chenirao Jami, A/President cated interpretation to create R. Kemerio Yanthan, Gen. Secy. mistrust and confusion among Francis Kikon, Info. & Publicity Secy. Mhonjan Tsanglao, Fin. Secy. us. Any matter pertaining to the Abel Lotha, Vice President affairs of LLRPO has to be routNzamo Patton, Treasurer
The Morung Express “Public Space” is to provide space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.
tuesDAY 08•03•2016
IN FOCUS
6
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express volume Xi issue 65 By eyingbeni Hümtsoe-Nienu
I
To Born Girls
’m a woman, a mother, a professional and by joyful choice a homemaker. Home tasks keep our hands and feet busy. And in the midst of scurrying about at home, the sudden realization arises that the mind seems to have a mind of its own. The poem below was inspired in the kitchen while preparing food for the family. A “rosy” moment indeed! This is a tribute missive to all girls and women who have been through life’s pains simply on account of being born girls and yet have survived them all to leave enduring legacies in their own special ways. It is also for those girls and women who need a little nudge to live up to their fullest potential. And it is also for the yet-to-be-born girls who await superior trend in gender valuation from those who have been born before them. Dear Daughter… You’re born into a “man’s world.” And you’ll know what I mean – In a “man’s world” You’re declared *oyam (other) from the moment you are born, Whereas a son is ete (us). But don’t despair; What God has ordained no man can change. In the garden of Eden, God spoke through Adam to Eve, “This (at last) is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” Don’t for a second doubt that you’re equal with all the sons of the earth. Still, there may linger the intimidating voice of the Devil whispering, “Really? Did God really say that (you’re equal with boys)?” Dismiss it! Have nothing to do with the Devil and its associates! But it’s still a “man’s world” And men will try to drag you down to the ground, Tell you that you are not ready, not fit, not capable. Such are not true. They simply mean to tell you, “You’re not a man!” Don’t fret! Find every little window That will allow you to fly out and soar high. If you can’t find even a window, Learn from the rose – Through the thicket in a hidden space, Buried deep from human notice – It thrusts forth without change in beauty or fragrance To tell the world, “Hello, I’m Rose, You can’t hide me, you can’t ignore me, you can’t forget me!” Make your presence felt everywhere you go. And don’t go forgetting yourself! And when you’re finally done, The little corners where you bloomed shall still remember you, For the way you were – A Survivor – From the moment you were born – One of humanity, one of God’s, one for the world. Always by your side – Mother
*Oyam and ete are words from Lotha Naga language of North East. (The author is faculty at Clark Theological College and is available at: eyingtsoe@rediffmail.com)
lEfT wiNg |
Hraveine David
International Women’s Day in Nagaland
T
he United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. Worldwide the International Women Day 2016 will be observed on the theme “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” asking governments to make national commitments to address the challenges that are holding women and girls back from reaching their full potential. Launching on the occasion of International Women's Day 2015 the United Nations Women (UN women) initiative ‘Step It Up’ will showcase specific commitments that governments make, leading up to the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Passing new laws or strengthening existing ones is one way to Step It Up. Other actions might include creating programmes to eradicate violence against women and girls, encouraging women's participation in decision-making, investing in national action plans or policies for gender equality, creating public education campaigns to promote gender equality, and many more. Women in Naga society have acclaimed better status than it was decades back. Education being one visible area of progress made, where women are also given the opportunity to strive and excel equally with men. Today similar struggles continue at different levels and capacities where women themselves have begun to lead initiatives towards change. In Phek District women’s consistent determination and leadership in asserting an equal society has led to achievement of parity in wages and women’s inclusion in decision making bodies in some villages. Women’s role and efforts in preserving and safeguarding our rich tradition and culture in food, attires and values is also an achievement worth noting. Progress such as this was possible because of men’s equal support and women stepping up to face challenges and accepting change. Though so much progress has been made in certain areas, yet women in Nagaland continue to struggle for recognition and inclusion in social, economic and political life. The society needs to relook at such gaps and bring in measures to enable women’s equal participation in decision making at both local and state levels, removing wage disparity between men and women and ending Violence Against Women in Nagaland State. In addressing these challenges, communities’ acknowledgement of such gaps, men’s continuous support in encouraging women, leaders’ strong vision for an equal society and women’s determination are all essential in the process. It is also crucial for the State to relook the present situation and work towards implementation of laws and measures which promote gender equality in the society. Considering the need of bringing different stakeholders together, such as the government, civil societies & organizations, communities, leaders, men and women to a common platform, North East Network is observing the International Women’s Day 2016 with all these stakeholders and women from villages of Phek district to celebrate women’s achievements as well as define areas of challenge and struggles and collectively building on agendas towards equality in the society.
C O M M E N T A R Y
Binita Kakati
Tribal Customary Laws and Women’s Equality
T
he theme for the International Women’s Day this year is gender parity with the slogan “Pledge For Parity”. The reason cited for this theme is that in 2014 the World Economic Forum report on gender predicted that it would take until 2095 to close the gender gap. A year later it estimated that due to a slowdown in the already ‘glacial’ rate of progress, the goal would not be achieved until 2133. The report measures gaps between men and women in four key aspects: health, education, economy and politics. As we hope for an equitable society, it perhaps becomes pertinent to look at our own backyard, to see where women stand in the northeast where they are considered to be privileged compared to the rest. We will attempt to look at the peculiar position occupied by women in this region, particularly under the customary laws. It is peculiar because women here are considered to be more emancipated than those in the rest of India. But the same customary laws deny them equality in three key fields namely justice, legal mechanism and political representation. Let us now look at the arguments which problematise the field of customary laws. When women are not seen as fully functioning members of a polity and are denied access to what is considered a basic human right, by implication it denies them access to any of the parameters mentioned above. But first we need to open the conversation on the elusive ‘superior’ position held by women here. The key argument put forward by many regarding the higher status of women in the northeast is based on relativity. Women are relatively better off here than in the rest of the coun-
try. An answer to this is provided by a feminist when she writes “you know how first world feminists get told that they don't need feminism…that they should be glad they’re not “really oppressed” like the women in third world countries, that things could always be worse. You know what my mother tells me ? She says I don't need feminism because I should be glad I’m born in an urban city of Pakistan… not in a rural area where girls are married off to men twice their age... And our house maid Shabana, who was married to her uncle at 15, at 18, has 2 children, she doesn't even know what feminism is. She was told by her father that she should be glad her husband doesn't beat her and hasn't thrown tehzaab (acid) at her. Am I the only one seeing a very disturbing pattern here?” The problem is made worse when women in the northeast are told that they have a higher status compared to the rest. But while women in the rest of the country have access to a Constitution which guarantees equality to justice and political representation, it is not guaranteed to women under many of the customary laws of their tribes. Women in most cases cannot be members of the village councils, or village heads, so they are not always guaranteed fair verdicts in the customary courts. Most tribes deny them inheritance of clan land. In Meghalaya lineage is matrilineal but most decisions concerning land are taken by men. For example the village of Smit is headed by the eldest daughter of the Syiem family but only in religious capacity. However administrative and political power is monopolized by men. The Dorbar (village council) is all male. Women are currently fighting for representa-
tion in it. In Nagaland women are not represented in the village council. Except for a Rajya Sabha member in the 1970s the state has not had a single female elected representative in the state legislature or parliament. In the name of customary laws, men are opposing their election to the municipal councils, though the Constitution demands that a third of their members should be women. The customary laws provide an affordable and accessible system of justice, but unfortunately it has no representation from half the population over whom it adjudicates. Women are by and large not represented and they have no option but to approach these bodies though they feel that they may not get a fair verdict. The alternative to this effective forum for conflict resolution is an expensive trial far away from home which they can’t afford. All of the above paints a grim picture of the status of women in the northeast. These glaring flaws are put out not to tarnish the pristine image, but to help us to stop celebrating our false glory and accept our own inadequacies and make way for much needed change. We need to accept that in the social, economic and political fields women are not treated as equal under our customary laws. It is only when we acknowledge these failures that we can have a meaningful conversation about how to bring about the required changes. Its first step is creating a level field where women can contest for their own rights. The dismal numbers of women contesting and winning elections in the states suggest that change has to start from the bottom. This can be done by socially and politically involving women into the fold of power. Men have monopolised the
fields of culture, politics and decision making while women have been relegated to the duties of the home, child bearing and rearing. They can’t be expected to start contesting elections immediately. The level field needs to be created by involving women in decision making. The first step lies in men conceding a share in power in the village councils and accepting women as equal partners. The second wave must come in the form of social progress. We have not had the privilege to boast of a young woman heading any of the villages. Unfortunately it is not the dearth of interested women. There are many enterprising women who want to see a change in the functioning of the system. Some have resorted even to measures such as ‘Nari Adalat’. The answer does not lie in constituting such bodies with no legal sanction. The question has to be addressed where it belongs, by conceding power to allow women a share in decision making. Lastly, progress cannot be seen overnight. We have spent years in creating mindsets and institutions which perpetuate inequality. Now women have started raising their voice to claim rights which were earlier denied to them. It becomes mandatory to listen to these voices and modify existing structures even if it were to involve changing traditional ways of thought or customary laws. Let us not deny rights under the garb of tradition. Let us learn to make way and give people their due. It is time we began to think of living in more democratic systems where spaces are given to others. Binita Kakati is a research associate with the North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati.
