Refugees will have to stop encroachment: Pul
PPA observes 39th anniversary
Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul said that following the Supreme Court directive, the government is not in a position to comment on the roll back of the citizenship granted to Chakma and Hajong refugees while stating that his govt would take steps to prevent their encroaching on lands by confining them to their original settlement areas with clear boundary demarcations.
He was speaking at the 39th anniversary of the formation of the Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) at Papu Nalah, Naharlagun on Sunday.
CM said that present refugee crisis has escalated because earlier govts had failed to act on the issue on time.
Meanwhile, speaking about the journey of the PPA, the party that he defected to from Congress after taking over the charge of the state in February, Pul said contributions of party founders late Bakin Pertin and late Tomo Riba, wanted Arunachal to be self sufficient in every aspect.
He, however, regretted that their vision couldn't be realised and the state is still dependent on central government's dole. The CM said that had the state earlier given thought and invested on resource generation, it would have been self sufficient by now.
On resource utilisation, he observed that there is no proper usage of central funds in the state and are profited away as individually motivated development schemes rather on public welfare schemes such as education, health and other essential services.
Remembering the founding president and founding vice president of PPA Bakin Pertin and Tomo Riba, Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Dolo said, "Had they been with us now, they would have taken the state to a new height."
Replying to the statement of PPA chairman Kamen Ringu wherein he conveyed the apprehension of people that Kalikho Pul led state PPA government will merge with BJP, he assured that the PPA government is here to stay.
Calling himself a follower of late leaders Bakin Pertin and Tomo Riba, Chairman PPA Kamen Ringu expressed satisfaction that the party along with BJP has formed the government in the state.
"This is a time for introspection. Unless we have our own government, we will never be able to help ourselves," he said reiterating the party's opposition to statehood day bill.
Chairman PPA tried to defend the financial crisis that the state is facing.
"With financial year ending, financial crisis is bound to happen in a government that has been newly formed," he said in his justification.
He called All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union weak and criticized it, saying that it works on the directives political leaders.
He further suggested renaming of Pasighat General Hospital after PPA founder Bakin Pertin.
"PPA is not a crime syndicate. It works for peoples' interest," he further added.
President PPA Kahfa Bengia referred to PPA as regional in spirit, national in character and global in outlook.
Reiterating that National parties have always overlooked the state's issue, he called upon the leaders to rise above party affiliation and work for the interest of the state and its people.
"The state has not progressed much, the way it should have been," said Chowkham MLA CT Mein.
During the programme, the PPA Website and Souvenir 'The Renaissance' was launched by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul.
PPA founding member Kebom Nguba was felicitated on the occasion. (With input from CMO)
Govt yet to pay state employees
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: The state govt is yet to disburse the monthly salaries of its employees even though it has claimed that financial position of the state is stable.
Among those who have not been paid their salaries include teachers and employees of department of health while the contractual Employees under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan is yet to get their three months salary.
When contacted by this daily, Commissioner Finance, Ashish Kundra said that salaries are likely to be disbursed on Monday.
Though disbursements of salaries are usually delayed in the month of April, due to financial year end, there is nervousness among the employees following reports of difficult financial health of the state. The Finance Department had earlier on written to the SBI not to clear cheques other than clearance of salary bills, even though it later went on to say that financial condition of the state is stable.
Chief Minister’s office in a statement on March 31 had said that state govt had given order for the regular monthly disbursement of salaries, wages and student's stipend from April 1. However, the delay in disbursement of salary has further raised questions on financial health of the state.
A tough road ahead
[ Junroi Mamai ]
Monday morning traffic congestion has become a regular phenomenon. The rather short journey for commuters between the twin Capital Complex cities is fraught with long hours of unending traffic jams. Over a couple of years back, the same journey between the two cities took not more than 20 minutes but now it takes about an hour because of the ever increasing traffic especially, during rush hour. People scurrying off to their respective offices have no option but to wait uneasily in their cars or public transports as a long queue of vehicles slowly inch along the highway.
This tiresome routine would turn worst in the coming monsoon as the roads begin to give in at various places due to heavy downpour prompting the authorities to divert the traffic via Jully road like last year. People still recall the difficulties they had to endure last year in June, when rain triggered landslides blocked Itanagar-Naharlagun road twice in the month resulting in a traffic disaster which completely threw their lives out of gear. However, the authorities, it seems is yet to wake up from their slumber as it struggles to repair the damaged road near Him petrol pump and Niba hospital in Papu Nallah.
