The Arunachal Times - Archives

Congress will form next govt: Narayanasamy prophesises

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy who was on a visit to the state to assess the political situation emanated confidence of Congress returning to power in Arunachal Pradesh with a thumping majority in the ensuing assembly elections in October.

Narayanasamy said that Congress has special emotional attachment with the people of Arunachal Pradesh and is committed for the state’s over all development.

He thanked the people for reposing faith in the Congress by electing two Lok Sabha members from the state in the recently-concluded Parliamentary elections.

The minister further said that the UPA government had fulfilled all its assurances for the state as mentioned in the Election Manifesto.

Rs 300 crores was given through the Planning department as resource gap to sanction the 15 months arrears of state government employees, he said.

The Congress has fulfilled its commitment and the responsibility is now on the people to support INC candidates in the ensuing assembly polls, he added.The Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs further said that no other state in the north east excepting for Arunachal Pradesh have implemented the 6th CPC.

Though the centre has sanctions huge amounts of funds besides several central schemes and project, INC will strive to meet up the over all development within the shortest time possible, Narayanasamy added.

He also informed that he had several rounds of meeting with aspiring candidates, including senior party leaders and added that the Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) will recommend the names of the candidates soon to the party’s high command for formal approval.

The entire process of selection of candidates would end by August last, the minister said. Narayanasamy further disclosed that the criterion for selection of candidates would be on the basis of loyalty to the party and leadership qualities. Capability and the scope of winning the elections by candidates would be taken into consideration, he added.

However, due consideration would be given to women and youths while issuing tickets so that each section gets equal representation, Narayanasamy said.

The party would depute election observers in all the districts to oversee the poll process and survey the political scenario in the grass root level, he said.

He further informed that Independent Candidates who have extended support to the Congress will also be considered if seeking INC tickets.

The minister confident of Congress coming back to formed the next government with an absolute majority, ruled out any possibilities of alliance with other political parties saying that Congress would contest the poll and win all the 60 seats.

BJP is a fractured party, while NCP is at a growing stage with very little chances of winning the electoral battle, he said.

Narayanasamy further informed that Congress stalwarts, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, youth leader Rahul Gandhi besides other Senior central congress leaders would soon visit the state for campaigning.

Earlier the union minister express satisfaction on the response of the people during his visit to Khonsa and Kanubari on August 9 last.

He said that though Arunachal Pradesh is the land of peace, development and progress cannot take place unless insurgency in the two districts of Tirap and Changlang is completely wiped out.

Singla calls for sincere efforts to generate revenue for the state

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: State revenue collection depends on your sincerity and dedication, said State Tax & Excise Commissioner Amit Singla, while addressing the inaugural function of 45 days Induction Training for Tax & Excise Inspectors, Assistant Inspectors and Constables at Police Training Center, Banderdewa today. As one of the highest revenue collecting departments, State financial state is on your shoulders and the reputation and image of the department is on your commitment and integrity, he pointed.

Exhorting the officials to avail maximum benefit out of the training, Singla profusely expressed gratitude to State Tax & Excise minister Kalikho Pul for readily approving for reintroducing of the induction training for department officials. Last training was held in the year 1998. Commissioner also thanked the Principal and officials of PTC for making it possible to train his staffs. Singla, suggesting for exposure visits for the trainees to different work related establishments during the training period, requested the PTC Principal to select the best trainee for felicitation in the valedictory function, which he felt will inculcate competition spirit amongst them. Single informed that training for senior officers of the department is on offing in month of September.

Earlier, welcoming the trainees to the PTC campus, Principal PTC Chuku Apa gave a board overview of the 45 days training, which includes 210 outdoor sessions and 70 indoor activities. They will be given introduction to arms handling, unarm combat, and drills similar to the Police training manuals. Along with manuals on Tax and Excise, VAT etc, they will have classes on IPC and other related laws. Apa also introduced the trainers to the trainees on the occasion.

