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AAPSU bandh cripples life across Arunachal

ITANAGAR, July 28: The 24-hour bandh called by All Arunachal Pradesh Student Union (AAPSU) over the Tachi Nguso death case crippled normal life in several parts of the state today.

All the key institutions remain closed barring a few emergency services like medical, fire services and media. Shops, business establishments, educational institutions remained closed and vehicles went off the road and attendance in government offices was thin.

However, there is no report of any untoward incidents so far from any part of the state, except stone-pelting incident in Banderdewa area early in the morning.

Twin town of Itanagar and Naharlagun also witnessed complete shutdown. There was no movement of vehicles and usually crowded road were emptied.

AAPSU president Takam Tatung claimed that bandh was effective through out the state. He said spontaneous support of ordinary citizens cutting across from tribe and region made this bandh successful. Till government fulfills all the demands of AAPSU, union will continue the fight, he added. “All these years people of this state had deep anger against government and police machinery for their ill treatment of ordinary citizen repeatedly. The public support for today’s bandh should act as a warning to police and government not to take citizen for granted,” says Tatung.

At Pasighat, AAPSU bandh passed off peacefully. However, the bandh affected vehicular movement in the district head quarter Pasighat. The District Administration had provided adequate security in all government offices and vital installations in the town and no untoward incident has been reported today. All the financial, educational and commercial establishments also remained closed for the day.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, the other parts of the district remained largely unaffected and medical service and educational institutions functioned normally.

At Aalo also, the bandh paralyzed normal life. All shops were closed and streets were devoid of vehicles. There was no report of any untoward incident except stray stone pelting at Bagra Administrative circle.

The bandh was also successful in Ziro area and normal life was badly affected. Bandh supporters came out in the streets and stopped vehicles from plying. Shops, educational institutions were closed while government offices reported thin attendance. Meanwhile at Ziro it has been reported that headlight of two bikes were broken and window of one private car was damaged during the day.

According to a source, AAPSU bandh was totally ineffective in Tawang town with shops remaining open and vehicle moving freely. It has been reported that administration had given prior notice to the shopkeepers not to close shops during the day.

According to official report, the bandh passed off peacefully without any signs of trouble and violence in Tawang. All governmental establishments and educational institutes remained open as usual. Markets were open, and movement of public and vehicles were also normal in the district.

AWKSU ensures total bandh

Staff Reporter

BOMDILA:Supporting the 24-hour band call of the AAPSU, the All West Kameng Student’s Union (AWKSU) ensured a total bandh here today. All Govt. offices and institutions were closed for the day and vehicles were off the road. No untoward incident was reported till the time of filing of this story.

‘AWKSU executive members had a meeting with the West Kameng Deputy Commissioner yesterday at his official chamber and we are glad that citizens of the district are extending whole hearted support to our cause and bandh call’, said AWKSU president Jilik Chand Sidisow and general secretary Leiki Wangda to this reporter. Similarly, the bandh was also reported peaceful at other parts of the district including Rupa and Bhalukpong.

District administration intervenes in Roing

Correspondent

ROING: As whole state prays for the departed soul of late Techi Nguso, and AAPSU calling 24 hours state bandh demanding justice, the situation in Roing today, as anticipated could have led to bitter communal conflict. Had it not been for timely intervention by district administration and few senior student leaders, the issue would have simply derailed.

Though the day remained peaceful, as dusk broke in, at around 6.30 pm, two hours after AIMSU had started to withdraw its activists from market area, a large number of AAPSU ‘activists’, started to gather in the lower marker area of the town. Any wrong move and slight provocation then would have led to mass conflict. However, AAPSU leader Kaling Borang intervened and promised AIMSU leaders to hold back its activists.

Soon, following the incident, patrolling by IRBN and CRPF personnel in the lower area of town were intensified. In a telephonic conversation with this correspondent, Deputy Commissioner YW Ringu said that the administration is going to take guard of the situation till tomorrow morning, till 5 am, the time when the bandh will be called off.

District Superintendent of Police T Karga and two magistrates, Rakesh Tacho and T Miso has been put on active duty during the night hours, besides whole night intense patrolling by the state police forces.

It has been informed that so far, the situation is totally under control and all the activists of AAPSU drawn from nearby villages have dispersed and left for their houses.

