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ThursDAY • November 24• 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 323 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes South Korea and Japan agree intelligence-sharing
ICFAI University Convocation 2016 held
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— Zig Ziglar
Leicester, Real march into last 16, Spurs crash out
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nagaland: Many schools defying sc ban on corporal punishment Y Merina Chishi
Dimapur | November 23
Some schools call it a “birthday treat”; some call it “yoga.” Some schools have nasty names like “bottoms up”- implying the use of cane on the posterior of a student. These are names of corporal punishment in some schools of Nagaland State. “Yoga is when we are made to stand on one leg with our hands in the air for about 10-15 minutes,” a class seven student studying in a private school in Dimapur said. She says most of the students in her school prefer “yoga” to “birthday treat” as the latter leaves bruises on certain parts of the body. A class eleven student from another private school disclosed that teachers in her school use sticks tied with rubber at the tip to beat students. Students are caned, slapped, made to squat and verbally abused in front of class/school mates, she says. Most students are punished for coming late, not doing their home work or misbehaving in the classroom. However, there are reports of students being punished for trivial reasons, like torn books or unpolished shoes. In some cases, which occur mostly in government schools, “class monitors” are made to watch over fellow students when teachers are absent. The schools give authority to the “monitor” to cane their fellow students in the name of punishment. This causes rift and dislike among class mates. A girl from a government school in Dimapur says that even children studying in the primary section are not spared. “They lift our skirts and beat us in the back,” she says. Asked if she has ever received corporal punishment, she says: “once my class teacher banged my forehead against another girl’s forehead. It was so painful and I didn’t attend school for
two days because I was afraid of being punished again.” According to psychologists, punishing a child physically can have an adverse effect on the child’s behaviour. A mother of a ten year old child told this reporter that her son stopped cooperating in school after being punished by his physical education instructor. “My son is good in sports but he refused to take part in
cause teachers alone cannot do it. “A child’s behaviour may be very different at home and at school. That is why it is very important that both parents and teachers play active roles in disciplining a child,” she says. Although corporal punishment is banned in India, many states, including Nagaland have not implemented it. Many schools in Nagaland still subject students to brutal forms of punishment. Cases go unreported as schools and teachers see this as the only option to discipline children. The Indian Penal Code is also supposed to protect children from being subjected to punishment in schools. According to IPC section 83, any child who has not done homework or has not dressed in an appropriate fashion should not incite any form of corporal punishment in schools. All children under the age of seven are supposed to be exempted from criminal liability and any mistake they may have done cannot merit corporal punishment as they are still in an age of innocence and they are incapable of understanding complex issues.
“Yoga,” “bottoms up,” “birthday treat” are some languages referred to different forms of corporal punishment inflicted by teachers on students
A woman paints the floor of a pond as her child pulls at her saree in Delhi. (REUTERS)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
bjP led NDA government rules out revocation of AFSPA in Nagaland
NEw DElhI, NOVEMBER 23 (AgENCIEs): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the centre has made it clear that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) will not be repealed any time soon, further straining the party’s relations with the Naga People’s Front (NPF), its ally of 13 years in Nagaland. The opposition, citing alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, has been saying the Northeast is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis because of AFSPA. Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni had sought a response from the home ministry on the Word of advice. Contest insurgent situation in the region and on from different constituency, whether the Army was reviewing it. here everybody know you In July, the Supreme Court also said very well. indefinite deployment of armed forces in the region was a mockery of the democratic process. However, the government has made it clear that AFSPA will not be repealed any time soon. The centre in June declared all of Na-
NPCC protest against demonetisation postponed
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) have postponed the proposed protest against the demonetisation of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 notes to November 28, 2016 in line with the decision of the opposition parties across the country. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the NPCC office bearers including secretaries will be held at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on November 24 at 11AM, a press note from NPCC informed.
