September -  05

• Governor, CM greet people on Teachers Day
• Congress will give preference to performing youth leaders: Sharma
• ATA unit concerned at shortage of subject teachers
• Siram inaugurates new school building
• Toppers felicitated in Lower Dibang Valley
• New AG calls on Governor
• Teacher’s day and teachers
• Teachers Day- Saluting India’s Education Guru Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

 

Union demands of posting of HMs, principals

ITANAGAR, Sep 4:  All East Kameng District Students’ Union (AEKDSU) has appealed to the higher authorities of the education department to post headmasters and principals in various schools of East Kameng district.

In a release, Tukfi Riang who claims himself as president of  AEKDSU  said that four government schools of Chayangtajo, Bameng, Pakke Kessang and Darlung were running without principals and headmasters resulting in poor  education scenario. Due to the absence of the heads of the institutions, teachers are also not giving much attention to the academic career of the students in schools, he alleged.  Riang further claimed that many headmasters/principals were transfer from various schools of the district without relievers and with total violation of the transfer and posting policy. Union also appealed to the politicians of the district not to interfere in transfer and posting of teachers.

Expressing concern over rampant encroachment of school land in the district, the union further appealed to the education department to take steps for demarcation of boundary of various schools in the district.

 

Sports meet

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: All Mengio Students Union (AMSU) in its executive body meeting held at Naharlagun today unanimously decided to organise 8th Sports meet-cum-literary competition from Sept 10 to 14 at Sakiang (Mengio).

 

Condolences

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: Capital Complex Karga Ao Welfare Association (CCKAWA) has condoled the sudden demise of Tagem Ngomle on August 31 at Guwahati.

 He is survived by 2 sons and as many daughters.  

Late Tagem was a veteran leader of Karga clan of Kangku circle under West Siang district. He served the societies in various capacities starting from Agriculture Field Assistant in erstwhile NEFA to a social worker, CCKAWA said in a condolence message.

The death of Tagem is a great loss to entire society of Karga belt in particular and state as a whole, CCKAWA said and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. It also conveyed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

The Galo Welfare Society (GWS) has condoled the sudden death of Pintum Loyi. Late Loyi was serving as Assistant General Manager (AGM) in the State Transport Department. Hailing from Pakam village in Aalo, he leaves behind him deeply shocked friends and well wishers. Galo Welfare Society, while conveying its deepest sympathies to the bereaved members of the family, mourns the loss of a noble and gentle soul. Late Loyi’s contribution to the society is being respectfully remembered and we pray for eternal peace to the departing soul, it said in a release.  

Khoda Kampu, claimed to be the oldest woman in Apatani plateau, have died at the age of over 100 years at her own residence at Biila (Reru village) today, according to family source..

She was wife of late Khoda Tayu, who was a renowned priest of Apatani valley.

Her last rites will be performed on September 6 at her native village.

 

Appointment

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: The executive body of Donyi Polo Welfare Society (DPWS) has been reconstituted in a meeting at Likabali today with Yide Potom and Goken Gara as president and general secretary respectively.

West Kameng Nyishi Students Welfare Association (WKNSWA), in a meeting here yesterday, appointed Samir Sangdo and Sameer Mangkhya as president and general secretary respectively. The Bomdila based association was formed in 2004 with a basic objectives to take up various problems of Nyishi Students in the district with the authority.

 

YARP lambasts NEEPCO

ITANAGAR: The Youth Association of Rose Panchayat (YARP) lambasted the NEEPCO, the project authority of Pare Hydro Project and its subsidiary Hindustan Construction Company  (HCC) for their alleged failure to provide job opportunities to the project affected people of the area. Both NEEPCO and HCC denied job opportunities to local population and engaged maximum staff  from among the non-APST, the YARP said. It further alleged that the project authority has not yet taken any rehabilitation measures for the would-be-affected people and the project site  is also not demarcated till date.