Subject specialists and Tax & Excise Deputy Commissioners, Ando Pangkam and Tani Jongkey dwelled on the duties, rules and other basics responsibilities of the Tax & Excise officials on the occasion. They also urged upon the officials to be proactive in the approach and stressed on good conduct. Administrative Officer, Yaadam Loyi also spoke on the occasion.

Twenty-one officials, which include five inspectors, a sub-inspector and fifteen constables will be undergoing the training. This is first batch of trainees. The department proposes to provide batch-wise training to all its one hundred eighty officials. DIPR

There is no substitute for hard work: VC

NAHARLAGUN, Aug 10: The growing interest in mass media among the youths of Arunachal Pradesh was evident at the orientation workshop held for the new batch of students of the post graduate diploma in mass communication (PGDMC) course under the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) organised by the CCRD at the university extension centre here today.

At the interactive session, the students disclosed their interest in mass media, fully aware of the increasing challenges brought about by the revolution taking place in both print and electronic media. While some said they had taken to the course to learn more about mass media, others maintained that they were keen to serve the society and what better way than highlighting the problems facing the people through the media.

For a developing state like Arunachal Pradesh, the growing awareness among the educated youths bodes well for the future of the state which largely depends upon the growing consciousness among the general masses.

RGU by introducing the PGDMC course has provided to the local youths with an opportunity for tapping the huge potential offered through mass media and it seems the youths have grabbed the opportunity with glee.

The RGU vice chancellor Prof K C Beliappa, in his usual flamboyant style, enriched the gathering about various anecdotes associated with English language, reminding the students that success comes before work only in the dictionary. He emphasized on hard work to achieve success in life.

He called upon the students undergoing the course to refrain from any shyness while seeking information from the faculty in order to gain knowledge as much as possible so that they could become an asset to the state.

He further informed that the Masters degree in mass communication would be introduced from the next session and hoped that under the guidance of head of mass communications department Sunil Koijam and Executive Director CCRD Moji Riba and the faculty members, the aspirations of the youths would be in safe hands.

The chairperson of Samnoygut Cooperative Society, Minoti Riba, enlivened the audience with her rich experiences on different facets of life.

She recollected the changes the state has witnessed over the last few decades.

She exhorted the students to explore the ever growing challenges in life with the help of mass communication as it would help them in bridging the gap between the masses and also helping to bring about transparency in governance.

The HoD, Mass Communication, RGU, Moji Riba, thanked the RGU for all its cooperation in conducting the PGDMC course for the benefit of students despite facing severe financial constraints.

Women in governance

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: Conference on “Women in Governance” was held in Ahmedabad at Cambay Golf Resort, from August 2-6. It was facilitated by CORDAID (Netherland), Indraprasta Public Affairs Centre (IPAC) Delhi and Navsrajen (Gujarat).

The overall objective of the meeting was to work out a concept of “Women in Governance” with a focus on Women Human Right Defenders and Defenders of the Poor. It was attended by 31 WHRD and DoP from the North-eastern region and the marginalized women of the Dalit communities. This was informed by ACR’s member Ribbi Riba who has represented the state.

The steering committee for “Women in Governance” said that it was commited towards creating awareness, building of alliance/network, mobilizing various human resources with and among the different communities in India to pave way for means and opportunities to empower women especially from the marginalized communities.

With regards to this an initiative has been taken by Navsrajen (Gujarat), to build a national platform for monitoring and documenting violation of women’s right with the civil society perspective. The study based on reorganization of women as skilled agricultural workers will be taken up by IRDSO (Manipur). Building network of indigenous women and research for the practices of customary laws will be undertaken by Purva Bharati (Assam), Personality Development Training on 15th of December in Tumkur (Karnataka) will be organized by the Rural Education for Development Society (REDS).

Training for WHRD of the state of Arunachal Pradesh will be facilitated by Arunachal Citizens Rights (ACR) in collaboration with IPAC, Delhi and CORDAID (Netherland) this year.

Tea Broad set up its Arunachal office

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: The camp office of Tea Board of India at the office premises of Directorate of Trade and Commerce in APIDFC Building was formally inaugurated today by Commissioner, Trade and Commerce Makbul Pertin.

