17 june

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 191

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

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EURO 2020: Wales beat Turkey; Owngoal gives France 1-0 win over Germany sports, Page 8

State facing drought-like situation: Kaito Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUN 16 (NPN): State minister for agriculture and cooperation, G Kaito Aye, Wednesday said Nagaland was facing a droughtlike situation owning to the deficient and erratic rainfall.

Addressing media persons in the conference hall of Nagaland Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday, the minister attributed the situation to climate change and late monsoon and said delayed rainfall had led to crops drying up.

He said that the situation was aggravated by fall army worm (FAW) infestation, which devastated large swathe of maize crop measuring 3048.45 hectares in 334 villages. Besides seasonal crops, the minister said shortage of rainfall has also affected commercial crops like large cardamom, fruits, vegetables and livestock including fisheries and piggeries.

Despite the department’s initiatives, the minister said FAW infestation could not be completely neutralised. He, however, said that the responsible departments have taken up

G. Kaito Aye flanked by Mhathung Yanthan (R) and Y Kikheto Sema addressing the press conference at Secretariat, Kohima on Wednesday. (NP)

various issues with their respective departments at the Centre level. Aye said Centre should be made aware of the situation in order to make necessary arrangements as and when required.

Advisor Horticulture & Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, pointed out that government raised its level of preparedness in the face of the drought-like situation. He said that shortage of rainfall has caused huge concerns at a critical time when farmers were preparing for germination of seeds and crop plantation.

Although the situation was a normal phenomenon, Yanthan said necessary measures like climate proofing, use of drought tolerant and climate resilient crops had to be practised in order to avoid large scale crop loss.

HIGHLIGHTS  Climate change, late monsoon, delayed rainfall main factors for crops drying up  Situation aggravated

by FAW infestation, where large swathe of maize crop measuring 3048.45 ha in 334 villages were damaged  Rainfall deficiency in some districts has reportedly gone up to 66 percent  Centre to be made aware of the situation for assistance  68,662 ha of jhum fields in 915 villages affected

He said that the department had also dovetailed additional measures such as soil and moisture conservation etc. which would help mitigate the problems. He assured that the responsible departments would take the discussion forward as much as possible.

State agriculture prod u c t i o n c o m m is s i o ne r (APC), Y Kikheto Sema, pointed out that from December 2020 till April 2021 there was no significant rainfall in the State, which had affected 68,662 hectares of jhum fields in 915 villages all over the State. Due to the delayed monsoon, APC said terraced rice cultivation and wet terraced rice cultivation has also been affected leading to delay in land preparedness and sowing.

If the current trend

continued till July, he said farmers could fail to undertake cultivation activities.

Kikheto disclosed that rice production of the State for the year 2020-21 was at 5.51 lakh MT, which may fall to 1.66 lakh MT in the current year if the dry spell continued. Rainfall deficiency in some districts has reportedly gone up to 66 percent, Kikheto said.

Taking all these issues into account, Kikheto said agri & allied departments were planning to distribute rabbi seeds including potato, oil seeds and vegetables in September and October to compensate the farmers for the anticipated losses incurred. He further disclosed that the chief minister, during a recent meeting, had made known the seriousness of the government towards the issue.

A core committee headed by APC has reportedly been formed to monitor and review the ground situation in accordance with reports received from the fields. Further, APC also directed all officers of agri & allied departments to remain in their respective stations to closely monitor the ground situation.

Lockdown extended till June 30

DTFs to take call on relaxing lockdown curbs Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUN 16 (NPN): High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 on Wednesday decided to further extend the ongoing State-wide lockdown till June 30. Current lockdown was to end on June 18.

Informing this to media persons here on Wednesday, planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu said the decision was taken by the committee at a meeting held here during the day He said further decisions on whether to further extend or lift the lockdown would be taken only after June 30 on a need basis.

While no new relaxations have been announced, HPC has empowered the District Task Forces (DTFs) to work out relaxations/remedial measures as per the situation in the respective districts, Kronu said.

The government was of the view that though there has been a gradual decline in daily Covd-19 cases, the positivity rate still needed to fall below 5%.

The overall positivity rate as

on June 16 stood at 9.3%.

Pointing to the steady decline in new cases, Kronu, however, cautioned that it was not yet the time to become complacent.

Although death and infection rates have both come down of late, he observed that these were still quite high and therefore needed to be brought down further and sought a concerted effort from everyone in this regard.

On vaccination, the minister said HPC discussed the issue in threadbare, its importance and stressed on ramping it up as the current rate of vaccination was still low.

On behalf of the State government and chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Kronu also acknowledged the efforts of healthcare and frontline workers in fighting the pandemic.

He said the health & family welfare department has given instructions to chief medical officers (CMO) of all districts to submit list of medical equipment required.

On the fears of third wave of Covid-19 hitting Nagaland, Kronu asserted

that the State had to remain prepared, in case the third wave indeed occurred.

Kronu disclosed that more than 60% of healthcare workers and 29% of individuals 45 years and above had been inoculated so far.

However, he said only 13% had been vaccinated in the 18-44 years category, which required to be improved.

W h i l e t h e ove r a l l Covid-19 situation has improved in the State, he expressed concern over new cases being reported from some districts, especially in rural areas, which was something to be worried about.

He explained that as Dimapur was a sensitive area, the ban on workers coming from outside was still in place.

It may be recalled that the government had imposed a seven-day lockdown from May 14 to contain spread of Covid-19 and subsequently extended it till May 31.

The lockdown was further extended till June 11 and then to June 18. This will be the fought extension of the lockdown in the State.

State Covid caseload nears 24,000 mark; 2 deaths 3 ONGC wells shut down for starting ops ‘without permission’

DIMAPUR, JUN 16 (NPN): Nagaland on Wednesday reported 111 fresh Covid-19 positive as the total caseload neared the 24,000 mark while the state also witnessed a sharp decline in number deaths at two.

Of the fresh cases, Mokokchung reported 48 cases, Dimapur and Kohima- 20 each, seven each in Phek and Tuensang, five in Mon, three in Kiphire and one in Wokha, taking the total caseload to 23965.

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON June 16, 2021

District

Asymptomatic

Mild

Dimapur 1044 64 5 Kiphire 18 Kohima 498 12 Longleng 17 7 Mokokchung 544 15 Mon 52 0 Peren 5 0 Phek 38 0 Tuensang 163 11 Wokha 40 1 Zunheboto 65 6 Total 2484 121

ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic Severe Moderate ICU On On (without Oxy- Oxy- ventilagen gen tor) 20 6 13 1 0 1 11 8 0 2 0 0 4 3 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 3 0 0 52 18 16

RecovDeath ered

ICU (On ventilator 5 10134 297 0 120 5 3 6500 75 0 102 0 0 551 27 0 855 6 0 571 0 0 283 15 0 557 6 0 135 4 0 319 12 8 20127 447

Non Covid Deaths Miwith gratCovid 19 ed Positivity 10 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 14

Total Cases

487 12078 1 150 109 7216 10 140 36 1180 15 937 2 579 2 342 3 739 5 190 8 414 678 23965

Further, the death toll rose 461 (including 14 nonCovid deaths but with Covid positivity) after two more patients succumbed to the infection in Dimapur.

PTI: A single day rise of 62,224 new Covid cases were reported taking India’s total tally to 2,96,33,105, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Covid-19 death toll climbed to 3,79,573 with 2,542 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

DIMAPUR, JUN 16 (NPN): State government has shut down three wells of ONGC for allegedly not obtaining prior permission before starting drilling activities, reports PTI. DC Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan, in a letter to ONGC executive director for Assam Arakan Basin on June 1, reportedly asked ONGC to stop operations at the three wells.

According to PTI report, the letter stated that

a report was received on April 9 regarding setting up of drilling activities at Piheku, Tokishe and Nikihe villages, “which are under Dimapur district”. However, the sites fall under a disputed area with Assam, the report quoted sources as saying.

Claiming that the company carried out drilling activities “without the prior permission from the Government of Nagaland”, DC sought clarification

in this matter at the earliest. Further, DC asked the concerned authority to stop all activities in the above said area.

Queries sent to ONGC officials remained unanswered, PTI stated.

When contacted, a senior official of the Nagaland government told PTI, “Discussion is underway between the government and ONGC. We are awaiting a reply from the company.” Sources said the

area where the drilling wells are located is not under the control of Nagaland.

“The CRPF is in charge of this area and it has a separate border magistrate,” one source said.

He said ONGC has been operating there for some time, and while one well is at the exploration stage, another is already producing. There has been no activity at the site in Tokishe village, source claimed.

NPF accuses PDA govt of dodging questions Police await lab test on June 19 Dimapur meeting cancelled alleged plastic-rice mixture

Fuel prices hiked Panel on Naga issue reconstituted;

DIMAPUR, JUN 16 (NPN): After keeping the prices unchanged on Tuesday, the state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) Wednesday increased prices of petrol and diesel by 2225 paise per litre and 12-14 paise per litre respectively.

After the latest hike, petrol price in Dimapur soared to Rs.95.35 per litre while diesel price rose to Rs.89.52 per litre. Similarly, in the state capital Kohima, prices of petrol and diesel climbed to Rs.95.35 per litre and Rs.89.52 per litre respectively. The hike on Wednesday was the 25th increase in prices since May 4. In 24 increases, petrol price has risen by Rs 6.26 per litre and diesel by Rs 6.68 a litre.

This is it!

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUN 16 (NPN): With extension of the Statewide complete lockdown announced on Wednesday, the first meeting of Core Committee of Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue scheduled on June 19 at Dimapur has been cancelled.

Confirming this, planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu, however, could not tell Nagaland Post when the next meeting will be held.

Panel reconstituted: Meanwhile, in partial modification to the notification of

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(Cont’d on p-6)

ing direct questions, the NPF said: “first is, they do not think that you deserve answers, second is, they really do not care how you feel, third is, they like it when you are confused and fourth is, they want to deflect and project you in bad light.”

The opposition party alleged that the PDA government under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio was almost following those traits “as if citizens of Nagaland are dumb fools.”

NPF said the PDA has failed to respond on the subject of providing relief to COVID patients who underwent treatment in COVID hospitals and also providing ex-gratia

grant to the COVID related deceased family.

According to NPF, the Home Ministry has given clear directive to utilise 60% of the grants received under State Disaster Response Fund for those purposes.

However, it said that nothing on the ground was being implemented. “Yet tall claims continue to pour out in the media from the PDA government,” NPF stated.

It claimed that Assam and Meghalaya have even gone to the extent of giving additional grants to the COVID patients and to the families of the COVID victims from State’s resources in addition to the normal central grants received.

(Cont’d on p-6)

DoNER to identify 10 distts in NE lagging behind in development Spl. Correspondent

“If you stop me, this letter is from someone you won’t like to confront with.”

June 10, the Parliamentary Committee comprising all the 60 members of State Assembly and two MPs from Nagaland was reconstituted.

As per the new notification issued by chief secretary J Alam, chief minister Neiphiu Rio is the committee’s convener, deputy CM Y Patton and leader of opposition TR Zeliang its co-conveners, planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu as member secretary and all ministers, advisers, members of parliament and MLAs its members.

DIMAPUR, JUN 16 (NPN): NPF Wednesday accused the ruling PDA government of persistent attempt to dodge “direct and pertinent questions” put up by its Legislature Wing and central office.

NPF through its press bureau asked whether the questions raised by the principal opposition party deserved no answers or PDA did not dare answer them as that would “disprove their so called ‘transparent’ government theory?” NPF said that the PDA government continued to harp on the illusion that they run an accountable and transparent government.

Describing the traits of narcissists while answer-

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (NPN): Ministry of DoNER would identify 10 districts in all the eight states of North Eastern Region lagging behind the most in governance and developmental parameters within a week.

Chairing a high-level meeting with the officials of the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC), the DoNER Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

Wednesday said that the aim of this exercise was to focus on those districts and bring them on a par with other developed districts in terms of saturation level. Dr. Singh said the main focus would be to accelerate “Ease of Living” in those districts through smooth delivery of goods and services.

The minister clarified that those 10 districts would be different from the 14 aspirational districts of Northeast, chosen earlier based on

49 key indicators, of which the status of healthcare was an important component.

Dr. Singh reiterated that ISRO would assist development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology and would contribute by offering optimum utilization of Satellite Imaging and other Space Technology applications for better accomplishment of infrastructural projects in all the eight states of the region. He also instructed the officials

to prepare a comprehensive database of developmental projects in each of the eight States of the region in the last seven years and showcase the marked improvement in all the sectors in comparison to the earlier 63 years. He said that Prime Minister’s flagship projects and all the foundation laying ceremonies of Modi in all the eight States must be reflected in the Developmental Database.

Further, the minister referred to the Atma Nirbhar

Bharat Package announced on October 12, 2020, where the government earmarked Rs.200 crore each for eight North Eastern States as a special interest-free 50-year loan to States under Capital Expenditure Boost for States package.

