The Arunachal Times - Archives

Kipa calls for efforts to impart quality education

Ojing Tayeng

ITANAGAR, Aug 06: Education Minister Tatar Kipa stressed on imparting quality education among the students while addressing the gathering after inaugurating the upgraded government higher secondary school, Polo Colony today.

While highlighting the government’s movement to meet the public demands, Tatar said that many educational institutions are being opened and upgraded in the state for the benefit of the students that includes more polytechnic colleges to meet the growing number of students including one National Institute of technology in Bhalukpong in West Kameng district. He further said that due to lack of infrastructures in education sector throughout the state, it resulted in to poor performance adding that the literacy rate in the state is much lower than that of national literacy rate particularly in Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri and East Kameng districts.

However, the government is making all possible efforts to overcome these obstacles and informed that it is planning to keep the Assistant Teacher recruitment process with the Education Department while Junior and senior teachers’ recruitment would be handed over to APCS to ensure quality education in the state. The matter would be placed before the cabinet for finalization soon.

He further said that there should not be fee variation in all the government schools and the government is also planning to regulate the vacation period of the private and government schools in same time and advised the students to maintain discipline.

He donated a sum of Rs 15,000 to the student community of the school and Rs 10,000 to the school committee.

Local MLA Kipa Babu also advised the students to work hard and respect their teachers to become good citizens and suggested the teacher to play an important role for providing quality education. While expressing concerned over shortage of school ground, Babu suggested that whatever small or big, the school infrastructure should be constructed in such a way that it could be expanded whenever necessary. He assured to provide a set of sports wears to the students of the school.

Deputy director of School education Gania Lazi suggested the principal to take proper planning before setting up of infrastructure with the limited resources and advised the students not to organize any forms of events without consultation with the principal.

Earlier, Vice Principal Momik Boje submitted a memorandum to the minister regarding poor school infrastructure, shortage of JT, ST and furniture in the school.

Lower Dibang Valley Farmers abandon fields for want of rain

Ajay Saring

ROING, Aug 06: The Lower Dibang Valley District received below average rainfall this year though intermittent rainfalls were received. As a result most of the paddy fields could not be cultivated. But this down pour were not enough to generate water in the streams which are the source of irrigation and could not accumulate enough water in the field. The soil type in most of the cultivated land is sandy loam in the district which needs sufficient rainfall for paddy cultivation. As the water retention capacity of this soil type is very less and water easily percolates down to the ground when enough rainfall is not received to retain it on the surface for cultivation purpose. Farming community of the district have dismal figure as the land prepared for paddy cultivation has remained dry and the seedlings prepared for transplantation are getting old and some are drying off due to non-received of sufficient rainfall as most of the agricultural fields are rain-fed and non-irrigated. Those fields having irrigation channel also could not transplant paddy as most of the streams remain dry due to rain deficit. The farmers have expressed fear that if these conditions persist they will not even get seeds for the next year’s crop as seeds are kept from the surplus grain production of the season. If there is no production at all then the question of keeping grains as seeds for next season does not arise, lamented one farmer of Jia Village. Not only food grains but commercial crop like Ginger, which is largely grown through out the district commercially is also beginning to dry off due to scorching heat.

As per the records of rainfall data furnished by the Water Resource Department, Roing, the district headquarter receives 80.00mm, 525.50mm and 591.00mm rainfall in the month of May, June and July’ 2009 respectively whereas, the rain gauge recorded 120.60mm in May, 783.30mm in June and 845.50mm in July last year . And in the year 2007, it further received greater volume of rainfall with 258.40mm in May, 657.20mm in June and 1423.20 mm in July. The main agricultural land located at Bolung, Jia, Parbuk, Inzonu, Rukmo, Dambuk, Balek and other areas even received lesser rainfall as per the data maintained in the office of EE, WRD Roing. The low rainfall in the peak farming season has greatly affected the farming community which entirely depends on agriculture for their livelihood. When contacted the District Agriculture Officer, Roing have informed that reports were received from Panchayat Leaders from different corners of the district regarding drought like condition in various pockets but the department is yet to come up with a definite plan to tackle the situation as reports from Agriculture Field Assistants are awaited, he added.

AAPSU reacts to Nagaland People’s Front design in Tirap and Changlang

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (A.A.P.S.U) has reacted sharply to news item carried by some dailies regarding fielding of candidates by Nagaland Peoples’ Front (N.P.F) in Tirap and Changlang district. It described the news items as confusing and compounding the fragile situation being faced by the common people of the state.

