Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 130
DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00
Working on different areas to boost exports: Suresh Prabhu
VAR mayhem strikes Bundesliga
BJP demands apology from Cong for ‘defaming Hindus’
business, Page 8
sports, Page 15
national, Page 12
Nagaland to get `612.42 cr for Agri sector
Emilo K. Khuvung
KOHIMA, APR 17 (NPN): International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), financial wing of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), will provide Rs 612.42 crore in 2018-19 to the State government for improving the agricultural sector in eight districts. Principal secretary and APC T Imkonglemba Ao informed this to Nagaland Post during an interaction on the sidelines of a felicitation programme for agriculture minister G Kaito Aye held at the agriculture directorate office here on Tuesday. Imkonglemba said Central schemes would be converged with IFAD fund and would cover about 650 villages across eight districts of Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon, Wokha, Zunheboto, Phek, Kiphire and Longleng in the first phase. He said Peren and Tuensang would not be covered since the two districts were covered by another international project under World Bank, while Dimapur too would not be covered since there was no highland farming in the district. Towards this end, Imkonglemba said State Project Implementing Team (SPIT)
KVGOA flays NPF allegation against RD principal secy DIMAPUR, APR 17 (NPN): Kohima Village Gazetted Officers’ Association (KVGOA) has come out strongly against NPF’s allegation of irregularities in the department at the behest of (RD) principal secretary Lhoubeilatuo Kire . In a statement issued by its president Er Keviletuo Yiese and secretary Er Medozhazo Rutsa, KVGOA said it was deeply hurt and disturbed by news items appearing in local dailies on April 13 “NPF accuses PDA Government of misusing MGNREGA fund”. Strongly condemning the character assassination attempt on its former president and bona fide member, the association alleged that Kire, known to be an efficient and upright officer, had been made a scapegoat with certain unfounded serious allegations levelled against him under the guise of attacking the PDA government. KVGOA wondered how can there be any question of favouritism or nepotism as the principal secretary hailed from Kohima village, but was biased towards Kuda village, one of the oldest settlements in Dimapur with a multi tribe and ethnic composition, as alleged by NPF. (Cont’d on p-7)
from the State was constituted by drawing staff from 10 line departments and that the agriculture department had conducted awareness campaign along with committee members on April 6 and 12. He said SPIT would visit all the eight districts to sensitise and assist the district implementing team, after which the project steering committee headed by chief secretary would convene project inception meeting.Imkonglemba asserted that IFAD funding would help farmers in the State double their income. On the first Naga Farm Doctor mobile app launched at the felicitation programme, the principal secretary admitted before this correspondent that initially it would not be of much help to the farmers in rural areas. However, once this was translated in local dialects, which would be done soon, the app would be helpful, he added. He claimed that the agriculture department was reaching out to farmers through All India Radio and disseminating information on various programmes and policies of the department as radio was the main means of communication for rural people.
Kaito launches ‘Naga Farm Doctor’ App
Calling for making agriculture department an asset to the people, agriculture and cooperation minister G Kaito Aye has urged officials of the department to be supportive towards farmers. He also cautioned them against wasting money in the name of farmers’ welfare and instead use the incentives meant for the farmers judiciously. Addressing a programme organised by the agriculture department at the directorate office here on Tuesday, the minister pointed out that the department was poor in implementing projects and urged all officials to work together as positive changes had to be brought about. Aye also questioned whether the ground reality was as real as mentioned in the administrative reports and urged everyone to step beyond their assigned duties to promote the farmers. Lamenting that after 1980s no field workers were visiting the farm-
Jacob inspecting the project augmentation at Mima. (DIPR)
DIMAPUR, APR 17 (NPN): Nagaland minister for PHED, Jacob Zhimomi, Tuesday said that augmentation of water supply to Kohima town (Zarü project) under urban ministry would be commissioned within 45 days as part of the 100 days action plan of PDA government. According to an official bulletin, the minis-
ter announced this while inspecting the project site of augmentation of water supply to Kohima town at Mima village on April 17, 2018. Jacob said that the project was part of the Smart City plan, which would provide safe drinking water to the citizens of Kohima town. Stating that the state
nouncing monetary grants as per service rules, the cabinet however, clarified that the officials could provide information related to government policies, programmes, besides participating in public functions only as invitees or resource persons. However dignitaries and officials from outside Nagaland, would be received well and hospitality extended as per protocols, it was decided. The government has also disallowed receipt of gifts and presentations in public functions and events by ministers. It said flowers and bouquets– preferably fresh– could be received at the time of arrival at the programme venue, but no gift should be received during the function. Further emphasising on wildlife and environment, the government has asked ministers and officials to make all-out effort to preserve and protect the environment, wildlife and fishes. The meeting also ruled that no presentation of wildlife and wildlife parts would be received or prepared at functions during meals, feasts, etc.