Marching Away or Marching Along The Gender Balance
I
have always heard from people about why only women’s day and why not men’s day or why not queer person’s day. My usual answer is ‘always go ahead and celebrate your day’. May be we can always consider celebrating a specific day for our preferred gender identity. Mostly these days, the corporate world celebrates March 8 every year as a day to increase business through women consumers. In cities there are a few institutions raising consciousness on women and many people who are indifferent to this day. Air tight composition of women’s day exclusively for women has also become a ritual of the past. Categorising women as a single identity in the current plurality of socio-cultural construction is also debatable. Most state agencies release special measures, schemes and benefits for women during March 8. In some places men are encouraged to switch the gender stereotypes and respect women’s contribution to their lives. Social media and cyber space gets creatively inclined to celebrate women’s day by designing logos, toggle bars and even apps featuring women. In some workplaces may be the women employees are honoured or acknowledged with perks and a special meal by their male counterparts. As far as the state authorities are concerned, there will be flowery messages on the contribution of women towards their contribution to the nation and so on. But how far have women reached when it comes to politics, economy, religion, society, human innovation and leadership realms which define the progressive profile of a nation. I wonder whether these days are of any significance to daily wage workers, women weavers, women street vendors, women farmers, women entrepreneurs in the margins, women sex workers, women care givers at homes and institutions, women domestic workers, grass-
roots women performers, artists and women workers in the lowest rungs of political agencies, religious institutions, social, cultural, economic and legal agencies. All those women and transgendered persons who are homeless, beg to make a living and disabled women whose vulnerabilities are growing with every passing day, elderly women battling with transitions of tradition and modernity, terminally ill women who are waiting to be taken care of, women survivors of violence, rape, poverty, discrimination, acid attacks, sexual harassment, eve teasing, dowry tortures, prison restrictions and cultural strictures need some space to be recognised. I just wish March 8 bring some changes to their lives as well. Equality, justice, liberty and mobility are layered with the glitters of class, gender, race, tribe, caste and sexuality in the Indian context. A women’s identity is defined by the intricate intersections of these layers in the context of the society she lives in. Somehow her life is measured by the judgements she awaits with every milestone she crosses to be accepted, acknowledged and admired throughout her lifecycle stages. Women’s empowerment and save the girl child are just the beginning of the tip of the iceberg which waits to be unfolded in the coming years. It is not enough to have women in society as a token for votes and enforce her participation through thumb impressions and bank accounts. This year the world is stepping up towards equality with ‘Planet 50-50’. Hope women in diverse spheres and contexts can stand up for equality, ensure a healthy living environment and collectivise to catalyse constructive changes. Wish more and more people with any gender identity can march along instead of marching away from the struggle towards equality. Samhita Barooah, Researcher
The Women i Admire
O
n this International Women’s Day, I first salute all those women who make a livelihood by selling fruits, vegetables, fish etc at the streets and those rushing to their offices, schools, hospitals etc after completing the normal duties of a house wife at home. Millions and millions of children in our country continue their studies and reach respectable positions in life because of the silent sacrifices made by the above category of women whose role are seldom recognized by the society. So, my first respects goes to them. Today, the role of women in our society has changed a lot comparative to the olden days. Many women officers have been imprinting their talents in the history of our country as administrators in various elite services and now we witness induction of women officers in combat roles in the male dominated Armed Forces. Recently a woman IPS Officer, Archana Ramasundaram made history when she assumed charge as the Director General of SSB, a paramilitary force. Women should never give up their identities irrespective of the position they occupy in life. Few women of our country have shown the world that women could contribute their best to the society without giving up their identities and without taking shelter under the VVIP status of their husbands. You might be aware that Elizabeth, wife of Former Defense Minister of India AK Antony and Panchali Sarkar, wife of Chief
Minister of Tripura had worked as Bank Officer and a School Teacher respectively till their retirements. A recent example in this category is Amrutha, wife of present CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis who continue her service as Associate Vice- President at the Axis Bank. Let me take this opportunity to request all the talented women who got confined behind their VVIP and VIP husbands to take the leading role towards the development of women and act as role models to the young generation. Let us not forget that our women folk are not walking over rose petals in their journey, whether it is professional or personal. Instances of sexual assault against women have been increasing and our law enforcing agencies and society could not ensure security to our women and children. Above all, the Indian society always blames the women victims for the offences committed against them. So, women should learn to protect themselves from the evils existing in the society and should assert their rights without waiting for others to grant them freedom. On this auspicious day, I wish all my sisters a Happy Women’s Day and at the same time request all men to regard each and every woman as their own family member and ensure a safe world for them to live happily and peacefully. Nellayappan B, Principal Govt. Higher secondary School, Bhandari
T
he year 2016 started on a grim note for us women. Just a day after New Year’s, there was a reported case of a minor girl being raped. Not long after, in February, we were greeted by yet another disheartening news of rape, committed against a minor girl, allegedly by a policeman. And we have no idea how many cases of crimes against women go unreported. For long, we have talked about violence against women, but perhaps, we talked even more about how Nagaland has fairly treated her women. I am sure it gave us all a sense of pride when the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) announced that Nagaland is the safest place for women in India. How nice that our state is being shown in a good light for a change. But having said that, only we know the real state of affairs in our state. Only we know how safe our women truly feel in the spaces of their own hometowns. Some of us are apprehensive about hiring a taxi. And it’s not even because of the high fares, but simply because you don’t feel safe enough to ride with a total stranger. Statistics revealed on the occasion of the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women last year, indicate that cases of violence against women are on the rise. Somehow, this takes you back to the question of ‘gender equality.’ We have often heard in forums, debates and discussions that Naga women are treated at par with men, as compared to other states. Or at least that seems to be something we take pride in. But that, we also know is far from the truth. The disparity is visible everywhere. Dishearteningly, in our very homes- the very reason why a woman’s place hasn’t changed much even in the last few decades. They say that the role of women is crucial in every aspect of development- socially, culturally, economically, politically. The contribution that women make in all these areas is undeniable. And yet, sadly, the Naga society is yet to have a woman legislator. It’s easy to say, women are welcome to contest in the elections. Everything is easier said than done. Our patriarchal roots are deeper than we want to part with. The politics of elections in the state- the corruption, the buying of votes, the promises of jobsis another story altogether. But how genuinely does our society look into this matter? Most of our communities would stop at, “but she’s a woman!” But only a woman would know which policies are best suited for women. Perhaps, then, ‘safety for women’ would also hold greater importance. Because looking at the world today, it seems ‘violence against women’ is only increasing, not to mention the gruesome manner in which some of them take place. Or perhaps, more education and research have brought more things to light. Either way, we cannot take for granted, the issues that concern the whole society. March 8, as you all know, is International Women’s Day. I don’t think women expect that this particular day be observed for its namesake. But clearly, the inception of this day calls for ‘gender parity.’ The 2016 campaign theme for International Women’s Day is also “Pledge for Parity.” There’s a reason why a theme like this has been chosen and its relevance in a state like ours cannot be undermined. I also believe “equality” will solve a lot of our unresolved problems and not just issues relating to women. But let us not forget that it takes more than mere advocacy of women empowerment to achieve gender equality. Vishü Rita Krocha
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tuesDAY 08•03•2016
PERSPECTIVE
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
7
Free Speech and Free Media: Help or Hindrance to Development? / Part 1
The greatness of a newspaper is not measured by the size of its readership but by its influence and credibility Irene Khan
T
Inter Press Service
he greatness of a newspaper is not measured by the size of its readership but by its influence and credibility. That is why the New York Times or the Guardian are better known and more respected than the tabloids in their respective countries with ten times their circulation. Like those broadsheets, The Daily Star too strives for quality over circulation, influence over income and credibility over sensationalism. I have chosen to speak today about freedom of expression and free media and the value they bring to democracy and development. February is the month in which we mark our Language Movement and recall the martyrs and activists who marched to establish Bangla, our mother tongue, as our national language. But their demand was not simply for a language, it was a demand for voice, for free speech, for freedom. They paid for freedom with blood – can we preserve that freedom with courage today? Of all human rights, freedom of speech is possibly the most complex and controversial right. We all love our own right to free speech, but many of us change our minds about how free speech should be when those with whom we disagree begin to talk. Freedom of speech is not an absolute right and so drawing boundaries raise many dilemmas, never more so than right now with religious intolerance on the rise, political dissent under pressure, and greater technological possibilities than ever before to access, process and disseminate information.
I want to focus on two questions: • how absolute is freedom of expression, in other words what are the limits of free speech? • how relevant is freedom of expression, in other words what value does it bring to democracy and development? I will examine both questions from the global as well as local perspectives. There is much for Bangladesh to learn from what is happening elsewhere. On Friday, Professor. Yunus began his speech by invoking the image of Paris, with millions of activists marching during the recent Climate Conference. I too begin with the image of millions of people marching in Paris – not last December but in January, 2015, days after the violent killings at the office of Charlie Hebdo – a satirical French weekly – in which 8 journalists, including 4 cartoonists and the editor were shot dead by extremists linked to ISIS. Over 3.7 million people, including President Hollande of France and other top European leaders, marched through the center of Paris, vowing to protect the right of people to think what they wish and speak what they think, without fear or favor. That was a year ago. Since then there have been more attacks and killings in Paris, and other cities in Europe and the U.S., as well as other parts of the world, from Bamako to Jakarta, not excluding the targeted killings in this country of bloggers, foreign aid workers and religious minorities. Fear is stalking freedom, once again, as it did in the early part of this century. France has introduced a new surveillance law, and extended its state of emergency. Security laws are being tightened in a number of countries in ways that infringe free speech and access to information. Twitter has sus-
pended some 125,000 accounts. The U.S. Presidential hopeful, Donald Trump has threatened to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. Around the world fundamentalist beliefs about blasphemy and secular beliefs about democracy and freedom are clashing head on, creating tensions among communities and countries. Many people are saying: “I believe in freedom of expression but…” Salman Rushdie has called them the “but brigade.” As we mull over that precious gift of democracy – our right to speak freely – and as each country and each of us considers what is permissible, feasible or advisable, it is worth taking a quick look at what history has to say about free speech. It is commonly said that free speech is an essential pillar of democracy – but it was not quite so clear in ancient Greece, the cradle of democracy. The Greek epic poet Homer supported free expression, but Solon, the first great lawmaker of Athens, banned what he described as “speaking evil against the living and the dead.” Pericles, the leader of democratic Athens, extolled freedom of speech but after the defeat of Athens by Sparta in the Peloponnesian Wars, the Athenian Assembly ordered Socrates to drink poison as punishment for lecturing about unrecognized gods and encouraging young men to question authority. Censorship was a common practice in Europe for centuries and became even stronger in the sixteenth century after the invention of the printing press which allowed books and papers to be printed challenging the Church and the State. In 1559, the Vatican produced the Congregation of the Index – a long list of banned books that were considered to be heretical. It included Nicolaus Copernicus’ De revolutioni bis orbium coelestium (The revolution of the heavenly spheres, 1543) which challenged the belief of the Catholic Church that the Earth was stationary. The great scientist Galileo Galilei was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Vatican because he confirmed Copernicus’s theories of planetary motion around the Sun. Galileo’s sentence was commuted to house arrest without any visitors only after he knelt before the Pope to recant his belief in Copernican theory. Galileo’s punishment, his recantation and the banning of his books set back scientific research by a hundred years. During the Reformation, Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I banned all publications that were opposed to the Church of England and invoked the Court of Star Chamber (that bypassed the regular English Courts, rather like our special courts) – the purpose of the Star Chamber was to prosecute “slander.” After the Star Chamber was abolished in 1637, the British Parliament introduced a censorship law called the Licensing Act. It was against that Act, that John Milton wrote his famous political essay Areopagitica in1644, as a defense of free expression. To paraphrase his essay in one sentence: “Truth is most likely to emerge in a free and open encounter.” Milton was followed by other thinkers of the Enlightenment like Voltaire who promoted freedom of thought and expression and most importantly, the notion of tolerance through wit and political satire. Voltaire’s beliefs can effectively be summed up as, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Sweden became the first European country to abolish censorship in 1766, followed by Denmark and Norway in 1770. In France, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, adopted after the French Revolution,
included not only the right to free speech but also the right to own a printing press! Shortly after that, came American Independence and the U.S. Constitution with its Bill of Rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution embodies to this day the strongest guarantee of free speech and secularism in the world: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The struggle for freedom and civil rights, including free speech, continued through the nineteenth century. John Mills’ work, On Liberty, published in 1859, became a classic defense of the right to freedom of expression. Mills argued that without human
freedom and free discussion there could be no progress in science, law or politics. While all this was happening in the West, our part of the world was being colonized by the British Empire, with the law introducing one restriction after another. The titles speak for themselves: First Censorship Law (1799); Censorship Law Modifications (1813); Regulations for Registration (1823); Metcalfe’s Act of 1835 (Registration of the Press Act); New Regulations on Printing Presses (1857); Indian Penal Code (1860); Press and Registration Act 1867; Vernacular Press Act (1878); Criminal Procedure Code (1898); Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act (1908); Indian Press Act (1910); Official Secrets Act (1923); and Indian Press (Emergency Power) (1931). It was not until after the Second World War, and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948 that freedom of speech came to be seen as a universally recognized human right. Article 19 of the UDHR proclaims: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Although a universal right, individual countries vary enormously in their interpretation of what constitutes free speech. Every country limits free speech to a greater or lesser extent. Indeed, the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights itself provides room for restriction, stating in article 19 (3) that the right “may be subject to certain restrictions provided by law and (that) are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.” These restrictions must be narrowly defined and interpreted, according to international law. But does that happen in practice? In actual fact, there are wide variations even among western democracies. The US remains the strongest champion of freedom of speech. The only restrictions that the First Amendment recognizes are obscenity, child pornography, defamation, incitement to violence and true threats of violence, and they too are interpreted very restrictively by the courts. Let me share with you three leading decisions of the US Supreme Court which have protected and expanded media freedom as an essential element of democracy. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), during the days of the Civil Rights movement, concerned a full-page ad in the New York Times which alleged that the arrest of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for perjury in Alabama was part of a campaign to destroy King’s efforts to integrate public facilities and encourage blacks to vote. Sullivan, the Montgomery city commissioner, filed a libel action against the newspaper and four black ministers who were listed as endorsers of the ad, claiming that the allegations against the Montgomery police defamed him personally. Because of factual errors in the ad, NYT could not claim truth as a defense and Sullivan won a $500,000 judgment in the first instance. NYT appealed to the US Supreme Court, claiming that the case had been brought to intimidate news organizations and prevent them from reporting illegal actions of public employees. The Court held that the First Amendment protects the publication of all statements, even false ones, about the conduct of public officials except when statements are made with actual malice (with knowledge that they are false or in reckless disregard of their truth) Before this decision, there were nearly US $300 million in libel actions outstanding against news organizations by various Southern states in the U.S, and caused many publications to exercise great caution when reporting on civil rights breaches by official in the Southern States, for fear that they might be held accountable for libel. After The New York Times prevailed in this case, news organizations were free to report the widespread disorder and civil rights infringements. In the famous Pentagon Paper case, New York Times Company v. United States (1971), the government tried to block the New York Times from publishing official documents showing that the Nixon administration had lied about the Vietnam War to Congress and the public. The Supreme Court set an even higher burden on the government and it could not obstruct the newspaper from publishing. “Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people …” said Justice Black. Going beyond press freedom the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the notion that even unpopular speech enjoys full First Amendment protection. In Brandenberg v. Ohio (1969) the US Supreme Court held that under the Constitution, speech can be banned as incitement to violence only when it is intentional, illegal and the violence or harm is imminent, not just likely. If any of the three elements — inten-
tion, imminence, or lawlessness — is absent, the speech in question cannot be constitutionally forbidden. Neither marches of the Ku Klux Clan, nor holocaust denial can be easily stopped in the U.S. Even burning the US flag is considered to be part of one’s freedom of speech! As the late Justice William Brennan put it, in a case involving flag burning, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable. It is a far cry from the way in which courts have treated issues that the public in Bangladesh may find offensive on religious or political or ideological grounds. European countries, while also protective of freedom of expression, do not go as far as the U.S. Most European countries have laws that ban “hate speech”, i.e. speech that incites racial or religious hatred. A number of them have laws that outlaw holocaust denial, and increasingly European countries are adopting laws banning speech or writing that is an “apology for terrorisms”. Most European countries however do not ban speech that offends religious feelings. They do not recognize blasphemy as a crime. They see the criticism of religion – even in an offensive manner as was done by the Danish magazine and Charlie Hebdo – as part of their secular freedom. In practice, however, the lines are not easy to draw between what is religious hatred and therefore banned, and what might be considered as blasphemous but nevertheless permissible as free speech in secular democracies. Recent laws banning speech that is considered to be “apology for terrorism” have added further to the confusion. The state of freedom of expression in other parts of the world is very different. In Africa, Asia and many other parts of the world, blasphemy is on the statute books and enforced vigorously to silence any criticism of religion, whether Islam, Hinduism or Christianity. It is sometimes also used to silence political dissent and gain support from hardline religious. In fact, look around the world and you see the slippery slope – restrictions on free speech introduced in the name of security or religion or public sensitivities but that become tools of repression favoring political incumbents. For instance, human rights groups say that in Rwanda, any statement that does not follow the official line on genocide is banned –ostensibly to avoid ethnic hatred but in reality to stifle criticism of the government. In many countries the constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press, but laws on treason, counter-terrorism, blasphemy, criminal libel, publication of false news, even contempt of court are used to suppress media freedom and political criticism. If the law is not enough to chill free speech, then extremist violence acts as a veto, threatening, attacking and killing the critics, the bloggers or the zealous journalists with impunity. In the words of the Economist, “When it is too risky even to report on restrictions to free speech, there is little left for the censors to do.” Freedom of expression is the right to speak, it is also the right to hear. Informed political debate requires that this right be strongly protected, and it is only through free expression that individuals can take action to ensure that our governing institutions are held accountable. Restrictions on free speech must be very limited. Otherwise, if the government is allowed to decide which opinions can be expressed and which cannot, an open, vibrant and diverse society quickly breaks down. Similarly, when our court system is used to silence those with unpopular views, we all lose the opportunity to hear all sides of an issue and come to our own conclusions.