APIDFC MD, Officers T Koyu and staff of Trade and Commerce Department, Subir Hazra, Assistant Director of Tea Development, Tea Board of India, Tezpur, President and General Secretary All Arunachal Pradesh Small Tea Growers Association (AAPSTGA) and other members of the tea growers were present. Pertin in his inaugural speech thanked Rakesh Saini, executive Director of Tea Board of India, NE Zonal Office, Guwahati who extensively toured tea growing areas of the state and finally agreed for setting up of a camp office here. He also thanked the officers and staff of Trade and Commerce department and Executive Members of AAPSTGA who worked hard for the setting up of camp office. He stated that opening of camp office of Tea Board of India in the state at Itanagar will ultimately pave the way for establishment of regular branch office of the Tea Board of India (TBI) in multi-storied building in future in the state for giving optimum benefits to the local people of the State. The state of Arunachal Pradesh having favourable climatic conditions, virgin and rich soil and vast areas under natural forest and vegetation may be an ideal place for cultivation of high quality organic tea which is highly demanded globally. He also stated that the tea industry can be taken up by the people as an alternative to the traditional Jhum cultivation in the State as the practice of Jhum cultivation often led to ecological and environmental hazard due to destruction of forests and vegetation and is not economically sustainable too.

Deputy Director Trade and Commerce Sonyung Modi, in his introductory speech stated that the opening of camp office of TBI in Itanagar will be a landmark in the history of tea development movement in the State.

Assistant Director of Tea Development, TBI, Tezpur Subir Hazra emphasized that since the soil of the state of Arunachal Pradesh is rich and virgin, organic tea cultivation which is cost effective in its production and demanded highly at competitive market should be adopted in the initial stage. He informed that he along with one senior scientist will organize technical demonstration training on the spot from Aug 11-13 for the benefit of local tea growers.

General Secretary AAPSTGA Tadap Gab, and Techi Gobind, Member also spoke on the occasion. (DIPR)

7th State Level Conference of All Arunachal Pradesh Workers Union held at Aalo

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: RWD & RD minister Chowna Mein, Home minister Jarbom Gamlin, Arunachal Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman and Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) President Padi Richo attended the 7th State Level General Conference of All Arunachal Pradesh Workers Union as chief guest, guest of honour and special guest conducted at Nirju fule Mopin Ground, Aalo today.

Home minister Jarbom Gamlin assured that the state government had taken decision to release the arrear of the government very shortly.

He further informed that due to fund constraints the government is not in a condition to pay the complete amount for the employees of Arunachal Pradesh. Gamlin further appealed to the workers to cooperate with the government’s decision and accept the token of love which may be grant very shortly.

Arunachal Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Padi Richo urged that name of workers be enrolled in the Board to take various benefits, like Housing Loan, Educational Assistance and Marriage Assistance besides others.

He further appreciated the dynamic leadership of chief minister Dorjee Khandu for his untiring endeavor that has benefited the workers with VRS, 4 (four) Sundays and enhancement of Minimum wages.

AAPWU President Jalley Sonam in his speech appealed to all the workers to remain united as some political influences may try to break the unity of workers. All worker should remain united for the general interest of public services, he added.

AAPWU secretary general Kenkar Yomcha submitted a nine point memorandum to the ministers demanding payment of remaining 30th months arrear for the employees of Arunachal Pradesh be disbursed before ensuing forthcoming Assembly Election.

It also demanded for regularization of work charge and casual staff those who have completed 15 (Fifteen) years for Non APST and 10 years for APST service in the department as per provision of VRS Scheme 2007-2008.

The salary of Work charge staffs may kindly be disbursed from Chargeable head to Non plan head.

It also urged for closing of attendance may kindly be done from 1 to 30 in every month for maintenance of service rules, inclusion of increment which the employees can avail the actual benefits from the State Government.

Clearance of Assured Career Progressive (ACP) to the work charge (WC) employees, the union further demanded and urged for establishment of Separate Fair Price Shop for working class people of the State.

