Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 119
SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00
Indian firms should leverage on technologies: NITI Aayog CEO
Arsenal stroll to Europa win
S. Korea’s ex-prez jailed for 24 years for corruption
business, Page 8
sports, Page 15
international, Page 9
Rio spells out PDA’s thrust areas
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has identified infrastructure, sports, tourism, agriculture and allied sectors as priority areas which his government vows to bring change to Nagaland within the next five years. Rio said this on Friday during the 27th anniversary of Konyak Gazetted Officers’ Union (KGOU) at Council Hall Mon town while also conveying greetings on Konyak apex festival Aoleang. Reiterating key focus areas of the PDA government, the chief minister said it would focus on promoting tourism, which could help the economy as also create jobs for the people. Stating that Hornbill Festival required an investment of around Rs. 4-5 crore that fetched a turnover of approximately Rs. 51 crore, the chief minister informed the meeting that the government would train tour operators, tourist guides and agents for which the gazetted officers should document stories and legends of the tribes so that tourists get a first hand narration of “our great history and culture”.
Dimapur police to go hi-tech with body, dash cams DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): In order to improve overall security environment in the commercial hub of the State, some new initiatives have been taken to augment Dimapur Police’s law-enforcing capabilities. During a review meeting held at Dimapur Police Commissioner’s office here on Thursday, DGP Nagaland, Rupin Sharma instructed Dimapur Police Commissionerate to ensure that at least one member of all patrolling parties in the town wear body camera during duty with immediate effect. The DGP further directed that all mobile patrol vehicles and quick response teams (QRTs) install dashboard cameras on vehicles by Monday. Ordering installation of more Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the town in the coming days, DGP maintained that these measures had been initiated to ensure a safe and secure environment to all residents of Dimapur. According to DGP, similar measures would be put in place in Kohima next week.
Neiphiu Rio with members of the Konyak Gazetted Officers’ Union on Friday.
He said the government has also decided to promote tourism by holding mini Hornbill Festivals across the districts, which would be primarily hosted by respective tribal hohos, to showcase rich cultural heritage of each tribe to the tourists. Mentioning the eagerness of various corporate and charitable institutions like Tata Trust, Reliance Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, BMW Foundation, and John Deere Foundation to come and work in Mon as part of their corporate social responsibility activities, the chief minister advised KGOU to leverage the opportunity and extend its support in work-
ing out plans in the field of education, health, skill development and livelihood & employment generation. Stating that the government would be meeting various corporate groups soon, he revealed that an Australian company was willing to provide free air ambulance service. But for this to materialise, the government and people would have to extend cooperation towards building a 500-metre runway. The government would also build a convention centre and tourist guest house in Mon town and many other areas in Eastern Nagaland districts so that basic amenities were available to the tourists, he added.
Rio also laid emphasis on air connectivity within the State for which Rio claimed that a plan had already been submitted to the Centre during his earlier tenure as chief minister. He added that proposals had also been submitted to New Delhi for Foothill Road (Express Road) to Mon without touching Assam as well as a railway line to Tizit. Hoping that these projects would soon become a reality, the chief minister urged the people to come forward to give land for such projects. “If you want development, you should cooperate with the government,” he stressed.
(Cont’d on p-11)
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Nagaland’s deputy chief minister and minister in charge for Home and National Highways, Y. Patton vowed that road development and maintenance across the State would be his priority. Speaking at a thanksgiving service held at his private residence at Wokha on Thursday, Patton asserted that road development would not remain confined to any particular area, but would be carried out across the State. He admitted that currently almost all roads in Nagaland were in a deplorable condition. He also urged people not to create hurdles in road construction and other developmental activities in the name of landownership as any developmental activity was meant for the entire society. Patton explained that he chose to contest the recently-held general elec-
Y. Patton
tion from BJP to protect and speak out in support of the Christians as atrocities were committed upon members of the community in some parts of the country by some vested interest groups in the name of political parties like BJP. Urging Naga Christians not to view BJP as an anti-Christian party, the deputy chief minister clarified that, unlike some political parties, his party was purely a political party and had nothing to do with religion and promoted only secularism.
