March  12

News Impact

• Statues of Gandhiji, Dying Ering vandalized
• New ‘log drum’ installed at Lapnan
• AAPSU expresses concern over deteriorating law and order
• APWWS team  visits Charity Home, Oju Mission
• Saaya hold meeting with RHEP project affected people

Statues of Gandhiji, Dying Ering vandalized

Administration given 7 days to apprehend culprits

Prafulla Kaman

PASIGHAT, Mar 11: In what could be termed as shameful act and huge embarrassment to the local administration, some miscreants vandalized the statues of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and architect of modern Arunachal Dying Ering here last night.

The miscreants damaged the anterior part of the statue of Gandhiji at Gandhi Chowk here and threw it to a nearby drain while a portion of the Dying Ering statue was recovered from near Gandhi Chowk.

What is shocking is that the incident took place few meter away from 24X7 police beat post.

The miscreants also vandalized as many as nine statues of different god and goddesses set up near Pasighat IGJ Higher Secondary School. Education Minister Bosiram Siram, who was camping at Pasighat for the last two weeks, immediately rushed to the spot this morning and ordered the police and administrators to initiate immediate inquiry in this regard. He gave them 7 days to apprehend the culprits by any means.

It is as national shame, Siram said and directed Pasighat police and district administration to act promptly and make all out efforts to apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment. He also directed the police to intensify patrolling and surveillance to avert such incidence in future.

“We are repeatedly suggesting the administration to arrange constant police patrolling during the night hours. But the administration did not listen to us, Siram, who was visibly annoyed by the incident, said.

Expressing shock and anguish over the incident, Tako Dabii, one of the senior legislators of the state, urged the administration as well as police to put the best effort to nab the miscreants at the earliest.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Secretary Tapir Gao, who is camping at Pasighat today said that the Arunachal Government should take up the matter seriously and book the culprits under National Security Act.

Terming the incident as “shameful” and “anti-national act,” Gao, who is a native of  East Siang district, criticized the state government for failing to maintain law and order situation in the state. Such anti-national activities can not be tolerated in a democratic country like ours, he said.

Echoing Gao, East Siang BJP president Tamat Gamoh urged the administration to ensure peace and tranquility among the local residents. He also requested the people to maintain calm.

Meanwhile, DC Talem Tapok said that no stone will be left unturned to bring the culprits to book for the dastardly act. He informed that an FIR has already been lodged and a magisterial inquiry committee headed by Starlee Jamoh, EAC cum JMFC, formed.  Police suspects involvement of local youths, who are addicted with alcohol and narcotics, behind the incidents.

Though no arrest has been made so far in this connection, the culprits would be nabbed within very short period of time, said officer-in-charge of Pasighat Police Station Dilip Yeachung.

While reacting to the incident, Pushpendra Kumar, SP Pasighat informed that all intelligence network have been pressed into services and the department is investigating the matter seriously and expecting to get some lead very soon.

The attack was harshly condemned by the senior citizens, all political parties, NGOs, bazaar committee, youth leaders, PRI leaders.

Reacting to the incident, ‘Adi Bane Kebang’ president Okom Yosung said that anti-social elements are ruling the roost in Pasighat township taking the advantage of administrative loophole and poor police surveillance. He demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment to them.

 All Bogong Student’s Union (ABSU) vehemently condemned the act of vandalism by miscreants and demanded the police to bring the culprits to book and award them exemplary punishment.

“This incident touched the sentiment of the student’s union and the public of Pasighat as a whole,” ABSU president Anit Tamuk said and sought clarification from the district administration and Superintendent of Police regarding the incident.

Lok Sabha Eastern Parliamentary segment general secretary Okom Tamuk, while condemning the incident, called for immediate inquiry and stepping up security in the town.

While condemning the shameful act, East Pasighat Block Congress Committee  in a release said  such act of vandalism simply reflects the state of total lawlessness. It squarely blamed the district administration and Pasighat police for the unfortunate incident.

