November 18th 2014

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www.morungexpress.com

The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 318

www.morungexpress.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 12+4 pages Rs. 4

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases

[ PAGE 08]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Naga students and youth in Myanmar form apex body

Modi promises ‘People saw Sydney’s the lip-job euphoric for the first diaspora a time, and resurgent India found it odd’

[ PAGE 2]

Japan slides into an unexpected recession [ PAGE 09]

[ PAGE 11]

Federer hands Djokovic ATP title by default [ PAGE 12]

Loss of culture is loss of identity.” At Kipunging’s school, this is diligently observed as they teach the Zeme traditional dance, and observe Heraka festivals around paddy sowing and harvest as holidays, alongside other national activities such as yoga. The idea is to keep local traditions alive and active, while instilling a broader Hindu national identity among the people.

Morung Express Feature Haflong | November 17

Asia is the largest continent No pain no gain India is our motherland We cannot live without air Hindi is our national language Think before you speak

T

hese lines, in smudged So they arrested me for extortion, attempted murder, pencil cursive, are carjacking, bootlegging...no etched in Dindai Gonno…I will be home for dinner. mei’s (15) English notebook. (L) Dindai Gonmei’s possessions at the Hejaichak Hindu Chhatravas where he lives; (R ) The Hejaichak Hindu School, He does not know what a established in 1983, is seen in the backdrop at Hejaichak village, Dima Hasao, Assam. (Morung Photos)

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 17 (DIPR): President of the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF), Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu has appointed Kiyanilie Peseyie as the Chief Whip of the NPF Legislature party with effect from November 14, 2014. The Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretary, Kohima, AE Lotha notified that this appointment was made in exercise of the power conferred under Article V, Clause 10 of the constitution of the Naga People’s Front (NPF).

–Carl Jung

Between identity and culture - I

The rise of Hindu schools in Dima Hasao district of Assam

Kiyanilie appointed as chief whip of NPF legislature party

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continent, motherland or a country is but his face lights up at Delhi, ‘our capital,’ (as his pencil notes suggest) and he would like to be there someday. Dindai studies at the Hejaichak Hindu School in Hejaichak Village in Dima Hasao district, Assam; it was established in 1983. The School, and a nearby hostel, is run by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). The VHP was founded in 1964 with the objective to “organise - consolidate the Hindu society and to serve - protect the Hindu Dharma,” according to its website. It claims to be “strengthening the grass root level of the

Hindu society.” Their work what he prays or if he likes in the North East of India is it. From a Heraka family, he to do precisely this. was told that Rani Gaidinliu is god. When asked if he Why Hindu Schools? prays to her, he quickly reDindai wakes up every plies, “No, she is a human morning at 4 and attends being.” a prayer session with 12 Heraka is a socio-reliother children in a small gious reform movement slight-lit room in his hostel that spread amongst the (Hejaichak Hindu Chha- Zeliangrong Nagas from travas-hostel- the board around the 1930s. It has outside reads, sponsored undergone various historiby: Uttar Purbanchal Jana- cal changes and its current jati Seva Samity- a ser- form has been influenced vice committee for tribes primarily by Rani Gaidinliu. people under the VHP). Currently, the Heraka preSanskrit prayer verses are dominantly reside in the NC chanted here to two framed Hills (Dima Hasao district) pictures. “Krishna and amongst the Zeme Nagas. Bharat Mata,” explains DinDindai is a Rongmei dai, unsure however about Naga born in Luangkao

Village in Manipur. In class 2, he was brought to the Zeme Naga areas of Assam to continue his education in a Hindu middle education school (from a similar lower primary school in Luangkao), where, his family believes, he can get education without the fear of conversion, and “preserve culture more.” Besides, fees at the Hindu schools are relatively lower than Christian schools. “Government school teachers are not serious— they don’t show up beyond a maximum of 100 days, if at all. Yet they get paid,” says Kipunging Riame (32), headmaster of anoth-

er Hindu school run by the Saraswati Vidya Mandir established in 2004 in neighbouring Laisong village. Kipunging explains why poor Heraka families often choose Hindu schools. Though “Christians are economically better as they are more exposed to outer knowledge,” he observes, “I was born into Heraka. It helps me preserve my culture better—we still have two morungs (functional ones with cultural fetes, not just for exhibition) in our village.” This practice is encapsulated in a popular quote by Rani Gaidinliu: “Loss of religion is loss of culture;