Dr. Singh concluded the meeting by exhorting officials to resume postCOVID developmental activities and try to catch up fast the lost opportunities during the pandemic.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JUN 16 (NPN): A video has surfaced, purportedly claiming that rice was being mixed with plastic granules in a rice godown located at Naharbari. Upon being alerted, district administration, police and food and civil supplies officials under Dimapur, went to the godown and took samples of the rice granule and milled rice. The godown has also been sealed and suspects also questioned.

The sample(s) of the mixture have been sent for laboratory analysis to ascertain whether the mixture contained plastic granules and rice.

Meanwhile, speaking to this Reporter, EAC Chumoukedima, Seyiekhreito Solo who had also gone to the godown said the Food Safety & Standard Authority officials collected the samples which were sent for lab analysis. He said it was not possible to speculate or presume whether the allegations of adulteration as made by an individual in the video was true or not. He said the matter was being taken up by the police for further action.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo told this Reporter, that investigation was on and that until the laboratory

results were out, it was not proper to jump to any conclusion. CP also appealed to all not to believe everything that is being uploaded on social media merely on hearsay. The CP opined that the chances that plastic granule and rice were being mixed as alleged by an individual on social media, was highly unlikely since milling plastic would require totally different and complex machines.

CP however admitted that there was more likelihood of adulteration by done by mixing low quality with high quality rice for making profits. He also said police is also probing the individual who made the allegation.

Tetseo also said, if the laboratory test proved negative, police will look into the motive of the individual for spreading false information.

Meanwhile, sources said that the alleged plastic rice-- on the video, looked similar to fortified rice, supplied under Mid-Day Meal scheme. Fortifying rice involves grinding broken rice into powder, mixing it with micronutrients like-- vitamin B12, iron and folic acid etc, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels using an extrusion process. However, only the lab test result will ascertain the facts, sources added.

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2

state

nagalandpost.com Poll Q . : Which of the two competitions is more popular?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

A Euro 2020.

B Copa America.

C Both .

C

69% 10% 21%

Next poll Q: C a n

the state govt launch mass vaccination during Lockdown?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST June 17

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A t-storm around in the a.m.

32 24

Aizawl

Occasional rain and a t-storm 27 20

Guwahati A thunderstorm in spots Imphal

Rather cloudy with a t-storm

34 25 28 21

Itanagar A stray morning thunderstorm 31 24 Shillong A t-storm around in the p.m.

24 18

Kohima A p.m. t-storm in spots

26 18

Dimapur A thunderstorm in the morning 32 24 Mkg

A couple of thunderstorms

28 19

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots

21 15

A thunderstorm in spots

28 21

Wokha

Zunheboto Mostly cloudy with a t-storm 25 17

Domestic workers call for mutual support ‘Need of the hour is solidarity for the cause of domestic workers’

DIMAPUR: National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) – Nagaland Region in collaboration with Assisi Centre for Integrated Development (ACID) and All Nagaland Domestic Workers Union (ANDWU) joined the rest of the world in commemorating the “international domestic workers day” (IDWD) under the theme “making decent work a reality beyond COVID-19 for domestic workers” on Wednesday at ACID hall.

Speaking at the programme, NDWM Nagaland region coordinator, Sr. Pramila Lobo said that June 16 marked the 10th anniversary of Adoption of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 decent work for domestic workers, which recognises the significant contribution domestic workers make to the global economy.

Sr. Pramila Lobo stated that the convention was of the greatest gift that the world could offer to its 100 million workers, however, she said that the convention adopted by ILC 2011 would bring no changes if it was not ratified by the government of India.

“The need of the hour therefore is solidarity for the cause of domestic workers”, she maintained.

During the pro-

Participants during the IDWD programme in Dimapur.

gramme, the gathered domestic workers put forward the following demands from the government: that the GOI ratify C189 on decent work for domestic workers and enact: comprehensive legislation for domestic workers; that the labour department register all domestic workers; provide Rs.10000 a month compensation for loss of work; prioritise vaccination for domestic workers; employers honour your responsibility to your domestic worker.

They also demanded from the state government on recognition of domestic workers as workers; protection against all types of harassment; social security and access to benefits; inclusion of domestic work-

ers in schedule of employment and thus entitled to minimum wages and employers provide contract for domestic workers.

They demanded that the employer: treat domestic workers with respect; recognise their work; pay decent wage; guarantee sufficient rest; provide decent working condition; weekly off, paid holidays and sick leave demands.

The domestic workers demanded that the public: recognise domestic workers as workers, domestic work as work; support them in their cry; give justice, right and dignity and to call them by name.

Earlier, some of the domestic workers also expressed grievances such as no pay, no job, travelling

COVID-19: Orders, meeting and vaccination drives

A women receiving the vaccine, Wednesday, at Tongdentsuyong Ward Community Hall. (NP)

DIMAPUR: As Nagaland continues to fight the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, respective district administrations have been sensitising the public on vaccination, guidelines and preventive measures.

Mon legislators to provide 10 lakh each: Minister, transport, civil aviation, railways & land resources, P. Paiwang Konyak announced that the Konyak legislators have reserved 50 lakhs from the LADP common pool for COVID expenses in Mon district.

Informing this to Nagaland Post, Paiwang who was also the minister incharge of Mon district informed that the Mon legislators would provide Rs. 10 lakhs each from every constituency from the LADP to be utilised for COVID-19 expenditures.

He said the issues were discussed, Wednesday, during the joint meeting with DTF and various committees where he presided the meeting.

Paiwang said the meeting discussed to accelerate vaccination and how to carry out mass vaccination in the rural villages which was the most important issue at the moment.

In this regard, he appealed to the civil societies, Konyak union, Konyak students’ union, KNSK and the church to support the medical team and health workers to accelerate vaccinations to the maximum.

The meeting also lauded “The CARE” adoptive response initiated by the Konyak civil societies and encouraged to reach the most remote corner by K Y M C

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

sensitising and providing awareness about the advantages of the vaccine through print media and videos in Konyak dialogue.

On issues such as difficulties on refilling of oxygen cylinders from Sibsagarh Assam, carrying COVID dead bodies from hospital to far flung areas, transportation of vaccines to remotes villages, more COVID Care Centres in the district and in the villages, etc, the minister assured to extend all possible assistance.

He also chaired separate meetings with civil societies KU, KSU, KNSK and reiterated his appeal to the bodies and the church to impart the awareness through print media and other social platforms. (Correspondent) DC Tuensang appeals business establishments: DC Tuensang has informed that due to the prevailing situation and lockdown measures currently imposed in the district, various shops and small businesses of non-essential nature have been adversely affected and come to a standstill. Therefore, as decided in the meeting of DTF on COVID-19, the DC & chairman, DTF for COVID-19, Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant has appealed to the owners of shops and business establishments to be compassionate during this hour of crisis and waive off the rent for at least a month for shops which have remained shut during the lockdown period.

Special vaccination drive in Mkg: A special vaccination drive was initiated by the Mokokchung

District Task Force COVID19 vaccine, with assistance from ward authorities, ASHAs and health workers, Wednesday, in all the 18 wards of Mokokchung town and in the neighbouring villages of Chuchuyimpang & Mokokchung village for 45 years & above and 18 years & above. (Correspondent) Kiphire DTF meeting held: DTF Kiphire convened a meeting with all the medical officers of DH, CHC and PHC to review the ongoing vaccination drive at DC’s conference hall, Kiphire on Wednesday.

Reviewing the ongoing vaccination drive, the members discussed on how to strengthen the grassroots level preparation for COVID-19 vaccination drive and informed every block to conduct outreach activity. Line departments were also informed to continue disseminating proper information to villagers on Covid vaccination.

House sealed at Saijang village: With the detection of COVID-19 positive person through screening test and in order to contain the spread, ADC Jalukie, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang has ordered the sealing of house no. 5 at Saijang Village, opposite IRB camp gate with immediate effect until further order.

The ADC also advised all public in general and concerned to follow safety precautions of wearing face masks, frequently washing of hand and maintaining social/physical distancing within the proximity of the sealed area.

Houses sealed at Tobu: In order to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, EAC Tobu, Tsidi has ordered the immediate sealing of house no.214, ADC ward and house no.55, medical ward, till further order.

The ADC and EAC have informed that any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provision of Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 besides legal action under IPC Section 188 and other legal provisions.

being a problem though employers call them for work, house rent, school fees, large families to be fed, etc.

NVCO: Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) observed IDWD in Kohima.

According to DIPR report, NVCO stated that domestic workers were among the workers the most affected by the pandemic and their contribution to households have been immense, even while the pandemic had threatened their livelihood.

It said that they were among the most vulnerable groups of workers and with an estimated 67.1 million people employed in domestic work around the world, most of them

were women.

NVCO said that their works were “undervalued and least regulated forms of employment” with experiences of exploitation and abuse.

“The use of children as domestic servants continues to be common in parts of the world including Nagaland state” and they are very vulnerable to exploitation and physical violence, it added.

Marking the event, NVCO president, Kezhokhoto Savi said that on June 16, 2011, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a landmark treaty, the convention on decent work for domestic workers.

He said that it required countries to guarantee domestic workers the same rights as other workers and since the adoption of ILO convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers, many countries around the world have worked to improve their protection.

However, even while celebrating the 10th anniversary, domestic workers are still fighting for equality and decent working conditions and demand to be recognised as “domestic worker” and not as “maid” or “helper” or “servant”, Kezhokhoto Savi said.

NDRF team conducts plantation drive in Kma

12th battalion, NDRF carrying out the plantation drive on Wednesday.

KOHIMA: A team of 12th battalion National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) carried out a plantation drive in view of Akhil Bhartiya Vriksha Ropan at regimental school, 4th BN NAP, Thizama village, Kohima, on Wednesday.

The plantation drive was carried out in collaboration with the regimental

school staff under the supervision of deputy commandant, 12th BN NDRF P.N. Singh.

P.N. Singh informed that the team planted more than 300 saplings of fruit bearing plants, medicinal plants and other species.

He further informed that such plantation drives would be carried out within Nagaland in the future.

Sr. citizen Paro Jain dies

DIMAPUR: Paro Devi Jain, wife of Late Subhkaran Jain (Subia) & treasurer of S.D. Jain Mahila Samaj passed away on Wednesday morning. She was 75.

In a press release, Jain Samaj Dimapur, social worker, Ajay Sethi informed that late Paro Devi Jain was “hale & hearty” till her last breath.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

09/06/1981

Born : 20/03/1956 – Died : 08/05/2021

Our beloved sister Late M.I. AKUMLA LONGKUMER (Ungma) who moulded and nurtured the lives of all her loved ones left us so suddenly for the heavenly abode that made us speechless, we were so shocked and grief stricken but it was made bearable with your love, your prayers and financial assistance. We can never ever forget your good works and pray that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

In such a pandemic time when everyone’s life is at risk, we can never forget the sacrifices you all made especially: 1) Dr Temjenpokba Longkumer, Olive Christian Hospital Dimapur 2) Mr N Lipok Jamir, Pastor, Diphupar Ao Baptist Arogo, Dimapur Your good works will live in us forever.

DP-2802

From ALL YOUR LOVED ONES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the bereaved family members of Late R. Jongio Odyuo (R. Vungthungo Odyuo) of Yikhum Village, express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the many friends, neighbors and well-wishers who bestowed great love and support during his prolonged illness and at the time he left us for his heavenly abode on 12/06/2021.

We convey our special thanks to: 1. Tchuphyangza Baptist Ekhumkho, NST Colony, Wokha 2. Yikhum Baptist Ekhumkho 3. Wokha Town Yikhum Ekhung 4. Mount Tiyi Colony, Wokha 5. Mount Tiyi Colony Council 6. Police Baptist Church, 2nd NAP, Alichen 7. Mhondamo Memorial Nursing Home, Wokha 8. Dr. Ao Akum & Dr. Loli, Eden Medical Centre, Dimapur 9. Nurses and staff, EMC, Dimapur 10. Dr. Motsuo Memorial Hospital, Wokha 11. Shumnhyata Okho, MTC, Wokha 12. Mr. Nzanbemo Jongio, PRO to Dy. CM, Nagaland 13. Mr. & Mrs. Sashi, Pastor, PBC 2nd NAP, Alichen We deeply regret our inability to mention and thank each and every individual, but it is our sincere and humble prayer that our good Lord bless you all.

- Loving Wife, Children, In-Laws, Grand Children & Family Members DP-115

09/06/2021

We the family of Lt. Dr. Tiakumla LKR would like to thank everyone who stood by us physically, unceasing prayers and financial support. We may not be able to repay and express our gratefulness to everyone but it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God blessings be upon you always.

A special word of thanks to: 1. Dr. Limayanger, Yongpang Medical Centre, Mokokchung.

2. Dr. T. Walling, Woodland Nursing Home, Mokokchung.

3. Pastors and Believers, The Pentecostal Mission.

Loved Ones K-1056

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “And if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surly as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”

Jeremiah 4:2 A loving Husband, A caring Father, An understanding friend and a wonderful Soul.

