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COVID-19: WHO broader response
from February 17, 2020
Vol XXX No. 71 DIMAPUR, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
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We are fi rm on Art 370, CAA: PM
VARANASI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the NDA government was facing pressure from the world over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), but the government would continue to take decisions that are important for the country.
Even as protests continue in several parts of the country and many countries have also expressed their reservations on the decisions regarding CAA and making instant triple talaq illegal in the country, this is the first time Modi has acknowledged that the Union government was facing pressure on its recent decisions.
“Be it the decision on Article 370 or the Citizenship Amendment Act, it was necessary in the interNarendra Modi
est of the country. Despite pressure, we stand by our decision and will remain so,” he said.
Speaking at a public meeting in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, the PM said, “The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been pending for a long time. People wanted these decisions to be taken. There is pressure from the world but we will continue to take decisions that are important for the development of the country.”
He said the ruling BJP government was committed to working for the development and betterment of the financially and socially weaker sections. “The government is constantly striving and trying to reach the downtrodden. Government wants to ensure that the fruits of development reach the financially and socially weaker sections.
The aspirations of the poor have not been met for long, but now things have changed, the union government has resolved to give priority to the poor,” Modi said.
Modi also launched or laid foundation of 50 projects worth Rs. 1,254 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency. He also flagged off the IRCTC’s ‘Maha Kaal Express’ through video link during his day-long visit to the city.
It will be the first overnight private train in the country to connect three Jyotirling pilgrim centres of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Ujjain and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh.
Modi also dedicated to the nation the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Centre and unveiled a 63-feet tall statue of the RSS ideologue - the tallest statue of the leader in the country.
Modi said that Deendayal Upadhyaya always focused on the last man in the line with his ‘antyodaya’ concept. “Our government is working on his concept of self-reliance and selfservice. Our schemes like free gas connections and toilets cater to the poorest of the poor,” he said. “Projects worth Rs 25,000 crore have either been completed or are in the process of being completed in Varanasi and this is due to the blessings of Lord Shiva who has given me the responsibility of serving you. Projects worth Rs 12,000 crore that have been launched today include hospitals, schools, roads, flyovers and water projects. We are trying to turn western Uttar Pradesh into a medical hub with improved connectivity,” he said.
Modi said that when “we talk of a five trillion dollar economy in India, we must remember that tourism is a major part of it”.
“Besides nature, heritage tourism has a strong role to play in achieving the goal. Also, along with Varanasi other holy sites are being developed using new technologies. The Kashi Vishwanath temple complex will soon get a new attractive look. The Ram temple in Ayodhya will also turn into reality because the trust for construction has been formed,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi referred to the setting up of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “A trust has been formed for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. This trust will work rapidly,” he said. D I M A P U R , F E B 1 6 (NPN): Eastern Naga National Workers Association (ENNWA) comprising of GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (Reformation), NSCN/ GPRN (Khango), NNC/ FGN, NNC/GDRN, NNC/ NPGN and NNC (Parent Body) under the Working Committee (WC) have rejected the statement of the Eastern Naga National Workers Union (ENNWU) which backed the proposed Pan-Naga Hoho as part of the final agreement.
In a joint statement, ENNWA has said “Nagas of Nagaland will not accept the so-called Pan-Naga Hoho, without integration” since the proposed Pan-Naga Hoho would be “simply interpreted as political annexation of Nagaland.”
ENNWA said twenty years of political negotiations with the government of India under WC place on record that the “political ambiguity of IM group has tormented the soul of Naga nationalism and people just for Pan Naga Hoho and that the FA (Framework Agreement) of 3rd August 2015, lacks clarity and transparency” adding FA resembled “ a discarded monument flawed from within and outside.”
On the other hand, ENNWA said the “Agreed Position” signed between the government of India with WC/NNPG on November 17,2017 left “nothing to ambiguity or illusion” but outlined a clear political concept on who Nagas were and where Nagas are and what Nagas ought to be. It said the document took forward the spirit of the January 10,1929(Naga Club memorandum), August 14,1947 (Naga independence day) and May 16,1951(Naga Plebiscite” which are historical dates embedded in the “Agreed Position.”
Questioning what is Pan Naga Hoho? ENNWA said Eastern Nagas of Nagaland and Myanmar heard of it only in the month of November 2019 and reiterated that “Naga freedom struggle cannot end with a Naga cultural body”. It said in the Naga context, “cheap lacklustre political lexicons such as –integration, suprastate, shared sovereignty, Pan Naga Hohoetc, coined at Hebron Camp, are diluting the very spirit of Naga nationalism exhibited in 1929,1947 and 1951.”
ENNWA also termed Pan Naga Hoho as a “noose on the necks of Nagaland tribes and not a cultural garland to bind all Nagas together, as is being propagated.” ENNWA said Pan Naga Hoho was in fact a “plan to ensure that Nagaland, shall, in their own words ‘cease to exist’”.
ENNWA said as being under WC/NNPG, it has great hope that the ENPO leadership and affiliated tribe hohos, along with the rest of Naga tribes “ will not be victims of dubious propagands at play” and that Eastern Naga national workers, irrespective of political affiliation, “must not be forced to chase a bubble called Pan Naga Hoho, like little children.” ENNWA said WC/NNNPG has, without hesitation, shared its status paper detailing the blueprint of “the Indo-Naga political solution” and also made available to all Naga tribal hohos, intellectuals and civil societies.” NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Supreme Court will hear the petition filed against the sit-in protest against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh on February 17.
In the previous hearing on February 10, the court had maintained that people are entitled to protest but they have to do so in an area designated for agitation. “There has to be an area for protest and one can’t block the entire road or the city,” the court said. The court in the last hearing had issued notices to Centre, Delhi government and state police on pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh and sought a reply on the matter within a week.
The PIL, filed by Dr Nand Kishore Garg and Amit Sahni through their lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi, sought appropriate directions to the Centre and others for removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh near Kalindi Kunj. It said that people in Shaheen Bagh are illegally protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, by blocking the common and public road connecting Delhi to Noida. Pan Naga Hoho post ‘IndoNaga’ political solution: ENNWA SC to hear plea against Shaheen Bagh protest today
(Cont’d on p-8)
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): World Health Organization director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged the international community to make their response to the coronavirus governmentwide. “This is not a job for health ministers alone. It takes a whole-of-government approach,” he said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “That approach must be coherent and coordinated, guided by evidence and public health priorities.”
Meanwhile, the death toll from China’s coronavirus epidemic has climbed to 1,666 after 142 more people died, mostly in the worst-hit Hubei Province, and the confirmed cases jumped to almost 70,000, officials said on Sunday. China’s Health Commission confirmed 2,009 new infection cases across the country. A man died on Sunday in Taiwan, marking the first such death on the island.
Two more Indians on board a quarantined cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the novel coronavirus even as India assured that it will provide all possible assistance.
(See more on p-9) COVID-19: WHO appeals chief urges broader response
This is it!
Kejriwal takes oath as CM for third time
Kejriwal and other ministers sign the register after taking oath at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the chief minister of Delhi for the third consecutive time on Sunday at Delhi’s iconic Ramlila Maidan. Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office and secrecy.
Besides Kejriwal, all the six ministers in the previous government- Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Rajendra Gautam- took oath as ministers. Several banners and posters bearing messages like “Dhanyawad Dilli (thank you Delhi)” along with Kejriwal’s image was put up on Saturday at Ramlila Maidan ahead of the oath-taking swearing ceremony which was “open to people of Delhi”.
