August 3, 2020

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXX No. 238

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Arsenal beat Chelsea to lift FA Cup

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sports, Page 8

No community transmission: Pangnyu

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom has denied any community transmission of COVID-19 so far in the State.

In a statement, Pangnyu admitted that though there has been a spike in number of positive cases in recent days, particularly in Kohima and Dimapur, majority of the confirmed case were among armed forces personnel. He, however, said that vigorous contact tracing was being carried out and the source of infection had been traced in all positive cases.

He said out of the total reported mortalities, some were attributed to COVID19 infection with multiple co-morbidities. He added that all reported COVID-19 death cases are presently under investigation by the COVID-19 Death Review Committees at the district and State levels, based on which such cases would be confirmed as COVID-19 death or otherwise.

But, as history of contacts had been established in all cases, he claimed that there was no community transmission in the State as of now. Phom declared that

5 years on, FA kept in cold storage, says NSCN (I-M) DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): Even after 5 years of signing of the Framework Agreement (FA) on August 3, 2015, NSCN (I-M) alleged that the “scourge of manipulation, misinterpretation and insincerity has kept the pot boiling.”

In an article-- “Travails of Framework Agreement: Five long years of waiting”, issued by the MIP on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the FA, NSCN (I-M) said that historic agreement was signed under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with much hype and anticipation in the political circle. “There was much excitement and jubilation as Prime Minister Modi called up all political leaders who matters that he has solved the longest political issue of Southeast Asia.”

“But five (5) years down the line the scourge of manipulation, misinterpretation and insincerity has kept the pot boiling,” NSCN (I-M) stated. It reminded that the Interlocutor for Naga talks, RN Ravi was given the honor to sign on behalf of the Government of India, and from the NSCN side it was signed

by NSCN chairman Isak Chishi Swu and NSCN general secretary Th. Muivah.

(Full text on p-4)

This is it!

“He’s busy composing the official COVID-19 song, titled ‘We Feel You But Can’t See You.” K Y M C

setting up of BSL-2 laboratory at Tuensang was at final stage. Admitting that there had been some delay due to lockdown at Guwahati and compounded by quarantining of the technicians for 14 days, he said it was now expected to be commissioned by third week of August.

Temporary disruption in BSL-2 lab: According to the minister, there was a temporary disruption in the functioning of BSL-2 laboratory at CIHSR Dimapur from July 23 to 28 due to acute shortage of consumables following disruption of supply chain consequent to the lockdown at Guwahati and shortage of key products like pipettes all over the country.

Claiming that the laboratory had since started functioning in full capacity and the sample backlog for COVID testing was about 700 samples as on date, he said the laboratory has conducted 4,700 tests since its inauguration on June 27.

He said there are eight full-time people working 24x7in the laboratory, adding PCR reagents kits and viral test media had been supplied by Indian Council of Medical Research and rest

of the consumables, including RNA extraction kits, had been financed by the State government. He claimed all tests are conducted free and no patients are charged anything for these tests.

Conceding that the pandemic, which is one of the biggest medical emergencies, had crippled lives for the past five/six months, Phom said the H&FW department had started screening and monitoring of passengers with history of travel to China and affected countries since January 20 this year, adding altogether 3,98,535 travellers by air, railways and roadways had been screened.

Further, to obviate the possibility of the spread of the virus, 261 quarantine facilities were set up and till August 1 the number of returnees been put in institutional quarantining stood at 20,712. Presently, 2,375 persons are under institutional quarantine, while 21,925 individuals had been put under home quarantine till date and currently 3,799 are under home quarantine From a zero capacity to test COVID-19, the State now has two functional BSL laboratories – one BSL-3 laboratory at Kohima and

one BSL-3 laboratory at Dimapur– while another BSL-2 laboratory is being set up at Tuensang.

Mentioning that the State had 29 TrueNat machines, which included three being provided by the Centre and six donated by legislatures and civil society groups, the minister said these machines have a capacity to test over 1,200 samples per day. Additionally, he said rapid antigen tests were also now made available for COVID-19 testing. To meet the demand for unfolding challenges, private hospitals and laboratories have been permitted to conduct COVID-19 tests

by TrueNat as well as rapid antigen as per Government of India guidelines.

Till August 1, the State had tested 38,634 samples with the testing per-million population being pegged at 17,800 which according to Phom was higher than the national average of 14,370.

With 1,831 samples testing positive, the positivity rate is 4.74% which is much lower than the national average of 8.76%, suggesting that despite more testing, the infection rate is lower in the (Cont’d on p-6) State.

Protests against COVID restrictions in Berlin

nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial

Amit Shah, K’taka CM , TN Gov test positive for Covid NEW DELHI, AUG 2 ( AG E N C I E S ) : U n i o n Home minister Amit Shah, Karnatka chief minister and Tamil Nadu Governor Sunday tested positive for Covid-19.

Announcing his test result on Twitter, 55-yearold Shah said: “My health is fine, but am being admitted to hospital on the advice of doctors. Requests all those who came in contact with me these last few days to self-isolate and get themselves tested.” Sha was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram on the advice of doctors.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted late on Sunday evening that he had tested positive for Covid-19. The CM said that though he was fine, he was being hospitalised as a precaution on the advice of doctors.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit also tested positive for COVID19, a statement from a Chennai hospital said today. The Governor has been advised home isolation and he will be monitored by a team of doctors from the hospital.

international, Page 7

State COVID tally to breach 2000-mark DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Nagaland, the tally is expected to breach the 2000-mark. On Sunday 104 COVID positive cases were detected from across the state, out of which 62 were reported from Dimapur, 18 in Zunheboto, 17 in Kohima, 5 in Wokha and 1 each in Mon & Phek, state Health minister S. Pangnyu Phom tweeted. (See table for details) With this the total tally as on August 2 stood at 1935 cases-- 1279 active, 648 recovered, 6 deaths and 2 migrated.

As per the severity of symptoms, 1277 active cases are asymptomatic, 1 mild and 1 admitted to ICU and on oxygen. Out of 6 deaths, 4 died due to COVID, 1 death (positive) but not due to COVID and 1 death under investigation (co-morbidities and positive case).

Till August 2, a total of 25,335 samples were sent for testing through RT-PCR and results of 22,815 received.

Out of 16,679 samples received at BSL-3 (NHAK), 1,364 had tested positive.

In addition, a total of 16,727 samples were sent for testing on Truenat out of which 503 tested positive

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON august 2, 2020 District

Asymptomatic

709 0 Kohima 371 Longleng 0 Mokokchung 11 Mon 110 Peren 21 Phek 14 Tuensang 4 Wokha 12 Zunheboto 25 Total 1277 Dimapur

ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic RecovMiTotal Death grated Cases Critical ICU ered Mild With Oxygen 0 0 167 883 6* 1

Kiphire

0

0

0

1

1

138

0

0

3

0

0

7

0

0

39

0

0

231

0

0

15

0

0

42

0

0

1

0

0

5

1

1

648

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

0 512 3 18 149 252 29 46 13 30 1935

*4 deaths reported as due to Covid-19, 1 death is Covid-19 positive but not due to Covid-19 (paid quarantine center) and 1 Covid-19 positive death (with co-morbidities) under investigation.

details of COVID-19 cases detected on Aug 2, 2020 District

Armed Force

Returnee

Frontline worker

Traced contact

Total

Dimapur

34

13

4

11

62

Kohima

17

0

0

0

17

Zunheboto

17

1

0

0

18

Wokha

0

5

0

0

5

Phek

1

0

0

0

1

Mon

0

0

1

0

1

Total

69

19

5

11

104

and sent for confirmation by RT-PCR. According to reports, the RT-PCR result of the woman who died on July

29, from Aoyimti village, was stated to be positive.

The RT-PCR report of an employee of a gas agency was stated to be negative.

Need to look beyond COVID-19 lockdown NPF asks PDA not to pass the buck at Gov

Total lockdown extended in Mon

Staff Reporter

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): Ongoing efforts to contain or tackle the rampaging COVID-19 across India through lockdowns or contact tracing will not result in eliminating the virus till a vaccine is found in a year or so and by which time, millions more would be infected.

Lockdown is supposed to facilitate contact tracing to break the transmission chain. However, that too has not caused a break in the transmission chain as evident even in nearby Guwahati City where it has gone into community transmission.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Director of CIHSR Dimapur, Dr. Sedevi said contact tracing is very demanding both in terms of manpower and cost. He said Nagaland would need approximately not less than ten thousand health workers to

do effective contact tracing.

To illustrate, Dr. Sedevi said if a COVID patient went to a building or office, it would not be difficult to do contact tracing of people within those premises. However, if the COVID patient visited market place(s) there would be no way to do contact tracing. Some cases reported recently in Dimapur and Kohima were suspected to be from unknown sources possibly public places.

It was also revealed that most COVID patients in Nagaland were asymptomatic, mostly young people who do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but who carry the virus. Though it is impossible to stop the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Sedevi said senior citizens over 60 , children below 10 and those with various ailments such as diabetes, heart problems, kidney etc should be safeguarded since they are most vulnerable to fatality.

On the low fatality rate

of COVID-19 being cited by government authorities to suggest some achievement of sorts, Dr. Sedevi said these do not mean anything but are mere figures.

He said even with the case of Nagaland, where there were five accepted COVID19 deaths, the fatality rate would be somewhere around 0.008 percent. The fatality rate globally was around 3% while in India it was around 2.5%; in Assam it was 0.24% and 4.61% in Gujarat etc.

The clamour among people for setting up BSL facilities in all districts of the state was unsustainable considering the huge cost of construction, equipment, recurring expenditure. In addition, he said BSL facilities require trained scientists for which there were not enough local people. The cost of consumables for a RT-PCR test through BSL was around Rs.3500 each while it was around Rs.1350 each for TrueNat. (Cont’d on p-6)

DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): NPF has joined the chorus of criticisms against the July 7 ‘Self Declaration’ through the Office Memorandum(OM) issued by the state home department directing Administrative Heads of Departments (AHoDs) and Heads of Departments (HoDs) to furnish information from employees on family members in various underground groups.

NPF press bureau termed the PDA government’s OM as “sheer ignorance” or a “deliberate attempt to victimise some innocent individuals.” It said it was unfortunate that the PDA government viewed “Naga political issue from vary narrow perspective.”

NPF said it consistently maintained that the Naga political issue could be resolved only “through peaceful means and not by way of brute force,” and stood for honourable solution to the Naga political issue that would be not only in the interest of Nagas but all of the entire north east region.

NPF said the PDA government’s OM of profiling government servants having relatives in the ‘Naga national movement’ would only create more distrust between the public and government since the primary reason being that Naga political issue was close to everybody’s heart and all Nagas irrespective of whether government servants or not, are closely connected emotionally or intellectually with the Naga political issue.

It said the self-declaration issued by the government will not only create social unrest but also drive Nagas farther away than in bringing them closer to the parliamentary system of governance said NPF. NPF reminded that in 1940s to 1950s at the height of the Naga movement, Naga nationalists made government servants as ‘soft target’ so it cautioned the PDA government that if it went ahead with its OM, then it would be undoing the positioning of the Naga political issue.

It may be recalled that in an unprecedented move, the PDA government had, through DIPR, clarified that the ‘selfdeclaration’ Office Memorandum dated July 7, was issued after Governor R.N.Ravi had twice prodded the cabinet to issue the order.

The PDA coalition had reacted after several organisations which demanded explanation under what circumstances it was done and also to revoke the memo.

It may also be recalled that on July 27, chief minister Neiphiu Rio went on record to hold the state Governor responsible for the matter. He told media persons after a cabinet meeting, that only after receiving the second reminder from Raj Bhavan, did the cabinet ultimately issue the directive to all AHoDs and HoDs to make employees fill up the self(Cont’d on p-6) declaration form.

DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): Mon district administration has informed that the total lockdowns imposed in Mon town, Tizit sub-division and Phomching sub-division have been extended for another one week (August 3 to August 9). In an order, Deputy Commissioner, Mon, Thavaseelan K said that movement of public, private vehicles are prohibited during the period except medical emergencies and those exempted. Anyone found violating this order will be penalised under relevant provisions of the law.

Zinyu gas agency to resume services

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): Management of Zinyu Gas service, Dimapur has informed that the BSL-3 laboratory RT-PCR report of its employee, who had passed away on July 25, returned negative. In this regard, the management said that the LPG service will resume soon but with added precautions and safety protocols for the safety of everyone. Furthermore, enquires the management can be contact at 7005716413 or DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): A 4 -year-old 8259062987. girl was rescued from a 35 feet deep ringwell at Ngaidong Anchor Colony, Lilien village under Athibung sub-division Peren, where she had fallen into while playing on July 25.

DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): A press release by Lamkai Hangsing, District Hospital Dimapur father of the rescued child Lainelhing (DHD) has informed that Hangsing stated that, the incident took place the flu corner and TrueNat at around 5 p.m when his daughter was play- testing at COVID-19 Hosing with her friend near the unfenced well. pital Dimapur will remain On falling into the well, her friend in- open 24x7. COVID-19 formed her mother Hoineiting Kipgen who Hospital Dimapur mediimmediately descended the well to rescue cal superintendent, Dr. Z. Lainelhing. After a few minutes of struggle Kheshito Zhimo also said in the water, 35-year-old Hoineiting who that other activities for testrisked her life and the child were later pulled ing are-- SARI and ILI cases, out of the well by Lunpu Lhouvun. all contact tracings from disHangsing said a delay could have trict surveillance unit, CMO resulted in the death of his child and the Dimapur, patients undergoprompt action of Hoineiting helped saved ing chemotherapy, chronic his child’s life. kidney disease on dialysis Hansing’s family thanked Hoineiting and emergency operation for rescuing their daughter and further cases referred from the conappealed to civil societies and the state cerned doctor/hospital etc. government to accord Hoineiting Kipgen It further said that flu corner due recognition for her courageous and personnel can be contacted selfless act. at 6009377390.

Modi cabinet expansion likely this month: report Woman rescues 4-year Hope for Jyotiraditya; three probables from ne-- Sarma, Agatha & Sanajaoba NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (AGENCIES): The political corridors in New Delhi are abuzz with rumours on the expansion of the year-old Narendra Modi cabinet in the first half of August, The Wire report stated. According to sources in the party, “The expansion has been due for some time but had been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is most likely to be done soon after the bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, may be as soon as August 6 or 7.”

The sources claimed, “The auspicious month of Sawan will also begin from August 4, which makes the time ideal for an expansion. There will be some changes at the organisational level of the party too. While some may be sent back to the organisation, some are almost certain to be brought into the government.” Veteran RSS leader Krishna Gopal, who

maintains the coordination of the Sangh with the party aside from B.L. Santosh, BJP’s organisational secretary, had met Modi in June along with Sangh top gun Dattatreyya Hosabale and BJP national president J.P. Nadda.

“Cabinet expansion may happen but there is too much speculation on it. Nothing is certain... You may soon see certain changes in regard to responsibilities of the national general secretaries too, That’s all I can say now,” a party leader, who didn’t want to be named, said in Delhi.

While names of several probables for ministerial berths have already been doing the rounds in media supposedly based on lists readied by Nadda and the RSS, which have “already been submitted to the Prime Minister”, that of the freshly elected Rajya Sabha

member from the BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia, “is almost certain”, claimed the party sources to The Wire.

According to reports, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, NPP leader and former Union minister Agatha Sangma and Manipur’s titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba of the BJP are strong contenders for ministerial berths in the Modi Cabinet.

The Modi government has 57 ministers – 13 fewer than the earlier dispensation. Several of the ministers have a number of portfolios. Though ministers up to 81 can be accommodated in the central government, the Modi government had earlier batted for a slim ministry.

Amidst the speculation, a likely name from among the party national general secretaries who “may either be asked to return to Sangh or be given different

organisational responsibilities is Ram Madhav”.

“It is almost certain that Ram Madhav will be removed from the responsibilities of the North East,” a source close to the RSS claimed. Making use of his clout, a number of people associated with Madhav’s India Foundation were also made ‘advisor’ or ‘political advisor’ to various chief ministers in the North Eastern states. Their salaries were paid by the government. “The Sangh is not too happy with him for trying to make use of his organisational position to benefit his own organisation,” the source claimed.

On July 31, Priyang Pandey, one such advisor to Nagaland chief minister, put in his papers.

Sources in several BJP units in the North Eastern states have claimed that two ministerial berths “in the likely expansion are to be from the region.”

old from 35 ft ring well

Flu corner, TrueNAT testing open 24x7

K Y M C

state

2 nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Is demanding CBI probe on every case, a sign that people don’t trust state police?

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

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

A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

C

78% 11% 11%

Next poll

Q: Will Union finance min-

ister Sitharaman be able to avert a serious fiscal deficit for 2020-21?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST august 3

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Cloudy, a thunderstorm; warm 35 27

Cloudy with a stray t-storm

29 23

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

36 27

Imphal

Cloudy with a heavy t-storm

29 22

Itanagar

A t-storm around in the a.m.

34 25

Shillong

Cloudy with a thunderstorm

26 19

Kohima

A thunderstorm in the spots

29 19

Dimapur

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

34 25

Mkg

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

30 21

Aizawl

Tuensang A thunderstorm in the area

25 17

A t-storm around in the a.m.

29 23

Zunheboto Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

28 20

Wokha

YTC extends Medumneo greetings DIMAPUR: YimchungrüTribal Council (YTC) has extended greetings to all the citizens of Yimchungru on the occasion of Medumneo, celebrated from August 1 to 8. A greetings message by YTC president Throngso Yimchunger and general secretary Laji Luyanba also extended greetings to all fellow Naga tribes and look forward to build a better Naga society in days to come. It further appealed that during the festival every citizen is expected to maintain social norms laid down by the government.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

COVID Hospital Dimapur under scanner Capacity building for lawyers & PLVs

DIMAPUR: Reacting to reports alleging failures and shortcomings in the functioning of COVID Hospital in Dimapur, the NPF Dimapur division and Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) have appealed to the government and concerned health authority to initiate a through inquiry into the matter and also to ensure that all concerned are given proper treatment and tests.

NPF Dimapur division: NPF Dimapur division in a press release by president Thungchanthung Lotha based on such reports stated that “number of patients going to COVID Hospital were either send back from the hospital without samples being taken for COVID-19 test or denied admission for treatment in the hospital despite being in critical condition.”

Maintaining that such incidents highlighted in various media platform “degrade the morale of the common people beside questioning the credibility and respon-

sibilities of medical officers on COVID duty at the COVID Hospital, Dimapur and also of the state government”, the NPF Dimapur division expressed that “any patient with Covid-19 related sickness going to the hospital for treatment or tests must not be deprived of the facilities and must be treated equally.”

ASTD: Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) has expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Medical fraternity/concerned authority especially the COVID-19 Hospital, Dimapur has been tackling COVID-19 patients in particular and those suffering from different case of sickness in general.

A press release by ASTD president, L. Wati Jamir and general secretary, K. Mar Lemtur cited “the record in the recent past that only after when a person/patient died that the COVID-19 is either being tested or confirmed positive” where the patient was at first either declined to

ANCSU observes 41st foundation day

DIMAPUR: All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) commemorated its 41st foundation day on Sunday through virtual connect.

A press release by ANCSU general secretary, Imnameren N. Jamir stated that, Vimeyiekho Vitso, president, ANCSU conveyed greetings through virtual video clip and also paid tribute to the pioneers and former leaders of the union. While stating that the day was a historic day for the college students, the president thanked the units of ANCSU, college authorities, faculty members and well wishers and further beseeched their support in the future endeavours of the union, it stated.

With the completion of 41 years, ANCSU president

expressed confidence that it would fortify their commitment towards the cause and welfare of the students’ community. Vitso also called upon all to make collective effort to make Nagaland an educational hub, stated the release.

An electronic bulletin was also released on the occasion of 41st ANCSU foundation day.

The foundation day is a yearly programme where students from all colleges come together to celebrate.

It may be mentioned here that ANCSU has also been facilitating university degree toppers on its foundation day since 2018 but due to the pending final year exams, the same could not be facilitated.

get admitted in the hospital or sent back/referred to another hospital on the excuse of COVID-19 test report.

Pointing out that such inordinate action on the part of medical fraternity has put a “strong adamant and fear psychosis” in the mind of the general public, the ASTD queried as to whether the lives of those patients could have been saved if these tests were done in time and admitted accordingly in hospital.

Citing that COVID19 related bodies should be disposed at the earliest possible by following SOP of COVID-19 death, the ASTD stated that “in some instant case happened at Dimapur alone, the concerned authority have manifestly acted in quite the contrary to the COVID-19 dead body disposal protocols”, whereby the state health authority needed to come up-front and respond to reported cases of death that are turning up as COVID-19 positive before it is too late.

While also supporting

the queries put forth by the DUCCF, GB’s Union and DNSU on the functioning of BSL-2, as to why the lone COVID-19 testing laboratory in Dimapur district is at CIHSR, the ASTD urged the authority concerned to keep the testing laboratory functional and intact on war footing. It also urged the state government to immediately install a BSL-3 lab at District Hospital, Dimapur (COVID-19 hospital) as has been earlier emphasized and demanded jointly by NCD and NWHD respectively.

ASTD further welcomed the blueprint of deputy commissioner, Dimapur to take steps for setting up of TrueNat machine in private hospitals in Dimapur district, whereby ASTD appealed the state govt to instruct and encourage private hospitals in the state to set up TrueNat machine with proper consultation and approval from AIMC for speedy detection and containment of COVID-19 pandemic.

DIMAPUR: Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) organised a capacity building of lawyers and paralegal volunteers to respond to cases of foreign national prisoners in custody, care institutions and prisons through a webinar on July 30.

A press release by public relation assistant, N S L S A , Ke t h o l e n o Neihu, stated that member secretary, NSLSA N. Longshithung Ezung, in his opening remarks cited that state of Nagaland currently has a foreign national from Myanmar, who is a juvenile currently in observation home. He therefore added that it was pertinent for panel lawyers and para legal volunteers to be acquainted with knowledge to deal with such cases. He further noted that irrespective of nationality it was noted that it was their duty to ensure that access to jus-

tice was ensured.

CHRI Prison Reforms Programme (PRP), programme head, Madhurima Dhanuka, stated that CHRI had worked on the issues relating to detention and repatriation of FNPs in Indian prisons, where she maintained that over the past 2 years “CHRI have been able to assist in the repatriation of over 250 FNPs and assisted in providing consular access to over 500 FNPs across the country.”

Due to barriers to accessing justice and information in an alien country in addition the closed nature of places of detention, FNPs were exposed to greater vulnerability, she incited.

She noted that such discussion were imperative towards identifying those persons in addition to remove barriers to access to justice and ensuring effective legal representation.

Consultant, PRP CHRI Palak Chaudhari,

DTF Zunheboto issues Farewell for outgoing revised guidelines officer at Tseminyu

DIMAPUR: Zunheboto District Task Force (DTF) and ZCMC held a meeting on August 1, and resolved to enforce the revised guidelines to be enforced with effect from August 3 till further order.

According to DIPR report, the DTF decided that inter district travellers coming into Zunheboto should compulsorily produce medical fitness certificate with movement permit from the authorities of the concerned districts, those travelling without proper documents shall not be allowed to enter the district.

Further, the DC and chairman DTF Peter Lichamo notified that those coming in from other districts to Zunheboto district shall remain under home quarantine isolation for a period of 7 days. He also notified that total lockdown in district shall be imposed on every Wednesday and Friday, shop timings in other days will be from 7 a.m to 4 p.m. Proper wearing of face mask and maintenance of social distancing shall continue, and defaulters shall be penalized as per the standing order.

D I M A P U R : Fo l lowing all SOPs for COVID-19, district administration of Tseminyu sub-division organised farewell programme for the outgoing ADC Tseminyu and joint secretary designate Nokchasashi Kichu on July 30 at ADC conference hall.

According to DIPR report, EAC Rozy Sangtam chaired the programme. Outgoing ADC in his speech commented his posting at Tseminyu as fortunate and thanked his subordinate officers and staff including various departments and public

of Tseminyu sub-division. He urged them to continue to work for the betterment of Tseminyu sub-division. He also encouraged and requested department officers posted at Tseminyu to be regular in station and to give their best.

SDO (C) Tsutsowe Kupa spoke on behalf of administrative officers while assistant commandant 4th NAP ‘B’ coy Mosenlo Apon spoke on behalf of Tseminyu SDPDB members. Other speakers included Tenushwe Kent HA ADC office and Rengma Hoho Treasurer Sindilo Wanth.

AR conducts civic action programmes across Nagaland Battalion also distributed hand sanitiser and masks to children residing at Christian Servant hood Orphanage Home, Peren. Medical examination was also carried out and children were encouraged to continue adhering with safety guidelines and to avoid unnecessary exposure.

Shamator Battalion: Shamatore Battalion, assisted civil administration in restoring Noklak - Tuensang road link, disrupted by landslide on July 28.

Personnel from Shamator Battalion assisting in the clearing of road block due to landslide.

DIMAPUR: Assam Rifles, under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) organised civic action programmes across the state for the welfare of the public.

Kiphire Battalion: Kiphire Battalion organised medical camps at Penkim and surrounding villages of Kiphire district on July 28. According to PRO HQ IGAR (N) the battalion K Y M C

provided health check-up, medical consultancy and medicines to 47 male, 44 female and 15 children who attended respective camps in Penkim, Fakim and Vongtsuwong villages.

Kiphire Battalion also facilitated residents of Pungro village with an agro farming shed to cater for fruit sapling nursery, stocking of agriculture produce

Assam Rifles personnel with village functionaries of Changlangshu village on July 27.

Water being supplied to GHSS Peren quarantine centre by Jalukie Battalion.

and shed for workers, inaugurated on July 31 by Brig, Abhinav Gurha, Commander 5 Sector AR, in presence of VCMs, Pungro village and chairman YTC. The newly inaugurated agro farming shed also includes provisions for requisite farming tools rain water harvesting with storage facility, to ensure water supply for sustained

development of the nursery and fruit orchard. 1000 saplings of fruit bearing trees (assorted type) were also handed over during the inaugural event.

