August 3rd, 2015 by The Morung Express

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The Morung Express

Dimapur Vol. X issuE 210

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Monday, August 3, 2015 12 Pages Rs. 4

Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice; journalism what will be read once — Cyril Connolly

NVCO releases book, draws attention to illegal taxation

Monsoon Fury : At least 81 die in floods [ PAGE 8]

[ PAGE 2]

Arsenal beat Chlsea to win Community Shield [ PAGE 12]

ensf detects ‘anomalies in state reservation system

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An old man weaves a basket of cane and bamboo at his home at Dzülake village. Dzülake, which is around 15 kilometers away from Khonoma village and also borders Peren district, is a hot-spot for bird watching and butterfly spotting. Photo by Viketu Atubu Liegise

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

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DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): The Nagaland state unit of the BJP has asked the state government to review the law and order situation in the state and accordingly give its opinion to the centre with regard to the extension of the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) Nagaland. A press note from the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland BJP All the rooms are equipped also appealed to the armed with bath, phone, TV, Ac forces to be “sensitive” to and hostel. public sentiments and exercise restraint on civilians carrying out their duThe Morung Express while ties under AFSPA. Poll QuEsTion It reminded that prior Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Is reconciliation and unity among the Nagas a primary requirement in resolving the IndoNaga political issue? Yes

others

Is increasing taxes the best way to generate additional revenue for the Nagaland state government? Yes

10% 76%

no others

14%

Details on page 7

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nagaland BJP asks state govt to review law & order situation

‘Solar flow’ to outperform traditional batteries NEw YoRk, AUGUST 2 (IANS) Combining a solar cell and a battery into a single device, researchers have developed a design that is 20 percent more efficient than today’s traditional batteries. “That 20 percent energy saving comes from sunlight which is captured by a unique solar panel on top of the battery,” said Yiying Wu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio State. The solar panel is now a solid sheet, rather than a mesh as in the previous design of the world’s first solar air battery developed by the same team last year. Another key difference comes from the use of a water-based electrolyte inside the battery. Because water circulates inside it, the new design belongs to an emerging class of batteries called aqueous-flow batteries. “The truly important innovation here is that we have successfully demonstrated aqueous flow inside our solar battery,” Wu said. It is also totally compatible with current battery technology, very easy to integrate with existing technology, environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. The solar flow battery could bridge a gap between today’s energy grid and sources of renewable energy.

to 1994, the DAA was imposed in Nagaland for only a 20 km belt in the border area. It was extended to the entire state in 1994 under Congress rule in Nagaland, the BJP said. 36 Congress Legislature Party (CLP) members had appended their signatures in the state government’s recommendation letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the current NPCC President, it recalled. The BJP Nagaland further clarified that the extension of the DAA in Nagaland on July 8 of this year was not a sudden development but has been happening every

year. It further cited that in 2010, the state government under DAN II had clarified that the state cabinet had always recommended for lifting the DAA in entire Nagaland since ceasefire had been in place and law and order had greatly improved. The DAN II, it added, had accused the UPA government for extending the DAA to entire Nagaland despite the state government’s regular recommendation every year to lift it. The BJP Nagaland stated that the Congress should explain to the people of Nagaland on the commissions of the UPA government.

Your child may not be as happy as you think

LoNDoN, AUGUST 2 (IANS): Parents often misjudge the happiness levels of their kids as they make the estimation based on their personal feelings and not of their children’s, says a study. Parents of 10 and 11-year-olds consistently overestimated their child’s happiness, while those with 15 and 16-year-olds were inclined to underestimate, the findings showed. The study attributed the discrepancies to an “egocentric bias” through which parents rely too heavily on their own feelings in assessing the happiness of the family unit as a whole. “Being unable to read children’s happiness appropriately may increase misunderstanding between parents and children or adolescents, which has been shown to have negative consequences for parent-child relation-

ships,” said one of the researchers Belen Lopez-Perez from the Plymouth University in Britain. “Furthermore, parents might not be able to provide the appropriate emotional support or attend to their children’s needs accurately,” Lopez-Perez said. For the study, the researchers questioned a total of 357 children and adolescents from two different schools in Spain, along with their parents. Their happiness was assessed using a range of self-reporting measures and ratings. The results showed that parents were inclined to score a child or adolescents’ happiness closely in line with their own emotional feelings, whereas in fact there were notable differences in the child’s own reports. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF has detected various “anomalies and irregularities” in the reservation system for government posts under the Nagaland state government with reference to Nagas from Eastern Nagaland. The ENSF conducted an assessment on the employment sector in the state over a 30 day period, the report of which was tabled at a consultative & co-ordination meeting on July 20. The assessment included a sampling size of 64639 employees in the State under 41 sample departments, the ENSF informed through a press note today. The ENSF report revealed that 7 percent of Nagas from eastern Nagaland are C-I Gazetted, 13 percent are C-II gazetted officer, 21 percent are C-III and 23 percent are Grade IV employees. Further, it reported that gazetted officers constitute only 3% of the total of 13285 employees from eastern Nagaland. The ENSF report informed that of the 41 sample departments, no single department had shown the attainment of 25% minimum reservation in all categories of post. It further revealed that 11 of the sample departments are without a single gazetted officer from amongst the 6 ‘backward’ tribes; 16 departments are

Businessman shot dead in Dimapur Morung Express news Dimapur | August 2

A businessman was shot dead in Dimapur on Sunday morning at around 10:40am. Dimapur Police identified the deceased as one Ashish K. Saha, 50 years. According to the Dimapur Addl. Dy. Commissioner of Police/PRO, Saha was shot near a vegetable market in Lhomithi Colony. A cloth merchant by profession, Saha was shot near his forehead, the PRO added. Police quoted eyewitnesses as saying that two or three miscreants came in a vehicle and fired at the victim. A .56 caliber small firearm was used by the miscreants, it was informed. Police declined to reveal any more information on the case saying investigations are ongoing. The Nagaland Chief Minister has meanwhile condemned the killing and stated that such heinous crimes do not augur well for society and needs to be condemned by all, especially at a time when all Nagas are yearning for peace. The CM instructed the Dimapur Police to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended at the earliest.

Meluri flood situation grim: Five villages remain cut off

Morung Express news Dimapur | August 2

Five villages in Meluri district remained cut off from the rest of the state on Sunday as a result of incessant rains, which swept away bridges on August 1. Flash floods triggered by the rains had claimed one live on Saturday. The affected area, which falls under Phokungri circle, comprises New Thewati, Old Thewati, Letsam, Phokungri and Avangkhu villages. Aid was yet to reach the affected villagers as bridges connecting the area were swept away on August 1, making it physically impossible for relief personnel to make contact with the villagers.

Rescue personnel deployed in affected areas

The bridges which were washed away include one iron bridge over Khazuti River between Washelo and New Thewati; one wooden bridge between Laruri and Letsam over khazuti River; one wooden bridge over Leyakti River between New Thewati and Letsam; and two more small wooden bridges over smaller streams. According to the ADC, Meluri, the magnitude of damage could not be assessed as five bridges linking the area have been swept away, while telecommunication links remained

down. The affected villages comprises of around 200-250 households. The ADC said that the ground situation could be assessed only after rescue personnel reach the area. New Thewati village, which is around 4-5 hours drive from Meluri town, was reported to be the worst affected as it is located in a low-lying area (valley). This village in particular has been cut off from the rest of the state for the past three days. The Phek district administration led by the Deputy Commissioner will attempt to reach the af-

fected area on Monday, the ADC Meluri added. Queried on the possibility of the Phek administration seeking air support from the Army, the ADC said that it will be the prerogative of the State government to make such a call for help to the Army. Meanwhile, sources from the Nagaland State DisasterManagementAuthority said that rescue personnel have been deployed to the area. The personnel will team up the Home Guards & Civil Defence and the district administration for relief efforts. According to the sources, the Phek district administration was asked to muster all available resources (emergency relief fund) at its disposal for relief efforts.

without a single C-I gazetted officers; and 14 departments without any C-II gazetted officers. Further, 35 of the sample departments have below 25 percent grade III employees from eastern Nagaland and 25 departments have less than 25 percent in grade IV employees from eastern Nagaland. The ENSF report also pointed out that nearly 50% of the total eastern Nagaland employees include constables under the Home Department. The federation further detected shortage of 649 gazetted officers (C-I&II) and about 1702 C-III employees in the 41 sample departments. The sample departments included Education, Home, Rural Development, Technical Education, Fisheries, Forensic Science, SIRD, Electrical, Treasury & Account, Industries & Commerce, PWD (Road & Bridges) Agriculture, Forest, NST, Eco & Statistic (KMS), Information & Public Relation, Employment & craftsmen training, Horticulture, Jail & Prison, Sericulture, Youth Resource & Sports, Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, Planning & Coordination, Governors Secretariat, Lotteries, NBSE, Vigilance Commission, Municipal Affairs cell (Urban Local Body), Border affairs, Land Resource, Animal hus-

bandry & Vetinary, Irrigation & Flood control, Food & Civil Supplies, Information Technology & Communication, Science & technology, Urban Development, NSACS, DAPCU, Higher Education, Corporation and Commissioner. The ENSF stated that as per their survey, state bureaucrats “manipulate the policy, confuse the politician and deprive the least represented community during recruitment.” Bureaucrats, it stated constitute the “first layer that agent corruption in the state where the politician blindly falls off.” “Factions are being used as scapegoat that covers their faults,” it claimed. The reservation policy, it lamented, has been “adulterated by creating rooms for direct and open manipulation.” “In the absence of legal & binding regulating law, the Policy has been buried and muted off. As a result, the policy remains on paper in form of an appeal,” the ENSF added. The ENSF pointed out that according to a central government notification, once a post is reserved, it can never be de-reserved again. However, it alleged “manipulation where the reserved post/posts are given only second chances whereby the de-reservation of post/posts deprives the backward tribes from ac-

quiring even its due share.” The Governors, over the past 38 years, the ENSF said have “failed to safeguard the reservation for the eastern Nagas.” The Chief Ministers as well, it claimed had “overruled the very nature of democracy setup in the state.” “Dictatorial attitude and favouritism during recruitment had deprived the backward tribes to remain significantly low even after 38 years,”ENSG said. It also questioned Chief Secretary’s office as to what legal action had been initiated till date on non implementation of the policy. Further, the ENSF alleged has “failed to practise what it preached”. It asked the department to clarify the status of reservation for the ‘backward tribes’ within its fold. It hoped that the government would respond to the ENSF’s demand for “justification” on deprivation of 25% job reservation for the past 38 years and asked the government to come up with acutual comprehensive staus report to work towards a solution to this issue. Reiterating its demand that the Naga CM should lay its justification along with compensatory solution by August 5, the ENSF caurtioned that failure to do so would compel it to take a “hard stand.” The ENSF has further convened as Federal Assembly at Kiphire on August 4.

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Nagaland govt organised ‘consultation’ make orgs wary

Morung Express news endorse such a resolution, or not,” said a representaDimapur | August 2 tive of the FNR. Civil society memTwo days after the Chief Minister of Nagaland de- bers present at the meetclared that an NLA reso- ing on July 31 noted that lution passed on the Naga as in a consultation, there political issue has been was no “back-and-forth” “unanimously endorsed” of opinion—time was by the Naga civil soci- given to tribal hoho leadety, some organisations ers to speak, after which claimed that they had not the resolution was introsigned their nod to the res- duced and was asked to be “endorsed” by a show of olution. “We are not a signato- hands without taking note ry to the NLA resolution,” of opinions expressed. The Eastern Naga stated the Sumi Hoho, alongside the Western Peoples’ Organisation Sumi Hoho today. The (ENPO), and its affili9th session of the current ates, for instance, stood Nagaland Legislative As- by their stance of “unity sembly passed a 5-point before solution,” among resolution on the Naga other things, but this was political issue on July 27. not introduced into the On July 31, the Nagaland resolution nor made a Legislators’ Forum (NLF) mention of (ENPO gave brought it to Naga civil its endorsement to the society organisations for resolution nonetheless). “consultation.” However, Some expressed how the they were “unexpectedly” resolution was not shown asked to “endorse” the res- to them, nor the content discussed. olution. No actual consultation “It is not that we are against the points but we happened, thus, bringcannot immediately take ing to question why such a decision on such matters a resolution was passed, without consensus from or needed to be endorsed our people,” said repre- after it was passed in the sentatives of the SH and Assembly. As is usually WSH. “We were put in an the case with government awkward situation.” For “consultations,” a pre dethem, it was important to cided agenda with an unhave stated that any solu- clear motive was brought tion should be “inclusive” to the table for approval of all political groups, within two hours. “Do they represent the with consultations going Government of India or “down to the roots.” The Forum for Naga the NSCN (IM)?” asked an Reconciliation (FNR) did observer, further wondernot endorse the resolution ing “who will they submit either as its “role is to facil- these resolutions to?” The itate reconciliation and it points made in the resoluis up to the tribal hohos to tion have been reiterated

before by Naga civil bodies separately and independently. “Having taken oath under the constitution of India, making a resolution on the Naga political issue is crossing the line,” noted a leader present at the meeting. If they wanted to play the role of “facilitator” to the Indo-Naga talks, there are “other ways” to do so, he said, finding this “taking of consent” business a “bit confusing.” This made some organisations wary. The next day, they were even more confused by the Chief Minister’s statement in the newspaper claiming ‘unanimous endorsement.’ No NGO was present at the press conference when this was declared. Similar resolutions on the Naga political issue have been adopted by past governments in Nagaland. The reiteration of this resolution, however, has made sceptics out of organisations that worry that such “consultations” will be used as “final consent” to a settlement whose modalities remain largely unknown to the people. The resolution was passed soon after the arrival of the Parliamentary Working Committee on the Naga Political Issue of the Nagaland State Government from Delhi. The NLF claims that the consultation is part of a continuing dialogue on the Indo-Naga peace process that would bring on board Naga people from outside Nagaland as well.

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Dimapur

Monday

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3 August 2015

The Morung Express C

NVCO releases book, draws attention to illegal taxation

Kohima, august 2 (mexN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has released a compilation of newspaper clippings, government order, High Court judgement & order on banning collection of cash in checkgates and any part of highways. The book entitled ‘Corruption is the enemy of good governance, the impact of RTI in Nagaland, the rights & duties of a consumer’ was released on July 29 at the residence of NVCO president, Kezhokhoto Savi here. A press release from Press & Media Cell, NVCO said that the book has been released mainly for creating more awareness amongst the pub-

lic. It will be distributed for free in all districts of the State and will also be given to business community, especially truck owners and contractors so they can carry with them while passing through the check-gates, the release said. The NVCO has welcomed any interested organisation or individual to get a copy for free to use it “as a defence against illegal collection of cash and against corruption.” Meanwhile, NVCO extended support to the Zunheboto Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ZCCI) in their complaint against the various illegal taxations at various check gates by groups/ organizations: Na-

galand Gate Police Check gate- Rs 300 monthly; Police check gate (Mokokchung district)- Rs. 50 daily per truck load/trip; Sales Tax- Rs. 200 per load/trip daily; Excise departmentRs. 100 daily per trip/load; New Camp police check gate- Rs. 200 daily per trip/load; NPGs Mokokchung district/region- Rs 500 daily per load/trip; NPGs Zunheboto district/Sümi Region- Rs. 500 daily per trip/load. It maintained that all these taxation do not bear any receipt. The organization said it was not shocked to learn that the Zunheboto bound trucks and other commercial vehicles have to pay more than Rs.3000 per trip along the Jorhat-

Mariani-Mokokchung district route. Terming the illegal collection of cash in check-gates and highways as extortion, the NVCO questioned why the government agencies like Nagaland Police, Excise personnel, Sales Tax departments etc. continue these illegal collections of cash and that too without receipts completely ignoring the government order dated 22nd June, 2009 which banned collection of taxes by any organisation or individual, including government departments. NVCO further informed that as part of its awareness campaign, it met the deputy commissioner of Zunheboto at his office on July 17 and sub-

mitted a representation to stop illegal collection of cash at the check-gates and in the highways enclosed with the High Court judgement & order. It also submitted a representation to the deputy commissioner, Mokokchung on July 11 and the deputy commissioner, Dimapur on July 30 on the same issue. Earlier, the NVCO also submitted a similar representation to the Chief Secretary and Governor of Nagaland. However, it lamented that till date, it has not seen any response from any corner. This issue of illegal taxation, it stated, exists not in Zunheboto district alone, but all over the State.

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Maximum illegal collection of cash happens in the ‘commercial hub’ Dimapur, it noted. Pointing out the illegal collection of cash along Pfutsero to Dimapur via Phesama Police check-gates, byepass (Kohima), which was exposed by ACAUT Nagaland earlier, NVCO questioned what the district administrations concerned have done to contain the practice. The NVCO conveyed to the State government and the district administration of all the district headquarters, “Enough is enough, have mercy on common people and kindly react or take action to save the people in the state as a welfare state.”

Nagaland produces 67.48 thousand tonnes of meat Our Correspondent Kohima | August 2

Nagaland state produces 67.48 thousand tonnes of meat, 74.54 thousand tonnes of milk and 706 lakh numbers of eggs, as per the sample survey report of 2013-14. However, the production and supply is short of the demand, therefore, import is undertaken to meet the requirements of the people. The value of import of meat, eggs and dairy products, which stood at Rs. 215.46 crore in 2013-

14 registered a fall of Rs. 5.46 crores in 2014-15. This was stated in Nagaland Economic Survey 2014-15 brought out by the department of economics & statistics and tabled in the just concluded state assembly session here. The reduction in imports has been made possible due to the implementation of various livestock and poultry programmes through the department of veterinary and animal husbandry, the survey stated. Livestock development in the

State improved through adoption of various strategies. Charting out of road map, Vision 2020, revival and improvement of the traditional backyard livestock and poultry farming, conversion of demonstration farms into breeding and production units, setting up of private commercial and rural breeding farms on private public partnership mode are some of the initiative which have scaled up the production of this sector. The survey stated that production of milk, meat and egg in the State during 2013-14 was 79.54

Farm machinery bank inaugurated at Mhainamtsi

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pereN, august 2 (mexN): The Farm Machinery Bank for Custom Hiring at Mhainamtsi village under Peren district was formally inaugurated by the Director of Agriculture Bendang Yanger on July 31. It is the fourth such center of the seven centers sanctioned under NMSA (National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture), a press release from District Agriculture Officer, Peren A boy and girl present song sung by the forefathers while pounding rice at the Tsun- Atoi Sema said. The govgremmong festival organised by Ongpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang at Town Hall, ernment will bear 40% of the total cost of three powMokokchung on August 1. er tillers, two water pumps and three brush cutters and the rest 60 % will be borne by the beneficiary, the re-

lease said. Inaugurating the center, the Director of Agriculture stressed on the importance of adopting scientific method of farming incorporating farm mechanization to enhance the food crop production for achieving the objective of the vision “food for all” by 2025. With the launching of the program, he hoped that the farmers will get maximum benefits. He also urged upon all the stakeholders - the farmers, the service provider, and the department officials to work in close association to make the venture a meaningful one. Nosezole, Joint Direc-

tor of Agriculture and incharge of farm machineries elaborated on the guidelines and working systems of the program, while Rhosietho, SDO (civil) Jalukie exhorted the farmers and advised them to make use of the labour saved by use of farm machineries and put them to other productive works. The co-proprietor of the Custom Hiring Center Ikulung while acknowledging the department for the financial assistance also asked the interested farmers to come forward to avail the available facilities. The vote of thanks was proposed by Santsu, SDAO Jalukie.