“The perpetrators of the shameful act should immediately be booked and punished,” the BCC demanded in a release. (With inputs from DIPRO)

 

 

New ‘log drum’ installed at Lapnan

Denhang Bosai

KHONSA, Mar 11: It was a rare occasion for the people of Lapnan village near here when they were witness to a spectacular ritual called ‘Poh nyu khaam siet’ (installation of new log drum in the main boys’ dormitory) on March 11  after about 200 years.

There is no living villager in the whole Lapnan village, who had seen the installation of the old log drum called ‘khaam’ locally which has been replaced today. Some old timers say that the old log drum  in the ‘Poh nyu’ has been used by atleast four generations. All the members of the dormitory actively participated in the rituals.

Khonsa ZPM, BJP General Secretary Wangman Lowangchha and a host of officers and public leaders also participated in the once-in-a life time ceremony. It takes four grueling days to finally install the ‘khaam’ (log drum).

On the first day, all the villagers prepare the log drum in the jungle by making necessary preparations for pulling it. The next day, the route through which the log drum would be pulled, is cleared for smooth movement. On the third day, all the members of the dormitory compulsorily join to participate in pulling the heavy log drum which is an arduous task. Lots of rituals, drinking, feasting and merry-making are performed to make the difficult task of pulling the log drum entertaining. On the final day, the new log drum is installed with rituals and traditional fervour in which singing and dancing are performed. All the male members gather at a particular place to partake in the festivities with the new log drum kept in readiness for the final installation. The women and children also attend the ceremony and participate in the dance.

During the auspicious occasion when the old log drum is disposed off and the new one installed, the queen mother, wife of the village chief has a major role to play. In a ritualistic way she prays and tells the old log drum to go away without any ill-will and bad feelings and thanks it for supporting the villagers in times of need. She further tells the old log drum that it was time for her to go and give way for the new daughter-in law (log drum is treated as the queen of musical instrument). To the new log drum the queen mother tells, “You have come to occupy the place of your mother in-law. Take proper care of the village and remain with us with love. Let no evil befall you and serve the villagers for many years.”  

It is worth-mentioning here that the log drum plays an important role in the traditional system of the Noctes. There are different beats for different occasions like alarm beat, beats for festive occasion etc. It is kept in the dormitory locally called ‘Poh,’ ‘Paang’ etc. It is probably the largest musical instrument in the world. The log drum is made of cylindrical hollow tree trunk which can be more than 20-30 metres long and can weigh several tones. In the past this log drum was a means of communication among the villagers during festivals, fire accidents, community hunting and attack by enemies and so on. This log drum is unique and so the Noctes must strive to preserve it for the posterity.

 

 

AAPSU expresses concern over deteriorating law and order

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) today expressed serious concern over deteriorating law and order situation in the state capital.  

In a release today, AAPSU president Takam Tatung said the state Capital has witnessed several cases of arson during last few months which are yet to be solved.

Pointing out the burning down of state transport buses twice in Ganga and complete razing down of SE Coordination office, PWD, Itanagar in recent past, Tatung said capital police has failed to make any arrests, who are responsible for such arson till date. Many criminal cases have rocked state capital in last week, Tatung  added.

Citing the recent Nirjuli fire incident wherein the house owner and priest Tamar Yoka lost his wife and two minor sons, AAPSU also demanded proper enquiry and justice to the victims’ family.

Expressing concern over reported recovery of 3 dead bodies including that of a 13-year-old boy Tana Togu from various parts of the capital recently,  Tatung  urged the authorities to investigate the cases properly.  “AAPSU understands the fact that capital police is functioning with lot of constraint but this should not be an excuse for them. We have seen that they have not been able to crack all the major criminals’ cases which have rocked the state capital”, Tatung said. AAPSU also questioned why the parliamentary secretary for home is silent on all these cases. At the moment he is head of home department and should actively pursue capital police to give proper security to the citizens of capital, Tatung said.

