August -  25

• REHP affected people demand release of adequate dam water
• AVF pleads for effective transfer and posting policy
• AIDS advocacy prog for personnel of  tourism sector
• DASU calls for positive steps for Dibang bridge construction
• Flood damages agri field
• What after Non-APS/T babus retire?
• Pre- Solung celebrated at Shillong
• Colony people demand restoration of road link

 

Enquiry into irregularities sought

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: The Birup Colony Welfare Committee, Itanagar has appealed to the concern authority to take action against the sales manager of Arunachal Pradesh Consumers Cooperative Federation Ltd, Raj Bhawan branch for allegedly selling ration items like rice and sugar to authorized card holders.

The Committee action chairman Gochi Kiokam in a release today alleged that he found such abnormality during his visit to the Federation on August 23. Kiokam further said that he had seized eight invalid ration cards from the possession of sales manager and urged the authorities to enquire into the irregularities.

 

AAPPTF unit appeals for renovation of road

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Expressing concern over the dilapidated Ziro-Hapoli road, All Arunachal Pradesh Public Transport Federation (AAPPTF), Lower Subansiri district unit in a representation to Deputy Commissioner has appealed him to take immediate step for renovation of said road.

In another representation to the SBI general manager, the AAPPTF unit appealed him  to activate ATM counter at Old Ziro. Most of the time the ATM remains  out of order causing great inconvenience to  general public and  business men, the Federation unit resented. Though there are two ATM counters at Ziro and Hapoli, both the counters fail to deliver service to the growing number of bank customers, the federation unit said. The federation also appealed the Director, postal services, Itanagar for providing Speed Post facility at Sub-Post Office, Ziro for the convenience of general public.

 

ALSU complains against poor infrastructure

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: The Arunachal Law Students union (ALSU) has visited Bhalukpong area especially Tipti Industrial Estate on Aug 23. During its tour, ALSU found that quality works have not been maintained while  constructing the new Govt. infrastructure such as EAC building, Hospital building and circuit House building. Moreover, the newly constructed EAC building and Hospital building have not been handed over to the concerned Departments, the union said.

While visiting Industrial Estate Tipi, Bhalukpong, the ALSU team also expressed displeasure over the poor infrastructure development in the area.   The Industrial Estate is still deprived of basic infrastructure like approach road, proper drainage system and sanitation, drinking water facility besides insufficient power supply, the  union said.

The ALSU also visited the newly established steel Industry (Platinum Alloys Pvt. Ltd.) Under Satyam Groups and found that the industry is already running without pollution plant.  The Union appealed to the authorities to take immediate remedial measures for better infrastructure.

 

Free health camp

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: All Capital Complex Unemployed Youth Association (ACCUYA) has decided to organise a free health camp in October next.

 

LSDNSU demands ATM counters at Yachuli and Raga

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Lower Subansiri District Nyishi Students Union (LSDNSU) has appealed to the SBI regional manager, Itanagar for installation of ATM counters at Yachuli and Raga blocks.

Opening of SBI branch with ATM facility at Yachuli will cater to the need of around 15 thousand population, including school students and businessmen, the union said. Similarly, Raga with 20,000 population also urgently required a ATM booth, the union added.

Meanwhile, the union informed that the authorities of the SBI assured to open  ATM  counters both at Yachuli and Raga before the next financial year.

 

Education tour postponed

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: All Upper Subansiri District Students Union (AUSDSU) has postponed its educational tour to district due to bad weather condition and late start of the academic session in the school. Tour scheduled to begin from August 22 is likely to start from 2nd week of September. The union appealed to the  market committee not to donate fund in the name of education tour to any individual.

Meanwhile, the union appealed to the district administration to take up  road maintenance work in Daporijo township at the earliest.

 

Social service

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: The members of the Diso-Katu Youth Club (DKYC) conducted a two-days social service at Segi/Gusar on August 13 and 14 and also celebrated Independence day on August 15. Many people of the area including students and youth, gaon burahs and villagers took part in the social service and independence day celebration.

 

Appointments

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has appointed Toko Chilly as chairman of relief and rehabilitation cell, APCC with immediate affect for smooth and effective functioning of the party.

 

NWA formed

ITANAGAR,  Aug 24: The senior members, social workers, former student leaders and businessmen of Nyishi community in a general meeting held at Naharlagun today unanimously formed an organization, titled, Nyishi Welfare Association (NWA) for promotion of unity, integrity and upliftment of the community. The 8-member interim committee of the Association is headed by  Epa Tana Tara, president, Tadar Nyokum (Hq) and Tap Tapuk (East) as vice presidents and Toyum Son as secretary general.