Addressing his supporters after taking oath as chief minister, Kejriwal said his victory is the victory of every Delhiite. Kejriwal added that he has only worked to bring happiness in the lives of every Delhiites in the last five years. Calling for an end to political slugfest between AAP, BJP and Congress, he said, “I want to work by taking everyone along. We forgive our opponents for whatever remarks they made during campaign.” “I have never stopped anyone’s work based on which party they belong to. I invited PM Modi but he could not come but I wish for his blessings to fulfill my dreams of making Delhi the best State,” remarked Kejriwal.
Kejriwal had invited around 50 people from different walks (‘Delhi ke Nirmata’) who had helped in the development of the city during the last five years-- tennis player Sumit Nagal, Delhi government school student and IITian Vijay Kumar, mohalla clinic doctor Alka, bike ambulance service officer Yudhishtir Rathee, night shelter caretaker Shabina Naaz, bus marshall Arun Kumar, Signature bridge architect RJ Batliboi and metro pilot Nidhi Gupta.
NPRAAF alleges irregularities in MDM scheme
DIMAPUR, FEB 16 (NPN): Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has claimed it has detected anomalies in transportation of food grains meant for providing free meals to school children from the age of 6-14 in Class I and VII under the government of India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS).
In a statement, Information & Publicity wing of NPRAAF cited the government order dated September 30,2015for MDMS as specified in schedule II of the Act.
NPRAAF claimed that Nagaland receives around 4000 metric tons of food grains annually that was equivalent to 80,000 bags(50 kg bag) in four instalments or quarter o914.35 metric tons or 10 lakh kgs or 20,000 bags each quarter.
Citing unnamed sources, NPRAAF said the quantity is lifted from FCI godown by three carriage contractors- 112 quintals by an NGO from eastern Nagaland, 300 quintals by National Child Labour Project Scheme(NCLPS) and the remaining by a non-local contractor. According to NPRAAF, Nagaland received the 3rdquarter (October to December 2019) and the 4th quarter (January to March 2020) respectively for the financial year 2019-20. It said the above were as per the directive of the under secretary Rajeev Kumar, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Department of School Education & Literacy (Mid-Day Mean Division) government of India, New Delhi dated September 20,2019.
On the number of children who are beneficiaries of MDMS, it cited records that there were 1,06,298 school children under government primary schools (unless it has been increased). However, NPRAAF said, food grain received from the government of India was in excess of the actual requirement and despite receiving such a huge quantity, the DoSE did not regularly implement the MDMS as per government of India’s guidelines.
NPRAAF informed that carriage contractors receive payment at the rate of Rs.125 per 100 kgs as transportation charge to various destinations. While the role of carriage contractors was restricted to transportation, NPRAAF alleged that instead, carriage contractors in the state, over and above receiving transportation costs also eventually “become owners of the food grains” which it said was “totally illegal.”
NPRAAF also claimed that when its members met with the nonlocal contractor to ascertain the reasons for the anomaly, it was revealed that it was not easy to transport entire food grains due to demand for tax by various organisations. It said the contractor also admitted a racket where politicians and officials demand percentage from profits after illegal sale of food grains to the market. It said the contractor admitted that food grains was re-polished then re-packaged before selling it to the highest bidder in the market.
NPRAAF said that due to nonavailability of food grains, cooking cost, fuel or absence of cook, students entitled to MDMS as per National Food Security Act 2013, are not provided free meals in any school. It pointed out that the state government as per the Act Clause(c) or rule 2 was obligated to pay food security allowance for preparing MDMS by the 15th of the succeeding month.” (Cont’d on p-8)
D I M A P U R , F E B 1 6 (NPN): Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the year ended March 31, 2018, tabled at the recently concluded fifth session of the 13 Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), detected financial anomalies in various departments.
CAG detected anomalies with regard to implementation of North Eastern Council (NEC) funded projects. CAG stated that implementing departments paid Rs.44.29 crore without actual execution of the works.
CAG also revealed that in the Department of Power (DoP) an excess payment of Rs. 22.50 crore was made to the suppliers by inflating the rate of materials/equipments. CAG has therefore recommended to the state government initiate departmental inquiry to fix responsibility on officials involved.
Besides, initiating probe CAG recommended that government consider filing FIR for the fictitious billing and payment of Rs. 38 lakh to the contractor for the works not executed. It also asked that the amount should be recovered.
Under PWD (R&B) the CAG report revealed that two executive engineers of PWD (R&B) division paid Rs.18.08 crore to the contractors without execution of works. The CAG maintained that the government should ensure recovery of Rs. 18.08 crore and initiate probe and also fix responsibility on officers/ officials involved apart from filing FIRs.
CAG also disclosed that payments were made for unexecuted items of works under PWD (R&B). It has recommended recovery of a total of Rs.42.58 crore (Rs.13.80 cr, Rs.15.60 cr, Rs.8.76 cr and Rs.4.42 cr) from those contractors, besides action to be initiated to fix responsibility on erring officials for making excess payment and facilitating payment without actual execution of various items of works.
Under Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection department, the CAG said that during joint inspection in July 2018, it detected that Rs. 60 lakh was incurred on fictitious procurement of 12 laboratory equipments. CAG therefore recommended that the department initiate action against the officials involved and recovery of the payment made fraudulently.
Under Health department, CAG pointed out that the Nursing hostel that was constructed was being utilized for other purposes and that Rs.24 lakh was paid to the contractor without execution of nine items of works needed to be recovered. In this regard, CAG has recommended the government to consider initiating a departmental probe for utilization of the hostel for other purposes other than the intended purpose and also initiate action for recovery of Rs.24 lakh besides fixing the responsibilities of erring officials responsible for making the irregular payment.
Under Forest department, CAG also detected payment of Rs. 54 lakh, without ensuring execution of works under DFO Wokha. It has recommended to the government to initiate disciplinary proceedings and fix the responsibility on the erring officers/ officials and file FIR against those involved.
NABARD loans (2013- 18): CAG said payment of Rs.8.29 crore was made without actual execution of works and short execution of item of works in 29 projects.
It pointed out that departmental charges of Rs.9.75 crore were irregularly deducted by the nodal department in contravention to the general terms and conditions of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) which entailed avoidable interest liability of Rs.2.13 crore. CAG also stated that the state government neither provided its share of Rs. 22.99 core in the budget nor released its share of funds to the implementing agencies.
(Cont’d on p-8)
NIA fi les charge-sheet against 2 for terror funding
D I M A P U R , F E B 1 6 (AGENCIES): National Investigating Agency (NIA) has filed a charge-sheet against two people, who are accused of allegedly financing terrorist activities of NSCN (I-M), a ANI report stated. The accused have been identified as Luckin Mashangva, a resident of Dimapur and Jaikishan Sharma of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh.
A case was registered after the special team of Dimapur police seized Rs. 10,46,100 cash on August 28 last year from the possession of Luckin Mashangva and Jaikishan Sharma.
The NIA has registered the case against both the accused under Sections 120B and 384 of IPC and Section 17 of the UA (P) Act, Sections 384 and 34 of IPC, Sections 13 and 20
MYK C of UA(P) Act, and Section 7 of the NSR Act.
“Investigation has established that accused Luckin Mashangva was a self-styled major of NSCN (I-M) and Jaikishan Sharma is a contractor in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh,” said NIA in a statement.
“Accused persons were running an organised racket of extortion from several businessmen/contractors to finance the activities of NSCN (I-M).
Accused Jaikishan Sharma managed to secure tenders of government works by threat, coercion, and manipulation, and then paid substantial money to the leaders of NSCN (I-M), thus raising funds for terrorist activities of NSCN (I-M),” added the NIA in the statement.
Scientists and KVK officials at the SAC meeting. Dr. L. Babita Devi, in-charge KVK, Peren speaking at the programme.
DIMAPUR: KVK, ICAR Res. Comp. for NEH Region, Wokha conducted the 13th scientific advisory committee (SAC) meeting with Dr. B K Kandpal, director ICAR, Umiam as chairperson and MhathungTsanglao addl. deputy commissioner, Wokha as chief guest on February 12.