 

 

APWWS team  visits Charity Home, Oju Mission

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: As part of the International Women’s Day celebration which falls on March 8, a team of Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) yesterday visited Mother Teresa’s Charity Home and distributed eatables and other essential items to the little inmates there. The inmates in the Charity Home are abandoned children.

The team also met the victims of child and forced marriages and interacted with them at  Oju Mission.

Touched by the many stories of stolen childhood, the team said that all possible efforts are being made to ensure that cases of child and forced marriages are eradicated from the state. The visiting team also distributed toiletries to the girls.

Later, the team visited Polo Colony Orphanage and distributed essential items including school stationeries to the inmates.

The programme was organised in collaboration with the office of Deputy Director (ICDS) SWWCD, Yupia.

 

 

Saaya hold meeting with RHEP project affected people

Forum observes bandh

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: The first phase of 12 hours bandh in Possa near (RHEP) called by  the Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project (RHEP) Affected People Forum ended successfully today. The Forum gave the bandh call in protest  against the  alleged failure of the NEEPCO authority to fulfill its demands.

Meanwhile, Yachuli MLA Likha Saaya held an emergency meeting with representatives of RHEP affected people today to discuss about next phase of bandh call which is supposed to be held on March 12. After patiently hearing the grievances of project affected people, Saaya called up NEEPCO HOP and urged them to listen to the problems of local people.

Further, it was also decided to convene a meeting at RHEP, Yazali on March 13 to discuss all the problems of project affected people.  The meeting will be attended by representatives of project affected people, local MLA, Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Head of Project, NEEPCO, RHEP and executive director, NEEPCO Head Office, Shillong.

2 NSCN cadres surrender in Changlang

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: Two hard-core cadres of NSCN (K) surrendered before security personnel at Changlang giving a major boost to the peace building process in the insurgency-affected district.

Two cadres of the outfit, including a SS Lieutenant laid down their arms in a simple ceremony conducted at Battalion Headquarters, 4 Assam Rifles (AR), Changlang today.

Both the cadres surrendered two 9 mm pistols along with six live rounds of ammunition, informed an AR release.

 

Forest fire  in  Capital area causes concern

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: The forest fire which engulfed the Dariya Hills, nearby jungles of Doordarshan and Juli village areas this after noon kept the Fire Service personnel on their toes. Source from Itanagar fire service said that the department has to engage its personnel in all the areas round the clock to douse the rampaging fire.

The jungle fire is so ravaging that it destroyed all green forests and numerous vegetations.  

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the frequent occurrence of forest fire near the Capital Complex, Itanagar fire service department in a release today appealed to the denizens not to set the jungle on fire. Further, the department advised the people to take all preventive measures.

The departmental sources  revealed  that  at least nine cases of forest fire have been reported so far within the Capital Complex since March 1. Meanwhile, massive forest fire reportedly broke out near Seijosa in East Kameng district  this evening. The Seijosa people appealed to the administration to take immediate step to douse the fire.

 

Meet resolves to ban hunting of wild animal

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: The Aarro Welfare Society (AWS), Yingkiong in a joint meeting with the Gao Burahs of Yingkiong administrative circle, resolved to ban hunting of wild animals. The meeting also resolved to impose hefty fine on the violators.

A team of volunteers have been formed for patrolling the jungles of the area, AWS said in a release. It urged the cirlce administrators of the district to issue ban notice to all the villages as per the resolution adopted.

 

Dharna, bandh suspended

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: In view of the on going CBSE examination, the Dibang Adi Students Union (DASU) has temporarily suspended its proposed dharna on March 12 and district bandh call on March 19.

However, DASU appealed to the Lower Dibang Valley deputy commissioner to solve the pending cases on construction of the 33 kv line from Mebo to Dambuk before the completion of CBSE examination, else “the union will be compelled to carry on its democratic movement after the completion of CBSE examination to fulfill its demand.