Patton also sought forgiveness from his opponents for any misgivings during the recent election and urged his supporters to do the same. He dedicated his victory to the Almighty God even as he acknowledged the support from central BJP leaders, entire rank and file of the State unit and supporters. Thanking chief minister Neiphiu Rio for reposing trust on him and making him the deputy CM, Patton said it was for the first time that a member from the Lotha Naga community held such a high position in the government. Short speeches were also delivered by from Lotha Hoho chair man Mhao Humtsoe, Wokha district BJP president Meribemo Humtsoe, NBHM chairman Ntsemo Ngullie and former BJP candidate from 17 Chizami Phek constituency Atso Dolo.
the members should keep in mind the larger interests of the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House. Last day of the session was also marred by protests by AIADMK and Congress members over setting up of the Cauvery river management board as well as by TDP members demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. Mahajan also said she wanted to take up the notices for no-confidence motion. “I am sorry... if you don’t want to take up (notices for no-confidence motion),” she said and proceeded to read out a brief summary of the Budget session and its second leg before adjourning sine die. In the Rajya Sabha, Naidu even wondered if the fears of those who doubted the need for a Second Chamber during the debates in the Constituent Assembly were coming true. “I am pained to note that it(the session) turned out to be an eminently forgettable one on account of utter disregard of the mandate of this important parliamentary institution
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Government of India has stated that one fake advertisement for recruitment to various posts for Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme on contract basis has been floated in many states. In a notice, Human Resource Development ministry, Department of School Education & Literacy (Mid-Day Meal Division), informed all state governments/UTs that no such advertisement has been issued by the ministry. It, therefore, stated that all such response/references in this regard may be considered as fake and be treated accordingly. Further, all states/UTs have also been requested to issue disclaimer in local media so that general public were not duped by such frivolous/ fake advertisements.
NEW DELHI, APR 6 (PTI): The washed out second leg of Parliament’s Budget Session ended Friday as both Houses were adjourned sine die, capping a month of relentless disruptions and stated to be the least productive since 2000 with nearly 250 working hours being wasted. As a blame game erupted between the BJP and the Congress over the opposition protests that paralysed both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the rival parties announced protest fasts by their MPs and workers next week. An anguished Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the budget session was “eminently forgettable”. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) recommended prorogation of the Budget Session of Parliament to President Ram Nath Kovind. Lok Sabha was also unable to take up multiple opposition notices for noconfidence motion against the Modi government with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan saying there is no order in the House. Mahajan said
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): State Health & Family Welfare minister S. Pangnyu Phom, accompanied by state health officials, called on Union Health & Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Anupriya Patel and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik in New Delhi on Friday. According to a government release, Phom thanked the Union ministers for their constant support to the State in improving the healthcare delivery system. He also appraised the ministers about the progress made by the State in implementing various Centrally-sponsored schemes. He further urged them to extend support for priority projects in the State, which include running Nagaland Medical College in Kohima as a Central institute like NEIGRIHMS or RIMS,
Residents complain over waste burning
Burning of plastic waste and other materials at the dumping site. (Pics by UNB)
K Y M C
Govt warns of fake recruitment advt for MDM
and its responsibilities and missed opportunities,” he said. The disruptions and adjournments were caused by protests over issues like special status to Andhra Pradesh, bank scams, demand for Cauvery water management board, vandalising of statues, review of the recent Supreme Court order on SC/ST Act and law and order situation in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh. The second leg of the Budget session, that started on March 5, had 22 sittings that were mostly disrupted. Speaker Mahajan said a total of 127 hours and 45 minutes were affected by “interruptions and forced adjournments” while Naidu said the Rajya Sabha lost over 121 hours. Just five bills, including the crucial Finance Bill 2018 for which the Budget Session is convened, were passed and five were introduced during the Budget session in the Lok Sabha. According to PRS Legislative Research, “this was the least productive Budget session for both Houses since 2000”.
