9 Mar 2022

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 92

DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00

I-League: Rajasthan beat 9-man Aizawl 1-0

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SPORTS, PAGE 11

Oil price surges after ban on Russian oil

WA S H I N G T O N / N E W DELHI, MAR 8 (AP/PTI): Oil prices surged on Tuesday as the U.S. banned imports of oil from Russia while Britain decided to phase out imports of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022, a decision that is expected to worsen disruptions in the global energy market as Russia is the second-largest exporter of crude.

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday the U.S. will ban all Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, but he acknowledged it will bring costs to Americans, particularly at the gas pump.

T h e a c t i o n f o l l ow s pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission in the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion.

Energy exports have kept a steady stream of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector.

RS poll notification

DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) Nagaland has notified the schedule for the election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat.

In a letter addressed to commissioner and secretary NLA, the joint CEO Nagaland informed that the notification for election would be issued on March 14, last date of nominations would be March 21, scrutiny on March 22 and last date for withdrawal of candidature will be March 24. Voting will be held on March 31 (9am to 4pm) and the counting of votes will be held on the same day at 5pm.

“We will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war,” Biden declared, calling the new action a “powerful blow” against Russia’s ability to fund the ongoing offensive.

UK said on Tuesday that it had taken decision to phase out oil imports from Russia by the end of 2022.

“This transition will give the market, businesses and supply chains more than enough time to replace Russian imports-- which make up 8.0 percent of UK demand,” Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng tweeted.

Russian warning :The Kremlin warned Tuesday that oil prices will surge to un-

precedented levels if US and European lawmakers proceed with a ban on Russian oil and gas imports in response to the invasion of Ukraine. “It is absolutely clear that a rejection of Russian oil would lead to catastrophic consequences for the global market,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

In a statement on state television, Novak warned that global oil prices could hit $300 per barrel if not more, in the event of an import ban. He also suggested Russia could shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline-- a key supplier for Germany-- in retaliation.

India concerned: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hinted that the current spike in international oil prices may upset provisions of her Union Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1 as she voiced concern over the impact of spiralling oil rates on the Indian economy.

“It (rising crude prices) will have a bearing. We have made some provisions for it in the Budget (for fiscal 202223). But that provision is only based on some average (price of oil) prevailing earlier but now is beyond that. So, we will have to see how we can work it out,” she said.

State-run oil companies are planning to hike retail prices of auto fuels in phases starting late this week or early next week as crude price nudged $140 per barrel in international trade and is hovering around $130 per barrel.

The under- recoveries on petrol and diesel have increased to Rs 10-12 per litre in the last 15 days and have become unsustainable, sources from these companies said.

Joint Councils resolve to regulate food carts, stalls DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Irked by the unregulated activities by various food carts/ stalls going on till wee hours that have come up along the roadside, particularly from Clock Tower (City Tower) to Popular Bakery, the joint councils of Middle Point and NST colony held a meeting at NST Colony on March 7 have decided to restrict operation of such carts/stalls till 10 p.m.

In this regard, the two councils have drawn the attention of both the district administration and the DMC to the “series of public inconveniences” posed by these food carts. This was informed in a joint statement issued by

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NST colony through its chairman Diswang Hau, executive members-Vikashe Zhimomi and Elithung Lotha and Middle Point Colony through its chairman Jonah Achumi, general secretary Benjungwati Ao and GB Hukato Aye. The joint councils also resolved that all food carts/ stalls operating in the abovementioned area have to give an undertaking to their respective colony that they will follow and maintain discipline.

It was also decided that all food stall must follow Food Safety Norms as per rules. No food stall operating in the above area will be al-

lowed to sell alcohol or any intoxicating substance(s). No food stall will also be allowed to obstruct the free flow of pedestrians (on the sidewalk).

The joint councils have also resolved not to allow parking inside their respective colonies and also not to allow throwing of garbage at Circular Road/Tajen Ao road but use DMC garbage vehicles.

The Joint Councils in their press statement, mentioned that they were compelled to take recourse to steps in the greater interest and welfare of public of Dimapur in the light of complaints against these food carts/stalls operating well (Cont’d on p-8)

Parl to resume on March 14: Sources NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are likely to start functioning simultaneously from 11 am during the second part of the budget session of Parliament from March 14, sources said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met on Tuesday and discussed the seating arrangements for the second part of the budget session.

The secretaries general of both the houses also discussed the issue in the context of a substantial reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases during the third wave of the pandemic in the country and the extensive vaccination coverage.

INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Naga issue should be left to GoI and Naga negotiators: WC DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): In a snub on the state governments perennial exercise of convening “consultative meetings” on Naga political issue, the Working Committee (WC) of NNPGs has reminded the state government to instead “focus on Nagaland state issues and governance”.

This was contained in a statement issued by the media cell of WC/ NNPGs just on the eve of the March 9 consultative meeting convened by the state government with legislators, Tribe hohos, CSOs etc at the CM’s Banquet Hall Kohima.

WC, maintained that the subject of Naga politi-

cal issue was best left to the government of India and Naga negotiators, mandated by the people, to usher in honourable and acceptable political solution at the earliest.

While appreciating the effort of the state government as facilitators, WC, NNPGs affirmed that since the government of India and the Naga negotiating groups have “concluded the political talks officially” on October 31, 2019, and Naga tribes have accepted “this announcement”, all apex tribal bodies of Nagaland, customary institutions and civil societies have, time and again, have been demanding that the Government of India ink

an inclusive agreement without further delay.

WC also expressed appreciation of the state government for trying to take the views of Nagaland tribes, civil societies and non-Naga indigenous communities on paramount issues confronting the state government and the people. It said that broad exchange of views on matters such as Urban Local Body elections, AFSPA, Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act were very important.

However, WC reiterated that any state sponsored discussion on Naga political issue, outside the parameter, would be a misnomer and unqualified.

Akhilesh alleges EVM theft in UP TNR for early Naga solution

LUCKNOW, MAR 8 (PTI): Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed Tuesday that a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi and accused the ruling BJP of attempting to “steal” votes.

Varanasi district administration said EVMs meant for training purposes were being transported in a truck, which was stopped by some “political persons” who spread “rumours” that the machines were used

DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): On the eve of the consultative meet on March 9, convened by the State government, The Naga Rising, expressed support for an early resolution of Naga political issue as desired by the masses that was based on the principle of “give and take”.

TNR said the scheduled meeting on Wednesday was an opportunity to move beyond the practice of passing resolutions and instead to frame a collective response and plan of action.

In an appeal, TNR stressed on an honourable solution as repeatedly assured by the Centre to Naga people since peace talks began (Read more on p-7) 25 years ago.

(Cont’d on p-8)

in the just-concluded polls. At a press conference, Yadav alleged that senior officials were directing their subordinates in the districts to slow down the counting of votes and prolong the process till late night where the chances of BJP candidates winning the polls are slim.

He claimed that at the ground level, votes were cast against the BJP and that there is anger among the public.

Two Nagas get ‘Best Women State logs 2 fresh WSSU against ‘partial cases lifting’ of NLTP Act Covid-19 Vaccinators’ award DCovid-19 IMAPUR, MAR 8

Women awardees with Mansukh Mandaviya

DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Keneingunuo Angami and K Kushen Khiam were among 72 frontline workers/vaccinators from across the country to receive best vaccinators’ award instituted for health care workers as part of India’s National Covid Vaccination Programme.

Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the awardees on the occasion of International Women’s Day at National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Delhi.

According to the ministry, the event was organized to celebrate and recognize the untiring efforts in successful implementation of India’s Covid-19 Vaccination Programme.

This is it!

(NPN): Nagaland on Tuesday recorded two fresh Covid-19 positive cases while no deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

The fresh cases-- one each in Kohima and Wokha, pushed the total caseload to 35434.

PTI: With 3,993 fresh coronavirus infections, daily COVID-19 cases in India were the lowest in 662 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The active cases fell below 50,000 after 664 days and the total virus tally stood at 4,29,71,308. The death toll climbed to 5,15,210 with 108 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) said it strongly opposed the purported “partial lifting” of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 in the state. In a representation to advisor excise, WSSU president A Kughato Achumi and general secretary X Hinoka Chophi stated that the NLTP Act, which is a legislation, empowered the state government to act and “come out with detail and comprehensive strategy” to curb the menace “rather than partial lifting/lifting of this Act.” WSSU said it would be unjust on the part of the government to “barter the life of student community, common public and future generation with state revenue.” WSSU said that many sectors like tourism, sports and entertainment, and not liquor, had been providing highest revenue in other cities, states and countries.

The union said that it would, therefore, be “a vicious mistake” for the government to let the “tower of ‘Nagaland for Christ’ fall down for a scanty state revenue.”

Women achievers awarded on IWD 2022

(L) Kaisa Rio addressing the IWD celebration at Japfu Christian College (DIPR) and MIRTE award winners with the organizers, Tuesday. (NP)

Correspondent/DIPR “After rockets and missiles raze everything, there’ll not be any Ukrainians left to face us.”

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KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Nine women and a women’s body were awarded for their exemplary services in different fields at two separate events

held on Tuesday to mark the International Women’s Day. While five women were presented Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) awards for 2022, four women and Lotha Eloe

Hoho (LEH) were given Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (MRITE) awards.

Five women – Zhonelü Tunyi from Kikhüma village, Kevinourheno Seyie, Yomah Konyak, Imdanglemla Aier and L Dorothy Chang – received NSCW awards at a function held at Japfu Christian College, Kigwema. The programme was organised by NSCW in collaboration with State Resource Centre for Women, Social welfare department and Japfü Christian College.

(Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C

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Exclusive handloom expo gets underway

Members of Khadi Board, NHHDC and others interacting with stall owners on Tuesday. (NP)

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): As part of the 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, exclusive handloom expo on the theme “Jharokha: celebrating crafts of India” got underway from February 28, at Urban Haat, Dimapur.

The expo was organised by weavers’ service centre, Lane-3, Toluvi village and sponsored by O/o development commissioner (handlooms) ministry of Textiles, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.

Speaking to Nagaland Post on Tuesday,

deputy director (D) Hara Kanta Baro said that a total of 40 handloom stalls and 60 handicrafts stalls were set up.

He infor med that the expo was organised to develop and promote handloom industry and enhance the sale and business of weavers, involving customers and weavers directly without any interference of the agents or third party.

He said that such platforms provided an opportunity to weavers and artisans to promote and strengthen their business activities.

Interacting with some of the stall owners, they expressed disappointment as sales had been negligible and there was poor response.

A short programme was also held here Tuesday, on the occasion of International women Day where some of the artisans were recognised.

Officials from Nagaland Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation (NHHDC) Ltd. Dimapur also attended the programme and visited the stalls.

The expo would culminate on March 9.

‘Need for community involvement in cleanliness’

Tovihoto Ayemi distributing megaphones to urban colony council chairmen on Tuesday.

D I M A P U R : A dv i s o r for department of Power, H. Tovihoto Ayemi on Tuesday distributed megaphones to colony councils under Dimapur municipality.

A press release from the advisor’s medial cell informed that in this connection, Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) organised a function in the council hall of Niu Colony, Burma Camp Dimapur which was graced by Tovihoto as a special guest.

Addressing the gathering, Tovihoto lauded

the urban councils led by DUCCF for their tireless effort towards the progress of Dimapur including social activities such as maintaining peace, harmony and cleanliness.

The advisor said that the development and administration of a colony heavily depended on the efficiency of its chairperson. He opined that each council with DUCCF as its platform should have strong setup of administration followed by a common vision of growth and development of Dimapur.

Tovihoto also stated

that it was the responsibility of councils to address the government about the need and requirements of people in respective colonies. He urged upon council leaders to emphasis on educating the public on cleanliness.

Tovihoto said that extensive community involvement in waste management would significantly contribute to the success of reducing garbage hazard.

Earlier, DUCCF president, Tsenthungo Nyamo acknowledged Tovihoto Ayemi for distributing the megaphones.

STATE

Mock exercise on Programme on counselling and earthquake in Kiphire thematic issues held in Dimapur

DIMAPUR: Mock drill exercise on earthquake of magnitude 8.7 on richter scale was conducted at Zisaji Presidency Government College Kiphire on Tuesday.

According to a DIPR report, SDRF rescue team performed demonstration on how to save people during an earthquake.

On receiving information about the earthquake, the District Operation Team (SDRF) rushed to the spot to take the stock of the situation and for mobilisation.

The SDRF rescue team retrieved two dead bodies, three persons were seriously injured, four had minor injuries while one suffered severe burns.

The injured were administered with first aid at the nearest hospital.

During the demonstra-

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tion, SDRF team performed an act of retrieving a child at the top floor using rope.

Earlier, on March 7, a tabletop exercise on earthquake was held in Kiphire in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner (DC) on March 7.

DC Kiphire, Wati Aier said that Nagaland and the entire Northeast region was located in a high seismic zone, an area extremely prone to earthquakes.

He said that earthquake tremors that were being felt now and then in Dimapur might signify a major earthquake in the forthcoming days.

Later, inspector & commander 12 NDRF HQ, Arunachal Pradesh, Aben gave a briefing on mock exercises to be held on March 8.

NBSE informs on voters’ awareness contest

DIMAPUR: Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has notified all registered institutions under NBSE that Election Commission of India was organising a National Voters’ Awareness Contest on the theme “My Vote is my Future-Power of One Vote” under five categories.

The contests would be held from January 25-March 15 and details may be accessed at https://ecisveep.nic. in/contest/. All heads of registered institutions of the board have been requested to inform students and encourage them to participate in large numbers.

Functionaries of Kripa Foundation along with participants after the training programme. (DPRO Dimapur)

DIMAPUR: State level coordinating agency, Kripa Foundation, Nagaland organised a five-day “Certificate Course on Counselling and Thematic Issues” from March 3-7 at in Dimapur.

According to a DPRO Dimapur report, the programme was supported by ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and state Social Welfare department.

Treatment of alcohol abuse, concept of drug addiction counselling, skills in drug addiction, conflict resolution, counselling techniques, behavioural change communication, 12 steps treatment module, etc were imparted at the training programme.

A field visit to Shalom Rehabilitation Centre, Chümoukedima was also conducted on March 6 where a

small programme was held followed by interaction with staff of the centre.

The programme concluded with distribution of certificate to all the participants by assistant director, Social Welfare department, Wango Langsym.

Altogether, 24 participants from the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland attended the training course.

NSCN (I-M) meet LMRPO on ‘Indo-Naga’ political issue

DIMAPUR: NSCN/ GPRN held a consultative meeting on “Indo-Naga political present scenario” on March 4 with Lotha Middle Range Public Organizations (LMRPO) at Sanis Community Hall, Wokha.

In a press release, caretaker CAO, Lotha Region GPRN, Yanpvu Jungio stated that LMPRO was

unambiguously briefed on the “burning present political scenario in view of the Framework Agreement”.

NSCN/GPRN members led by kilo kilonser M Daniel briefed the meet on “the harbinger of the framework agreement that enclosed the legitimate rights and safeguard the historical rights of the Nagas and establish a new relationship

for peaceful co-existence of the two entities on the basis of shared sovereignty”.

In his address, Daniel reiterated that the “NSCN/ GPRN has come to negotiations with the government of India and it has reached twenty-five years of our times as per the desire of the Naga people and shall continue to carry by the posterity till the Naga at-

ANHTU units demand release of salary

DIMAPUR: All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU) Dimapur Unit while lamenting four months delay of salary of the Hindi Teacher’s 2012-13 batch has asked the school education department to release the same.

In a press release, ANTHU Dimapur unit president Petemo Lotha and general secretary, H. Daniel Sema said the finance department had signed for the disburse-

DRDA Zbto bids farewell to officer

tend a covenant given by the people for the realization of Naga dignity and freedom”.

He called upon the leaders “to come as one, stand as one to voice out as one people by organising various show and movement of agitations as a take home message by showing resentment to the whole global at this crucial period”, stated the release.

November 2021- January 2022 along with arrear of CSS batch (2012-15).

A press release from ANHTU Mokokchung unit president Chuba Naxi and general secretary Atila stated that unlike other government servants, teachers were performing their noble job solely depending on their salaries.

ANHTU Mokokchung unit further stated that this showed the “nonimportance of teaching community.”

EE electrical division, Peren informs

The kilo kilonser also called upon all Nagas to once again reaffirm the pledge to uphold and respect the sacredness of the Naga plebiscite.

The release stated that the meeting “unanimously decided to support the framework agreement for earliest solution before holding of Assembly election in Nagaland”.

NU team inspects MGM College

DIMAPUR: A team from Nagaland University (NU) inspected MGM College Dimapur on March 8 and also held an interactive session with the principal and staff of the college.

A press release by the college stated that the team was headed by professor Dr.H. John Sema, dean, School of Social Sciences, ( NU, Lumami Campus) and Dr. Lemtila Ao and Dr. Khotele Khiya of English and Education Departments ( NU, Kohima Campus) respectively.

The various facilities and infrastructure of the college along with the college DIMAPUR: Executive engineer, electrical division library was inspected by the Peren, Tsiamchi Ndang in a public notice, has informed that the construction of the 33kv transmission line from DC complex Peren to Ahthibung Town via New Peren Village and Old-Chalkot Village was completed.

The transmission line would be test charged and kept charging with effect from March 10. In this regard, EE informed the public to not to come close to the proximity of the charged transmission line. ment of salary three weeks back but the same was not been released.

In this regard, the unit has urged the department to look into the matter at the earliest and disburse the salary of Hindi teachers as they are facing lots of hardship and financial crises.

Meanwhile, ANHTU Mokokchung unit has asked the state government, particularly the Education department to release pending salaries from

team, guided by the MGM College principal Rev Fr. Dr. P. S Varghese.

The inspection was followed by an interactive session with the principal and the faculty of MGM College, where Prof. H. John Sema, advised the teachers to focus on the quality aspect of teaching. He also emphasised on the need of the teachers to widen their knowledge through voracious readings and publication of research papers.

Dr. Khotele Khiya and Dr. Lemtila Ao also focused on prioritising of the constructive approach of education over the behaviourist approach.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A pangolin was released into the Community Wildlife Reserved Forest at Lozaphuhu Village under Phek district on March 7. Village authorities acknowledged administrator, Kiddies Corner School Phek, Zhode Khamo for encouraging conservation effort by donating the pangolin. Lozaphuhu village has been undertaking conservation of wildlife since 1989.

dp-1099/22

DIMAPUR: District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Zunheboto organised a farewell programme for its retiring project director cum DPC K Inavi Chishi on March 7 at DRDA rest house, Zunheboto.

According to a DIPR report, in his farewell speech, deputy commissioner (DC) Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo said it always a pleasure serving any government department but serving and retiring with a good health was the most valuable gift one could get for working with dedication.

