The Arunachal Times - Archives

"This year govt has provided us Rs. Eight lakh to conduct the tournament which is not sufficient. We need little more fund to conduct it smoothly," an APFA official, who requested not to be named, told this reporter while explaining the huge expenditure that likely to be incurred during the tournament. He added: besides providing fooding and lodging facilities, the organizers have also to bear the to and fro bus fares of the participating teams. The tournament has made a comeback in the state capital this year since it was first moved to West Siang in 2005 with the sole aim of popularizing football in the state. Aalo hosted the sixth and eight edition of the tournament while the seventh edition was held in Pasighat.

The tournament was first organized at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in 2001 where CM XI lifted the trophy defeating Assam Rifles, Kimin.

The trophy is handed over permanently to those teams who win the tournament for three consecutive years. So far, two teams have achieved this feat. While Lower Subansiri won the second, third and fourth editions of the tournament the fifth, sixth and seventh editions were won by Kurung Kumey. Capital Complex team won the last year’s tournament beating West Siang.

PWD Minister Nabam Tuki and local MLA Techi Kasso have consented to attend the opening ceremony of the tournament scheduled on April 25 at 1 pm .

The final would be held on May six.

Youth urged to channelize their energy

AAPSU pleads govt. for bus service for Hearing impaired school

AAPSU website launched

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The youth force is powerful and they should channelize their energy properly otherwise it would be detrimental for the society, said Power Minister Jarbom Gamlin while launching the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU)website-www.aapsu.com at Banquet Hall this evening.

Gamlin who served the student body of the state as APPSU president from 1982-84, while advising the student community regarding bandhs and protest said that ‘You are the future of the society and you should represent the aspiration of the students and the people. This is the period of transition for the state, and the changes which are good should be imbibed, adding that the youth should always take up the social issues for the betterment of the society, and also ensure that schools are running properly in the interiors places of the state.

“I am sure with the launch of the website, AAPSU will interact efficiently with the former leaders, government and the society”, Gamlin said.

Parliamentary secretary for environment and forests, Kumar Waii also advised the students to concentrate on education and utilize the student period to learn all round activities for the progress in later part of life. He further advocated for protection of the environment and wildlife, and advised the student community to impart awareness among the people particularly in the villages on wild life protection.

AAPSU president, Takam Tatung highlighting the importance of the website said that, the website would lessen the communication gap between the AAPSU and various intellectuals of the state. Further, Tatung said, it can be the platform to interact on various issues and opinions from former leaders, government and others.

Tatung further appealed for a bus from the non plan funds of the government for the Donyi Polo School of Hearing Impaired and blind students.

Besides students from DN College, GHSS Doimukh, Pachin School, the special invitees of Donyi Polo School of hearing impaired and blind school, Chimpu students performed cultural programme on the occasion.

Bengia Tolum reinstated as NES president

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Bengia Tolum and Vijay Sonam have been elected as the president and General Secretary of Nyishi Elite Society (NES) for the session 2010-2013 on the concluding day of the 9th General Conference on April 21 last at Seijosa, East Kameng district.

NES Vice President, Tarin Dakpe who was appointed as the Chairman, Search Committee declared the result of the President and General Secretary (Elect).

It is worth mentioning that Bengia Tolum have been reinstated in the post of NES president for the third time to serve the community.

Meanwhile, honoring the thumping mandate, Bengia emotionally accepted the responsibility to continue his service for the greater interest of the community. Tolum edged past Dr Tana Showren with 217 points, securing 410 points to Dr Tana Showren’s 193 points. The election was conducted through a unique “blank weightage choice system” wherein the electors were provided with a Blank Secret Ballot Paper to jot down their favoured candidate’s name-a unique efficient and transparent electoral system, while Vijay Sonam was chosen with 195 points leading 82 points against the next choice Chagam Dolo scoring 113 points for the post of general secretary.

Various resolutions relating to socio-economic and developmental aspects concerning the community were passed during the conference.

WRD & Civil Aviation Minister and host MLA Atum Welly exhorted the learned members of the community of keep up the tempo of concern for welfare of the community as exhibited by the mammoth participation in the said conference, according to a release.