Nitish to felicitate G. Kaito in Patna
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader, Nitish Kumar, has planned a felicitation programme in Patna on April 8, 2018 at 12 noon in honour of Nagaland Minister for Agriculture & Co-Operation, G.Kaito Aye, the lone JD(U) legislator in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. In a press release, JD(U) Nagaland media cell secretary, Mhademo Shitiri, said a delegation of JD(U) Nagaland led by the party president, Senchumo NSN Lotha along with minister G.Kaito Aye would leave for Patna on April 7. Media cell secretary said the delegation was scheduled to attend a high level meeting with key signatories of the party and ministers. He said the meeting was pertaining to expansion of the party in various north eastern Pangnyu Phom with Union Health minister JP Nadda. states. The delegation would improving infrastructure help to complete the ongoing return to Nagaland on April facilities in district hospitals projects in the State, besides 9, 2018. in Tuensang and Longleng considering the new projects and setting up a new medical proposed by the State govcollege in Eastern Nagaland, ernment for improving the DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): AYUSH hospitals in all the health sector in the State. State government has dedistricts, accident and trauma The delegation also clared April 7, 2018 as holicentres in all district hospitals extended invitation to the day for the state government and a Regional Medicinal & Central minsters to visit offices as compensation for Aromatic Plants Research Nagaland and see person- the declaration of second Centre in the State. ally the progress made by Saturday and fourth SatThe Central ministers the State in implementing urday of March, 2018 as assured the delegation led by the Centrally-sponsored working days during the Budget Session. Phom to extend all possible schemes and projects.
Road development top priority: Patton Pangnyu urges Centre to prioritize health sector
This is it!
“So much problems against cigarettes. Prices rising, smoking place shrinking and diseases increasing.”
Parliament adjourned sine die; over 200 working hours wasted
DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Two colonies under Dimapur’s United North Block (UNB)– Naga colony and Sunrise colony– have registered complaint against the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) with the
Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) for burning plastic waste at the dumping site. In a complaint letter addressed to the member secretary NPCB, the UNBNaga Colony Council chair-
man, Zasivikho Z Punyu said the colony was located in the vicinity of the dumping site maintained by the DMC. Over the last three weeks, the colony chairman said DMC was continuously
burning waste and adversely affecting the health of residents and polluting the environment. The colony council called upon the NPCB to impose penalty on DMC as directed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. It also urged the board to immediately direct the DMC to stop burning of waste mostly containing plastic waste and to take remedial measures for pollution created. In another complaint letter to the NPCB, the Sunrise Colony Council (UNB) chairman, Hauthung Phom, and secretary, Athempu Kamei, urged the board to immediately impose penalty against DMC for violating the directions by the NGT. Fur ther, they also urged the NPCB to direct the DMC to immediately stop burning waste and take remedial measures for the harm caused.
Apr 7 declared holiday
CM condoles demise of Dr. Neitsalie Zhasa DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio has expressed pain over the demise of Dr. Neitsalie Zhasa (retd) IFS on April 5. In his condolence message, Rio said late Zhasa was a former principal conservator of forest, government of Arunachal Pradesh and principal secretary, environment, forest and climate change, Nagaland. Rio described late Zhasa as an efficient officer, who always carried out his given responsibilities with dedication and sincere commitment. “I knew him as an honest person who stood by his principles and he always executed his responsibilities with utmost integrity,” the chief minister said. Meanwhile, Rio conveyed his deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty God to let the departed soul rest in peace.
Amazon to expands its delivery network in NE G U WA H AT I , A P R 6 (AGENCIES): Online shopping store Amazon.in plans to expand its delivery network in the North Eastern region of the country. The online shopping store presently has its own delivery network in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya. With the new plan it aims to cover Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, said Amazon India’s vice president, Customer Fulfillment, Akhil Saxena Saxena said that Amazon now has 20 service partner nodes across the eight Northeast states. The service partner programme will enable Amazon to reach interior locations in India with its own delivery services, he added. Commenting on the expansion of its delivery network, Saxena said in line
with the vision of making e-commerce a part of everyday life, Amazon India now have delivery services in every state of North East. Amazon now has over 350 service partner nodes across the country including Jorhat in Assam, Agartala in Tripura, Zunheboto in Nagaland, Tirap, Saiha in Mizoram, Ukhrul and Tamenglong in Manipur, Saxena said. Under the ‘I Have Space’ program (IHS), Amazon India partners with local store owners across different cities to deliver products to customers within a 2 – 4 km radius of their store. On an average, Amazon India’s store partners deliver between 20-30 packages a day, earning a fee per delivery. Amazon India now has over 17,500 stores under this flagship program in over 225 cities. K Y M C