The Association also accused the Pare Project Land Affected Committee of inactiveness and said that the committee failed to safeguard the interest of local land affected people of Pare Hydro project.

 

ACR condemns attacks

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Citizens’ Right (ACR) has condemned the physical assault on advocate Taba Tagum and complete damage of the private residence of  Bamang Taji.

It urged  the law enforcing  authorities to take stern  action against those involved in the incidences with accordance with the  rule of law.  

ACR termed the incidents as state governments’ “internal sponsored violence” and direct reflection of measurably failing to contain the law and order situation. It appealed to the people to discourage such “vindictive and divided attempt”.

News Impact

Governor, CM greet people on Teachers Day

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: The Teacher’s day is being celebrated on Monday all over the country.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen JJ Singh and Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin conveyed their best wishes to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, especially the teaching community, on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, which is observed as Teachers’ Day all over the country.

Recalling Dr. Radhakrishnan’s desire that instead of celebrating the day as his birthday, it should be observed as ‘Teachers Day’ as a tribute to the teaching community, the Governor appealed to all to remember their mentors, who guided them to the path of righteousness and high morals, shaped their ideas and who made them a useful citizen of our country.

In his message, Governor also called upon all the teachers to pledge to inculcate knowledge values and discipline amongst the student community and also to be their role models. Singh hoped that the occasion will infuse new zeal in their efforts to spread knowledge.

Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin, in his message, said that Dr. Radhakrishnan was one of the most distinguished diplomat, educationist, scholar and teacher apart from being President of India..

“I believe, this day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Radhakrishnan, will instill more zeal and enthusiasm into the teaching community to shoulder the responsibility of educating the society”, Gamlin said.

“Celebrating Teachers Day is recognition of the devotion with which teachers undertake the responsibility of educating a child.”

“On this auspicious occasion, I would like to appeal to all my teacher friends to pledge to inculcate knowledge, unity and discipline amongst the student community, impart quality education and to be a role model by working harder to achieve the desired goal. I know it is a herculean task but with your concerted effort, I am confident our state will become cent percent literate in the days to come,” Gamlin added.

 

Congress will give preference to performing youth leaders: Sharma

PASIGHAT, Sep 4: Gopal Sharma, the Returning Officer (RO), East Arunachal Lok-Sabha Constituency of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) informed that the Congress party will promote the youths on their ‘performance measurement’. He was addressing an interactive-cum-consultative meeting organized by youth leader Okom Tamuk at the Siang Guest House on 3rd September last.

Sharma, camping at Pasighat along with IYC coordinating member Anand Sharma discoursed various developments on election process of IYC and disclosed that the membership drive would encompass all booths in 5 assembly segments of the district and would be completed by September 29 next. The age of the members should be 18-35 years and a five-member committee will be elected at the booth levels and the total elected members will cast votes for selecting the new set of leaders. No recommendation would be entertained and all care would be taken for conducting a free and fair election, assured Gopal Sharma.

 

ATA unit concerned at shortage of subject teachers

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: Taking serious note of the shortage of subject teachers in various schools of Papum Pare district, the Arunachal Teachers’ Association (ATA), Papum Pare district unit has called upon the District Administration to thoroughly examine the strength of subject teachers in schools in consultation with the HM, ADEO, BRC and CRC before relocating them to other schools.

The ATA unit, however, lauded the district authority for its efforts to minimize the shortage of subject teachers in the district and lamented that spontaneous transfer and posting of subject teachers is greatly affecting the schools which are running with single subject teacher.

It also appealed to the SSA authority to advertise the vacancies created out of regularised SSA teachers so that more subject teachers can be accommodated in the district.

 

Siram inaugurates new school building

PASIGHAT, Sep 4: The newly constructed school building (RCC) comprising six class rooms under SSA mission of Lal Bdr. Shastri Middle School, Pasighat was inaugurated by the Education Minister Bosiram Siram today.

