Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXIII No. 126
DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Japan to offer military aid to likeminded countries to counter China INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
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Mishra holds talks with Naga groups Both GoI, NSCN (I-M) agree to seek solution on the basis of FA: Raising WC, NNPGs urges AK Mishra (NP File) Centre to spell out NSCN (I-M) colroadmap for solution meeting, lective leadership member Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): Government of India’s representative for Naga talks AK Mishra on Thursday held separate meetings with top leaders of three Naga political groups – NSCN (I-M), WC/NNPGs and Niki-led NSCN (K) – at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chümoukedima. Talking to media persons after nearly two-anda-half hours of closed-door
RH Raising said the meeting was positive and that both sides had agreed to seek solution on the basis of the Framework Agreement. “We have agreed to seek solution on the basis of the Framework Agreement,” he commented without divulging much about the meeting. While Mishra was accompanied by Intelligence Bureau joint director Mandeep Singh Tuli, a 24-member NSCM (I-M) delegation led by ato kilonser and chief
negotiator Th Muivah attended the meeting. Later, Mishra also held a closed-door meeting with a 10-member delegation of the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) led by its convener N Kitovi Zhimomi that lasted for nearly three hours. Sources said the NNPGs had urged the Centre to spell out a clear roadmap for resolving the decades-old Naga political issue. Even as the Central leaders have been making oft-repeated statements that solution to the Naga political issue was at a final stage, sources said NNPGs had categorically told Mishra that solution to the Naga issue could not be delayed and dragged on for an indefinite period. Earlier during the day, a Naga Hoho delegation also met Mishra at Police House. It may be recalled that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the election
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rally at Mon town on February 20 this year, assured the people of Nagaland that the BJP-led central government wanted to expeditiously resolve the Naga issue. Reiterating the BJP’s commitment towards the Naga peace talks, Shah said, “Our aim is to make peace talks successful and solve Naga political problem quickly.” “I want you to believe that Narendra Modi and the Union Home minister are aware of your emotions, and with all respect for you, we will proceed with the talks,” he said. On the other hand, BJP national president JP Nadda, during his speech at the joint campaign rally of the BJP and NDPP at capital cultural hall Kohima said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eager to resolve the Naga political issue while Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tirelessly worked on it. It has come to the final stage.”
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SPORTS, PAGE 12
Peren CSOs Don’t undermine election process, endorse NZPO DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): Peren civil society organisations (CSOs) at a co-ordination meeting convened by Nagaland Zeliang People Organisation (NZPO) at Jalukie Town on April 11 reaffirmed that any important issue on behalf of Zeliang people must be routed through NZPO. NZPO president Kevipele Iheilung and vice president Kinkeriulung said the house decided that women reservation in the ULBs “may be kept if necessary”. However, they said 33% reservation and taxation was “just a copy paste of Parliament Act”, and not acceptable. The house also deliberated on recent imbroglio involving Naga Mothers Association. Appreciating their good deeds, NZPO, however, said NMA “desperately cling on to the four minor tribal women” bodies-- Rengma, Pochury, Kuki and Zeliangrong Mipui when major tribes forsake them.”
electorate: Governor La Ganesan
DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): Nagaland governor La Ganesan has reminded the people not to undermine the election process and the electorate if they were to take the society to forward. According to a DIPR report, governor said at a meeting with the head of offices and leaders of civil societies of Mokokchung during his maiden visit to the district on Thursday. Appreciating the people of the district for the huge voter turnout during the recently concluded assembly election, governor maintained that there could be rule of law only with the active participation of the people. At the meeting, the governor urged upon the officers of the departments to ensure that the flagship programmes of government pertaining to basic services were diligently implemented for the welfare of the people.
Governor La Ganesan speaks during the meeting at DC office Mokokchung on Thursday. (DIPR)
Governor also requested DC to hold periodic review on the implementation of the various schemes and programmes in the district and to take necessary action to meet the goals and target if there were any shortfalls. Besides education, governor called for ensuring that other basic service like health care, drinking water and financial institutions be made available at the doorstep of citizens, especially downtrodden people. Gover nor also ex-
pressed optimism that the political problem of Nagaland would be solved and Nagaland would prosper and be on a par with the rest of the country. Ganesan said that though it was his maiden visit to the district, he was aware of many good things about Mokokchung district and the Ao community such as being the pioneer in many fields and also being the cleanest town in the State and also in the North East. (Cont’d on p-8)
India logs 10,158 Nagaland prepared to tackle any surge in Covid cases: Kikheto STCC launches ‘Tobacco new Covid cases Staff Reporter pressed hope that the Covid fits of Jan Aushadhi scheme, Free Home’ campaign
NEW DELHI, APR 13 (AGENCIES): India recorded a sharp hike in daily Covid-19 cases at 10,158 compared to the previous day on Thursday. According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 44,998. This comes as the country is witnessing a surge in cases with Maharashtra and Delhi reporting over 1,000 daily cases. A new Covid variant, Arcturus, XBB.1.16, is fueling a surge in many countries including US, Singapore, and Australia, among others. The WHO declared XBB.1.16 a “variant under monitoring” in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet. On Monday, nationwide mock drills were conducted to check the preparedness for the emergency Covid-19 situation at public and private health facilities. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya himself monitored mock drills at some hospitals. A total of eight states including Maharashtra and Delhi are reporting a high number of Covid cases. According to Indian Medical Association, the reasons behind the recent surge in India may be the relaxation of Covid-19 appropriate behavior, low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus infection. According to a report in PTI, Covid cases in India are expected to rise for the next 10-12 days, and will gradually come down. The report also underlined that the diseases is heading towards an endemic stage
This is it!