In his speech, Chishi said DRDA was one of the most sincere and dedicated departments to serve the state. He exhorted the department officials and staff to be more dedicated in their work.

Short speeches were also delivered by APC M G N R E G A , Ya p a n g Jamir, NRLM, VDB association and DRDA were delivered by Er Ghonito Sema, ADPM Vika Yeptho, Mughaho Zhimo and Er David Achumi.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

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DOB : 11/06/1980 DOD : 28/02/2022 We, the bereaved family of Lt. Sani John Bosco, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who stood by us physically, spiritually and financially at his demise on 28th Feb. 2022.

We convey our special thanks to : 1. St. Peter’s Church, A.G Kohima 2. Faith Harvest Church, Lerie Chazou, Kohima 3. Fr. William Nepuni, Senapati.

4. Dr. Losü Chalai.

5. Fr. C.J Jaison, Principal of St. Mary’s School and Staffs 6. Azedon School, Kohima 7. Staff of Mezhür Hr. Sec. School 8. Lerie Chazou Youth, Kohima 9. Friends, relatives and well-wishers We regret our inability to thank each individual but pray that God Almighty bless you all abundantly.

Loving family members k-464/22 K Y M C

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STATE

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Nagaland celebrates International Women’s Day 2022

FMU members along with Medziphema SHGs.

KWWICS members stitching sanitary pads in Noklak.

Women folk performers at the programme in Longleng. Female students of PGC with faculty members.

DIMAPUR: Nagaland joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022 Tuesday under United Nations 2022 theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. The day was also celebrated under International Women’s Day website theme for 2022, “Break the Bias”.

‘Ensure meaningful participation of women in climate change’ Field Management Unit (FMU) Medziphema celebrated international women’s day with Medziphema Self Help Groups, NFMP Dimapur Division at Medziphema Village Council Hall with national shooting championship winner, Ritu Singh as special invitee.

Speaking on the occasion, Ritu Singh remarked that the main purpose of the observation of woman’s day was to make females more aware of their rights and to empower them educationally, economically and socially.

She said that the event also highlights other issues facing women such as gender equality, violence against women, sexual harassment etc. and lamented that although enshrined in our constitution, sadly the reality of gender equality was not very pleasing, because even after 75 years of independence, in most societies women are looked upon as “lesser gender” and their minds are conditioned to accept this.

In a keynote address, forest ranger cum FMU head, Florence T. Sangtam encouraged the members to be self-reliant and to take effective measures to address sexual and gender-based violence in the context of climate change and to ensure the meaningful participation of women at all levels in climate change. She further asserted the need to reinforce gender neutral functions and to come forward with a vision- the vision towards equality of all kinds.

Women can achieve any heights: SP Noklak Khiamniungan Me-

wa Village Council Hall, Peren with the womenfolk and the village councils.

According to a DIPR repor t, the programme was organised by district administration, DLCWMSK, BBBP and Sakhi-One Stop Centre, District Legal Services Authority in collaboration with NSRLM, CHILDLINE and NYKS Peren.

During the programme, PDLSA retainer lawyer, Asungbe N. Hau spoke on the topic, “equality has no gender” while PDLSA Panel Lawyer, Hiekha Indeu spoke on “legal provision for maintenance” and significance of women’s day was delivered

by EAC Peren, Kevethito Rose.

PGC: Phek Government College celebrated IWD with assistant Prof, department of economics and convener women development cell PGC, Dr. Thejotalu Nienu, who gave a presentation on history of International Women’s Day initiated by Clara Zetkin.

During the programme, vice principal, Shapalu Suyie presented prizes with citations to winners of the online slogan writing competition in commemoration of IWD organised by Red Ribbon Club PGC. ‘Let us work together to break the chain of biasness’ District welfare office Kohima organised IWD at district welfare office.

Speaking on the occasion, advocate Gauhati high court Bench Kohima, Sentinaro Longchar called upon the womenfolk to be equipped with basic knowledge and march forward hand in hand to promote womanhood in the society.

“Let us work together to break the chain of biasness that is still existing in our society for a better tomorrow for the next generation”, she added.

Sentinaro also stressed the role of legal services, .

District social welfare officer Akali Sema while encouraging the women stressed on the importance of schemes and programmes for old age persons.

She also highlighted on elder helpline 14567 toll-free services that provided information, guidance, emotional support, counselling and field intervention of abuse and rescue.

Beneficiaries of old age persons and widow pensioners under the National Social Assistance programme attended the programme.

‘Guaranteeing rights of women is critical’ Wokha: Wokha district celebrated International Women’s Day at Tiyi Hall, Wokha organised by Wokha District Administration and DLCW-MSK under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) in collaboration with SakhiOne Stop Centre.

According to a DIPR report, ADC Wokha, T. Lankonsen Tsanglao said women contribute to a healthy and productive family and society. He said women were effective leaders and change-makers in all the sectors today, and a sense of equality should be instilled in girls.

Tsanglao, who is also the administrator of Wokha Town Council (WTC), felicitated women employees working under WTC to encourage and acknowledge them for their good services.

Sr. Supervisor, Social Welfare urged women working in different sectors to give their best.

Advocate, Shanchobeni P. Khuvung (WDLSA),

Founder of Runway Nagaland Nengneithem Hengna encouraged the students to be an asset to the society by being self-reliant and independent.

Informative talk on “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” was delivered by author of the book “Menopause: Embracing your midlife”, Alokali Zhimomi. She enlightened the students on the ten commandants of menstrual hygiene and talked about breaking the bias.

Orentsani Kikon, founder of Orentsani Asthetic fitness and her team led the yoga demonstration session to cope with menstrual health.

KVK Wokha: Krishi Vigyan Kendra Wokha celebrated International Women’s Day on the theme, “empowering women farmers with skill and knowledge” under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” at Morashen Hall, Old Riphyim Village.

The theme speaker, SMS (plant breeding) Bendangla Imsong emphasised that women are central to agriculture and make a strong contribution to food security and nutrition at both the household and community levels.

Imsong said it was essential to empower women with knowledge of improved agricultural practices for better farming and livelihood.

SMS (hor ticulture) Megokhono Meyase trained the farmers on cultivation of summer vegetables and SMS (agri. extension) Dr. BL. Mhalo Tungoe demonstrated on aloe vera soap making.

BVP: Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) celebrated international women’s Day in gaiety at Sd Jain Girls’ College in presence of its regional secretary (north east) Bishnu Bhattacharjee.

The programme was graced by first president of BVP, Dimapur branch, Dr Data Ram Sharma graced the programme as special guest and principal of the college, Krishna Chandra Rout as guest of honour.

PGC: The women development cell, Peren Government College (PGC) Peren celebrated the International Women’s Day by organising a short programme at the college.

MF: Matri Foundation celebrated international women’s day by providing token of appreciation to some of women.

CHI: Community Health Initiative (CHI), Zaben Murry Design, powered by Menstrual Initiative Nagaland celebrated international women’s day by conducting a free workshop in jewellery making for students. Around 17 students from different schools and colleges from Dimapur participated in this productive workshop. CHI director Loreni Sophia spoke the importance of having hobbies and skill training and how it could be beneficial for mental health for lowering anxiety and stress level and also to help cope with depression.

KLC: Inaugural function of Kohima Law College 42nd annual sports meet 2022 cum international women’s day was held at the Kohima College/T.M. Government Higher Secondary School’s playground, Kohima.

In an inaugural speech, assistant professor Kezhokhoto Savi said the day being International Women’s Day and out of 150 sports man and woman there was more women’s participation which

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highlighted various schemes and rights of women introduced by the government of India.

Assistant Public Prosecution Officer, District Court Wokha, Renbemo Tungoe said guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential was critical.

Panso: Panso administration headquarters celebrated IWD at Pathso Village Guest House, Panso Hqs for the first time since the inception of the EAC Office in 1982.

According to a DIPR report, the celebration was jointly organised by district administration in collaboration with Pathso Range Students Union and BBBP Tuensang.

The importance of the day was shared by EAC Panso, Changsang who highlighted the significance of the celebration. The celebration was attended by the Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam (KMH) units of Pathso village, Ekhao village, Pathso Nokeng village, Panso town, and others.

Shamator: Shamator district celebrated International Women’s Day at DBs’ Hall Shamator Town under the aegis of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao with SP Shamator, Amit Kumar as the special guest.

According to a DIPR report, Kumar acknowledged the women of Shamator for upholding positive responsibilities in their family and society despite their educational backgrounds.

Exhorting the gathering, deputy commissioner Shamator, Thsuvisie Phoji said there was a huge change in Naga society today as women are taking positive roles in the everyday life.

Convenor of SEWA Shamator unit, Esther delivered a short speech while participants from 11 wards took part in the extempore competition as part of the celebration.

Changtongya Town: International Women’s Day was celebrated at Changtongya Town Longma Watsu Sungki organised and facilitated by NABARD Nagaland Regional Office and facilitated by NSRLM Changtongya Block respectively.

Speaking on the significance of the day, DDM, NABARD Amarjit Mangang stressed that women play multiple roles and still stay as allies to men. He further lauded the women folk for being the driving force in all development sectors, and called upon them to continue strive to ensure a sustainable tomorrow.

Watsu Telen Chagtongya Town president, R. Anungla Aier while speaking on the condition and status of Ao women said they (Ao women) are much privileged than others as they enjoy a lot of privileges in the society. She depicted some good practices that were inherited from the ancestors.

MCC: The women’s cell of Model Christian College celebrated International Women’s Day at the college auditorium with entrepreneur, proprietor of glam house boutique, Veduvolu Khusoh as the special guest.

PWC: Pranabananda Women’s College celebrated the International Women’s Day wherein Livingstone Foundation International, chairman, Dr. Andrew Ahoto, who was the chief guest, exhorted on human values and encouraged the students to be independent and empowered for a sustainable tomorrow.

makes the celebration more meaningful.

KVK Peren: ICARKVK Peren, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jalukie celebrated international women’s day at KVK Peren, Training Hall, Jalukie with farmers and womenfolk from in and around Jalukie town and staffs of KVK Peren.

At the programme, principal scientist and head, KVK Peren Dr. K.L Meena spoke on the role of women in agriculture along with PowerPoint presentation on Integrated Farming System (IFS) and its significance.

Theme of the day was highlighted by ACTO, PBG, Dr Patu K.Zeliang and a video on paddy cum fish farming was screened for awareness to the farmers.

On the same day a training programme on the topics, nutrition garden: healthy diet at doorstep and income generation through kitchen gardening was taken up by KVK Peren Dr. Patu K. Zeliang and agriculture inspector, Isapeule Hegui respectively.

PGC: International Women’s Day was celebrated at Pfutsero Government College organised by the district administration in collaboration with Chakhesang Mother’s Association (CMA), Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) and Indian Social Responsibility Network (ISRN) and hosted by the Pfutsero Government College, Women Cell.

In her address, special guest, joint secretary, Avelu Ruho encouraged women to participate in policy making bodies and emphasised that the comprehension of women in certain area was understood in-depth by women alone and to fight this she encouraged the tool of grace and dignity in a woman.

IMC: The women cell of Immanuel College celebrated international women’s day under the theme “Break the Bias” by distributing refreshment to the traffic police and needy in and around Dimapur Town.

SJC: To mark international women’s day, Dionysia, the Drama club of St. John College in collaboration with the anti-ragging, sexual harassment and women’s cell committees organised a short pantomime act inspired by a popularly shared cartoon.

MCK: One day seminar cum celebration of international women’s day was held at Modern College Kohima organised by anti- sexual harassment cell and gender champion club in collaboration with Ko-

hima District Legal Service Authority on the theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.

CCA&C: City College of Arts & Commerce Dimapur celebrated international women’s day on the theme, “Gender Equality today for a Sustainable tomorrow”.

YMC: Yemhi Memorial College Dimapur celebrated the international women’s day with assistant professor, C-Edge College, Ms. Lito Zhimomi as the guest speaker.

At the programme, Zhimomi spoke on the misconceptions of women empowerment, gender equality and feminism and highlighted the issues of gender equality in Naga society. The programme was organised

by Women Grievances Redressal Cell and NCC Unit.

Tamlu: Tamlu Town Baptist Church in collaboration with Church Auxillary for Social Action (CASA) celebrated international women’s day celebration in Tamlu area.

Guest speaker, development secretary PBCA, Philip Nyam spoke on the history of international women’s day and also highlighted on the gender equality basing on the context of the Naga Society.

TC: Women cell, Tetso College celebrated International Women’s Day on the theme, “Celebrate Women” with founder and CEO of Emporium Skills Training Institute, Dimapur, Temjenkala Aier as the guest speaker.

Addressing the gathering, Temjenkala focused her speech towards empowering women through skill development and capacity building.

She encouraged students to recognize the significance of women in their lives and society and inspire them.

In a separate event, NSS & RRC Units, Tetso College also celebrated International Women’s Day with the female students and teachers of Government Middle School Sugarmill, Dimapur. Team of five students and two teachers gave an awareness talk on themes of gender equality and menstrual hygiene and also distributed sanitary pads.

LFIC: Department of Political Science LFIC celebrated IWD with deputy commissioner of police, KM Munesh on the theme “break the bias”.

A press release from LFIC informed that KM Munesh gave a speech on citing her life experiences.

She encouraged the students to give wings to their dreams and pursue them as nothing was impossible if they were determined. She also added

there was huge potential and talent among Naga students.

She further stated that there was no elevator to success and every step one took to get there was indicative of the hard work they put in.

T h e p r o g r a m wa s chaired by L Achilo Kikon, welcome address by principal Dr. R K Behera. The programme culminated with debate on “Gender equality in Naga society”.

KKBC, KDLSA: Kohima Konyak Baptist Church in collaboration with Kohima District legal Service Authority organised IWD in the church premises.

Principal district and sessions judge Kohima and chairman KDLSA, Y Longkumer spoke about the Indian Constitution Act that has various provisions and laws on women. The programme was chaired

by KKBC women leader Manngam Konyak.

FPA Nagaland branch: FPA India Nagaland branch in partnership with KNP+ celebrated IWD in Kohima at KNP+ hall along with its members in partnership with 4Life IDS, Dr. Amenla Walling.

Dr. Amenla exhorted the gathering on the value of good health, positive outlook and strong immune system in order to live healthy.

Staff nurse at Reproductive Health & Family Planning Clinic, Daklane, Kaini spoke on cervical cancer, how it could be detected early prevention.

Informing that a woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes in India and that cervical cancer was the third largest cause of cancer deaths in India affecting the 21 to 67 age group, Kaini informed that rural women were at higher risk of developing cervical cancer than urban woman.

She said that early diagnosis and treatment could improve survival rates and informed on the ongoing checkup camp at the clinic which could be availed free of cost.

The programme was moderated by general manager, FPA India, Nagaland Branch, Vincent Belho, who informed that Nagaland Branch under Jewelex project was providing Covid Subsistence Nutrition to targeted communities and was happy to partner with Dr. Amenla Walling to add more value to the endeavor for improved SRH among the community.

Later, KNP+ president, Yhunile acknowledged the partners and encouraged the members to continue attending the support group meetings in future. Earlier, Dr. Amenla donated 4Life products to members of KNP+.

dc-210/22

nyiu Hoikam organised a “seed exchange programme” between villages on the occasion of Inter national Women’s Day where DC Noklak Hiazu Meru in his short speech encouraged all the women community to be leaders, decision makers and educated personalities.

SP Noklak, Dr. Pritpal Kaur in her speech urged upon all the women that nothing was impossible and women could achieve any heights.

Short speeches were also delivered by EAC Noklak Kathyinla, KTC VP Khaoshai and KSU president Shangchiu.

Earlier, a first of its kind, “Noklak perilla seeds oil and perilla candy” was launched on March 7 along with other value-added products such as cardamom and basil extract, soaps, etc., of Noklak FPO and TONS by SP Noklak, Dr. Pritpal Kaur, NIF Dr. Nitin Maurya and director of FPO Dr. Rajiv.

Meanwhile, Khiamniungan Women Weaving and Industrial Cooperative Society (KWWICS) along with NIF and SP Noklak stitched sanitary napkins through the sanitary pads making unit.

The women distributed the sanitary napkins to women in need. ‘ E a c h wo m a n h a s something to contribute to society’ In Longleng, district administration and Mahila Shakti Kandra-District Level for women in collaboration with PBCA women department, World Vision Longleng and One Stop Center Longleng jointly organised IWD-cum-folk dance competition in the BPCA convention hall Longleng with women from various churches and villages across the district.

According to a DIPR report, special guest, programme executive, All India Radio, M. Lemjan in her speech said that in this rapid changing world women played a great role.

There are diverse personalities among women but each of us has something to contribute to the society, she nagalandpost.com Poll stated. She pointed out how Q.: Are exit polls done by society talked about gender media houses accurate equality yet, it still remained enough? unfulfilled.

World Economy Fo–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 100% rum has also estimated that 90% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– it will take another century –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 80% to accomplish gender equal70% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ity and some causes are lack 60% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– of proper education, lack 50% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– of work opportunity, job 40% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– segregation, lack of right 30% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– protection, abortion, re20% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ligious freedom, political 10% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– freedom and many more, 0% A B C she informed.

16% Short speech was also A Yes. delivered

by DC M. Shayung 73% B No. Phom, executive Secretary 11% C Can’t Say. PBCA Tialemba and Project WV, Lalremthang.

NEXT POLL Officer, During the occasion, Q: Will there be negative BBBP awards was conferred impact on the economy to 22 personalities on being due to invasion of Ukraine? the first prominent Phom  Yes. Women.  No. Two personalities, Shamthai, ENWO presi Can’t Say. dent & retd DEO and CMO Longleng Dr. Obangjungla WEATHER were awarded the PhenomFORECAST enal Woman Award in recMARCH 9 ognition of their excellent (Temperature in ºC) Max Min service to society.

Under folk dance comAgartala Very hot with hazy sunshine 36 17 petition, five blocks particiAizawl Sunny and very warm 32 13 pated and Yongnyah block Guwahati Hazy sunshine and very warm 35 17 emerged first while Shakai Imphal Very warm with plenty of sun 33 10 bagged the second position, Itanagar Plenty of sunshine 31 18 Moishen, PBCA and Hela Shillong Mostly sunny, nice and warm 27 11 ja Wung presented a special Kohima Hazy sunshine 27 13 number and keynote address Dimapur Hazy sun and very warm 35 17 was delivered by WWO Mkg 30 15 Hazy sunshine Phungla Phom.

