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Vol XXX No. 159

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Lockdown 4.0 might differ from state to state

national, Page 5

nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial

Over 12,000 people expected from Red Zone Summary of Zone wise returnees to destination districts Sl. No.

Y. Kikheto Sema (NP)

Destination District

From Zone Green Orange Red 1067 1262 6328

Total

DIMAPUR

KIPHIRE

103

355

507

KOHIMA

322

290

1082

1694

LONGLENG

145

222

MOKOKCHUNG

170

483

750

8657

MON

288

749

907

1944

Staff Reporter

PEREN

181

261

1089

1531

D I M A P U R , M AY 1 5 (NPN): Out of the 18,350 stranded citizens returning to the state from several parts of the country, at least 12, 536 would be arriving from Red Zone, 3239 from Orange Zone and 2575 from Green Zone, shows a summary report by Data Analyst Team COVID19 Empowered Group As per the report, Dimapur would be receiving 8657— 6328 from Red Zone, 1262 from Orange Zone and 1067 from Green Zone) followed by Mon with 1944— 907 from Red Zone, 749 from Orange Zone and 288 from Green Zone (See table). Officials however informed that the tally may differ from time to time. Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y Kikheto Sema, who is the

PHEK

159

106

470

735

TUENSANG

140

124

761

1025

WOKHA

107

432

624

ZUNHEBOTO

102

484

661

2575

3239

12536

18350

14.03% 17.65% 68.32%

100%

Total Percentage (%)

Summary Report from Data Analyst Team (COVID-19 Empowered Group) as on 13/05/2020, 2 p.m.

overall in charge of Dimapur district for all COVID19 related activities, in an exclusive interview with NE8/Nagaland Post, admitted that it would be a very big challenge for the state government to handle the situation. He, however, maintained that the government would take all precautionary measures to handle the task, adding that the government would not leave any Naga who wanted to return. Sema informed that

currently there were nearly 60 quarantine observation centres in Dimapur. He said that about 60-70 hotels have also been kept reserved for isolation centres with a total capacity of around 3500. He stated that initially around 3000 people were expected to return to the state, but the number increased to over 18,000. Explaining the difference between quarantine observation centre and isolation centre, Sema said that the former was for people with no symptom

of COVID-19 and the latter was those who showed symptoms or were suspected to have symptoms of the virus. In the past three days, he said that around 1200 people have reached Dimapur from green zone areas. Sema said those people after completing three days in quarantine observation centre would be shifted to their designated places. He further stated around 167 to 168 people were sent to Kohima on May 14, 2020. APC stated that people coming from green zone and orange zone areas would be kept at quarantine observation centres for three days and mandatory home isolation for 14 days while people from red zone areas or those who crossed red zone areas would be kept at institutional quarantine for 14 days and mandatory home isolation for 14 more days. He, however, said that every person who enters the state from any of the zones would undergo detailed medical screening, adding that if anyone was found to have symptoms of COVID-19, they would be kept at separate isolation wards. Sema also added that there were separate quarantine centres for men and

women. APC disclosed that Dimapur has so far received a total number of around 1300 stranded citizens and Kohima has received a little over 300. He said that over 15,000 were still expected to return. When asked if state g ove r n m e n t wo u l d b e providing the designated amount of Rs. 10,000 to people who had not filled up the form to retune from the beginning, he said that the decision would be made by the core committee. He, however, opined that if one was a genuine Naga and had opted to stay back in their current location from the beginning, the government could consider assisting them with the designated amount. On the report of a Manipur man, who crossed the Dillai Check Gate en route Manipur, testing positive for COVID19, the APC stated that the state government would try to revise and review activities in check gates. It was also learnt that around 20 police personnel, who were manning the Dillai check gate, were at institutional quarantine centre as precautionary measure as they may have come in contact with the infected person during duty.

DC Dimapur 1,084 people stranded in NE States return Govt assures help to those who opted I M A P U R , M AY 1 5 the State had voluntarily their respective districts and bans use of D(NPN): Altogether 1,084 opted to stay back at their sub-divisions. to stay back: CS Out of the 10,993 of Nagaland, who present places and filled up gutka, tobacco people were stranded in different the required form on the por- stranded people who left Correspondent

DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (NPN): In pursuance to the chief secretary’s April 20 order, deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Anoop Khinchi has imposed strict ban on sale and use of Gutka, tobacco etc. and spitting in public places. DC warned violators of legal action as per Sec 188 of the IPC. Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Friday appealed to all states and Union Territories to ban sale of tobacco products and spitting in public places in line with the orders of the Rajasthan and Jharkhand governments to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. In a letter dated May 11 to all state health ministers, Vardhan said smokeless tobacco users have a tendency to spit in public places or otherwise and therefore, increase health risks especially those of spreading contagious diseases like COVID-19, tuberculosis, swine flu, encephalitis and others.

This is it!

“He’s had a change of heart. From preparing adulterated alcohol to preparing alcohol-based sanitisers.” K Y M C

North Eastern States due to the nationwide lockdown, had returned till Friday. On May 15, altogether 14 buses from Meghalaya with 333 passengers and five private vehicles with 17 passengers from Assam reached Dimapur. The returnees, who reported to the reception centre at Agri Expo site Dimapur, were screened and later shifted to separate quarantine centres. Further, according to DIPR report, a total of 754 persons had reached Dimapur from Assam, Meghalaya, Andra Pradesh and Delhi till date. State principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha in his daily briefing on COVID19 also said 2,668 citizens of Nagaland presently outside

tal iamstranded.nagaland. gov.in till 4 pm on Friday for availing the one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 He said, as per the revised standard operating procedure (SoP) issued by the health & family welfare department, it was mandatory for all returnees from outside the State to register on nCOVID-19 NagalandVisitors app and Aarogya Setu app. For any technical support, he said toll-free helpline no. 1800-345-0019 could be contacted for any assistance. 10,993 stranded people leave Dimapur: Dimapur district administration successfully moved 10,993 persons stranded in Dimapur since March 24 due to the nationwide lockdown to

for various districts, 3,304 went to Mon, 812 to Longleng, 1,717 to Tuensang, 1,014 to Kiphire, 1,351 to Mokokchung, 563 to Phek, 482 to Wokha, 202 to Peren, 167 to Kohima and 1,381 to Zunheboto. Most of the stranded people were transported by NST and private buses, while hundreds of oneway private vehicle permits were issued for inter-district movement from Dimapur. As per a decision of the State government, the exercise to allow inter-district movement of stranded people began from May 7 to 9, which was further extended till May 14 due to increasing number of people opting to go back to their own districts.

KOHIMA, MAY 15 (NPN): With several complaints from those stranded at various places across India not being able to fill the returnee form, nor avail the financial assistance offered by the government, chief secretary Temjen Toy said the government would take call on the issue and address it soon. Toy told Nagaland Post that the government was seized of the matter and assured that the government was working to address it. On the huge number of returnees, he said they would not come at one go, adding empowered committee were arranging quarantine centres. He said the first train from Chennai was expected to reach Dimapur in the middle of next week.

Europe relaxes lockdown; cases flare elsewhere international, Page 6

Everyone needs to stay alert: Rio D I M A P U R , M AY 1 5 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has called upon the people of the state to remain alert and to stay at home for their own safety. Though Nagaland was in green zone till now, everyone needed to remain alert and people should stay at home for their own safety, Rio said during his visit to Phek and Zunheboto Friday to review preparedness of the two districts in combating COVID-19 pandemic. Rio expressed his gratitude to God for keeping Nagaland safe, pointing out that even developed countries like the United States and European countries were suffering due to this pandemic. He said people were not just dying but that the economy was getting affected due to the pandemic. He called upon everyone to give their best in the fight against COVID-19, even as he thanked the district administrations, police, medical staff, opposition members, churches and NGOs for giving their best efforts in containing the virus. Rio commented that by the grace of God “we are a little more prepared today then we were yesterday.”

Govt to amend Essential Commodities Act, 1955 Announces Rs 1.63 lakh crore Agri package

NEW DELHI, MAY 15 (PTI): In the third tranche of the COVID-19 economic package, the government on Friday announced a slew of measures for agriculture sector, including a Rs 1.63 lakh crore outlay, and amending the stringent Essential Commodities Act to remove cereals, edible oil, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato from its purview. Announcing the third tranche of an overall package of Rs 20 lakh crore to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said foodstuffs, including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onion, and potato, will be deregulated after amendment to the six-andhalf-decade old Essential Commodities Act. The Act, which empowers the government to regulate price as well as stocks of commodities, was enacted in 1955 to check hoarding of essential commodities. Offences un(Cont’d on p-5) der this Act are non-bail-

able. After the amendment, she said stock limit will be imposed only under very exceptional circumstances like national calamities and famine when there is a surge in prices. Further, no such stock limit shall apply to processors or value chain participants, subject to their installed capacity, or to any exporter, depending on the export demand. She said farmers currently are bound to sell agriculture produce only to licensees in APMCs while no such restriction of sale applies for any industrial produce. These restrictions hinder free flow of agriculture produce and lead to lower price realisation for farmers. To deal with the situation, a central law will be formulated to provide “adequate choices to farmer to sell produce at an attractive price, barrier-free inter-state trade and framework for e-trading of agriculture produce,” she said. Sitharaman also announced a Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund that will finance projects at farm-gate and aggregation point for efficient post-harvest management of crops.

India with 85,000 COVID cases surpass China NEW DELHI, MAY 15 (PTI): Nationwide tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases crossed 85,000 on Friday surpassing China’s official tally of 82,933 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Though some new cases have emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan -the epicentre of the deadly virus -- less than 100 people are now undergoing treatment across China, which recorded 4,633 deaths due to COVID-19 but more than 78,000 have been discharged after recovery, as per their official data. Globally, more than 3 lakh people have died and nearly 45 lakh have tested positive for the deadly virus since its emergence in Wuhan last December. While China and several other countries have begun reopening their economies, fresh concerns have begun

mounting about a possible re-emergence of the virus. India is now the 11th most affected nation in the world, but each one of the top-ten have one lakh or more cases. The US tops the charts with more than 14 lakh cases, followed by Russia, UK, Spain, Italy and Brazil with over 2 lakh cases each; and France, Germany, Turkey and Iran having over 1 lakh cases each. In its morning 8am update, the Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 across India has risen to 2,649 and the number of cases has climbed to 81,970, registering an increase of 100 deaths and 3,967 cases in the last 24 hours since Thursday morning. There are more than 51,000 active cases, while nearly 28,000 have recovered, giving a

recovery rate of over 34 per cent. However, a PTI tally of numbers reported by states and UTs, as of 9 PM, put the total number of confirmed cases across the country much higher at 85,538. This also showed at least 2,679 deaths and nearly 30,000 recoveries.

Nagaland COVID-19: Results of 21 awaited D I M A P U R , M AY 1 5 (NPN): Out of the 910 samples sent for testing from the State till 4 pm on Friday, results of 889 samples have tested negative, while results of the remaining 21 samples are awaited, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha informed. Also, 6,054 persons were screened during the day and 957 persons are presently under facility quarantine.

Myanmar hands over 22 NE insurgents SoP should be as per First Naga COVID-19 victim central guideline: AYO passes away in New Delhi

(L-R) Rajen Daimary, home secretary (NDFB-S); Self-styled Capt Sanatomba Ningthoujam of UNLF; Lt Pashuram Laishram of PREPAK-PRO and self styled Capt Sansuma Basumatary (NDFB-S).

N E W D E L H I , M AY 1 5 (AGENCIES): Myanmar military handed over a group of 22 northeast insurgents to the Indian government on Friday afternoon. The insurgents, wanted in Manipur and Assam, are being brought back by a special plane, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. “This is a huge step for the Myanmar government and a reflection of the deepening ties between the two countries,” a top government official said soon after an aircraft with a planeload of insurgents took off from Myanmar. The plane will first make

a stopover in Imphal before heading to Guwahati. “The insurgents would be handed over to the local police in the two states,” the official said. “This is the first time that the Myanmar government has acted on India’s request to hand over leaders of the northeast insurgent groups,” a senior national security planner said about the operation driven by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Among those deported by Myanmar are some senior and long-wanted Indian insurgent leaders such as NDFB (S) self-styled home secretary Rajen Daimary, Capt Sanatomba Ningthoujam of UNLF

and Lt Pashuram Laishram of PREPAK (Pro). 12 of the 22 insurgents are linked to four insurgent groups in Manipur: UNLF, PREPAK (Pro), KYKL and PLA. The remaining 10 are linked to Assam groups such as NDFB (S) and KLO. The treacherous terrain along India’s over 1,600-km border with Myanmar makes the area ideal for camps of insurgent groups that have been fighting the Indian state for decades. But pressure has been building on the insurgent groups over the last few years after the Myanmar military agreed to conduct operations.

DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (NPN): Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has said the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for those returning from Green and Orange Zones, supposed to be kept in institutional quarantine for three days followed by 14-day home quarantine was likely put people at great risk. AYO president Kekhrie Pfukha and public relations secretary Kehounei-o Thernuo pointed out that the SoP was not as per the guidelines of the central government which required any person to be quarantined for 14 days in government designated quarantine facility before home quarantine and subsequent observation for the next 14 days. AYO therefore urged that there should be mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine and no relaxation be made irrespective of the place of origin of travel. AYO urged the government to make all necessary efforts and be more stringent rather than relaxing the procedures. Further, AYO said the government should ensure that its quarantine facilities in all district headquarters were functional so that travellers destined for the districts were be able to undergo institutional quarantine in (Cont’d on p-5) their home districts.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (NPN): Though Nagaland has so far been free from coronavirus (COVID-19), yet one Naga-- an army personnelsuccumbed to the deadly virus on May 13 in New Delhi. Army sources said the victims had comorbidities. The victim, identified as one Imtoba from Mokokchung district- was from the 1st Assam Regiment and had been suffering from metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (cancer). The victim had been under treatment at the Army Hospital (R&R) Delhi and had reportedly contracted the dreaded virus during his treatment from the hospital. Earlier, Imtoba was admitted at Army Hospital (R&R) for treatment. How-

ever, after the outbreak of COVID-19 at Army Hospital (R&R), Imtoba was shifted to the Base Hospital where he was tested positive for COVID19 on May 11, 2020. He passed away at the Base Hospital from cancer and COVID-19, Army sources informed. The last rites of the deceased, with full army traditions and honour was carried out in the presence of his wife.

Governor condoles

Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of late Imtoba Ao, NK 1st Assam Regiment who passed away on May 13 at New Delhi. “India and Nagaland lost a brave son to Covid 19. Late Imtoba had comorbidity. May his soul rest in peace,” Raj Bhavan Kohima tweeted. K Y M C

state

State MIS cell instituted; PDs hold performance meet chairmanship of Commissioner & Secretary RD, Neposo Theluo, who highlighted the achievements and drawbacks and action needed on various programmes implemented by the department. During the meeting, several issues were discussed including the performances of the RD programmes with main focus on COVID-19 related matters. Briefing the officers on COVID- related matters, the Commissioner & Secretary stated that following the consolidated guidelines for containment of COVID-19 issue by Ministry of Home Affairs on April 15, 2020, the state government also issued similar guidelines which was circulated to all districts. Under MGNREGS, he stated the priority should be given to irrigation, water conservation and water harvesting works. Theluo also emphasized on giving importance to individual beneficiary-oriented works for livelihood issues. On setting up of quarantine centres, he stated that 50% of GIA have been sanctioned. He also shared that under the initiative of the RD Minister, N-95 masks and PPE kits are being arranged for frontline work-

ers of every village to take care of possible COVID-19 patients. The Commissioner & Secretary also congratulated the NSRLM and SHG members for doing commendable job on distributing masks and selling it at a very affordable price and at the same time encouraged them to scale it up. Concerned over the adverse affects of the pandemic on the state’s economy, minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir requested all the officers to work together in doing their part in aiding their ailing economy. He stated that due to the two months lockdown, the pressure on the economy has been drastically hit. He also congratulated the state NSRLM team on the commendable efforts done by its VLOs especially during this pandemic. Slide show presentations on the progress of the various programmes were given by Mission Director on NSRLM, Imtimenla, joint director on Grant in Aid, 15th Finance Commission and Rashtryiya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, K. Neibou Sekhose, Jacob Zeliang, RDO on PMAY-G and joint director on MGNREGS G. Thong.

DIMAPUR: As nationwide COVID-19 pandemic lockdown continues across the state, several initiatives have been taken to ensure that essential items reach people in need. DC Dimapur: Deputy Commissioner (DC), Anoop Kinchi Friday distributed washable masks to daily wage earners in Dimapur. According to DIPR, the masks were distributed with an aim to encourage the public to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures as directed by the government. Aoyimkum: Dimapur district administration provided essential items to the needy under Aoyikum village Dimapur. First phase disbursement of relief pack in Kohima: As announced by central government and as per direction of the state government, the Kohima district administration and DDMA started the first phase disbursement of relief pack of essential commodities to daily wage earners at relief distribution center, Kohima local ground on May 15. According to DIPR report, in the first phase, the relief packages were distributed to the selected beneficiaries identified by the respective colony/ward and village chairmen under Kohima municipal area and sub-divisions under Kohima district.

CFD launches COVID-19 campaign in Dimapur Dimapur: Christian Forum Dimapur (CFD) Friday launched COVID-19 campaign under the theme, "protect yourself to prevent others," in the presence of APC and in-charge of Dimapur district, Y. Kikheto Sema, DC Dimapur, Anoop Kinchi, Commissioner Police Rothihu Tetseo and CMO Dimapur, Dr. Tiasunep Pongener. According to DIPR report, Kikheto launched the COVID-19 stickers and 50,000 masks to be distributed amongst the frontline workers and the “poor and needy”. Speaking on the occasion, Kikheto appealed the church leaders to help the government by allowing it to use church infrastructure

Government officials and CFD members with car stickers.

particularly the rest houses to accommodate the citizens who will be arriving from outside the state. He said government could request churches to take up the responsibility of accommodating their own members though food and other necessities would be provided by the government. Kikheto lauded the private schools and col-

CII Nagaland welcomes stimulus package announced by Union FM

DIMAPUR: Finance min- well as longer term requireister of India has unveiled ments of the sector. CII had a package under the first suggested that credit be protranche of the Atma Nirb- vided for MSME without har Bharat Abhiyan in view collateral requirement and of the economic circum- with a guarantee from the stances being faced due to government. COVID-19. The proposal to make A press release from the delayed payments from CII-Nagaland branch Ko- government and PSEs to hima stated that, director MSME was a long-standing general of CII, Chandraji request of industry. Along Banerjee informed that the with the decision to not have first phase targets the key global tenders for governsectors of MSME, employee ment procurement up to Rs provident fund, Discoms, 200 crore, the redefinition and taxation among other will assist the MSME secmajor areas that are the tor to grow and emerge as a most impacted. vibrant and dynamic sector, The release stated that, contributing to self-reliance six measures announced by and employment in a big income. Furthermore, en- finance minister for MSME way. CII also pointed out courage farmers to increase sector was very well targeted that measures on construcseed replacement rate by and meet the immediate as tion, real estate and tax growing suitable HYV’s and promising TLS. FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY In addition, create of more awareness on the Late Mrs. Kiyale-Ü PM-KISAN regarding Wife of Lt. Rev. Samuel Ngullie fund released to them from 16th May 2019 PMO to be utilised only for Agriculture purposes besides appraising on the agricultural safety measures to be followed during their field activities and mobility.

Agri dept officers to tour districts to motivate farmers DIMAPUR: The department of Agriculture had actively been monitoring the various agricultural activities during the three phases of lockdown to ensure that the farming operations during the rabi harvest and kharif onset are not hampered. However, reports were received from the field officers of the impact of heavy rains, thunder squall and hailstorms leading to field crop damages, reoccurrences of

FAW (Fall Army Worm) causing mild to severe infestation in standing crops. According to DIPR report, Director of Agriculture, M. Ben Yanthan stated that the department plans to tour the districts during May to get a firsthand knowledge by interacting with the district and sub-divisional officers; functionaries and farmers friend with field visits to severely damaged and affected farmers field. The of-

news in Brief Training on COVID-19 at Tening: District administration of Tening has convened training on COVID-19 for volunteers of Tening town and Tening village on May 17 at Government High School auditorium hall, Tening. Additional Deputy Commissioner Tening, Rhosietho Nguori informed that all the youth volunteers nominated from Tening town and village will be trained on the standard operation procedures (SOP) and protocols on COVID-19. ADC Tening also informed to ensure nomination of female volunteers, if not nominated earlier, at least four each from each ward/village.

ficers led by a joint director Agriculture as team leader and deputy director Agriculture will move out to the district/s after finding suitable dates to visit from the district headquarter officers concerned. The purpose of the visit is to mobilize the extension personals in motivating the farmers to cultivate all the potential areas under paddy and to extend farm areas into alternate farming systems for doubling

payments add to ease of doing business and reduce the compliance burden for enterprises while infusing confidence among entrepreneurs. Action taken to relieve the stress on Discoms which is feeding into the entire economy with the Rs 90,000 crore liquidity infusions will help revive this critical sector, stated the release. CII director general also informed that it was heartening that many of the measures announced are in line with CII recommendations and that the FM has introduced a prudent and calibrated set of measures that promises to stabilise the conditions after the Coronavirus crisis.

NSCN (I-M) condoles DIMAPUR: NSCN (I-M) has expressed grief over the untimely demise of its members. In a condolence message, NSCN (I-M) has mourned the demise of late Kh. Angting Lamkang, ‘khapur’ of NSCN/GPRN, from Mantri Pantha village under Khurmi region and late Mhao Jami, ‘lance corporal’ (posthumous) of NSCN/GPRN, from Chudi village under Lotha region. In the message, NSCN (I-M) said both “served the Naga nation with unwavering national spirit” and that their selfless contribution to the “Naga national cause” would be cherished by all. Further, NSCN (I-M) has conveyed condolences to bereaved families and prayed the Almighty would grant them eternal peace.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY Dearest Mum One year has gone; none could ﬁll up the vacuum created by your demise. Every day, we miss you in our hearts & minds, longing to hear your voice and your prayer. We are helpless except to cherish all the good memories you left behind. DP-2342

Loving Children, Grandchildren & Relatives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

LT. T. LOLEN JAMIR

Loving Wife, Children, In-Laws & Grandchildren

DP-2353

DP-2346

of Late Viheshe Assumi

Left for eternal home on 16.05.2018

DP-2336

From sunrise to sunset, every moment would have been more wonderful if you were with us today. Your memories will never be forgotten. We miss you! -From loving Wife, Children, In-laws and Grandchildren.

We, the bereaved family of Late Maongtemjen Ao would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to those who stood by us physically, materially, ﬁnancially and spiritually during the prolonged illness and at the sad demise of our beloved father on 10th May 2020. Words are inadequate to express our appreciation towards your sympathy and gesture of kindness shown to us. As it is not possible to thank everyone individually, it is our hope that you would accept this acknowledgment as an expression of our deepest gratitude. Hope our Almighty God bless each one abundantly through our humble prayers. Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren, Relatives and In-laws. DP-2339

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1940 – 16.05.2019 Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's”. Today, on your 1st death anniversary, we want to say that we miss you so much truly in our hearts. Your words of wisdom and kind actions will always inspire and guide us in our lives. Even though you are not physically around, you will always be in our hearts because in there you are alive. We will always cherish your fond memories in our lives until we meet again in our Lord’s abode.

Second Death Anniversary

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lege associations of Dimapur district for allowing the government to utilise their hostels. He also thanked the non-Naga community for providing accommodation and taking care of their own members. DC Anoop reiterated the importance of washing hands, wearing masks, maintaining social distance and dubbed these steps as the “golden rule” to keep

away the virus. He also asked the public not to panic because of the arrival of citizens from outside the state. CP Dimapur Rothihu emphasised on the important role of religious institutions in educating the people on preventive measures of COVID-19 pandemic. In an event of COVID19 outbreak and dead in Nagaland, Rothihu asked different faith based organisations and churches to be prepared for any such eventuality. CMO Dimapur, Dr Tiasunep also urged the churches to educate its members on following COVID-19 preventive measures. He assured that the medical department was doing its best to prevent COVID-19 outbreak.

Born :15-05-1969 – Died:02-05-2020

Jesus said to him “I promise you that today you will be in paradise with me” We, the bereaved family members of Late Hav. Imkongnukshi Ao would like to express our sincere gratitude to every individuals, friends, organizations, well wishers who stood by us physically, spiritually, materially and financially during the prolonged illness and demise of our beloved father on 2nd May 2020. We would like to convey our special thanks to: 1. Mr. & Mrs. Teisovise Metha, Commandant 4th NAP BnThizama 2. Shri. Temjen Imna Along, Minister of H.T.E. & Tribal Affairs Nagaland 3. Mr. & Mrs. I. Bendang Tzudir & family 4. Mr. & Mrs. Imliakum Ozukum & family 5. Er. Loguseng Semp & family 6. Dimapur Yimjenkimong Telongjem Dimapur 7. Dimapur Yimjenkimong Ozukum Telongjem 8. Purana Bazaar (B) Ao Baptist Arogo 9. Kohima Yimjenkimong Union 10. Dimapur Yimjenkimong Senso 11. Ao Student Union Purana Bazaar (B) 12. Yimjenkimong Fellowship Dimapur 13. Purana Bazaar (B) Temeket Ao Senso Telongjem 14. Unity Colony Union Purana Bazaar (B) 15. Doctors and Nurses of C.I.H.S.R. 16. All Ranks of 4th NAP Thizama. We regret our inability to thank each and every individual but we pray that Almighty God bless you all abundantly. DP-2341

Loving Wife, Children & Family.