A space to weave dreams The 60 students at Hejaichak Hindu School are taught Science, Social Science, Math, English, Hindi and some Assamese. Here, though he finds Hindi a “bit hard” but likes English a “bit more,” Dindai refuses to give up on his dream of joining “the army” (presumably the Indian army) where Hindi would be required. His math teacher, Ininglungbe Nraime (35), also studied in the same school. Ininglungbe went for higher secondary schooling to Haflong but could not pass, came back to his village, did jhum cultivation with his family for 5-6 years (ginger provides for good income), then a grocery business but switched to teaching later— the income is meager but regular. In his time, teachers from Uttar Pradesh used to teach in the Hin-

du schools, now they are mostly local. Like Dindai, he dreams of Delhi but has not been beyond few Zeme villages in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Yet hopes remain alive. The admissions to Hindu schools in rural areas are decreasing every year. The Saraswati Vidya Mandir (lower primary school) in Laisong has only 54 students as compared to the 90 it had when it began. Some good students were transferred to VHP schools in Aligarh (UP) and Odisha that give free education. The Hejaichak Hindu School student count has dropped from 80 plus to 60. “We can expand the school to class 10 only if enrolments increase,” offers Kipunging, whose school building was funded by the VHP. But teachers are inducted based on experience instead of qualification—“you should be at least matric pass and be able to teach without beating the kids,” he says, which could explain the falling numbers. Christian schools offer more trained teachers. Despite the dwindling numbers, bringing education, and allied empowerment, to children like Dindai, or his teacher Ininglungbe, has been no easy task. (First part of a series)

Aggrieved Hindi teachers affirm to continue agitation ‘Waste to be converted into wealth’

To organize second phase agitation at DoSE by November 24

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 17 (MExN): The All Nagaland Aggrieved Hindi Teachers’ Association (ANAHTA) 2012-13 batch today informed that it would continue its agitation until all its “rightful demands” are fulfilled by the Nagaland state government. Reaffirming that the aggrieved Hindi teachers will continue

picketing of SDEO/DEO offices, ANAHTA cautioned that if the department fails to release the pending salaries with 6th RoP and arrears within this week (five days from the date of this press release), the aggrieved Hindi teachers will agitate at the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) by November 24 (Monday) under the banner of ANHTU as their second phase of agitation. It was further informed that the teachers would not assess the fourth quarterly exams until their demands are met. The ANAHTA began its first

phase of agitation on November 11 by boycotting classes and picketing Sub-divisional Education Officer/ District Education Officer (SDEO/DEO) offices in all districts of Nagaland state. A press release from ANATHA convenor, Toinato Aye informed that on November 7, Aggrieved Hindi Teachers’ representatives of all districts went to the Directorate of School Education to meet the Director. However, it stated that the Director was “out of station,” and that the issue of pending salaries and arrears was addressed by the Addl. Director.

The ANATHA however lamented that the meeting “did not yield any positive result.” The representatives again met the Director on November 13, “but the meeting came up with no positive response with reasons best known to them,” it added. Further, on November 16, the representatives of all the districts had a meeting with the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers Union (ANHTU) and it was resolved “with assurance” that the issue would be taken up by the Hindi teachers’ central body – ANHTU, according to the release.

Ao Senden nsf questions delay in viva voce ‘bans’ book for rMsA secondary teachers

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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 17 (MExN): The Ao Senden today informed that it has “banned” Monalisa Changkija’s recently released book ‘Cogitating for a Better Deal.’ A press statement from the Ao Senden President, Dr Sangyu Yaden and General Secretary, Tsupong Longchar said that the book makes “false allegations against the sanctity of the statutory apex body of the Ao community (Ao Senden).” “The Ao Senden honours the constitutional provision and status of freedom of press and expression. However, the Ao Senden asserts that the provision cannot be misused and no one is permitted the power and liberty to write anything without evidence,” stated the press note. It further informed that the author “was summoned to the Presidential Council of the Ao Senden on November 11, 2014 and deliberated upon the false allegations and wrong information written in her book in connection with the present Changki issue.” The Ao Senden said that “over the last few weeks, there has been mounting pressure from the general public for misleading the people after releasing this book.” “If this kind of wrong doing, like poison percolates further, it will lead to disaster,” it added. The Ao Senden informed that the decision to ban the book was taken after conducting a “thorough deliberation on the issue.” The resolution to ban the book was adopted “in presence of all the parties, signed by the author and witnessed by Lanumeren, Chairman Yaongyimsen Village Council,” it further stated.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 17 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has written to the Parliamentary Secretary for School Education expressing concern over the delay in the conduct of viva voce for Secondary Teachers’ recruitment under RMSA, Nagaland 2014. The NSF informed that the recruitment examination for certain posts of secondary

teachers under RMSA, Nagaland was conducted on May 24, 2014. Subsequently, the written result was declared on June 29, 2014. However, it stated that the viva-voce for the aforementioned recruitment is yet to be conducted. It sought clarification on the reason(s) behind the delay even after a lapse of four months. The NSF fur-

ther questioned: “Is it due to non-release of money by the finance department or diversion of RMSA funds by the government? Whatever may be the reason, it should be made known to the Federation and the public.” The NSF demanded that the viva voce be conducted without further delay and that the results be declared at the earliest possible time.