Soft Spoken, Hardworking and an unselfish Heart.

He was, to us, everything good.

He was a friend, Philosopher and constant Guide to each of us.

Today he is no more here with us and we CELEBRATE his life through the memories we have of him.

In his journey here on earth and during his affliction, we are very grateful to each and every soul that reached out to him when he needed them.

It is not possible for us to acknowledge one and all through his eyes, we may fail to acknowledge many but we request you to accept his gratefulness and sincere thanks to you for your presence and support in his life.

The Family acknowledges on his behalf: 1. Dr. KezhaTsurho, Team of Doctors, Nurses and Staff of BETHEL Hospital 2. Vilelie and Ahore Khamo and Family LATE HOVISA SAKHRÜ 3. Dr. Zhanei-o Rhütso and Family 16.12.1958 – 13.06.2021 4. Dr. Mhashevisu Sothu (Adole) and Family 5. Er. Zale Neikha, Advisor, Youth Resources and Sports, Govt. of Nagaland 6. Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya Eye Care, Guwahati 7. Vizopal Rote and Family 8. Phrezo Francis Belho and Family 9. Dr.Viral Yore and Family 10. Kidima Baptist Fellowship Kohima / KBFK Thepfuko Krotho / KBFK Kecha Krotho / KBFK Youth Department / Baptist Church Kidima / Virhatso Khathitso Society, Kidima / Virhatso Society, Kidima 11. Kidima Krotho, Lower Chandmari, Kohima 12. Senior Wrestling Association Krotho, Kidima 13. Prayer Centre Baptist Church Kidima 14. Kidima Gazetted Officers Forum 15. NETTEC COMPUTERS, Kohima 16. Ex Colleagues, Officers and Staff, PHED, Govt. of Nagaland 17. Funeral Cortege till Kidima Village Gate 18. Reception Committee of Kidima Village 19. Lower Chandmari Youth Organisation, Kohima and all those who shared and extended their support to him in his life.

Our heartfelt gratitude to the Churches, group/societies, friends, neighbours and all well-wishers for your support with your kind presence and sympathies, materials, monetary contribution, message of condolences through phone, text messages and above all your loving prayers at this difficult time. And for any shortcomings, hurt or misunderstandings, the family ask for your Forgiveness and seek your Prayers and Blessings for him in his passage to the other shore.

May the good Lord bless each and everyone of you graciously and abundantly.

ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. From Loving Wife, Children, Grand Children, In-Laws and Relatives.

K-1059 K Y M C

Navy fish out body from coal pit in M’laya

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JUN 16: A combined team of the Indian Navy and National and State Disaster Response Force ( NSDRF) on Wednesday pulled out a body from the 500 feet deep flooded coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district where four miners still remain trapped since May 30, an official said.

“The highly decomposed unidentified body was pulled to the water surface by the deep divers of the Indian Navy and then taken out in a buckettype container to the higher grounds at 12:40 hours on Wednesday,” a rescue official said.

“It was not an easy exercise but the deep divers showed their skills amid the high turbidity which is limiting visibility inside the coal pit, besides there were too many other obstructions. They divers dived deep inside and pulled out the unidentified body safely to the surface of the water inside the main shaft,” the rescue official said.

The rescue official said the recovered body was detected on Tuesday with the help of a ROV SONAR

Highly decomposed unidentified body being pulled out by the deep divers of the Indian Navy.

system.

The National Disaster Response Force is providing all safety measures and logistics support to the Indian Navy in the entire operation.

He said the body has been handed over to the Meghalaya Police.

Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills district, Ethelbert Kharmalki said an inquest proceeding has been conducted by the Executive Magistrate at the spot and the dead body is now being taken to the Community Health Centre, Khliehriat for autopsy.

“Relatives have been

informed to come forward to identify the retrieved dead body,” Kharmalki said.

At least five migrant miners, including four from Assam and one from Tripura, have been trapped inside a 500-foot flooded coal mine since May 30 at Umpleng area, about 100 Km from the State capital Shillong.

The trapped miners had been identified as Anowarul Islam Bharbhuiya of Assam’s Cachar district and Abdul Shukkur of Assam’s Karimganj district, Abdul Karim of Assam’s Boko, Abdul Ka-

Assam Rifles seize areca nuts in Mizoram

KOHIMA, JUN 16: Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered 127 bags of areca nuts in general area Pangkhua Forest Gate Guard on June 16.

A press release by IGAR( E) Hq stated that the operation was carried out by a joint team of Assam Rifles and Police Force Sangau based on Assam Rifles with the seized areca nuts. specific information.

The approximate cost nuts is Rs 32, 30,880. Lawngtlai district seized of the recovered areca The Police force Sangau, the contraband items.

lam of Assam’s Barpeta district and Shyamcharan Debbarma of Tripura.

Six other migrant miners from Assam managed to escape the tragedy and they were later escorted

by Meghalaya police to their respective homes in Assam.

Meghalaya police has arrested Shining Langstang, the current owner of the illegal coal mine at Umpleng area, while K. Chyrmang, the former owner of the mine was also detained by the police for questioning.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Nizam Uddin, the manager of the illegal

coal mine who has been absconding following the mining tragedy, remained untraced, even as the Meghalaya police have issued lookout notice for him.

Rescue efforts are on to salvage the trapped miners.

On the other hand, the level of the water before resuming the de-watering process of the main shaft rose by 40 feet as the rescuers did not pump out during the previous day as divers of the Indian Navy were conducting the operation.

“After the navy operation on Tuesday, de-watering resumes throughout the evening and towards late night and about 2.16 lakhs liters of water has been pumped out from the main shaft and about 4.50 lakhs liters of water from the second shaft of another coal mine,” an official overseeing the rescue operation said.

Unscientific ‘rat-hole’ coal mining has been banned in the unregulated mines in Meghalaya since April 2014 by a National Green Tribunal order, but illegal mines like this one have flourished freely due to poor enforcement of the ban.

NE COVID-19 UPDATE Meghalaya reports 495 new COVID cases, 8 more deaths

Shillong, Jun 16 (PTI): Meghalaya on Wednesday recorded 495 new coronavirus cases pushing the tally to 43,254, a senior health department official said. Eight more Covid-19 fatalities also took the death toll to 758.

Health Services Director Aman War said that 453 patients recovered from the disease taking the total number of cured people to 38,032.

The number of active cases in the state now stands at 4,464. Of the fresh fatalities, seven were reported from the East Khasi Hills district and one from the East Garo Hills district.

The state has tested over 6.33 lakh samples for Covid-19 to date, he said. Till Tuesday, 5.3 lakh people have been inoculated with over 75,000 of them receiving both doses of the vaccine, War said.

Micro-blogging platform Koo launches Assamese service thoughts and opinions in their mother tongue.”

“Looking forward to engaging with people on the Koo app. I will be Kooing my opinions, announcements and many more updates here. I wish Koo the very best in their future endeavours,” Sarma said.

Koo Co-Founder and CEO Aprameya Radhakrishna said that they are happy to have the chief Minister on the platform.

“We are even more excited that the first Koo

in Assamese is his (CM) and that he’s launched the Assamese on Koo,” Radhakrishna said.

He hoped that the people of Assam would love to interact with him and each other on Koo and exchange thoughts around various topics.

“Assam is a large state with a population of over 30 million and the people have a high affinity towards their language. Koo will be one of the few platforms where they will be able to connect

with each other, exchange thoughts in Assamese and make new friends too”, he added.

Koo Co-Founder Mayank Bidawatka said that they have enabled the Assamese keyboard on Koo making it very easy for them to connect with each other in their mother tongue.

“People will be able to create and share their thoughts in audio and video formats too, apart from text.

This multi-modal creation is unique to Koo and this

Interactive session on online teaching held

Manipur cancels board exams

BJP leadership in Tripura to access situation

Guwahati, Jun 16 (PTI): Micro-blogging platform Koo launched the app in Assamese with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday releasing the first message in Koo in the language.

The Chief Minister in his message in Assamese said, “I am delighted that Koo App has launched it in Assamese language with me joining the platform. The app is enabling the people of Assam to voice their

Teachers of LPS attending an interactive session.

LEKHI, JUN 16: In a bid to create awareness on maintaining good mental and physical health among the educators and students teaching and lear ning through online method, the Psychosocial Support Group-Arunachal Pradesh conducted an interactive session with school teachers of Lekhi Public School (LPS) here Wednesday on the topic- ‘Challenges in online mode of learning and way forward.’

A press release by Prem Taba Department of Mass Communication Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills in Doimukh stated that various challenges faced by the teachers and students on the new mode of teaching

and adjusting to the new normal were discussed in the first session. It included finding appropriate methods to practice on increasing engagement rate of students in online platforms and finding creative ways in keeping teachers and students motivated.

A n a c t iv i t y - b a s e d session was also held on “health and well-being and emotion management.”

15 teachers of Lekhi Public School attended the program. The principal of the school Nabam Tatum Hina lauded the PSG team and said the session was a very productive one. He hoped to have more of such guiding sessions in the future.

3

Northeast/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Imphal, Jun 16 (PTI): The Manipur government on Wednesday cancelled class 10 and 12 board examinations in the state-run schools in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made separately by the Council of Higher Education Manipur (COHSEM), which conducts the class 10 board examinations, and the Board of Secondary Education (BOSEM) that conducts the class 12 exams.

“In view of the uncertain conditions due to Covid-19 pandemic and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders, it is hereby notified... that the High School Leaving Certificate Examination 2021 is cancelled,” the BOSEM said in a statement.

In another statement, COHSEM said, “The higher secondary and class X1 exams, stand cancelled.”

“The modus operandi of the award of marks, certificates of the students shall be done with due approval of the government,” it added.

The CBSE and CISCE have already cancelled the board examinations at their affiliated schools.

AGARTALA, JUN 16 (IANS): Speculation that some BJP MLAs and leaders in Tripura may follow the example of BJP national Vice President Mukul Roy who returned to the Trinamool Congress, three senior central leaders arrived in the state on Wednesday and were holding hectic meetings with state leaders.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, however, rubbished any fresh political development in the party in the northeastern state.

BJP sources said that national General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santosh, General Secretary incharge of northeast region Ajay Jamwal and central observer Fanindra Nath Sharma arrived in Agartala on Wednesday on a twoday visit for holding meetings with the state leaders, legislators, ministers and other party functionaries.

Another central observer Vinod Sonkar was scheduled to come on Wednesday but his tour was cancelled at the last minute.

BJP’s chief spokesman Subrata Chakraborty said that the Trinamool can revive in Tripura as part of

launch empowers the people of Assam to communicate and interact in their native language”, he added.

The users can connect with the chief minister on his handle @himantabiswa.

Koo was founded in March 2020, as a microblogging platform in Indian languages and is available in multiple Indian languages with people from across different regions expressing themselves in their mother tongue.

the democratic process but the West Bengal-based party had earlier attempted twice to establish political base there and miserably failed as it has “zero acceptance” in the state.

On the other hand, Trinamool’s Tripura state President Ashish Singha said that party supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee are eager to revive the party in Tripura and they would soon send some leaders to the state to further strengthen the organisation.

Strong speculations about fresh political development in Tripura are rife after Mukul Roy along with his son Subhrangshu Roy rejoined the Trinamool. Roy, before joining the BJP around four years ago, had often visited Tripura to supervise the Trinamool’s organisational matters.

Under Roy’s influence, seven Congress MLAs led

by Sudip Roy Barman and a large number of party leaders and workers joined the Trinamool in 2016 and next year, joined the BJP, boosting the political strength of the saffron party.

Mizoram board to declare class 12 results on Friday Aizawl, Jun 16 (PTI): The Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) will declare the Class 12 results on Friday.

A notification issued by the board on Wednesday said that result of the Class12 examinations will be declared at noon on Friday.

Results will not be displayed on the premises of the board’s office due to the present COVID-19 pandemic but can be viewed on the board’s official website- www.mbse.edu.in, the notification said.

Students can also enquire about their results to the concerned officials either through phone call or sending a message on WhatsApp, it said. Results can also be obtained by sending SMS- MBSE12<space>Roll No> to 5676750.

The class 12 examinations under MBSE were conducted offline for various streams in April under strict COVID-19 protocols.

A total of 11,849 students have registered for the examinations, according to the board controller of examinations Lalrinmawia Ralte.

Last year the pass percentage was 78.52.

Rare white deer spotted in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park

Photo of a rare white hog deer.

Nagaon, Jun 16 (PTI): Spotting of a rare white hog deer in Kaziranga National Park has created widespread interest among wildlife conservationists and nature lovers with many flocking to the world heritage site to catch a glimpse of the animal.

After spotting the deer, locals had informed nature photographer Jayanta Kumar Sarma who managed to capture the white deer on his camera in the Burapahar Range of the park.