Changtongya holds SDDCF meeting

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Leo Club of Dimapur celebrated Friendship Day at Uttar Purbanchal Janjati Seva Samati, Gautam Basti, Khatkhati, Assam on August 2. A press release from the PRO of the club informed that the club distributed sport items, stationery, and food to young children. “We played and entertained them, and we tried to teach them about Friendship under the Chairmanship of Ankit Paharia,” the release added.

ChaNgtoNgya, august 2 (Dipr): SubDivisional Departmental Coordination Forum (SDDCF) meeting was held in Changtongya on July 29 under the chairmanship of SDO (C) Chumlamo Humtsoe at DBs Customary Court. The meeting was attended by all the private school principals under Changtongya town and president of Changtongya Town Ao Students’ Union, who were invited to the meeting. Agendas discussed during the meeting included the celebration of Independence Day on August 15. The chairman requested all the principals of private schools and NCC Government High School to participate as parade contingent during the Independence Day.

The house decided that a football exhibition match will be played between women government employees and Watsu Union Changtongya under Changtongya sub-division on Independence Day. Also, there will be tug of war competition amongst the wards under Changtongya town. The chairman informed all heads of offices to have compulsory attendance during the Independence Day and to take action against staff absenting without valid reason. As decided at the last SDDCF meeting to organise an inter-departmental football tournament under Changtongya sub-division, a five-member organising committee was formed with SDO (C) as convenor. The chairman informed the house that the first inter-

departmental football tournament will be held from August 4 to 15. Altogether, 8 teams will be participating in the tournament. He also expressed his gratitude to all the eight departments for coming forward to participate at the tournament and said that the success and failure of the tournament depend largely on head of offices and requested them to cooperate with the organising committee. The organising committee entrusted Changtongya Town Ao Students’ Union to be the volunteers during the tournament. Meanwhile, OC Changtongya informed requested all to be vigilant and alert to avoid any untoward incident during the Independence Day celebration. The meeting was hosted by CDPO Changtongya.

Yimchunger students celebrate fresher’s meet in Dimapur

thousand tonnes, 67.48 thousand tonnes and 706 lakh numbers respectively indicating growth of 1.52 percent, 2.48 percent and 14.24 percent over the previous year. The Survey also stated that the increase in the level of production of animal husbandry products positively impacts the availability and per capita consumption rate in the State. Dimapur district has maximum livestock population of 18.75 percent followed by Phek district with 12.57 percent and Wokha district with 10.70 percent.

MEx File BJP Dimapur informs Dimapur, august 2 (mexN): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dimapur district has informed all its Mandals, Morchas, Office Bearers, members, sympathizers and supporters that, as per the Article XII (4) of the BJP constitution, the application form for the active membership enrolment should have recommendation of district president for approval. In this connection, a press note from unit president, K Nikhevi Yeputho stated that any recommendation other than the district president is violation of the aforementioned constitution and will not be acceptable to the party.

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Kohima Police arrest 56 for not possessing ILP Kohima, august 2 (mexN): 56 persons were arrested by Kohima Police from July 1–31 for not possessing Inner Line Permit (ILP). In this connection, Kohima Police registered 34 non-FIR cases in the month of July 2015. According to a press release from Atu Zumvü, SDPO/PRO, Kohima Police, all the 56 arrested ILP defaulters were booked under section 3 and 4 of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 (BEFR) and forwarded to the Court. ILP checking is regularly carried out by various Police Stations and Check-gates under DEF Kohima to check entry of illegal immigrants in Kohima district, the release said.

MTYO general meeting

meDziphema, august 2 (mexN): Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) has called for a general meeting of youths from all the 9 wards in Medziphema Town on August 4, 5:00 pm at CYO Hall, Local Ground, Medziphema Town. A release from Asazo Talie, President, Mhasilevi Kuotsu, General Secretary, and Thejangukho Yalietsu, Assistant General Secretary of MTYO, have urged all youths concerned to attend the meet positively.

NSCN/GPRN, Kyong Region recovers bikes WoKha, august 2 (mexN): The authority of NSCN/GPRN, Kyong Region along with the Wokha Town command officials have recovered two stolen Bajaj Pulsar bikes - one bearing Engine No- DHZCCE83989 and Chassis No- MD2A11CZXCCE86690 (Blue Colour) and the other bearing Engine No- DHZCCC07148 and Chassis No- MD2A11CZ1CCC07871 (Black Colour). Therefore, Lt. Col (retd) SY Lotha, Deputy Kilonser cum CAO, Kyong Region has asked the rightful owners to claim the bikes by producing original documents in the office of the Central Administrative Officer, Kyong Region within ten days. One may contact 9436009262 and 9774718449 for more information.

NWVA meeting on August 4 Kohima, august 2 (mexN): A meeting of Nagaland Women’s Voluntary Association (NWVA) will be held on August 4, 3:00 pm at the Working Women’s Hostel, Secretariat road here. Therefore, all NWVA members have been requested to attend the meeting.

TSUD 4th Fresher’s Meet on August 12

Students perform during the fresher’s meet of Yimchunger Student's Union Dimapur on July 31.

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Dimapur, august 2 (mexN): The Yimchunger Student's Union Dimapur (YSUD) celebrated its Fresher’s Meet 2015 on July 31 at YBC Dimapur under the theme, "Wreathing the wraps of Life". Amos, president of Western Yimchunger Students’ Union (WYSU), graced the occasion as Special Guest and urged the students, freshers in particular, to not only excel in academics, but also soar high by inculcating the values of life. He spoke of having a vivid view of one's academic future,

thus not resulting in being an unemployed. Around 150 freshers were introduced to the Union, who also gave their word to contribute to the Union whenever possible, a press release received here said. Pastor Atsan of Yimchunger Baptist Church Dimapur (YBCD) invoked God's grace, Lakiumong, president of YSUD delivered the welcome address, while Rikhum K addressed the Union on behalf of the Freshers. Tsusola Keoshu, Women Pastor, pronounced the benediction.

Dimapur, august 2 (mexN): Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur will be organizing 4th Fresher’s Meet on August 12 at Jotsoma community hall at Kuda (Nagarjan) A-khel in Dimapur. Therefore, all the Tenyimi students and well wishers staying in Dimapur have been requested to attend the programme positively. All the college/ higher secondary schools’ principals/ authorities have also been requested to grant leave to Tenyimi students on that particular day to participate in the programme.

ZSUSJCJ silver jubilee Kohima, august 2 (mexN): The Zeliangrong Students’ Union of St. Joseph College Jakhama (N) is all set to celebrate its silver jubilee on September 19 this year. In this regard, all the former presidents have been requested to submit a passport photo before August 14 for publication in the souvenir. The alumni have also been requested to take note of the date and be a part of the celebration. For further detail, contact 8575741174 (President), 9615235356 (General Secretary).

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REgional

The Morung Express

Monday

Dimapur

3 August 2015

Manipur floods: Waters receding but life hit New Delhi, August 2 (iANs): Even as the central government rushed in the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), thousands of people in Manipur's Thoubal and Chandels districts are trying to come to grips with life in relief camps after their houses were submerged by flood waters. Water-filled paddy fields have been covered by sand and community and residential ponds have been rendered unusable. "One person was killed while he was trying to protect his home at Serou village from the surging waters of the Sekmai river on Saturday evening," Robert Leisangthem, a resident of Kakching in Thoubal, told IANS on phone. This takes the toll to 21 after 20 people were killed in a landslide at Joumul village in neighbouring Chandel district on Saturday. "The water level of the Sekmai river is coming down but the impact of the floods is still being felt. Paddy fields are covered with sand and filth and community and residential ponds are filled with dirt," Leisangthem said. It is the agricultural season and the over 600sq km area, known as the rice bowl of Manipur and

Eight survivors rescued in Khengjoy landslide our Correspondent Imphal | August 2

People navigate through a muddied road in Khengjoy in Chandel district. incessant rain over the past few days have caused landslides and floods in the area. the landslides have caused 20 deaths so far while many are still feared trapped. rescue operations are on.

inhabited by over 500,000 people, has been hit badly. According to reports, the entire Thoubal and many parts of Chandel district have been hit by the worst floods in the last 200 years. The Asian Highway No.1 connecting Imphal with Moreh on the Myanmar border has been cut off. The Chakpi river, known for its uncertain flow of water, has flooded the entire Serou region in

the southern part of Thoubal district. Water is flowing near the danger mark of the the newly constructed Serou bridge. "Though the water level is coming down, people whose homes were submerged by the flood waters are living in relief camps," Leisangthem said. "The director of Manipur's health services was seen distributing medicines. Doctors have been appointed in relief camps.

Local people are distributing rice and other essentials among people affected by the floods." The Sengvai and the Chakpi rivers have also been creating havoc. "Waters are ceding. The bridge over Sengvai river, though not destroyed, has developed cracks on the side," Hechin Haokip, a resident of Pallel in Thoubal district bordering Chandel, told IANS. "Another bridge over

the Chakpi river collapsed on Friday," she said. According to Haokip, as of Sunday evening, rescue teams were struggling to reach Joumul village in Chandel district as two more landslides occurred on the way to the disasterhit area. "Since communications have been disrupted, I am not very sure if the rescue teams have been able to reach the area," Haokip said.

Rescue operation was underway on Sunday in the hamlet of Joumol under Khengjoy Block close to Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district where eight survivors of a major landslide were rescued from debris of damaged homes. Earlier, reports had said 20 villagers were killed in the landslide. But today only 12 were confirmed dead in the incident. A 21-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which arrived here yesterday evening in two helicopters from Guwahati, launched the rescue operation in Joumol to rescue people trapped after the massive landslide that occurred yesterday morning. Reports said eight villagers were rescued from Joumol, but details are awaited. Manipur Government has announced exgratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the 21 people killed in the landslide. A Cabinet meeting held today took the decision, official sources informed. There was no disturbance in the rescue operation as the incessant rains that lashed the hills stopped today. Meanwhile, the Imphal-Moreh road has remained cut off since yesterday as landslides occurred at various sections of the highway in Chandel. Sources said many people from different districts, mainly from Imphal, are stranded in Moreh town. Khengjoy subdivision on the IndoMyanmar border is located about 160 km from Manipur capital Imphal. The subdivision with a total of 141 families has a population of 619 – 305 males

and 314 females – as per Population Census 2011. The reports said the landslide at Joumol was caused by incessant rains that continued to lash the State in the past few days. The route to Joumol has been left inaccessible following the Chakpikarong bridge collapsed on July 31 after it was washed out by swollen river water. The route connecting Tengnoupal and Joumol has sunk at several points, including Paraolon village after incessant rains lashed for several days. Meanwhile, a man drowned in Chakpi river around 10 am today. Yesterday, a teen drowned in the Khuga river around 4pm. Landslides wreaked havoc at Hollenjang, Wayang and Tuitung village under Khengjoy subdivision and Bongyang and Lokchao along the Imphal-Moreh highway and Tengnoupal-Sangshak road in Chandel. The situation has made impossible for any Disaster Response Team of the Manipur Government to reach the affected areas as of now, official sources said. Landslides have occurred at different sections along the National Highway-2 (Imphal-Moreh) in Chandel, sources said. With no rain lashing since the last 24 hours, the water levels of most of the major rivers, including Imphal river, Nambul river, Iril river and Thoubal river have receded. But still thousands of people have marooned in the flood affected state. The Government is taking up relief measures with arranging makeshift shelters and organizing medical camps and distributing medicines to prevent diseases.

'After border mission, soldiers Notheast woman alleges sexual complained about leeches' assault by manager in Gurgaon

PANAji, August 2 (iANs): Indian soldiers, who had gone on a mission to track militants responsible for the killing of 18 Dogra Regiment soldiers near the Manipur border last month, came back unhurt - except from leech attacks in the jungle, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday. "Some days back there was an operation on the border. 18 soldiers of the 6 Dogra Regiment were attacked by terrorists and were martyred. In the revenge (mission), not a single soldier was injured. But two to three came to me with complaints that they were attacked by leeches while travelling through the jungles," he said at an all-Goa BJP workers meeting here. On the operation, Parrikar said: "As defence minister you have to shut the mouth. But because

the mouth is closed, does not mean you have cannot punch. We have exacted appropriate revenge." The former Goa chief minister also used the leech attack incident to attack the Congress, alleging their effect on Goa and its development had also been "leech-like". "Goa was also plagued by the leech-like Congress," he said. The secret mission which allegedly resulted in the killing of several members of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, which was responsible for carrying out the attack on the Dogra Regiment soldiers, had created controversy, after Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the surgical strike was carried out in Myanmar. The Myanmar government subsequently denied the claim.

Tripura HC slightly modifies order on law secretary issue AgARtAlA, Aug 2 (iANs): The Tripura High Court has slightly modified its order over the posting of Law Secretary Datamohan Jamatia, asking him to join as district and sessions judge on November 2 instead of earlier August 3, an official said on Sunday. High Court registrar general Manik Chakraborty, in a notification on Saturday, asked Chief Secretary Yashpal Singh to choose a new law secretary by October 31. The tussle between the high court and the state government kicked off after the court issued a notification on July 14 to transfer Jamatia as district and sessions judge of Unakoti district. Law Minister Chakraborty, in his letter to the chief justice, expressed the state government's inability to relieve Jamatia as law secretary as he was looking after cases pending in the Supreme Court and upcoming elections to the local bodies in Tripura. The minister wrote the letter on July 30 after the high court on July 23 turned down the law minister's plea and stuck to its earlier decision.

New Delhi, August 2 (AgeNCies): Yet another case of atrocity against Northeast people has been reported from the national capital region. This time, it's a woman from Assam who was allegedly sexually molested by a manager at a company in Gurgaon, Haryana. The woman also alleged that he made racist comments against her. The 25-year-old woman works at a private company in Gurgaon. In her complaint filed on 31 July, the woman alleged that the manager abused her by calling her "chinky" and "sexually molested" her, a reliable

source told IB Times India. The complaint further stated that the manager threatened her to quit her job from 1 August. The source also revealed that the alleged incident happened some days back but the complaint was filed on 31 July. The Gurgaon police are investigating the matter; no arrest has been made so far. It must be mentioned that racial abuse, hararassment and sexual molestation on Northeast people in the national capital region of Delhi Haryana are rampant. Several cases of such crimes perpetrated against Northeast students

and workers have been reported. Last December, a case of sexual molestation was reported from Gurgaon where a 20-year-old woman from Manipur alleged that a staff at a fashion boutique sexually molested her and threatened her of dire consequences, according to DNA. In another instance reported by India Today, a girl from the Northeast was sexually molested by a security guard working at an apartment complex in Gurgaon when she was stuck in a lift. The incident, which occured in April 2014, was captured by a CCTV camera.

A woman weeps after Bangladesh and india officially exchanged the adversely possessed enclaves at dashiarchhara in in Kurigram district is 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of dhaka, Bangladesh's capital on Saturday, August 1. tens of thousands of stateless people who were stranded for decades along the poorly defined border between india and Bangladesh can finally choose their citizenship, as the two countries swapped more than 150 pockets of land at the stroke of midnight Friday to settle the demarcation line dividing them. (AP Photo/ Zakir Hossain Chowdhury)

Coal transportation in M'laya: NGT extends time till Nov 30 Gogoi demands Rs 5 lakh cr New Delhi, August 2 (Pti): Observing that “unregulated mining cannot be permitted”, the National Green Tribunal has extended the time for transportation of extracted coal in Meghalaya till November 30 and fixed September 30 as the last date for payment of royalty. “Regulated and scientific mining in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws, is an absolute necessity. Illegal, unauthorised, unscientific unregulated mining cannot be permitted, as it not only causes serious surface water and ground water pollution but also results in great danger to human life and health,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said. The green bench has prohibited mining in the entire state of Meghalaya but allowed transportation of extracted coal kept in the open with due “checks

and balances“. The tribunal’s observation came after the Meghalaya government sought extension of time for payment of royalty and transportation of already extracted coal. It, however, said the extension is being done for the last time and this be treated as final opportunity to the state government. During the proceedings, Meghalaya Government told the Bench that illegal mining is still going on and it has caught nearly 327 cases of illegal mining in Jayantia Hills. Taking note of the submissions, the green panel directed the state government to file status within four weeks in such cases. The tribunal also directed the state government to take all steps within its jurisdiction to ensure that no illegal mining

takes place under any circumstances. “The state government should submit the mining plan and policy as directed in the orders dated June 9, 2014 and August 1, 2014 passed by the tribunal. The state of Meghalaya is expected to prepare a plan in consultation with the ministry concerned and approve and notify it,” it said. The bench also direct the Meghalaya Chief Secretary to personally comply with these directions without any further delay and demur. “The state of Meghalaya to file the list of the cases where they have caught persons carrying on the illegal and unauthorised mining with complete particulars of the persons. “The name of owners carrying on mining should also be provided to the tribunal along with status reports,” it said.

for nation-wide Smart Villages

guwAhAti, August 2 (Pti): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today urged the Centre to allocate Rs 5,00,000 crore for developing 'Smart Villages' across the country instead of focusing on 'Smart Cities'. Gogoi, in an official release, said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre should give special emphasis on the rural areas by going in for 'Smart Villages' in a big way than focusing on 'Smart Cities'. "I am more in favour of developing Smart Villages, where villagers can avail the urban amenities without moving to the cities. The country can make faster progress and prosper if Smart Villages come up in a big way. It's the most effective way to bridge the ru-

Rubber plantation catching farmers' fancy in Arunachal itANAgAR, August 2 (et): Rubber plantation has of late become the centre of attraction for farmers in Arunachal Pradesh, with the government laying emphasis on the crop over the past few years. Days are not far away when rubber would replace the traditional jhum practices of the tribal communities in this Himalayan state as the state government has accorded top priority to the sector for the past several years with separate budgetary allocation. For the current financial year, the state government has allocated an amount of Rs 15 crore for the rubber sector. During 2012-13, under the Chief Minister's Mission Mode Programme (MMP) an amount of Rs 2 crore was allocated for rubber cultivation under TFC grant covering 237 beneficiaries.

The highest allocation of Rs 10 crore was given to the sector during 2013-14 covering 950 beneficiaries while during 2014-15, an amount of Rs 3 crore was allocated covering 270 beneficiaries, Trade and Commerce Director Tokong Pertin said. He added that assistance in the form of planting materials (720 rubber poly bags and 6 rolls of barbed wire) per beneficiary were provided to a total of 237 units including 26 each in East Siang, West Siang, Lohit, Tirap, Longding and East Kameng and 27 units each in Papum Pare, Lower Dibang Valley and Changlang districts. "The state government will closely work with the Rubber Board of India for technology guidance and transfer besides extending marketing facilities," Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said,

adding special emphasis would be given on this sector to provide economic benefit to the rural people and employment to the youths. "Rubber cultivation will meet 25 per cent of the state government's five-year job generation target of one lakh," Tuki added. Rubber Board's Eastern Zonal Additional Production Commissioner Anil Kumar said that the board was committed to taking steps to boost rubber cultivation in the state. "The opening of Rubber Board's regional office here and posting of development officer besides a field officer at Namsai office reflected the Board's commitment to help grow rubber production in the state," Kumar said, adding posting of field officers to potential rubber growing areas of the state was in the offing.

State Trade and Commerce Director Tokong Pertin said that if the state would not provide quality and assured planting materials to farmers by involving the Rubber Board of India, there is every possibility of unscrupulous traders duping farmers. "As a rubber sapling is planted, its life span is calculated up to 40-50 years, and in the process, the duped farmers will incur heavy losses both economically and in terms of fertility of their soil," Pertin added. The Rubber Board has already identified nine districts in Arunachal Pradesh for rubber cultivation including East and West Siang, Papum Pare, East Kameng, Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, Changlang, Tirap and Longding having potential for cultivation of rubber in 25,000 hectare as per initial survey.

