The Arunachal Times - Archives

Explaining the objectives of the meeting, Nabam Aka, Papum Pare Zilla Parishad chairperson requested the ZPMs to assure completion of the ongoing works and to submit UC within the month of March this year. She said “We will be debarred from having fund for 2010-11 if can’t show utilization of the amounts released in the previous installment”. Aka alleged that, many state govt’s department of the state submit scheme in the name of panchayat, which is ignored by the PRIs. She laid stress move for revalidating the fund remaining with 6 installments to prevent returning of about Rs 24 crore to the centre.

Addressing the meet, the director of panchayat, Bida Gadi advised the PRI leaders to conduct proper baseline survey for identifying the local problems and prepare schemes in priority base. He urged them to know and exercise the power enshrined by the Panchayiti raj acts in order to vigil and monitor the PDS in the rural areas. He stressed on clapping of schemes in different levels of the panchayat in order to prevent misappropriation of development fund.

Reiterating the mobility allowances, the director said the budgetary amount worth Rs 5 crore is yet to be sanctioned. He advocated that the amount could be paid to the panchayat members in the form of honorarium by following a classification of status at any level.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Papum Pare district, Tai Kage said that until a well defined political will, proper implementation of the panchayat schemes is impossible. Kage, who is the district development officer (DDO) of the capital district, regretted the system where they have no power to monitor the works. He was dissatisfied that the Sixth pay commission had increased salary for government officials, but not accounted the PRI members.

The day-long meeting which was participated by 15 PRI leaders including four ZP chairmen has adopted some resolutions to move the governments on their demands. As such, the PRI leaders have unanimously decided to impose the govt for provision of fund in the budgetary estimate in the year 2009-10. According to another resolution, the ‘Panchayat coordination committee’ would demand the state govt for granting Rs 50,000 per ZP and Rs 25,000 to every Anchal Samity as per cabinet commitment. Besides these, decision has been made to impose pressure on the govt for budgetary provision of Rs 8.50 crores in 2009-10 for strengthening the District Planning Committee (DPC)’s office and to appoint contingency staff in the DPC offices and construction of ‘Panchayat Niwas’ in all 16 districts of the state.

Pul stress on timely completion of PMGSY roads

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: RWD Minister Kalikho Pul stressed on timely completion of PMGSY roads with assured quality as per prescribed technical specification in order to ensure road connectivity to rural areas of the state in subsequent phases. The minister also emphasized on the need for formulation of Rural Road Maintenance Policy to sustain rural connectivity.

Addressing the concluding function of the 3 days review meeting of RWD on PMGSY yesterday, he lauded the engineers of the department for the committed approach in implementation of PMGSY road works.

Best performing officers should be appreciated and appropriately recognized, he emphatically said.

Suggesting organization of such meeting at circle and headquarters levels monthly and quarterly respectively to improve performance of field engineers to ensure quality and timely completion of project, the Minister also asked the officers to bring awareness and involve local people in execution and implementation of flagship programme.

He called upon the authorities concerned to strictly adhere to the laid down procedure in tendering of PMGSY road works and maintain secrecy and confidentiality of the tendering process. Financial soundness and fast track record of the contractors are also to be taken into account while awarding works, Pul added. Further, he reiterated that non performing contractor should be terminated as per the contract agreement and provision enshrined under the Standard Bidding Document and also cautioned the non-performing engineers too. However, he expressed his happiness over the entire proceeding of the meeting and appreciated the officers and the participants for fruitful interaction during the meeting. While assuring to fulfill the genuine demands of the department, he appraised of the specific demands placed before the 13th Finance Commission for development of infrastructure by the state government and follow up action to be taken on receipt of fund.

Commissioner RWD Tape Bagra thanked Chief Minister and RWD Minister for their active participation and sharing valuable advice and suggestion, according to an official release.

Donggin celebrated

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: The Donggin Festival of Bori Community was celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour at Reying Village under Payum Circle recently.

Speaking on the occasion, as chief guest Adi Baane Kebang, President Ajin Apang emphasizing the importance of Donggin said that it has different names among the various communities of Adi community residing in various parts of the state like Unying, Aaran, Podi Barbi.

He appealed the young generations of the Bori community to preserve Donggin so that it can stand the tides of modernity. Guest of honour Okom Yosung also appealed the Bori Community to preserve Donggin festival with its true colour.

ABK, West Siang District Unit President, Taje Komut also spoke on the occasion.

‘Paki Kinam’ an exhibition of traditional warriors, ‘Bangi Noki’ an exhibition of marriage through elopement, ‘Ribong Sonam’ an exhibition of Tug of War, ‘eppuk apka sinam’ traditional arrow shooting competition were the major attraction of festival, besides these modern Sports and cultural activities were also organized to mark the festival.