The situation would not have escalated to such a proportion if authorities acted promptly to check earth cutting around the Capital Complex. Apparently, the roads can no longer withstand the onslaught of rampant earth cutting, unplanned construction of buildings and dumping of mud along the national highway. Without any definite strictures from the authorities against earth cutting and illegal construction of buildings near the national highway, there will always remain the threat of landsides and of roads caving in anytime along the highway.
More troubles await all of us with the onslaught of monsoon but the authorities are least bothered. Earlier, the state government announced many schemes for the development of the NH415 besides, plans to construct a flyover over Naharlagun to ease the flow of traffic but all tall promises to address the problem have fallen flat, since people are still forced to commute through the same back breaking muddy stretch of road every day. Adding insult to injury is the tardy pace of work currently undertaken by the executing agencies at Papu Nallah.
The state government if at all concerned about the issues of the people needs to pull up its socks and initiate steps to expedite the projects which have remained pending for too long including, widening of the existing two-lane to 4 lane of the Itanagar-Banderdewa section of NH415, renovating the alternate road from Jullang to connect the rest of the capital region. Until then all of us could only resign ourselves to the daily anguish of travelling amidst traffic jams to our respective destinations.
RC’s Office, New Delhi: Burden to State Exchequer
[ Vijay Sonam ]
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Successive state Govt of Arunachal Pradesh for one reason or the other has been more than lenient to the office of the Resident Commissioner (RC), New Delhi. The RC’s Office, New Delhi seems to be administered like a Union Territory within the State. From the information gathered through Right to Information Act, funds are allocated and spent lavishly at the cost of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The rural masses are suffering for want of good Roads, Health Care and Educational Facilities but the State Govt. instead of taking care of it, has turned a blind eye to the sufferings of the masses.
The funds which could have been utilised for the socio-economic development of the State are allocated to the RC Secretariat at New Delhi which is a matter of concern.
During financial year 2013-14, the allocation for RC Office, New Delhi under Head 2052-Sectt.Gen Service (Non Plan) Demand No.44 was, Salary -Rs.2,97,41,000/-, Wages-Rs.67,43,000/-, Office Expenses (OE)- Rs.2,40,00,000/-, OE (POL)-Rs.44,00,000/- and Other Charges (OC) Rs.16,00,000. The total allocation for the year was Rs 6, 64, 84,000/- lakhs. During financial year 2011-12 to 2013-14, the expenditure on electricity at Arunachal Bhawan was Rs.72, 11,927/- and Arunachal House was Rs.1, 45, 05,505/-. The expenditure under Non-Plan during financial year 2013-14 in respect of RC’s Office, New Delhi was Rs.2,99,72,842/-.
During FY 2011-12 to 2013-14, following expenditure were
incurred on the items as shown against each:
1. Electricity charges (Arunachal Bhawan) - Rs.72,11,927/-
2. Electricity charges (Arunachal House) - Rs.1,45,05,505/-
3. Water charges (Arunachal Bhawan) - Rs.11,08,628/-
4. Water charges (Arunachal House) - Rs.4,29,886/-
5. Telephone/Mobile bills - Rs.35,96,783/-
6. House keeping charges - Rs.67,50,000/-
7. Maintenance of vehicle - Rs.48,74,039/-
8. Newspaper/Courier/magazine - Rs.3,48,395/-
9. Purchase/Printing/stationary - Rs.9,68,653/-
10. Hospitality Charges - Rs.21,74,776/-
11. Aquarium - Rs.4,02,862/-
12. Purchase of housekeeping items - Rs.28,25,902/-
13. Upkeep of Bhawan/House - Rs.16,42,998/-
14. Purchase of furniture items - Rs.18,97,135/-
15. Toner cartridge - Rs.18,70,612/-
16. AMC’s of Computer/EPBX & Purchase of
Computer / Accessories etc - Rs.13, 62,879/-
17. Hire Charges of vehicles - Rs.59,20,803/-
There are 119 officials in RC’s office, New Delhi besides Resident Commissioner, two Addl. Resident Commissioner, two Deputy Resident Commissioners and one Finance & Account Officer. There are 19 officers as on March 2015 whose records are not available with the Resident Commissioner. There are 23 attendants and 34 drivers posted in New Delhi.