Tuensang Hazy and not as warm 22 9 Heningkunglwa: InterWokha Hazy sunshine and not as warm 28 17 national Women’s Day was Zunheboto Plenty of sunshine 27 12 celebrated at Heningkungl-

K Y M C

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NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

sends three observers to BJP will make Tripura no. 1 state in India: Shah Congress Mnp to oversee post-poll scenario

AGARTALA, MAR 8 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday virtually kicked off the BJP’s campaign for next year’s assembly election in Tripura, claiming that the state had suffered a lot under CPI (M) rule for 25 years, and it became peaceful only after the saffron party came to power.

He said if the BJP is voted to power again, the party will make Tripura the number one state in the country.

On the occasion of Inter national Women’s Day on Tuesday, Shah announced that 33 per cent of government jobs in Tripura will be reserved for women.

“For 25 years, Tripura had suffered a lot under the communist rule. Today, under PM (Narendra) Modi and CM Biplab deb, Tripura is known for peace and progress,” he said while addressing a rally here to mark the fourth anniversary of the BJP-IPFT government in the state.

The BJP-IPFT coalition came to power in March 2018 by dethroning the CPI(M) which had ruled the state for 25-years.

“In Tripura, earlier there were talks of extrem-

Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb during the BJP-IPFT government’s fourth-anniversary celebrations, in Agartala on March 8, 2022. (PTI) ism, infiltration, bandh and corruption. Today, Modi-Ji has taken Tripura and the entire North East forward in every field and gave the region the name - Ashta Lakshmi (eight forms of the goddess of wealth)”, Shah said. The NE region comprises eight states.

The senior BJP leader claimed that Tripura was earlier plagued by violence, corruption and drug trade, but it is moving towards becoming self-reliant today.

“I have come to meet you all after four years.

Elections would be held after one year and I would appeal to you to give us a chance for one more term

and I promise we would make Tripura the number one in the country in terms of development in the next five years,” he said.

The Union home minister claimed that there has been a 30 per cent dip in heinous crimes in Tripura, and the conviction rate has increased to 53 per cent from 5 per cent. Shah asserted that farmers’ earnings have doubled under the present government, and the per capita income has increased to Rs 1.3 lakh.

“Each farmer is now receiving Rs 6000 annually and Rs 400 crore has been spent for this purpose”, he said at the rally. The PM-

KISAN scheme aims to boost farmers’ income by providing them Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments.

“Agartala has been connected with the rest of the country through rail. A total of 542 km of national highways have been built by spending Rs 7000 crore,” Shah said.

He said that the ruling dispensation will fulfil all promises made in the manifesto, and he will return to Tripura to seek votes.

“I am sure the state can prosper, develop and get free from drug menace under the leadership of the Biplab Kumar Deb, who is

Meghalaya HC asks CS to stop illegal mining in state without delay

Majuli by-election recorded 71.76 % polling: Assam CEO

Meghalaya High Court S H I L L O N G, M A R 8 (PTI): The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state chief secretary to ensure that illegal mining activities are stopped without delay and a committee free from political interference be set up to monitor the implementation of Supreme Court’s directions and recommendations on the issue.

The three-member full bench of High Court took up the matter after its recent visit to East Jaintia Hills district along with Chief Secretary R V Suchiang to see in person the situation in connection with illegal mining activities in the area.

“Reports have been filed by the chief secretary and director general of police indicating that some actions have been taken.

However, it is evident that the directions issued by

the Supreme Court have not been adhered to ... It is necessary to monitor the mining activities,” the HC bench said on Monday.

It is surprising that the state did not use drone photography to monitor the mining activities in the less accessible areas, the court said and came down heavily on the district administration, the magistrates, sub-divisional officers and officers at the block level along with their counterparts from the police.

“All of them turned a Nelson’s eye to such illegal activities. It can be safely said that the scene in and around Khliehriat speaks of the vast stretches there being beyond the purview of the administration. It is impossible that the illegal mining activities and the deposit of freshly mined

coal would be conducted with such impunity without the possible connivance of the local administration or even worse,” the bench said.

Directing the chief secretary to deal specifically with each of the directions and recommendations of the Supreme Court and the NGT, the bench directed her to file a report during the next hearing on April 4.

The court said that the state has done “precious little” to ensure transportation of coal that had been previously mined and the auction thereof through Coal India Limited as per the directions of the Supreme Court and the NGT. This, it said, resulted in the “present unacceptable scenario”. The three judges who visited Khliehriat and its nearby areas last week found heaps of freshly dug coal left on both sides of the road spanning tens of kilometers. “The coal looked to be obviously freshly mined as it was shiny black … The ground is riddled with rigs and tell-tale signs of mining activities and recently constructed hutments. Even along the stretch, for tens of miles, freshly mined coal is dumped on both sides of the road in plain view,” the order said.

GUWAHATI, MAR 8 (PTI): The byelection to the Majuli (ST) Assembly constituency in Assam recorded a final polling percentage of 71.76, state Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade said on Tuesday.

Polling to the constituency was held on Monday and the polling process continued till late with the final polling percentage recorded at 71.76 on completion of the entire process.

Khade said that all the polled EVMs from the 203 polling stations have been secured in the strong room under tight security while additional security measures have been taken to avoid any unforeseen situation.

The constituency had a total electorate of 1,33,227 out of which 95,600 exercised their franchise, including 47,316 female and 48, 284 male respectively.

The candidates whose fates were locked in the ballot boxes are the ruling BJP candidate Bhuban Gam, the opposition’s joint nominee Chittaranjan Basumatary of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Bhaity Richong of the SUCI(C).

MoU signed to protect rights of workers in setting up greenfield airport in Barak Valley

Greenfield airport in Barak Valley.

SILCHAR, MAR 8 (PTI): A tea company and various trade union organisations, representing the tea garden workers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to protect the rights of workers while setting up a proposed greenfield airport on land owned by the company in Assam’s Barak valley, an official release said on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed between Doloo Tea

Company Private Limited and various trade unions to protect the jobs of the tea garden workers so that the reduction in land pool does not result in job losses.

According to a proposal taken under the initiative of BJP Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, around 2,500 bighas of land will be provided by the tea estate for construction of a greenfield airport for Barak Valley.

The agreement also

stated that upon receipt of compensation from the state government, all the dues to the tea estate’s workers will be cleared and the company will not retrench or lay off any worker.

The tea estate’s management assured that it will develop the infrastructure of the tea estate and rejuvenate the garden by extensive plantations on vacant lands of the garden within seven to eight years.

Roy said the government would stand for the interests of the tea estate’s workers and assured that not a single worker would be deprived of their rights.

He appealed to the common masses for their help and support for materialisation of the airport project.

Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said that the ball is in the court of the management and they must fulfil all the clauses of the agreement in letter and spirit.

The tea company’s Director Naman Ajit Saria of the estate assured that all the clauses of the agreement will be fulfilled.

The deputy commissioner said the government was venturing into high-end investments and simultaneously protecting the interests of the workers.

Jalli sought the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders to make this mega project a great success.

driving the state to be selfreliant”, he said.

Shah said that the Modi government has been working to protect national security. “There was a time when the country used to witness terrorist attacks every now and then. But the surgical strike and Balakot air strike have sent a strong message to the world about the might of the country,” he said. The Union Minister also criticised the Congress for protecting Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years.

“Sonia-ji and Manmohan-ji had protected Article 370 as a child for 70 years but the special constitutional provision was scrapped on August 5, 2019, after Modiji assumed office for the second time,” he said.

Praising the Biplab Kumar Deb government, Shah said it has worked hard to create infrastructure for the past four years.

“Tripura has celebrated its 50th statehood day recently. Out of those 50 years, the Communists had ruled the state for 25 years but development was largely ignored during their regime,” he added.

Mukul Wasnik

T.S. Singhdeo

Vincent Pala

NEW DELHI, MARCH 8 (IANS): Amid speculation of a hung Assembly in Manipur, the Congress has dispatched three observers to the state to oversee the post-poll scenario.

In 2017, the party even after being the single-largest party, had failed to form the government in Manipur.

The party has assigned T.S. Singhdeo, senior minister in the Chhattisgarh government, Vincent Pala and Mukul Wasnik.

The Congress has asked all its observers and party in-charges to keep tab on all its newly elected MLAs and inform the central leadership about the same on the counting day on March 10. This is being done to keep its flock

together, said sources.

Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar has been sent to Goa to monitor and strategise there.

Sources in the Congress said that he is going to camp in Goa for three days to ensure that the age-old party, which missed a chance to form the government by a whisker in the last Assembly elections, does not commit the same mistakes again. Shivakumar is going to stay put in Goa till the new government is formed, sources added.

Apart from the senior observers, the party has also another set of leaders in states where the party is anticipating a close contest or hung Assembly. P. Chidambaram is a senior observer of Goa, Jairam Ramesh in

Manipur, Mohan Prakash in Uttarakhand, Bhupesh Baghel in Uttar Pradesh and Ajay Maken is in Punjab.

The party in-charges have also been asked to remain in the respective states from March 10. Sources say that the Congress wants to protect its MLAs from being poached and is likely to shift them after March 10.

The Congress fears poaching as happened in 2017 when despite emerging as a single largest party in Goa and Manipur, the party could not form the governments. The Congress is anticipating a similar kind of poaching in all the four states and in Uttar Pradesh also which might witness a hung Assembly, sources said.

After prolonged lockdown, class 12 students in Mnp demand pass mark in offline board exams Correspondent IMPHAL, MAR 8: Police in Imphal city, on Tuesday, had a tough time dealing with thousands of students protesting on streets, demanding pass marks to all students appearing in the upcoming class-12 exams.

In a bid to control agitating students, police also resorted to firing tear gas shells. Though there were reports of some students fainting, there were no serious injuries needing medical attention.

Thousands of students from across various higher secondary schools who will appear the upcoming Class-12 exam 2022 carried out the rally demanding pass mark to be awarded for every subject in the offline exam.

The Class-12 exams for the current academic session to be conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) are due to commence from April 8. Asserting that no proper classes were conducted during the current session due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students demanded pass marks for every student appearing in the exams.

Alleging that the concerned authorities were not

Arms, ammo of ex-NDFB militants recovered in Assam KOKRAJHAR, MAR 8 (PTI): Huge amount of weapons buried in a forest were recovered in Kokrajhar district of Assam, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

Special Director General of Police-cum-IGP (BTAD) L R Bishnoi said at a press conference here that these weapons were suspected to be buried by surrendered NDFB militants at a location under the Tipkai outpost of Bogribari police station. “We had intelligence inputs that weapons of the surrendered NDFB militants might be hidden at some places. Last week, we got one such information and started acting on that,” he added.

The Kokrajhar district police formed three different teams under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police Thube Prateek Vijay Kumar, Bishnoi said. “Our target area was the Mahamaya Reserve Forest. During the last two days of operations, we could recover a huge amount of arms and ammunition from the jungle,” he added.

Protesting students block road in front of Western Gate of Kangla in Imphal on Tuesday. (NP) ready to address their demand, the students, under the aegis of All Manipur Class-XII Joint Higher Secondary Students 2022, carried out the rally on the streets in the heart of the capital city.

When the rally targeted the chief minister’s secretariat, police stopped it in front of the BT Park. After a brief talk, the police allowed 10 leaders to proceed with them and meet with the chairman of the COHSEM. The students however became further agitated when the 10 leaders failed to return after a long time and began to proceed further defying restriction by the police.

As the students went out of control, the police fired tear gas shells to stop the sloganeering students from further proceeding.

Even as the police suc-

cessfully dispersed them, the students reappeared in front of Western Gate of Kangla Fort and blocked traffic by sitting on the road and creating a traffic chaos.

The police gave the students 30 seconds to allow normal flow of traffic and once again resorted to firing tear gas shells. In the police action, some students, mostly girl students, fainted and passers-by came to their rescue.

The traffic was disturbed for about half an hour even as police took control of the situation.

The students organized the rally under the banner of All Manipur Class-XII Joint Higher Secondary Students 2022.

Banners highlighting their demands during the rally read, “We want pass mark compulsory”, “Please save our (students) career”,

“Improper class due to pandemic”, “How are we going to appear our exam without proper class,” etc.

Talking to reporters, a student leader asked how they can appear in the exam without a proper classes.

Classes were conducted for hardly two months and the COHSEM has recently announced offline exams.

He alleged that the way the exams are conducted is nothing but to ruin the academic careers of the students.

“We not against conducting the exam but some relaxation in awarding the mark should be given,” he demanded.

Another student alleged that they organized the rally to highlight their grievances after the concerned authorities remained in deaf despite repeated requests from their side.

Meghalaya lawmakers voices concern over ‘teacher-less’ schools

Correspondent

SHILLONG, MARCH 8: Members from both the treasury and opposition benches in the Meghalaya assembly on Tuesday voiced concern over ‘teacher-less’ government schools, with lack of basic infrastructure like desks and benches, especially in the rural areas of the state and wondered as to how the children would cope with the situation as they return to classes after losing two full academic years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Former bureaucratturned legislator, Ferlin CA Sangma of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) said that 90 per cent of the government schools in her constituency were “no better than cow-sheds” and the atmosphere was not conducive for the children to study.

“There were 23 schools in Dadenggre Sub-Division in West the Garo Hills that did not have permanent teachers, as those employed there were on contractual

basis,” Ferlin informed the Assembly during the Question Hour. Ruling coalition legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Saleng Sangma, said that desks, benches and chairs were either missing or damaged in almost all government schools in the villages under his Gambegre assembly constituency in West Garo Hills.

“As a local legislator, I have addressed the issue from my SWRP scheme and according to my capacity but to provide facilities to more than 100 schools has become difficult,” he said and urged the government to take measures to mitigate the situation.

The pathetic condition of lower primary school buildings in the Mawsynram area was highlighted by local legislator Himalaya Shangpliang of the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), even as leader of the opposition and former chief minister Mukul Sangma of the same party wanted to know if there was

any interim arrangement made by the education department till such time that teachers were permanently recruited and asked if students were supposed to go to schools without teachers in the classrooms. Earlier, responding to a query raised by legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh during question hour, whether the government had any proposal to address the student’s curriculum gap and knowledge deficit, education minister Lakhmen Rymbui answered in the affirmative and said that the process for recruitment of teachers was on and that advertisements in this regard have been made.

The minister said that a decision has been taken to extend the academic calendar to cover the days lost due to closure because of the pandemic.

“Problem of schools relating to appointment of teachers is difficult to complete immediately. We have tried to streamline and want the solution taken to be permanent,” Rymbui said.

India heaves sigh of relief as 700 students leave beleaguered Sumy

Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Ukraine arrive at the Air Force Station, Hindan in Ghaziabad, Monday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): In a huge relief for India, all its students trapped in Ukraine’s Sumy moved out of the city through a Humanitarian Corridor on Tuesday, a day after a localised ceasefire announced by the Russians collapsed and fierce fighting resumed, blocking their exit to safety.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the students were being taken to Poltava, some 175 km south of Sumy, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine.

“Happy to inform that we have been able to move out all Indian students from Sumy. They are currently en route to Poltava, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine,” Bag-

chi tweeted.

Nearly 700 Indian students in Sumy had waged a doughty battle in bomb shelters and basements of their hostels in frigid weather, low on food, drinking water and other essential supplies over the last several days as Russian forces clobbered the city with rockets and heavy gunfire.

“Flights under Operation Ganga are being prepared to bring them home,” Bagchi said but did not specify from which border point and when will they be evacuated from Ukraine to board flights for their return to India.

The MEA spokesperson also posted a video on Twitter showing Indian students having refreshments in the backdrop of parked

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buses.

Efforts to evacuate the students from Sumy had failed on Monday as a tenuous ceasefire declared by the Russians crumbled shortly after getting underway.

Many students, who had boarded the buses for their journey to Poltava, were asked to disembark, as the ceasefire failed to take hold.

“The evacuation from Sumy has started. There was finally some good news on Tuesday. All Indian students will be evacuated from Sumy on Tuesday itself. They will be taken to a safe location from where they will be brought to India,” said Anshad Ali, a student coordinator.

“We stood in a queue

for three hours in freezing cold on Monday, waiting to board the buses and then, we were told that we cannot go. Thankfully, we have left Sumy. I am hoping that we will be in a safe zone soon,” medical student Aashiq Hussain Sarkar told PTI, as fatigued students began the trip to Poltava, leaving behind broken and charred buildings and smouldering pieces of weaponry destroyed in war.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued an advisory urging all stranded Indian nationals to make use of the “humanitarian corridor” and evacuate using trains, vehicles or any other available means of transport keeping in mind their safety.

Considering the security situation, establishment of the next humanitarian corridor is uncertain, the advisory said.

“All stranded Indian nationals are urged to make use of this opportunity and evacuate using trains/ vehicles or any other available means of transport giving due consideration to safety,” it said.

Earlier in the day, Union minister Hardeep Singh Singh Puri said,”Last night, I checked with the control room, 694 Indian students were remaining in Sumy. Today, they have all left in buses for Poltava”.

TN youth joins Ukranian army to fight Russia

Sainikesh Ravichandran

COIMBATORE, MAR 8 (PTI): After his hopes of joining the Indian Army were dashed, a 21-year-old youth from the city has enlisted with the Ukrainian army to fight against the invading Russian troops.

The matter came to light when some central intelligence officials visited the house of Sainikesh Ravichandran in Thudiyalur near here a few days ago to collect his details.The Indian Army had reportedly rejected Sainikesh twice due to his height. He had even approached the US consulate to join the American armed forces, but to no avail, police said.

Sainikesh’s parents told the authorities that he was pursuing Aerospace engineering in war-hit Ukraine and had landed a job at a video game developing company a few days before the war broke out there.

The distraught parents have appealed to the union government to trace and bring Sainikhesh back to India, as he was unwilling to return home, they added.

India and China to hold 15th round of border talks on Friday NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): India and China will hold the 15th round of highlevel military talks on Friday to resolve issues related to remaining friction areas in eastern Ladakh, sources in the defence establishment said on Tuesday.

The talks till now have resulted in the resolution of issues in North and South Bank of Pangong Tso, Galwan and Gogra Hot Spring areas. There was, however, no fresh breakthrough in the 14th round of the dialogue that took place on January 12 this year.

The two sides will hold the next round at Chushul Moldo meeting point in Ladakh on Friday to end the 22-month standoff at the remaining friction areas, according to the sources.

Recent statements by both sides to find a mutually acceptable solution have been encouraging and positive in nature, they noted.

India has been talking with China about a quick disengagement on remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh such as Patrolling Point 15 (Hot Springs), Depsang Bulge and Demchok.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thou-

Ahead of Goa poll results, Cong to shift its candidates to hotel PANAJI, MAR 8 (PTI): A day after the exit polls predicted a hung Assembly in Goa, hectic political activities have begun in the state with the Congress focusing on keeping its flock together and plans to shift all its candidates to a resort, a senior party leader said on Tuesday.

On the other side, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, while other senior Goa BJP leaders are planning

to meet their state poll incharge Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly were held on February 14 and the counting of votes is scheduled for March 10.