Drinking water supply project for Kimin people nearing completion

Staff Reporter

KIMIN, Apr 24: The people of Kimin administrative circle will no more face drinking water problem as the on going water supply project with its water source (headwork) at Byachi near here is nearing completion.

The project with water delivery capacity of approximately six lakh litre a day is likely to be commissioned within the next two-three months, JT Badal, EE, PHE and Water Supply Yupia division told this reporter. If commissioned, the project will feed water to entire population of Kimin circle and each people will get 70 litre water a day, he added. A team of departmental engineers, including PHE and Water Supply secretary Tomi Ete, Superintending engineer Toko Jyoti, EE JT Badal and his staff today inspected the water source, water treatment plant, clean water reservoir of the project and expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work.

While laying of pipelines has been completed construction work of the water treatment plant is going on in full swing and testing of pipelines would be done soon, the EE added.

The project has been constructed with an estimated cost of 4.20 crore under NLCPR scheme.

Moh Mol greetings

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Gen JJ Singh has extended greetings and best wishes to all Arunachalees on the auspicious occasion of Moh Mol.

In his festival message, Gen Singh said, on this festive occasion, joining our Tangsa community, I offer my prayers for a bumper harvest, prosperity and for longevity of the Nong Culture.

May the festival usher peace, communal harmony and good health for all, he added.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu has also extended warm greetings to the people particularly the Tangsa community of Changlang District on their annual Moh-Mol festival.

In his message he wished for a prosperous and healthy year ahead and prayed almighty to shower on his blessings for peace and tranquility with bumper harvest in the days to come.

Flood situation remains grim in Lohit

Power supply system collapse

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The Tezu-Parasuramkund stretch continues to be affected by landslides following heavy rains along with intermittent lightning & thunder today. The slides are cleared for traffic movement by BRO but fresh slides occur by evenings causing stoppage of night time traffic.

Lohit river was flowing above the danger levels.

Two 33 KV feeder lines viz Roing and Tezu feeders carrying A.S.E.B power supply via Rupai, Namsai and Chongkham were washed away by Lohit river in Central Lohit near Alubari Ghat.

The Roing 33KV feeder with river crossing length of approximately 2.1 kms with three big spans measuring more than 700 mtrs per span having double and triple pole structures were also completely washed out, informed Tezu DC K Tayeng. In the 33 KV Tezu feeder, two double poles and one triple pole structure were washed out, he added.

Given the dangerous levels and currents of the river yesterday, the boatmen refused to venture out into the river and today also, the EE(Elect) D. Taipodia could only assess the situation from a distance in Alubari.

The restoration of 33 KV Roing and Tezu feeders may take more than one month time provided urgent funds are made available by Govt. However, water levels recede and weather conditions improved drastically.

The A.S.E.B power supply to Lower Dibang, Anjaw districts and Chapakowa and one conductor in river crossing 33 KV tower line over Noa Dihing river snapped. More than 12 nos of distribution transformers have been damaged. Approximately 1.8 Km 11 KV line of Wakro feeder was damaged due to uprooting of trees by cyclonic storm. 0.5 Kms of LT line damaged in Namsai town.

Detailed assessment and estimates of the damages will be submitted soon to the Govt for urgent assistance for restoration of the 33 KV and other lines.

In Namsai, although the water level in Noa –Dehing and Jengthu river has considerably receded, Erosion is becoming a serious threat in Vijoypur, Kherbari, Tengapani Mukh and Bhogamur sapori area of Namsai Circle and Lower Silatoo and Dharampur area of Mahadevpur circle in Namsai Sub-Division of Lohit District. Dykes have been breached at Kherbari and Tengapanimukh resulting inundations of the area and the dwellers to move to relief camps.

