The Arunachal Times - Archives

Food crisis looms large as Anini remains cut off

Bishnu Rana

ROING, April 18: Anini is still cut off from rest of the state after portions of Roing-Anini road and 200 feet Bailey bridge over the river Dree were washed away following pre-monsoon showers.

Source informed that restoration work may take another 15 days.

Anini DC Toyar Jampen informed that life at Anini has been adversely affected due to crisis of power, potable water and essential commodities. We have stock of PDS items but if the road communication is not restored at the earliest, crisis may arise, he said. The DC along with officials also visited the breached site 9 KM from Anini toward Roing road. They also made a spot visit at Chini Apra 250 KW and 500 KW Awapani hydel which was washed out in the flash flood.

Kuldeep Raj OC 62 RCC revealed that restoration works are being carried out on war footing at the various landslides sites. I have sent SOS to our chief engineer Dinjan headquarter (Supply) to deploy sortie to airlift bridge materials, as the road is important in defence point of view as well, he disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner in a written letter appealed the Govt to initiate Helicopter service twice in a week to give respite to stranded patients and government staffs and also supply adequate ration items including life saving drugs in the affected area.

PPA urge state Govt to pressure centre for early solution to boundary row

ITANAGAR, Apr 18: The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) today appealed the Governor J J Singh and Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu to put pressure on Centre for early solution to Assam-Arunachal boundary problems.

PPA president Kamen Ringu in a statement said that the state leadership should approach Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for amicable solution to boundary problem and other issues confronting socio-economic development of the North Eastern region. The people of the state have high expectations from the Prime Minister, he added.

Expressing concern over porous boundary without fencing and boundary pillar, PPA said that influx of unwanted elements, ever increasing immigration through porous boundary has threatened the existence of age-old culture and faith of tribal people of the state.

Congress party which have been in the helm of affairs both in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for decades must accept the responsibility for not bringing in a solution to boundary dispute, the PPA said.

The PPA in a recent meeting decided to guard its land, water, environment and forest against rampant exploitations by the outsiders.

The party also expressed concern over the rampant slaughtering of Mithun in various social and religious occasions. It raised objection to merciless slaughtering of Mithun in open market and advocated legislation against open slaughtering of Mithun.

Governor calls for just and equitable legal outcomes

ITANAGAR, Apr 18: Access to justice is much more than improving an individual’s access to courts, or guaranteeing legal representation. It must be defined in terms of ensuring that legal and judicial outcomes are just and equitable. A sensitive administration and an efficient and impartial judiciary are the cornerstones of access to justice and socio-economic development. This was stated by Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Gen JJ Singh in the valedictory function of the two-day conference on access to justice and socio-economic developmental programmes for the North Eastern States at Guwahati today.

Gracing the function as the Chief Guest and dwelling on the judiciary system in the region, Arunachal Pradesh Governor said, the system of adjudication of disputes among the various tribes in the North-East is in accordance with the tribal customs and practices of their own traditional institutions. The procedure and methodology of these institutions is very well understood and accepted by the people and some of them have ripened into what we call customary laws and social practices which are binding on the community and have acquired the informal status of law, he said.

Referring the UNDP note ‘Access to Justice’, Gen Singh pointed, it has rightly identified that informal and traditional mechanisms of justice are often more accessible to poor and disadvantaged people and may have the potential to provide speedy, affordable and meaningful remedies to the poor and disadvantaged. But they are not always effective and do not necessarily result in justice. There is, thus, a need for uniform and codified law, and the need for traditional systems to evolve toward serving justice in full respect of international human rights standards, such as gender equality, non-discrimination on the basis of age or social status, he added.

In his Presidential address, Gen Singh added, in the present generation, there is a growing tendency for access to justice reform (both multilateral and bilateral) and to focus on programmes supporting formal mechanisms of justice, especially processes of adjudication by the judiciary. This is understandable from a governance perspective. However, from access to justice perspectives, it is essential that common parameters of assessment be applied to both formal and informal justice mechanisms. Reiterating his call for documentation of the proceedings of the conference and be shared with all the stakeholders engaged in nation building, he expressed his appreciation to the President of India, Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and people associated with the conference for holding the event which has huge significance to the people of the region.

Recalling Verrier Elwin, Bimla Prasad Chaliha, KAA Raja, Gen Singh urged upon all to draw inspiration from great leaders and administrators who were truly committed to improve the lot of the society in the North East, particularly the remote tribal areas. We need more dedicated visionaries like them today, he added.

The two-day conference, which was organized by the North Eastern Regional Committee for Access to Justice and Socio-Economic Developmental Programmes, was inaugurated by the President of India yesterday.