Manong Ratan, a progressive rubber planter from Kiyit under Mebo sub-division who availed the benefits of chief minister's MMP scheme is a happy man today. "I am delighted that the state government has ensured to look after the welfare of the small and marginal farmers and it is a big help that the government has assisted us with the requisite rubber sapling and fencing materials. "Since we are small farmers, we will need maintenance cost at least up to the fifth year," he said. While suggesting the state government to provide maintenance cost to marginal rubber planters, Taba Tagam from Balijan said that with the state's help, farmers like him have established rubber plantations paving way for self sustainability.

ral-urban divide," Gogoi said. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's concept of 'Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas' (PURA) should be taken up on a 'mission mode', he said. The Chief Minister said, "the Central Government should earmark Rs 5,00,000 crore for implementing the Smart Villages concept across the country as envisioned by former President Dr Kalam." Gogoi also urged the Centre to allocate Rs 25,000 crore to Assam for developing 'Smart Villages' and said the state government would also come up with a comprehensive scheme with a matching share of 50 per cent. "Recasting rural landscape of the country is the need of the hour as India lives in rural areas," he added.

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Onion prices soar, to remain high till October

New Delhi/MuMbai, august 2 (iaNs): Unseasonal rains, lower production and resultant shortages have made the onion dearer again, with prices soaring. Merchants say the prices will remain high till October when the next crop reaches markets across the country. Of the 20 million tonnes produced last fiscal (2014-15), about 30-35 percent was damaged in unexpected rains from February to April after the January-March) crop was harvested, an apex trade body said. “The damage was compounded by high moisture content, change in seasonal cropping patterns due to soil conditions and other factors,” a leading wholesale onion merchant in Navi Mumbai, Rajeev Maniar, told IANS. As a result, the bulb price has shot up 50-60 percent in wholesale and retail markets in states despite belated measures by the

union agriculture ministry to increase supply by importing about 10,000 tonnes from Pakistan, China, Egypt and other countries. Fearing a crisis, the Director General of Foreign Trade increased the minimum export price (MEP) on onion to $425 per tonne from $250 in June to curb its export, ensure enough supply and check prices from spiralling. “Failure of the authorities in building up adequate stocks to make up for short supply and delay in limiting exports are reasons for onion price going up around this time every year,” said Srinivasa Gowda, a wholesale dealer in onions and potatoes at the Bengaluru agriculture marketing yard. The National Agriculture Cooperating Marketing Federation, a state-supported non-profit apex body of farmers, has arranged to supply onions to more consuming states in northern

and eastern regions from producing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. “The prices have been gradually rising and touched 50 percent in the Mumbai wholesale market - from Rs.22 to Rs.32 a kg, and doubled to Rs.42-45 a kg in retail market depending on quality,” Maniar said. The cooperative federation Markfed has procured about 2,500 tonnes of onion using the corpus of the price stability fund. Though India is the world’s second largest onion producer after China, its yield is lowest per acre at 14 tonne per hectare as against 22 in China, 23 in Mynmar and 30 in Turkey, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda). “Absence of timely market intervention and a mechanism to regulate supplies makes farmers and traders hoard the vegetable

during summer and cause scarcity to jack up its prices till the next crop is harvested,” Gowda told IANS. Huge quantities of onion are sourced from Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon villages in Nashik district. They account for the largest crop production in Maharashtra. Maharashtra alone contributes 40 percent to the national onion basket. With a third of the stock damaged due to moisture, the 50 onion markets of the total 232 APMC markets across Maharashtra have no stocks currently. In producing states, onion price shot up during July -- 37 percent in Gujarat, 36 percent in Andhra Pradesh, 32 percent in Madhya Pradesh and 17 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR). Price of large onions ranged from Rs.2,800 to Rs.5,000 per quintal (100kg) across the coun-

try on August 1, as per the agriculture ministry’s directorate of marketing and inspection. In Uttar Pradesh, the price doubled to Rs.40 a kg from Rs.20 a year ago. Absence of rains in many parts of the state during the last fortnight also led to prices of many vegetables soaring 50-100 percent. In Karnataka, the second largest producer, onion price doubled to Rs.50-55 from Rs.2530 a kg in the last one month. This was primarily because supplies from the state’s northern region and Maharashtra dwindled due to stock diversion to northern and eastern states facing shortage, a horticulture department official told IANS. According to Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) estimates, supply will ease only by October when the next crop will be able to meet the demand expected in the coming festival season.

MuMbai , august 2 (Pti): India’s current account deficit (CAD) is likely to widen in the June quarter to 1.82.0 per cent of GDP while for the current financial year, it is likely to remain under control, says a DBS report. According to the global financial services major, though the widening of CAD is likely to raise concerns “briefly” over wider trade imbalances, the full-year CAD is likely to remain within control. “India’s current account deficit is likely to widen anew in the June 2015 quarter, but will not emerge as a flash-point for the full-year FY15/16 (April 2015 to March 2016),” DBS said in a research note. As per official figures, the CAD, which is the difference between the inflow and outflow of foreign exchange shrank to 1.3 per cent of GDP (USD 27.5 billion) in 201415 from 1.7 per cent (USD 32.4 billion) in 2013-14. The Reserve Bank of India and the government have been maintaining that the CAD level is comfortable. The DBS report said that on quarter-on-quarter basis imports rose 2.8 per cent in the June quarter while exports fell 5 per cent. Moreover, service sector trade surpluses also fell for three successive months to May 2015. DBS expects the April-June current account deficit to widen to 1.8-2.0 per cent of GDP, from 0.3 per cent in the quarter before. The report noted that the full-year CAD is likely to remain within control, at less than 2 per cent of GDP. “More importantly, financing the current account A man carries a closet past deficit will not be a hurdle given sustained portfolio inan abandoned flows and supportive FDI flows,” DBS added.

Airtel to add 1,000 company-owned stores by December New Delhi , august 2 (Pti): To bolster its position in 4G market ahead of launch of services by rival Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel plans to open 1,000 more company-owned stores by December to provide customers first-hand experience about its service as well as offer low-priced handsets. According to sources, Airtel is in advanced talks with handsets makers such as Samsung, ZTE, Huawei and Xiaomi to launch 4G devices, with price starting from Rs 4,000, later this year. A source aware of the plan said the company is expanding its distribution network by adding more company-owned company operated (coco) retail outlets in a bid to provide first hand experience to customers and also make available affordable 4G dual mode handsets. “Airtel has 300 coco stores and the company will add 1000 stores by December 2015 (500 by September, additional 500 by December),” the source said. The addition of coco stores to its distribution channel will enhance the reach of Airtel to the prospective users. However, no comments were received from the company in this regard. The distribution channel of Airtel is spread across 1.5 million outlets with network presence in 5,121 census and 464,045 non-census towns and villages in the country covering approximately 86.8 per cent of the population as on March 2015. Airtel is the only mobile operator in India to offer 4G services in over 45 cities using TD-LTE & FDD-LTE technology. The telco had launched India’s first 4G services in Kolkata around 3 years ago. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who owns Reliance Jio Infocomm, will re-enter the telecom business with a Rs 4,000 4G smartphone by December, offering voice and data services for as low as Rs 300-500 per month. Reliance Jio, which will commercially launch 4G services by December, has the largest footprint of liberalised spectrum in the country. In 2003, Reliance launched mobile phones for Rs 500 which led to immediate jump in its subscriber base.

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senior Food Ministry official told PTI. These 5 states contribute over 40% of the country’s estimated total rice production of over 102 MT, but the procurement has been very “negligible”, the official said. In 2014 kharif season, 5.13 MT of rice was procured in these states. Despite West Bengal being the top rice producing state at 15.1 MT, procurement here was only 1.80 MT in the said period. As per the proposed plan, the official said Bihar and West Bengal that follow a decentralised procurement policy (DCP) would be permitted to engage private players either independently or on behalf of the state agencies. In other non-DCP states, FCI would step up procurement operations at the minimum support price

(MSP). DCP states are those where FCI is not involved in procurement. States procure foodgrains on their own and supply to the PDS. The Centre, in turn, bears the difference in the margin between the issue price and the economic cost for the states. Any surplus food stocks after catering to the PDS is picked up by the central pool. The north eastern states with inadequate infrastructure for procurement have traditionally not been on the FCI radar, even though farmers in the states are often compelled to sell their produce below the MSP. The FCI restructuring panel had in its report suggested the government to focus more on north-eastern states to ensure farmers in the states benefit from Centre’s price support mechanism.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3317

Answer Number # 3303

Y R I D R V E D L G O O P Z K O A P D U

Government to rope in pvt players to get kharif rice

LEISURE

branch of the National bank in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, August 2. In Athens, the heads of the EU-IMF audit mission met with the Greek ministers of finance and economy with the talks focusing on bank recapitalisation, privatisations and fiscal targets, the finance ministry said. (AP Photo)

New Delhi, august 2 (Pti): Faced with inadequate storage facility, the Centre has decided to engage private players during the current kharif season for procurement of rice in Uttar Pradesh and 4 other eastern states. The Union Food Ministry has prepared a policy acting on the recommendations of the high-level committee of the stateownedFoodCorporationofIndia(FCI). Rice procurement for the 201516 kharif season would begin from October. And the government has kept a total procurement target of 30 mn tonnes (MT) for the season. “The procurement policy has been finalised for UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam. Private players will be roped in for rice procurement wherever necessary in these states,” a

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GST a Congress Bill: Jaitley New Delhi, august 2 (Pti): Racing against time to get the GST bill cleared from Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today attacked the Congress for blocking the legislation that it had itself brought in and said ‘obstructionist’ tendencies and negativism were hurting the country and its economy. Acknowledging that there may be merit in Congress’ demand for 18 per cent rate of GST, he said the NDA government has “not made any significant modifications” to the bill that the Congress-led UPA government had proposed in 2006-07 Budget, “except to bring a consensus between manufacturing and the consuming states”. “The state governments belonging to the Congress party have consistently supported the proposal. Is it only out of an obstructionist attitude that the Congress has adopted a negative role?” he asked. The government needs Parliament to approve the Constitution Amendment Bill in the current monsoon session ending August 13 before half of the 30 states clear it and the new regime is rolled out from April 1, 2016, so that a nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) can replace all existing indirect taxes like excise and VAT. However, Parliament proceedings have been repeatedly getting disrupted over issues like Lalit Modi controversy and the Vyapam scam for the past two weeks. “Since Parliament is not functioning and there is no way to clarify these points before the same, I am constrained to place the above facts in public domain,” Jaitley wrote in a Facebook post titled ‘Dissent or Disruption ? The Congress Party?s Position on GST’. He said the Congress and its leader “may be upset with the government for political reasons. They may be upset with the electorate for the 2014 verdict”. “The Congress party should accept and seriously introspect after having ruled the country for the longest period of time, that negativism hurts the country. Should its obstructionist tendencies inflict an economic injury on the country?” he wrote. DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

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9.74

10.85

LOCAL 5 Paddy fields Orgs condemns business man's killing Training on improved handloom weaving held affected in Phek Monday

The Morung Express

3 August 2015

Dimapur, august 2 (mexn): The Dimapur District Citizens Forum (DDCF) has condemned the 'cold blooded murder' of a citizen of Dimapur, Ashish Saha, aged around 55 years near Signal Bazar at around 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. He was shot dead by some unknown assailants. In a press note, N Joesph Lemtur, President of the DDCF, on behalf of the citizens of Dimapur appealed to the law enforcing agencies and district administration to apprehend the culprits at the earliest and find out the motive behind the killing. It also appeals to the citizens of Dimapur to keep calm and have confidence in police and the administration. Further maintaining that it could

not understand why such an incident should happen at this time when the whole citizens of Nagaland are raising their voice for lifting of Armed Forces Special Powers Act claiming that Nagaland is peaceful and the DDCF argued that, “People who committed this crime should understand that such acts at this juncture may hamper the peace and tranquility of the citizens of Nagaland, and also the peace process.” SKK Condemns The All sumi students union (SKK) has condemned the killing of prominent timber businessman Ashish Saha in a broad daylight from Signal Bazaar, Dimapur today.

In a press condemnation issued by its president, Kakuto Awomi and finance secretary, Pitovi Ayemi the union strongly decried the “barbaric and brutual” act perpetrated upon the innocent citizen without any rhymes and reasons. Expressing its unhappiness at the” reign of terror by unwanted elements” especially in public places, the union further urged the parties concerned to desist from such evil act. It also appealed the law enforcing agencies to trace the culprit at the earliest and take stern action against the culprits so that it may serve as a lesson to those perpetrators of terrorism and also to protect the innocent citizens from any form of act of terror.

Dimapur, august 2 (mexn): A 3 month training programme on improved handloom weaving under "IIFCL-NSTFDC Skill Upgradation and Economic Empowerment of Tribal Handloom Women Artisans in the NE states" project for the state of Nagaland successfully concluded recently at Kuda Village, Dimapur. The project was implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati an organisation under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and sponsored by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), under Ministry of Finance, and the National Schedule Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC), under Ministry of Tribal Affairs. According to a press release from the IIE, 25 selected women Handloom weavers took part from Dimapur area in the training programme. A valedictory function for the same was held on July 31 at Jotsoma community Hall, Kuda village with Krishnamurthy Iyer, Chairman, Nagaland Rural Bank (NRB) as Chief Guest. Tapobrat Bhuyan, Project Coordi-

nator, IIE, in his address informed that the training was imparted by expert Designer and Master Trainer and various diversified handloom products with traditional design has been develop during the training. He also said that a National Level Exhibition Cum Buyer Seller meet will be organised in Delhi in November to give market exposure to the artisans of NE states. The chief guest appreciating IIE's initiatives assured necessary assistance to weavers from Rural Bank in future. Anil PC Raven, Deputy General Manager (Project Manager), NNSTFDC in his speech stated that trained candidates from the programme would be extended concessional loans for setting up Handloom units. NSTFDC extends concessional financial assistance through its state agency called Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (NIDC). NSTFDC also entered into a refinance agreement with NRB through SBI and an agreement was signed by Iyer and Anil Raven. Fly shuttle looms were also distributed to all 25 trainee along with certificates.

Dimapur

phek, august 2 (mexn): The Phek Farmers’ Club informed that the incessant rainfall has affected large portion of paddy fields in Phek village and the neighboring villages. According to the club president Chekhunieyi Vero and chief coordinator Thuputhiyi Venuh, many farmers are now in distress as many depend their livelihood through paddy cultivation. Meanwhile, the Club thanked the Phek Deputy Commissioner Murohu Chotso for deep showing concern on the plight of the affected farmers by initiating the process of relief measure on the ground of natural calamity. In this connection, the Phek Farmers Club asked the affected farmers to apply the same through such channel initiated by DC.

Condolence CMA condoles

made genuine and sincere contributions for the welfare of the youth especially the sportspersons,” the NCA stated in a press condolence issued by its general secretary, Abu Metha adding that he vacuum created by his sudden demise will be difficult to fill. “The President and all members of the Nagaland Cricket Association convey our deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved family and pray to Almighty God to let the departed soul rest in eternal peace,” it said.

had expressed its deep regret over the sudden demise of the former champions of Naga Wrestling, Velahü Puro from Kikrüma village and Vinocho Phinyo from Kidima village. The JCDK in a press condolence issued by its secretary, Vethikhoyi Khamo further conveyed prayers of strength and solace for the bereaved families and wished the departed souls an enternal peace.

Art & Culture deparment mourns

Dimapur, august 2 (meXn): The Nagaland State Bharat Scouts and Guides Association has expressed its deep “shock” to learn about the sudden demise of Kivigho Zhimo Rotokha, who was serving as Asst. Director Youth Resources & Sports Nagaland. He was a man of many talents with keen interest in scouting talent and ever ready to mingle and encourage the Scouts and Guides and the association lost a great irreplaceable Leader, NSBSG stated in press condolence issued by its officiating state secretary/ SOC(S), John Tochimong “The State Chief Commissioner along with all the members of NSBSG gives our heartfelt sympathy and sincere condolences to the bereaved family” it added further wishing eternal peace to the departed soul.

phek, august 2 (mexn): The Chakhesang Mother’s Association (CMA) has extended condolences to the family members of Late Velahu Puro of Kikruma village. CMA acknowledged the many contributions of Velahu Puro in the field of sports and the society in general. “He was Farmers practising Line Transplanting of paddy supervised by Agriculture Department field functionaries under an inspiration to the younger generthe Programme of National Food Security Mission (NFSM)- Rice at Khekiho Village (Dhansiripar Block), Dimapur. ation in many ways. He was not only a great wrestler but also known for A sensitiza- his humility and kind heartedness,” tion program CMA stated in a condolence note. “In on "The Nagaland his passing, we have lost a good leadGovernment er and a person who genuinely cared conduct for the society.” CMA further prayed rules 1968" for God’s favor and solace over his and the Dis- family. kohima, august 2 (mexn): cipline and The Director of Art & Culture, Vevo Appeal Rules Sapuh, Officers and staff of the de1967 was partment conveyed their deepest conducted condolence at the sad and sudden on July 31 for the ofdemise of Haidwariang (Peon). ficers and “He was a sincere and dedicated staff of the kohima, august 2 (mexn): employee who will be greatly missed. Directorate The Nagaland Cricket Association We convey our deep sympathies to his of Veterinary & Animal (NCA) led by the President, all the wife, children and family and pray for Husbandry, office bearers and all affiliates has God's divine peace and comfort,” the Nagaland. conveyed its deep shock over the un- director stated in a press condolence. The resource timely demise of P Asang Aier, who person was passed away on July 29 at Kohima. Dr. Hovithal “Lt. Asang Aier was a member N. Sothu, State Coor- and former office bearer of the NCA dinator, DMC and a contributing member of the as- kohima, august 2 (mexn): ATI. sociation in a significant manner. He The Japfüphiki Chokri Dzevi Krotho

NCA grief-stricken over member’s demise

JCDK condoles

NSBSG mourns

Public SPace

Rise of the Hydra … again!!

he NSCN (IM) is alarmingly at it again; threatening to liquidate KK Sema, ACAUT members, and others who bring out the truth that is not in line with their retarded, medieval mindset (did someone say TALIBAN!!!). That theirs are not idle threats is well known; so many of the finest Naga Intellectuals were butchered in the past. Please don’t care to deny anything as everybody knows it. Yes, you can force me to give a written statement that all I stated was crap by kidnapping me and inflicting torture that would humble even the Chinese Torture Masters, before dispatching me to my Maker. I know it … so does everyone else. The constant picking on the name ‘Tangkhul’ has indeed pinched the NSCN (M). For your kind information Rev. Tuisem Shishak (most sincere apologies for dragging out your name, Sir) is a highly respected member of Naga Society. For his honest utterances with God as his witness, the NSCN (IM) nearly got rid of him too with their brand of “Nagaland for Christ” but for the timely intervention of prominent citizens and Civil Societies. He is a Tangkhul but all Nagas, of Nagaland as well, hold him in very high esteem. In fact our decadent society, today more than ever, sorely needs more leaders like him. Most of us also have Tangkhul friends who are very dear to us. Therefore, it is not the Tangkhul masses but the IM Variety that has everyone riled up. Most unfortunately, rivals from another camp went on a butchering spree a few decades back. This genocide was to cleanse Nagaland of Tangkhuls, because of the excesses of the IM. All those who were murdered or forced to flee Nagaland were the INNOCENTS who had no idea and were least bothered of what was happening around them; they were poor students and the working class break-

ing their backs trying to earn a decent livelihood, which is highly condemnable. To answer this are many questions that pester the mind. Why is the NSCN (IM) Town Commander invariably a Tangkhul in places that are not Ukhrul district? The Regional Chairmen are natives of the region, but why is the MAIN bodyguard Tangkhul? Why are the Chairmen and others subservient to the lowly Bodyguard who is actually the one passing orders? The Top Brass is mixed, but all REAL POWER lies with the IM Tangkhul alone. In a strange way, the same people who are champions of Tribalism are allergic to their tribe name being dragged out in the open. Something is seriously amiss here. These and many other issues are being discussed, in disgust, in kitchens every hour of the day all over Nagaland for many decades. Can Mr. Lukho, Office Assistant-I, NSCN/GPRN honestly state that he was never intimidated by the presence of the Bodyguard or that he is free to express himself anytime, anywhere? It is preferable to stop uttering nonsense when there is no spine to back it up. Of the many hundreds of people whose education were, and is being financed (by Naga Blood, Sweat, and Tears TAX) in India and abroad, how many of which tribes of the Nagas have been the beneficiaries? Can this be honestly stated without distortion of facts? Rather, to hide perverted and dark secrets that are known to all, intimidating replies would be “Anti-National Activity”, “Anti-Government Statement”, or “GoI Agent”, which warrants the death sentence. Honestly, are we not playing Tribalism with the AK 47? Everyone has a fairly good idea of the personal wealth of certain individuals, NSCN (IM) and Nagaland Government who unfortunately, for reasons known, cannot have their names in the exclusive

Forbes List of Worlds Billionaires. Tens of thousands of crores of rupees have been looted from the Government treasury and tens of thousands of crores extorted in the name of Sovereignty Tax and multiplied many times over through investments in India and around the world to fill personal coffers to ensure a life of opulence for many generations of these scheming, corrupt individuals, some of whom are trying to shove the Sovereignty Issue down our throats with the AK 47. What do you know of the towering leaders Nagaland had, on whom you spew venom, except for the GREED for the Indian Rupee for the bottomless pits? The sanctimonious NSCN (IM) is against Indian Occupation and by extension, Indian Elections. However, their actions with the AK 47 in the hill districts of Southern Nagaland recently paint a very different picture. Ditto here in Nagaland where they have continuously helped retain a government that has worked without any qualms under the Constitution of India, with some looting many thousands of crores of rupees and silently slipping a hefty cut to their benefactors. The NSCN (IM) has also continuously collected Indian Money (TAX) on every conceivable item many times, and over and over again. But the people who have remained within the “Sound of Silence” are slowly but surely shattering the silence. The poor dog is barking at the moving caravan, but it is steadily growing larger with longer and sharper fangs, and …. beginning to follow. It is never too late to change. To earn the respect of the people be transparent, humble, and most of all, kill that filthy TRIBALISM, which is the cause of all our misery today.