BORN : 20/09/1991 – DIED : 11/05/2020 “If we live, we live for the Lord and if we die, we die for the Lord, so whether we live or die we belong to the Lord”. Romans 14:8 We, the bereaved family of LATE MISS HEVITOLI PHUCHO would like to convey our profound and sincere gratitude to all those who stood with us and supported us morally, physically, spiritually and ﬁnancially in time of her prolonged illness and her demise i.e. 11/05/2020. Though we are unable to thank each and every one of you personally we hope and pray that our Almighty God in Heaven bless each and every one of you abundantly. We would also like to specially thank the following Churches and Organizations: 1. Shitovi Baptist Akukuhou. 2. Youth Ministry, Shitovi Baptist Akukuhou. 3. Women Department, Shitovi Baptist Akukuhou. 4. Nagamese Baptist Fellowship, Shitovi Village, Block –I. 5. Lhomithi Baptist Akukuhou, Dimapur. 6. Youth Ministry, Lhomithi Baptist Akukuhou. 7. Women Department, Lhomithi Baptist Akukuhou. 8. Tennyson Rengma, Kilongser NSCN/GPRN Naga Rengma Hills CAO. 9. Disaguphu Baptist Church. 10. Phucho Nuli Kupushukulu, Dimapur. 11. Lazami Social Welfare, Dimapur. Loving, Family Members, Cousins and Relatives.

DP-2340

DIMAPUR: Minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir inaugurated the state MIS cell at MGNREGA building, Directorate of Rural Development, Kohima on May 15. A press release issued by joint director Rural Development Nagaland, K. Neibou Sekhose stated that the minister while congratulating the department on achieving the same, said that the setting up of the state MIS cell is necessary to equip themselves with information on their roles and activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid gatherings. “We cannot afford to call many people for meetings and trainings during this pandemic and even in the coming years, the video conferencing facilities will play a crucial role in providing online trainings and meetings and go a long way in helping us with all our activities”, Jamir stated. Encouraging the officers to be digitally equipped, he asked them to regularly visit the RD website and check the notifications. Meanwhile, performance review meeting of Project Directors was also held on May 15 at RD Directorate Conference Hall, Kohima under the

Assistance during COVID19 lockdown

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

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State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

Activities on preventive measures continue during lockdown 3.0

DIMAPUR: Government agencies and NGOs continue to conduct various activities on preventive measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Meetings and trainings on contact tracing for frontline workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi workers were also held across the state. Meanwhile, visits to hospitals and quarantine centres continue for effective execution of work as the stranded people and students from outside the state started arriving home and the state is likely to receive thousands of returnees as per the registration done by people stranded outside the state.

Mon DISTRICT

Kohima DISTRICT

Mokokchung DISTRICT

Resumption of OPD & day care service at IMDH Mokokchung Medical Superintendent, Imkongliba Memorial District Mokokchung (IMDH), Dr. Medemmayang has informed that the OPD, Dialysis and NCD services at IMDH will resume from May 18. According to a DIPR report, other

day care services such as Laboratory, Blood Bank, ARTC, OST Centre, Immunization & DMHP are being continued. It is also informed that alternative arrangement for Flu Clinic at RTU building has been completed.

DC Mokokchung constitute facilitation teams Pangnyu Phom during the meeting with the villagers.

Pangnyu and colleagues visit ITC Pangsha

Minister for Health & Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom, minister of soil & water conservation, geology & mining, Kashiho Sangtam, Advisor to IPR, SCERT & VG, Toshi Wungtung on May 14 visited DAN International Trade Centre (ITC) Pangsha, to inspect the status and the level of preparedness on COVID- 19 Pandemic at border areas. According to MO incharge PHC Pangsha, Dr. Sentitemsu Ao during the meeting the village chair-

man and KTC representative highlighted the grievances of the healthcare centres at the international border. They also urged the government to supply adequate number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the frontline workers. Dr. Sentitemsu and ADC Noklak Chaitanya Prasad highlighted and updated on the status about quarantine home facility at PHC Pangsha as well as the level of preparedness.

NBSS&G members and others during the meeting at DoH&FW, Kohima.

Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries issues guidelines Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI) has asked all shopkeepers to follow government guidelines by providing basic items like water, soap and sanitizer in their respective shops. It warned that defaulters would be denied opening shops. In a press release, KCCI has also asked shops to ensure that social distancing protocol

was strictly maintained within the business premises. KCCI has also to appeal to all commercial building owners to understand the plight of the struggling business community and waive the rent or charge minimal amount. To assist the government in its efforts to fight this unprecedented pandemic, KCCI said it has set up a market monitoring cell to

check defaulting traders/ shopkeepers not adhering to orders and guidelines issued by the government. For any information relating to market issue, KCCI has asked the traders and public to contact the following officials – Medozhatuo Rutsa (president); 9436016529/Theja Keretsu (vice president)-9436845163 and Akhrie Mor (general secretary)-9856352438.

Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Limawapang Jamir has constituted facilitation teams for co-ordinating with the district control room Mokokchung COVID-19 with the following nodal officers against the district mentioned. Er, Atu Imsong (BDO, Tuli) for Dimapur (9436002451); Er. Imnamar (BDO, Changtongya) for Dimapur ( 8131812377); Roben Messen (RTO, Mokokchung) for Kohima (9612687447); Asasoba (SDO, PWD (NH) for Kohima (8974574690). The duties and responsibilities of

Wokha DISTRICT

Trail run to assess preparedness of returnees held at GHSS Wokha

In view of the arrival of the stranded students/persons from outside the state and to ensure smooth manageNagaland Bharat State Scouts & Guides & Family Welfare and held a meeting with ment of the returnee and to assess the (NBSS&G), Good Turn Project team, Ko- the staff wherein the visiting team prayed for preparedness of the receiving team, a hima Guiders visited Directorate of Health the department. trail run was held at GHSS quarantine center, Wokha on May 15. According to a DIPR report, during the discussion, Deputy Commissioner and chairman District Task Force for COVID-19, Orenthung Lotha highlighted on the role and responsibilities of the receiving team, segregation of all vulnerable groups like aged people, pregnant and lactating mothers, children’s in to different rooms. The DC stated that to monitor entry of persons/visitors to the facility and ensure that the personnel should comply with instructions/including wear of mask correctly, well informed and trained security to check and

Nagaland Bharat State Scouts & Guides visits H&FW office

peren DISTRICT

the nodal officers will be daily update to the district control room COVID19 Mokokchung (8131929284) on the status and number of the inter-state returnee bound for Mokokchung arriving in Dimapur/Kohima and daily update to the district control room COVID-19 Mokokchung (8131929284) on the status and number of inter-state returnee bound for Mokokchung, leaving Kohima district to Mokokchung district. The nodal officers will co-ordinate with Additional SP, Mokokchung (9436266181).

guard (24X7) with register for ins and outs and a designated nursing officer for checking proper PPE. He also stressed on decontamination daily with disinfectants including surface mopping of all the rooms, bathrooms, toilets facility, under side of beds, other related items placed in the rooms of quarantine people. CMO, Wokha also apprised on the arrangements made for receiving the stranded students and others, where he stated all are in place to receive the returnees. Three groups are being constituted with 5 members from each is formed to receive the returnee. 120 beds at GHSS and 100 beds at Mt. Tiyi college quarantine facility centres along with all other basics facilities are being arranged for the returnees. GHSS and Mt.Tiyi will be declared as containment zone once the stranded students and person arrives.

Peren district COVID-19 task force meeting was held at Contact tracing training for ASHAs & AWWs was held Women Welfare Conference Hall, Jalukie. (DIPR) at PTWWO Hall Peren town on May 15. (DIPR)

Peren District Task Force on COVID-19 holds meeting Peren District Task Force on COVID-19 meeting was held at Women Welfare Conference Hall, Jalukie on May 15 under the chairmanship of DC Peren-cum-DTF chairman, Sentiwapang Aier. According to a DIPR report, the meeting was held in view of the arrival of

stranded people from different states of the country and to put certain requirement or logistic arrangement in place and also to review the preparedness of quarantine centres. DIO, Dr. Asang, ADC Peren, EAC Ngwalwa and SDO (C) Ahthibung gave a brief report on the prepared-

ness and intake capacity of identified quarantine centres of Peren district. The members decided to set up a temporary makeshift camp at Punglwa junction to assist the entry of vehicles while data collection and proper screening will be done at Government High School ground,

Mhainamtsi. The meeting was also attended by representatives from quarantine centre team, transportation team, joint action committee, Jalukie sub-divisional task force, Ahthibung sub-divisional task force, Peren sub-divisional task force and Tening sub-divisional task force.

Training for ASHAs & AWWs on contact tracing held at Jalukie Block and Health unit level training for ASHAs & AWWs on contact tracing was held at Customary Court, ADC Office Jalukie on May 15 with BAC, Samzai and SHP

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Has the Centre failed to care for the migrant labourers? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

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Yes. No. Can’t Say.

50% 25% 25%

coordinator, Ramok as the resource person. The participants were trained on different topic including cluster containment strategy, contact line

listing, house to house search of suspected COVID-19 cases and daily reporting format. Altogether, 24 ASHAs and 44 AWWs attended the training.

Training for ASHAs and Contact tracing training for frontline AWWs at Tening workers of ASHA’s & AWW held at Peren

Tening organised block level training for ASHA and AWW to equip for COVID-19 at PHC on May 15. Resource person, medical officer, Dr. Neilasakuo Linyu briefed on the duties of frontline workers and contract tracing. He demonstrated the use of PPE suits. BPM, Menuleho Toso and BAC, Kewidinbiliu Rentta highlighted on the steps and procedures for contract tracing in the crowd. Importance of self protection was imparted upon by the trainers.

Block level and health unit level training for ASHA’s and AWW was held at PTWWO Hall Peren Town on May 15 with BAC, Ipungringle and DCM, Sekholu. According to DIPR report, the training was held to disseminate the COVID-19 basics and contact tracing information to volunteers in every village. The trainees were oriented on contact listing, follow up the details of any persons’ travel history, duration of travel, house to house search in suspected COVID-19 cases in a cluster, to list down serial number of household and name of head of the family, total number of family, to provide details of symptomatic cases if found and complete patient name and address.

Zunheboto DISTRICT

Next poll

Q: Will opening of train

and plane ser vices invite spike in COVID19 cases?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST May 16

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A t-storm around in the a.m.