Woman arrested for child abuse
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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): A 28-year old woman was arrested for assault of a minor in Wokha on Tuesday evening. The incident surfaced after the victim - an 11-year old girl attended school on Monday with both eyes badly bruised and swollen. The school authority promptly made a complaint to the police. The woman, who is a stepmother to the girl and two younger siblings, reportedly assaulted her because she had misplaced some keys. The father of the girl – a personnel in the Indian Army is posted in Shillong. Police also informed that the woman had also assaulted the other two stepchildren on November 3 last which, however, went unreported. According to sources, the woman had earlier been warned by the Lotha Eloe (Women) Hoho and the Colony women for abusing the children. The woman, currently under custody of the Wokha Police Women Cell, will be produced in court on Thursday.
galand a “disturbed area”. The centre has declared disturbed the “whole state of Nagaland,” Satyendra Garg, joint secretary, northeast division in the ministry of home affairs, said in an order in June. Ignoring the regional political tension, however, Rijiju remained resolute and insisted that all measures were being taken to prevent any misuse of AFSPA by security forces. He also said punitive measures were likely to be taken against the forces in case of violation of human rights or safety of women and children. “AFSPA is reviewed periodically and an objective assessment of the ground situation is made in consultation with security agencies and the concerned state governments. Specific instructions have been issued to the armed forces operating in ‘disturbed area’, violation of which make them liable for prosecution under the Army Act and Central Armed Police Forces Acts,” Rijiju added.
any inter-school event after being punished,” she said. “Punishment can stimulate anger. Some children lose their self esteem and it can also prevent a child’s talent from flourishing,” says Lobeni G. Momin, Counsellor and lecturer in Psychology at Mason Philips Academy, Meghalaya. She adds that some children lose interest in studies and turn to drugs and other substance abuse. In extreme cases, corporal punishment may provide the child a negative view of other people and soUpto 3 years imprisonment ciety as a threatening place. While some parents think it is al- for violating ban right for schools to give punishment, • The Supreme Court of India introduced a law to ban corporal punthere are some who strongly oppose ishment in the year 2000. The first such actions. One mother stated violation of the ban will invite up to that punishments like “detention” one year in jail, or a fine of Rs. 50, or “writing lines” is acceptable, but 000 or both. physical abuse of any kind should not be encouraged. The mother, who has • For subsequent violators, imprisonment could be extended to 3 personally dealt with this issue when years with an additional fine of Rs. her daughter was in school, stated 25, 000. Heads of schools will be rethat she made it a point to discuss it sponsible to prevent corporal punwith the principal. However, not all ishment. Teachers found guilty parents have the courage to confront could be denied promotion and school authorities for fear of their even increments. wards being expelled. Momin says that the best way to • A Child Right Cell to be up in all schools where children can lodge discipline a child is to have parenta complaint. teacher interaction time to time be-
Growing cases of TB in the state APO urges police and admin manifested by delay of funds: NUN to ensure peace in Kohima Morung Express News Kohima | November 23
A press conference on Tuberculosis (TB) was held on November 23 at Kohima Press Club (KPC) office. Organised by the Nagaland User’s Network (NUN) and sponsored by Treatment Action Group (TAG), the issues and challenges on Tuberculosis and its treatment in Nagaland and in India was highlighted. Delay of funds by the Government, lack of mobile TB screening, lack of awareness among public, poor treatment adherence by patience on antituberculosis treatment, absence of CBNAAT in a high prevalence district like Tuensang were some of the key challenges pointed out. “With the growing numbers of TB cases, poor response from the government has been manifested by both the State and the Central ministry through delay of funds that hamper the program,” said Ketho Angami, NUN. He mentioned that internationally funded programs implemented by the Emanuel Hospital Association (EHA) in Phek, Wokha and Zunheboto and Catholic Health Association in Mon, Tuensang and Mokokchung have been supporting the TB program in the State. With the inception of the Revised National Tuberculosis Program (RN-
Nagaland has only one X-ray machine under RNTCP
There is only one functional X-ray machine in Nagaland state under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), a tuberculosis (TB) control initiative of the Government of India. The X-ray machine is in Mokokchung DTC. This was revealed in a response received from the STO, RNTCP, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima to an RTI filed by one Renbonthung Tungoe, Advocacy Officer, Nagaland Users Network. The state run RNTCP also appears to be lacking in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. According to the RTI response, procurement of drugs to treat side effects of TB is not done. However, procurement of drugs for chemoprophylaxis of children is done, with 5560 TCP) in Nagaland in 2001, there are 11 district TB centres, 44 designated microscopic centres, 927 Directly Observed Treatment Centres and 2 drug resistance TB centers at Khuzama and Mokokchung. The state has received 6 CBNAAT machines which is used for TB diagnosis meant for Kohima, Zunheboto, Mon, Tuensang, Mokokchung and Dimapur while the rest has not been installed due to poor infrastructure in the district. Tuensang has been identified as one of the high TB/HIV district while Peren has been considered as a high drug resistance district in Nagaland. Most of the Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) in the state are non-functional especially in the ru-
number of tablets procured during the current year (not specified). No nutritional support is provided to Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases by RNTCP or the health department as provisions is not available, the RTI informed. It also stated that there has been no report of “stock out” of RNTCP drugs nor shortage of supply from CTD except Tab INH 100/300mg, which is procured locally. The RTI response however stated that there are instances where the arrival of drugs at State Drug Store is hampered due to transportation problems. The RTI from the RNTCP also revealed that 10,193 cases of TB cases were diagnosed and treated during 2013, 2014 and 2015.