Free Speech and Free Media: Help or Hindrance to Development? / Part 2
Development is about the expansion of people’s freedom Irene Khan
T
Inter Press Service
he second part: the relevance of free speech and free media to development. Freedom is the central object of development, says Amartya Sen. He argues that development cannot simply be seen as GNP or industrialization or social modernization. Economic growth and social development are valuable but their value lies in what they do to the lives and freedom of the people involved. In Prof. Sen’s view, development is about the expansion of people’s freedom. That is today increasingly becoming the international definition of development. Unlike the MDGs that dwelt solely on social indicators, the SDGs contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN in September last year, talk about equality, equity, transparency and accountability. During the negotiations at the UN on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development one of the most hard-fought battles was on Goal 16 which is essentially about the rule of law and good governance. Media freedom was one of the elements that many western countries wanted to include in Goal 16. After much debate, it was dropped. Nevertheless Goal 16 is a game changer. It includes public access to information, democratic participation, legal identity, access to justice and the rule of law. It is a clear acknowl-
edgement that development and freedom are indeed inseparable. The International Development Law Organization which I now head is a strong champion of Goal 16 – because we believe that development cannot be sustained nor be sustainable without justice and human rights. Speech is a fundamental part of being human. Freedom of speech is essential for our spirit and our soul. That is the ultimate message of the Language Movement. But freedom of speech – and especially freedom of the press – has also instrumental value as well as intrinsic value. There is much anecdotal and empirical research to show that when poor people have a voice, when they are informed, when they are able to organize, speak out and take part in decisions affecting their lives and livelihoods, they are able to overcome the deprivation, exclusion and insecurity that are the hallmarks of poverty. In that process they regain their dignity and sense of self-worth. By “voice” I do not mean only the right to speak out. I mean the right to information about the development choices that are available, including how public funds are being spent. Just as you need an investment friendly climate for economic growth, you need a voice-enabling environment for development. Such an environment is created when there is a free and vibrant press that permits the unhindered flow of information and the unencumbered debate of ideas. Empirical evidence shows that information and participation of people lead to better development outcomes. Real participation occurs only when civil society can work without pressure, the press is not controlled and people are free to express dissident views.
Free media is good not only for people but also for governments. It directly benefits government policies by providing information on what is really happening, so that governments can adjust policies or correct any mistakes. Prof. Amartya Sen’s study of famines has shown that because of censorship Chinese officials were not aware of the full extent of the famines during Mao’s times, or even of how much grain they had. They massively miscalculated the figures – and millions of lives were lost. For those who admire the Chinese model of economic development, it would be salutary to remember that lack of transparency has compounded China’s policy mistakes on numerous occasions, for instance about the spread of HIV/AIDS, or the use of melamine in baby food, or about control of air and water pollution. Because the government punishes harshly those who criticize its policies and practices, official corruption and corporate malpractices are not often reported until the scandal can no longer be hidden – and usually by then, considerable harm has been done. Censorship can keep the government as well as citizens in the dark. When people are kept in the dark, there is little incentive on the part of the authorities to take corrective action. As Prof. Sen has pointed out, it is no mere coincidence that famines have rarely occurred in flourishing democracies. Public discussion and debate is essential not only for making government more responsive but also society more open, changing attitudes and creating new social norms – for instance to fight gender-based violence, to promote pro-poor policies, to be more environmentally conscious. A free
press can open the space for public debate, and can help to form public opinion. Information is a powerful vector of change. That is why the global Right to Information Movement is so important and has dramatically shifted the burden of accountability in many developing countries. I am told by those working on RTI issues that the law is empowering the poor, making them active and empowered citizens. RTI legislation has been a powerful tool for media in developed countries, for instance it forced the UK government to release information on arms sales to Saudi Arabia that revealed large scale corruption. In Bangladesh RTI seems to be more a tool for citizens, rather than the media. I fear we do not value our media freedom enough. Indeed, most people, especially poor people, do not care much about democracy and freedom when things are going well. I read in the local papers that a recent survey has shown that most people in Bangladesh value economic growth over democracy and freedom. When things are going well, that is a common finding not just in this country but in many others. It is when the economy falters and unemployment falls that people come out on the streets, as we have seen in recent years in countries like Egypt or Tunisian or even in western countries like the ones that took place on Wall Street. That is when people begin to value free media. The stability that we are enjoying now is making us complacent about our freedoms, including our media freedom, but there are grey clouds on the economic horizon – the price of oil falling, conflict and instability
in the Middle East, China’s growth figures stalling, and many such factors – that could make us soon more aware of the value of transparency and accountability, public debate and a free press. The digital age has created a greater awareness of the power of communication. It has made journalists and readers out of all us as we tweet, go on Facebook and YouTube, or blog. We are all tasting the power of the media in our own ways, and with power comes responsibility and accountability. Media today is more powerful than ever before. Like all forms of power, it must also be held to account. I am sure we can all tell stories of poor reporting, or unfair invasion of privacy, and false attribution. No matter how independent newspapers are rarely seen to be neutral. The private ownership of media can also be a source of concern, especially when much of it is concentrated in the hands of a few. The answer to the power of the media is not to censor or seek regulation but to expand the media – encourage more papers, broader ownership, more free press, not less. Let us trust the reader to choose his or her paper, just as the voter chooses his or her government. Freedom of the net and the press thrives on competition and confrontation – let’s accept In a democracy, free expression allows citizens to challenge political leaders, journalists to uncover information for the public, and the public to ensure the accountability of their government. Without free media and free speech, there can be no development or democracy. That is why in the end, the power of the press always overcomes the power to suppress.
Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.
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TuesdAY 08•03•2016
INDIA
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Health organisations call for gender equality NEW DELHI, MarcH 7 (IaNs): Health organisations on Monday called for improved gender equality all over the world, particularly in the economy and access to healthcare. They said women across the world have unique health needs that are often not addressed. In South-East Asia Region, for instance, about 61,000 women died in 2015 while giving birth, said the World Health Organisation (WHO). Researchers have concluded that despite repeated attempts in several nations, nearly 38 percent of women in South Asian region have experienced gender-based violence at least once in their lifetime, said a survey done by Social Development Foundation of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and industry of India (Assocham). "Achieving universal health coverage is one of the most effective ways to allow women to access the care they need. Universal coverage mitigates economic and physical barriers to accessing care and enhances women’s ability to take care
of their health," said Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director for WHO South Asian Region. Noting that women account for the bulk of the 1.6 million annual deaths from household air pollution, Khetrapal said that due to the economic structure of many households, investing in a woman’s or girl’s health is often overlooked in favour of other priorities. Gender parity is the theme of this year's International Women's Day, which is going to be observed on Tuesday. "Health systems must strengthen and increase the provision of services tailored to women’s needs, including reproductive and sexual health services, as well as breast cancer screening," said Khetrapal. Poonam Muttreja, the executive director of Population Foundation of India (PFI), stressed the need to improve access to sexual and reproductive health rights to empower women and address gender inequalities, discrimination and violence. "There is a greater urgency today to uphold women’s
achievements, recognize the challenges that they face, and focus on their rights, empowerment and gender equality. Women must be able to exercise their rights, especially the right to informed choice, voluntary access to reproductive health and family planning services and control over their fertility," said Muttreja. "Girls continue to be forced to marry against their will in early age, a clear violation of their rights and a devastating form of violence. There are enduring societal norms, perceptions and attitudes which inhibit the pace of improvement in the condition and position of Indian women in society and economy." A recent survey by Assocham's Social Development Foundation indicates onefourth working women, especially those engaged in private sector at different levels, desire to quit their jobs for a number of reasons, including gender bias and workplace harassment. "Gender bias together with workplace harassment and inconvenient working hours re-
mained top reasons as to why majority of respondents wanted to quit their jobs," noted the Assocham survey. Commenting on health condition of women in India, Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director of George Institute for Global Health said: "Non-communicable diseases (NCD) have emerged the largest killers of women in India - responsible for 60 percent of all deaths amongst women in 2013, up from 38 percent in 1990." He said that now the commonest causes of death in women - as in men - are ischemic heart disease (commonly called heart attack), stroke, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. "Women are particularly susceptible to certain conditions like lung disease secondary to exposure to biomass fuels and second hand smoke from male smokers. Women utilize health services less often despite large disease burden leading to inequality in outcomes. There has been no attention paid to it which can bring down the health diseases burden among women," he said.