Reacting to the evening incident, Lumini Mihu, an AAPSU leader from Dibang Valley district, expressed regret over provocative gestures and said, “Though AIMSU offered all material support and took responsibility of the town whole day during the bandh, such provocation by ‘activists’ of AAPSU will only breach the trust between student communities.”

AIMSU on its part have said that they were from start not in favour of bandh, as AAPSU’s bandh in the district always had a high chance of leading to communal conflict.

The reason for it is obvious from the fact that, AAPSU is inappropriately represented in terms of tribal community in Lower Dibang Valley district, making it as exclusive domain of one particular community. Therefore, AAPSU's over meddling in the affairs of the district is resented by many concerned community members of Idu Mishmi. This distrust is then directly reflected by non acceptance of AAPSU in this part of the region.

Besides, the local Idu Mishmi dominated students union’s race to curve out its own territorial influence in the district have led to such non acceptance.

“The emotive issue of late Nguso would have turn an ugly turn here in the district., so AAPSU has to rethink every time it calls for state wide bandh”, said AIMSU.

Tawang gears up for “Mon Sergeling”

Tawang, July 28: The Film federation of Monyul a recently formed film federation to encourage Monpa artists and youths has decided to organize mega singing event Mon Sergeling under its banner.

Young singers from Tawang and Bomdila will be invited for the audition, in which apart from Hindi, English and other modern songs, Monpa classical folk songs will be mandatory.

The Chief Patron of Film Federation of Monyul Pema Khandu and President Chombay Kee informed that the winner of the contest will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs. One Lakh and a car, the 1st runner up will get a cash prize of Rs Fifty thousand and a motorcycle, the 2nd runner up will get a cash prize of Rs. Thirty Thousand only and consolation prizes for Top Ten contestants.

Auditions for this singing contest will commence from August 16 at Tawang and Bomdila simultaneously.

NCM ask NE states to set up State Minorities Commission

Babul Dhkar

Shillong, July 28: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has asked all the North Eastern States including Arunachal Pradesh to set-up State Minorities Commission (SMC) to address the problems faced by the minorities and to also protect their rights and interests.

Presently, only Assam in the North East has set-up the SMC.

Speaking to journalists here today, Vice-Chairman of the NCM, Dr HT Sangliana said, “Once the SMC is formed then the discrimination against minorities on the basis of religion and their victimisation because of being a minority will be addressed by it.”

Dr Sangliana who visited Meghalaya held discussions with State government officials in matters relating to minorities.

“We have asked the State Government Officials to submit Action Taken Reports (ATR) on schemes and programmes by various ministries,” he said.

He also pointed out that the NCM has taken cognizance of various incidents affecting minorities and has also issued sou moto notices to the Government seeking reports on such incidents.

Vice-Chairman of the NCM also assured the tribals practicing indigenous faith that their rights and interest will be protected.

He however pointed out that they are under the nomenclature of tribal and the Commission was ready to handle their problems too.

Recently, a delegation of the Khasi Indigenous Faith met Dr Sangliana in New Delhi urging that they should be also considered in the list of recongnised minorities in the country. The Commission has the power to summon and issue sou moto directions to State governments to take actions on any complaints filed by any individuals and minority groups.

Bandhs are no solution

Dear Editor,

How many times we are stranded in Balukpong with a sick relative, hours staring at APP check gate to open. How many times we have to over stayed in Tezpur spending our hard earned money just because some xyz had called a Bandh.

How many times we have to leave early from our much loved yearly vacation, just in anticipation that we might miss the flight because of Assam Bandh.

These are very few of instances innumerable agony that Aam Aadmi goes through when some of our self-designated and elected few leaders calls a Bandh.

We all know Bandh has the impact on normal life not because every one is supporting your cause, but people fear that Maruti 800 which was bought on loan is not free of cost unlike your stone and sticks. They fear that the only scooter by which whole family goes for shopping has some more EMIs to be paid to become a proud owner.