Siram appreciated the DDSE Tani Talom and SSA Coordinator Kalom Ering for quality construction and further asked the authorities not to allow any unauthorized practices in the school and to protect school’s land from encroachers while assuring that necessary fund would be provided soon for construction of boundary wall.

He stated that the old school building has become very risky and unsafe for teachers and students and advised the DDSE to demolish five rooms of the old building. Responding to a memorandum, the minister stated construction of separate toilets for boys & girl students and gents & lady teachers would be given priority and school would be upgraded upto secondary status next year under RMSA. Referring the maintenance of road network of the township, he informed that the renovation work will start soon.

In his address, the minister appealed the teachers to be sincere, discipline, punctual and to impart quality education to the children to make Arunachal a literate state.

Among others, President PMA Onyok Tamuk and prominent businessman Bhuneswar Singh spoke on the occasion. DIPRO

 

Toppers felicitated in Lower Dibang Valley

ROING, Sep 4: Dibang Adi Intellectual Forum (DAIF) and Dibang Adi Students’ Union (DASU) jointly felicitated the toppers of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Class XII and Class X examinations of the session 2010-11 of the Adi Community from Lower Dibang Valley District in a simple function at Adi Giidii Notko, Midland here yesterday.  

Altogether, 16 students were felicitated with momentoes, certificates and cash prizes.

Among the toppers in JEE 2011 included Mingkeng Lego, Mijong Ripuk, Koje Zanggo Modi, Milik Pertin. CBSE Class X toppers included Kabang Modi (9.6 CGPA), Nibang Perying (9.4), Niyang Pertin (9.2), Noor Pertin (9.2), Son Pertin (9.2) and Anung Darung (9.2). Mibom Pertin, ZPM Meka Anchal Block cum president, ABK district unit and Abu Saring, DAEO cum Secretary, ABK district unit lauded the initiative of DAIF and DASU saying that such kind of encouragement would go a long way in imbibing a spirit of competition among the students.

Bassu Perme, president Adi Cultural and Literary Society, Getom Borang, SE cum Secretary (Resource Mobilization), Central Adi Baane Kebang, Oling Modi, General Secretary, ACLS, Parents, Officers and students were present on the occasion.

 

New AG calls on Governor

ITANAGAR, Sep 4: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen JJ Singh hoped that the newly appointed Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh Dr. Ashok Saraf will take proactive role in providing legal advice to the State Government.

Gen Singh asked the Advocate General, who called on the former at Raj Bhavan today, to properly accustom himself with the traditional judiciary systems of the indigenous communities.     

The Governor also discussed the steps taken to separate judiciary from executive in the State and augmentation of taxes with Dr. Saraf, who is a well known constitutional and tax expert.

Dr. Saraf informed the Governor of the Supreme Court time-frame for separation of Judiciary from administration and also appointments of Chief Judicial Magistrates. He assured the Governor to be proactive and rise to the expectations of the State Government. He also appreciated the various people-friendly initiatives of Raj Bhavan.

Secretary to Governor Ankur Garg and Senior Government Advocate Prasant N Choudhury were present in the meeting.

Dr. Saraf was appointed as the Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh last month in place of former Advocate General and noted senior advocate of Gauhati High Court, Chapal Kumar Sharma Baruah, who passed away on 23rd July last.

 

Teacher’s day and teachers

Arvind Sarmah

Teacher’s Day in India is dedicated to Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, one of the pathfinders in modern Indian education, one of the greatest scholars and teachers of all timers apart from being the President of India (1962-67), Vice chancellor—Andhra University, had the unique distinction of holding simultaneously two university chairs in two contents-George V chair of Philosophy at Calcutta and Spalding chair of eastern religions and ethics at Oxford university, chairman of the executive board UNESCO (1949), chairman University Grant Commission (1948-49), Vice President of India (1952-62).  Bharat Ratna awardee (1967), he was born in Tirutani of Tamil Nadu on 5th September 1888. During his tenure as a President he was approached by his students and friends and was asked to celebrate 5th September his birthday. He rather told them to observe this day as teachers day. From time onward this day is celebrated as Teacher’s Day.

