Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 43
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Trump gives details of Suleimani’s last minutes
India beat Aus in 3rd ODI to win series
Ker Gov seeks report for anti CAA plea in SC
INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
SPORTS, PAGE 12
NATIONAL, PAGE 7
Failure of communitisation of education
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JAN 19 (NPN): Six years after “Communitisation” was introduced in 2002 in Nagaland, the state won the coveted United Nations Award for Public Service from Asia and the Pacific region for “fostering participation in policy making through innovative mechanism” in June 23,2008 in New York. Communitisation was inspired by the Village Development Board concept in Phek introduced in 1976. This concept was adopted as Communitisation by the state government in 2002 as an innovative policy of grassroot participation in development. Following the communitisation of education and as per “The Nagaland Experience-thematic report” 2009 research report prepared by the planning and coordination department in 2009, there was a steady increase in enrolment rates, decrease in dropout rates, improvement in teachers’ attendance and corresponding improvement in attendance of students, timely disbursal of
NNPGs & KNO agree to resolve all differences D I M A P U R , JA N 1 9 (NPN): Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) have decided to work together closely in resolving all differences through democratic process whereby the history and identity of one is respected and acknowledged by the other, “now and in the future”. In a joint declaration, the NNPGs Working Committee convener N Kitovi Zhimomi and Kuki National Organisation president PS Haokip also stated that in a principle of harmonious peaceful co-existence, both the organisations would appraise each other from time to time on issues potentially having socio-political ramifications for one community or the other during the course of negotiations for a political settlement and peace talks with the Union of India. This followed a thorough deliberations between leaders of both the organisations on the contentious political, social and intercommunity matter prevailing for decades, particularly in Manipur.
This is it!
“Look, our boss functions like Oking. Files go to him. He does not come for files.” K Y M C
A govt primary school in a village in Nagaland. (File)
employee salaries, weeding out proxy employees and, in some cases, there was qualitative changes in school curriculum with active inputs from the community. However, today, all these have become history and gains in the education sector have been lost as the very essence of communitisation has been trampled upon as the sector is now plagued by the problem of proxy teachers. Sources said proxy teachers have become ramppant owing to the laxity of village education councils (VECs). Worse, the inability of school education depart-
ment to check this, has also led to lowering of quality of education. During a review meeting in 2019, one administrative officer had pointed out that excessive power had been given to the VECs because of which teachers hardly had any respect for or fear the district administrative officers. The department has been making all efforts to put an end to the proxy system, but till today, the “strong words” uttered by higher-ups to check proxy teachers have not translated into action. School education principal director (PD) Sha-
navas C has been found speaking aloud against the proxy system and had even admitted that communitisation model was being implemented poorly on many occasions. And in an effort to deliver quality education and ensure that teachers are regular in school, the department is now also on the job to introduce “Teachers’ Diary” where teachers will have to record all their activities. The much-spoken biometric attendance system will also hopefully be introduced within two to three months from now. Speaking to Nagaland Post, Shanavas exuded confidence that “some positive results” would follow once the teachers’ diary and biometric attendance systems were put in place, though he admitted that 100% changes could not be expected. And considering the massive lapse in the communitisation programme, he said the State government was also in the process of setting up a 10-member high-level committee to review the programme. And whatever amendments are required would be done
once the committee submitted its report, he assured. The PD asserted that had the communitisation programme been strictly implemented, then Nagaland’s educational system would have been totally different. He regretted that it was not doing any good now except in very few schools. Taking note of the discrepancies in Mid Day Meal scheme and to ensure transparency, he said ration would be dispatched with stickers pasted on the allocated materials, and the same sticker would have to be pasted on notice boards. He said anyone could lodged a complaint at 6009256788 through SMS if any violation was found in the dispatched allocation, adding that immediate action would be initiated against the guilty. Shanavas said over 100 posts of graduate teachers would be advertised for recruitment very soon. He added that there were around 20,000 teachers currently, which included primary, graduate, Hindi and PGT, for over 1.4 lakh students at a teacher-student ratio of 1:7.
