20 minute read
Administrative Officers, DEF and Medical Department
from September 3, 2020
Govt’s milch cow
It was bad news when the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, disclosed that India’s GDP has contracted by 23.9% in April-June this year. The worst hit were construction which contracted at 50.3% while trade, hotel, transport, communication contracted at 47%.Added to pandemic the crisis has been deepened by the ever increasing price of fuel that has the potential of pushing up inflation and hitting the low income and daily wage earners hardest. The government has been raising excise duty, VAT etc for the umpteenth time since 2014. In May 2012, when petrol prices were hiked by steepest at Rs 7.54 a litre, Narendra Modi had called it a failure of UPA government. Today, petrol is the costliest in India in all of South Asia. The increase in petrol prices by UPA was done following a 14.5 per cent rise in crude oil prices and a 3.2 per cent devaluation of the rupee. The price of the Indian basket of crude oil crashed from USD 113 per barrel in May 2014 during UPA -II to USD 50 by January in 2015 prompting PM Narendra Modi to thank his “luck” for reducing prices. His run of good luck continued till middle of 2017. At one point in January 2016, crude oil price fell to USD 29 per barrel. Today, notwithstanding the consistent fall of crude oil prices, both petrol and diesel have only become dearer for consumers in India, with the government trying to cash in on lower prices by hiking the excise duty of the fuels. The cash-strapped Central government has been consistent in hiking the excise duties on the fuels. In 2014, the excise duty on per litre of petrol and diesel were Rs 9.48 and Rs 3.56 respectively. This has risen to Rs 32 per litre for petrol and Rs 31.83 for diesel (a hike of around 137 per cent). In 2014 a litre of petrol in Delhi was Rs.71.51 and diesel was Rs.57.28. In 2020 a litre of petrol cost Rs.82.08 and a litre of diesel costs Rs.73.56. In spite of the government slashing excise duty on petrol according to the Budget 2018, yet there seems to be no downward curve when the price of petrol is taken into consideration. This is due to the introduction of Rs. 8 per litre as Road Cess. An increase in transportation costs and shortages in supply of some key perishable items such as vegetables and onions probably has pushed food prices higher. If input costs rise, so should the cost of end products. For example, if the price of oil rises, then cost of products will also increase and create inflation. Economists said inflation edged up to a sixth-month high in August, driven by higher food prices and as the battered rupee made key imports such as fuel costlier. This is part of a pattern of excessive taxation of fuel - which governments tend to use as a cash cow. In Delhi, for example, two-thirds of what a person pays at the petrol pump consists of Central excise and state value added tax. India has, as a result, the highest tax rates on fuel compared to any other country in the world. It is time to bring petrol, diesel and petroleum products under GST to take away the whimsical power of oil companies and the government to hike fuel prices. This way, prices of fuel will be stabilised.
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Daily Devotion
A Life of Pure and Holy Sacrifice
He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow… —John 7:38
Jesus did not say, “He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God,” but, in essence, “He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him.” Our Lord’s teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person— His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us— and we cannot measure that at all.
When Mary of Bethany “broke the flask…of very costly oil…and poured it on [Jesus’] head,” it was an act for which no one else saw any special occasion; in fact, “…there were some who…said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted?’ ” (Mark 14:3-4). But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said, “…wherever this gospel is preached…what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14:9). Our Lord is filled with overflowing joy whenever He sees any of us doing what Mary did— not being bound by a particular set of rules, but being totally surrendered to Him. God poured out the life of His Son “that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Are we prepared to pour out our lives for Him?
“He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”— and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time for us to break “the flask” of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?
Quotes Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.
