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DIMAPUR thursday, september 15, 2016
Vol XXVI No. 279
Develop sense of unity: Acharya
STRESSES ON PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT PROGRAMMES Nitte University vice chancellor, Dr. S. Ramananda Shetty, said the university did not like to be tagged only with the health science tag and therefore added other subjects including language centre. He informed that NAMASTE centre was introduced with the initiative of the Nagaland Governor P.B Acharya, and there were already 120 students (non-Northeast) undergoing six months certificate course. Dr. Shetty expressed the hope that once the people in the mainland learnt the languages of the North East, it would help in cultural integration and ultimately lead to national integration. The interaction programme was attended by representatives of Nitte University, Mangalore led by its vice chancellor Dr. S Ramananda Shetty, vice chancellor of The Global Open University Nagaland (TGOUN) HN Dutta, pro-vice chancellor of ICFAI University, Prof. Alexander and representatives from major colleges in the state besides Governor, P. B. Acharya, and minister of school education and SCERT, Yitachu. After the interaction, both sides agreed to hold collaborative research on the rich culture of the region and also the different herbal plants available in the region.
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High literacy rate with lack of jobs can be a liability: Zeliang
India declares itself free from bird flu virus
NEW DELHI, SEP 14 (PTI): India has declared itself free from the highly contagious avian influenza (H5N1) or bird flu even as it stressed the need for continued surveillance. “India has declared itself free from avian influenza (H5N1) from September 5, 2016 and notified the same to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),” the Department of Animal Husbandry under the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. In a letter to Chief Secretaries of states, the Centre has emphasised the need for “continued surveillance especially in the vulnerable areas bordering infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds”. India had notified outbreak of avian influenza on May 9, 2016 at Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka. In areas on the one-kilometre radius of the outbreak location, the government took measures, including culling, disinfection and clean-up, to contain the spread of avian influenza. “Post the surveillance, the state has shown no evidence of presence of the disease... There has been no further outbreak reported in the country thereafter,” the ministry said. Bird flu affects mainly the domestic poultry. The disease spreads from infected birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory secretions and also due to contamination of feed and water.
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Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 14 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang has expressed serious concern at the growing literacy rate in the state, which he said could later become a liability if the educated youths do not find means to support themselves financially through constructive activities. He was speaking as the chief guest at the Fresher’s Day cum Annual Day of Unity College and Unity College Teachers Education at the college premises, Residency colony, Dimapur, Wednesday. He said, “Although it statistically sounds good that Nagaland has got a high literacy and matriculate rates, this trend could become a burden if our youths are unemployed”. While lamenting that there was over one lakh educated unemployed youths in Nagaland, Zeliang said such pressing problem indicates that there could be something wrong or some inadequacy in the education system. Zeliang was of the view that excess importance given to academics only, rather than training and skilling the students, could be have been one of the root cause for unemployment in the state. He said true education should equip students with the right skills, relevant to the present situ-
Zeliang along with his cabinet colleagues and others after unveiling the plaque of the newly constructed Academic block. (NP)
KOHIMA, SEP 14 (NPN): Nagaland Gover nor, P.B. Acharya maintained that people-to-people contact through educational and cultural exchanges would develop a sense of unity and oneness among the people of North Eastern states and mainland India. Speaking at an interaction programme between the representatives of Nitte University, Mangalore and educational institutions of Nagaland at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday, the Governor
called upon universities in the mainland to take up contact programmes in the North East region as part of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR). Acharya pointed out that even though Nitte University was a science and health institute, it has understood the responsibility and for which it has opened the NAMSATE centre for promoting tribal languages of the north east region. He said the NAMASTE Centre offers a certificate course in Mao, Khasi, Meitilon and Assamiya languages.