34 24

Aizawl

Hazy sun

30 19

Guwahati A stray morning thunderstorm 31 22 Imphal

A morning thunderstorm or two 30 17

Itanagar A stray afternoon t-storm

26 20

Shillong

Partly sunny with a t-storm

22 15

Kohima

Couple of thunderstorms

23 15

Dimapur A stray morning thunderstorm 30 20 Mkg

Some rain and a thunderstorm 24 16

Tuensang A morning t-storm in spots Wokha

A morning t-storm, some sun

Zunheboto A thunderstorm in the area

K Y M C

18 12 24 19 21 14

A consultative-awareness and preparedness meeting was held at Ghatashi Adhoc Town Council hall on May 15. (DIPR)

Consultative meeting held at Ghathashi

Ghathashi PHC staff led by MO, Dr. Khriekuolie Liezietsu held a consultative - awareness and preparedness meeting at Ghathashi Adhoc Town Council Hall on May 15. According to DIPR report, the MO explained

the leaders on the importance of preparing a 3-5 bedded quarantine facility at the village level for those villages who are still unprepared. Discussions, questionnaire, and deliberation on various issues were discussed with a par-

ticipation from the meeting attendees. The meeting was attended by the police personnel and administration staff (DBs) of Ghathashi town, VCCs, VDB secretaries and GBs from 12 neighbouring villages. K Y M C

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 159 Dimapur, SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

Challenge on humanity

here is a lurking fear among many that allowing the return of several thousand people from Nagaland who have been stranded outside due to the lockdown, exposes a greater danger from coronavirus if any of them are carrying the virus. The fear may stem from the fact that some may not be showing symptoms even if they may be infected. This is known in medical terms as being asymptomatic. In an asymptomatic case is a person infected with COVID-19 does not develop symptoms but can transmit the virus to another person. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. The fate of stranded people belonging to almost all states, who have been caught under the nationwide lockdown since March 24 is indeed a big challenge. Even Bihar, which provides several lakh migrant labourers including those engaged with various professions, has been urging them to not return back. The Bihar government has also assured of financial assistance to Biharis who choose to remain and not return home. Even the government of Nagaland has also been making appeals to Nagas stranded outside to remain where they are and not to return. In order to encourage the stranded to remain where they are, the state government had offered a financial assistance of Rs.10,000 per person. The financial package of Rs.10,000 may not be much to even talk about but again, it is still something especially considering that the state suffers from acute shortage of funds, like most other states. Many of the cities, especially those in the northern, western and southern parts of India have been designated as either orange zone( a district that has not reported a single case in last 14 days) and red zone( a district with highest case load contributing to more than 80% cases of each state or a district with doubling rate less than 4 days). Thus, the fear of transmission from people coming from the above zones , especially cities under the 130 red zones such as – all of Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chennai, Madurai, Jaipur, Jodhpur,Indore, Bhopal, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Darjeeling,Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra etc- might carry the virus, appears quite logical. It may also be noted, that even Guwahati, which has witnessed sudden spike when three new cases were confirmed has also been placed under a total lockdown for three days. The human tragedy of migrant labourers returning back to their own home states, some by transport vehicles, buses, trains and the lakhs who trekked on foot for hundreds of kilometres, stands as a testimony of how the virus can be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers. Bihar and UP have witnessed spikes in COVID-19 positive cases through several thousand returnees. However, unlike the migrants, the case of the stranded returnees who will be brought through government arranged transport(rail or bus) may be different. The returnees on arrival, will be screened then taken for the mandatory 14-day quarantine at various designated places.Perhaps the fear that continues to linger is about asymptomatic cases. There is another factor of unreliability of thermal screening. It is clear containing COVID-19 is going to be a huge drain economically,socially and administratively.

DailyDevotion The Habit of Rising to the Occasion

…that you may know what is the hope of His calling… —Ephesians 1:18 Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way. You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you. God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly— “By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you….” Rise to the occasion— do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body. May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality— a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.

Quotes

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. ~ Albert Einstein

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

naga plebiscite day message

Dear Naga People, oday, May 16, 2020 happens to be the 70th Naga Plebiscite Day, most glorious. In commemoration of this specially momentous day, I hereby send warmest greetings and prayers for enlightenment to all my fellow Nagas and offer my deepest gratitude to God Almighty. The auspicious occasion calls for another solemn retrospection of our eternally splendid History divine. It has been the most undeniable of facts that Nagas were inspired to declare our Independent status on August 14, 1947, one full day ahead of India! However, that hadn’t been one singular act left orphaned much by far. In actual historical fact; in order to further buttress and fortify the former Deed, our leaders called for a voluntary plebiscite and invited the general populace to feel free to participate in the event on May 16, 1951. This was done primarily to “once and for all times” silence most decisively, all the multiple varied atrocious claims and arguments perpetually emanating from the enemy. Also, it had been aimed at and profoundly achieved involvement of the people’s collective participation and responsibility bearing. As per schedule and under the aegis and patronage of the Naga National Coun-

cil leadership, the historic Naga Plebiscite was held for and by the Naga people on May 16, 1951. The people came forth most voluntarily and pledged with thumb printing; for full Naga Sovereignty to the astronomical level of 99.09%. This figure far exceeded even the wildest expectations of the Naga leadership and left them virtually spellbound. In this wondrous way, the people’s mandate was confer red on the NNC most convincingly. God’s unfailing Hand could most evidently be observed to be actively guiding each and every single step of the Naga National Movement for freedom and total Independence; if one only cares to carefully peruse and honestly ponder. Then came the imposition of the 1952 Indian General Election serving the Litmus test as to whether our August 14, 1947 Independence declaration and May 16, 1951 Plebiscite exercises were for real or otherwise. The most irrefutable of facts is that Nagas are never Indians and would never be so, God forbid; and that Nagas are absolutely different from her and would ever remain so, God being our Adjudicator! To this righteous end the Naga leadership had all the while been most tirelessly endeavouring for our Inde-

would shock and astound everyone alike; well perhaps except the refractory lot (just like then). On suffering such a devastating defeat; instead of accepting the most obvious in all humility and grace, she chose to harden her heart (familiar?) as all irrational savages do, telling the civilized World quite a lot of a sorry tale about her real self. Hereupon, the Government of India decided to pursue the barbaric path of totally and deliberately ignoring the democratic rights of the Nagas in the most absolute. Why and how so perniciously so? World democracy says “all men are born equal” but ‘Hindu Indian democracy’ says that some are born high and some low according to the caste (class) system she not only harbours but also cherish most religiously too. They regarded people like the Nagas as outcasts. They treated them with third class citizenship intent, called them “schedule tribe” or backward people incapable of looking after themselves and considered them to be hopelessly dependent on Government of India. The Holy Bible contains the statement to the effect that even evil men do not give “a stone” when bread is asked for, nor “a snake” when fish is prayed for (Matt

Profiting from a Pandemic

he Corona virus is here to stay. It is only because of the Almighty’s grace that we still do not have a case of the disease in our state. This can be easily attributed to the traditional disciplined lifestyle culture of the Naga people that made it possible for the people to easily follow-up with the prescribed guidelines of the authority. This discipline, however, is not at all forthcoming from the PDA government of Nagaland. It is already months and the government, till today, has not been able to put in place the much needed basic necessity of having a working virology laboratory in the state. Having noticed the delaying lackluster approach of the state government, the Kohima branch of the High Court, in late April, had ordered the government to make operational the testing labs within 10 days, but even after time extensions, the labs are yet to function. The PDA government is now shifting blame to the ICMR when it is the ICMR that has already OKed BSL-3 lab at Kohima and BSL-2 lab in Dimapur. Of all the states in India, Nagaland is that one state which should not be complaining about fund shortage to fight the Covid-19 epidemic. It is the Almighty’s grace that Nagaland actually never suffers from any major natural disasters. To be very true, Nagaland gets more than its fair share of natural disaster funds and the GOI has made it amply clear that

pendent Sovereign State in broad-day light most overtly; but wonder of wonders the Indian leadership; perhaps divinely beguiled, allowed and permitted the free and fair shaping of Naga Destiny to the tipping point of no return, most singularly unhindered! The Government of India did not take the Naga Aspiration seriously enough then (now?) and most casually took them to be like any ordinary Indian and tried imposing her election on the Nagas. But to her utter horror and consternation, she was presented with the most rude awakening; since the Nagas being who they always had been, had absolutely nothing to do with the meddling election; and not even a single vote was cast in its totality, the ballot boxes having been sent back eerily empty. Could there be anything more absolute, be it mathematical and/or demographical than this equation to prove that the Nagas are never Indians – past, present and future?!! If this evidence is deemed not strong enough, Heaven knows whatever else will?! This, behold, is the most profound of victories the Nagas have won over India morally, democratically and in every other possible consideration, for that matter. What did India has to say next then? The reaction

funds allotted for natural disasters can also very much be used for fighting Covid-19. The fund allotted by the Centre for Covid-19 along with the natural disaster relief fund should easily suffice for the state to fight the epidemic, As if this is not enough, Nagaland earned the dubious distinction of being the first state in India to immediately impose Covid-19 cess on diesel, petrol and other petroleum products. The logic of the Chief Minister behind this decision was “to tax the rich and help the poor.” The CM’s logic is so very fine had Nagaland been a producer state and rich enough to sustain itself. Nagaland, however, is a landlocked consumer state, importing every bit of essential commodities. Needless to say, the heavy additional Covid-19 cess on fuel will balloon the price of all and every essential commodity in the market. For the rich, it hardly matters, but for the common people, it is life draining. It is becoming all too apparent that the PDA government is seeing Covid-19 as another opportunity to make money. Money, not for the alleviating the suffering of the people during this pandemic, but to tide over its balances. The Covid cess on fuel will generate an additional amount of around Rs 60 crores annually for the Finance cum Chief Minister of Nagaland, but the direct impact it is going to have on the common people will be much higher and for long. There was actually no need

to burden the people with this additional Covid cess on fuel because, as it is, the state government, as an austerity measure, had already notified a proportional cut (pro-rata) of 15% under “non-development” from the budget estimate of 2020-21. This 15% proportional cut would amount to a massive number – a huge sum of money. With such money at the discretionary disposal of the Chief Minister, the Government of Nagaland should be sparing no expenses to mitigate the suffering of all the Naga people at this point of time. Instead, the state government is engaged in a never ending bargaining stance with the suffering Naga students stranded outside of the state. The current state of affairs can be summarized by the meeting of the Chief Minister with civil society representatives in Dimapur. The meeting was held to solicit the views of civil society in the backdrop of the scheduled arrival of stranded Naga people to the state. Even as the state DIPR released a report which gave a picture of a well intended meaningful interaction, the meeting in reality was nothing short of a blatant attempt by the Chief Minister to justify his handling of the Covid-19 crisis. The primary emphasis of the CM was on the state’s deficit budget figures, delimitation, and the Naga political issue. Need anybody say anything more about misplaced priorities? Benito Z. Swu

7:9-11); the principle being only humane and logical – universally accepted. But the Government of India behaved most contradictorily; sinistrality personified. When the Nagas dared to speak out her rights (bread) – she waged war and paid her with bullets – plenty of them. When the Nagas expressed her desire to be integrated under one umbrella and live in peaceful coexistence (fish) – Government of India resorted to drive them asunder, hunting them down like wild beasts and game birds, permanently displacing them most maliciously. She even went to the nefarious extent of forming unholy alliance with our unwitting neighbours (read Myanmar etc) compelling them to refuse us the Worldacclaimed legendary eastern Asian, age-old hospitality and shelter; and in actual fact, black-mailed them to even turn against us. Where in the World is India trying to drive the Nagas away to? To the Nagas, India has become the very epitome of the unreasonable “dictator” country and one heartless “terrorist” country – judging by the draconian acts and actions having been perpetrated on the puny Nation of Nagaland with utter impunity thus far. There is hardly any

need to repeat that Nagas and India are at war for more than 70 odd years. In this period of time there has been more than 10 Prime Ministers to have come across our right Cause. But each and every single of these honourable personalities had chosen to ignore the Naga Case and kept the Matter “pending” most unjustly. One wonders as to how many more years the same would continue to be denied justice? Another 70 years, perhaps even longer? But there’s no telling what all dramatic changes, diplomatic and/ or otherwise, would come our way within this span of time. Can the Government of India, “the champion of the down trodden people”; in her unfathomable wisdom and lofty statesmanship afford to wait and watch most precariously on? Kindly be informed that as for the Nagas, we would most relentlessly march on and call out most ardently to God the Righteous Adjudicator, till our rightful Sovereignty is finally achieved sooner than later. Long live Naga People. Victory to Naga People. Thank you and KUKNALIM Gen (Retd) Thinoselie M Keyho President, Naga National Council

National Plebiscite Day speech of Yillow Humtsoe, President NNC

Dear Naga people, am thankful to our Living God Jesus Christ for the Naga National Plebiscite Day which could once again be celebrated on this 16th May 2020 amidst the pandemic prevailing in the world. Thank you Lord for this democratic right of Naga National Day conducted by our leaders and people on 16th May 1951. On this day, I humbly salute the leaders, elders and people who successfully conducted the plebiscite on this historic day and as a result of which the democratic right of the Naga people could be established.And this right will stand and has become a strong political pillar for Naga freedom of sovereignty. I also salute all our people who solidly stand true to Naga political rights for sovereignty as a people and nation. The NNC also extend our gratitude to all the people around the world who support the Naga cause of sovereignty for so long in this beautiful part of the world. Today the entire world is greatly affected by the Novel Corona Virus causing immense suffering and impacting human lives largely as this infectious and contagious virus continues to spread throughout the world. It is truly heartbreaking that today many people have lost their lives to this virus and many are

in danger and at risk. The virus is spreading more across the world, making human lives vulnerable and humanity at large is at stake. This invisible and unseen virus has brought down Governments and peoples of the world at its knees, and the future is very uncertain at this point. And the root of all this points to some certain Governments and Scientists who are responsible to have started this as a means to further their agenda of biological, economical and political supremacy and control. And as a result of their terrible and wicked policy has created havoc and devastation throughout the world. Therefore the Governments and scientists responsible for invention of this fatal and life-threatening virus must bear all responsibility and is answerable to humanity at large. In the midst of this crisis and danger, the Naga people in particular and the North East in general must firmly stand together and co-operate in all fronts to fight and defeat this novel corona virus pandemic for prevention and survival of entire region. Indeed, our Living God is in control and His grace and mercy will sustain and prevail for humanity at large. Glory to God Almighty. Kuknalim.