Oil extraction in the Dab

y due appreciation to the Lotha Hoho (LH) for having taken a painstaking research work on Oil World. The PowerPoint presentation on oil extraction during the recent meeting held at Unity College Dimapur was in fact an eye opener. Hats off to the Lotha Hoho also for coming out with various anomalies committed by the State Government agency while allotting the oil right to a certain Oil Company. There should not be leakage in the oil pipe as has happen in the past at least from this generation onwards. Having had an opportunity to serve the NSF as a Chairman of CPNR (Committee on Protection of Natural Resources) whose main objective is to deal with an

issue pertaining to oil extraction, I thought I should blow my own trumpet here for a while of course, taking the privilege of the Lotha Hoho being the only NGO that seems to be spearheading the oil issue at present. During my Chairmanship (20002002), NSF had served an ultimatum to the ONGC Ltd. to stop all the ongoing extraction work in the DAB under Ralan area till the time the border issue is resolved or till the time proper arrangement is made providing equal opportunities to both the states of Assam & Nagaland. Our ultimatum did create a situation, however, the big silence on the part of the State Govt. had not only embolden the company to continue its extraction operation but had

been continuously expanding its oil extraction activities in the DAB, I wonder why is that, nobody seems to care about an oil extraction that is going on 24x7 from 3-point at Ralan area (1 at Lishanyan area, extracting since 30+ yrs , 1 at Wochan area, extracting since 15+ yrs & 1 at Tchujanphen area which is 5+yrs now ). How is it that the ONGC Ltd is extracting oil claiming those sites as located in Assam when it is definite that the above mention sites are located well within the Bsector of DAB? How is that ONGC Ltd. procured permission only from the state of Assam and why not from Nagaland as well? Our silence on this issue has cost us a lot. And unless we wake up now

and raise the issue more aggressively, sooner or later we would find ourselves in the losing end, losing everything (Land + Oil) just because those men who really matter most mostly tread the path of, 'Silence is Golden', I may want to suggest to those man who matter most on oil that while proper oil extraction modalities is being worked out, a concrete system of oil operation needs to be simultaneously prepared for the DAB area. In fact, our stand should be that an oil extraction in the Lotha area or for that matter in any Naga area can only be possible after resolving the ongoing oil extraction in the so called DAB. Er. KL Niloyo Padumpukhuri, Dimapur

Funny NLA Secretariat Advertisement

irst of all, I congratulate and thank our Honorable Speaker, NLA for advertising the 4 post of LDA cum Computer Assistant and 3 post of Stenographer Grade-3 in the NLA Secretariat to be appointed through open competition, after many years. But at the same time, maybe because it has been many years later that the NLA Secretariat is giving Advertisement (Ad) for recruitment, many funny discrepancies and loopholes could be detected in the Ad which was published in Morung Express on 30 July 2015 and Nagaland Post on 31 July 2015, some of which are discussed below: 1. As I write this article today, more than 200 candidates have already applied and by the time the last date i.e. 14 August 2015 comes, I am sure few thousand would have applied. According to the Ad point no. 9, 10 & 11; it is clear that there will be no written exam, (Sida interview) only interview. So here, I am just left to wonProf. G.T. Thong der how fair you are going to conduct inDepartment of Geology terview for all those thousand candidates Nagaland University and judge the suitability of a candidate for

the respective posts, even NPSC conduct interview for NCS,NPS and allied services at the most for 350 candidates which nearly takes 2 months. Are you not making a mockery/laughing stock of yourself? 2. When there will be no written exam, I wonder what the Rs. 200 exam fee is meant for? (For one A 4 size paper form and just for saying Hello/Hi to the interview board members?). The more funny part is in the Ad point no. 4 which says (quote) “Fees once deposited will not be refundable under any circumstance” (unquote). Dear Honorable Speaker sir, why are so scared/ concerned about the ‘REFUND? 3. Let’s keep LDA cum C.A. aside for the moment, now for Stenographer Grade-3, it is an ‘open secret’ that in many departments, candidates are appointed as Steno without even knowing the ABC of short hand/ stenography. With mushrooming private steno institutes, one can easily acquire diploma steno certificates (diploma in computer application certificates too) without even studying. So the point I want to make here is since Steno

is a technical subject and also it is clearly mentioned in the Ad point no. 3(b) that one should have a short hand speed of 80 WPM and 30 WPM in typing, if you really want free and fair exam, why not conduct practical exam for Steno before interview, so that the best and legitimate candidate can be selected? Lastly I would like to make myself clear that I do not write this article to offend you or the NLA Secretariat, but as I go through your Ad, I feel that something is not right and I also know many people cursing and laughing at the Ad in their kitchen, office and friend’s circle, so I would like to request you to kindly spare few minutes and ponder on the above points. If you think nothing is wrong, so be it but if your conscience too pricks you and you feel something is not right, then the legitimate candidates I am sure would be very happy and grateful to you to see you altering the wrong RIGHT. T. Meren Ao, Lower Bayavu, Kohima.

The Morung Express states that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express monDAy 3 AuGusT 2015volumE volumEXXIssuE IssuE185 210 THursDAy 9 July 2015 By Along longkumer

Igniting Minds Remembering Kalam

he beloved Dr. AJP Abdul Kalam, former President of India is no more. The outpouring of love from people across India in his passing away is truly evident of the admiration and respect that Kalam received during his life time. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was indeed the ‘people’s President’ who, though occupying the highest office in the land, remained as ever a man of great humility and simplicity. In his passing, India in particular has lost a treasure of a human being. This column recalls some of the few lasting impressions that he left not just for India but even in far-flung Nagaland where he visited us sometime in March of 2007 as President. His message that the ‘ignited mind of the youths is the most powerful resource’ left a deep impact even for a newspaper like the Morung Express, which was just beginning to take the first steps in its own journey as a vehicle for change. Kalam’s belief in the power of the ‘ignited’ youth resonated well with this newspaper given that it was young minds who had come together to start the Morung Express. During his visit, President Kalam was well aware of the high percentage of young people in the population of Nagaland and he made it a point to send across the message that the “dream of the youth has to be the dream of Nagaland”. And today that aspiration and dream of our young people is to see a corrupt-free Naga land; peace and amity towards a shared future and prosperity. Our elders and those in leadership, whether in politics, church or civil society should lead well so that they can leave behind for their children, the prospect of a much better and respectable life than the one we have at the present time. God has endowed us with rich natural resources and human capital and someone like Kalam acknowledged this from the point of foreseeing Nagaland as a developed State. To refresh public memory of Kalam’s visit in 2007, he went on to mention about six areas for accelerating economic development of Nagaland. These included- tourism development; promotion of handicraft products with technology infusion; industrial growth with particular emphasis on horticulture and floriculture; agriculture and aromatic plants; bamboo and value added products and knowledge products with core competence in English and environment. Our policy makers should take a fresh relook at the suggestions made by Kalam. Also Kalam suggested to Nagaland, as well as to other States in India, to implement his concept of PURA (provision of urban facilities in rural areas) for all round development of its rural areas. Kalam had in fact specifically recommended that Nagaland University should undertake project work for creation of at least 11 PURAs in the 11 districts of Nagaland. Much before the present Narendra Modi government’s policy of building Smart Cities, Kalam had already expounded on fundamental needs like providing dwelling units to all village citizens with clean water supply and sanitation. It is probably true that the concept of Smart Cities in our context is too far-fetched.Nagaland being a small state with a good network of villages and strong community spirit, identifying at least 11 PURAs in the 11 districts in Nagaland as suggested by Kalam may be more feasible and also appropriate if we want to encourage rural Nagaland to become the new growth centres from where development can take root and grow. Late Kalam’s visit to Nagaland will be remembered for igniting the minds of people both young and old alike to the world of ‘possibilities’ that awaits us if only we dare to dream. President Kalam’s optimism for success, which finds mention in the now famous India 2020 vision, was largely because of his self-belief in a young India. ‘Impossible’ as Kalam put it “is not a good word”. In a world of hopelessness and despair, Kalam’s life should remind our people of the endless possibilities for our own land if only we can envision for ourselves and work towards that dream to become reality through right conduct and action. Thank you Kalam for this lesson. (The writer is a former Editor of the Morung Express and presently serving as a board member. Feedback may be sent to alongnews@yahoo.com)

lEfT WING |

SudeshnaMajumdar

Rough Hands

he middle aged woman, who looked more like she was in her sixties, wiped the sweat from her brow as she entered her little house. She saw her teenaged daughter lying on the only bed they had and noticed that there were tears in the little girl’s eyes. “How was the college, my child?” she asked. “Terrible!!” wept the little girl. “Were the teachers bad or the subjects difficult?” “Neither” said the little girl. “So, why the tears on your eyes?” “I don’t want to go to school ever again, mother.” “But your teachers were good and the subjects were not difficult...” “My classmates were horrible!!!” “Oh,” said the mother. “Did you have a fight with them?” “No mother, I didn’t.” “They laughed at you?” “No.” “Then how were they horrible?” asked the mother. “They ignored me mother. They talked to each other, they cracked jokes with each other but they kept away from me.” “And you felt bad…?” “Mother, it was horrible. Not just they were ignoring me, I also felt different. They were all wearing the latest fashionable tops and skirts; they were all carrying cell phones, chatting and SMS-ing all the time. Oh mother, I felt strange being there.” The mother looked at her little girl, went close to her and sat by her side. The hands that stroked her daughter’s body were rough and blistered. “It’s going to be a very tough year for you, my child” she said. “Yes mother,” murmured the little girl. “But you can make it easy for yourself,” said the mother. “How mother, how?” sobbed the girl. “By doing in college what you entered college for” said the mother. “You didn’t enter to make fashion statement. You didn’t enter to impress the others. You go to college, my child, to study hard and to be somebody one day.” The mother stroked the little girl’s head. “My hands are rough, aren’t they?” “Yes mother.” “Remember then my child, if you can give those five years all you have got, if you can see the goal you have set out to reach and see nothing else then you need not have hands that do the work I do. Forget those phones, those fancy dresses; they will be yours when it is time. Walk tall in what you wear, shine in the subject you have taken, surely you will get your due.” The little girl kissed her mother’s hands. “Why did you get such hands mother?” she asked. A teardropped from her mother’s eye. “I wasted years with fancy stuffs” she cried. “My hands pay theprice now.”“Rough Hands” symbolises not only rough treatment but the changing perception in this so called modern world- change in the attitude, behaviour, thinking… So dear children, let us all try our best to have a smooth and clear thinking and of course, HANDS, smooth hands!!!

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Alice Welbourn

HIV and AIDS: language and the blame game

hile attending the International AIDS Society Pathogenesis Conference in Vancouver last week I posted on my facebook page: "Have retreated from IAS2015 for a breather. Too much negative language about "loss to follow up", "defaulters", "failure to achieve viral suppression", "shock and kill" strategies against HIV reservoirs is damaging to this soul..." One of many kind responses came from Martha Tholanah: "Mindfulness in use of language is important. Am I "lost to follow-up" or have I been "bullied out of care"? #ComplexitiesInDealingWithHumanBeings." Global HIV policy is full of dehumanizing, aggressive, militaristic and combative phrases which are deeply depressive, not soothing for the soul. For instance, we people with HIV are often just called “PLHIV” or “WLHIV” short for “people/women living with HIV”. This reduction of an individual to a bunch of letters feels very dehumanizing and I can’t think of any other health condition where the individual is so reduced to an acronym. Similarly we are widely said to have been “infected” or to potentially “infect” others. In a word document thesaurus this translates as “impure, contaminated, perverted, infested….”. That doesn’t feel great. I have written before on openDemocracy 50.50 of the euphemism of “Option” B+, a strategy which starts pregnant women on HIV treatment for life the day they are diagnosed, which is not an option for them - only their governments. Some UN documents, such as the 2013 WHO HIV treatment Guidelines, seek for us to “achieve viral suppression” and if we don’t, health staff – even some male activists with HIV - brand us as “defaulters”, “failures” “wasting resources” and worse, with their targets and goals unmet. Susan Sontag wrote of this “blame the victim” mode long ago and nothing has changed. Even the phrase “lost to follow up” and “treatment-naïve patients” also make us sound somehow – well – naïve, careless and thoughtless, as if there might not be key intentional reasons for our “failure” to return to a clinic. In a recent trial in South Africa, where it was discovered that young women participants had not in fact made use of a tablet and gel that were being trialed when they said they had, they were deemed by the researchers to have ruined the trial by “lying”. As Professor Ida Susser explains: “when a study fails, we must be careful not to imply that the subjects are at fault. My analysis of the study suggests, rather, that research design was to blame.” Other language that depresses includes the ongoing reference to “HIV/AIDS” as if they are one and the same. Ever since HIV medication was introduced in the mid-1990s, HIV has no longer been a death sentence for those of us privileged enough to access treatment when we need it. Yet this phrase is still used repeatedly by those who should know better. Last week at the Vancouver International AIDS Conference, one plenary presentation on a cure even talked of the virtues of “shock and kill” tactics of using an “aggressive” regime of early treatment to suppress the HIV reservoir which builds up in our bodies after we first acquire HIV. Why do we have to use such combative, militaristic language when we could talk about “reduction” or management” of the reservoir instead? In response to our frustration over negative language, including that of the “Global Plan Towards The Elimination Of New HIV Infections Among Children By 2015 And Keeping Their Mothers Alive”, known widely just as the “elimination plan”, a number of us women living with HIV wrote an article for the Journal of the International AIDS Society, to explain why

ith unusually hot and dry weather beating down on this Southern African nation, climate change and the accompanying drought have cost farmers much of their cattle herds. In response, many ranchers are turning to goats to preserve their livestock assets. Climate change experts agree that breeding drought-tolerant animals like goats, which survive on shrubs and need less manpower to tend, is a better choice than high-maintenance cattle. This is happening at a time the United Nations is urging nations the world over to take urgent action to combat climate change and manage its impact as part of the United Nations’ new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a universal set of 17 goals, targets and indicators that U.N. member states are expected to use as development benchmarks in framing their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. “With rainfall patterns fluctuating in Zimbabwe, rearing cattle is becoming unsustainable. But breeding goats, which are drought-tolerant, can be much more rewarding,” Happison Chikova, an independent environment and climate change expert, who holds a degree in geography and environmental studies from Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University, told IPS. “Plans are imminent to boost production of goats in Zimbabwe’s dry regions where small livestock like goats thrive and we have identified meat export markets in countries like South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria and the Middle East, where goat meat is a delicacy,” Chrispen Kadiramwando, president of the Goat Breeders Association of Zimbabwe, told IPS. Official statistics from the country’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development show that there are approximately 136,000 goat breeders countrywide,

we found such language so debilitating and harmful and to offer alternative, blame-free, woman-positive, language instead. This has slowly gained traction in some corners. But it is yet to be adopted by mainstream HIV scientists, for whom perhaps numbers rather than language are more their comfort zone. Yet, many of us on the receiving end of such language feel battered and bruised by how it saps our souls. The Global Plan above has as its four strategies four “prongs”. As I explained in a speech in 2013, prongs remind me of pitch-forks and botched abortions rather than of a global strategy to care and support for women living with HIV as they prepare for motherhood. The potential ramifications of the use of such language should be considered carefully before its us ein global policies. Whilst published as global level as voluntary guidelines, it often has dire knock-on effects at the country level. In that speech I offered alternative language also. Another concept which is curiously negative is the idea of “ending gender-based violence”, which is closely connected to HIV for women. In a West African regional workshop in Dakar in 2013, we asked UN staff, government staff and NGO staff alike what kind of world they dreamt of beyond the end of gender-based violence (GBV). Their common or unified response was “if we have a world without gender-based violence, then we will be out of a job…” I found that response immensely revealing about the self-limiting nature of using negative language since they were sub-consciously unable to work towards a world beyond GBV, firstly because such a positive concept had never even been considered and secondly because realising such a vision would herald their redundancies.

