Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 88
DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020 Pages 16 ` 5.00
Govt permits NRIs to own up to 100% stake in Air India
Chelsea dump Liverpool out of FA Cup
MP: Cong alleges poaching by BJP; Nath says govt has majority
NATIONAL, PAGE 9
SPORTS, PAGE 16
NATIONAL, PAGE 10
India’s COVID-19 cases rise to 29
NEW DELHI, MAR 4 (AGENCIES): The number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 29, including 16 Italians touring through Rajasthan, the government announced on Wednesday as consternation bordering on panic over the contagious disease with flu like symptoms spread across the country. All international passengers will henceforth be screened at airports, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said at a press conference. With Holi less than a week away on March 10, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders said they would not celebrate the festival of colours or hold any Holi Milan gathering. “Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence this year, I have decided not to participate in any ‘Holi milan’ programme,” the Modi tweeted. As the Centre, the Delhi government and several state governments held a flurry of meetings, ecommerce payment system
Govt must hold wider consultation on NLTP Act: NMA DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has conveyed its serious concern over poor implementation of Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 and reiterated its earlier stand that the state government must hold wider consultations for reviewing the Act. In a statement, the association explained that certain laws like NLTP Act were made at certain stages of Naga history, adding that it had supported the stand of Nagaland Baptist Churches’ Council (NBCC) then. However, according to NMA, the rampant availability of spurious liquor that had posed a serious threat to the health of many and the shocking media disclosures of the existence of alcohol syndicates operating with impunity and trading in spurious liquor with connivance of State agencies, was a wakeup call for the State government and all citizens on the issue. Admitting that loopholes in the Act had encouraged violators to go scot free or with light punishment, NMA demanded that these loopholes must be reviewed.
Digital smart board H&FW dispels rumours for smart classrooms of COVID-19 case in Kma launched at KSC DIMAPUR/KOHIMA,
Paytm said an employee in Gurgaon has tested positive for the coronavirus. Health Ministry official also confirmed this as the 29th infected person. Talking to media persons, Union Health minister said the government has adopted a cluster approach, as part of which health authorities will check and sensitise every household within a three kilometre radius of the house of the infected person. As Indians all
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over come to grips with the global epidemic, the health crisis was discussed at a meeting of the Union Cabinet. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said over six lakh people had been screened for coronavirus symptoms in 21 airports. Briefing reporters, Information and Broadcasting minister said more than 10 lakh people entering India from the open borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar have also been screened.
While only the national virology institute based in Pune is fit for conducting coronavirus tests, the government has now set up 15 more labs and is in the process of establishing 19 additional centres, he said. Many people across the country went into panic mode and started stocking up on hand sanitisers and masks. Many shops, including in the national capital, said stocks of both had run out. (More on p-10)
MAR 4 (NPN): Following rumours in social media regarding a coronavirus infected person being admitted at Naga Hospital Kohima, Health & Family Welfare department said it was absolutely false and asserted that no COVID-19 case has been reported in Nagaland so far. H&FW principal director, Dr. Vizolie Soukhrie reiterated that Nagaland has not yet encountered any suspected case nor sent any sample for confirmation. The department has therefore appealed to the public to refrain from posting false and fabricated information in relation to COVID-19 in social media. When contacted, H&FW deputy director and spokesperson on coronavirus, Dr. Nyan Kikon informed Nagaland Post that all entry points to Nagaland were being strictly monitored since January. For any queries and verification, the department could be contacted at (24x7) 7005415243, 9856071745 and 7005536953.