The politics of trying to impose “will and legitimacy in the name of community or tribe” will never be allowed to take roots in our state, the union said in while adding that it would take all measures to prevent such evil design by any outside forces that are trying to foster mistrust and enmity among the peace loving people of the state.

The union further called upon the political leaders and senior citizens of the state to disengage themselves from such political misadventures.

Referring to claims made by the Nagaland based political party that leaders from our state have also participated in its meeting, it said that such acts will only disrupt the peaceful political set up that is already existing in the state.

It said that the state has a tradition of putting up candidates on basis of needs of the societal development as opposed to encouraging a particular community by Nagaland peoples’ front.

The leaders of the state particularly of the two districts need to show political statesmanship and take recourse from history as the people of the two districts still endure the pain of its past political blunder.

NCP to field candidates in all 60, differs on utilisation of green bonus

Ranjit Sinha

ITANAGAR, Aug 06: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Arunachal Pradesh today exuded confidence that it would sweep the forthcoming state Assembly election and form the Govt with comfortable majority.

Addressing the media persons here, NCP state president L Wanglat said, the party would field its candidates in all 60 Assembly seats. ‘If we fail to field candidates in all 60 seats, we will extend our support to likeminded parties, he said. However, Wanglat ruled out any pre-poll electoral alliance with any party.

Party has already received a good number of applicants for party tickets, the state NCP chief said and claimed that sizeable number of people from BJP and Congress are still joining its party fold.

Announcing the formation of various election committees, he said, NCP national president Sharad Pawar has constituted a 16-member NCP Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) with Wanglat as chairman, and 8-member State Election Campaign Committee with Nima Tsering Khrime as chairman for Arunachal Pradesh.

Win ability would be the main yardstick for selection of party candidates, the NCP leader said when asked on the criteria for selection of party candidates.

Regarding party poll strategy in state, Wanglat said, the state needs vision and proper planning to reduce the gap between the have and have-nots. A vision document is being prepared with the help of the RGU which will be incorporated in party manifesto, he said.

Wanglat emphatically said that the party would mainly fight against economic disparity, for balance development both in rural and urban areas. He also emphasized on the need to see that PDS items reach to genuine and needy people. Expressing concern over the pumping of huge money in electoral politics, Wanglat said Govt should take steps against malpractices during election and NGOs should also come forward to bring awareness among the people against money politics.

Regarding economic condition of the state, the former finance minister said, Arunachal being the late starter, the Centre is duty-bound to accord utmost priority to the economic development of strategically important frontier state of North East. The NCP state chief, however, disagreed with the idea to divert the proposed green bonus for payment of employees’ dues. “Green bonus should be utilized for the development of state, especially to boost up tourism sector, beautification of state to allure more tourists”.

On security scenario, the NCP leader and former home minister said, Arunachal has serious security problem. However, he hoped, the state home minister would tackle law and order problems with his vision and determination. The state should demand separate fund from Centre under 6th pay commission to pay the arrears of the employees, he maintained.

AdiSU Bandh affects normal life

PASIGHAT, Aug 06: Normal life was affected in East Siang District today because of a 12 hours bandh called by the Adi Students Union to stress for their demands restricting construction of Mega Hydropower Projects in the Adi belt, renovation/construction of boys’ hostel at JN college, Pasighat and immediate compensation to land donors for establishment of East Divisional Commissioner office at Namsai.

No untoward incident had been reported except burning of two bye-cycles and stone pelting on a private car. All govt. and private busses, line Tata Sumos were off-road on the day. The district administration, magistrates and police personnel were found busy to maintain normalcy during the bandh. (DIPRO)

Nine dead in road accident

Correspondent

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: Nine people, including two women and four children, were killed and four others injured in a road mishap on National Highway 52 at Kolabari Kalita village under Gohpur subdivision in Assam’s Sonitpur district today.

Police informed that the accident occurred at around 0400 hours when two trucks - one cement laden and the other ferrying passengers - collided head-on.

The dead have been identified as Chamlo Hanuk, his wife Mamoni Hanuk and their two young daughters Miza and Maya. One of the dead is Rubu Tasa. The dead also includes driver Jagdish Moran and his minor daughter Pallavi, passenger Anjalika Kalita and her minor son Kaushik Kishore.

The injured Shanker Shetty and Pura Tamang have been referred to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

The vehicle laden with cement is reported to be registered in Jammu and Kashmir with registration number JK02V1975 while the other one has an Arunachali registration number ARZ 1387.

