The Arunachal Times - Archives

Coordination Meeting

Nyishi legislators to keep a tab on organisations

ITANAGAR, June 13: After being accused of locking themselves in their ivory towers by some organizations leading to formation of many organizations and Unions within the community, Nyishi legislators in a coordination meeting with the office bearers of all the Nyishi organizations on June 10 has taken various decisions.

It was decided there shall be no more creation of organizations either prefixed or suffixed with Nyishi terminology. Such organizations which have already been formed shall be assimilated into already recognized Nyishi organizations having wider mass acceptances of the community for continued long period of time, with certain modifications in their nomenclature or provisions in the Bye Laws, if need be; for which the required regulatory initiations shall be taken care of by the Nyishi legislators.

“Mushrooming of such organizations could have been avoided with little understanding and matured mutual discussions and corrections among the conflicting members instead of jumping into forming so many of the organizations; and also with little discouragements to such splinter organizations from the level of various political and government authorities” it read.

All the political, social and various bureau & technocratic authorities in the state shall discourage taking or giving undue importance and appointment of such unheard and splinter Nyishi-tagged organizations, who are devoid of any community and social sanction, in using the name of Nyishi either for the purpose, or on behalf of the Nyishi community or for their personal or any group, it was further decided. There shall be no more bandh calls and strikes/picket in the capital in the name of any Nyishi organisation without a proper consensus approval of the socially sanctioned body. All the members present in the meeting equivocally resolved that such bandhs/strikes/pickets called contrary to the resolution shall no more be tolerated any more.

Defying adhering to this resolution by any such organizations shall be doing so at their own responsibility, the meeting decided.

In another decision, it said that there shall be no media publications/press releases by any Nyishi organisation, contents of which could be detrimental to and demeaning of the image of the Nyishi community at large.

It was also felt that a consensus understanding need to be taken to rethink into the overall functioning and scopes of the existing bigger organizations of the community which have already the social mandate and sanction, in order to accommodate maximum views of the entire spectrum of members of the community, decentralization of their roles etc., so that minimum numbers of organization exist with high dignity.

Regarding certain objections and errors or deficiencies in the printed and recently circulated Nyishi Agam book for use as third language in the schools of Nyishi majority inhabited areas, in the meeting it was decided that NES shall take an appropriate early action in constituting an Expert Committee to go into the depth of objections, errors or deficiencies by inviting such objections, observations and criticisms in writing. The NES was also advised to consider and examine in detail the pros and cons of the circulated Nyishi language books in schools with regards to modalities of recruiting teachers, their training and remunerations so that fund requirements for such purposes could be taken up with the government.

Press takes strong exception to APPSC’s arm-twisting act

ITANAGAR, June 13: Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Itanagar Press Club (IPC) have taken a very strong exception to APPSC’s act of issuing a letter to an accredited journalist, instead of issuing a clarification for publication. And subsequent attempt to get it published as an advertisement with an intention to malign the profession in general.

The Press fraternity also takes strong exception to the attempt to utilize advertisement as a weapon to arm twist the press fraternity.

Expressing shock over the functioning of APPSC, the Press fraternity noted that the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission has embroiled in problems with almost all the media houses in the state when they point out the existing lacunae in the functioning of the Commission anticipating improvement in the greater interest of the State. But in most of the cases, the issues raised in general are taken as personal offence, which is unbecoming of a Constitutional body and its officials. Instead of sorting out its internal problems, it is regrettable that the Commission is resorting to vindictive attitudes time and again.

Therefore, in view of the above facts, both the organizations in a meeting today unanimously decided that in compliance with the State Information Publicity Policy 1999 (Published in extra ordinary Gazette notification No.44, Vol-IV, Naharlagun dated July 22, 1999), the APPSC should route all its advertisements through the Department of Information and Public Relations for publication in the newspapers. In other words, no press shall henceforth entertain any advertisement issued directly by the APPSC.

Environ on a mission to replace plastic carry bags with paper bags

NAHARLAGUN, June 13: ENVIRON, an NGO working largely on solid waste management in North Eastern Region has completed three days long workshop cum training programmes in three different places of Naharlagun for the promotion of paper bags and formed a “paper bags promotion action committee” against plastic carry bags.