Other ABK executive members also attended the festival.

BJP flays UPA on price rise

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: Expressing serious concern over food inflation which touched the ‘record high’ during 2008-09, the national president of BJYM, Amit Thakkar claimed that no perceptible step has yet been initiated by the UPA Govt to check the ever rising market prices of food and other essential commodities. ‘The UPA bosses are only seeking to draw “lame excuse” by raising fingers against one another’.

Addressing the media persons here today, Thakkar, who along with party’s NE organizational in-charge P Chandrasekhar Rao earlier had a meeting with the State leaders on the issue of price rise, claimed that due to “faulty” economic policies of UPA Govt, the whole country has now been bearing the brunt of price rise. “Food inflation is the creation of the Central Govt and the states have no role in it,” he alleged.

He claimed that 50 to 100 percent hike in the prices of essential commodities had been recorded during the financial year 2008-09.

Thakkar, also the BJP’s national prabhari for nationwide sangharsh abhiyan (protest movement) on the price rise, told media persons that the BJP is going to organize a massive rally in New Delhi next month to protest the utter failures of the UPA govt to control the price rise.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the state unit BJYM will organize a car rally from Itanagar to Nirjuli on February 11 and then rush to Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Governor. It will be followed by two more rallies—from Pasighat to Aalo and another from Daporijo to Dumporijo—in the first week of March.

Besides Rao, BJP president Dr Tangor Tapak, general secretary Tai Tagak and BJYM president Doni Nich were also present at the press conference.

Tour with a difference

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: In an attempt to bring the administration to the door-step of the people and redress their grievances, a team of officers headed by ADC Jang, Duly Kamduk along with the sub-divisional heads of offices of the Jang administrative circle conducted a nine-day tour to the villages under Mukto and Bongkhar administrative circles on foot march from January 28. The tour concluded on Feb 5.

The team interacted with villagers and tried to redress the grievances placed by the villagers of Bongleng, Kharung, Bomja, Khet, Gyamdong and other villages of the said administrative circles. Adopting unique method of issuing documents such as ST, PRC, birth certificates, income certificates the team issued more than 800 ST certificates and quite a large number of other documents to the villagers during their tour to far-flung villages.

On the sidelines of the tour, medical camps for the patients as well as treatment of the yaks and other domestic animals were also conducted by medical officer and veterinary officer, Jang respectively.

Among others the tour team was also accompanied by Lobsang Tsetan, CO Mukto, ZPM and Anchal Chairperson Mukto-Bongkhar and other prominent public leaders of the area.

Workshop advocates for clear concept on democracy & human rights

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: India is the biggest democratic country in the world and the home of Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of non- violence. But it is ironical to witness the continued unabated violence, social disparity and racial discrimination, economic and historical injustice and castism prevailing in India, said Bamang Tago, Chairperson, Arun-achal Citizens Rights (ACR) while delivering the key note address on the week-long ‘Regional Skill Enhancement workshop’ began here today.

There are direct linkage and manifestation of lack of proper education, poor or too expensive health care, disturbances to ecosystem, growing law and order problems and chaotic bad governance. On the other hand, the plight of the vulnerable section of Indian society, particularly in the North East region, the weaker section of the society who are termed as Scheduled Tribes (Tribals) and other backward classes are at the receiving end. Their continued exploitations resulting to pathetic situations who are not only facing their identity crisis and slow extinction but also haunted by continued disposition of their life sustaining resources like land, water and forest and other intellectual properties, he commented.

In the name of political assertions and political movements, armed conflicts, violence and human rights violation have erupted in tribal peoples areas; particularly in the North- East region, he said, adding these issues need urgent interventions. Besides all these, the repressive laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 imposed in the region reflects the denial of democratic human rights to express indigenous people’s genuine aspirations which compounded the situations to be more volatile.

The workshop feel that strong political will on the part of the government and long term peaceful democratic means on the part of the Indigenous Peoples are required to mutually come forward to address these problems. It is time to empower our legislators, judiciary, bureaucrats, social and political leaders, youths and women with clear concept of democracy and human rights. They also need to be sensitized towards the practice of effective and meaningful democracy and respect for human rights, the workshop observed. ACR, along with likeminded human rights defenders, believes that the relevant and proper understanding of the democratic mechanism and tools as well as sharing of good practices are must to find solutions to all these problems.

The main goal of this Skill Enhancement workshop is to help strengthen democratic institutions and adhere to democratic values and practices through empowering the civil society leadership and to provide effective and meaningful advocacy skill and tools to the civil society leaders to influence policy towards realization of common people's aspirations among others important subjects. Representative from all NE states are participating in the proposed intensive workshop, according to an official release.