Details are being awaited. (With input from UNI, Tezpur)

Nimasow joins Cong

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: Govardhan Nimasow, who contested the last assembly lection against Naresh Glow today, joined Congress along with his supporters from Congress after resigning from BJP.

AAPSU on cleanliness drive

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union would conduct a mass social service at Naharlagun General Hospital on August 13 from 7.30 am onwards

It requested all the likeminded NGOs and former leaders of the union to be a part of the drive.

It said Union decided to take up the work as Naharlagun General Hospital is one of the premier health centers which is infested with so much of dirt and filth due to apathy shown by the common public in spite of best effort put in by the medical authorities.

Make BJP a platform to raise voice of the masses: Rao

ITANAGAR, Aug 06: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Northeast Organizational-in-charge P. Chandrasekhar Rao has called upon the party workers and leaders to make the party the voice of people, a platform to raise people’s grievances against injustice.

Chandrasekhar, who is currently on a six-day tour to the districts under state BJP’s Mandal Chalo Abhiyan, said the party has larger role to play in the democracy and unlike other political parties, BJP stands for justice to all and appeasement to none.

Addressing a series of party workers’ sammelan at Pasighat on Aug 4, at Pangin, Rumgong and Aalo yesterday, Chandrasekhar exhorted the party workers not to encircle themselves within the circle – ‘win or loss’ in election as the party has vast different ideology and future remain with BJP and its Karyakartas. Expressing his happiness on the efforts of the party cadres and their enthusiasm, the party’s NE incharge emphatically said ‘days are no longer for the people of this beautiful Himalayan state to have stable Govt and good politics. Sacrifices and hard efforts of the BJP workers would one day bring results and the people would aggressively defeat the rule of paise and power politics, he asserted.

Claiming that the Arunachal is passing through alarming situations after the reported Chinese claims in the recent years, ‘ with anti-national and underground outfits increased its based’ in the state which is struggling with its poor infrastructure, Chandrasekhar exuded confidence that the intellectuals and general public would certainly voice against all odds.

Besides party workers, large number of BJP state and district level leaders including state BJP president Dr. Tangor Tapak, general Secretary Tai Tagak, state secretaries Kabak Yabii and Yaying Lombi addressed the sammelans.

P. Chandrasekhar Rao and Elections-in-Charge BJP NE states, Harendra Pratap would address party workers of Papum Pare, Itanagar, Lower Subansiri and Kurung Kumey district here on August 07 besides address State BJP Election Management Committee and take stock of the party organization for the October 2009 Assembly elections in the state, according to a BJP release.

Seminar calls for inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th schedule

TAWANG, Aug 6: Youth Action for Social Welfare and Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, Tawang, a voluntary organization working in the field of education, organized a National Seminar “National Policy on Education and Bhoti Language” at Tawang, Jomkhang Hall today.

The seminar is to run for two consecutive days and is a follow up action to the Seminar cum Workshop organized by Mysore’s National Commission for minorities and CIL, at Tawang in February this year.

The object of the seminar is to highlight the importance of National Policy on Education with emphasis on mother tongue and link it up with the Bhoti language, spoken and used as mother tongue in the Himalayan Region of India from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

Bhoti should be constitutional safeguarded.

In this direction under the initiatives of the Buddhist Member, Ven. Lama Chospel Zotpa a report has been submitted by National Commission for Minorities, to the Prime Minister and Home Minister for consideration for inclusion of Bhoti language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Various dignitaries of NCERT, Delhi, of Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh, of Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, U.P attended the seminar. M.L.As Tsewang Dhondup and T.G. Rinpoche, were among those who attended the programe.

The effort is to educate the people from the Himalayan Region on the issue of proper implementation of the National policy on education and the third language in which Bhoti can be included.

“The seminar will help in taking the policies and benefits of the Government to the people and its proper implementation”, concludes Maling Gombu, secretary HBCA, Delhi. (DIPRO)

CCRD’s Saturday Cinemaghar resumes with Jacob Penchansky’s Mountain Strings

Saturday Cinemaghar,the weekly film and music event hosted by the Centre for Cultural Research & Documentation (CCRD) at the E&K’s café in Naharlagun resumes its next season this Saturday with Jacob Penchansky presenting his film Mountain Strings. The film follows the journey of two traditional musicians from the hills of Virginia in the United States to the mountains of rural Nepal, where they explore the surprising connections between Appalachian and Himalayan folk music and culture.