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s contribution to education has been unique and irreplaceable. In the early days of his career, he began as a teacher to become an educationist of great eminence. As an educationist, administrator, renowned professor, philosopher, diplomat, and statesman he commanded an excellent vantage point from where he could see that the whole human business was moving towards a fatal destiny, and only education of the right sort could save it from a tragic finale.

According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, “If you become merely A ‘Saksara’—a literate man—and you do not have the moral principles and you don’t cultivate wisdom what will happen to you? You will become a ‘Raksasa’, a saksara turning the other side becomes a raksasa. Now we see all over the world, people made with power, intoxicated with might, trying not to build up a world but to wreck the world. To build up a promising nation, teachers have an decisive role. In this context we want to discuss the role of teachers and its impact on society.

What type of man is the good teacher? Human types have been characterized on the basis of some dominating principles. The highest principle of theoretical man is truth, that of imaginative man beauty, that of economic man gain, that of the religious man salvation, that of political man power, that of the social love. Pure types are, of course, rare but some principles predominates. The good teacher, is predominantly a character of the social type. The dominating note in the social type to which the teacher belongs is love for other fellowmen, a sense of solidarity with them, an urge to help them and belongs to them and to experience joy in giving oneself up for them. The teacher is not to dictate or dominate, he is to help and serve, to mould and shape in faith and love. Teacher is the custodian of the highest values created and cherished by the people-values that represent a composition of most what is best in the culture of mankind. He has to transmit his values to his pupils through the magic of his own personality. He can only do this if he has himself experienced these values.

The teachers are the Removers of spiritual blindness. We in our country look upon teachers as ‘Gurus’, ‘Acharyas’, what do these words indicate? Acharya is one whose ‘achar’ or conduct is exemplary. If he is a victim of ‘durachar’ then he is not an ‘acharya’. He must be an example of ‘sadachar’ or good conduct. He must inspire the pupils who are entrusted to his care with love of virtue and goodness and abhorrence of cruelty and violence. We must love the good and detest the bad. Until we are able to give our youngster that kind of out look we cannot call ourselves good teacher.

Teachers are the reservoir of new spirit. Our teachers are the reservoirs of new spirit, the new spirit of adventure in intellectual matters, in social matters, in political matters. If we do not have the spirit, we cannot communicate that spirit to youth. Teachers can set examples. The students do not care for what we teach them but they care for the example we set. It is not merely the instruction which we impart to them in the classroom but the kind of life we lead. They know everything about their teachers and if they have no respect for the teachers it is because they know more then they ought to know, more than what we expect them to know. Therefore, it is education, it is instruction, it is knowledge and it is also the example which the teachers give.

Education for jnana, darshana and charitra: If we reflect on the figure of Saraswati (goddess of learning) we will have an idea of what our ancestors aimed at in education. The goddess has for her vehicle a swan, human which is endowed with the capacity of separating milk from water. Education has for its aim not merely the acquisition of information but the capacity of discernment. Judgment is more important than cleverness. In our country today we have many men who are clever but not many who are upright. We should cultivate respect for integrity. We must weed out corruption and clean up the nation. Purity is essential in daily life and administration. The goddess of learning, her lotus seat and the vehicle swan, are all represented as white, the symbol of purity, Sarvasukla Saraswati.

When we speak of a good teacher it comes to our mind that a teacher must be a model of faith and piety and should have a fairly good knowledge. A teacher should consider it his duty to educate and train his students and should feel responsible for it. He should feel that his students have been entrusted to him and he should avoid any breach of trust the society has reposed in him. People should take him as their well wisher and a sincere friend who cares for their children. It should be ascertained at all cost that a candidate for this profession has a natural acumen and aptitude for teaching.

As we close we want to say that teacher should laid  special stress on teaching good manners and promoting the virtues of reverence and courtesy which are badly needed in view of the growing erosion of essential values and increasing cynicism in society.

