jul17 10

2017

July 10

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Arunachal devastated by landslides and floods, minor dead

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: Heavy rain has caused massive destruction across the state with all the rivers on spate and landslides blocking several roads including the Hoj-Potin-Ziro-Daporijo road.

While Kameng, Siang, Yomgo Rivers are flowing above danger level affecting several families in Seppa, Mebo Sub-division and Aalo, state Capital is badly hit by landslides at several places. Sinki, Pachin, Pare Rivers are on spate forcing people living near the rivers to abandon their homes.

Meanwhile, in a tragic incident, a three year old nursery student Bamang Nijar, daughter of Bamang Tachung lost her life near the Botanical Survey of India office on Sundary morning because of flood waters.

Her body was recovered later in the day from Police Colony, Itanagar after several hours.

Murh Hatey Academic Development Society has mourned the death of the little girl as it thanked the police personnel for helping in retrieving the body from Senki river.

Heavy landslides has hit Itanagar-Naharlagun road while Nirjuli to Banderdewa road was blocked near Durga Mandir.

Several families have been forced to flee from Pachin Colony while in Nirjuli, Bage Tinali and the Police Station are under water. Similar situation was reported from Borum and Nyorch where rainfall triggered a heavy mudslide affecting at least six houses, informed Emergency Operating Centre set up by the district administration.

In Itanagar, a massive landslide occurred this morning at upper Niti Vihar junction washing away Police waiting shed and buried a dwelling house and damaged two cars. The landslide has also occurred near Civil Secretariat blocking the highway. The debris near the Secretariat was later cleared.

The road leading to Division IV was also massively blocked by landslide.

At upper Chandranagar colony, more than three families residing alongside the bank of River were badly affected while dozens of dwelling houses were partially damaged and submerged.

Reportedly, dozens of piggeries were also washed away.

"Since 3 AM, the water level started rising and damaged our house" said Taksing Tai whose dwelling house was partially damaged near petrol Pump, Chandranagar.

Taksing had to shift to a relative's residence.

The administration has set up a relief camp at Gyan Ganga School since June 30, but no affected families are taking shelter as they prefers to stay with friends and families, EOC added.

The district administration has informed that at downstream of Senki River, many families were affected near Barapani, Naharlagun and vulnerable residents were asked to move to safer locations.

Meanwhile, Kameng river in Seppa is following above danger mark. Several homes near the river are reported under water.

At Pasighat, Siang was flowing above danger mark inundating entire Old Seram village under Mebo Sub-division. Villagers have been evacuated to safer place, informed Mebo ADC Yemling Tayeng.

The river is also posing serious threat to Padan, Namsing, Gadum and Mer under Mebo sub-division.

Parliamentary Secretary (Disaster Management) Kaling Moyong along with government officials inspected Siang River at Komlighat, 21 Mile, Sibo-Siang confluence, Siku River under Mebo and Tolon river near Pasighat to take stock of the situation.

Moyong also visited the Siku Bridge, which is under constant threat from turbulent Siku River between Mebo and Ayeng village under Mebo Assembly Constituency. Some private road construction companies were making effort to divert the river current toward middle of the bridge.

Flood in Aalo, NDRF sought

Yomgo River was flowing above danger level at Aalo, West Siang forcing the riverside dwellers to leave at midnight on July 8.

The district administration, Army of 1st Bihar Regiment and police were quick to respond to evacuate few old women and men at Rana Ghat.

The Indian army and local youths used their boats to evacuate the people at around 1.30 am.

The flood water submerged crop fields and caused massive soil erosion. At least 15 granaries and few dwelling houses were damaged in flood water. A poultry Farm near TT Tourist Lodge was badly affected and nearly 300 chicks were drowned in flood water. Few piggeries along with pigs were also reportedly washed away by the river.

Though there were no reports of loss of life, the trails of devastations can be seen right from Wak village to Siyom Colony.

Fortunately, Sipu River was flowing normally when Yomgo had caused the devastation. Otherwise, the devastation would have been much more, reports DIPRO.

Water in Yomgo started to recede Sunday morning but Sipu started to swell instead.