Post-mortem COVID-19: Dawn of a new age of reason
Eight months passed-by, nations in allopathy, homeopathy or pointing to something such as nance, justice, freedom, equality, it’s absurd”, while on the other, coronavirus (COVID-19) and ayurvedic pharmaceutical persons, countries, God’s wrath, dignity, equity, parity, peace, love Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard emcontinues its rampage withsystems.During the pandemopunishment or prophesizing and and many others. phasized that reason must be out any pause. Its momentum is nium most the countries and many other storiessuch as we are As we moved on higher kept aside in order to allow faith. on the ascent as it kills and infects those in the business capitalized living in end times wooing people and higher in our progress and Coronavirus has brought these millions of people across the the situation to their advantage so that desperateness tends to buy development for which science two vis-à-vis faith and reason, world. For instance, in India as promoting all kinds—brands all in such things and technology played vital science and religion to a state of today 3.31 million total numthe name of ‘corona nationalism’ Coronavirus, however, has roles which gave way to strict of animated suspension. It has ber of cases have been infected having no authenticity and validtotally changed the existing fordisciplinary narrowness as scibrought these two entities to a whereas those died of the deadly ity. In times of pandemic there are mat and rubric and in the processence became more technical level that allows each other to pandemic are 60, 472. The curve people who tend to exploit. decimated some of the dominant and super-specialized, and techcomplement one another withis predicted to surge in the comDeveloping a vaccine for assumptions, perceptions and nocrats started to become the out which the existence of one ing days and weeks. Experts are COVID-19 is in the processwhich belief-systems that used to be driving force and thus started to depends on the other—loses its desperately trying their level best would take some more time. believed and followed during presit on drivers’ seat. Science and relevanceand thus suffer and to flatten the curve of COVID-19 Scientist and researchers are COVID-19 times. It has brought technology needscareful scrutiny certainly gets affected. by developing a vaccine. How involved in developing a vaccine the belief systems to unprecbased on candid values that adCOVID-19 has triggered long would it take? Answer to this to combat the emergent virus. edented levels that prompts us to dresses the larger humanity, the us to see the co-relation and question looms at large. We live in difficult times as it is ponder over. People at large are eco-space and the cosmos that we connections between faith and
The scenario we live is so spreading its tentacles across the going through harrowing times live and leave for the present and reason. Both have their purposes fluid and highly ambiguous. Evworld inflicting massive damas the current pandemic is posing future generations. Science per and so we are pushed to see erything seem to be vague and ages to the life and livelihood of multiple strikes. In such a setting, se has higher purpose insulated the intricate fusion as reason indefinite. Fearing the deadly millions of people. All sorts of we need to consider and live with solid enlivening values. can provide the knowledge of coronavirus hundreds and thoutheories, prescriptions and politithrough the difficult times that Similarly, COVID-19 has God based on the nature of the sands of people have gone to cal narratives surface intersecting lie ahead. People of faith look to exposed the organized religion universe and human moral exdistant places for livelihood and with each other, but nothing God for divine intervention and that centered itself on creeds, perience which could perhaps be education have fled to their naseem to be working. Nonetheothers in pure sciences look for traditions, doctrines, liturgy and termed as ‘revelation’. Therefore, tive places travelling hundreds less, people want a clear message scientific reasons. many others leading to pseudoreason and faith have relational of kilometers facing numerous that rips open the invisibility of Perhaps we are pushed to spirituality and pseudo-faith. It functionalities which could be hurdles. Stories and testimonies COVID-19. another new age of enlightenhas triggered awareness amongst viewed as they are entwined with are so moving and captivating. Human tendency during ment as the ways with which the faith communities to turn each other. The unprecedented invisible coronavirus has brought before us many powerful images and imprints revealing and conveyingmultiple meanings that are going on inside them. The deadly pandemic has infused such pains creating anxiety and hopelessness in our midst pushing people togo for medicationsavailable in the forms of catastrophes waver andthus sways to extremes desperately in order to hold on to something that offers them solace or healing or extends a handle to come out of the crisis or problem be it supernatural, medical or whatever. Now the context we are into is dictated by a global pandemic. In such uncertain and fluid times there are also people to exploit the situation by COVID-19 is challenging. Even during that period, the great thinkers of the age were forced to answer and respond to with the scientific and rational questions of their times—Locke, Rousseau, Adam Smith, Utilitarians, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant and many others. Enlightenment gave us liberal values and cardinal principles to look into to the Scriptures and to God. Adherents of faith now trying to retrieve the very meaning of ecclesia. In theological and religious circles, the axis of discussions and debates now should gear around to the notion of reasons and revelation—postCOVID-19 formulations. We are in a state where we cannot dichotomize—Tertullian Today, COVID-19 has pushed us see a bigger picture from which we are guided by universal and integrated rationality with a collective humanity and even spirituality. If we do not see the connectivity and integrity of these two, we would be pushed to a difficult future and to pull out from that by them would be too late. syrups, capsules and other combiinvoking holy scriptures or God democracy, rule of law, goveronce said, “I believe because Dr. John Mohan Razu
Why not negotiate only for Naga country-Nagalim?