If someone examines the statement of expenditure then one’s head will spin. To give a detail account here will take lot of space; therefore, few major items are illustrated here for the general information of the readers.
This is just a tip of the icebergs. For a detailed study, it will be a sort of thesis for a student making him or her eligible for a doctorate degree, so the rest is left for the readers to speculate. It needs a brain storming session to discuss on the expenditure and also a means to curtail such expenditure.
There are many small hydro projects in the State which is languishing for years without operation due to want of few lakhs of rupees. On the contrary, almost 40-50 lakhs are spent per year on the electricity charges of Arunacahal Bhawan / House at New Delhi. Can the authority not think of installing solar panels to curtail recurring expenditure of crores of rupees?
Telephone and mobile bills are paid in astronomical figures. Were the calls really made for official purpose? Can’t there be a ceiling limits beyond which the callers should pay from one’s pocket. When there are 34 Drivers and official vehicles why is there a need to the hire vehicles?
The statement of expenditure is just a portion of the RC Office. Besides, there are many other officers of various departments including PWD (Highways), PWD (Civil), Hydro Power, Horticulture, Medical, Education, Textile & Industry, Forest, Food & Civil Supply, IPR, Social Welfare & Women & Child Development, Rural Development, WRD, Tourism, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Power Dept posted in New Delhi.
Crores of rupees are spent on their salary. God knows how and why they were posted when the District and circles of the State are running short of manpower. Except Tourism, there is no logic of posting officers under any circumstances at New Delhi in this era of technology.
There is an urgent need to recall the officers and officials from New Delhi for optimum utilisation of manpower in the state. The huge expenditure extracted from the State Exchequer for the employees posted outside the State which is of unproductive nature need to be curtailed in the interest of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The employees posted in other DRC office like Shillong, Kolkatta and other metropolitan cities also need to be examined by the authority concerned. Sooner it is, better it is for the state. (The contributor is a BJP leader)
Enquiry on fire accident: SP
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Superintendent of Police, Fire & Emergency Services Kime Aya, IPS has said that a fact finding enquiry has been ordered regarding the tragic fire mishap that took place at C-II Sector, Itanagar in wee hrs on April 7 wherein a person lost his life while five units of Bachelor’s Barrack and one private residence were gutted down.
The SP has been questioned for sending faulty fire tenders to the spot while an Officer of the department put the blame on him for not maintaining the fire tenders properly after the fire tender failed to dispense water on time.
In his defence, the SP said that the fire fighters of Itanagar and Naharlagun Fire Stations brought the fire under control but the first fire tender developed mechanical defect and could not deliver water.
While dismissing the allegation of the officer, SP said that it is the duty of the field officer on the spot to see that the Fire Equipments are properly handled and operated in any emergency situation.
The SP has appealed for cooperation and support in prevention of fire hazards and reoccurrence of such serious fire mishap in future.
DC dissatisfied with works progress
YUPIA, Apr 10: Deputy Commissioner, Papum Pare Pooja Jain expressed dissatisfaction over the progress and quality of work of the ongoing renovation/maintenance work sanctioned under ADA 2015-16 at Govt. Sec. School, Jote and Govt. Middle School, Poma under Sangdupota Circle.
After inspecting the schools, she asked the members of SMDC and SMC of the schools to speed up the work for timely completion along with quality
Directing the DDSE DDSE T.T.Tara to ensure the quality of ongoing work, the DC added that no payment shall be released to SMDC & SMC if the quality of work was not maintained.
Allegation backed with facts, say PMC deputy
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Reiterating the allegations of corruption and misappropriation by Pasighat Municipal Council Chief Denong Tamuk, his Deputy Kaling Darang stated that the allegations are backed with evidences and proof.
In a release, Darang said that the signatures behind the PMC cheques reveal that the Chief Councilor had withdrawn the amount from SBI, Pasighat. Government cheques cannot be withdrawn as a self cheque, whereas, bill prepared was in the name of a firm, he alleged.
Further, Darang stated that a Special Judge (PC Act) has already directed the SIC to register a case and to make enquiry regarding misappropriation of funds as per a PIL filed against the Pasighat Municipality. Darang stated that he was not the Dy. Chief Councilor during the time of the misappropriation, while the related files were never rotated among the councilor colleagues. The Case no. Psg SC (PCA) 1/2015 under section 5 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 indicates the doings of the Chief Councilor, he added.