Deputy Commissioner Gamli Padu along with DDMO and other officers visited the flood affected areas to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, AAPSU appealed to the state government to depute National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at Aalo.

As the India Meteorological Department has predicted severe rainfall in the next few days, the threat from rising water level of Yomgo is imminent, AAPSU said, and appealed to the government to position an NDRF team at Aalo immediately to tackle any disastrous situation.

Nyorch water pipe line washed away, triggers water crisis

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: The flooding Pachin River has reportedly washed away Nyorch water supply line that runs though the river near Helipad Naharlagun on Sunday.

The line caters water to Naharlagun and Nirjuli townships.

With the massive damage, there is going to be a major drinking water crisis in both the towns, informed Executive Engineer PHED& WS Itanagar Division, Tadar Mangku.

"The restoration of Nyorch pipe line is not possible till winter" EE said. In order to alleviate drinking water crisis in Naharlagun and Nirjuli, we are looking at possible locations to open water gallery, he said. EE has appealed to the citizens to bear with inconvenience.

Similar reports of damage and snapping of water supply line is being reported from Poma which supplies water to Itanagar.

Reports are coming in from various junior engineers that water supply lines taping water from small streams are also damaged but the intensity of damage is yet to be ascertained" added Mangku.

Likha Yaja; breaking the glass ceiling

Monday Musing

[ Nellie N Manpoong ]

When a woman engages in a job that has been identified as a “man’s job” by the society for ages, she often ends up putting more efforts to prove her critiques wrong and show that no work asks a person its gender.

Similar is the story of 36-year-old Likha Yaja who used her love for crafts and the opportunity provided by the state Department of Skill Development and Employment Generation to undergo training in bell metal craft at the Department of industry in Ziro and make a living out of it.

A native of Tago village, this single mother of two boys arrived at Ziro town to set up a stall at one corner of the festival ground during the Golden Jubilee Dree Celebration this year.

Yaja’s stall not only displayed her handmade craft items, but also had her mechanical blower set up on one side of the stall to showcase visitors the work that goes into creating those items.

She began training in 2015 and started creating sculptures out of metal, brass and even wood in only a few months of her training.

She says that her free training classes had only her and another woman, with the rest of the trainees being men. However, she is the only female who has continued to work on the craft and subsequently started earning through it.

“I had always been fascinated by this craft and that aided me in learning faster during the course of my training.”

Yaja makes every item with her own hands, with her sister Maka helping with the mechanical blower. Her on-spot display of creating sculptures also drew a lot of attention from visitors. This, she says was done with an intent to promote the art and was not restricted to merely making money out of the sales. She showed eager visitors how each piece of sculpture is made as she boiled in the heat of the make-shift furnace and poured the melted aluminum into her wooden, sand-filled casing.

“I want people to understand that a lot of hard work goes into every piece I make and hopefully engage them to encourage everyone who is interested in this form of crafts making”, says Yaja.

Her skills have started to gradually garner the attention of people in Lower Subansiri district as she engages in selling bulk orders of sculptures, traditional jewellery and other decorative items to well-established shops and even on special occasions like Dree. She has already provided 300 pieces of a specially designed badge for Dree and 150 pieces of pata or diru (traditional drinking mugs made of bamboo) for the guests in the festival.

Her family’s support was visible with her sister and father helping her out in their own small but important ways. Apart from helping with the mechanical blower, her sister Maka also helps her in the sales department. Her father, Likha Tat, who is also a skilled craftsman, made the daos (machetes) and bamboo mugs that were up for sale. The mugs cost around Rs 500 a piece, while the long daos with traditional inking on the blades were around Rs 10,000. Though some may call it pricey, she says that her earnings vary each month.

“Sometimes I earn close to Rs 40, 000 a month during festivals when I receive bulk orders, and sometimes it comes down to merely Rs 5000 a month and savings become important to keep the business running.”

Not one to shy away from taking positive criticism, Yaja says that she appreciates the feedback customers provide her on her craft.

“Sometimes people tell me that the features need to be more distinct or the finishing should be finer, and I take all the feedback in a positive way to improve my craft.”

Showing a sculpture of Aane Nyokum (The mother goddess), she said that it took her an entire month to create from scratch, without a model to replicate, and showed the places where it required remodeling since some features were not up to the expectations of customers.