They meet and share their music with traditional musicians of the Gandharba (or Gaine) caste. The Gandharbas were once the wandering minstrels of rural Nepal, though today their traditions are at risk of extinction as radio, television, and recorded music encroach on rural Nepal. We hear the words and wisdom of elderly musicians from both Virginia and Nepal, who guide us through this unique musical marriage. This film is part of The Mountain Music Project, which works towards preserving traditional music in rural and under-served regions throughout the world.

Jacob, who is here on invitation of CCRD to screen the film said “as our film is about recognizing one's own cultural heritage, it makes me proud that we can premiere this early version of our film to an Arunachali audience that so strongly values it's own cultural roots.”

Sanjeev Monga, the editor of the film will also be present at the screening and interact with the audience. For Monga, who is also Media Consultant to CCRD, the experience is slightly different as he has always been here in Arunachal as a part of team CCRD. To be presenting a different film, for which he also did the camerawork, is a new experience he shared.

Jacob Penchansky is also a radio producer, sound recordist, and "guerilla ethnomusicologist." His radio stories and audio recordings can be heard on National Public Radio in the US, BBC/PRI's "The World," the Nature Conservancy Pod cast, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and the Outer Voices radio project. He has recorded traditional musicians in more than 30 countries. In addition to directing the efforts of the Mountain Music Project, he has helped preserve audio recordings for Easter Island's Museo Anthropologico, documented endangered native languages in Alaska, and trained radio journalists along the Thailand-Burma border. When not playing and recording music in remote locations, he calls Bozeman, Montana his home.

Mountain Strings will kick-start this month’s Cinemaghar theme of mountain, music and culture. In a slight departure from its usual fare, this month will showcase instrumental music played by young artistes. The musicians to be featured this week will be young prodigy Keli Bagra from the Donyi Polo School of Music who, at 10 has mastered the drum set. Playing the keyboard with him will be another young talent, Manbit Dutta, a student of Class 8, VKV. Subsequent weeks will witness other musicians presenting their music along with the films. The last Saturday of the month will witness a jam session of all the musicians performing together.

CCRD’s weekly blend of films and music by young musicians takes on a deeper meaning with this week with Jacob’s presence. Being a musician himself, it would be of added interest to hear his rendition of the music he portrays in his film.

The event will begin at 4.30 pm on Saturday.

SSC, HNFC win in Abotani Cup

NAHARLAGUN, Aug 6: Sood Sports Club (SSC) beat Immanuel FC 2-1 in a league match of the 3rd Abotani Cup Football Tournament held at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here today.

Rubu Nado (37 min.) and Taba Mosi (43 min.) scored a goal apiece for the winning team while the lone goal for Immanuel FC was scored by Tungum Taje in 47 minutes

In another match played between Hina Nabam FC (HNFC) and Nyokum Lapang FC, the former defeated the latter by 2-1 goal. Tamar Tuglo and Tania Chomo were the scorer for Hina Nabam FC while Kumar Daku was the scorer for Nyokum Lapang FC.

Today’s matches:

Capital Complex FC vs Battalion (B.N) FC (2.00 P.M)

12 Borum United FC vs Dera Natung FC (3.30 P.M)

TDS chairman to sponsor weightlifter

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: Taba Dhan Society (TDS) Chairman Taba Tara has consented to sponsor budding weightlifter of Arunachal Pradesh Menu Tajo.

Menu, 13, daughter of Tanung Tajo and Damsap Tajo, presently residing at Rakap Colony, Naharlagun, won Gold medal in 48 kg category in All India Rural Sport Tournament held in Margao in 2007 and a Silver medal in First National Level Rural Sports Tournament held at Taram Taaram in Punjab, Arunachal Weightlifting Association (AWA) said in a release. She had also participated in various regional level championships and won medals.

Meanwhile, AWA expressed gratitude to Tara for the kind gesture and sympathy shown to the weightlifter and also appealed to private sector companies and individuals to cooperate with the association for development of the sport sector in the state.

Breezy book reading campaign cheers Tezu students

TEZU, Aug 6: The month of July turned out to be a time of rejoicing for the school students and teachers of Tezu reeling under a severe sultry spell, as a breezy “Campaign on Library Reading promotion in Schools” launched by the VT-AWIC Youth Library Network, jointly with the Lohit District Education Dept brought in the much needed relief to the normally drab class-rooms.

The Book Reading campaign with the motto “Taking the Joy of Reading to the Youth of Lohit” is a part of the “National Action Plan on Readership Development among the Youth” launched this year by the Govt. of India through the National Book Trust, India.