Free health camp

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: North Eastern Electric Power Project, Ranganadi HE Plant lead by Project head Er NK Mao, Dr MC Raba and Dr Nitin Mugli conducted free medical camp at New Pitapool on February 4 last.

Altogether, 300 patients benefitted from the camp.

Meanwhile, ZPM Taba Chiji and ASM Taw Leji thanked the NEEPCO for conducting medical camp and appealed them to conduct more such camp within the project area in near future.

AKKDSU conducts social and educational awareness tour

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: All Kurung Kumey District Students Union (AKKDSU) and four branch student unions of the district conducted a Social and Educational Awareness tour from Jan 14 to 24 in every educational institution, villages and circle headquarters and interacted with the people.

While discussing the outcome of the awareness tour in a meeting on Feb 5 at Itanagar, AKKDSU along with the four branch students unions of the district observed that there is no road communication in most circle headquarters of the district and there are no health centres in most of the villages and circle headquarters and the existing health centres are facing shortage of doctors, other staff and irregular supply of medicines, according to an AKKDSU release.

AKKDSU said other grievances placed by the student community and the people during the tour included irregular supply of PDS, absence of headmaster/principal, subject teachers in schools, irregular payment of student stipend, lack of school furniture besides improper functioning of the administration in various levels.

AKKDSU has appealed the elected representatives, department concerned to look into various problems being faced by the general people of Kurung Kumey district at the earliest.

Nyokum Yullo

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: Er Techi Ramda, AE PWD Sagalee and advocate Nabam Regum have been appointed as chairman and general secretary of the Nyokum Yullo Celebration committee Sagalee 2010.

Pre-Losar celebrations

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: Sher-Montz is celebrating 3rd pre-Losar at RGU University premises on February 10.

Parliamentary secretary, food and civil supply Lokam Tassar would attend the function as chief guest.

Tuki to inaugurate newly laid cricket pitch

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA) president Nabam Tuki will inaugurate the Arunachal Cricket Coaching Academy and its newly laid pitch and ground at Nyokum Lapang ground on February eight, according to an ACA release.

Queen’s Baton to arrive at Tawang Jul 22

ITANAGAR, Feb 6: The Queen’s Baton 2010, Delhi will arrive at Tawang on July 22. Commonwealth Games 2010 Organizing Committee has agreed to the request of Arunachal Pradesh Govt. to hold Queen’s Baton Relay at Tawang keeping in view the cultural, religious and historical importance of the place, said sports and youth affairs department, in a release.

The Baton would arrive in Tawang in an Army Chopper from Shillong on July 22 and, thereafter, a short relay of about two hour would be organized. Later, it would be flown to the state capital.

Meanwhile, a sub- committee has been constituted by the state Govt. under Capital Complex deputy commissioner to make an arrangement for the relay as well as evening cultural programme likely to be held at Banquet Hall. The Baton would be kept in Raj Bhawan for the night before it travels to Dimapur next day.

The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities.

The Delhi 2010 Baton Relay was launched on October 29 last year at Buckingham Palace, with the Queen handing the Baton to President Pratibha Patil, who in turn passed it to Dr. M S Gill and Suresh Kalmadi. Kalmadi then had the honour of passing the Baton to the first Baton bearer, Abhinav Bindra, the Olympic air rifle champion who began the Baton’s journey with a relay around the Queen Victoria Monument. Since then, the Baton has travelled thousands of miles and currently it is in Africa.

The Queen’s Baton will travel through all the Commonwealth countries until it lands in India on June 25 where it will spend 100 days touring the 28 states. It will then be taken to its final destination, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi for the opening ceremony of the Delhi Games on Oct. 3 .

CMs conference on internal security today

New Delhi: A conference of Chief Ministers has been convened tomorrow by the Centre to focus on internal security matters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Conference. UNI

NABARD promotes SHG movement

ITANAGAR: In order to further the movement of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the State NABARD has sanctioned a programme for Promotion and Linkage of 30 SHGs in Gangte Circle of Kurung Kumey District. The programme shall be implemented by Community Learning and Doing Centre which has its headquarters at Palin in Kurung Kumey District.

Pinch appointed NCP state unit president

ITANAGAR: Former MLA Ngurang Pinch has been appointed as president of Nationalist Congress Party, Arunachal Pradesh unit.

Meanwhile, NCP, Arunachal Pradesh Youth President Daniel Teli congratulated Pinch on being appointed as the president of the party and expressed hope that under the leadership of Pinch, the party activities would gain all round development.

AAPOSWA and RKM distribute sweaters

ITANAGAR: All Arunachal Pradesh Orphan Students’ Welfare Association (AAPOSWA) and RK Mission, Itanagar distributed 200 pieces of Sweater to Orphan, Semi-Orphan, destitute and below poverty line families free of cost at Tarajuli village, Sood village, Nyorch village and Borum village.