The Congress, whose strength in the outgoing Assembly reduced from 17 to just two over the last five years, with some of its legislatures switching over to the BJP, is leaving no stone unturned to keep its flock intact. “All the Congress candidates will be staying in a resort in North Goa on Wednesday from where they will be heading towards the counting stations,” a senior party leader said.

The counting of votes

would be held in Margao and Panaji cities.

The Congress party has asked all its winning candidates to arrive at the party office after the results.

“We have full faith in our candidates, but we don’t want to take any chance,” a senior Congress leader said.

All India Congress Committee’s election observer for Goa P Chidambaram and state desk incharge Dinesh Gundu Rao are camping in the coastal state since last Sunday to keep an eye on the political activities.

M e a n w h i l e, C h i e f Minister Pramod Sawant met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home

BJP in power at Centre for lack of alternative, says Mamata

KOLKATA, MAR 8 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asserted that the BJP would be ousted from power the day people find a viable alternative. Banerjee said her party along with other opposition camps should come together to form that alternative force.

“The BJP is still in power as there is no alternative.

The day there is one, it will be ousted,” she said while addressing the party’s organisational meet. Banerjee, who was re-elected as the party’s chairperson last month, formed a new state committee, packing it with mostly with her loyalists. The development came amid a perceived power tussle in the party between the old-guard and the next-generation leaders. The TMC boss re-appointed Subrata Bakshi as the party’s state president and Partha Chatterjee as the secy-gen.

In case of hung assembly, BJP eyeing independents in U’khand NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (IANS): The BJP has started working on plans to form a government in case of a fractured mandate in Uttarakhand.

As exit polls hinted at a tough fight between the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand, the ruling party is now banking on independents and regional outfits to form the government in the state.

The ABP C-Voter Exit Poll indicates Congress is likely to win 35 seats in the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly, while the ruling BJP is projected to win 29 seats in the state. The Exit Poll also shows that the key to power is likely to be in the hands of Independents and others who are projected to win five seats.

Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is likely to win three seats.

Expressing confidence

of winning the majority in Uttarakhand, a senior BJP functionary told IANS that the party will form the government and like-minded individuals will support if fall short of halfway mark. “If we fail to cross the halfway mark then we will seek support from independents and other like-minded people.

We are in touch with some people and few will resign to help us form the government,” he said.

It is learnt that the BJP will first eye the others which includes independents and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and the BSP. “As per the exit polls, others are projected to win three to seven seats in the state and the BJP 29. With the help of others we will easily form the government.

If more is required there are some others who will resign to help us,” a senior BJP leader said.

DC-212/22

Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday.

A senior Goa BJP leader said they have designed a “fool-proof strategy” to ensure the party retains power in the coastal state.

He said Goa BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade and party’s state general secretary Satish Dhond will be going to Mumbai later in the day to participate in an event and they will also meet Goa poll in-charge Devendra Fadanavis.

Fadnavis and BJP’s Goa desk in-charge C T Ravi would reach Goa on Wednesday, a day ahead of the counting.

The BJP has also asked all its winning candidates to

assemble at the party’s head office in Panaji after the vote counting on Thursday.

“We will not waste any time to decide our leader and stake the claim to form government,” a senior BJP leader said.

On the other side, Tri-

namool Congress’s Goa chief Kiran Kandolkar claimed his party will win seven-eight seats and their ally MGP will bag four-five seats, “after which we will bargain for the chief ministerial post, if any party wants our support,”

DC-214/22

State BJP leaders to meet Fadnavis in Mumbai

sands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that “some setbacks” in China-India relations in recent years are not in the fundamental interests of both the countries even as he stated that differences over the vexed boundary issue and territory should not “interfere with the bigger picture of bilateral cooperation”.

Wang, who is also China’s Special Representative on the India-China boundary question along with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, expressed the hope that China and India will be “partners for mutual success instead of adversaries of mutual attrition.” China and India should be partners rather than rivals, he said, replying to a question from PTI that the relations continue to remain at rock bottom for the third year in succession and how Beijing sees the ties evolving this year.

Progress of women will strengthen India: PM Modi DHORDO, MAR 8 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the country’s top priority is to improve the lives of women and ensure their full participation in India’s development journey. He said in India, which considers the Earth as mother, progress of women will further empower and strengthen the nation.

The PM made the remarks while virtually addressing a seminar of women saints on the occasion of International Women’s Day at Dhordo in Kutch district.

Modi said his government is mulling raising the age for women to marry to 21 years from 18 now, “considering that sons and daughters are equal”.

“In a nation which considers this Earth as mother, the progress of women always gives strength to empowerment of the nation. Today, the priority of the country is on improving the lives of women. The priority of the country today is to ensure full participation of women in India’s development journey,” he said.

The seminar was organised to recognise the role of women saints in transformation of the society and their contribution towards women’s empowerment.

Over 500 women saints attended the seminar.

LIST OF SELECTED PARTICIPANTS FOR STATE HANDLOOM EXPO AT URBAN HAAT, DIMAPUR W.E.F: 11th MARCH TO 24th MARCH, 2022 Sl. ADDRESS/ NAME OF PARTICIPANTS No. ID. NO. 1 Mousumi Gogoi Assam 2 Kalpajyoti Borah Assam 3 Deepa Gogoi Assam 4 Bandana Boro Kro Assam 5 Rinku Moni Rajkonwar Assam 6 Rina Bora Assam 7 Soma Sarkar Delhi 8 Panna Akshita Enterprises Delhi 9 Theresa Phangchopi Diphu 10 Angela Sandiguria Assam 11 M. Memton Devi Manipur 12 S. Jibanlata Devi Manipur 13 M. Monika Devi Manipur 14 M. Asharani Devi Manipur 15 M. Chitravanu Devi Manipur 16 K. Aruna Devi Manipur 17 M. Nongdambi Chanu Manipur 18 M. Sonarjit Singh Manipur 19 Imsurenla NHHDC/Pro-04 20 Vitoli Chophy NHHDC/Pro-14 21 Kitoka Aye NHHDC/Pro-15 22 Chipikali NHHDC/Pro-16 23 Achung NHHDC/Pro-20 24 Khekatoli NHHDC/Pro-27 25 Meilung Konyak NHHDC/Pro-29 26 Tiasangla Ao NHHDC/Pro-33 27 Imkonglila NHHDC/Pro-40 28 Tianala Phom NHHDC/Pro-47 29 Akala Kath NHHDC/Pro-61 30 Kekhrietsu u Mere NHHDC/Pro-62 31 Ngangshimongla NHHDC/Pro-69 32 Temsurenla NHHDC/Pro-73 33 Kakhuli NHHDC/Pro-75 34 Kazhevi Awomi NHHDC/Pro-76 35 Katoho Aye NHHDC/Pro-78 36 Boholi Chishi NHHDC/Pro-87 37 Boholi Zhimo NHHDC/Pro-90 38 Hotoli Yeptho NHHDC/Pro-94 39 Hemali NHHDC/Pro-108 40 R Moasangla NHHDC/Pro-110 41 Alotoli Sumi NHHDC/Pro-111 42 Sashitula NHHDC/Pro-115 43 Imkongtoshi jamir NHHDC/pro-154 44 Ameli NHHDC/Pro-156 45 Odimengla NHHDC/Pro-160 46 Asola NHHDC/Pro-161 47 Kelhouzungu u Mechulho NHHDC/Pro-163 48 Loni Ashulie NHHDC/Pro-167 49 Aienla Ao NHHDC/Pro-172 50 Toshimongla NHHDC/Pro-176 51 A. Olive Ayemi NHHDC/Pro-183 52 Tohuto Sumi NHHDC/Pro-192 53 Martha NHHDC/Pro-207 54 Inatoli L Shohe NHHDC/Pro-212 55 Hotoli NHHDC/Pro-213 56 Mermongla NHHDC/Pro-220 57 Masainla NHHDC/Pro-222 58 Z. Omegali Assumi NHHDC/Pro-223 59 Joshua H Shohe NHHDC/Pro-230 60 Kahoni NHHDC/Pro-231 NB:- 1. The selected participants are directed to report to the exhibition at Urban Haat, Dimapur at 7 a.m 2. The participants are directed to keep their exhibits in their respective stall under lock & key. The office shall not be held responsible in case of any losses/theft.

3. Selected participants are informed to strictly follow COVID SOP and reach at scheduled time. In case of failure, appropriate action will be taken.

Sd/(ZAKABO V ROTOKHA) NCS Managing Director DC-215/22

6

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post VOL. XXXII NO. 92 DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Exit of true democracy

A

s exit polls of five states were aired across by the national electronic media on March 7, there were various reactions and views on what the pollsters predicted. Exit polls are essentially random sampling of how some of the voters voted and supposedly covers wide parameters such as age, sex, caste, religion, region etc. Exit polls are supposed to give a broad trend and a sense of direction as to where the mood of the nation is heading. It should also be noted that there have been various instances when exit polls predictions turned out to be wrong. Exit polls were released hours later with BJP given a clear and record majority in Uttar Pradesh and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) surprise win in Punjab. Among other states, a tight race between the ruling BJP and Congress has been predicted by many in Uttarakhand and Goa, while most predicted a clean sweep for the saffron camp in Manipur.

Counting of votes will take place on Thursday, March 10. If any pollster’s seat-victory prediction is broadly in line with the 10 March verdict, that pollster will be the toast of the day. The rest will be damned. If none of them gets it right, critics will immediately question the utility of conducting and broadcasting such polls. Some may even call for an outright ban on such surveys. Whether polls are accurate or not, matters little and not as much as the conduct of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutional body that conducts and regulates elections in the country. The ECI plays a very crucial role in ensuring a level playing field for everybody and is expected to be a strict and impartial referee who can issue either yellow or red card to offenders. Unfortunately, the ECI has been caught in several controversies in the recent past over its independence and credibility as the guardian body of elections. In 2021, in a letter to the President, a group of retired bureaucrats and diplomats had expressed their concern over the EC’s “weak-kneed conduct”. They mentioned how the institution has been “suffering from a crisis of credibility today”. The much publicised differences between then Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa over the issue of violations of the model poll of conduct (MCC) highlighted the “tilt” in 2019.

The situation led to some analysts believing that the MCC was in reality, Modi’s Model of Conduct.

Even in recent elections, the ECI delayed MCC that allowed the ruling party time and space to announce huge bonanza poll sops. Even though campaign is banned 48 hours ahead of polling, a friendly news agency conducted a friendly interview with the prime minister. While answering prepared questions, the prime minister appeared more intent on facing the TV audience. Democracy has also been compromised by raids conducted by ED, CBI, NIA etc on political opponents of the ruling party. Electoral verdicts become meaningless when newly elected members are coerced to defect when pending cases are revived or raids conducted by ED, CBI or NIA. Sad to say, the last line of defence- the courts- appear to be not insulated against public and media perception on politics. These serve as indication of where India is headed to after 2024.

DailyDevotion The Surrendered Life I have been crucified with Christ… —Galatians 2:20 To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit.

What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.

Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?

We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.

Quotes

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others. ~ Vincent Van Gogh

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Exit polls speculate utopian social dimension!

T

he exit polls provide grist to the mill for rethinking.

The overwhelming majority that it predicts for BJP, may cheer it. But all other parties need to wonder whether they have relevance in Indian politics or not.

The exit polls are exactly not opinion polls. These are based on supposed truthful revelation of a voter to the surveyor that how he has voted. There is another peculiar link with these polls and the way the satta bazaar behaves.

Similar trends were displayed earlier in the Bengal polls. There too both the satta bazaar and the poll predictions off the mark.

In UP in 2017, except for Dainik Bharat, which gave 309 and Axis that suggested 251 to 279 for BJP, all others

showed BJP and Con-SP alliance at even keel.

This time Deshbandhu newspaper group of MP and some small You Tube channels only give different trend of SP getting a majority.

But let us go by the majority of larger news channels and groups who almost predict landslide victory for the incumbent.

They have mass acceptance despite elements of surprise.

It is believed that they are projecting a trend and just not unconnected figures.

If that is correct, the opposition parties, including the BSP and Congress must be worried about their existence. The churn in the Samajwadi Party that projected Akhilesh Yadav leading a blitzkrieg and a visibly popular campaign through a coalition may just vanish. Its

patriarch, Mulayam Singh Muslim votes with Yadav, Yadav, would be further non-Yadav backward and debilitated by 2024 Lok non-Jatav dalit votes may Sabha elections and possibly raise a media storm but has non-existent as a moral force little social substance. The in 2029, the next UP polls. social engineering that once The SP would go through BJP-Sangh ideologue Goanother vindacharya Shivaji Sarkar propounded churn, desperation is now almost and struggle to survive. dead! So would it be the The internecine feud in its end of small parties like founding family that sub- that of Rajbhars, Mauryas, sided before this poll may Chandrashekhar Azad and tear the Yadav clan apart. other caste groups!

The caste engineering It also means that BSP of Akhilesh that was so leader Mayawati is no more talked about may be of mere the relevant force to lead her academic analysis now and dalit vote banks particularly its “failure” may trigger a Jatavs. Does it also mean new deliberation and dis- that Home Minsiter Amit course. It may even mean Shah who exchanged nicethat caste is becoming ‘less’ ties publicly for Behenji relevant in Indian politics. also stands falsified on his This is a question for the stance? And if that is correct surveyors. It also estab- she may lose more than her lishes that combination with vote bank. Will the void can

lead to emergence of new dalit politics?

The relevance of the Congress is also in doubt.

The Congress was never tipped to win UP but it has expectation of an increase in its vote share considering that Priyanka Gandhi drew crowds at her road shows. So has even women not voted her for her ‘Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon’ plank, out-ofthe-box candidate selection strategy and issue-oriented politics! It means the hopes of the party, which of course never expected to become much of a player, having larger vote share also has collapsed.

It is only natural that a complete rout in UP, coupled with a defeat in Punjab and the other poll-bound states, may lead to an implosion in the Congress. Would

it disintegrate or the feuding leaders like Group of 23 take charge of it displacing the Gandhi family? Would that help reemerge the party or help it do a vanishing trick?

Would a feuding or further disintegrating Congress help its principal detractors, now heading various fiefdoms by the likes of Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, K Chandrasekhar Rao or lead them to nowhere in 2024?

The solace is that the reality often differs from what speculative moves project. But if it tallies with March 10 results, the concerns projected can change not only the political discourse but the social combinations as well. Even the BJP would have to look for a new plank and political narrative for 2024.

Post-mortem Q3 GDP growth rate: Fifth Ukraine War a reminder of multiple concerns staring down Indian medical students abroad consecutive positive growth but slow

C

ommenting on the plight of Indian students stuck in Ukraine, mostly pursuing medical education, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Our children today are going to small countries for study, especially in medical education. Language is a problem there. They are still going. Can our private sector not enter this field in a big way?”

The Ukraine war is not the first overseas crisis in which Indian medical students abroad have been caught. When the COVID-19 virus broke out in Wuhan, in late 2019, hundreds of Indian students had to be airlifted and brought back home.

It was only in January 2020 that the government managed to bring home a large contingent of Indian students studying medicine in Chinese universities. The airlifting of medical students from Ukraine and neighbouring countries, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has helped bring the fact of largescale student migration in search of medical education to the attention of the prime minister.

Indian students travelling to several middle income countries in the Asian region is not new. The preferred destinations are China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and, more recently, the Philippines. The estimated numbers are quite large and the students who travel are mostly from southern and western Indian states.

An important question that arises is why students are choosing to go to these countries when there is a fairly large number of public and private medical colleges in India. Studies have shown that the lower cost of medical education is an important reason for students travelling to these countries.

A 2019 study of students trav-

W

elling to China for medical education provided some very interesting insights. This author was one of the study’s authors. It revealed that there is an aspirational middle and lower middle class with rising expectations from urban and rural areas. Parents are financing their children’s professional education by taking loans and selling assets.

Medicine, like engineering, is seen as enhancing one’s social status and chances for making money. For many who travel for medical education abroad are the first generation educated in their families. The entrance to medical schools in India is constrained by numbers, quality and cost. Nearly 60% of medical colleges are in the private sector at the national level.

The proportion of private colleges are higher in the southern and western states compared to the northern and eastern.

The aspirants for the available seats is high and those who are able to muster the common entrance exam constitute only a small proportion of applicants. Those with high scores get admission into better ranking colleges. The remaining have to pay high capitation fees to private colleges or travel abroad for medical education. The latter is much cheaper than the Indian private colleges after accounting for tuition fees, travel and living costs.

Most students who travel to middle income countries return to India but have to pass the foreign medical graduate exam that qualifies them to practice. Over the last few years the pass percentage of this exam has been very low, which has resulted in rising anxieties and frustration among students who travel abroad to study medicine.

The recently constituted National Medical Commission (NMC)

has not made it easy for these students who were forced to return due to COVID-19 from China and now the Ukraine crisis. Those who are currently enrolled in Chinese medical colleges have only the option of doing online courses due to travel restrictions. The NMC has categorically stated that they will not recognise online classes.

The NMC has also not responded to the request of these students to be absorbed by medical colleges in India to complete their education.

With the Ukraine crisis, it is most urgent that the government and NMC find ways of rehabilitating these displaced students. Apart from rehabilitating the displaced students, there are many neglected aspects in medical education policy that require urgent attention. These include regulating the quality of medical education in public and private sectors, regulating the cost of education in the private sector and capping capitation fees.

Also, an important step that needs to be taken is to have a common qualifying exam for all medical graduates, irrespective of whether they are trained in Indian or foreign institutions, to practice.

While the priority of the government is to ensure safe passage to Indian students in Ukraine, there are several issues that will need to be addressed to assuage the concerns of displaced students.

Expanding the private sector in medical education, as suggested by the prime minister, is a knee-jerk response to a systemic crisis that requires a hard look and serious policy response.

Rama V. Baru is a professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

(As published in The Wire)

The real fourth estate

hile press freedom lies information. Alternative people’s seriously curtailed and media have become a necessity to populist sentiments are save Indian democracy. being geared towards a sectarian Challenging the narrative of representation of reality, informa- the government was possible only tion is being manipulated to serve when the farmers were able to the interests of the ruling regime speak about the conditions of by media houses sympathetic to the their existence and their demands.

Bharatiya Janata Party. Indeed, we The need was not only to present are living in times in which multiple the ‘reality’ before the country but facts exist and truth is curated us- also to transform that reality for ing the media as an instrument for and with the protesters themselves. advancing State propaganda.