Parl shouldn’t make Art 371A redundant: Cong Urges GoI to implement pol. solution under a non-partisan govt DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has asserted to stand by Article 371A of the Indian constitution as integration of contiguous Naga areas had been categorically ruled out by Government of India (GoI) and demanded that Indian Parliament should not make the Article redundant. The Extended Executive Committee of NPCC in its meeting held at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on Friday also resolved to urge New Delhi “to implement political solution under a non-partisan government in Nagaland” as it had also been the commitment of all legislators cutting across
party lines and a declared policy of regional political parties to pave the way for final political solution. Noting that peace talks had concluded on October 31, 2019 after nearly 23 years of negotiations where stakeholders like tribe hohos, Nagaland GB Federation and different civil society groups were consulted in multiple meetings, the meeting expressed its appreciation as all groups were taken onboard in the negotiations while reiterating that views of the stakeholders must reign supreme in democracy. Rejecting Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in its present form as divisive, the meeting opined that exempting Nagaland on the basis of ILP was nothing but a ploy to fool the people. According to NPCC, Nagaland and all other North Eastern States were facing huge influx of illegal immigration that had already changed the demography of the region. And CAA was meant to legiti-
mise those left out of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, while in the nation CAA had made religion the basis of nationhood, which was in direct contravention of Article 14 of the constitution. The proposed combination of CAA and NRC across the country would deal a lethal blow to the secular fabric of the constitution and reduce other religious minorities and oppressed castes to total irrelevance and stateless beings, the meeting cautioned. The house therefore resolved to urge both the ruling PDA government and opposition NPF to immediately pass a resolution in Nagaland Legislative Assembly urging the Central government for withdrawal of CAA and also express opposition to implementation of NRC/NPR in the State, if they still had an iota of concern left for the people of Nagaland. This was stated in a press release by communications department of NPCC.
Domicile certificates from Nagaland misused outside
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JAN 19 (NPN): Misuse of Nagaland’s domicile certificates has once again come to light during recruitment in a Central paramilitary force, proving once again how the State’s quotas were being allegedly sold to outsiders. A senior official of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from Nagaland informed Nagaland Post that many people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan had appeared for the force’s cook recruitment test held recently at Guwahati claiming that they were domiciled residents of Nagaland. The senior official, who did not wished to be named, said all record of those names had been sent to Dimapur deputy commissioner for clarification. The official informed this correspondent that the applicants in defence and paramilitary forces got relaxation in height and chest measurements in the recruitment process when they claim to be domiciled in Nagaland or any other hill State. He explained that in general category, the minimum height and chest measurements should be 170 cm and 80 cm (85 after expansion) respectively, while a hill State applicant required minimum 165 cm in height and 78 cm (83 after expansion) in chest. The officcial also alleged that registrations of heavy vehicles plying in many mainland States and not in Nagaland were being issued from Dimapur. According to him, the main reason why vehicle registrations and even driving
Will be problematic to oppose CAA if declared constitutional: Sibal NEW DELHI, JAN 19 (PTI): Senior Congress leader and Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal Sunday asserted that every state assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek the amended Citizenship Act’s withdrawal, but if the law is declared constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it. His remarks came a day after he had said there is no way a state can deny the implementation of CAA when it is already passed by Parliament. “I believe CAA is unconstitutional. Every State Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek its withdrawal. When and if the law is declared to be constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it. The fight must go on!” Sibal said in a tweet. “It is not possible and is unconstitutional. You can oppose it, you can pass a resolution in the Assembly and ask the Centre to withdraw it,” he added.
Some of the applicants purportedly issued with the domicile certificates.
licences were being made in Nagaland was that it was easier in the State. And when any accident occurred, no one wanted to come for inquiry, tax was not required to be paid and the licence could be obtained by using fake names, he explained. Mentioning that scores of gun licences had been issued to people of other States from Dimapur, the official pointed out that it was very hard to get a gun licence in other States, though it was quite easy to obtain one in Nagaland allegedly by paying off few thousand rupees. He urged the people of Nagaland to be aware of all these illegal activities occurring in their State.
Sand suppliers urge DC’s intervention DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Sand Stockists and Suppliers Union Chümoukedima (SSSUC) and Assam Sand Suppliers Truck Owners Association Dimapur (ASSTOAD) have sought the intervention of Dimapur district administration to resolve the sand supply issue. A joint statement signed by SSSUC president Khriesavilie Yhoshu and secretary Mhasiletuo Visezo pointed out that consumers were paying exorbitant rates due to ban on plying of 10 wheeler trucks to ferry sand from Karbi Anglong to Dimapur. The ban came into effect after the department of Environment and Forest, Karbi Anglong issued a notification on November 18, 2019. As such, SSSUC claimed that the notification had no mention of 10 wheeler trucks. However, some sand mahaldars at Karbi Anglong refused to ferry sand on 10 wheeler trucks following the notification, it added. SSSUC maintained that the associations had been doing business, by abiding the laws of the land and paying royalties including all the relevant taxes while plying along the National Highway. In this regard, SSSUC and ASSTOAD at a joint meeting on January 17, 2020 deliberated on the issue and decided to urge the district administration to take up the matter with Environment & Forest department of Karbi Anglong to allow 10 wheeler trucks ferry sand to Dimapur.
