jul14 14

2014

July 14

Jote-Poma road in dilapidated condition

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: The All Papum Poma Students' Union (APPSU) has drawn attention of government towards pathetic road condition of Papum-Poma area. Specially, the PWD road connecting Itanagar to Jote via Poma, is in dilapidated condition. The Union claim that in the said stretch of road, after every one meter distance, big pot-holes have formed with equivalent to pools and lakes.

They alleged that Itanagar-Jote road is even worse than that of quarry roads near river side.

"Everyone is aware that popular tourist destination Ganga Lake, visited by thousands of visitors is located in this area. Adding to it, National Institute of Technology and Arunachal Law College is coming up at Jote. There are many other important government and private institutions which is located in Jote-Poma area. Despite it, government is turning blind eye and is least bothered about pathetic condition of road," stated APPSU.

Union lamented the fact that despite being situated nearby capital, people of Papum Poma are suffering because of poor road condition. Further APPSU has appealed to the authority to keep open the recently constructed Balijan - Taraso road for the benefit of common public. Union also urged the local MLA to understand and hear the voice and cry of the common public and accordingly instruct the authority concerned to take step for improvement of the condition of the said road in the greater interest of the people.

AAPSU demands written exam

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) in a letter to the Managing Director (MD) of Apex Bank Ltd., Naharlagun has demanded the bank to conduct written examination instead of viva voce scheduled on July 14 for appointment in various posts in the bank.

The union also demanded the MD to strictly follow the existing recruitment rule (RR) of the state failing which the union has threatened to launch democratic means of protest against the bank.

Quiz competition marks conclusion of Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary celebration

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: An inter-school quiz competition was conducted by Ramakrishna Mission Hospital (RKMH) here and Vivekananda Study Circle, Naharlagun here yesterday which also marked the conclusion of year-long celebration of Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary.

Students from 12 schools participated in the quiz competition conducted for both senior and junior groups. Essay writing, elocution and story writing competitions were held for the students of various schools of Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli, etc. during 2013. All the competitions were held on topics based on life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vishweshan-anda, Secretary, Ramakri-shna Mission Hospital here presented prizes to all the winners of the competitions.

Training on Kishori Shakti Yojana

Correspondent

ROING, Jul 13: The ICDS Project conducted a block level orientation training programme under Kishori Shakti Yojana Scheme here recently.

The objectives of the scheme are to improve the nutritional, health and development status of adolescent girls. It also promotes awareness of health and family care, and link them to opportunities for learning life skills, going back to school, help them gain a better understanding of their social environment and take initiatives to become productive members of the society, informed Nelo Umbrey, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO).

Umbrey emphasized that as adolescent period is the most crucial phase, one should be careful and parental proper supervision is very much important at this stage. She informed that the ICDS department will be distributing Iron Folic Acid tablets to the adolescent girls through AWWs.

Dr M Borang, Roing spoke on health, hygiene and nutritional importance during the adolescent period. She informed the gathering on home remedies as use of aelovera, Neem leaves, etc.

We did not leak the question papers: Teachers

AALO Jul 13: The four teachers from Govt. Primary School, Kamki have said that they have been unnecessarily dragged into controversy of leaking term end D.EL. ED question papers of IGNOU Study Centre, Kamki and claimed that they were never involved in such activity.

Clarifying the whole episode, they said, "We went to Aalo on being informed by the Post Office authority that a parcel addressed to Govt. Primary School, Kamki was lying undelivered there for many days. We collected the said parcel as it was clearly addressed to the school and the sealed parcel was opened in presence of all the teachers of the school. On opening, it was revealed that the bag actually belonged to DIET, Kamki and we immediately tried to contact the lecturer concerned of the DIET. But after getting no response from him the bag was handed over to a lecturer of the DIET."

"Hence, we have nothing to do with any leakage or missing of question papers," they said, and urged not to drag them into controversy and accuse them of leaking question paper without any investigation. DIPRO

News Impact

DoNER minister softens stand on Subansiri dam

GUWAHATI, Jul 13: A day after he advocated resumption of work of the stalled Subansiri Lower Hydro- power Project, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Vijay Kumar Singh today said construction should resume after consultation with agitators.

