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Vol XXXII No. 177
DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022 Pages 16 ` 5.00
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Himanta meets Rio, CCoNPI
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Assam chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma arrived Dimapur Thursday to hold a consultative meeting with the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue (CCoNPI) headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and to acquaint himself with the latest development following the May 28 meeting between CCoNPI and NSCN(I-M). Sarma, as convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) has been co-opted by the union home ministry to act as a “catalyst” to the efforts of the “facilitators” (the political leadership of the UDA government) for supplementing efforts towards early solution to the Naga political issue. On the eve of his trip to Dimapur, Sarma had clarified to media that his role was “limited” and would not be able to “mediate in such a
NASSA two-day ‘pen down strike’ on June 3 & 4 DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Nagaland Assembly Secretariat Staff Association (NASSA) Thursday announced that as part of its first phase agitation, the members would be holding two-day “pen down strike” from June 3-4, 2022. In a press release, NASSA general secretary Talirenla said the proposed strike was to register protest against the state government appointing Dr. PJ Antony (retired officer) as principal secretary, under the establishment of the NLA secretariat. On Wednesday, the NASSA alleged that Dr. PJ Antony had “unilaterally” amended the existing Service Rules to suit his interest of service extension by inserting a provision where a superannuated officer can be appointed on deputation in the Assembly Secretariat till the age of 65 years. NASSA said the whole exercise of amending the service rules was arbitrarily done without observing any procedural norms and guidelines and without consulting any senior administrative officers or the Service Rules Amendment Committee, constituted with a mandate to make recommendation for revision/amendment of the existing service rules. Though the Cabinet had approved creation of the post of principal secretary, NASSA said it strongly objected to the proposal of Antony being made the principal secretary.
This is it!
“He’s making it clearly visible that if people want, he’ll not shy away from contesting elections.” K Y M C
A file photo of Neiphiu Rio and Himanta Biswa Sarma during a meeting in Dimapur on September 21, 2021.
big and complex issue”. Sarma said: “At the political level and with the political leadership of BJP, NDPP and NPF, we keep on talking because all are within the NEDA. So, my role is limited only to interacting with our NEDA partners and not beyond.” The Naga political issue is perched at a crucial stage as expectation for solution has been prolonged due to a stalemate between the government of India and NSCN (I-M) over the issue of Naga flag and con-
stitution (Yehzabo). While the government of India has rejected outright both demands, the NSCN (I-M) insists, that the Framework Agreement it signed with the government of India’s then Interlocutor R.N. Ravi on August 3, 2015 was inclusive of flag and constitution. The closed-door meeting between Sarma and the CCoNPI members led by its convenor and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio held at Niathu Resort Chümoukedima, lasted around 45 minutes and media was
barred from venturing even close to the venue. Sources privy to the meeting however, told Nagaland Post, that there was free and frank exchange between the participants. The core issue was on the need to break the deadlock that has been impeding early solution to the Naga political issue. The sources also said that Sarma as Convenor of NEDA will also convey to the Centre, the suggestions of CCoNPI. The sources also disclosed that Sarma had conveyed to the Core Committee to “work harder to convince and make NSCN (I-M) understand and accept Government of India’s offer.” Being a complex and sensitive issue, Sarma was of the view that no other person should comment on the Naga issue as every statement could complicate the matter.
was only 36.62% down from 38.75% in 2021. It also said that the number of “Nil/ zero pass” increased from 23 in 2021 to 33 schools in 2022. Further, RPP pointed out that 100% pass percentage of government schools decreased to 12 in 2022 from 25 in 2021. Maintaining that UDA coalition should be “thoroughly ashamed”, RPP said the UDA ministers and MLAs were busy “chasing central schemes” and shuttling between Nagaland and Delhi. However, on the home front, RPP said the school education department “dished out its worst
Centre planning to set up stateof-the-art ‘PM Shri Schools’ Spl. Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JUN 2 (NPN): A two-day National Conference of school education ministers concluded on Thursday with a resolve to make education system more robust, vibrant and in tune with the requirements of the 21st century and aspirations of a New India. The conference was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat with a focus on implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP). In his concluding remarks, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Prad(Cont’d on p-8) han disclosed that the Cen-
performance in 6 years. It’s incompetence at its worst.” RPP demanded advisor school education, commissioner & secretary school education, and outgoing principal director school education, Shranavas C, to explain as to how the department managed “such a dubious distinction” despite all the tall claims regarding implementation of “teacher rationalization” for better results? The party also questioned the implementation of The Light-House (Nagaland Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources) project, which has given way to the schools worst
INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 13
Education ministers conference resolve to make education system more robust
Abolish post of PD school education: RPP DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Rising People’s Party (RPP) has demanded abolishing of the post of principal director, department of school education (DoSE). In a press release, RPP alleged that PD post was “specifically created” by the cabinet to do their “khushikhushi” in the department by bringing in ‘flexible’ and ‘servile’ administrative officers. RPP said that the result of “this policy is as clear as daylight now.” Stating that the schools had their worst performance in six years, RPP said the government schools pass percentage in HSLC 2022
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performance in 6 years? The project started in April 2021. RPP said there was no point in keeping IAS officers as PD since there was also a commissioner and secretary in the department, who was also from the IAS cadre. “Their service can be utilized elsewhere. Why have too many power centers in a department and spoil the broth when it’s ultimately the students who will suffer?” RPP stated. The party maintained that education department should be headed by departmental cadre officers, who have a passion for the student community.