It also called for implementation of VRS Scheme under golden handshake policy in the department besides 50% reservation for departmental candidates when vacancy of post arises in the concerned department.

The union further informed that maximum contingency workers are serving at various departments for the last 10-15 years but their services have not been regularized due to non reservation and consideration of departmental Contingency employees.

In this connection, the cases of departmental candidate may be given priority whenever such recruitment or DPC should be conducted, the union added.

The union further demanded for establishment of a Health Centre at every districts for treatment of workers separately. Workers are unable to procure necessary medicines from vendor or pharmacy due to limited incomes, it added.

The union further demanded implementation and fixation of Minimum Wages equivalent to other State.

Issue Based Politics...Please!

Jiko Linggi

ROING, Aug 10: Change! It is time for change, change in political thought processes, ideas, actions in the political system and set up.

Voters in anthropologically considered 'tribal state with unconscious electorates' have walked long miles into growing consciousness called the 'democratic upsurge' as theorised by Dr. Nani Bath in Arunachal Times.

It is election time again, time to talk issue-based politics, now onwards.

There are no dearth of issues. Approximately 150-200 students pass out of higher secondary schools from twin districts of Lower Dibang Valley and Dibang Valley in Arts stream each year. However, political leadership could not muster up enough courage to establish a college in Lower Dibang Valley district, for reasons which they best know.

Nevertheless, excuses such as, 'Lack of fund' will be a wicked, non hilarious, heart burning joke. Financial spending pattern in the district shows that crores of money were pumped into development of leisurely infrastructures in the name of tourism development. Some glaring examples are:

•Circuit house cum conference room at Circuit House Roing executed by PWD,Roing at a cost of Rs.41.94 Lacs.

• Coffee house cum guesthouse at Mayudia, costing Rs. 13.43 lacs with an additional fund infusion of Rs. 6.69 lacs, by PWD Roing.

• Tourist Complex, Yatri Niwas overlooking Eze river at a cost of Rs. 99.75 lacs described by RWD Roing, executing agency as "Damaged by miscreants beyond normal repair".

•And finally the ongoing Construction of Tourist complex at Mayudia or in general parlance 'Baraha Gulai' at an estimated cost of Rs. 422.23 Lacs, executed by WRD Roing.

All of it are meant for leisurely expeditions and escapades of oligarchy at the expense of public money. Such leisurely concretes are also symbolic expressions of true intentions, motives of our oligarchs.

Another major issue is the pathetic conditions of roads connecting rural areas. The benefits of linking village with a good road network are enormous and substantial public investments are obviously worthwhile. In addition to employment generation such a road link yields socio-economic benefits like reduction in prices of agricultural and consumer products, access to markets, public transport, employment opportunities, better education and healthcare facilities.

One of the editorial in the Hindu, a major national daily says that,... “ a study by World Bank make the point that the retail prices of low value/bulk commodities are generally 10 percent higher in unconnected villages than in those with road access. The most important benefit, however, relates to poverty reduction.

A 2007 study by the International Food Policy Research institute found that investing in roads had the greatest impact on reducing rural poverty, performing consistently better than the investments in agricultural research and development and education”.

Despite enormous benefits of good rural road network, most villages in Lower Dibang Valley and Dibang Valley districts still lack proper road connectivity.

Why then the political leadership, supposed to direct the executive in a democracy, not sensed the need for uplifting rural road network connectivity in twin districts of Dibang Valley

Answer is simple. Evidently, to keep continuing the 'Dependency Syndrome' among local populace, in order to maintain political security cum monopoly, as the saying goes, 'in the kingdom of blind, a one eyed person is the king'.

Much touted 'ruling party edge' blunted in assembly by-elections of 2006 in 43rd Roing constituency to an independent candidate. And for the first time in electoral history of the state, official 'Ruling party' congress candidate won by a razor thin majority of 1314 votes in western parliamentary constituency in 15th Lok Sabha elections, despite disposal of state machineries and its resources to ruling party's command. It is an indication of growing 'political maturity' of 'immature voters'.