Let us welcome them anyways!

iscriminated, scared, jobless, lockdowned, masked, broke, depressed, homesick, and missing their loved ones they board the trains onward their homes; a place they left not by choice but by circumstances- to earn and support the family or to access better educational facilities for better opportunities. Prior to this journey to home, fervent appeals have been made by various groups, stranded outside the state, to the government to help them come home. As the world and the country continue battling the highly contagious disease, COVID-19, it is not just the fear of getting the disease for the thousands of students and migrant workers stranded outside the state, but it is more about filling the void of emptiness and to be with their loved ones with the blessed resolution that comes what may they will face it together. More threatening than the everincreasing numbers of affected people and deaths is the thought of being alien-

ated and being on the verge of starved and abandoned thousands of miles away from home. Meanwhile at home, even before they step foot into the state, there have been apprehensions raised from certain quarters questioning the very idea of bringing them home and the possible threat they could pose to the people at home. These concerns are much converse to what the homecoming individuals would be expecting. Being seen as a threat in their own village is the least they would expect. Some of the homebound individuals might have even anticipated a show of love and affection and being possibly welcomed with homecoming cheers as they have successfully endured 50 days of lockdown; a lockdown halting not just the delivery and providence of services but of the much-needed love and affection, that they are running after now. It is inevitable that the inbound individuals would be subjected to quarantine

norms as prescribed by the concerned authorities. All the state governments have qualified healthcare professionals who are better informed and learned than the general public to assist the Government in framing necessary guidelines. The irony is when we, in attending our own misconceived fear of suspecting everyone from outside the state as a carrier of the virus in our pursuit to prioritize our own safety above all costs, failed to see the existence of delegated obligations of concerned people to do the worrying part, when we should be lending our words of love and support to those running to us from a thousand miles away just to escape the very feeling we intend to accord them; alienation. Notwithstanding the validity of the suggestions shared by a few people in executing the interstate movement phase-wise, what is worrying many is the supposed lack of infrastructure for quarantine facilities by the state that could accom-

modate and cater thousands of individuals. The idea of fear is spawned more by our belief that the state should be responsible for everything, every time when in reality, a situation as grave as COVID-19 necessitates the wholehearted efforts of the state, CSOs, religious and charitable institutions and most importantly the individuals. If the government has sanctioned Rs.200 per day for fooding expenses of those to be quarantined, is it too much to ask from the community to arrange a centre for quarantine of their own people? The presence of a responsible and well-informed citizen with vibrant CSOs will not only help the Government in successfully welcoming home its citizens stranded outside the state but also dispel the reasons to fear by effectively conducting the necessary quarantine norms, which will eventually not aggravate the health situation of the state, as feared by many. It would be perfect for the Government

to provide state of the art quarantine facilities with the assistance of qualified healthcare staff. But in this imperfect world, as the father of the Nation once said, ‘be the change you want to see in the world.’ Now is a highly opportune instant for CSOs to play a pivotal role in assisting the state in the successful conduct of quarantine process. If quarantine is well implemented and the affected person, if any exists, is given immediate

treatment, nothing changes and we will be as good and green as before. Let us then play our part, and as our brethren keep coming home from different places, may they find the home they come for through the noble efforts of our sensible words and actions. (The writer is author of the book, HILLY DREAMS. More details at www.tshaokip. com) By T S Haokip

Reader’s Post Sir,

Bring them back!

I don’t understand why some people are against the return of people from Nagaland stranded outside. They should be back home with their loved ones in a situation like the one we are faced with right now. There have regular reports of how people from the Northeast are subjected to discrimination and we should all that we can to bring them back. The government of course who have them screened and quarantined. Let us please stand for our brothers and sisters stranded outside the state. Bendang, Dimapur Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

tranche of eco relief package Lockdown 4.0 might differ from state to state 3rd to focus on agri sector, says FM

NEW DELHI, MAY 15 (IANS): As the three-phase lockdown nears its end and Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised lockdown 4.0 will be “in a new avatar”, states are wary about the zoning parameters. While many states are against entire districts being put in red zones due to presence of containment zones, some wanted that right of demarcation of zones be transferred to the states. Even some BJP-ruled states like Assam and Haryana seem to have gone against Central lockdown advisories and thus seemingly joined the chorus of opposition ruled states like that of Rajasthan and West Bengal to let states decide what’s best for themselves. After the Centre had allowed certain relaxations in terms of economic activities mid-April, Kerala went on to demarcate seven districts including Kottayam as either green or orange zones. However, the Centre disagreed as 22 of the 88 hotspots in the state were from the seven districts. Unaware about the miscommunication between the Centre and the state, many came to the streets giving law enforcement agencies a nightmare to undo the damage. As lockdown 4.0 is all set to roll in with expected new relaxations, all states are clear that “they don’t

Few people are seen at Nehru Place market during the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, at Ring Road in New Delhi, Friday. (PTI)

want such confusion over zones.” Increasingly, more and more states want the power to decide what is best for them - to give relaxations when Centre wants to curb or impose restrictions even when Centre wants relaxation. BJP-ruled Assam is the latest entrant to the list of such states which says places like Guwahati that has seen a sudden spike of cases has made it rethink. Now, with 22 cases from the city, the government is firm to impose stricter restrictions despite Guwahati being in the Green Zone. The state is also favouring strict measures on ‘containment zone basis’ rather than district basis. Meanwhile, the na-

tional capital has already demanded greater economic activities across Delhi, despite the entire union territory being in the red zone. In the Chief Minister’s meeting with the Prime Minister through video conference, Arvind Kejriwal is believed to have asked to keep the containment zones like Nizamuddin and buffer areas around under strict curbs while freeing the rest of the city, allowing more activities. The CM is also keen to reopen malls and start auto and taxi services with conditions. On the other hand, before any formal announcement of lockdown 4.0 by the Centre, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has unilaterally announced its extension while promising

more relaxations. “A meeting was held with DMs and SPs. I have told them the lockdown will continue but we need to focus on relaxation. Our rural economy has also been broken. There must be a balance between tackling coronavirus and saving livelihoods,” she had said a day after she accused the Centre of playing “politics” with her state over COVID-19 and asking it to leave it to states on determining zones. Banerjee has come up with a plan to micro divide red zones in her state into A,B, and C category with red zone A being the worst affected areas and hence won’t get any concessions. Meanwhile, buses will be allowed to ply in green zones in her state, the government

NWHD appeals returnees to follow SOP Speed up process DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (NPN): Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) has appealed to all the stranded citizens returning home to diligently observe and adhere to the guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the state govern-

ment. In a press release, NWHD information and publicity secretary stated that the state government’s endeavour in providing necessary facilities and quarantine centres to the citizen returning to Nagaland also required coop-

eration from the citizens. Stating that the state government and various NGOs have been tirelessly engaged in keeping the citizens safe, the hoho has, therefore, requested every individual to join hands in the fight against COVID19.

SoP should be Everyone needs to stay alert: Rio as per central (FromOnp-1)the lockdown and difficulties faced by people in essential items, he said people would have to guideline: AYO procuring learn how to be self-sufficient, stressing everyone must work

(From p-1) AYO said this would ease their physical and mental stress and also not overwhelm the frontline workers and healthcare facilities in Dimapur and Kohima. Meanwhile, AYO has requested all village/colony/ ward panchayats to look out for persons who have returned from outside the state and who have not undergone necessary screening and quarantine. If such cases arose, AYO informed that this should be immediately reported to the government help-lines (Kohima Helpline- 8575228686 and Dimapur Control Room - 6009920884).

towards being self-reliant. During his visit to Phek, Rio inspected the district hospital to review its preparation and measures taken to tackle the pandemic, before holding a meeting with district administration officials. H&FW minister S. Pangnyu Phom, planning & coordination and land revenue minister Neiba Kronu, NPF legislator Kuzholuzo Nienu and Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) president Mikha Kenye spoke briefly. In Zunheboto, Rio visited the district hospital, which has been converted into COVID-19 hospital, and inspected various arrangements made at the hospital like isolation wards and the newly established ICU facility. He also held a review meeting with district administration officials and representatives of tribal bodies like Sumi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho, Sumi Totimi Hoho, etc, besides church leaders, at the DC’s residence. Deputy chief minister, Y. Patton, who also spoke at the meeting, appreciated and thanked civil society groups for their full cooperation and support. Rio was also accompanied by Agriculture minister G Kaito Aye, advisors-- KT Sukhalu, H. Khehovi Yepthomi, Kazheto Kinimi and MLAs Kuzholuzo Nienu and Kezhienyi Khalo.

of setting up lab in Dimapur: DDCF

D I M A P U R , M AY 1 5 (NPN): Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum Dimapur (DDCF) has urged the state government to speed up the process of setting up Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) Laboratory in Dimapur. Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum Dimapur through its media cell stated that Dimapur being the entry point, the government should focus more on the readiness of lab testing facility in Dimapur rather than at some other location. As stranded people have started returning and being accommodated at different quarantine centres in Dimapur, the forum said the readiness of lab with testing facility in Dimapur was all the more imperative. Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum Dimapur has, therefore, urged the state government intervene and urgently complete setting up of BSL-2 lab in Dimapur.

has decided. The state has been one of the first which decided to conditionally open sweet shops, thus getting into a spat with the Home Ministery. BJP-ruled Haryana too seems to favour customization of rules. Salons have reportedly opened up in the millennium city of Gurugram as it is announced as Orange zone’. Visuals of salons opening up with employees wearing PPE kits came out. This despite the MHA category of salons as “service provider” and thus encouraged to stay shut. Modi had asked Chief Ministers to send in their suggestions by today after which he will make an announcement about the contours of lockdown 4.0 which is more about revival than survival model. The government has already announced a slew of economic packages and partially opened special train services, despite opposition by some states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu. But with more and more states demanding autonomy to make customised lockdown rules which are tailored for their respective states according to their demography, predominant industry and geography, will lockdown 4.0 differ from state to state, allowing Chief Ministers room to maneuver, while keeping the macro essentials intact.

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the third tranche of economic package will deal with giving relief to agriculture and allied industries. Speaking to media, she said the package would focus on infrastructure and building capacities in the agriculture and allied activities. She said in the last two months several measures have been taken to support farmers, including minimum support price (MSP) purchases of Rs 73,300 crore during the two months of lockdown. Also, Rs 18,700 crore in cash dole out under the PM Kisan Fund transfers have been done and Rs 6,400 crore of payment in crop insurance have been made. Sitharaman said during the lockdown period, 560 lakh litre per day of milk was procured by cooperatives against daily sale of 360 lakh litres per day. Total 111 crore litres extra procured ensuring payment of Rs 4,100 crore, she said adding a new scheme to provide interest subvention of 2 per cent per annum to dairy cooperative has been implemented. The interest subven-

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama cordance with the rules. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Rathod, said if the votes had not been counted, these could not have been declared as rejected. Sibal argued that the Returning Officer gives a different version on postal ballots to the observer, and the form declares the final results. “It shows collusion and mala fide” argued Sibal before the bench. He insisted that the High Court has said that the rules mandated the postal ballots be mandatorily counted before the results are declared. The bench replied that it was inclined to stay the High Court, which Sibal

opposed. Justice Shantanagoudar told Sibal the Returning Officer has given reasons for his decision. Sibal insisted that he did not agree. The top court issued notice and stayed the order. On Wednesday, Chudasama, 70, moved the top court challenging the Gujarat High Court decision to quash his December 2017 election on the ground of malpractices and manipulation. In the plea, Chudasama contested the High Court decision terming it erroneous, and in an interim prayer, sought stay on the High Court order till disposal of his appeal. Rathod argued before the High Court that 429 postal ballot papers had illegally been excluded from consideration during the vote count by the Returning Officer, and that the election records were also tampered with. “It is proved that 429 postal ballot papers were illegally rejected/excluded from consideration by the Returning Officer at the time of counting of votes in

the election in question, as against the victory margin of 327 votes”, the High Court had observed. Chudasama in his plea said: “The High Court has failed to appreciate the proper facts of the case and has reached a completely erroneous conclusion in holding the successful election of the petitioner as illegal and void.” The plea said that a ballot only becomes a vote at Rule 54(7) which is when the covers in Form 13-B not already dealt with till Rule 54(6) are opened one after another and therefore, in the present case, what are rejected are only 429 postal ballots not votes. He insisted that the High Court did not appreciate that the election petitioner has been unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that corrupt practice has been committed by any person much less the returned candidate. Chudasama was declared elected from 58Dholka Constituency for the Gujarat Assembly Elections held on December 14, 2017.

tion will unlock Rs 5,000 crore additional liquidity, benefitting 2 crore farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week announced a cumulative package of Rs 20 lakh crore (nearly 10 per cent of GDP) to provide relief to various segments of the economy battered by coronavirus lockdown. This included Rs 1.7 lakh crore package comprising free foodgrain and cash to poor for three months announced in March, and Rs 5.6 lakh crore stimulus provided through various monetary policy measures by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Of the remaining, the government has made two tranches of announcements with a cumulative package of Rs 9.1 lakh

‘Recovery rate 34.06%, doubling rate improved’

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that the total recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country has been recorded at 34.06% and the Doubling Rate improved from 3.4 days in the pre-lockdown week to 12.9 days in the last week. During the 15th meeting of high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 held here, the Minister said that 1,685 corona patients were cured in the last 24 hours, which denoted the recovery rate of 34.06%. Reading the COVID-19 situation globally and in the country, the Minister said: “The total coronavirus positive cases worldwide stand at 42,48,389 with 2,94,046 deaths and the fatality rate is pegged at 6.92%. In India, the total positive cases are 81,970, with 2,649 deaths and a fatality rate of 3.23%. So far, a total of 27,920 people have been cured.” The GoM held in-depth deliberations on containment strategy and management aspects of COVID-19, as well as measures taken

Harsh Vardhan by the Centre and various states. The GoM was informed by the officials that there are 30 municipal areas that account for 79% of India’s COVID-19 case load. The GoM also discussed that the focus of COVID-19 management strategy needs to be on the states with the highest numbers of confirmed cases and the fatalities, and on treatment and case fatality management, for which timely detection of infection and contact tracing were the best way forward. The GOM also discussed the challenges before various states/UTs arising due to migrant labourers returning home and the returnees from abroad.