A press release from KVK Wokha stated that, co-chairperson Dr. DJ Rajkhowa, joint director, ICAR Nagaland centre, Jharnapani emphasized to cover more rural youths and encourage them for taking up farming for entrepreneurial development. The annual progress report for the year 2019-2020 was presented by Dr. Santosh Kr. Baishya, sr. scientist & head, KVK, Wokha wherein observation was made of the work done by KVK and suggested to identify the actual problem faced by the farmers and encourage to cover more villages in the district. Action plans for 2020-21 were presented by the concern subject matter specialists of KVK, Wokha, wherein valuable suggestions and feedbacks from the members were taken up into consideration and incorporated.
Meeting was also attended by the agriculture and allied departments K Shekito Phuleshe, project director, DRDA, Medemshiba, DHO and PD (ATMA), LitomoMurry, DSCO (soil), R Sentsu Kithan, DAO (agriculture), Yanpothung Lotha, SCA (soil), Dr. E Mhonlumi Lotha, deputy director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Vizunu, FD (fisheries), H Wophyomo Kikon and Lorenbeni Murry, coordinator, BMMU (livelihood). Altogether 30 stakeholders, innovative farmers including farmer representatives attended the meeting. KVK Peren: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Peren district conducted the 3rd scientific advisory committee (SAC) meeting in the office of KVK, Peren at Jalukie on February 13, chaired by Dr. B. K. Kandpal, director, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. A press release from KVK Peren stated that, special guest Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, ADC, Jalukie suggested the KVK Peren to select the villages covering all the blocks in the districts based on elevation for better coverage in the districts. He also addressed all the line departments to share technologies and also to consider the marketing aspects while introducing any new technologies.
Dr. D. J. Rajkhowa, joint director, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre in his address urged the gathering to improve upon the existing technologies for commercialization. Dr. L. Babita Devi, in-charge KVK, Peren presented the action taken report of the last SAC recommendation, progress report for 2019- 2020 and annual action plan for the year 2020-2021.
Earlier, Dr. B. K. Kandpal, in his remarks urged the KVK to identify the specific problem of major crops, livestocks and fisheries faced by the farmers and find the technologies to address the problems through on farm trials (OFT’s) and frond line demonstration (FLD’s). He encouraged the stakeholders to give importance to locally available resources to reduce the cost of production for increasing the net gross return for better benefit of the farming community.
A total of 27 officials from different departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Land Resources, Soil Conservation, College of Veterinary Science, CAU, NSRLM, NABARD, PPPCL, scientists from ICAR Nagaland Centre, including 4 progressive farmers participated and shared their inputs and suggestion. Programme was compered by Dr. Patu Z Khate and vote of thanks was delivered by Z. James Kikon.
Three numbers of leaflets on the topics, vaccines and vaccination for livestock, poultry and pets, backyard poultry production and scientific pig farming were also released by the dignitaries. Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUAR Y 17, 2020
WVC annual general meeting: Wokha Village Council (WVC) has informed all the general public of Wokha village that, the general meeting for the year 2020 annual work plan will be held on February 22, 9 a.m at village ground. All the members of Wokha village residing in the village and outside the village, both male and female above 18 years have been requested to attend the meeting positively. ENSF consultative emergency meeting: Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has convened a consultative emergency meeting on February 21, 11 a.m at conference hall DUDA Guest House, Kohima. Federating units (CCSU, Khiamniungan Students’ Union, Konyak Students’ Union, PSC, USSC and YAA) ENSF advisors, ENPO, ENWO and senior leaders have been requested to attend without fail. OEHYRKO prayer fellowship: Okotso Eloe Haphoie Yanpi Randan Khumshum Okho (OEHYRKO), Dimapur circle, prayer fellowship will be held on February 22, 9 a.m onwards at Lotha Baptist Church, Duncan sector. Members have been requested to attend the service.
Tetso College conduct intra-collegiate event
DIMAPUR: Zunheboto Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ZCCI) held its 2nd general session on February 14 at town hall, zunheboto with deputy commissioner (DC) Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo, as a guest speaker. A press release by ZCCI media affairs stated that Lichamo stressed on the responsibilities of the business community towards building a progressive society.
While acknowledging the right to demand for developments, the DC also asserted the importance of performing one’s duties adding that one cannot only keep demanding without executing their duties.
Lichamo also assured all possible contributions of the administration to Zunheboto Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
The DC was also handed with two-point representation by ZCCI – to build the town area road and to set up police beat point in town area and “BOC”.
Earlier, ZCCI outgoing president, Shikahoto Jakha called upon the business community (both Naga and non-Nagas) to remain united and tackle all obstacles together.
President-elect ZCCI, Kikheto Muru said Zunheboto district, located at the heart of the state, has the potential to become a tourist hub and hotel industry to bloom. However, lamented that poor civic sense and pitiable road condition have remained obstacles for the growth.
He then called upon the business community to take initiative in beautifying and keeping Zunheboto town clean and work to uplift the town. DIMAPUR: Boy scouts of St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School (SMHSS), Padum Pukhuri, Dimapur attended the 22nd International Adventure Programme (IAP) and 2nd South Asian Association of National Scout Organizations (SAANSO) adventure camp on February 2-8 at BSG National Adventure Institute, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh.
A press release by SMHSS stated that the boy scouts along with scouts and guides of several other states of India, represented India in the programme.
The release informed that IAP is meant for scouts and adult leaders from 12 to 45 years, consisting of a series of physically challenging and high adventure activities, covering land, sea and air. The scouts, representing India, interacted with scouts of other nations and participated in activities like mountaineering, rappelling, hot air ballooning, water skiing and many more and successfully completed all challenges. DIMAPUR: Tetso College conducted an intracollegiate event of the department of Education, “Education Fest” under the theme “envision, enlighten, empower” in the college auditorium on February 15.
A press release from Tetso College stated that, the “Education Fest” is conducted to provide opportunity for the students to explore their talent, creativity, and skills in different dimensions.
This year’s edition witnessed a paper presentation competition on the topic “reformation of curriculum and challenges of teaching-learning in Nagaland” keeping in mind the problems and challenges plaguing the educational system at the primary, elementary, secondary, and higher education level.
A total of five presenters took part in the event, out of which Hutoka H. Assumi of BA 6th semester of Education was declared the winner, while Apeinuo Zeiphru of BA 2nd semester of Economics and Nourhechulie Rulho of BA 4th semester of Sociology bagged the second and third positions respectively.
The judges for the competition were Onentila Longkumer, asst. Professor of Education, Dr. Kapesa Pfokrelo, asst. Professor of Political Science, and Nisha Dahiya, asst. Professor of English.
Earlier, programme was chaired by Thejaseno Chase of BA 4th semester, invocation by Kuku Lohe of BA 6th semester, special song by Ruby Tep and friends. Vote of thanks was delivered by K. Elohra Christina, asst. professor of Education. Boy scouts attend IAP, SAANSO SMHSS boy scouts at Pachmarhi during the adventure camp. ZCCI holds 2nd general session; submits representation The general session was attended by GBs of all sectors, ZSTH, ZRSU and concerned Sumi citizens. The programme was chaired by ZCCI vice president, Y. Katovi Awomi, invocation by Sumi Baptist Church Zunheboto, home evangelist, Kiyeshi, welcome address by ZCCI women coordinator, Vitokali Zhimo and special number by Boloto H. Achumi. DC Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo as guest speaker during the general session. Winners along with the judges during the programme on February 15.
ATMA organises trainings, field day and demonstrations
MYK C DIMAPUR: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of different blocks conducted various programmes to educate farmers and locals on crops and to provide technical assistance.
