April 14

News Impact

• Longte festival begins
• Sangken
• Anti big dam movement gains momentum, Siang Valley bandh
• Northeastern states pip others in TV, auto growth
• APPDSU demands intervention of authority
• Namsai, Tezu APSTS stations exceed target
• Governor, CM extend Bohag Bihu and Sangken greetings
• BJP demands fresh tender
• PPA says no to mega projects, questions  boundary policy
• Society condemns attack on Tatak
• AAPBSU condemns Dollungmukh incident
• Fulbright-Nehru fellowship outreach programme at Rajiv Gandhi University
• Aggrieved shopkeepers, vendors lodge complaint with DC
• Debing seeks govt attention
• Arunachal runners up in All India Open Karate C’ship

Longte festival begins

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: The three days Longte Festival began at Nyokum Lapang ground, Itanagar today.

Inaugurating the festival, MLA Techi Kaso advised the community to preserve and promote tradition and culture of the Nyishi tribe.

 

Secretary NES, East Kameng District Chagam Dolo briefing about the Longte festival said that environment and forest department need to give support to such festivals as department helps conservation of animals.

He further urged all the Nyishi community to come out in support of the festival.

Cultural troupes from Kurung Kumey District and Itanagar presented traditional dance on the occasion.

 

 

Sangken

N. Namchoom

Festivals form an essential aspect of the socio-cultural life of people and are a mirror of the people’s culture.

The Tai Khamptis of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh celebrates the Sangken festival to mark their new year. Tai Khampti people traditionally follow the lunar calendar. As such, all their socio-religious ceremonies and socio-cultural festivals are tied up with the cycle of lunar months.

April (Noun Ha) is the first month of the year. Sangken festival is celebrated on the last days of the (old) year lasting 2 to 3 days, and the lunar New Year begins on the following day just after the end of Sangken festival.

During the festival, Statues of Lord Buddha are brought out of the Chong (temple) and placed in a chapel in the premises, then ceremoniously washed with clean water on all days. Buddhist scriptures (Lik), Peepal tree (toun Puthi) and monks are given a symbolic wash with clean water.

Before the festival officially begins, homes are cleaned and sweet aromas fill the air with preparation of sweets like khau-tek, khaomun sen, khaomun tong tep etc. All preparations like plucking of flowers and procuring of candles and incense sticks for prayer are done well in advance and everyone eagerly awaits the sound of drum beats and gongs from the temple which heralds the beginning of the festival with the removing of the idols from inside the Chong to the chapel in the premises. People stream towards the Chong and offer their prayers and sweets and sprinkle holy water over each. Only after this is done is the sweets distributed to different houses and consumed.

Every Khampti village has a temple which is the centre of the community’s activities and during the Sangken festival, this is where the people of the village go to first, to offer their prayers and for Son- Fra (to pour water over the idols, peepal tree, scriptures etc) to cleanse their soul and pour clean water/holy water over others to enjoy and bond and also as an expression of happiness over the good year gone by.

Some places like Empong (Chongkham circle), Phaneng (piyong circle) and Karuni(Assam) are considered as holy places(Ti Met) where people specially go to pray to be blessed for good luck and to have their wishes fulfilled.

People go to the temple in the morning and evening during the two-three days of Sangken to offer prayers and for Son-Fra. They also take the time to visit the holy places to offer their prayers. The reinstalling of the idols inside the temple at the designated time marks the end of the festival celebrations.

With time comes change and changes can be seen even in the celebration of the festivals while adhering to the true spirit of the festival. Change can also be seen in the perception of the reasons for the celebration of the festivals. Earlier it was a religious festival during which the people would go to the village temple to offer their prayers together.

Now each and every preparation for and during the celebration has a different significance for different people. On being asked, a sister of mine said that the best part about Sangken was the anticipation of the exact time for the festival to begin and the preparation and distribution of sweets to families/ houses in the village. The distribution of sweets for her meant the sharing of joy and happiness to all and also a means to visit friends and relatives and enjoy the treats they had prepared.

