The Arunachal Times - Archives

As we complete almost twenty years of the Look East Policy, it is an opportune moment to reflect and introspect on the progress that we have achieved vis-à-vis our stated objectives and take stock of the benefits that have flown to the country in this while, he added. Including strategic co-operation in the Look East Policy will have to be a very tight rope-walk. The unambiguous message to the rest of the word before attempting any such integration is that this cooperation is for strengthening our internal security and for jointly fighting terrorist groups which operate across the borders and is not aimed against any third country, Gen Singh added.

In our efforts towards improving connectivity, road connectivity should get the highest priority. The proposals for Asian Highway Link Road and connecting the rail networks of India and Myanmar at Dibrugarh railhead have to be taken up on highest priority. Now we need to focus on developing the historic Stilwell road which connected Ledo in Assam with Myitkina in Myanmar, and linked up with Yunnan province of China. Through this road, which lies partly in Arunachal Pradesh, we are just 650 km away from the Yunnan Border east of Bhamo in Kachin State. This 1600 km road will also offer a considerable distance advantage over the existing Mandalay highway. It will also bring in associated benefits like revival of formal border trade from the Pangsau Pass in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. As timber (mainly teak) will be the major item of import through this Border Post, it will not only help revive many of the wood-based industries in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh which had to be shut down following the Apex Court’s restrictions on timber operations in 1996, the Governor said in his speech. Myanmar, which shares a border of 1640 km with us, and a sea board of 1930 km in the Bay of Bengal, will continue to be the lynch-pin for the success of our Look East Policy, because of its strategic location. It would also be critical to address the challenges of border management especially with regard to cross-border migration, terrorism, drugs, arms supply and other forms of non-conventional security hazards whose threat level may increase with more open and increased movements across the Border.

Myanmar is also important for us from security point of view. Peace is a pre-requisite for development and my previous suggestions of demand driven and land-connectivity based approach can not take off on ground unless we establish peace in the disturbed North-East of India. Look East can come in handy here as well. Many of the insurgent groups operating on the Indian take illegal shelter in Myanmar whenever our forces pursue them. This includes some of the terrorist groups operating in Arunachal Pradesh as well. While, we have had significant success in jointly working with Bhutan and Bangladesh in turning the heat on such groups, we need to do the same with Myanmar as well, he added.

Bangladesh minister for Industries Dilip Barua, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Parbati Sen Vyas and President of Indian Chamber of Commerce Vishambhar Saran attended the Summit along with host of dignitaries from several south east countries.

Ambassadors of Laos, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar addressed the special plenary session while Governor of West Bengal MK Narayanan graced the valedictory session. (PRO to CM)

NESO demands comprehensive policy for NE

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: The North-East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has threatened to launch a peaceful but intense agitation unless the Centre comes out with a comprehensive policy to solve the burning issues that the region is confronting with.

The charter of resolutions that the NESO adopted in its last general council meeting on Friday includes demand for the formation of a Special Education Council for the North East, a comprehensive policy to tackle the burning problem of illegal influx, update of the National Register of Citizens, scrapping of draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), declaration of the NE as a special economic and employment zone, besides declaring a separate time zone for the region.

“We aggrievedly feel that since Independence, the North East has suffered nothing but political injustice and economic exploitation, and we demand that the region be given a special constitutional status with rights over land and natural resources,” said NESO secretary general Gumjum Haider in a release today.

While appreciating the Prime Minister for his written assurance for the security of the students of the North East studying in Delhi and NCR, Haider castigated the central Govt for its alleged failure to safeguard the interest of the student community of the region. He said there is an urgent need for an overhaul of the system.

Demanding introduction of need based courses in all universities of North East, Haider said every year around Rs 400 crore (unofficial survey) goes out of the region in the name of students pursuing higher studies outside the region due to non-availability of new and need based courses.

The NESO also decided to organise an NE MPs’ meet soon to put pressure on the Prime Minister and other top Central leaders over its demands and take to the streets of the national capital after the Parliament session as a mark of protest against non-fulfillment of their demands.