tre is planning to set up “PM Shri Schools”, which will be aimed at preparing students for future and will be the laboratory of new NEP. “School education is the foundation on which India will become a knowledge-based economy and the National Education Policy (NEP) is a knowledge document that aims to promote all-round development and make education accessible to everyone. We are in the process of establishing ‘PM Shri schools’ which will be fully equipped to prepare students for the future,” Pradhan said in his address. He said these state-ofthe-art schools will be the “laboratory of NEP 2020”. “We cannot deprive our new generation from 21st century knowledge and skills. I also encourage and solicit suggestions and feedback from all our states and Union Territories and
the entire education ecosystem for creating a futuristic benchmark model in the form of PM Shri schools,” he added. He said that the curriculum teacher training, and e-learning frameworks are a priority. He urged for more pro-active support, cooperation and participation from all States/UTs in the development of NCF and in building teacher capacities. He said that the NEP also lays emphasis on skilling. Pradhan exhorted the States/UTs to strengthen DIET and also leverage the school infrastructure after school hours to come up with substantial number of skill hubs. Union Minister said that every state has its own unique proposition. He suggested States/UTs to also evolve ways to blend curriculum keeping in mind
State/UT specific requirements. He urged all to continuously work together for a more vibrant education landscape and for making an India of the 21st century. Union Minister thanked all the Ministers and stakeholders of 32 States/UTs for sharing their learnings and experiences on ways to transform learning and usher in excellence in educational practices. On the second day of the conference, the interactive session with education ministers was held covering the following: Roll out and progress of NEP 2020 Implementation; State Curriculum Framework (SCF) Preparation; Sharing of strategies for Learning Recovery after School Reopening; Foundational Literacy and Numeracy and Vidya Pravesh; Skills in Schools and Student Registry and NDEAR.
State BJP marks 8 years of Modi govt Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 2 (NPN): BJP Nagaland state unit has announced a 15-day outreach programme starting June 1-15, 2022 in commemoration of eight years of Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. Addressing the media here on Thursday, state BJP president Temjen Imna Along, claimed that India as a nation had “improved holistically” under the Modi government. Referring to the recent interaction of the chief minister with the beneficiaries of various schemes, Along (Cont’d on p-8) stated that the Modi gov-
Imna Along (C) with BJP office bearers at the press meet. (NP)
ernment reached out to the villagers, poor and needy, constantly working for the welfare of all sections of the citizens. To a query, Along said the party was in the process of collecting data of the beneficiaries across the state. He assured to bring out the list
of schemes implemented in the state and the beneficiaries by the end of June 15. Along said that the party had evolved in a strong manner not only as a political party, but also in a socio and economic sector thus making the country selfreliant (Cont’d on p-8)
Sonia Gandhi tests positive for Covid-19 India could face export ban for buying Russian oil
Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI, JUN 2 (PTI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19 and has isolated herself, the party said. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said she had developed a mild fever on Wednesday evening and was found COVID positive on testing this
morning. Surjewala, however, asserted that she is determined to appear before the ED on June 8. He said the Congress President has been meeting leaders and activists over the last week, some of whom have been found COVID positive. “As a large number of Congressmen and women and well-wishers have expressed concern, we want to say that she is fine and recovering. We thank everyone for their good wishes,” he also said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Sonia Gandhi and her son Lok Sabha
MP Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on June 8 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaperAJL issue. S u r j ewa l a s a i d h e hoped the Congress chief will recover in the next few days and will again get herself tested before her appearance before the ED. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of Congress leaders have wished Gandhi a speedy recovery. “Wishing Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji a speedy recovery from COVID-19,” Modi tweeted.
