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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 330
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
www.morungexpress.com
Girl Rising to engage kids through films
Hong Kong protest movement’s unlikely leader
Public endorses new Lotha Hoho leadership
[ PAGE 08]
[ PAGE 09]
[ PAGE 06]
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If You Keep Texting, Your Head Will Fall Off
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) today called upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “not only understand the region and the state,” but to “walk extra miles to explore beyond perceived boundaries and under-linings...” This, the ENPO stated through a press release, would “usher better understanding and meaningful relationship between the Naga people and the government of India, and the region of North East of India as a whole.” ENPO stated that the people of Eastern Nagaland await “inclusive and participative governance taking into account every corner of the North East of India.”
ENSF suspends boycott
TUENSANG, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has temporarily suspended the proposed boycott of the Nagaland statehood celebration on December 1 in the four districts of eastern Nagaland viz, Tuensang, Mon, Longleng & Kiphire. A press note from the ENSF informed that the decision was taken “considering the larger interest of the Nagas in general, honoring the visit of the Prime Minister of India and on the appeal made by the Governor of Nagaland in a meeting held at Raj Bhavan on November 28.” The ENSF, while acknowledging the Governor’s assurances to look into their grievances, asserted that it “demands nothing less or more than” the agreement made between the State Government and the ENSF on November 26. It urged the State Government “not to test the patience of the Federation but to implement the agreement before January 25, 2015 in letter and in spirit.”
HSLC exams from February 10
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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has informed that the HSLC and HSSLC examinations 2015 will commence from February 10, 2015 and February 11, 2015 onwards. A press note from the NBSE further stated that the Class 11 Promotion Exams will begin from February 10. The NBSE informed that 23632 students have enrolled for the HSLC exams while 13656 have enrolled for the HSSLC exams. In addition, 15497 students will appear for the Class 11 Promotion Exam.
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–Muhammad Ali
Clarke’s heartbreaking tribute [ PAGE 12]
3 Naga political groups lok sabha speaker bats for ‘accountable, ‘pledge to work closely’ transparent and responsible’ governance Mahajan asserts women’s rights
Kohima | November 29
ENPO urges PM to explore beyond ‘perceived boundaries’
Sunday, November 30, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
[S]He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life
Our Correspondent
Roads, Power, Water supply and Traffic. Everything’s up and running, but if PM Modi stays for more than 2 days, we are all goners.
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Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today said that democracy has prevailed in Nagaland for centuries and even today head of the village is elected at the local level through democratic procedure. She termed this a sign of a “successful and healthy democracy.” Addressing the 50-years anniversary of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here, she said since the formation of the State of Nagaland in 1963, the people of Nagaland have reposed faith in democratic institutions by actively participating in elections. “I am glad to note that starting from 50% voter turnout in the first assembly elections held in 1964, it has several times gone to near 90%,” she said. Over the years, she noted, the role and responsibilities of legislators have significantly increased. Legislative bodies have multi-dimensional functions to perform ranging from ventilating people’s grievances to making laws, to debating policies and subjects of public importance, and surveillance over functioning of the administration. “Such public responsibili-
KOhIMA, NOVEMBER 29 (DIPR): Lok Sabha Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, asserted the representation of women in the State Assembly and educating the girl child. Addressing a press conference after the inaugural programme of the 50 year anniversary of the NLA, Mahajan said that women should enjoy their rights in policy making and decision making. “As a human being she has a right and nobody can take away her rights,” she maintained. She assured that she would do her best to pass the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and others after unveiling the monolith in commemoration of women’s reservation bill in Parliament during her tenure. 50 years of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima on November 29. (Morung Photo) ties require the members of the legislature to be true and faithful to the principles of democracy. Thus, the biggest challenge before democratic institutions, and the legislators, is to live up to the expectations of the people,” said Mahajan. The Speaker appealed to the legislators to come forward to contribute in strengthening the representative system of governance. She also stressed on the need to strive together to ensure that the politics of confrontation and intolerance finds no place in a democratic set up.