NEW DELHI, APR 17 (AGENCIES): Appointment of nine advisers to ministers in Delhi government was Tuesday cancelled on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The nine posts are not on the list of posts approved for the ministers and chief ministers of the government of NCT of Delhi, an order from the general administration department of the Government of National Capital Territory, Delhi said quoting a letter from the MHA. MHA cancelled appointments saying that ‘Services’ under the Govt. of NCT of Delhi is a subject reserved for the Central government as per the Constitution. Those nine advisers are Amardeep Tiwari (media adviser to law minister), Arunodya Prakash (media adviser to deputy chief minister), Raghav Chadha (adviser to finance minister), Atishi Marlena (media adviser to Dy.CM). Delhi Dy.CM Manish Sisodia said that it was a conspiracy to derail the “education revolution” in the capital.
government was concerned about the health of the people, he said the project would not only provide safe drinking water to the people but would solve the water scarcity problem in the capital. PHED minister also informed that the same project would also be commissioned in Wokha within 45 days. He said that for rural area, a project was on the verge of completion at Chiephobozou RD block under Kohima district, which would cover 21 water scarce villages. Further, Jacob disclosed that similar projects would be implemented in other districts very soon. The Zarü project is a two-stage pumping system, whereby the water would reach the pressure break tank and through gravity, the water would flow down to the main reservoir located at Kohima town.
NEW DELHI, APR 17 (AGENCIES): Unusual spurt in currency demand in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh as well as pollbound Karnataka led to dry ATMs in several parts of the country, sending the government scrambling to make contingency plans to cover the deficit. The government said it suspects that Rs 2,000 notes were being hoarded and plans to increase 5-fold the printing of Rs 500 notes. Within a month, it said, Rs 70,000-75,000 crore will be printed. The Reserve Bank said the printing of currency has been ramped up in all the four note presses, and the shortage in some pockets is due to logistical issues. ATMs of both public and private sector lenders in several cities were either not operating or showed no cash signs. Some ATMs
TACKLING THE CASH CRUNCH Government steps up printing of Rs 500 currency notes by five times Rs 2,500 crore worth of new notes are being printed every day Rs 70,000-75,000 crore worth of notes will be printed in a month Rs 1.75 lakh crore worth of currency notes in reserve Rs 6.7 lakh crore worth of Rs 2,000 notes in stock Rs 18.4 lakh crore currency in circulation as of April 6 Source: Economic Affairs Secretary Briefing, RBI data
downed shutters with ‘No cash’ and ‘Out of service’ signs, prompting the government to move currency from surplus regions. Political leaders from Rahul Gandhi of Congress to TMC’s Mamata Banerjee trained guns on the government saying ATMs running dry was a reminder of demonetisation days. Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of “destroying the banking system.” Intensifying his attack on Modi, Rahul said,
“Nirav Modi fled with Rs 30,000 crore and Prime Minister didn’t utter a word. We were forced to stand in queues as he snatched 5001,000 rupee notes from our pockets and put in Nirav Modi’s pocket.” Rahul Gandhi further added, Prime Minister is afraid to talk in Parliament. Give us 15 minutes to talk in Parliament and we will bring out the truth behind cases like Rafale deal, Nirav Modi fleeing the country.) While Finance Min-
ister Arun Jaitley assured hassled customers that the government will fix the problem quickly, officials attributed the cash crunch to crop procurement and hoarding of high denomination currency ahead of elections in Karnataka. Such crisis was however not witnessed in any of the previous procurement seasons. A statement by the finance ministry confirmed reports of cash shortages and some ATMs running dry or becoming non-functional in some parts of the country.“There has been unusual spurt in currency demand in the country in last three months,” it said. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg gave out figures saying the Reserve Bank will increase five-fold the printing of Rs 500 notes to about Rs 2,500 crore a day to deal with the cash shortage.
TASU ultimatum over abandoned youth hall NPMCC ‘Black Day’ to protest rising crime
The youth hall construction project left abandoned. (TASU)
K Y M C
DIMAPUR, APR 17 (NPN): In a significant development, aimed at further doing away with the VIP culture in Nagaland, the PDA cabinet has barred ministers and government officials from attending public functions as chief guests and also asking them to refrain from giving donations and making announcement of monetary grants while attending such functions. This was decided at a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday while discussing the issue of doing away with the pervasive VIP culture. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the ministers would be allowed to attend public functions, inaugurations, launching programmes, etc and also deliver speeches and exhortations and give information on programmes and policies of the State and Central governments. However, they are not allowed to make monetary announcements or give donations at public programmes and functions. While also barring State officials from attending public functions as chief guests and donating funds or an-
Appointment of 9 advisers to Delhi govt cancelled
Water supply to Kma within 45 days: Jacob ATMs go dry across India; govt in damage control mode
This is it!