Under the programme, a team of resource-persons and 15 young readers from different libraries of the VT- AWIC Youth Library Network, went round 26 schools around Tezu, conducting one-hour sessions of story-reading, skits and poetry & rhyme recitations for students of class V to VIII, along with an exhibition of interesting books and children’s magazines. In all above 1500 students and 70 teachers participated in the sessions.

The Campaign was aimed to expose the young students to the great advantages of Library reading in improving their academic standards and promoting creative skills and to encourage them to make the best use of the Children’s libraries and the District Library in their town. Two or more teachers nominated by the Education dept, acted as observers in each school, to continue similar activities, as a follow up.

The Library team led by \ Etalo Megha, Bamboosa Youth Library I/c, was assisted by Yealiang Tamblu, Music Teacher from District Education Dept, Ajay Mili of Karuna Trust Library, Walong and S. Mundayoor, Coordinator, VT-AWIC Youth Library Network.

The highlight of the sessions was the spirited and humorous presentations from various books and magazines by the young Library readers Ashish Singh, Abhinav Dwivedi, Ravi Kr. Singh, Ashish Mishra, Yogesh, Nishar Bezbaruah, Arpita Dwivedi and Preety Sonar, with many more joining from the respective schools.

A highlight of the campaign was an interesting audio-visual show at Changliang and Tafrogam villages by Ambika Aiyadurai, a Ford Foundation research scholar from London, on “Mishmi hunting practices in Anjaw”.

The month-long Reading Campaign could generate considerable enthusiasm among the students and teachers, as visible by the steep increase in the number of visitors – children, youth and parents - to the VT-AWIC Youth Libraries in and around Tezu. It will be extended to other circles of the district in the coming months.

The Campaign in Lohit, organized under the active guidance of K. Rina, DDSE, Lohit was earlier declared open by Kaling Tayeng Deputy Commissioner, Lohit during the 2nd Annual Day Celebrations of the VT-AWIC Youth Library Network, at Tezu on June 14.

AEKDSU submits memo to DC

ITANAGAR, Aug 06: All East Kameng District Students’ Union (AEKDSU) in a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanded maintenance of road besides constructing proper drainage and sanitation system within the township of the district headquarter.

The union further urged that sufficient teachers be posted to various schools within the district. Most schools are laying defunct due to shortage of teachers, the union added.

It also called for improvement in the law and order scenario in the district headquarter. The union called upon the concerned department and the district administration to establish police beat points at various sensitive zones within the township to check unwanted elements from carrying out their illegal activities.

It also called for proper checking of ILP to stop illegal migrants entering the state.

The union said that though FCI has adequately supplied ration commodities to the district headquarter yet the people are not getting sufficient PDS items.

It urged the district administration to put in place proper public distribution system so that people in various parts of the district benefit.

AEKDSU further said that though the district has number of administrative circles but most remain non-functional as there are no circle officers posted.

The union also demanded immediate demarcation of Seppa government higher secondary school boundary as encroachment is becoming a threat to various schools.

The union further requested for reopening of boys hostel at government higher secondary school Seppa to facilitate the poor students from interior areas.

It also urged for immediate completion of infrastructure development of proposed college and hoped that necessary funds would be sanctioned.

What for Rogi Kalyan Samitee (RKS)/ Hospital Management Committee under NRHM?

By Dr D Padung

Nodal Officer (NRHM)

I am writing in continuation of my earlier communication through newspaper on the below detailed topic in the interest and general information and awareness of the public. The intention is to instill knowledge to the public so that everybody owns and act responsibly on the issues. My appeal to each and every member of the community especially PRI leaders is to know the program and lead the committees as per guidelines so as to achieve the NRHM goals. I am highlighting few but very important component of communitization under NRHM as a part of empowering local committees so that the need of the community is looked after by themselves. Further, it is my earnest request to all that the committees function properly and give direction to the implementation of NRHM activities as per local requirement at facility level.

The aim of RKS has been to improve the service delivery by using the funds available. It is invariably seen that the funds provided to RKS / SC / VHSC are utilized for activities which are not permitted under guidelines and further, the activities does not contribute to the improvement in the service delivery. On the basis of above facts, the utilization guidelines for VHSC untied fund, SC untied fund and RKS funds are narrated briefly below for compliance at all levels.