Sarma spotted the animal at a grassland near the 12 line area of Amguri Tea Estate under the Kaliabor Sub-division in Nagaon district on Monday.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Kaziran-

M’laya district admins encourage vaccination Correspondent SHILLONG, JUN 16: Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek on Wednesday said that various district administrations in the state are using several methods to encourage people to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The moves include awarding Rs 10,000 to fully vaccinated persons selected through random lottery in the West Khasi Hills district.

H o w e v e r, w h e n asked that the East Khasi Hills district administration has issued a structure that shops without staff vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be permitted to open from June 24 onwards which is almost like forcing, Hek said, “We just appealed to the people. Why do we need the shopkeepers to take the vaccination is because since they are meeting hundreds of consumers, to protect themselves and to protect the consumers. If the certificate is displayed it

will motivate others too to take the vaccine.”

The Health and Family Welfare Minister informed that in West Khasi Hills the administration has made their own strategy.

“Those who have completed two doses, one among them will be randomly selected and rewarded with Rs. 10, 000,” Hek pointed out.

Hek also said that the government has to apply its mind to encourage the people to take the vaccine.

“The district administration is doing this to motivate citizens to take the vaccine. We have left it to the Deputy Commissioners to use their wisdom to encourage people to take the vaccine. This is not the decision taken only by the Deputy Commissioner but it was taken during the review meeting of the government,” he said.

The Health Minister pointed out that one such strategy was to appeal through the church elders.

ga National Park (KNP) Ramesh Gogoi said that this particular white deer was seen for the first time in the park a few days ago, and it sometimes comes out of the park and wanders with other brown deer to feed on grass, he said.

The white colour of the deer is a purely genetic matter, caused due to mutation of the gene, and it is not a different species of the deer family, the DFO said.

Out of the total 40,000 hog deer in Kaziranga, one or two such kinds of uncommon white hog deer can be found, Gogoi added.

The park is thronged by domestic and international tourists in large numbers for its famed one-horned rhinos.

Assam to adopt Gujarat model for power sector G u wahati , J un 1 6 (IANS): The BJP-led Assam gover nment would adopt the Gujarat model and follow its technological solutions in metering, billing, collection of electricity bills besides improving the functioning of various power companies, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the top officials of the power department, Assam is suffering a loss of Rs 300 crore every month due to unpaid power bills.

The Assam government would soon send a team led

by Power Minister Bimal Bora to Gujarat to study the power reforms of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL).

An official statement said that in a bid to infuse qualitative development along with empowering the three power companies -APDCL, APGCL, AEGCL -- economically, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday held a video conference with Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabh Bhai Patel and senior officials of the GUVNL.

Assam Congress unhappy over candidate selection in assembly polls

Guwahati, Jun 16 (PTI): Assam Congress president Ripun Bora on Wednesday said he had stopped giving any input on the selection of candidates for the state assembly polls after some of his supporters did not get tickets, hinting at dissatisfaction over the ticket distribution process.

The candidates, who finally got tickets in those 6-7 seats, lost the election, the state Congress chief said at a press conference here.

“When I could not give tickets to 6-7 of my supporters, I did not recommend any more candidates. I did not interfere in the candidate selection process at all,” Bora said. The Congress had fielded 95 candidates and won 29 of the 126 assembly seats in Assam.

Asked if his withdrawal from the selection process affected the quality of overall selections, Bora said, “These are confidential matters and I am a loyal Congress worker. It will not be proper for me to comment on these issues publicly.

“I am also not saying that my supporters would have won those seats. But the fact is that we have lost

Ripun Bora

those seats.”

After the poll debacle, many Congress leaders and workers have started speaking on the leadership issue and alleged transaction of money in the candidate selection process. Speaking on the matter, Bora said, “We have formed a three-member committee headed by MLA Sushanta Borgohain to inquire about all poll-related issues such as indiscipline, ticket distribution, and money transaction.”

The committee was to submit its report within one month, but it will be slightly delayed due to the COVID19 situation and movement restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, he added.

The Congress has not been able to conduct a detailed block-wise and district-wise review of the

election results due to the COVID-19 situation, but online feedback has been taken from both winning and losing candidates, Bora said. An All India Congress Committee headed by former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has also prepared a report on the performance of the Congress in the 2021 assembly elections in five states.

“The NDA won 75 and Congress-led Grand Alliance bagged 50 seats, but the difference of vote share between the two was just 0.8 per cent. It was a neck-and-neck fight and we lost many seats by very thin margins,” Bora said.

The state Congress chief said the party performed on expected lines in lower Assam and Barak Valley, but “totally failed” in the constituencies of upper Assam.

“In upper Assam, we lost 12 seats directly due to division of anti-BJP votes between the Grand Alliance and the regional alliance of Raijor Dal-Assam Jatiya Parishad. If we could have stopped that division, we would have won 12 more seats,” he added.

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 191 Dimapur, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Elusive ‘Achhe din’

H

igh inflation in India, was one of the biggest propellers for Narendra Modi to get elected to the Prime Minister’s office in 2014, as he used it as one of his election campaign slogans against the UPA-II government. Fortune was on Modi’s side when the crash in global crude oil prices kept inflation checked in the early years. Seven years later, Modi is faced with the worst bout of price rise in his tenure.

Today, wholesale inflation had hit a record high of 12.94 per cent in May, driven by the continued rise in fuel and commodity prices, as well as the low base effect.Consumer food price inflation, a metric to gauge changes in monthly kitchen costs, rose to a six-month high of 5.2 per cent in May, compared to 8.3 per cent a year ago. Food inflation is high in meat, eggs, pulses, edible oils, and non-alcoholic beverages.Experts say higher prices for pulses and edible oil are likely to sustain for the next few months.Housing inflation increased to a 13-month high of 3.86 per cent in May. Inflation in fuel components hit a nine-year high of 11.6 per cent in May, compared to 1.6 per cent a year ago.Retail inflation accelerated to a six-month high of 6.3 per cent in May, breaching the upper tolerance limit of the inflation target range(5.1 per cent) set by the RBI’s monetary policy committee during 2021-22.

After almost a year of being besieged, people are waiting for pandemic-related restrictions to ease and businesses wait for things to improve or job opportunities to return. However, the price rise has already started pinching their pockets. For instance, cooking oil prices have spiralled upwards. In 2014, crude sunflower oil sold at Rs.62 a kg, is today selling at Rs.172.79 per kg tin.Crude soybean oil sold at Rs.60, is today sold at Rs153.85 per kg. Likewise is the case with refined groundnut sold at Rs.1340 per 15 kg tin is now sold at Rs.2663.85 per 15 kg tin; palm oil at Rs. 598 per 10 kg pact now costs Rs. 1340. The sharp rise has been blamed on daily rise in price of petrol and diesel.

India imports 80% of its domestic oil needs and like most importers is susceptible to the dictates of global markets.Initially, the Central government pursued a policy of not lowering petro-product prices when the world oil prices came down and passing on the increase in world oil prices when they started increasing. However, the reality is that whenever there is a rise in the cost of production, not because of any rise in world oil prices; it is simply because the government was profiteering. The promise of ‘Achhe din’ have eluded most people, with even food, milk, meat, vegetable and fruit prices skyrocketing, driving down standards of living and quality of life as people fail to make ends meet. This was validated by the fact that India has fallen behind neighbouring Bangladesh in terms of per capita income. India’s $1,947 has been surpassed by Bangladesh’s $2,227 in 2020-21. The next few months can be testing for policymakers to ensure that the populace, already frustrated by the ill-effects of fire fighting the economy and pandemic, does not get burdened by further high prices before the economy improves.

DailyDevotion “Will You Lay Down Your Life?”

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends….I have called you friends… —John 15:13, 15 Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said to the Lord, “I will lay down my life for Your sake,” and he meant it (John 13:37). He had a magnificent sense of the heroic. For us to be incapable of making this same statement Peter made would be a bad thing— our sense of duty is only fully realized through our sense of heroism. Has the Lord ever asked you, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (John 13:38). It is much easier to die than to lay down your life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling of God. We are not made for the bright-shining moments of life, but we have to walk in the light of them in our everyday ways. There was only one bright-shining moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was there that He emptied Himself of His glory for the second time, and then came down into the demon-possessed valley (seeMark 9:1-29).

For thirty-three years Jesus laid down His life to do the will of His Father. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Yet it is contrary to our human nature to do so.

If I am a friend of Jesus, I must deliberately and carefully lay down my life for Him. It is a difficult thing to do, and thank God that it is. Salvation is easy for us, because it cost God so much. But the exhibiting of salvation in my life is difficult. God saves a person, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and then says, in effect, “Now you work it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.” And Jesus says to us, “…I have called you friends….”

Remain faithful to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life.

Quotes

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~ Aristotle Onassis

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Post-mortem

Institutional reform is key to Nagaland and India’s Foreign Policy post-Covid-19 national recovery H T

ow do we make sense of India intensifying development and infrastructure projects across the north-eastern states, especially in the past decade?

Is it because India wants to appease these mutinous states? Or are there more serious considerations motivating India to develop this region? These questions provide a distinctive lens (which is neither understood nor appreciated by many in Nagaland) for a broader and deeper understanding of how India has approach development in Nagaland and the Indo-Naga issues.

After a resounding defeat at the hands of China in 1962, India intentionally made a foreign policy decision not to develop the north-eastern states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.

India designated these states as a buffer zone in case of China’s aggression. By “buffer zone,” India meant an expendable area used as a shield to absorb China’s destructive blows. However, by the late 1980s, it became evident that India had to engage and build security, as well as political and economic ties with its South East Asian neighbours. One of India’s main interests particularly with Myanmar and Thailand had to do with security concerning the rebel groups (such as ULFA and NSCN) from the northeast finding shelter in these countries, as well as the building of India’s economic ties these economies (as a way to increase India’s footprint in competition with China in the region). Since then, there have been significant exchanges of high-level diplomatic visits from the respective sides.

To keep a long story short (so as not to bore readers with foreign policy talk), the consequences of such diplomatic and security exchanges led Myanmar to help India fight against the numerous rebel groups from the northeast.

While the Thai government, in the early 2000s, also pressured and stifled these rebel groups from using Thailand as their refuge. At the same time, India’s foreign relation with Bangladesh was beginning to improve from the 20 odd years of frigid relations between these two South Asian countries. Bangladesh has always been important for India, especially for the development of the northeast.

It led to a reformulation of security and economic ties between these two countries. One of the consequences of such resumption of relations between India and Bangladesh for Nagaland was that, with a higher level of security cooperation, the rebel groups further lost another source of sanctuary and arms procurement, among

many others.

These developments, no doubt, contributed to the fleeing of the NSCN groups (along with other groups) from these countries and return to Indian territories, where the Government of India (GoI) will have better control over them. With no place to seek refuge, these groups signed a cease-fire that ultimately culminated years later with the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015. Indeed, this agreement was a victory for India in terms of its foreign policy, since one major source of concern was brought under a controlled environment where GoI can dictate the course, time, duration, and place to deal with the Indo-Naga issues (and looking at the scenario of the present Naga talks, this seem to be the case).

Yet, India also faced another dilemma. The dilemma was this: India realized that to promote harmonious security, political, socio-cultural, and economic ties with its South Asian Neighbours, it had to develop the northeast states which it had previously (after its disastrous war with China) relegated to a “buffer zone” that can be dispense with in case of war with China. And with China increasing its presence and ties in these Southeast Asian countries, India took a firm foreign policy decision to begin developing its North-Eastern states. For India, a developed (rather than an underdeveloped) northeast will serve well as India’s gateway to the Southeast Asian economies.

Thus, one of the consequences is that today (particularly over the last decade or so) in all the NorthEastern states, we see GoI investing and allocating vast financial resources for development and infrastructure projects from highways to hydro projects, education to health care, etc. For instance, Nagaland has received immense financial resources, as well as infrastructure projects from (but not limited to) setting up of two medical colleges, construction of highways, electricity and hydro projects, railroads and other transport connectivity, communication linkages, water connectivity, international trade centres, etc.

These developments are sometimes wrongfully attributed, by most people, to the political party currently in power at the centre (as well as to its branch and affiliated parties at the state level). The reality, however, is that regardless of which party (or parties) is in control at the centre, the northeast states will continue to receive developmental projects and financial resources for infrastructure expansion and development.

Such enormous infrastructure and

development projects are allocated to northeast states not because the GoI cares for these diverse disposable tribal people in the “buffer zone,” but because India stands to doubly benefit financially, politically, and economically. India’s rising power and its role in world affairs dictate the importance of maintaining security, political, socio-economic ties with its South East Asian neighbours. And for this relationship to grow and benefit, India must develop its northeast states. It is a significant aspect of India’s foreign policy, and no prime minister (nor any political party) now or in the future can derail and risk the country’s interest for the sake of some ideological inclinations. Certainly, Ajit Doval, India’s present National Security Advisor, will neither advise the prime minister, nor any political parties in charge at the centre, to endanger India’s foreign policy.

The question for Nagaland is: Do we want to be left behind in this race or do we want to play a greater role in the development of the northeast? A preliminary glance is not very promising for Nagaland.