I really appreciate, so many citizen bodies coming forward to fight for the justice of Lt. T. Nguso and his family. But what I really don’t appreciate is the calling of Bandh for the same. The twelve-hour Chakka Bandh called by AAPSTWA was really a knee-jerk response for Khandu Govt's knee-jerk reaction for the issue. I can understand the pressure mounting on AAPSTWA but still "Knock -Knock at Khandu's door" could have brought quicker justice than a overrated non-productive monstrous Bandh Call. Lets leave calling a Bandh to terrorist outfit as they don’t have the luxury to organise citizen friendly peace protest. Never had we seen any productive outcome of highly glorified Bandhs, BJPs bharat bandh didn’t do much to soaring price either. We all know for sure that Bandh are taken as holiday for salaried people and punishment for daily wageworkers. Why do we always need to torture our fellow Aam Aadmi to fight any kind of cause?

There are others forms of organizing a protest. Candle-light vigils at India gate for Jessica Lal really did a convincing Job. Chandrasekhar Rao's hunger strike for Telangana did get its desired due.

Why don’t we use peace rallies for the protests? Does our leaders think that the peace Rallies are only for AIDS or Malaria awareness?

Why don’t we invite the concerned minister and authorities for direct one on one public debate on the issues that matters to us? Or we want to stick to the impression that Ministers and Authorities are invited only for inauguration of Pondro (15th) August football tournament or Chekor Festival as chief Guests.

Really we don’t have so many days in a year to accommodate so many organisations who give Bandh calls. The time has come for us to dedicate a day for all the bandhs so that we can organise our work. Due to innumerable Bandh calls Assam have crowned herself the land of "Lahe Lahe" and by looking at rate, at which Bandh calls are happening, I am sure Arunachal is going to be land of "Adda mara Lahe Lahe".

Yours,

Dorjee K Thungon

Chennai, (On email)

Declare withheld results

Dear Editor,

I, on the behalf of the B.A. 1st yr students of Dera Natung Government College, whose results have been withheld, would like to appeal the concerned authority to declare the withheld result on humanitarian ground as early as possible. The victimised students are under tremendous trauma.The trauma is inevitable as many of them, with great hardship, did manage to get themselves registered in the college.

This act of kindness by declaring the results, on the part of the concerned authority, will be a blessing to the students. And will give them a grand chance to learn from their mistake and improve themselves by being more careful and dedicated. I hope that the authority may kindly look into the grievance and take immediate steps.

Yours,

Talo Siga and

Yapung Singkom

New Market Daporijo, Upper Subansiri District

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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

‘Unplugged Night’

ITANAGAR, July 28: The much awaited western musical event “ Unplugged Night” is going to be held at Siddhartha Hall, Itanagar on July 30 at 5 pm. It is being organized by Mascot Network Society to explore latent talent in the field of art and music in the state.

This one of its kind soothing to ear rock musical event will be a platform for local musicians to hone their musical expertise playing unplugged in front of the audience. It will be a rare opportunity for music lovers, particularly western concert goers also to encompass a memorable night in their life with the local band such as “HELLGATE”, “FAR CRY”, and “THE METHODS” and many other individuals’ musicians who are going to perform live in acoustic guitars and violins.

For the first time in Arunachal Pradesh, the three individual musicians Bomto, Sange and Benjamin will try their hands in fusion music, do some musical experiment using acoustic guitars and violins. The trio will perform unplugged in some of the popular western songs only using two violins and an acoustic guitar.

Sensitization training on RTI Act

Daporijo, July 28: A 3 days Sensitization Training on RTI Act, 2005 for PIOs and APIOs, organized by the District Administration was inaugurated here today at the Rijo Conference Hall, Daporijo by the Deputy Commissioner H. K. Shalla.

Shalla while addressing the gathering said that as RTI is meant to promote transparency and accountability of governments programmes, policies, schemes etc to the people, any information sought by them should be provided. He also stressed on the need for the PIOs and APIOs to read the RTI Act thoroughly and understand it, so that it can be implemented in a better way. The DC advised all to interact with each other and share their knowledge and experiences so that difficult situations can be discussed, understood dealt with.

While highlighting the salient points of the training, ADC G. Ete said that the Act provided all citizens with a right to access information they sought. The training will provide the PIOs and APIOs with knowledge of their duties, responsibilities and functions under the RTI Act, he added. Ete also advised all concerned to attend the training without fail so that they could better benefit by it.