CNTC draws attention on water shops selling liquor India’s new citizenship law DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has expressed concern over the spurt in outlets under the garb of bottled water shops in Purana Bazaar and other areas of the town selling spurious liquor and has asked the Dimapur district administration and Naga Council Dimapur, Dimapur District GBs and chairmen forums to check and close down these at the earliest. According to the council, though the issue might seem trivial to many, yet they could not ignore the pleas and concerns of parents of children, citizens concerned and churches as young lives and their health were being greatly affected by these shops selling spurious alcohol. Many of these shops were located very closely to school areas, it added.
Though there were many other relevant issues of concern, CNTC said this issue was now becoming uncontrollable with authorities either ignoring or turning a blind eye to this nefarious activity right under their nose. It also asked Dimapur Municipal Council who had issues trade licenses and permits to these outlets. Admitting that Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 was contentious and that it neither supported nor opposed, the council explained that the prohibition issue required further deliberation amongst all stakeholders. But, it emphasised that the mushrooming of these bottled water shops selling spurious liquor posed a great risk to health and lives
of many citizens. These shops did not fail to catch the eyes of anyone as these were now open at almost every nook and corner of the town, it added. Urging Dimapur deputy commissioner and commissioner of police to use all their resources and close down these outlets, CNTC also appealed to local GBS, chairmen and colony councils to keep their colonies and wards free from these outlets as these were promoting many anti-social activities. The council hoped that everyone would act promptly as per their designated responsibilities. NPN adds: During an interview with Nagaland Post in November last, Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) general secretary Dr. Z Kehyo
admitted that the council did propose the Act, but stressed that the government should have come up with a strong mechanism to implement it. Admitting that NLTP Act had not been a success and that it had failed to help the people, he said the council was now looking forward to come up with practical solutions. He said NBCC was always open to go discussions on the issue. While stressing that blaming each other would not help, he said the situation had become so bad now that “we need to start helping the people and come up with a better solution”. From January 2018 to August 2019, 500 cases of alcohol and seven drugs-related cases were registered in Nagaland.
unnecessary: Bangladesh PM
DUBAI, JAN 19 (PTI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) “internal matters” of India, but at the same time said the Act was “not necessary”. According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship. Protests are being held across India against the controversial law. “We don’t understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary,” Hasina told the Gulf News in an interview, referring to India’s new citi-
zenship law. Her comments came weeks after Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said that the CAA and the NRC are India’s “internal issues”, but voiced concern that any “uncertainty” in the country is likely to affect its neighbours. Bangladesh, where 10.7 per cent of the 161 million population is Hindu and 0.6 per cent Buddhist, has denied any migration to India because of religious persecution, the paper said. Hasina, who is in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, also said that there has been no recorded reverse migration from India. “No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems,” she said. “(Still), it is an internal affair,” Hasina said.
WSH lauds Governor Ravi
DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): WSH through its media cell lauded Nagaland Governor, R.N. Ravi for showing his concern and personally monitoring the various ongoing road projects in the state, both Central as well as interior roads. WSH said it fully agreed with what Governor had said-- that good roads are not merely a sign of progress but an essential requirement and also the people as well as the village councils’ responsibility to check and monitor the work in their respective areas and jurisdiction. WSH further lauded Governor on his dream for a Nagaland free from two serious ailments that has eaten away the entire Naga society-- a Nagaland that is free from corruption and the fear of guns. “These two ailments have taken a heavy toll on all of us and we all are equally responsible for the mess,” WSH stated. Therefore, WSH said that it was now time to mend and repair whatever has been done in the past and to come together for a peaceful and a prosperous Nagaland.
State-wide IPPI drive launched
D I M A P U R , JA N 1 9 (NPN): Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland on Sunday launched the intensified pulse polio immunization (IPPI) targeting 2,77,283 children (0-5 years) in 2,274 polio booths manned by 9,096 health personnel along with other vaccines and logistics across the state. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu in his tweet urged all parents who have children below 5 years to ensure that their children receive Polio Drops. Special focus would also be given to the migrant population to prevent the importation of Polio cases. K Y M C