Another said that the best part was the sense of calm and quiet that prevails during Sangken with the slowing of the pace of life. Everyone is in a happy mood, smiles are everywhere and fewer vehicles and crowds are seen on the roads. In the morning and evening time mothers with enthusiastic children, young girls in groups in traditional attire, old and young men, all holding small buckets and baskets filled with flowers, candles and incense sticks can be seen proceeding towards the Chong.

For a friend, going to the temple for prayers and Son-Fra, drenching friends with water and visiting the temples of the holy places was not only a means of enjoying the spirit of celebration and a way of bonding with family and friends, but was also a way of atoning and washing away of sins committed, in the process, cleansing the soul so that the new year could be started with a fresh perspective.

Buddhism, for the Tai- Khampti people, is not just a religion but a way of life. Although it is difficult to follow all the teachings of Lord Buddha to the letter in day to day lives, it is done during the festival time. During Sangken (from the time of Long-Fra to Fra- Khun) all the people maintain a strict abstinence from killing and hurting of animals and plants, imbibing intoxicants and spending money and try to stay away from the lure of worldly temptations.

So the Sangken is not just a festival to mark the end of the old and beginning of the New Year, but is celebration of the end of old wounds, hurts and bad feelings and the start of friendships, relationships and life anew with a pure mind, heart and soul.

 

 

Anti big dam movement gains momentum, Siang Valley bandh

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Stepping up protest against damming of River Siang, several NGOs have declared Siang Valley Bandh on April 17, 18 and 20.  The bandh coincides with the proposed public hearing dates for the 2700 MW Lower Siang Hydro Electric Project as notified by the Arunachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board in the districts of Upper Siang, East Siang and West Siang respectively.

The members present, unanimously resolved to oppose the proposed Public Hearings in all the districts to save  “Aane Siang”, the land and forests inherited from their Great Adi-Galo ancestors to be invaded by the Corporate in connivance with Governments in the name of development, read a statement by the organisations.

The meeting also questioned the ‘unnecessary and intimidating act’ of the government of Arunachal Pradesh for seeking deployment of three additional Paramilitary Company, just to conduct the Public Hearings. It also questioned the repeated attempts to ‘conduct the Public Hearing when the affected people don’t need the dam at all’.

It questioned and wanted to know from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh whether it is going to be a public hearing or a police parading at the behest of the Jaypee Company to create fear psychosis in the minds of the poor villagers and stage manage the hearing.  

Every speaker questioned the manner in which the Government has fixed the place for the Public Hearing, far away from the to be affected villages of Riga, Pangkang, Riew, Sitang, Parong and Raasing villages in East Siang district with the knowledge that the villages are devoid of any means of transportation.

The Government was further accused of becoming the agents of the Power Companies and overlooking Public interests, for fixing the Public hearing in April when all the Colleges and University in the state are conducting the examinations and thereby intentionally denying the youths their constitutional right to be heard. Forum for Siang Dialogue (FSD), Siang Peoples’ Forum (SPF), Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU), Lower Siang Dam Affected Land Owners’ Union (LSDALOU), East Siang District Students’ Union, Mebo Area Bachao Committee (MABC), Mebo Area Downstream Village Welfare Association attended the meeting.

Eastern Adi Students’ Union also opposed the proposed public hearing to be held from April 17-20.

It urged the authority concerned to postpone the public hearing as the date of hearing falls during the examination schedule of students.

 

 

Northeastern states pip others in TV, auto growth

NEW DELHI, Apr 13: It wasn't the developing Bihar or the developed Gujarat that recorded the highest increase in the number of households with televisions, bicycles, two-wheelers and cars in the last decade; it was the long-ignored Northeast.

Putting aside years of lack of growth that was fuelled by a precarious law and order situation, these states are fast catching up with the rest of the country.

Data from the Houselisting and Housing Census 2011 showed between 2001 and 2011, in most asset parameters, these states performed better than others. However, compared to other northeastern states, Assam continued to lag.

