feb15 08

2015

February 08

Boori Boot celebrated

From a Correspondent

NAHARLAGUN, Feb 7: People in large numbers thronged the common festival ground Naharlagun yesterday to celebrate the 48th Boori Boot, a colourful festival celebrated to honour the gods and goddesses who had helped virtue prevail over vice and propounded the law of existence of the entire universe.

Appreciating the enthusiasm in youth in preserving their culture, Horticulture Parliamentary Secretary Mutchu Mithi said it is evident from the jubilation and the colours emanating from the celebrations that “young people are not losing their culture but are capable to carry forward their culture”.

Addressing the festive revelers Mutchu hailed the Nyishi community as the most vibrant with strong bonding of clans and relations. “They are the largest community in the state, so they have the maximum responsibilities for the state.”

Appreciating the role of women in a tribal family, he said “The strength of the Nyishi community is in their womenfolk. When men are rendered ineffective, it is the women who comes ahead to take the lead.”

The Boori Boot festival is celebrated mainly in Daporijo, Upper Subansiri District and Raga and Dollungmukh areas of Lower Subansiri District. During the celebration, several traditional dances such as Boori-Jajen, Boori-Moj, Boori-Durum are performed to express happiness and appreciation to almighty Boori Boot.

The Nyibu (priest) calls upon all the gods and goddesses to keep up their pledge to maintain the creation of the almighty. He conveys the gratefulness of the mankind to all benevolent forces for prosperity and happiness.

Attending the celebration, Pakgna Bage, MLA, Dumporijo appealed the Nyishi youth to maintain their culture and tradition. “Since last 48 years, the seniors in the community have preserved and celebrated Boori Boot festival. Now it is the turn of the youths to take the responsibilities to carry it forward.”

During the celebration, people apply rice powder soaked in water to each other. Rice represents the will of the almighty to sustain the human race on the earth and the use of rice powder indicates abundance of that divine good will.

CM announces ex-gratia to fire victims

ITANAGAR, Feb 07: Taking serious note of repeated incidences of fire mishaps occurring in various places, Chief Minister NabamTuki has appealed to the citizens to take extra precautions during the dry seasons to avoid recurrence of such fire incidents.

Extending his solidarity to the victims of fire accident in Deb village on February 4 last which completely gutted 12 houses including granaries, Chief Minister NabamTuki announced ex-gratia of Rs. 70000 each to all the victim households.

Absentee Govt. servants cautioned

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: The Sagalee unit of Arunachal Anti-Corruption Sena cautioned all the HoDs who are absent from duty to report for duty at their respective offices within a week failing which the Sena threatened to initiate legal action against them and also demanded the authority concerned for applying “No Work, No Pay” rule against them.

The Anti-Corruption Sena unit demanded the authority concerned for introducing 3G mobile service in Sagalee and activation of mobile tower setup at Mab village and Toru circle to ease telecommunication problem.

It also demanded a fire station at Sagalee, to provide necessary infrastructure for Sagalee Police Station and replace all the old vehicles of the police station with new ones.

Other demands included, details of the affected land of Community Health Centre, Sagalee by Arunachal Trans Highway, early distribution of dustbin at Sagalee Town, maintenance of various road under Sagalee sub-division.

Youth training by NYK

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: A week-long training for youths organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) of Tezu and Dibang Valley unit began at Mahadevpur yesterday.

The training aims to make the youths aware about various state and centrally sponsored schemes, to develop their knowledge and skills for self-employment and engage them as agents for campaigning against social evils like female feticide, dowry system, drug abuse and alcoholism and other local issues.

The resource persons drawn from various departments, agencies, NGOs will conduct the training and explain to the youths the aims, objectives and features of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Campaign) and motivate them for construction of individual household toilets under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, participation in Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, practicing and promotion of good governance etc.

The training programme was inaugurated by HN Dubey, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Mahadevpur, Lekang Block in presence of Nirmala Sonowal, Zilla Parishad Member, Lekang-I and K, Sharma, DVO, Namsai. Around 100 youths are attending the training.

Social Service at District Hospital

CHANGLANG, Feb 7: The Medial Officers, staffs of health department and believers of Rangfrah Faith Promotion Society conducted a mass social service here today at District Hospital Changlang.

During the day long social service, the indoors, outdoors and surroundings of hospital were cleaned up. The approach road to the hospital was also repaired. DIPRO

Saint Claret College felicitates its 13 SJVN awardees

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: Saint Claret College felicitated its 13 students, who won the SJVN jubilee merit scholarships. These scholarships have been instituted as an annual event under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by SJVN, a mini-ratna and Schedule ‘A’ central public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, a joint venture between Government of India and Government of Himachal Pradesh.