Assam has developed to such a degree and scale that it will probably become the hub for India’s entry into the South East Asian economies. Not to be outdone, Manipur and Mizoram will also play key roles in this development as one of the primary hubs with the construction of India-MyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway (one from) from Moreh in Manipur (and the other from Zokhawthar in Mizoram) to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. We continue to lag behind Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Tripura in terms of scales of development.

What Nagaland need is a political will on the part of the political leaders, civil societies, and other NGOs to address any outstanding socio-political issues that hamper our state’s development and economic growth. We can either bask within the confines of our pond or we can be an engine of development, ingenuity, entrepreneurial acumen and serve as a primary hub through which Nagaland can be a bridge linking the two worlds. This will certainly ensure a brighter future for our younger generation. Can we take advantage of India’s foreign policy to improve the well-being of our people? By “advantage,” I mean which the society, in general, can benefit from, not selfish gains for oneself. Or do we continue with our existing ways, and in the process squander the development and infrastructure projects we have been allotted with?

Dr. Salikyu, Dimapur, Nagaland

he second wave of Covid-19 has exposed serious institutional infirmities in India — in access to health care, in the management of elections, and in the balance between the judiciary and the executive, where the latter’s failure has led the former to step in.

India has one of the lowest ratios of population to health care infrastructure.

It also invests inadequately in scientific research. Investments in genome sequencing, vaccine research, and preventive health care at the rural district level are key to staying ahead of the curve. Moving from a 1.2% to 3% budgetary allocation for health will be insufficient, especially in this fiscal year, as a large proportion of the funds will — hopefully and presumably — be utilised for the vaccination drive. This will leave marginal funds for capital expenditure towards expansion in medicine and vaccine research and operational costs for the enhanced infrastructure. The intensity of the pandemic has also meant that treatment for other serious illnesses is being postponed indefinitely. There is no substitute for greater investment.

This inadequate infrastructure is coupled with a high degree of resistance to the idea of seeking treatment due to lack of awareness, financial implications and fear, especially in rural areas. It is, therefore, essential to develop decentralised schemes that create awareness and access at the district, village and ward levels — local civil society organisations, self-help groups and community initiatives are critical to the sound implementation of health policy on the ground. Centralised remote control policies seldom work in a country as diverse as India. All case studies of relatively successful Covid-19 management have a common thread of decentralisation. In preparing a larger national apparatus, the district level needs special focus.

Public health is also an area that requires cooperative federalism — the Centre has a role and responsibility during a pandemic, and states have an obvious role given that health is a state subject.

But citizens are losing their patience with blame games between the states and Centre, and, perhaps, the time has

come to fix responsibility.

One institutional reform is creating a nodal organisation which, only on the subject matter of health, plays a role bridging Centre-state rifts. To be sure, behind the media headlines, state and Union health officials have been in touch. But to prevent the pulls and pressures of politics, this organisation should be manned only by health care professionals and administrators. This does not negate democratic decisionmaking. Political inputs are crucial, but it does insulate decision-making from political tussles. All its decisions must be transparent, which will increase pressure on both the Centre and states to comply. The design of this institution will take greater deliberation — and will require a careful balancing act so that neither executive privilege nor constitutional principles are undermined.

The Election Commission, endowed with “superintendence over conduct of elections” was subject to public criticism for its negligent role in the recent round of state elections, which spread the infection. An independent collegium or committee for appointments of commissioners will greatly help restore public confidence in this constitutional authority that is perceived to be amenable to political interference.

We must remember that this pandemic is neither over, nor will it be the last one. It is the constitutional duty of Parliament to usher in a new era of legal reforms which creates a framework of dealing with pandemics, as well as the root causes of it, rather than leaving the country to rely on antiquated legislation.

It is only through reforms and investment in India’s health infrastructure, internalising the principle of decentralisation, enabling greater Centre-state cooperation on public health disasters with a defined role for a national body of experts, ensuring that constitutional bodies are insulated from executive pressure, and creating a new legal framework that India will be able to respond effectively to one of the greatest crises our nation has ever faced.

Avishkar Singhvi, Advocate, Supreme Court of India (The views expressed are personal)

Let’s build back better with healthy land

R

17th June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

ecently we have celebrated the world environment with many activities. The day is important around the world as it gives us an opportunity to act for the planet. There are many environmental issues which are affecting our lives. We should know that nearly three quarters of the Earth’s ice-free land has been transformed, mainly to meet the demand for food, raw materials and human settlement. Moreover land degradation is negatively impacting the well-being of at least 3.2 billion people and land use change is the primary transmission pathway for emerging infectious diseases of humans, over 60% of which are zoonotic.

Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the world’s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use. It is a phenomenon that ranks among the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Two years later, in 1994, the united nations General

Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management, and declared 17 June “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” by its resolution A/RES/49/115.

The day is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The 2021 Desertification and Drought Day to be held on 17th June shall focus on turning degraded land into healthy land. Restoring degraded land brings economic resilience, creates jobs, raises incomes and increases food security. It helps biodiversity to recover and locks away the atmospheric carbon warming the Earth, slowing climate change.

It can also lessen the impacts of climate change and underpin a green recovery from the COVID19 pandemic.

Secretary-General of the United Nations in his message said that “the land can be our greatest ally.

But the land is suffering. Land degradation from climate change and the expansion of agriculture, cities and infrastructure undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people.” He also said that “restoring degraded land would remove carbon from the atmosphere and it would help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change and the

best part is that land restoration is simple, inexpensive and accessible to all.”On this International Day, he appealed to make healthy land central to all our planning.

The UNCCD is calling on all members of the global community to treat the land as a limited and precious natural capital, prioritize its health in the pandemic recovery and push hard to restore the land during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Everyone has a role to play because everyone has a stake in the future.

It is a global issue, with serious implications worldwide for biodiversity, eco-safety, poverty eradication, socio-economic stability and sustainable development. Some 50 million people may be displaced within the next 10 years as a result of desertification. Some two billion people depend on ecosystems in dry land areas, 90% of whom live in developing countries. All of us must take action though it may not affect all the places equally as some are having more threat than others. But the fact is our agricultural practices and climate change is bringing more questions and more challenges.

There are possible actions which should combat desertification and this includes - reforestation and tree regeneration, water management, enrichment and hyper-fertilization of soil through planting, etc. Current commitments from over 100 countries

specify the restoration of almost 1 billion hectares of land over the next decade – an area almost the size of China.

If we restore this land, we can deliver massive benefits for people and the planet.

We must raise awareness about ways to build back better with healthy land in our area. We must ensure that land is not degraded in and around our areas. We can be an advocate for promoting sound policy for nature and

economic recovery and get involved and involve others.

We can contribute to ecosystem restoration and a stronger recovery from the pandemic.

Let us make a difference when there is time because climate change has already brought many questions in front of us than answers.

(With direct inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail. com) Ranjan K Baruah

Reader’s Post

Continuous flouting of SOPs Sir, Most of the shopkeepers in and around Dimapur do not wear masks. On the pretext of being vaccinated, they refuse to wear masks.

These shopkeepers think they are immune to the virus and not only that non maintenance of social distancing has been practiced at large too.

We are still fighting an unfinished battle against Coronavirus yet our people have been very negligent. Everyday we see continuous flouting of SOPs everywhere.

Therefore, I would like to request the concerned authorities to monitor such activities and make sure that the public adhere to the regulations at all cost.

Avika, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

5

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Modi calls for repair and prepare of economy BSP MLAs joining SP an illusion: Mayawati NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): As India emerges from a devastating second wave of Covid-19 infections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the focus must be on repairing and preparing the health infrastructure as well as the economy for future challenges.

To prepare a base for a sustained higher growth rate, the government continues to unleash reforms and has also extended free food distribution schemes to aid the poor hit hard by the pandemic.

“Over the past year, we have witnessed a lot of disruption in different sectors. Much of it is still there,” Modi said at the VivaTech Summit. “Yet, disruption does not have to mean despair. Instead, we must keep the focus on the twin foundation of repair and prepare.”

This time last year the world was still seeking a vaccine and today two vaccines are being made in India, and more are in the development

Narendra Modi (PTI)

or trial stages, he said. “We have to continue repairing health infrastructure and our economies,” he said.

“And when I say prepare, I mean insulating our planet against the next pandemic, ensuring we focus on a sustainable lifestyle that stops ecological degradation, strengthening cooperation in furthering research as well as innovation.”

Indian economy suffered its worst contraction in four decades as coronavirusinduced lockdowns stalled businesses and economic activity.

While attempts were

made to control the spread of infections and healthcare infrastructure built to treat the ill, the government implemented huge reforms across sectors - from mining to space, from banking to atomic energy.

“This goes on to show that India as a nation is adaptable and agile,” he said.

After the brutal second wave in April and May, the COVID case has fallen more than 80 per cent since its peak 5 weeks ago. This as also the pick up in the pace of vaccination had aided state governments to relax

restrictions at a relatively faster pace than in 2020.

“I believe where convention fails, innovation can help. This has been seen during the COVID-19 global pandemic, which is the biggest disruption of our age. All nations have suffered losses and faced anxiety about the future,” Modi said.

While many conventional methods were put to test, innovation that came to the rescue. “Digital technology helped us cope, connect, comfort, console,” he said and went on to site the seamless distribution of free ration to 80 crore people and cooking gas to the poor using the biometric digital identity Aadhaar system.

Innovation also helped overcome inadequate testing capacity and shortage of face masks, PPE kits, ventilators and other such equipment.

“Our doctors adopted telemedicine, in a big way so that some COVID and other non-COVID issues could be addressed virtu-

ally,” he said. On the government side, indigenous IT platform, AarogyaSetu enabled effective contact tracing and COWIN digital platform is helping vaccines to millions.

“Had we not been innovating, then our fight against COVID-19 would have been much weaker,” he said. “We must not abandon this innovative zeal so that we are even better prepared when the next challenge strikes.”

India, he said, is home to one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems and several unicorns have come up in recent years.

Stating that the country offers what innovators and investors need, the Prime Minister invited the world to invest. “I invite the world to invest in India based on the five pillars of talent, market, capital, eco-system and culture of openness.”

Modi said India has 1.18 billion mobile phones and 775 million internet users - more than the population of several nations.

LU C K N OW, J U N 1 6 (PTI): A day after reports of some suspended BSP MLAs meeting with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav surfaced, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said it is an illusion.

In a series of tweets, she attacked the Samajwadi Party (SP) accusing it of being an expert in “narrow politics”.

“The Samajwadi Party, which is an expert in narrow politics of despicable manipulations, malice and casteism, is publicising through the media that some BSP MLAs are breaking away to join the SP. This is an intense illusion,” she tweeted in Hindi.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said that those MLAs were suspended from the party long back for colluding with the SP and an industrialist during the Rajya Sabha elections for defeating a Dalit candidate. She added, “Had the SP been even a bit honest towards these suspended MLAs, it would have not kept them in lurch. The SP

Mayawati

knows that if these MLAs join their party, then there will be a rebellion and disunity in SP, whose leaders are eager to cross over to the BSP.” “The SP has always been anti-Dalit and they do not want to improve. This is why the SP government had stopped the welfare works undertaken by the BSP. Bhadohi was not made a new district as Sant Ravidas Nagar, which is extremely condemnable,” Mayawati said in another tweet.

She alleged that the “drama” of publicising the meeting of suspended BSP MLAs with Yadav is a new “stunt” by the SP ahead of the upcoming zila panchayat elections.

“BSP has emerged as

a party to fulfil the aspirations of the people in Uttar Pradesh and it will continue to do so,” she tweeted.

On Tuesday, at least five MLAs suspended by the BSP last year met Yadav, triggering speculation that they may join his party.

Handia legislator Hakimlal Bind said he, along with Chaudhary Aslam Ali, Mujtaba Siddiqui, Hargovind Bhargav, Aslam Raini and Shushma Patel met the SP chief.

The two other suspended legislators are Ramveer Upadhyay and Anil Singh, he said. However, Hargovind Bhargav had told PTI that he was not present at the meeting. “I was in Sidhauli (his Assembly constituency) and did not go there. I also saw my name being flashed on news channels,” he said.

MungraBadshahpur MLA Sushma Patel had told PTI, “The meeting with Akhilesh Yadav, which lasted for 15-20 minutes, witnessed discussions on the upcoming UP Assembly elections.”

Twitter failed to comply with IT rules: Prasad final Covaxin product doesn’t Drone survey mandatory for all NH projects

Ravi Shankar Prasad

fusing to setting up process as mandated by the law of the land. Additionally, it chooses a policy of flagging manipulated media, only when it suits, its likes and dislikes,” he said.

The minister said that what happened in Uttar Pradesh was illustrative of Twitter’s “arbitrariness” in fighting fake news.

“While Twitter has been over-enthusiastic about its fact-checking mechanism, its failure to act in multiple cases like UP is perplexing as well as points towards its inconsistency in fighting misinformation,” he said. It is pertinent to mention that an FIR has been filed against Twitter over an incident in Ghaziabad’s Loni where an elderly man was allegedly assaulted.

