March 13, 2021

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 96

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

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CM kick-starts ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ Wheelchair-bound Mamata

Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAR 12 (NPN): Nagaland joined rest of the country in commemorating 75 years of India’s independence christened ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ at Civil Secretariat Plaza here on Friday, with chief minister Neiphiu Rio kick starting the celebration which will culminate on August 15, 2023. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said it was a joy and a proud moment for every Indian citizen to remember the journey when India became a free and independent nation on August 15,1947. Reflecting on decades gone by, Rio acknowledged all those who had selfless given their all to make India a free country. Rio recalled that the freedom movement was birthed in the epochal ‘Dandi March’ started on March 12, 1930 by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. He said the ‘Dandi March’-

Neiphiu Rio, Sharingain Longkumer and Abhijit Sinha with school children depicting ‘Dandi March’ on the occasion.

from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi, (a coastal village in Gujarat) about 385 kilometers, was intended to protest against the nefarious provisions of the salt tax imposed by the British Government. Rio said the ‘Dandi March’ was preceded by a declaration for Indian independence by the Indian National Congress in December 1929 and celebration of Independence Day across the country by the people on the January 26th 1930. He said the Dandi March had deeper, profound implica-

tions that triggered a wider civil disobedience movement against the foreign rule and provided the spark that ignited the flames of the freedom movement across the length and breadth of the country in the hearts of millions of people. Rio said it was fitting that the nationwide celebrations was flagged off by prime minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad to the re-enact the historic Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram. He said the new independent nation was faced by overwhelming challenges, a

legacy of colonial rule which weakened the economy, stagnated agriculture, a poor industrial base, weak infrastructure, existence of huge social disparities among the people, and many such formidable challenges. However being the biggest democracy in the world India had big dreams and with unfailing zeal and attitude, the nation embarked on a journey overcoming all the obstacles on the path and making spectacular strides in every sphere, he said. Rio also spoke about the transformations that had taken place in India which successfully overcame poverty by creating a vibrant and large economy , comparable with the world’s biggest economies and building infrastructure rivalling the best in the world. Today, he said India has become a formidable space and nuclear power and one of the largest military in the world. He said India has over the decades also deepened and strengthened democrat-

ic processes and foundations by empowering, particularly, the marginalized communities and sections of the society. Rio mentioned that Nagaland, which came into existence 16 years after Indian independence (1963), has also moved shoulder to shoulder in making the dreams a reality. He said today, Nagaland boasts of the good literacy levels, quality of the human resources and road network that have grown substantially to cover every nook and comer of the state over the decades. He also said there has been improvement in availability of power and health sector and progress made in every other area. Rio said today people of Nagaland, like everyone else in the country, now enjoy a much-improved quality of life when compared to the earlier days and lauded all those who took up the onerous task of building the state over the decades.

discharged from hospital

KO L K ATA , M A R 1 2 (AGENCIES): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was injured on Wednesday during a rally in Nandigram, was discharged from hospital on Friday evening. The TMC supremo left SSKM hospital on a wheelchair. She has reached her residence. The medical board had suggested 48 hours of observation, however, after repeated requests the authorities decided to discharge the TMC leader, and prescribed her necessary precautions. Doctors of SSKM Hospital had earlier confirmed that the TMC president had suffered injuries on ankle, toe and shoulder, and suggested to keep her under observation for 48 hours. “Our team reviewed her condition this morning. They cut open the temporary plaster on her left leg (Cont’d on p-6) to see how the injury has

Mamata Banerjee leaving SSKM Hospital in a wheel-chair. (PTI)

healed. A few medical tests might also be conducted,” a senior doctor told PTI. “We generally advise patients with similar injuries as that of Banerjee at least three

to four weeks of rest,” the doctor said. A day after Mamata claimed she suffered injuries on being pushed by a group of “four or five people” in West Bengal’s Nandigram district while campaigning, two eyewitnesses said that no such attack took place and it was just a mishap. What the eyewitnesses said: Nimai Maiti, owner of a sweet shop who was near the spot where the incident took place, told India Today that the TMC chief got injured after the door of the car she was travelling in slammed her leg. “The incident happened in front of my shop. Around 6.15 pm, Mamata Banerjee was moving from one temple to another and at this exact spot there is a turn. While she was waving and was half out of the vehicle, people rushed in, causing the door of her car to slam her leg,” Maiti said.