The scholarships carries sum of Rs 24,000 per year. In 2013, 7 out of the 15 awards allotted for Arunachal Pradesh were won by Claretines, who received their scholarships for the second year yesterday.

Of the 10 fresh awards announced for Arunachal Pradesh for the current year, seven were bagged by Claretines, who were awarded the scholarship certificates at a function at Nahurlagun today.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal, Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor congratulated the awardees for their academic excellence and invited the student community to be inspired by their example and strive for excellence.

At the same function, the College community also placed on record its appreciation for Rumoh Meto of Arunachal Pradesh, who won the National Bravery Award at the 66th Republic Day function at Delhi. Claretines proudly listened to Ashito Meto, a first year student at SCC and sister of Rumoh, who described her brother’s brave act of saving a human life.

Awareness rally on drugs held

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: R. K. Mossang Memorial Society in collaboration with women groups of Jairampur circle organized an Awareness Rally on Drugs and its effect on society at Jairampur today.

The rally was flagged off by ADC Jairampur, K Riba and social worker Lemkhum Mossang at APP check gate and culminated at Onglia-Sapollo hall.

The students of government higher secondary school, RKMMS School, Elementary Residential School along with the teachers and Bazar Committee and officers and staff of government offices participated in the programme.

Mass social service conducted at Daporijo

Karda Natam

DAPORIJO, Feb 7: The Daporijo Airfield and the surroundings of Police Station here were thoroughly cleaned during a mass social service.

Drains were cleaned and garbage collected were later either disposed off or burnt. Besides general public, jawans of ITBP, CRPF, Army (18th Kumaon Regiment) and civil police actively participated in the social service which was organized under the initiative of Upper Subansiri Superintendent of Police Taru Gusar.

News Impact

3 killed including AR personnel

MANMAO, Feb 7: One rifleman of 14 Assam Rifles and 2 Arunachalee porters were killed on the spot in a major landmine blast in an area in Manmao circle, Changlang near the Indo-Burmese border.

One of the porters has been identified as Tiktu Mungray, a resident of Jotin-Joda village and AR personnel has been identified as Rifleman Datre Mahajan of Maharastra. Seven others sustained grievous injuries while three escaped with minor injuries.

The incident occurred at 11 AM yesterday, when a team of 14 Assam Rifles along with 2 local porters were on a routine patrolling of Indo-Myanmar international border, 25 km from Jotin-Joda village in Manmao circle under Jairampur Sub-Division of Changlang district.

On reaching border post No. 170, after 8 hours tiresome foot march, as the team posed for a mandatory group photo, the landmine that was planted beneath the border post suddenly exploded.

Two choppers were engaged to lift the injured who were rushed to Chabua Military Hospital, Assam. The conditions of 7 jawans are reported to be critical.

No individual or groups have so far taken responsibility for the blast, but NSCN (K) is suspected to be behind the explosion. Combing operations have been launched in the area since the last 24 hours.

Two killed in accident

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: A Sagalee bound Tata Sumo met with an accident in between Kheel and Toru at around 3 pm today killing one person. The deceased has been identified as Taro Tapin of Pech village under Toru circle, informed Sagalee ADC in a release.

One of the three seriously injured passengers, who were evacuated to Arunachal State Hospital Naharlagun, later succumbed to his injury at the hospital increasing number of causalities to two. The person has been identified as Remesh Medhi of Simolguri, Assam, the release said.

The ADC instructed the OC of Sagalee Police Station and Toru CO to rush to the spot for rescue operation and recovery of the ill-fated vehicle. The ADC requested the State Govt. for grant of ex-gratia to the relatives of the deceased immediately.

A team of Arunachal Anti Corruption Sena, Sagalee unit, including the president, general secretary and executive body members, unit visited the accident site and expressed shock over the fatal accident. They asked the All Sagalee Sumo Association to check all documents before employing a driver and also told the drivers to avoid rush and drunk driving to avoid such fatal accidents in future.

In an another incident, a fire completely devastated one four-room MIBT building of Govt. Residential School, Totpu, under Parang circle of Sagalee administrative sub-division today at around 3 pm.

However, there was no report of any loss of life, informed the ADC. The ADC along with the OC of Sagalee police station rushed to the spot and provided immediate relief to the fire victims as per Govt. norms. Electric short-circuit is suspected as cause of the fire, informed the ADC informed.

