Govt announces 10% job reservation for women
Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Every govt. department in Arunachal will have 10 percent job reservations for women.
This was divulged by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul during the Panchayat Day celebration at Banquet hall here on Sunday.
He further informed that the state will provide buses for women with women drivers and conductors.
He hailed the move of the central government to push for 50 percent the reservation for women in Panchayats.
“Our system is bound to be a strong, if women are part of it,” CM Pul said.
Pul expressed his happiness saying that 62 percent of the total participants in the Saturday’s Public Darbaar were women.
“Society will reap benefit from it, if more and more women participate,” he said.
While informing that the DPR of the four lane highway for Capital is in its final stage and the construction works will begin from September, he asked the DC to start with the land acquisition process soon.
Further alleging the previous government of using up Rs 2000 crore from CSS funds under Non-Plan, he asked Minister of State, Home, Kiren Rijiju to sanction one time central package saying it would be wastage of resources, if left unattended.
He urged the municipal and Panchayat leaders to collaborate with schools to carry out cleanliness drives in schools, health institutions and market places three times a month.
Pointing out the NH disaster in front of Hotel PYBSS here, he urged the chief secretary (In charge) to direct all the DCs for affective implementation of Arunachal Pradesh building Bye laws 2010.
“Buildings here should not be allowed to go beyond three stories,” CM said urging Municipal and Panchayat leaders for cooperation.
He further urged Disaster Management Department to conduct mock drills every month for disaster preparedness.
Earlier, CSR ambulances sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) were flagged off for Tarasso PHC and Balijan CHC.
MoS home Kiren Rijiju while hailing the state government for giving priority to health and education sector assured to bring in more equipments and ambulances for health institutions all over the state.
Sharing details of his recent visit to Monigong, he said that students have not been attending schools since there are no teachers for more than two years.
“We should never compromise with health and education, we have to unite to better the situation,” he said.
“Real essence of a country lies in villages. It has to improve for the condition of the entire country to improve,” Rijiju said.
Deputy Chief minister Kameng Dolo spoke on achieving true development through people.
“We need to ultilize funds in a judicious and just manner,” he said.
He encouraged people to embrace punctuality and social responsibility.
Rijiju laments lack of healthcare facilities
Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has lamented the lack of modern healthcare facilities in the hospitals of the State forcing patients to go to various parts of the country for diagnosis and treatment of hard and complicated diseases.
Rijiju, who received equipment called “Hysterscope” on behalf of RK Mission Hospital authority contributed by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) at the hospital conference hall on Sunday morning, said he was pained to see patients from the State receiving treatment in hospitals of National Capital and other States.
The patients would not have to go outside the State for treatment, if there were good healthcare facilities,” lamented Rijiju.
Hailing the Petroleum Ministry, particularly Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and IOCL for contributing the equipment, Rijiju said many more such important medical equipments and ambulances will be reaching soon to various hospitals and healthcare facilities in the State, sponsored by IOCL.
He said that not having a single medical college in the State till today is not a good sign in the field of healthcare and “our future generation will not forgive us for it.”
Saying that fund will not be a matter of concern, Rijiju requested the State leaders to identify and provide land for construction of medical college(s).
“People should not and must not die for want of money,” he said.
Lauding the selfless services rendered to the society by RKMH, the Union Minister advocated for equipping the hospital with all modern healthcare facilities for the benefit and welfare of people of the State.
Later, Rijiju visited the indoor patients of the hospital, distributed fruits and enquired about their wellbeing.
1 dead, Anjaw cut off
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: A labourer was killed while another had a narrow escape when a labour barrack was hit by a bamboo grove in Anjaw district on Saturday night.
The deceased has been identified as Madan Tanti, aged about 50 years of Hansara Tea Estate (No.7), Doom Dooma, Tinsukia Assam. He was working as labourer in Hayuliang, informed Anjaw district administration.
The accident occurred, when the labourers were asleep at around 1.45 am. The bamboo grove was uprooted due to landslide caused by continuing downpour.
ADC B Tawshik and CO, Hayuliang Dr Tojum Ete rushed to the accident site to take stock of the situation. The ADC met the local employer of the deceased and assured to render all necessary assistance and interim relief.