In this respect ENVIRON has targeted woman’s of the locality in Naharlagun and Itanagar to empowering them for vigorous production of paper bags to minimize plastic pollution. Altogether 196 women were taking part for the production of paper bags. Whereas ENVIRON is planning for maximum participation in the production of paper bags near future.

The workshop was inaugurated by Talo Potom, additional district magistrate, Itanagar. In the inauguration speech Mr. Potom has given emphasized on the people participation and cooperation for proper solid waste management and to build a clean Itanagar.

ENVIRON President Prof. Amarjyoti Kashyap along with his team member K. Majumdar, K. Sarma, A Boro has conducted the workshop cum training programme. President of ENVIRON has also proposed to the district administration to regulate the price of papers as well as paper bags for sustainability. In his speech ENVIRON president explained about the worst effect of plastic which needs more than 5000 thousand years to mix with the soil. Principle of Three “R” i.e. Reduce (through using of plastic alternatives like paper bags, paper cups, earthen cups etc.), Reuse (reusing of same plastic instead of throwing), Recycle (recycling of waste plastic to avoid dumping in the soil) is the best way to prevent the plastic pollution.

ENVIRON has also planned to collect the plastic bottle in Itanagar through organizing the rag pickers for recycling. Plastic bottle which is made up of PET (poly ethylene pteraphthalate) is the raw material for polyester thread.

In Itanagar a pilot project on “Awareness and primary implementation of Municipal Solid waste management in Itanagar capital complex” is launched by ENVIRON supported by NABARD, regional office, Itanagar and monitored by Capital administration, Itanagar.

Forum seeks changes in RR policy

NAHARLAGUN, June 13: Dams has the capability to alter the socio-economic scenario of the entire East Siang district, Lower Siang Affected People Forum (LSAPF), President Napi Darang speculated, with little modification in its rehabilitation and settlement policy 2008, it will also change the socio-economic status of the affected families. If at all the state government considers the construction of dam in the region, it should adopt the consultative approaches and fulfill all the rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the larger interest of the affected area, he added.

Beside other circles and villages, the Lower Siang Dam Project will also drastically affect the natives of Pangin and Kebang circles informed LSAPF general secretary Nonong Tamuk.

He further elaborated that the forum has drawn the attention of Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu for reconsidering and modifying the ‘rehabilitation and resettlement policy 2008’, urging him to elongate necessary directives to the executing corporation to review and amend the compensation policy for the immediate affected populace of the area as the present compensation policy doesn’t justify the equation and confirmed rate of the land to be acquired by the company.

Terming the recruitment criteria in chapter 8.10.1 of rehabilitation and resettlement policy 2008 inadequate, Tamuk stressed on the enhancement of job quota for the affected families in various categories.

Idu council questions VKV on students’ intake

Roing, June 13: The Idu Indigenous Peoples Council has refuted the claim of VKV Arunachal Pradesh Trust that no child has been denied education on ground of fee in a meeting held between IIPC and VKV recently.

It said a sense of alienation has begun with the local tribal children being excluded from availing benefits of quality education due to high cost.

“Out of 900 children in VKV Roing, hardly 130 students are local Idu Mishmis”, said IIPC.

On fee hike, it observed that VKV had hiked fee only for the hostellers and not for the day scholars, which according to them is directly affecting the tribal students only. The hostellers consist of tribal students only which constitute 25% of the total student in the school.

“Ever since the fees hike, many tribal students have left the school. And most parents have opted to readmit their child as day scholars.”

Its now admission time and local tribal applicants for admission to new batch has decreased drastically.

“Out of 30 applicants for admission to Class III, only seven are the local tribals”, said IIPC.

“In the previous session, in class X, the local tribal students were only 7 out of total strength of 42 and only 3 out of 38 in Class XII.”

The VKV school administration is unable to explain how and why the strength of local tribal student has decreased to near extinction when the school first started with sole aim of educating the local tribal children.

Responding to explanation by VKV AP Trust on fee hike, IIPC demanded for fee concession and reservation of seats to local tribal children in this lone VKV School of undivided Dibang Valley.

However, the sense of deprivation and alienation is not only confined to VKV. Other central schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya in Roing have similar stories from tribal parents.