Prasad said that Indian companies, be it pharma or IT or others that go to do business in the US or in other countries overseas,

voluntarily follow the local laws. “Then why are platforms like Twitter showing reluctance in following Indian laws designed to give voice to the victims of abuse and misuse,” the minister questioned. The culture of India varies like its large geography, he said, adding that in certain scenarios, with the amplification of social media, even a small spark can cause a fire, especially with the menace of fake news.

“This was one of the objectives of bringing the Intermediary Guidelines,” Prasad said.

In a major setback to Twitter, the microblogging platform has lost its ‘safe harbour’ protection in India over non-compliance with IT rules and failure to appoint key personnel mandated under the new guidelines, despite repeated reminders, and it will now be liable for action under Indian Penal Code for third party unlawful content.

Earlier this month, the government had given one last chance to Twitter to comply with the new IT rules, that came into effect on May 26, and had issued a stern warning that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act.

have newborn calf serum: Centre

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): Facts have been “twisted and misrepresented” in some social media posts which suggested that indigenously developed Covaxin contains newborn calf serum, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Newborn calf serum is used only for the preparation and growth of vero cells. Serum from bovine and other animal are standard enrichment ingredient used globally for vero cell growth, it said.

Vero cells are used to establish cell lines which help in the production of vaccines. This technique has been used for decades in developing vaccines against polio, rabies, and influenza.

After growth, the vero cells are washed in water

and with chemicals, also technically known as buffer, multiple times to make them free from newborn calf serum. The vero cells are then infected with coronavirus for viral growth, the health ministry said.

The vero cells are completely destroyed in the process of viral growth.

Thereafter, the grown virus is also killed (inactivated) and purified, it said.

The killed or inactivated virus is then used to make the final vaccine. No calf serum is used in the formulation of the final vaccine, according to the statement.

“Hence, the final vaccine (Covaxin) does not contain newborn calf serum at all and the calf serum is not an ingredient of the final vaccine product.”

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (IANS): In order to enhance transparency, uniformity and leverage latest technology, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday made use of drones for monthly video recording of national highway projects mandatory during all stages of development, construction, operation and maintenance work.

As per the order, contractors and concessionaires will carry out drone video recording in the presence of the team leader of the supervision consultant and upload comparative project videos on NHAI’s portal ‘Data Lake’, capturing various project related developments during the month.

The supervision consultants will also analyse these videos and provide their comments on the digi-

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE

NAGALAND : KOHIMA

NAGALAND : KOHIMA

ADMISSION NOTICE

Admission Notice for the Academic Session 2021-22

Online applications are invited from interested candidates for admission to different levels of Diploma Course (Voc) for the Academic Session 2021-22 at Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Dimapur. The courses are offered under NSQF through Community College Programme under AICTE, MHRD. Course duration upto 3(three) years are mentioned below:

Online applications are invited from eligible candidates for Admission to ‘Diploma in Tool & Die Making’ Course (4 years specialization course in Tool Design and Manufacturing & equivalent to 3 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering) at Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Dimapur.

Sl. No. Name of the Course Diploma Duration

1.

2

Eligibility

Level-I

1 Year

Class X pass and above

Level-II

1 Year

Dip. Level-I Pass

Level-III

1 Year

Dip. Level-II Pass

Level-I Diploma in Electrical Level-II Equipment Maintenance (Voc.) Level-III

1 Year

Class X pass and above

1 Year

Level I Pass (Level-II)

1 Year

Level II Pass (Level-III)

Diploma in Automobile (Voc.)

Registration can be done ONLINE at https://nttcdimapur.org.in/

Apply on or before 30th June, 2021 Important information: 1. Students are applicable for scholarship under Deptt. of Higher & Technical Education 2. Registration fee Rs. 200/3. Admission to the course will be on first come first basis.

4. Hostel seats available.

For further details, visit the website: http://www.nttcdimapur.org.in • Email Idnttcdimapur@gmail.com or contact the following enquiry numbers.

(For Automobile — 7005091991 / 7005845090) • (For Electrical — 8787846646) (Reception desk — 8257002079)

Sd/- Shri. K. Hokishe Assumi Director • Website: www.nttcdimapur.org.in • Email-ID nttcdimapur@gmail.com NTTC, New Industrial Estate, Sub-Jail Junction (Tinali), NH-36 Diphu Road, Dimapur: Nagaland DC-494

Eligibility: • Class 10th Passed.

• Age should be between 16 to 19 years. (90% seats reserved for SC/ST candidates and also relaxation of three years in the upper age limit).

Registration can be done ONLINE at https://nttcdimapur.org.in/

Apply on or before 30th June, 2021 • Stipend amount of ` 500/- p.m. during the course or ` 600/- p.m. NEC stipend for meritorious students of HSLC exam.

• Incentives from the Institute for merit students (Semester wise) & students with 90% and above in attendance (Month wise).

• 70% & above in HSLC result — Direct & free admission.

• Company allowances between ` 8,000/- to ` 15,000/- p.m. in the 4th year during On-the-Job-Training/Industrial Training period outside the State.

• Earning while learning Scheme shall be extended to willing candidates.

• Students of Diploma in Tool & Die Making are eligible for SBI Education Loan.

• 100% placement assistance in Private/Govt. Sectors.

• Hostel seats available.

• Registration fee Rs 200/-.

For further details, visit the website: http://www.nttcdimapur.org.in or contact the following Course Coordinators: 7005162525 / 8787364436.

(Reception desk 8257002079) Sd/- Shri. K. Hokishe Assumi Director • Website: www.nttcdimapur.org.in • Email-ID nttcdimapur@gmail.com NTTC, New Industrial Estate, Sub-Jail Junction (Tinali), NH-36 Diphu Road, Dimapur: Nagaland DC-493

tal monthly progress reports covering various aspects of project development.

These videos will also be used by the NHAI officials during the physical inspection of the projects to check the discrepancies and rectifications made on the basis of the earlier observations. Additionally, the project directors of NHAI will undertake monthly drone survey from the date of signing of contract agreement till the start of construction of the project at site and also on completion of the project.

The NHAI will also undertake monthly drone survey in all developed projects where NHAI is responsible for operation and mainte-

nance. Since these videos will be permanently stored on the ‘Data Lake’, they can also be used as evidence during the dispute resolution process before arbitral tribunals and courts.

Apart from this, mandatory deployment of Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) to carry out road condition survey on the national highways to enhance quality will enhance the overall quality of the highways as NSV uses latest survey techniques such as highresolution digital camera for 360-degree imagery, Laser Road Profilometer and other latest technology for measurement of distress in road surface.

POST VACANCY Higher Secondary Teacher for Political Science Eligibility: MA ( Pol. Sc ) , B.Ed. Salary : Negotiable Contact 8787663589 between 9am – 2pm.

Or Email : highersecondarydimapur@gmail.com

DP-2806

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said Twitter failed to comply with intermediary guidelines and has “deliberately” chosen the path of non-compliance despite being granted multiple opportunities.

Lashing out at the micro-blogging platform over non-compliance, Prasad said that it is “astounding” that Twitter that portrays itself as the flag bearer of free speech, chooses the path of deliberate defiance when it comes to the Intermediary Guidelines.

“There are numerous queries arising as to whether Twitter is entitled to safe harbour provision. However, the simple fact of the matter is that Twitter has failed to comply with the Intermediary Guidelines that came into effect from the May 26,” Prasad said in a series of posts on homegrown microblogging platform Koo. The minister also tweeted on the issue.

Prasad asserted that Twitter was given multiple opportunities to comply with the rules, but deliberately chose the path of non-compliance. “Further, what is perplexing is that Twitter fails to address the grievances of users by re-

YEMHI MEMORIAL COLLEGE Dimapur : Nagaland

VACANCY Applications are invited for the vacant post of Assistant Professor in Political Science (1 Post) Eligibility : Master of Arts from recognised University with a minimum of 55% marks. Preference will be given to PhD/NET with a teaching experience.

Candidates willing to apply may kindly mail you resume with all necessary documents to ymcexcel@gmail.com on or before 26th June, 2021. *Only shortlisted candidates will be called for the Interview.

DP-2804

Principal YMC

6

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Chirag attacks JD(U) for split in his ‘India stands for rule-based order in Indo-Pacific’ party, spares BJP as he vows to fight back

NPF accuses PDA govt of dodging questions

(From p-1)

Po i n t i n g o u t t h a t COVID-19 second wave had been more disastrous than the first and many families lost their near and dear ones, the NPF said that the state government, however, remained “nonchalant of the plight and struggle of the people.” It said that the government remained mute even on the issue of absence of doctors and nurses in community health centres (CHC) and primary health centres (PHC) besides the shortage of basic medical facilities in the district hospitals, staffing pattern and shortage of health care workers in many of the health centres. NPF said that providing machineries for hospitals but having no technical personnel on the ground to run those machines was “self-defeating in itself.”

The opposition demanded immediate posting of doctors, nurses and technical

persons to the health centres since an empty hospital cannot help the people in their fight against the pandemic.

Further, opposition party asserted that PDA government also failed to answer with clarity as to how the 20% pro-rata cut from the entire non-developmental fund has been utilised.

NPF said that pro-rata cut was initially for purchase of vaccine. However, NPF said that in their clarification it was seen that from the estimated Rs.47.69 crore saved from 20% prorata cut, only Rs.7.45 crore had been spent on procuring vaccine.

Regarding COVID cess on petroleum products, NPF said the revenue figure given at Rs.13.64 crore was unrealistic. NPF claimed that the revenue from cess should exceed Rs.13.64 crore by more than 100 percent. NPF maintained that its agenda was not to keep pointing fingers at the ruling party

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

for the sake of opposing just because it was in the opposition. However, the party said it has serious concern for the general public as the present government appeared “to be least bothered about the wellbeing of the citizens of Nagaland”. NPF said PDA’s agenda should also not to accumulate wealth while the people suffer in ignorance.

On the oft-repeated assertion that the ruling bench and the opposition should work in unity during this unprecedented trying times, the NPF said the assertion has, however, been only an empty rhetorical statement as the opposition members have never been taken on board in any of the decision making, be it at the state level or the district level.

Opposition party alleged that all the tall claims of achievement and transparency made were only on paper and nothing in reality and on the ground.

UP Police books Twitter, others for circulating video

GHAZIABAD (UP), JUN 16 (PTI): Police here have booked Twitter, a news portal and six people for circulating a video in which an elderly Muslim man says he was thrashed and asked to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, claiming that it was done to create communal unrest.

The FIR was lodged at the Loni Border police station in Ghaziabad around 11.30 pm on Tuesday on the basis of a complaint lodged by a local policeman.

It names Twitter Inc, Twitter Communications India, news website The Wire,

jour nalists Mohammed Zubair and Rana Ayyub, Congress leaders Salman Nizami, Masqoor Usmani, Dr. Sama Mohammad and writer Saba Naqvi.

“These people did not verify the truth of the matter and shared it online with a communal angle with an intention to disrupt public peace and create a divide between religious groups,” the FIR states.

In the video clip, which surfaced on social media on June 14, the elderly Muslim man, Abdul ShamadSaifi, is heard saying he was thrashed by some young men and asked to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. However, the Ghaziabad police has ruled out a communal angle. It said the accused were unhappy about a ‘tabeez’ (amulet) he sold to them.

No. 9949 Yesterday’s solution No. 9948

No. 4569 Yesterday’s solution No. 4568

No. 3593 Yesterday’s solution No. 3592

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Chirag Paswan

by him fights the faction of five other party MPs, led by Paras, to claim ownership of the LJP. The JD(U), he alleged, had been working to cause a split in the party even when his father was alive.

Targeting the party, he said it has always worked to divide Dalits and weaken its leaders.The LJP draws its support from Paswans, the largest Dalit caste in Bihar.

“A conspiracy was hatched behind my back while I was ill,” Paswan said. He had recently suffered from typhoid.

The 38-year-old MP from Jamui expressed determination to take on the rival group while also taking swipe at his paternal uncle without using any strong words to attack him.

“I did not feel orphaned when my father died last year. I do feel now,” he said, adding that he had expected his uncle to play the role of the family’s patriarch but was instead abandoned by him. Paswan recalled his decision to walk out of the

ruling NDA in Bihar to take on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and said many wanted him to opt for a life of comfort and not struggle by allying with him.

“For that I would have to bow before Nitish Kumar.

I could not do that. My uncle played no role in the election campaign,” he said and rejected accusations from the rival group that he took unilateral decisions during the polls.

They never made any such claim then, Paswan said and rejected their decision to remove him as the LJP president, saying its constitution says that a new party chief can be appointed only in the case of the incumbent’s death or resignation. “All decisions they have taken are in contravention of the party’s constitution,” he said, accompanied by a number of senior party leaders. Though the LJP played the role of spoiler for the JD(U) in the assembly polls in over 35 seats, it itself won only one seat and the lone MLA later defected to Kumar’s party.