Botsa block: Botsa block conducted a field day and demonstration on “nursery bed preparation of onion” at Teichuma village on January 29.
According to a press release, the programme was initiated by sub-divisional agricultural office (SDAO), Chiephobozou taking into consideration the IFADFOCUS project for which the farmers needed a handson demonstration and technical guidance for cultivation of the crops. Resource person of the programme Hainenle Tep, ATM Botsa block highlighted the need and importance of raising nursery beds for onion and a frontline demonstration of preparing nursery bed was also followed with discussion and feedbacks. Vizokhonyii Yhome shared about the importance of IFAD-FOCUS project in Nagaland and the economic importance of onion.
The programme ended with participation and initiative of ATMA Botsa block, SDAO, Chiephobouzou and participation of the farmers. Altogether a total of 17 farmers attended the programme.
In a separate programme ATMA, Botsa block also conducted trainings on oyster mushroom cultivation and integrated nutrient management (INM) at SDAO, Chiephobozou on February 4. A farmers’ interest group (FIG) from Seiyhama village attended the trainings where mushroom spawns, bio fertilizers and plant growth promoters were distributed among farmers.
Ahthibung block: ATMA Ahthibung block, Peren conducted farmers’ field day-cum-training and demonstration on January 27 at Phaijol village. The training saw cultivation practices of potato and sesame followed by demonstration on Vermicompost and zero energy cool chamber (ZECC).
Farmers were trained on various cultivation practices of crops for better growth and productivity, seed treatment and its economic value for income generation. This was followed by demonstration on how to construct the vermicompost pit for storing vegetables for longer shelf life on zero ZECC. Resource persons for the programme were Lhaihoichong BTM, Keneinguno Sorhie ATM and Kevin Angami ATM. The programme was followed by BFAC meeting at Saijang village where farmers’ friends of the block discussed various problems faced at their field regarding crops, diseases and pests. Altogether 35 farmers attended the programme.
Panso block: Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Tuensang, Panso block conducted field day on February 8 at Lengnyu village,with Kezhasalie and Anungba as resource persons.
Respurce persons, Kezhasalie spoke on uses of bio fertilizer and various biocontrol agents on vegetable crops while Anungba gave an account on organic farming and its beneficial role.
In the second session, group discussion and field visitation were conducted where problems were shared by farmers and various measures were provided by ATMA staff. Meanwhile, trainings on “bee keeping” and preparation of detergent for dish washer on February 10 and 12 were also conducted at Lengnyu council hall. Altogether, 25 farmers attended the programme. Tening block: ATMA Tening block organised a training and demonstration on “pig farming”, “spacing and layout of winter crops” and field day from January 15-17 at New Tesen village, Tening town and Tening respectively.
Dr. Kekeipeu Nza spoke on the scientific developments in piggery farming and updated the farmers about modern methods and inputs in pig farming. He also spoke about disease management and feed management in pigs as well as other livestock. The training and demonstration was presided by Woshanthung Jamio, ATM Tening.
Training and demonstration on spacing and layout of winter crops at Tening town was held with Rokozhalie Namdau ATM Tening as resource person. During the training, farmers were trained on spacing requirements of different winter crops as well as nursery bed preparation and preventive measures for pest and diseases.
Farmer field day was also conducted at Tening on winter crops wherein Tening ATMA team along with farmers visited a horticulture field. During the visit, farmers were informed of the recommended practices that were to be followed for proper cultivation of winter crops.
Sitimi block: ATMA Sitimi block Kiphire conducted training and demonstration on carrot cultivation at Sitimi village on January 15.
Ke n i s a t u o K r u s e chaired the programme and resource person Hokato Achumi demonstrated on nursery bed preparation, with spacing of 25 - 30 cm apart. He also emphasised that weeding, thinning and earthing up should be done regularly after sowing. Altogether 13 farmers attended the programme.
Mon block: ATMA, Mon block, conducted training programme on “Precision Agriculture” at Wangla village, on January 23, with resource person ATM, Khriezelhou Seyie discussing on application of agriculture inputs with respect to crops, weather and its surroundings for increased and efficient yield. A press release from ATMA Mon stated that, demonstration on “Increasing shelf life of ginger with low storage structure” was conducted at Hongphoi village, on January 27, with resource person ATM, Manlen Konyak. ATMA Mon, Wakching block, also conducted activities at Namthai village on January 24 and 28, where training on Ratoon management of sugarcane was carried out and demonstration on pit system of planting sugarcane and silage making for small scale farmers was done. ATMA Mon, Aboi block, also conducted demonstration on the topic “Nursery bed preparation of Solanaceous crops” on January 28, at Ngangching village. ATM, Wanshom Konyak, highlighted on importance of preparing raised nursery bed and its benefits. A total of 12 members from Phangyang SHG attended the programme.
Chessore block: Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Tuensang, Chessore block conducted field day, training and demonstration programme on various topics on January 29 and 30, at Chessore village, Longsor and Kelonger villages. AFA department of Agriculture Somba Chang as resource person trained the farmers on “Post Harvest management of Ginger”. MaizeSoyabean intercropping, preparation of yellow sticky traps, and preparation of banana peel fertilizer was imparted to the farmers followed by hands on demonstration. Meanwhile on January 30, field day on green pea was conducted at Kelonger village by Dekhingbi ATM. Besides training on rejuvenation of citrus plant and demonstration on application of bordeaux mixture was imparted to the farmers by ATM Wapangtoshi. Block farmers advisory committee meeting (BFAC) was also held at Chessore village. The meeting was chaired by BTM Merenjungla BTM, various farming activities to be undertaken at block level were discussed. Altogether 68 farmers attended the training and demonstration programme in different villages. Knapsack sprayer, Yellow sticky traps and Neem oil was given to the host farmer and farmer participants.
Tsaru block: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Tsaru block, Tuensang conducted trainings and demonstrations on January 24 at Kiding village. A press release from ATMA Tuensang stated that, resource person agriculture officer Longkhim, Trithiba Sangtam highlighted the importance of backyard poultry farming and focused on the several ways on how it can be a source of boon to the farmers for increasing their income. ATM Tiyongnaro Imsong conducted detailed demonstrations on cultivation of yard long bean, organic fertilizer management and mulching in pineapple and various mechanical pest control methods.
ATM Khatemenla stressed on the value addition of king chilli, intercropping of spring vegetables and post harvest management of passion fruit as several post harvest losses were reported from the villages earlier. ATMA staff conducted field day visit on pineapple farm at Kiding village.
Block farmers advisory committee (BFAC) meeting was also held at Kiding village. BTM, Dr. T. Arenmongla highlighted about the activities that was conducted in the previous years and explained about the role of BFAC members. Altogether, 16 farmers attended the programme along with block convener and ATMA functionaries.
Longmatra block: ATMA Kiphire, Longmatra block organized a field day visit to pineapple farm and conducted trainings and demonstrations on scientific methods of litchi cultivation and fishery pond management on January 30 at Tetheze village.
A press release from
MYK C ATMA Kiphire stated that the field day trip was attended by farmers where Moakumzuk BTM, Longmatra block highlighted the objectives of the trip and encouraged the farmers to share their views and queries in order to have a better understanding of the farming system. He also emphasized about plant protection measures and air layering in litchi cultivation. Resource person Tsungrozen ATM, Longmatra block spoke on the concept of fish pond construction and its management. He also encouraged the farmers on commercial rearing of fish to increase their income. 28 farmers attended the training where okra and long yard bean seeds were also distributed to the farmers. Peren block: ATMA, Peren block conducted training and demonstration-cumfield day at Ndunglwa village on January 18, where Kibale (ATM) chaired the programme, Rokozhalie Namdau ATM, Kewichamsi Kaurinta ATM and Vimetseino Zao ATM were resource persons, Rokozhalie and Kewichamsi conducted training on package and practices of king chilli and cabbage, while demonstration on nursery bed preparation was conducted by Vimetseino. After the technical session, ATMA team along with the farmers visited cabbage field. Altogether, 49 farmers attended the programme.