A no confidence motion has been moved by Darang and other councilors against the Chief Councilor which has been fixed on April 13.
AASSATA ridicules APCC
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Reacting at Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee’s press statement in which APCC expressed concern at nonpayment of salaries to SSA teachers by the state govt, Central Executive Members of All Arunachal Sarva Shiksha Abiyan Teachers’s Association on Sunday ridiculed it by terming the statement as political propaganda with an endeavor to allure the teaching community.
The AASSATA further stated that begging for pending salary is not a new subject matter for the SSA teachers and APCC’s statement in favour of teaching fraternity is a political gimmick and publicity stunt.
Governor extends Pongtu greetings
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa has extended his greetings to Tutsa community brethren in particular, on the auspicious occasion of Pongtu festival.
In his festival message, the Governor said that Pongtu, an agricultural festival of the Tutsa tribe of Changlang and Tirap districts will invoke the blessings of the Almighty for a bumper harvest.
‘Along with all my Tutsa brethren, I offer my prayers to Supreme God Rangkathok for his choicest blessings. I also wish that the festival will be celebrated with much gaiety and enthusiasm, the Governor said. (PRO to Governor)
Centre increase PMGSY allocation
NEW DELHI, Apr 10: Government of India has enhanced allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) for the financial year 2016-17 to Rs 468 crore, including state matching share of Rs 47 crore. Last year, the total fund available for the scheme was Rs 275 crore and enhancement of additional Rs 100 crores was given during March 2016.
The ongoing PMGSY work will be pushed further for early completion of the project and new proposals for about Rs 1500 crore will also be submitted to the ministry for consideration and sanction for the new connectivity, mostly in the remote border areas, said an official statement.
National Seminar on Northeast Culture
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: A two-day national seminar on ‘Tribals in the contemporary context: Myriad perspectives from Northeast India’ was organized by the Department of Anthropology of Saint Claret College, Ziro which concluded on Sunday.
Sponsored by the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), the seminar saw the participation of scholars from 9 states of India.
In his inaugural address, Commissioner Education, Marnya Ete lauded the College for organizing the seminar and invited the delegates to conduct research into the life and culture of Northeast India to preserve and enhance the best in it. He also released a book titled ‘Book of Abstracts’ on the occasion.
During the seminar, four concurrent sessions for paper presentations on four different topics including, tribal governance, socio-cultural issues, bio-cultural and bio-physical issues were held.
On the second day of the seminar, Director of Research Batem Pertin and Principal of SCCZ, Dr. Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor spoke on the topics ‘Arunachal Pradesh, a unique cultural zone of North East India’ and the ‘mimetic theory of Rene Girard and the viability of its application to the North Eastern cultures’ respectively.
Director-in-charge of Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, Dr. Simon John also shared his expertise on how to document folklore and cross cultural sensitivity.
World homoeopathy day observed
ITANAGAR, Apr 10: The World Homoeopathy Day was observed at North East Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital (NEHMCH) along with rest of the world.
Attending the function, DC Capital Complex, Sandip Kr Singh said that homoeopathic medicines are cost effective and have no side effects compared to other system of medicines.
DC lauded NEHMCH for running successfully for the last 15 years and serving the humanity.
Central Council of Homoeopathy Member and Nodal Officer (AYUSH), Dr. H T Camdir said that Homoeopathy system was introduced in the state many years ago but it has got momentum after the establishment of NEHMCH in the state capital, and most of medicos serving in the state are the product of it.
Homoeopathic Council Registrar, Dr. M Dai, NEHMCH Principal, Ramanuja Santra, Dr. Animesh Mukharjee, Dr. Amita Devi, Dr. Nani Obing among others spoke on the occasion.
Later, they inspected all the departments of the college and interacted with the teaching faculties and other staffs of the college.
The day was organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Homoeopathic Council (APHC) in collaboration with NEHMCH marking the 261th birth anniversary of the Father of Homoeopathy - Dr Samuel Hahnemann. Founder chairman of the college, Late TC Teli was remembered and also paid homage. (DIPRO)
Jamoh reviews progress of schemes
Correspondent
PASIGHAT, Apr 10: Pasighat West MLA Tatung Jamoh on Saturday reviewed the progress of various ongoing schemes in his constituency and instructed the officials concerned to maintain quality of work and place need-based schemes for the next fiscal year.