ADC G. Ete and Dr. B. Paul will be the resource persons for the training programme. (DIPRO)

Training for in-service teachers

ITANAGAR, July 28: The 5 days In-Service Teachers Training Programme started in District Institute of Education and Training, Pasighat on July 26.

The Training programme was inaugurated by DDSE, East Siang Tani Talom and chaired by Dr. Buk Lego, Principal, DIET, Pasighat.

In his inaugural speech, Talom called upon the teachers to gear themselves up to cope with the recent changes in the field of education . He emphasized upon the importance of teachers in moulding the future of children and stressed upon the fact that all the teachers are able to teach all subjects up to elementary level provided they take pain and interest. He further stressed the need of such type of training in future.

Dr. Lego said that training plays a vital role in enhancing knowledge and skills of teachers and helps them to acquaint with recent changes in school education with re- introduction of NCERT books in our state

People need social security too

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, July 28: The arrest of four SSB personnels at Rupa in West Kameng district for their alleged involvement in the rape and subsequent murder of a local girl is quite shocking. For long people of this state had shared excellent relationship with army and paramilitary forces, but in recent time this bond has been shaken to a large extent. Numerous incidents of armed forces committing gross human right violations has come to light and local residents have a feeling that these forces do not respect the local sentiment. Last year paramilitary forces were involved in skirmishes with local residents at Daporijo and Roing. In both incident locals alleged that men in uniform went out of their way and ill treated the local residents thereby angering them.

Then there was an incident of an IRBn jawan Tako Tagak reportedly being shot dead by ITBP jawan at Seppa during last year’s state assembly election duty which also contributed to the souring of relation between central forces and citizen of this state.

In most cases problem arises due to the lack of knowledge about local culture. “We carry our sisters or for that matter our wives in bike and go around. If our girl wear jeans and shirts, they think in different way. Also abusive language use by them is much to take,” told one resident of Itanagar. He further adds, “Centre should teach their forces certain lessons about the area they are going to be posted. Giving them fair idea about local cultures and lifestyles, before being posted in places like Arunachal, will go long way in helping jawans to get acclimatized with local traditions.”

The interesting part to be noticed is that most of the incident involving paramilitary forces and local residents takes place in the civilian areas. As it is the duty of state police to take care of daily law and order issue, then why does state government deploy central forces for civilian duty. This is absolute militarization of the state. Arunachal Pradesh which shares international boundary with China and Myanmar already has large presence of army in border areas. Since the end of 1962 Indo-China war, presence of army and paramilitary has manifold in the state. More and more forces have set up bases in the civilian dominated areas. The large presence of military personnel in the civilian areas is not a healthy sign. After certain period of time even a minor incident can create deep misunderstanding between central forces and local residents.

Time and again it has been proved all over the world that presence of armed forces in civilian areas always create lot of tension. State police should be provided with best training and equipments to deal with the civilian duty. Government of India should not try to militarize state of Arunachal. We don’t want situation like Kashmir or Assam to be developing in our state. There is genuine peace in Arunachal and this tranquility should not be disturbed by deployment of central forces in civilian areas. People of this state have always had deep respect for armed forces but if similar incident like that of Rupa or Daporijo repeats, equation may change for bad in the future.

This underdeveloped state needs love and care of central government for speedy development. Still many interior places of state like Tali, Vijoynagar, Taksing, Mechuka and many more are crying for urgent attention. There are places where till now there is no road connectivity and where people never had any access to electricity or health facilities. These areas need development for people to have better life. Just having strong military presence does not mean you are developing the state. Physical security is always good but government has to work towards providing a social security also.

NABARD-NGOs workshop ends with a pledge to ‘create a better tomorrow’

ITANAGAR, July 28: The NABARD- NGOs Partnership workshop hosted by NABARD Arunachal Pradesh Regional Office ended successfully on 26 July 2010 in the Conference Hall of Directorate of Tourism Govt. of Arunachal.

48 participants representing various NGOs across the State attended the workshop.

The action point that emerged from the workshop includes collaboration and focus on the Millennium Development Goals for poverty alleviation, quality education and health care. Involvement of District Administration at various levels of implementation of programmes and schemesm Maintenance of transparency and accountability in all spheres of life by the NGOs.

Formation of more farmers clubs and SHGs, timely submission of MIS by NGOs to NABARD and proper monitoring and escort services as per sanction terms and conditions and sharing of knowledge and ideas among the various NGOs and NABARD were other points that emerged during the workshop.