Deputy Commissioner Mamata Riba announced ex-gratia relief as per government norms and directed the ADC Hayuliang to coordinate with next of kin of the deceased for further necessary assistance.
Immediate relief of Rs 30,000 was handed over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Towshik to injured person AH Khan, who has been undergoing treatment at CHC, Hayuliang.
The body of Tanti has been kept at the CHC, Hayuliang morgue after completion of the formalities.
As per BRTF records, rains have crossed all time record in the district with 700 mm rainfall at Hayuliang, Hawai and beyond.
Meanwhile, road communication to District Headquarters Hawai is still cut off. All the administrative circles under Anjaw district are also cut off due to landslides completely disrupting movement of men and materials for the last several days.
Of natural disasters and preparedness
Monday Musing
[ Azing Pertin ]
Incidents like the recent Tawang landslides and Namsai floods are inevitable considering the topography and the climatic factors a state like Arunachal faces. We are at the mercy of the erratic weather conditions with no escape from nature’s fury where damages are bound to happen. Even the earthquakes will come on a regular basis as we are on a zone with the highest seismicity. Global warming and climate change are scientifically proven and are here to stay.
We as a tribal society have long forgotten to respect nature and its devastating power. There are few natural disasters but most times they are natural occurrences which turn disastrous due to human interventions. Manmade disaster is the norm of the day while we are adept at putting the blame on nature and as unforeseen disaster.
The state government had already formulated Arunachal Pradesh Building Byelaws way back in 2010 with almost nobody to adhere to it. Implementation of rules and laws in our state is like the saying – ‘You can bring the horse to the water, but cannot make it drink’.
Naturally people are leveling down the hills for construction of houses and commercial entrapments. While some are making structures on gullies, streams and others just on the cliffs. The state of affairs is almost uniform across the state with Itanagar Capital Complex being an unashamed example of this kind of extreme engineering. It only needs the next big torrential rain to set matters right and break the confidence in erecting such structures. Forget public inconveniences, nobody cares.
The floods and related mayhem in the low lying areas and foothills of the state along the Assam boundary is a yearly occurrence. The communities will have to learn to live with the flood while taking conventional safety and precautionary measures.
An NGO- Rural Volunteers Centre which had been working with the riverine communities in Dhemaji district in neighbouring Assam to mitigate flood related issues realised lately after years of work that the communities already know and are skillful in living with the yearly floods with their own traditional ways. Living with floods has become a way of life for those communities.
Applying earthquake resistant technologies while constructing buildings and other concrete structures are work of the experts and should be left for them. Further, everybody would benefit if earthquake safety drills were made a weekly responsibility in all institutions than few times of yearly public demonstrations. We all see buses have emergency exits but how many people know how to use it.
Growing up, it was spring till April and rains were to start sometime after that, but now rains start in March. With no choices left, we have the opportunity of developing a contagious approach of how to live with the inconveniences made by nature, by not disturbing it and minimising the losses. Starting to respect and acknowledging the power of nature would be a humble step in mitigating manmade disasters.
Govt. releases fund for flood affected districts
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: State Government has released Rs 2 crore for landslide devastated Tawang for relief and restoration works, including ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased and injured persons.
Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakh each in favour of next of kin of those killed in Femla and Thongleng Village landslides and to the injured persons as per the relief norms of the Government.
Sixteen persons were buried alive in the deadly Femla landslide while two were killed in Thongleng Village under Lumla sub-division in another similar incident.
The Government also released relief fund of Rs 1 Crore each to the badly affected districts, including Namsai, Lower Subansiri, Changlang and Anjaw, and additional relief fund of Rs 30 lakh to all the Deputy Commissioners and Rs 10 lakh to all the ADC Headquarters.
Meanwhile, to express his solidarity with the people of Tawang at this hour of crisis, Pul accompanied by Chief Secretary (in-charge) Hage Khoda, Commissioner (Disaster Management) Hage Kojeen and Director of Disaster Management YW Ringu, made an attempt to visit Tawang on Sunday morning. The team had to return back to Guwahati Airport due to bad weather.