He was addressing a Ruksin sub-divisional administration conducted meeting of all HoDs under the chairmanship of Ruksin ADC, T Pada at the ADC’s conference hall.
In the meeting, Jamoh instructed the Rural Works Department for early floating of tender for construction of drainage in Ruksin township, which has already been sanctioned.
ADC, T Pada spoke about road infrastructure, extension of water supply from Ladum Mega project to remote villages and development of Industrial Growth Centre at Niglok under Ruksin circle.
9-year old boy recognised as reincarnation of Bratse Rinpoche
[ Nima Khenrab ]
DARJEELING, Apr 10: A nine year old boy Dawa Wangdi from Darjeeling has been recognised as Draktse (Bratse) Rinpoche by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as confirmed by a senior novice of Rinpoche, Geshe Tashi Tsethar.
The letter from the office of the Dalai Lama with its prominent official seal clearly mentioned the name of the new incarnation and the name of his parents as Pema Wangdi and Sanju Rai. Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsethar further informed that the auspicious coronation ceremony of Draktse Rinpoche has been postponed for next year.
Locally, Rinpoche is also known as 'Bratse' Rinpoche. Draktse and Bratse literally mean 'Hill Top' or 'Top of the Cliff'. He was probably given the name 'Draktse' by the locals owing to the fact that he use to remain secluded at the mountain top of Jang village. Later, the villagers donated the mountain to Rinpoche where he used to spend most of his time in meditation.
His Eminence Draktse Thupten Tenpa Gyaltsen Rinpoche, the former reincarnation passed away on Nov.1, 2004. Draktse Rinpoche completed his Master in Metaphysics from Serjhe Mahayana Monastic University, Mysore. After completion of his monastic education he returned to Tawang and spent the rest of his life in the service of the community.
Choosing a Career: The Right Approach
[ Dr. M.Q. Khan ]
Self Assessment and Analysis of your in terest in relation to your career
The most important thing before choosing a career is to know about yourself and to assess yourself. You need to introspect honestly with great patience and give good span of time in analyzing your capacity, ability, aptitude, interest, weakness and strength too. You must analyze your potentials and situations keeping in account your likes and dislikes, desired lifestyle and personal traits before deciding on your career. Never get carried away by what the people around you -such as your parents, relatives, friends, peers, teachers etc think about you, simply because you are the best judge of yourself and you know yourself best and where rests your interest. Today there are ocean of career opportunities including self entrepreneurship, games & sports, art & culture, animation, advertising, media, travel & tourism, hospitality, teaching, graphic designing, fashion technology, Banking, corporate sector, BPO, besides Government services. Hence the decision on a particular career option should entirely be yours. Set a goal for yourself and plan for future accordingly and try wholeheartedly to achieve that. You should choose a career that can give you joy and contentment and only then you will contribute to the fullest.
Link your studies with your Career
The ideal time to plan your career is when you are in class X because after class X when you seek admission to class XI you should join the stream (out of Science, Arts & Humanities and Commerce) that suits to requirement of your career. Say, for example if you want to choose a career in engineering or scientific research or teaching in Physics, Mathematics you should study PCM at +2 levels. Similarly, if you want to become a doctor or choose a career in spheres in which Bio science is compulsory you are supposed to pursue CBZ at +2 levels. Not only this a science student always has an edge over the student of Arts and Humanities or Commerce simply because a science student can shift either to commerce or Arts at any point of time but a Commerce or Arts student can’t shift to Science stream. In the same way a science student has in most cases no compartmentalization and s/he can opt for such career also which traditionally are supposed to have advantages for an Arts and Commerce student such as Civil Services, Police Services, NGOs, Politics, Banking, Taxation and Accounts Services etc respectively. Whereas there are innumerable jobs in various departments and sectors to which candidates exclusively from science background are recruited and for these careers candidates from Arts and Commerce are not eligible. This fact amply proves that Science stream offers more employment opportunities than the other streams. However, this is not true of the teaching profession in which a teacher has to be appointed to teach the subject/s s/he has studied. For instance, a science graduate/postgraduate can’t be selected to teach Arts or Commerce subjects and vise- versa.