Paswas, however, asserted that the polls were a “big win” for his party as it got nearly six per cent votes.

Paswan has also contested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s decision to name Paras as the leader of the party in the House, saying it is “contrary” to the constitutional provisions of his organisation.

Panel on Naga issue reconstituted...

(From p-1) Likewise, the Core Committee of Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue will comprise of Rio as its convener, Patton and Zeliang as its co-conveners and Kronu as its member secretary.

The Core Committee members will consist NDPP ministers-- G Kaito Aye, Metsubo Jamir; advisers-- R Khing, Toshi Wungtung; BJP ministers-- Pangnyu Phom, P Paiwang Konyak,

Jacob Zhimomi; advisers-- Mmhonlumo Kikon, H Haying; Independent-- minister Tongpang Ozukum and NPF legislators-- Imkong L Imchen, Yitachu, Dr Chotisuh Sazo, YM Yollow Konyak, Muthingnyuba Sangtam and H Chuba Chang.

The notification stated that the Parliamentary Committee would discuss matters relating to Naga political issue and play the role of a facilitator in the ongoing peace talks between Government of India and Naga political groups.

6 Punjab prominent members join BJP

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (AGENCIES): Following a high-level BJP meeting on Tuesday, six “prominent” personalities from Punjab on Wednesday joined the saffron party at the party headquarters in Delhi in the presence of state unit president Ashwani Sharma, general secretary in-charge Dushyant Gautam and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

They include former president of AISSF Harinder Singh Kahlon, advocate Jagmohan Singh Saini who is also the president of Farmers’ Intellectual Front (Patiala), advocate Nirmal Singh from Mohali, Kuldeep Singh Kahlon (former AISSF leader) from Gurdaspur, former ViceChancellor of Guru Kashi University Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, and Col Jaibans Singh from Patiala.

Ashwani Sharma said Punjab wants peace and development and those who want will gain confidence when “persons and influ-

encers of such stature join BJP”.

T h e y m ay n o t b e what is popularly known as “mass leaders”, their joining is important keeping in mind the prevailing perceptions against the BJP in the state.

Subhash Sharma, general secretary of Punjab BJP, said that those who joined may not be “political persons but they are influencers and achievers, and fresh faces from the Sikh community.”

“This will break the perception that the people of Punjab or Sikhs are upset with the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot for Punjab and the Sikh community and this is a reflection of that acceptance.

The BJP will gain a lot from them”, he added State leaders say more “prominent personalities from social and political space” in Punjab will join the BJP in the days to come.

Though the party is expected to contest most seats on

its own, it may not be averse to alliances with breakaway groups or “high-profile” names/paratroopers from rival parties to take on Congress’s Captain Amarinder Singh in the polls to the 117-member Punjab Assembly. Apparently, “aggrieved leaders” from the Opposition party are also not been ruled out yet.

With SAD stitching an alliance with the BSP, the BJP is now looking at the changed caste equations in the SC/ST-dominated state.

The saffron party is facing a tough situation in the state that emerged as the epicenter of farmers’ protests in past months.

Heckled and not allowed to hold functions in their constituencies, many party leaders are believed to have voiced concern to the Central leadership over the resistance they have been facing when they visit their constituencies. The saffron party also performed poorly in the last municipal polls, winning a handful of seats.

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ing with international law, including the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and will not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that are not party to these discussions.

Without naming China or any other country, Singh said new challenges to international peace and security are emerging and they cannot be addressed with outdated systems that were designed to deal with “trials of the past”. “Maritime security challenges are another area of concern to India. The sea lanes of

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan on Wednesday blamed Janata Dal (United) for engineering the split in his party and rejected the decisions taken by the faction headed by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, saying the party’s constitution does not authorise them any such power.

In his first interaction with media after the split in the party, he struck a combative note by describing himself as “sher ka beta” (lion’s son) and asserted that he will fight for the cause of the party founded by his father Ram Vilas Paswan.

While blaming the JD(U) for the split, he steered clear of questions regarding the role of the BJP in the development and added that what has happened is also an internal matter of his party for which he will not target others.

He, however, replied wryly when asked if “Hanuman” who is in trouble now will seek help from “Ram”, a reference to his projection of his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Bihar assembly polls as that between the two famous characters of epic Ramayan.

“If Hanuman has to seek help from Ram, then what good is Hanuman and what good is Ram,” he said in Hindi. It is going to be a long battle, Paswan said, as the group headed

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and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

Referring to the challenges in the maritime domain, Singh said India stood for a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.

He said India hoped that the code of conduct negotiations will lead to outcomes that are in keep-

as directed at Pakistan.

“Terrorism and radicalisation are the gravest threats to peace and security that the world is facing today,” he said. The defence minister said India, as a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), remained committed to combat financing of terrorism.

“India shares global concerns about terrorism and believes that, in an era when networking amongst terrorists is reaching alarming proportions, only through collective cooperation can the terror organizations and their networks be fully disrupted, the perpetrators identified and held accountable,” he said.

Delving into the coronavirus crisis, Singh said India is just emerging from a second wave of the infection that pushed the country’s medical response to the “limit” and called for concerted global approach like making available patent-free vaccines, unhindered supply chains and ensuring greater medical capacities to defeat the pandemic.

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Rajnath Singh addresses the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) via video conference. (PTI)

communication are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development of the Indo-Pacific region,” he said. “In this regard, developments in the South China Sea have attracted attention in the region and beyond.

India supports freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in these international waterways,” the defence minister said. Talking about the Indo-Pacific, Singh said India has strengthened its cooperative engagements in the region based on converging visions and values for promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

“Premised upon the centrality of ASEAN, India supports utilisation of ASEAN-led mechanisms as important platforms for implementation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific,” the defence minister said.

Referring to the threat from terror networks, Singh called for strong action against those encouraging, supporting and financing terrorism and provide shelter to terrorists, in remarks seen

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NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): Flagging India’s concerns over security challenges in the maritime sphere, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific and underlined the need for ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded commerce in the international waterways including the South China Sea. In a virtual address at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Singh said the developments in the South China Sea have attracted attention in the region and beyond, seen as an oblique reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the critical sea lanes.

The defence minister also said that terrorism and radicalisation are the gravest threats to global peace and security and pitched for collective efforts to fully disrupt the terrorist organisations and their networks.

The ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

IN THE COURT OF PRINCIPAL DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE DIMAPUR NAGALAND S/C NO. 359/21 NOTICE NOTICE INVITING CLAIMS/OBJECTIONS OF OTHER CLAIMANT(S) FOR ISSUE OF SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE UNDER PART-1 OF INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT 1925.

Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefits of Late Inahoto Sumi has been applied by Smti Katoli Aye W/o Late Inahoto Sumi R/o H.No. 838, Block-3, Padumpukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland for possession of: 1. Pension Benefits 2. SBI A/C - 32780866552 Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate/pension benefits of the said deceased may if she/he so desire appear in this court on or before the said day of 16th July 2021.

Given under the hand and seal of the court on this the 16th June 2021.

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Principal District & Sessions Judge Dimapur : Nagaland

7

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Junta troops burn Myanmar village Israel strikes in Gaza after arson attacks Ba n g ko k , J u n 1 6 (AP): Government troops in Myanmar have burned most of a village in the country’s central heartland, a resident said Wednesday, confirming reports by independent media and on social networks. The action appeared to be an attempt to suppress resistance against the ruling military junta.

The attack is the latest example of how violence has become endemic in much of Myanmar in recent months as the junta tries to subdue an incipient nationwide insurrection. After the army seized power in February, overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a nonviolent civil disobedience movement arose to challenge military rule, but the junta’s attempt to repress it with deadly force fuelled rather than quelled resistance.

Photos and videos of devastated Kinma village in Magway region that circulated widely on social media on Wednesday showed much of the village flattened by fire and the charred

Kinma village in Magway region burnt down by Mynamar military. bodies of farm animals. One report said the village had about 1,000 residents.

A villager contacted by phone said only 10 of 237 houses were left standing.

The villager, who asked that his name not be used because of fear of government reprisals, said most residents had already fled when soldiers firing guns entered the village shortly before noon on Tuesday.

He said he believed the troops were searching for members of a vil-

lage defense force that had been established to protect against the junta’s troops and police. Most such local forces are very lightly armed with homemade hunting rifles.

The village defense force gave residents advance warning of the troops’ arrival, so only four or five people were left in the village when they began searching houses in the afternoon. When they found nothing, they began setting the homes on fire, he said. “There are some

forests just nearby our village. Most of us fled into the forests,” he said.

The villager said he believed there were three casualties, a boy who was a goat-herder who was shot in the thigh, and an elderly couple who were unable to flee. He believed the couple had died but several media reports said they were missing. Asked if he planned to go back to the village, he said: “No, we dare not to.

We think it isn’t over. We will shift to other villages.

Even if we go back to our village, there is no place to stay because everything is burnt.”

The village defense forces are committed to forming a future opposition federal army, and some have allied themselves with ethnic minority groups in border areas that have been fighting for decades for autonomy from the central government. Most of the fiercest fighting takes place in the border regions, where government forces are deployed in areas controlled by ethnic groups such as the

Chin in the west, the Kachin in the north and the Karenni in the east.

The incident in Kinma attracted special attention because the Burman, or Barmar ethnic group, the country’s power-holding majority, is predominant in the Magway region and it is unusual for them to be targeted for such severe measures.

The army burned many villages of the Muslim Rohingya minority in 2017 in a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in the western state of Rakhine that drove more than 700,000 to seek safety across the border in Bangladesh.

There is widespread prejudice against the Rohingya and few in Myanmar protested the army’s treatment of them, though international courts are now considering whether it constituted genocide.

Some people commenting Wednesday on social media said the burning of Kinma made Rohingya claims of mistreatment more credible.

Gaza, Jun 16 (IANS): Israel has launched air strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, after incendiary balloons were launched from the territory.

Explosions were heard in Gaza City in the early hours of Wednesday.

Several balloons were sent from Gaza into Israel earlier on Tuesday, which caused multiple fires, according to the Israeli fire service, the BBC reported.

It is the first major flare-up since 11 days of fighting between the two sides ended in a ceasefire on 21 May. It followed a march

by Jewish nationalists in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, which had drawn threats from Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had hit military compounds operated by Hamas in Khan Yunis and Gaza City.

It said “terrorist activity” took place in the compound, and that the

The IDF said its fighter jets had hit military compounds operated by Hamas in Khan Yunis and Gaza City.

IDF was “prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terror acts from the Gaza Strip”.

It is not immediately clear if the air strikes have caused any injuries.

A Hamas spokesperson said in a statement on Twitter that Palestinians would continue their “valiant resistance” and defend their rights “until the occupier is expelled from our

entire land”.

Israel’s fire service said the incendiary balloons launched earlier from Gaza had caused at least 20 fires in fields by communities in southern Israel.

This is the first violent exchange since Israeli’s new coalition government came to power last weekend, headed by Naftali Bennett and drawing an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister.

Biden,Putin meet for long-anticipated summit WHO ‘too compromised’, says ex-CDC It doesn’t look like Covid leaked director, pushes ‘lab leak’ theory again from Chinese lab, says UK PM

Geneva, Jun 16 (AP): US President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have opened their face-toface talks Wednesday at a lush lakeside Swiss mansion, a highly anticipated summit at a time when both leaders agree that relations between their countries are at an all-time low.

The two sat down in a book-lined room in a somewhat awkward start to their meeting, with both appearing to avoid looking directly at each other during a brief photo opportunity before a scrum of reporters.

Their talks are expected to last four to five hours. Putin said he hoped they would be “productive,” while Biden told him “it is

always better to meet face to face.” Biden appeared to suggest that he can take the Russian leader at his word, nodding his head when asked by a reporter if Putin can be trusted.

The two leaders did shake hands moments earlier when they posed with Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who welcomed them to Switzerland for the summit. For months, they have traded sharp rhetoric. Biden has repeatedly called out Putin for malicious cyberattacks by Russian-based hackers on U.S. interests, a disregard for democracy with the jailing of Russia’s foremost opposition leader and interference in American elections.

Quake shakes part of east Indonesia, people warned off beach Jakarta, Jun 16 (AP): A shallow, 5.8 magnitude undersea earthquake shook parts of eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, cracking some walls and sending panicked coastal residents in Maluku province to higher ground.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said there was no threat of a large tsunami, although the sea level rose about 0.5 meters, probably due to an underwater avalanche. The chief of the Maluku Disaster Mitigation Agency, Henri Far Far, said villagers along the coast in Tehoru subdistrict panicked because of the earthquake and were told to move to higher ground. He said the walls and floors of some buildings cracked. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered about 10 kilometers (6 miles) under the sea 70 kilometers from Amahai city on Seram island in Maluku province. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 260 million people, is frequently struck by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (AGENCIES): Robert Redfield, the former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has once again asserted that he believes Covid-19 in all likelihood emerged from a lab in China.