ation with the right attitude and mindset towards work to face actual life situations. Two generations back, a person with simple pass could secure a white collared job. However, times have changed now, as a student who secures 99 percent still find difficult to get a job, he said, adding “there is no room for the lazy ones”. The chief minister stressed on the need to have more vocational and skill oriented courses. Taking cue of the college motto “Strive for Excellence”, Zeliang urged the students to be prepared for the future saying, “youths are the asset of the people and students are the leaders of tomorrow”. Zeliang also congratulated the college for being ac-
credited the ‘B-Grade’ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and for becoming the first private college in Nagaland to offer Post-Graduate degree course. Earlier, Zeliang unveiled the plaque for the newly constructed Academic Block. Meanwhile, Home minister Y. Patton who also accompanied Zeliang, inaugurated the newly constructed girls’ hostel building. Unity College chairman, N. Mhonlumo Ovung gave the chairman’s report while Unity College principal, Dr. Sanjay Chabra presented the academic report. The chief minister was accompanied by a host of ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
KLNLF restricts overloaded sand laden trucks
Speaker admits no-confidence Close down family planning sterilisation camps: SC motion against Meghalaya CM
Correspondent
Correspondent
Pfutsero public seek Governor’s action on bad road
DIPHU, SEP 14: Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) has restricted movement of overloaded sand laden trucks to Nagaland, allowing maximum capacity load of only 12 cubic meter or 420 cft sand at a time. KLNLF defense secretary, P. Dili in a press note informed that the restriction has been put in place as overloaded trucks were responsible for damaging roads, causing serious threat to the public and students who commute through NH-36 and NH39. It further ordered trucks to cover the sand/body with tarpaulin “to maintain pollution safety” and to carry transit pass and valid documents of goods. Asking all sand suppliers/truckers to strictly adhere to the order, KLNLF warned that it would impose blanket ban on supply of sand if the norms were violated.
SHILLONG, SEP 14: Meghalaya Assembly on Wednesday admitted a no-confidence motion against the council of ministers headed by Mukul Sangma-led Congress government for its failure on all fronts. Speaker Abu Taher Mondal has fixed the no-confidence motion to be taken up on Thursday after 12 noon. On Monday, three opposition legislators- James Sangma of National People’s Party, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit of Hill State People’s Democratic Party and Jemino Mawthoh of United Democratic Party served a notice for moving a noconfidence motion against the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government. Mondal admitted the no-confidence motion after 14 opposition members comprising of eight UDP legislators, four HSPDP legislators and two NPP legislators supported it. Interestingly, two opposition independent legislators Saleng Sangma and John Leslee K. Sangma were conspicuous by their absence. However, chief minister Mukul
Acharya and Yitachu interact with media persons at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on Wednesday. (NP) Correspondent
UGC on scholarship
DIMAPUR, SEP 14 (NPN): University Grants Commission (UGC) has clarified that students who have applied or wished to apply for scholarship/fellowship “shall not be denied benefit due to non availability of Aadhaar No./Card”, DIPR report stated. UGC further stated in such an eventuality, the applicant will have to provide alternate means of verification of identity and bank account to the satisfaction of the competent authority.
This is it!
“Look 60% off. Better rush before they’re sold out. I wish they have the offer everyday.” K Y M C
Governor said the course was introduced on August 12, 2015 with faculties appointed from the respective tribes. Acharya stated that if a person accepted tribals as equal citizens, then there should be no feeling of superiority in the mind since it destroys the emotional integrity. He reiterated that students in the universities should not only focus on earning money, but should also think of national integration and make the society rich. Governor said “this concept was missing in the university education”.
Sangma termed the no-confidence brought by the opposition benches was nothing new to his government. “This is not the first time that this government is confronted by such situation. The no confidence motion against my government is also an indication that we are yet to get out of the symptom inflicted by political instability that the state in the past years has been confronting with,” he told journalists. However, the chief minister said that there are many priorities for both the ruling side and the Opposition to focus. “I leave to the wisdom of the Opposition whether it is appropriate for them to take up issues in the House through no confidence motion,” Sangma said. When asked if the no confidence motion moved by the Opposition members was influenced by the members from the treasury bench in the backdrop of the rebellion against him, Sangma said, “My job is to ensure that the whole MUA stands untied and response to all issues raised by the opposition. How we do it and how we handle everybody is an internal exercise.”