Supporters of political parties and political leadership should become conscious that, in today's era of Google, Face book, Twitter and SMSs, it is obsolete to harp on what they had harped during elections five years back from now. Most voters are matured and aware enough to see through such harpings.

Times have changed and it is time to change with change…...it is an irony how we run from change knowing well that change is the only constant thing in life....talk issue based politics.

Issues that can solve the disillusions of a young father in Emuli village, who says ruefully, "my father was into agriculture, I am into agriculture and my children too will be into agriculture…"

Series of protest rolled out against new district

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: The hurried decision of the state government in creation of Lower Siang district has not gone too well with the stakeholders. The controversies have been there right from the beginning in terms of choice of Basar as its headquarters and some villagers within Nari-Koyu rejecting the notion of joining the new district. To complicate the whole problem, the government left out Nari-Koyu constituency from the whole scene which has been one of the forefronts demanding the creation of a new district.

The new district comprises of Tirbin, Basar, Dari, Gensi, Likabali administrative circles.

Demanding fulfillment of their demands, citizens of Nari Koyu and Likabali constituency has set series of agitation programme starting with a 48 hours bandh from Tuesday and an indefinite bandh from Aug 24 as its third phase of protest. They demand inclusion of the Nari-Koyu in the new district and oppose Basar as its headquarters.

Meanwhile in a Joint Action Committee meeting by Lower Siang District Creation Committee reiterated its demand for creation of new district inclusive of Nari-Koyu constituency. It said that feasibility report by the then DC West Siang Huzar Lollen and East Siang Nandini Palliwal be taken into account.

The Joint Action Committee rejected the action of the Arunachal Pradesh Govt if “it’s based on the report prepared by DC West Siang Amzad Tak. It said that the same report has been withdrawn by the DC himself”.

The JAC said that if the demands are not being fulfilled, a democratic movement to set the demands in motion would be carried out soon.

The JAC said that the decisions of the state government have upset the people of Nari Koyu and Likabali constituency.

Capital Complex demolish Banderdewa Karsingsa 5-0, reach quarterfinals

NAHARLAGUN, Aug 10: Capital Complex FC trounced Banderdewa Karsingsa team 5-0 while Bamang Taji FC beat Borum United 2-0 in their last league engagements of the 3rd Abotani Cup Football Tournament at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here this afternoon.

Kipa Takum (10 min.), Toko Takar (13 min.), Gope Tamang (21 min.) and Ligang Bungu (27 min.) sounded the score board for CCFC. For BTFC, Robul D Sangma (12 min.) and Pura Byai (56 min.) scored a goal apiece.

CC FC will play Darko Sports Club in first quarterfinal tomorrow at 2 pm while Dolphin Mishing FC, Assam will lock horns with Rising Boys FC in second quarterfinal at 3.30 pm.

Employees against Wanglet

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: In a joint meeting of Adhoc Working Commitee CoSAAP with Federating and District Units held on August 9 and 10, the members of CoSAAP fraternity strongly condemned the press statement of President NCP AP Unit Lowangcha Wanglet on ways and means of payment of state government employee’s arrear.

It said that the CoSAAP members fail to understand why Wanglet who held many ministerial berths including finance in many occasions is against the interest of state government employees. It is the prerogative of state government to pay the dues of the state government employees from any available resources, it added. The CoSAAP members termed it to be “all act of sabotaging the process of amicable solution in between Government and the CoSAAP members pertaining to fulfillment of CoSAAP demands”.

It appealed all sections of the society to extend whole heart support to the demands of employees and cautions that any such attempt by any quarter shall not be tolerated by the government employees.

It further said that NCP being a ruling partner in the Centre should cooperate with the attempts of State Government and urged the NCP to withdraw its press statements with immediate effect.

NABARD to work for rehabilitation of the surrendered youths

ITANAGAR Aug 10: NABARD will collaborate with the Tirap district administration for rehabilitation of the youths who gave up arms by training and capacity building along with facilitation of bank linkage for farm and non-farm activities.