The census data showed the number of households with televisions in Mizoram rose from 20 per cent in 2001 to 55 per cent in 2011, a 169 per cent rise, the highest in the country. In 2001, Mizoram had fewer households with television than the national average.

However, by the end of 2011, the number of such households in the state was eight per cent more than the national average.

A similar rise was seen in the case of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. These states registered growth that was more than the national average.

Though 43 per cent of households in the rest of the country stopped using radios/transistors, Manipur saw a rise of 26 per cent in the number of such households. The state now has the highest number of households with radios/transistors.

The increase in households with four-wheelers was also impressive. Both Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh showed high growth in the number of households with cars, jeeps and vans. Between 2001 and 2011, these states recorded an increase of over 230 per cent, with Sikkim growing at 267 per cent - the highest rise.

In 2001, the percentage of households possessing four-wheelers in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh was lower than the national average. However, by the end of 2011, it was twice the national average.

Nagaland recorded the second- highest increase (126 per cent) after Kerala in the number of households with two-wheelers. Mizoram and Tripura also emerged among the top five states that witnessed the highest increase in the number of households with scooter/motorcycles and mopeds between 2001 and 2011. However none of the northeastern states had more households with two-wheelers than the national average.

An interesting trend was while in the bigger states, people moved away from bicycles to automobiles, households in the northeast continued to buy more of these.

Sikkim saw the highest rise of 110 per cent in the number of households with bicycles, followed by Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. However, the rise in Sikkim and Mizoram was also because of a very low base over which the increase was measured.

 

 

APPDSU demands intervention of authority

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU) demanded the Estate Officer and Additional Magistrate of Capital Complex to immediately stop the construction work in front of Dera Natung Govt. College gate, which, according to the students union, is likely to make the main entrance gate of the college very ugly.

Alleging Govt’s apathy towards the lone college of Papum Pare in properly looking after the affairs of the college, the students union urged the education department to take necessary steps to prevent any type of construction in front of the college gate. It also criticized the college authority for remaining mum on this matter.

Besides blocking the roads, excessive earth cutting to clear land for the building has also damaged the road, APPDSU said and condemned the individual concerned for constructing such building in a congested place.

 

 

Namsai, Tezu APSTS stations exceed target

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Service’s Namsai and Tezu Stations have recorded excess revenue earning against the target fixed by the government.

APST Tezu station has exceeded the target for the second consecutive year.

Tezu APST station has topped the chart by becoming the highest revenue earning station amongst all the APST stations in the state in terms of percentage of revenue earning in this fiscal year.

The exceed earning of Tezu station is Rs 64,76,887 against the target of Rs 45,48,113.

APSTS Namsai has exceeded the target for the third consecutive year by earning a revenue of Rs 1,44,41,339 against the target of Rs 1,32,27,524 and achieved a percentage of 113%.

Meanwhile, Station Superintendent, State Transport Services Namsai and Tezu JL Saikia informed that the earning of Namsai station would have been more had the hiring charges of the buses and postal carrying amounting more than Rs 13,00,000 hired by the district administration, police and postal authorities respectively were paid.

Expressing his gratitude to APSTS staff, he said that the achievement of Namsai and Tezu APST stations were possible only due to the team effort and dedicated service of all categories of the staff along with booking officials of APSTS Tinsukia booking office.

 

 

Governor, CM extend Bohag Bihu and Sangken greetings

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen JJ Singh and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki have conveyed festival greetings to all the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the occasion of Sangken and Bohag Bihu.

In his message for Bohag Bihu, the Governor expressed his hope that the festival, which heralds the dawn of the New Year will usher-in peace and progress in the whole of the north eastern region.

On the festive occasion, the Governor also extended warm greetings and good wishes to people of Assam on behalf of all Arunachalees.

In a separate message for the Sangken or Water festival, the Governor wished that the auspicious occasion may bring happiness and tranquillity in the society.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has extended his warm greetings to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the occasion of Bohag Bihu and Sangken. In his festival message, Tuki hoped that these festivals which synchronized on the same date would usher in good health, bumper harvest, prosperity, happiness and world peace. He prayed almighty god to bless each and every sentient being on earth.