The Sub-divisional administration has closed the APIL school relief camp as the inmates were returned to their respective places but at Samuguri, Kaba and Tengapanimukh, the camps are still continuing. It will take a few more days to the villagers to return to their villages as their houses are still submerged. The people of Lekang Gohain Gaon and Rangalee beel joined the people of Dharampur to-day to plug a breach in Dyke at Dharampur. The water Resources Deptt. and District Administration is also extending all possible help and assistance to the marooned people. Relief materials such as Tarpolines, Torch, Rice, Chira etc. are dispatched not only to the relief camps but also to the villages which are still under water and the dwellers are unable to cook or required to be shifted at anytime.

Centre agrees to DRDA staff absorption

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The Centre has given its approval to absorb DRDA staff of Arunachal Pradesh with line departments after the plea of the DRDA officials of the state led by Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy to Union Rural Development Minister C P Joshi at New Delhi on March 19 last.

Sanjoy, in a letter to state RD Minister Takar Marde, informed that honoring the state government’s letter regarding absorption of DRDA staff and non-disbursement of salaries, the union ministry concerned “is ready to provide salaries and allowances under DRDA administration scheme head of account to all DRDA staff of Arunachal on the basis of 90:10 funding pattern, if they are absorbed in line departments as has been done in some other states. Accordingly, the matter may be placed before the cabinet.

Sanjoy had also apprised the ministry’s secretary about the non-payment of salaries to DRDA staff of 16 districts. As a result the Centre had released an amount of Rs. 303.93 lakh vide letter on March 31 last.

The MP cautioned that additional funds released for salary payment should in no circumstance be diverted for purchase of stationery, vehicles etc otherwise he would not entertain any further plea for funding as chairman of DVMC, the letter said.

Forum demands NIT at Poma

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Papum Pare District Youth Forum (PPDYF) strongly opposed the shifting of site for the establishment of National Institute of Technology at Bhalukpong. It demanded that the institute be set at the originally proposed site at Poma village near Itanagar. The Forum said that a survey team had inspected the proposed site and approved the location for the establishment of the NIT. The land owners at Poma also ready to donate land for the project, Forum said and threatened to launch agitation if the decision to shift NIT at Bhalukpong is not cancelled.

Expressing resentment over ‘arbitrary’ decision to shift the proposed NIT at Bhalukpong, Forum said the all round feasibility of the institution at Bhalukpong is not better than that of Poma area.

The security scenario at Bhalukpong is far worse than that of Poma, the Forum said while criticizing the decision to shift the NIT to Bhalukpong.

Is tribal culture breathing only in rural areas?

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: If one enters any new place, the first thing visitors look for is trademark local flavor. It is this local flavor which draws the visitors. They visit particular place in the hope of discovering something new.

Recently a journalist friend of mine working with one of the leading national English newspaper of the country visited Itanagar with hope of having a glimpse of the indigenous culture of Arunachalees and in the process escaping busy city life.

For many people who had never visited North-East region, this part of the country has always mesmerized them.

During last decades, this region remained apparently unknown to the rest of the world due to reason best known to the Centre and this is one reason why our fellow countrymen are so curious to know more about North-East.

Natural beauty and rich culture on the one hand and repeated Chinese claim over Arunachal on the other has made him more interested about this state. Well, he arrived with big hope but after spending few hours in the state Capital, this is what he told me, “I am sorry to say but there is nothing unique about this place. Itanagar looks like any other town of India.”

Actually he was looking for local flavour in Itanagar and was disappointed for not finding it. He went on to add, “When I visited Sikkim, first thing I saw on reaching there was Buddhist monks and women in traditional attire. That was so refreshing to look at. Such sight tells about the culture of that particular place and in a way symbolizes that region.” He said Itanagar did not offer him such experience.

“I think there is strong influence of Indian culture here which is not good. Assimilation with rest of country is good but one should not forget our roots,” added my dear friend.

In a way he was right, for the visitors coming from other parts of world, our state capital does not offer anything new. There is traffic congestion, rash driving, dirty roads, unplanned construction of buildings like other cities of India. We have to agree that our culture and tradition is now only confined to rural areas.

In Itanagar, it is only at state museum where visitors can get the glimpse of ‘real Arunachal.’ Another aspect which surprised the journalist visitor was excessive use of Hindi in our day to day life. I was quite embarrassed when my friend discovered that I converse with my siblings in Hindi and not in my mother tongue Nyishi.