“Everything sold here is organic. Even the dried meat is organic.” K Y M C
DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): Commissioner and secretary, health & family welfare (H&FW), Y Kikheto Sema, who inspected Christian Institute of Health Science and Research (CIHSR) and Nagaland Police Covid Hospital (NPCH) to take stock of preparedness on Thursday asserted that the state was now ready to handle any eventuality in view of the sudden spurt of Covid cases. Speaking to media persons, Kikheto expressed happiness and satisfaction with the preparedness of the 200-bedded Covid hospital
Kikheto (R) with health officials at CIHSR on Thursday. (NP)
at CIHSR and 100-bedded NPCH. Even though the state has only three active cases as on April 13, he urged health workers to be mentally prepared for any eventuality. Addressing a host of of-
ficials at CIHSR after the inspection, Kikheto acknowledged the hospital staff for handling Covid cases during the last two lockdowns and also for the preparedness. After inspecting the 200-bedded Covid hospital, he ex-
scenario would not be the same as before as the state was better equipped. On shortage of manpower, Kikheto assured to take it up with the state government. Taking note of the increasing demand for dialysis in Dimapur, he informed that there were many patients in the waiting list to undergo dialysis. In this regard, he said doctors needed to discuss amongst themselves and come up with data regarding those diseases that were more in numbers in the state and inform the state government so as to take necessary actions. Highlighting the bene-
Kikheto urged all doctors including private doctors to prescribe Jan Aushadhi medicines, which was better in quality and cheaper by up to 70%. Also, after inspecting NPCH at Police Complex, Chümoukedima, Kikheto expressed satisfaction with the preparedness of the hospital. He, however, lamented that the hospital was nonfunctional and requested the Home department to make use of the hospital even for non-covid patients. He maintained that NPCH could become a “Referral” hospital for Chümoukedima even for non-Covid patients.
DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): State Tobacco Control Cell, NTCP has launched a new anti-tobacco initiative campaign -- “Tobacco Free Schools to Tobacco Free Homes in Nagaland”. State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control P r o g r a m m e, N a g a l a n d (NTCP), Dr Arenla Walling said the STCC launched a pilot project where students would give awareness to their parents about the danger of smoking, second hand smoke, chewing of tobacco and indiscriminate spitting. They will also give awareness on basic provisions of To-
bacco control law (COTPA 2003) in regards to ban of smoking in public places, and ban on sale tobacco products to minors and near educational institutions etc. According to Dr. Arenla, citing Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), 43.3% of all adults in Nagaland either smoke tobacco and/ or use smokeless tobacco, against a National average of 29%. A recent pilot study in the state also shows that expenditure on tobacco products alone is taking a huge economic toll on the vulnerable sections. (Full text on p-6)
Teli hands over 200 appointment letters at Rozgar Mela Cargo transit route RH directs Rengma Mothers’
MoS Rameswar Teli handing appointment letter to one of the appointees on Thursday. (NP)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): As a part of Prime Minister’s recruitment mission to fill up vacancies at various Central government departments, union minister of state for Petroleum &
Natural Gas and Labour & Employment Rameswar Teli handed over 213 appointment letters at the Rozgar Mela held at Imliyanger Memorial Centre (IMC) here on Thursday. The Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commit-
ment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation. The appointment letters were issued in the presence of senior government officials for various Central government ministries/departments and agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed the Rozgar Mela via video conferencing, claimed that the country’s economic condition was improving since BJP-led NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Modi remarked that government was committed to providing the right opportunities for the talent
and energy of the youth to achieve the resolutions of a developed India. He said that youth were being inducted into various government departments as per requirements, while various employmentgenerating opportunities had been initiated in both rural and urban areas. Modi also highlighted the role of investment in infrastructure in employment generation. Countering the prevalent decade-old mindset that defence equipment in India could only be imported, the PM Modi highlighted that the government changed this approach by trusting indig(Cont’d on p-8) enous
to open connecting Asso. to dissociate from NMA NE and B’desh D I M A P U R , A P R 1 3 371(A) is concerned. In the
NEW DELHI, APR 13 (AGENCIES): India and Bangladesh are soon going to begin operations for transit and transhipment of cargo between North East and Bangladesh with Chittagong port as the main access point, Bangladesh’s minister of state for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said. “We are ready for the start of transit and transhipment of goods. Trial runs were completed and all arrangements for immigration and customs formalities on the Bangladesh side are also ready,” Chowdhury said.