NPF may drop ‘dissident’ legislators KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 17 (NEPS): With the reported move by dissidents within the ruling NPF legislators against the leadership of Nagaland state Chief Minister TR Zeliang, there are allegedly mounting pressures on Zeliang to drop the dissident NPF legislators from the Council of Ministers if they refuse to mend their ways. This was informed by one senior legislator who wished to remain anonymous. In the last couple of days, manyleadersincludingtheNagalandChiefMinister,Speakerofthe NLAandBJPMLAshaveallegedly met Governor PB Acharya. This development has compounded the already charged political environment in the state. It is also reported that some

senior NPF party men tried to reconcile legislators loyal to Zeliang and other dissident NPF legislators. Some expressed their willingness to reconcile, while some senior leaders in the dissident group took “no turning back,” said another legislator on the condition of anonymity. He further disclosed that if they remained adamant, there would be no option but to drop them from the Council of Minister. Sources available to NEPS termed the current political development as “serious” and made it clear that any action against the dissidents would only be done after the visit of the Prime Minister to Nagaland. Sources further revealed that if the present attempt to dislodge Zeliang’s leadership is not

successful, the dissidents may push for another capable leader amongst them to see that a change of guard is materialized. Meanwhile, some political pundits have opined that the attempts by dissident groups to change the CM’s leadership may not be possible now due to various political factors. They, however, say that the possibility of changing the current CM’s leadership may surface in the future if he fails to perform as leader of NPF legislature party as well as Chief Minister of the state. As of now, sources suggest that there are 25 NPF legislators supporting Zeliang’s leadership. NPF has 38 legislators in a house of 60. The NPF-led DAN has four BJP MLAs, one JD (U) MLA, one NCP MLA and 8 Independents.

Morung Express News Dimapur | November 17

Additional Director for Municipal Affairs Cell, Urban Development Department, Dr. Toshimanen Ozukum on Monday spelled out his vision to convert disposed waste materials in Nagaland state into wealth. His statement came in the wake of complaints from the public residing nearby the DMC dumping site at Burma Camp, Dimapur as well as from some NGOs in the state over the stench engulfing the area and the lack of embankment at the Dhansiri River, which pulls in the waste into the river, causing water pollution. Prior to his visit to the dumping site along with DMC Administrator, H. Atokhe Aye and others at the DMC office, Dr. Toshimanen told media persons that as an immediate measure for the problem at the site, the Department would take up the work of land filling for new wastes at the new site adjacent to the present one. He said that before dumping into the dug land, the wastes would be segregated into bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes by engaging rag pickers. The present site measures about 29 bighas and the new site is 37 bighas. However, the DMC officials who accompanied the Additional Director apprised him of the financial constraints being faced even to pay the salary of the employees and that it would be difficult to meet the expenses to hire bulldozers and manpower, as excavators were not feasible to be engaged at the proper site. The officials also told him about the hiccups that might be involved to use the new dumping

Additional Director Municipal Affairs Cell Dr. Tosihmanen Ozukum and DMC administrator, H. Atokhe Aye along with other officials, seen inspecting the dumping site at Burma Camp, Dimapur on Monday. (Morung Photo)

site since the DMC was yet to get a land patta for the newly acquired land. Dr. Tosihmanen revealed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) amounting to Rs 49 crore has been submitted to the Department for procuring an integrated solid waste management plant to be installed at the new site and that the response for the same was being awaited from the Government of India. Similarly, a proposal DPR of Rs 35 Crore has been submitted for the Mokokchung Municipal Council, he added. Further, Dr. Toshimanen said that an estimate of Rs 75 Lakh has also been submitted to fence the dumping site along the Dhansiri River. For proper waste disposal in the entire state, he said that the Department was contemplating decentralizing sanitation on the lines of the Kohima Municipal Council, where Tata Mobile vehicles have been provided to all the wards to collect wastes under their jurisdiction. The other option he talked about on waste disposal was to adopt Private Public Partnership, adding that “it will generate solid waste into

manure.” He said that the Department would work towards converting wastes in the state into wealth in the form of manure. The Additional Director also made it clear that there was no plan to shift the present dumping site to any new place as there was enough land. “The immediate measure is to start land-fills,” he added. According to him, one of the main concerns of the Department was also to keep the roads in the town clean. Dr. Toshimanen further informed that the department has approved a consultant to look into the issue of waste management for smaller municipalities/ town committees. As directed by the Additional Director, the DMC administrator, H. Atokhe Aye said that he would write to the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur for acquiring the land patta so that the new dumping site could be used without any hindrance. Even as the Additional Director talked about using the new dumping site, the DMC officials present were however pessimistic that it would take off, since there was no fund to start the work.

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