Dirang all set to break hydel fiasco jinx

Gyati Kacho

DIRANG Feb 7: Dirang under West Kameng District is soon going to break the jinx of de-funct and half-running hydels and poised to be self-reliant in power supply and provide relief to the state exchequer in purchase of electricity from neighbouring Assam.

This came to light during site visits and inspections of the half functional 2 MW Dirang and ongoing 1 MW Zhonedrong mini-hydel projects by Parliamentary Secretary Department of Hydro-Power Development (DHPD) and local legislator Phurpa Tsering here today.

Boosting morale of the engineers and workers at the sites, Phurpa set a deadline of next month to both the Civil and E&M executive engineers to generate electricity from both the units and relieve people of Dirang from electricity shortfall pain.

Dirang approximately requires 2.2 MW of electricity during peak hours and thus the excess 500 KV could be injected into the main grid line and lessen power burden of the district once these hydels are made fully functional. Various reasons are cited for poor running of the already functional hydels and start of the newly constructed ones. The main reason attributed is the faulty policy and planning by top techies at the head. “The Rs 13 crore Zhonedrong mini-hydel project was started way back in 2009 but could not be commissioned till today. This is because the stipulated advance payment to firms/contractors for undertaking such work is 10% but the department paid 30% advance to a Kolkota based company and the firm evaded the work after collecting the advance money and undertaking few token work”, confided a senior official on condition of anonymity and further disclosed that this was the major reason why many mini and micro hydels in the state were either lying de-funct or not running upto their optimum level.

The 100.25mtrs majestic high channelled Zhonedrong project is soon expected to chug off and give light and hope to people of the area and the state as a whole.

This significant starter is also expected to propel and ‘infuse life’ into the other half-functioning and de-funct mini and micro-hydels across the state which could give leverage to the ongoing Pre-Paid/AMR power row in the state.

Minister flays Modi policy

From a Correspondent

LIROMOBA, Feb 7: PWD Minister Gojen Gadi yesterday castigated the BJP government, particularly PM Narendra Modi’s Jan Dhan Yojana under which an insurance of Rs one lakh is assured after death while CM’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme offers cashless treatment upto Rs two lakh to save life.

While addressing election rallies at Liromoba, Yomcha and at Darak during the last few days to seek support for party nominee Nyamar Karbak for Liromoba Assembly constituency bye-election scheduled for February 13 next, he said that CMUHIS, the unique scheme launched in the country, by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki reflected the people-centric policies of the ruling Congress government.

Highlighting implementation of numerous central and state flagship programmes aimed at multifaceted development, Gadi said the latest policy decision was to limit area-wise contracts up to the block level to benefit the domiciles for which Arunachal Pradesh District Based Entrepreneurs & Professionals (Incentive, development & promotional) Bill-2015 was passed by the Assembly on Jan 30 last. That is why five PPA MLAs joined the Congress en-block, he said while announcing the commitment to fulfill the incomplete tasks of former chief minister Jarbom Gamlin. Besides health and education sectors which have been given zero tolerance policy, road connectivity, particularly development of Kamba-Darak, Wak-Yomcha, Yomcha-Liromoba, Liromoba-Tai, Raji Doke-Yomcha roads on priority would be a priority area for the speedy development of the constituency.

Highlighting the genesis and growth of Congress, APCC president Padi Richo said that Congress is the only national party capable of delivering the goods and services to the people and serving the state with commitment for which Arunachal has been its safest fort since the state graduated into parliamentary form of democracy, he added

Lawmakers Jomde Kena, P D Sona, Zingnu Namchoom, Dikto Yekar, other Congress leaders are campaigning for the party.

BJP kicks off bye-election campaign

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Arunachal Pradesh president Tai Tagak and leader of Opposition and Party MLA Tamiyo Taga formally kicked off its bye-election campaign for 27-Liromoba (ST) Assembly constituency at Kamba general ground on Thursday amidst a huge gathering.

While calling for a change, Tagak in his address, called upon the people to vote for BJP candidate Bai Gadi and send a strong signal to the Centre against corruption and lack of good governance in the state. “Let the change start from 27-Liromoba which is one of the prestigious Assembly constituency of the state with the strong wave of change sweeping across the country under the dedicated and dynamic leadership of PM Narendra Modi,” Tagak said.

The BJP leader further said that the sensitive border state like Arunachal needs a performing government. He castigated the ruling Congress Govt saying that the present Govt has failed in all fronts. “Situation in the state is such that there is no government in the state,” Tagak said. He also appealed the government employees to maintain neutrality and exercise their adult franchise without any fear and favour.