Language, as Lakoff and Johnson have explained at length, frames the way we think about and shape our worlds. If we use negative, combative, problem-focused, competitive militaristic language, we think and act accordingly. By contrast if we use the language of nature, nurture and growth our thoughts and actions respond creatively – and also turn to positive solutions. Militaristic, combative language is widely used in relation to cancer too – “beating” cancer, “fighting” it and, when someone dies, declaring that s/he has “lost her/his battle with it.” But such language, I believe, is both unnecessary and damaging to our souls. I am a great believer in organic gardening, in finding balance in my plot and in not zapping weeds or slugs with toxic chemicals but with living alongside them, accepting them as part of nature’s rich tapestry, using physical barriers such as gravel, copper strips and old carpet to contain them instead, so that I can also grow nourishing vegetables safely. If I were to use any spray I would only use it with extreme caution and in very small quantity. Bugs were here before us and will outlive us. To imagine otherwise is folly indeed. Similarly, I look at my HIV as a part of me which I accept rather than reject. I live alongside it and around it in my body, with modest HIV medication, rather than trying to reject or defeat it. It is not a wholly negative experience. I and many colleagues thank our HIV for giving us many insights into the purpose of our lives and into the injustices which it has brought so many others around the world. I have had many good conversations over the past year with my sister, who has pancreatic cancer. She points out that when people die in the normal course of events, we do not say that they have lost the ‘battle' to stay alive, but accept it as normal. Though challenged by her cancer, my sister is not fighting it: rather she is doing all she can to support her immune system so that it can best perform its normal function (cancer has been described as a breakdown of the immune system - the body is hard wired to heal). Recognising better the impermanence of life, the quality of her life is actually enhanced - this does not sound like ‘a battle’. A more gentle, holistic response to the containment of disease is needed rather than the aggressively-charged metaphors which bombard us all. The one certainty that joins us all as living human beings is our impermanence - that we will die. Atul Gawande and Deepak Chopra have eloquently argued how our attempts to assume otherwise are hubristic and there is often more sense in our seeking to heal rather than to cure ourselves, to find balance in ourselves as our bodies deal with our ailments. The language of nature, nurture, roots, shoots, branches, warmth, rain, growth and creation is something that makes me feel good about myself and others around me. In my garden I need a toolshed, not an arsenal. With our tools, we can join together to create a better world for us all, with greater equity of income, of social, gender and environmental justice, greater involvement in political decision-making in all policies that affect our lives. What will help us along the way is a sense that we have scientists, donors and policy makers working with us, not against us, seeking a shared vision rather than chasing their targets, offering us respect, dignity and appreciation of the trials we face along the way in initiating – and continuing with – our self-care. We all need to work together in this garden and we need to respect the workings of the slugs, bugs and weeds also in our lives. The forces of nature are bigger than us all and to assume we can overcome them – and to blame people with HIV if we don’t - is folly on a grand scale indeed.

Goats Take the Bite Out of Climate Change Jeffrey moyo Inter Press Service ranging from ordinary communal goat breeders to peri-urban goat breeders. Livias Ncube, from the country’s Region 5, the hottest part of the country in Mwenezi district, is one of the Zimbabweans who have shifted to goat-breeding, raising and selling. “There are hardly adequate rains in this part of the country, which is the driest area here in Zimbabwe, but I don’t use any stock feeds to nourish my goats as they adapt to the conditions, and they are even fatter,” Ncube told IPS. Besides selling the goats locally, Ncube told IPS that he has now become an exporter of goat meat to neighbouring countries like South Africa and Mozambique. “Although I maintain a sizeable herd of cattle after a series of droughts here which killed many cows, I now have a flock of 130 goats and I’m also earning money through selling these goats,” Ncube told IPS. Ncube said he earns an estimated 1600 dollars each month through goat selling, with each goat trading at around 70 dollars. His goats multiply at a faster pace than cows in spite of the dry conditions in this region. Through the Zimbabwe Livestock for Accelerated Recovery and Improved Resiliency (ZRR) programme, supported by the United States Agency

for International Development (USAID), Ncube learned how to manage and market his goats to improve their livelihoods. ZRR is a programme that provides farmers with training in goat husbandry and health management, and trains community livestock workers on preventative and curative animal health techniques. According to a research paper by the Matobo Research station on goat breeding and development activities in Zimbabwe, there are already more than two million goats in Zimbabwe, with nearly all goats (about 98 percent) reared in communal areas. However, agricultural experts fear that indigenous goat breeders are not realising the monetary value vested in their small livestock. “Thousands of farmers are into goat breeding here, but few have been able to ascertain the value in their animals due to lack of adequate information flow between the goat producers and the market, resulting in rural farmers ending up engaging in barter trade thereby stifling the commercialisation of goats,” Leonard Vazungu, a government agricultural extension officer, told IPS. At the beginning of this year, the Zimbabwean government distributed 10,000 goats for breeding stock and aims to increase the number to 44 million by 2018.

WRITE-WING

This comes at a time when this Southern African nation’s cattle population has declined from 6.8 million in 2000 to the current 5.2 million. “Investing in small livestock like goats, which have higher chances of survival in drought-prone areas, cautions the country against livestock loss,” Barnabas Mawire, country director for Environment Africa, told journalists a climate change workshop held this month in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. But this may not be easy without a national climate change policy. Earlier this year, citing Zimbabwe’s growing climate change effects, nonconstituency parliamentarian Annastancia Ndlovu pushed a motion for the formulation of a national climate change policy in the National Assembly. Ndlovu is chairperson of Zimbabwe’s Environment, Water, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. For Zimbabwe, financial shortfalls have not made the war against climate change any easier. “The drop in government funding for climate change means we must work with other partners to move the climate change agenda forward and we are currently developing the national climate policy – the country’s first for which we need as many resources as we can get,” Veronica Gundu, principal environment officer for Zimbabwe’s Environment, Water and Climate ministry, told IPS. However, with or without the national climate change policy, many Zimbabwean goat breeders like Ncube say they have moved single-handedly to address climate change impacts. “We have moved on with our lives in the face of deepening climate change impacts and through goat breeding. For us life goes on although climate change effects have claimed most of our cattle,” said Ncube.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender. Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

PERSPECTIVE

7 Economic Growth - A Comparative Perspective MONdaY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

3 AUGUST 2015

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

policy

n this article I analyse the growth rates in the 8 north-eastern states and look at how as a state we fare in the region. The measure used for this comparison is the Gross State Domestic Product and we use the 2004-05 series. The table below looks at Compound Annual Growth Rates (CAGR) from the years 2004-05 to 2013-14 . This exercise is meant both to take By Vyasan R stock of the progress our economy has had and also to learn crucial lessons from other states other words we have a higher than average per-capita income within the north east). However, if we take the Economic Growth rates country as a whole our state is bang in the middle of the per-capita income distribution. Together with Tripura Figure 1: GSDP (at 2004-05 prices) (representing the median per-capita income for the country) and Sikkim (in the 90th percentile) our state CAGR for all the NE states between 2004-05 to 2013-14 has an income that is higher than the median income for the country. If we include both union territories Overall North-east and the states then Nagaland has the 14th highest percapita income in the country. TRIPURA

AIDS targets: the fear factor Hajjarah Nagadya

HIV is not just a health issue but a multi-

have leveraged the presence of natural resources sectoral issue that requires many different to propel growth. Tripura has been blessed with the presence of non-toxic natural gas. Similarly players. Is the UNAIDS HIV '90-90-90' fastMeghalaya’s coal reserves have helped it sustain track initiative in Uganda achievable? high growth rates in the state.In our state the presence of oil and natural gas and coal are elements that can be used for leveraging the growth in the NAIDS has announced that by 2020, 90% of all economy. For increasing growth in our economy people living with HIV should know their HIV stathere is a need to ensure a sustainable exploitation tus, 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV should of these natural resources. receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90% of all people receiving anti-retroviral therapy should have Agricultural value Addition: Sikkim is the largest pro- achieved viral suppression. By 2030, these targets are all ducer of large cardamom in the country contributing raised to 95%. This is goal of the Fast Track initiative. more than 80% of the country’s total production. FlowMany countries have welcomed and embraced this ers are also sold outside the state and this too an avenue ambitious target, but the question is whether it is possible for increased income in the state. Tripura is the second to do so. This is a target that everyone wants to achieve largest producer of rubber in the country after Kerala. if we are to reduce HIV prevalence, but are we ready as The state has also made strides in the production of tea. countries to achieve this? In order to do so, people have Sikkim aims at turning all its agricultural production to be tested, have to start treatment at some stage, and SIKKIM completely organic by the year 2015. All these resourc- have to adhere to treatment, once started, for life. There Meaning of higher growth rates NAGALAND Economic theory typically decomposes growth rates es are available in our state and if the productive forces are many serious hurdles they can meet along the way. MIZORAM MEGHALAYA as growth rates of population and growth rate of physi- in the economy are harnessed in the proper even our Testing is the first area of concern. We all know that MANIPUR cal and financial resources that can be used for future state’s economy can grow in a sustainable manner. early treatment can reduce rates of onward transmission ASSAM production. The former is otherwise known labour and by 90% in theory, because if people with HIV are able to ARUNACHAL PRADESH the latter as capital in economic jargon. These elements Trade and other services: Increased trade with Bangla- adhere to their treatment our ‘viral load’ should drop to 0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% are then multiplied with the increase in output induced desh has contributed greatly to the growth of Tripura. an undetectable level, meaning that we cannot pass on by these respective factors of production. Hence, one In Mizoram the New Land Use Policy of the govern- our HIV to anyone else – as if we should ever wish to. But GSDP SERVICES INDUSTRY AGR &ALLIED way to increase growth in economies is to improve the ment has helped in bringing changes and there is a how many countries have been successful in putting all quality of labour, by means of more education or/and move afoot in the state towards developing a new ap- people in need of ART on treatment? In Uganda, for exThe figure above shows how Nagaland’s growth rate increase the productivity of capital which includes inno- proach towards developing growth strategies. ample, over 1.5 million people are living with HIV but compares to the other states in the North-east region. vation. Causationis also attributed to a ‘black box’ term only 564,453 were on anti-retroviral therapy, as indicatThis is a good comparison to make as all states with productivity, measured as a residual. Higher growth Public Administration: All the states in the region have ed in a 2013 HIV and AIDS Uganda country progress rethe exception of Assam in the region have very similar rates can therefore occur because of either growth rates high growth rates in the sub-component of Public ad- port. This same report revealed that only 71.7% of the tocharacteristics like hilly terrain constraining the devel- in capital/labour or/and their producitivity. ministration. In the 10 year period 2004-05 to 2013-14, tal number of pregnant women tested for HIV were given opment of infrastructure and a low population. This exWith very low levels of capital in the north east except for Meghalaya other states had a Compound ARVs during their ante-natal care. Thus we can see that ercise will also provide us with a clearer picture of how any increase in the capital will have a more than pro- Annual Growth Rate of more than 6.0% per annum. some children will have been born with HIV, which will our state can progress in the future taking examples portionate increase in output contributed by capital. Our state had the highest in the region with a CAGR of in turn create a bigger gap between the targets and reality. that can be emulated from states in the region. This is where the initiatives of the central govern- 10.23% per annum. This may not be sustainable in the In many health facilities with a huge number of pregAs seen above Sikkim leads the pack with a healthy ment in terms of investing in three Cs of Connectiv- long run. There has to be a slight shift in the focus from nant women and very few health workers, group pre13.47% per annum growth rate. This growth has been ity, commerce and culture assume importance. The public administration to other sectors in the economy counselling and testing is practised as opposed to indipropelled by the high growth rates seen in the industry intervention of the central government for augment- with a higher employment potential. vidual counselling followed by testing - which is what is sector of the economy. This growth propelled Sikkim’s ing the investible opportunities is evident if we were meant to happen. One-to-one counselling is only offered per-capita income from `26,690 in 2004-05 to `83,527 to look at the Credit-Deposit Ratios in the region. New Initiatives just before handing over the test results. Group-counmaking it the state with the second highest per-capita With a Credit-Deposit ratio of only 26.1% this region Lack of physical infrastructure and adequate cred- seling is in the form of a health talk. This is not adequate income in real terms in the country .Our state’s perfor- had the lowest C-D ratios. The average C-D for the it should be factored in for formulating future growth enough for someone who is testing for the first time. Bemance was above the average of the region. Our state’s country as a whole is 58.1% implies that for increas- paths. The need for tapping new initiatives that the cause of the impersonal nature of group - as opposed to per-capita income (NSDP at constant prices) was `49, ing growth the presence of Central Government in- central government plans to implement with a spirit of one-to-one-counselling - women are often not prepared 963 which was the second highest in the North-east. vestment becomes a sine qua non for growth in this competition between the states of the region is a must for what may be ahead of them. This has created an enviOur state’s per-capita income is only 3/5th the per-cap- region. Not just the quantity but the composition of if there has to be sustained growth in our state. An ex- ronment where many women run away before receiving ita income of Sikkim. This statistic not only points to investment (or capital transfers) is equally impor- ample is the need to formulate a cogent policy by the their test results, and others do not carry on taking their the difference in standards of living even in a region tant for sustaining the growth process. Transfers to government for attracting investment in information drugs after being found to be HIV-positive. seemingly homogenous as the North-east. The base ef- the region which do not increase the income-earn- technology. With the expected commissioning of the Violence in the form of stigma and discrimination fect of a small population (with roughly a third of our ing capacity of the population may not be sustain- International Gateway at Agartala a window of oppor- is also becoming a chronic characteristic in many setpopulation) also magnifies the difference our states. able as this may lead to wastage in the economy and tunity will be opened up to our state for utilizing high tings. It stands as another serious barrier to achieveIf we compare the per-capita income of our state to a gradual roll back of funding in the event of cyclical speed internet services. This is an opportune moment ment of this ambitious target, both in healthcare facilithe country as a whole, we are below the mean national downturns in the national economy. to anticipate changes and act. ties and in families and homes. per-capita income of `52,326 but we have an income The better performing states in the region haveVyasan R is an Indian Administrative Service Officer borne of the The fear of testing is very real. Both men and women Nagaland cadre. He is currently doing a Masters in Public Adminis- fear taking the HIV test because they do not want to be that is slightly above the median national per-capita some common characteristics. tration/International Development at the Harvard Kennedy School. income of `47, 261. We are in the right tail of the perHis column will be featured every Monday. seen and gossiped about. Those who already know their Feedback can be emailed to vyasan_r@yahoo.com status are afraid to start their medication and often hide capita income distribution in the north-east region (in Natural resources: Some of the states in the region while swallowing the drugs. This kind of fear has hindered adherence to treatment and leads to the failure to suppress the virus in their bodies. Violence and the fear of violence also marginalises people living with HIV and undermines the national prevention and treatment efforts. Until society understands that HIV is like any other disease, that it can be manageable and no longer a death sentence as it was previously referred to, the threat or reality of violence can also mean that this ambitious target may instead become a nightmare to haunt us. In addition, donors are reducing their funding, and in Uganda we have failed to increase our domestic funding for health. In the 2015/2016 financial year, only 7% Some of those who voted cause more misgivings. • No. ..That policy would never Tax will go into the govt pocket of the national budget was allocated to health, which is YES had this to say: • Increasing taxes will in- happen. .. • No way it will only go to the less than the Abuja target which proposed that countries 15% of their national budget to health. We are • Yes, it is time that Nagas crease the size of their • No! But increasing Consump- pockets of the ministers and allocate very concerned that this will not be sufficient to achieve started paying tax. This is the its cronies and of course the the Fast Track target if donors continue to reduce their only way to keep our governbureaucrats who are always funding while at the same time Uganda is not increasing ment accountable and to see ever ready to scoop up even the domestic funding. Uganda is also still reporting cases of a lack of supplies. that our tax money is being a single drop. So don’t ever There are stock-outs of ARVs, despite the 2013 WHO treatment used for real development. bring the idea of increasing guidelines that recommend starting all people living with HIV whose CD4 counts are below 500 on ART. In addition, there • Whether it is going to genertaxes. are regular stock-outs of testing kits even though they are obate additional revenue or not, viously essential as an entry point to HIV treatment. only time will tell. But as a modSome of those who voted Viral load testing in most of the low-income countries ern society, it is time for people OTHERS had this to say: is still a dream. People are not even aware of what a viral to start paying taxes to the gov• Widening the tax base rath- load is, and are not in a position to pay for the test anyway. ernment. It is one of the preer than increasing the tax rate The test is widely charged for in Uganda although it is supto be free if donated by PEPFAR. There are just a few requisite of living in a state. would help increase the tax posed men - and even fewer women - in Uganda who are able to revenue pay an amount of $50 to have their viral load tested. Until this service is made free for even the poorest people to acSome of those who voted • Where is ACAUT? • In the real sense the Govern- cess it, people won’t check their viral load, and it will be NO had this to say: hard to understand whether the virus is being suppressed ment has the right and should and whether the global target is being achieved or not. • Not at all. By increasing the levy taxes in accordance to its taxes, the government is only So even though we know that about 550,000 of us so merit to generate resources. far have started HIV treatment, without routine viral load putting more burden on an alThis means that the govern- screening we have no idea how many of us have been able ready impoverished society to adhere to treatment and thus have an undetectable viment should be a functioning ral load. Even the phrase "achieving viral suppression" where majority of the people government which has the in- the one normally used by donors and policy makers - puts are living in rural areas. tegrity to deliver to the public. the blame on our shoulders if we don’t achieve it. • No, Are you kidding me? AdHow fair is this allocation of blame? In the case of Nagaland, the ditional taxes mean more revCriminalisation also plays a part here. Countries state government is neither have passed laws that criminalise intentional HIV enue for the Ministers / officers functioning nor does it have transmission and attempted HIV transmission, despite Pockets and their families. Do the integrity to deliver to the the fact that we are still advocating for voluntary HIV not burden the public with taxSuch punitive laws are more likely to deter peopublic. It has been in sham- testing. es and taxes. Very Tired paying ple further from accessing health services, including bles for years and the public HIV testing. People work out quickly that no one needs taxes and not seeing the fruits has lost its trust on the gov- to leave a trail that will be used by the law to count him of it. Bah! Nagaland Govt. ernment. So at this juncture or her out - and this includes pregnant women. People • No, the increase of Value these environments are therefore now more likely the Nagaland government in Added Tax will not result in not to test, and are also likely not to go for treatment YES NO OTHER does not have the moral au- because according to our new law in Uganda, you can generating additional revenue for the state government. bloody pocket. .. tion tax on harmful yet addic- thority and unless its restores be convicted if you know your HIV status. It is vital that people understand that HIV is not just A most sustainable way must • No, instead the government tive products and property tax public faith and trust of the a health issue but a multi-sectoral issue that requires people, increasing taxes will many different players. The more people tag it to indibe worked out. With the kind should stop the corruption could generate a fair sum of system that we have in the within itself and rely on the • No, Govt needs to put efforts on only cause more problems. viduals, the more we need to talk not just about overstate and the mentality of the available resources for the bringing industries and produc- • Wealth tax should have been in- coming HIV and AIDS as a non-curable disease, but about overcoming violence against people with HIV in people on tax, this will only generation of income. tion house to generate revenue. corporated. the form of stigma and discrimination.