WC warn ‘ringleaders’ of working against ILP DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): Drawing attention on video clips that went viral on March 1, showing some people preventing Nagaland registration vehicles from either entering Assam at Lahorijan near Nagaland gate, in protest against implementation of ILP in Dimapur, Working Committee (WC) of NNPGs has cautioned it will probe and unmask the “ringleaders”. In a statement WC said it will “investigate, monitor and identify those ringleaders sitting in Dimapur and who are instigating their colleagues at Lahorijan area to oppose implementation of ILP in our land” and then will not hesitate to “shut down the business outlets of these members.” While reaffirming mutual respect and co-existence among Nagas, Dimasa, Karbis, Kacharis and Ahoms for centuries despite trials and tribulations, WC said the existence as friends and neighbours was now put to test by unabated influx of illegal immigrants to Assam and Nagaland from Bangladesh. Therefore WC said it
has become utmost necessity strengthen the age-old bond between the indigenous people of north east India as “ we cannot be at loggerheads because of illegal immigrants.” WC also warned that the video clips was a “grim reminder, that indigenous people in NE are being pushed to the corner and therefore, appropriate response is required”. According to WC, there was not a single person resembling a tribal on that Sunday. WC said a few hundred illegal immigrants gathered to block Nagas travelling in Nagaland registered vehicles from going towards Assam was not a positive sign. It said any issue between Nagas and Ahoms can be resolved any day and urged Assamese people that the incident was “a red flag because the enemy is now outnumbering you and becoming aggressive”. WC further warned that Nagas and indigenous Assamese “must realise the danger of nursing poisonous reptiles in our kitchen.” WC is the probe unmasks the ringleaders in Dimapur and surrounding areas, it will not
hesitate to shut down the business outlets that “they will be thrown out of our land.” WC also cautioned all non-tribal people in Nagaland against opposition to ILP either in words or action otherwise it will be taken as an affront on Naga people’s aspiration and their long political struggle. WC also informed that it had met with Ahom revolutionary leaders, CSO leaders and positively shared common concerns and reassured neighbours in Assam and other states, that Nagas stand prepared to partner indigenous peoples in the region to “weed out all illegal immigrants, the landless troublemakers for good.” WC also urged both governments of Assam and Nagaland to adopt a common stance along the border which is being swamped by illegal immigrants and resulting in indigenous communities becoming subservient to the landless immigrants. It reiterated that “ancestral land and indigenous peoples interest must be safeguarded at all cost.”
Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 3 (NPN): Nagaland topped in the North Eastern and Hill States category in National e-governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) with 0.47 points, followed by Assam and Manipur with 0.28 and 0.23 scores respectively. This was announced in National e-Governance Conference in Mumbai recently. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio informed this during the launch of Statewide Interactive Digital Smart Board for Smart Classrooms at Kohima Science College (KSC), Jotsoma on Wednesday. Addressing the gathering, Rio acknowledged efforts of higher& technical education and tribal affairs minister Temjen lmna Along for taking keen interest in the project, stressing that use of smart boards and smart classrooms resulted in curtailing teaching costs and helped reduce expenditure on teaching
COVID-19: AYO urges govt to initiate all preventive measures DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): Expressing serious concern over the devastating outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), also referred to as corona virus, Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) urged the State government and its departments concerned to initiate all necessary preventive measures and exercises, to which it offered its unconditional support. AYO asserted that the state should put its best foot forward to prevent the spread of the global catastrophe and take precautionar y measures to protect Nagas from COVID-19. In a statement AYO president Kekhrie Pfukha and vice-president Neidilhoutuo Sechü, also noted that the outbreak had been declared as “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” by World Health Organisation on January 31. (Cont’d on p-10)
Neiphu Rio. (NP)
materials and aid. He claimed that implementation of biometric attendance systems installed in almost all State government departments and directorates, monitoring of flagship programmes through use of technology, CM Dashboard for proper monitoring of schemes, etc, had led Nagaland to top the States in NeSDA. He asserted that the focus of PDA government was improving governance and ensuring that the departments functioned with transparency and accountability. Accordingly and to leverage information technology for good governance, the chief minister said all departments had updated their websites, besides his government was also ensuring that all departments had presence on social media platforms, especially on Facebook and Twitter, through which the
departments were communicating with citizens. Besides introduction of technology in governance, Rio claimed his government was also focusing on improving education by leveraging technology and had enabled Geo-tagging of schools and data with regard to deployment of teachers in various schools, which were also made public on a Geo spatial platform that would ensure that the teachers actually taught in the schools. He pointed out that digital classroom solutions had the potential of enabling live, distance communication learning and education that could also be used for live webinars and lectures. He exuded confidence that the teachers and students would make full use of the facility and make learning more modern and fun. While congratulating the higher education and information technology departments and all those associated with the project for making the dream of technology-enabled education a reality in the classrooms, Rio hoped this would go a long way in improving the quality of education in the (Cont’d on p-10) State.
87 cases of human trafficking registered from 2017-19 in state
John Longkumer addressing the conference at Police Complex. (Nagaland Police)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): State DGP, T.J. Longkumer Wednesday informed that 87 cases of human trafficking had been registered across Nagaland during 2017-2019. Informing this during the State level conference on “anti human trafficking” at Police complex, Chumoukedima, organized by the state police under the aegis of Home ministry (women safety division) Longkumer said North East was identified as one of the most vulnerable regions for human trafficking due to disparities of wealth and lack of employment and Nagaland was also identified as
one of the leading points of origin. “India is one of the most affected nations being both a destination as well as the place of origin for trafficked people. 2016 NCRB data indicates that 15,379 people were trafficked in India”, he added. While informing that a person goes missing every fourth day in Nagaland, wherein 83% were below the age of 18 years and 13% of the missing persons in Nagaland have been reportedly trafficked, Longkumer assured that the state police had devised several mechanisms, the primary being the formation of “anti-human trafficking cells” in every district with a senior Police officer as designated head. He stated that legal provisions of the Indian Penal Code are exercised and that, 84 cases out of 87 mentioned earlier have been registered under protection of children from sexual offences act (POCSO) Act, 2012. “Monitoring tools like anti-human trafficking portal are being used and social media is utilised to reach out to different sections of the society”, he (Cont’d on p-10) said.