 

 

BJP demands fresh tender

Itanagar, Apr 13: Alleging huge difference of Rs. 412.48 lakh between approved cost and advertised cost of a road project sanctioned under non lapsable central pool of resources (NLCPR) for up gradation of road from Subansiri bridge point to Segi CO, the Arunachal Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded immediate cancellation and re-tendering of the road project.

The party alleged that the cost of the road project has been slashed to Rs.1569.57 lakhs from its actual approved cost Rs.1982.05 lakhs in the advertisement published in local print media in March, 2012.

“There are so many important schemes/projects sanctioned under the Central Road Fund (CRF) and Special Plan Allocations (SPA) which are being carried out in a haphazard manner in different parts of the state without floating proper tender, and work orders and works have been distributed at the behest of the leaders by grossly violating the prescribed norms and guidelines, the party alleged.

“It is unfortunate that these irregularities happening beyond the reach of the vigilance agencies and the people, it said. It wondered if there was a vigilance department functional in the state,” the party exclaimed.

The party said that the issue of tender anomaly was also raised by an intellectual forum of Upper Subansiri.

 

 

PPA says no to mega projects, questions  boundary policy

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: The anti power project proponents have found a support in People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), who has appreciated the stand taken by the various organizations of Siang valley against the mega dams in River Siang. The Governments and power developers should respect the sentiment of the indigenous people and forgo the mega dams, it said while propagating minor and run off the river projects.

Meanwhile, the party has termed frequent encroachment made by the Assam Officials in the territories of Arunachal Pradesh as ‘unfortunate’.

This kind of vandalism by Assam may hamper the peaceful co-existence of the two neighbours, the party said in a statement.

While alleging that Congress govt has failed to prevent the harassment of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh from the wrath of the Assam Officials, it urged the state government to take the matter  seriously and initiate measures to prevent encroachments.

 

 

Society condemns attack on Tatak

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Patak-Takdi Welfare Society (PTWS) East Siang district and Adi Students’ Union West Siang Unit informed that Haku is still in coma at GNRC Guwahati since April 6.

It urged the concerned authority to immediately arrest the culprits who attacked Haku Tatak recently.

It urged the investigating agency to put full effort to immediately arrest the culprits involved in the incident and also to constitute an enquire committee to nab the culprits and award exemplary punishment as per law.

Meanwhile, PTWS condoled the untimely demise of Y Talom, who died on April 11 in a road accident.

 

 

AAPBSU condemns Dollungmukh incident

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: All Arunachal Pradesh Border Student's Union (AAPBSU) condemned the brutal physical assault on the HGB of Kherbari village under Dollungmukh without any valid reason by a team of Assam forest officials on April 12.

It also condemned the displacement of human settlement and destruction of the garden and Bamboo plantations in Dollungmukh area in Arunachal territory along the border by the Assam forest officials.

The union alleged that Assam officials are violating the status quo. It demanded the state government to provide adequate compensation to the victims of Dollungmukh incident.

Meanwhile, AAPBSU members visited Kherbari and interacted with local people of the area and also conducted a meeting with various students’ organization of the state.

 

 

Fulbright-Nehru fellowship outreach programme at Rajiv Gandhi University

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: The Fulbright-Nehru fellowship outreach programme was held at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh on April 12. This outreach programme was organised jointly by the United States India Educational Foundation, Eastern region Kolkata and Rajiv Gandhi University.

Professor David R. Syiemlieh, himself a Fulbright alumnus in his inaugural address called upon all the students, the academicians, the professionals, and the  journalists to come forward and take up the opportunity of availing this fellowships and excelling in one’s own field.  

He emphasised on the importance of such types of exposure in ones’ own life. He said that the USIEF promotes mutual understanding between the people of United States and India through academic and cultural exchanges and we should try to be a part of this process.  He also urged upon the faculty members and the scholars to successfully compete and be the recipient of this prestigious fellowship.