The conference had eight technical sessions, which includes, Right to Education: A North Eastern Perspective, North-East and Media, Environment and Sustainable Development, Drug Trafficking and AIDS, Rights and Maintenance of Senior Citizens, Terrorism and Human Rights in North East, Human Trafficking for Child Labour and Prostitution and Domestic Violence and Gender Equality: North East Scenario.

Default Roing ATM irk customers

Correspondent

ROING, Apr 18: SBI’s Automatic Teller Machine in Roing has been out of order for the last seven days causing great hardship to the bank customers.

“This is too much, most of the time the ATM remains out of service and we are simply harassed,” rued one of the customers. It is disgusting that for withdrawing a small amount we have to stand in a queue for hours together,” reacted another.

When contacted, Bank Manager N R Das informed that he had already informed the head office in Guwahati for its early restoration.

“Owing to insufficient power backup, the UPS is unable to take load for smooth services,” he said and further informed that restoration works will take few more days since technician is arriving from Guwahati. When asked for one more ATM, the BM revealed that at present only 250 to 300 customers use the ATM services in a day. The bank can think of another ATM if the ATM users reach the target of 500 to 600, he added.

AVP suggests measures to develop border area

ITANAGAR, Apr 18: Arunachal Vikas Parishad (AVP) suggested that special attention should be given to infrastructure development in border villages.

The AVP, which organized Seemanta Darshan Yatra from Feb 11 to 22 covering 78 villages and 13 administrative circles of Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts, in its report to the state Governor further suggested strict monitoring of the BADP scheme implementation in border areas.

The authorities should ensure effective supply of PDS to the all BPL and APL card holders on all border outposts through frequent air dropping, the AVP said in its report. It further said effort should be made to promote mutual understanding in border areas.

The motto of the yatra was to know the exact information from villagers about the Chinese intrusion into Indian territory, understand the implementation of Government Schemes in the border villages and infrastructure development, the Parishad said.

Forum against illegal migrants

JAIRAMPUR, Apr 18: Nampong here Manmao Youth Forum (NJMYF) in meeting organized Jairampur today called for joint efforts to tackle issues like illegal migrants and other social issues.

General Secretary Youngme Mossang along with all the executive members expressed their concern on the increasing numbers of illegal migrants and its impact on the society.

NJMYF strongly condemned the recent incident of M’ Pen, Miao and unanimously resolved to stand by all the organizations voicing against it.

“No effort can be done alone thus everyone in the society along with administration must come forward to clean the area” said Gen. Secy. The forum further resolved that it would not tolerate any form of violence created by illegal migrants and their settlement in the area at the cost of local people.

Saturday Cinemaghar is back with a bang

Bos Frontalis fest from May 28

ITANAGAR, Apr 18: After a hiatus, Saturday Cinemaghar, an initiative of CCRD started at E n K’s Naharlagun yesterday with the screening of fiction film ‘Yarwng- the root’.

The Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation (CCRD) executive director, Moji Riba introducing the new edition of the Saturday Cinemagarh informed that, the film screenings would be accompanied with discussions on the issues confronting the cultural dimensions of the state thus creating a platform for creating space for ideas to converge.

Yeserdaty, the discussion was on the problem of indigenous people gradually losing out their mother tongue with the arrival of a language from dominant culture.

Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies lecturer, Lisa Lomdak, Dr. Amarinder Tripathi from Department of Hindi and Ili Riba of the Olap Project delivered on the blanketing of the tribal languages of Arunachal by Hindi and English.

Later the ‘Yarwng - the root’, a 95 mm film looks at the uncertain paths Kokborok people of Tripura after having been flushed out of their homes forcefully due to the newly built dam in the 1970s in Dumbur lake was screened. The film directed by Fr Joseph Pulinthanathccess had won Special Jury Mention Award at the 7th Asian Film Festival 2008 in Mumbai and was premiered in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Meanwhile, the Bos Frontalis festival 2010, a two day festival to generate awareness of the conservation of Mithun to be held on May 28 and 29. Bos Frontalis festival 2010 is being organized by the Mascot Network Society in collaboration with CCRD. The festival is primarily for the young people with a view to address the larger issue of education and learning. It would also be an awareness vehicle for issues concerning youth like AIDS, substance abuse and adolescence education, informed Chera Tabin of Mascot Network Society. The two-day festival would include debate, rock music, T-shirt graphic design on Mithuns, fusion dance, painting among others.

