SC directs Centre to file report on cases of alleged attacks on Christians

Assam govt announces Rs 50 L reward for Lovlina

Karnataka polls on May 10, results on May 13

CAG report flags anomalies in various state govt departments

NEW DELHI, MAR 29 (PTI/AGENCIES):

Su - preme Court directed the Centre on Wednesday to file a report on alleged attacks on Christian institutions and priests across the country as well as on the implementation of its earlier guidelines to curb hate crimes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to collate a report on the states’ compliance with the court’s guidelines and file the same before it.

The court passed the directions after the petitioner’s counsel, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, said nodal officers have been notified in every dis-

NSDMA predicts heavy rainfall across Nagaland

DIMAPUR, MAR 29

(NPN): Nagaland State Di- saster Management Authority (NSDMA) has predicted light to heavy rainfall in the State over the following week. In a weather update, NSDMA said several other weather conditions would be seen during this time along with heavy showers. trict but they are not registering cases, even though hate speeches have been delivered during rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and such news appear regularly on television and in newspapers.

Accordingly, there could be moderate rain from March 30 to April 4 all over the state. Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty wind with wind speed up to 30 to 40 km per hour was also very likely to occur in certain pockets in the districts of Peren, Dimapur, Kohima, Tseminyu, Wokha, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon and Longleng during this period. The State’s minimum and maximum temperatures would vary between 8°C and 30°C during this time.

NSDMA has appealed to the public to exercise caution to avoid any eventualities during this period. It also asked all district disaster management authorities and other line departments to be on alert to save lives and properties during this period.

Meanwhile, as per India Meteorological Department report, scattered to fairly widespread light/ moderate rainfall activity with thunderstorm and lightning/gusty winds is expected between March 29 to April 2. Further, isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during March 31 to April 2 and over Arunachal Pradesh on April 1 and 2.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati opposed the submission made by Gonsalves, saying it is “easy to make sweeping statements”.

The Chief Justice then said, “Let the Ministry of Home Affairs file a reply.... We can keep this after two weeks.”

In 2018, the apex court issued a slew of guidelines for the Centre and states for dealing with hate crimes. These included fast-track trials, compensation to the victims, deterrent punishment and disciplinary action against lax law-en- forcing officials. The court said offences such as hate crimes, cow vigilantism and lynching should be nipped in the bud.

The states shall designate a senior police officer not below the rank of superintendent of police as the nodal officer for the implementation of the guidelines in each district, the court had said, adding that these officers will set up a task force, to be assisted by a deputy Superintendent of police (DSP)-rank officer, for taking measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and lynching.

The state governments shall immediately identify the districts, sub-divisions and villages where instances of lynching and mob violence have been reported in the recent past, the court had said.

NMDA calls off protest; shops to open

DIMAPUR, MAR 29

(NPN): Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association (NMDA) has decided to call off their protest and open their shops on humanitarian ground. All medical dealers under NMDA on Tuesday decided to close their shops in protest against the “unlawful arrest” of its member on March 27, 2023 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

NMDA joint secretary

Arijit Sharma informed that the decision to call off protest was made after the association held a joint meeting with the drugs control section of health & family wel- fare department on Wednesday. NMDA stated that the officials have agreed to take the matter to the higher authority for deliberation and discussions. NMDA maintained that any inspection by any other agencies without the presence of the drug control section would not be accepted.

AIOCD NE flays: All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) Northeast zone took serious note of the arrest of medicine dealer in Dimapur under the NDPS Act. In a press note, AIOCD NE zone joint secretary K Sagar Meitei pointed out that all the chemists throughout the country were selling narcotics and psychotropic drugs under the Drug Act 1940 and Rules 1945. It, therefore, requested the government authority to stop the harassment of chemist members of Nagaland by settling the issue with NMDA, which was an affiliated body of AIOCD.

AIOCD warned that if harassment of chemist members continued and the issue was not settled, it would be compelled to stop selling all narcotic and psychotropic drugs throughout the Northeast, which would result in shortage of narcotic and psychotropic drugs and lead to agitation in NE states.

Road safety issue: DC Chümou asked to act against contractor of NH-29

DIMAPUR, MAR 29

(NPN): Taking serious note of safety measures for both commuters and pedestrians, the Medziphema Town Public Forum (Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho) and Gaon Bura (GB) Union have urged Chümoukedima deputy commissioner (DC) to take immediate action against contractor of 4-lane vis-a-vis NHIDCL at Chainage 137 km (Medziphema town).