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Is increasing taxes the best way to generate additional revenue for the Nagaland state government? 76%

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Monday 3 August 2015

Monsoon Fury: At least 81 die in floods Army rescues 1,000 in Gujarat

ahmedabad, august 2 (ians): The Indian Army continued its rescue and relief efforts on Sunday in flood-hit Gujarat, evacuating around 1,000 people, military officials said. Troops from the Southern Command and South Western Command undertook the rescue operations and provided relief material such as food, drinking water and medicines to over 2,400 people, the officials said. "A total of 28 relief teams, seven medical teams and seven Engineer Task Forces have been deployed (in the region)," an army official said. The relief work was on at Banaskantha, Bhuj, Chirpatiya, Sanchor and Dhanera areas. The Indian Air Force conducted 199 sorties on Saturday, rescuing A stray dog takes the support of a woman to cross a flooded street in Kolkata on Sunday, August 2. Parts nine people and dropped 210,000 of the city were flooded Sunday after water from the Ganges river rose following monsoon rains. (AP Photo) food packets. Air force choppers neW delhi, august 2 (pti): At least 81 people died and more than 80 lakh people were affected in fresh floods due to excessive rains in worst affected Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Odisha. In Gujarat, 14 districts and population of about 40 lakh were affected in recent floods due to heavy rainfall in the last few days. More than 10 lakh food packets have been airdropped or distributed to the flood victims, an official statement said here today. Temporary relief camps have been set up in affected areas and peoples are accommodated on need basis. A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat. In Rajasthan, so far 28 people have lost their lives, out of which 12 people died during past few days owing to very heavy rainfall and flood like situation in

many parts of the state. Rajasthan has experienced excessive rainfall in most of its districts. The situation is grim particularly in districts of Jalore, Jhalawar, Baran, Sirohi, Barmer and Dungarpur. Apart from State Disaster Response Force, Police, RAC etc., at present eight teams of NDRF were deployed for rescue and relief operations. So far, more than 630 peoples have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population. In West Bengal,?48 deaths have been reported from various parts of the state during the floods owing to lightening, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite and drowning. As reported by State government due to cyclone KOMEN, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in almost all South West Bengal districts. So far, 12 districts consisting of 210

blocks and 9,691 villages have been affected due to floods. A population of 36,90,627 are affected. State Government has deployed 121 boats for rescue and relief operations. A total of 5,672 cattle is also lost in the floods. The State Government has set up 1,537 relief camps and 2,14,306 people have been accommodated, it said. In Odisha, seven districts namely Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jharsuguda and Deogarh were affected by the floods, the statement said. A total of five people lost their lives and 644 villages and population ? 4,80,399 are affected. ODRAF units are carrying out relief and rescue operations. So far 1574 peoples have been evacuated to safer places. Seven relief camps have been opened and 55 people have been accommodated. 132 boats have been deployed for rescue operations.

were on standby on Sunday. In Shervo village, nearly 50 km north of Bhuj, after the lone connecting road was cut off by flood waters, soldiers and Gujarat Police rescued around 200 people. The villagers were helped to move to safer areas with the help of ropes held by human chains formed by the troops. At one point, a woman with her infant lost her balance and was almost washed away by flood waters. However, Havaldar Yousouf of the army jumped into the water and grabbed the infant to keep it above the water level. Yousouf then helped the woman reach the rope held by his colleagues, saving the mother and the baby. In another incident, soldier Sudhir Yadav rescued a dog struggling to survive in the menacing flood water and carried it for 7 kms in the waters to safety.

IMD forecasts heavy showers over central, eastern India neW delhi, august 2 (ians): Heavy rainfall is likely to lash eastern and central parts of the country over the next two days, the Met Office said on Sunday. Due to a depression over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand, heavy rainfall will occur at many places over West Bengal, Bihar and Sikkim till Monday, while Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh will get heavy showers over the next two days. Similarly, the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh too will get rain on Monday and Tuesday. "Strong winds with speed reaching 3040 km per hour would prevail around the depression centre" till Monday, the India Meteorological Department said.

sition demand for resignation of Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in Lalit Modi row and ouster of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam scam. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who addressed a press conference at BJP headquarters, termed Congress as "confused" and claimed that it has put itself in an "untenable position" and "pushed itself against the wall" by demanding resignations of Swaraj, Raje and Chauhan. Reacting sharply, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "The blame of Parliament's not functioning lies squarely with the Prime Minister for his arrogance and obduracy." Referring to Jaitley's comments, he said, "the unwarranted, uncharitable and provocative statement by the Finance Minister and BJP, accussing Congress of disruption makes it abundantly clear that the government is neither serious nor sincere in breaking the deadlock in Parliament." He asked Jaitley and BJP "not to give patronizing sermons to the Congress but to collectively reflect and apologise for their own conduct while in opposition."

Jodhpur, august 2 (pti): Rape accused self-styled godman Asaram features in a chapter on saints in a Class III textbook in the district, sharing space with Vivekananda, Mother Teresa and Ramakrishna Paramhans. Yoga guru Ramdev is also included in the list of saints in the moral education and GK textbook 'Naya Ujala' which is taught in many schools of the district. The book has been supplied by a Delhi-based publisher Gurukul Education Books. Asked about the inclusion of Asaram's name, a representative of the publishing house said when the book was published, there was no case against Asaram and it is withdrawing the books and preparing a new edition of the book sans Asaram. When officials of the education department were asked about the book, they expressed ignorance about the matter.However, they said notices would be issued to the school authorities where the textbook is part of the curriculum.

Indian policemen stop protesting Congres party workers protestors during a third consecutive day of shutdown strike in Jammu on Sunday, August 2. The winter capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir remained shutdown for a third consecutive day due to protests over the demand for the establishment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, in the region. (AP Photo)

Rs.1,150 crore plan to build strategic petroleum reserves

Asaram shown as 'saint' in school book

neW delhi, august 2 (ians): To secure India's energy economy against supply and price fluctuations globally, an additional funding of over Rs.1,150 crore is being provided for the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL). Through supplementary demands for grant presented to parliament earlier this week, union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought an allocation of Rs.1,153 crore for buying crude oil to fill the first strategic crude oil reserve being built at Visakhapatnam by ISPRL. India plans for a strategic reserve that could hold up to 1.3 million tonnes of crude oil. Under this plan, the government would set up a Strategic Crude Oil Storage of about 5.33 million tonnes at two other locations in the country -- Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes) and

Padur (2.5 million tonnes) in the first phase. The Mangalore and Padur projects, both on the western coast of Karnataka, are nearly complete, awaiting pipeline connections from the nearest ports. A second phase is also under planning, which seeks to create 12.5 million tonnes storage capacity at Padur, Chandikhol (Odisha), Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Rajkot (Gujarat). While India currently imports about 80 percent of its oil requirements, the International Energy Agency predicts that by 2020, India could become the world's largest oil importer. The current slump in oil prices that have been in steady fall since the later half of last year, is considered an opportune time to build up strategic oil reserves.

'Make in India' for 90 medium combat jets neW delhi, august 2 (ians): In another major step towards self reliance in the defence sector, a plan is being finalised to produce 90 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) in India, informed sources said. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to be drafted soon after the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) comes in place. Expected to be one of the biggest projects under the Make in India campaign, the cost of the programme is ex-

pected to be around $30 billion, the sources said. The Indian Air Force requires 126 MMRCAs. With India getting into an agreement with France to get 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition, there was a lack of clarity on how the rest of the gap will be filled. The sources said that now these remaining jets will be made in India, in what will be a major step in domestic manufacturing of such aircraft. According to the sources,

Pak frees 162 Indian fishermen Karachi, august 2 (ians): Pakistan on Sunday released 162 Indian fishermen and a 11-year-old boy from a Karachi jail, a media report said. Geo TV said they were freed from Landhi Jail. Marine forces of Pakistan frequently arrest Indian fishermen for allegedly violating the maritime border in the Arabian Sea.

Separate rooms in bus stands for mothers in TN district erode, august 2 (pti): Ensuring privacy for mothers breastfeeding their newborns, separate rooms will be set up in 12 bus stands in the district for them, Erode District Collector Dr S Prabhakar said . Each of these rooms would have a separate enclosure with chairs, water facilities and toilets, which would ensure privacy to them, he said. These centres were being set up on the instructions of the Tamil Nadu Government, he said. They would come up in the Municipal Corporation Central Bus stand here, Bhavani, Gobichettipalayam,Punjai Puliampatty, Sathyamangalam, Kodumudi, Sivagiri, Chennimalai, Perudnurai, Nambiyur, Bhavanisagar and Anthiyur.

Some Kerala government offices work on Sunday thiruvananthapuram, august 2 (ians): Some Kerala government offices functioned on Sunday as a mark of respect to late president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thompson had on July 28 tweeted that all state government offices would remain open on Sunday but the idea was shot down by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The directorate of health services, however, worked on Sunday. The decision was taken by the staff welfare committee. "Not only is our office working today (Sunday), but we have begun an anti-malaria drive too," its director S. Jayashankar told the media. "It was a unanimous decision taken by all of us to work on Sunday as this was what our former president Kalam wanted," said a staff member. Many officials of the state government had expressed a desire to work on a holiday and it was this which spurred Thompson to tweet. Reports from other districts also said that some government offices like the village panchayats were open. Kalam, who worked as a scientist in the ISRO here, lived in the capital city for close to two decades, starting from the late 60s to the early 80s -- and was a hugely popular figure.

CPI demands total liquor prohibition across India

Govt says oppn obstructionist, Cong blames PM for logjam neW delhi, august 2 (pti): Setting the tone for tomorrow's all-party meet, government and Congress were today engaged in a verbal clash, with the ruling side alleging "obstructionism" on part of the opposition which in turn blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "arrogance" for the Parliament logjam. With half of the Monsoon session virtually washed out, the government asked Congress to introspect and said it can have "honourable exit" by having a debate on the row surrounding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Lalit Modi. The government has convened an allparty meeting tomorrow to discuss ways to end the stalemate in Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Congress may be upset with the government for "political reasons" but it must "accept and seriously introspect" that "negativism" and its "obstructionist tendencies" would hurt the country and the economy. His attack in a facebook post came in the context of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill which is among the reform measures stuck as Parliament is unable to function because of relentless oppo-

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the air force does not have enough squadrons in the event of a joint war with Pakistan and China. "An RFP is expected to be drafted soon for making 90 MMRCAs in India. A global tender will be floated. The private sector will also have an active participation," said an official from the defence ministry. As many foreign bidders were in the race when India set out to buy 126 MMRCAs, for which Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, was finally

chosen, the sources said all original bidders will be invited. The list of fighters that were in competition for the MMRCA bid included Russia's MIG-35 (RAC MiG), Swedish Gripen, Dassault, American Lockheed Martin and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon made by a consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian firms. The sources said that out of the 90 aircraft, 54 will be single-seaters and the remaining 36 tandem-seaters.

There will be an option of acquiring 45 additional fighters as a follow-up order. The Indian Air Force is expected to be down to 32 squadrons by the end of this year, 576 fighter jets short of the 750-strong fighter jet fleet required as per vision documents to face simultaneous two-front wars with Pakistan and China. At least three squadrons of the vintage Soviet origin MiG-21 and MiG-27 single engine aircraft are scheduled to be phased out.

coimbatore, august 2 (pti): A day after extending support to the August 4 bandh call in Tamil Nadu by some political parties on the issue of prohibition, CPI today demanded a nation-wide ban on liquor and said the Centre should immediately bring in an ordinance in this regard. "Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, hailing from Tamil Nadu and other senior BJP leaders from the state should prevail upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a total ban on liquor in India," CPI leader D Pandian told reporters here. By an ordinance the Centre can implement prohibition and the NDA government should take steps towards this, he said. Yesterday, DMK and PMK had demanded a judicial probe into the death of a Gandhian activist Sasi Perumal during a protest against a state-run liquor outlet, while other parties, including Vaiko-led MDMK, had called for a bandh on August 4, demanding closure of liquor shops, as sought by him. Perumal (59), who had been campaigning for total prohibition in Tamil Nadu for many years, had climbed a mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district on Friday, demanding closure of a liquor outlet near an educational institute. He had collapsed during the more than five-hour long stir and died while on the way to hospital. MDMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi gave a call for a bandh on August 4, which received support from BJP, CPI-M and CPI. On the land acquisition bill, Pandian said CPI would organise demonstrations as already announced in five zonal centres -- Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli on Aug 13, opposing it.

Indian-origin man develops thought-controlled prostheses Washington, august 2 (ians): An Indian American electrical engineer from the Stanford University has developed a technique to make braincontrolled prostheses more precise. The thought-controlled device developed by Krishna Shenoy and his team analyses the neuron sample and makes dozens of corrective adjustments to the estimate of the brain's electrical pattern -- all in the blink of an eye. "Brain-controlled prostheses will lead to a substantial improvement in quality of life," Shenoy said. "The speed and accuracy demonstrated in this prosthesis results from years of basic neuroscience research and from combining these scientific discoveries with the principled design of mathematical control algorithms," he added. Shenoy's team tested a brain-controlled cursor meant to operate a virtual keyboard. The system is intended for people with paralysis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS degrades one's ability to move. "The thought-controlled keypad would allow a person with paralysis or ALS to run an electronic wheelchair and use a computer or tablet," Shenoy informed. The goal is to get thought-controlled prosthetics to people with ALS. Today these people may use an

eye-tracking system to direct cursors or a "head mouse" that tracks the movement of the head. Both are fatiguing to use as neither provides the natural and intuitive control of readings taken directly from the brain. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also given Shenoy's team its nod to conduct a pilot clinical trial of their thought-controlled cursor on people with spinal cord injuries. "This is a fundamentally new approach that can be further refined and optimised to give brain-controlled prostheses greater performance, and therefore greater clinical viability," Shenoy noted. When we type or perform other precise tasks, our brains and muscles usually work together effortlessly. But when a neurological disease or spinal cord injury severs the connection between the brain and limbs, once-easy motions become difficult or impossible. In recent years, researchers have sought to give people suffering from injury or disease some restored motor function by developing thought-controlled prostheses. Such devices tap into the relevant regions of the brain, bypass damaged connections and deliver thought commands to devices such as virtual keypads. The findings appeared in the journal Nature Communications.

InternatIonal

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Monday 3 August 2015

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Obama to require steeper emissions cuts from US power plants NEW YORK, August 2 (AP): President Barack Obama will impose even steeper cuts on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants than previously expected, senior administration officials said Sunday, in what the president called the most significant step the U.S. has ever taken to fight global warming. A year after proposing unprecedented carbon dioxide limits, the Obama administration was poised to finalize the rule at a White House event on Monday. Obama, in a video posted to Facebook, said the limits were backed up by decades of data and facts showing that without tough action, the world will face more extreme weather and escalating health problems like asthma. “Climate change is not a problem for another generation,” Obama said. “Not anymore.” In his initial proposal, Obama had mandated a 30 percent nationwide cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. The final version, which follows extensive consultations with environmental groups and the energy industry, will require a 32 percent cut instead, according to Obama administration officials, who weren’t authorized to

comment by name and requested anonymity. Opponents said they would sue the government immediately. They also planned to ask the courts to put the rule on hold while legal challenges play out. The final version also gives states an additional two years — until 2022 — to comply, officials said, yielding to complaints that the original deadline was too soon. States will also have until 2018 instead of 2017 to submit their plans for how they intend to meet their targets. But the administration will attempt to incentivize states to take action earlier by offering credits to states that boost renewable sources like wind and solar in 2020 and 2021, officials said. The focus on renewables marks a significant shift from the earlier version that sought to accelerate the ongoing shift from coal-fired power to natural gas, which emits far less carbon dioxide. The final rule aims to keep the share of natural gas in the nation’s power mix the same as it is now. The stricter limits included in the final plan were certain to incense energy industry advocates who had already balked at the more lenient limits in

the proposed plan. But the Obama administration said its tweaks would cut energy costs and address concerns about power grid reliability. The Obama administration previously predicted the emissions limits will cost up to $8.8 billion annually by 2030, although it says those costs by health savings from fewer asthma attacks and other benefits. The actual price won’t be clear until states decide how they’ll reach their targets, but the administration has projected the rule would raise electricity prices about 4.9 percent by 2020 and prompt coal-fired power plants to close. In the works for years, the power plant rule forms the cornerstone of Obama’s plan to curb U.S. emissions and keep global temperatures from climbing, and its success is pivotal to the legacy Obama hopes to leave on climate change. Never before has the U.S. sought to restrict carbon dioxide from existing power plants. By clamping down on power plant emissions, Obama is also working to increase his leverage and credibility with other nations whose commitments he’s seeking for a global climate treaty to be finalized later this year in Paris. As its contribution to that treaty, the U.S. has pledged to cut

overall emissions 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025, compared to 2005. Other major polluting nations have also stepped up including China, which pledged to halt its growth in emissions by 2030 despite an economy that’s still growing. America’s largest source of greenhouse gases, power plants account for roughly one-third of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. Obama’s rule assigns customized targets to each state, then leaves it up to the state to determine how to meet their targets. Even before the rule was finalized, more than a dozen states announced plans to fight it. At the urging of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, some Republican governors have declared they’ll simply refuse to comply, setting up a certain confrontation with the EPA, which by law can force its own plan on states that fail to submit implementation plans. Yet even in many of those states, power companies and local utility authorities have started preparing plans to meet the targets. New, more efficient plants that are replacing older and dirtier ones have already pushed emissions

In this Jan. 20, 2015 photo, a plume of steam billows from the coal-fired Merrimack Station in Bow, N.H. President Barack Obama on Monday, August 3, will unveil the final version of his unprecedented regulations clamping down on carbon dioxide emissions from existing U.S. power plants. (AP File Photo)

down nearly 13 percent since 2005, putting them about halfway to meeting Obama’s goal. In Congress, lawmakers have sought to use legislation to stop Obama’s regulation, and McConnell has tried previously to use an obscure, rarely successful maneuver under the Congressional Review Act to allow Congress to vote it down. The more serious threat to Obama’s rule will likely come in the courts. The Electric Reliability Coordi-

nating Council, which represents energy companies, said 20 to 30 states were poised to join with industry in suing over the rule. The Obama administration has a mixed track record in fending off legal challenges to its climate rules. Earlier this year, a federal appeals court ruled against 15 states and a coal company that tried to block the power plant rule before it was finalized. The Supreme Court has also affirmed Obama’s authority

to regulate pollution crossing state lines and to use the decades-old Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gases — the legal underpinning for the power plant rule. But the high court in June ruled against his mercury emissions limits, arguing the EPA failed to properly account for costs. Federal courts have also forced Obama to redo other clean air standards that industry groups complained were too onerous. With the end of

Obama’s presidency drawing nearer, his climate efforts have become increasingly entangled in the next presidential election. The power plant rule won’t go into effect until long after Obama leaves office, putting its implementation in the hands of his successor. Among other Republican critics, 2016 candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has said he would drastically scale down the EPA if elected and shift most of its duties to state regulators.

Myanmar flood toll to rise as rains lash region Beware! Perfectionism may stress you out

Kalay township in Sagaing, Myanmar is seen flooded Sunday, August 2. Heavy rains in Myanmar have caused more flooding, devastating several townships and forcing more than 18,000 people into temporary shelters, officials said Saturday. (AP Photo)

YANgON, August 2 (AFP): The toll from flash floods and landslides in Myanmar after days of torrential rain is likely to spike, the UN warned today, as monsoonal downpours brought misery to thousands across the region. At least 27 people have been killed and more than 150,000 affected by flooding in Myanmar in recent days with the government declaring the four worst-hit areas in central and western Myanmar as “national disaster-affected regions”.

Scores have also perished in Nepal, Pakistan, India and Vietnam following floods and landslides triggered by heavy seasonal rains. Rescue work in Myanmar has been hampered by continued downpours and the inaccessibility of many of the remote regions worst hit by the deluges. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today said it had been informed by the Myanmar government’s Relief and Resettlement

Department that at least 156,000 people have been affected by the floods. But that figure was likely to be “significantly higher” because many areas “have still not been reached or reported on by assessment teams,” the agency warned. OCHA said the official death toll of 27 was also likely an underestimate. “As further information becomes available, this figure is also expected to increase,” the statement said. The sheer extent of the flooding is testing the

government’s limited relief operations. An official at Myanmar’s social welfare ministry who did not want to be named told AFP yesterday that all but one of the country’s 14 provinces and regions were affected by flash floods with rescue workers “struggling to access floodhit areas”. Myanmar is annually struck by monsoon rains that are a lifeline for farmers, but the rains and frequent powerful cyclones can also prove deadly, with landslides and flash floods a common occurrence. In May 2008 Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta killing about 140,000 people. The then ruling junta’s slow response to the disaster fuelled resentment against the isolated regime and sparked international criticism. Three years later the army ceded control to a quasi-civilian reformist government and fresh elections are slated for November 8. The country’s leaders have been keen to show flood relief is a top priority. State media has run reports on President Thein Sein visiting victims in northwestern Sagaing region while powerful army chief General Min Aung Hlaing flew to flood-hit Rakhine.