The farmers’ need for an alternative The government had a vested media was acute because traditional interest in delegitimizing the farm- media platforms were misrepresenters’ protest. Some Union ministers ing their struggle. An independent had labelled the farmers as ‘mis- media was required to communicate guided’, even ‘anti-national’; the information and strategies amongst prime minister coined the term, themselves. Protesters who shared andolanjeevi, branding farmers and the farmers’ plight and were keen their support base as enemies of on building a wider solidarity were the State. Prime-time news shows interested in bringing out the truth and debates brimmed with stories of the matter. An independent chanof unfounded allegations, such as nel by and for the protesters was a ‘Khalistani angle’ to the protest. also required to facilitate dialogue Although a handful of independent among the decision makers — the media houses, news channels, free- leaders of the various kisan unions lance journalists and local reporters of the protest and ordinary farmers tried to challenge these claims and at the protest site. A communiqué present the real picture, their reach in the language of the protesters was limited. What was missing from led to the genesis of an alternative the public debate was the voice of media, energizing the movement.

Trolley Times emerged in this the farmers themselves.

The complete absence of backdrop. This was a newspaper people’s voices from the media that was created out of necessity, and the misrepresentation of any founded by people with no prior issue that demands accountability media experience. There were no from the BJP have led to new me- ulterior motives or a hidden agenda. dia practices that arise out of the The goal was to provide an honest need to resist this monopoly over and clearly-articulated documentaReader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the

tion of the aims and the demands of their protest. The newspaper brought to the public debate the discussions taking place among the various leaders of the farmers’ movement, on-ground stories of protesters from different protest sites, the views of common farmers on the policies concerning them and so on. It not only questioned the government and the mainstream media but also covered issues concerning caste, class and gender within the movement.

What is unique about the media emerging from social movements is that they do not treat readers as consumers but rather as participants who engage with news. Since the news is personal to their lives, media arising out of protests have immense power to shape the readers’ worldview, making them question existing views and drawing their attention to aspects of the movement that had gone unnoticed.

A newspaper of the protesters has utilized the media as an organizing force. An authentic newspaper run by the daughters and sons of the farmers and other volunteers challenged the narratives dominating the public debate that stigmatized the farmers’ movement.

Shivam Mogha is one of the co-editors of Trolley Times.

Siddhi Chouhan studies at Lady Shri Ram College (As published in The Telegraph Online)

I

ndia, Asia’s third-largest economy has now posted the fifth consecutive positive growth, driven by the festive season boost to consumer demand, policy support, and rapid fall in coronavirus cases. though India’s economy lost momentum in the final quarter of 2021, with growth slowing from previous two quarters. India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 5.4% year-on-year in OctoberDecember, 2021 compared with growth of 8.4 per cent in the previous quarter according to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

The downside was a drag in manufacturing output and some impact of omicron variant in contact-intensive sectors. The pace of growth of Indian economy slowed in October-December period as compared to previous quarter (July-September) on account of falling in growth of sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transport and construction, steadily rising retail inflation and investment during the period under review.

According to NSO data, Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector growth remained almost flat at 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2021-22, compared to a growth 8.4 per cent a year ago.

Farm sector GVA growth was slow at 2.6% in the third quarter compared to 4.1% growth a year ago. Construction sector GVA declined by 2.8% as against a growth of 6.6% a year ago.

Mining sector grew by 8.8%, as against a contraction of 5.3%.

Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services segment posted a growth of 3.7% in the third quarter of this fiscal

year, against 1.5% expansion a year ago. Similarly, trade, hotel, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting grew by 6.1% compared to 10.1% contraction a year ago. Financial, real estate and professional services growth stood at 4.6% in Q3 FY22 compared to a growth of 10.3%. Public administration, defence and other services grew at 16.8% during the quarter under review compared to 2.9% contraction a year earlier.

One of the downsides of slow growth is the consequential fiscal squeeze, hampering public investment-led recovery and enhanced income support for the jobless. The real problem is a perception of stagnation, which is partly driven by the abnormally high expectations aroused around India’s “fast growing” economy.

Despite a lower growth rate, India’s GDP grows 5.4 pc in Q3 remains world’s fastest growing major economy and economists say economic momentum strengthened by the end of 2021.

The disappointing data put a question mark on the narrative that the Indian economy was back on track after the COVID-19-induced derailment.

The 8.4 per cent growth in JulySeptember 2021 was on the back of a 7.4 per cent contraction in the same period in 2020.

Lockdowns — countrywide and regional — have thrown many out of jobs, forced enterprises to shutter down and siphoned off liquidity. All this were expected to curb purchasing power and economists have been arguing for more government spending.

Prof Mithilesh Kumar Sinha Department of Economics Nagaland University, Lumami

Reader’s Post

Open letter to Chief Minister over ULB election 2017 Sir,

The Candidates of the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections 2017, to the Town Council of Pungro Town, have expressed serious concern over the ULB election in the state, where in 2017, Nagaland witnessed violent protests against the ULB elections, which provided the contentious issue of 33% reservation for women. Thus resulted the vote cast of the intending candidates of Pungro Town Council werestill keptat ADC office Pungro town without counting, which was successfully cast on 1st Feb. 2017 at Pungro Townin nine Wards including, (1) Khiangtopong Ward, (2) Officers Ward, (3) Rest House Ward, (4) Old Bazaar Ward, (5) Mission Ward, (6) Medical Ward, (7) Tsuwong Ward, (8) ForestWard (9) PWD Ward.

The Nine wards of different political parties of Pungro Town Council comprising of Naga People’s Front (NPF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Independent Party appealed to the state government to recover the expenditure which were outlay during the election process, if the government declared their cast vote as null and void. The Candidates also strongly opposed the government decision on the induction of Advisory Board to Town Councils and further earnestly request the authority concerned to take appropriate measure at the earliest time possible and fulfil the genuine demand of the candidates and in the larger interest of its citizens.

The signatories : Khamaong W/ No. 1, Francis K Yim W/No 1, K. LenpithongYim, W/No 2, K. ThrongkilaYim, W/No 2, Susana Resangla, W/No 3, R. AtsulaYim, W/No 3, Desangmew, W/No 4, Daniel Korakmong, W/No 4, KongthrongYim, W/ No 5, K. Setemew W/ No 5, Tennyson Jankhiunger, W/ No 5, AthronglaYim W/ No 6, YanshilaYim, W/ No 6, Thsantsumong, W/ No 7, C. Alila, W/ No 7, T. ShophuYim, W/ No 7, Kiutsu, W/ No 8, Sangpanla, W/ No 9.

columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

NATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Prez confers Nari Shakti Puraskars on 29 women

NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): On International Women’s Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskars on 29 outstanding individuals for 2020 and 2021.

Twenty-eight awards -- 14 each for 2020 and 2021 -- were given to the women in recognition of their exceptional work towards women empowerment, especially the vulnerable and marginalised.

The Nari Shakti Puraskar is a women and child development ministry initiative to acknowledge exceptional contribution made by individuals and institutions, and to celebrate women as gamechangers and catalysts of positive change in society.

Its recipients are from fields such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, education and literature, linguistics, arts and crafts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), disability rights, merchant navy and wildlife conservation.

Among the awardees is Vanita Jagdeo Borade, the first woman snake res-

Ram Nath Kovind honours an awardee of Nari Shakti Puraskar on International Women’s Day. (PTI) cuer, who founded ‘Soyre Vanchare Multipurpose Foundation’ for nature and wildlife protection and promoting pollution-free environment.

She has rescued and released over 50,000 snakes to their natural habitat. She has also conducted snake

awareness programmes that included topics such as first aid for snake bite victims, safety considerations, among others.

Borade is known as “Snake Friend” and the Indian postal department honoured her by releasing a stamp.

Down syndrome affected Kathak Dancer Saylee Nandkishor Agavane, who is also a recipient of the award, has performed in more than 100 events.

At the Global Olympiad Dance competition, she received a bronze medal.

She has been awarded for promoting Indian classical dance internationally despite facing hardship.

Visually challenged social activist Tiffany Brar was awarded for her exemplary work for visually impaired rural women.

Organic farmer Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava was awarded for her outstanding contribution in organic farming and assistance in educating women farmers at the ground level.

Nivruti Rai, country head, Intel-India, has been awarded for excellence in the field of technology, for representing the 21st century women and empowering students to build artificial intelligence enabled a hitech future for India.

Shobha Gasti, who started Mahilla Abhivrudhi Mattu Samrakshana Samasthe (MASS) that works in 360 villages across three talukas in Belgaum, Karna-

taka, has been awarded for her exemplary contribution for the cause of empowerment of women and girls.

Tage Rita Takhe, an entrepreneur who produces ‘Naara Aalba’, India’s first organic kiwi wine, with an annual capacity of approximately 60,000 litres and a turnover of Rs 4.5 crore, was also awarded.

An engineer by qualification, she left her job to become an entrepreneur.

She founded ‘Lambu Subu Food and Beverages’, Naara-Aaba “wine’ in 2016 in Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh.

Takhe was also awarded the United Nations Women Transforming India Award.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with these awardees and said that the success of government efforts, like vocal for local, is dependent on the contribution of women.

Modi also said that it is important to ensure that all women become part of decision-making at a family level which will follow as a result of their economic empowerment.

7 Int’l flights to ‘Let counting go on’: SC on resume from plea for VVPAT verification Mar 27 NEW DELHI, MAR 8 bench that the plea is not NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): After a two-year hiatus, India will resume regular international flights from March 27, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said on Tuesday.

India had suspended the scheduled international flights since March 23, 2020, due to the COVID pandemic. However, special international flights have been operating between India and 37 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements. “After deliberation with stakeholders and keeping in view the decline in the COVID-19 caseload, we have decided to resume international travel from March 27 onwards,” Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, adding that “with this step, I am confident the sector will reach new heights”. Air bubble arrangements will also stand revoked thereafter, he said.

In an air bubble arrangement formed between two nations, carriers of each country are allowed to operate a limited number of international flights to other’s territory with specific restrictions.

(IANS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant urgent listing of a plea seeking direction to increase randomly selected polling stations for the purpose of mandatory verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips from 5 to 25 in each Assembly constituency.

The vote counting for Assembly elections held in five states is scheduled on March 10.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana told the petitioner’s counsel, the court is not willing to issue directions at the last minute as the counting of votes for recently-held Assembly polls is the day after Wednesday.

“Let counting go on as per established practice, procedures and law,” noted the bench. also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, as it heard a plea by social activist Rakesh Kumar seeking urgent listing of the petition.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission, submitted before the

maintainable, as officials are already following the 2019 judgment of the top court in connection with VVPAT verification.

The bench said what could it do at the last minute and the EC is already following the top court judgment. It further added that the petition could be considered in the regular course only.

The plea said when the candidates or their agents become aware of the outcome of the election during the last round of counting reports, they do not wait for the counting of VVPAT paper slips of the 5 randomly selected polling stations as per the guidelines biased by this court in Chandrababu Naidu case (2019). “Therefore, the counting must be done prior to the vote counting for ensuring complete sanctity of the vote counting process. This will also ensure that if there is any discrepancy between the counting in EVM and the VVPATs, the counting of the VVPAT slips shall prevail as per the guidelines laid down,” it added.

Truck carrying EVMs intercepted, BJP trying to steal votes in UP: Akhilesh Mamata cabinet gets new woman

LUCKNOW/VARANASI, MAR 8 (PTI): Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed on Tuesday that a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi and accused the ruling BJP of attempting to “steal” votes.

The Varanasi district administration said EVMs meant for training purposes were being transported in a truck, which was stopped by some “political persons” who spread “rumours” that the machines were used in the just-concluded polls.

At a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav alleged that senior government officials in the state capital are directing their subordinates in the districts to slow down the counting of votes and prolong the process till late night where the chances of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates winning the electoral contest are slim.

He said the instructions are particularly with regard to 47 seats that the BJP had won in the last state Assembly polls with

SP workers stop the convoy shifting EVMs and stage a protest in Varanasi, Tuesday. (PTI) a margin of less than 5,000 votes.

The for mer Uttar Pradesh chief minister also alleged that the BJP-led state government is “stealing” EVMs and a truck carrying the voting machines was caught in Varanasi.

“Instructions are being sent to the district magistrates from the chief minister’s residence by the principal secretary to the chief minister that wherever the BJP is losing the election, the counting should be

delayed and it should be stretched till late night,” he said.

“Today, in Varanasi, where the EVMs were being taken, one truck (with the machines) was caught, while two other trucks fled.

If the government is not indulging in stealing votes, then it should at least say why the administration has not made security arrange-

ground level, votes were cast against the BJP and that there is anger among the public.

A statement issued by the Varanasi district administration on behalf of District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said EVMs meant for training purposes were being transported in a truck, which was stopped by some “political persons” who spread “rumours” that the machines were used in the just-concluded polls.

On Wednesday, a second training session for officials who will be engaged in the counting process will be held and these machines are used for “hands-on training” purposes, the statement said.

EVMs used for polling are kept in the strongroom under the watch of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and CCTV cameras, it added.

finance minister in reallocation

KOLKATA, MAR 8 (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee effected a minor reallocation in her cabinet, giving Chandrima Bhattacharya full charge the finance department with the rank of minister of state, an official said.

Firhad Hakim, the state transport minister, was also given charge of the department of housing and urban affairs as well. Hakim who used to be Housing minister in Banerjee’s cabinet for a decade till the last assembly election had not been given this portfolio, considered important in the state, when the cabinet was re-formed last year. Bhat-

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT GENERAL (AUDIT) NAGALAND: kOHIMA

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Former finance minister Amit Mitra considered

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Mamata Banerjee

the brains behind the state’s excise policies which have seen a buoyant tax income, mainly on account of rising revenues from liquor, remains principal chief advisor on finance and economy.

Hakim thanked Banerjee for reinstating him as urban and municipal affairs minister and promised to carry out his duties diligently. “When Sovan (Chatterjee) left (the party) my leader (Mamata Banerjee) made me the city mayor and I carried out my duties. I am a trusted member of TMC. I will try my best and carry out my duties.

I thank my leader for having faith in me,” Hakim told PTI when contacted.

Office of the principal Accountant General (Audit), Nagaland, kohima requires a vehicle (preferably a SUV) on hire basis. Interested Agencies may give their sealed quotation of hire charges along with willingness to Sr. Audit Officer (Admn), O/o the pr. Accountant General (Audit) within 15 days from the date of publication. details can be obtained from this office during office hour or can be downloaded from this office website https://cag.gov.in/ag/nagaland/en/tender.

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ments (for the EVMs).

“The force meant for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls has not left the state yet. What are the reasons that the EVMs were being transported without any security?” the SP chief asked.

He also said EVMs are kept in strongrooms and without informing the respective candidates, the machines cannot be moved or shifted from one place to another.

“In Bareilly, three sealed boxes (with EVMs) were found in a vehicle of the municipal corporation carrying garbage (registration number UP25DT9166). Plain ballot papers and things used for sealing (EVMs) were also found. A similar incident was also reported from Sonbhadra. What justification will the government give?” Yadav asked.

He claimed that at the

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Sd/(PROF. TEMJENSOSANG) Chairman Steering Committee

Crossword

Rising suggested to the would-be participants of the consultative meet to work out a mechanism to conclude the peace process in the interest of a peaceful, inclusive and honourable solution. The NPGs must take a common position/approach on the peace process leaving aside their intractable differences, it appealed. The Naga Rising suggested to those participating in the consultative meet on Wednesday to vet the appointment of a Peace Initiative or a group of mediators with representatives from all sections of Naga society to work for the convergence of NPGs and help facilitate the signing of a single agreement.

NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (AGENCIES): India’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki, on Tuesday, launched the CNG version of its sedan Dzire intending to further strengthen and democratise green mobility. The company, with this launch, now offers nine vehicles with factory-fitted CNG technology in the country, Business Today reported.

The new Dzire, with the company’s S-CNG technology, will get its power through a K-series Dual Jet, Dual VVT 1.2L engine that delivers 57kW of peak power and 98.5Nm of maximum torque. The homegrown marque also claims that this new Dzire would

offer a mileage of 31.12 km/kg, and is the country’s most fuel-efficient and most powerful CNG sedan.

Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India, said, “As the world pivots towards a greener future, Maruti Suzuki has continually worked on expanding its growing portfolio of green vehicles. With transformative technology like the S-CNG, more and more customers are actively looking to switch to S-CNG vehicles to fulfil their mobility requirements.”

Maruti Suzuki’s plan to expand its S-CNG vehicle range is also aligned with the government’s vi-

No. 10205 Yesterday’s solution No. 10204

1

Defeats (5)

6

Takes note (5)

9

European country (7)

11 Sewer (5) 12 Guest house (5) 13 Bereaved husband (7) 15 Encountered (3) 17 Dry (4) 18 Stitch (6) 19 Talons (5) 20 Disintegrates (6) 22 Yawn (4) 24 Groove (3) 25 Small antelope (7) 26 Swagger (5) 27 Bedtime drink (5) 28 Restrict (5) 29 Task (7)

Su doku

No. 4827

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3

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5

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8

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KAKURO

No. 3851 Yesterday’s solution No. 3850

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through a monthly subscription service, similar to Dzire’s petrol variants, with the fee starting at Rs 16,999 per month. Maruti Suzuki Dzire’s monthly subscription fee for petrol variants start from Rs 14,100.

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sion of reducing oil imports and enhancing the share of natural gas in the country.

The new Dzire S-CNG will be available in VXI & ZXI variants and is priced at Rs 8,14,000 and Rs 8,82,000 (ex-showroom), respectively.

Maruti Suzuki is also offering the new CNG Dzire

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(From p-1) TNR stressed that negotiations must be based on a “give and take” approach and any agreement signed must be mutually acceptable to both the Centre and Naga political groups (NPGs) and could not be imposed.

It also expressed support to the statement of the Centre’s previous interlocutor RN Ravi, that there was only one peace process, which was inclusive, and that eventually there would be only one agreement as the Naga issue could not be fragmented.

Further, in the context of current impasse in the peace process, The Naga

Maruti launches Dzire S-CNG, claims to be most fuel-efficient car

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it was still not enough when it came to institutional delivery.

According to Zhimomi, out of the 24,000 estimated deliveries in the State till January 2022, there were just about 12,000 institutional deliveries. She said this gave a wrong impression to the Centre, which linked this to maternal death though there were only 13 maternal deaths till January this year.

She said women were losing out on various schemes meant to incentivise institutional delivery, and urged tribal women bodies to raise awareness so that the schemes could be availed.

Nagaland has lowest vaccination in the country In his brief remark on the status of vaccination in the State., State programme manager for John Snow India, Egumsing Nsarangbe said Nagaland ranked the lowest in the country in Covid-19 vaccination and stressed on a continuous awareness campaign in this regard. He said for the 18plus population, the percentage was 66% for first dose and 51% for second dose, while the first dose coverage for 15-17 years population was 34% and second dose coverage was 14%.

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(with dirt and garbage).