Women feel dowry most severe form of gender disparity: Survey NEW DELHI, MarcH 7 (IaNs): Most Indian women feel that dowry is the most severe form of gender disparity when it comes to marriage, according to a survey conducted by online matrimony platform Shaadi.com for International Women's Day, which falls on Tuesday. The online poll, which received 12,655 responses (5745 women and 6910 men) from married and single Indians ranging from 24 to 36 years of age, was conducted to understand the situations where a woman faces disparity. When women were asked 'Where do women face disparity', 21.7 percent of respondents said workplace, 28.2 percent of them said 'home' and 50.1 percent of them said 'marriage'. Probed further, when the women were particularly asked about the 'most severe form of gender disparities
in marriage', 84.1 percent of the respondents said 'dowry demands'; 7.3 percent said 'change in lifestyle and identity'; followed by 8.6 percent who said 'wedding expenses'. In terms of 'disparities in the workplace', 38.9 percent of the women asked, said 'promotion hindrance during pregnancy', followed by 51.6 percent women who said 'compensation inequality', and 9.5 percent of them said 'lack of recognition/credit for the work they perform'. Talking of 'disparities at home', it emerged that 42.1 percent face issues of 'unequal sharing of load among spouses/male siblings', whereas 40.6 percent said 'decision-making power', and followed by 17.3 percent said 'childcare'. The men surveyed expressed that gender disparities need to be removed from the society. When they were
asked, 'Do they think women face disparity', 67.8 percent of them said 'yes', followed by 18.3 percent who said 'Not sure' and 13.9 percent said 'No'. When 2905 married men in the survey were asked about 'where do they think women face disparity', 15.8 percent men said 'Home - if they have male siblings', 37.5 percent said 'Workplace - they are expected to have work-life balance', while 46.7 percent said 'Marriage - they have to adjust and compromise more than men'. When 4005 single men were asked the same question, 71.2 percent men said 'Marriage - dowry is the most prominent case of inequality’, 16.3 percent of them said, 'Home - they are always expected to be the caretaker', while, 12.5 percent said 'Work - they will hit the glass ceiling irrespective of their career progression stage'.
JNU row: Delhi govt initiates Thousands of dead fish surface at Bengaluru’s Ulsoor Lake Rajnath reviews BENgaLuru, MarcH legal action against TV security situation 7 (PtI): Thousands of fish were washed NEW DELHI, MarcH 7 (PtI): Home Minister Rachannels over doctored videos dead ashore today at Ulsoor lake, jnath Singh today reviewed the internal security situaNEW DELHI, MarcH 7 (IE): The Delhi government on Monday directed its legal team to initiate legal action against three television news channels for airing allegedly doctored footage of slogans raised in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on February 9. Following the submission of a fact-finding report on March 2 by Sanjay Kumar, District Magistrate, New Delhi, the government will seek examination of a complaint against the news channels — Zee News, News X, India News and Times Now — under section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, government officials said. On February 13, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and JD (U) leader K C Tyagi had met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanded an independent probe into the incident. Kejriwal had later tweeted, “There are claims that JNU student leaders shouted antiIndia slogans and counter claims that ABVP activists did it. To find truth, Del govt is directing DM to conduct an inquiry.” “The report has revealed that the tapes had been doctored. We want to thank the Chief Minister because he accepted our demand. Since the government’s inquiry has revealed certain facts… we asked him to take action on those who propagated those false tapes. That is also a crime under the broadcasting law. He informed us that action will be taken against media houses which used those fabricated tapes to create a frenzy against JNU being anti-national,” Yechury told The Indian Express. A 112-page report titled ‘Fact finding report on the incident of raising of anti-national slogans in JNU Campus on 9 Feb 2016’ submitted to the Delhi government has stated that of the seven video clips examined by the District Magistrate, three were found doctored. One of the doctored videos was found in the URL http://twitter.com.shilpitewari/ status/70088979048964208?s=09. The video was titled ‘Proof Against Kanhaiya’ and examination showed, the report stated, that it was “not authentic as the audio and video streams are from different sources” In another video titled ‘Very shocking & Disturbing Video From JNU #Shame.mp4’ which was also found doctored, the DM report stated, the word ‘Bandook’ could have been inserted and “there are other serious editing”. About a 38-second TV news channel clip, the DM wrote, “it was a doctored video with possible intention to misguide public”. While India News had earlier denied airing any doctored video, messages and emails sent to News X, Zee News and Times Now by The Indian Express received no reply.
a popular boating site here, raising concerns about water pollution in the city. Residents living in and around the lake were in for a shock as they found the fish heaped around, raising unbearable stink in the water body. Several residents, who complained about the stink, said sewage from the drain flowing into the lake due to a breach in a bund had depleted oxygen levels causing the large fish kill and authorities concerned had done nothing despite complaints. “We are not surprised… we have been warning authorities from the last two years..sewage water is get-
The popular Ulsoor lake in Bengaluru saw thousands of fish being washed ashore on Monday. (ANI Photo)
ting mixed with the lake water due to a breach in a bund..,” a resident said. A tourism spot, Ulsoor lake had been choked with water hyacinth in recent
years, with government launching clean-up efforts. The incident comes even as there is a growing concern by environmentalists over polluted lakes, ex-
emplified by the thick froth and flames from the Yamlur lake that caused ripples in the city last year. The cause for the large fish kill was not known.
tion in the country in the wake of inputs that 10 suspected LeT and JeM terrorists have entered India from Pakistan through Gujarat. At a high-level meeting, attended by top security officials including Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma, Singh took stock of the situation and the steps taken to prevent any possible terror attacks. The Home Minister was briefed that four NSG teams have taken position in different locations in Gujarat and would rush to any place if there is any emergency, official sources said. Singh also reviewed the steps taken to beef up security in strategic locations, religious sites and industrial spots in Gujarat and metro cities apprehending threats, they said. However, so far there is no clue about the suspected terrorists, who were believed to have entered Gujarat, which could be their prime target. An alert has already been sounded in Gujarat and other major metropolitan centres by central security agencies following reports that the 10 terrorists have entered the western state to carry out attacks against high-value targets.A similar alert has also been sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
Reform or perish, Jaitley tells states; Haryana signs MoUs of Rs.1.28 lakh crore gurgaoN, MarcH 7 (IaNs): Advocating the need for states to compete with each other in attracting investments, union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said that states need to "reform or perish" in the era of competitive federalism. India has become a competitive federalism, with states vying with each other to attract investment, he said while inaugurating the two-day 'Happening Haryana Global Investors' Summit in this Haryana city, adjoining the national capital. "Reform or perish could not be more true than it is today. It is about states competing with each other to attract investment. "Those who don't reform... people in those states are at a disadvantage and those who are in a position to offer more favourable
economic, business and political environment to investors certainly are going to benefit," Jaitley pointed out. Noting that a growing number of Indian states were holding investor summits, he warned them that an environment of policy paralysis was bound to put off potential investors. The investors' summit started here under the shadow of the recent Jat agitation for reservation which saw Haryana being paralysed by violence, leaving 30 people dead and losses to property pegged at over Rs.20,000 crore. Referring to the violent protests, Jaitley said: "The dark clouds are over." Host state Haryana, which has seen big industrial investment in the past over three decades, signed 38 MoUs with different companies, involv-
ing an investment of Rs.1,28,740 crore. These agreements included a MoU of Rs.45,365 crore for mixed use development, office and retail, smart city signed with M3M, Rs.12,823 crore and Rs.11,100 crore for infrastructure with Vatika Ltd and IREO Private Ltd respectively. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar promised entrepreneurs and potential investors all out support by the government and assured ease of doing business."I promise that you will never find my government hesitating or wanting, in going the extra mile to support your ventures. Our enterprises promotion policy, 2015, is just a beginning," he said. "We have planned some major economic policy reforms in the coming days," he said.
The summit has been partnered by 11 countries - China, Czech Republic, Japan, Mauritius, Malawi, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia, Britain - and Canada's Ontario province. Listing key initiatives taken by his government to make things easy for investors, Khattar said Haryana had already ended the uncertainty over future enhancements in cost of industrial plots, launched e-biz portal, introduced automatic change of land use in 75 development blocks in the state, done away with the CLU requirement in 31 blocks, and set up three-tier grievance redressal system for both existing and new investors. To encourage small and medium enterprises, the state government will reserve 20 percent of its purchases for this sector, Industries Minister Abhimanyu
announced at the summit. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pitched for investment in the state, especially in the defence-related sectors, given its proximity to the national capital, technology base and skilled manpower. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that a rail coach factory would be set up in Haryana. Leading industrialists and heads of leading companies, including Gautam Adani (Adani group), Y.C. Deveshwar (ITC), R.C. Bhargava (Maruti-Suzuki), Sunil Kant Munjal (Hero Motocorp), cardiologist Naresh Trehan (Medanta Hospitals), Subhash Chandra (Essel-Zee group), Rajiv Singh (DLF) and Wang Jianlin (Dalian Wanda group of China) and others were present on the first day of the summit.
Pharma crusader takes India's drug regulators to court NEW DELHI, MarcH 7 (rEutErs): One of India’s best-known whistleblowers, who exposed dangerous practices in the generic drug industry in 2013, is taking the country's drugs regulators to court, accusing them of failing to enforce rules on drug safety in the $15 billion industry. Three years ago, Dinesh Thakur exposed how India's then largest drugmaker and his former employer, Ranbaxy Laboratories, failed to conduct proper safety and quality tests on drugs and lied to regulators about its procedures. He made his name, and almost $48 million as a whistleblower award from the United States, when U.S. regulators fined Ranbaxy $500 million for violating federal drug safety laws and making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ranbaxy said the fine marked the resolution of past issues and it continued to make safe, effective and quality medicines. Thakur's fresh case, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) suit, is listed on the Supreme Court website for hearing on Friday. It alleges that responses provided to him by government show how lax regulation can lead to potentially harmful medicines being sold in India without proper approvals. The suit, which names as respondents the health ministry, the Drugs Consultative Committee and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), would not result in penalties but sets as objectives the creation of a framework for the recall of drugs and a commission to examine faulty drug approvals. The head of the CD-
SCO, GN Singh, said: “We welcome whistleblowers, we have got great respect, but their intentions should be genuine, should be nationalistic... I don't have any comment on this guy." The other named parties did not respond to requests for comment. Thakur, who said there was no financial motive for the suit, spent much of 2015 working with lawyers to file more than 100 public information requests on how state and central drug authorities had responded to cases where rules had been broken, some of which first came to light five years ago. Thakur says the responses he obtained show CDSCO and the health ministry have still not adequately investigated and prosecuted those breaches, despite saying they would. "An overwhelming number of non-standardquality drugs are not pros-
ecuted in criminal cases, since state drug controllers only impose minor administrative penalties on the offenders," Thakur says in the lawsuit, citing government data. The health ministry and CDSCO did not respond to requests for comment on its penalty policy. NO INQUIRY Thakur, who worked for Ranbaxy for two years from 2003 before turning whistleblower, is now chief executive of Florida-based MedAssure Global Compliance, which advises drug companies on quality and safety. After the Ranbaxy settlement in the U.S. in 2013, Thakur said the authorities in India did not contact him about it or probe the reasons for the fine, nor did they respond when he approached them through 2014.