Choose a career keeping in mind your context and choice of workplace
It is also important to keep your context in mind while choosing a career. You need to keep in mind the working environment of your choice -whether you want to work abroad or in metropolis of India or in other states of the northeast region or in your state only. Suppose you have nostalgia and homesickness and want to work in Arunachal only, then there is no point doing such courses which hardly have any prospects in the state because I know hundreds of youths who have done such courses that they can earn handsomely in big cities of the country and even abroad but they are reluctant to go outside for job. However, of late the trend is changing fast and the number of Arunachalee youths working and willing to work outside has been increasing and this is certainly a positive change taking place.
Choose an institution (university/college) for pursuing your studies carefully
To transform your dream into reality you are required to study the Courses/Programmes/ subjects in order to obtain the academic/ technical/ vocational qualification that suit to your career. Of course for this you have to choose an institution (university/college).Here you should give top priority to the Government Institutions not only because their fees are much less and reasonable but also more importantly because their credentials are beyond questions and doubts. But in case you are not selected in any Govt. institution and are compelled to choose among private ones then you must be extra cautious and careful to choose only such a private institution which is affiliated to and recognized by the relevant regulatory body such as UGC/AICTE/MCI/AYUSH/DAI/ PCI / BCI /NCTE etc. You can verify and confirm whether a particular college/ university is affiliated or not, by looking into the list of affiliated and approved colleges/universities from the website of the relevant regulatory body, only after that you should go ahead for admission.
Note that though there are many good private universities/colleges still there are also quite a good number of private universities/ colleges which are fake and not recognized by the relevant regulatory body. You need to know that the certificates, the diplomas and the degrees of fake and unrecognized universities/ colleges are useless and worthless as they are not valued neither anywhere nor you can get job on basis of such degrees.
In recent years there has been mushroom growth of private institutions across the country and most of them are setup with commercial motive to make money. Their representatives with highly impressive prospectus keep visiting Arunachal Pradesh and other states of north east region to hunt for students. They try to befool you, your teachers and sometimes even to higher authorities of the concerned departments by using catchy words and phrases and they pretend to have come for organizing “Personality Development, Leadership and Career Guidance Programme, Career awareness programme, Career Counselling Programme, workshop, seminar etc” though they come for the sole purpose of advertisement, marketing and to pursue students to get admission in their institutions. In such a situation there is no reason for you to trust any private university/college without thorough verification because it is not only the question of wasting huge amount of money and prime time but more importantly also of ruining your career in case the institution you study in is found to be fake as happened to the students of CMJ University of Meghalaya. Here let me make it clear that CMJ University is not the only one there are innumerable such institutions across the country which can be termed fake and this is also true that hundreds of innocent students of Arunachal have been cheated by them. So don’t trust their tall talks, claims and promises. Always remain alert, aware, inquisitive and analytical to choose right type of institution for pursuing your studies in order to value your career and the hard earned money of your parents. Take all possible precautions and don’t let any fake and unrecognized institution cheat you. Remember, the right approach in choosing a right institution to study is as important as choosing a right career. (The author is an Associate Professor of English and also Coordinator, Coaching for Entry in Services & Career Counselling and Placement Cell at Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar)
Editorial
Something is wrong
The students are usually considered to be the future of any society. For a young
state like ours, a lot depends on young generation to shape the future of state.
Unfortunately the event of last few days paints a worrying picture. After report
of students trying to burn down school in Pasighat and Namsai, now this latest incident
of students vandalizing infrastructure at government higher secondary school Koloriang
has shocked whole state. According to the report, the students who failed in the
class XI board exam violently reacted after results were declared. Besides damaging
infrastructure of school, they also tried to physically hurt principal and his family
member.
These kinds of violent activities being carried out by young students is matter of
deep concern. Instead of concentrating in studies they are indulging in criminal
activities. Schools are considered as temple of learning and teachers are regarded
as next to parent. If these students do not have any remorse to damage the same school
where they study, then something is definitely wrong with their upbringing. Parents
as well as society need to seriously introspect. For now authorities should make
sure that all the students who indulged in violence at Koloriang be immediately arrested
and strongly punished as per law. But problem will not be solved just by punishing
them. After punishment they need to be counseled and told that what they have done
is absolutely wrong and is against the spirit of mankind.
________________________________
Readers’ Forum
Manufacturing unit in residential area
Dear Editor,
Through your esteem daily, I would like to draw the attention of the Government and
the Department concern on the following. It is learnt that a Beer manufacturing unit
is being set up at Lekhi village, Nirjuli, which is a thickly populated residential
area.