The councils also said after business hours, food carts and stalls are parked on narrow congested lanes and breaking walls, drains, septic tank covers of some houses. They also said the parking of these carts and stalls randomly, also causes much problems for residents from plying vehicles normally and especially during emergencies.

dp-955/22a

till very late into the night , causing harassment to nearby residents; parking problems caused by the carts and stalls besides obstruction of footpath (due to setting up of sitting arrangements).

The signatories said there are complaints that some customers of these carts and stalls parking their cars at random, openly drinking alcohol and contaminating the area

health officer (CHO) of Jalukie Zangdi HWC in Peren, was awarded for her boldness, walking the extra mile and befriending hostile communities in her quest to achieve 100% vaccination, while also managing all OPD cases, emergencies, pregnancy cases, routine vaccination and community outreach in her spare time.

Speaking on women’s role in Covid-19 vaccination and maternal health, Dr Khelito Zhimomi, nodal officer of Reproductive Child Health (RCH), recalled how healthcare and frontline workers had faced the harshest situation due to resistance for Covid vaccination. She congratulated the achievers for braving the odds and becoming an inspiration for many women across the State.

Recalling the struggle the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Department faced to achieve the vaccination target set by the Union H&FW Ministry, Zhimomi thanked NGOs, faith-based organisations and tribal women bodies for their active participation in achieving the goal by continuing the awareness campaign.

She also underscored various schemes on maternal health provided by the Union Ministry, adding that while much had been done,

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(From p-1) well past mid night with unwanted activities.

While reaffirming that they respected the value of dignity of labour and the practise of ‘Work and Eat’ by local youth entrepreneurs, the two councils however said both the district administration and DMC should regulate and streamline the timing of operation of food carts/ stalls, playing of loud music

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Joint Councils resolve to regulate food carts, stalls

leagues received the award.

Neivete-U Sono, community health officer of Longwa Health & Wellness Centre (HWC) in Mon district, was honoured for fighting the social stigma s u r r o u n d i n g C ov i d - 1 9 through campaigns on various platforms and by conducting awareness and sensitisation programmes on Covid vaccines for different age groups and categories on different occasion and platforms.

Dr Orentsani Kikon, medical officer of AYUSH of Tseminyu Community Health Centre (CHC), was also honoured for manning the largest quarantine centre in Kohima district and effectively discharging her duties calmly and with compassion and for being in control in an extremely grave situation where lives were at risk and people were dying. Similarly, Vechulou Kanuo, co-chairperson of Nagaland health Project CHC Pfutsero, was awarded for leading the community in creating awareness across Nagaland on Covid vaccines on different platforms.

She was recognised for her solution-led approach that had inspired scores of Chakhesang women to prioritise their safety and get vaccinated.

Sethonuo Sachu, chief

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Narendra Modi (PTI)

strengthening financing for these sectors.

Modi also insisted that Industry 4.0 is not possible till the country moves ahead in the fields like fintech, agritech, meditech and skill development.

“Help of financial institutions in such areas will take India to new heights in Industry 4.0,” the Prime Minister said.

He also stressed on the need to identify 8-10 sectors, constructions, startups, recently opened up sectors like drones, space and geo-spatial data, in which India can be among

the top-3 globally and asked the financial institutions to extend credit support. “The expansion of entrepreneurship, innovation and search for new markets among the startups will happen only when there is deep understanding of these ideas of the future among those who finance them,” Modi said.

Referring to the work and investment in the health sector, the Prime Minister emphasized that in order to tackle the challenges relating to medical education, it is critical to have more and more medical institutions.

“Can our financial institutions and banks prioritize this in their business planning”, the Prime Minister asked. Modi also said that if banks extend funding on a priority basis to exporters, it will make them strong and help in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme.

human right but a prerequisite to building a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society.

Earlier, a greeting message was shared at the programme by Social Welfare director Tosheli Zhimomi and NSCW chairperson Khrienuo Tachü delivered the keynote address.

A team of Japfü Christian College comprising its principal presented “The Defining Movement” (Pink Zebra), while Social Welfare additional secretary and NSCW secretary Bodeno S Colo chaired the function.

M e a n w h i l e, t h e MRITE awards were given away to four women and LEH at Hotel Vivor, Kohima. LEH, the apex Lotha women’s body, was awarded for its endeavour to uplift the community, especially the Lotha women, economically and socially.

LEH had actively participated during the launch of massive Covid-19 awareness and vaccination campaigns across the length and breadth of Wokha district and extended financial assistance to quarantine centres, district hospitals, etc, setting an example of warrior women and empowering and encouraging women through their work.

LEH president Zuchobeni Ezung and her col-

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NEW DELHI/DHORDO, MAR 8 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked financial institutions to consider innovative financing and risk management systems to support new futuristic ideas to meet the emerging needs of the economy.

Stating that implementation of green financing is the ‘need of the hour’ to meet net-zero carbon emissions target by 2070, Modi said financial help should be extended to environment-friendly projects.

“Our financing sector will have to consider innovative financing and sustainable risk management of new futuristic ideas and initiatives,” Modi said in a post-Budget webinar on ‘Financing for growth and aspirational economy’.

He said the success of the reforms undertaken by the government to strengthen MSMEs is dependent on

Women achievers awarded on IWD 2022

(From p-1) Speaking as guest speaker on the occasion, Nagaland Women Voluntary Association president Kaisa Rio said “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” was the United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day this year, adding that climate change and gender inequality were part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

She claimed that as per figures 80% of people displaced by climate change-induced disasters were women and 70% of 1.3 billion people living in poverty were women as the issues were intertwined, stressing that Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality efforts must go hand in hand.

Stating further that studies had shown that women outperformed men in terms of productivity and endurance, Rio mentioned that girls had been repeatedly outperforming boys in scholastic exams for the past several years now even in Nagaland. She encouraged women to work twice as hard to achieve the desired goals. She called for promoting gender equality in towns, villages, churches and homes, underling that it was not only a fundamental

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PM asks financial institutions to consider innovative financing

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

BUSINESS/STATE

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8

Refugees fleeing Ukraine hit 2 million

A woman carried by Ukrainian soldiers while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine, Sunday, March 6, 2022. (AP/PTI)

headed to other cities in Ukraine, but many people have chosen to flee the country instead.

Safa Msehli, a spokesperson for the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, tweeted that 2 million have now fled the country, including at least 100,000 people who are not Ukrainian. With the invasion well into its second week, Russian troops have made significant advances in southern Ukraine but stalled in some other regions. Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers forti-

fied the capital, Kyiv, with hundreds of checkpoints and barricades designed to thwart a takeover.

A steady rain of shells and rockets fell on other population centres, including the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where the mayor reported heavy artillery fire.

“We can’t even gather up the bodies because the shelling from heavy weapons doesn’t stop day or night,” Mayor Anatol Fedoruk said. “Dogs are pulling apart the bodies on the city streets. It’s a nightmare.” In one of the

After TN youth pick arms in Ukraine, more Indians seek to join him

NEW DELHI MAR 8 (AGENCIES): A few Indians, including two naval veterans, have written to the Ukrainian embassy in the Indian capital, seeking visa to travel and fight against the Russians as part of the ‘International Legion of Ukraine’.

The Print spoke to two Indians who have applied for such a visa, including one of the two naval veterans. The development comes even as reports say that a 21-year-old Indian student in Ukraine, Sainikhesh Ravichandran, who hails from Tamil Nadu, joined the Ukrainian army. His family reportedly said that he was rejected twice by the Indian Army and had gone to Ukraine to study but ended up picking up arms.

While Ravichandran has joined directly since he was already present in the war-torn country, the Ukrainian gover nment has issued guidelines for those abroad to join. According to the guidelines, foreigners willing to join the force must first visit

Sainikhesh Ravichandran

the Ukrainian embassy in their country or reach out to them via an email or call.

The volunteers will then be provided with information on the gear that they should possess and an interview with the Ukrainian military attaché will be conducted.

ThePrint reached the Ukrainian embassy in India to understand if it plans to issue visas to Indians who have contacted them for fighting the war, and how many have so far applied. A senior Ukrainian diplomat refused to speak on the issue, but said that the country hasn’t been issuing visas for any purpose for the past few days.

According to the Indian government, Indians aren’t allowed to fight in other countries.

In 2015, the Ministry of Home Affairs had submitted an affidavit in the Delhi High Court stating: “No Indian can be allowed to go to a foreign country with an objective of taking part in the internal affairs of that country because it would adversely impact friendly relations with foreign countries and allowing any Indian to go to another country to take part in a conflict (which amounts to taking part in terrorist activity) would lead to the allegation that the Indian government is promoting terrorism in other countries.”

Speaking to ThePrint, a naval veteran who has applied said he had met with the Ukrainian Defence Attache last week in New Delhi.

According to the retired officer, he was called to the Embassy after he emailed his application giving details of his service record to join the ‘International Legion of Ukraine’, an initiative of the UkrainianDefence Ministry seeking foreign sympathisers to join the war.

most desperate cities, Mariupol, an estimated 200,000 people — nearly half the population of 430,000 — hoped to flee.

Russia’s coordination centre for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk both said a cease-fire was agreed to start Tuesday morning to allow some civilians to evacuate, but it was not clear where all the corridors would lead to, amid disagreement between the two sides.

Russia’s coordination centre suggested there would be more than one corridor, but that most would lead to Russia, either directly or through Belarus.

Ukraine says 400 civilian deaths recorded

Kyiv, Mar 8 (AP): Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has released new estimates of casualties and damage from the Russian war, saying Russian military actions have killed 38 chil-

Xi criticises sanctions on Russia BEIJING, MAR 8 (AP): China says President Xi Jinping has criticised sanctions imposed on Russia over its war against Ukraine as “harmful to all sides,” in a video summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

China has largely backed Russia in blaming the US and its allies for provoking the conflict and has abstained in votes at the United Nations over whether to condemn Moscow for its actions.

In its readout of Tuesday’s conversation, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said Xi expressed “anxiety and deep pain” over the fighting, and urged the sides to pursue peace talks in which he said China was willing to play a role.

Xi gave no indication on what sort of resolution China was looking for and the only details he gave concerned the impact of sanctions.

dren and wounded more than 70.

Overall at least 400 civilian deaths have been recorded and 800 wounded, though “these data are definitely incomplete,” he said in a video address.

It was not immediately possible to verify the figures.

He said Russian strikes have destroyed more than 200 Ukrainian schools, 34 hospitals and 1,500 residential buildings.

He estimated some 10,000 foreign students, notably from India, China and the Persian Gulf are trapped by the fighting, and described attacks on British and Swiss journalists.

He claimed that Ukrainian forces have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops.

“Russian invaders fire on humanitarian corridors through which civilians are trying to escape,” he said, without saying where.

Russian officials did not comment Tuesday and have only acknowledged several hundred deaths among Russian forces.

the request was rejected by the US and NATO. Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that NATO members have the goahead to send fighter jets to Ukraine to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion.

“That gets a green light,” Blinken said to the media when asked whether the Polish government, a member of NATO, could send fighter planes to Ukraine.

Blinken, who was in eastern Europe meeting with US allies, had said NATO countries and members of the Group of 7 are “working together to raise the pressure on Russia, including through additional sanctions, which will be implemented in the coming days”.

The Polish government, however, denied the reports of their willingness to send fighter jets to Ukraine.

There were reports that Poland, Hungary, Bul-

garia and Slovakia could be among those who can provide since they used Soviet era fighter aircraft like Mig-29s and Su-25s that the Ukrainian Air Force also uses.

Not only Poland, but Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia have also refuted all the reports of them sending jets to Ukraine.

Seeing the NATO members’ reluctance, the Ukrainian President expressed his helplessness and displeasure about NATO not coming forward to help.

“There was a NATO summit, a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit where it was clear that not everyone considers the battle for Europe’s freedom to be the number one goal,” Zelensky had stated.

On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the US-led transatlantic military alliance has a “responsibility” to ensure Russia’s offensive “does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine”.

Israeli troops demolish homes of two Palestinian attackers in West Bank

Shell says it will stop buying Russian oil, natural gas

An Iranian rocket carrying a satellite is launched from an undisclosed site.

TEHRAN, MAR 8 (AP): Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency says the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has launched a second satellite into space.

IRNA said the Guard launched the Noor 2 into a low orbit around the Earth. Noor means “light” in Farsi.

The Guard launched its first Noor satellite in 2020, revealing to the world it ran its own space programme. The launch comes amid ongoing talks in Vienna over restoring Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran’s top diplomat at monthslong talks aimed at restoring its tattered nuclear deal with world powers flew home late Monday for a sudden trip, a sign of

the growing pressure on Tehran as the negotiations appear to be nearing their end.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency described Ali Bagheri Kani’s trip as being “within the framework of the usual consultations during the talks.” However, the top negotiator for the European Union seemed to suggest whether the talks succeeded or failed now rested with the Islamic Republic.

“There are no longer expert level talks.’ Nor formal meetings,’” Enrique Mora wrote on Twitter, responding to comments by an Iranian analyst. “It is time, in the next few days, for political decisions to end the (hashtag) Vienna Talks. The rest is noise.”

CoV-2 on the brain in milder cases were unknown until now, and investigating these cases could reveal possible mechanisms that contribute to brain disease or damage.

The study participants were aged 51-81 and underwent two brain scans, on average 38 months apart, as well as cognitive tests.

A total of 401 participants tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 between their two scans, of which 15 were hospitalised.

The remaining 384 individuals, who did not get infected, were similar to the infected group in age, sex, and many risk factors, including blood pressure, obesity, smoking, socio-economic status and diabetes.

The study identified a number of effects, on average 4.5 months following infection, including a greater reduction in grey matter thickness in the regions of the brain associated with smell. The participants who had COVID-19 also displayed evidence of greater tissue damage in regions connected with the primary olfactory cortex, an area linked to smell, and a reduction in whole brain size.

These effects ranged from 0.2 to 2 per cent additional change compared with the participants who

NEW DELHI, MARCH 8 (IANS): Fearing major backlash, the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) members have refused to send fighter jets to Ukraine to fight against Russia despite the US having given a “green signal”.

NATO was created in 1949 by the US, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the then Soviet Union.

There are currently 30 member states.

Ukranian President Volodymr Zelensky wanted his country to be part of NATO to which Russian President Vladimir Putin had opposed, eventually leading to war.

Zelensky sought help from NATO countries in the fight against Russia, but they refused to send jets or directly engage in war.

Zelenskiy was also pushing to declare his country a nofly zone -- which means no Russian aircraft can enter Ukrainian airspace - but

The residences of Mohammed Jaradat and Jit Jaradat in the West Bank were demolished Monday, the military said.

JERUSALEM, MAR 8 (AP): The Israeli military said on Tuesday it has demolished the homes of two Palestinians accused of carrying out a deadly shooting attack in the occupied West Bank last year.

The residences of Mohammed Jaradat and Jit Jaradat in the West Bank were demolished Monday, the military said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Even mild Covid infection can launches 2nd satellite cause brain shrinkage: Study LONDON, MAR 8 (PTI): Even mild infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can lead to shrinkage in brain areas related to smell, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Oxford.

The research, published in the journal Nature on Monday, looked at changes to the brain on average 4.5 months after mild SARSCoV-2 infection.

Using data from 785 participants in the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource, the researchers found tissue damage and greater shrinkage in brain areas related to smell.

This new insight into the damaging effects of COVID-19 will contribute to the overall understanding of how the disease spreads through the central nervous system, the researchers said.

Whether these effects persist in the long term, or are partially reversed, requires further investigation, they said. Previous studies have shown that COVID-19 may cause brainrelated abnormalities, but most studies have focused on hospitalised patients with severe disease, and have been limited to post-infection data. The researchers noted that the effects of SARS-

Fearing backlash, NATO not to send fighter jets to Ukraine

had not been infected.

On average, the participants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 also showed greater cognitive decline between their two scans, associated with the atrophy of a specific part of the cerebellum, a brain structure linked to cognition.

The authors studied people who developed pneumonia not related to COVID-19, showing that the changes were specific to COVID-19, and not due to the generic effects of contracting a respiratory illness. “Using the UK Biobank resource, we were in a unique position to look at changes that took place in the brain following mild-as opposed to more moderate or severe-SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Professor Gwenaelle Douaud, lead author of the study.

“Despite the infection being mild for 96 per cent of our participants, we saw a greater loss of grey matter volume, and greater tissue damage in the infected participants, on average 4.5 months after infection,” Douaud said.

The researchers also showed greater decline in their mental abilities to perform complex tasks, and this mental worsening was partly related to these brain abnormalities.

The men are accused of shooting at a car driving near the outpost of Homesh, killing a Jewish seminary student and wounding two others. During the demolition, the military said armed Palestinians fired at the troops, who fired back.

The military also said dozens of Palestinians threw rocks, firebombs

20 killed in Australia floods

SYDNEY, MARCH 8 (IANS): Flash floods are continuing to lash Australia’s east coast, causing hundreds of people to flee their homes and has so far resulted in the deaths of 13 people in Queensland and seven in New South Wales (NSW), police said on Tuesday.

The police said the latest fatalities include two people, believed to be a mother and her adult son, whose car was swept into a stormwater canal in western Sydney, reports Xinhua news agency.

As of Tuesday, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had issued evacuation orders for regions stretching from the state’s northern border with Queensland through to its southern border with Victoria, with displaced residents being urged to seek shelter in evacuation centres.

NSW SES commissioner Carlene York told local media that they issued 11 evacuation orders affecting over 60,000 people.

York said many roads remained unpassable with helicopters and boats being used for emergencies and the SES was working with telecommunication providers to restore contact in many cut-off communities.

and grenades at the troops who responded with live fire and other means.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Israeli officials say home demolitions deter future attacks, while rights groups view the tactic as a form of collective punishment.

The demolitions came hours after a Palestinian stabbed two police officers in Jerusalem’s Old City before he was shot and killed by police, the second such incident in as many days.

On Sunday, police shot and killed a 19-yearold Palestinian after he stabbed an officer in the Old City.

The officer was lightly injured. Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war.

It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most of the international community.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank and Gaza for a future independent state, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

LONDON, MAR 8 (AP): Energy giant Shell said Tuesday that it will stop buying Russian oil and natural gas and shut down its service stations, aviation fuels and other operations in the country amid international pressure for companies to sever ties over the invasion of Ukraine.

The company said in a statement that it would withdraw from all Russian hydrocarbons, including crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, “in a phased manner.”

The decision comes as surging oil prices have been rattling global markets and just days after Ukraine’s foreign minister criticized Shell for continuing to buy Russian oil, lashing out at the company for continuing to do business with President Vladimir Putin’s government.

“We are acutely aware that our decision last week to purchase a cargo of Russian crude oil to be refined into products like petrol and diesel ,” CEO Ben van Beurden said.