LONdON, August 2 (IANs): Concerns about perfectionism may lead to stress, burnout and potential health problems, says a study. “Perfectionistic concerns capture fears and doubts about personal performance, which creates stress that can lead to burnout when people become cynical and stop caring,” said lead researcher Andrew Hill, associate professor of sport psychology at York St. John University

in England. “It can also interfere with relationships and make it difficult to cope with setbacks because every mistake is viewed as a disaster,” Hill said. In this study of the relationship between perfectionism and burnout, the researchers analysed the results from 43 previous studies conducted over the past 20 years. Concerns about perfectionism can sabotage success at work, school or on the

playing field, the results said. The study found that “perfectionistic concerns” had the strongest negative effects in contributing to burnout in the workplace, possibly because people have more social support and clearly defined objectives in education and sports. A student can be rewarded for hard work with a high grade, or a tennis player can win the big match, but a stellar performance in the workplace may not

be recognised or rewarded, which may contribute to cynicism and burnout. “People need to learn to challenge the irrational beliefs that underlie perfectionistic concerns by setting realistic goals, accepting failure as a learning opportunity, and forgiving themselves when they fail,” Hill said. “Creating environments where creativity, effort and perseverance are valued also would help,” Hill said.

Malaysia says Indian Ocean airplane debris is part of a Boeing 777 KuALA LuMPuR/PARIs (REutERs): Malaysia said on Sunday that airplane debris that washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion has been identified as being from a Boeing 777, the same model as a Malaysian Airlines plane which vanished last year. Experts hope the 2-2.5 metre (6.5-8 feet) wing surface, known as a flaperon, and a fragment of luggage also found on Reunion could yield clues on the fate of Flight MH370, which disappeared without trace in March 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board. “We know the flaperon has been officially identified as being part of a Boeing 777 aircraft,” Transport MinisterLiow Tiong Lai said in a statement. “This has been verified by French authorities together with aircraft manufacturer Boeing, U.S. National

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Malaysian team.” The barnacled plane part was flown to Paris on Saturday and was taken to Toulouse to undergo more detailed analysis. Representatives from Malaysia, the United States, China, France and Boeing are due to participate in a “verification” of the flaperon on Wednesday. Low said Malaysia is contacting authorities in territories around Reunion to see if they can help if other objects suspected to come from a plane are found. More pieces of metal debris found washed up on Reunion were taken into police custody on Sunday but it is too early to say what they are, said a source close to the French investigation. Discovery of the debris may finally confirm MH370 crashed into the sea after veering off course from Kuala

Lumpur to Beijing, helping to end 16 months of lingering uncertainty for relatives of the passengers and crew. Investigators believe someone deliberately switched off MH370’s transponder before diverting it thousands of miles off course. Most of the passengers were Chinese. The debris will be analysed at a lab staffed by 600 experts that is operated by the French defence ministry. The luggage fragment has been sent to a police unit outside Paris that specialises in DNA tests. If the serial number on the flaperon confirms that it is from Flight 370, then the laboratory can use sophisticated tools to try to glean more information about the causes of the crash, such as whether its shape corresponds more to a mid-air explosion or a crash into the ocean.

As the Atomic bomb survivors age, Japanese pass storytelling to young Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press

n a recent weekend, an 84-year-old survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing retraced his movements on a map: the inferno during his 20-kilometer walk home, the “black rain” of falling radioactive particles and how he felt sick days later. His audience of eight listened intently, some asking questions and taking notes. They hope to tell his story to future generations after he is gone, to take their listeners to the scene on Aug. 9, 1945, the way Shigeyuki Katsura saw and felt it. In a government-organized program in the western Tokyo suburb of Kunitachi, 20 trainees ranging from their 20s to their 70s are studying wartime history, taking public speech lessons from a TV anchor and hearing stories from

Katsura and another Kunitachi resident who survived Hiroshima. “It’s been 70 years since the bombings, and we survivors are getting old. Time is limited and we must hurry,” said Terumi Tanaka, the 83-year-old head of a national group, the Tokyobased Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers’ Organizations. In a way, they are going backward in this digital age, learning face-to-face from their elders in order to carry on a storytelling tradition. It is not unlike Kabuki actors inheriting their seniors’ stage names and performing their signature pieces. The same stories may be in video and text on the Internet, but organizers feel that in-person storytelling adds an invaluable human touch. The Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bombing in Hiroshima killed about 140,000 peo-

In this Saturday, July 25, 2015 photo, Shigeyuki Katsura, center, 84-year-old survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, speaks his experience 70 years ago, in the western Tokyo suburb of Kunitachi. In a government-organized program, 20 trainees ranging from their 20s to their 70s are studying wartime history, taking public speech lessons from a TV anchor and hearing stories from Katsura and another Kunitachi resident who survived Hiroshima. (AP Photo)

ple from injuries and im- another one dropped on linked to the attacks and mediate effects of radiation Nagasaki three days later their radiation effects has within five months, and killed 73,000. The death toll since risen to 460,000, with

the number of survivors declining to some 183,000, according to the latest government statistics. Most survivors live in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Katsura said about 20 survivors live in Kunitachi, but only a few, including himself, are healthy enough to make public appearances. Tanaka, a retired engineering professor, survived Nagasaki but lost five relatives there when he was 13. He said it would be almost impossible for storytellers to describe the horrors as vividly as the survivors, but hopes their imagination, compassion and commitment to peace will make up for any shortfall. Mika Shimizu, a 32-year-old high school teacher, hopes to do just that, by putting a survivor’s experience in language her peers and others as young as her students can relate to. “Even if we hear the

same story, the way each of us retell it would be different, because we all have different sensibilities,” she said. Another trainee, Sachiko Matsushita, missed her chance to find out directly from her father, who hid his exposure in Nagasaki for most of his life, and largely kept the story to himself. Initially she wanted to revisit her father’s path, but now is devoted to passing on Katsura’s. “I’d much rather hear the stories directly from people, and pass them on to people,” the 47-year-old company worker said. Katsura was 14 when he and his schoolmates, put to work for the war effort, were delivering a cartful of weapons parts from school to a factory when the “Fat Man” plutonium bomb exploded over Nagasaki. “Having witnessed what the man-made nuclear weapon did to humans,

I must condemn it as absolutely wrong, and the mistake should never be repeated,” he said. “That’s what drives me to tell my story, and I’ll continue to do so as long as I live.” The course in Kunitachi is modeled on one started in Hiroshima in 2012. The first group of 50 Hiroshima storytellers debuted this year, with some 150 others underway. Kunitachi official Mamiko Ogawa said storytelling requires a deep understanding of both the historical background and the survivors’ emotions, along with a touch of the teller’s personality. That’s what makes it different from digital archives. “I think the stories are best conveyed when told by real people,” she said. “I hope the trainees would fully absorb the survivors’ experience and feelings, so they can tell the stories using their own sensibilities.”

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Monday 3 August 2015

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Emotional scenes as South Athletics rocked by Sudan gains Olympic status "wild" doping allegations

KUALA LUMPUR, AUgUst 2 (AP): With an Olympic flag draped around his neck, the official from South Sudan couldn't contain his emotion. Moments after his war-torn country was officially recognized by the IOC on Sunday, Tong Chor Malke Deran wiped tears from his eyes and later broke down when talking about the plight of his nation's athletes. The decision means the world's newest nation will be able to have its competitors enter the stadium in Rio de Janeiro next year behind their own flag. More importantly, the country's near non-existent sporting infrastructure and athletes will receive funding assistance from the IOC. "Over the past few months, my country has undergone armed conflict, and we firmly believe this is going to be a milestone and a great vehicle for promoting peace-building," said Wilson Deng Kuoirot, president of the National Olympic Committee of South Sudan. After their acceptance was confirmed, Kuoirot and Deran, secretary general of the South Sudan Olympic committee, accepted a certificate and an Olympic flag from IOC President Thomas Bach. While Kuoirot spoke to thank the International Olympic Committee members, a tearful Deran wrapped himself in the flag. Later in an interview,

South Sudan President of the National Olympic Committee Wilson Deng Kuoirot, center, flanked by International Olympic Committee (IOC) Deputy-Director General of Relations Pere Miro, left, and South Sudan Secretary General of the Olympic Committee Tong Chor Malek Deran speaks during a press conference at the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, August 2. (AP Photo)

Deran, with the Olympic flag still draped around his body, broke down while talking about the plight of his country's athletes. "They have no food, they train without having eaten," Deran said. "How can they exist like that? But now this will empower us and hopefully things will improve." Even as the recognition was received, the news from their homeland was not good. Thousands of civilians in South Sudan's Upper Nile state face starvation after the government blocked aid groups from using the Nile River to deliver relief food, aid agencies said late last week. The conflict has all but destroyed what little infrastructure existed in South Sudan. Asked to list what sporting facilities they have, Deran first said "we have nothing," then Kuoirot added: "Maybe one basketball arena." The IOC's executive board recommended South Sudan's inclusion last week. It was the 206th country recognized by the IOC, and the first since

Kosovo in 2014. "Despite the political difficulties between Sudan and South Sudan, you worked together with your neighbors and have made this recognition possible," Bach said. "Sports builds bridges ... we will stand by your sides, we will assist in your development as much as we can." South Sudan has seven national sporting federations — athletics, basketball, soccer, handball, table tennis, taekwondo and judo. Two-time NBA allstar Luol Deng was born in South Sudan before moving to Britain and basketball is one of the country's most popular sports. At the 2012 London Olympics, South Sudanese marathon runner Guor Marial competed as an independent athlete under the IOC flag. He finished 47th. Marial watched the IOC meeting on live streaming from his training base in Kenya, where several other South Sudanese athletes are based. "It was very emotional," Marial said in a Skype interview. "This moment is

so special for me and my country, and it will be next year when I walk into the stadium in Rio behind our own flag." At next year's Olympics, Marial could be joined by 400-meter runner Margret Rumat Hassan, who competed at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics and finished 16th. "Some days I eat, some days I don't," Hassan said in a video played at the IOC meeting. Four track and field athletes — two males and two females — could represent South Sudan at Rio. South Sudan, with a population of 11.5 million, descended into conflict in December 2013 after a clash between forces loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, and President Salva Kiir, a Dinka. The fighting has spurred a humanitarian crisis, throwing the nation into turmoil four years after its inception. South Sudan's conflict has forced more than 2 million people from their homes, including 730,000 to neighboring countries.

39th Nagaland Inter district & state open badminton C’ship

KOhIMA, AUgUst 2 (MExN): The YonexSunrise 39th Nagaland Inter District & State Open Badminton Championship 2015 will be held from August 4 to 7 at District Sports Council Stadium, Zunheboto. Chief Minister T.R. Ze-

liang will grace the inaugural function as the chief guest on August 4 at 10:00 AMwhile parliamentary secretary for jails and science & technology S. Hukavi Zhimomi will be the guest of honour. Nagaland Badminton Association (NBA) presi-

dent Y.Vikheho Swu, minister for roads & bridges will deliver presidential address. The inaugural function will be chaired by Zhekugha Assumi, co-convenor organizing committee while welcome address will be delivered by Zunhe-

boto deputy commissioner Temsu Longkumer, who is also chairman of District Sports Council Zunheboto. Parliamentary secretary for fisheries and printing & stationery Shetoyi Sumi will grace the closing ceremony on August 7 as the guest of honour.

KUALA LUMPUR, AUgUst 2 (AP): The World Anti-Doping Agency is alarmed by "wild allegations" made by two European media outlets of widespread suspicious drug tests in track and field, and is asking an independent body to investigate. WADA President Craig Reedie said Sunday he was surprised by the scale of the allegations, including that one-third of medals in endurance races at the Olympics and world championships over a 10-year period were won by athletes who recorded suspicious doping tests. German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain said they obtained access to the results of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes. The files came from the database of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were leaked by a whistleblower, according to the reports. The IAAF and WADA were already investigating accusations made in two previous ARD documentaries of alleged systematic doping and cover-ups in Russia. Reedie said the material from the new ARD program and The Sunday Times would be turned over immediately to WADA's independent commission for investigation. "These are wild allegations, wide allegations, and we'll have to check them out and we'll have done that by the commission as quickly as possible," Reedie said in Kuala Lumpur, where he was attending International Olympic Committee meetings. Reedie stressed the allegations were unproven and athletes are assumed innocent until found guilty. "It is wrong just to make any kind of assumption on

President of the World Anti-Doping Agency Craig Reedie leaves after attending the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, August 2. (AP Photo)

allegations in the media," he said. The ARD program, called "Doping Top Secret: The Shadowy World of Athletics," was broadcast three weeks before the world championships in Beijing, which run from Aug. 22-30. In a separate statement issued by WADA, Reedie said the new allegations "will, once again, shake the foundation of clean athletes worldwide." ARD and The Sunday Times asked Australian anti-doping specialists Robin Parisotto and Michael Ashenden to review the blood testing results from the period from 2001 to 2012. They reported that 800 athletes, competing in disciplines ranging from the 800 meters to the marathon, registered blood values that are considered suspicious under WADA standards. The report found that 146 medals — includ-

ing 55 golds — in those disciplines at the Olympics and world championships were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests. None of the athletes have been stripped of those medals, according to the report. "Never have I seen such an alarmingly abnormal set of blood values," Parisotto said. "So many athletes appear to have doped with impunity." No athletes were identified, and the evidence is not proof of doping. The reports also alleged that more than 80 of Russia's medals were won by athletes with suspicious tests, while Kenya had 18 medals won by suspicious athletes. ARD said it has evidence of human growth hormone being used by Russian runners. The IAAF said it was aware of "serious allegations made against the integrity and competence of

its anti-doping program." "They are largely based on analysis of an IAAF data base of private and confidential medical data which has been obtained without consent," the federations said in a statement, adding that it reserves the right to take action to "protect the rights of the IAAF and its athletes." IAAF vice president Sergei Bubka said the federation would look into the allegations and cooperate with WADA. "We will collaborate very closely and we will not accept any violation of the rule," said Bubka, who also sits on the IOC executive board. "Everyone should know — there is no space for cheaters, not in athletics, not in other sport, not in the Olympic Movement. The IAAF position is always zero-tolerance for doping." The IOC was also aware of the accusations. "It's up to the WADA commission to gather evidence," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. "We have full confidence in them." The president of the European athletics federation, Svein Arne Hansen, said the allegations "are a cause for deep dismay and yet another indication of how much we as a sport still have to do to ensure that athletics is free of doping and seen to be fair and clean." The BBC report said a third of medals in endurance events at the Olympics and world championships between 2001 and 2012 were won by athletes who have recorded "suspicious tests". Cheating by the use of banned substances has long been a scourge of athletics, from the systematic doping in the former East Germany, through Ben Johnson's disqualification from the 1988 Olympics to the BALCO scandal in the United States.

John Isner rallies to reach Atlanta Open final Impact beat NYCFC 3-2 in

AtLANtA, AUgUst 2 (AP): Two-time defending champion John Isner rallied to reach his 19th ATP Tour final and fifth in the Atlanta Open, beating friend and qualifier Denis Kudla 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Saturday. The top-seeded former University of Georgia star locked in his serve against his Tampa, Florida, neighbor, shutting out his frequent practice partner by winning all 16 of his service points in the second set. Isner then took 24 points off 30 serves in the third. "I was hitting them bigger, which is a good sign," Isner said after moving his Atlanta record to 19-3 with his 11th consecutive win at Atlantic Station. "I got stronger and stronger as that match went on. I was feeling not so great in the first set, winded." After dropping 25 aces on Kudla to push his tournament-leading total to 77 in three matches, the top seed will seek his 10th ATP title against a player who appears suited to give him trouble. In the night semifinal, fifthseeded Marcos Baghditis of Cy-

prus beat the tournament's other big server, seventh-seeded Gilles Muller of Luxemborg, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) on the strength of his return game. The seventh-seeded Muller entered Saturday as the only Atlanta player yet to lose serve, and trails only Isner in aces (77-52). He won his first 32 service games in the tournament, including six in the first set. Then, Baghdatis began to figure out the big-serving left-hander, breaking Muller once in the second set, and twice in the third to reach his 12th ATP final in search of his fifth title. After scoring on just one of Muller's 23 first serves in the first set, Baghdatis scored on 9 of 26 of Muller's serves in the second set and on 20 of 47 in the third. "I think (Muller) lost his rhythm, and I started messing up his targets," Baghdatis said. Although 0-5 against Isner, all on hard courts like Atlanta's, the colorful Cypriot said with a chuckle that Sunday's key, "I think will be about messing up (Isner's) game, and taking his eyes off the ball."

The former world No. 8 (August, 2008) who fell in his past seven ATP semifinals, bent down after his win and kissed the court. He did the same Friday after beating second-seed Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. "Baghdatis will be different," Isner said. "He returns very well." Isner played the last two sets differently than the first, unleashing his greatest weapon and ripping several serves at 140 and 141 mph. After winning a rock-steady first set, the 22-year-old Kudla — who warmed Isner up at Wimbledon in 2010 before Isner played the longest match in history, an 11-hour, 5-minute win over Nicolas Mahut — made all the key mistakes in his first ATP semifinal (to Isner's 39th). Kudla was on a 17-2 streak into the match, along the way becoming the first American male since 2012 to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon. But Isner broke serve twice in the second set, each time winning as Kudla sent easy forehands from the baseline into the net to cede Is-

ner a lead of 3-1 and then the set. The only break of the final set came on another Kudla forehand mistake, when he sent one wide to end the match. "He stayed a little more disciplined than he would in some practice moments," Kudla said of Isner. "He started flattening out his serve. In the beginning, he was trying to pick his spots and I could get a racket on it. When he gets up toward 140, that's when it gets tough." Top-seeded Mike and Bob Bryan easily won the first doubles semifinal Saturday. The most successful tandem in history beat Donald Young and Christopher Eubanks 6-2, 6-4 for their record 942nd career win together. Young and Eubanks, an Atlanta native and rising sophomore at nearby Georgia Tech playing in his first ATP main draw, scored just five points against 41 serves in their third match together. The Bryans will face Muller and Britain's Colin Fleming in the final. Muller and Flemin beat American Eric Butorac and New Zealand's Artem Sitak 6-3, 5-7, 10-3.

Paraguay backs Platini Selfies and six packs to derail for FIFA president Arsenal's title hopes: Keane

AsUNCION, AUgUst 2 (REUtERs): Paraguay has offered to be one of the official backers of Michel Platini's bid for the FIFA presidency, the country's football association said in a letter sent to FIFA. Candidates for the FIFA presidency have to present the written support of five national football associations by Oct. 26, four months before the election. "The Paraguayan Football Association (APF) is honoured to officially offer its backing to Michel Platini's candidacy for the president of FIFA," said the association in a letter addressed to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke. "Please send Michel Platini's candidacy to the FIFA electoral committee to be examined," the letter, signed by APF president

Alejandro Dominguez and published on its website, added. Platini, president of European football's ruling body UEFA, has emerged as the early frontrunner in the race to replace Sepp Blatter as head of FIFA. South Korean Chung Mong-joon, former Brazil great Zico and Liberian FA president Musa Bility have announced they will run in the February presidential election, though Zico has admitted he may struggle to get the five official backers. South African businessman and former political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale is also considering a bid, a spokesman told Reuters on Saturday. Each of FIFA's 209 member associations hold one vote in the presidential election.