Army recruitment rally gets underway in Aalo

ITANAGAR, April 18: Recruitment rally for Arunachal Scouts got underway at Aalo today. The rally would be conducted till April 20. This rally is being held in addition to the rally already under progress at Army Recruiting Office, Jorhat.

The dynamic and energetic youth of Arunachal Pradesh is being offered a great opportunity by the Indian Army to become disciplined soldiers of the country, said Col Baljeet Singh, Director Army Recruiting Office Jorhat in a statement.

The rally was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner, West Siang District Amjad Tak.

Highlighting the enormous advantages of joining the Indian Army, Deputy Commissioner advised the youth of Arunachal to prepare well to ensure their selection in the recruitment. Since the process of recruitment in army is very fair, free and transparent, it all depends on their interest and sincere preparation, to be finally selected in the merit list, he said. The army officials announced that this rally is being held for the Soldier General Duty, Soldier Technical, and Clerk/SKT . The candidates should be between 17 ½ to 21 years of age for Soldier GD and between 17 ½ - 23 years of age for other categories mentioned. The minimum educational qualification for Soldier GD is class VIII pass, whereas Soldier Technical and Clerks should be class XII pass.

All interested candidates can directly report to the Rally site along with their original educational documents, birth certificate, Caste Certificate and PRC.

Medical camp

ITANAGAR, Apr 15: The Arunachal Pradesh charitable trust in collaboration with Seva Bharati, organized a free health check-up from 14th to 17th April at various villages like Lekhi, Mani, Keel and Hollongi. During the camp around 753 patients were treated and medicines were provided free of cost.

Three doctors from Banaras Hindu University also actively took part in the camp.

Sashi Tharoor resigns

NEW DELHI: Shashi Tharoor resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs today after the high-level Congress Core Group decided that he should quit in the wake of controversy over the IPL Kochi franchise, capping a week-long drama that threatened to suck the government and the party into it.

According to TV reports, Tharoor was asked to resign by PM Manmohan Singh.

Tharoor got into serious problems after IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi revealed that Tharoor's friend Sunanda Pushkar had equity stakes in Rendezvous Sports World (RSW), heading the consortium that owns the Kochi team.

It was later disclosed that Pushkar got sweat equity of the value of Rs 70 crore RSW following which the opposition has been gunning for his removal on the ground that it was misuse of office for pecuniary gain.

Training on Neonatal Care

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Medical Council under the aegis of National Rural Health Mission Arunachal Pradesh would organise two day training on ‘Neonatal Care’ from April 19 which will be held at Conference Hall, Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun.

The participants will be the Pediatricians, Gynecologists, and medical practitioners from all over the state.

HDFC branch

ITANAGAR: HDFC bank, one of the leading private banks is opening its first ever branch in E-Sector Itanagar on Tuesday April 20th. Legislative assembly speaker Wanglin Lowangdong is expected to inaugurate it.

Even rats can’t enter NHPC office without permission!

Dear Editor,

The 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro project was initiated in the year 2000 in the border area of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

All the major works have been taken up in Arunachal side but its main office is situated in Assam side.

Whenever, the people of the Arunachal launch democratic movement for their rights, the NHPC in Assam is threatening to use coercive measures. On the one hand NHPC is using the land of Arunachal Pradesh for power project and on the other it has been using security force of Centre or Assam against the local people to curtail their democratic rights and dues.

Regarding the demand of an MP for deployment of security forces for improvement of security scenario, I would like to mention here that NHPC office is provided with full-fledged security. CISF and Assam police personnel have been guarding the office round the clock. Even not a single rat can enter the NHPC office without official permission. In Arunachal side, Police personnel are already there and DC Ziro has been constantly monitoring the situation.

Therefore, what kind of security is needed there whereas not a single NHPC office is established in Arunachal side?

Since its inception, NHPC did not take up development works or implement any development project for the local people of Arunachal. They are denying the rights and privileges of the local Arunachalee people after acquiring their ancestral land. Due to such denial, the local people of Dollungmukh called a series of bandh in favour of their rights and dues.

I being a local people of Dollungmukh circle would like to appeal all the right-thinking organizations and apex students’ bodies to come forward to join hand in the fight for rights of the local people.

Yours,

Bini Arjun

E-Sector, Itanagar

Why have we left out Ziro?

Dear Editor,

Ziro valley does not receive desired attention from the government, may be, we are ethnically or politically not strong enough to put enough pressure on state’s machineries. In fact, there is no developmental scheme worth name initiated by the government. But irony is the fact that every guest (national/international) is taken to Ziro to give first hand information about ‘developmental schemes’ initiated by the government. Guests leave Ziro satisfied little knowing the fact that whatever development one sees is mostly because of private intervention.