In a representation to the DC, Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho president Akhoto Kuotsu, vice-president Acalie Khate and gen- eral secretary Thejangukho Yalietsu, and Medziphema town GB Union president Rokovitso Kuotsu alleged that the contractor failed to comply with the design and guidelines.

They cited some of the fatal flaws in the 4-lane road which have been the cause of many accidents.

Vehicles often find the lane closed without any signage and often results in collision.

According to the four organizations of Medziphema, the contractor has made no bus bays on the right hand side (up) of the highway, due to which the lives of both com-

NEW DELHI, MAR 29 (PTI): Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held in a single phase on May 10 setting the stage for yet another showdown between the ruling BJP and the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Announcing the poll schedule at a news conference in Delhi on Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said votes will be counted on May 13. He said elections for 224-member Assembly have been scheduled on a Wednesday, and not on a Monday or Friday, to encourage greater participation of voters.

CEC said poll notification will be issued on April 13 and last date for filing nomination papers is April 20. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 21 and last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 24.

Shitoho elevated as NPGN/NNC ato kilonser

DIMAPUR, MAR, 29 (NPN): Following the demise of ato kilonser Z Hozheto Chophi on March 27, the NPGN/NNC core committee members have “unanimously” declared and elevated kilonser Shitoho Chophi to the post of ato kilonser NPGN/NNC.

The MIP also stated that the core committee members with “conscientious approval” by the joint council of NPGN/NNC have “welcomed and accepted” the proposal and endorsement made by late leader Z Hozheto

DIMAPUR, MAR 29 (NPN): Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which was tabled on the last day of the first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), detected financial anomalies in various departments.

DBT: The report flagged the poor Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) achievement in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

It stated that the overall achievement of DBT in MGNREGS as of March 2020 was only 11.60%, while the objective of DBT was not achieved in the State as 88.40% of job card holders were paid through an intermediary level Village Development Board mainly due to non-availability of banking facilities.

Further, the mission mode approach of the State Government/implementing department for full implementation of DBT in MGNREGS failed as no timeline was fixed to complete the exercise, while delayed release of funds to the implementing departments and payments to ineligible beneficiaries were noticed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).

PHED: The report stated that PHED (Urban) Dimapur division executive engineer did not exercise due diligence to check the correctness of quantities executed before passing the bills for payment, which resulted in fraudulent payment of Rs 90.54 lakh without actual execution of 2,338 metres of drainage works in 18 villages.

The PHED made excess payment of Rs 1.23 crore to the contractor by allowing higher rate over the State government-approved rate for construction of community sanitary complex and deviated from the approved action plans and specification during actual implementation.

Municipal Affairs: As per the report, Dimapur Municipal Council administrator did not take any step to monitor and cross verify the actual quantities of railway wagons that transported cement from the goods office, Dimapur railway station, for which Rs 30.07 lakh toll was not collected and resulted in short collection of revenue.

Horticulture Dept: A performance audit on Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture was conducted from September 2019 to April 2021, covering the period from 2014 to 2020. It was found that annual action plans were prepared without conducting base line survey, seed/ planting material sub-plan and district-wise sub-plans, planting materials for Rs 14.72 crore were procured from non-accredited nurseries/local suppliers, 400 out of 841 beneficiaries reported short-receipt of planting materials and inadmissible advance payment of Rs 10.62 crore was made to suppliers. The department also paid Rs 12.14 crore to the contractors without actual execution of works.

Centre of Excellence constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore in Yisemyong, Mokokchung was leased out to a private firm, while Rs 5 crore released for creation of three Centres of Excellence (Phek, Tuensang and Dima- pur) was diverted without the Central government’s approval. Inadmissible assistance of Rs 11.44 crore was extended to the beneficiaries under Post Harvest Management. Planning & Coordination: The CAG noticed deficiencies in assessment of infrastructural needs and lack of proper planning of projects by the State government. Concept Notes did not contain detailed analysis of existing facilities (gap analysis) in the sector and full justification for retention of the particular project.

Two projects retained at a cost of Rs 48.85 crore were not sanctioned by Ministry of DoNER due to duplication with existing facilities, preparation of unrealistic estimates, delay in submission of revised estimates, etc. There were instances of short release of funds by State government and submission of false utilisation certificates (UCs) to Ministry of DoNER. Irregular diversion/deduction of Rs 1.96 crore towards VAT/WCT, departmental charges, procurement of vehicle, etc, were noticed.

The implementing departments made payment of Rs 2.92 crore to the contractors without actual execution of works and incurred avoidable expenditure of Rs 5.58 crore due to procurement of materials at exorbitant rates.