Tuensang Battalion: Tuensang Battalion, installed rain water harvesting facility for residents of Changlangshu village, Mon and handed it over to the village functionaries

on July 27. The provision was installed in order to facilitate residents with storage facility, for use during community gathering and festivals.

Jalukie Battalion: Jalukie Battalion assisted the civil administration by providing clean potable water to quarantine facility at Govt Higher Secondary School, Peren on July 24.

news in Brief Tuensang DPDB meeting: Tuensang DPDB meeting for month of August has been scheduled on August 6, 11 a.m at DC’s conference hall. All the DPDB members have been requested to attend and maintain social distancing during the meeting.

Home delivery of essential commodities at Mon: Deputy commissioner of Mon, Thavaseelan K, informed that in view of the total lockdown being in force at Mon town, a special arrangement has been made for home delivery of essential commodities.

Therefore all those householders wanting to get essential commodities can contact at 7005456160/8730094325 from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m to 12 p.m. Delivery will be made after 1 p.m and will depend on availability in the market and price may vary. Delivery will be done only outside the containment zones. Respective Ward Task Force may be contacted for delivery within the containment zones. No bulk order will be entertained and a maximum daily limit will be followed. In case of any complaints/ queries one may contact at 9862734040.

In Remembrance 1st Death Anniversary (2nd Aug, 2019) Of LT. ERENTH NGULLIE

We could have shared our joys & laughters, pains and sorrows had you been with us this day. A year has gone by but still emptiness in our hearts reminds. You are deeply and painfully missed and remembered.

DP-3345

Residents of Penkim village at the medical camp organised by Kiphire Battalion on July 28.

said that first step the PLs and PLVs could take was to intimate or communicate to high commission or embassy at the time of arrest. Underlying difficulties faced by foreign prisoners include lack of access to justice, discrimination, language barriers, immigration status or culture and religious discrimination, he added.

Child rights activist & ex-member juvenile justice board, West Bengal, Dr. Bipasha Roy, stated that hand holding needed to be strengthened as far as foreign national’s children were concerned.

Other speakers included associate protection officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ragini Zutshi, and senior programme officer, PRP CHRI, Amrita Paul. Training was participated by more than 70 lawyers and paralegal volunteers and judicial officers.

Your loving wife, children and family members.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We the family of Lt. Hutoka Sumi, S/o Lt. Nikheto Chophy ( Tizu Island Village) would like to acknowledge for many expressions of sympathy and gesture shown to us at the sudden demise of our beloved.

Our special gratitude to those following:1. Seiuruzha Colony Council (Chumoukedima) 2. Olive Christian Hospital 3. 11 th NAP (IR) Battalion. Ruzaphema, Nagaland 4. Police Baptist Church 11th NAP (IR) Battalion (Chumu) 5. Khaishe Bolo ( Tizu Island Village) 6. Notun Bosti / RBC Fellowship 7. Notun Bosti / RBC Women Department 8. Chang Baptist Church ( Chumoukedima) 9. Shri. Imtitemjen Aier Rtd. MTO 10. Shri. Y. Haongen (Tsg) & Family 11. Shri. Unoto Chishi & Family 12. Mr & Mrs. Hokheto Chophy 13. Mr & Mrs. Hukiye Chophy 14. Referral Hospital Late. Hutoka Sumi 15. Holy Redeemer Health Care st Born On : 1 Dec 1986 We extend our heartfelt gratitude and Died On : 30th July 2020 appreciation to all relatives, friends, volunteers, neighbors and well wishers those stood by us physically, spiritually, financially and morally sharing our grief and pain. We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every one personally for your immense support, but pray that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving Wife, Children, Mom, Family members, In- Laws and Relatives.

DP-3344

K Y M C

Assam flood situation improves

G UWAHATI , AU G 2 (IANS): Assam’s flood situation has significantly improved in the past ten days, with the number of affected people declining by over two-thirds to nine lakh as on Sunday against 28 lakh on July 24, officials said.

The respite in the monsoon rains since July 24 lay behind the improvement in the flood situation in Assam and other northeastern states, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that nine lakh people in 1,087 villages continue to be distressed, though the number has dropped since July 24 when over 28 lakh people in 2,543 villages of 26 districts were affected.

A total of 51,770 hectares of crops are still flooded, but the area has come down from 122,573 hectares as on July 24.

According to officials, of the 9 lakh affected people in 19 of the 33 districts, 6.26 lakh are in the state’s six western districts -- Goalpara (303,937), Morigaon (107,578), Bongaigaon (63,194), Barpeta (41,716), Golaghat (26,184), and

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northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

affected tally dips to 9 lakh

The respite in the monsoon rains since July 24 lay behind the improvement in the flood situation in Assam and other northeastern states.

Dhubri (27,930), as well as the eastern district of Lakhimpur (55,691).

The ASDMA officials said that six major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are in spate at many places in nine districts, including Sonitpur, where both the Brahmaputra and Jia Bharali are flowing over the danger level.

There was no loss of lives reported on Saturday and Sunday, though the floods have so far left 109

persons, including women and children, dead in 22 districts, while 26 others were killed in landslides since May 22.

Forest officials said that at least 147 wild animals have died due to the deluge and 170 have been rescued, even as over 50 per cent of the 884 sq km Kaziranga National Park remains inundated. Ten days ago, 95 per cent had been flooded. The animals that have died in the annual

monsoon floods include 16 rhinos, 105 hog deer, 11 wild boars, five wild buffaloes, three porcupines and two swamp deer.

Officials said that besides Kaziranga, located on the edge of the eastern Himalayan bio-diversity hotspots of Golaghat and Nagaon districts, the Manas, R.G. Orang and Tinsukia national parks, and the Pabitora and Tinsukia wildlife sanctuaries were also affected.

Sonowal, Sarma wish Shah quick return to health Guwahati, Aug 2 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday wished fast recovery to Union Home Minister Amit Shah after he tested positive for COVID-19.

State Health Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed hope that Shah would soon come out of it with his strong will power.

“We are sure you will be able to defeat the virus and recover fast to return to serve the nation at the earliest,” Sonowal said in a statement.

“My good wishes for your speedy recovery Adarniya @AmitShah ji.

With your resolute determination and strong will power you will soon come out of this,” Sarma tweeted.

Sar ma is also the convenor of the Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a coalition of region headed by the BJP. The Union home minister had tweeted earlier in the day that he was diagnosed COVID-19 and hospitalised.

Meghalaya health department refutes BJP MLA’s allegations Correspondent Shillong, Aug 2: The Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Department on Sunday brushed aside allegations made by senior BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai, who had lashed out at the department accusing it of failing in tackling COVID-19 situation in the State.

“Statement coming from people’s representative like Sanbor Shullai criticizing the health department means he is directly criticizing the Health Workers of the state which is not good at all as it might de-motivate them,” Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War told reporters.

The senior medical official, however admitted that there were some minor lapses in providing services to the people of the state and said, “the Health Department and its Health Workers were “very serious” in tackling the outbreak of COVID-19.”

He pointed out that different departments of

Dr. Aman War the government and the village durbars were all making a combined effort in tackling the situation.

“You very well know the inputs are never only from health department.

We have review meetings,” War said and added that under the guidance and leadership of State Health minister, AL Hek the health department was not concentrating in the headquarters, but throughout the state as a whole.

Interestingly, both Shullai and Hek are the only two BJP legislators who are part of the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic

Alliance (MDA) government in the State “We are not to concentrate only in headquarters, we have to go out and talk and discuss with people at the ground level.

We get inputs and we learn and we provide suggestions and also incorporate their suggestions,” he said.

“You have seen the sacrifice made by our health workers together with frontline workers, police, shnong...this sacrifice made by the frontline workers will ensure we win the battle. In this fight of ours, we have our own shortcomings. We go to many places, we take back suggestions and also issue advisories.

We had gone across the state. Each and every visit of ours is not lip service but service given from the heart,” War asserted.

“Now after all this hard work, at times we get stones thrown at us.

To say that we have failed is wrong. We are not going to listen to anything that is negative and de-motivates us. Morale of our workers is very high,” he iterated.

Assam to allow inter-district travel Manipur police foil relay-hunger strike of VDF personnel on two days of week: Chief Secy Correspondent

Guwahati, Aug 2 (PTI): The Assam government has issued a new set of guidelines, allowing inter-district movement on two days of the week, and hundred per cent office attendance from Monday to Friday.

Night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am on all days and total lockdown on weekends, however, will continue to remain in force for now, an order issued on Sunday

by Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said.

Inter-district movement of people is allowed on Monday and Tuesday and no separate permission or approval will be required for travel within the state on these two days, the order, which will come into force on Sunday, 7 pm and continue till August 14, said.

All central and state government offices, including banks, insurance companies and Non Banking Financial Companies, shall be allowed to operate with hundred per cent atten-

Kumar Sanjay Krishna dance, and point-to-point bus service will be available for the employees.

Pregnant women have been told not to attend office. As part of the new guidelines, shopping malls, gymnasiums have been granted permission to operate between Monday and Friday, subject to certain conditions.

Restaurants and other hospitality services will also get to run their businesses on these five days, with strict adherence to COVID19 protocols.

Cinema halls, swim-

18 persons, including doctor, test COVID positive in M’laya Correspondent Shillong, Aug 2 : Eighteen more persons, including a doctor at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday in Meghalaya, taking the tally of active cases to 605.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War said, of the 18 new cases, 13 were from East Khasi Hills district, including three Armed Forces personnel, five Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, one returnee and four civilians, four from Ri- Bhoi district and one from East Jaintia Hills district.

Out of the total 605 active positive cases in Meghalaya, he informed that East Khasi Hills has 497 cases which include 230 BSF personnel, 227 civilians and 57 Armed Forces personnel. West Khasi Hills has five, Ri-Boi 50 cases, 14 cases in West Jaintia Hills, 17 in East Jaintia Hills, 16 in West Garo Hills, 4 in South West Garo Hills and 2 in South Garo Hills district.

Dr. War also informed that 12 COVID-19 patients

recovered on Sunday which includes ten BSF troopers and two civilians taking the total number of recoveries to 264 in the State so far.

F u r t h e r m o r e, D r.

War also informed that one more doctor from NEIGRIHMS who works in the COVID-19 ward of the premier health institute tested positive on Sunday.

“He is an anesthesiologist and is healthy and doing fine,” the senior medical official said.

It may-be mentioned that so far seven doctors have tested COVID-19 positive in the State which includes one deceased.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, Matsiewdor War Nongbri in an order issued on Sunday under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID19 Regulations, 2020 has promulgated night curfew in East Khasi Hills District with effect from August 3 up to August 10 between 9 pm to 5 am each day.

“Inter-district movement of persons is permitted. However, inter- state movement of persons will continue to be restricted,” the order said.

ming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will continue to remain shut.

Social, political, entertainment, academic and religious functions, sporting events, and other congregations have also been barred.

People above the age of 65 years and children below ten years are advised to stay indoors, except for unavoidable medical reasons, the order by chief secretary said.

Non-contact sports in open space shall be allowed, provided social distancing norms are not violated, it stated.Wearing of mask is compulsory in public places, in workplaces and during movement in vehicles, and any violation will attract a fine of Rs 1000 for the first offence, it said.

Assam has reported 41,726 COVID-19 cases so far, of which 31,442 have recovered and 101 have died. Three persons have migrated out of the state.

IMPHAL, Aug 2: A relay hunger strike staged

by VDF (Village Defence Force) personnel in violation of the ongoing stringent COVID-19 lockdown and curfew was foiled by police in Imphal’s Kwakeithel on Sunday.

The VDF personnel were on cease work (arm and pen down) strike since July 16 under the aegis of All Manipur VDF Welfare Association (AMVWA).

Among others, the VDF personnel are demanding hike in their monthly honorarium and regularisation of their service.

They demanded that their monthly honorarium should be 75% of the pay scale of a police constable.

Due to the failure of the state government to address their demands, and also alleging that their demands are ignored, the VDF personnel began the relay hunger strike today at Kwakeithel Bazar.

On the first day of the

Photo of VDF personnel staging relay-hunger strike which was foiled shortly after it commenced in Imphal on Sunday.

strike, leaders of the district units of the association along with central leaders of the association staged the relay-hunger strike.

The protest was dispersed by a team of Imphal West district police reportedly on the charge of violating the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) of the ongoing lockdown.

The central committee of AMVWA strongly condemned the police action while alleging that they were compelled to organize the strike after the

Rhino calf separated from mother rescued in Assam

Guwahati, Aug 2 (PTI): A new born rhino, separated from his mother, has been rescued by forest guards in the Kaziranga National Park amid the floods in Assam, a forest spokeperson said.

The three-day or four-day old rhino calf was rescued from Mohpora village in the Kaziranga range area this morning, he said.

The baby rhino has been taken to a rescue centre at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Panbari area of the Park.

“All efforts will be made to reunite the rhino calf with his mother,” the spokesman said.

In July, an adult blind rhino had strayed from the Park to National Highway 37 due to the ongoing floods. It was guided back to the forest but the animal later died due to exhaustion and old age.

Kaziranga National Park has been inundated by flood waters in three spells till now with 145 animals losing their lives.

The Park has lost 16 rhinos during the flood season, including 12 due A forest official stands beside a rhino baby rescued by Kaziranga staff. (PTI) to drowning.

state government failed to address their demands.

