C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
WednesdAY • september 21 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 260 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed 10 militants, soldier killed in Kashmir, sneak bids foiled pAGe 08
o F
T R u T H
— Maya Angelou
Children and Women’s Right: Our Responsibilities
Yaya Toure retires from international football pAGe 02
pAGe 12
Potholes, water-logging and traffic snarls finally, Kohima
PWD and BRO finally begins pothole-filling but says no blacktopping Morung Express News
Nagaland gets Rs 340 Crore for improvement of highways
Dimapur | September 20
Potholes, water-logging and traffic snarls have become the norm on the national highways and other thoroughfares in Dimapur. The usual culprits – fund constraints and embezzlement, encroachment and resistance from land owners – come to the fore whenever debate ensues on the condition of roads. It is highly unlikely that the roads of Dimapur will see improvement during the ongoing financial year as the two main agencies responsible for road maintenance has cited fund constraints as preventing full scale and smoothening works. BRO officials told the media on September 20 that the agency is financially constrained to take up ‘metalling’ works on the Purana Bazaar stretch of NH 29 and other sections, which falls within its jurisdictional control. The most the BRO could do is fill up potholes with gravel and earth as temporary measures, the officials added. As stated by the officials, BRO labourers began filling up potholes on September 20 on the stretch between Purana Bazaar and 2 ½ Mile. This however was not a voluntary reaction as the BRO jumped to action following an ultimatum served by the Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU). The ultimatum with a 15-day deadline was submitted to the Executive Engineer, BRTF (SEWAK), Dimapur on September 19. Besides fund constraints, the BRO officials said that absence of drainage is the chief reason contributing to the early wearing of ‘metalling’ on this particular stretch. With the black-topped portion at 7m in width, additional land will be required to construct a drainage system. Resistance from
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang has informed that the Finance Committee of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday approved the sanction of Rs 340 Crore for improvement of the Highway from Dimapur to Chumukedima and Kohima Check Gate to Lerie which passes through the State Capital. A press note from the CMO informed that today’s sanction is apart from the 4-Laning project of the National Highway between Kohima and Dimapur which had already been allotted to two mainland firms, and for which works are expected to commence once the monsoon ends. In another development, the Chief Minister along with Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice, Er Picto called on the Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar this afternoon and apprised the latter about the need to have a separate High Court for Nagaland rather than remaining as a Bench of the Guwahati High Court. The Union Minister, the CMO stated, gave a patient hearing and appreciated the requirements, and assured the Chief Minister that he would take up the matter for consideration on a priority basis.
A cargo laden truck, which got stuck in a water-logged pothole at Purana Bazaar, Dimapur on September 20.
landowners on both sides of the highway is acting as a stumbling block, the officials said. The DNSU had served a similar ultimatum to the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads & Bridges), Dimapur on September 8. Like the BRO, the PWD swung to action on September 17. The work however will be limited to filling up potholes on sections under its jurisdiction. As per the DNSU, the EE told visiting DNSU officials that the department is not in a position to take up fullscale ‘carpeting and metalling’ works.
Dimapur to Kohima bypass road gets nod Meanwhile, according to an IANS report, the central government on Tuesday approved nine highway projects at a cost of Rs 2,600.31 crore. Part of this, the construction of capital road (Bypass road from Dimapur to Kohima of 34.171 Km length) under Inter State Connectivity Scheme in Nagaland during 2016-17 has also been approved at a total cost of Rs 325.81 crore.
An unlikely suspect - shifting responsibility aided in part by confusion over jurisdiction – is also to a certain degree contributing to the dismal road conditions. In theory, there is a clear division for the maintenance of the roads of Dimapur, including the national highways passing through the city. For instance, the stretch starting from New Field Check-post to the Old Overbridge police point is under the BRO, while from the Old Overbridge police point till Purana Bazaar is under the PWD (National Highways). Roads fall-
ing within the city limits, including portions of national highways are said to be under the R&B and NH wings of the PWD with the Municipal body shouldering the responsibility of maintaining inner city link roads. It is though alleged that a game of ‘passing the buck’ plays out when it comes to actual work. As summed up by one DNSU official today, “When it comes to funds everybody wants it but when its boils down to actual work, there is not much enthusiasm shifting responsibility from one to the other.”