A Yes. 40% B No. 20% C Can’t Say. 40% 100% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––90% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––80% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––70% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––60% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––50% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––40% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––30% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––20% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––10% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––0%
A B C
Next poll Q: Is the coronavirus going out of control? Yes No Can’t Say
WEATHER FORECAST Febr uar y 17
(Temperature in ºC) Max Min Agartala Hazy sunshine 31 13 Aizawl Hazy sun 26 10 Guwahati Hazy sunshine 28 15 Imphal Hazy sunshine 27 8 Itanagar Nice with clouds and sun 24 14 Shillong An afternoon shower 20 8 Kohima Hazy sunshine 20 8 Dimapur Hazy sunshine 27 14 Mkg Hazy sunshine 22 10 Tuensang Sunshine and cooler 14 5 Wokha Not as warm 20 13 Zunheboto Hazy sun 19 8
IIHMR director during the awareness programme at one of the college in Dimapur.
Staff Reporter DIMAPUR: C a r e e r awareness programme on healthcare management was conducted by Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Bangalore starting from February 14 to 16, at the various colleges and institute of Dimapur.
Highlighting about the programme in a press conference Sunday, at Grand Tizu, Dimapur IIHMR director Dr. Usha Manjunath said that during the three-day career awareness programme, the team visited five colleges including Tetso College, Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Patkai College, St John College, Diphu road, Dimapur and Dimapur Government College.
It was informed that the team presented health care awareness programmes on PGDM, basically designed to focus on management capacity building and cultivate student’s health management skills, so they are prepared to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of hospital services and health programme.
The director also informed that the teams also had an interactive session with teachers and faculties of various colleges and also received positive feedbacks from the institute. The team further look forward to conducting education fair and awareness programme in the days to come.
DIMAPUR: All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) undertook its first phase of education tour, covering Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu, Tuli College Mokokchung, People’s College Mokokchung, and Institute of Communication and Information Technology Mokokchung from February 11 to 13.
A press release from ANCSU president Vimeyiekho Vitso and general secretary, Imnameren N Jamir stated that, during the college visitation, the ANCSU observed that many private colleges were performing much better than the government colleges. In this regard, ANCSU appealed to the concerned department and state government to identify those outstanding performing colleges and encourage them through financial aids and due recognition.
ANCSU while visiting ICIT, Mokokchung which offers three diploma programmes in the area of computer engineering, information technology and electronics & communication engineering approved by All India Council for Technical Education, observed that many were unaware of these courses. Therefore, union has appealed the concerned department to organize workshops, seminars and adopt wide publicity to reach to the high-school and higher secondary student sections.
ANCSU also visited Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu, wherein the long pending demand of the students for creation of police outpost still remains unfulfilled. ANCSU therefore conveyed to state government that in the rise of any mischief against the students and faculty, the state government shall be held responsible for not establishing the police outpost despite repeated plea.
While touring the polytechnic institutes, the union has detected that the infrastructures and other developments undertaken were unsatisfactory in many of the polytechnic institutes. ANCSU while re-affirming to fight against those evils, demanded that the concern minister and the department constitute a commission immediately to probe into the misuse of funds.
ANCSU also strongly appealed those students who are not entitled for availing the scholarship not to apply and further challenged the students to say “no” to corruption from this kind of renouncement. ANCSU detected at least eighteen (18) kinds of scholarship schemes scattered in various departments. ANCSU therefore proposed for setting up of common nodal cell to implement all kinds of scholarship schemes. ANCSU also appealed the students’ fraternity to make optimum use of smart phones and internet by visiting the scholarship websites for necessary information. ANCSU officials during its first phase tour within its jurisdiction.
eVIN-cum-immunization refreshers training at Mon
pants to be attentive during the training and return to perform their work dutifully. Training was attended by all the cold chain handlers, GNMs, ANMs from all the health units and staff of CMO office.
Road safety awareness programme was conducted at Fazl Ali College (FAC) in collaboration with the regional transport office, Mokokchung on February 15, wherein road safety awareness were presented by officials from the department led by Roben Mesen, RTO. (FAC)
Health workers with resource persons from CMO office Mon.
DIMAPUR: Chief medical office (CMO) Mon conducted one-day district level eVIN (electronic vaccine intelligence network)- cum-immunization refreshers training at CMO conference hall on February 15.
A press release from CMO office Mon stated that, resource persons Rajesh Monsang project officer UNDP and Imli Longkumer project officer UNDP re-oriented the health workers on strengthening universal immunization programme, UIP schedules, session sites, mobilization, UIP recording and reporting, HMIS and eVIN reporting. They also spoke on the importance of advocacy with the stakeholders and social mobilization and stressed on capacity building of communities, cold chain and vaccine logistics management etc. Resource persons also trained the cold chain handlers on order management, temperature logger management, online live demo, troubleshooting methods and discussed field issues in eVIN implementation. Dr. Shasinle Tep, DPO (RCH/UIP) chaired the inaugural programme. Dr. K. Limatula Ao, Dy CMO in her speech appealed to all the partici80’s Footprints visited Touch of Hope Children Home and donated stationary and food items on its yearly good will visit on February 8. (Chairman 80s Footprints)
Participants, resource persons and NEISSR faculty at the seminar held in Dimapur.
MYK C DIMAPUR: A seminar on “sustainable agriculture and food security in Nagaland” jointly organised by North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), Peace Channel Dimapur and Henry Martin Institute (HMI) Hyderabad and sponsored by NABARD and district agriculture office, Dimapur was held on February 15 at DBIDL, Dimapur.
A press release by the organisers stated that the seminar was designed to bring out government and community perspectives on sustainable agriculture and food security in the state. It said the seminar was conducted with the aim of creating a space for spreading awareness among the younger generation on different perspectives of sustainable development goals at all levels in the globalised economy.
The seminar also aimed to initiate a process where the official and the community perspective on sustainable agriculture and local security meet to ensure sustainable development at the state level.
The release informed that selectively identified resources persona and practitioners in the field of agriculture shared their knowledge and experiences in the field at the seminar. The inauguration function was presided by principal NEISSR, Dr. Fr, C.P. Anto and general manager, NABARD, S.C. Sahoo, was special guest of the occasion.
In a short inaugural speech, Sahoo highlighted issues of economic and agricultural development of the state with startling facts and figures.
The seminar had three sessions with six persons from different background who spoke on different topics.
Dr Azeze Seyie spoke on “Agriculture for Sustainable development in Nagaland: ICAR perspective”; Amba Jamir spoke on “Sociological and anthropological aspects of sustainable agriculture and food security in Nagaland”; Dr. C.P. Suresh spoke on “Role of horticulture on nutritional security and sustainable development”; Akole Tsuhah spoke on “Women farmers’ perspective on sustainable agriculture and food securityNagaland experiences”; Dr. Samhita Barooah spoke on “Peripheral ecology and women farmers’ work in hill areas of Nagaland” and Dr. Pauline Alila spoke on “Horticultural contribution to sustainable agriculture and food security”.
AGARTALA, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): The BJPled Tripura government has decided to launch the exercise to update the National Population Register in the state from May amid nationwide protests against the NPR, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), reports The Telegraph .
The government plans to deploy 11,000 officials, including 9,062 enumerators, 1,556 supervisors, nine principal census officers and 81 charge officers for the exercise, an official said on Saturday.
“From May 16 till June 29, we will collect the data for the NPR as part of the census operations. We shall conduct house listing and housing census in this phase. The second phase, to be launched next year, will comprise real census operation,” director of census operations P.K. Chakraborty said.