During the six-day festivities of Dree, her bestselling items were decorative siles (smoking pipes) and rupkoj or kota (traditional wrist bracelets), apart from the usual decorative pieces.

This was her second time displaying her craft in a festival, the first time being the Golden Jubilee Nyokum celebrations at Joram in February this year. Each time she sets shop, she hopes that it will generate more curiosity in people to learn about the craft.

Having completed two years of training in May this year, Yaja is currently awaiting her certification to arrive from Itanagar. Once the certification arrives, she hopes to set up a store of her own at Ziro II, so that she can sell her creations at a reasonable price as taking her tools around adds to the cost.

Her happiness in making the best use of the opportunity of the skill training is apparent in the way she wields her tools with the sweat running down her face as people continue to look in awe at a woman breaking societal norms, and doing what is traditionally still considered a man’s job.

IJU condemns attack on journo, writes to PCI

ITANGAR, Jul 9: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has condemned the attack on senior journalist and Associate Editor of Arunachal Times Ranjit Sinha near the heavily guarded Civil Secretariat in Itanagar on 6 July night.

In a statement released on Sunday, IJU president S N Sinha, Secretary General Amar Devulapalli and Press Council of India member K Amarnath expressed concern over the increasing attacks on journalists in North Eastern states.

They said "Several journalist are attacked in the volatile region in the last few years and not even a single culprit was arrested leave alone punishing the attackers. This impunity is a cause of grave concern and impacts on freedom of Press," the statement said, and demanded the State Government to take steps to arrest the culprits not only in this case but in all other cases of attacks on journalists.

The statement said that the union has already written to Press Council of India Chairman Justice C K Prasad to take suo motu cognisance of the case and take steps for the safety of journalists in Arunachal Pradesh.

Achievers felicitated

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: Galo Welfare Society (GWS) felicitated the meritorious students and achievers belonging to the community in a function organized by its Human Resource and Education Promotion Committee on July 8.

Thirty-five Class X students, who scored CGPA 10, 11 Class XII toppers, 5 various entrance toppers, 2 undergraduate toppers, 7 postgraduate toppers, 5 doctorates, 28 APPSCE toppers and two medical super specialists were felicitated and given away cash awards along with certificates.

Noted football player Gumpe Rime, who is currently working as Head of Youth Development, Shillong Lajong FC and Goalkeeping coach of Indian National Football team was also felicitated on the occasion with memento.

A career counselling for the students was also held in the afternoon conducted by IAS Officer Huzar Lollen, Director of Medical Education, Research & Training Dr Moji Jini and Indian forests service officer Nyali Ete.

Eastern Griffin Aviation, a training institute also made presentation regarding various job avenues in the aviation sector.

Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Tumke Bagra and APEDA Director Marki Loya were present during the felicitation programme.

In his speech, Bagra asked the students to be the torch bearers of the society.

Loya spoke on the degrading quality of education, especially at the foundational level.

Meanwhile, Aka Elite Society (AES) felicitated meritorious students and achievers in various fields belonging to the society during its second felicitation programme held here on July 8.

Those felicitated included four class X and two class XII students, one sports (kick boxing) achiever, one M.Phil (Com) degree holder.

The All Aka (Hrusso) Students Union was also felicitated for their free scholarship programme for orphan and students with poor economic background.

Elephant village was awarded as Model village within Aka area for its tireless effort to boost Horticulture and Agricultural sector.

AES also decided to award Rs 50000 to those students, who qualify APJEE, JEE & NEET and Rs 100000 to those who qualify in Prelims in APPSCE and UPSCE.

Thrizino-Buragaon MLA and Parliamentary Secretary (PHED, WS & Statistics) Kumsi Sidisow attended the programme.

Rilla is Miss Apatani-2017

ZIRO, Jul 9: Tamo Rilla was crowned Miss Apatani-2017 on Saturday night at Dree Ground Nenchalya here.

She also won the Miss Popularity sub-title.

Rilla was awarded cash prize of Rs 1 lakh along with a trophy.