A M V WA ( c e n t r a l committee) general secretary Ch Sanjit alleged that the state government is adamant to their demands despite their cease work strike for more than a fortnight.

“We decided to launch the relay hunger strike after the state government remained deaf despite the cease work strike for more than half a month,” he said.

He also announced

that earlier planned relayhunger strikes till their demands are met, have been postponed indefinitely, in view of the COVID-19 crisis.

However, they will continue the gun down and pen down strike. Besides, they will also continue to stage sit-in-protest in their respective posts across the state, he added.

“We will not retreat until our demands are addressed,” he said.

A total of 10,050 VDF personnel have been on

active duty since 2009.

They have been assisting the police in maintaining law and order.

Even as they were assigned duties almost similar to police personnel and the extra work due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they were ill-paid, they alleged.

Currently, they are paid Rs 7,500 with Rs 2,000 as ration money per month even though the state cabinet had approved an increment of monthly salary of VDF to Rs 9,500 and ration money to Rs 2,000.

The striking association alleged that even though arms and ammunition were issued to them after imparting basic knowledge of firearms, safety, handling and others, they are deprived from receiving Arms Allowance which the police department provides to police personnel.

The VDF personnel claim that they have been performing the same duty like police/Manipur Rifles/ Indian Reserve Battalion throughout the day.

Manipur’s COVID-19 deaths rise to 7 after 20-year-old girl dies

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Aug 2: Manipur reported its first woman COVID-19 related fatality after a 20-year-old girl died due to the pandemic on Sunday.

The girl from Chandel district and currently residing in Imphal East district expired today due to comorbid health conditions and COVID-19, a report of the COVID-19 Common Control Room said.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths was seven, it added.

Meanwhile, with the detection of 61 new positive cases in the last 24 hours (from 6.30 pm of August 1 till 6.30 pm of August 2), the COVID-19 infection tally has risen to 2831.

Fourteen personnel of the Central security forces were also tested positive during the same period.

The number of active and recovered cases was 1087 and 1737 respectively excluding Central security force personnel posting in the state. The recovery rate was 61.07%, it added.

In the past 24 hours, 38 persons were discharged after they recovered from the disease, the report said.

Amid soaring cases of locally transmitted cases of COVID-19, Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Y Khemchand on Sunday has expressed fear of community transmission already taking place in Manipur and called for people’s cooperation in combating COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Speaker’s fear of community transmission taking place in the state was days after an official of the state health department hinted the same.

Few days ago, additional director of state health depar tment Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang who is also the spokesperson of COVID19 Common Control Room had drawn the attention of the higher authority of the state government to consult with technical experts on the worsening COVID-19 situation in the state.

He hinted of community transmission taking place in the state. However, the Manipur government was yet to make any official announcement on the level of transmission of the pandemic in the state.

Speaker Y Khemchand, speaking at a valedictory ceremony of the

community quarantine centre in his Assembly constituency today, the time has come for people to take the initiative as the government alone will not be able to fight with COVID-19.

He said that the death toll due to COVID-19 has been increasing but China, the origin of the pandemic, has managed to cope with it.

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 238 Dimapur, MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

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Still not too late

ike the handling of COVID-19 at the national level, Nagaland’s Covid-19 response is being led by the bureaucrats behind the backs of politicians.

The state’s strategy on COVID-19 was highlighted by a series of missteps that exposed that the level of claimed preparedness was premature. Even the delay in announcing the national lockdown on international travel and the timing of the announcement, have not contributed to the success that is being claimed. Much of India’s bureaucracy is steeped in ‘legalistic’ norms that only promote a bureaucratic culture of strict adherence to rules, hierarchies and procedures, often at the cost of local needs. This has also led to a large number of bureaucratic orders spelling rules and guidelines on a daily basis which had created chaos among many stakeholders, including businesses and the general public. The tragedy of that the coronavirus pandemic is that it has thrown the entire system almost haywire and the biggest loss is that the ‘think tank’ excluded renowned scientists of the country who could have given a better understanding in deciphering the measures against the menacing virus. Even in Nagaland, initially much focus was on dealing or apportioning of resources and procurements. A case in point of what has gone wrong at crucial period of the pandemic was the handling of the strategy by the government especially the health & family welfare department. Highly questionable decisions or lack of transparency in the entire ‘preparedness’ involving ‘lightning’ or ‘emergency’ purchases had been highlighted in press statements issued by RTI applications. The department failed to satisfy or meet the demands. This has led to filing of two separate PILs with the GHC. The confusion comes when politicians have less inclination to the nitty gritty of planning especially understanding the complexity of the dangerous virus of which still much remains to be known. When clear answers are needed, authorities appear as unclear or unwilling to enlighten. Media needs more information to work with so as to provide information but instead, what is given are just figures and less of facts. At times, even the figures given don’t add up and suggest perhaps that somebody needs to do more homework before going public. That the state government has had at least three state-level committees with the latest being the High Powered Committee(HPC) speaks volumes about the disconnect with ground reality. Anyway, the best that has been done by the HPC was to allow the district task force of every district to decide on how to deal with the COVID crisis based on the local conditions and situations. The other issue that has been commented on occasions in this column, pertained to forming a scientific panel that includes eminent immunologist, virologists and epidemiologists to provide better clarity about the virus about which still much is yet to be known. The other aspect is that for a place like Dimapur having the highest number of COVID cases and potentially, ever increasing number, it would be helpful if all private health institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes and practitioners get together to form a core group to collectively plan and strategise on tackling the COVID-19 crisis.At the end of the day, it is everybody’s fight and what better than medical professionals who are in touch with the ground reality?

DailyDevotion The Teaching of Adversity

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33 The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…”

(Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God. If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.

God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life…” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

Quotes

Hope is patience with the lamp lit. ~ Tertullian

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

Nothing new in NEP, only costlier education

T

he much awaited New Education Policy (NEP) has turned out to be old wine in not a well-crafted supposedly new bottle. It takes us back to 1960s and not 2100 with virtual repetition in concepts, approach and making it cumbersome with an unnecessary four-year degree course that may only help the multinational education lobby, alien to Indian concept and heavier expenses on each child.

It has not done much to help even the private sector Indian education system. The concept of 5+3+4+4 is not different from the 1950s’ primary, middle, high school and intermediate education. The 1960s tried a failed model of 3 years of higher secondary education with examination at class 11. Many states like UP did not follow it and found they were wiser as in a few years again it was 10+2 to be followed by twoyear and later three-year degree course.

Now a vague system of four-year-degree course, the UPA government tried to introduce through Delhi University and failed, is being foisted again. It would lead to loss to students of

one precious year of entering the job market.

The cost of education per child a year also should have been taken into account. The rising cost in education in a country that has 80 crore living on free food dole has made it extremely cumbersome not only for poor but even middle class families.

According to an NSO report about 70 percent are not able to complete class 10 in rural area and 40 percent in urban area. In higher education, only one in every ten has a graduate degree and above.

The fee varies, as per Care Ratings from Rs 16308 for simple degree to Rs 37707 for law to Rs 71620 for medicine. It is a modest estimation. Hostels, transport, food and other expenses add to about a Rs 50,000 to a lakh a year.

Each additional year costs approximately not less than a lakh per child.

That alone should be reason to reduce number of years spent for education to less than 15 years if we want to educate India properly.

Peculiar part of the argument of extending term of education years is incomprehensible. It becomes

costlier, cumbersome and wastes on time for a country that is struggling to have resources.

Another cumbersome part is to have a class nine to 12 – four years in a block that practically becomes difficult to manage for any education system. It does not change the pattern of Lord Macaulay but makes it complicated. The wiser part would have been to reduce one-year of school Shivaji term. Nobody has studied the loss or benefit of doing away the class ten or 12 examinations.

And why it has to to be 5+3 of primary and middle schooling? Why cannot it be 5+2 = 7 years? Wisely it can follow a three-year system to let the students pass out of schools in three years, that is ten years in all.

It can be followed by a three-year degree and one year of post graduation, the four years that the NEP is saying would be fruitfully utilised. This would reduce education term to 14 years without any loss in cognitive deliveries. Let India force the rest of the world to reduce the teaching term to a maximum of 14 years,

with post-graduation. The confusion about three-year of pre-schooling and examinations, however, remain.

On an average it would prepare students for jobs by the age of 20. Overall the family expenses per child would reduce. It would help the country grow and reduce costs on the nation.

Research : The NEP is confused about its stress on research. Over the past at least three decades Sarkar the nation has wasted resources on “research”, a copy-paste system. It has to realise that research has to be on volition and not compulsion that the UGC has done now. If UGC is proposed to be removed, though the rationale is yet to be comprehended, how its flawed research methodlogy could continue?

Let the nation redo research policy. Even teachers should not be forced to do the so-called research.

It does not add to learning but causes precious loss of years, finances and energy. The multi-disiciplinary and research universities (MERU) should not do away with many excellent institutions and their prac-

tices.

The stress on privatisation of education without government funding is another bane. It has led to many undesirable practices because organisations cannot sustain the system financially. It is also incomprehensible why so much leeway is proposed for foreign institutions.

Any foreign body is interested in profit by making education expensive with false promises of their linkages with future employers.

They are planning to ride piggyback on Indian institutions claiming 50 percent of the fees they are charging. It would weaken Indian institutions and malpractices are likely to be institutionalised and legalised. Let a selfreliant India shun it.

Collaborations have to be beneficial and viable for the country. The FDI bogey in industry has drained a lot in repatriation. Education can be spared of it.

There is less clarity on National Testing Agency as centralised testing organisation to conduct entrance examination. There is a fallacy. What about other testing mechanims?The examinations, certificates and degrees at various stages

should continue and must have recognition if many do not want to go to NTA. Again the cost involved in it.

Similarly National Higher Education Regulatory Authority (NHERA) is supposed to end regional varieties or state boards. It is fraught with too many risks.

Education costs the government Rs 99311 crore as per 2020-21 budget. Another Rs 1 lakh crore or more is spent by parents through private systems.

Still it is less than the required and that tells on quality of teachers.

The admission to higher education would still remain a tug-of-war.

A new inspector or regulatory raj, apprehended

by Anil Swarup, former education secretary, may be a reality.

The nation should have another process of review instead of rushing through it. The aim should be to improve education, reduce burden, create an unparalleled quality with maintaining regional varieties and wholesome but not centralised system. And finally an affordable system with clarity.

Post-mortem

Travails of Framework Agreement: Are Lockdowns really necessary?

Five long years of waiting T

I

t was today on the 3rd August in 2015 when the historic Framework Agreement was signed under the dynamic leadership of the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. It was signed with much hype and anticipation in the political circle. There was much excitement and jubilation as Prime Minister Mr. Modi called up all the political leaders who matters that he has solved the longest political issue of Southeast Asia. But five (5) years down the line the scourge of manipulation, misinterpretation and insincerity has kept the pot boiling.

It may be recalled that the Indo-Naga political dialogue which started in 1997 after the declaration of the Second Indo-Naga Ceasefire on 1st August, 1997 has covered twenty three (23) years of long journey. Despite the failure of the Indo-Naga peace talks that took place after the First Indo-Naga Ceasefire in 1964 the fire of Naga political struggle has been kept burning. There was intense military operation to suppress the Naga political movement. When NSCN took over the banner in 1980, the struggle was taken to a greater height both in military strength and international campaign. Finally, Indian Army generals admitted the futility of attempting to subdue the Naga political struggle by military means. This prompted the Government of India to take the move for political talks with NSCN. So, after more than thirty (30) years the Government of India under the then Prime Minister Mr. PV Narasimha Rao picked up the thread as he established contact with NSCN leaders abroad. He met NSCN leaders in Paris (France) with the words “We invited you for political talks because people are with you.

The issue is with you and you have proved yourselves”.

NSCN, however, took the stand that it will enter into political negotiation with the Government of India only after GoI recognized the Naga issue as political and not as India’s “Internal Law and Order Issue” The Second-Indo-Naga Ceasefire was thus declared on 1st August, 1997and it was agreed that the political dialogue shall be at the highest level, i.e. Prime Minister

Level, Without Pre-condition and Outside India in a Third Country.

As per agreement, several rounds of talks were held in third countries like Paris (France), New York (USA), The Hague (Netherlands), Bangkok and Chiangmai (Thailand), Zurich (Geneva), Osaka (Japan), Kuala-Lumpur (Malaysia), Vienna (Austria) and Milan (Italy).

The turning point of Indo-Naga political talks came in 2002 when the Joint Communique of Amsterdam, July 11, 2002 was signed to give GoI’s official recognition to the unique history and situation of the Nagas.

Henceforth, the Indo-Naga political talks found a strong foothold as talks were deeply planted from the realistic point of view. A time came when the Government of India invited NSCN leadership Chairman Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary and Chief Naga Negotiator Mr. Th. Muivah to come to Delhi to facilitate more frequency of interactions. So in December 2002 they came to New Delhi.

It was in the year 2010 during the interlocutor ship of Mr. RS Pandey when the Indo-Naga political negotiations gained new momentum.

To push forward for an honorable political settlement, GoI submitted its first comprehensive official response to the NSCN in New Delhi. The proposal was made that political dialogue should move forward on the principle of “Shared Sovereignty”.