 

Arrest demanded

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: All Nyishi Youth Association, Kurung Kumey district unit today reiterated its demand for immediate arrest of main accused in 2.50 crore forgery case. It also urged the authorities not to grant bail to two arrested accused.  Association further threatened to launch stir if the authority fails to book  the main culprit immediately.

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DIET and trained teachers

Dear Editor,

It is amazing to know that some of our MLAs know nothing about the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET).

DIET trainees visited some of our MLAs for official works. When we introduced ourselves, they asked what DIET was all about.

There are seven DIET’s running since 1990’s and it has produced many trained teachers in the state.

After implementation of RTE Act 2009, the importance of trained teachers has increased. But the Govt has deprived  us from jobs. The Govt. is not giving us that opportunities which we deserve.

There is hue and cry for quality education in the state. But if the trained teachers are not given the opportunities to serve, the issue of quality education can not be addressed. Now it is the time for the people of the state to decide how and where education scenario is headed.

Yours,

Litem Eshi (Ori)

DIET, Pasighat

 

 

Some reflection

Dear Editor,

The January 23rd announcement of some Rs. 10 crore bonanza for Palin by the Hon'ble Chief Minister ( 'Tuki Showers Funds on Palin', Jan' 24th) must have gladdened many a heart. However, one item in the news calls for some serious introspection. This is in reference to the proposal submitted for the creation of a new district called "Kera Dadi" to be composed of the two assembly segments of Palin and Tali of the present Kurung Kumey district and the CM's positive response to it.

Ideally speaking, the creation of administrative divisions ought to be based solely on merit. And inarguably this was the criterion for the creation of Kurung Kumey district in 2001. Thus, the demand for bifurcation of the district just a decade after its creation begs some questions.

First of all, is the administrative machinery and pace of development in the district so ineffective and lethargic that half its denizens want to dissociate themselves from it in such a rush? If so, who should shoulder the blame? The political and civil leadership, as well as the administration have some soul-searching to do.

Secondly, what is the guarantee that smaller districts would work where the larger ones have failed? If the argument is that the size of the district was an impediment, let it be said that our districts are among the smallest in the country (area and population-wise). If the argument is that the area lacks even the most basic infrastructure (the roadlessness of Tali comes to mind), what difference can 'Kera Dadi' make that Kurung Kumey was not able to? And keep in mind that a similar demand for 'Upper East Kameng' district for Bameng and Chayang Tajo assembly segments was fittingly shot down in the last sitting of the state's legislative assembly. Therefore, why different yardsticks for two similar demands?  

Thirdly, it is a reflection of a state-wide malady: the almost ridiculously easy and nonchalent manner in which administrative divisions are created. What is forgotten, in the midst of political accommodation, is that it is one thing to formally sanction an  administrative division and quit another to provide it with the necessary resource and infrastructure. We all know of circles, EAC divisions, sub-divisions and ADC divisions which are yet to have their proper chief executive officers or staffs or the required facilities for the public, for years on end. So, how will the state provide all of the above for newer districts if it has not been able to do justice to the districts already existing?

Fourthly, the demand for the new district is also apparently an attempt to circumvent the limitations of Koloriang as a headquarter (lack of land for infrastructural development and settlement,  distance from the circles etc). Two observations can be made here: one, in the case of Koloriang, it only serves to remind us of the unplanned and haphazard manner in which centres of administration are chosen, wherein political manoeuvring and not the suitability of the land is paramount; and two, the proposed headquarter of the new district, Jamin, an unconnected plateau, is situated in the south-western corner of the proposed district, almost as far from Tali and Pip-Sorang as Koloriang is.