The ministry and CDSCO did not respond to requests for comment on their response. The Ranbaxy case prompted the FDA to increase inspections of Indian pharmaceutical plants. Products from 44 such plants are now banned for sale by overseas authorities but still sell in India. Thakur's suit refers to the case of Buclizine, a drug made by Belgian firm UCB but since sold to Mankind Pharma for marketing in India. The CDSCO allowed UCB to sell Buclizine as an appetite stimulant in 2006, though it was not approved for that purpose in Belgium and banned in several other countries. UCB was not asked for clinical studies, the parliamentary committee found. UCB said it couldn't answer current questions related to Buclizine but that it observed all regulatory, le-
gal, quality and safety regulations. The CDSCO website says its expert advisory committee found “no convincing literature to support the drug’s use as an appetite stimulant” in 2013 but agreed to give Mankind Pharma time to make a case for the drug. Since then, Mankind Pharma Managing Director Sheetal Arora told Reuters it had received no official request for data to prove the safety and efficacy of the drug, which it was still selling. The parliamentary committee demanded an investigation and the drugs regulator committed to one in 2013. Thakur received a statement from the health ministry last year, seen by Reuters, showing no inquiry had begun. The regulator did not Dinesh Thakur, a public health activist, poses for a picture respond to requests for at his residence in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi on comment. January 19. (REUTERS Photo)
TuesdaY 08•03 •2016
WORLD
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
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Nancy remembered for her forceful, private style NEW YORK, MaRch 7 (aP): Unlike other presidential wives, Nancy Reagan didn’t testify before Congress about health care, celebrate controversial Supreme Court decisions or sit in on Cabinet meetings. “She never emerged as a political player in her own right. Nor did she seek to,” says historian David Greenberg, the author of “Republic of Spin: An Inside History of the American Presidency.” “On the other hand, neither did she confine herself to the domestic sphere. And by taking an active role in her husband’s business, she helped to reconcile conservatism to the reality of women’s changing roles. Her views may have been conservative, but her political involvement implied that it wasn’t improper for women to participate in what conservatives considered the man’s sphere.” Reagan, who died Sunday at 94, wasn’t out to break the rules of being first lady. But she knew well how to work within them. Ronald Reagan had promised to champion conservative values when elected in 1980, and Nancy Reagan was in some ways a throwback to a more oldfashioned approach. Her immediate predecessor,
Nancy Reagan ‘redefined the role’ of first lady: Obama
Nancy Reagan waits to greet Republican presidential candidates in a replica of the Oval Office at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, before the Reagan Centennial GOP presidential primary debate in Simi Valley, California. (REUTERS File Photo)
Rosalynn Carter, had attended Cabinet meetings. Betty Ford had spoken candidly about gun control, premarital sex and her surgery for breast cancer and praised the ruling of Roe v. Wade, when the Supreme Court declared a constitutional right to abortion, as “the best thing in the world.” In the 1990s, Hillary Clinton would try (and fail) to overhaul the country’s health care system. Nancy Reagan’s most
Bacteria-laden mosquitoes can control spread of Zika haNOI, MaRch 7 (IaNS): A new breed of mosquitoes laden with bacteria has proven capable of controlling the spread of dengue fever and the Zika virus, said Vietnam’s health officials on Monday. Scientists have officially confirmed the ability of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria to block the Zika virus and prevent it from being transmitted to humans, Xinhua reported quoted Le Tan Phung, deputy director of Khanh Hoa health department as saying. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria released since April 2013 on Tri Nguyen Island in Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa Province. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vector of both dengue fever and the Zika virus, but they naturally do not carry Wolbachia bacteria. In April 2013, scientists handed over a total of 8,000 mosquito larvae injected with Wolbachia bacteria to nearly 800 families to breed on the island. Tran Nhu Duong, deputy director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that after three months, 70 to 80 percent of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on the island carried the bacteria. On February 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika outbreak an international health emergency. It cited a “strongly suspected” relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy to microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size in babies that can result in developmental problems
Common ancestral gene for modern life identified TORONTO, MaRch 7 (IaNS): Researchers from University of British Columbia have identified a common ancestral gene that enabled the evolution of advanced life over a billion years ago and without which, the life on our planet would probably still be bacterial slime. The gene, found in all complex organisms including plants and animals, encodes for a large group of enzymes known as protein kinases that enabled cells to be larger and to rapidly transfer information from one part to another. “If the duplications and subsequent mutations of this gene during evolution didn’t happen, then life would be completely different today,” said Steven Pelech, professor in the UBC faculty of medicine. Plants, animals, mushrooms and more all exist because they are made up of eukaryotic cells that are larger and far more complex than bacteria. Inside of these eukaryotic cells are hundreds of organelles that perform diverse functions to keep them living, just as different organs do for the human body. The new research, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, identifies the gene that gave rise to protein kinases. On a cellular scale, these highly interactive signaling proteins play a role similar to the neurons in the brain by transferring information throughout the cell by a process known as protein phosphorylation. This ability to transmit signals from one part of the cell to another not only enabled cells to become more complex internally, but also allowed cells to come together to form systems, paving the way for the evolution of intelligent life. Research into these enzymes has become very important to medicine. More than 400 human diseases like cancer and diabetes are linked to problems with cell signalling. Disease occurs when a cell gets misinformed or confused and today, about one-third of all pharmaceutical drug development is targeted at protein kinases. From sequencing the genomes of humans, scientists knew that about 500 genes for different protein kinases all had similar blueprints. “Our new research revealed that the gene probably originated from bacteria for facilitating the synthesis of proteins and then mutated to acquire completely new functions,” added Pelech. The findings can help study other important protein families and could eventually lead to the creation of a protein version of the evolutionary tree of life.
public issue was more in line with expectations for first ladies: her “Just Say No” to drugs campaign, which she launched after a schoolgirl asked what to do if someone offered her drugs. The effectiveness of “Just Say No” remains in dispute, but it became a catchphrase (and punchline) for the 1980s and part of an effort that included drug-free zones and “zero tolerance” policies in schools. Reagan herself
gave speeches and even made a cameo appearance on the NBC sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.” Reagan had other causes and in her postWashington years openly broke with conservatives by advocating (and allying herself with the liberal Sen. Edward Kennedy) for embryonic stem cell research for Alzheimer’s, the disease which afflicted her husband. But while first lady, she stated most of her
opinions in private. Often in tandem with such White House moderates as Chief of Staff James Baker and longtime adviser Michael Deaver, she favored better relations with the Soviet Union, opposed high military spending and urged the president to speak openly about AIDS. Her prevailing ambition was to help her husband, and she did so in uncommonly forceful style. “Ronald Reagan was
WaShINGTON, MaRch 7 (REuTERS): U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, offered condolences on the death on Sunday, saying she “redefined the role” of first lady and became a strong advocate for Alzheimer’s research.of Nancy Reagan “Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for living in the White House,” the Obamas wrote in a joint statement on Sunday after news of Reagan’s death in California. “She was right, of course. But we had a head start, because we were fortunate to benefit from her proud example, and her warm and generous advice. “Our former first lady redefined the role in her time here. Later, in her long goodbye with President Reagan, she became a voice on behalf of millions of families going through the depleting, aching reality of Alzheimer’s, and took on a new role, as advocate, on behalf of treatments that hold the potential and the promise to improve and save lives. “We offer our sincere condolences to their children, Patti, Ron, and Michael, and to their grandchildren. And we remain grateful for Nancy Reagan’s life, thankful for her guidance, and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again.” a striver, but his striving was masked by his courteous, amiable manner and enduring fatalism,” biographer Lou Cannon wrote in “President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime.” ‘’Hers (Nancy’s) was out in the open, all cards on the table, for anyone to see. With a directness unusual either in Hollywood or Washington, Nancy Reagan favored anyone who helped her husband or advanced his career and opposed any-
one who was in his way. She put people off, while he put them at their ease.” Nancy Reagan acknowledged the limits of her influence. In her memoir, “My Turn,” she wrote of her husband that “he often seems remote, and he doesn’t let anybody get too close. There’s a wall around him.” Sometimes, she added, “even I feel that barrier.” In his book, Cannon noted that the president ignored her advice on mili-
tary spending and resisted her and many others before agreeing to fire Baker’s unpopular successor as chief of staff, Donald Regan. Reagan biographer Edmund Morris, who spent three years around the Reagans while he was president, was dismissive of Nancy’s political influence. But he did cite her importance to him personally, as someone who managed his finances and other everyday details, and as a “street fighter” who protected her husband from “predators.” He likened her to Edith Roosevelt, wife of Theodore Roosevelt. “Both Reagan and TR tended to like everybody and were easily taken advantage of,” Morris says. “And both of these women, Nancy and Edith, were good at keeping away these conniving, predatory people, whether they were office seekers or lobbyists.” Greenberg says Nancy Reagan wasn’t “ideologically driven,” like many of his aides. “For that reason, she should get credit, with James Baker and Michael Deaver, for helping him to avoid some of the pitfalls that a consistently hard-right presidency would have encountered,” Greenberg says. “Her protectiveness served him well overall.”
Sanders, Rubio wins keep US presidential race competitive WaShINGTON, MaRch 7 (IaNS): Ahead of the crucial March 15 Super Tuesday nominating contests, Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Bernie Sanders notched a victory each in Puerto Rico and Maine respectively to keep the US presidential race competitive. For Florida Senator Rubio his second victory on Sunday in the Republican race, that has been dominated by real estate Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, provides him a rationale to stay in the race. Establishment favourite Rubio, who has been endorsed by South Carolina’s Indian-American governor Nikki Haley and Louisiana’s former IndianAmerican governor Bobby Jindal, is now counting on winning his home state Florida on Super Tuesday. But Trump who has won 12 of the first 19 contests is leading Rubio by double
digits in the 99-delegate, winner-take-all primary in Florida on March 15. Cruz too has gained some momentum with six wins including two on Saturday, while Ohio Governor John Kasich, whose state also holds a winnertake-all primary on March 15, is still seeking his first win. On the Democratic side Sanders’ victory in Maine caucuses was his third of the weekend after winning Kansas and Nebraska, though Clinton won in Louisiana. Meanwhile, during a Democratic debate on Sunday on CNN in Flint, Michigan, Clinton and Bernie Sanders angrily clashed over auto industry bailouts, guns and ties to Wall Street. Asserting that the economy is weighted against the middle and working classes, Sanders alleged that it was abetted by close ties between politicians, such
as Clinton, and Wall Street financiers. He also accused Clinton of supporting “disastrous” trade policies that contributed to corporate America’s decision to move manufacturing from cities like Flint to low-wage economies in Central America and Asia. Sanders repeatedly knocked Clinton for her
ties to the finance industry and demanded that she release transcripts of her paid speeches to Wall Street firms. Clinton said she will do so when other candidates, including Republicans, agree to do the same. Clinton also claimed she had the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change. As secre-
Put girls at heart of ‘anti-poverty’ drive rages everywhere, girls and women living in extreme poverty - those often hit hardest by the injustice of gender inequality - have been left out of the conversation. This must change. The fight for gender equity is global.” Other signatories included boxer Muhammad Ali, actors Robert Redford and Colin Farrell, actresses Charlize Theron and Patricia Arquette, Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg and U2 singer Bono, co-founder of anti-poverty charity ONE which published the letter.
Entertainer Oprah Winfrey. (REUTERS File Photo)
LONDON, MaRch 7 (ThOMSON REuTERS FOuNDaTION): Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, actress Meryl Streep and singer Elton John called on Monday for world leaders to put girls at the heart of anti-poverty efforts as a new index revealed Niger was the toughest country to be a girl. In an open letter, published on the eve of International Women’s Day, a host of prominent figures urged leaders to improve girls’ and women’s ac-
cess to education, justice and technology and help them fight HIV and malnutrition. They said it was “an outrage” that girls make up three-quarters of all new HIV infections among adolescents in Africa and that 40 percent of women on the continent suffer from anaemia which results in a fifth of maternal deaths. “Nowhere on earth do women have as many opportunities as men,” the letter added. “While the debate around this truth
“DEATH SENTENCE” ONE said being born a girl in a poor country amounted to a “double whammy.” “In too many countries being born poor and female means a life sentence of inequality, oppression and poverty - and in too many cases also a death sentence,” it said in a report entitled Poverty is Sexist. In Niger a woman has a one in 20 chance in her lifetime of dying while giving birth. In an index compiled by ONE of the 20 hardest countries to be a girl, Niger is followed by Somalia, Mali, Central African Republic, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Chad and Comoros. Globally, half a billion women cannot read, 62 million girls are denied an education and 155 countries still have laws that discriminate against women. But ONE said investments targeted towards girls and women paid dividends by lifting everyone out of poverty more quickly. It said 2016 presented two big opportunities for leaders to turn into action the commitments they made on gender inequality when they adopted the new U.N. Sustainable Development Goals last year. These are the Nutrition for Growth Summit hosted by Rio in August and the replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which is aiming to raise $13 billion. ONE policy director Eloise Todd said investing in nutrition and health was vital not just for women and girls but for the fight against extreme poverty. “Until leaders tackle the injustices that pervade the lives of girls and women and invest in fighting poverty, half of the world’s resources will remain untapped, and social and economic progress for everyone will be constrained,” she added.
tary of state, Clinton said she worked with President Barack Obama “to put pressure on China and India and other countries” to join the global agreement in Paris. Both candidates billed themselves as the best possible person to take on the Republicans, particularly Donald Trump, in a general election.
Clinton slammed what she said was the “bigotry, bullying and bluster” of the Republican front-runner, while her rival pointed to polls indicating he was more likely to beat the billionaire. Meahwhile, Trump said on Sunday that, as president, he would push to change laws that prohibit waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques, arguing that banning them puts the US at a strategic disadvantage against Islamic State militants. “We have to play the game the way they’re playing the game,” Trump said in an interview on CBS Sunday, one day after he told an audience in Florida that he would fight to expand and broaden the laws that regulate interrogation. “I would like to strengthen the laws,” he added on Sunday, “so that we can better compete.