Meanwhile, he called upon the people to learnt lesson from recent incidents of landslides at Tawang and the water logging at Hotel PYBSS at Itanagar that blocked the National Highway 415 for several days due to obstruction of natural flow of drain water by randomly building houses without following the building guidelines.
“If these faults are not corrected in time and precautions are not taken, such high rise buildings will always pose danger to human lives and properties,” he said.
He said to maintain the building bye-laws of Ground plus 3 in whole of the state and to construct earthquake resistant buildings. He also requested the people to avoid construction over drain, river valleys and rivulets, run off way, low lying and flood prone areas and also to avoid random earth cutting and quarrying in order to thwart repetitions of such incidence in the future.
The Chief Minister has given instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners to conduct intensive awareness generation activities involving all stakeholders on Do’s and Don’ts on earthquake, fire and other disasters. He instructed them to utilize the services of the GBs, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) at ward level, PRIs at Village level, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for awareness generation and capacity building activities.
Govt has given instructions to all the District Administration to ensure that all the schools and hospitals (both government and private) and the offices in the districts to have their Disaster Management Plan, Standard Operating Plans (SOPs) and Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) in place. It was also instructed to conduct mock drill at least once in a month on earthquake, fire safety and other disasters in schools, hospitals and other public places.
The district administrations were asked to identify safe locations/evacuation routes/open grounds for emergency operations for setting up of relief camps in case of any disaster like earthquake, fire, floods, high speed winds etc. and also to keep ready, search and rescue teams.
The government also instructed the district administration to keep the Incident Response System (IRS) and Incident Response Teams (IRT) in place. They were asked to put up all systems in place and for dealing with any disaster like situation.
There should not be delay in response to relief operations at any level, Pul said. It was further instructed to plan development activities in such manner which are disaster friendly and disaster resilient.
Panchayati Raj Day observed across the state
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated across the state at various administrative headquarters.
At Changlang District, the National Panchayat Day was celebrated on Sunday in DC’s Conference Hall. SDO cum DPDO, Changlang N. Wangjen exhorted all PRI members to work in tandem and derive maximum benefit from all government schemes.
There was a brief presentation on government schemes under RD, ICDS, Education, Veterinary and Agriculture by Heads of Departments.
In Lower Subansiri, at Dollungmukh, all the Anchal Samity members collectively celebrated the day at the Panchayat office. Member Secretary, CO Marpe Riba made a presentation on My Village My Development Plan (MVMDP).
Each Gram segment presented their gram sabha reports.
At Ziro, the Panchayat Raj day was celebrated enthusiastically at Hija, Hong, Diibo, Reru, Kalung, Hong, Nichii- Nittii anchal segments. Prabhat ferries displaying placards on MVMDP was carried out in the morning followed by sports and cultural programmes.
The day was also celebrated in Yazali. A mass social service followed by plantation of ornamental tress was done marking the occasion.
In Upper Siang, the National Panchayati Raj Day was observed at DC office hall.
Upper Siang DC (incharge), Tapik Pertin addressed the panchayat leaders and officers present, while ZPM Yingkiong Bading Teng led the panchayat oath.
Among others, EACs Adong Pertin and Jumte Jini, CO-Cum member Secretary Gram Panchayat, Nancy Yirang, Anchal chairperson, Api Komboh, President District BJP Unit, Gemin Jini, ZPM Nyokgon Nitik, HODs of various departments, public leaders, PRI members and senior citizens attended the programme.
At West Kameng, Pedung village panchayat and Field Publicity, Bomdila unit celebrated the National Panchayat Raj Day.
The daylong programme started with a mass social service in and around Pedung village.
At Sagalee, the day was observed amidst a gathering of panchayati raj members, GBs, farmers, anganwadi workers etc.
ADC Jalash Pertin administered the oath of social justice to all the participants.
In all the places, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Panchayat Day was telecast live. DIPROs
Namsai District Hospital needs complete renovation: AdiSU
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU) has appealed to the State Government for complete renovation and maintenance of the District Hospital, Namsai.
Waste materials strewn all around, dirty toilets, wards and corridors are grim reminder of the unhygienic condition of the hospital, AdiSU stated in a release.
Several patients complained that they had no option but to use the dirty toilets.
It claimed that the patients are forced to get treated in extremely unhygienic conditions.