Programme Officer, USIEF Kolkata Sumanta Basu made a presentation of the various opportunities that can be availed by Indian citizens. He emphasised that the USIEF provides for personal, academic and professional growth through the Fulbright –Nehru Fellowship Programme.  He gave a detail outline of the various fellowships such as Student and Doctoral Research Awards, Lecturing and Teaching Awards, Faculty and Professional Research Awards and Professional Development Awards for India Citizens during 2013-2014. He also briefed the gathering about the application procedures, guidelines and the selection process for the Fulbright-Nehru Program.

He concluded by saying that, henceforth such outreach programme would be held annually at RGU so that the citizens of the region could be made aware of the various schemes.

The outreach prog-ramme was attended by the faculty members, administrative officers, PhD, MPhil scholars and students from various departments of the University. The presentation was followed by some very lively interactions.

 

 

Aggrieved shopkeepers, vendors lodge complaint with DC

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: The aggrieved shopkeepers/vendors of Super Market, Naharlagun have lodged a complaint with Capital Complex deputy commissioner against Bazar Welfare Committee (BWC) Naharalgun for alleged injustice done to them in re-allotting shop plots.

In its complaint letter to the deputy commissioner, the vendors/shopkeepers alleged of allotting reduced size of shop plots to them by BWC after renovation/reconstruction of the market. They claimed that before renovation/reconstruction  of the market they used to get shop plots measuring 2 mt radius each; but, now the same shopkeepers and vendors have been re-alloted shop plots measuring 1 mt radius only which is not justified, the letter said and demanded the DC for justification.

The letter also complained of unplanned construction/renovation of the market without having provision of any footpath inside the market for the convenience of buyers/customers.

It also alleged assault of an elderly woman allegedly by some groups without any provocation while she was ventilating her grievances. Though an FIR was lodged with Naharlagun police against assaulters, no case has been registered so far, they said.

 

 

Debing seeks govt attention

Prafulla Kaman

RUKSIN, Apr 13: The villagers of Debing in East Siang district have been facing myriad problems as the authorities concerned are not paying enough heed towards its development.

Infrastructure development is still eluding the village and power supply and potable water is a never ending problem of the villagers.

Expressing their resentment over the government’s apathy towards all-round development of the village, some leading citizens of Debing alleged that the people are facing acute shortage of potable water. The panchayat department earlier installed some ring-wells to meet the water shortage which is not sufficient.

Scarcity becomes more pronounced during winter.

Observing the long standing water crisis, the Debing villagers have demanded the authority to include their village under the ongoing ‘Ledum Mega Water Supply Project’.

The villagers also suffer a lot from erratic power supply and shortage of school teachers and medical professionals at the sub centre.  

The middle school, the villagers alleged is running without required number of teachers. Debing, with its adjoining Polung village is located at vulnerable Assam-Arunachal boundary, at 12 km west from Ruksin gate. Nearly one thousand people in the two Anchal segments are allegedly pushed to live in an insecure and unsafe condition.

The Beat Out Post (BOP) of Arunachal Pradesh Police Battalion set up near Debing village has been running without proper infrastructure and staff for decades. The higher up of the state’s home department is allegedly not taking initiative so far to assure safety and security of the local dwellers.

The Head Gaonburah of Debing, Yun Yomso said that during the last three decades, the local people are witness to number of clashes between the dwellers of both sides.

 

 

Arunachal runners up in All India Open Karate C’ship

Itanagar, Apr 13: Arunachal Pradesh secured the runners up position by winning 9 gold, 4 Silver and a Bronze medal in the All India Open Karate Championship organised by Shito-Ryu Karate Do Kshei Khen at Tezpur, Assam from April six to eight.

While Charu Gobin and Aga Flago won a gold medal each in Kumite in U-17 and U-19 years category respectively Solum Tungo, Dingda Taduk, Prakash Limbu, Kile Nguri and Yusensu Yun won a gold medal each in U-19 years category in Kumite. Yusensu has also won a  Gold in Individual Kata.

The team comprising  Yusensu Yun, Kili Nguri and Charu Gobin bagged the Team Kata gold.