Shifting of the Office of DIG (West), even after laying of foundation stone at Ziro, is still fresh in the minds of every Apatani.

If it is true that Polytechnic is being shifted elsewhere, after getting approval for Ziro, it is a serious matter and we demand reconsideration of the decision. It is time for all of us to speak out. Present MLA of Ziro-Hapoli Assembly Constituency was very vocal in expressing dissatisfaction over the style of functioning of one of the former Chief Ministers. He had gone to the extent of giving it a communal colour, which was not very appreciable. It is time for him to speak boldly again. Hope our hon’ble MLA is not busy negotiating with the government for establishment of a Private University at Ziro in lieu of proposed Polytechnic.

Private universities in India, except very few, remain Private Co. Limited benefiting only a handful of individuals. It is likely that establishment of private university in any part of Arunachal Pradesh will only breed more corruption as diplomas/degrees will readily be available. A private university will have its own rules and regulations, without any external control. This may be the reason that around fifty Deemed (Private) Universities now face derecognition and are under the scanner of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

I would personally request Mr. Dorjee Khandu to facilitate establishment of a Polytechnic or any government-supported educational institution at Ziro as it is an ideal place for quality education. Further, he is reminded that expert opinions must be sought before establishing Private University at Ziro or elsewhere so that posterity does not blame the present political leadership for being myopic.

Dr. Nani Bath (on e-mail)

Rajiv Gandhi University

Doimukh

A bit of understanding and sensitivities is all that’s needed

Dear Editor,

Like Philip Ngwazah, a lot of other souls really do believe that Might is Right is the blood and soul of Indian democracy. The Indian government quite frequently shows up it's following of the brazen policies akin to all the colonizing and imperialistic forces in the history. The blatant policies of undermining the interest of the people for whom the democracy's supposedly policed.

After reading Mr.Philip's true accounts of the undermining of the natives in Moloshidi valley, one can't help but truly reckon of the state of mess we are in, in quite a sadly manner.

The saddest proof is the frustrating fact that the native names to places have been blatantly rejected or horribly disfigured. And to use and to let others know the true name has to be followed with names like Vijoynagar in bracket. If people are claimed to be happy as they are with such practices, then ponder over the question why so many cities are being rechristened back to old names all over in the mainland?

With practice of capitalistic democracy, only corruption has flourished, as in instances of power builders buying their ways in interior places. It can also be seen as a result of blind exploitation of natural resources leading to consequence, here landing the mainlanders to encroach into native lands for their further appropriation by whatsoever means. Lisus are just following up and they are later in the order of events. There are several distinct tribes declared by UNESCO to be in the list of Extinction endangered species, who are still deliberately handled in a policy of overlooking things. Perhaps sensitivity towards animals over weigh that toward fellow beings just because animals whenever required can be done away with.

Better understanding of human needs and native sensitivities is extremely important in effective policy making. Let's all remain optimistic whatsoever

Yours,

Jade Linggi (on e-mail)

All we ask is adherence to transfer and posting norms

Dear Editor,

I would like to request the state Govt to strictly maintain the departmental norms of transfers and posting in case of class-A officers. The normal tenure of service of an officer in a particular location is three years.

It is seen that some Class-A officers have been serving for last several years in a particular location. On the other hand the class-B officers are frequently being transferred from one place to other before completion of normal tenure.

The officers staying more than the fixed tenure at a particular place seems to be less interested in dealing with developmental aspects. Moreover, everyone wants to be posted in capital district and after posting do not want to leave the capital.

Being Govt servants, both the category of the staff should be treated equal and departmental transfer and posting norms should be made mandatory and implemented in letter and spirit for the effective functioning of the offices in Capital district in particular and state as a whole.

Yours,

Tabin Tok

Lekhi Village

Naharlagun

Some more on NRHM please!

Dear Editor,

I am pleased to see and read the editorial in your daily (dated 17th April). The article was short but it conveys lot of messages within and I am really grateful that NRHM has been highlighted. Some key issues like vibrant HRD policy of the department is an urgent need to see that equitable quality services are provided upto the last needy person in the remotest village of the state.

My sincere request to you would be to focus on some more important aspects of NRHM in your daily from time to time for the general information of the public of our state so that everybody introspect, what can we contribute to make the goal of NRHM / health department come true in Arunachal Pradesh.

Yours,

Dr D Padung.

State Nodal Officer (NRHM),

(Currently under EUR scholarship

at Erasmus University,

Netherlands)