“Though KV is for children of central govt employees, children of non tribal traders get preference over tribal students in admission”, said a parent.

ACH to set up its office at Pasighat

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, June 13: Arunachal Charity Home (ACH), a non-profit making organisation, has completed its three years of dedicated service to the people of the state recently. ACH was established on May 1, 2007 at Dibrugarh particularly to help and guide the Arunachalee patients and their escorts coming down in Dibrugarh for better medical treatment. With mass support and contribution from well-wishers ACH is now spreading its tentacles to provide benefit to large number of the Arunachalee people, said its founder and managing director Jobang Modi.

Modi further informed that plan is afoot to open ACH temporary registrar office at Power House Colony, Pasighat from July 1. Simultaneously the construction of the permanent office building will begin from July with the support of the administration and general people, Modi informed.

Informing that memorandums were submitted to ministers and MLAs for financial help in construction of the ACH office building at Pasighat, Modi said, “I am grateful to many MLAs, Ministers and Govt officials who are responding enthusiastically to the noble cause.” Besides Power Minister Jarbom Gamlin, many MLAs and Govt officials including DHO B Apum, Pasighat are contributing for establishment of the office building, he added.

Disclosing its future plan to introduce own ferry service from Dhola to Sadiya Ghat for the benefit of the patients and their escorts, he said the Chief Minister had donated Rs 3 lakh against total project cost of Rs 20 lakh.

Mra’s feat encourage several Arunachalees to take up mountaineering

Bomdila, Jun 13: Trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rafting and other adventure sport activities are fast catching up in Arunachal Pradesh. Taking a cue from the first Arunachalee Everester Tapi Mra, several aspiring mountaineers from the State have undergone strenuous training courses in the past couple of years. Arunachal Mountaineering & Adventure Sports Association (AMASA) has sent Anshu Jamsenpa, Nima Lama, Tsering Tashi and several others to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling, ABV Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali and Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI), Imphal for getting advance technical training in mountaineering and allied adventure sports. They completed their course with flying colors and were recommended for taking part in high altitude mountain expeditions.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling recently selected Anshu Jamsenpa as the Guest Instructor of the institute. She is the first Arunachalee to be selected as Guest Instructor to conduct Adventure courses. She has recently climbed upto 18500 ft in Kabru mountain range which forms the southern spur of the Kangchenjunga massif along with senior HMI instructor & five times Everest summitter Kusang D Sherpa. She has also been selected for North East India Pre Everest Expedition 2010-2011.

Sange Lhamu, Secretary of Arunachal Mountaineering & Adventure Sports Association while congratulating Anshu Jamsenpa stated that adventure sports and adventure tourism is all set to take off in a big way as more and more youths take up trekking and mountain expeditions in the virgin Arunchal Himalayas. She was also happy that National Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports (NIMAS) is fast coming up at Dirang in West Kameng District which will further give a big boost to adventure activities in the State.

Bam Inspects Work site at Seppa

Seppa, Jun 13: Hardly a week after assuming the office, East Kameng District, Deputy Commissioner, Tope Bam had made a quick entry into the affairs of district by inspecting the developmental work going on in various pockets of the district today. He was accompanied by CO (MV&Est), Liken Koyu, Dy.Director, UD&Housing/DUDA Kame Bengia and Urban Program officer Vijay Azad Tajo.

Bam inspected all the colonies and its approach road where the work on the drainage and widening are under progress. He asked all the concern citizen to cooperate with the executing agency by dismantling the structures that come on the way of the construction. Most of structures are the private property. As of now many structures in the town have been dismantled and the bulks of structure are likely to be dismantled as the time given to the respective owners has expired.

He also took stock of the ongoing work to have concrete idea of the quality being maintained by the contractors and the pace of works progress. (DIPRO)

Persons with fake ILPs detected

ITANAGAR, Jun 13: Some labourers with fake Inner Line Permits (ILPs) were detected by Capital Complex Contract Workers Union (ACCCWU).

ACCCWU, who registers labourers, said that the ILPs possessed by those persons were found fake after scrutiny when they came in for registration. Further, the association "arrested" five persons without having ILPs at Nirjuli, who were reportedly coming from Assam along the river side.