The silver medalists are  Kata: Gimi Nema (Kumite, u-17), Likha Phone (Kumite, u-19), Gamli Bagra (Kumite, u-19), Praksh Limbu (Kata, individual).. Kakap Tajo won a Bronze in Kumite in U-19 ears category.

Union demands AAPSU elections

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Rajiv Gandhi University Students’ Union (RGUSU)has appealed the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) team to immediately announce the General Election cum Conference date and venue. The tenure of the present AAPSU Executive  body is over but there is no news of its General Election, the Union said advocating early elections.

Meanwhile, the RGUSU hailed the present AAPSU Team for heading many social movements in the state.

 

New school inaugurated

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: MLA Techi Kaso inaugurated a government primary school at Aniya village yesterday in presence of Deputy Director of School Education, Papum Pare District TT Tara, PHED Itanagar Division Executive Engineer Tadar Mangku PRI leaders and public.

Addressing the inaugural function, Kaso assured to complete the link road from Nirjuli to Anya village and also to create a new gram segment at Anya village.

Meanwhile, the school committee in a memorandum appealed to the MLA and DDSE for extension of three more rooms at the newly inaugurated school building, construction of school security wall and providing school furniture.

DDSE Tara gave some sports and study materials to the school on the occasion.

 

Forum demands sacking of AG

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Arunachal Pradesh Colleges’ Forum alleging irregularity in office duty by Advocate General Dr. Ashok Saraf, appealed to the state government to sack him  within a month.

The poor attitude toward public service is a grave concern for all. The forum would launch vigorous movement on the issue, if the demand of the forum is not met within the stipulated time, it added.

 

 

Association demand adequate fund for games and sports

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: All Arunachal Pradesh Carom Association appealed to the state government to give more attention to promote games and sport in the state.

It said that Arunachal Pradesh is still lagging behind games and sports activities due to negligence of government and lack of awareness on importance of games and sport by the people.

If adequate fund and encouragement for development of games and sports is prearranged, the sports persons of the state could excel at par with the other states in national and international events, it said.

 

Support to fire victims

ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Lower Subansiri District Zilla Chairperson Likha Tongum, who is also Zilla Parishad Member of Pistana circle, has extended support to the April 3 fire victims of Pania village under Pistana circle where five dwelling houses were completely gutted. Each family of the fire victims was provided with two quintol rice as an immediate relief.

16th Yachuli Asembly constituency’s Assembly Youth Congress President Toko Budh hoped that Tongum would come forward to help the needy in near future too.

 

Death mourned

Itanagar, Apr 13: Agriculture parliamentary secretary Likha Saaya condoled the death of Toko Tad, son of Toko Nitin of Talo village in Lower Subansiri district, who died  in his native village on 9 April.

Saaya provided some financial help as immediate relief to the deceased’s family.

Copyright © 2008, The Arunachal Times Publications Pvt. Ltd., Siang House, Sector - E, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - 791111, India

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Keep Arunachal, clean, healthy and happy!

 

Dear Editor,

Arunachal is my home. And I would do my best to keep my home neat & clean..." It sounds good. Unfortunately, these lines are never our priority!

While travelling from Banderdewa to Itanagar, the scene which is very common is garbage all across with huge accumulation of used papers, plastics, cold drink bottles & of course animal excreta.

Even our capital city, Itanagar is not behind the list! It houses huge amount of improper and chaotic pollutants, everywhere, except some VIP colonies & areas, beside the roads. For clearer view, have a day out on a rainy day!

Why do we keep our houses clean, beautiful and attractive, but is careless towards our state.  Isn’t it our real home?

We are living in 21st century with modern education & technology.

Arunachal is in, "developing stage"; however, we cannot make this an excuse for our selfishness & laziness!

Technically, we have good engineering colleges like National Institute of Technology, NERIST, Rajiv Gandhi Govt Polytechnic, Tomi Polytechnic etc. Recycling is a term very familiar & associated with engineering. If we can set up institutions like them, why can't we set up recycling industry in Arunachal? We have good number of engineers available here.