Sri Lankan court releases 11 Indian fishermen

C O LO M B O, M A R 8 (PTI): Eleven Indian fishermen were released on Tuesday on the instructions from a local court, a month after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters, officials said.

The fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on February 7 near the Delft Island in the north. Their three

fishing trawlers were also seized. The fishermen were charged for bottom trawling. “11 Indian fishermen detained in Jaffna prison were released by the Kayts court today. The consulate in Jaffna provided them with the legal assistance by representing their case in the court and facilitated their early release,” the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, Raakesh Natraj Jayabhaskaran, tweeted.

APPRECIATION

The Pathso Range Students’ Union (PRSU) and Pathso Area GBs’ Union (PAGBU) express our deepest appreciation to all the individuals and organizations for undertaking the noble task of widening and clearing the much-neglected road between Pathso and Tsuwao-Lengnyu junction from 17th December 2021 to first week of March 2022. This road is the only road connecting Panso administrative circle and Noklak district headquaters. It may be mentioned that this is the only substantial maintenance all these years, since its construction in the 1970s.

However, with the initiation and logistic of the Pathso Range Public Organisation (PRPO) and major contributor Benie M Lamthiu, General Secretary, Nagaland Football Association (NFA), we are very much happy that the road will now provide greater convenience to the general public. While Benie M Lamthiu contributed the machineries and fuel for the work, many individuals, churches and well-wishers too stepped-in for the project. The PRPO monitored the work during the entire project. We are very much indebted to everyone who participated in the jointventure and wish the best for their endeavour in future.

(L PUKHO) (LIANG) VICE-PRESIDENT, PRSU PRESIDENT, PAGBU

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LVIV, MAR 8 (AP): Buses packed with people fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine left two embattled cities along safe corridors Tuesday, while officials said the exodus of refugees from the country reached 2 million.

The Russian onslaught has trapped people inside besieged cities that are running low on food, water and medicine amid the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II. Previous attempts to lead civilians to safety have crumbled with renewed attacks. But on Tuesday, video posted by Ukrainian officials showed buses packed with people moving along a snowy road from the eastern city of Sumy and others leaving the besieged southern port of Mariupol. It was not clear how long the effort would last. “The Ukrainian city of Sumy was given a green corridor, the first stage of evacuation began,” the Ukrainian state communications agency tweeted.

Those buses are

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INTERNATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

INFOTAINMENT

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TAFMA and KSC celebrate ‘International Women’s Day’

Women taking part at the International Women’s Day celebration at RCEMPA. (NP)

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long with the rest of the world, “International Women’s Day” was celebrated on Monday under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’’ at RCEMPA, Jotsoma, organized by TAFMA and Kohima Science College (KSC).

Principal, KSC, Dr. Lily Sema, who exhorted the gathering delivered a message based on the theme and highlighted that at the present generation, they can consider themselves to be “Gender equality’’, who strive for equality-seeking power to speak up. She maintained that women’s participation in decision-making is critical because they are more likely to consider

their families and communities in the process having unique knowledge and experience. Lily also mentioned that women still remain an integral part of the human community and are fighting for a better world, despite the violence, deprivation and oppression. She urged the women attending the celebration to be ‘change makers’.

A member of the ‘Tetseo Sisters’, Mercy Tetso, who also spoke on the celebration, shared the story of her journey, where their music not only grabbed the attention of people but also has gotten to touch their lives and captivate them.

Describing her family as a music-loving family, she shared glimpses of her childhood where they were

taught to accept themselves and celebrate their passion; and were also instilled a ‘’sense of gender equality’’ in them since childhood.

She further stated that the music they make and stories that get to share would live on forever with no plans to stop.

E a r l i e r, t h e p r o gramme was chaired by vice-principal KSC, Thungbeni Yanthan, who also delivered welcome note. The poetry recital was delivered by assistant professor, Kohima College, Dr. Theyie Keditsu, while a special number was presented by Akhrole Keyho. A special guitar piece was presented

by Imnainla Jamir and vote of thanks was delivered by Aleno Sale (TAFMA).

(Correspondent)

WhatsApp may introduce group polling feature soon

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eta owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to start and take polls in the group chats.

According to a WABetaInfo report, WhatsApp will soon let you type poll questions to send to a group chat. This feature is already available in rival chat app Telegram and even Twitter.

Now, it seems that WhatsApp may roll out this feature to its userbase too.

The report also shared a screenshot, which showcases the “Create Poll” feature on iOS. This was spotted on the apps v2.22.6.70 beta and is currently not available to all beta testers as of right now. WhatsApp is also working on a new interface for voice calling for some beta Android users.

The new interface would be rolled out for both Android as well as iOS users, but currently it is being tested with the beta Android users.

Voice calling would have a new interface when placing voice calls. References for the design change were already found in the in the previous beta updates for iOS and Android users.

The new WhatsApp voice call interface would come with a round grey square in the front and center. It will also house the contact name, number, and profile picture. (IANS)

Alia Bhatt to make Hollywood debut with Gal Gadot-starrer Netflix film ‘Heart Of Stone’

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ollywood star Alia Bhatt will be making foray into Hollywood with Netfilx spy thriller film “Heart Of Stone”.

In her debut project in the West, Bhatt, who is receiving critical acclaim for her latest Hindi release “Gangubai Kathiawadi”, will be starring alongside “Wonder Woman” actor Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan.

Netflix India announced Bhatt’s casting on its official Twitter handle.

“Starting our day by announcing (and SCREAMING!!!) that @ aliaabhatt is going to be starring in Heart of Stone, an International spy thriller along with @gal_gadot and @jamiedornan,” the post read.

Tom Harper will be directing “Heat of Stone” from a script

penned by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder.

According to the official logline, the film revolves around Rachel Stone (Gadot) an intelligence operative, the only woman who stands between her powerful, global, peace-keeping organization and the loss of its most valuable — and dangerous — asset.

The film is produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, along with Mockingbird’s Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, and Pilot Wave’s Gadot and Jaron Varsano.

Har per, Rucka and Patty Whitcher serve as executive producers Details about Bhatt’s character are currently under wraps. (PTI)

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NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

What is gastric cancer?

t’s when healthy cells in your stomach change and start to grow out of control. It tends to slowly get worse over many years.

It can start in any part of your stomach and can spread to other areas of your body, including your liver, lungs, and bones.

Adenocarcinoma This is the most common type of gastric cancer, making up as many as 95% of all cases. It starts in the tissues of your stomach lining, in the cells that make mucus and other fluids.

Other Types Less common kinds of gastric cancer include ones that start in the cells of your digestive tract -- carcinoid tumors and gastric sarcoma -- and lymphomas, which are linked to part of your immune system called lymph nodes.

Who Gets Gastric Cancer?

Around 28,000 people get it each year in the U.S. -- about 60% of people diagnosed with it are over 65. Men are more likely to get it than women. It was the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. until the 1930s, but now it’s the 14th most common type of cancer. Researchers think it may have become less common after refrigerators made it easier to store fruits and vegetables, and people began eating fewer salted and smoked foods Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) This is a kind of bacteria that causes ulcers and inflammation in your stomach, and it’s one of the main causes of gastric cancer. There are different strains, some of which have a higher risk of cancer.

Your doctor can test to see if you have this bacteria. H. Pylori can be treated with antibiotics, which may be another reason this kind of

cancer is less common now than in the 1930s. The only way to know you have this bacteria is with a test. If you have a parent, sibling, or child who’s been diagnosed with gastric cancer, you should get tested.

Medical History You have a higher chance of getting gastric cancer if someone in your family has had it or you’ve had stomach surgery. A few medical conditions also can raise your chances: pernicious anemia (when you’re very low on red blood cells because you need more B12), familial adenomatous polyposis (when you have polyps in areas like your stomach and colon), and achlorhydria (when you don’t have enough of a certain acid in your digestive fluid).

Lifestyle Matters Things you do every day can affect your chances of getting gastric cancer.

Eating a lot of smoked foods, salted fish and meat, and pickled vegetables can boost your risk, along with not getting enough fruit and vegetables. You also might be more likely to get it if you smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, or are very overweight.

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

You may not notice any symptoms -- sometimes it’s not found until it’s spread to another part of your body. But here’s what to look for: Tiredness Feeling bloated or full after you eat even a little Painful heartburn and indigestion Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea or constipation The Diagnosis Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you have and do a physical exam. They’ll ask about your medical history and lifestyle. If they think you might have gastric cancer, they’re likely to recommend that you see a doctor who specializes in digestive issues (a gastroenterologist) for tests.

Endoscopy Your doctor probably will start with this test.

They’ll send a tiny camera through a tube down your throat to look into your stomach. If anything doesn’t look right, they’ll take a tiny piece of tissue -- called a biopsy -- and send it to a lab, where they’ll look for cancer cells in the sample under a microscope.

Other Tests Your doctor might

suggest other ways to get a closer look at any tumor.

This could be a CT (computerized tomography) scan, when several X-rays are taken from different angles and put together to make a more complete picture. Or you might have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make detailed images.

Surgery Your treatment depends on where your cancer is, how far it’s advanced, and your overall health. In most cases, surgery to take out the tumor is the first step. Your doctor also might remove part or all of your stomach or take lymph nodes from other parts of your body to look for signs that the cancer has spread.

Radiation and Chemotherapy You also may have radiation therapy (highpowered X-rays) or chemotherapy (powerful drugs) to shrink the tumor before surgery -- and possibly afterward as well to kill any leftover cancer cells. These two kinds of therapy are often used together.

Other Treatments Your doctor may suggest targeted therapy -special drugs that find and attack cancer cells without harming the healthy cells around them. They also might talk with you about immunotherapy, which helps your body use its natural defenses to fight the cancer.

Clinical Trials Ask your doctor if there are any stomach cancer research trials that might be right for you.

These studies look at new drugs and procedures, so you might get to try the latest treatments.

Gabriela Pichardo, MD

Leonardo DiCaprio donates $10 mn to support Ukraine

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nated actor and producer, winner of a gold statuette for his role in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrit’s ‘Revenant’, he has been writing “actor and ecologist” in the profession column for years.

The artist has long been involved in initiatives devoted to combating the climate catastrophe.

Already in 1998, as a 25-year-old, he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with his family, supporting “sustainable development around the world”. (IANS) OFFICE OF THE

KOHIMA LONGSA SENSO TELONGJEM KOHIMA – 797001, NAGALAND

FELICITATION The office of the Kohima Longsa Senso Telongjem with immense pride and joy, would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to our bonafide member Shri. Rongsennungba, S/o Lt. Masalepden, on being promoted to Director, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Govt. of Nagaland.

It is our sincere prayer that almighty God continue to bless him with good health and success in his future endeavours.

Sd/Sd/Limaonen Imlisunep Pongen President, KLST General Secretary, KLST.

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ollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $10 million to support Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia.

DiCaprio also has a personal motive. The actor’s maternal grandmother, Helene Indenbirken, was born in Odessa as Jelena Stepanovna Smirnova, reports polishnews.co.uk.

In 1917, she emigrated from there with her parents to Germany, where DiCaprio’s mother was born.

Raised mainly by his mother DiCaprio, he was also very close to his grandmother, who was a supporter of his career from the beginning.

His grandmother, who died in 2008 at the age of 93, almost until the end appeared with her grandson and daughter at the premieres of his films, which is reminiscent of the American industry media on the occasion of generous support for Ukraine.

DiCaprio allocated as much as USD 10 million to support Ukraine and did not plan to announce it to the whole world. The information was announced by the International Visegrad Fund -- a project of the Visegrad Group aimed at financial support for international initiatives. Following him, the American media repeated it.

Six-time Oscar-nomi-

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I-League: Rajasthan beat 9-man Aizawl 1-0

NAIHATI (WEST BENGAL), MAR 8 (AGENCIES): Rajasthan United FC picked up their maiden win in the Hero I-League in a heated contest against Aizawl FC at the Naihati Stadium on Tuesday.

With Aman Thapa (37’) scoring the sole goal in the match, the newcomers Rajasthan United registered their first win in the tournament. Aizawl FC created plenty of opportunities but lacked quality while finishing and were unable to get the equaliser.

Rajasthan United FC started the match on the front foot, keeping possession. Defender Mauro dos Santos continued to threaten Aizawl FC’s defence with long passes to the front line. But Aizawl FC kept their calm and kept averting the danger.

The initial 10 minutes remained restricted to the midfield as neither of the two teams were able to produce telling chances.

On the 11th minute, Pritam Singh received the first opportunity for Rajasthan United as the winger ran from the left flank and released a shot from outside the box, but the ball went wide. Aizawl FC remained under pressure as Aman Thapa and

Players of Rajasthan United FC celebrate after scoring a goal.

post.

Aizawl started the second half with attacking intent, looking to quickly cover up the deficit.

Mauro Javier was booked for a challenge on Lalremsanga within two minutes of the second half.

The resulting free-kick provided a chance to Aizawl FC, but the intended shot

by Shaiza from outside the box went above the post again.

On the 55th minute, goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy made an error as he spilled the ball after a free-kick

from Malsawmtluanga, but the Hero I-League newcomers breathed a sigh of relief as Lalremsanga’s half-volley went above the bar. The latter continued to make dangerous penetration inside the box and threaten Aizawl FC’s defence.

Around 10 minutes later, Ambekar sent another terrific low cross inside the box for an unmarked Aman Thapa, but his halfvolley went over the bar and Rajasthan United were unable to double their lead.

Aizawl FC struggled to get

Women’s ODI rankings: Lanning jumps to No 2; Raj, Mandhana slip

Warne would have been a great coach of England: Ponting

DUBAI, MAR 8 (IANS): Australia skipper Meg Lanning jumped two spots while India captain Mithali Raj and opener Smriti Mandhana slipped two places each in the batting chart of the latest ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings released on Tuesday.

Mithali (718 points), who was dismissed cheaply for nine runs while Mandhana (670 points) who hit a fifty (52) in India’s opening women’s ODI World Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday, have slipped to the fourth and 10th spots respectively. On the other hand, pacer Jhulan Goswami (699) was static at fourth in the bowlers’ chart but spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma (310) slipped a spot to the sixth position in allrounders’ rankings.

Notably, the first five games of the ICC event have caused a lot of movement in the latest update of the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings. Australia’s Lanning, who was in sublime touch in the game against

Pritam continued to make dangerous moves inside the defensive third.

At the stroke of halfan-hour mark, Rajasthan United skipper Abhishek Ambekar sent a low ball inside the box for Omar Ramos, but Robert Primus Jr. made the save and denied the newcomers.

In the 37th minute, Aman Thapa finally broke the resistance, heading in the only goal of the match.

At the stroke of halftime, Shilton Dsilva unleashed a shot from outside the box, but the ball went above the

Mithali Raj

England, smashing 86 in 110 balls with seven fours and a six, have climbed up two spots in the rankings for batters. Lanning (727) is now just one position and 15 rating points away from the top spot that’s currently occupied by her teammate Alyssa Healy (742).

The Lanning-led Australia beat England by 12 runs in their first game and the Player of the Match, Rachael Haynes, who slammed a brilliant 130 off 131, climbed six spots and broke into the top 10 to occupy the No7 spot in the rankings with 705 points. The other centurion from the game – England’s Nat Sciver rose

five spots to No 6.

Hayley Matthews of West Indies made considerable gains across the board in the rankings for batters, bowlers as well as all-rounders. Matthews was the Player of the Match in West Indies’ three-run heist against New Zealand - she scored a brilliant 119 to set a target of 260 for the White Ferns and then accounted for the wickets of the in-form Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday. She broke into the top 5 in the all-rounders’ list, climbing six spots to No 4 and rose a massive 12 spots to No 20 for batters and three spots No.10 for bowlers.

SYDNEY, MAR 8 (IANS): Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes legendary spinner Shane Warne would have been able to turn around England’s flagging fortunes if given a chance to coach the old rivals. The 52-year-old Warne, who died on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand after suffering a suspected heart attack on March 4, had confided in close friends before his death that he had ambitions to coach England.

“I’d like to do it, it’s a great time to be England coach… I think I’d do a pretty good job,” Warne told the Sky Sports cricket podcast last month. However, Ponting had not heard about Warne’s ambitions but said he would have made a great coach if given a chance to coach the England side. “He would have made a great coach. He didn’t (talk to me about that) because I would have tried talking him out of it pretty quickly,” the former Australia captain told the ICC website.

NBA: Popovich reaches coaching milestone

NEW YORK, MAR 8 (REUTERS): Dejounte Murray collected 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as host San Antonio held off the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 117-110 on Monday in a milestone result for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The win was No. 1,335 in the regular season for Popovich, allowing him to tie Don Nelson for the NBA record. San Antonio was up by three points heading to the fourth quarter and never allowed the Lakers to get the lead, surviving a ragged final four minutes and a woeful 16-of-30 showing from the free-throw line to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Lakers, who have lost five of their past six games, were without LeBron James, who was held out with a sore left knee after scoring 56 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson scored 18 points each for San Antonio. Talen HortonTucker led Los Angeles with 18 points.

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Dejounte Murray collected 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as host San Antonio beat Los Angeles Lakers 117-110. (AP)

assists for his second tripledouble in as many nights as host Denver beat shorthanded Golden State.

Jeff Green and Monte Morris scored 18 points each for the Nuggets, who have won nine of 10. Jordan Poole had 32 points and rookie Moses Moody scored a career-high 30 for the Warriors, who have lost five straight.

Golden State was without Stephen Curry (hand), Klay Thompson (Achilles),

Draymond Green (back), Andrew Wiggins (foot), Andre Iguodala (back) and Otto Porter Jr. (illness) and Gary Payton II (knee). Denver played without Will Barton, who sprained his left ankle in the team’s overtime win against the visiting Pelicans on Sunday.

Knicks 131, Kings 115 Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley combined for 102 points and New York exploded for 83 in the second half en route to a

come-from-behind triumph over host Sacramento.

Randle put up a career-high 46 points, Barrett chipped in with 29 and Quickley went for a seasonhigh 27 off the bench. Their scoring allowed New York to earn a second win in as many days immediately after a seven-game losing streak.

De’Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 24 points to complement a game-high seven assists.

any momentum going in their attacks as Rajasthan kept hold of the ball for long periods. With around 15 minutes of regulation time left, substitute David Lalhlansanga broke past Melroy Melwin and got a shot away, but failed to trouble the keeper again.

Lalremsanga and Shaiza combined together to initiate an inspiring move with the ball landing on Willis Plaza’s feet. Plaza sent it to Ramlhunchhunga, who pulled the trigger, but it was blocked.

As the clock started ticking down, Aizawl FC started showcasing urgency which led to a few errors.