Leader of Opposition, Tamiyo Taga said the State government should not delay in submission of proper Utilization Certificates on the various central funds. Claiming that present situation in state is not healthy, Taga said the government is even not in a position to pay the salaries of the govt. employees. He appealed people of the Liromoba constituency to vote and elect the BJP candidate Bai Gadi for good governance and justice for all.

State General Secretary Dominic Tadar, party MLAs Olom Panyang and Kento Rina, party Chief Spokesman, R.K. Khrimey (Former MP and Ex-Minister) and Regional President, Kaduk Loya also addressed during the mega rally at Kamba.

Second Edition of Aalo Forest Festival gets underway

AALO, Feb 7: The tribal people have been dependent on forest products for food, shelter, medicines and lived in a conducive environment through the ages but large scale devastation of forest products and wildlife in the name of development will have an adverse impact on the ecological balance, said, Divisional Forest Officer, Nyali Ete today during the inaugural day of the Second Edition of Aalo Forest Festival here today.

Ete who has conceived the idea of organizing the festival as an annual event in the district said that the festival is being organized to create awareness on preservation of forest and wild life among the common masses for maintaining ecological balance. He also highlighted the important activities and functions of the forest department like avenue plantation, seedling and tree plantations in various parts of the district through photo exhibition.

He further informed that a football tournament is being organized in collaboration with District Sports Association on the occasion to make it a medium for generating awareness through youth force on the importance of the Environment & Forests, Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Management etc.

Organizing Secretary of the festival, ACF, Ashwin Parihar, said that the event is a step towards integrating all strata of people on the importance on forest, environment and ecological balance. ACF, Marta Ratan also highlighted the importance of forest and wildlife.

In the inaugural match of the football tournament SFS College outclassed Kabu Sports Club by a margin of 4-1.

Earlier, HGB Hogda Ete inaugurated the exhibition stalls put up on the occasion and planted a sapling in front of Town club Aalo.

Various cultural troupes also presented cultural programme and Ponu/ponung dances were also presented on the occasion. DIPRO

Pinch demands arrest of Assam officials

ITANAGAR, Feb 7: Denouncing the arrest of two Arunachalee women Nido Yakum & Bini Yajum on January 28 from Dollungmukh village inside Arunachal territory without any reason, former MLA and present Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board Chairman Ngurang Pinch has demanded arrest of the Assam officials who were allegedly involved in land grabbing conspiracy inside Arunachal territory.

While condemning the arrest of Arunachalee women, Pinch lodged an FIR against S.F. Rahman, DFO North Lakhimpur, M.M. Das Forest Range Officer, North Lakhimpur and Atul Borah, Forest Beat Officer Patali Pump (Lakhimpur) at Doimukh police station for allegedly ‘encouraging the illegal act of the Assam youths by taking cash for the cultivation of tea inside the Arunachal territory.’

Pinch, who visited Dollungmukh yesterday in its FIR said “…one person from Assam side told me that some youth group from Boginodi area have given money to the Forest Officers to capture the cultivated land of tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh by misusing power and function of forest act for converting the agricultural cultivation field into a tea garden for private company.” The former MLA further said the two women were arrested under the default forest conservation Act of 1980. The arrested women were mistreated as they have been not provided a separate cell. Moreover, they were arrested by male police against the established law, Pinch said.

Earlier, Pinch also got an arrest warrant issued against one Babul Milli, forester for allegedly involving such conspiracy in Tarasso circle in 2008.

Citing the similary case of conspiracy by Assam officers, Pinch claimed that on December 29, 2008, North Lakhimpur DC, SP and DFO had destroyed the Gumto Police Check Gate without the knowledge of Assam Government.

The former legislator, who has been advocating for the early solution to the Assam and Arunachal boundary problem, also narrated how a total geographical area of 4051.10 Sq KM of Arunachal land has been transferred to Assam following the Bordoloi Commisson report in 1951.

Pinch queried that, how come the Assam authorities are encroaching Arunachal land instead of giving back the land of Arunachal.

The Government of Assam’s Notification of 23rd February 1951 was arbitrary issued without any consultation with the people of Arunachal Pradesh. By the notification, 4051.10 Sq.Km integral parts of our state was snatched away from the tribal belt, Pinch said.

“The notification of 1951 came to the knowledge of people of Arunachal Pradesh only after 10 years. Immediately, there were strong protests and objections from the few leaders and literate persons of that time. Late Daying Ering, was the then MP from Arunachal, raised the issue in the Parliament on 5th May 1961.”

Stressing the need of political will of the leaders for solution to Assam-Arunachal boundary, the former legislator urged both the state Govts to declare Rajgarh Ali as permanent boundary before the situation turned worse.

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