We are all aware of the fact that manufacturing units like these are highly polluting
in nature and fall in the RED category of polluting industries. Besides requiring
huge quantities of water for Beer production, the amount of effluent water released
by the brewery is stated to be minimum twelve times the amount of Beer produced.
Huge amount of highly polluting gases are also likely to be released into the atmosphere
during the waste water effluent treatment process resulting in immense foul smell
in the surrounding areas besides also spoiling the quality of Ground-water including
flora and fauna.
The burning of fuel in the boilers for the brewing processes is also going to result
in release of huge quantities of smoke and particulate matter coupled with huge quantities
of hazardous gases which would have a very negative effect on the health of the people
living in the vicinity of the brewery. The Environment Protection Act also prohibits
the installation of such industries in residential areas.
It is a matter of great concern and is equivalent to playing with lives of people
who are living in and around the vicinity of Nirjuli. Setting up such a hazardous
industry and authorities granting permission for the same is a matter of question.
Various concern Departments under GoAP such as Department of Industries, Department
of Tax & Excise, Department of Power/ Electrical, Pollution Control Board etc should
be more responsible and adhere to rules and laws while granting permission for such
kind of Industries. I am totally perplexed that a huge pool of Bureaucrats/ Technocrats
holding responsible positions in the Government can take such a decision of grating
permission to such kind of Industry that too in such kind of locality.
My request also goes out to the political masters to defy and deny such proposals
at the highest level too. Playing with the health, safety and lives of common people
of Arunachal is not at all acceptable.
I therefore request the Government and the Department concern to look into the matter
seriously and take suo-moto necessary steps for its cancellation in the interest
of public health, security and safety of the people residing in and around the area.
It is expected that a welfare Government like ours will be sensible and sensitive
to issues relating to common people.
Yours,
A concerned citizen
Religious prejudices marching forward in 21st century
Dear Editor,
It is shame that religious prejudices that cannot tolerate free thinking have killed
another blogger of Bangladesh. Nazimuddin Samad who used to campaign for secularism
on Facebook, wrote, "I have no religion". In recent past, matchete-wielders took
the lives of Niloy Chatterjee, Washiqur Rahman Babu, Avijit Roy and Ananta Bijoy
Das for speaking against religious prejudices and hatred. We can see that all religions
carry with them inherent problems of creating divisions and hatred among us. It creates
walls within the society and in this way disturbs social harmony. With its emphasis
on rituals and static approach, it contradicts the essence of spirituality. Religion
is such an institution on whose name 'sati' can be performed, untouchability can
be practiced, Dabholkar, Panser, Kalburgi and Nazimuddin Samad can be killed and
beheading of men who belong to different ghar other than ISIS can be video recorded
and broadcasted. Religions confine themselves to mechanical rituals and thus obstructing
the spiritual path of realising the One.
Sri Aurobindo in 'Letters on Yoga' said, "The religious life may be the first approach
to the spiritual, but very often it is only a turning about in a round of rites,
ceremonies and practices or set ideas and forms without any issue" The Mother said,
"God gives Himself to His whole creation; no one religion holds the monopoly of His
Grace".
She also explained why religion throttled spirituality. She said, "The first and
principal article of these established and formal religions runs always, 'Mine is
the supreme, the only truth, all others are in falsehood or inferior'.
For without this fundamental dogma, established credal religions could not have existed.
If you do not believe and proclaim that you alone possess the one or the highest
truth, you will not be able to impress people and make them flock to you.
This attitude is natural to the religious mind; but it is just that which makes religion
stand in the way of the spiritual life. The articles and dogmas of a religion are
mind-made things and, if you cling to them and shut yourself up in a code of life
made out for you, you do not know and cannot know the truth of the Spirit that lies
beyond all codes and dogmas, wide and large and free. When you stop at a religious
creed and tie yourself in it, taking it for the only truth in the world, you stop
the advance and widening of your inner soul".
Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda hammered hard at the walls of religion to make
us realise its inherent problem. Swami Vivekananda worshipped and touched the feet
of a four-year-old, poor, Kashmiri, Muslim girl. With this singular act, he defied
divisions of religion, region, race, caste, class, creed, gender and generation to
hoist the flag of humanity. Actually, Swami Vivekananda did a Sri Ramkrishna who
himself practiced Islam, Christianity and other religions to live his words - 'many
opinions, many paths'. They tried to make us realize that confinement to a single
religion could throttle humanity. Oceans of human blood could have been saved had
we realised the limitations of religions. It is a pity that the juggernaut of religious
prejudices is still marching forward in this twenty first century. Shani Shingnapur
temple with its women-phobia is just one example of it.