Through reading some it simply means the issues any Prime Minister of India agreement and nine points and Lower House as state gional Council-comprising authoritative books of Naga Integration and to favour Nagas by extendAgreement with Hydari in Governments or as Autonorepresentative from all maand articles I have Sovereignty are off the table ing the recognition of the 1947 June. For example in mous Regions with special jor Naga tribes in the Northcompiled this write-up and and with it the issue of flag Sovereignty having a sepathe Hydari Agreement, the grant of 20 more MLAs & East. also take liberty to reproand constitution. rate flag and constitution Nowgong District forest 2 MPs more to the existing Dr. Along Longkumer duce some very well said “Another significant Furthermore, though the 9 which belonged to our Naga Nagaland State Governwrites, “Even the Naga or well-pointed out facts of point, Mr. S. Sangtam points Akbar Hydari Agreeancestors’ domain (see the ment. Indeed, we wanted National Council (NNC) some relevant matters conwrites, is that the title does ment as well as the 16 points map drawn by European to have a dual citizenship under Phizo had taken the cerning Nagas past, present not mention NSCM (I.M) Agreement had stated that in 1764 and the boundaries and I think it is already in position that on broader and future. or (K) or (U) or (R) etc.... the contiguous Naga areas clearly stated by Briteshoperation-Naga indigenous issues, Nagas can be con
I use to wonder what Ravi can go and sign with would be brought under one ers vide was agreed to be citizenship and Indian citinected to India. The NNC is truly meant by Political as many splintered groups as administration unit. It seems returned to Nagas . zenship for travel abroad. while acknowledging the Science. I heard once our there are in Nagaland......afnow a foregone conclusion We Nagas always had Dr Along Longkumer, many connections that exVeteran Politician S.C Jater settlement, if any groups that this commitment or our own defence force and a very senior and first grade isted with India had called mir said “Politic is an art continue to struggle for these aspirations of Nagas systems in every village. Journalist, the founding Edifor unification and freedom of compromising”. By this settled issues, they will be could not be materialised by Today, we have our Naga tor of Dimapur based Moof all tribes and as a distinc“well –said word” I use as the “measuring root” assess the individual politician as well as the party. I may say that only after I read the write-up Articles of Mr K. Puro and Mr Salikyu Sangtam which were published in Nagaland Post on 18.8.20 and August 20, 2020 respectively, I came to realise what is meant by Political Science. Mr K. Puro has rightly pointed out the truth that, It is certain that much anticipated settlement is without Sovereignty.... it is obvious that the Agreement is not for all the Nagas. It is nowhere near the Nine Points Agreement 1947 certainly short of the 16 points Agreement 1960, Definitely below the status of Article 37, A. may be worse than that of infamous shilling Accord 1975.... Imagine, the seven decade long struggle with flood and tears to be bartered with only a few Assembly and Parliamentary seats.... after sacrificing tens of thousands of precious lives from both sides, the Sol may not find any difficulty to sign the “final settlement within the constitution of India, provided that the Nagas are United ?....The Blood and Tears of the Nagas should not be exchange with “ Peaceful Solution” alone. Because final settlement will come only after the inherent rights of Nagas officially dealt per criminal law (ie armed gangs etc) and treated as law and order issues (which it already has). In other words, once the agreement is signed, even the NNPGs unrealistic claims about further pursuing for Naga Integration, Sovereignty etc through democratic process will be seen by Government of India and state Government as criminal activities carried out by “armed gangs” Hence the NNGPs must also make its stand clear and specific on this issue or rather remaining quite.... Mr Salikyu in conclusion writes” I urge readers to prudently examine where we are heading and the kind of Society we want to leave behind for the coming generation.....” I would also reproduce here once again the Question Mr Gwanphum Gangmei in his article in Nagaland Post has posed on 21.8.2020, “CAN NAGAS RIGHTS BE BARTERED OR NEGOTIATED? He writes “Nagas Rights are non-Negotiable or can not be bartered for any amount of material gain.” M r T h e p f u l h o u v i Solo writes in his article Nagaland First (refer to Nagaland Post dated Nov 22, 2019) Nagaland has almost Sovereign freedom in its cultural domain. The the GOI. The whole gamut of finalization of the Indo Naga political talk has now narrowed down to only the settlement of the Naga of the three States of Arunachal, Assam and Manipur in Autonomous council in their own respective states and 20 more MLA and 2 more M.P for Nagaland. Do not belittle our beloved Grand Pa Dev Gowda’s sayings who had said on 18th Aug. 2020 (Nagaland Post). “A peace Accord must be reached at the earliest. Distrust apparently has crept in, the progress made in the last 23 years in 5 successive government must not be forsaken now. There is constitution and also the 2015 framework agreement, which should help its move towards a solution”. Gowda said he sincerely hope that distrust is put aside, talks continue and a peace accord is reached at the earliest. He added the people of the North-East deserve to live in harmony and witness economic progress. Indeed, Ravi’s attempt of converting a political issue into a law and order problem and adapting a stratagem that resulted in the killing and arrest of its members is indeed an insult to GoI and to the Nagas Nation. Let us ask ourselves Army, (not armed gangs or miscreants or terrorists system) and we need to maintain a