It was also revealed during interrogation with the illegal entrants that they obtained those fake ILPs from Banderdewa, Assam, the Union said. It has decided to submit those fake ILPs at DC’s office at Naharlagun tomorrow, the Union added.

It is evident from this incident that some unscrupulous persons are running a big business of fake ILP at Banderdewa.

Blood donation camp

ITANAGAR: To mark International Blood Donor Day, a Blood Donation Camp would be organized by APSACS at the Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun on June 14.

M LA Tapen Siga shall inaugurate the function as Chief Guest while Secretary Health Kaling Tayeng would be the Guest of Honour.

Students calls for removal of APSACS PD

ITANAGAR: In a letter to the Minister Health and Family Welfare, Arunachal Law Students' Union (ALSU) has called for removal of Arunachal Pradesh State Aids Control Society project director Dr Emi Rumi for his alleged act of nepotism and fraudulent practices. The students further questioned the eligibility of Dr Rumi to function as Project Director.

The union said that supply works were given to a particular firm without following laid down norms. The Union further said that at least nine close relatives were recruited to various positions or brought on deputation to APSACS by the officer. The students while demanding removal of Dr Rumi has threatened agitation if actions are not initiated by the government.

Appeal to BWC

ITANAGAR, Jun 13: The senior citizens and some executive members of BWC of Naharlagun in a meeting held at Naharlagun on June 11 have appealed the BWC to conduct its election as early as possible, informed organiser of the meeting Dare Putum in a release.

Traders are facing problem due to expiry of tenure of the committee and non-execution of its bye-laws, the meeting felt. An interim committee was also formed headed by Putum as its convener to pursue the matter, the release said.

Centre and state need to be more responsible towards Anini

Dear Editor,

It’s been nearly three months since Anini, the district headquarter of Dibang Valley was cut off from the rest of the country due following heavy rain. Crises due to food shortage have resulted in people confining to one meal a day (occasional air dropping of ration being not sufficient to cater to the needs of entire district). As reported in your daily on 12/06/2010 under the heading ‘CoSAAP appeals for special ration for employees’, there are lots of people, including non-tribal government employees stranded at Anini, unable to come out of the hell. Still, there is no ray of hope for the problem in the immediate future.

Such callous attitude towards the sentinel of the nation by both state and central government is really uncalled-for. For the record, a hungry mind cannot be a patriotic mind.

Anini being one of the oldest district headquarter of the state; still it is very much under developed compared to other district headquarters due to such callous attitude of the authority concerned. Government employees usually do not prefer to be posted at Anini due to various hardships likely to be faced due to the remoteness of place; thus affecting the development process of the area. There are, however, few enthusiastic who are willingly serving the district in spite of all odds. If however, such condition prevails, the morale of all government employees shall be dampened further, leading to complete stagnation in development process of the district. Hence, it is earnestly requested to the concerned authority to either solve the problem or evacuate the desirable population – including the government employees – of Dibang Valley Distict immediately till the road connectivity is restored. Else, the concerned authority should take the responsibility for any cases of death arising due to inability to shift the sick people to proper hospital.

The welfare government should act fast, least the people of the district start feeling the sense of alienation and deprivation and start demanding for autonomous district council status, separate statehood.

Yours,

T. Pulu

Itanagar (On -email)

Let come together and save Siang

Dear Editor,

Any damn dam affects me, a letter by Vijay Taram, dated June 12 was interesting with lots of meaning and concern which has inspired many including me to join the movement against the project.

The environmental, social and cultural impact caused by large hydroelectric Dam is well known to almost all the concern citizens of the region.

The deadly nexus of corporate political interest trying to profit from the dam at the expense of indigenous community is also well-known to the people.

The need of the hour is to built strong non political organization with the network of activists at the local and state level and organise massive demonstration, rally, sit in protest that will catch the attention of the national and international media.

The Galo Welfare Society and Adi Bane Kebang should come forward and constitute a forum and work out the strategy for the protest.

The protest should be exclusively democratic and non violent and should coordinate with the different national and international environmental and human rights organizations.

Lets save our Siang and make the place better for all.