The need of the hour is to realize the teachings of the great souls for taking us,
in the words of Tagore, to "Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
into the dreary desert sand of dead habit".
Yours,
Sujit De, Kolkata
Limiting agricultural potential
Dear Editor
Our modern ?agricultural practices are getting increasingly dependent on over exploitation
of genetically similar, high-yielding crops in mono-culture farming systems. The
rich agri-biodiversity of traditional farming practices are being replaced by modern
synthetic chemical based, highly polluting farming practices that are extremely detrimental
to the long term health of the local ecosystem and the environment. Wild and semi-domesticated
plant species with medicinal and industrial properties have a key role in the biodiversity
of our conventional ?agricultural systems; and could be introduced as novel crops
to commercial markets. ? The potential output and long-term stability in agricultural
ecosystems are directly dependent on the ?successful conservation of agri-biodiversity
in the form of various breeds of poultry, diary, cattle and livestock animals as
well as preservation of different landraces, varieties, biotypes, cultivars and germplasms
of crop species.
However, the recent loss of global agri-biodiversity at an alarming rate is severely
detrimental to ?stable production and long term sustainability of existing agro-ecosystems.
Unless the diversity of species are conserved seriously, we are unknowingly limiting
our agricultural potential for the future and jeopardizing global food security.
Yours,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Canada
Deoris are being discriminated against in Arunachal
Dear Editor,
This is in response to proposal for grant of ST status to the Mishing community living
in Arunachal Pradesh since ages.
At the same time, the native Deoris in Arunachal Pradesh are being continuously treated
with highest form of oppression and racial discrimination which is unheard of anywhere
in the modern world in any civilised society. Deori have been silenced successfully
and continuously by the successive Arunachal Pradesh governments because of different
religious and racial profile which is unique.
Just because the Deori people's religious denomination is close to Hindu practices,
successive governments in Arunachal have been purposely indifferent towards the Deori
community in the state.
It is a shame that the so called indigenous tribal communities who emigrated from
other countries to Dibang valley, Lohit, Namsai and considerable parts of Changlang
are residing in the ancestral territorial land of the Deori people.
It is an irony that majority of the recognised tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh,
who immigrated from other neighbouring countries of India in recent history are now
considered more indigenous than the original native Deori people.
Arunachal government is undemocratically trying to distort the facts and history
of the Deori people and its history pertaining to Arunachal, for a long time now.
Until the Deori people are respected and given back their natural rights in their
ancestral territorial land in Arunachal Pradesh by the central government and the
biased state government, Arunachal Pradesh will remain an Anti Human Rights State
who suppresses the legitimate voices of the real native Deori people in the name
of race and religion disregarding all the civilized human values practiced in the
modern world.
Now, Deori people will not keep a blind eye towards the fascist policy of the Arunachal
government anymore.
Now the native Deori people are more determined to fight tooth and nail for their
legitimate rights in a civilised way mentioned in the constitution and expose the
wrong doings of the respective state governments.
Yours,
S. Deori, Mumbai
Streamlining administration
Dear Editor,
For effective, impartial and sound administration, and for carrying out transactions
of governmental and social activities in an apolitical manner, home posting of key
officers of administration and police like the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy
Commissioner, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Circle Officer, Superintendent of Police,
Officer In - charge, etc should be discouraged in the paramount interest of public.
Yours,
Tagam Mibang
Declare results
Dear Editor,
The Guwahati High Court under its notification and order conducted the viva voice
interview for written qualified candidates against posts for LDC cum data entry operators
in respect to Arunachal subordinate courts. The mentioned interview was conducted
on September 2015 and it's been 7 months and the results are yet to declared, whereas
the results of UDC, office peons, Shristedars, PAs and other designations of the
institution for which interviews were conducted at the same time period have already
been declared.
The reasons whatsoever for the delay, I humbly request the examination authorities
of Guwahati High Court to kindly look into this matter for the posts of LDC cum Data
operators as the candidates are in high expectations since the results for written
tests was not delayed.
Yours,
A concerned candidate