Unfortunately, most of them are unemployed. Setting up an industry would not only keep the environment clean & healthy but also provide employment opportunities to many deserving Engineers!

On the other hand, we usually, throw away kitchen garbage which includes raw vegetables unaware of the fact that these can be very useful as bio-fertilisers.

If we look for the energy sources, we get it everywhere.

Nature itself provides us all the help. We only "think", "discuss", "comment" & "talk about it" but we never put it into action!

All I want to say is let us love our environment, the way we love ourselves.

Let us love our Arunachal not verbally, but spiritually as well!

Let us not throw plastics, papers, bottles, eatable Packets etc in a haphazard way. Burn them in a particular place away from market or main roads, at a suitable location. Or else Keep them in proper dustbin.

Big issues, dangerous disease, big fights etc, they all start from small issues. Therefore, we should never give them chance to rise.

Be alert, be cautious.

Let us keep our Arunachal, clean, healthy and happy.

Yours,

A student

Rajiv Gandhi Govt Polytechnic College, Itanagar

 

 

 

They deserve stipends too

Dear Editor,

Students who are studying out of the state are from well to do family, said one of the officers of Department of Education. True or not but still all of them are equally deserving of the annual stipend provided by the State government.  

In Shillong, all of the students numbering more than 1000 cannot enrol themselves to top institutions of the region, but since it’s an education hub of North East, they all come here to gain knowledge to be brought back to the state which fails to provide them the annual stipend.

Some institutions like Anamalai University, Sikkim Manipal University provide students with the graduation in professional courses that our state cannot. Even the top educational institution under North East Hill University doesn’t provide BBA, MBA, BCA, and MCA courses.

The education department of our esteemed State has declined to provide these regular students under the regular programme in these learning centres with stipend, where as their classmates from other NE states of country namely Meghalaya, Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura are receiving their annual stipend and much more than that our state does.

Are these students less privileged to be born in Arunachal Pradesh? And studying in these institutions made them any less than those studying in top colleges? They are the blood and soil of the state. Please let them bloom with education where ever they study.

Yours,

Karry Padu

Shillong

 

 

 

 

Urgently required but only Non-APST

Dear Editor,

“Urgently required but only Non-APST”, this is what I have been reading and observing since many years. Tribal coming from different part of state for bread and butter are not given chance in every field. But any illiterate Non-APST from any part of India gets roti, kapda and makaan easily in our state.

We are deprived of kaam and makaan. Sometime I wish I was a Non APST, but I know being good human being is more important than anything else.

Our fellow friends who are ignored for being APST are getting frustrated everyday in search of job, rent and business to fill up their tummy. I am scared of the day when frustration reaches its epitome.

Most of them have professional, personal and social etiquette, yet they are rejected by our own people.

Yours’

Marjo Angu

 

Open Robbery

Dear Editor,

I would like to call upon the attention of the concerned authorities regarding the violation of MRPS by Shop keepers operating at Naharlagun and Itanagar Complexes.

I am not a citizen of the aforesaid places but it seemed worthwhile to me to write a few lines of General awareness that should concern all the people.

The worth of one rupee or two may seem unimportant to some, but by no means to all. In these places goods are being sold at higher prices beyond MRPS with the explanation that it is capital areas. How absurd! What has the capital to do with MRPS? Paying more than worth for goods in the capital areas does not make a person appear an ounce more civilized or cultured, powerful or rich, if it is a forced benevolence, rather it is a kind of open exploitation that we are allowing in broad day light.

If the act of underpaying for goods is a crime and gets immediate  on the spot intervention of Police, the same kind of action should be taken in case of the violation of the MRPS by shopkeepers.

I hope the Govt would initiate immediate if steps in this direction before the public resorts to unparliamentarily ways to deal with the problem.

Yours,

Mingkeng Litin

Pasighat

 

 

The dams and Arunachal

Dear Editor,

There is hue and cry for dams in our state as well as in neighbouring state. It is peculiar to understand why some people are too pessimistic about dams and its consequences before an egg is hatched. Is it really guiding the innocent people on the matter or a mirage effect?