"Nothing will be done without consulting people. That is the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) stand and we stand by that," Singh said on the sidelines of IIT-Guwahati convocation here.

He was responding to a query about protests since this morning in front of his accommodation on account of his statement yesterday supporting construction of the dam.

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti members held demonstration since 5 am today and later a delegation met Singh to apprise him of the reasons behind their opposition to the dam.

Singh had yesterday said most of the protests against the project were "unjustified" and were driven by "propaganda".

"We have problems of power in Assam. We are aware of the protests of Subansiri project -- some are justified, majority are not justified... Why should there be any problem?" he had said at the National Cold Chain Summit here yesterday.

"I know who these protesters are. I know the groups and their propaganda very well. So our only job is to convince them that the dam is safe and beneficial for Assam," he had said.

When reminded that BJP had opposed the construction of Subansiri dam before the Lok Sabha elections, Singh had said, "I am not aware of BJP's stand. I do not know what BJP's stand was. Subansiri project is also not a big dam."

According to the minister, people have not been told about the benefits of the project and that is why it was languishing for the last two years with a fear of down stream impact. Urging to "shed some of our inhibitions", he had said it was going to be helpful and provide power to Assam as the 15 per cent power that will be free, could be distributed between Arunachal and Assam.

Singh's latest comment comes within days of Power Minister Piyush Goyal assuring the people that "no construction will be undertaken till the matter is sorted out".

On July 5, Goyal met Assam BJP chief and Union Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbanda Sonowal to discuss and solve the issue.

The construction work of the ambitious 2,000 MW project at Gerukamukh in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Subansiri river has been stalled for over two years after protests by locals and many groups fearing safety and downstream impact.

Subansiri Lower HE Project is the biggest hydroelectric project undertaken in India so far and is a run of river scheme on river Subansiri.

The project is located at Lower Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh, near North Lakhimpur on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The cost of the project was initially estimated to be around Rs 6,285 crore and it was scheduled to be commissioned in December 2012. PTI

CM holds pre budget consultations with RWD, PHED, PWD

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: As a build-up to budget finalization and presentation in the forthcoming State Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki is on a roller-coaster of review meetings to ensure inclusive development in the state. He convened three different review meetings with Rural Works Department (RWD), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Public Works Department (PWD) here Saturday that extended late into the night.

While terming PMGSY a boon for the state, the CM stressed on timely completion of all PMGSY projects by strictly adhering to the guidelines.

Earlier, CEO, ARRDA through a PowerPoint presentation informed that out of 1541 habitations in the state only 530 are eligible for PMGSY. While 157 eligible habitations have already been covered under 100 Days Programme by Govt. of India, the DPRs of balance eligible habitations of 373 is being targeted to be submitted by December 2014. This will enable the State Govt. to pursue with the Center for relaxation of qualifying criteria to facilitate connectivity to 1011 ineligible habitations.

The department of PHE highlighted its proposal submitted to the Planning Commission for drinking water facility to border areas under PM's package covering 479 remote villages and 50 rural administrative townships.

Tomo Basar, CE (D&P) PHED, informed of another proposal submitted to Ministry of Finance for drinking water to 70 semi urban administrative headquarters with drainage facility under JICA and requested the CM to pursue with the Centre.

On the subject of revenue collection on water tariff, Tuki advised the Department to examine the feasibility and propose for entrusting the responsibility of revenue collection to urban local bodies.

PHE & WSD Minister Takam Pario requested the CM to allow inclusion of more water supply scheme of urban townships under the programmes of Ministry of UD, priority of which are finalized by the UD Department in the state.

Taking part in the review meeting of PWD department, Chief Minister said that a proper road master plan at each district level should be prepared to enable the Government to plan for giving road connectivity to each and every village in a phased manner within available resources. Such a master plan would check the likely duplicity of schemes at the stage of prioritisation and selection process. All the stake-holders in road development like PWD, RWD and BRO should work unitedly in preparing a comprehensive master plan, he opined.