Moreover, the unhygienic condition is raising stink in the hospital. There was nothing in the name of cleanliness in the hospital, the release claimed.
“It is difficult to breathe inside the hospital. How does this hospital treat a patient in this environment, where a healthy person can get infected due to the unhygienic atmosphere,” AdiSU General Secretary Buteng Tayeng exclaimed in the release.
Due to the unhygienic conditions in the hospital, many people prefer to shift their patients to private hospitals in Assam, he added.
Uncertain weather baffles farmers
[ Prafulla Kaman ]
PASIGHAT, Apr 24: An extreme and uncertain weather condition for the last three weeks has been bewildering climate experts and worrying the laymen in Siang valley of Arunachal. The region usually has scanty rainfall every year during this season.
The pre-monsoon heavy downpour, hailstorm, frequent change of weather condition in the region is badly affecting the cultivation of horticulture crops. The inclement weather is not only hitting the normal life in the region, but it also hampering construction of road, bridges and carrying out other developmental activities.
Roads clogged by rainwater at Pasighat and Ruksin, many portions of Pasighat-Ledum- Koyu PWD road is causing problems to the pedestrians and motorists. Though heavy shower has ceased in the area during the last 24 hours, yet water-logging have not improved.
Plenty and frequent rainfall activities, gusty wind and hailstorm on the onset of monsoon and sudden change of weather is an unnatural phenomenon in this region. The contrasting weather has baffled the scientists as well as the common people, while the farming communities are apprehensive because of uncertain weather.
Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) forecasts sufficient rainfall during monsoon season (June to September). According to MET reports, the seasonal rainfall is likely to be 106 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of plus-minus five per cent.
On the other hand, MET forecast has indicated that during the 2016 hot weather season, the temperatures all the meteorological subdivisions of the country are likely to be above normal.
Accused in NBCC official assault case clarifies
[ Maksam Tayeng ]
PASIGHAT, Apr 24: While clarifying to the news item published on Sunday on assault of an official of the National Buildings Construction Corporation, C/o Incubation Center for Apparel & Garment Manufacturing Unit, Pasighat, Obang Gao, who have been framed by police as assaulter has given a clarification.
Gao, in the clarification said that it was his personal matter and has nothing to do with Party that he is associated with.
“I am a sublet contractor (O.G Enterprises) in the construction of Incubation Centre for Apparel & Garment Manufacturing Unit, Pasighat under Kaizen Industries, Kolkata, he said.
He claimed that his bill worth Rs. 1.70 crore was not being cleared whereas the Manager NBCC was in Pasighat to hand over the building.
Gao further said he got irritated when the Manager informed him that amount has already been deposited in his account, which was not the fact. “This led to hot argument with Paritosh Goyal which led to a minor scuffle” he said.
Meanwhile, Police has said that the case is under investigation and accused hasn't been arrested yet. Based on the complainant's statements and CCTV footage, the investigation is under progress, added the Investigating Officer.
Public Private Partnership, a boon for medical services in Arunachal
[ Rupesh Dutta ]
Anpum, Apr 24: Until a couple of years ago pregnancy was a sort of compulsion for women in this tiny speck of Arunachal Pradesh. Unavailability of contraceptives in the defunct Public Health Centers not only led to unwanted pregnancies but also lack of spacing, morbidity for mothers, finally resulting in unhealthy children, with bleak chances of their survival.
Thirty year old Christina Perme(name changed) never wanted to have four children keeping in mind her family’s economic status. However, she ended up becoming pregnant four times in the first six years of her marriage as neither she nor her husband could avail any type of contraceptives, for which they still have to travel miles through hilly terrains, without the surety of returning the same day if downpour damages the muddy roads passing through deep forests.
Such situation prevailed some six seven years ago as now the tribal women in this same village either undergo tubectomy or use any other types of contraceptives to block their chances of pregnancies.
This was all possible after the Government decided to handover the PHCs to NGOs under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), which proved out to be a boon for this state, despite having one of the highest Total Fertility Rate in the country with a population of mere 14 lakh.