After undergoing several rounds of talks it gave birth to the signing of the much hyped Framework Agreement on 3rd August, 2015 at the official residence of the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. It was a defining moment as it was arranged as a high profile political program where all the dignitaries who matters from both sides were present. The world was made to witness as it was live telecast on different TV channels.

The concluding remark of FA said: “It is a matter of great satisfaction that dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN has successfully concluded and we are confident it will provide for an enduring new relationship of peaceful co-existence of the two enti-

ties. The two sides agreed that within this Framework Agreement details and execution plan will be worked out and implemented shortly”.

Mr. RN Ravi was given the honor to sign on behalf of the Government of India, and from the NSCN side it was signed by NSCN Chairman Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and NSCN General Secretary Mr. Th. Muivah.

Ironically, after five (5) years while the FA has been put in cold storage, something unthinkable emanating from the Raj Bhawan in Kohima has taken over the scene. But the ulterior motive behind such move has forced the Nagas to point fingers against RN Ravi, India’s interlocutor to Indo-Naga political talks. As seen in the verbal tone of RN Ravi, he has upped the ante against the Naga political groups as he brazenly used slanderous terminology like “armed gangs” “underground groups”. But what has directly pricked the consciousness of the Naga people at large is when Ravi went for the profiling. He made the Nagaland state government to issue Office Memorandum on 7th July, 2020 to all the Administrative Heads of Departments seeking information from employees about their relations with the Naga underground groups. But we put on record that there are no Naga families who are not connected with the Naga political groups in one way or the other.

What has driven the Naga people far away from Ravi is his deceptive manner of handling the FA as he deceitfully went beyond the call of interlocutor to indulge himself in playing divisive game among the Nagas to dismantle the very foundation of FA. This has, therefore, created a huge trust deficit on the Government of India. The way forward with regard to the fate of FA is now faced with deep ambivalence.

But Government of India must undo the environment of mistrust being built over the time because it should not take recourse to unethical means to circumvent any conceived obstacles. What has been mutually agreed upon should be honored in letter and spirit and that is the only way forward.

MIP, NSCN/GPRN

here are so many theories, and socalled conspiracy theories about the 2019 coronavirus, and precautionary measures that need or need not be adopted.

This includes the dreaded ‘Lockdown’, which is far more damaging than the virus itself. Somehow, one cannot help feeling like a pawn in the grander scheme of things. But that is a story for the future by the experts.

India’s massive lockdown in March, when just a handful of cases were detected, utterly failed to curb the spread of the virus. The simple reason was that the super brains of the country that advised the Government, failed to foresee the massive migrations that would take place across the country due to sudden loss of tens of millions of jobs and lack of shelter, food and water. This wave would eventually also be greatly responsible for the rapid spread of the virus through the length and breadth of the country.

The first lockdown, and those subsequently, was the cause of much misery; it was indeed a curse for the lower strata of society, for no fault of theirs.

The wealthier class and the government employees who are assured of their salaries no matter what, are not affected at all, except for the freedom to move around as one would have wished. On the other hand, the weaker sections of society, probably more than 75% of India, were devastated by the impact of the harsh lockdowns.

The common man is also

at his wits end as far as health services across the country are concerned.

Many private hospital owners in the larger cities and probably elsewhere are gleefully counting and hoarding their ill-gotten gains every day. And then we hear of atrocious GST rates on covid-19-related medical items, which the government insists is to keep the prices low. This production-distributiontax economics is way beyond my grossly limited knowledge. Education has been badly hit as well.

The wealthy, etc. again have nothing to lose with all facilities, and more at hand. Those hurt are the aam admi. Their children have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. The daily wage earners, the cultivators, farmers, etc. have lost everything. Some help from the government was visible during the early days; no one is sure how long this help will continue, if it is indeed continuing. What then?

Nagaland has come a long way since 20th March 2020. It has been one long series of total and partial lockdowns.

We had lockdowns even when Nagaland was free of the virus. Then tragedy struck! Today, we are like any other state of India, with the virus spreading all over. One area gets sanitized and the virus pops up immediately in other areas, as in Kohima these days. The reasons are varied, but known to some extent by most.

My experience of Kohima town was one of horror every one of the six days I left home

this lockdown to attend official meetings and banking, marketing, etc., all rolled in one. First, the administration issues strict instructions regarding the use of face masks but many people do not bother to adhere to rules and tragically, there is no one to ensure the rule of law. In many cases of those actually using a mask, it is a chin mask. For some others it is a mouth mask, the nose being left free to smell and snort its way around. Second, the public are warned to ensure social distancing, but who cares!

Forget private institutions, even a public sector bank at Kohima (I visited one and left without any transaction after seeing the crowd jostling around) does not have the concept of ‘Social Distancing”. An attempt to walk through the alley on the side of Kohima Local Ground, between the Super Market complex and the NSF office one day gave me the covid-19 chills. The crowd of vendors along the path and the larger crowd of shoppers did not leave any breathing space in between. The only option was to take a detour through the town’s main street. Walking along this street too is highly hazardous. A really scary sight is the large crowds, like any normal day of the past, and without social distancing. Third, the Government insists that every commercial center or institution should have sanitizers, and water and soap for use of visiting public.

(To be concluded...)

Prof. G.T. Thong, Lower Agri Colony, Kohima

Reader’s Post

Sir,

Telecom services in Noklak

We the customers of different Telecom service providers like Airtel, BSNL and Jio have been facing untold hardship as we are not getting a quality services. Many students have failed to attend online classes and now lacking behind their friends. The Airtel internet connectivity do not achieve more than 400 B/s. Most of the time it provides 0-120 B/s. BSNL shuts down once the current is gone. Jio on the other hand do not provide service as per customer satisfaction. Sometimes it is not in service for more than 3-4 days. During this pandemic hour, most of us have to carry out our work through online and, we are failing miserably.

Therefore, I would like to request the respective telecom operators to kindly look into the matter of customers’ genuine grievance at the earliest possible.

M. Henkong Shiu, Concerned citizen, Noklak Town

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.

national

India, China hold 5th round of military talks

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (PTI): Senior militar y commanders of India and China are holding a fresh round of talks on Sunday with an aim to ensure expeditious disengagement of troops from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, military sources said.

It is the fifth round of corps commander-level talks in nearly two months with an aim to defuse the border tensions triggered by a violent clash between the two militaries in Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh on May 5.

T h e m e e t i n g wa s scheduled to start at 11 am in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The sources said the Indian side will insist on total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso at the earliest besides completing the disengagement process on a couple of other friction points.

The previous round of corps commander-level talks took place on July 14 and lasted for nearly 15

hours.

In the talks, the Indian side had conveyed a “very clear” message to the Chinese army that the status quo ante must be restored in eastern Ladakh and it will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management to bring back peace and tranquillity in the area.

The Indian delegation also apprised the China People’s Liberation Army (PLA) about the “red lines” and conveyed that the onus was largely on China to improve the overall situation in the region.

After the talks, the Army said both sides are committed to “complete disengagement” of troops, adding that the process is

COVID patients can use smartphones to interact with kin: Centre to states

“intricate” and requires “constant verification”.

The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded

by India, sources said.

India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

On July 24, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue.

After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed

that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of relations between the two nations.

The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area.

In Sunday’s talks, the Indian delegation was set to be led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was to be headed

by Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region.

The sources said the focus of the talks would be on finalising a framework for a “time-bound and verifiable” disengagement process from all the friction points like Pangong Tso and Depsang and pulling back large numbers of troops and weapons from rear bases along the LAC.

He underlined that administrative and medical teams should be responsive to the psychological needs of patients admitted in COVID-19 wards and ICUs of various hospitals.

“Social connection can calm down patients and also reinforce the psychological support given by the treating team. Please instruct all concerned that they should allow smartphones and tablet devices in patient area so that the patient can video conference with their family and friends,” stated the letter issued on July 29.

“Though mobile phones are allowed in the wards to enable a patient stay in touch with his or her family, we received representations from the patient families from some states stating mobile phones are not being allowed by hospital administrations because of which they were not being able to stay in contact with the patient,” said Dr Garg.

Union Min clears the air on new education policy

Amitabh Bachchan tests negative for COVID-19; discharged from hospital

A screen of mass fever screening system being displayed at GRIA Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD, AUG 2 (IANS): Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has received a Unicef-funded mass fever screening system to further enhance the efficacy of screening of passengers in view of Covid-19 pandemic, the airport operator announced on Sunday.

The Central government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in coordination with Asian Development Bank, has provided state-of-the-art thermal scanner funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). The system will be used by the

officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the airport.

The new thermal scanner is a ceiling mounted mass fever screening system capable of scanning, detecting and tracking febrile persons with elevated skin temperature. The system automatically adjusts and adapts to the surrounding ambient temperature without any human intervention.

With its Intuitive User Interface and Dual-Displays (day camera + infra-red) it provides easy identification of passengers with elevated temperature, while simplify-

In this April 29, 2018 file photo, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan waves to his fans at his residence in Mumbai. (PTI) MUMBAI, AUG 2 (PTI): Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday said that he has tested negative for COVID-19 and will now be quarantining at home.

The 77-year-old actor, who was admitted to Nanavati hospital along with son Abhishek after testing positive for COVID19 on July 11, expressed his gratitude to well-wishers for their continued support and prayers.

“I have tested COVID - have been discharged. I am back home in solitary quarantine. Grace of the Almighty, blessings of Ma

MHA seeks three additional months for framing CAA rules

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (PTI): The Home Ministry has sought an additional three months’ time for framing rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), officials said on Sunday.

The plea was made before the Department Related Standing Committee for Subordinate Legislation as according to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, the rules for any legislation should be framed within six months of the presidential assent or an extension must be sought. The controversial CAA, which facilitates granting of Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was passed

Babuji, prayers, duas of near and dear and friends fans EF and the excellent care and nursing at Nanavati made it possible for me to see this,” Amitabh wrote on Twitter.

Minutes before the screen icon, Abhishek shared on the microblogging site that his father has tested negative for the virus.

The 44-year-old actor, however, said he is still COVID19 positive and will remain under medical care.

“I, unfortunately due to some comorbidities remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital.

Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and prayers for my family. Very humbled and indebted. I’ll beat this and come back healthier! Promise,” he wrote.

Abhishek’s wife, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 46, and eight-year-old daughter Aaradhya were discharged from the hospital on Monday after testing negative for COVID-19.

Throughout his hospitalisation, Amitabh kept his fans and well-wishers updated about his health through his blog and Twitter posts.

ing operations and minimizing handling.

The new thermal scanner imparts more control to the Hyderabad Airport Health Organization, along with the existing thermal scanners at the international arrivals, said GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL).

RGIA continues to handle the international relief flights under the government of India’s largest offshore evacuation programme of Vande Bharat Mission (VBM).

All international arrival passengers and airline crew undergo mandatory health screening by the airport health officers to identify symptomatic passengers to contain the spread of Covid19 and provide necessary medical assistance to such passengers. “We are thankful to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in having this modern equipment installed at the Hyderabad International Airport. We are grateful to the sponsors ADB and Unicef for this humane gesture. With this

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (AGENCIES): India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 17-lakh mark on Sunday, just two days after it went past 16 lakh, with 54,735 cases being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed the 11-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country now has 17,50,723 infections of the deadly virus which has affected more than 17.5 million people globally.

facility, it makes the task of the health officials who serve at the airport round the clock, a little more easy,” said Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GHIAL. “The new top-end mass fever scanner at Hyderabad International Airport enhances our efficiency multifold. With the help of the intuitive technology we are able to screen passengers effectively. The system alerts us if any passenger is found with high temperature, without disturbing passenger movement and throughput,” said Dr. Anuradha Medoju, Senior Regional Director, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Health and Family Welfare of the Central government. The airport has handled about 40,000 international arrivals passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic from May till date.

To facilitate the arriving international passengers, the airport has kept the international arrivals and the entire stretch right from the aerobridge to the arrivals ramp fully sanitized and fumigated.

Rahul demands Mufti’s release, says democracy is damaged

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (AGENCIES): Hitting out at the Centre for extending the detention of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) by three months, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Sunday demanded her immediate release.

“India’s democracy is damaged when GOI (Government of India) illegally detains political leaders.

It’s high time Mehbooba Mufti is released,” Gandhi tweeted.

On Friday, the J&K administration extended the detention of Mufti by three months for the second time under the PSA. Mufti’s detention was scheduled to expire on August 5. She is the only mainstream political leader still detained under the PSA. The 61-year-old was arrested on August 5 last year, the day the Central gover nment abrogated the special status of J&K and downgraded the state into two Union Territories.

While Mufti was lodged under preventive detention for six months, she was booked under PSA in February this year along with former Chief Minister and political rival Omar Abdullah.

While Abdullah was released March 24, Mufti

by Parliament nearly eight months ago and had led to protests in different parts of the country. The President had given his assent to the legislation on December 12, 2019. “The home ministry has sought an additional three months time to frame the rules for the CAA. The plea was made before the Department Related Standing Committee for Subordinate Legislation,” a senior official told PTI. The home ministry’s move came after the panel enquired about the status of the rules for the CAA. The committee is likely to accept the request, the official said. The objective of the CAA is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted

minorities -- Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian -- from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. People from these communities who had come to India till December 31, 2014 due to religious persecution in these countries will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

After the CAA was passed

by Parliament, widespread protests were witnessed in the country. Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA along with the National Register of Citizens is intended to target the Muslim community in India.