While calling for a special impetus to the demand for a special time zone for the NE, Haider asserted, “If the Union Government wants regional imbalance to go, it must grant us a separate time zone, which will not only help us to prosper on the economic front but also improve the people’s standard of living, besides boosting education and sports.”

“Be united to reach the goal”

Koj Kano

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: Calling upon the BSNL Employees Association to stand united for the cause of its own members, All Arunachal Pradesh Workers Union (AAPWU) president Jalley Sonam said unless we are united we would be weakened and not be able to reach our goal.

Speaking as the chief guest of the 4th District Conference of BSNLEU of Arunachal Pradesh, Sonam sought the cooperation of BSNLEU in fighting for the cause of workers in the state. He informed that few years back a Coordination Committee was formed to bridge the gap between Central and State Govt employees but it went defunct due to some certain reasons. However, efforts are on to revive it, he informed. He also promised to support BSNLEUs genuine demands.

Highlighting Labour Welfare Boards objectives he informed that the board is constituted to give maximum benefits to construction workers.

Lamenting the non-payment of 1% of cess towards APB&OCWWB by BSNL despite of repeated intimations, Sonam urged the BSNL authorities to pay the cess at the earliest which is used for the welfare of workers.

Earlier AK Das, Distt. Secy. BSNLEU in his speech highlighted various problems being faced by its members and also informed few achievements made by the union in last few years like settlement of pension cases, supply of uniforms to eligible staffs, appointment on compassionate ground etc.

Present on the occasion were M.B. Sing Circle Secy. NE-II Dimapur, P.K. Baisya Genereal Secy. State Bank Union, Arunachal Pradesh, Khogen Singh, BSNL Executive Association, Y.N Upadhya, President, BSNLEU Arunachal Pradesh and Assistant General Manager BSNL, Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal crush Assam team in T20

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: Suhel Hussain’s all round performance helped Arunachal Cricket Team crush Khelmati Cricket Club of Lakhimpur by 33 runs in the All Assam Open Twenty20 Cricket Tournament today.

Arunachal Cricket team, which won the toss and chose to bat first, set a challenging target of 130 runs before the Assam team. Suhel scored 51 runs while Kamsa Yangfo (wc) contributed a valuable 39 runs.

In reply, Khelmati Cricket Club could manage only 96 runs losing all the wickets in 18.5 overs. While Song Tacho removed three KCC wickets Toko Robin and Suhel struck two wickets each.

Arunachal team will play its second match against Tezpur Cricket Club on April two. The tournament is organized by Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad.

Census Training for L/Subansiri and Kurung Kumey held

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: The district level training on House listing, Housing Census and National Population Register for two districts of Kurung Kumey and Lower Subansiri was jointly held in the DC’s conference hall at Ziro on March 26 last.

Underlining the importance of census, the Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner-cum- Principal Census officer, Sadhana Deori asked the participants to take the training with utmost sincerity and seriousness so as to ensure an error-free census. She also asked the charge officers, supervisors and enumerators not to stray out of the framework of census enumeration to avoid legal complications in future.

Census is a gigantic national programme involving every resident of India and any one drawn for it will be on a very important national duty. All the data collected are compiled at the national level and used to ensure that all the regions of the country get enough fund from Government of India under various social sectors. It is also important for delimitation of assembly constituencies, she added.

Deputy Director, Census Operations, Shillong, Bharati Chanda, in her key note address on various aspects of census operations said census though a very low key affair is very vast and important subject. Since, there is no provision for re-census even if there is wrong enumeration, she stressed that every care should be taken to make the census error-free. Besides, accountability will be fixed on the enumerators if any wrong enumeration is detected, that is why extra care should be taken, she added.