“It will be wrong to say that we had no idea about contraceptives, but infact it was the unavailability of any type of contraceptives here which led to unwanted pregnancies among our women. Now we do not become pregnant if we do not want to. Availability of contraceptives available in the PHCs has helped us plan proper spacing in the births of our children,” said Dome Dini, a ANM (Auxilliary Nurse Midwifery) with Anpum PHC now run by Karuna Trust.
Karuna Trust is an NGO which has been tasked to manage 11 PHCs by the Arunachal Pradesh Government, all in the remote areas which takes days to reach from the state capital.
According to the villagers, PHC which used to be in dilapidated conditions and could not cater medical services even to the patients of common cold, after being operated by Karuna Trust, has been able to provide all basic medical care including family planning methods. Institutional deliveries have increased by 30 percent and while home deliveries have come down to a great extent.
Under then PPP model, Karuna Trust is given Rs.30 lakh annually by the Government to manage each PHC in Arunachal Pradesh. The PHCs now have IT based essential supply chain management system for drugs and vaccines, reproductive and child health programs for tribals, and delivery of generic drugs along with dental care facilities.
In the initial years Karuna Trust also received funds from Population Foundation of India to strengthen its medical care facilities in the PHCs.
“There is no doubt that Karuna Trust is doing a marvelous job. Infact by witnessing the work of the NGO and the satisfaction of the people in the remote areas, I want to give the work of more PHCs to Karuna Trust, so that we can ensure our people in the remote areas do not die due to lack of medical care," said P.N Thungon, Mission Director National Health Mission.
Unlike before, now Karuna Trust posts medical staff in such PHCs as per the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) standards. The staff of the PHC and sub-centers reside 24 x 7 inside the PHC and sub-centers campus.
"Of course there is a drastic change in the medical services disseminated by the PHCs after they have been given to the NGOs to manage. It was difficult to manage the PHC s in the remote areas with a limited man power and difficult terrains of Arunachal, so in such situation handing over work to NGOs was the best we could do," said Raja Dodum, Nodal officer for National Urban Health Mission.
On being asked about the key challenges despite having the PPP model, Dodum said that at times there is a delay of funds for 3-4 months which becomes problematic for the NGO s to work.
When this correspondent visited the PHC, he was told that at times there are un realistic expectations among community members from the PHC due to awareness.
“Community seeks services for cardiac surgery, orthopedics etc, which is impossible. There are districts which are affected by militant activities and lack of physical security for the staffs are a major challenge,” said Annop Sarmah, coordinator of Karuna Trust NE.
Father finds succour for his ailing daughter in CM’s Janta Darbar
[ Raju Mimi ]
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: For three years, Gollo Tango, 27, had been desperately trying to raise money for his six-year-old daughter Gollo Namper needing a skin graft treatment.
The little girl from Parang village in Papum Pare district was only a year old, when boiling water spilled over the chest area, suffering third degree burns.
Help finally came through Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, who agreed to help fund for his daughter’s treatment. Tango met the chief minister in “Janta Darbar” organized every Saturday to address grievances of the public.
Namper had undergone treatment since last three years and had partially recovered. But as she grew, her burnt scar also matured. This led to serious complications leading to scar contracture that left her father worrying.
The skin deformities on her chest could hinder normal growth of breasts as scar thickens and tightens with time.
Tango confirms that he would need Rs 30 lakhs as medical bills necessary for breast transplant in South Korea. Namper is currently undergoing treatment at city’s Niba hospital.
To raise funds, Tango had earlier appealed to local politicians and wrote letters to newspapers; but all in vain.
He says he would never give up finding care for his daughter, and had taken her to different hospitals and was referred by doctors that sooner she received treatment, less likely the condition turning complicated.
“It is unbearable to see her suffering,” he says. “I am reminded of her suffering, every time I prepare her for a bath.”
With promise to help fund the treatment, the chief minister also made financial contribution from his pocket expenses and instructed his officials for immediate release of Rs 30 lakhs for Namper’s treatment abroad.
The CM in his first “Janta Darbar” met around 600 people, which started around 10 AM and ended the next day at 5 AM.
He met people from all walks of life – union leaders, physically challenged people, students, music artistes, health professionals, priests, panchayat leaders, teachers, etc.
People from far flung places, such as, Longding and Singa in Upper Siang where there are no road connectivity came to meet the CM.