I belong from Yazali where 405 MW capacity of dam has been commissioned since long back, by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO). Annually we get 12.5% free power from NEEPCO, which is equal to Rs 45-50 crores per annum.

During our child hood, same anti-dam movement started where our innocent people were told to protest against NEEPCO.

For weeks, villagers gathered with bows and arrows and drove away workers who were investigating the sites. But later it died down and that was the beginning of construction of dam at Yazali by Neepco. Later it was told by authority that  an agreement was signed in the form of Memorandum of Agreement between state government and Neepco  in connivance with some shrewd individuals of area without making villagers party to it. It was lately understood that innocent villagers were used as baits to catch big fishes.

As the Dam came up  many of our  locals got employed as per their capacity in various cadres and contract works were also availed, may be not up to mark as per MOA, as this paper was never made public till today. Land affected were compensated and relocated, but many could not settle themselves properly. There was no RTI act then. But now as our people know about the MOA and relentlessly found out the copy with many loopholes. But it was too late. No fish ladders, phase-I became Phase-II and so on. Run of the river became storage dam.

Here I want to convey is that its good to be careful before any agreement is drawn and to be affected has to be made party to such agreement and  in transparent manner. If we take our state’s revenue position then hydro-power is the only option as per my opinion and we need to develop our area then we need some sacrifice as our freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It is universally true that developments comes with two bundles; good and bad things.

Akhil Gogoi’s anti-dam movement is joined by renowned social activist Medha Pathkar. The ground reality may vary in different parts of India. I remember one incident at Gerukhamukh where NHPC is constructing one mega dam over river Subansiri. I happened to accompany one of my friend to Gerukhamukh for collection of Tender papers for contract works  and so we both purchased papers and came out from office when group of people from Assaam  stopped us and snatched away tender papers forcefully.

Why Assam people are agitating now? Why not then? Why today when contract work is over and installation stage is left? I leave it to all the learned readers to judge.

Arunachal always suffers for others. During 1996 honorable Apex court banned timber operation in Arunachal Pradesh because of a PIL filed by a non Arunachalee and all of you have seen the affect. Many people were grounded financially hence many parents were compelled to withdraw their wards from boarding schools.

So, I am really puzzled why we make such a hue and cry over dams. Do we really don’t want dams? Then why at Yazali? It will compel us to demand from the state government to spend that 12.5% free power which amounts to 45-50 crores on locals who have sacrificed their valuable lands to construct dams as we were told that it was for the state’s interests and its people.

Nature will do its programme and policy and we humans cannot challenge or escape. Japan has made all houses earth quake proof with latest technology but Tsunami killed many people. It saved houses not people.

Yours,

Bunty Tao

Yazali

Cuts in global aid

As many as sixteen developed countries of the world have cut their aid to poor countries which would definitely impede progress in reducing poverty and cost children’s lives.  Now, it is believed that hundreds of thousands of poor people will go without life-saving medicines and many more children will miss out school.

An international agency reported that the biggest cuts were made by Greece and Spain, with Austria and Belgium also slashing aid budgets. And the picture is even bleaker than shown by these figures with Spain, Canada having already announced further aid cuts and the Netherlands, which currently exceeds the 0.7 per cent target debating further cuts.

By contrast, Norway, Denmark and Luxemburg continue to meet their pledge to give more than 0.7 per cent of national income in aid, the UK remains committed to meeting the target by 2013 and Germany, Australia and Sweden have increased their aid budgets.

Failure of governments to meet their commitments to the world's poorest comes in stark contrast to the $18 trillion found to bailout the world's financial sector in the wake of the 2008 crisis. It is estimated that €1,000 in aid is enough to save a child’s life. Aid also plays a vital role in providing the educated, healthy workforce, infrastructure and support for entrepreneurs that is vital to economic development.

Ability of some countries to meet their commitments and increase aid showed that cutting aid was usually a political choice rather than an economic necessity, observers believe.  They called on rich countries to act urgently to reverse cuts and deliver on their promises to the world’s poorest.