A. GUIDELINES REGARDING CONSTITUTION OF VILLAGE HEALTH AND SANITATION COMMITTEES AND UTILIZATION OF UNTIED GRANTS under NRHM

The detailed Implementation Framework of the National Rural Health Mission [NRHM] approved by the Union Cabinet in July, 2006 provides for the constitution and orientation of all community leaders on Village Sub Centre, Primary Health Centre and Community Health Centre Committees. The NRHM implementation has been planned within the framework of Panchayti Raj Institutions [PRIs] at various levels. The Village Health and Sanitation Committee envisaged under NRHM is also within the overall umbrella of PRI.

Composition of the Village Health & Sanitation Committee.

To enable the Village Health & Sanitation Committee to reflect the aspirations of the local community especially of the poor households and women, it has been suggested that:

· At least 50% members on the Village Health & Sanitation Committee should be women.

· Every hamlet within a revenue village must be given due representation on the Village Health and Sanitation Committee to ensure that the needs of the weaker sections especially Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes are fully reflected in the activities of the committee.

· A provision of at least 30% representation from the Non-governmental sector.

· Representation to women’s self-help group etc. on these committees etc. will enable the Committee to undertake women’s health activities more effectively.

· Notwithstanding the above, the overall composition and nomenclature of the Village Health & Sanitation Committees is left to the State Governments as long as these committees were within the umbrella of PRIs.

Orientation & Training

Every Village Health & Sanitation Committee after being duly constituted by the State Governments needs to be oriented and trained to carry out the activities expected of them.

Village Health Fund

Every such committee duly constituted and oriented would be entitled to an annual untied grant of Rs.10, 000/-, which could be used for any of the following activities: -

(i) As a revolving fund from which households could draw in times of need to be returned in installments thereafter.

(ii) For any village level public health activity like cleanliness drive, sanitation drive, school health activities, ICDS, Anganwadi level activities, household surveys etc.

(iii) In extraordinary case of a destitute women or very poor household, the Village Health & Sanitation Committee untied grants could even be used for health care need of the poor household.

(iv) The untied grant is a resource for community action at the local level and shall only be used for community activities that involve and benefit more than one household. Nutrition, Education & Sanitation, Environmental Protection and Public Health Measures shall be key areas where these funds could be utilized.

(v) Every village is free to contribute additional grant towards the Village Health & Sanitation Committee. In villages where the community contributes financial resources to the Village Health & Sanitation Committee untied grant of Rs.10, 000/-, additional incentive and financial assistance to the village could be explored. The intention of this untied grant is to enable local action and to ensure that Public Health activities at the village level receive priority attention.

Maintenance of Bank Account

The Village Health & Sanitation Committee fund shall be credited to a bank account, which will be operated with the joint signature of ASHA along with the President of the Village Health & Sanitation Committee/Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat. The account maintenance of this joint account shall be the responsibility of the Village Health & Sanitation Committee especially the ASHA. The Village Health & Sanitation Committee, the ASHA shall maintain a register of funds received and expenditure incurred. The register shall be available for public scrutiny and shall be inspected from time to time by the ANM/MPW/Gram Panchayat.

Accountability

· Every Village Health & Sanitation Committee needs to maintain updated Household Survey data to enable need based interventions.

· Maintain a register where complete details of activities undertaken, expenditure incurred etc. will be maintained for public scrutiny. This should be periodically reviewed by the ANM/Sarpanch.

· The Block level Panchayat Samiti will review the functioning and progress of activities undertaken by the VHSC.

· The District Mission in its meeting also through its members/block facilitators supporting ASHA [wherever ASHA’s are in position] elicit information on the functioning of the VHSC.

· A data base may be maintained on VHCSs by the DPMUs.

B. GUIDELINES FOR USE OF SUB-CENTER (SC) FUNDS UNDER NRHM

1. As part of the National Rural Health Mission, it is proposed to provide each sub center with Rs.10,000/- as an untied fund to facilitate meeting urgent yet discrete activities that need relatively small sums of money.

2. The fund shall be kept in a joint bank account of the ANM and the Sarpanch.

3. Decisions on activities for which the funds are to be spent will be approved by the Village Health Committee (VHC) and be administered by the ANM. In areas where the sub center is not co-terminus with the Gram Panchayat (GP) and the sub center covers more than one GP, the VHC of the Gram Panchayat where the SC is located will approve the Action Plan. The funds can be used for any of the villages, which are covered by the sub center.

4. Untied Funds will be used only for the common good and not for individual needs, except in the case of referral and transport in emergency situations. 5. Suggested areas where Untied Funds may be used include:

· Minor modifications to sub center- curtains to ensure privacy, repair of taps, installation of bulbs, other minor repairs, which can be done at the local level

· Ad hoc payments for cleaning up sub center, especially after childbirth.