ral areas, stated Angami. “The state RNTCP need to look at involvement from the civil society organization in terms of designing and strategizing implementation of quality TB program side by side with development of community ownership can contribute to a qualitative intervention,” suggested Angami. The involvement of the church in the TB program can bring about a positive impact brining about drastic change in the program, Angami added. Abou Mere, Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Member briefed on the objectives and programs of Global Fund which work towards eliminating AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Global Fund
has a strong and sustained partnership with India since 2003, with US $1.7 billion grant committed so far and US $ 1.59 billion disbursed. India is the second largest recipient of Global Fund Grant after Nigeria under the New Funding module (NFM). Mere mentioned that there are an estimated 9.6 million new cases of TB every year or approximately 26,000 new cases every day. One-third of those cases are missed – not diagnosed or not treated or not reported. Among those missed are those who are at the same time most vulnerable – women and children, the very poor or malnourished, prisoners, miners, indigenous populations, the elderly, and people living with HIV.
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): In an effort to sustain the prevailing peaceful atmosphere under its jurisdiction and elsewhere, the Angami Public Organization (APO) have called for an overview on certain matters that needs to be contained promptly. On the subject of law & order, a press release issued by APO reiterated that it will not allow its land to be a killing zone for any purpose or issue and will not endorse to any activity/ programs that disrupt public/ civil safety and convenience. To avoid situations/incidents that may create strained atmosphere or fallouts, APO has impressed upon the security personals and different Naga Political Groups (NPG) to maintain utmost restraint and to rein in discipline within their ranks and files of their respective cadres. “Kohima by far and large is the home to all peace loving people and APO being the host have the legal and moral obligation and will not remain mute to anybody/
group/ organization that harbor/ perpetrate violence and infringe the peace of the land,” it maintained. With the festive season and major state programs round the corner, particularly at Kohima, the APO said social problems of communal/ gang fights/ reckless driving without any safety norms/ loud music at odd times/ provocative youth in inebriated moods etc are certain matters that need to be controlled and dealt with under firm laws. Pertaining to this, the APO has urged the administration and police personnel to promptly react to secure the convenience of all. Besides, with environmental issue has become a demanding subject that needs to be sensitized and addressed, the APO has prohibited sale or bursting of fire crackers of any kind under any situation. It informed that itwillmonitortheimplementationofthisparticular issue through its youth organizationAngami Youth Organization (AYO).
naga Hoho decries nlA’s motion on women reservation KOhIMA, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): The Naga Hoho today made strong objection to the motion introduced at 14th session of 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) regarding 33% women Reservation in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on November 22. On the first day of the current session, a motion was moved by Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs, Economics & Statistics, R Tohanba, for revoking the September 22, 2012 resolution passed under Article 371A (1)(a) exempting Nagaland from the application of Part IX A of the Constitution of India. NLA Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo said the consideration and passing of this resolution will be taken up on November 24. “This exercise is not less than undermining the voice of the people in the state,” the Naga Hoho said in a statement issued by its communication cell. It lamented that the strong opinions of the civil societies and all Tribe Hohos opposing the Municipal Act of 2001 and 33%
women reservation as a “simple replication of other states in the mainland have fallen on deaf ears.” It further argued the non-existence of opposition in the present NLA does not entail the strangulation of the voices of the people concerned about “protecting their rights.” Expressing strong apprehension that the state government is too “hasty” to implement the Municipal Act of 2001 and 33% women reservation, it said that such action would “create only chaos” resulting in creation of an “unmanageable situation.” In this regard, the Naga Hoho made its “last appeal” to the Members of the present NLA to consider the “vital social issue” with all seriousness before passing the “resolution for revocation of the resolution adopted on 22nd September, 2012.” It is bound to bring severe “social unrest and disharmony” among different Naga tribes for which “the 14th session of the 12th NLA shall be held responsible,” it cautioned.