“A teachers purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image” (The writer is faculty of Vidyamandir & Principal of Pubyang Academy Residential Jr. College, Itanagar)

 

Teachers Day- Saluting India’s Education Guru Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Dr. Jayadeba Sahoo

“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Deva Maheswara; Guru sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmei Sri Gurave Namah.”

Teacher guides us towards the success in every aspect of life. It is important for both to respect the relationship.

Since times immemorial, Indians have respected and idolized their teachers and placed above the God.. Earlier, we used to call our teachers ‘Guru’ and now it’s the contemporary ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’. Nevertheless, the role of teachers has remained the same. They were, are and will continue to be our guiding light, creating conditions conducive to our overall development. We will always be thankful to them for their constructive support. It is as an expression of this gratitude only that we celebrate Teacher’s Day in India.

The idea of celebrating Teacher’s Day took ground independently in many countries during the XX century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in education (for example, Argentina celebrates Domingo Faustino Sarmiento’s death Anniversary on September 11 since 1915, while India celebrates Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday on September 5 since 1962). These two factors explain why almost all countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many other International Days.

Teacher’s Day is a tribute to the hard work and devotion of the teachers all year long, to educate a child. Indian Teacher’s Day is dedicated to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was one of the most distinguished diplomats, a philosopher a zealous advocate of education and one of the greatest scholars and teachers par excellence of all times, and his contribution towards Indian education system apart from being the first Vice President and the second President of India. As a tribute to this phenomenal great teacher, his birthday is observed as Teacher’s Day across India. As a matter of fact, when his students and friends asked him for the permission to celebrate his birthday, it was he who asked them to celebrate the day as Teacher’s Day, honoring the efforts of

teachers across the country.

Birth & Education

Dr. S Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, at Tiruttani, forty miles to the northeast of Chennai (then Madras), in South India. His early years were spent in Tiruttani and Tirupati, both famous as pilgrim centers. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Arts from Madras University. In April 1909, he was appointed to the Department of Philosophy, at the Madras Presidency College. From then onwards, he was engaged in a serious study of Indian philosophy and religion, and went on to become a teacher of Philosophy.

Professional Life

In 1918, Doctor Radha Krishnan was appointed as the Professor of Philosophy, in the University of Mysore. Three years later, he was appointed as a Professor to King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science in the University of Calcutta. Dr. Radhakrishnan even represented the University of Calcutta at the Congress of the Universities of the British Empire in June 1926 and the International Congress of Philosophy at the Harvard University in September 1926. In 1929, Dr. Radhakrishnan was invited to take the post vacated by Principal J. Estin Carpenter, in Manchester College, Oxford.

In Oxford, Dr. Radhakrishnan lectured the students on Comparative Religion. From 1936-39, he served as the Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University. In 1939, he was elected Fellow of the British Academy. From 1939-48, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University. He later held offices that dealt with India’s national and international affairs. He was the leader of the Indian delegation to UNESCO during 1946-52. Dr. Radhakrishnan served as the Ambassador of India to U.S.S.R. during 1949-52. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.

His Works

Dr. Radhakrishnan penned down a number of books during his lifetime, some of which are like The Hindu View of Life, The Idealist View of Life, Religion and Society, Eastern Religions and Western Thought and A Source Book in Indian Philosophy. He had also written for some of the most reputed international journals.

Presidency of India

Dr. Radhakrishnan was the Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the President, General Conference of UNESCO, from 1952 to 1954. He held the office of the Chancellor, University of Delhi, from 1953-62. In May 1962, Dr. Radhakrishnan became the President of India, a post he served till May 1967. He was honored with Bharat Ratna in 1954. He was also knighted by the British government in the year 1931, but, he used only his academic title ‘Doctor’ throughout his life.