Yours,

Dr Jego Ori

RIMS,

Imphal (on- email)

Editor’s Note:

We extend our appreciation to all of you who wrote to us on the issue of Lower Siang Project in particular. We at this daily feel that enough space have been given to the citizens to express their views on the issue. We would like move forward to other issues confronting the state. Henceforth, no letter would be accepted pertaining to the subject till we take a further decision.

High time parents inculcate in their wards a sense of responsibility

Dear Editor,

Kudos to Mr.Dhurjati Mukherjee for his article "Legally right, morally wrong"( 13 June).

Since pre-marital sex is an act between two consenting adults, the Court cannot announce it illegal; but clean-chit by the rule of law does not automatically make the act praiseworthy, neither in health nor in moral terms.

Thanks to the glorification of sex in commercial films and female-body oriented advertisements, all norms of morality have been relegated to oblivion. Things have come to such a dreadful pass that often an individual, who does't have any boyfriend/ girlfriend or is not in any sexual relationship, becomes the laughing stock in his/her group! Thus to remain in the "mainstream" or in the desire of sheer lust, young folk are not hesitating to surrender their virginity, the disastrous consequences of which are primarily borne by the fairer sex. Since people engaged in pre-marital sex are mostly an irresponsible lot, naturally they do not take adquate protective measures like use of condoms and since sex is nothing but a "fun" for them, having multiple-partners is nothing but a norm. Thus, unwanted pregnancies and abortions not only endanger a girl's life, she also gets psychologically devastated if her partner refuses to acknowledge his "contribution" and becomes a subject of ridicule in the society. Landing oneself in depression or taking resort to suicidal steps turns out to be his/her sole alternative. Moreover, rampant increase of dreadful diseases like AIDS and cervical cancer in the society is another consequence of pre-marital sex which not only affect the individuals concerned, but seriously damage the backbone of the nation itself.

Lastly, in very rare cases, partners engaged in pre-marital sex engage themselves in a matrimonial relationship with each other. After all the act was not out of love, but to seek sheer bodily pleasure. While on one hand, to show "modernity", individuals may not hesitate to lose their virginity; but on the other, are conservative enough expect their would-be spouse to be virgin! Thus whenever any doubt arises whether the husband/wife was virgin prior to marriage or not, tensions and doubt intrude in the relationship, thereby marring the very foundation of marriage itself.

Thus it is high time the parents inculcate in their wards a sense of responsibility, monitor the lifestyle of their younger ones and make them respectful towards the institution of marriage which not only demands emotional devotion and purity, but physical as well.

Yours,

Kajal Chatterjee

Kolkata-114(on-email)

Don’t rub salt on our wounds

Dear Editor,

I would like to draw attention towards impolite behaviour of NHPC officials. In particular, the behavior of AK Mishra NHPC General Manager, Dibang Multipurpose Project is a shock for us.

Because of his intimidating behaviour, the communication gap is widening. Several of local people and including me often visit NHPC office here in Roing to talk about the project. But instead of convincing us or appearing compassionate, NHPC GM only tries to pass rude comments.”

When we talk about our insecurity and raise fear, he responds by promising his personal guarantee. This way, only confusion is spreading and NHPC GM appears to be more interested about the project than genuinely concern about our people.

Therefore, I expect more understanding and open mind from officials else it will be like rubbing salt to our wound.

Yours,

Mizu Umpe

Chairman,

Dam Affected Citizens Committee, Dibang Valley

District, (on -email)

When Baba Ramdev accepted a hefty donation

Dear Editor,

Baba Ramdev has recently visited the state of Sikkim. Here he praised the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling without reading and realizing the ground reality.

The high regards people of Sikkim had with him vanished within a second when he accepted a handsome donation from the most corrupt CM of the country who is facing a criminal case of disproportionate asset in the Supreme Court.

It took the People of the state by surprise when Ramdev who campaigns for a corruption free society accepted a hefty donation.

The CM who joined politics 30yrs ago has become one of the richest Indians.

Yours,

Dilip Rai, (on-email)

Act before it’s too late

Dear Editor,

As we observe that the wild animals are hunted down mostly by the affluent people for pleasure or as a pastime. The animal activists and environmentalists are helpless in this regard as the guardians of society are on their way.

So, hope our brothers who are directly or indirectly behind the ruthless killing of wild animals would rethink about their action for tomorrow's children.

Yours,

Debia Padang (on -email)