This was conveyed to Tirap deputy commissioner Ankur Garg by NABARD RO, Itanagar.

Meanwhile, NABARD is sponsoring the training programme for 105 participants drawn from 35 SHGs promoted by N N Charitable Society, Sagalee. The training to be held at Sagalee from August 16 to 18 will focus on record keeping and facilitate SHG-Bank Linkage programme.

NABARD is also sponsoring another training-cum-exposure visit for 100 farmers on different aspects of Dairy and Poultry farming through Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Papum Pare from August 19 next.

Arunachal Chess team for Calcutta

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: The state chess champion Nabam Mavan, Raluk Dui, Santosh Giri, Mikbom Doke, BP Lahon and Yibi Doke left for Culcutta to participate in the 47 National B Chess Championship Tournament.

ADC office inauguration

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu would inaugurate the newly upgraded Raga ADC independent Headquarter on August 18.

He would be accompanied by APCC President Nabam Tuki, Finance Minister Kalikho Pul, Education Minister Tatar Kipa, MP Takam Sanjoy, MLA Jomde Kena, MLA Nyoto Rigia, MLA Gojen Gadi and State Bamboo Mission Chairman Tame Phassang.

I-Day volleyball championship

Changlang, Aug 10: Changlang Deputy Commissioner Dr S B Deepak Kumar, IAS Inaugurated the Independence Day Intra-District Volley Ball Tournament today. In the inaugural matches of the tournament of sixteen teams’ race Manmao team beat Old Jukhi by whereas the Officers team beat Tangha VI. The final match will be played on 14th August 2009.

Earlier the chief guest Dr Deepak wished the teams for their best performance and advised to maintain the sportsman spirit.

ZPM Marina Kenglang, SP Kimi Aya, ADC L Borang and Head of offices were other dignitaries present besides huge gathering.

State level karate tournament

ITANAGAR Aug 10: The 15th state level karate tournament will be organized by Arunachal Karate Association (AKA) at Nyokum Niya hall Nirjuli from September 11 to 13 next.

The gold medalist winners will be given the opportunity to participate in the All India Karate-do Federation Championship to be held at Goa.

All medal winners will also be given the chance to participate in the North East games, informed AKA general secretary Sensi L Marik.

Trinamool Congress to put up candidates

ITANAGAR Aug 10: Former minister Kardu Taipodia who joined Trinamol Congress informed that the party would be putting up candidates in various assembly constituencies in the ensuing election.

He further informed that Trinamol Congress general secretary and Union minister of Shipping Mokul Roy would be visiting the state capital to highlight the programme and policies of Trinamol Congress for Arunachal Pradesh.

Appointments

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: Langkung Rade and Bengia Deksing have been selected as president and general secretary of Koloriang, Damin, Parsi-Parlo and Sarli Students’ Union.

One shot dead at Balijan

ITANAGAR: One person was killed by suspected militants at a market place at Balijan, Papum Pare. The deceased has been identified as a citizen from Assam.

Two armed men came to the weekly Monday market and shot the man to dead. Details are being awaited.

GH announces temporary closure of Gynae & labour room

ITANAGAR, Aug 10: Gynae ward and the labour room of Naharlagun General Hospital is being shifted tto the new building .The old labour room and the Gynae ward is also being dismantled to make room for the ongoing construction. Because of this, the labour room and the Gynae ward services in General Hospital Naharlagun will remain closed for the next few days or till the new Labour room and the Gynae ward becomes functional, informed chief Medical Officer Moji Jini. Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar has already been requested to accommodate extra Gynae and Delivery patients referred from GH Naharlagun during this time, he further informed. The hospital authority further expressed its regrets to the public and the prospective patients for the inconvenience caused during this transitional period of the hospital.

NCP questions law and order

ITANAGAR: The NCP Unit highlighting “deteriorating law and order situation” in twin state capital condemned the alleged physical assaulted on Finance and Account officer of Director of school education Gautam Sah, by group of the un-identified youth near post office RK Mission, Itanagar.