The training was attended by over 70 administrative officers and other government employees designated as charge officers, supervisors and enumerators and para-military personnel of Kurung Kumey and Lower Subansiri districts for the coming house listing and housing census and National Population register from April 15 to May 31 next. DIPRO

Archeologists uncover Megalithic sites in West Kameng

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: A team of Archaeologist of the Directorate of Research has discovered four Megalithic sites for the first time in the state in Shergaon and Rupa area of West Kameng. A team of three archeologists Tage Tada, J. C. Dutta, N. Deori made this discovery earlier this year.

They stated that discovery of the megalithic site area has opened a new era in the field of Archaeological research leading a new prospect for pre historic research and tourism sector.

The Megaliths of Shergaon and Rupa are just discovered which is yet to be scientifically excavated to come to a conclusion.

The Megaliths of Rupa seems to be a Dolmen. Generally Megaliths are commemorative by nature but whether it is a commemorative or epitaph on burial would be known only after archaeological scientific excavation is carried out, the archeologists said.

The researchers said that the tribes of that are have no tradition of megalithic burial nor do they have any memory of such megalithic practice by ancestors. But the local inhabitants of Shergaon and Rupa has own mythological belief and practices with the megalith of their respective area. They offer ritual on the megalith during their traditional Chik-Chaba ceremony.

The megalithic sites come under the menhir variety of megaliths. A menhir is a large upright standing stone and may be found single as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top. There are two megalithic sites prevalent in the vicinity of Shergaon.

One site is located southwestern direction of the Shergaon Township which is about 1 km from the Shergaon- Tanzingaon road where two small streams meet. There is one large monolithic store slab which is about 5 feet that is slightly inclined towards ground. Along the large monolith, two other small upright stone has been found. All the stone slabs are made from lime stone block which are locally available.

Saakhsar Bharat Mission Training

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh State Literacy Mission Authority in collaboration with State Resource Centre, Tripura is organizing District Resource Person’s Training on Saakhsar Bharat Mission 2012 from March 29 to April one at Bharat Scouts and Guides centre, Polo Colony Naharlagun.

Education Minister Bosiram Siram has consented to attend the inaugural function of the training as chief guest.

MP to attend Kamba Mopin

ITANAGAR: Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy and Advisor to Power Department Er. T. Mara will grace the Kamba General Mopin 2010 as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. President of Jay Pee group of Companies will be the special guest.

IMWA welcomes ban

ITANAGAR: Itanagar Market Welfare Association (IMWA) thanked the state government for imposing ban on the selling of lottery, housie in the state.

It further terming the forceful selling of these items in market area as encouragement to corruption, appealed the state government not to issue permits to any organization in near future.

UAEA places demands

ITANAGAR: Unemployed Arunachalee Engineers’ Association (UAEA) appealed the government to accept the proposed creation of 57 AEs and 183 JEs posts immediately in Trans Arunachal Highway Department and urged the concerned department to recruit them through open interview.

It further demanded recruitment in JE and AE posts lying vacant in tourism department and appealed for immediate declaration of Hydro Power Department’s JE (civil) results.

The association also appealed the private power developers in the state to submit their required posts in UAEA Office for further action.

NSC appointments

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: Joram Gumsi and Teshi Sony have been appointed as the Nationalist Students’ Congress (NSC)’s state and Papum Pare district unit presidents respectively.

HM appreciated

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: The general people of the Tarasso circle submitted a three-point memorandum to the Home Minister during his visit to the Dullung-Ramghat to take stock of the situation caused by the illegal encroachment by people from neighbouring state, informed Taraso ZPM Nabam Eka in a release today. The people hoped the Govt will take step for amicable solution to the numerous problems being faced by the people in boundary area in Tarasso circle, the ZPM said and appreciated the Home Minister and his team for visiting the boundary area.

Fines for offenders

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: An amount of Rs. 17600 has been realized as fines from 88 two wheeler riders for not using helmet during a special check conducted jointly by transport and police department at Ziro Township and its adjoining areas yesterday.

Relief sought

ITANAGAR, Mar 28: Village Education Committee, Donyi-Dokum Colony, Itanagar appealed to the government to immediately sanction relief fund to the victims of Donyi-Dokum colony, whose houses have been damaged by storm yesterday.