As things became heated in injury time, Robert Primus was sent off for dissent. A minute later, R Malsawmtluanga was also sent off for a rash tackle on Anil Chawan. The 9-man Aizawl FC defended well in the final two minutes as the full-time whistle blew with Rajasthan United FC earning their first-ever victory in the Hero I-League.

Rajasthan United Football Club will face off against Sudeva Delhi FC on March 11 in their next match, while Aizawl FC will play against RoundGlass Punjab Football Club on the same day.

ICC launches ‘100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket’ on Women’s Day

Team captains at the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

DUBAI, MAR 8 (IANS): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday launched the ‘100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket’ campaign to coincide with the International Women’s Day in order to further promote gender equality and empower women and girls through cricket.

The global governing body for the sport said in a statement on Tuesday that, “The 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket campaign has been introduced to help drive transformative change and be part of accelerating the growth of the game.”

Using the #IDeclare hashtag, the ICC is urging cricket fans worldwide to show what they can do to

“further promote gender equality and further empower women and girls through cricket”.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said he was ‘proud’ of the initiative.

“Cricket has the incredible power and reach to raise awareness and effect change and we’re proud to partner with UNICEF as part of 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket to #IDeclare our commitment to empowering women and girls through cricket,” said Allardice.

“We are committed to gender equity and using the platform of our sport to promote equal opportunities for girls and boys is a great way of doing this.

We will also focus all of our Cricket 4 Good efforts

on this too, ensuring we’re giving as many women and girls the chance to grow through our game.”

Cricket stars currently competing at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand got behind the new campaign, with India captain Mithali Raj one of the first to show her support. #IDeclare -- “I declare that I will scout and train as many young girls as possible to take up this wonderful sport,” Mithali said.

Pakistan Captain Bismah Maroof and Bangladesh seamer Jahanara Alam followed suit shortly after. #IDeclare -- “I declare I will encourage my daughter to play cricket,” Maroof said.

Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test ends in draw

RAWALPINDI, MAR 8 (AP): Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq hit a century in each innings for Pakistan as Australia could bag only four wickets on a docile pitch in the drawn first test on Tuesday.

Imam followed his 157 in the first innings total of 476-4 declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first test since November 2019.

Imam’s opening partner, Abdullah Shafique, also prospered to record his maiden test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when Pakistan finished the fifth and final day on 252-0 in its second innings, leading by 269 runs.

Both teams mutually agreed to end the game with an hour remaining.

Shafique hit 15 fours and a six in his 242-ball knock while Imam was more watchful in raising his hundred and faced 223 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes.

The second opening stand between Imam and Abdullah surpassed Pakistan’s previous best against Australia in 1964 when Khalid Ibadulla and Abdul

FIH Pro League: India and Germany matches postponed BHUBANESWAR, MAR 8 (IANS): The Indian men’s hockey team’s Pro League matches against Germany, to be held here on Saturday (March 12) and Sunday (March 13), have been postponed. The matches have been postponed because of the “high number of Covid-19 cases affecting” the German team.

Because of the large number of cases, the German men’s team decided not to travel to India.

The international hockey federation (FIH) confirmed this development on its official website on Tuesday.

“The FIH, Hockey India and Hockey Germany are already working together to find alternative dates,” the report on the FIH website said.

The German men’s team had last played in the Pro League between February 17 to 21 against France and South Africa at the University of North West, Potchefstroom in South Africa. India too had played the same two opponents at the same venue from February 8-13, 2022.

Imam-ul-Haq, left, celebrates after completing a century during the 5th day of the first test, Tuesday. (AP/PTI)

Kadir combined for 249 in Karachi.

Shafique and Imam also became the first Pakistan opening pair to share a century stand in each innings against Australia after combining for 105 runs in the first innings.

It was a tough start for Australia to resume playing test cricket in Pakistan after 24 years on a benign Pindi Cricket Stadium pitch which didn’t offer any lateral movement to

the visitors’ three frontline pacers or turn to ace spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon bowled 78 overs and conceded 236 runs for the solitary wicket of Shafique in the first innings.

Australia’s innings was wrapped up in the first four overs of the day when it was all out for 459 after resuming on 449-7. Leftarm spinner Nauman Ali took a career-best 6-107 on the grassless pitch to give

Pakistan a 17-run, firstinnings lead.

The 35-year-old Nauman, playing in his eighth test, picked up two of the last three wickets. The tailenders added only 10 runs off 19 balls as Nauman bettered his previous best figures of 5-35, which he took on debut against South Africa last year.

Shafique and Imam accelerated in the middle session as Australia resorted to Lyon and three part-time spinners without any success.

Abdullah raised his century in four hours off 183 balls in the last session when he tucked Cameron Green to fine leg for a single.

Imam took half an hour more to complete back-to-back hundreds by lofting part-time spinner Travis Head over mid-off for two.

The second test begins in Karachi on Saturday.

Lahore stages the final test from March 21-25. The test series will be followed by three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 in Rawalpindi.

Zverev gets additional deferred fine and suspension for Acapulco incident NEW YORK, MAR 8 (IANS): German tennis player Alexander Zverev has received a deferred additional fine of USD25,000 and suspension for a period of eight weeks from any ATP-sanctioned event for his “aggravated behaviour” during the Mexican Open at Acapulco last month.

The 24-year-old world No. 3 Zverev was removed from the tournament after attacking the umpire’s chair with his racquet during an astonishing rant. The Tokyo Olympics champion was furious after him and doubles partner Brazilian Marcelo Melo lost 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 to the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.

Zverev, after congratulating the opponents, had turned his rage towards the umpire, lashing out at the chair with his racquet three times before returning for a fourth crack as the umpire descended the stairs in ugly Acapulco scenes.

On Tuesday, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) -- the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits

Zverev hits the umpire’s chair with his racket after his double match. ( Reuters)

- said it had completed the review of Zverev’s Acapulco Incident, adding that the, “World No.3 receives eight-week suspension and additional fine of USD25,000, deferred across probation period”.

“The ATP’s Senior Vice President of Rules & Competition, Miro Bratoev, has completed his review of Alexander Zverev’s conduct in Acapulco, Mexico, where the player was withdrawn from the tournament for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. The review determined that Zverev committed Aggravated Behaviour under the Player Major Offense section of ATP Rules,” said the state-

ment. “As a result, Zverev has been issued an additional fine of USD25,000 and a suspension for a period of eight weeks from any ATP-sanctioned event.

However, the fine and suspension are withheld on the condition that, over a probation period ending 22 February 2023 (one year from the incident), the player does not incur a further Code Violation that results in a fine for: “Unspor tsmanlike Conduct based upon an act, such as disrespectful or aggressive behaviour directed towards an official, opponent, spectator, or other person during or upon conclusion of a match.

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German Open: Sindhu, Srikanth win

P V Sindhu

Kidambi Srikanth

Ukraine’s WC playoff against Scotland postponed ZURICH (SWITZERLAND), MAR 8 (IANS): The World Cup qualification playoff between Scotland and Ukraine has been postponed after the ongoing conflict in the region.

The Ukrainian national team has requested that their World Cup qualifying playoff tie with Scotland be delayed.

Ukraine and Scotland were due to play on March 24 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, but the Ukrainian FA asked for a postponement and this has reportedly been accepted.

“Football is inconsequential in the middle of a conflict,” a statement said after the request was made to Fifa. The postponement of the match will create a problem for Fifa, given that the World Cup group stage draw is scheduled for April 1, ahead of the tournament starting on November 21.

I f t h i s p l ayo f f i s moved to June then it’ll be played after the World Cup draw has taken place, as the draw is scheduled for April 1.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Bala Devi advises young girls to ignore negative comments and focus on sport NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI): Star India woman footballer Bala Devi on Tuesday advised youngsters to ignore negative comments like “why are girls playing” and rather focus on their sport if they want to achieve success in their career.

Bala, who joined Rangers Women FC of Scotland to become the first Indian woman to sign a professional contract with a European club, said family support is crucial in this regard. “My family supported me throughout but pressure from society was always there. They used to ask ‘why are girls playing? What is the benefit of that?’” she said on the occasion of International Women’s Day. “My parents and I had to hear this a lot but we never answered back.

When I went to play in the U-19 National Championship in 2002, Manipur became the champions and I received the best scorer award, and that is when people stopped asking questions and started supporting me,” she said.

Bala missed out on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosted by the country in January-February as she was recuperating from a surgery. Indian women’s team captain Ashalata Devi said women are not less than men in any way. “We are no less than any men and we are multi-talented. So anyone looks down upon you or says wrong, you

just have to work hard. You need to focus on your dream by putting in a lot of hard work and dedication and keep on moving forward,” she said.

“We, the women are built different, but we can very much achieve what men can, and maybe more. In order to move forward, we need to be one and respect each other.”

Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan felt the young generation should take inspiration from the like of badminton ace P V Sindhu and the women’s hockey team which finished fourth in the Olympics for the first time after 41 years.

“We’ve seen in the Olympics how incredibly our women’s team (hockey) have performed. Obviously, we’ve got P.V. Sindhu as well who’s leading from the front and she set new heights, and is a leading example of how much or how far women can achieve at the International level,” Chauhan said.

India were forced out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a dozen COVID-19 cases among their players led to the cancellation of a group match against Chinese Taipei minutes before kickoff.

It was Sindhu’s 15th win over the world no. 11 Thai player, while Srikanth too extended his head-tohead count over Leverdez to 4-0 after this victory.

Sindhu, a 2019 world champion, will meet either Spain’s Beatriz Corrales or China’s Zhang Yi Man next, while world no. 11 Srikanth will take on China’s Lu Guang Zu. Srikanth, who was forced out of the India Open Super 500 event in January after testing positive for COVID-19, has a 2-0 record against world no. 27 Chinese. The Indian mixed doubles pair of Sai

Pratheek K and N Sikki Reddy, however, endured a difficult time against top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand, going down 19-21 8-21 in their opening match.

Sindhu was playing in a different gear against Busanan, who failed to pose any threat to the Indian during the 32-minute match.

It was a complete domination from the Indian as she moved to 11-4 in no time and soon earned the bragging rights. The second game was also not too different as from 7-5,

Sindhu marched ahead and shut the door on her rival without much ado.

In the men’s singles match, Srikanth looked in good touch as he zoomed from 6-6 to 19-8 in a jiffy and pocketed the opening game comfortably.

Leverdez made a roaring comeback in the second game as he dominated the proceeding and led from the start to finish to make it 1-1. In the decider, Srikanth found his rhythm back as he made his way to 11-5 at the break and kept his nose ahead to soon jump to 18-7 before sealing it comfortably in the end.

Duplantis sets pole vault world record of 6.19m in Belgrade

Asian Youth & Jr Boxing: Mahi, Palak enter final

ICC Women’s WC: Aus cruise to 7-wicket win over Pak

MUELHEIM AN DER RUHR (GERMANY), MAR 8 (PTI): Double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and World Championships silver winner Kidambi Srikanth registered contrasting wins to advance to the second round of the USD 180,000 German Open Super 300 badminton tournament here on Tuesday.

Seventh seed Sindhu trounced Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-8 21-7 in a lop-sided contest after Srikanth, seeded 8th, saw off France’s world no 39 Brice Leverdez 21-10 13-21 21-7 in 48 minutes.

Mondo Duplantis

BELGRADE, MAR 8 (AP): Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis broke his own world pole vault record with a 6.19-meter clearance at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting. Duplantis set the record of 6.18 in February 2020 indoors in Glasgow.

“I’ve tried 6.19 meters 50 times,” the Swede said. “It’s been a long time coming. I’ve never had a height that has given me that much trouble, so it’s a very good feeling. It was really hard fought over these past two years. I’m really happy.”

With all of his opponents finished, Duplantis opened his series with 5.61, 5.85 and 6.00 all on his first tries.

At 6.19, he missed his first two attempts. On his third and final try, he nudged the bar slightly with his knees but it remained in place. He leaped up from the landing mat and punched the air in celebration.

He will retur n to the same Stark Arena in the Serbian capital this month for the world indoor championships starting on March 18.

NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (IANS): Mahi Siwach and Palak Zambre alongside two more Indian junior girls registered sensational victories and entered finals in the 2022 ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday.

Vini (50kg) and Yakshika (52kg) were the other two pugilists to make their way into the finals on the seventh day of the competition. Beginning the day’s proceedings for India, Mahi looked solid in her attack during the 46kg semi-final against Jordan’s Sadeen Alramhi. Her powerful punches were enough to unsettle the local boxer as Mahi continued with her aggressive approach before the referees stopped the contest in the third round.

Next in action, Palak was equally dominant during her 48kg semi-final bout as she outpunched Kazakhstan’s Gaukhar Zarden by a unanimous margin without breaking a sweat.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, MAR 8 (PTI): Opener Alyssa Healy starred with the bat after Australian bowlers produced a clinical display as the six-time champions coasted to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup, here on Tuesday.

Australian bowlers struck at regular intervals, save a fine 99-run partnership between skipper Bismah Maroof (78 not out) and all-rounder Aliya Riaz (53), to restrict Pakistan to 190 for six after skipper Meg Lanning decided to field.

The Australian batters, led by star wicketkeeper Healy (72), who scored a scintillating half-century, then batted comfortably to notch up their second win of the tournament with 15.3 overs to spare.

Australia, who defeated England in their campaign opener, thus moved to the top of the table while Pakistan continued to languish at the bottom. They had lost to India in their tournament-opener.

Alyssa Healy (R) and Rachael Haynes of Australia took the game away from Pakistan.

(Getty Images)

Chasing 191 for the win, Healy and Racheal Haynes (34) shared a 60run stand to provide a steady start to Australia.

Some sub-par fielding

by Pakistan gave the two openers a reprieve each with their catches going down.

Haynes, who scored a century in Australia’s

opening game against England, stayed aggressive but her run-a-ball knock was finally put to an end by spinner Nashra Sandhu (1/30).

Healy and Lanning (35) continued the onslaught with Pakistan bowlers having no answer to the pair with Australia edging closer to victory.

Healy brought up her 14th half-century in only 55 deliveries. She hit seven boundaries in her stay at the middle.

However, spinner Omaima Sohail (2/39) managed to get rid of the Australian skipper in the 22nd over and Healy at the start of the 28th but till then the damage was done

and Ellyse Perry (26 not out) and Beth Mooney (23 not out) had no trouble taking Australia over the line.

Earlier, skipper Maroof and all-rounder Riaz rescued Pakistan from a precarious position to guide them to a respectable total.

With Pakistan teetering at 44-4 after 13 overs, the duo began its rescue act, sharing a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket before Riaz was trapped leg before in the 45th over.

It was Pakistan’s highest partnership at an ICC Women’s World Cup. Maroof, who has returned to play six months after giving birth, was in particular impressive, sending the ball to the fence eight time during her unbeaten 122-ball stay as she ensured Australia would have to score at almost four runs per over to remain unbeaten at the tournament.She celebrated her half-century by pointing her bat towards the pavilion where her sevenmonth-old baby Fatima was present.

Kane grabs double as Tottenham thrash Everton 5-0 Unhappy at Man United, Ronaldo LONDON, MAR 8 (REUTERS): Everton’s Premier League relegation fears deepened considerably as they collapsed to a 5-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Kane scoring twice for the rampant hosts on Monday.

Michael Keane’s calamitous own goal began the rout in the 14th minute and Son Heung-min made it 2-0 before Kane slotted home his first of the evening to make it 3-0.

Halftime substitute Sergio Reguilon made it 4-0 with his first touch of the game and Kane’s sumptuous volley completed a thoroughly miserable trip to the capital for Everton.

Tottenham have now scored nine goals without reply in their last two league games and are level on 45 points with sixth placed West Ham United having played two games less. Everton’s seventh loss in eight league games left them one place and one point above the bottom three and manager Frank Lampard faces a big task to ensure top-flight survival.

The Merseyside club’s 22 points is their lowest ever top-flight haul after 25 games. While Tottenham played fluently in their biggest home league win since 2019, Everton were woeful.

Tottenham fans en-

may join Messi and Neymar at PSG

Kane rounded off the win with a stunning left foot volley.

joyed taunting former Chelsea great Lampard who took charge at the end of January in the wake of Rafa Benitez’s sacking.

Disorganised in defence, lacking bite in midfield and non-existent up front where they did not even manage an attempt on target, they made life easy for Tottenham who are now only three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game more.

“Individual errors led to goals which took the game away from us. It’s

difficult when you’re 2-0 or 3-0 down,” Lampard said. Asked about the prospects of Everton preserving their top-flight status that stretches back to 1954, Lampard pulled no punches. “I could tell there was a fear of relegation when I came in. The base stats don’t lie.

“This challenge isn’t bigger than I expected, I knew it would be.”

Lampard said that Everton were ‘comfortable’ in the opening stages but when Keane, under pressure from Kane, vol-

leyed Ryan Sessegnon’s cross past Jordan Pickford they disintegrated. Three minutes later Kane found Dejan Kulusevski who in turn released Son who netted with a shot Pickford might have saved.

Son wasted another glorious chance soon after before Matt Doherty’s perfectly weighted through ball sent Kane clear on goal and the England skipper was never going to miss. If Lampard had harsh words at halftime it had no effect on his players who switched off immediately

after the interval as Kulusevski slid a ball across the area for Reguilon to slot in.

Kane’s second, in the 55th minute, was the pick of the bunch and took him to sixth on the al-time Premier League scoring list above Thierry Henry with 176 goals.

Watching Doherty’s lofted diagonal ball like a hawk, he let the ball drop over his shoulder before volleying home past his England team mate Pickford who endured a miserable birthday.

LO N D O N, M A R 8 (IANS): Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly pushing to leave Manchester United and join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the end of the season. There have been rumours since Manchester United dropped the 37-year-old for the derby clash with Manchester City on Sunday with interim boss Ralf Rangnick claiming his absence was due to a hip injury, but there were reports that Ronaldo was not injured. Ronaldo is believed to have been left ‘furious’ after being told that he would not be in the squad for the clash at the Etihad Stadium, which resulted in him taking a trip to his native Portugal for warm weather training.

Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to leave Manchester United at the end of the season if they don’t qualify for the Champions League, with a move to PSG high on his agenda, FootballTransfers reports.

Ronaldo has flown to Portugal with his future on his mind and, with United’s Premier League struggles to make a top-four spot unlikely, he is planning his next move. The report adds that a return to Serie A with Juventus has been

Cristiano Ronaldo

ruled out, while a reunion with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon is also highly unlikely.

As a result, CR7 is courting a move to Paris which would see him sensationally team up with Lionel Messi and Neymar at the Ligue 1 giants in a dream forward line.

Manchester United have been disappointing since

Ronaldo’s return, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being sacked in December to be replaced by veteran coach Ralf Rangnick.

Ronaldo’s form has suffered since the German became interim boss, and the Red Devils are currently in fifth, one point behind Arsenal, while the Gunners have three games in hand.

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