The first and second runners up titles went to Ngilyang Mica and Rubu Noomphy and they were awarded Rs. 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.

Mica and Noomphy also won the "Beautiful Hair Style" and "Beautiful Smile" sub-titles.

Other sub-title winners were Tilling Sumpi (Miss Congeniality), Tanyang Paring (Miss Cat Walk), Tage Kanya (Miss Photogenic) and Takhe Kanya (Miss Personality).

All the subtitle winners were awarded Rs.15, 000 each.

Bamin Apii, who designed the costumes for title winner Rilla, won the "best designer" award. She was given Rs. 30000.

There were 17 contestants in this year's beauty pageant, which was organized by Central Dree Festival Committee (CDFC) Ziro.

AAPSU to carry out educational & health survey

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has decided to launch "Educational and Health Survey-2017".

The Union has endorsed the survey work to its federal units, i.e, the District Students' Union who will visit all the government educational institutes and health centres of the districts to find out the facts and figures of the various institutes pertaining to its infrastructure, human resources and other overriding problems. The survey shall be centrally monitored by the AAPSU.

The survey work is expected to be completed in the stipulated time within last week of August this year. The objective of the decision to embark for educational and health survey 2017 involving its federal units is to gather information about problems plaguing the education and health departments at ground. Based on survey, the attention of state government will be drawn to frame policy to improve the situation, stated AAPSU in a release.

Further AAPSU President Hawa Bagang has called on all the legislators of the state to invest half of their MLA Lad funds specifically in educational and health sector to boost the basic facilities in the greater interest of the masses.

AAPSU General Secretary Tobom Dai stated that there are thousands of schools which are in dilapidated condition, however, problems are not solved because no one informs government regarding such situations.

"Therefore, the aim our survey would be to find out the condition of the schools, teachers and facility provided to them, report of encroachments in school campus, basic need of students like benches and desks, textbooks and uniforms etc. The survey would also be done in the health sector to understand the ground realities and enlist the problems," said Tobom Dai.

The AAPSU has appeal all the DSUs for cooperation and for effective implementation. Meanwhile union has welcomed the State government's decision to rationalize transfer and posting of teachers to improve the education scenario. AAPSU said there should not be any political pressure interference in the process.

Animal health camp cum awareness prog

[ Karda Natam ]

DAPORIJO, Jul 9: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary at the initiative of Payeng Anchal Samity Chairperson Tadam Haging Cherom organized animal health camp cum awareness programmes at various places under Payeng circle.

The animal health camps were conducted at Maying Moring (Pakba), Paktung villages and Taliha in view of the reported outbreak of 'unknown diseases', particularly among Mithuns.

More than 100 livestock were treated and medicines were distributed during the camp. The owners were also educated about various diseases in livestock that may break out during summer moth.

ASM Chairperson Tadam appealed to the Department to frequently organize such programme and provide necessary medicines to livestock owners.

FFA delegation calls on Director General of DD

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: A team of Film Federation of Arunachal (FFA) on Sunday called on the Doodarshan Kendra Director General Supriya Sahu at her office in New Delhi, and discussed the problems faced by the film makers of the state.

The FFA team consisting of its vice president (Admin) Tai Gungte, general secretary Shambo Flago, and spokesperson Taba Manglam appealed to the Director General to consider the shortlisted programmes proposed by the film makers of the state for DDK's upcoming channel Arun Prabha.

The team also requested Sahu to overlook minor anomalies in the proposals of first time television producers of the state.

Meanwhile, the team lauded Sahu for her supportive and cooperative attitude towards the people of the state in particular and north eastern states in general for the upcoming 24x7 satellite channel.

The Director General earlier on the request of FFA had extended the deadline for submission of proposals, 50 percent quota in time slots for programmes produced by people of North East, 50 percent reduction in bank grantee against the proposals from North East, and leniency in qualification criteria for selection of proposals put forward by the people of North eastern states.

The director general had also agreed extending the deadline for submission of proposals, 50 percent quota in time slots, 50 percent reduction in bank grantee, and leniency in qualification criteria, for the people of North Eastern states.

National Students Day

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) observed the 68th National Students Day in its state office here on July 9.