It appealed the concerned authority to book the culprit and take action.

PG results declared

ITANAGAR: The final examination result of PG economics, (II and IV semester), Geography (II and IV semester), Hindi (IV semester) and Political Science II (Semester) and UG III year, Institute of Distance Education has been declared.

The result can be obtained from university website www.rgu.ac.in and accessed through SMS.

(Readers’ Forum)

How prepared are our hospitals?

Madam,

I would like to draw the attention of the readers towards the impending disaster that the state is going to witness.

Alas! The intruder has intruded India, spreading a wave of shock and panic to the people of this subcontinent. It has started spurting out fire like a monstrous dragon posing a grave threat to the very existence of the people of this subcontinent. It has already claimed the life of an innocent 11-year-old girl Reeda Sheikh in Pune disgustingly making her the first victim to the dangerous intruder in this subcontinent. Not ready to cease here it has devoured three more precious lives, two in Maharashtra and one in Gujarat taking the death toll to four in the country. It is self proclaiming how deadly and dangerous it is.

Yes, I`m talking about the H1N1 Virus, an intruder from the foreign land, which took its deadly birth in Mexico and has invaded India , showing its dangerous colour in the form of SWINE FLU.

Now, back home here in Arunachal Pradesh this must be an eye opener to the Govt of this state. If this could be the situation in Pune, Delhi and Ahmedabad in spite of the various health facilities then what to think of Arunachal where the development in health sector is still in a nascent stage. A bio-catastrophe is awaiting us! Are we prepared enough to face this impending threat? Are our hospitals well equipped to fight this bio-disaster? The answer is a monotonous long No. At least I believe.

The state Govt has no choice but to drink this bitter truth that it has not done much in the health sector for the people of this state. It is a sin to blame someone but it is also a sin to ignore and keep mum when something wrong is seriously happening.

Look for yourself, even after more than two decades of our statehood no landmark development has been made in the health sector by the Govt of this state which is yet to rise from the shackles of slumber. I throw a challenge that not a single govt can boost that it has done something commendable in this department as per the required standard, condition; he must be true to himself. Do you know the fact? .Here it is—the new drivers come and go, the old car is the same.

Aren’t you surprise to know that we are living in a state capital without a single Govt hospital (barring one at Naharlagun). Take it for granted R.K Mission is a charitable hospital run by a non governmental organization. How ridiculous, a state capital without a single Govt hospital. Sometimes I feel why hasn’t it been entered in the Guinness book of world records. After all good or bad Name is Fame.

An impending threat like the swine flu and only two hospitals!! Where the hell are we living in?? Substandard district hospitals cannot provide proper care to the patients. Will the govt just leave us to our own fate?. It is not the fault on the part of the doctors or any of the medical fraternity, but the govt has to be blamed for its failure to provide the best of the equipments and the technology to these hospitals.

The proposal to upgrade the General hospital to the status of medical college was put forward but my hair is graying up, the God only knows when the day will come. This is Arunachal Pradesh, no doubt it is going to earn for herself the dubious distinction as the “Land of proposals and disposals”.

The state govt need to ensure that every possible equipments, medical technology, and other facilities be made available in some of these hospitals so that in the pitiable situation the need to refer the patients to Guwahati, Mumbai or Vellore wont arise. After all its not the place that matters what matters is the availability of modern technology. The govt has to be ever prepared to meet any such bio-disaster, whether it is H1N1 virus or any other disease, for remember they don’t require any special inner line permit (ILP) to infiltrate the soils of Arunachal Pradesh. I appeal the state govt to give a heed to the following principle --“Don’t go for the modernization, but bring the modernization”.

Yours,

Khioram Bagang

Shri V.N Govt Medical College

Yavatmal, Maharashtra

Via E.mail

Criteria for Dist HQ

Madam,

We are happy to learn that the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has assured for creation of two more new districts viz. Lower Siang and Longding. Really, such steps of the government should be appreciated. Moreover, there is news of new ADC post at Nari and new circle at Kora of East Siang District for which the present MLA of the Nari-Koyu needs appreciation.