On spot redressal and actions were ordered acting on people’s grievances and complaints in the “Janta Darbar” held in the Chief Minister’s official residence.
The CM went through every application, made queries for authentication and handed it over to the officials for further action.
He gave preference on issue related to health and education as he ordered official concerned to look into matters of job regularization of SSA teachers, KGBV teachers, health assistants, lab technicians etc.
“I waited since 8 AM and finally got the chance to meet the CM at 11 PM, but it was worth waiting for,” said Tango. (The contributor is Media Officer to Chief Minister)
Tuki urges people to shun hatred, intolerance
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki along with local legislator Techi Kaso inaugurated a Prayer Center of Deepak Nabam Ministry at Senki Park here on Sunday.
Tuki urged the believers to shun and discourage hatred, intolerance and division in the name of religion, caste, community and tribe.
“If we believe in God, people of all religions and communities have to respect and love each other. United we can dream and achieve a strong and progressive state and country,” he observed.
Tuki expressed gratitude to Deepak Nabam Ministry for establishing the prayer center, which he hoped will provide the poor and destitute people sanctity to connect with God.
“Any step for the poor is a prayer in itself. By opening a prayer center for the poor, the Deepak Nabam Ministry has offered one of the greatest prayers to God,” he said.
The former Chief Minister paid rich tributes to Rajiv Gandhi for bringing ‘Swaraj’ at the grassroots level by way of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
“Today our people at the grassroots are independent and governing themselves, thanks to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. While we make rapid progress by deciding our own future, we must remember the contributions made by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and others of the country’s oldest and grandest political party, the Indian National Congress,” Tuki said.
Citing recent tragic incidents due to torrential rains, Tuki appealed to the people to remain alert and take up preventive and precautionary measures.
“Never ever challenge Nature. We are at her mercy. Let us respect her,” he appealed.
Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister reminded the people of the people-friendly policies and programmes initiated by the erstwhile Congress Government, especially the enormously popular Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme (APCMUHIS).
“Thousands of poor people of the state have benefitted from this scheme, which has been touted by learned people outside the state as one of the most benevolent schemes ever implemented by any government,” he informed.
Tuki expressed hope that the present government while realizing the significance of the scheme will continue its implementation in the right earnest. He cautioned that if the scheme is altered or meddled with, people will not accept and may even revolt.
“As a representative of the people, I personally will never accept if the insurance scheme is ever halted and go to any extent for its continuation,” he said.
Governor seeks free treatment for injured
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: Governor JP Rajkhowa suggested the State Government to ensure free and proper treatment to those injured in natural calamity.
He said this while announcing ex gratia for two senior citizens who were killed in a landslide in Thongleng village under Lumla sub-division, Tawang on April 22
The Governor has sanctioned ex gratia relief of Rs. one Lakh each in favour to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 25,000 each to all the seriously injured from his relief Fund.
Since the State is experiencing heavy rainfall resulting in landslides and floods, the Governor suggested the district authorities to shift people from all vulnerable areas and temporarily put them into shelter homes until the situation improves.
They should be extended all assistance for livelihood including free ration, clothing, cooking utensils etc. as per Relief Manual, he advised.
Red Cross and other NGOs should also be involved in Relief and Rescue operations apart from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Border Roads, Army, State Police etc., the Governor emphasized. (PRO, Governor)
PS meet officials to streamline traffic
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: A coordination meeting was held at the office of Parliamentary Secretary, Home P Bage on Friday last. SP traffic Hibu Tamang, ADM cum Chief Traffic Warden Talo Potom and Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Itanagar Division attended the meeting. Major decisions were taken during the meeting to ease the traffic congestion in the Capital Complex.
“The bypass road from Model village Naharalgun to Yupia road via Helipad will be immediately completed. It was decided to widen the existing bypass road between Raj Bhavan Helipad and Shiv Mandir road to State circuit house Itanagar. Retaining wall will be constructed at ESS sector bypass road,” read a press release.
The meeting further resolved to install electronic traffic signal at designated points and other vulnerable places within the capital complex.
Bage expressed his concern about the existing traffic problem in the capital complex and emphasize on the ways and means to tackle the problems.