Govt signs MoU for development of paramedical professionals DIMAPUR, APR 13 (NPN): State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Karnataka for development of paramedical professionals for quality health care delivery. According to a DIPR report, the MoU was signed between MAHE Karnataka and the department of health and family welfare (DHFW) Nagaland and Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Nagaland on April 13, 2023 facilitated by Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Kohima. The objective of signing
the MoU is to facilitate the development of collaborative and mutually beneficial programmes, which serve to enhance the intellectual life and cultural development of the general public and persons with disabilities. MAHE is one of the leading universities in India and has extensive technical and professional expertise. MAHE also has the facilities to provide education, training, and conduct research in various fields. It is India’s first dedicated college for allied and healthcare professionals. MAHE also offers under graduation, post-graduation and PhD degrees.
With the signing of this MoU, it is expected that more premiere educational institutions will be following the lead of MAHE to sign agreements with Government of Nagaland for extending academic opportunities and capacity building of students from Nagaland. A total number of 200 seats per year would be reserved for students from Nagaland in the following 22 undergraduate health professional programmes at MAHE, Karnataka: BSc Radiotherapy technology, BSc Anesthesia technology, BSc Emergency Medicine Technology, Bachelor of Audiology & Speech Language,
Bachelor of Occupational Language, Bachelor of Optometry, Bachelor of physiotherapy, BSc Cardiovascular Technology, BSc Clinical Nutrition & Diabetes, BSc Exercise & Sports Sciences, BSc Health Information Management, BSc Medical Imaging Technology, BSc Laboratory Technology, BSc Laboratory ( Lateral), Bachelor of Optometry ( Lateral), BSc Medical Imaging Technology (Lateral), BSc Nuclear Medicine Technology, BSc Perfusion Technology, BSc Psychology, BSc Respiratory Therapy, BSc RRY & DT, BSc Physician Assistant and Bachelor in Prosthetics & Orthotics.
As part of the course, the selected candidates would undergo mandatory foreign language training for availing opportunities abroad and the training would be provided by MAHE. Apart from reservation of the seats, a 25% concession to the existing fee would be offered to the students selected on merit from Nagaland for the 22 programmes under MCHP, Manipal. To lower the financial burden on the parents for professional education of their wards, IDAN and MAHE would be facilitating educational loans for interested candidates. (Cont’d on p-8)
(NPN): Rengma Hoho (RH) has directed Rengma Mothers’ Association (RMA) to dissociate forthwith from Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) in the interest of all Nagas and not unilaterally participate until such time the Nagas agreed to come together for a common cause. RH president Pollem Tep and general secretary Sinhilo Thongseb also demanded that the Rengma Hoho should invariably be consulted in future if invited to participate in any other organisational platform, failing which RH would take action as per customary law. RH said they understood from NMA’s letter that the latter had withdrawn its petition from Supreme Court on January 27, 2017 and also had no connection with the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). But, if the narrative was true, they reasoned that the court case should not have re-surfaced. They said any organisation volunteering to justify or champion a cause on behalf of the people by giving valuable inputs should not drag every conflict to court without the consent of the aggrieved. “While one may say it is the right of the aggrieved, those accused also have rights, which should not be violated. Now majority of the Nagas are on equal footing as far as violation of Article
midst of these doldrums, if the NMA has consciously withdrawn and disconnected itself from organisations outside Nagaland, it is appreciated,” they stated. Under such circumstances and based on its March 28, 2023 resolution, the duo declared that the RH would not allow any of its constituent units to participate or allow to be member of any other organisation that worked to widen the social divide and was detrimental to its own people. RH said it was against Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 transgressing into special provision of Art 371(A), which was the link between Nagas and Government of India. RH said Art 371(A) was deeply rooted in the soul and mind of every Naga and warned that any attempt to tinker with it would be akin to stirring a hornet’s nest, which would invite the wrath of entire Naga society. Meanwhile, RH appreciated the state government for timely repealing the Nagaland Municipal Act, adding that inaction would have created turmoil in every corner of the 16 districts. RH said the positive action taken by the Assembly saved Nagas from further bloodshed, while the death of two young lives in 2017 still remained in the minds of those who witness that terrifying incident. K Y M C