“We must collectively work to give way to politics of reconciliation and accommodation in the larger interest of the unity of the nation and the prosperity of our people,” she said. Mahajan called upon the elected members to strive to ensure that governance in Nagaland State remains accountable, transparent and responsible; responsive to the people’s needs and demands. She urged the people to develop Nagaland according to its ‘special and unique’ position in the socio-cultural
landscape of the country because of its scenic beauty, lush greenery rich tradition of art and crafts, serene ambience and its friendly and self respecting people. In that, she asked the State to develop according to culture and potential and not copy other States for development, and stressed on the need to convert the potential for tourism into reality. She said that she was proud to visit Nagaland, the ‘land of fearless Rani Gaidinliu,’ stating that the bravery and courage of the ‘Great
Freedom Fighter’ known as ‘Rani Laxmi Bai of Nagaland’ cannot be expressed in words. Majahan said the high literacyrateandhigherwomen’swork participation ratio compared to the all India average is a remarkable feature of the State. Stating that urbanization and providing employment opportunities to the youth are key focus areas, she stressed on the need to pay attention towards skill development for which state-of-the-art facilities have to be provided in institutions like ITI’s. Related news on page 5
Says ‘Our differences should not compromise our political right’ and reaffirms ‘common political vision’ for Naga people
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): Three Naga political groups have affirmed the pursuance of a “common political vision” despite “our differed ideological and administrative positions.” “We reaffirm that we are bound by common history,” stated a joint statement from Gen. (Retd) Khole Konyak, Chairman, NSCN, N Kitovi Zhimomi, General Secretary, NSCN, Z. Royim Yimchungru, Acting President, NNC, Vizosielhou Nagi, General Secretary, NNC, Zhopra Vero, Kedallo, FGN for Brig. (Retd) S Singnya, Kedahge, FGN and TS Keyho, Vice President, NNC. “Our differences should not compromise our political right and therefore, upholding the spirit of Naga national unity, we are determined to understand each other because the interest of future Naga generations must be safeguarded at all cost and therefore, we repose our faith in each other and pledge that we shall work closely and facilitate each other in finding acceptable political settlement with the Government of Indi. We commit ourselves to this task as desired by our people,” the leaders noted. The statement, signed on November 29 at the Council Headquarters of the GPRN/NSCN, urged the people of Nagaland to continue extending fullest support and cooperation. “Having observed the political developments within and beyond artificial boundary, the people of Nagaland desire honorable political settlement with the Government of India. This is the practical step towards forming stronger ties among entire Naga family,” the joint statement noted.
DAN rewarding the corrupt, NPCC says DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today continued to hit out at the NPF led DAN government for allegedly “plunging the State in an abysmal deficit of 1252.45 crores.” A press note from the NPCC media cell claimed that the DAN government “has plundered every conceivable arena having government funds” and that the “desperate attempts to blame the previous Congress led UPA Government or the Finance Commission is merely a cheap gimmick to pass the buck and cover up its mis-governance before the people.” The NPCC continued that the State Government has “ravaged the State Exchequer with its nepotistic policies and connivance with a select group of contractors and suppliers to loot hundreds of crores of public money at the cost of infrastructure development including basic amenities like health care, electricity and even salaries of the Government employees.” It further expressed concern that the DAN government has been “relentlessly begging the Central Government to bail out the state from the current financial crisis in the form of special financial packages.” The NPCC also listed out several areas in which it alleged the DAN had made a “mockery” of governance over the past decade. It specifically pointed out that during 2003-2011, the State Government constructed numerous government offices and complexes. In all these construction works, it alleged that “abnormal-
ly high cost of project and enormous escalation of revised rates was granted to select contractors which caused colossal loss to the State Exchequer.” “All these construction works have been approved at very high cost whilst most of the works were completed at unbelievably higher rate after revision of the approved cost,” the NPCC stated. It further said that the centrally sponsored schemes, especially the Central Flagship Programme that does not fall within the purview of the State budget, “are blatantly misused,” and lamented that the DAN government has become a “protector of criminals.” The NPCC then called out the State Government on the “seizure of unaccounted cash” during the 2013 assembly elections and stated that the Government has been “rewarding the corrupt.” In addition to this, the NPCC also slammed the DAN government’s failure to implement a Lokayukta for the State and the alleged “misuse of 712 crores meant for the 6th ROP.” While pointing to the conduct of road shows and the Hornbill Festival, the NPCC and stated that “the obsession with fun loving and merrymaking activities by the DAN government has reduced agencies like the Music Task Force to deviate from its originally acclaimed purpose to facilitate, create, nurture, support and develop latent talent and resources towards professionalism and livelihood in any and every facet of the music industry.” Full text on Page 10
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