Second bookseller detained in China returns to Hong Kong hONG KONG, MaRch 7 (REuTERS): A second Hong Kong bookseller who went missing and was found to have been detained in China returned home on Sunday, refusing to discuss his case, Hong Kong police said. Cheung Chi Ping was one of five Hong Kong booksellers specializing in gossipy publications about Chinese leaders to go missing last year. A colleague from the same store re-appeared in the city on Friday. “Cheung Chi Ping requested police to cancel his missing person case and stated that he did not require any assistance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government or police,” the police said in a statement. Two of the others, Gui Minhai and Lee Bo had been outside mainland China when they disappeared. Gui was in Thailand and Lee in Hong Kong. Gui appeared on state television in January and tearfully confessed to a fatal drinkdriving incident over a decade ago. He appeared on Chinese television again late last month with three of his colleagues confirming for the first time they had been detained for “illegal book trading” in mainland China. British passport holder Lee, in an interview with China’s Phoenix Television last week, said he had not been kidnapped by Chinese authorities, as many suspect, but had sneaked into China illegally and that he would renounce his British citizenship. The booksellers’ plight had provoked concerns that China was using shadowy tactics to weaken Hong Kong’s broad freedoms under the “one country, two systems” formula under which the global financial hub has been governed since its return to China from British rule in 1997. Police had said on Wednesday that authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong had told them Lui and his colleagues, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee, would be released on bail in coming days. A number of governments have expressed concern about the disappearances, which some diplomats fear were abductions by Chinese agents. China’s Foreign Ministry has said its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas, and called on foreign governments not to interfere. Hong Kong police said they would continue to follow the other missing person cases with the Interpol Guangdong Liaison Office of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department.
10
tuesDAY 08•03•2016
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Bethesda School annual european roundup - leicester sports week concludes extend lead, big guns stay clear LoNDoN, march 7 (rEutErs): Leicester City remain on track to win their first top-flight title while European heavyweights Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris St Germain all maintained their leads and Benfica toppled Sporting Lisbon.
Students of bethesda Higher Secondary School, Dimapur taking part in concluding event of its 22nd Annual Sports Week.
Dimapur, march 7 (mExN): The 22nd Annual Sports Week of Bethesda Higher Secondary School concluded here at the Bethesda New School Complex, Walford Dimapur on March 5 with a high note. On the final day, R Amongla Jamir, Deputy District Education Officer Dimapur graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
According to a press note from the School Principal, apart from sporting events, the final day saw March pass display by senior students and NCC Cadets; peace contingents by little ones; and drill display by different houses of the school. It also featured freestyle dances as well as colourful choreographic presentation.
The Chief Guest, in her speech extolled the students to uphold the most important objective of the sports – achieving a common goal with team spirit and cooperativeness. Sports activities are pertinent for all round development of the student’s personality and therefore an essential part of the school education, she added
SCTE Kohima sports meet held
Kohima, march 7 (mExN): The scheduled Sports Meet of State College of Teacher Education, Kohima was held from March 2 to 4 at Seikhazou Ground, D. Khel and Indoor Stadium respectively under the Theme ‘Re-defining Self Discipline through Sports’. The chief guest of the meet was the Principal of the College, Dr. Bendangyapangla, who in her address shared on controlling one’s impulse based on 1st Corinthians 9:24.
The first day of the Meet witnessed the athleticism of the four houses in track and field sports. The second day witnessed very competitive indoor games not only among the house members but the faculty as well. The last and final day of the Meet saw a highly competitive team spirit football and volley ball matches including tug-ofwar and obstacle race. The guest of honour on the final day was Alemla Longkumer, faculty, SCTE,
where she emphasised and encouraged every house member of living up to the theme of the Meet. It may also be mentioned here that on the 1st March, Khriehutuo Tsira, State Athletics Coach assisted the student-teachers in setting up the track and field events along with practical session on athletics, while on the 3rd March, Talimayang Jamir, State Badminton Coach gave a practical warm-up session on badminton.
ENGLAND Leicester City's fairytale season continued with a 1-0 win at Watford that stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League back to five points over chasing north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, who drew 2-2 in a thriller. Leicester's Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez scored the winner at Vicarage Road with a fine second-half strike that kept the Foxes on track for their first top-flight title. Spurs were held at home by Arsenal, who took the lead but lost Francis Coquelin to a second booking and went 2-1 behind before Alexis Sanchez earned a share of the spoils. Fourth-placed Manchester City thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 but Manchester United's Champions League qualifying hopes suffered a blow in a 1-0 defeat at mid-table West Bromwich Albion after Juan Mata was sent off midway through the first half.
Watford's Odion Ighalo has a header saved by Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel. (Reuters)
of La Liga with 10 matches left. Their lethal attacking trio of Messi (35 goals), Suarez (42) and Neymar (23) reached a century of goals in all competitions this season after a double from Messi and one from Suarez. Atletico kept pace in second place with their fifth win in six league matches, beating Valencia 3-1 at the Mestalla, their second goal coming from substitute Fernando Torres, his 102nd in his 300th match for the club. Real, 12 points off the pace in third place, prepared for Tuesday's Champions League clash at home to AS Roma by crushing Celta Vigo 7-1 with four goals from Cristiano RonSPAIN Barcelona extended aldo, now La Liga's top their unbeaten run to 36 marksman with 27, one matches in all competi- more than Suarez. tions, including 30 wins, when they beat Eibar 4-0 GERMANY Bayern Munich stayed to stay eight points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top on track for an unprec-
edented fourth consecutive Bundesliga title with a 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund, who stayed in second place five points off the pace. The Bavarians, who lost against Mainz 05 in midweek, had the better chances but lacked the clinical finish. Hertha Berlin slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Hamburg SV, their second loss in 11 matches, as their thirdplace buffer was slashed to one point. ITALY Juventus preserved a three-point lead at the top of Serie A by beating Atalanta 2-0 with a rare Andrea Barzagli goal and a magnificent effort from Mario Lemina. Second-placed Napoli kept the pressure on with a 3-1 home win over Chievo after conceding a secondminute goal. Third-placed Roma extended their winning
league run to seven matches with a thumping 4-1 victory over Fiorentina, while Inter Milan consolidated fifth spot with a 3-1 win over Palermo. Leaders Juve have 64 points after 28 matches ahead of Napoli (61), Roma (56), Fiorentina (53) and Inter (51). FRANCE A second-string Paris St Germain were held 0-0 at home by Montpellier as Laurent Blanc rested players before the Champions League last 16, secondleg against Chelsea on Wednesday. PSG remain 23 points clear of closest challengers AS Monaco who drew 2-2 at Caen. Third-placedOlympique Lyonnais thrashed En Avant Guingamp 5-1 with Alexandre Lacazette netting twice, while teenage striker Ousmane Dembele got a hattrick as Stade Rennes ended
Nantes’ 13-game unbeaten league run with a 4-1 home win. PSG have 74 points after 29 matches with Monaco on 51. PORTUGAL Benfica won 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon after an astonishing miss by home striker Bryan Ruiz as the visitors knocked their neighbours off the top of the Portuguese league. The Costa Rican scooped the ball over an open goal from five metres as Sporting pressed forward in a bid to wipe out Kostas Mitroglou's firsthalf goal for champions Benfica. It was the first time Benfica had beaten their neighbours since former coach Jorge Jesus joined Sporting in a move that shocked Portuguese football in May. The win left Benfica with 61 points from 25 matches, two more than second-placed Sporting.
public discourse
IS THE EDUCATED CORRUPTED TOO? THe iMpAcT oF
A
Adilen Kipzz
t midday, a young school dropout, while strolling along the roadside with his catapult, happened to meet the town’s SDO. Coincidently, the SDO turned out to be the same gentlemen the kid had been hearing of, since childhood. The lad had heard that a very bright student was emerging from their own hometown and all the students ought to look up to the studious gentleman as their model. As the car wroomed towards the lad, who was busy picking up stones for the catapult, it halted. The prestigious student turned SDO stepped out of the RED gypsy and asked the lad, (in a sweet tone) “Hi, dear, why are you here wasting your time when you should be at school? Don’t you know Good Educa-
tion is Sealed Future? However, the lad shrugged his shoulders, aiming the catapult at a little lizard, answered boorishly, “Why be educated, even when the educated too end up as thieves? Folks, this is NAGALAND. Where, a corrupt officer is shown the podium by the deacons on transferring tens of thousands, stolen money to the church. Where, the farming parents sweat to refine a coarse kid into an educated officer, however, ends up scooping the funds of the other poor alike farmers. Where, a chief guest is treated with respect for passing on some bribed money to the hosts. Where, you acquire some degree to extort money. Where, education is corruption. Let’s admit it. We are all caught in, with the frame of mind that officers, or for that matter, even a peon, can be corrupted be-
cause he/she has acquired the place in office by his/her wits. How on Earth can that be not wrong? Shouldn’t employees work for the welfare of the people? Is the salary you draw, an award for pilfering? When will you be thinking about your neighbour? The people should respect you for being successful in your career. That doesn’t include you bribing, extorting or misusing funds. Maybe, Nagas should start pondering as to whether God is being righteous. I’d say He is righteous on the Nagas. The Salary of the government employees gets deducted by the various factional groups. There it is, CTRL+J. Parenthetically, let’s save the politicians for some other day, for somewhere under this title they don’t fall in line. Dear Naga reader, you may be educated or you might not be. Let’s set a new goal.
A corruption-free State! An honest State! A State without any proxy teacher! A State with 100% working employees! A State for Christ! Presently, Nagaland can’t be renowned for manufacturing cars, Detroit already is. Nagaland can’t be renowned for manufacturing computer products, Silicon Valley already is. Nagaland can’t be renowned for producing space engineers, NASA already is. Nagaland can’t be renowned for petroleum, the Middle-East already is. Nagaland can’t be renowned for nuclear or sophisticated weapons, The United States already is. However, Nagaland CAN be hugely revered for being the FIRST CORRUPTIONFREE STATE! Let’s begin now.
Forced Taxing of Forced savings
Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Sinha Finance Officer Nagaland University, Lumami
E
very government treats salaried and middle class as milch cow, but the tax on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is beyond all sensible limits showing complete insensibility. For millions of salaried Indians, the EPF is the bedrock of savings for their sunset years. By planning to tax this, the government is snatching away whatever little peace of mind the working class will have. The social security system in India is not
TAbLE 1
Existing PF Corpus `14 lakh
on par with those of the advanced nations IMPACT capital gains. Long-term capital gains and EPF is the only saving scheme that • Budget 2016-17 will make the salaried are either not taxed if held for a certain can be called a social security net of some class poor. That the government is going period (one year for equity and equity worth. Employees save all through their to tax 60 per cent of their savings in the funds) or taxed after adjusting for incareers knowing full well that EPF belongs EPF is a big blow. Forced savings (EPF) flation (for everything else). However, to the Exempt-Exempt Tax regime (EET). are being converted into forced taxes the proposed tax will simply add it to The government’s wish that this reform through a salary unfriendly document the savers’ income. EPF returns are would encourage more private sector emcalled budget. This type of taxation is barely above inflation rates. To disalployees to go for pension security rather nothing but legalised stealing for the exlow indexation for inflation is grave inthan withdraw to entire money from EPF chequer. justice. is deplorable. Families would try to lever- • This tax will treat the accumulation of • Moreover, because this tax will be on age their EPF accruals for life events like savings as income. When one encash bulk withdrawals, it will push even lowchild’s marriage, education etc, and it is one’s holdings from any long-term income savers into the 30 tax bracket for not prudent for the government to assume capital assets like mutual funds and that year. This is unconscionable. Here that people should withdraw their EPF acreal estate, then the principal amount I am citing two tables for clarity for the is not taxed and the gains are treated as readers and salaried class. cruals only to invest in annuity schemes.