The Chief Minister directed to list out those schemes which are targeted to be completed by March 2015 so that the requisite amount of state share for these could be earmarked in the AOP of 2014-15.

Expressing serious concern over the poor performance of contractors in some of the projects and pending litigations in court, he directed the PWD Minister to settle the issue with all the stake holders at the earliest.

Construction of cement concrete roads in the Capital and some of the district headquarters is a major flagship programme taken up under SPA for a planned development of township roads. The CM advocated for the use of latest construction equipments and technology, as a properly constructed CC road shall have a life period of 15 to 20 years, thereby reducing the recurring maintenance costs.

He gave special emphasis on the urgency for improving the roads in the capital complex including Naharlagun township.

Commissioner (PWD) informed that the tenders for the first phase of construction of CC roads have been finalised and work shall start after end of rainy season. Tenders for construction of District Secretariat buildings at Ziro, Daporijo, Roing, Tezu and Khonsa are in various stages of process and likely to be awarded by September 2014. The issue of non availability of land at Daporijo was directed to be settled at an early date by the DC, Upper Subansiri.

To mitigate the problem of traffic congestion in Itanagar and Naharlagun, the feasibility of constructing bypass roads as a long term plan, was needed to be explored immediately, the CM emphasised. Appreciating the detail presentation made by the Department of the various feasible routes, the CM advised to carry out detail survey of the different alternatives at the ground level and submit the cost proposals. As one of the short term measures, it was agreed in principle that the existing road from SP office in Ganga to the road junction of NH52A and B Sector below Raj Bhawan shall be improved to lessen the traffic flow on the main thoroughfare in Itanagar.

Participating in the discussions, PWD Minister Gojen Gadi asserted that improving the road network in the twin capital towns shall be the major priority.

Ensure safety of all, IMCLS tells govt;

CALSOM, ATKSSU condemn attack

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (IMCLS) has appealed to the state government to ensure safety of all in the state capital following the attack on Unti Umbrey, a student leader from the community.

In a meeting at Roing today, IMCLS condemned the attack on Umbrey in its strongest term and described the incident as unfortunate and shocking.

"We understand the differences within the students union that might have led to such attack. But physical attack on any individual is never justifiable," said IMCLS, and demanded for arrest of the culprits and necessary action as per the law. It further appealed to the people not to post inflammatory remarks in social media over the incident that might severely affect harmony of tribes in the state.

Also condemning the attack on Umbrey, Cultural and Literary Society of Mishmi (CALSOM) in a release has termed the attack as barbaric and cowardly act.

"We are deeply hurt by the unfortunate incident and pledge all support through democratic means for justice to Unti Umbrey," said CALSOM and offered its prayer to almighty Amik Matai for speedy recovery of Umbrey.

All Tai Khampti Singpho Students Union of Arunachal Pradesh (ATKSSU) also vehemently condemned the attack on Umbrey and termed the incident as barbaric.

The union appealed to the administration and police to bring the culprits involved in the incident to book immediately and punish them as per law.

Bhanu Jayanti celebrated

MLA exhorts youths to devote time to study

PASIGHAT, Jul 13: MLA Kaling Moyong has exhorted the youths to devote their time and energy to studies to make a vibrant and progressive society.

Attending the Bhanu Jayanti Utsav 2014 at Solung Ground here, Moyong informed that many Nepali families have settled in Pasighat before independence and their contribution towards the development of the area has been immense. They should not be treated as outsiders, he said, and hoped the age-old peace and social harmony prevailing here among various tribes will be maintained in future too.

He exhorted all to draw inspiration from Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and follow his principles and ideologies for betterment of the society.

On crippling power situation, Moyong assured the people to take up the problem with the Government. He also informed that he will try his level best for inclusion of century-old Pasighat in the list of Smart Cities and sought co-operation and support from the Chief Councilor and his team.

Zilla Chairperson Kaling Dai highlighted the importance of literature as a vehicle for preservation of culture. Culture is the binding force of the society without which no one can maintain their identity, he said and highlighted the contribution of Bhanu Bhakta in developing the culture and literature of Nepali society. He hailed the Nepalese for their valor, simplicity and patriotism. He appealed for social harmony and peaceful co- existence for development of the area.