NEC Member Dr. Joram Aniya Tana briefed about the role of youth and students in nation building.

Earlier in the morning, ABVP flag was hoisted by State President Agin Taboh and Secretary Jakap Lukham. Taboh briefed about the Students Day.

Like previous years, competitions on general knowledge were organized in all Secondary and Higher Secondary schools in Arunachal Pradesh to mark the day.

Union defends Waii

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: The Arunachal Tribal Union (ATU) throwing its weight behind Home Minister has termed the allegation by United Organisation of Arunachal Pradesh and All Arunachal Pradesh Anti-Corruption Students Union against Kumar Waii as baseless and unfounded.

In a statement, ATU stated that allegation was a political propaganda to tarnish the image of the minister.

Exposure tour

ITANAGAR, Jul 9: The Young Mission Adventure Club (YMAC), a Aalo based NGO has conducted Potato training cum exposure visit to Central Potato Research Station at Shillong, Meghalaya recently. Altogether 35 farmers from Darak and Yomcha circle of West Siang district attended the programe. The objective of the exposure tour was to encourage the farmers to cultivate varieties of Potatoes for their livelihood. Two scientists Dr. Bapi Das and Dr. Clarissa imparted the training.

---- Editorial ----

Hoping for positive impact

The much talked about rational transfer and posting of government school teacher has been finally effected by the education department. As per report in local media, department has ordered mass transfer of 268 Primary and Trained Graduate Teachers within Capital Complex while 563 teachers have been transferred in West Siang, East Siang and Lower Subansiri. The move is expected to immensely help those districts which face acute shortage of teachers. At present most of the teachers are either posted in capital complex or in district headquarters. This has led to unequal distribution of teachers and has severely affected the functioning of many govt. run schools.

The decision to rationalize transfer and posting of teacher is praiseworthy but it should be done in proper manner without any political prejudice. Often it is seen that politicians uses transfer and posting as a tool to harass the political opponents. This should not be allowed to happen. Government need to take everyone including civil society into confidence. Also the people should extend support to the initiative of the education department. Especially politicians who yield lot of power should not interfere in the process. Over the year government schools have been performing poorly in the CBSE exams in compare to private schools. One of the main reasons cited for it is the absence of subject teachers. Hopefully the effort of education department to rationalize transfer and posting of teachers will change the fortune of government schools in years to come.

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---- Readers Forum ----

Find solution to Gorkha demands

Dear Editor,

Gorkhas have been living in different parts of the India and mainly northeast India since time immemorial. They have fought and died for the country - be it World wars, the 1962 Sino-Indian war or the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Gorkhas are peaceful, friendly and co-operative and always stay in harmony. But the recent uprising can solely be attributed to the step-motherly treatment of Bengal Government towards the Gorkhas of Darjeeling which has given rise to the demand of Gorkhaland.

The language imposition by the Bengal Government (Bengali language was made mandatory in schools across Bengal) on hill people has not gone well and has ignited the fire once again. Now, it has become a people's movement and their aspiration .The hills are deprived of basic growth, people have to go elsewhere for jobs, the 2T's (Tea and Tourism) are in a shambles.

GTA is non-functional and there has been no infrastructural development so far in the hills post Independence.

The agitation is escalating, lives have been lost and affected badly, and people of the hills now need an answer to their 110 years old demand of a separate state. Its high time now, the centre should intervene and come up with concrete solution to the long standing demand of the Gorkhas.

Yours,

Anil Thapa

Doimukh

Racism and India

Dear Editor,

Series of barbaric atrocities on innocent Black African students in "modern" Bangalore to the humiliation and expulsion of a Khasi lady from a Golf Club in "progressive" New Delhi -- the series of physical and psychological assaults upon the "aliens" serve as direct proof how this "elite" nation , of attaining Mars orbit, is actually supreme racist, imperialist, intolerant and class-conscious to the core.

By which moral, democratic or Constitutional right can the concerned authority discriminate against a person on the ground of his/her ethnic attire? Also by ridiculing her as "mere maid", the club and its non-protesting members(couple of them also taunting the family and the maid) have also displayed the feudal mindset of the general or majority of the Indians who accord treatment to another based on his/her so-called social status!