NSF clarifies stand on Feb 22 ultimatum to govt Need to streamline ILP implementation: NPF
DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has clarified that it had submitted an ultimatum to the State on setting up Staff Selection Board (SSB) because the (Cont’d on p-10) government had not met its legitimate demand so far. In a statement issued by its president Ninoto Awomi and general secretary Liremo R Kikon, the federation also noted that NSF along with its federating units and subordinate bodies had taken note of the resentment raised by some organisations. However, NSF clarified that the signature appended by the federating units outside the present State of Nagaland did not mean that by appending signatures they would benefit anything “Checking identities of or get job opportunity under passengers is a tough exams conducted by the projob now. Thanks to this posed SSB of Nagaland. coronavirus.” Mentioning that it was
This is it!
Nagaland tops NeSDA in NE: Rio
clear on this, NSF asserted that it only showed that the federation stood united as a collective whole and for which the decision of the ultimatum was endorsed unanimously by all the members present during the presidential council meeting of NSF held on February 22 besides other issues that were discussed. NSF explained that the sole purpose of demanding setting up of SSB was to curb rampant backdoor appointments that had deprived hardworking youth from appearing for proper selection process. It was a fact that rampant backdoor appointment was sabotaging meritocracy in the State. And unless it was controlled, the corrupt system would only push the State backward. Hence, the ultimate purpose was to encourage and promote competitive mindset among the youth
at all levels, the statement added, NSF clarified that the setting up of SSB should not cast any apprehension as the motive was only to ensure that every educated youth of Nagaland got equal job opportunity in matters of public employment as per law. Mentioning that setting up of SSB would not affect reservation under backwards quota, including reservation for persons with disabilities, the federation asserted that it had a clear vision with the sole target of protecting equal rights of all Naga youth of Nagaland in matters of public employment. The federation urged the Nagas not to succumb to confusion and also to be aware of divisive forces that would break the federation apart. “We appreciate con-
DIMAPUR, MAR 4 (NPN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) said it was concern over the recent reports of “random and haphazard process” of Inner Line Permit checking in Dimapur, where innocent citizens were hauled to the district commissioner’s office and a fine imposed on them. NPF, through its press bureau, said the party was one of the proponents and still support extension of ILP coverage to Dimapur district, since it is the area that is most effected and vulnerable to illegal migration. However, it said the “implementation of ILP should not be used as an instrument to harass genuine non-Naga inhabitants of Dimapur or as a means to line the pockets of few unscrupulous people.” It reminded all to ac(Cont’d on p-10) knowledge the contribution
structive criticisms; however, the target on focus at large should not be compromised in the confusion. Further, as per the consultative meeting held on March 4 with the federating units and subordinate bodies at NSF headquarters, Oking Naga Club Building, Kohima, the House reiterated the ultimatum served to the chief minister of Nagaland with legitimate demands to be considered at the earliest,” the statement read. Noting that the ultimatum had created mixed opinions in some public fora over inclusion of signatures of its federating units outside Nagaland and thereby diverting from the main issue, NSF reminded everyone that it was formed in 1947 by the pioneers to defend the rights and aspirations of the Nagas, irrespective of artificial boundaries.
of several pioneering nonNaga prominent citizens who had been inhabitants of Dimapur even before statehood. NPF pointed out that the process of differentiating genuine non-Naga inhabitants of Dimapur from those who had recently arrived had not been streamlined. Unless a proper mechanism is put in place, to ensure the security of genuine citizens while weeding out those who fall under the ambit of ILP, it will only be a farcical exercise, it added. It further stated that unnecessary upheaval in the society due to improper implementation of ILP rules, which was yet to be formulated to its maturity, had already tarnished the image of the district administration, PDA government and the Nagas as a whole in the psyche of the larger
community. Calling for peaceful coexistence with all sections of people in the state as well as the neighboring communities, NPF said this position must not be jeopardized by knee-jerk or reactionary actions that might have repercussions in the long run. While affirming its commitment towards implementation of ILP in Dimapur district, NPF said it was ready to co-operate or participate in any exercise to ensure its success. However, it said a more thorough preparatory groundwork was needed before the actual implementation. In this regard it advised the PDA government to initiate appropriate measures so that desire of the Nagas for ILP coverage in Dimapur district was realized without relegating the process to a mockery of the government. K Y M C