“True, change has come in Nagaland. But in Delhi, there’s no change in financial position.”
G Kaito Aye (NP)
ers, he reminded the department’s staff that the farmers needed to be visited from time to time to gather their views and concerns so that the overall farming system could be improved in the State. Further, he asked the department to emphasise on compact area farming and identify suitable crops and potential areas for their cultivation. The minister also spoke on the need to have cold storage in certain areas where agricultural produce was high to bring the “buy-back policy” as the State had failed in the buy-back policy and
added that crops were wasted in the past. He appealed to the director and his officials to extend more support at the grassroots level and take up activities that would benefit the farming community. Agriculture director G Ikuto Zhimomi, who too was present on the occasion, gave a Powerpoint presentation highlighting various ongoing activities of the department, funding patterns, State schemes, etc, besides giving a projection of 100day programme of the department (from March 8 to June 18). Earlier, the minister also launched the first ‘Naga Farm Doctor’ mobile app for android phones that has two sections – an interactive part where farmers can submit their queries and another feature where diseases and infestation of plants can be viewed by the farmers. Principal secretary T Imkonglemba Ao chaired the programme.
No more ‘Chief Guest’ for minsters, officials: Cabinet
DIMAPUR, APR 17 (NPN): Tobu Area Students’ Union (TASU) has served a 20-day ultimatum on the constructing agency, executive engineer PWD
(H), youth resource and sports department and the contractor NK construction agency to begin construction work of the abandoned youth hall at Tobu town and
also present the detail report to the union on the status of the youth hall construction within ten days. In a press note, TASU president, Sangti Konyak, and general secretary, L Davidson Ngushu, expressed dismay over the abandonment of youth hall construction. They said project work sanctioned under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) 2009-11 was supposed to be completed within 24 months. However, they said the project been has abandoned for the past seven years despite repeated reminders from different organizations. Stating that a total amount of Rs.83 lakh has been withdrawn as per the RTI reply, TASU asked the implementing partner to explain where has the amount been utilized? The union stated that the silence of the contractor towards the queries raised by Tobu Town Students’
Union (TTSU) several times reflected “the ignorance over the concern raised by the student union.” TASU informed the contractor and implementing partner that this ultimatum would be its last reminder, adding that no justification would be accepted if the implementing partner and contractor failed to respond and act within the stipulated time. The union cautioned that it would not be responsible if any untoward incident occurred after the expiry of ultimatum. Meanwhile, the union has informed the HoDs posted at Tobu HQ to be present at the station as TASU team would be visiting all the offices under Tobu sub-division starting from May. The union stated that it would be reviewing different activities and programmes that were being implemented by the various departments.
NPMCC members during the protest in Dimapur on Tuesday.
DIMAPUR, APR 17 (NPN): Responding to the call given by All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) to observe “Black Day” against rising crimes against women, the Nagaland Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (NPMCC) Tuesday staged protest at Dimapur District Congress Committee office. NPCC through its media cell said that the protest was against the recent spate of rape and murder cases of women and minors and the BJP’s complicity over growing crimes including Unnao and Kathua rape cases. Addressing the Mahila
workers, NPMCC president, N Lucy, said that the “Black Day’ was being observed as women and children across India have lost freedom, safety and security. She said merciless rapes and barbaric mutilation and murders of women and minors have increased under BJP. She said complicity of BJP has rendered the country unsafe for women and children. Lucy said that the same fate may befall anyone as the ruling BJP was doing nothing to deliver justice to the victims nor to improve safety and security to women and children. Lucy also said that
arrests in the recent cases highlighted in the media were made because of public outcry while BJP politicians tried to shelter the accused and defended them with the National Flag. Also, speaking at the event, DDMCC working president, Tiala Sapu, said today the media was filled with such stories and reiterated that many cases did not come to light. She said the trend has degenerated into victimizing not only women but even minors in the most inhuman crimes for which the “Black Day” was being observed to extend solidarity with the victims and their families. Sapu said that the event was not a political movement but a movement of humanity to show concern against such crimes being perpetrated against women and minors. The programme ended with a prayer by Area Mahila Congress, Dimapur –I president R Lotha. K Y M C