In India, the census data will be collected in two phases. The first will start in April and will continue till September.
For collecting data for NPR, the Registrar-General of India has given permission to use mobile app and paper survey and onlinebased self-enumeration in the second phase.
“The Tripura State Level Census Coordination Committee, headed by chief secretary Manoj Kumar, has decided to use mobile app only. The data for the NPR could be finalised faster through the mobile app operation and in case of poor Internet connectivity in hilly and bordering areas, the enumerators could enter the data and later upload it,” the official said. The NPR is a register of “usual residents” of the country. It is being prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. A “usual resident” is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months or more.
The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.
The Opposition parties, including the CPM and the Congress, are against this exercise as they alleged that by implementing NRC and NPR the BJP would divide the country based on religion. However, the BJP government, which has described NPR as the first step towards a nationwide NRC, claimed that there is no link between the two.
The official said a series of decisions have been taken to carry out the NPR exercise, starting from training and capacity building for personnel and work allotment targets.
A rally of Youth Congress supporters, on the other hand, raised “azadi” slogans while protesting against CAA, NPR and NRC at Manu in Dhalai district, 111km from here. Speaking at rally, Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas B.V. said Prime Minster Narendra Modi was trying to destroy the Constitution. The rally in Dhalai district on Saturday.
Suspected COVID-19 case in Dibrugarh DIBRUGARH, FEB 16 ( AGENCIES): A suspected case of Coronavirus was reported from upper Assam’s Dibrugarh, reports Northeast Now news.
A resident of Santipara area of the town, the man had arrived at Dibrugarh from Malaysia on February 7.
He has been admitted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh for suspected Novel Coronavirus on Saturday.
After exhibiting symptoms of fever, dry cough, fatigue and muscle aches, he was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital on Sunday.
“The person had recently returned from Malaysia.
He is being kept under medical surveillance at the isolation ward of the Assam Medical College and Hospital after he displayed symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue etc.
His samples are being sent for testing and the results will be known soon,” a doctor said.
As per protocol, patients with suspicion of coronavirus infection are kept in isolation for 14 days under observation. GUWAHATI, FEB 16 ( AGENCIES): Centre has reportedly asked the highpower committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to make certain changes in its final report, reports Northeast Now news.
The term of the committee ended on Saturday and it is waiting for home ministry’s nod to submit the report.
The committee had intimated the ministry on Thursday about the completion of its report but the ministry is yet to set the date for the “official” handing over of the report.
Reports say Satyendra Garg, joint secretary in charge of the Northeast, ministry of home affairs, has requested to the panel make certain specific changes in the report before submission.
The panel has reportedly recommended introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the entire State and protection of land rights of the indigenous people. It has also recommended taking 1951 as the cut-off year for extending benefits of constitutional protection.
All the members of the committee agreed on the point that 1951 should be the cut-off year for identification of Assamese people who would be eligible for constitutional safeguards under the provisions of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. In the job reservation, two views were included in the report. while AASU seeks 100 per cent reservation but other members want 67 per cent.
The panel further recommended creation of an upper House to ensure representation of all the tribal and ethnic groups.
It has suggested measures for the protection of Assamese and other tribal and ethnic languages of the State along with protection of the cultural heritage of all communities.
The committee further recommended implementation of all the clauses of the Assam Accord and asked the government to take the diplomatic initiative to deport the foreign nationals as suggested by the Supreme Court. GUWAHATI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): The chief judicial magistrate’s (CJM) court here on Saturday rejected Guwahati police crime branch’s plea to arrest Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leaders Akhil Gogoi, Dhirjya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal in connection with a case related to the violence that broke out during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the city last December, reports The Telegraph.
The trio are in judicial custody at Central Jail Guwahati in connection with a separate case registered against them by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The NIA had arrested Akhil on December 17 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Subsequently, the other two were also arrested by the NIA.
Akhil’s counsel, advocate Manoj Deuri, said, “The crime branch prayed to arrest them in connection with a case (1/2019) and sought five days’ remand. But after we submitted before the court that since the trio have already been quizzed by higher agencies on similar charges, there was no need for further police custody. The court rejected the police’s prayer.” Centre asks Assam Accord Clause 6 panel to change report Plea to arrest Akhil Gogoi binned
Won’t tolerate those who damage Jamia, JNU’s dignity: Pokhriyal
Guwahati , Feb 16 (IANS): Union Human Resource Department Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishak’ on Sunday warned those who, he claimed, are working to bring down the stature of the esteemed institutes like the Jawaharlal Nehru University or Jamia Milia Islamia.
“Be it JNU, Jamia or other institutions, all of them are very good. I have been saying this from the very beginning, that whosoever will try to bring the dignity of these institutions will not be tolerated at any cost,” he said.
This comment comes against the backdrop of incessant protests across the national capital spearheaded by students of the JNU and Jamia. While the JNU protest started against revised hostel fees, soon it steered off to anti-CAA protest which their Jamia counterRamesh Pokhriyal
parts joined as well.
In fact, on December 15 last year, Jamia university area and adjoining New Friends Colony area witnessed large-scale violence against the Citizenship Amendment Act which excludes Muslims of three neighbouring Muslimmajority nations of availing fast track route for obtaining Indian citizenship.
As many as 14 buses had been either burnt or damaged and 20 private vehicles had been torched in that violence. Also 67 people, including 31 police officers, had been injured and a total of 47 persons, including students, had been detained.
Pokhriyal’s comment also assumes significance as it comes closely in the heels of Union Home Minister Amit Shah defending the Jamia crackdown, following the December 15 violence.
Manipur will be golden land in next 5-10 years: CM Biren
Correspondent
IMPHAL, Feb 16: Manipur will be transformed into a “Golden Land” in the next five to ten years, chief minister N Biren Singh said, in an address after inauguration of newly constructed staff quarter of a state run healthcare centre in Thoubal district on Sunday.
Singh said that the state government was fully endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
“When we uplift the lives of the poor people then there will be peace, prosperity and development in the society particular and in the state in general,” he said.
The purpose of doing politics was to help each other and to gain mutual respect and trust among all the communities living in the society, he added. He said his aim was to build a strong and cordial relationship between communities.
Singh further stated that the present government has fulfilled every promise made to the people.
With the support of the people, the government could deliver good governance, bridged the gap between hills and valley in the state, he said.
“In the next 5-10 years, the state would be transformed into ‘Golden Land’ with the present pace of the government,” he assured.
The chief minister further said that BJP-led coalition government was giving special emphasis for the improvement of living conditions of minorities.
“Government is committed to render human service and work for the welfare of people regardless of their political affiliation, caste, creed, religion etc.,” Singh said.
He added that after conducting a survey about the status of people in the minority inhabited areas of the state, the government has identified beneficiaries who can be benefited from various welfare schemes.
CMHT, PMJAY cards have been distributed after organising various camps in these areas. The government has also constructed above 1000 houses in the minority concentrated Lilong area of Thoubal district under PMAY, he added.
Also speaking on the occasion, state health and family welfare minister L Jayantakumar appealed to doctors and nurses to render their service with sincerity and dedication while treating patients.
He maintained collective efforts are needed for inclusive development in state. He assuredthat the government would extend every possible support to improve the infrastructure of the CHC, adding that geriatric, palliative care unit will also be installed in the CHC soon.
The newly inaugurated staff quarters of the CHC was constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram (PMJVK) funded by union minister of minority affairs and state department of minority affairs at a ratio of 90:10 with a total cost of Rs 342.07 crores. Manipur CM N Biren Singh inaugurating newly constructed staff quarters of a government CHC in Thoubal district on Sunday.