SP Hibu Tamang highlighted the problems and necessary steps initiated by the department to streamline the traffic problems. He informed the shortage of manpower, vehicle, and other necessary facilities to deal with the traffic problems in the capital complex. Further, he informed that proposal for traffic control room, buying of PCR van, increase in manpower, installation of electronic traffic signal systems are under persuasion with the govt.
Talo Potom, ADM cum Chief Traffic Warden through a power point presentation showed the map of different traffic routes and traffic diversion/bypass points and some of the vulnerable location which requires installation of traffic light within the twin capital city. The members present also suggested for immediate conduct of review meeting of existing high power committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) to work out necessary measures to improve the traffic congestion and other traffic related problems in the twin capital city.
Unemployed engineers submit memo to CM
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: All Arunachal Pradesh Unemployed Engineers Association (AAPUEA) has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister placing their demand. Association has demanded cancellation of functional/officiating and out of turn promotion by endorsing the Governor’s order.
However, they cautioned that while doing so, there shouldn’t be any pick and choose and that same yardstick be followed for the all the departments.
The association also demanded that all the vacant posts should be placed to APPSC without delay. AAPUEA called for creation of the posts of Junior, Assistant and Executive Engineer in the departments like Rural Development and Environment and Forest. They alleged that in the Forest and Rural Development Department, the non-technical officers have been delegated drawing and disbursal power without following CPWD manual. The association also expressed concern over state government’s decision to close engineering wings in the non-working departments.
While appealing government to reconsider the decision, the association warned that winding up of department will make many engineers unemployed.
AAPNHDC writes to CM
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: All Arunachal Pradesh National Highway Development Committee (AAPNHDC) has appealed for better road connectivity in the entire state. The committee has written to the Chief Minister in this regard.
Emphasizing on better road quality with proper drainage system to reduce flood damage, it has called for early start of Itanagar to Banderdewa four lane highway.
Claiming that the engineers are involved in passing of bills without completion of work, the committee suggested coming up with a construction supervision manual.
Expressing concern over the poor road connectivity in rural areas of the state, it called on the CM to instruct MLAs of both Raga and Tali constituencies to initiate construction of Tamin to Tali road.
Union demands SIT probe
ITANAGAR, Apr 24: The All Tali Area Students Union (ATASU) has written to Chief Minister alleging mass irregularities in the implementation of RGGVY project in the Tali constituency.
ATASU has requested Chief Minister to constitute an SIT or CBI probe into the whole episode. They also called for stopping of payment till the final outcome of enquiry.
“The qualities of materials used for the project are sub-standard. The quantity is much less in comparison to revised estimate cost but department has not taken any step to recover the cost of deficit materials.
Kurung Kumey electrical division has shown 100% electrification of villages under Tali circle in paper. But the ground reality is different. They have fraudulently withdrawn the money,” the union charged.
Editorial
Drastic measures is need of the hour
In the last few days heavy rainfall has caused mayhem across the state. In Tawang
district so far 18 people have died due to landslide related incident. 16 labourers
lost their life in a hotel construction site at Tawang. The hotel is believed to
be owned by a local MLA. Unfortunately so far no police action has been initiated
against the owner. Landslides have caused destruction of government as well as private
properties in various parts of state.
Water supply has been disrupted in several places. People are finding it difficult
to get drinking water. Especially in the rural areas the situation is bad. In capital
complex road has been damaged at multiple places causing massive traffic jam. The
road blockade near Hotel PYBSS is making life miserable for the capital denizens.
While constructing the hotel natural drain got blocked. This posed serious threat
to people living nearby. The authorities had to dig the national highway in order
to find the way out for the natural stream. Though capital administration had sealed
the hotel, they should punish owner for causing damage to national highway. Going
by the experience it looks like most of the problems are manmade. Taking cue from
incident like Tawang and Hotel PYBSS, government should strictly implement the building
laws. Also strict action should be taken against those who indulge in illegal earth
cutting activities along the roads. Unless drastic measures are adopted such kind
of incidents will continue to repeat in the near future.