SC stays HC order cancelling Gujarat minister’s election Over 2,000 people detained New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Gujarat High Court order nullifying the election of Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state’s Education and Law Minister, as an MLA in 2017 on the grounds of malpractices and manipulation. A bench comprising Justices Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and R. Subhash Reddy issued notice to the petitioner, the Congress candidate Ashwini Rathod, who lost the election merely by 327 votes. “We stay orders like this all the time, we have done it in many cases”, said the bench. Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Chudasama, contended before the bench that there was no collusion between the minister and the Returning Officer, and that there was no link to establish “material benefit”. The other counsel appearing for the minister argued that the High Court should have called for the 429 postal ballots, which were “illegally rejected” during the counting to examine if their rejection was in ac-

Nirmala Sitharaman

crore, comprising largely of credit lines to smaller firms, concessional credit to farmers and support to shadow banking and electricity distributors. Most of the first two tranches of the package are off-budget and the government cash outgo is limited to just Rs 16,500 crore on free foodgrain and affordable housing to migrant workers as well as limited tax relief and marginal dole to some companies on employee retiral benefits. India had - beginning March 25 - imposed a three-week-long nationwide lockdown, the most far-reaching measure undertaken by any government to curb the spread of the pandemic. The lockdown, which brought most of the economic activity to a standstill as factories and businesses shut while rendering thousands temporarily unemployed, has since been extended twice through May 17, with some relaxations to allow the resumption of economic activity. According to estimates, the lockdown may have led to 12.2 crore people losing jobs in April and consumer demand evaporating.

for violating lockdown in Delhi

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI): Fifty-one cases were registered and over 2,000 people detained in the national capital on Friday for violating lockdown norms, police said here. According to the data shared by the police, 51 cases were registered under section 188 (for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code till 5 pm. A total of 2,068 people were detained under section 65 (persons bound to comply with reasonable direc-

tions of police officers) and 100 vehicles impounded under section 66 of the Delhi Police Act, it showed. A total of 282 movement passes were issued during the day, the police said. Fourteen cases were registered against people for stepping out of their houses without wearing masks, they added. Since March 24, 1,65,635 people have been detained for violating government orders under section 65 of the Delhi Police Act in the city.

The Minister told the GoM that a total of 8,694 facilities comprising 919 dedicated COVID hospitals, 2,036 COVID Health Centres and 5,739 COVID Care Centres with a total of 2,77,429 beds for severe and critical cases, 29,701 ICU beds and 5,15,250 isolation beds in care centres are available. Also, as on date, 18,855 ventilators are now available to combat COVID-19 in the country. The Centre has also provided 84.22 lakh N95 masks and 47.98 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the states, UTs and central institutions. He said that the domestic manufacturers have the capacity to produce nearly 3 lakh PPE and N-95 masks

each per day. Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR, said about COBAS 6800, a fully automated, high-end machine has been installed at the NCDC for performing real-time PCR testing for COVID-19 to test 1,200 samples in 24 hours. He also said that the corona testing capacity has increased in the country to 1,00,000 tests per day through 509 government and private laboratories. Nearly 20 lakh cumulative tests have been conducted in the country. The GoM attendees included Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and MoS Home Nityananda Rai.

ASSAM RIFLES PUBLIC SCHOOL (HIGH), DIMAPUR (NAGALAND)

ASSAM RIFLES TRAINING CENTRE & SCHOOL ( A CBSE AFFILIATED SCHOOL)

VACANCY FOR TEACHERS

1. Online interview will be conducted on 28-29 May 2020 at ARTC&S, Dimapur to fill up the following vacancies in Assam Rifles Public School (High), Dimapur, Nagaland:Post Qualification (i) Post Graduate from recognized university. Principal (ii) M.Ed/B.Ed (iii) 05 Years Teaching Experience. TGT (Science) (i) Graduate in respective subject TGT (Hindi) (Post Graduate will be preferred) TGT (English) (ii) Mandatory B.Ed from recognised university. TGT (Maths) (i) Graduation. PRT (ii) B.Ed/JBT/ETT/Similar Qualification. (i) Graduate or ten years service as a clerk (for Ex-servicemen/ AR). (ii) Computer literate. (iii) Typing with minimum speed of 40 Clerk WPM. (iv) Knowledge of Computer MS Office (speed 8000 key depression per hour). (v) Basic knowledge of accounting 2. Candidates who are willing to work in Assam Rifles Public School (High), Dimapur only to apply. Application with mobile number of the candidates and copy of Aadhaar card must be submitted online at email address artcschool@gmail.com on or before 27 May 2020. Address of school for official correspondence is as under:OIC Assam Rifles Public School (High), Dimapur ARTC&S 3 Miles, Kohima Road Dimapur (Nagaland) PIN : 797115 3. For any queries, please contact 7652061630 (School NCO) or email at artcschool@gmail.com. 4. All expenses will be borne by the candidates themselves. 5. Pay and perks will be as per prevailing scales in comparable institutions. Note :- All candidates are required to show PAN Card / UID or any other valid Identity Card. DC-420

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

Europe relaxes lockdown; cases flare elsewhere UK, European Union Brexit talks

A family from Neuwied enjoy breakfast in a bakery at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany after a month of nationwide lockdown on Friday.

Berlin, May 15 (AP): Germany and several other European countries where the coronavirus spread has slowed were moving ahead Friday with relaxing border restrictions, while flare-ups in Mexico and elsewhere served as a reminder the pandemic is far from over. Slovenia, which has been gradually easing strict lockdown measures, declared that the spread of the virus is now under control and that European Union residents could now enter from Austria, Italy and Hungary.

Germany, meantime, was preparing to open its border entirely with Luxembourg at midnight, and increase the number of crossings open from France, Switzerland and Austria. Travellers will still need to demonstrate a “valid reason” to enter Germany and there will be spot checks, but the goal is to restore free travel by June 15. Germany’s states have also agreed to drop a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers entering from the European Union and several other European coun-

tries, including Britain, said Armin Laschet, the governor of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In northern Europe, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania removed travel restrictions between the Baltic nations, which Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas called “another step toward normal life.” Austria and Switzerland were also moving ahead with easing some border restrictions, and Austria reopened all cafes and restaurants. Restaurants were re-

opening in more German states Friday as well, and the country was to resume professional soccer on Saturday after a two-month hiatus. In Sydney, many cafes and restaurants opened again Friday as New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, granted permission for them, as well as places of worship, to reopen with up to 10 people so long as distancing rules are in place. Many Catholic churches across the state opened for private prayer, confession and small-scale Masses. In Japan, some schools, restaurants and other businesses started to reopen after the country lifted its national coronavirus emergency, while keeping in place restrictions in limited urban areas like Tokyo where risks remain. As countries move ahead with relaxing restrictions, the head of the World Health Organization’s Europe office, Hans Kluge, warned that distancing guidance and other protective measures were more important than ever. Worldwide, there have been more than 4.4 million

coronavirus infections reported and 300,000 deaths, while nearly 1.6 million people have recovered according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. Somalia’s official death toll hit 53, but aid groups and authorities say that figure could be far too low in a country with one of the world’s weakest health systems, after three decades of civil war. Ahead of Mexico’s plan to partially reopen key industries such as mining, construction and auto plants on May 18, authorities sounded a note of concern as the country reported its largest one-day rise in coronavirus case numbers. There were 2,409 new COVID-19 test confirmations Thursday, the first time that number has exceeded 2,000 in one day. Deaths have neared 4,500 and there were signs that hospital capacity was nearing its limit in Mexico City, the hardest-hit area. In Brazil, news website G1 reported that 900 people in Rio de Janeiro were waiting for an intensive-care bed in one of the state’s overwhelmed units.

deadlocked as clock ticks down

Brussels, May 15 (AP): Talks between the European Union and the United Kingdom on their future relationship in the wake of Brexit have ground to a near-standstill despite the urgency for progress before a summit next month. The UK’s chief negotiator, David Frost, said in a statement Friday that “we have made very little progress towards agreement on the most significant outstanding issues.” The two sides remain at odds over a range of key issues including fishing and the role of high courts in settling future disputes. A third week-long negotiation session drew to a close Friday, but so far, just over 100 days after the U.K.’s official exit from the EU, fundamental gaps are still yawning. “It is hard to understand why the EU insists on an ideological approach which makes it more difficult to reach a mutually beneficial agreement,” Frost said. EU negotiator Michel Barnier later told a news conference in Brussels that

“there was no progress on all the most difficult issues.” In little over a month, the EU leaders and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson are scheduled to have a summit, likely on video, to take stock of the talks’ progress. Britain officially left the 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, but remains within the EU’s economic and regulatory orbit until the end of the year. The two sides have until then to work out a new relationship covering trade, security and a host of other issues — or face a chaotic split that would be economically disruptive for both sides, but especially for the U.K. The U.K.-EU divorce agreement allows for the deadline to be extended by

two years, but Johnson’s government insists it won’t lengthen the transition period beyond Dec. 31. Most trade deals take years to negotiate, so finishing something as fundamental as this in 11 months would be a Herculean task at the best of times. Many politicians, experts and diplomats believe it is impossible during a pandemic that has focused governments’ resources on preserving public health and averting economic collapse. If no deal on their future relationship is agreed by then, a cliff-edge economic departure would loom again for Britain, with uncertainly over customs rules, airline slots, financial regulation and other standards.

HCQ has no positive effect in treating virus: Studies Swearing in of new Israeli govt postponed

KAKURO

K Y M C

No. 4183 Yesterday’s solution No. 4182

No. 3208 Yesterday’s solution No. 3207

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Russia reports 10,598 new infections M o s c ow, M ay 1 5 (IANS): Russia has confirmed 10,598 new COVID19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising its total tally to 262,843, the second highest in the world, according to the country’s coronavirus response centre on Friday. The death toll grew by 113 to 2,418, while 58,226 people have recovered. Moscow, the country’s worst-hit region, confirmed 4,748 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 135,464. Russia’s consumer rights and human well-being watchdog announced in a statement Friday that 256,847 people were under medical observation as of Thursday. Over 6.4 million lab tests for COVID-19 have been conducted across the country so far, it added.

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no candidate won enough votes to form a government. The 18-month-long political deadlock has paralyzed Israel’s political arena. Under the unity agreement, signed in April, Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for at least 18 months before being replaced by Gantz. Gantz will serve as Defence Minister and “alternate Prime Minister”, a title tha did not exist before in Israeli politics. The new government is slated to be the largest

in Israel’s history with between 34 to 36 ministerial portfolios. The excess comes at a time when the projections for the Israeli economy were that it will shrink in 2020 and there are approximately one million unemployed people. According to the deal reached between Gantz and Netanyahu, Israel could begin to move on annexation of parts of the West Bank as early as July as part of the implementation of the United States peace plan for Israelis and Palestinians.