MYK C SHILLONG, FEB 16 ( AGENCIES): The ninth edition of the joint military exercise between the Indian and Bangladeshi armies at Umroi in Meghalaya concluded on Sunday,reports Northeast Now news.
The two-week long exercise “SAMPRITI-IX” that commenced on February 3, concluded with a closing ceremony on Sunday with the head of observer delegations from both sides conveyed their appreciation for both the participating contingents for successfully achieving the objectives of the exercise.
A magnificent parade and the customary exchange of mementos marked the successful completion of Indo-Bangladesh joint exercise.
A delegation comprising of 31 officers and 138 other ranks of Bangladesh Army led by brigadier general Md Shafiul Azam of the 42nd Bangladesh infantry regiment, while the Indian Army is led by Brigadier Rajesh Sharma of the Bihar regiment, participated in the “SampritiIX”military exercise.
The exercise was aimed at strengthening the military relations between the two countries, which allowed the two armies understand each other’s tactical drills and operating techniques.
The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter insurgency, counter terrorism operations and providing aid to civil authorities for disaster management especially in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
The joint exercise is a very important military and diplomatic initiative between both the nations and the edifice of the trust and friendship between India & Bangladesh which has been nurtured with the sweat and toil of Officers and soldiers of contingents participating in each edition.
Besides training, both the contingents participated in a number of activities including friendly volleyball and basketball matches.
During the exercise between the armies of the two neighbouring countries, specific input of terrorists presence and hostage situation by villagers to company commanders carrying out area domination, insertion of specially trained house intervention teams using two helicopters, house clearance and room intervention drills, hostage rescue, IED detection by army dogs, neutralisation of IEDs by bomb disposal team amongst other exercises were carried out.
The Sampriti-IX is an exercise carried out jointly between India and Bangladesh for operating in a UN environment under chapter VII. Indian and Bangladesh armies during the ninth edition of Indo-Bangladesh joint military exercise, ‘SAMPRITI-IX’ which commenced in Umroi, Meghalaya. (PTI) KOKRAJHAR, FEB 16 ( AGENCIES): The newlyappointed All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) top brass on Saturday urged the Centre for early withdrawal of criminal cases filed against the NDFB members who laid down arms recently and their rehabilitation, reports The Telepgraph.
S p e a k i n g a t t h e union’s 53rd foundation day celebration at Bodofa House in Kokrajhar, Absu president Dipen Boro said, “According to Clause 9.2 of the Bodo Accord signed between the Union government and Bodo stakeholders on January 27, we exhort the government to do the needful for early rehabilitation of NDFB members.”
Referring to the resolutions adopted in Absu’s special convention at Tamulpur in Baksa district on February 12 and 13, it urged early implementation of Clause 9.4 of the pact, which refers to withdrawal of criminal cases against members of all NDFB factions through “procedure established by law”, bring home all NDFB members and some civilians from the custody of foreign countries and take initiative to withdraw cases registered abroad.
Boro welcomed the pact and said the union would work for enduring peace and harmony in the Bodo belt and the rest of Assam.
He appealed to the Centre and the state government to implement all clauses of the BTR Accord in letter and spirit, to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of Bodo people and others living in the Bodoland Territorial Council area, and to constitute the proposed Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council in Assam.
Earlier, ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary hoisted the organisational flag followed by floral tributes to Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, founder president Baneswar Basumatary, general secretary Kanakeswar Narzary and Sujit Narzary, the first martyr of the movement for a separate Bodoland. On the other hand, sources said former ABSU president Pramod Boro may join the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), led by former Rajya Sabha MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma, ahead of the BTC polls scheduled in April. Fresh ABSU appeal to withdraw NDFB cases Indo-Bangla joint military exercise concludes at Umroi
Dear Ben, May you have all the joy your heart can hold, all the smile a day can bring, all the blessings a life can unfold, may you get the world’s best in everything. Wishing you a Happy Birthday.
From, Sisters and Brother in-law
To my dearest Apo..H.Thong, On your special day, I wish you good luck. I hope this wonderful day will fill up your heart with joy and blessings. Have a fantastic birthday, celebrate the happiness on every day of your life. Happy Birthday!!
With love From your wife children n grand children
Dearest Selipi, May the Almighty from up above bless you with all the special gifts and blessings in life. Wishing you a great birthday and an amazing life ahead. Happy Birthday.
From, Khumjong and Akhyam.
IN THE COURT OF PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE KOHIMA : NAGALAND NOTICE NOTICE INVITING OTHER CLAIMANTS TO REPRESENTATION TO COME FORWARD (UNDER PART-1 OF SECTION 375 INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT 1925) SUCCESSION CASE NO 34 OF 2020 Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate of Lt. Neikie-o Angami was filed by Smti Lhounei, w/o Neikie-o Angami, R/o Keziekie Angami, Kma, Nagaland to draw/operate:
Family pension and all other retirement benefits A/C No.10530633059 (SBI) A/C No 15446 (Nagaland State Co-Operative Bank) Kma, Nagaland who expired on 04.09.2019.
Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate of this said deceased may if she/he so desire appear in this court on or before the said day of 13 th March 2020. Given under the hand and seal of court on this 13 th day of February 2020. Principal District & Sessions Judge Kohima : Nagaland K-453
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday suggested to the Delhi Police that it should be ready to deal with miscreants with “firm hands”, and at the same time remain calm despite “provocation”.
At the 73rd Raising Day ceremony of the Delhi Police, Shah called it one of the leading metropolitan police forces in the country and the world which has foiled attempts to create disturbance without any fail.
Citing a speech of the India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1950, he said, “Despite all the anger and provocation, Delhi Police should remain calm but it should also be ready to deal with the miscreants with firm hands to protect the people.” “I believe, on many occasions the Delhi Police has lived up to this advice of Saradar Patel,” the home minister said.
He lauded the force saying it has helped the government on important occasions like celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day, festivals and visits by foreign dignitaries. Shah observed that while constructive criticism of the Shah suggests Delhi Police in dealing with miscreants police is always welcome, it must also be kept in mind that more than 35,000 police personnel laid down their lives on the line of duty.
The home minister, in his speech, also paid homage to the five Delhi Police personnel who lost their lives in the 2001 terror attack at Parliament building, and to Inspector M C Sharma who died in the Batla House encounter with terrorists.
The event was also attended by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his Puducherry counterpart Kiran Bedi, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, and top officials from other agencies. On the occasion, the home minister presented medals to Delhi Police officers for their meritorious service. Shah said that under the Delhi Safe City Project, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 857 crore for the safety and security of the capital city. As many as 10,000 CCTV cameras have been set up in the area covered by 165 police stations and the home ministry has sanctioned 9,300 more to ensure safety of women in the city, he said.
About police welfare measures, Shah said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 137 crore for housing. The Delhi Police itself was constructing more than 700 residences for its personnel, Shah said and expressing confidence that the issue of residential needs would be solved in the near future. Amit Shah addreses the 73rd Raising Day Parade of the Delhi Police at Kingsway Camp in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI) NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (PTI): The Jamia Millia Islamia on Sunday clarified that it has not released the new video which is circulating on social media showing some men in paramilitary and police uniform beating up students in the university’s library on December 15.