Says 33% women reservation is ‘contrary to Naga culture and alien to us’
Storm disrupts power supply
C M Y K
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): The torrential rain, which lashed Dimapur on the evening of September 19 disrupted power supply to several localities. According to a Power department official, areas within the municipal limits and beyond experienced blackouts as trees were uprooted in several locations snapping power lines. It affected supply from the main load dispatch Centre at Nagarjan to the sub-stations while distribution lines from the substations were also affected. As a result, supply from the main distribution sub-stations - Burma Camp, Metha, Industrial Estate, Super Market and another at 4th Mile located at CIHSR, were disrupted. The official informed that the snapping of the Town feeder (power line) from Metha sub-station disrupted supply to the main town area, which could be restored only on the morning of September 20. Another line, Hospital feeder from Burma Camp sub-station was restored in the evening. Stating that a majority of the damaged feeders have been restored, the official added that restoration work was in progress in pockets, including Marwari Patti.
Dimapur | September 20 Morung Express News
Having missed the bus twice, Nagaland State capital Kohima’s tryst for the ‘smart city’ tag came to fruition on Tuesday when it finally managed to find a place in a new list of smart cities. The state capital was among the list of 27 cities announced by the Minister for Urban Development, M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on September 20. Kohima had missed the first round of the competition in January and also narrowly missed a Fast Track competition held in May, 2016. Consequently, the state government had submitted an upgraded proposal to the Ministry in June this year. In the second round of the competition, Kohima was selected in a competition among 63 cities. “Competition based selection has made the cities rediscover themselves as they are undertaking a thorough assessment of gaps in the present levels of infrastructure and service delivery and come out with comprehensive, credible and actionable plans for area based development and technology based Pancity solutions,” Naidu said announcing the list. According to a PIB release, the Minister informed that the new 27 smart cities have proposed an investment of Rs.66, 883 crore under smart city plans including Rs.42, 524 crore under Area Based Development and another Rs.11, 379 crore for technology based Pancity solutions that benefits all the citizens of respective cities. With this, the total investment proposed by the 60 cities selected so far has gone up to Rs.1, 44,742 crore, he said. In the order of merit, Amritsar
Kohima Village Council reaffirms ‘Truth should be our guiding principle’ stand against women reservation Our Correspondent
Until all these are sorted out...India will remain part of Nagaland!
in ‘smart city’ list
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): The Kohima Village Council (KVC) today reaffirmed its stand opposing the 33% reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies. A press note from the KVC Chairman and the Press & Publicity Secretary stated that despite “intense opposition” from several quarters against implementation on the policy of 33% women reservation in the Urban Local Bodies and municipal councils, the cabinet without any discussion with the concerned Naga societies have passed this bill in August 2016. “It has come to light that the State Government is all set to conduct local urban body elections in the near future following this controversial bill,” it added. The KVC reiterated its earlier resolution which was published in the media on March 1, 2012 that “33% women reservation to the urban local bodies is contrary to the Naga culture and alien to us.” Reaffirming its earlier resolution, the KVC conveyed its “total disagreement to this reservation policy, which, our State Government is trying to adopt and implement in the formation of urban local bodies.” The KVC however stated that it is of “utmost importance to urgently form the urban local bodies to fill up the voids, as our urban areas are at immense loss without them.” Men/women are equally welcome to participate in this process and hold the Municipal Council elections at the earliest without any reservation policy, it added.
Kohima | September 20
The KVC viewed that “there is no discrimination between men folk and womenfolk and that our Naga women in general were never underprivileged in any form in the society.” “Men folk are never more privileged than the womenfolk. Men and women alike get their due importance in different segments and their status, identities, importance differ in different arena,” it said. “Whereas, in comparison with India, there is a lot of discrimination between men and women. Womenfolk are barred and isolated in many ways in the society, like family administration, social activities, educational sphere, society development planning, religious rites, rural or urban local bodies’ elections, community development programmes, marital programme planning etc. and moreover there is menace of caste system,” the KVC added. It further opined that “a leader must carry the mandate of the public, who should after being elected/ nominated, discharge his/her duty judiciously in accordance to the law and will of the people.” Voicing out against 33% (or any percentage) women reservation to urban local bodies, the KVC cautioned that “if an urban local body is established with 33% reservation principle, without the support and mandate of the people, and if by reservation a council is formed without public mandate and confidence of the general public, it is going to be a powerless council.” Therefore, the KVC asked the State Government “not to further encourage or enhance such a fatal exercise, but reconsider this issue in the interest of KVC and Naga’s as a whole; which, if left unattended may become explosive.”