 

Additional charge for Garg

ITANAGAR:  Ankur Garg, Secretary to Governor, has been given the additional charge of Secretary IPR in addition to his other charges effective immediately until further order.

Ajit Srivastava, who was holding the post of secretary IPR and LM has been relieved of his post with immediate effect after the appointment, according to an official order issued by Chief Secretary Tabom Bam. DIPR

 

YNMA to take out rally against corruption

ITANAGAR: Youth Network Movement Arunachal (YNMA), a voluntary and non profit organization, would take out a peaceful procession from Akash Deep to ‘O’ point Tinali here on August 27 at 9.30 am to create awareness among the people of the state about corruption. All like minded people are expected to join the procession to make it success.

 

APSCW team relinquishes charges

ITANAGAR: Following the Govt order on August 20,  the 2nd body of the  Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) including its chairperson Komoli Mossang, vice chairperson Mepung Tadar, Members Tadar Yader, Yater Nasi and Secha Rajkumar have relinquished their respective charges yesterday.

Meanwhile, all the staff members of APSCW bade farewell to outgoing women commission team in a farewell meeting held here yesterday.

News Impact

REHP affected people demand release of adequate dam water

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Criticizing both state Govt and the NEEPCO - the project authority of 405 MW-capacity Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project (RHEP) for “robbing off’ the livelihood of the people living in downstream of Ranganadi, the Lichi Cher Ranganadi Project Affected Area Management Committee has urged the NEEPCO Ltd to release 50 per cent of Ranganadi water to downstream people for revival of the aquatic resources in order to sustain the tribal people’s birth right.

Highlighting the grievances of the people of downstream villages namely, Lichi, Lower Lichi, Bodin, Hawa Camp, Lower Sher, Nyokriang, Komasaki, Bada and Upper Jumi, the Committee in its meeting held on August 18  resented that despite submission of memorandum after memorandum in the past 8 years to NEEPCO authority and the state Govt,  the right of the indigenous people on nature has been completely  neglected  by diverting 100 per cent water of Panior river.

The people of downstream areas wholeheartedly welcomed the project  keeping in mind the economic interest of backward and younger state like ours. In the beginning, it was expected that the problems being faced by downstream people like heavy siltation, complete extinction of aquatic lives, floods and its effects on life and property and frequent change of river course due to construction of dam would be addressed carefully by the stakeholders but it has not happened till today, the committee said. It further maintained that the attitude of the State Govt is even worse and  it is interested only in 11 per cent revenue being given by NEEPCO no matter whether its people survive or perish.

Stick to its single point demand for release of 50 per cent  original river water to downstream people, Committee urged both NEEPCO Ltd and state Govt to take action within 15 days failing which they will resort to a phase-wise agitation, starting with a 48-hour road blockade along the Kimin-Potin road on Sept 8 next.

No MoU on REHP !

Meanwhile, the Committee expressed surprise over the fact that the Ranganadi dam was built without signing MoU with state Govt. Equipped with RTI document, the committee said “It is quite surprising that a dam has been built without MoU, without public hearing and environmental impact assessment.”

 

AVF pleads for effective transfer and posting policy

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Arunachal Vigilance Forum (AVF) has appealed to the state Chief Minister to take steps for proper implementation of transfer and posting policy in the state.

In a memorandum addressed to the chief minister, the Forum alleged that transfer and posting policy  has been violated in many departments of the state. While most of the  1st class and 2nd class officers have been posted in interior areas  due to political highhandedness, some officers are  rendering their service at particular place for last many years with the blessing of  politicians, the Forum said. As per  Govt guidelines, an officer is allowed to  continue his service not less than three years. But in reality, officers are being transferred before completion of three year tenure in various departments in total violation of  Govt’s prescribed guidelines, the union  alleged.

 

AIDS advocacy prog for personnel of  tourism sector

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) has organized an advocacy programme on HIV/AIDS for the officers of tourism department, private hotel and tourist operators of Capital Complex at Hotel Chandni today.

Addressing the participants, APSACS project director, Dr Emi Rumi gave detailed information on various issues related to HIV/AIDS and its prevention. Highlighting the role of  tourism officers, hotel and tour operators, he urged them to play a pivotal role in bringing awareness about HIV/AIDS. Among others,  Dr Riken Rina, joint director (BSD), APSACS, assistant directors of tourism, tourism officers, hotel  and tourist operators took part in the programme and discussed  about AIDS awareness and its preventive measures.

