The Arunachal Times - Archives

Siram was pleased with the work of Govt. of India for focusing attention on rural female literacy hence full support would be extended to enhance to the mission. He appealed all the trainees to attend the training programme with full zeal and enthusiasm as they have an uphill task.

Chairman SRC Dr. B. G. Majumdar in his brief speech said the aim and objective of the Mission is to achieve 80% literacy by 2012, give special attention to reduce the gender gap up to 10%, cover the backward communities by facilitating them with quality education.

The Commissioner Education, Hage Khoda hoped that such programme will be a milestone on the education sector in Arunachal Pradesh and brings huge change in the education department especially in social upliftment of women. (with Inputs from DIPR)

Committee to verify pending bills for carriage and transportation

NAHARLAGUN, Mar 29: Government of Arunachal Pradesh has constituted a four member committee to enquire and verify all pending bills for carriage and transportation of items under Directorate of Supply and Transport.

The members are Secretary (Personnel) A.B Shukla, Secretary (Agriculture) D S Pandit, Principal PTC, Banderdewa Chuku Appa and Under Secretary (S& T) K Riram.

The committee after obtaining the bills within one month time shall conduct inquiry/verification including site visits and submit a report to Government. The Committee shall also recommend for fixing responsibilities on any official who has certified unauthenticated/manipulated bills.

No further bills shall be entertained by the Government under any circumstances after expiry of one month time after issue of this order, stated Chief Secretary Tabom Bam in an official order today. (DIPR)

Centre approves fund for Changlang-Margherita road

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: Union Road Transport ministry has sanctioned the Changlang-Margherita (37.48 km) road under CRF for an amount of Rs 111.60 crore.

This was informed by Braham Dutta, secretary, union road transport ministry to PWD and UD Minister Nabam Tuki and MLA-cum-Parliamentary secretary IPR Thinghap Taiju when they met him in New Delhi today.

According to Arunachal Bhawan, Delhi sources, on request from Tuki and Taiju, the secretary also assured early sanctioning of the Khonsa-Hukanjuri-Naharkatia road (35 Km) amounting to Rs 93.91 crore at an early date. Both the Minister and parliamentary secretary discussed about Tans Arunachal Highway with Dutta and invited him to visit Arunachal. The road transport secretary in principle accepted the invitation, the sources said.

AIMC calls for 33 job reservation

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: All India Mahila Congress in its national council meeting adopted two resolutions including reservation of 33 percent central government jobs for women.

They submitted the resolution to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sought her intervention in directing the UPA government to introduce a bill in parliament on the job reservation of women.

The Meet was held on March 23 at New Delhi. All the participating members expressed their gratitude to Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for accepting the demand for 33 percent reservations in all central government jobs.

In the meeting Arunachal Pradesh Mahila Congress committee, president, Yari Dulom represented the state.

NSUI comes in support of NIT in Jote

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Papum Pare Unit in a general meeting here yesterday while demanding establishment of National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Jote village under Papum Pare district, the NSUI unit said such important institution needs proper communication in terms of roadways, railways and air ways. Jote is just 16 km away from state capital and the people are also ready to donate free land for the establishment of NIT, the union added.

The district unit also highlighted the meager salary and job insecurity of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) Teachers and demanded that government regularize SSA teachers in the state at the earliest.

It extended its support to the resolutions adopted by the ZPMs of Papum Pare District on last Saturday, and expressed hoped that the resolution taken by ZPMs would bring proper guidance, true development and peace in the district. The unit also appealed all the heads of the department for genuine distribution of any work to all the local beneficiaries, through proper verification of ZPMs Chairperson of the district.

Search and Rescue training in Lohit

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: Daring heavy downpour, District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) Lohit organised a three days orientation cum training programme on Search and Rescue and First Aid at Sunpura, Indira Gandhi Govt College, and Loiliang respectively from March 25-27 in collaboration with National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) Guwahati.

At IGG COllege, Tezu on Mar 26th, 150 turned up for the demonstration which included faculty members and staff and students.

NDRF team demonstrated various life saving equipments and tools of SAR, First aid, Evacuation, Fire fighting.

Team Commander, NDRF S.Ahlawat, DRRO D.Norbu, NSS Program Officer of the College M.Dirchi, and FO T.Sora, Tezu spoke on various issues including importance of First aid during first hours of disaster and methods of Search and Rescue.