The 48-second video, which appears to be a CCTV footage, purportedly shows some seven to eight people in paramilitary and police personnel uniform entering the Old Reading Hall and beating up students with batons. Those in paramilitary and police uniform have their face covered. “It has come to our notice that some video with regard to police brutality in Dr Zakir Husain Library of the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is in circulation. This is to clarify that the video has not been released by the university,” the institute’s public relations officer Ahmad Azeem said. The video was released by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), a group comprising JMI students and alumni. The group was formed after the alleged police brutality on the campus on December 15. The university had turned into a battlefield on December 15 as the police entered the campus to look for outsiders who were involved in incidents of violence and arson a few metres away from the educational institute during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. According to the public relations officer, the JCC, which is actually a joint coordination committee of students and alumni of the university, is spearheading the stir against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens on the Maulana Mohammed Ali Jauhar Road outside the university’s gate number seven. “This is to clarify that JCC is not an official body of the university. Any communication from JCC should not be taken as version of the university” Ahmad Azeem said said. “A number of Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and other users on different social media platforms are using Jamia Millia Islamia’s name, creating confusion among the people. The university’s official Twitter handle is @jmiu_official. Official verified Facebook page is Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi @jmiofficial and official Instagram account is jamiamilliaislamia_official,” the official said. ‘Video of purported police brutality inside library not released by Jamia Millia Islamia’ NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (IANS): Congress leader Digvijaya Singh attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and asked him to withdraw the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act and say No to the NPR and the NRC.
The Congress leader tweeted in hindi: “Today people of Shaheen Bagh will be meeting Amit Shah. Take three decisions, then there will be peace in the country, take back CAA, No NPR and No NRC. Otherwise follow the statement given by Mohan Bhagwat in Ahmedabad and resign.”
The people of Shaheen Bagh, who are sitting on protest since December 15 demanding rollback of the CAA, is likely to meet the Home Minister on Sunday. The protesters have been demanding that the government should also withdraw NPR and give assurance on the NRC.
The Supreme Court is hearing the matter that the protesters should be removed as the traffic from Noida to Delhi is blocked for the last two months due to the ongoing protest. The apex court is also hearing the petition on the CAA and the NPR. A section of the protesters is planning to meet Home Minister Amit Shah, while others are opposing it.
The protesters are divided into two groups as differences have emerged over the continuation of the protest.
“During the Shaheen Bagh protest at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, a protester named Asif Toofani announced, “We are ready to meet Amit Shah and we along with the elderly women, will visit him.”
However, some women opposed Toofani’s statement. A protesting woman told IANS, “Who is he to take this decision? This demonstration belongs to the people and I shall not visit him. However, if the elderly people decide that we should go, we are ready.” Digvijaya attacks Shah on CAA, asks him to resign Digvijaya Singh
Photo taken from CCTV footage of paramilitary men in uniform inside the library.
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (PTI): The Election Commission has collaborated with IIT Madras to work on a new technology which will allow electors to vote from far away cities without going to the designated polling station of their respective constituencies, a senior poll panel official has said.
The project is at present in the research and development stage with an aim to develop a prototype, another official said. Explaining the ‘block chain’ technology involved in the project, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said the concept is a “two-way electronic voting system, in a controlled environment, on white-listed IP devices on dedicated internet lines, enabled with biometric devices and a web camera”. He, however, made it clear that voters will have to reach a designated venue during a pre-decided period of time to be able to use this facility. It does not mean voting from home, Saxena explained, which is “anytime-anywhere-any device” and would require some more time and technological advancement.
Explaining the technicalities, the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner told PTI that the “two-way block chain remote voting” process would involve voter identification and authorisation using a multi-layered IT enabled system working on the EC’s e-Governance award winning Electoral Registration Officer Network (ERO Net) using biometrics and web cameras. After a voter’s identity is established by the system, a block chain enabled personalised e-ballot paper (Smart Contract) will be generated. When the vote is cast (Smart Contract executed), the ballot would be securely encrypted and a block chain hashtag (#) will be generated. This hashtag notification would be sent to various stakeholders, in this case--the candidates and political parties, the official said. The encrypted remote votes so cast would once again be validated at the pre-counting stage to ensure that they have neither been decrypted, nor tampered with or replaced. “Suppose there is a Lok Sabha election and a Chennai voter is in Delhi. Instead of returning to vote in his or her constituency or missing out on voting, the voter can reach a predesignated spot set up by the EC, say in Connaught Place, in a particular time window and can cast his vote,” Saxena said.
He said such voters may have to apply in advance to their returning officers to exercise the option.Another top EC functionary, who refused to get quoted, said at present it is only a research and development project. If the technology is found to be “okay”, then only after stakeholder consultations and changes in the election laws and rules, it will be tried in actual conditions, he said. There have been demands from various parties that the Election Commission should ensure that migrant workers who miss out on voting as they cannot afford going home during elections to exercise their franchise should be allowed to vote for their constituency from the city they are working in. A bill to allow proxy voting for overseas Indians had lapsed following the dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha.
The Law Ministry had also recently tweaked election rules to allow One Way Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), enabling service voters consisting of personnel belonging to the armed forces, central para military forces and central government officers deployed at Indian missions abroad, to get their postal ballots electronically. They have to fill up the ballot papers and post them back. EC, IIT-M join hands to develop new technology for voting
MUMBAI, FEB 16 (PTI): BJP national president J P Nadda on Sunday dubbed the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray as “unnatural and unrealistic”, saying it has put brakes on the state’s development.
Addressing the state BJP convention at Nerul in the neighbouring Navi Mumbai township, Nadda said the party needs to be ready to go solo in future elections.
He said despite the BJP getting mandate after the state Assembly polls in October last year, some with “selfish motives” parted ways with it and joined hands with those in the opposition to come to power. The BJP chief, however, expressed confidence that his party will win the next Maharashtra Assembly polls on its own. “The Maharashtra government is unnatural and unrealistic. Some people have parted ways with the BJP for their selfish gains,” Nadda said without naming any party or individual.
The BJP should be prepared to contest all the forthcoming elections on its own, he said. “You should be ready for ‘all versus one (BJP)’ kind of political battle in future,” Nadda said addressing the party workers. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the state after the Assembly polls in October last year. But, it failed to form government after the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena snapped ties with it over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.
The Shiv Sena later forged an alliance with the ideologically different NCP and Congress to form the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in the state.
Nadda said despite the state Assembly poll mandate being in favour of the BJP, “selfish motives prevailed” and some went to join hands with the opposition to form government.
“The BJP is going to win the next Maharashtra Assembly election singlehandedly. The state, under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, was making progress but sadly, the development is now getting halted,” he said. Maha govt ‘unnatural, unrealistic’: Nadda
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Shaheen Bagh protesters will march to the residence of home minister Amit Shah for a dialogue over the new citizenship law after getting due permission from authorities, the organisers said on Sunday as security was enhanced in the area due to the planned rally.
The protesters, who had announced that they will take out the march on Sunday, said they are awaiting nod from the police which have sought some time. A large posse of security personnel was deployed at Shaheen Bagh in south-east Delhi where hundreds of women protesters gathered to march towards the residence of Shah for a dialogue over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Barricades were placed at the site and the protesters were stopped after a little dis
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FLOOR, ICICI BANK BUILDING, MIDLAND, DIMAPUR M-8963890888 DP-1232 tance. The protesters chose an eight-member delegation, including the elderly women called the ‘dadis’ of Shaheen Bagh, to approach the police “to allow them” to meet Shah and asserted that they will carry out the march peacefully. “Police said they have forwarded our request to meet the home minister and have sought some time to arrange it,” Javed Khan, one of the protesters, said. He added that the protesters will replan their march after getting confirmation from the police. Unable to get the requisite permission, the anti-CAA protesters returned to the venue where they have been holding agitation against the new law. Police officials including DCP (Southeast) RP Meena, Additional DCP (Southeast) Kumar Gyanesh and Shaheen Bagh SHO held talks with a group of protesters and gave them assurance that their application has been forwarded to the authorities concerned for further action.
“The protesters wanted to know about the status of their application. This was regarding permission for marching from Shaheen Bagh to the residence of the Home Minister, which they had given to us. We told them that the application was given to DCP New Delhi and it will be further submitted to the police headquarters which will take a final call on it,” deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) Meena said. Security arrangements ouside Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)
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