Before leaving Itanagar his final words were, “In the name of cultural assimilation, I think, your own culture is dying a natural death. Though I belong to north India, it makes me sad to see that you follow the culture of other parts of the country more than your own.” It’s been some days since he left but his last words are still ringing in my ears.

SULPIC defers stir

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The Subansiri Lower Power Project Implementation Committee (SULPIC) has deferred its proposed 2nd phase bandh call from Apr 25 to 29 against the non-fulfillment of its demands.

SULPIC spokesperson Rotom Vijay in a release today informed that the decision was taken as per the resolution adopted by NES and ANSU during Nyishi day celebration at Seijosa recently to find out the solution of the grievances. Vijay further informed that local legislator and parliamentary secretary, health and family welfare, Nido Pavitra also assured to take up the matter with the chief minister and NHPC authorities for redressal of the genuine grievances of the affected people of Dollungmukh area. Meanwhile, SULPIC extended gratefulness to ARASU, ALSU, ADASU and other organizations who stood behind the committee and support the demands of the project affected people.

World Veterinary Day celebrated with vaccination programme

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The World Veterinary Day 2010 was celebrated with the theme-- "One World, One Health: more co-operation between veterinarians and physicians" at Kheel today. Arunachal Pradesh Veterinary Association (APVA) has selected the venue of the celebration in Kheel/Toru circle to provide the benefits of livestock treatment cum vaccination in remote areas.

As a part of the two-day celebration, 45 veterinarian members of APVA interacted with the livestock owners of Kheel/ Toru on treatment cum vaccination on April 23.

The teams of veterinary doctors started the day-long vaccination cum treatment camps at Kheel/Sero village, Ampouli village, Mowa/ Toru, Garam village and Laptap village today. The Camps garnered tremendous response as the villagers turned up with their livestock like cattle, mithun, pigs and goat to get treatment and vaccination. Even the heavy intermittent rain did not dampen the spirit of either veterinarians or the livestock owners.

Altogether 120 cattles and mithuns were vaccinated with Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine (FMD) and Heamorrhagic Speticemia Disease vaccine (HS/BQ) besides numerous treatment of animals and providing of free medicines for the livestock till late in the evening.

At Mowa/ Toru and Garam village, 78 cattle were vaccinated with FMD and HS/BQ vaccines, 46 bullocks were castrated beside scores of treatment and free medicine distribution.

At Kheel/Sero village 89 cattle and mithuns were vaccinated with FMD and HS/BQ vaccines. However, a team of veterinary doctor could not reach Ampouli area as the road in between Toru to Ampouli was blocked due to heavy rain. However, the villagers after long wait reported to Kheel I.B. and interacted with team and received free medicines for their livestock. Three lady internee and four internee boys from College of Veterinary Science, Aizwal and Kahanapara participated in the celebration.

Addressing a public gathering on the occasion at Laptap village, APVA president Dr. Taba Heli urged the villagers to make themselves aware of the various diseases confronting their livestock as the livestock is the backbone of the rural economy.

Without livestock rural people in the state could not sustain the emerging necessities of life, he said.

We should rear livestock to maintain our family economy and get our livestock vaccinated in time with FMD and HS/ BQ vaccines to keep away from epidemic, he said and urged the villagers to interact with the Deptt. staff for more details on livestock.

A memorandum on behalf of the villagers was also submitted to the district AH&V officer demanding breeding bull at Laptap, veterinary dispensary at Toru and posting of sufficient staff at Toru/Laptap air centre. Dr. Hano Tama, DVO Yupia assured that the opening of a veterinary dispensary is being taken up with higher authorities. Regarding posting of staff, he urged the staff posted at Laptap to be sincere in duty. Some village elders and Gam Buras’ also spoke on the occasion.

Bailey bridge on the verge of collapse

Correspondent

ROING, Apr 24: The surface communication connecting Hunli sub-division in Lower Dibang Valley and Anini in Dibang Valley remains disrupted following the fracture developed at both end of the bailey bridge over Eze river. The Eze river is still on spate and the bridge may break down under the impact of the flood caused by heavy shower for many days.