The resource persons also spoke on the role and importance of NCC, NSS and Teaching members before, during and after disaster in society. The Principal IGGC S Khandu and General Secretary College S.Mam, thanked the District Administration and the NDRF Team for bringing awareness on Disaster Management to the doorsteps of their institution and hoped that such activities and awareness generation campaign will be continued in future as well.

NDRF team headed by Insp. Surender Ahlawat, 1st NDRFBN and 18 rescuers are in Lohit District for Familiarization Exercise since Mar 19. They were taken to all flood prone areas of Lohit and provided with relevant information on existing Disaster Management Plan.

NCP lauds approval of airport project

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state unit has appreciated approval to the Rs 969.66 crore Green Field Airport project in Itanagar.

NCP state unit had been pursuing the matter with its central party leadership and later NCP Chief Sharad Pawar took the issue for early execution of the project, the party claimed in a release.

A Central panel had given its nod to the first Green Field airport in the state. The Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee for Building Construction Projects gave its approval to the project last month with suggestions to build necessary cross drainage at the site.

The proposed airport is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 696.66 crore. Nearly 250 hectares of reserved forestland will be cleared for the airport for construction of runway, terminal building and a small township at the site, they said.

Mitigate people’s problems in boundary area: APPDSU

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: While lauding the Home Minister Tako Dabi for visiting trouble-torn Taraso circle, All Papum Pare District Students’ Union (APPDSU) has appealed the minister to bring an amicable solution to the illegal encroachment for maintaining peace along Assam-Arunachal boundary area. Earlier, the union in a memorandum to the HM urged him to establish police check gate at railway line between Assam and Arunachal, IRBn training centre, immediate increase in the number of police forces at Taraso circle and fund for construction of police barrack at Tarasso circle.

Meanwhile, APPDSU has urged the residents of the Papum Pare district not to engage non-Arunachalee labourers with invalid ILP.

APPDSU president and spokesperson in a jointly singed release urged the city dwellers who are engaging cheap labourers without proper documents to release them within one month and also urged the authorities concerned to strictly follow the norms while issuing ILP. The union claimed that such cheap labourers are one of the causes of law and order problem.

Arunachal need to act to save its precious forest resources

Suraj Tayang

21st March is observed by the global community as world forestry day. One week has elapsed since its observance and I wonder whether the common public is aware of the extremely rapid disappearance of our forests.

Scientists estimate that India should ideally have 33% of its land under forest. Today we only have about 12%. Thus we need not only to protect our existing forests but also to increase our forest cover. Natural forest eco systems play an important role in controlling local climate and water regimes. The loss of forest cover in the catchments of a river thus leads to irreversible changes, such as excessive soil erosion, large run-off of a river surface water during monsoons leading to flash-floods and shortage of water once the monsoon are over.

A great proportion of the residual wilderness of India is now under great threat. Its unique landscape is shrinking as the intensive form of agriculture and industrial growth spreads through a process called ‘development’. Modern science has serious doubts about the possibility of the long term survival of the human race if man continues to degrade natural habitats, extinguishes millions of years of evolution through an extinction spasm, and looks only of short-term gains. The extinction of species cannot be reversed. Once a species is gone, it is gone forever. Future generation will hold us responsible for this great loss.

History is testimony to the fact that those civilizations, which looked after the forest by using forest resources cautiously have prospered, whereas those that destroyed forest have gradually impoverished. Today logging is a serious cause of loss of forest for our country. What needs to be understood is that long-term ecological gains cannot be sacrificed for short-term economic gains that unfortunately lead to deforestation.

Deforestation in the Himalayas leads to floods that year after year kill people, damage crops and destroys homes in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra valley. In most arid regions of the world the rains are very unpredictable. This leads to periods when there is serious scarcity of water to drink. Drought prone areas are thus faced with irregular periods of famine.