Monitoring at the State level was inadequate, no evaluation studies were conducted, data relating to progress of projects was not uploaded in MIS portal, etc. Despite being pointed out in the CAG report and the recommendations of Public

Consult tribal hohos before enactment of new NM Act: Senden

Correspondent muters and pedestrians were put into danger at the junction, as the road leading to Community Health Centre, village and colonies straightaway entered the carriage way and buses had to park on the main carriage way. They mentioned that land compensations were already paid to landowners and row pillars erected for construction of such lane, but the most important lane for safety was not done. They insisted that Medziphema town required proper laning at the main junction for safety of commuters.

MOKOKCHUNG, MAR 29 (NPN): Welcoming the resolution of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to unanimously repeal the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 in toto, the Ao Senden on Wednesday appealed to the State government to include/consult all tribal hohos before enacting the new Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA).

This was among several resolutions adopted at the emergency consultative meeting held here on Wednesday to deliberate on the issue related to municipal and town council

Members of the Ao Senden and others after the meeting on Wednesday.

(ULBs) elections.

It also reminded that the Seden would stand firm against holding of municipal/town council elections in Ao jurisdiction if such Act infringes upon Article

371A of the constitution. The house also resolved that until the new Municipal Act is passed, it would not allow any advisory body to function in the municipal/town councils under Ao jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the house lauded the members of the NLA for heeding the voice of the people by repealing the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001.

WHO revises Covid-19 vaccine recommendations Kohima to host 4th B20 event from April 4

NEW DELHI, MAR 29 (AGENCIES): The World Health Organization revised its Covid-19 vaccine recommendations to reflect the new phase of the pandemic and the high populationlevel immunity due to infection and vaccination. It said healthy children and adolescents may not necessarily need a shot but older, high-risk groups should get a booster between 6 to 12 months after their last vaccine.

The new recommendations prioritise protecting those who are at the greatest risk of death and severe disease from Covid-19. For the new recommendations, the WHO divided the priority-use groups for Covid-19 vaccination into three levels - high, medium and low.

The high priority group includes older adults as well as younger people with significant comorbidities and immunocompromising conditions. For this group, the WHO recommended an additional booster shot either 6 or 12 months after the last dose, with the timeframe depending on factors such as age and immunocompromising conditions.

The medium priority group includes healthy adults without comorbidities and children and adolescents with comorbidities.

WHO recommended primary series and first booster doses for the medium priority group. Additional booster shots are safe for this group but not necessarily recommended, given the comparatively low public health returns.

Healthy children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years belong in the low priority group. For this group, the WHO urged countries to consider factors like disease burden before recommending vaccination. It said the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters were safe for all ages, but the recommendations took into account other factors like cost-effectiveness.

In September 2022, the WHO said the end of the pandemic was “in sight”. The global health agency said its latest recommendations reflect the global immunity levels and current disease picture but should not be seen as long-term guidance over whether annual boosters would be needed.

The WHO’s recommendations come amid Covid cases rising in India.

On Tuesday, India recorded 3,146 new cases. So far, over 200 crore vaccines have been administered in India, as per data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

DIMAPUR, MAR 29

(NPN): The fourth and final B20 India event in the Northeast is scheduled at Kohima from April 4 to 6.

According to PIB, the event will follow the theme of Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in Agriculture and Food Processing, Tourism and IT. Along with discussions and plenary sessions, there will be B2B and B2G meetings. The State government will showcase key activities and developments in these sectors, while emphasizing investment opportunities in the same.

Following the delegates’ arrival on the first day of the three-day meet- ing, there will be dinner and a cultural programme at Capital Cultural Hall on April 4. The B20 conference will take place on Day-2, followed by B2B and B2G meetings, a miniHornbill festival, excursion to a WWII museum, visit to a heritage hamlet and a cultural programme.

The third day will bring the event to a close with a trip to Kohima War Cemetery and departure of the participants from Kohima.

The B20 (Business 20) is an official G20 platform for communication with the global business community, is comprised of business associations and leads engagement with G20 governments on behalf of the international business community. It mobilises perspectives of global business leaders on global economic and trade governance and offers each rotating presidency with actionable policy recommendations to enhance economic growth and development.

The Northeast had been of significant focus for B20 India initiatives, with four conferences planned across the region to showcase the vast potential and opportunities of the region. The first three conferences held at Imphal, Aizawl and Gangtok had been successful in their objective of highlighting the untapped potential of the region.