The Print report stated that in an exclusive interview to Fox News, the former CDC director, who served in the Donald Trump administration until January 2021, said the novel coronavirus having leaked from a lab was the most likely explanation for the pandemic’s origins.

According to Redfield, the manner in which Covid-19 spread so quickly, from human to human, contradicted the behaviour of other deadly viruses with a similar profile — such as SARS and MERS, which reached humans through animal contact but spread at a much slower pace.

On the World Health Organization (WHO) verifying this theory, Redfield asserted that the WHO was “too compromised” by China to conduct a transparent investigation. In March, the international organisation concluded in a joint report with China that a lab leak was “extremely unlikely”.

In his interview to Dr Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center, Redfield said: “Clearly, they were incapable of compelling China to adhere to the treaty agreements that they have on global health, because they didn’t do that. Clearly, they allowed China to define the group of scientists that could

PUBLIC NOTICE

We, the family members of Mrs. Thungchano Ovung, who is currently residing at NST Colony, Wokha Town do hereby declare and inform the general public that she has taken loan from various individuals without the knowledge of any of her family members and had done so solely at her own will and risk.

Therefore, we the family are in no way involved or shall be held responsible in any of her debt (Loan). Anybody dealing with her will do so at his/her/their own risk and responsibilities and we shall not be responsible for any of such dealings.

Family members.

WC-117

come and investigate. That’s not consistent with their role.”

This is not the first time Redfield has spoken about Covid-19 likely to have escaped from a lab.

Theory behind lab leak: Redfield, a virologist himself, said he did not think the virus went from a bat to an animal, and then to humans.

He said: “I’m just giving my best opinion as a virologist, and I don’t think it’s plausible that this virus went from a bat to an animal — we still don’t know that animal — and then went into humans and immediately had learned how to be humanto-human transmissible to the point of now causing one of the greatest pandemics we’ve had in the history of the world.”

While it has been reported that Dr Anthony Fauci, who is the US government’s top infectious-disease authority, and other doctors and scientists have played down the possibility that SARS CoV-2 leaked from a lab in China, Fauci has said he never played it down and always had an open mind on the origin of Covid-19.

“Until you nail it down definitively, you always have to keep an open mind that it might be something else and that’s the way I have always been from the very beginning, I have not changed my mind,” he said.

In May this year, President Biden asked the US intelligence community to present their findings in 90 days on the pandemic’s origins.

L o n d o n, J u n 1 6 (IANS): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that it doesn’t look like that Covid-19 originated from a lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

“At the moment the advice we’ve had is that it doesn’t look like this particular disease of a zoonotic origin came from a lab,” Johnson said in his closing press conference at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Britain’s southwestern resort of Carbis Bay, a seaside resort and village in Cornwall.

“I do think there’s a problem with zoonotic diseases and this is clearly something we need to focus on,” he said.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Dominic

Boris Johnson Raab said Britain’s “best information” remained that Covid-19 “jumped” from animals to humans, Xinhua reported.

Leaders from Britain, the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy, plus the European Union, wrapped up on Sunday their first inperson summit in almost two years.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; May the name of the Lord be praised”

2nd DEATH ANNIVERSARY Longyau Phom

Died on 17.06.2019 Gone are the days we used to share.

But in our hearts you are always there.

Never more than a thought away, Loved and remembered everyday.

Missing you is Heartache that never goes away.

Beloved father always in our hearts.

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Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin

Putin, for his part, has reacted with whataboutisms and obfuscations — pointing to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to argue that the U.S. has no business lecturing on democratic norms and insisting that the Russian government hasn’t been involved in any election interference or cyberattacks despite U.S. intelligence showing otherwise.

Now, the pair are meeting for the first time face-toface as leaders. In advance, both sides set out to lower expectations.

Even so, Biden said it was an important step if the United States and Russia were able to ultimately find “stability and predictability” in their relationship, a seemingly modest goal from the president for dealing with the person he sees as one of America’s fiercest adversaries.

“We should decide where it’s in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that,” Biden told reporters earlier this week. “And the areas where we don’t agree, make it clear what the red lines are.”

Loving wife, children, grandchildren and relatives.

LATE DUSANU VENUH Born: 1930 Died: 23-05-2021 We, the bereaved family of LATE DUSANU VENUH, Head GB of Phek Village would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, groups who supported us in prayers and stood by us physically, morally, financially, materially, sharing words of sorrows and pains with us during our hard times and grieves. Though, we are unable to thanked everyone individually, it is our sincere prayer that God the Almighty bless you all abundantly.

-Loving wife, children, grandchildren & relatives K-1058

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

OFFICE OF THE

HEAD G.B. NUNGYING VILLAGE WOKHA : NAGALAND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We the people of Nungying Village would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shri. Orenthung Lotha and ADC Shri. Lankosen Tsanglao of Wokha district for their immense contribution in extension of Village ground for the upcoming 100 years Jubilee of Nungying Baptist Church.

Also we express our sincere gratitude towards Shri. Chiporao Shitiri & family and Lt. Nvamo Shitiri & family for contributing their land for this cause. Once again we the people of Nungying Village thank you all for your generosity and we wish you prosperity and well being of everyone who had contributing.

Sd/- Rhanpamo Ngullie Head G.B. WC-118 K Y M C

Born : 15.01.1948 – Died : 12.06.2021

We, the bereaved family members of Late Arilepden Changki, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every individual, friends, neighbours, relatives, churches and well-wishers who stood by us through prayers support, physically, financially and materially during his brief illness and sad demise our beloved father who left for his heavenly abode.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each one of you individually, but it is our humble prayer that Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

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Loving wife, children, grandchildren and relatives K Y M C

8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

EURO 2020: Wales beat Turkey; Own-goal gives France 1-0 win over Germany

Baku/ St. Petersburg (AP/AFP/IANS): Aaron Ramsey scored the first goal to give Wales a 2-0 victory over Turkey at the European Championship.

Gareth Bale played a lobbed pass over the opposing defense and Ramsey chested it down before knocking it past onrushing Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir in the 42nd minute.

Bale had a chance to make it 2-0 in Baku but he missed from the penalty spot in the 61st minute. But Connor Roberts struck from a corner deep in injury time to seal a win that takes Wales to four points with one match left in the group stage. That final fixture will be in Rome on Sunday against Group A favourites Italy.

Wales has four points in Group A from its first two games while Turkey has zero after losing both of its matches. Turkey had strong support from traveling fans and many locals in close ally Azerbaijan. The presidents of both Turkey and Azerbaijan were in attendance.

Leroy Sane and Timo Werner replacing Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry, but the French defence held firm.

In the final 10 minutes, Mbappe was furious to be denied a penalty when a Hummels tackle from behind just pushed the ball out

Russia 1-0 Finland

(L-R): Aaron Ramsey, right, scores his sides first goal past Turkey’s goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday.

France’s Kylian Mbappe, right, looks as Germany’s Mats Hummels scores an own goal. (AP)

France 1-0 Germany

A Mats Hummels own goal was enough to hand France a 1-0 victory over Germany on Tuesday as the world champions made a winning start to their Euro 2020 campaign by dominating in Munich. Hummels turned the ball into his own net in the 20th minute,

which ultimately decided the contest. France deserved the win, with both Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema having second-half goals ruled offside while Adrien Rabiot also hit the post for Les Bleus. German head coach Joachim Loew, who will stand down after the European Championship, is desperate to avoid

a repeat of the 2018 World Cup when Die Mannschaft suffered the humiliation of finishing bottom of their group.

It was a heartbreaking night for Hummels, back to boost the German defence after a two-year exile from international football.

Seven years ago, it was Hummels’ headed goal

which knocked France out of the 2014 World Cup in the quarter-finals as Germany went on to win the title in Brazil. France’s Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez met Paul Pogba’s magnificent pass with a low cross from the left flank which Hummels, to his horror, turned into his own net. There was plenty

Durant scores 49 points as Nets Test rankings: Smith new No.1 beat Bucks to take series lead batsman, Kohli moves up to 4th

L o n d o n, J u n 1 6 (Agencies): Kevin Durant scored 49 points as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-108 to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Durant also came up with 17 rebounds and 10 assists to inspire victory after the Nets were 17 points down in the third quarter.

He hit a three-pointer and three free throws late on to seal the win.

Nets coach Steve Nash said Durant’s display “makes him one of the alltime greats”.

Milwaukee’s two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who top-scored for the Bucks with 34 points, called Durant “the best player in the world right now”.

LeBron James, widely regarded as one of basketball’s finest players of all time, also praised Durant on social media.

In what Nets coach Nash said would go down as one of Durant’s “sig-

of harm’s way before the France forward crashed to the turf.

Benzema looked to have sealed the win when he tapped in Mbappe’s pass in the dying stages, but VAR caught the Paris Saint-Germain offside again.

Dubai, Jun 16 (IANS): Ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final, India captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday moved up one spot, to fourth, in the ICC Test batting rankings while New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lost his top spot to Australian Steve Smith.

Wi t h 8 9 1 p o i n t s, former Australia skipper Smith is the world No.1 Test batsman while Williamson is now second with 886 points. Kohli, with 814 points displaced England

Kevin Durant nature” games, the power forward played all 48 minutes, shot 16-of-23 from the floor and finished just shy of his play-off career high of 50 points.

It did, however, set a franchise record for points in a play-off game, surpassing Vince Carter’s mark of 43 points set 15 years ago.

He also posted his second career post-season triple-double and joined Hall of Famers Oscar

Robertson, Charles Barkley and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic as the fourth player with at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a play-off game.

The Nets relied heavily on Durant in game five of their best-of-seven series after Kyrie Irving was injured in the previous game and James Harden had a quiet night on his return from injury.

captain Joe Root, who is now fifth with 797 points.

Two more Indians featuring in the top-10 - wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma with 747 points each - are joint sixth.

Williamson lost his top spot in the rankings due to his omission from the playing XI in the second Test against England, while Root slipped to fifth after a forgettable outing in the two-Test series against New Zealand, which the hosts lost 0-1.

of first-half niggle.

Germany started to threaten the French goal, with Serge Gnabry firing over. The hosts had a letoff when Mbappe hit the net after cutting inside and curling in a superb shot on 66 minutes, but the goal was ruled out. With 16 minutes left, Loew put fresh legs into Germany’s attack with

Russia wrapped up their first win in Group B of Euro 2020, beating Finland by a solitary goal from Aleksey Miranchuk here on Wednesday. Finland started their second group game at a fast pace with Joel Pohjanpalo almost scoring five minutes into the match but the striker was flagged offside.

Russia took some time to settle down but once they took the lead through Miranchuk -- who benefitted

from Artyom Dzyuba’s good build-up work before curling the ball past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky - the host started dictating terms, reports Xinhua. Russia should have scored more goals but Rifat Zhemaletdinov and Daler Kuzyaev failed to finish the job. With this result, Belgium (3 points) continue to top the Group B standings, followed by Finland (3 points) Russia (3 points).

Denmark are yet to open their account.

THURSDAY’S MATCHES Ukraine Vs North Macedonia: 6:30 pm Denmark Vs Belgium: 9:30 pm Netherlands Vs Austria: 12:30 am (Friday)

Ronaldo knocks off $4 bn from Coca-Cola’s value Budapest, Jun 16 (IANS): Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo inflicted a $4-billion loss on soft drink major Coca-Cola with his gesture of putting aside two bottles of carbonated drinks and picking water instead during a press conference ahead of Portugal’s match against Hungary.

The Portuguese star footballer, who plays for Juventus in Serie A and is acknowledged as one of the two best footballers of current era alongside Argentine Lionel Messi, sat down for the interaction with a teammate and

Cristiano Ronaldo moved the Coke bottles aside before picking a water bottle.

Coke is a sponsor of the ongoing Euro 2020 in which the former Real Madrid star is leading Por-

tugal.

Spanish newspaper Marca has reported that Coca-Cola’s shares took a dive and left the company with billions of dollars in losses.

Wimbledon 2021: Murray and Venus given wildcards L o n d o n, J u n 1 6 (Agencies): Former Wimbledon champions Andy Murray and Venus Williams have been given wildcards to play at this year’s Championships at the All England Club.

Britain’s Murray, 34, won the 2013 and 2016 men’s singles titles, while Andy Murray Venus Williams 40-year-old Williams has won the women’s singles five British women joining los Alcaraz, plus home trio Williams in the draw.

Liam Broady, Jay Clarke on five occasions.

Spanish teenager Car- and Jack Draper, received Katie Boulter is one of

men’s wildcards.

Alcaraz, 18, is the youngest player ranked inside the men’s world top 200 and earlier this month became the youngest man to reach the third round of the French Open in 29 years.

British players Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Francesca Jones and Samantha Murray Sharan have also been given wildcards for the women’s sin-

gles. On Tuesday, former men’s world number one Murray made an emotional and winning return in his first singles match on grass for three years as he reached the second round at Queen’s.

Japan’s world number two Naomi Osaka is still on the Wimbledon entry list after pulling out of the recent French Open and revealing she had suffered from depression.

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