For decades, the growth process has paid scant attention to replenishing of the rich natural resources inherited over many generations. As a consequence, in less than half a century the world has lost a fourth of its topsoil and a third of its forest cover. In the last 35 years above, a third of global bio-diversity was forfeited. Global warming and climate changes are also the result of deforestation. Scientific evidence available today not only confirms the acceleration of global warming but warns that an increase beyond 2 degree would trigger an irreversible “tipping point” exposing the planet to unmitigated disaster. Global warming exacerbates the challenges of poverty and environmental degradation and together they pose a threat of far reaching consequences to the world. Agriculture, the mainstay for developing economics is far more susceptible to climate induced disasters. The recent occurrence of extreme events in India is a forbearer of this warming. The frequent occurrence of heat waves, drought and floods not only signal that global warming is no longer an issue of the future. It is impacting us here and now.

In the north-east, Cherrapunji once known worldwide as the wettest place on earth is now facing the shortage of drinking water due to deforestation. The water problem of Cherrapunji became so acute that the govt. of Meghalaya had to invite the Israeli experts for technical aid to harvest the rain water. Similar is the problem faced by the people of Danglat village located nearby Tezu town, the headquarters of Lohit District. Every year all the wells of that area dries-up during the winter thus leading to scarcity of water, due to deforestation. Apparently the water crises will aggravate in the region owing to population explosion in the future. A famous dictum is ‘Think globally and act locally’. We should realize that forest once destroyed takes hundreds of years to regenerate into fully developed natural ecosystem with the full complements of species. Forest can thus be said to behave like non-renewable resource if over used.

Forest Conservation Act 1980 was enacted to control deforestation. Under this Act, penalties for offences in reserved / protected forest shall be punishable for a term of six months or with a fine which may extend to Rs. 500/- or both. But alas, despite the enactment of this law, deforestation continues unabated due to the lack of environmental awareness. The most important concern is related to creating an ethos that will support a sustainable lifestyle in society. This brings us to the need for environmental education. The honourable Supreme Court has thus ordered that every individual at school and college level should be exposed to a course on environment. It is not to create only an awareness of environmental issues but also to bring about pro-environment action.

We are still fortunate that 82% of the land in our state is still under forest cover and it should be our endeavor to protect and preserve it. It is noteworthy that therefore the state’s demand for ‘Green Bonus’ from the centre is fully justified. Unfortunately logging is clandestinely carried out in our state thereby leading to deforestation. One should realize that such activities are unlawful, unethical and unsustainable. They should refrain from adopting such means of livelihood which is at the cost of the nature. They should rather opt for a vocation which is eco-friendly, legal and sustainable. It should be the endeavor of the public that even if a tree is felled for domestic purpose, they should plant at least 10 (ten) more trees to compensate the loss of one tree. It should be the motto of every individual to plant more trees of local and indigenous species around one’s house and work place. One must keep in mind that plants are vital to our survival in many ways. One shouldn’t ignore the stark reality that we have only one planet to live together and perish together. Global warming transcends geographical and political border and does not distinguish between the rich and the poor. Deforestation has reached its zenith and it must be stopped at any cost.

(Tayang, is Environmental Activist based in Tezu. He can be reached at suraj_tayang@rediffmail.com.)

VHAI to begin Tobacco Cessation Clinic

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: The Hospital Management Committee of VHAI-managed Deomali CHC in Tirap District decided to start Tobacco Cessation Clinic at CHC in a meeting today. It further would initiate necessary steps to help control substance abuse at Deomali area.

VHAI is one of the front runners of anti tobacco campaign in the country.

It also decided to provide Medicated Mosquito Nets (MMNs) to the people under social marketing program. It would be available in CHC from May this year.

One can purchase the MMN by paying Rs.200/ and the extra cost of the nets would be borne by the project.

It’s noteworthy that Malaria is a major problem in Deomali, so, the committee believes that MMNs can help control malaria from further spread.

The Hospital Management Committee meeting was chaired by the SDO (IC) and Circle Officer, Deomali E. Yirang which was attended by several public leaders and doctors including Dr. S. Ronya, District Medical Officer and Dr. A. Perme, District RCH Officer. All the 26 members that participated in today's meeting agreed that resources should not be a problem to maintain the momentum gained so far; especially in the core clinical areas of CHC.

VHAI’s senior Manager Ajay Tripathy thanked the people of Deomali and all the officials for their continuous support.

SHGs for economic and social empowerment

DAPORIJO, Mar 29: A one day Orientation Programme on SGSY was conducted at Singik Hall, Daporijo by DRDA, Upper Subansiri in collaboration with SIRD, Itanagar here today.