 

DASU calls for positive steps for Dibang bridge construction

ITANAGAR, Aug 24:  Reacting to the recent statement of the Lower Dibang Valley DC regarding delay in issuance of no objection certificate (NOC) to Navayuga Engineering Company(NEC) for construction of the bridge over Dibang river connecting Dambuk sub-division, the  Dibang Adi Students Union (DASU)  today said that  the construction agency has already obtained NOC from Head Gaon Bura, Anchal samiti member, Anchal Chairperson on June 17.

Regarding forest clarification, DASU claimed that that the site for which NOC is required falls under LPC area, not under forest department. Regarding, clearance from Pollution Control Board for installation of stone crusher and  DG set, DASU  claimed that NEC has already applied for NOC to Arunachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board on February 19, 2011 and it is moral  duty of administration to forward the application to APPCB with a recommendation.

Reacting to the clarification given by DC  on NOC for 7 hectares of land, the Union appealed to the DC to go minutely through DR/LR-43/07-08/256, Dtd. 27/07/2010 & DR/LR-43/231, Dtd, 29/10/07. “This will clarify all her confusion”, the Union said and appealed to the DC to disclose the name of organization which possesses remaining 2 hectares of land.

Denouncing the statement of administration in delay of  issuing NOC to construction agency, the DASU strongly appealed to the DC to act positively before September 10. It threatens to launch democratic movement in case of failure of the authority to fulfill its demands.

 

Flood damages agri field

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: Recent flood in river Sibi has completely damaged and washed away wet rice cultivation (WRC) field and horticultural gardens of farmers in the up stream of the river Sibi from RCC bridge Yupia village.

The natural calamities also damaged dwelling houses, fencing and other properties of the villagers, who donated land for the district quarter Yupia.

Since agriculture and horticulture gardens, especially WRC is the mainstay of the local populations, the complete crop damage would badly affect on the livelihoods and food security of the farmers, Yupia-I GPM Tana Pol said in a release. It would also effect on overall health and education of their children, the GPM said, and appealed to the Government to extend all possible help to the local villagers in this hour of crisis, who contributed land for the establishment of the district headquarter. The GPM appealed to the authorities concerned to assess the damages caused to the poor local farmers and villagers, initiate prompt flood damage restoration works with other necessary steps to contain further damages due to flood.

 

What after Non-APS/T babus retire?

Denhang Bosai

Blinded by overt ethnocentrism, we Arunachalees do not make an effort to imbibe the many useful and virtuous things inherent in other cultures. Work culture is still foreign to many of us, especially APS/T government employees. This lack of work culture and unwillingness to learn on the part of most of the government employees will push our state into an unfathomable pit of self-destruction. The work culture cannot be taught or inculcated. It has to come from within through realization. Of course, there are also sincere, dedicated and self-less government employees who work silently in the interest of the common people but they are in a minority. It is clear from records that from 2014 to 2016 hundreds of non-APS/T ministerial staff, mainly UDCs and LDCs will retire from different departments of the state on attainment of superannuation.

Let us not worry, as our APS/T candidates will occupy these hundreds of vacancies as 80:20 is the present norm of recruitment and the cry for 100% reservation for APS/T is getting louder by the day. The big worry is whether our people will be able to carry out the job as efficiently and sincerely as their predecessors had done. This is a serious food for thought.

Taking over the onerous responsibilities of running the offices by our APS/T officials from their non-APS/T counter-parts will be the toughest test for the former. It will make or mar the future of our young state.

This is not a case of ‘washing dirty linen in public’ but we must not hesitate to admit or accept the truth. The bitter truth is that the work of our APS/T officials in the offices is slipshod and they are despised for their lack of sincerity, punctuality, devotion and all those qualities that normally should not associate with a government employee.

If one goes to any village in our state, the villagers demand non-APS/T teachers, non-APS/T agriculture field assistants etc. Similarly, the officers working in any government departments prefer non-APS/T peon or non-APS/T ministerial staff to our APS/T officials. It is a shame, indeed. No prizes, for guessing the reason. If one goes to our capital, Itanagar for any official work, the peon, busy in her knitting work, if asked about the officer, the most expected answer is ‘ I don’t know.’ About absenteeism in offices among our APS/T officials, lesser said the better. Some of the staff who are present in the offices are seen busy selling their various commercial products in the office, many are engaged in down-line payment schemes, while many busy themselves as agents of LIC, Amway and many such other schemes, conveniently ignoring their primary duty of serving the people for which they are being paid handsomely. Many of our officers and officials are seriously engrossed and engaged in religious activities during office hours. I know many of them will cry foul the moment they read this. However, can we hide the truth? We must be true to our duty. Our young state depends more on us than on anybody else because it is we, who are executing the policies and programmes of government of the day. No one is infallible but we must make an honest attempt to correct ourselves. The onus is on us, the government employees to assuage the sufferings of our own people. On many occasions, I have seen the same person coming to office repeatedly from an interior village to get a simple ST certificate or PRC. However, each time either the officer is not present or the Babu is absent, in the process delaying the work of the poor villager.