OFFICE OF THE

SÜMI COMMUNITY PURANA BAZAR 'B' VILLAGE DIMAPUR : NAGALAND Motto : "Unity is Strength" ESTD. : 2011

FELICITATION With immense pride and honour, we, the SUMI COMMUNITY of PURANA BAZAR 'B' VILLAGE convey our heartiest congratulations to Mr. KHEVITO S. SWU promoted to ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER of EXCISE and Er. KITO ANCHE promoted to EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (PWD) and for bringing laurels and pride to the people of Purana Bazar 'B' Village in general and SUMI COMMUNITY in particular. May Almighty God continue to lead and bless you abundantly and we wish you both success in all your future endeavours. ANANTO H. ZHIMOMI Chairman Sumi Community, Purana Bazar 'B'

SHENITO YEPTHO General Secretary Sumi Community, Purana Bazar 'B' DP-2350

OFFICE OF THE

AO STUDENTS UNION, KOHIMA FELICITATION The Ao Students’ Union, Kohima would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Shri. Sharingain Longkumer, Hon’ble Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Shri. Metsubo Jamir, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development and Shri. K.Bendangtoshi Pongen (Ungma) and family for your support and generosity for helping 38 stranded people in Kohima to return back to Mokokchung on 13th May 2020. Without your aid none of this would have been possible. We value your ongoing support and are much appreciated by the Union. The Union is also incredibly grateful to the Government of Nagaland, Angami Students Union, Kohima Aoer Telungjem, Ao Kaketshir Mundang, All Nagaland College Students Union and all those individuals who have worked in and out to help those in need during this difficult time. With your assistance the ASUK were able to help about 347 stranded people from Kohima to reach their respective home during the inter-District movement. Thank you once again for your unwavering support. President General Secretary (Imodangba Imchen) (Lanuyanger Jamir) ASUK ASUK

DP-2343

No. 9564 Yesterday’s solution No. 9563

in the new unity government. Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi and Deputy Defence Minister Avi Dichter wrote on Twitter that they will boycott the vote in Parliament to approve the new government, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Gantz, Netanyahu’s former rival, said he will withdraw his resignation from his position as Parliament speaker. The unprecedented power-sharing government was scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday night, after three rounds of inconclusive elections, in which

OFFICE OF THE

WESTERN VIYIXE VILLAGE UNION H.Q. DIMAPUR ESTD. 2009 Motto : Upliftment

FELICITATION We, the Western Viyixe Village Union Dimapur would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to Er. KITO ANCHE for being promoted to Executive Engineer (EE) PWD from the post of SDO. We hope and pray that our Almighty God continue to lead and bless you in all your future endeavours. DP-2351

Su doku

Jerusalem, May 15 (IANS): The swearing in of the new Israeli new government has been postponed, hours before its inauguration, due to coalition hurdles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party said in a joint statement that the swearing in of their power-sharing government was delayed until Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. The move came amidst discontent by some seven senior Likud lawmakers who are close associates of Benjamin Netanyahu and were not assigned by him for ministerial positions

DP-2354

Crossword

who require oxygen.” A second study saw researchers in China split 150 COVID-19 patients in to two groups, one of which received HCQ. After four weeks tests revealed similar rates of sustained infection among both groups, though adverse reactions to treatment were more common in the HCQ group. Nor did the severity or duration of symptoms differ between each group. Hydroxychloroquine and a related compound chloroquine have been used for decades to treat malaria, as well as the autoimmune disorders lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Last month the European Medicines Agency warned that there was no indication HCQ could treat COVID-19 and said some studies had seen serious and sometimes fatal heart problems in patients.

DP-2352

Paris, May 15 (Agencies): Treating COVID-19 patients with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) had no positive effect and caused other health complications, two new studies showed Friday. The anti-inflammatory has been touted by US President Donald Trump among others as a potential “game changer”, after initial studies in lab settings showed it may be able to prevent the virus replicating. But several subsequent studies - including one funded by the US government - appear to have doused

hopes that HCQ can help patients hospitalised with COVID-19. In the first study released Friday, researchers in France monitored 181 patients hospitalised with pneumonia due to COVID-19 and who needed oxygen. Eighty-four were treated with HCQ and 97 were not. They found no meaningful difference between the groups for either transfer to intensive care, death within seven days or developing acute respiratory distress syndrome within 10 days. “Hydroxychloroquine has received worldwide attention as a potential treatment for COVID-19 because of positive results from small studies,” said the authors of the research, published in the BMJ journal. “However, the results of this study do not support its use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19

KATOSHE YEPTHO KUTOHO PRESIDENT G/Secy. Western Viyixe Village Union Western Viyixe Village Union

K Y M C

Quarantine centre made containment zone in Mnp

Correspondent

IMPHAL, May 15: In the backdrop of detection of a fresh COVID-19 case, Manipur government is now keeping an eye on people entering to the state from outside. A blanket ban on entering of people including stranded people of the state into the state in private or individually hired vehicles has been imposed with immediate effect from today. The ban will be enforced for some time, said state chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday over telephone to a local cable TV network. For effective management of people entering and exiting the state, the state government has also deputed two officers of commissioner ranks at Mao gate bordering Nagaland and Jiribam bordering Assam where currently entry and exit of people take place.

An order issued by state chief secretary Dr J Suresh Babu directed two commissioners – M Harekrishna and Ranjit Singh to be stationed at Mao Gate and Jiribam gate along with DCs of Senapati and Jiribam respectively to monitor movement of people at the two entry points. The chief minister said that it was very unfortunate that a returnee was tested positive for the virus in the state . However, there was no need to panic as the state government is doing its best to check the spread of the disease. He said “how can we stop them (stranded people) returning their home when there are reports of discrimination against them at the place they are stuck coming up every day.” “How can we ask them to stay when they can’t get food and other basic amenities,” the chief minister asked.

Mnp records fourth COVID-19 case Staff Reporter

N Biren Singh

“To our luck, only one of the four returnees who travelled in the same vehicle tested positive,” he said. At the same time, he said all returnees were carefully screened while entering the state even though they were released from the states where they were stranded after carefully being screened, he added. An individual hailing from a locality in Imphal East district of the state who recently returned from Mumbai on a private vehicle tested positive for the pathogen to take the number of COVID-19 infected patients in the state to three.

IMPHAL, MAY 15: Manipur recorded its 4 COVID-19 case on Friday evening when a girl who had returned from Kolkata on Thursday tested positive for the virus. The sample 22-year-old girl was tested at the JNIMS hospital in Porampat, Imphal East. As per the sample report, the girl was reported to be asymptomatic and arrived into Manipur in a normal condition. With this most recent case, Manipur now has 2 active cases.

Manipur officer dies in avalanche in Sikkim

As per his travel history, the person returned from Mumbai with his father (Cancer patient) on a private vehicle (CRETA-MN06LA 7176). The vehicle entered the state through Mao gate passing through Nagaland on NH-2. He is the son of a COVID-19 lady who expired on May 5 due to the disease. They went to Mumbai for treatment of his father. Soon after their arrival, they were lodged at Jamia Halima Girls School at Khabeisoi in Imphal East, a community quarantine centre. The patient has been admitted at JNIMS isolated ward for treatment. An order of the Imphal East district magistrate has immediately declared the community quarantine centre as containment area and taken up all necessary measure to check spread of the disease in the surroundings. Meanwhile, a source

at JNIMS said that he was asymptomatic as of now. Following the latest development coupled with arrival of large number of people from the state stranded outside due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the state government has geared up to intensify its containment measures to check the spread of the contagion. The state government has constituted District Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and Surveillance Teams in all the districts, including 40 sub-surveillance teams in each district as preparatory arrangement. “Quarantining of returning persons for 14 days and social distancing by all remain vital to break the spread of COVID-19 in Manipur. Everyone is requested to co-operate for collective safety of our state,” the control room functioning from the chief minister’s secretariat reminded.

Mizoram extends lockdown till May 31 Aizawl, May 15 (PTI): The Mizoram government on Friday extended lockdown till May 31 to check the spread of coronavirus infection, an official said. The decision was taken after various political parties and several organisations, including those of NGOs, churches and doctors, favoured extension of the lockdown at a meeting on Thursday, he said. At a meeting of various task groups on COVID19 presided over by Chief Secretar y Lalnunmawi Chuango, it was decided that the lockdown will be extended beyond May 17, the official said. New guidelines for extended lockdown too were discussed in the meeting, he added. A task group was formed to study about extending insurance cover

to frontline workers such as police, village or locallevel task force volunteers, government employees on special duty and those who pick garbage from quarantine facilities, the official said. Chief Minister Zoramthanga who presided over Thursday’s meeting had said that extending the lockdown was crucial to ensure public safety, although the state has been declared green zone after its lone patient recovered on May 9. The patient, who had a travel history to Netherlands, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24. Mizoram began testing of samples for COVID-19 at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on April 7. Total 202 samples have been tested so far and all were found to be negative.

Meghalaya Cabinet discuss CM’s Economic Task Force

Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 15 (AGENCIES): A Lt Colonel and a soldier of the Indian Army were killed in an avalanche in the mountainous Lugnak La region of north Sikkim on Thursday, officials said, reports NDTV, The two personnel were part of an 18-member group which came under the avalanche, they said. “A patrolling-cumsnow clearance party came under avalanche in North Sikkim on 14 May,” a senior Army official said. “Inspite of the best efforts

northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

Shillong, May 15 : The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday deliberated on the Chief Minister’s Economic Task Force to formulate sectorspecific strategies for tacking economic disruption due to COVID-19 pandemic. “The Cabinet met today to discuss the CM’s Economic Task Force that will focus on reviving and modifying #Meghalaya’s economy in the #COVID19 scenario,” Sangma, who is

also the Chairman of the apex committee of the task force, tweeted. The Cabinet has also approved the Meghalaya State Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020. The Bill will be tabled and passed in the upcoming re-assembled budget session of the state Assembly which will commence on May 20. The proposal to include the Commissioner of Food

Safety in the list of head of departments was also approved by the state cabinet. The Chief Minister’s E c o n o m i c Ta s k Fo r c e has been divided into an apex committee, executive committee and working groups. Only Cabinet ministers and senior government officials are members of the apex committee. The executive committee, which is also headed by Sangma, will include academicians, apart from ministers and

government officials. The working groups to be headed by senior officials have been constituted on finance revenue and investment, infrastructure and labour, agriculture and allied sectors, rural poverty alleviation and livelihood, industries and trade, entrepreneurship skills and tourism. The terms of the reference of the working groups are to identify sectoral intervention to generate maximum impact on employment and livelihood within two

weeks. It is also mandated to identify critical policy reforms and sectoral strategies for immediate and mediumterm needs, and review the existing schemes for better utilisation of resources. The ruling National People’s Party-led government has also launched the Meghalaya Economic Survey, 2020, for businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals to gather data on the disruption caused across the state owing to the health pandemic.

‘No one should take law into their own hands’

Correspondent

Shillong, May 15: The Meghalaya government has warned of strict action against anyone who take laws into their own hands in the wake of the health crisis arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In this kind of situation, we are very firm and we cannot allow anyone to take law into their own hands because this is in the interest of the people and the society and whatever we do, we will do in the interest of the people and the state”, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said. Sangma statement came after ASHA workers had threatened to boycott their services if their pending dues are not cleared. Moreover, several pressure groups, including heads of traditional institutions and coal miner and dealer associations, threatened to defy the lockdown if the government fails to rescind its order to import coal from Assam to feed cement plants in East Jaintia Hills district. “We have already done everything from our side to ensure that this is cleared. We want to ensure that they get their salaries with all the benefits on time unlike before,” the Chief Minister referring to the pending dues of the ASHA workers. He said the government had already to clear the pending dues in this financial year, but the government couldn’t carry forward due to COVID-19 pandemic.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Lt Col Robert TA of the rescue team and local formation an officer Lt Col Robert TA and sapper Sapala Shanmukha Rao who were trapped under the ice lost their lives,” he said.

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY LATE MR. LANUAKUM AIER 16th MAY 2019

Born 20/11/1968 : Died 8/04/2020 The family of Lt. Nyanbemo Lotha (husband of Smti. Damayanti Subba) of Old Riphyim Village, Wokha would like to extend our gratitude to each and every one who helped us physically, financially and spiritually at his sudden demise at Nikos Hospital, Dimapur. May our good Lord bless you abundantly. Loving family members DP-2349

DP-2348

LT. ABEMO KHEZHIE – LOVED BY GOD.