India’ s COVID tally crosses 17 lakh-mark

Hyderabad airport gets mass fever screening system

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (PTI): The Centre has written to all states and Union Territories stating that smartphones and tablet devices should be allowed for hospitalised COVID19 patients so that they can interact with family and friends through video conferencing, which would provide them psychological support.

Though mobile phones are allowed in hospital wards, the missive was issued following some representation from the kin of patients alleging otherwise.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Health Ministry Dr Rajiv Garg in the letter to the principal secretaries of health and medical education of states and Union territories said appropriate protocols for disinfecting devices and allotting timeslots can be developed by the hospital concerned to facilitate contact between patients and their family.

CHENNAI, AUG 2 (PTI): The Centre will not impose any language on any state through the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Union Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Sunday.

Nishank’s clarification, through a tweet in Tamil, comes in the backdrop of opposition to NEP in Tamil Nadu on the grounds that the policy allegedly imposed Hindi and Sanskrit.

In his tweet to former Union Minister from the state Pon Radhakrishnan, Nishank said he was looking forward to the guidance of the ex-central minister in implementing NEP in Tamil Nadu.

“I once again like to insist that the Central government will not impose any language on any state,” he said.

The M K Stalin-led DMK and many opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have opposed NEP and want a review of the sweeping reforms it has proposed.

On Saturday, the DMK chief said the policy was an attempt at alleged imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit and vowed to fight against it by joining hands with like-minded political parties and Chief Ministers of other states.

The first round of the corps commander talks was held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.

However, the situation deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out any details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces “full freedom” to give a “befitting” response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases.

5

continued to serve detention. On April 7, she was shifted to her official residence that was declared as a subsidiary jail by the government.

With 853 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the number of deaths count has climbed to 37,364, the government said. More than 11.45 lakh patients have recovered; the recovery rate stood at 65.43 per cent this morning. India has tested a total of 1,98,21,831 samples so far. The positivity rate - percentage of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus - stood at 11.81 per cent.

Ram temple to foster brotherhood and harmony: Temple trust member

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (PTI): The decades-long movement for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya may have been marked by political and, at times, social discord, but the beginning of its construction from August 5 will foster in society “brotherhood and harmony”, the values associated with Lord Ram, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust member Kameshwar Chaupal said on Sunday.

The trust, formed by the central government following the Supreme Court’s ruling in November last in favour of building the temple at the site, has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple on August 5. “This will also be a foundation stone of Ram

Rajya in the country. Ram’s life encapsulates the values of social harmony and brotherhood. The temple will foster these values in our society,” Chaupal said.

Chaupal, a key figure of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and a Dalit member of the trust, told PTI that the BJP politically benefitted from the movement because the party associated itself with it and even “sacrificed” its four governments, including in Uttar Pradesh, for the sake of the temple.

The Congress government at the Centre had dismissed four BJP-ruled state governments in 1992 following the demolition of Babri mosque during a “kar seva” led by Hindutva organisations. “Our movement never barred any political party from joining it.

OFFICE OF THE

ALICHEN LONGKHUM STUDENTS’ UNION ALICHEN: LONGKHUM MOKOKCHUNG

NOTICE

In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Alichen Longkhum Students’ Union (ALSU) is compelled to issue this notice for the safety and security of the citizens of Alichen, that at a time when all the wards/villages in the district have adopted strict rules and guidelines to protect its citizens as per the governments SOP, the ALSU is completely against the irrational decision to call more than 100 NAP personnel from different villages/towns and districts in the state to 2nd NAP Battalion Alichen for training.

The Alichen Longkhum Students’ Union (ALSU) will not allow any such activities to take place within our jurisdiction.

Sd/Sd/Mefosungba Medemyula President ALSU General Secretary ALSU

MKC-176

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND STATE HEALTH SOCIETY: NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE. NAGALAND : KOHIMA

NHM/B-35/HR/2016-17/1298

Kohima, the 29th July 2020

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4. For any queries, applicant may contact +91370 2270565 on working days between 11:00 am to 3:30pm -Sd/(DR. Kevichusa Medikhru) Mission Director – NHM. DC-473

6

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur monDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

Release of water by Nepal UP minister Kamal Rani dies of COVID-19 inundates 61 villages in Bahraich LU C K N OW, AU G 2 (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Minister Kamal Rani Verma, the only woman cabinet minister in the state, died of COVID-19 at a hospital here on Sunday. She was 62.

The Technical Education minister, who tested positive for COVID-19 on July 18 and is the first minister in the state to succumb to the disease, breathed her last at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS).

She had comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and hyperthyroidism, a senior doctor at the hospital said.

Kamal Rani, who is survived by her daughter, was cremated at the Bhairo Ghat crematorium here in accordance with COVID19 protocols.

“A guard of honour was given as soon as her body reached Bhairo Ghat crematorium,” District Magistrate Dr Brahmdeo Ram Tiwari said.

The ambulance carrying her body wrapped in plastic reached the crematorium at 2 pm where

Kamal Rani Verma family members, BJP colleagues and senior police and administration officials waited to pay their respects from a distance.

Kamal Rani, who was the MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur and had been elected to the Lok Sabha twice, was initially admitted to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital here.

She was later shifted to the SGPIMS. Condoling the death of the minister, President Ram Nath Kovind said she was well respected for serving people at the grassroots.

“Very sad with the death of Uttar Pradesh g ove r n m e n t m i n i s t e r Kamal Rani Varun. Her whole life was dedicated to

‘UP BJP chief tests positive for COVID-19’

Swatantra Dev Singh LUCKNOW, AUG 2 (PTI): The chief of Uttar Pradesh’s BJP unit, Swatantra Dev Singh, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has quarantined himself at his home as per doctors’ advice.

Singh made public this information on Sunday in a tweet in Hindi. “I had been

experiencing initial symptoms of COVID-19 and underwent a test for it. I was found positive for COVID19,” said Singh in his tweet.

The leader also requested his acquaintances who came in his contact recently to get themselves tested for the infection.

“I request every person who came in my contact to get themselves tested for infection and quarantine themselves as per the guidelines,” he added in his tweet.

“On the advice of doctors, I have quarantined myself at my home. I request all the residents of UP to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the government,” he said in another tweet.

Crossword

social service. She played an important in strengthening the BJP in the state.

My condolences with her family and supporters in this hour of grief,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Kamal Rani died around 9.30 am. “She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society,” Adityanath said in his message.

The chief minister cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said.

SGPIMS Director Dr R K Dhiman said in a statement that the minister, who was put on a mechanical ventilator on Saturday, had been suffering from fever, cough and breathlessness.

“She also had comorbidities in the form of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism.

She had bilateral pneumonia at admission and was shifted to ICU on the day of admission itself because of high oxygen requirement,” he said.

Detailing the treatment given, he said she later required non-invasive ventilation with high oxygen requirements.

“On evaluation she had all the features of severe disease and she was given Inj. Remdesevir followed

by Tocilizumab following which she had transient improvement in her clinical status for few days but again her condition started deteriorating with progressively increasing NIV and oxygen requirements,” the statement said.

She was immediately transfused with convalescent plasma and steroid doses were hiked, it said, adding that expert advice was taken from Delhi AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and Ritesh Agarwal of the PGIMER, Chandigarh.

“However, she had progressive severe disease unresponsive to maximal medical therapy. She was put on mechanical ventila-

inundated. The administration is providing relief to the affected people,” Additional District Magistrate Jai Chandra Pandey said.

He added that 61 villages located in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils with a population of over 1.50 lakh have been affected.

“The condition is very bad in seven villages. As many as 131 kutcha houses have been damaged. Twenty-three flood posts have been made.

Apart from this, one motorboat, 179 boats, one platoon of flood PAC and NDRF have also been pressed into service,” Pandey said. He also said 48 medical teams

along with veterinary teams have also been deployed for relief work. Medical facilities, vaccination of animals, tarpaulin sheets and food packets are being distributed, he added.

“About 3.15 lakh cusec water was released into rivers from Sharda, Girijapuri and Saryu barrages. The levels of rivers at these places were below the danger mark, but Ghagara was flowing 108 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin bridge.

Along with the barrages, the embankments are also being constantly monitored,” said Executive Engineer (Flood) Shobit Kushwaha.

Need to look beyond COVID-19 lockdown

NPF asks PDA not to pass the buck at Gov

Naga cop wins gold in ‘armourer grade A’ course

(From p-1) If 100 tests @Rs.3500 were to be done per day at a BSL facility it will cost Rs.3,50,000 and in 30 days it will cost 1,05,00,000. If 100 tests are done through TrueNat @1350, it will cost Rs.1,35,000 per day and in 30 days the cost will be Rs.40,50,000. Dr. Sedevi also said the salaries of scientists at each BSL facility including recurring expenditure are currently borne by the government under COVID-19 pandemic and make the management of these facilities hugely expensive. Dr. Sedevi also felt that it was time for the state to seriously ponder over having more COVID19 care centres to address what is lacking in a quarantine centre.

(From p-1) On July 30, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu hit out at the chief minister for passing the buck on the Governor for the Office Memo, since as per constitution, the cabinet could accept or reject such proposals.

Further, Dr. Shürhozelie said after cabinet decided to issue the OM, it cannot shift the blame on others as by doing so, the PDA government has only exposed “ a very serious procedural lapse”. He said there was no question, that the government was “fully responsible for cabinet decisions”. However, he said if the government sought to shift responsibility for its own creation, then it indicates a “decaying of political

tor on August 1 but she continued to deteriorate... and succumbed to her illness on August 2 morning at 9.30 am,” Dhiman said.

Her death comes as the number of COVID19 cases in the state has crossed 89,000 with more than 1,600 fatalities.

The national flag will be flown at half mast in the state capital, and in the district on the day of the cremation, principal secretary Jitendra Kumar said. Born on May 3, 1958, Kamal Rani was among the 18 members inducted in the council of ministers headed by Adityanath on August 21, 2019, the first such reshuffle since the BJP government came to power in March 2017.

She wa s the only woman cabinet minister in the state following Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s resignation after getting elected to the Lok Sabha.

Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also condoled the minister’s death.

life of the state” and which has become a record in Nagaland state parliamentary history.

Meanwhile, congratulating governor RN Ravi on completion of one year in the office, NPF impressed upon him to put the Naga political issue in right perspective in the interest of all stakeholders. It also reminded him that Naga people in general have high hopes on him as someone capable of delivering an honourable solution as he was a signatory to the Framework Agreement signed on behalf of the Government of India in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 3, 2015 at New Delhi.

NPF also asserted that an honourable solution to the issue would not only be

No. 9643 Yesterday’s solution No. 9642

Su doku

No. 4262 Yesterday’s solution No. 4261

KAKURO

No. 3286 Yesterday’s solution No. 3285

Across 3. Bravery award (5) 8. Provincial (5) 10. Eye covering (5) 11. Toddler (3) 12. Pass on (5) 13. Hand over (7) 15. Native American tent (5) 18. Obtain (3) 19. Canny (6) 21. Save (3,4) 22. Uncommon (4) 23. This place (4) 24. Photographer, informally (7) 26. Loves intensely (6) 29. Meadow (3) 31. Challenged (5) 32. Expressionless (7) 34. Titles (5) 35. In good health (3) 36. Baa (5) 37. Helicopter blade (5) 38. Gain knowledge (5) Down 1. Lodging house (5) 2. Weariness (7) 4. Water jug (4) 5. Indifference (6) 6. Stratum (5) 7. Threaded fastener (5) 9. Mountain pass (3) 12. Keeps (7) 14. Animal doctor (3) 16. Saint’s name (5) 17. Verges (5) 19. Specimens (7) 20. Tyre surface (5) 21. Previous, preceding (5) 23. Go towards (4,3) 24. Demure (6) 25. Vegetable (3) 27. Dawdle (5) 28. Of the kidneys (5) 30. Truncheon (5) 32. Beloved (4) 33. Mine (3)

Flood photo for representation.

BA H R A I C H , AU G 2 (PTI): Over 60 villages in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district have been inundated following the release of water by Nepal from its three barrages into rivers, a district administration official said on Sunday.

The release of water has affected over 1.50 lakh people and damaged 171 houses, he said, adding National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people.

“Following the release of lakhs of cusec of water

by Nepal, at least 61 villages in the district have been

in the interest of the Nagas but in the interest of the entire North-eastern region, as the Centre was focusing on “Look East/Act East” policy. It stressed that any steps detrimental to the present political dialogue should be discouraged as it would be too costly if the present opportunity was missed again without hammering out an honourable solution like the political negotiations in the past.

Responding to the rejoinder by NDPP on NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu’s statement on the functioning of the PDA government, NPF accused the ruling party of being unable to swallow the bitter truth revealed on how a popular government should function in a parliamentary

democracy. The PDA cannot shy away from its responsibilities by shifting the blame to Raj Bhavan so long as it runs the government, it added. It also accused the ruling coalition of not even taking responsibility for its own decisions, over the recent Office Memo to profile government servants. NPPF said it was a desperate attempt by NDPP to shift its responsibility although the cabinet had decided on July 3, 2020 on this issue.