central Naga Army not to make wars with any but to defend and maintain peace, law and order-society as we had been doing throughout our generations. Indeed, we don’t ask Indian Government to grant us Sovereignty Independence or Constitution or flag. Because we have already all these things which India had accepted that our Naga issue is political and has become a nation as recognised by UNO. Mr Kewezu Mero, Joint Secretary and Caretaker, Naga Club Building Kohima in his book “The Story of NAGA CLUB”. He writes that the UNO resolution of 23rd July 2008 had officially declared that the Nagas are recognized as one of the unrepresented Indigenous peoples of the world. Therefore, the Nagas have the full rights to be a separate nation under UNO. This is a reaffirmation about the status of Nagas in the complete excluded Area. This complete excluded Area has the status of political Sovereignty. Naga Sovereignty emerged from the Memorandum which was submitted to the Simon Commission by the Naga Club. Therefore nobody can rung Express in his book, A Way Forward – the idea of a peace Accord between India and Nagas, has reproduced many important words of crucially important persons related to Indo-Naga Peace Accord. A very senior political figure, P. Chidambaram during his tenure as the Union Home Minister of UPA (previous Congress) said... “Creation of Nagaland State could not solve the Naga problem. There is something quite significant.... Also, since under Article 371 (A) Nagaland already enjoys considerable autonomy, it is expected that any solution will have to go beyond autonomy (in centre-state relation) to the next higher status of political Self Rule from India. What this will therefore mean is that firstly, a political settlement has to be agreed upon and reached between India and the Nagas. Secondly, Nagas will have to be given a status higher than the present arrangement of autonomy and statehood. Dr. Along Longkumer writes “K. Padmanabhaiah former Home Union Secretary who was the longest serving Interlocutor ( 1999- 2009) should be credited for laying the ground works for the proposed Naga Peace Accord- the offer from the Government of India was“ tive community we must develop according to our genius, taste.......we shall enjoy home rule in our country but on broader issue be connected with India....For the present, the way possible (as explained in a previous chapter) self –rule for the Nagas and on broader issues to be associated with India. A meeting of minds and consensus among the Naga Political Groups should be explored on these points”. (p107). Let us not be guided by the counsels of dirty minded people of Tribalism people or council or the leading of the ignorant people of political science but only harping for “peaceful solution”. Let us make the right choice by reading Ezekiel 17:1-6 and 7-10 and meditate the vrs 14 and 15 Let us be very cautious not to bring about repeat history as God words written in Zechariah 13;8. In very recent month, an elderly man (Naga villager) spoke in T.V in Naga Cable or MM Cable what God revealed to him. He said “If India swallows Nagas, India will be also swallowed”. And Nagas must abide in the policy or principles of NNC original which are now maintained under Adino NNC President Adino Phizo. i.e Sovereignty and Integraconstitution of India Article again what do Nagas really deny this truth that this is the creation of a Naga ReDr. N. Kezienou, Kohima tion are being attained. 371 A has 1. Not withwant? We know that Nagas the property of the whole In the write-up of Mr Salikyu Sangtam he also rightly pointed out that the term NAGALIM generally standing anything in this constitution. A) No Act of parliament in respect of i) religions or social practices want (what is in their inherent nature for millennia) to assert our right to live in peaceful co-existence with Nagas. Therefore, let all the Nagas reaffirm our stands on this truth of Naga sovereignty which foundation Reader’s Post refer to the entire Naga inof Nagas. ii) Naga customour neighbours (and India was laid by our forefathers habited regions (including its ancestral domain) in Myanmar and across the four North-Eastern states... The key legal term pointed ary law and procedure. Iii) Administration of civil and criminal justice, involving decisions according to Naga customary law. or any other nation) as a free nation-people (not being subjugated or controlled by other nation) just as we had live with Britishers with through the Naga Club. On dedicating ourselves to this foundation, the Nagas shall reap the fruit of Peace, Love and Unity and glorify our Unstable services Sir, Many ATMs in the city seem to run dry within few hours, forcing people to make a beeline for banks and in the Framework Agreeiv) Ownership and Peace Accord at Mezoma almighty God. I too have experienced error while drawing out money. ment is not Nagalim but Natransfer of land and its reled by Pelhou on 2nd March But today what Nagas It is hard for people who live in areas where there are galand, which is the legally sources shall apply to the 1880 even without written want is that if India deno ATMs because most of us go to the main town or recognized entity/state with state of Nagaland unless Treaty) having our own selfsire to be our Benefactor, the nearest booth which is two or three neighbourhoods defined boundaries and terthe legislative Assembly of rule or as self-administered sponsoring us with Fund, away, only to find out that there is an error or the ATM ritory under the sovereignty Nagaland by a resolution county with our Flag, with Creating Upper House and has no money. There seems to be unstable services and of the Indian Constitution. so decides. Today we all our own Constitution and PAN Naga Welfare Fund this issue needs to be looked into as soon as possible. To be very clear and specific, know that we can’t expect as under 37 A&16 points in the like manner of NEC Imlinochet, Duncan, Dimapur