· Transport of emergencies to appropriate referral centers

· Transport of samples during epidemics.

· Purchase of consumables such as bandages in sub center

· Purchase of bleaching powder and disinfectants for use in common areas of the village.

· Labour and supplies for environmental sanitation, such as clearing or larvicidal measures for stagnant water.

· Payment/reward to ASHA for certain identified activities

6. Untied funds shall not be used for any salaries, vehicle purchase, and recurring expenditures or to meet the expenses of the Gram Panchayat.

C. Guidelines for utilization of Untied fund and Annual Maintenance Grant for Primary Health Centres (PHCs)

Health sector reforms under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) aims to increase functional, administrative and financial resources and autonomy to the field units under which every PHC will get Rs. 25,000/- p.a. as untied grant for local health action. Similarly every PHC will get an Annual Maintenance Grant of Rs.50, 000/- for improvement and maintenance of physical infrastructure. Provision of water, toilets, their use and their maintenance has to be the priorities. In addition, every PHC is being strengthened with provision of three staff nurses as against one at present and provision of two doctors (one male, one female) and Ayush practitioner.

2. Necessity of untied fund has been felt mainly due to unavailability of funds for undertaking any innovative Centre-specific need-based activity, as the allotment of funds to the States has traditionally been of the nature of tied funds for implementing a particular activity / scheme and this hardly left any funds with the public health facilities. This centralized management and schematic in-flexibility in the use of funds allotted to the States, did not provide any scope for local initiative and flexibility for local action at block and down below level. Also it has been observed that most of the Primary Health Centres have not been maintained properly due to lack of steady fund, available locally for repair/refurbishing of infrastructure and basic facilities.

3. Since there would be substantial fund flow to the districts to be utilized for the Centres under NRHM / RCH-II and other programs, the untied funds should not duplicate what is / can be taken up under other programs. Each activity planned by the Centre should have clear rationale so that the impact of the untied fund can be distinctively assessed. A separate register be maintained in the PHC giving sources of funds clearly for various activities.

4. PHC untied fund shall be kept in the bank account of the concerned Rogi Kalyan Samitti (RKS)/ Hospital Management Committee (HMC). PHC level Panchayat Committee/Rogi Kalyan Samiti will have the mandate to undertake and supervise the work to be undertaken from Annual Maintenance Grant. Both the funds will be spent and monitored by RKS.

5. Suggested areas where Untied Fund may be used include:

· Minor modifications to the Center- curtains to ensure privacy, repair of taps, installation of bulbs, other minor repairs, which can be done at the local level

· Patient examination table, delivery table, DP apparatus, hemoglobin meter, copper-T insertion kit, instruments tray, baby tray, weighing scales for mothers and for newborn babies, plastic/rubber sheets, dressing scissors, stethoscopes, buckets, attendance stool, mackintosh sheet

· Provision of running water supply

· Provision of electricity

· Ad hoc payments for cleaning up the Center, especially after childbirth.

· Transport of emergencies to appropriate referral centers

· Transport of samples during epidemics.

· Purchase of consumables such as bandages in the Center

· Purchase of bleaching powder and disinfectants for use in common areas

· Under the jurisdiction of the Centre.

· Labour and supplies for environmental sanitation, such as clearing or

· Larvicidal measures for stagnant water.

· Payment/reward to ASHA for certain identified activities

· Repair/operationalising soak pits

6. The following nature of expenditures should not be incurred out of the untied fund:

· Purchase of Office Stationery and equipments, training-related equipments, Vehicles etc.

· Engagement of full time or part time staff and payment of honorarium / incentives / wages of any kind.

· Purchase of drugs, consumables and furniture.

· Payments towards inserting advertisements in any Newspaper / Journal / Magazine and IEC related expenditure.

· Organizing “Swasthya Mela” or giving stalls in any Mela for ostensible purpose of awareness generation of health schemes / programs.

· Payment of incentives to individuals / groups in cash / kind.

· Meeting any recurring non-plan expenditure.

· Taking up any individual based activity except in the case of referral and transport in emergency situations.

7. The Centers are not required to take prior approval before implementing the schemes from the untied funds but shall have to send quarterly SOE and UC.

Teli inaugurates football tournament

ITANAGAR Aug 06: Former minister and AICC member T C Teli inaugurated the Running Trophy football tournament at Balijan yesterday.

The tournament participated by 12 teams is being organized by Zenith Club, Balijan.