Contribution towards Indian Education: Just after Independence Dr. Radhakrishnan Chaired the University Education Commission in 1948-49. As Erich Fromm told “Education makes machines which act like men and produces men who act like machines,”  he realized that our Education system does not appear to fulfill the true aim of education. He said, “The three things- vital dynamism, intellectual efficiency and spiritual direction together constitute the proper aim of education. Moral and spiritual training is an essential part of education. Enfranchisement of the mind, freedom from prejudice and fanaticism, and courage are essential. What we need today is the education of the whole man- physical, vital, mental, intellectual and spiritual……… If education is to help us to meet the moral challenge of the age and play its part in the life of the community, it should be liberating and life giving. It must give a basic meaning to personality and existence and equip us with the power to overcome spiritual inertia and foster spiritual sensitivity….......Seat of learning should produce men and women who will move together to develop common ideals and purposes, love each other and co-exist to create a co-operative common wealth.”

Radhakrishnan had also strongly recommended the teaching of spiritual and ethical aspects of the religions as it is evident in the report of the University education commission of which he was the Chairman. The report maintained that: “Unless morality is taken in a larger sense it is not enough. If we exclude the spiritual training in our institutions, we would have to be untrue to our whole historical development. To be secular is not to be religiously illiterate. It is to be deeply spiritual and not narrowly religious.” To enable students to become enlightened civilized citizen, he used to lay stress on the need of ethical teaching while addressing them.

The significance of celebrating Teachers’ Day

The Radhakrishnan Commission’s suggestions helped mould the education system for India’s needs. Dr Radhakhrishnan believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. Teachers Day is the only occasion when we remember the time spent with our teacher, what they taught and what we are today. Teacher guides us towards the success in every aspect of life. Teachers are the prime movers who commit their whole life to the welfare of the youth; hence they are the greatest builders of a society or a nation. If we are proud of our country, our progress, our wealth and power, then we should be proud of our teachers. 

When Dr APJ Abdul Kalam became President of India, he located his centenarian class VIII science teacher Siva Subramania Iyer (who had changed his life with a lesson on how birds fly) in Tamil Nadu and put him on stage with him to share his honour. Dr Kalam said, “the launch of the rocket is most crucial. If it is given the right take-off, it can reach the moon. The teacher is the launching pad of every great person who reaches for the sky.” Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “Through teachers, flow the values and culture of a nation and its people,”

On this day, we gratefully remember the great educationist, apart from honoring all the teachers that have made our life much more knowledgeable and fulfilled, as serving as our beacons of light.

(The writer is  Faculty, Brahma Kumaris & Head, Dept. of Education, R.G.U. drjayadeb6@gmail.com)

Copyright © 2008, The Arunachal Times Publications Pvt. Ltd., Siang House, Sector - E, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - 791111, India

All rights reserved.

 

Separate rules

Dear Editor,

On Sept 2, when I was en-route from my residence to my office (DC’s office Changlang) at around 9.25 AM, MV checking team stopped me at TT point, Changlang for not wearing helmet. And I was penalized a sum of Rs 100/- only vide Arunachal Pradesh Police Traffic Offence receipt Book no. 10 Sl. no 279. I accepted my fault and paid the same.

At that very time, two motor bikes crossed the road and the riders were not wearing helmet but they were not stopped. I asked the Police team why there were allowed to go. ASI replied that he is busy writing. But there were 5-6 police men with him. The penalty should have been equal but they were allowed to go without paying the penalty. Did it happned because they were known to the policemen or there was some other interest involved.

So, I would like to ask the authority concerned, is there any rule/constitution that can favour stronger or penalize the weaker? This is totally unrealistic and cannot be tolerated. Authority may look into the matter seriously and take necessary action. And I want to know whether penalized money have been deposited at the state exchequer.

Yours,

S. Tangkhu

Changlang,  (on email)

 

 

Can Northeasters be blamed?

Dear Editor,

This is in reference to the newsreport “Little knowledge on North-East hamper unity: Mizoram CM”( 30 August).