Regretting that there is deficit of truth in Naga society, Minister for School Education & SCERT Yitachu today challenged the people to practice truth for positive grow of the society. To be on positive side, we have to practice truth, he said adding that “Truth should be our guiding principle.” He said this while addressing a book release function here today at Kohima College. He said that non practice of truth in the working system has hampered many activities. Yitachu termed as unfortunate that truth is lacking even in the organizations/institutions level, thereby creating problem in society today. He also lamented that in most of the leadership today
there is more of criticism and negativity. Yitachu called upon the Naga people to also to come out with alternative ideas for solution. “Let us all be practical, sensible, sincere and honest in all our approach in the general interest of the Naga people,” Yitachu said. The Minister meanwhile said education is required to bring changes but if acquiring of knowledge is to create problem then it is not a true knowledge. “We suffer mainly because of that,” he said. He further stated that research, innovative idea and inventive activities are lacking in Naga society. Further stating that some employees do not want to go to interior places to carry out their assignment, he said “We are not honest and sincere to our profession.” Yitachu questioned how the society can grow if the same trend is continued.
tops the list of 27 new smart cities. Among the NE states, Namchi in Sikkim and Kohima made it to the smart city list for the first time at 18 and 24 position respectively. The 27 smart cities announced today are from 12 States including 5 from Maharashtra, 4 each from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, 3 from Uttar Pradesh and 2 each from Punjab and Rajasthan. With the new list, smart city plans are now spread over 27 States and Union Territories. The Minister further informed that the next round of competition to select the remaining 40 cities would begin in January next year. A Red Letter Day: CM Zeliang Meanwhile, welcoming the selection of Kohima in the 27 smart cities list, Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today said September 20 was a ‘Red Letter Day’ for Nagaland. A release from the Chief Minister’s Office maintained that the Chief Minister TR Zeliang had taken up efforts to include Kohima as a Smart City, on a personal level and had “numerous rounds of meetings with the consultants, department officials and all stakeholders in the last few months.” Undaunted by the inability of Kohima to find mention in the first and second selection lists, he “renewed his vigor” and had been urging the department concerned to take up the matter on a war footing, and to rectify the short comings which prevented the state capital from getting the required points, it added. The Chief Minister who is presently in New Delhi had rung up the Department concerned and had personally conveyed the information and congratulated the officials for their hard work which has finally bore fruit, it said.
Naga Hoho appeals to Ao Senden and Sumi Hoho to attend Federal Assembly DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): The Naga Hoho today appealed to the Ao Senden and the Sumi Hoho to attend the 3rd Federal Assembly of the Naga Hoho scheduled to be held on September 28 at Hotel De Oriental Grand, Kohima at 11:00am “in the greater interest of the Naga fraternity.” A press note from the Naga Hoho stated that it had notified about the General Assembly on August 27 through the media, “keeping in view the current misunderstanding between the office of the Naga Hoho and some affiliated units which had appeared in some local dailies particularly on the question of granting of status of indigenous Naga Tribe to Rongmei community and considering the nature of seriousness.” “We are of the view that the summoning of the federal assembly itself is directly or indirectly responding to the issues being raised through media by different individuals and forums. It may be mentioned here that the federal assembly has to be summoned at least one month ahead as per the conventional practice,” it added.
Nagaland first in NE to launch Disability Aid & Services Morung Express News Kohima | September 20
The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), Kohima launched the Disability Aid & Services on September 20 at Gauhati High Court Complex, Kohima, making it the first in the North East. Justice N Chaudhury, Judge Gauhati High Court & Executive Chairman of NSLSA graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Free artificial limbs and calipers were also distributed to 22 selected needy beneficiaries hailing from Kohima, Zunheboto, Longleng, and Peren. M. Patton, IAS Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Justice and Law, in his address mentioned that there are 29, 631 differently-abled persons in Nagaland which means they constitute 1.25 per cent of the total population of Nagaland. However, Patton informed that only 5.17 per cent of the total population of the disabled people have disabled certificates from con-
Differently abled persons during the launch of the Disability Aid & Services on September 20 at Gauhati High Court Complex, Kohima. (Morung Photo)
cerned authorities. There are many programs and welfare schemes besides voluntary organizations and NGOs to take care of the disabled but Patton said, “Apparently if we look at the scenario, performances to take care of them are not adequate. We need to wake up and do more.” Patton also assured that any person can approach the NSLSA for assistance. Stressing on the dignity of the differently abled, Chief
Guest Justice N. Chaudhury stated that the Supreme Court being the guardian of the Constitution has been looking after the enforcement of fundamental rights of the citizens with the main objective to serve equal justice to all. “Our friends who are differently abled have equal rights. What about their dignity? Do they have to be looked upon with mercy? They are also entitled to the same amenities, dignity and development benefits,”
said Justice Chaudhury while pointing out Article 21 (a) on the right to live with dignity. While lauding the service of the NSLSA and the efforts of the lawyers, Justice Chaudhury also urged every person committed to social good to work towards the dignity of the differently abled and especially to trace and bring every differently abled person in the interiors of Nagaland so that they benefit from such services.