NEW DELHI, SEP 14 (IANS): The supreme Court on Wednesday asked the central government to persuade the states to halt the holding of sterilisation camps with well-equipped primary health care centres taking over the role. The court also asked the central government to take a decision by December 31, whether it would like to frame a National Health Policy or not. “The Union of India should make efforts to ensure that sterilisation camps are discontinued as early as possible but in any case within the time frame (of three years) already fixed,” said a bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit in their judgment. Calling for a decision on the National Health Policy, the court said: “We have already expressed our sadness at the fact that the National Health Policy has not yet been finalized despite the passage of more than one and a half years.” Besides calling for a halt to the sterilisation camps, the court said that there should not be any targets for the implementation of the sterilisation programme. “Although the Union of India has stated that no targets have been fixed for the implementation of the
sterilization program, it appears that there is an informal system of fixing targets,” said Justice Lokur speaking for the bench. “We leave it to the good sense of the each state government and union territory to ensure that such targets are not fixed so that health workers and others do not compel persons to undergo what would amount to a forced or non-consensual sterilisation merely to achieve the target.” Pointing to the policy imperative of increasing the proportion of male sterilisation from existing five per cent to 30 per cent, the court said: “Coercive methods are not justified and are not even effective in meeting the goals of population control. Improved access, education and empowerment should be the aim. “The right to health is an integral part of the right to life does not need any repetition.” Referring to 363 deaths that have taken place due to sterilisation procedures during 2010-2013, the court said that discontinuation of sterilisation camps would “necessitate simultaneous strengthening of the Primary Health Care centres across the country both in terms of infrastructure and otherwise so that health care is made available to all
persons”. Stressing that the significance of well-equipped PHCs across the country “certainly cannot be overemphasised”, the court said: “We direct the Union of India to pay attention to this as well, since it is absolutely important that all citizens of our country have access to primary health care.” Referring to the submission of the central government in the course of the hearing that as a matter of public health issue, sterilisation programme was the responsibility of the states, the court said that it could not pass the buck of its failure of giving national campaign for population control and family planning the importance it deserved. “It is rather unfortunate that the Union of India is now treating the sterilisation program as a public health issue and making it the concern of the state government. This is simply not permissible and appears to be a case of passing the buck,” the court said. “This game of passing the parcel and treating a national program as a public health issue has to stop and somebody must take ownership of the Population Control and Family Planning programme.”
6 eastern student bodies back ENCSU demand 1 held for selling expired medicine DIMAPUR, SEP 14 (NPN): Six apex tribal student bodies’ forum of the Eastern Nagaland has strongly supported the Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU)’s demand for 15% reservation for backward tribes (BTs) in the NSSE II exam and appealed to the state cabinet to consider the plea of the ENCSU “so as to safeguard the interest of the poor backward students of Nagaland.” In a joint press release, Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) president Loungai Wangnao, Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) vice president Kelep Chang, Khiamniungan Students Union (KSU) president Hatho Khiam, Yimchunger Akhiru Arihako (YAA) president Solumba Yim, Phom Students’ Conference (PSC) president Hongkam Ngongen and the United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) president Thrikyuse Sangtam opined that the ENCSU was demanding only for its due share but nothing beyond.