Mr. Lal Thanhawla is absolutely correct in stating that ignorance towards North-East or harbouring misconceptions revolving the region are detrimental to India’s unity. Thanks to the indifference of the national media towards the affairs of the North-East( however bomb blasts or incidents of shooting hog the limelight) and the crude mentality of regarding all things Hindi-Punjabi-Bollywood-North/West Indian as “epitomes” of nationalism have not only relegated the North-East from national psyche, many assume that region as mere “colony” of India! These are precisely the reasons why North-Eastern students are often ridiculed or abused in “mainland” India and just a few weeks fast by Anna Hazares and K Chandrasekhar Raos catch the imagination of media-public-Government, but the unbelievable decade-long fast undertaken by that Iron Lady Irom Sharmila hardly fails to evoke any response from the  “enlightened” souls of India! In this sorry perspective, can any North-Easterner be really blamed if he/she gets frustrated and finds himself/herself more alienated from allthings India?

It is high time the authorities get enlightened of the fact mere waving of tricolour, rhetoric of ‘My India is Great’( that too in “Rajbhasa”, not in the languages of the non-Hindi speaking ‘Prajas’!), Cricket World Cup win, trumpet of India’s “economic growth” or IT Revoluition are not enough to bind all Indians with the same thread. Not only should the Central authorities practically perceive all Indians as equal, it should also adopt concrete measures of making the upcoming generation aware of the history, culture and heritage of unique region that exists in the North-Eastern part of India through text books, seminars or study tours. Not only should the administration of all Indian states immediately bring to book who dares to make racial attacks on the North-Eastern students, print media( like The Statesman of Kolkata) should also reserve a page( on weekly or daily basis) solely to  highlight different aspects of North-East. The Union Ministry of Tourism should also promote North-East as zealously as it highlights Kashmir, Rajasthan, Goa or Kerala. In such an evantuality, more and more people from rest of India can be encouraged to visit the region which will not only help them to believe that North-East is part and parcel of us, but will improve the economy of the region as well.

Yours,

Kajal Chatterjee,

Kolkata, (on email)

 

 

How long shall we wait?

Dear Editor,

It has been already months, ANSU and NES are asking for justice in Pradeep Thakur case. How long we shall wait? Who is the person responsible for the whole drama?

Since we are outside of our state, only this daily is source of information. Till now I have already written two or three letters to the editor of this daily but they too has discouraged it. Last but not the least,thanks to the elders of the community who unanimously signed not to accept anymore organizations in the name of Nyishi community.

Yours,

T. Kanny (on email)

 

 

 

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All email and surface mails must be accompanied with contact numbers and full postal address. Do keep writing but please make sure that letters are short and to the point.        

----Editor

 

 

Digital initiative for more agri production

 

Indian agriculture currently faces the twin challenges of meeting the rising food demand of an increasing population in a sustainable manner and making the best use of the available resources and technology for enhancing the production and productivity of the agricultural sector.

As the nature of Indian agriculture has been based on changes in demand and consumption pattern and various other factors, farmers require a different type of support, like training, problem-solving consultancy, marketing advice to deal with these changes in agricultural practices.

At the same time, there is ample evidence in India to suggest that increasing debts and declining returns have led some farmers to make desperate choices including selling their land below market rates and even suicide. A major problem lies in the dearth of adequate knowledge about farming itself, which leads to poor decision-making.

A popular method used for reducing this knowledge gap is agricultural extension wherein extension agents impart farming practices and techniques to farmers through individual interaction.

In this context, started in 2009, Digital Green seeks to build on existing agricultural extension programmes by combining social organisation and technology. The Digital Green approach involves the use of videos for disseminating information about agricultural techniques that farmers can easily adopt in order to increase their productivity.

Currently, it is operating in 5 states and partners with 7 organizations. With more than 1650 videos in its database and a reach over 58,000 farmers, Digital Green today is ten times more effective, per dollar spent, in converting farmers to better farming practices than traditional approaches to agricultural extension.