“WITH FOND MEMORIES” -LOVING WIFE, CHILDREN & FAMILY MEMBERS

DC-421

K-901

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGE AND SHORT HISTORY OF CANSSEA

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The former CANSSEA office bearers Nagaland has condoled the demise of Late ZAKUNEI ZAO former Joint Secretary on 4th May 2020. The Ex office bearers expressed shock and dismay at the passing way of Z. ZAO. Expressing condolences to the bereaved family, the Association shared the grief and sorrow and prayed to the Almighty to grant solace to the departed soul. At this sad and difficult time, all the State Govt. employees remember with honor the contribution made towards the achievement of Goals of CANSSEA by the following great leaders who are no more with us today:1) LATE Z. ZAO – JT. SECRETARY – (1995 - 09) 2) LATE DR. RSHAIZA – TREASURER – (1995 - 99) 3) LATE N.K. NUH – TREASURER – (1999 - 10) “THE END OF MAN IS AN ACTION NOT THOUGHT, THOUGH IT WERE NOBLEST”, TWO LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS THAT BECOME PART OF CASSEA HISTORY ARE:(1) ADOPTION OF 5TH CENTRAL PAY SCALES WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST JUNE 1998. (2) ENHANCEMENT OF RETIREMENT AGE TO 60 YEARS W.E.F. FROM 15.11.2007 BESIDES A MONUMENTAL BUILDING. LET CANSSEA SAGA CONTINUE TO STRIVE UNABATED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. (Dr. K. Solo) Ex. President, CANSSEA Nagaland K-902

IN GRATITUDE Our family acknowledges with gratefulness your prayers, generous support and visits during the brief ailment of our beloved brother Lt. Abemo Khezhie who went to be with the Lord on the 29th April 2020. Your presence, expressions of love, giving, caring and prayers braving the difficulties of the ongoing Lockdown to be with us comforted and sustained us during our bereavement. Our heartfelt appreciations to : 1. Rev. James C. Neikhrienyü, Pastors, Deacons and members of Baptist Mission Church, Kohima. 2. Doctors and Nurses of Oking Hospital, Kohima May God bless you all and keep you safe. COM

His Children, Brothers, Sisters, In-laws & Family K Y M C

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

hangs over T20 WC IOC committing $800 mn for Tokyo Olympics Uncertainty ICC may discuss shifting event to 2022 ‘We don’t know how money will be spent’

Visitors pose for photos with the Olympic rings in Tokyo. (File)

Lausanne, May 15 ( I ANS ) : I n t e r n a t i o n a l Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Thursday that the IOC is willing to bear up costs of upto $800 million in the organisation of the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The 2020 Olympics was postponed to 2021 this March due to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed an estimated 3 lakh people worldwide and infected over 4 million. “We anticipate we will have to bear costs of up to $800 million for our part and responsibilities in the organization of the postponed

Games Tokyo 2020,” Bach said in a teleconference after the IOC’s Executive Board meeting. Bach said that “$650 million would go towards the organization of the Games next year and $150 million to support international federations and National Olympic Committees (NOC).” This is the first time that the IOC is publicly stating the extent of additional costs that it has to bear due to the unprecedented postponement of the Games. Bach also denied any speculation on a potential second postponement of the

Games or shifting it to a different venue if a vaccination is not found for coronavirus by the time the Games start. The Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to start on July 23 and end on August 8, 2021. “We are now working with full engagement for the success of Tokyo 2020 in 2021 and to have these Games in a safe environment for all participants,” he said. “We are one year and two months away from the opening of these postponed Olympic Games. We should not fuel any speculation on any future development.”

The organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the first in history to be postponed, said on Friday they were not aware of detailed spending allocations for $800 million committed to next year’s rescheduled Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Such knowledge is critical as the total costs of the Games, delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, remain unknown, with Japan’s government and the Tokyo 2020 organisers still assessing how to share the costs. “We, in the organizing committee ourselves, have no idea about how this money will be spent,” Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the organising committee, told an online briefing. “As to the breakdown...I also understand that the IOC has stated it is too soon and too early to tell.” Muto said he had not seen a breakdown of the IOC’s costs and declined to say how much the delay was likely to cost the Games organising committee and the Japanese government. “As to why it is $650 million? I am afraid you will have to ask the IOC,” he added. New dates have been set since the IOC and Japan decided jointly in March to postpone the Olympics, but little else, leaving open issues such as availability of venues, athlete safety and a swathe of broadcast and sponsorship contracts. Changes to the original plan could be expected so as to save costs and make the Games safe for athletes, Muto said, without providing details. But if the pandemic threat persists, incorporating social distancing norms into the arrangements promises to be a headache, to say nothing of other precautions. “One of the bigger questions is, can we actually hold the Olympic and Paralympic competitions in the same way we have always held them?” Muto added.

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI): The option of shifting the upcoming T20 World Cup to 2022 is expected to be put on the table when the ICC Board meets on May 28, a member of world governing body’s influential Board told PTI on Friday. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the T20 World Cup in the wake of coronavirus pandemic and shifting it may find favours with Cricket Australia, feels the Board member. The ICC flagship event is scheduled in Australia from October 18 to November 15. The ICC Board Meeting will be preceded by the Cricket Committee meeting to discuss playing conditions including applying sweat and saliva on the ball. It is expected that ICC’s Events Committee headed by Chris Tetley will present multiple options. “We are expecting three options from the ICC Events Committee. First option is having World T20 as per schedule with 14-day quarantine with crowd being allowed. The back-up for this option could be tournament in-front of empty stadium. The third option could be shifting the tour-

nament to 2022,” a Board member privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The Board meeting will also discuss two-month extension for Chairman Shashank Manohar but primarily the focus will be on deciding the fate of T20 World Cup. Of late, Cricket Australia and their top players including present and former, have been aggressively campaigning for the Test Series against India to go as scheduled in NovemberDecember. The series is crucial to Cricket Australia’s financial health. “CA wouldn’t be too unhappy if the World T20 is shifted to 2022. At the end of the day, ICC is made up of members. If members decide that bilateral series are more important, you can’t discount that. “Also ICC might find

its cash flow being hampered but it’s a short-term problem. If the tournament happens in 2022, the parent body doesn’t lose anything because it’s deferment not postponement,” the board member said. The deferment will also mean that the cash-rich Indian Premier League, which is a parallel industry in itself, will get the much-needed window if the COVID-19 pandemic is under control by then. The Indian team can travel to Australia after the IPL. The Board member also cited a few problems which may lead to deferment of T20 World Cup. “The costs of quarantine arrangements for 16 teams with support staff plus TV crew will be huge. Add to that if in some of the countries, normalcy doesn’t return, whether travelling will be safe by then,” he added. “So it can’t be postponed by a few months, say February-March, 2021. It’s not a great idea as we have Women’s ODI World Cup and the two ICC events should not clash. The Women’s World Cup is a much safer bet, there will only be eight teams.”

Kroos rules out move to England Djokovic targets Grand Slam and world No 1 records Belgrade, May 15 (Agencies): Novak Djokovic believes he will win the most Grand Slam titles and become the longest-reigning world number one by the time he retires, the 32-year-old Serb said in an interview. The current world number one has 17 Grand Slam titles to his name two behind Rafa Nadal and three fewer than Roger Federer - and said he has no doubt in his ability to overtake the other members of the so-called ‘Big Three.’ “I’m always very confident in myself,” he said in an interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. “I believe I can win the most slams and break the record for longest number one. Those are definitely my clear goals.”

Djokovic was in imperious form before the novel coronavirus pandemic brought the circuit to a halt in early March. He lifted the ATP Cup with Serbia, won an eighth Australian Open title and then completed a fifth triumph at the Dubai Tennis Championships, extending his unbeaten run to 21. Swiss great Federer also owns the record for total number of weeks at number one, with 310, and consecutive weeks at the top position, with 237, compared with Djokovic’s 282 and 122. Federer turns 39 in August and Djokovic said he could envision himself still playing at 40. “I don’t believe in limits. I think limits are only illusions of your ego

Prefers not to over-think about infection: Messi

Chinese GP now slated for Oct 4

Toni Kroos

M a d r i d, M ay 1 5 (Agencies): Toni Kroos is not expecting to be reunited with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, with the World Cup winner intending to honour his contract at Real Madrid rather than secure a switch to England. The Germany international has long been linked with a Premier League move, with Manchester

BARCELONA, May 15 (Agencies): Lionel Messi believes he is better off not thinking too much about the risk of being infected by the coronavirus as Spanish soccer clubs step up their return to activity, saying he looks forward to getting back to playing matches. Messi and his Barcelona team mates have been back at the club’s training ground conducting individual sessions since last week. All 11 remaining rounds of fixtures in La Liga will take place without spectators, with President Javier Tebas saying last week that matches could start as soon as June 12. While some players and clubs have spoken out against football returning out of fear of picking up the virus or passing it on to others, Messi said returning to matches was no riskier than leaving home for any other

United having come close to securing his signature in the past. At 30 years of age, and with three years left to run on his deal at Santiago Bernabeu, Kroos believes his playing days will be seen out in Spain. Quizzed on whether he sees himself in the Premier League at any stage, Kroos said, “I definitely plan to

be with Real for these three years.” “Then it is a good time at 33 to question yourself: what does it look like physically, what does motivation look like - I still feel like it to keep going? If something comes together and you say: ‘Okay, one more year here, because you are just good enough and you still feel like it’, I would not rule it out, but then a move to England, I can’t imagine that at 33.” Recent speculation has suggested that former Bayern boss Guardiola would welcome the opportunity to add another ball-playing midfielder to his ranks at the Etihad Stadium. Pressed on whether a move to City could be made, Kroos said he “cannot imagine that it is an option for me to go somewhere else again”.

Lionel Messi

reason. “There’s a risk of infection everywhere, when you leave your house there’s a risk, so I think we shouldn’t think too much about it

because if you do you won’t want to go anywhere,” Messi told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Friday. “But we must under-

stand that it’s essential we comply with the protocols and follow the prevention measures as much as we can. Returning to training is the first step but we shouldn’t get complacent and we must take all precautions necessary.” Messi said he is excited about returning to matches but voiced his opposition to La Liga’s proposal for teams to be quarantined together, away from their families, once matches resume. “Personally I’m looking forward to the competition returning. We know it’s going to all be very strange, without anyone in the stands, I’ve done it before and I found it out,” said the Barca captain. “With regards to being quarantined, the truth is we don’t like the idea of being separated from our families at all but we’ll have to see what the final plan is.”

Beijing, May 15 (IANS): Formula One’s 2020 Chinese Grand Prix now looks set to take place on October 4, after the sport released its latest version of its 2020 schedule. Originally slated for April 19, the Chinese Grand Prix was the first race of 2020 to be postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak. F1’s revised calendar puts the Chinese Grand Prix as the 11th race of 19 scheduled. The race at the Shanghai International Circuit will take place one week before the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, which retains its original date of October 11. F1 hopes to start the season with two races in Austria on July 5 and 12, followed by two at Britain’s Silverstone Circuit on July 26 and August 2, as F1 looks to bulk out the calendar to make up for lost races.

Novak Djokovic

or your mind,” he said. It wasn’t too long ago that Djokovic had an entirely different outlook on the game. After falling in straight

sets to unseeded Benoit Paire at the Miami Open in 2018, his wife, Jelena, said he was ready to hang up the racquet. “He said to me that

he’s quitting and that’s the truth,” she said in the interview. “He lost in Miami. It was a terrible loss. And then he just, you know, gathered all of us and said, ‘You know guys, I’m done.’” “A n d I w a s l i k e, ‘What?’ And he goes like, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Edoardo [Artaldi], you can speak with my sponsors. I want to be clear with them. I don’t know if I’m stopping for six months, a year or forever.’” Djokovic did not go through with his retirement plans and bounced back to triumph at Wimbledon that July. In the wide-ranging interview, Djokovic also discussed past struggles with his health, his marriage and surviving the bombings in his native Serbia in 1999.

Jamieson gets NZ contract for impressive debut against India Christchurch, May 15 (PTI): Pace sensation Kyle Jamieson’s “outstanding” performance against India in his debut Test series early this year earned him a central contract from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2020-21 season. The 25-year-old Jamieson earned the Man of the Match award in his ODI debut against India, before grabbing the Player of the Match award for taking a five wicket haul in the second Test at Hagley Oval. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and South Africanborn batsman Devon Conway were also offered contracts for the first time for the next one year. The contracts will officially commence from August 1 and players have

Kyle Jamieson

until May 22 to accept or decline the offer. Conway will become eligible for national selection in August this year. The 28-year-old had a topped the domestic batting charts in the last two seasons. Patel has been in the mix in Tests for the past one and a half years. Among the players to

miss out were batting duo of Colin Munro and Jeet Raval and spinner Todd Astle, who retired from red-ball cricket in January. They were not offered a renewed contract. Jimmy Neesham, Will Young and Tom Blundell have all retained their contracts after being added to the list last season.

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