The first match was played between All Karbi Students’ Union (AKSU) and Balijan Branch Youth Association (BBYA).

AKSU beat BBYA by 7 goals to 2. The final match of the tournament will be played on August 15 next.

The inaugural session was attended by Balijan EAC Tai Taggu, All Papum Pare District Students Union president Nabam Simon, representatives of others students’ unions besides government staffs, panchayat leaders and public.

Association calls for strengthening security

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: Taraso Circle Youth Association (TCYA) appealed the govt to immediately deploy more IRBn personnel with communication equipments and a vehicle at Taraso besides establishing a permanent training center of the 4th IRBn in the area.

It alleged that insurgents were taking advantage of the remoteness and roaming freely creating a fear psychosis in the area.

The Association said that as a result of communication bottleneck, the area has become a hide-outs for the insurgents while the absence equipped police personnel is encouraging them to move freely with their arms.

PR leaders recommend Sati Mein

ITANAGAR, Aug 6: Women Panchayat leaders have recommended Sati Mein as its candidate from 47 Namsai Assembly constituency. It said that women from Piyong and Namsai make up 70% of voters and would like to see a woman candidate as its representative. The signatories include Shristi Maio, ZPM, 3 Ningroo Piyong, Nang Kabita Namchoom, ASM Wingseng Nonhtow, Nang Sumitra Mantaow, ASM, Piyong, Yachip Paron, ASM, Adi Ningroo, Rupa Paleng, ASM, New Jengthu, Nang Urmila Manchey Khon, ASM, Deobeel-2, Nang Binita Mowkey, ASM, Kaichu, Duhita Thoumonglong, ASM, Kinghom Juna, Neru Khamho, ASM, Mokrun.

“Our choice of Mein as candidate comes after long discourse and deliberations. She has a mass support in the area and has been a guide to its people even without holding a public office. We feel it is about time; she actually took up the mantle and become our representative” it said in a release.

DDK’s Breast Feeding Week show

ITANAGAR, Aug 06: DDK, Itanagar will telecast live a panel discussion on the occasion of Breast Feeding Week on August 7 at 7.30 pm.

Deputy Directors of health services department Dr R Rina and Dr. H Tam will be the subject experts and a prog on eye donation will also be telecast on August 10 at 6.30 pm.

Coordination Meeting on Tax and Excise

PASIGHAT, August 6: A coordination meeting with the Head of Departments and DDO was held at Pasighat under the chairmanship of Onit Panyang, Deputy Commissioner, East Siang District in his office conference hall on August 5 last.

The Superintendent (Tax & Excise) Tanong Tatak appraised the house that the department has begun checking the records to find out if there is a significant drop in the TDS remitted by the businessmen and HODs / DDOs for the last two years and found that the attitude of the business establishments are encouraging but the DDOs are far behind.

Tatak disclosed a detail report of non submission of TDS/FF-07 & 08. The DC Panyang urged the officers/defaulters to clear their dues within the month of August enabling the concern department to remit the same to the government treasury. All the officers assured that they would clear their dues and cooperate with the concerned department. (DIPRO)

Tap hydro potential: ANSU

ITANAGAR: All Nyishi Students Union has demanded immediate initiation for expediting hydropower projects in the Nyishi dominated areas with the proper MoU and MoA ensuring compulsory employment opportunity to local educated youths and other social welfare packages.

In a memorandum to the chief minister, the Union said that Nyishi dominated areas are blessed with many rivers suitable for hydro power generation which is yet to be tapped.

It further said that with the exploration of the hydropower in the Nyishi area, employment opportunity for the youths could be generated besides infrastructural development there.

Directorate clarifies

ITANAGAR: The Directorate of Art and Culture has clarified that failure to appear before Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission was not deliberate. The department clarified that the officer had gone out of station while adding that the documents sought by a citizen was kept ready and several attempted were made to contact him.

It further added that after futile attempts to get in touch with him, the required documents were sent by speed post on Aug 4.

The Information Commission had yesterday called on the Police to issue an arrest warrant for officer of the department for failing to comply with the Commission’s orders.

AHPF supports project

ITANAGAR: Abor Hills People’s Forum (AHPF) has unanimously decided to fully support the Hydro Project coming up at Pongging-Bodak area.

The forum said that before the commencement of the project, the rehabilitation of the affected villagers should be done on priority.

It further added that the forum will support and extend all possible assistance to the JAYPEE group and the state government to complete the project as this will provide employment possibilities and economic growth of East Siang district.