We cannot stop our non-APS/T friends from retiring but we must learn quickly the intricacies and nuances of running the offices. The ministerial workers play a pivotal role in running and maintaining any office smoothly. It is they, who carry out the most important file work and they are the link between the common people and the government departments. They must be well trained, well versed and thorough in official procedures, as they often have to guide the officers. Some ministerial staff also deals with extremely sensitive matters for which they must be extremely cautious. A peccadillo here an there can potentially ruin their career, career of the concerned officer and of course, the government. Government branches like establishment, accounts, treasury etc deal with subjects, which are technical in nature. However, one of the inherent weaknesses among our APS/T officials is that they are not keen to learn. I can find only a few officials in Khonsa, Deputy Commissioner’s office who can correctly prepare pay bills, maintain GPF accounts, finalize pension papers and so on and so forth. If they do not learn now from their non-APS/T counter-parts who are on the verge of retirement, what will happen to the offices is the pertinent question everybody asks.

In order to equip our APS/T officials with the necessary knowledge of official procedures, regular trainings should be organized all over the state. The non-APS/T babus who are adept at running the offices may be engaged to impart the much-needed training. Otherwise, it will be too late for us. Now, we have 3 to 4 years to utilize the services of these knowledgeable and dedicated non-APS/T officials gainfully and meaningfully. After 2015 to 2016 when most of our non-APS/T officials are gone, the employees of Arunachal Pradesh are bound to face innumerable problems. Do not be surprised if you do not get your payment on time or if you suddenly discover that your GPF account has not been maintained properly. Hopefully, things will fall in place gradually as they must if we are to take our state forward. There is no dearth of efficient and sincere ministerial staff in our state but as I said, they are in a minority. These few dedicated and sincere officials must inspire their fellow-workers to work sincerely and ask them to try to pick up the nuances fast. Indeed, the few years after the mass retirement of the non-APS/T officials from our state will be crucial for the offices to function. The sooner our APS/T officials realize the Herculean task ahead, the better for the whole state. (The writer is DIPRO, Khonsa and can be reached at denhangbosai @yahoo.co.in)

 

Pre- Solung celebrated at Shillong

ITANAGAR, Aug 24: The Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU), Shillong unit has celebrated the  Pre - Solung festival  with pomp and gaiety on August 20 last.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Ojing Tashing, former AAPSU general secretary,  called upon the younger generation to  preserve own culture and tradition. He also advised the students to work hard for successful career in their future life.

The guest of honour Mark Yirang, founder president of AdiSU, terming the students in Shillong as ambassador of state, appealed them to preserve own identity. He also appealed one and all to celebrate the festival in bigger way.

DRC, Shillong and AdiSU speaker Tapir Taga also spoke on the occasion. Both the chief guest and guest of honour distributed prizes to the winners of games and sports competition. Ponnung dance by the students and dignitaries was the major attraction of the celebration.

 

Colony people demand restoration of road link

ITANAGAR: Aug 24: The recent flood in Pachin river due to torrential rains caused major damage to the link road of Pachin colony.

Flood in the Pachin river had also submerged the area and washed away several dwelling houses while many more houses are on the brink of being washed away due to massive soil erosion. Major cracks have developed all along the road making it harder for pedestrian even to walk which needs immediate repairing, said Pachin Welfare Committee (PWC) in a release.

It said that a major chunk of the residential area of the colony is submerged in water when it rains. However, the situation has worsened now, PCW claimed.

While blaming the half-constructed huge concrete run-off dam structure for the multi-crore central drinking water project at Pachin river for flood in the river, PWC demanded the State Government to immediately take all anti-erosion measures to protect the life and properties of the colony dwellers.

It alleged that the authority did not consider /take any preventive measures before starting the project for which the people have been now suffering from such man-made disaster. Six persons were so far drowned in the river since the project started, it said.

The committee demanded the PHED to dismantle the structure, which is lying marooned for several years with no hope of completion, to allow free flow of the river water and carry out flood damage restoration works at the project affected areas immediately.

The state Government’s assurance to develop the Pachin colony  as a Model village, which was established in 80’s, remained a dream unfulfilled, PWC lamented.

It may be mentioned here that PWC conducted two days social service recently to restore the link road.