Appreciating the enthusiastic participation of the Swarozgaries in the training, Deputy Commissioner H. K. Shalla who inaugurated the training said that such programmes were important as it gave clear information and picture to the public about the developmental schemes initiated by the Central Government and implemented by the DRDA in the state. He stressed that only with proper training could real benefits be reaped by the masses. ‘Learn more and benefit more’ was the message he gave to those present.

Imparting training to the beneficiaries Resource person Assistant Director, SIRD Likha Kiran Kabak explained in detail about SGSY, which was initiated by the Central Government on 1st April 1999, with an aim to harness the potential of the ‘progressive’ farmers through self employment schemes in rural areas in order to make them self sufficient, uplift their living standards and create a sense of dignity amongst them.

The planning and implementation of SGSY with a special emphasis on formation, promotion and capacity building of SHGs and financing through linkages with banks and identification and financing of individual swarozgaries was explained. She also informed the people that SHGs played a vital role in economic and social empowerment of rural poor and women through the process of social mobilization. Requesting one and all to imbibe a will to learn, she said that only then can we work in a better manner and reap wholesome rewards.

31 SHGs and 291 individual swarozgaries with a total of 341 individuals are benefiting under SGSY, till date, in Upper Subansiri District.

Census training in Changlang

Changlang, Mar 29: The census training for Charge officers of Changlang district on Home Listing, Housing Census and National Population Register was conducted here today.

Deputy Commissioner, Changlang Dr S B Deepak Kumar while stressing on the importance of the census data for government for its policy makings urged all the Charge Officers be with the enumerators and Supervisors for the maximum possible time to avoid every possible error.

R K Manisana SI-Grade-I and Shri A Choudhary, S I, Grade-III both from Shillong attended the training as resource persons.

Citizens repair Changlang-Khonsa road

Changlang, Mar 29: About 30 members from Yangkang, Jongrom, Lainwang and Kantang village alongwith Govt employees under Yatdam circle repaired parts of Changlang-Khonsa road which was initiated by All Tutsa Welfare Association. This road is a life line of villages under Yatdam, a remote circle.

During a daylong social service, they repaired the road at few points, deteriorated by constant torrential rain.

General Secretary (ATWA) N Songthing informed that repair work was necessitated as people faced problems due to bad road communication. (DIPRO)

NSPSU supports AKKDSU demand

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: Nyapin, Sangram, Phassang Students’ Union (NSPSU) has supported the one-point demand of the All Kurung Kumey District Students Union (AKKDSU) to stop re-introduction of head load carriage system of PDS items in the district.

Prof Pura Tado takes charge of RGU

ITANAGAR: Prof. Pura Tado has been appointed as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University on March 26. A Professor in Political Science, presently he is holding the charge of Vice-Chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University.

SHGs for sustainable Tea Business

ITANAGAR: Department of Trade and Commerce, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore is conducting two days training programme on ‘Formation and Empowering SHGs for sustainable Tea Business of Small Tea Growers of Arunachal Pradesh on March 30 - 31 at Conference Hall of Tourism Directorate, Itanagar.

Commissioner, Trade and Commerce M. Pertin would inaugurate the prog.

Tawang gearing up

TAWANG: Tawang is getting ready for two big events. The visit of the Home Minister P Chidambaram and the VIIth Indo-Myanmar Meeting. A preparatory meeting for the two events was held today which was chaired by DC, Gamli Padu.

All the Heads of Department and the defense personnel attended the meeting. (DIPRO)

APYC meet Late Gogoi’s family

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress(APYC) led by its president, Likha Saaya, also a member of state legislative assembly recently visited family member of late Mridul Gogoi, former secretary of Indian Youth Congress, who died on 26th February in a road accident at Jorhat.

APYC president also presented an amount of Rs Three lakhs to the family of late Mridul and promised every kind of assistance to the bereaved family.

Appointments

ITANAGAR, Mar 29: Taba Bishnu and Tana Pinji have been appointed as vice presidents and Sangbam Ujer and Chukhu Iriung appointed as general secretaries of the Papum Pare District Nationalist Congress Party (DNCP).

On the other hand, Joram Gumsi has been appointed as vice president (admn) of the Nationalist Students Congress (NSC) of the state unit. Gumsi was wrongly mentioned as president of the state unit in Mar 29 issue of this daily.