The fifth point of contention I want to make is that the term 'Kera Dadi' (or Kara Dadi or Kra Dadi) is a common heritage of all Nyishis. It refers to the Great Himalayas (towering snow-clad peaks to the north of East Kameng and Kurung Kumey) and therefore should not be used to designate one particular area, especially when that area (the proposed district) is not contiguous to the Great Himalayas. If not  anything, it will give rise to terminological confusions, similar to the way in which the proposed 'Lower Siang' district does not actually have the Siang flowing through it!

Lastly, I would like to suggest that the state government, the leaders and the people of the state should give more thought to matters before concrete actions are taken. Short-cuts and political expediencies can do us more harm than good. What is needed is an honest assessment of our requirements and a strong will to work. Let those in the helm of affairs create the necessary infrastructure and provide the necessary service for the people in circles and sub-divisions, and I am sure demands for more and more circles, for newer districts, for autonomous councils and for union territories will not rise. For, these demands are reflections of deprivation and deprivations will not cease whether we have 18 districts or 30 unless we think clearly and work honestly.  

Yours

Agupota, Itanagar

 

 

Stop bad habit

Dear Editor,  

Youths are regarded as  future of the nation and nation builders. But in our state it is just opposite.  Youths are the most destructive factor for the future of the state. Today we see that young boys and girls are unpredictable and are seen indulging in drinking alcohol everywhere.  They also take hard drink mixing it with Tiranga. Such bad practices are spreading like wildfire in our state.

Before   it  worsens, I would like to appeal to all the organizations, media persons, public, parents and above all Arunachal Govt  to take stern action against the youth who are practicing such bad habit. I also appeal to the state government to issue directives to the wine shop owners to close their shops during Sundays.

Yours,

Sannu Hai

Ex-Assam Rifles

Personnel

 

 

Identity and education

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Jalley Sonam for his effort to pacify the tension that had arisen for Arunachalee students in Chennai and Bangalore. I am deeply moved by these unexpected deplorable incidents. One of the strongest foundations for any successful career is education. However, education systems and resources vary from state to state. Some states have more sophisticated systems and well-built resources, but some don’t. This difference forces the students to find the place where he or she can get the best education in life depending on the affordability.

As far as education systems and resources are concerned South India is considered to be one of the best places for further studies especially in professional courses. So the students opt to pursue their studies in south. However, this option seems to be turning as victimizing ourselves in danger among our fellow citizens. After hearing couple of these bad incidents that happened to Arunachalee students, even the students who would prefer to continue their professional education in South India will have to consider carefully fearing the same case may happen to them.

However, as per my observation South Indians are seemingly ignorant of geographical location of Arunachal Pradesh. I have come across during course of my staying there with many South Indians, who have no idea where the state called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ is! Some would even asked, “Is it in China?” when we told them we are from Arunachal. So, I feel this may be one of the reasons they look us as strange people.

And because of this strange feeling they are not able to feel that we are citizens of the same motherland.

I would appeal to those in the authority to do something to familiarize our cultural values and common citizenship among South Indians.

Yours

Ati B. Yobin

Hosur, TN

 

 

 

 

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----Editor

Plight of elderly women

The population of senior citizens has crossed 100 million mark in India. As women tend to live longer than men, there are 1,600 women per 1,000 men in the age group of 70.

Analysis shows that in the upper age groups, the population of older women is increasing remarkably.

Old age brings myriad problems for women. With families rapidly breaking down into nuclear ones, older women, especially the poor often face destitution, alienation and isolation. Due to negligence, lack of awareness, financial support and religious mindset of women, older women often have to face acute health problems.

Older women, in particular are more vulnerable as they tend to live longer than their husbands and are often not entitled to claim rights over property and make decisions in the household.

Schemes for elderly population are many, but most elderly are not aware of how to benefit from these. Little has been done to educate the elderly on their rights. Senior citizens are  jeopardized as most of their problems stem from family dynamics. Children begin to neglect their health and financial concerns. In such situations, it becomes difficult for the old to drag their own children to court and, therefore, endure abuses and neglect in silence.