Contribution Per Month `14,000
Projected Corpus at 58 Tax-free Corpus `70.32 lakh `47.65 lakh
Taxable Corpus `22.67 lakh
Tax-free Corpus Taxable Corpus 67.80% 32.20%
Table-2 Saving for the Sunset Years: How Employee’s Retirement Plans May Take a Hit Non-Taxable Portion EPF corpus till March 31, 2016 Current Basic Monthly PF Total corpus (` age (year) Pay (`) contribution lakh) (`) 25 10,000 2,400 30 14,965 3,592 36.3 35 21,989 5,277 59.9 40 32,309 7,754 82.3 45 47,473 11,393 103.5 50 69,753 16,741 123.6 55 102,490 24,598 142.6
Taxable Portion EPF corpus after April 1, 2016 Interest compo- Total nent (` lakh) Corpus (` lakh) 153.6 31.1 117.3 52.2 93.7 70.9 71.3 86.6 50.1 98.7 30.0 106.0 11.0
Interest component (` lakh) 107.4 76.2 55.1 36.5 20.7 8.6 1.4
Taxed Portion of the corpus (` lakh) 92.2 70.4 56.2 42.8 30.1 18.0 6.6
Loss in ta Effective Taxed Portion x (` lakh tax rate of the corpus (` on corpus lakh) 27.6 18.0% 64.4 21.1 13.7% 45.7 16.9 11.0% 33.1 12.8 8.4% 21.9 9.0 5.9% 12.4 2.6 1.7% 5.2 2.0 1.3% 0.8
Loss in ta x (` lakh 19.3 13.7 9.9 6.6 3.7 1.6 0.2
Effective tax rate on corpus 12.6% 8.9% 6.5% 4.3% 2.4% 1.0% 0.2%
Assumptions: Employee and employer contribute 12% of basic pay to the PF; Interest rate: 8.8%; compounded monthly; salary growth 8% per annum, with no employment gap; retirement at 58 years.
GodlY Music
T
Dr. Khwan Leo Gangmei
he world we live today is not better than the days of Noah, the days of Prophet Jonah, and the wicked and the perverse generations and man emerged into crooked ways. The daily newspaper headlines killing, raping, extortion, abortion, frothing etc. And seem the world enjoy reading and entertain such news items without having considered how wicked the present world is. But, handful genuine Christians are seeking remedy of pain and agony people are facing, at this very juncture, how can one brings changes and challenges to our society? We can once draw our attention back to the ancient time when the wicked people’s hearts are change through simply music that is played by godly man who filled with the Spirit of God. Kinds of music has been imparted by well known musicians down through the centuries, but the question that continue to provoke our hearts today is, can the world music bring the inner heart change or penetrate the wicked heart? Of course the impact may be seen in their own realm but not that of the spiritual realm. Therefore, the impact of godly music is seen when godly man sings godly song, it touches the heart of the people, when godly man plays godly music, it moves the hearts of the people, when godly man plays godly music for God’s glory, it melts the heart of the people, when godly people play godly music, it brings changes to the heart of the people and it leads them to repent from their wicked ways of life. In the Bible we see from the life of God fearing man, who lived an obedience life, obeyed God’s commandments, though he was a shepherd boy tending his father’s flock in the wilderness, he loves God’s commandment, therefore, he was taken to the palace king Saul to play his music for the king. When he plays his music, the wicked heart of king Saul was moved, the wicked heart of king Saul was changed, wicked heart of king Saul was stirred it up, the wicked heart of king Saul was penetrated and repented, finally the evil spirit which was in heart of Saul fled. The great power behind his music was the power of God, because he lived right with God, David sings song for God’s glory not for his fame, played harp for God’s glory not for his name. Therefore, greatly moved and the spirit flee from Saul. So, what kind of songs should we prepare to sing for? And what kind of music should we prepare to play for? Once, Jim Reeves, was asked to sing for Queen Elizabeth, (the world was longing what a utmost privileged would be for us to see the world famous Gospel singer turn up and sing his song for Queen of England and the world long awaited) but he declined the invitation made by the Queen and said, though Queen would give me half of the kingdom or would beheaded me I will not sing for man’s glory but for God alone. So, the decision is yours, whether to live for God and sing and play godly music or live for the name and fame of your own life. The best thing you can give to the Lord is to render your time to God to bring changes to this society, youth of today is the agent of change and you are in need of an hour. So, how is your life today? Let your music or everything you do, do it for God’s glory. (1 Cor. 10:31). The writer is Academic Dean of International Theological College & Seminary, Dimapur. Nagaland
Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.
Tuesday 08•03•2016
EntErtainmEnt
Shabana Azmi, Sushmita Sen
'Tomb Raider'
back #StandWithAGirl initiative
reboot inspired by latest video games
T
he Norwegian filmmaker said he wants viewers to relate to the character of Lara Croft as much as possible, reported Entertainment Weekly. "I think making Lara Croft feel like a real human being, that's definitely something we want to bring to the big screen as well."I think we'll want to make people relate to Lara as a character. I'm hoping to bring some of my Norwegian sensibilities to the franchise," Uthaug said. The game was rebooted in 2013 envisioning a younger Lara Croft for an origin story. 'Tomb Raider' was then followed by 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' and presented the character as a gritty heroine. "'Raiders of the Lost Ark' was one of my favorite films growing up, so it's definitely a dream to work in that kind of genre. I think we'll want to make it feel like a modern action movie and to make what's going on feel like it's going on for real," he said. Source: PTI
Kate Hudson: Women programmed to dislike themselves
T
he 36-year-old actress said girls should be not be scrutinised as beauty is "subjective", reported Female First. "I think women are programmed to not feel that great about ourselves. Our bodies are constantly telling us that we're not good enough. And I think that's because we're so highly scrutinised - our image, our beauty or the idea of beauty - whatever that is because I believe it's subjective," she said. The 'Bride Wars' star insists it is important for
women to 'support' each other, which is something she has learned from her mother Goldie Hawn. "We need to stop scrutinising each other and start supporting that we're all on this trajectory together of youth into womanhood into getting older and what's really going to shine and feel healthy and live longer is feeling good about ourselves." "I got
S
ushmita Sen, Shabana Azmi, #StandWithAGirl, Women's Day, He Named Me Malala, Entertainment news #StandWithAGirl initiative is the channel’s way to support education and empowerment of the girl child — a cause close to the celebrities’ life. Celebrated women from Indian showbiz — Shabana Azmi, Sushmita Sen, Gul Panag and Dia Mirza — have lent their support to National Geographic channel’s #StandWithAGirl initiative, which begins with the television
that from my mom because vated to be healthy she's always been that way, and strong," the acso I want to encourage girls tress said. to feel good about themSource: PTI selves, no matter what their sizes are, and to feel mot i -
premiere of “He Named Me Malala” on International Women’s Day on March 8. The initiative is the channel’s way to support education and empowerment of the girl child — a cause close to the celebrities’ life. “It’s time to raise our voice against illiteracy and inequality. I support girl’s education with all my heart. We all need to stand up to fight all obstacles that come in the way of our daughters’ education. The least we can do is to communicate the significance of education and empowerment of our country’s daughters,” Sushmita, a
former beauty queen who raises two adopted daughters as a single parent, said in a statement. Being premiered as the channel’s ‘Megadoc’, “He Named Me Malala” is a critically acclaimed documentary on Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai, who braved bullets to further the cause of girls’ education and has since stood for the importance of standing up for girls’ rights, relentlessly. Every month, the ‘Megadoc’ will feature a documentary of global significance. Source: IANS
Gwyneth Mountaineer to scale Mount Kelly Clarkson ‘Blackmailed’ into working with Dr. Luke leging he had drugged her takes a break with a 'sober pill' and raped everest for Deepika Padukone her shortly after her 18th from acting amed mountaineer David Lia- go through. I know firsthand how difficult birthday in California and
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no, who is the first man to double summit Mount Everest from both the Nepal and Tibet sides, is all set to scale the mountain again, this time for Deepika Padukone. The climber has teamed up with the actress’ Live Love Laugh Foundation, to spread awareness about mental health. Deepika took to her social networking handle this morning to confirm the news and make the formal announcement. David, who has reportedly climbed Mount Everest five times so far, will scale the mount for again with Deepika’s foundation’s banner. During his two-month long climb to the summit the tallest mountain the world, he will keep fans and followers updated with photos and videos. David had only kind words to say about Deepika’s foundation. He released a small note that read: Climbing Mount Everest is a huge challenge, but it doesn’t compare with the tough times that people going through depression and mental illness can
C M Y K
it can be for them. If you or somebody you know is suffering from depression, anxiety or stress please visit the foundation’s website for more information. Thank you for joining us on this adventure and please share this message. Remember #YouAreNotAlone Deepika Padukone, who faced depression in the past, launched 'The Live Love Laugh' Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to addressing the issue of mental health in India. Deepika had first spoken about her plans to set up the foundation in an interview with a news channel. She talked about how she had experienced depression and took professional help to overcome it. The actress then decided to start a not-for-profit organisation that would focus on increasing awareness about mental health as an issue, reduce the stigma around it and enable support to people affected by mental health issues. Source: Deccan Chronicle
G
wyneth Paltrow is taking a hiatus from movie industry. The Pepper Potts of Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals her plan to take a step back from acting during an interview with Matt Lauer on "Today" show to promote her newly-release skincare product. The Goop founder says her company is her "24/7 focus right now." "We took some investment last year, so as soon as we had other people's money, I realized I really better focus on this completely," she explains. "I'll return to acting probably, but probably not right now." She also addresses criticisms over her beauty line for being too pricey. "I think that people who are going to criticize - and I'm always only open to criticism and learning more but people who are going criticize should have all of the empirical information," she says. Gwyneth Paltrow spent 13 months to develop Goop skin cream. She was last seen on the big screen opposite Johnny Depp in "Mortdecai". She is expected to reprise her role as Tony Stark's love interest in the Marvel flick "Captain America: Civil War". Source: AceShowbiz
With Deepika's backing, David Liano will attempt to summit the tallest mountain the world within two-months.
K
elly Clarkson has given a scathing character review of record producer Dr Luke, the man accused of drugging and raping Kesha. In a radio interview with Australia's KIIS FM, former American Idol winner Clarkson said 'he's not a good person' and revealed she was once 'blackmailed' into working with him. 'The last time I worked with him I only worked with him because literally I got blackmailed by my label,' she explained on Monday. 'It was a really hard time for me,' Clarkson went on. 'They were like, "We will not put you're label out if you don't do this".' With her entire touring crew financially depen-
dent on her, the 33-year-old musician said she felt pressured to cave into her label's demand. 'We have a whole crew to support...people that depend on us for their livelihood so sometimes you have to make decisions that you just have to swallow that pill.' She collaborated with the 42-year-old on her 2004 hit single Since U Been Gone and Behind These Hazel Eyes, released in early 2005. Although Clarkson wouldn't be drawn to comment on Kesha's situation - as she said has no firsthand knowledge of it - she offered that: 'I can remark on his character'. 'We've clashed before... He's difficult to work with, he's kind of demeaning,' she said.
'Unfortunately when you have that poor a character that so many artists don't like you, that's not normal.' Drawing on her own personal experience working with the producer she added: 'Obviously he's a talented dude but he's lied a lot. 'Musically it's been really hard for me because he will just lie to people and it makes the artist look bad.' While it was clear she had no very high opinion of him professionally, Clarkson was adamant her situation was very different from Kesha's and that Dr Luke 'never did anything like that [alleged sexual assault] to me'. In October 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke in Los Angeles al-
threatened to take away her publishing rights. Earlier this month Kesha returned to court begging a judge to release her from her contract with Sony, but a judge denied her request. In the wake of the decision, a host of stars have flocked to get behind the fast growing #FreeKesha campaign joining Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga who have long expressed their support for the singer. Adele became the latest big name to publicly support Kesha while picking up one of her four Brit Awards in London. Tearing up as she accepted the gong, she said: 'And I would like to take this moment to publicly support Kesha.' Source: MailOnline
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Irrfan, Priyanka, Om Puri joins 'The Jungle Book' gang
I
ndian stars Irrfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Nana Patekar, Shefali Shah and Om Puri will lend voice to characters of Hollywood film "The Jungle Book" for its Hindi dubbed version. Disney India has roped in the actors for the film, which stars Indian-American actor Neel Sethi as Mowgli, and will be releasing in India on April 8 -- a week ahead of its release in the US. Priyanka, who has become popular abroad with American TV show "Quantico" and has landed a role in the "Baywatch" movie, will be infusing life to the soft and hypnotic
voice of the python Kaa, voiced by Scarlett Johansson in the English version, read a statement from the studio. Irrfan, known for his versatile roles in "Piku" as well as on the foreign shores with films like "Life of Pi" and "The Amazing Spider-Man", will lend his voice to the friendly bear Baloo, which is dubbed by Bill Murray in the international version. Shefali, who is still riding high on the appreciation for the modern portrayal of a mother in "Dil Dhadakne Do", will dub for Mowgli's adoptive mother Raksha, the wolf for whom Lupita Nyong'o has lent her voice in the international version.