Emphasising that any government that cannot stand on its decision nor protect its employees/citizens had no right whatsoever to run the affairs of the State, the opposition party reiterated its demand that the PDA government should step down on moral ground.

DIMAPUR: Bringing laurels to the state and the Nagaland Police, a police personnel of the Wokha DEF topped the ‘Armourer Grade A Course’ conducted by the Indian Army in Secunderabad on July 31.

The policeman (armourer) Phyoben N Kikon won the gold medal at the event. “Armourer Phyoben Kikon of Wokha DEF became a Gold Medallist and did Nagaland Police proud,” Nagaland Police said on twitter.

Nagaland DGP and all ranks also congratulated Kikon and said that appropriate reward would be given to him.

No community transmission: Pangnyu (From p-1) While the first COVID19 case in India was reported on January 30, a patient from Nagaland tested positive in Assam on April 12 and the first three positive cases in Nagaland were detected on May 25 from among the returnees who came by special train from Chennai.

There were 1,831 confirmed cases in Nagaland till August 1, out of which 1,183 were active, 640 recovered and four deaths.

Altogether 927 confirmed cases were among returnees, 623 from armed forces, 134 frontline workers, 115 traced contacts and 32 others.

COVID-19 hospitals have been setup in districts for management of severe cases and COVID care centres (CCCs) for asymptomatic and mild cases. There were only 66 isolation beds as on March 7, whose numbers have now swelled to 622, including Isolation beds and 53 ICU beds with 52 ventilators which are being further expanded.

Further, sub-district health facilities have been geared up for continuity of essential services, while private hospitals have been empanelled to facilitate secondary and tertiary care, including surgical procedures, under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to provide cashless services to beneficiaries.

Besides Rs 50 lakh under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, the State government also approved an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to frontline health workers, including working journalists and non-government function-

aries drafted for COVID19 duty, in case of any unfortunate casualty due to COVID-19.

The State gover nment has created 390 new posts under the H&FW department to strengthen human resource in the fight against COVID-19 and reduce shortage of technical manpower in the health sector. These new posts include 120 allopathic doctors, three junior dental surgeons, 11 AYUSH medical officers, 221 staff nurses, six research scientists and laboratory technicians each for BSL laboratories, 10 ECG technicians and 13 OT technicians.

The minister also appreciated and acknowledged all frontline workers for putting their selfless service in protecting the lives of the people of Nagaland since January this year and still going strong. He said 542 doctors, 2,065 nurses and various supporting staff, including contractual employees in the H&FW department, are involved in the fight against COVID-19 and delivery of essential health services covering 13 COVID-19 hospitals, 12 CCCs, 261 designated quarantine centre, 21 community health centres, 127 primary health centres, 396 sub-centres, one mental health hospital and two TB&CD hospitals.

He also expressed his sincere appreciation and acknowledgement to the Central government, developmental partners, donors and well-wishers, particularly Tata Sons and Tata Trust and all civil society groups, churches and NGOs, for their constant support.

He said the mammoth

exercise was being carried out in the districts by the district taskforces under the supervision of the High Powered Committee with chief minister as its chairman.

Phom extended his deepest sympathies to all the bereaved and prayed that the Lord would bless and comfort them during this time of grief. He also wished speedy and full recovery to all patients and urged to be strong, courageous and not to lose hope as scores of people are praying and working tirelessly to overcome the pandemic.

As COVID-19 is here to stay, the minister said it was very natural to get worried and fear at this hour of crisis as no definite solution has been found till date to the virus. Though it did not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith, he said fortunately it has been proven that the virus could be contained and it must be contained at any cost.

As the most important measures to prevent and control COVID-19 was to stay healthy, not get infected and prevent others from getting infected, he appealed to all citizens to adopt safe practices and adhere with the advisories issued by the State government from time to time as it is every individual’s responsibility to stay safe and healthy.

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international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

Protests against COVID restrictions in Berlin

Many protesters did not wear masks and disregarded social distancing rules.

BERLIN, AUG 2 (IANS): Despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in Germany, about 17,000 people took to the streets of Berlin rallying against social distancing rules imposed to curb the pandemic.

On Saturday, protesters marched from the landmark Brandenburg Gate through central Berlin before holding a rally on a wide boulevard, reports Xinhua news agency.

Police then broke up the rally, saying the organizers were unable to ensure that safety and health regulations were being observed.

It added that a criminal complaint against the organizers for failing to comply with the regulation was filed.

Many protesters did not wear masks and disregarded social distancing rules.

Some yelled at people who wore masks, telling them to remove it.

There were placards reading “Stop corona insanity”, while some protesters wore T-shirts with “Corona=fake news” printed on the front.

There were demonstrators waving flags of various German states, and some of

the right-wing groups even carried the country’s black, white and red imperial flag.

“We are the second wave,” some protesters shouted, referring to the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak as scientists and the government have warned against.

The protest, declared as “Day of Freedom”, was supported by some neoNazi groups and conspiracy theorists, along with Germans who say they are fed up with the government’s restrictions to curb the pandemic.

Germany enforced a

strict lockdown in midMarch and started to ease it from the end of April.

However, large public gatherings are still banned, and mask-wearing is compulsory in all shops and on public transport.

Taking to Twitter, Health Minister Jens Spahn criticized the people attending the protest for failing to follow health regulations, while underlining their right to protest.

“Yes, demonstrations should be allowed even amid the pandemic. But not like this,” Spahn tweeted, adding that social distancing, health and safety rules and wearing face masks serve to protect everyone.

Sa skia Esken, c oleader of the ruling Social Democratic Party, wrote on Twitter that “thousands of #Covidiots are creating a second wave in Berlin, without distancing or masks”.

A total of 955 new infections have been confirmed in the past 24 hours in Germany, the highest in months, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention.

As of Sunday, the overall number of cases in Germany increased to 211,005, with 9,154 deaths.

COVID: Russia plans vaccination for October M o sc o w, A ug 2 (IANS): Russia is planning a mass vaccination campaign against the novel coronavirus for October, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.

“We plan wider (vaccination) for October because we need to launch a new system of treatment gradually,” the Minister told TASS News Agency on Saturday.

Murashko pointed out earlier that clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology were over.

The vaccination will be free of charge, the Minister added. “We plan that the coronavirus vaccination campaign will be totally covered from the budget.

Accordingly, the vaccination scheme is known to all. It will be planned,” he said.

Last month, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that he was hopeful that Russia will produce a reliable vaccine against COVID-19 by the fall.

To date, 845,443 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 646,524 patients having recovered from the disease.

Russia’s latest data indicates 14,058 fatalities nationwide.

7

Nepal to send updated map to India, UN and international community

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali points to a map of Nepal during an interview with the Associated Press (AP)

NEW DELHI, AUG 2 ( AGENCIES): The Nepal government will send its recently revised map to India, the United Nations, and the international community by the middle of August, a minister has said. The revised map includes Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura areas that figures in the Indian map, reports The Indian Express.

“We will be sending the updated map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura to various UN agencies and the international community including India. The process will be completed by the middle of this month,” Padma Aryal, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation told

news agency ANI. The Ministry has asked the Department of Measurement to print 4,000 copies of the updated version of Nepal’s map in English and send it to the international community. At least 25,000 copies of the updated map have been distributed across the nation. Nepal’s map is part of its emblem and is used on all official stationary by that country, just like the Indian government’s letterheads have the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

However, the development comes amid a bitter internal feud in Nepal’s ruling Nepal Communist Party. A rival faction led by party executive chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” have demanded Oli’s res-

ignation, saying his recent anti-India remarks were “neither politically correct nor diplomatically appropriate.”

In June, Nepal’s Parliament cleared a Constitution Amendment Bill that endorses the country’s new map that includes territories with India. India termed the move untenable and said it was not based on “historical facts or evidence”.

“This artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

The relations between India and Nepal came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. India controls Lipulekh, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and its maps show the area as part of its territory — this has been contested by Nepal.

While Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road, claiming that it passed through its territory, India rejected the claim.

UAE announces operation Netanyahu rails at media Wildfire near Arizona-Utah state of 1st Arab nuclear plant over protests against him line spreads over 11,000 acres

Situated 280 km away from Abu Dhabi, the project is expected to cover 25 percent of the country’s energy needs.

Dubai, Aug 2 (IANS): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the start-up operations of its first nuclear power plant in capital Abu Dhabi.

The milestone achievem e n t wa s a n n o u n c e d through a tweet by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE prime minister on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We announce the UAE’s success in operating the first peaceful nuclear energy reactor in the Arab world ... the work teams succeeded in loading nuclear fuel packages, carrying out

comprehensive tests and successfully completing the operation,” tweeted Sheikh Mohammed on Saturday.

He added the future goal is to provide a quarter of the state’s electricity in a safe, reliable and emissionfree way.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, also congratulated the plant’s opening.

“We proudly witness the start of Barakah nuclear power plant operations, in alignment with the highest international safety standards,” he tweeted.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said the plant is “the culmination of more than a decade of vision, strategic planning and robust program management.”

Situated 280 km away from Abu Dhabi, the project is expected to cover 25 percent of the country’s energy needs, and prevent 21 million tons of carbon emissions each year.

When completed, it will consist of four units with a total of 5,600 megawatts capacity, the official WAM news agency reported.

Tel Aviv, Aug 2 (AP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed on Sunday at swelling protests against his rule, saying they are egged on by a biased media that distorts facts and cheers on the demonstrators.

Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the long-serving, indicted leader to resign and panning his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Netanyahu has painted the protests as dens of “anarchists” and “leftists” out to topple “a strong right-wing leader.”

The protests have largely been peaceful. In some cases they have ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. In others, small gangs of Netanyahu supporters and individuals affiliated with far-right groups have assaulted demonstrators.

In a six-minute rant at a meeting of his Cabinet, Netanyahu slammed the media for “inflaming” the protests and for misrepresenting incidents of violence against the protesters.

NASA astronauts aim for Florida coast landing

Cape Canaveral, Aug 2 (AP): The first astronauts launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company departed the International Space Station on Saturday night for the final and most important part of their test flight: returning to Earth with a rare splashdown.

NASA’s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken bid farewell to the three men left behind as their SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked and headed toward a Sunday afternoon descent by parachute into the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite Tropical Storm Isaias’ surge toward Florida’s Atlantic shore, NASA said the weather looked favourable off the coast of Pensacola on the extreme opposite side of the state.

It will be the first splashdown for astronauts in 45 years. The last time was following the joint U.S.-Soviet mission in 1975 known as Apollo-Soyuz.

Space station commander Chris Cassidy rang the ship’s bell as Dragon pulled away, 267 miles (430 K Y M C

It will be the first splashdown for astronauts in 45 years.

kilometers) above Johannesburg, South Africa. Within a few minutes, all that could be seen of the capsule was a pair of flashing lights against the black void of space.

“It’s been a great two months, and we appreciate all you’ve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight,” Hurley radioed to the space station.

“Safe travels,” Cassidy replied, “and have a successful landing.” The astronauts’ homecoming will cap a mission that ended a prolonged launch drought in the U.S., which has relied on Russian rockets to ferry astronauts

to the space station since the end of the shuttle era.

In launching Hurley and Behnken from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 30, SpaceX became the first private company to send people into orbit. Now SpaceX is on the verge of becoming the first company to bring people back from orbit.

“The hardest part was getting us launched, but the most important is bringing us home,” Behnken said several hours before strapping into the Dragon.

A successful splashdown, Behnken said, will

bring U.S.-crew launching capability “full circle.”

At a farewell ceremony earlier in the day, Cassidy, who will remain on board with two Russians until October, presented Hurley with the small U.S. flag left behind by the previous astronauts to launch to the space station from U.S. soil.

Hurley was the pilot of that final shuttle mission in July 2011.

The flag — which also flew on the first shuttle flight in 1981 — became a prize for the company that launched astronauts first.

SpaceX easily beat Boeing, which isn’t expected to launch its first crew until next year and will land in the U.S. Southwest. The flag has one more flight after this one: to the moon on NASA’s Artemis program in the next few years. “We’re a little sad to see them go,” Cassidy said, “but very excited for what it means to our international space program to add this capability” of commercial crew capsules.

The next SpaceX crew flight is targeted for the end of September.

“There has never been such a distorted mobilization — I wanted to say Soviet but it has already reached North Korean terms — of the media in favour of the protests,” he said.

Netanyahu said the media ignored “wild and unfettered incitement, including daily calls — including the day before yesterday — to murder the prime minister and his family.”

He said the protests were breeding grounds for the virus that were being allowed to take place with no limits, shutting down streets and neighbourhoods.

He said right-wing protests have not been given such free rein. He condemned violence “from all sides” at the start of his remarks before tearing into the media he has long viewed as hostile toward him.

Also at the Cabinet meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is the country’s “alternate” prime minister under a power-sharing deal, said the protests must be allowed to take place with protesters shielded from violence.

Firefighters watch as flames flare at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, Calif. A wildfire northwest of Palm Springs flared up Saturday. (AP/PTI)

P h o eni x , A ug 2 (IANS): A wildfire burning near the US Arizona-Utah state line has now spread to 11,168 acres, authorities said, adding that the blaze would get extreme due to dry fuel, high heat and erratic winds.