Meanwhile, the colony welfare committee demanded the authorities concerned to immediately start the repairing works of  the Naharlagun-Pachin link road which is lying in a dilapidated condition after flood ravaged it. It also appealed to the Chief Engineer, PWD to inspect the road personally to know its present condition.

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Stillbirth - Invisible health issue

 

Stillbirths are a big invisible global health issue.

More than 2.6 million pregnancies a year end in stillbirth, a tragedy which mostly hits women in poor countries and accounts for more deaths than AIDS and malaria combined, according to recent research.

WHO defines stillbirth as a lost pregnancy after 28 weeks of gestation, or during the third trimester of pregnancy.

There are 2.65 million stillbirths a year - more than malaria and AIDS deaths combined -- and yet they are never mentioned in global health data or policy.

A series of studies published in the journal Lancet by researchers from the World Health Organisation and some 50 organisations in 18 countries offered the first comprehensive look at the impact of the problem around the world.

The report shows wide variations among developed and developing countries, with rates as low as 2 per 1,000 births in Finland and Singapore to highs of 47 per 1,000 in Pakistan and 42 per 1,000 in Nigeria.

The most common causes are complications during childbirth, infections during pregnancy like syphilis, health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, fetal growth restriction, in which babies fail grow at the proper rate, and birth defects.

The studies found that 98 percent of stillbirths in 2009 occurred in low- and middle-income countries, and two-thirds in rural areas where midwives and doctors are often not on hand to offer skilled obstetric care.

The series of studies addresses stillbirth rates and causes in all countries, and challenges policy makers to act to cut the rate in half by 2020.

In countries like India stillbirths often go unrecorded, and are not seen as a major public health problem.

Rural women in poor countries are worst affected and often these cases goes unrecorded. The role of ASHAs should be made more effective so that their reach is wider.

 

A case of Japanese encephalitis

Dear Editor,

My brother Gomar Riba who is around 40 years was suffering from fever and became semi-conscious within no time on 6th August’2011 at our native Jime under Daring circle, West Siang. As soon as we got information, we rushed to our village on Sunday morning and brought him to Daring CHC. No doctor was there at Daring. Maybe because it was of Sunday! He was then taken to CHC, Basar, where the doctor advised RMT, and Widal test. The results were negative and the doctor at Basar advised us to keep the patient at CHC for observation. How many experiment/observations one has to do and up to when?

From Basar, they referred the patient to be taken to Itanagar. We took our patient to Niba Hospital and the doctor there immediately referred to Rama Krishna Hospital, Itanagar for CT scan and other tests. Thanks to Dr. Langkhung, Medicine specialist at Niba Clinic for his prompt suggestion. As the patient was very serious, I met one Swamiji at R K Mission to seek help in giving our patient a special care. He promptly acted and suggested me to meet one Medicine Specialist. He asked for CT scan, chest x-ray, blood test. There again doctor could not detect the disease. Report of CT scan was to be made available next day. How much time does one need to prepare CT scan report? I argued with the Nurses and doctors there again, who then referred the patient to GNRC, Guwahati. We immediately took him to GNRC the same night on Aug 8. On seeing the patient and test report of R K Mission Hospital, Itanagar, the doctors of GNRC said it must be Japanese Encephalitis. I must thank God and RKM authorities for referring the patient to GNRC. At least my brother is getting ICU support here.                       

This is our side of story.

Now I want to ask our State Govt. and the Health Department why are unwilling to act and why there is no any precautionary measure till date. Why people are not being made aware of the disease?                   

  It is learnt that Japanese Encephalitis, a very dangerous viral disease is spreading rapidly in our neighboring state Assam. And unfortunately our Doctors are unaware of this much discussed and debated disease. Or maybe they are not interested to learn anything new.

When the doctors are unaware of the disease, how are they going to treat the patients? Why there is no ICU facility atleast in our State General Hospital? Immediate precautionary measure is badly needed from Health Department so that precious time and lives are saved.

Yours’

Gope Riba,

(on email) Guwahati

 

 

Sudden transfer of doctors not acceptable

Dear Editor,

Upper Subansiri is facing unusual outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis since last one week and several children were already referred to Guwahati, RKM Hospital Itanagar and other hospital in Dibrugarh for further treatment. The district hospital is constantly rendering their service but sudden transfer of seven doctors from the hospital without relievers, created lot of problem for both the hospital authority and the common citizens.

Hence, I humbly request the State Govt. to send an emergency medical team to Daporijo for necessary assistance and also like to request the concern authority to cancel  the transfer order of doctors for greater interest of the common people.

Yours’

P L Murtem

A citizen

 

 

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All email and surface mails must be accompanied with contact numbers and full postal address. Do keep writing but please make sure that letters are short and to the point.        

----Editor