While Tailin Lyngdoh has faced discrimination and humiliation based on her race, ethnic dress(jainsem) and profession right in the capital city of her own country; she has been allowed unrestricted access in public sphere right from the "regressive" Gulf to "capitalist" European countries! What a tight slap on the face of India which is always zealously beating it's own trumpet of "liberalism", "humanity" and "values"!

And what better can be expected from a city, the administration of which even went to the extent of issuing a circular few years ago which directly infringed upon the attire and food habits of the North-eastern students living in the national capital! Though the right of the North-Easterners over New Delhi is not a bit lesser than the Punjabi and Hindi-brigade, still the administration tried to put a bar on the culture of Nagas, Manipuris and the others. If the administration itself refuses to acknowledge the rights of the North-Easterners in their very own country, what can be expected from the commoners? Even the "bright futures of our nation", who are pursuing higher education in reputed Universities and engineering colleges, engage themselves in making fun of the language and physical features of the North-Easterners and racially abuse them by calling all kinds of names. Yet this very parochial country accuses Australia or USA of being "racist"! At least the Australian and American authorities immediately nab and punish the culprits who heckle the Indians living there. But how many North or South Indian brutes have been sentenced or at least booked by the administration for raping the vulnerable girls and killing the students hailing from North-east?

Thanks to the crude and filthy mindset of "Hindi is India", "Bollywood is Indian culture" and constant focus on the "glamour" of New Delhi-Mumbai-Narendra Modi-Rahul Gandhi -Bangalore-Bollywood-Bhangra-Garba-Sherwani-Salwar-Hindi-Urdu-Punjabi-Ghazal-Bhajan and all things associated with the North, South and West India; a dangerous mindset of ignoring, hating and mocking all things East and North-East have got firmly established among a large section of "nationalist" Indians. But North-East indeed becomes an "integral" part of India overnight only when any terrorist outfit of the region wages war against the State! That means there should be absolutely no compromise regarding the geographical entity of India , but common North-Eastern citizens and their culture would not be accorded its due respect and entitled place under the Indian "mainstream" sun!

"Nationalism" is good, but it cannot be accorded higher seat than humanity. Thus India's geographical entity should certainly be protected, but at the very same time our North-eastern brothers and sisters should be practically placed on an equal pedestal as the Punjabis, Gujaratis, Tamils and Uttar Pradesis. They should be awarded their rightful place in the political history and culture of multi-lingual democratic India, so that no "mainstream" individual can dare to humiliate them based on their ethnicity or attire. And strictest of punishment should necessarily be awarded to the club authorities, goons and brutes so that they think twice before again insulting, ill-treating, mocking, racially abusing or killing our North-Eastern brothers and sisters.

Lastly, I offer my heartiest thanks to Nivedita Barthakur, entrepreneur and honorary adviser to Assam Health Department, for her uncompromising fight to ensure justice for the humiliated lady Tailin Lyngdoh and punishment for the racist brigade in the "elite" Delhi Golf Club. However Barthakur's generous humanitarian act hardly evokes a surprise; after all how many members of the "upper class" care to treat a "mere" governess as a family member and take her to club for lunch! The "elite" should learn from Barthakur how to respect all types of labour and accord due honour and dignity to the members of the non-privileged class without whose honest service, toil and sacrifice; their "elitism" would not survive even a day!

Yours,

Kajal Chatterjee,

Kolkata

Kudos to the CM

Dear Editor,

Our young and dynamic Chief Minister Pema Khandu deserves a big round of applause for reining in the RWD and cancelling the scheduled J.E exam at the last moment. This is a big blow to the concerned authorities of RWD who were making a desperate bid of conducting the exam defying the cabinet decision with ill-intentioned motives.

Our CM has upheld the mantra of Narendra Modi govt at centre-'Naa khaonga, Naa khanne dunga' with this bold move and has sent a stern message to all the departments trying to indulge in corrupt practices.

Now the APPSC will do the recruitment which it will be a great relief for talented and hardworking candidates who have been at the receiving end so far due to lack of political back up and malpractices in departmentally conducted JE exams.

Once again kudos to our CM!

Yours,

A candidate

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---Editor