Earlier, AK Rana, President, NSSP, Pasighat, Shantiram Banstola, President, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Dhemaji, Suk Br. Rai NE Co ordinator, Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, Darjeeling and others dwelt in length about the life and works of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

They informed that he not only translated the Ramayana into Nepali but also developed the Nepali language into the present form which united the Nepalese society and revolutionized the Nepali literature. DIPRO

Stop hindrance in development works, appeals Krema Pao PMGSY Road Committee

ITANAGAR, Jul 13: Reacting to the allegation made by Sawa Road Committee, the Krema Pao PMGSY road committee has termed it as baseless.

The Committee informed that the take up point was shifted to present location because of the pressurization by them in public interest through signing of memorandum by all the concern villagers, Panchayat members with the Contractors and later submitted to department concerned. They further claimed that present location is the most appropriate and feasible alignment to connect the beneficiary village with District HQ as well as Sub Division HQ in shortest distance.

While applauding the effort of executing agency, the M/s Capital Enterprise, Itanagar for earliest completion of formation cutting work much before the stipulated time, committee exuded hope that remaining work will be completed soon.

"We congratulate the department for making deviation for better road connectivity. We also condemn the disturbance of complainants which hampers the smooth progress of work and request such people to stop creating hindrance in developmental works," they added.

Home

2012

---- Editorial ----

Middle East in turmoil

Humanitarian crisis is emerging due to Hamas-Israel conflict. As per report thousands of people are leaving their homes from Gaza town starting today after Israel warned them to leave ahead of threatened attacks on rocket-launching sites, on the sixth day of an offensive that Palestinian officials said has killed at least 160 people.

Militants in the Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip kept up rockets salvoes deep into the Jewish state and the worst bout of Israel-Palestinian bloodshed in two years showed no signs of abating despite mounting international pressure to cease fire.

Despite intensified Israeli military action — which included a commando raid overnight in what was Israel's first reported ground action in Gaza during the current fighting — militants continued to launch rocket after rocket across the border. A long-range salvo on Sunday morning triggered air raid sirens at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport, which has not been hit in the hostilities and where flights have been operating normally, and some city suburbs. No one has been killed by the more than 800 rockets the Israeli military said has been fired since the offensive began. Hostilities along the

Israel-Gaza frontier first intensified last month after Israeli forces arrested hundreds of Hamas activists in the Israeli-occupied West Bank following the abduction there of three Jewish teenagers who were later found killed. A Palestinian youth was then killed in Jerusalem in a suspected Israeli revenge attack. International community should intervene at the earliest before crisis deepens.

----Readers Forum ----

We can do it together

Dear Editor,

I don't see any merits in identifying ourselves asAdi, Apatani, Galo,Tagin , Nyishi, Tangsa, Wancho, Singpho, Monpa etc.

It brings more and more differences among ourselves. Let's bring constitutional amendments and bring all the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh under one umbrella.

Our ST certificate should be rewritten. Instead of the name of the tribe, only APST or Arunachalees should be written. Because each time communal tensions arise in the name of tribes in our state. We have witnessed many such situations in our state and it may be repeated in future too.

We are vulnerable to communal tensions time and again because of tribal equations.

And also we should stop all tribe based organisations. This will be one step forward to bring unity and brotherhood amongst next generation.

Be optimistic, we can do it if we really think of uniting all the tribes of our state. Some NGOs or civil society may take up the matter if you like this.

Yours,

Marpe Lollen

Changlang

We don’t belong to general category

Dear Editor,

Do the students union of Arunachal Pradesh know how difficult it is to get admitted in Cotton College this year? Our schedule tribe certificates are not being accepted by the college authorities.

Not only Arunachal Pradesh, the Schedule tribe certificates from other northeast states are also not being accepted. We were ask to apply in the general category but why should we? We don't belong to general category. They are giving more preference to students from Assam.

College authorities were asking us to submit schedule tribe certificate issued from the Govt of Assam within half an hour. Seriously?