The blaze, dubbed “Pine Hollow Fire”, was caused by lightning on Wednesday night and then was fueled by dry grass, brush and woodland, InciWeb, an interstate incident information system, reported on its official website on Saturday. It added that

complex terrain and bad weather hampered efforts to contain the fire, reports Xinhua news agency.

Some 208 firefighters are battling the blaze, the report said.

So far there is no report of damage or injuries, while the fire was zero per cent contained. The fire, burning about 1.6 km south

of the Arizona-Utah state line, forced authorities to cut roads to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, evacuated a campground nearby and requested tourists to suspend their trips to the area.

The recent spell of hot and dry weather in many US Western states have led to several active wildfires.

IS intel chief killed in Afghanistan

Assadullah Orakzai

Kabul, Aug 2 (AP): The Afghan intelligence service says it has killed a high ranking official with the Islamic State affiliate in an operation in eastern Afghanistan.

A statement released by the National Directorate of Security late Saturday said Assadullah Orakzai was an intelligence leader for the Islamic State and special forces killed him near Jalalabad. Orakzai was suspected of being involved in several deadly attacks against both military and civilian targets in Afghanistan.

Last week, a United Nations report said Afghanistan saw a 13% drop in the number of civilians killed and wounded in violence across the country in the

first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

The report credited the drop in casualties in part to the reduction of operations by international forces — which now only act when called upon and in support of the Afghan forces — and also to a decrease in the number of attacks by the Islamic State group.

The report said the UN had recorded 17 attacks by IS causing civilian casualties during the first six months of 2020, down from 97 attacks in the same period last year.

Overall, the U.N. said 1,282 people were killed in violence in the first six months of 2020 in Afghanistan and 2,176 were wounded.

In March, a lone Islamic State gunman rampaged through a Sikh house of worship in the heart of the Afghan capital, killing 25 worshipers and wounding eight. The gunman held many worshipers hostage for several hours while Afghan special forces, helped by international troops, tried to clear the building. At least one of the dead was a child.

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8

sports

Arsenal beat Chelsea to lift FA Cup

Arsenal players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final match at Wembley Stadium in London.

son Mount registered early efforts in a lively start at Wembley, which culminated in Chelsea taking the lead with just five minutes on the clock.

Former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud’s clever flick released Pulisic into the box, where the American skipped past Kieran Tierney before slotting his 11th goal of the season past Emiliano Martinez.

Chelsea remained in the ascendancy as Arsenal took their time to grow, but the Gunners looked to have introduced themselves in spectacular fashion when Nicolas Pepe’s curled strike

nestled in the top corner.

The Arsenal celebrations were shor t-lived though, with Aubameyang caught offside in the buildup, but seconds later the Gunners captain raced onto a ball over the Chelsea defence before being hauled to ground by Azpilicueta.

The Chelsea skipper was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor, whose decision to point to the spot was upheld by VAR, and Aubameyang clinically dispatched his fourth goal in two FA Cup appearances this season from 12 yards.

Neymar, Lautaro moves on hold

Kyrgios pulls out of US Open

Lo n d o n, Au g 2 (Agencies): PierreEmerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea 2-1 and win the FA Cup for a record 14th time at Wembley Stadium.

Chelsea took the lead after five minutes thanks to a brilliantly-taken strike from Christian Pulisic who became the first American to score in an FA Cup final.

But Arsenal equalised shortly before the half hour as captain Aubameyang won and then perfectly converted his 28th goal of

Neymar

Ma d r i d , A u g 2 (Agencies): Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club will not be splashing out on signing Neymar or Lautaro Martinez this summer due to the financial strains caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The La Liga side had been hoping to strike a partexchange deal for Neymar that would see Antoine Griezmann join Paris SaintGermain, while Inter striker Martinez has been their top target following an impressive season in Serie A. Earlier it was that Barca are prepared to let Griezmann go after just one season to help fund potential moves for their priority targets, but Bartomeu

the season from the penalty spot.

Chelsea lost captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Pulisic to hamstring injuries either side of the interval and fell behind on 67 minutes when Aubameyang lifted a stunning second over Willy Caballero.

Chelsea hopes were extinguished six minutes later when Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a second bookable offence, as Arsenal used their numerical advantage to secure the first trophy of Mikel Arteta’s tenure and a place in next season’s Europa League.

Aubameyang and Ma-

Lautaro Martinez

says the current situation “doesn’t invite large investments”.

He confirmed talks have taken place over a move for Martinez but those talks have now ended.

Martinez, who has scored 18 goals in 39 games for Inter this season, has a £98.5m release clause in his contract and is refusing to extend his current deal at the San Siro.

In an interview with Sport, Bartomeu said, “Barça have spoken with Inter about Lautaro, but the talks have stopped. The situation doesn’t invite large investments.”

On their interest in Neymar, he added, “Neymar? In this situation, it’s

unfeasible. Nor does PSG want to sell him.”

Even the richest clubs in the world are feeling the effects of the pandemic, with Barcelona losing 200m euros between March and June.

“If the situation of the pandemic doesn’t improve, there will be no spectators, no museum, no stores open, and money will continue to be lost,” Bartomeu said.

“It forces us to be very rigorous in management.

We must review which investments are essential and which can wait. All the big European clubs are affected. Everyone works to adapt. And this isn’t going to last a year, but three or four.”

Sydney, Aug 2 (IANS): Nick Kyrgios on Sunday pulled out of this year’s US Open, saying his decision was made keeping in mind “the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives”.

“Dear Tennis, I will not be playing this year at the US Open. It hurts me at my core,” Kyrgios said in a video posted on Twitter.

“But I’m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you.”

Earlier, Ashleigh Barty also pulled out of this year’s US Open. “My team and I have decided that we won’t be travelling to the US and Western and Southern Open and the US Open this year,” said Barty.

“I love both events so it was a difficult decision but there are still significant risks involved due to COVID-19 and I don’t feel comfortable putting my team and I in that position,” she added.

The loss of Azpilicueta to a serious-looking hamstring injury confirmed a torrid couple of minutes for Chelsea, who were under the cosh and thankful to reach the break level having lost all of their early momentum.

Chelsea weathered the loss of Pulisic within seconds of the restart with a dominant spell as they looked to reassert their authority, but a moment of brilliance from Aubameyang fired the Gunners in front for the first time.

Hector Bellerin’s burst forward and a rash challenge from Andreas Christensen diverted the ball into the path of Pepe, his pass found Aubameyang and the Gunners skipper skipped past Kurt Zouma before chipping a sublime second over Caballero.

Kovacic’s second yellow for a foul on Granit Xhaka and subsequent dismissal effectively ended Chelsea’s hopes of overturning Arsenal’s lead, and a late shoulder injury to Pedro in his final game for the Blues was the final act of Chelsea’s capitulation as the cup slipped out of their hands.

Arsenal and Chelsea are back in Premier League action next month, with the 2020/21 season kicking off on September 12.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

Community Shield to take place on Aug 29 Lo n d o n, Au g 2 (Agencies): The Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday August 29, the FA has confirmed.

The traditional curtain-raiser for the new season will see Premier League champions Liverpool play Arsenal, following their 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

The kick-off time for the game will be announced at a later date.

It has been reported that the match could welcome a restricted number of supporters into Wembley as part of plans for supporters to make a sociallydistanced return to sports venues more widely from October 1.

The match will be immediately followed by an international break from September 2 to 10.

The announcement comes after the Premier League revealed last week the 2020/21 season would start on September 12 and run until May 23, 2021.

The EFL has also confirmed the Championship, League One and League Two seasons will commence on the same weekend, with their regular seasons ending on the weekend of May 8, 2021.

IPL final on November 10; 10 double headers planned

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS): The Board of Control for Cricket in India in its Governing Council meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has decided to hold the 13th edition of the league from September 19 to November 10. This will include 10 double headers.

And the evening matches will start at 7:30 p.m. IST. A BCCI official said that it was decided to take the IPL into another week and that will see the final being played on November 10. The official also said that to ensure that there is enough spacing between games considering the strict protocol that will be in place, 10 double headers have been planned.

"We have decided to go up till November 10 and so the final will be held on a weekday for the first time.

Also, to ensure that there is enough gaps between games considering the travelling and the bio secure environment and keeping all these things in mind, we will have 10 double headers this season," the official revealed.

Asked about the starting time, the official said that it will be 7:30 p.m. IST for the evening games. "We have decided to bring it forward by 30 minutes from the regular time of the IPL which is 8 p.m. for evening games and we will start at 7:30 instead."

On entry of fans, the official said that these things can be taken care of in consultation with the Emirates Cricket Board. "It would be great to have some fans come in as that would boost the morale of the players.

But what needs to be remembered is that the safety of the players is priority.

So, these are things we will discuss with the ECB," the official said.

Franchises have also been asked to start the visa process. "We have been asked to start our visa process," said an official of one of the franchises.

The BCCI is also optimistic of getting the complete go-ahead from the government in the coming week to move the tournament to UAE.

Eng beat Ireland by 4 wkts in 2nd ODI Southampton, Aug 2 (IANS): Jonny Bairstow hammered 82 off just 41 deliveries as England beat Ireland by four wickets in the second ODI between the two sides to claim victory in the series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

England chased down a target of 213 with four wickets and nearly 20 overs to spare. The hosts now lead the three-match series 2-0, after their six-wicket win in the first match.

Bairstow’s efforts ensured that England crossed the 130-run mark within the first 16 overs of the match, although his innings also did not last longer than that. His opening partner Jason Roy went for a third-ball duck.

Bairstow went on to share a 71-run stand with James Vince, which came off just 49 balls, most of it courtesy the England wicketkeeper-batsman. He however got a nick off Josh Little that flew straight into the hands of Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps

Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien is bowled by England’s Adil Rashid during the 2nd ODI match of the Royal London Series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

to be dismissed on 82 off 41 balls.

Little then dismissed England captain Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali in his next over to give the Irish boys a ray of hope but Sam Billings and David Willey saw them through to the end.

Little was Ireland’s highest wicket taker with three scalps while Curtis Campher, who led the way with the bat in both matches, took two.

Earlier, Campher led another late fightback from Ireland to help them cross the 200-run mark. After

being 91/6 in the 28th over, Campher helped the visitors post 212/9 at the end of their 50 overs.

Brief Scores: Ireland 212/9 in 50 overs (Campher 68, Tector 28; Rashid 3/34) vs England 216/6 in 32.3 overs (Bairstow 82, Willey 47; Little 3/60)

Serie A: Roma end Juventus’ unbeaten home run Gianluca Frabotta dragged wide, while fellow youngster Riccardo Calafiori rifled home at the other end, only for the ball to have gone out of play from the preceding corner.

Calafiori then drew the foul from Danilo for Perotti’s penalty to find the bottom-right corner and put Roma ahead.

Perotti stretched the lead seven minutes into the second half, sweeping home inside the area – via a deflection off Merih

Demiral – after collecting Nicolo Zaniolo’s perfectly weighted pass.

Aaron Ramsey hit the post with a sweet effort and Higuain nearly found the bottom-left corner with a 20-yard strike.

But Roma had other chances themselves, with Davide Zappacosta shooting narrowly wide and Wojciech Szczesny made a couple of decent saves as Juventus faltered before a huge Champions League showdown.

Inter Milan finish second

Players of Roma and Juventus vie for the ball during their Serie A match.

Turin, Aug 2 (Agencies): Diego Perotti scored twice and set up another as Roma ended Juventus’ long unbeaten home Serie A run with a 3-1 win just six days before the Bianconeri’s crucial Champions League tie with Lyon.

Gonzalo Higuain had put Juventus in front in Saturday’s Serie A finale but Perotti set up Nikola Kalinic’s equaliser and put

Roma ahead from the penalty spot before half-time at the Allianz Stadium.

The winger gave fifthplaced Roma a cushion early in the second half as Juventus succumbed to a first home Serie A defeat since a 1-0 reverse to Napoli in April 2018 – a run of 39 games.

It means champions Juventus, who rested several players including Cristiano Ronaldo, finish the

campaign with back-toback losses before aiming to overturn a last-16 deficit against Ligue 1 Lyon.

Higuain tur ned in from close range just six minutes in after pouncing on Adrien Rabiot’s flick from Federico Bernardeschi’s corner.

Juventus were undone by a corner themselves, though, as Kalinic nonchalantly converted Perotti’s delivery.

Inter Milan clinched second place in Serie A when they ended Atalanta’s 19-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 away win on Saturday.

Danilo D’Ambrosio and Ashley Young scored in the opening 20 minutes as Inter finished the season with 82 points, one behind champions Juventus.

Atalanta, whose last defeat was at home to SPAL in Serie A in January, finished third with 78 points and were topscorers with 98 goals — two short of becoming the first side to

score 100 in a season since 1950-51.

Inter Milan were off the mark in less than two minutes when Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini flapped at a corner and D’Ambrosio headed into the net. Gollini was injured in the process and had to be replaced by Marco Sportiello.

Ashley Young extended Inter’s lead with a delightful goal after 20 minutes, cutting inside and then curling the ball past Sportiello from the edge of the area.

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