LAUNCESTON (AUSTRALIA), JUN 2 (AGENCIES): Indian oil refiners are sucking up cheap Russian crude, but the risk is that their exports of refined products will eventually attract sanctions from countries determined to cut Russian energy out of global markets, reports the Reuters. Imports of Russian crude by India hit a record high in May, and will likely rise again in June, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. India imported 840,645 barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude in May, up from 388,666 bpd in April and
136,774 bpd in May last year, Kpler data showed. June imports are estimated at 1.05 million bpd, meaning that Russia’s share of India’s total imports will rise to just under one quarter, a dramatic spike considering that they were around 2% of the total last year. Indian refiners are happy to buy heavily discounted Russian crude, which is being offered at up to $40 a barrel below benchmark Brent crude prices. Russia’s crude exports have been targeted by Western countries as part of sanctions aimed at punish-
Centre proposes to amend social media rules NEW DELHI, JUN 2 (PTI): The Centre plans to set up an appellate committee to look into appeals filed by individuals against the decisions of grievance officers of social media platforms. Besides, the panel has to dispose of the appeals within 30 days of receiving them and its decision will be binding on the intermediaries or the large social media companies concerned, according to a notification to amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The proposed move assumes significance against
the backdrop of instances of accounts, including that of celebrities, being blocked by social media platforms such as Twitter for alleged violation of respective community guidelines. “The central government shall constitute one or more Grievance Appellate Committees, which shall consist of a Chairperson and such other Members, as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette,” the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) said in the draft notification. The aggrieved person can appeal against the decision of the grievance officer concerned before the com-
mittee within 30 days of receipt of the order. “The Grievance Appellate Committee shall deal with such appeal expeditiously and shall make an endeavour to dispose of the appeal finally within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the appeal. Every order passed by the Grievance Appellate Committee shall be complied with by the concerned intermediary,” the draft notification said. The committee will provide an alternate grievances redressal mechanism but the complainant will also have the right to seek judicial remedy on the grievance at any point of time,
as per the draft notification issued on June 1. The rules for social media companies came into effect from May 26, 2021. It mandated large social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to enable identification of the ‘first originator’ of the information that undermines the sovereignty of India, the security of the state, or public order. Under the rules, significant social media intermediaries -- those with over 50 lakh users -- are required to appoint a grievance officer, a nodal officer and a chief compliance officer. These personnel have to be residents in India. As per the draft notifi-
cation, intermediaries have to acknowledge suspension, removal or blocking of any user or user account or any complaint from its users in the nature of request for removal of information or communication link within 24 hours and dispose of the complaint within 15 days. In the case of any complaints in the nature of request for removal of information or communication link carrying defamatory, obscene, pornographic, invasive of another’s privacy, libellous, false and untrue information, those should be redressed within 72 hours of the reporting, according to the draft notification.
ing Moscow for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. The risk for India’s refiners is that buyers of their refined product exports start to target these cargoes, given the possibility that some of the diesel or gasoline was refined out of Russian crude. India’s Reliance Industries is a case in point. It operates a 1.2 million bpd refinery complex at Jamnagar on India’s west coast and while it does supply fuel to the domestic market, much of the output is exported. The port of Sikka handles Reliance’s crude imports, and Kpler data shows
that 10.81 million barrels of Russian crude arrived in May, or about 348,000 bpd. The same port exported 2.0 million barrels of diesel, or about 64,500 bpd, to Australia in May, according to Kpler. Australia imposed a ban on imports of Russian oil and refined products on March 11, which came into force on April 24. It’s not clear whether the ban applies to fuel refined from Russian crude in a third country, such as India. But it’s likely that the Australian government is going to be asked these questions.
NPCC reiterates demand for ballot paper system in polls
DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said it would continue to demand ballot paper system wherein VVPAT printout would be used as ballot paper, thus reducing costs as control unit would no longer be needed. Addressing the State level workshop to discuss and plan execution of the ‘Udaipur Nav Sankalp Declaration’ with office-bearers, members, frontals and cells at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, NPCC president K Therie said the party would take up the issue with Election Commission of India (Cont’d on p-8) (ECI) after its reply to a
representation filed by a group of NGOs. Drawing attention of party workers to the issue of nearly 19 lakh missing EVMs, he attributed Congress’ losses to EVM manipulation. He said BJP with barely 35% of votes was able to rule the country because other political parties were unable to put up a united alternative. He mentioned that the basis for Congress’ fight was “Justice for all’, claiming that Congress being the party that drafted the Constitution of India, understood its application, while other parties, including regional p a r t i e s, (Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C