GREF personnel have been pressed into service to reinstate the structure. “Both side of the apartments were tilted and may collapse at any time but we are finding alternative to protect the bridge from being washed out”, said the labourers.

Second phase of RTI workshop held

PASIGHAT, Apr 24: The district level second phase workshop on Right to Information (RTI) Act was held at Pasighat yesterday amidst 160 PRI members and PIOs of works departments of the district.

On the occasion, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Nyodek Yonggam advised all participants to learn about the act and utilize it as a tool for the betterment of the society.

Yonggam expressed his extreme happiness for successful conduct of the workshop and active participation of PIOs and PRI members and further suggested the local administration to conduct at the Sub-Divisional level also so that the people from every nook and corner of the district could participate.

This would bring awareness amongst the general public on various issues like govt. plan and schemes and its implementation etc ensuring accountability and transparency, Yonggam claimed. The executing agencies have to take the PRI members into confidence whenever any project or scheme is going to be taken up in their areas, and therefore the CIC advised the PIOs to be impartial and to set example for others providing information as and when sought for the shake of development of the society.

Two injured airlifted to Naharlagun for treatment

KOLORIANG, Apr 24: Two persons who were injured seriously in a landslide at Koloriang behind the residence of DC, Kurung Kumey at around 9 pm on April 23 were evacuated to General Hospital, Naharlagun by Helicopter today. The two injured are Kalu Poon (27) and his wife Melo Poon (25).

The land slide took place after the District Headquarter experienced heavy rainfall on the day. The landslide damaged half part of the house, burying Kalu, his wife and their two and half-year-old son in the debris. Melo was in advance stage of pregnancy.

Government staff and neighbor rushed to the spot and rescued the wife and husband from the debris of the landslide. Their son has also been recovered from corner of the buried house after 45 minute of the accident. However, the child did not sustain any serious injury, informed DC.

Farmer first- what needs to be done diffrently?

Dr. B.G. Mukhopadhyay

In the current global discourse on globalization, the Farmers’ issues were seriously neglected. Fortunately, there has been perceptible shift now on Farmers’ issues. Of late, Timothy F. Geithner, US Secretary of the Treasury and Bill Gates of Microsoft have joined the issue of food security, housing and farmer’s woes.

In our national discourse, the consensus is arrived at Farmers’ issues, but lot more remains to be done.

The first agenda relates to Farmers. We have extensive recommendations by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan et al., on farmers’ plight and what is required to be done through their voluminous compendium of National Commission on Farmers. One of the underlying theme was that the “Farmers’ income” should be the criteria on improvement of farmers’ plight. And we have to redesign our policies for technologies, credit, insurance and market accordingly. NCF has recommended for setting up of State Commission of Farmers. Some of the State Governments have done it already, like Bihar, Orissa and Punjab. Arunachal is yet to take a call on this issue.

The second agenda relates to Agriculture. It is very much well known that despite the fact that our plan experiments are running in the XIth Plan , two-third of the people are still dependent on Agriculture. We have our National Policy on Agriculture formulated quite sometime back, but the State Governments are yet to translate it in the local level. Meanwhile, Comprehensive District Agricultural Plan (C-DAP) and Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) have come. We need to set our priorities right based on the policy framework and a shared paradigm between the states and the centre is a must.

The third agenda relates to countryside. NABARD has opened a separate window under Rural Infrastructural Development Fund (RIDF) to develop the rural infrastructure and the state governments are given liberal lending facility at 6.5 percent rate of interest to borrow funds under RIDF. But the FRBM Act and the poor fiscal health of the state governments have constrained the state governments to borrow liberally. Last year Arunachal Government could borrow only Rs.78.17 crore under RIDF since that was the limit fixed under FRBM the State Government could borrow under RIDF. The connectivity in rural areas is a big issue. To this end, we must revive PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), the idea of our former President . APJ Abdul Kalam.