And veteran star Om Puri will lend his voice to Bagheera, the black panther, which is originally dubbed by legendary actor Ben Kingsley. The studio has also approached Nana Patekar to once again lend his voice to Shere Khan, a character he had dubbed for back in the early 1990s in Doordarshan's animated TV series the "Jungle Book: The Adventures of Mowgli". "'The Jungle Book' is so very special to India, and we want our audience to enjoy Disney's all-new live-action adaptation. We wanted nothing but the best for the Hindi version of the film," said Amrita Pandey,
vice-president - Studios, Disney India. "We are so excited to have such veterans and A-list actors come together to voice and bring alive these beloved characters making it like a hi-scale Hindi film," she added. Helmed by "Iron Man" fame director Jon Favreau, the film brings a story straight from the enchanting forest of India and presents a modern take on Rudyard Kipling's timeless classic, originally published in 1894.
11:00 am | 2:00 pm | 8:00 pm
Source: IANS
05:00 PM
12
tuesDAY 08•03•2016
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Cristiano Ronaldo leads race for European Golden Shoe
India is top-ranked team in ICC World T20
• India on Monday sealed the numero uno spot in the ICC Twenty20 rankings. • India clinched the Asia Cup trophy after beating hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets. • India are on 127 points, nine clear of West Indies and South Africa, who are on top goal scorer Robert Lewandowski (23), equal points (118). followed by Borussia Dortmund's Gabo-
Narine of West Indies, second-ranked Ravichandran Ashwin will start as the highest-ranked bowler in the tournament, while Ravindra Jadeja is 11th, Jasprit Bumrah is 27th and Yuvraj is 43rd. Yuvraj is also India's highest-ranked all-rounder in sixth position. New Zealand are fourth on 116, followed by 2010 winners England in fifth, 2010 losing finalists Australia in sixth, 2009 champions Pakistan in seventh and defending champions Sri Lanka in eighth. The sixth edition of the tournament, to be held in India for the first time, will start on Tuesday with 13thranked Zimbabwe taking on 14th-ranked Hong Kong in Nagpur, which will be followed by the match between ninth-ranked Afghanistan and 11thranked Scotland. The second round will kick off on March 15, also in Nagpur, when India go head to head with New Zealand. The final will be played at Eden Gardens on April 3.
MADrID, MArch 7 (IANS): Spanish football giants Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the race for the European Golden Shoe with 27 goals. The award is presented each season to the leading goal scorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league, reports Efe. Ronaldo increased his credit after the four goals he scored against Celta Vigo on Saturday during a La Liga game that Madrid won 7-1. Following closely are Italian club Napoli's Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, Spanish side Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Jonas Goncalves from Portugal's Benfica, with 26 goals each. Fifth place is nese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang occupied by German giants Bayern Mu- (22). Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel DUBAI, MArch 7 (PTI): India on Monday sealed nich's Polish forward and the Bundesliga Messi holds seventh place with 21 goals. the numero uno spot in the ICC Twenty20 rankings after Mahendra Singh Indian players take a selfie to remember their Asia Cup triumph by, Bangladesh v India, Asia Dhoni's side won the Asia Cup final, Mirpur, March 6 .(AFP Photo) Cup in Mirpur and will now In Johannesburg, AusHence, hosts India will who are on equal points enter the World T20 as the tralia had chased down enter the World T20 as the (118). top team. In the T20 batting table, India clinched the Asia South Africa's 204 to level number-one ranked side. NEW DELhI, MArch thing going on with partic- responsibilities and would Cup trophy after beating the three-match T20 seIndia, who won the in- India's Virat Kohli is placed 7 (rEUTErS): Cricket's ular players or a particular not get involved." "Unfor- hosts Bangladesh by eight ries 1-1 on Sunday. But ir- augural event in South Afri- second, followed by Roworld governing body teams," Richardson said. tunately, this is the world wickets in Mirpur last night respective of which side ca and finished runner-up hit Sharma (11th), Suresh (ICC) said on Monday that "Often we get our intelli- we are living. There are and strengthened their now wins the series in Cape in Bangladesh two years Raina (16th), Yuvraj Singh its anti-corruption unit was gence from players reporting corrupt people all over the reputation as a strong title Town on Wednesday, it will ago, are on 127 points, nine (22nd), Dhoni (43rd) and probing the Hong Kong various approaches that cor- world, trying their best to contender for the upcom- not be enough to dislodge clear of 2012 winners West Shikhar Dhawan (48th). team but ruled out any rupt people make to them." get hold of players." India from the top pedestal. Indies and South Africa, In the absence of Sunil ing ICC World Twenty20. Hong Kong play the Cricket has been match-fixing angle to its first match of the World plagued by a number of corinvestigation. A day after ICC anti- Twenty20 on Tuesday ruption issues and a 2010 corruption unit head Ron- against Zimbabwe in first- spot-fixing scandal resulted nie Flanagan revealed the round Group B which also in bans and jail terms for NEW DELhI, MArch 7 (AGENcIES): Forhra especially has boosted the Indian team," he case in Mumbai, the ruling includes Afghanistan and Pakistan fast bowlers Mo- mer India batsman Virender Sehwag is confisaid. "He has done well in the death overs and hammad Asif and Moham- dent that India will lift their second ICC World body's chief executive Dave Scotland. he is someone who is helping out the youngThe pool winners will mad Amir, and former test Twenty20 title, stating that MS Dhoni's team Richardson provided more sters like Jasprit Bumrah." details. "In recent times you go into Super 10 Group 1 captain Salman Butt. South has a "99 per cent chance" owing to the sucThere were also words of praise for India's would have read in the me- with England, South Africa, African Richardson, howev- cessful combination locked in since January. spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra dia that a particular player Sri Lanka and West Indies. er, is confident that the sixth Jadeja, whom he felt would play a key role in India have won 10 of 11 Twenty20 internaThe ICC has done stel- World Twenty20, which tionals this year, their latest win coming in Sunwas suspended from his India's campaign. "The combination of Ashwin country and the investi- lar work to shield players starts on Tuesday, will not day's Asia Cup final against hosts Bangladesh, and Jadeja has been unbelievable for India and gations relate to the same from full member nations be affected by it. "I'm very and Sehwag felt that Dhoni's ability to find the the spinners will make big impact during the team," Richardson told re- against such approaches confident that we'll have right playing XI put his team as favourites for competition," said Sehwag. "We could also see but "corrupt" individuals a clean tournament," he the World T20 at home. porters. Dhoni experimenting with three spinners and The governing body were finding new targets, said. "I know that our antigiving Harbhajan Singh a go. We played three "India have 99 per cent chance of winning corruption unit has been the World T20. India have been winning and announced in January that Richardson said. spinners in the last World T20 (in Bangladesh). "We are now finding working hand-in-hand with the they have the perfect combination. We have Hong Kong all-rounder IrThere could be a chance of something similar fan Ahmed had been sus- that the corruptors are the law enforcement agen- a better chance than other teams. I say this beat home this time too." pended and charged with now focused on associ- cies and the police in India cause India today has one of world's best batAsked about the teams that could make failing to disclose an ap- ate members, women's to make sure that any infor- ting and bowling line-ups. The Indian team is fit the semi-finals, Sehwag replied: "Apart from India I would pick New Zealand in their proach from an individual. teams etc etc. So we got to mation is shared," he said. to take any challenge," said the retired opener at "We should not specu- make sure the players from "I'm very confident that the Aaj Tak's Salaam Cricket Conclave on Monday. ing crucial to India's success. "It is good to see group. South Africa and West Indies will late that it involves or there's all the teams are very well matches will be played in Sehwag singled out the presence of seniors players like Nehra and Harbhajan getting back qualify from the other group and I see a Indiaany match-fixing or any- educated, understand their the correct spirit." like Ashish Nehra and Harbhajan Singh as be- in the mix of things and I feel that including Ne- South Africa final."
ICC probes Hong Kong team, confident of clean World T20
India have 99 per cent chance of winning World T20: Sehwag
C M Y K
Lakers shock mighty Warriors
LOS ANGELES, MArch 7 (AFP): The Los Angeles Lakers posted one of the biggest upsets of the NBA season Sunday with an unlikely 112-95 victory over the reigning league champion Golden State Warriors. Pre-game hype Sunday was all about Kobe Bryant's final contest against the Warriors, but the crowd of 19,000 at Staples Center arena got more than they wished for with a rare win by the cellar-dwelling Lakers. "This helps out our team's growth," Bryant said. "The learning curve comes from trusting our defense. "We paid attention to detail very well. "For the young guys, I think it's extremely important to see the results of it. When you pay attention to little details, good things happen." Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points and D'Angelo Russell tallied 21 as the Lakers handed the Warriors only their sixth loss of the season against 55 triumphs. The Warriors are chasing the all-time best season in NBA history, the 72-10 campaign of the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96. To match the mark, Golden State must now win 17 of the final 21 games this season. Based on the winning percentage difference of .727 between the teams before Sunday's game, the result is the largest upset in NBA history. Bryant, who has been hampered by injuries of late, had 12 points on fourof-14 shooting in 24 minutes of court time. It marked the 37-yearold Bryant's first game back at Staples Center arena since February 2. He missed three of the last four regular season games with a sore shoulder. "I feel terrible not being able to be out here for every single game," said Bryant, who is retiring after the regular season. "If I can give it
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots in between Brandon Rush #4 and Andrew Bogut #12 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of the basketball game at Staples Center March 6, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Image)
a go I will go out there and try." Asked how many of the Lakers' final 18 games that he would be able to play Bryant said, "hopefully all of them. I know it is wishful thinking." Stephen Curry finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, but shot just one-of-10 from beyond the arc for the Warriors, who saw their seven-game win streak snapped. "We didn't have much energy," Curry said. "Just one of those nights you want to avoid at all cost." Curry's backcourt partner Klay Thompson scored 15 points, but missed all eight of his three-point attempts and shot sevenfor-20 overall. Golden State played without forward Andre
Iguodala, who had an injured left hamstring. James Harden tallied a game-high 40 points as the Houston Rockets ended a couple of significant streaks with a 113-107 victory over the host Toronto Raptors. The Rockets not only snapped the Raptors' 12-game home winning streak but they won in Toronto for the first time in nine games. Harden had 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets erased an 8577, third-quarter deficit to avoid a second consecutive loss overall. Corey Brewer came off the bench to score 23 points and Dwight Howard added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Toronto was led by 21 points from Luis Scola. De-
Djokovic maintains top spot in tennis rankings for 87th successive week LONDON, MArch 7 (IANS): Serbian star Novak Djokovic maintained his dominance in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings, topping it for the 87th consecutive week, according to a list released on Monday. Djokovic joins the list of tennis players who have topped the rankings for the most consecutive weeks, as he came fifth after legendary players Swiss Roger Federer (237 weeks), America's Jimmy Connors (160), Czech Ivan Lendl (157) and America's Pete Sampras (102), reports Efe. The Serbian has been leading the rankings since July 7, 2014. This week's rankings did not witness any changes, as Scottish Andy Murray came second, followed by Swiss Roger Federer.
Mar DeRozan added 19 points and seven assists while Kyle Lowry had 17 points and nine assists D.J. Augustin hit two free throws with ninetenths of a second left in overtime to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 116-114 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Augustin scored eight of his 12 points in the extra period. Kenneth Faried had 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, and Will Barton scored 20 for the Nuggets, who rallied from four down in the last 10 seconds of regulation to force overtime. Germany's Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and Deron Williams had 17 for the Mavericks, who lost their second straight game.a
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