At the end, all the participants formed a human chain and pledged to “create a better tomorrow”. Earlier, in his keynote address Dr. B.G. Mukhopadhyay, General Manager, NABARD highlighted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of United Nations in which India is a signatory. He dwelt at length on the role of NGOs for implementing MDGs goals which include eradication of extreme Poverty and Hunger, Universal Primary Education, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay urged the participants to achieve these goals before 2015 with a clear mission and vision. He said despite development in many areas, there are large number of people who are still deprived of food security, clothing, shelter, primary health care and education which are the basic minimum requirements for a person to lead a dignified life as an individual in the society. As citizens of this great country, it is our duty to constantly work for these people to help them to access food, shelter, quality education and health care. Civil Societies will have to create their our own space in the developmental process and play their roles to serve the poor and needy, he added. Until and unless the fruits of development reach to these unreached section of our society, our mission will remain unfulfilled, opined Dr. Mukhopadhyay.

The General Manager of NABARD assured the participants of continued support from NABARD, which will be based on the impact and outcome of the programmes implemented by them. He suggested that the NGOs should adopt a strategy for impact-evaluation of their activities which will ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.

The NGO representatives from ENVIRON (P. Pare Dist) , AMMYA (Changlang) NYP (P.Pare) , NNCS (P.Pare) Manghi Welfare Society (K. Kumey) , Rural Development and Heritage Society (P.apare ) , CLDC (K. Kumey) , IDEA (P. Pare), Jarkum & Yania Charitable Society (P.Pare), Amik Matai Society (Lohit) , Arun Kutir (L. Subnasiri) , Nichii Niittii (L.Subansiri), SARRA (P. Pare) , Mecha Welfare Society (L. Subansiri) , AIDA( Dimapur), Micro-Finance Support Centre (P. Pare) and other participants made presentations on the various activities undertaken by them with NABARD support and assured for increasing their developmental activities in the areas of literacy, health, women empowerment, tourism, environmental protection, capacity building and skill based programmes for school drop-outs, unemployed youth, women, farmers to increase production, productivity and income generation etc.

OP Mounglang and K Vaiphei, Managers of NABARD made presentations on NABARD Promotional Programmes.

A.K Pasrija, DGM, NABARD made presentations on the expectations of NABARD from NGOs thereof. Some of these relate to annual reports, audited financial statements and evaluation by third party on the impact and outcome.

Training On Strengthening And Modernization Of Rodent Pest Management

PASIGHAT, July 28: Training on ‘Rodent Pest Management’ was conducted on July 27 last at the APMC Conference Hall Pasighat. It was organized by the District Agriculture department under the centrally sponsored scheme for the year 2009-10.

While speaking on the occasion, the District Agriculture Officer O. Yomso said training and ongoing education to educate the manager/users of pest control is very necessary. Such training helps to identify insect & rodent, chemical & non-chemical treatment methods, insecticide & rodenticide label and pest control equipment uses and maintenance.

Dr. K. Momocha Singh (Associate Professor) and Dr. M. M. Kumawat (Assistant Professor) both from the College of Horticulture, Pasighat imparted the training as resource persons. The Training was attended by all the Agriculture Development Officers and the Agril Field staffs of the entire circle.

Resentment

Itanagar,Jul 28: Kargu Kardi Welfare Society (KKWS) has resented over ‘lackadaisical attitude’ of the Govt towards the fulfillment of demands raised by the people after the ‘custodial death’ of Late Jumchi Nguso.

The Society said snail pace of enquiry and immature statement on the part of the Govt on jub-judiced case deserve condemnation and indignation from people. It also demanded Govt for adequate compensation to one Soyi Rida who received severe rib injuries on July 15 during the incident at Naharlagun. Rida is reportedly still recuperating from his rib injuries.

Meanwhile, the Society decided to feliciated former DIGP Raksap Yomcha on his superannuation and in recognition of his contribution towards the Society on August 13 next.

Condolence

ITANAGAR, July 28: The members of Kargu Kardi Welfare Society (KKWS) deeply mourned the sad demise of late Damgum Romin who died at Naharlagun recently. The members conveyed heartfelt condolence to bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace of departed soul.