We need physical connectivity, electronic connectivity, knowledge connectivity and economic connectivity as enunciated by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. And it needs lot of investment in rural areas

In order to realize the above objectives, we have excellent ‘agencies’ and ‘structure’ both at national, state and sub- state level. We have Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry etc., besides Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture University (SAU), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), KRIBCHO, IFFCO. We have apex bodies like RBI, NABARD and Financial Institutions like Co-operative Banks, Commercial Banks and RRBs. We have Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Farmers’ Clubs, SHGs and various community based organizations. We have to put some flesh and blood to energize these agencies and activate the structure.

This is where we need a shared vision and mission- driven approach to reach out a huge majority of farmers to make a difference in their lives. A continuous engagement with all the stakeholders is an imperative necessity and process must be participatory to realize this mission and vision.

(The Authore is General Manager, NABARD Arunachal Pradesh Regional Office. This is the personal views of the author and not necessarily the views of the organization to which he belongs)

Suspected RPGA cadre nabbed

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Acting on a specific information on presence of terrorist in Dirak Chariali, the personnel of 26 MARATHA LI and Mahadeopur & Police Station Kakopather police stations jointly launched an operation on April 10 and 11. The security forces apprehended one hard core OGW Kiron Deori, suspected to be active cadre of Revolutionary Peoples Geurrilla of Ahom (RPGA), sources said.

On interrogation it was revealed that apprehended cadre was involved in extortion cases in Mahadeopur and Dirak area and was wanted in various cases registered in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The arrested person has been handed over to Kakopather Police for further interrogation, sources said.

ANYA urged to defer bandh

ITANAGAR: The Rajiv Gandhi University today requested the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) to defer its proposed bandh on April 27 so that it does not affect the on-going under graduate (UG) examination in all the affiliated colleges in the state.

The RGU authority in a release today said that the UG examination which started on April 7 will finish on May 14 and again the Post Graduation (PG) examinations of the university is commencing from May 3 to May 21. Further the UG examination in distance mode of education will start from May 22 to June 2. The university appealed the Association to reconsider their proposed bandh in view of the aforesaid examinations.

Arunachal win gold in karate, boxing in NEG

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh bagged 35 medals, including five gold, six silver and 24 bronze, at 24th NE Games which concluded at Shillong yesterday.

The state karateks, as expected, have done exceptionally well in the meet by winning as many as 15 medals, including four gold, three silver and 8 bronze medals. Almost half of the medals came from that sport. The fifth gold medal came from boxing.

The state also bagged three silver and 11 bronze medals in Wushu, a bronze each in archery and boxing and three bronze in Judo, according to a release issued by director of sports and youth affairs.

‘Arrest murderer’

ITANAGAR: All Palin, Chambang, Yangte, Gange & Tarak-Langdi Students Union have demanded immediate arrest of the killer of Dohu Raju, who was allegedly killed on 19th April at Papu-Nalah by some unknown miscreant. In the same attack, his sister Dohu Yana was seriously injured and is battling for life at a hospital in Guwahati. Union expressed anger over such barbaric act and hoped that city administration will take concrete steps to make state capital crime free.

Bandh supported

ITANAGAR: Papum Pare District Youth Forum (PPDYF) has decided to support the proposed 12-hour Capital bandh call given by the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) on April 27 in protest against the failure of the state Govt to issue white paper on AOP. The Forum observed that the present govt has utterly failed in fulfilling the people’s aspiration. All Itanagar Sector Youth Welfare Association also extended support to the proposed bandh. ANYA is fighting for genuine demand, it said.

Solung committee

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Central Solung Festival Celebration Committee (CSFCC), Itanagar in a meeting held here today selected Tapang Taloh (DSE) and Batem Pertin as President and General Secretary of SFCC, Itanagar.

Social service

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission conducted its 4th monthly social service in its office premises today.

APKGBVWA formed

ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The chairmen of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) under the SSA Rajya Mission in the state have formed the Arunachal Pradesh KGBV Welfare Assocaition (APKGBVWA) in a meeting held here today.

A 11-member executive body of the Association was also constituted with Binny Yanga, Demo Dada and Tolum Takar as chairperson, vice chairperson and general secretary respectively.