While having pleasure for creation of Lower Siang, we do not understand the mind of the people of Basar area. Why they are after the location of Headquarters? Before everything is done, why do they propose Basar as the Headquarters of Lower Siang? According to Location Theory, urban centre should be located in the centre (in or approx.) so that the people from every corner can access to the centre easily. Creation of Lower Siang is decade-old demand of the people of the lower part of East Siang and West Siang. People of these areas really face problem to reach Pasighat or Aalo in a day for any official work. Imagine, what would be the benefit of people of Kangku or Gensi or New Seren or Nari circle if Headquarters was located in Basar since Basar is not at all located in the centre of Lower Siang? Everyone should bear in mind that Headquarters is not simply only the seat of DC but also should serve the people to minimize the communication bottlenecks.

So, we being the local youth of Lower Siang, would like to request Galo Students’ Union and Galo Welfare Society not to support Basar as Headquarters rather to propose any centrally located area or nearly central area.

Yours,

Joi Riba

Tali Kena

On email

Is it ode to Siang?

Madam,

Apropos news item published in your esteemed daily on Aug 10 regarding approval of the State Cabinet for creation of two new districts namely - Lower Siang and Longding; we, being inhabitant of proposed ‘Lower Siang’ Dist would like to express, through the columns of your esteemed paper, our thankfulness to the state govt.

It is worth mentioning here that it has been a regular and right practice to name the district by the name of the major river of that concerned area, but ironically the mighty River Siang is not flowing through the proposed area; in fact, it flows very far away from the proposed area. Therefore, the name ‘Lower Siang’ does not seem to be justified at all (even though it is being bifurcated from ‘West Siang’ District).

In this regard, we would like to request the responsible denizens of the proposed new District as well as the state govt. to re-consider its name, like by naming it by the actual rivers that flows in the area so as to avoid future complicacies of re-naming it, as it has often been seen that there is unnecessary practice of re-naming the Towns in India including Arunachal like in case of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Aalo which causes lots of confusions specially to the students. Once a place is popular with a particular name, it does not seem to be justified to rename them which causes unnecessary expenditure and wastage of time besides confusions. It may also be worth mentioning here that the new districts like ‘Papum-Pare’, ‘Kurung-Kumey’ were named after the name of the major rivers of the concerned area. Prevention is always better than cure.

Yours,

Moi Basar &

TomarNyodu, Naharlagun. Via e-mail

Our common senses are no more common

Madam,

We, the people of Arunachal Pradesh, are poor materially and spiritually, and this barrenness seems perpetual. Are we the cursed one?

Give me one reason to cheer for the future. I see anarchy and impoverishment closing down on us and unfortunately, we are doing our best to expedite the inevitable by our complacency and selfishness. Look at the news sprouting on the state newspapers and the realities on the ground; every bit of news is disappointing and every action of an individual (leaders, officers, common masses) smack of only self aggrandizement. Our teachers are incompetent lots, engineers incorrigibly corrupt, leaders power mongers and masses pitiably ignorant and slavish.

Most importantly, the air of our state has this peculiarity that makes the most agile brain and the most selfless person impotent and shirker through and through. Or else how can we explain the deplorable condition of our state and her inhabitants. We set our priorities inverse. The most essential of the necessities is languishing at the bottom. Remember the quote "loss of culture, loss of identity". It has political undertone to it which was disseminated with a reason. But look at our stupidity, we are taking it too far. Each one of us with each passing day has been contributing in the disintegration of Arunachal, the land of rising sun. The sobriquet, the land of rising sun, sound outrageously misplaced. Our common senses are no more common instead they are now exclusive senses.

I sound self righteous and big mouthed, don't I? It is just that I am one of you; brother in arms or partners in crime.

Yours,

Geken ette,

Symbiosis hostel, Lavale campus,

Pune,Via E-mail