If they don't want us to get admitted in Cotton College they should have posted a big poster in front of the college saying that students from other states are not allowed in this college. The change in selection process this year have destroyed the hopes of many students belonging to Schedule Tribes ( Hills).

I request the students unions of Arunachal Pradesh and other Northeast states to look into this matter for a fruitful decision so that students does not face the same difficulties like us in future.

Yours,

A student

I got cheated

Dear Editor,

I would like to share a very recent incident that I have gone through and I do not want anyone of you should go through the same.

During my recent visit to Harmotty market, I met a man who asked me whether I need a house maid. Since I had my doubts, I told him no but asked for his number. When i asked for the number, he said he doesnot have a number and instead took mine.

After few days he started calling me and asked me to help the girl about whom he was talking about at Harmoty . He said that the girl belonged to a very poor family and the mother was on death bed and asked if I was willing to help the family by keeping the girl with me in lieu of money. Since he kept calling, i decided to help. He asked me to come to Laluk and do the formalities of payment and paper work as needed and take the girl with me.

So, next day I started off to Laluk (assam), and found that man waiting for me. When i asked for the girl, he told me that the girl was in a village 5-6 km away. When we reached I found the girl’s family waiting for me. I cried inside when I saw them as the mother and daughter looked very sickly and so thin.

After seeing their condition, there was not a single moment to doubt so we reached to an agreement and payments were made.

As we were about to start for Naharlagun, the girl said that she had forgotten to take something, so she went back to fetch it. Time passed but there was no sign of her so I went in the house to check for her.

There was no one inside the house. Instead I found myself surrounded by bike riders, threatening me to get out of the village or be man handled.

So with no other option left and my hard earned money gone, I had to return empty handed, with a heavy heart remembering the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, where the jackal disguising to be the grandmother attacked her.

Later I found that everything was pre-planned and they have cheated many more in the same manner. May be they are planning for more.

It’s my advice to all – be careful and never trust anyone even if they make tempting offers of maid servants.

Yours,

A victim

Make educational qualification mandatory in politics

Dear Editor,

In connection with some readers' colliding/contradicting questions and arguments in regards to cabinet minister being educated or not, that appeared in the Readers' Forum of your esteemed daily, I a third party, would like to bring it forth to public as what the politics and education are, but of course, with no intension to hurt any one's feelings. It is only a personal view from an elderly citizen.

Politics is a social mechanism with which attempts are made to motivate, mobilize and govern the masses of a common geographical enclosure. Politics is not free from contradictions, controversies and implications in the forms of competitions and fighting among factions belonging to different principles and ideologies. No power other than education can meet and tackle or deal with the controversies and discrepancies of politics.

Education, according to Joseph Adison, leads human souls to what is best, which no enemy can alienate, no despotism can enslave. It is at home a friend, abroad an introduction, in solitude a slave, in society an ornament. It chastens vice, guides virtue and gives at once grace to genius.

A legislator or a minister is an ornament of his/her voters at home, and an introduction of his constituency, state or country abroad. So, he/she needs to be adorned with intellectual capabilities, which come from education alone!

Democracy, the most popular form of government in the modern world, provides equality to all - equal rights, equal opportunities, but equality wants equality! Candidates for a same post should be near to one another as educational qualification is concerned. Otherwise equality will kill equality crippling democracy by the way.

So, it can be opined that educational qualification should be made mandatory in politics also, though it may be allowed to vary according to chairs contested for.

Yours

Lomti Lego,

Mebo

Give us the stipend

Dear Editor,

Through your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authority regarding the non-release of our pending stipend.

In May it was announced that students stipend have been sanctioned but we are yet to get it.

Everyone is well aware of the economical and financial state of a student belonging to the rural areas of Arunachal. For student of rural areas, the sum of money as stipend means a lot and can't be neglected.

Every one of us is eagerly waiting for the stipend but now with the passage of time the hope of getting the pending stipend seems to be doomed.

When will the stipend be released? The state claims to be on sound financial condition so the situation seems to be ironical to me.

Let me add that my intention is neither to blame the authority nor to criticise anyone else, but to simply get my pending stipend at the earliest.

Yours,

A deprived student