They said “the same should not be conceptualized on a negative footing by any civilized Naga society as well as the state government.” Six bodies pointed out that the department while claiming to have adhered to the Medical Council of India (MCI) rules was “involved with its manipulative game every minute.” They said the department should understand that the MCI guidelines mentioned nothing on the reservation. The signatories also accused the department of “totally and intentionally” failing to adhere to the government notification No.RCBT-5/87 (Pt-II) dated September 4, 2015. “Such manipulative and instigative attitude of the department will not be tolerated at any cost,” they maintained. The forum warned the department to “totally abstain from making/preparing manipulative rules every minute so as to counter back upon the aggrieved people.” It asserted that the de-
partment “in utmost chaos and confusion” was claiming to have adhered to two sets of rules (MCI rule and departmental manipulative rules). The six students organization pointed out that the state selection board had been fully authorized and endorsed upon for the selection of the candidates. Therefore, the forum said board should be held fully responsible “for such manipulative deprivation.” Expressing surprise that the department had followed both the state rules and the MCI rules, the presidents of six student bodies questioned “on the viability in following two sets of rules on one exercise.” Further, they expressed surprise at the recent declared results “where the magic number had taken place miraculously.” “On the contrary, it also places the question upon the department on those additional and unearthed 9 seats that had suddenly popped up after
the declaration of the results,” the release stated. The forum asked as to why the department “on the pretext of 50/50 miracle” was reluctant to allocate/ accommodate those nine additional seats to the deserving candidates? They stated that under the direction of Supreme Court, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has given free hand to conduct its own exam in all the respective states of India. However, the signatories said that on the contrary, the department claimed to adhere to the MCI rules. Asserting that career and future of students “cannot be ruined by such silly jokes”, the six student bodies have questioned the sincerity of the department on the issues. Meanwhile, the six Eastern Nagaland students’ bodies appealed to all the backward tribes of Nagaland to join hands in voicing out for their rights “least your silence will be misunderstood in the future.”
A pharmacy at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima.
Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEP 14 (NPN): In a delayed report, a salesman of a government registered pharmacy located at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima was arrested for allegedly selling expired medicine to a patient on Tuesday. When contacted SDPO and PRO Kohima, Atu Zumvu told Nagaland Post that the victim’s family filed an FIR on September 13 afternoon and accordingly police registered a case and apprehended the 28-year old salesman, identified as Mithun Bhowal. PRO informed that the victim, a minor, who was an outdoor patient, went to the pharmacy to buy medicine for dysentery. However, after consuming the medicine, PRO said the victim suffered severe vomiting. Upon realizing that the medicine was expired, the victim’s family filed a complaint at the South police station. Subsequently, Police along with the Drug Inspector inspected the pharmacy and found that particular tablet was expired. As a punitive measure, police sealed the pharmacy, which was opened only on Wednesday evening, PRO said. As investigation was on, police said that the proprietor of the pharmacy would also be examined.
DIMAPUR, SEP 14 (NPN): Pfutsero public in a representation urged upon Nagaland Governor to initiate necessary measures on the deplorable road along NH-29 especially Kohima- Pfutsero- Jessami, which was totally neglected by Border Road Organization (BRO). The signatories- Pfutsero Town Citizens’ Welfare Forum, head GB Pfutsero town, Pfutsero Town Colony Chairmen Union and Pfutsero Mothers’ Association stated that Pfutsero town, the commercial and educational hub of the Phek district, was well connected to the state capital Kohima (70 km), district headquarter Phek (72 km) and Tadubi in Manipur (35 km). However, they claimed that the NH - 29 from Dimapur to Jessami in Manipur, especially Kohima-Pfutsero- Jessami stretch was in deplorable and pathetic condition due to sheer negligence by BRO. They further claimed that the RCC bridge near Chakhabama collapsed in 2007 and the bridge constructed between Mesulumi and Enhulumi was “abruptly “left behind with no remedial measures initiated. The signatories also criticized the BRO for not carrying out any “visible work” even after work order amounting to Rs. 1.48 crores for upgradation of the KM 62.0 to 67.5 in the vicinity of of Pfutsero town was approved by MoST and NH Government of India in 2011. They said that only through the initiative of local MLA and parliamentary secretary for planning & coordination, monitoring cell & evaluation and taxes, Neiba Kronu and concerned citizens and youth bodies, the stretch of NH-29 within the vicinity of Pfutsero town had been widened and drainage work was completed. However, they said that fund constraints have thrown a “spanner in the works”. The signatories stated that since upgradation and maintenance of NH 29 was the sole responsibility of the BRO, the BRO should immediately execute black topping along with “concretization of drainage of the recently widened road”. K Y M C