JCPI serves deadline to NE states asked to block inflow of people from Myanmar Independence of EC can’t be compromised in democracy: SC enact RIIN by Mar 31 Tribal hohos to organize rallies on March 19 DIMAPUR, MAR 12 (NPN): Following a crucial consultative meeting of the Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) with apex tribal bodies and civil society organisations here on Friday, it was decided to make public representation to the State government to demand immediate action on the Banuo Commission’s report and pass an ordinance within March 31 to implement the proposed Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). According to JCPI convener Atomi Swu and secretary Tia Longchar, the meeting further resolved that all tribal hohos will submit their representations to the government through their respective deputy commissioners by organizing

peaceful protest rallies on March 19 in their respective jurisdictions, and for each apex tribal body to chart out their own programme as per convenience. JCPI warned that in the event of failure of the government to act on its demand, it would be left with no option but to resort to different democratic means of protest till the desire of stakeholders on the issue was achieved. The meeting was apprised of the ultimatum served to chief minister with March 15, 2020 as the deadline to fulfil the demand for passing legislation on RIIN and enforcement of ILP with December 1, 1963 as effective cut-off date. Unfortunately, with the onset of COVID pandemic in 2020, everything was kept in abeyance. An open letter was again written to the chief minister to enact RIIN during the recently-concluded winter Assembly session, but there was no positive outcome.

4 new COVID cases reported in State DIMAPUR, MAR 12 (NPN): Nagaland on Friday reported four new COVID19 positive cases-- two each in Mokokchung and Kohima, taking the total caseload to 12221. With three more patients recovering from the infection, the active cases stood at 10. Altogether, 11966

This is it!

“Five years ago, when the 4-lane work began, I was a student. Now I’m a doctor but work is still on.” K Y M C

persons have recovered from the infection till date. PTI: India added over one lakh COVID infections in six days with 23,285 cases being reported in a span of 24 hours till Friday morning, the Health Ministry said.

NEW DELHI, MAR 12 (AGENCIES): Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the North Eastern states to stop the influx of people from Myanmar. A letter written by an MHA deputy secretary to the chief secretaries of Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and to the director general of Assam Rifles asks them “to stay alert and take appropriate action to prevent a possible influx into Indian Territory”. The letter written on March 10 cites a previous advisory from 2017 which asked state and union ter-

ritory administrations to sensitise law enforcement and intelligence agencies “to take prompt steps in identifying the illegal migrants and initiate the deportation process expeditiously and without delay”. The letter notes that it has now been reported that an illegal influx from Myanmar has started. The directive to state governments assumes significance in light of Myanmar authorities asking their Mizoram counterparts to hand over nationals, particularly policemen, who have crossed over in the past few days.

Myanmar’s military last month grabbed power in a coup against the civilian government and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy. Since then the country has witnessed a wave of protests. There is popular support for the fleeing Myanmar nationals in border areas of Mizoram and Manipur. Student bodies and popular icons have come out on social media to support Myanmar civilians protesting against the Junta. The state governments

have also said that they are willing to accommodate the refugees if the Centre permits. But the MHA directive of March 10 says, “State governments and UT administrations have no power to grant refugee status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to UN Refugee convention of 1951 and its 1967 protocol. In view of the above you are requested as per law to check illegal influx from Myanmar to India.” According to reports 264 people, including 198 police officers and family members have now fled to India.

NEW DELHI, MAR 12 (IANS): Supreme Court on Friday said the Central and the state governments should not appoint persons holding government office as election commissioners. A bench headed by Justice R.F. Nariman said entrusting additional charge of state election commissioner to a government official is a mockery of the Constitution. The bench emphasized that a compromise on the independence of the Election Commission (EC) is not acceptable, and only indepen-

dent persons should be the election commissioners. The Goa government had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order, which cancelled elections to five municipalities in the state for not reserving the wards for women as per the law. The Goa government had appointed its law secretary as the state election commissioner for conducting the Municipal Council elections in the state. The top court decision is aimed at safeguarding independence of the Election Commission.