LONDON, AUgUst 2 (REUtERs): Arsenal are not capable of winning the Premier League title this season because they have too many players interested in selfies and six packs rather than winning football matches, according to former Manchester United captain Roy Keane. Keane, a fire and brimstone midfielder, won seven Premier League titles as a player and enjoyed particularly competitive relationship with Arsenal and their similarly combative captain Patrick Viera. The current Ireland assistant manager, however, said he saw little in the current Gunners side to convince him that they are poised for a first league title since their Viera-led

'Invincibles' team in 2004. "Arsenal have some really good players -- some good characters who roll their sleeves up," Keane told the Mail on Sunday. "But they also have one or two players who are more interested in selfies and six-packs, guys who are trying to get their pictures taken every day of the week. "Every year we hear the same thing about Arsenal being contenders. Instead of focusing on the Premier League, it's all about how their bodies look, how their hair is, more so than winning football matches." Arsenal, under manager Arsene Wenger, have become one of the most dazzling attacking sides in Europe but a perceived

lack of leadership has undermined their ability to make a sustained title challenge for a number of years. Back-to-back FA Cup triumphs ended their nine-year trophy drought but for too long the north Londoners have not been relevant during the intense 38-game toil of a Premier League season. Last season, under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea -- built around a strong spine of hard-working, physical players -- stifled their closest rivals to canter to the league title and Keane said the Stamford Bridge side remained the benchmark in the upcoming season. "For me, Chelsea remain the team to beat," the 43-year-old added.

Frank Lampard's MLS debut

Frank Lampard, newly acquired player for New York City FC, practices before the soccer game against Montreal Impact at Yankee Stadium on August 1, in New York. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK, AUgUst 2 (AP): Argentine striker Ignacio Piatti spoiled Frank Lampard's Major League Soccer debut by scoring a pair of goals in the Montreal Impact's 3-2 win over New York City on Saturday. Dominic Oduro opened the scoring for Montreal in the 5th minute after gathering a long Laurent Ciman pass and slipping it through City goalkeeper Josh Saunders' legs before tapping it home. Piatti made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute with a chip shot finish from another long ball. Former England midfielder Lampard energized the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium when he entered as a substitute in the 69th minute, immediately after a David Villa penalty narrowed City's

deficit to 2-1. Piatti's scored from the penalty spot in the 84th minute before Thomas McNamara quickly answered for City 85th. In Washington, Perry Kitchen scored in the in the 79th minute to give DC United a 6-4 win over Real Salt Lake. The 10 goals fell one short of the MLS singlegame record. The teams combined for seven goals in the second half, one short of the record for most goals in a half. Former Norway defender Pa-Modou Kah scored two rare goals to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. Kah volleyed his first goal past goal Sounders 'keeper Stefan Frei in the sixth minute off a scram-

ble in the area. He added a second in the opening moments of the second half, redirecting Cristian Techera's shot with a deft back-heel. Kah entered the match with one career MLS goal in 57 games. Pedro Morales added his fourth goal of the season in the 75th minute with a curling free kick. In other games, Charlie Davies scored twice and Lee Nguyen added a penalty as the New England Revolution beat a 10-man Toronto FC 3-0, Robbie Keane scored in stoppage time to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy past the Colorado Rapids 3-1, Cyle Larin's double helped Orlando City to a 5-1 win over the Columbus Crew and the Houston Dynamo drew 1-1 with Sporting Kansas City.

Entertainment

The Morung Express

Monday 3 August 2015

Dimapur

Tsungremmong Extravaganza-III in Mokokchung

Models being serenaded by Liyan (Naga Orpheus Hunt 2014 finalist) at the Tsungremmong Extravaganza at Cosmos Entertainment Hall & Restaurant on August 1. (Photo/ Tsuknungwati Ozukum)

s part of Tsungremmong festival - the premier festival of Ao Naga community – a grand extravaganza was organized at Cosmos Entertainment Hall & Restaurant in Mokokchung on August 1 evening. The event held with the theme ‘Uplifting young talents’ showcased young upcoming models, designers, singers and dancers. The organizer of the extravaganza, Temsu Kichu, stated that there are lot of young talents in the society who need a platform to showcase their talents; and therefore, taking the Tsungremmong festival, the extravaganza was organized for promoting the young talents of the society. The night witnessed hundreds of young people from all walks of life, even including tourists, participating. Young upcoming models showcased designs by local designers Merenla Mon-

Hybrid Movement, an upcoming dancing crew, presenting some moves, shakes and hops at the Tsungremmong Extravaganza at Cosmos Entertainment Hall & Restaurant on August 1. (Photo/ Tsuknungwati Ozukum)

gka, who designed the formal wear, and ‘modern ethnic wear’ designed by Yinbeni Kikon. Asen’s creation provided the accessories. The whole extravaganza was choreographed by Adang Jamir, a well known event organizer and choreographer in Nagaland, who has choreographed events like Miss Nagaland and Miss Mokokchung in the past. The night was also lighted up with powerful rendition by former Naga Idol contestants like Purkumkuz and Liyang. The Hybrid Movement – a dance crew from Mokokchung – shook up the night with their moves and shakes. The organizer Temsu Kichu meanwhile acknowledged the district administration, police, participants, well wishers and all the partakers of the grand Tsungremmong extravaganza III for making Young models from Mokokchung presenting dresses designed by local designers at the Tsungremmong Extravaganza at Cosmos Entertainment it a success. Hall & Restaurant on August 1. (Photo/ Tsuknungwati Ozukum)

Cage feels positive about 'Superman Lives' not being made

Ashley Tisdale launches lifestyle site

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Ketholeno Kense displays a creation by Indian designer Reynu Taandon at the Amazon India Couture Week 2015 in New Delhi, on Saturday, August 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

ollywood star Nicolas Cage says he feels positive about the fact that his "Superman Lives" movie was never made. The 51-year-old actor was attached to the project in the 1990s under the directorship of Tim Burton. The pair even got as far as testing footage of Cage wearing one of the tightest Spandex suits you've ever seen, shown recently in the documentary "The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?", reported Digital Spy.

Lynn Anderson, ‘Rose Garden’ singer, dies at 67

ynn Anderson, whose version of the song "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden" was one of the biggest country hits of the 1970s, has died. She was 67. Anderson died Thursday of a heart attack at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville after being admitted for pneumonia, publicist Mark Logsdon told CNN. Anderson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1947, and grew up in Sacramento, California. Born to the music business -- both her parents were songwriters -- she got her start as a professional singer while still in her teens, releasing her first record, "For Better or for Worse," when she was 19. Soon Anderson was having major success, with such hits as 1967's "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)" and 1969's "That's a No-No" and appearances on "The Lawrence Welk Show." She had her biggest hit, the Joe South-penned "Rose Garden," in late 1970 and early 1971. The song was No. 1 on the country charts for five weeks and topped out at No. 3 on Billboard's pop charts.

Cage said: "I had great belief in that movie and in what Tim Burton's vision was going to be for that movie. I would've loved to have seen it, but I feel that in many ways, it was sort of a win/ win because of the power of the imagination. "I think people can actually see the movie in their minds now and imagine it and in many ways that might resonate more deeply than the finished project." Speaking on working with Burton, Cage added: "Tim is the total artist, a pure art-

ist with a real vision, and I've often said that he can create worlds and that's exactly what he does. "I saw some of the tests of different characters and costumes for Krypton and they were just so surreal and so magical and beautiful. He's definitely one of my favourite filmmakers because of his originality, because of his vision." Matt Bomer recently said he was under consideration for Superman in an early 2000s Brett Ratner-directed film from a JJ Abrams script.

lipped" actress Ashley Tisdale has launched her lifestyle site, which she says has been created to "empower women." The 30-year-old actress said her new project TheHauteMess.com will celebrate imperfections, reported Female First. "We built thehautemess.com to empower women. This is a place where we get to learn from each other and embrace #TheHauteMess in us all," she tweeted. Elaborating on the idea in her welcome message on the site, Tisdale revealed that she wants to inspire people with the website. "I wanted to create a platform where guys and gals can share their imperfectness and figure it out together. With The Haute Mess, I hope to elevate other content creators and form a community of inspiring, brilliant and creative individuals. "It's important that we spotlight the girl bosses, the trendsetters, the innovators, the bloggers, who have a wealth of experiences and knowledge to share with others."

Rani Mukerji flaunts her 'ageless' avatar on Vogue's cover Rani Mukerji might not have any movies in her star bag at the moment, but the actress has made the stir by her stunning looks on the cover of Vogue magazine's 'ageless' issue. Commenting on her career that spans to a good twenty years, the 37-year-old actress, who recently tied knot to producer Aditya Chopra, said at this moment when she is not working on a new film, she is the rich producer's wife and it is something she is very comfortable with, reported the Dawn. Talking about her first film offer, the 'Black' star said that she was offered 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa' by Salim Khan when she was in 10th class but she refused it. The actress said that she looked down upon acting, adding she used to hide the fact in school that she was from a film family. Mukerji, who is looking forward to some kickass films and lovely babies beside her as she goes to the set, also said that she might head towards direction if she wishes to but she does not want to risk her husband’s or his company's name by doing something juvenile.

Arsenal beat Chlsea to Rousey crushes Correia in 34 seconds win Community Shield

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LONDON, August 2 (AP): Arsene Wenger finally earned his first win over Jose Mourinho on Sunday as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's firsthalf goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield. Oxlade-Chamberlain received the ball on the right edge of the area in the 24th minute and cut inside Cesar Azpilicueta before hitting a left-footed shot inside the top far corner to decide the traditional curtain raiser between last season's Premier League and FA Cup winners at Wembley Stadium. Wenger had not beaten the Chelsea boss in 13 previous meetings — a rivalry stoked by plenty of verbal barbs between the two — and the Arsenal manager may be tempted to see this win as another sign that his team is finally ready to challenge for the Premier League title again when the season starts next week. However, Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in last year's Community Shield only to falter early in the league before finishing third — and defender Per Mertesacker was careful not to read too much into the victory. "It's still preseason," Mertesacker said. "But it keeps our confidence high. I think we deserved it." Mourinho responded to the defeat by throwing his loser's medal into the crowd before leaving the pitch. Eden Hazard had Chelsea's best chance for an equalizer when Cesc Fabregas found him in the area around the hour mark but he blasted his shot well high under pressure from Laurent Koscielny. Goalkeeper Petr Cech,

Arsenal's Petr Cech holds the Community Shield after the English Community Shield soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, London on August 2. (AP Photo)

making his full debut for Arsenal against his former team after transferring from Chelsea during the offseason, then made his only difficult save in the 68th when he punched away Oscar's free kick at the near post. Radamel Falcao made his Chelsea debut when he came on as a substitute for Loic Remy in the second half but was kept largely quiet. Both teams fielded near full-strength teams. The only changes from Arsenal's side that won the FA Cup final last season was Cech in goal and OxladeChamberlain starting instead of Alexis Sanchez,

who was given an extended break after winning the Copa America with Chile. Diego Costa was the only notable absence for Chelsea as he was rested with a hamstring problem. Santi Cazorla could have added a second for Arsenal in the 86th but hit a weak shot straight at the onrushing Thibaut Courtois and Aaron Ramsey lobbed the rebound just wide. Courtois then denied Kieran Gibbs when he was clear on goal in injury time. "I believe that when we got out of our defense we looked dangerous to score," Wenger said. "But I think maybe in our half we were a bit cautious."

Sweden's Sarah Sjoestrom sets world mark in 100 butterfly KAZAN, August 2 (AP): Sarah Sjoestrom of Sweden has set a world record in the semifinals of the 100-butterfly at the world swimming championships. Competing in the second semi on Sunday night, Sjoestrom won in 55.74 seconds. She broke the mark of 55.98 set by American Dana Vollmer at the 2012 London Olympics. The final is Monday night at Kazan Arena. Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom celebrates after a women's 100m butterfly semifinal heat at the Swimming World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 2. (AP Photo)

Zimbabwe beats New Zealand by seven wickets in 1st ODI

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hARARE, August 2 (AFP): Craig Ervine's maiden century upstaged Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson’s record-breaking exploits as Zimbabwe stunned New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Taylor and Williamson continued their remarkable run of form as New Zealand racked up 303 for four, only for Ervine’s dashing innings to carry Zimbabwe to victory with six balls to spare. The 29-year-old left-hander’s previous best in ODIs was 85, but promoted to the No. 3 position by coach Dav Whatmore, he finished unbeaten on 130 from just 108 deliveries as the hosts chased more than 300 for just the second time in an ODI. Zimbabwean batsman Craig Ervine celebrates after scoring 100 runs during the One Day International Cricket match against New Zealand in Harare on August 2. (AP Photo)

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 2 (AP): It's not a good idea to give Ronda Rousey some extra motivation. Hurt by comments about her family and moved by the death of a close friend and idol, Rousey got off to a quick start and knocked out homecrowd favorite Bethe Correia only 34 seconds into the first round at UFC 190 on Saturday night. Rousey defended her bantamweight title by throwing a rapid sequence of punches at the Brazilian's head, landing a combination of right and left strikes that sent her opponent facefirst into the ground and disappointed the local fans packing the HSBC Arena. It was yet another impressive performance by Rousey, who improved to 12-0 in her incredible MMA career. She has been crushing her opponents inside the octagon, but this victory seemed special. Rousey came into the fight upset with Correia after the Brazilian made a comment apparently referencing to Rousey's father's suicide. Rousey said Correia crossed the line, so she would try to embarrass her in front of her fans. "I hope that nobody really brings up my family anymore when it comes to fights," she said. "I hope this is the last time." Before the fight, Correia had said she didn't know about what happened to Rousey's father and never intended to attack her personally.

DC Mkg to open Changtongya Inter-Dept tourney ChANgtONgyA, August 2 (MExN): The first Inter-Departmental Football Tournament under Changtongya sub-division is scheduled to be held from August 4 to 15 with Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel gracing the inaugural function as chief guest. Altogether, 8 teams comprising of different departments will be participating in the tournament. Changtongya Town Ao Students’ Union have been entrusted as volunteers for the tournament. A football exhibition match will also be played between women government employees and Watsu Union Changtongya under Changtongya sub-division on the final day, August 15.

Ronda Rousey (Right) swings a punch at Bethe Correia during their bantamweight fight at UFC 190 on Saturday night, August 1, at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro.

Rousey also was extra motivated after the death of Hall of Fame wrestler Roddy Piper, who was one her greatest idols and inspired her to take the "Rowdy" nickname. She had said she would be fighting for him. "We've lost a really close friend, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, who gave me his permission to use his name as a fighter, so I hope he and my dad had a good time watching this today," Rousey said. The UFC's biggest star, Rousey arrived in Rio as the overwhelming favorite against Correia (9-1) after

ponents with her signature armbar, but this time it was her striking force that made the difference. "I guess she can't really say anything about my hands anymore," Rousey said of Correia. Rousey's next opponent will likely be fellow American Miesha Tate. In the second-to-last fight on the main card on Saturday, Mauricio Rua topped Rogerio Nogueira with a unanimous decision in a fight between veteran Brazilian light heavyweight fighters. It was a rematch of fight between the two in 2005,

when Rua won a contest that lasted 38 minutes. "I knew he was going to be well prepared, but I won, I got the victory," Rua said. In other fights Saturday, top-ranked strawweight fighter Claudia Gadelha of Brazil defeated Mexicanborn Jessica Aguilar with a unanimous decision after three rounds; heavyweight Antonio Silva of Brazil beat Soa Palelei of Australia with a second-round knockout; Stefan Struve of the Netherlands beat Brazil's Minotauro Nogueira with a unanimous decision.

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MUFCN ‘get together’ held in Dimapur C M Y K

DIMAPuR, August 2 (MExN): Manchester United Fan Club Nagaland organised a “Get to know each other” friendly match between its members at Greenwood Hr. Sec School, Nagarjan, Dimapur on August 1. The match was played between the Manchester United fans comprising of under-25 mem-

Sun Yang defends 400m freestyle worlds title

KAZAN, August 2 (AFP): China's superstar Sun Yang successfully defended his 400m freestyle title with gold in Sunday's final as he opened his world swimming championship campaign in style. The Olympic champion clocked three mins 42.58 seconds with Britain's James Guy taking silver at 1.17secs back and Canada's Ryan Cochrane won bronze at 2.01 secs as the first medals of these championships were decided in Kazan. This is the first of four individual events Sun, the world 1500m

winning her previous three title defenses in a combined 96 seconds. She needed only 14 seconds to beat Cat Zingano at UFC 184 earlier this year. "It kind of went how I expected it," Rousey said. "I planned to instead of trying to force a clinch, overwhelm her (by) striking first so that she would want to clinch first, and that's exactly what happened." Rousey, who has been redefining the sport, has won 11 of her fights in the first round while being taken to the third round once. She has finished most of her op-

freestyle record holder, will race in Kazan as well as the 200m, 800m and the mile distance. He courted controversy in 2014 after it emerged he had served a three-month doping ban from the Chinese swimming authorities for taking a banned stimulant. Having won the 400m and 1500m freestyle Olympic titles at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Sun continued his domination of the endurance events by winning the 400m, 800m and 1500m world titles in Barcelona two years ago.

bers forming the Junior Reds and above-25 forming the Senior Reds. According to a press release, the meeting witnessed a memorable gathering with fans turning up from all corners of Dimapur and also from Kohima to participate and show their support. It was highlighted by a brief pre-match intro-

duction among the members, and a well-organised “shuffled substitution” that saw all members experience decent play time. MUFCN is a hardcore Manchester United supporting fan club that regularly meets for EPL match screenings and friendly matches among itself and other local clubs. It has

steadily progressed into a well administered Facebook group, and other Social media forums with a large fan base. The MUFCN family has expressed appreciation to the participants for their active support and has further welcomed all Manchester United fans from Nagaland to be a part of the family.

Nadal claims 67th career title with Hamburg Open victory

hAMBuRg, August 2 (REutERs): Spaniard Rafa Nadal won his 67th career title with a 7-5 7-5 victory against dangerous Italian Fabio Fognini in the final of the Hamburg Open on Sunday. Nadal, a 14-times grand slam champion, has endured an indifferent season winning just two titles in Stuttgart and Buenos Aires prior to Sunday and dropped to number 10 in the world rankings. World number 32 Fognini, who won the Hamburg title in 2013, was aiming for an almost unthinkable third claycourt victory against Nadal this season following successes in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona. Nadal, whose previous air of invincibility on clay has begun to evaporate, hit just six winners and 15 unforced errors in an evenly contested opening set. He was, however, aided by Fognini who was broken three times in the set and blundered 34 of his own unforced errors following a series of brutal baseline ral-

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Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after he won the final match of the Hamburg Open ATP tennis tournament against Fabio Fognini of Italy, in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday August 2. (Daniel Reinhardt/dpa via AP)

lies. Nadal appeared to have gained the upper hand early in the second set and broke en route to a 3-1 lead but Fognini roared back with successive breaks to take a 4-3 lead. In a topsy-turvy set Nadal and Fognini were unable to gain the ascendancy and traded breaks as parity was restored at 5-5 before the Spaniard took a

6-5 lead to leave his opponent to serve it into a tiebreak. Fognini was unable to do so and succumbed to defeat when he blazed a forehand long before a clearly emotional Nadal fell to his knees and saluted the crowd after the final point. The Italian eighth seed played his part in an entertaining final crushing 39 winners to Nadal's 19.

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