Gov asks NHIDCL to take ZSUN protest against confinement of 2 persons action against contractor DIMAPUR, MAR 12 (NPN): Nagaland Governor RN Ravi has expressed concern over the slow pace of work in two road packages– Tamlu-Namsang and Wakching-Mon– and advised National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to take stern action against contractor M/s Manaranjan Brahma. During a review meeting held by the governor on the progress of road projects being undertaken by NHIDCL in Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Mokokchung districts at

Longleng deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Friday, some minor hindrances that were causing unnecessar y delay were also resolved, PRO to Governor stated in a press note. In the discussions with the DCs, the need to build and improve some more roads to improve connectivity with Zunheboto and Tuensang were identified and Ravi assured of taking up the matter with Union road transport & highways minister Nitin Gadkari for his approval. (Cont’d on p-5)

DIMAPUR, MAR 12 (NPN): A peaceful protest rally under the aegis of Zeliangrong Students’ Union (ZSUN) was held at Jalukie town on Friday to demand the release of two persons allegedly being confined at Khehoi designated camp since March 2. Students holding banners and placards took to the streets of Jalukie town and converged at the main town square where ZSUN members and others spoke. After the rally, a memorandum was submitted to Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, through additional deputy commissioner

Students in uniform, holding a banner during the protest rally at Jalukie town on Friday.

Peren, seeking his intervention for the safe release of the two persons. ZSUN seeks Gov’s intervention; sets 48-hr deadline: Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland

(ZSUN) has sought governor RN Ravi’s intervention in the matter of two men being held captive by NSCN (U). In a memorandum to Nagaland Governor

R.N. Ravi through Jalukie additional deputy commissioner, union president Dithuibo Newmai and finance secretary Itui Tellia said two men hired an autorickshaw on the morning of March 2 and were on the way to Lamhainamdi village to clear jungle and construct a house for Ilungumle of Jalukie town when they were “abducted by NSCN (U) cadres along with the autorickshaw driver and taken to their designated camp at Khehoi.” Following this, they said Lamhainamdi Village Council lodged an FIR at Jalukie Police Station the next day. (Cont’d on p-6)

Hans Foundation to develop & adopt Tizit, Pessao PHCs 2.80 cr COVID doses DIMAPUR, MAR 12 (NPN): In a major boost to health infrastructure in Mon district, The Hans Foundation (THF) has decided to full develop two primary health centres (PHCs) of the district – Tizit PHC and Pessao PHC – and adopt them for five years at an approximate cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The foundation’s board has approved the proposal. This was informed by deputy commissioner Mon. Thavaseelan K. While Rs 2 crore will be invested for Tizit PHC, the investment for Pessao PHC will be Rs 2.5 crore. The project will comprise of

administered till now

(L) Staff quarters in a dilapidated conditions and (R) the emergency room at Tizit Primary Health Centre.

three parts– creation of new buildings and other assets, procurement of equipment and salary for manpower for five years (doctors, nurses, technicians, etc).

The Mon district administration had requested THF to adopt two PHCs in the district as part of the latter’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The Tizit PHC has a dependency of 27,936 heads from 25 villages, but its condition is very poor. Under the project, Rs 2.029 crore will be spent on reno-

vating the PHC, besides provide necessary medical equipment and minimum essential residential accommodation for staff. (Cont’d on p-5)

NEW DELHI, MAR 12 (IANS): Cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 2.80 crore on Friday, the Health Ministry said. A total of 2,80,05,817 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till 8 p.m. Friday. These include jabs 72,84,406 health care workers who have taken the first dose and 41,76,446 who have taken the second dose, while 72,15,815 frontline workers have been administered the first dose, and

9,28,751 the second dose. A total of 71,69,695 beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 12,30,704 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities have also taken the vaccine. A total of 18,40,897 vaccine doses were given till 8 p.m. on Friday, the 56th day of nationwide vaccination. Out of these, 14,64,779 were vaccinated with the first dose and 3,76,118 health care workers and frontline workers received the second dose of vaccine as per the provisional report. K Y M C


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