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Readers’ Forum
A clarification
Dear Editor,
After the head line graving news 'item' 'Anjaw DMO suspended' of April 21, the readers
of your esteemed newspaper must have assumed the worst and thought that Dr Taloh
must be guilty as accused. I don't blame the readers for thinking the 'worst' of
me.
But as they also say that "there is always the other side of the story" and the facts
are quite different from what appeared in the papers.
My side of the story is as follows:-
BADP Medicine/ Equipment
1. The DMO's role was limited to
i. Preparation of DPR (detail project report) i.e, type of medicine/equipment to
be procured with quantity and rate and then put up file to DPO/DC for perusal/approval.
ii. Putting up file for approval of board members for opening of quotations of competing
firms to DC.
iii. For approval of selected firm for supply of medicine/equipments.
The Deputy Commissioner approved all these files. There is no observation anywhere
in the file where it is written that tendering instead of 'quotation' should be done.
And tendering if any is always done by the DDO, in this case the District Planning
Officer (DPO) of the district under the direct supervision of the Deputy Commissioner.
The DMO is not at all responsible for all these lapses.
After board verification of the procured medicine/equipment, bills in triplicate
are sent to DPO for passing the bills and making payments, as he is the Drawing and
Disbursing Officer.
Therefore, if the DMO is not the DDO and did not handle money, how can he embezzle
or siphon off money as alleged. Even a lay person can understand that. If anyone
is guilty at all, it is the DPO (i.e., DDO) and the DC.
Therefore, instead of suspending the DMO, they should be the one under suspension.
Nyabin Ete, the then Deputy Commissioner of Anjaw District's complaint is mainly
regarding none tendering of BADP medicine.
But when procurement of 2015-16, BADP medicine was done, the DC ordered the DRCHO
of the district, who works under the DMO, to execute the work, disregarding the official
norms. Ironically or laughably, this procurement too was done without tendering.
A Deputy Commissioner who pulls up the DMO for not tendering, at least should have
ensured that the DDO, (in this case the DPO) goes through the tendering process.
So why is this double standard? Was the complaint a motivated one? To any fair minded
person, it appears so.
It is reported that payments of BADP medicine of 2015-16 were made even before the
medicine/equipments were stocked & board verified at DMS Hayuliang. This too calls
for investigation and scrutiny by appropriate authorities.
Dr. H Tabyo, who filled the preliminary report, is also very much aware that in this
case the DDO is DPO of the district and DMO could not have indulged in the alleged
corruption.
When Dr Tabyo was the DMO of Dibang Valley District in 2011-12, eighteen lakhs of
BADP medicine were procured and there too the DDO was the DPO of the district. So
his preliminary report too appears highly motivated and patently biased, in order
to besmirch my name and reputation.
The records are available for perusal and close examination by any competent authority.
I agree that there might have been minor procedural lapses. But there is no way I
could have embezzled or siphoned off money fraudulently, without being the Drawing
and Disbursing Officer.
2. In case of the fund allotted by DHS for procurement of medicine, Nyabin Ete,
the then Deputy Commissioner, has complained that I, the DMO did not obtain administrative
approval and expenditure sanction from the DC. The records, if anyone cares to examine,
speaks otherwise. File was put up and duly approved by the Deputy Commissioner for
the administrative approval and expenditure sanction. All codal formalities were
completed (advertisement/ opening of tender papers by a duly constituted board etc,)
without a hitch. I don't know if any minor lapses were committed, or not, which if
any were may be because the fund was allotted at the fag end of the financial year
and we certainly were hard pressed for time to complete the job. The records are
available for perusal and scrutiny by any competent authority.
3. The IMR vehicle was allotted during summer time. There were wide spread flooding
in East Siang District and neighbouring Assam (especially Bogibill and Amarpur areas
etc). As such roads were breached at several places along with spading and turbulent
rivers, making vehicular movements/crossings risky and sometimes dangerous. So the
so called misused vehicle was kept at home town for few days till the floods abetted
and vehicular movement were easier. Let me reiterate here again that it was never
used/misused by anyone of my immediate family. Another issue was the unavailability
of a driver. The lone driver of DMO office Anjaw had gone on leave and it was really
difficult to move the vehicle at a short notice without the services of an experienced
driver.
4. As per absence without sanction of controlling authority, all I can say is that
Anjaw is a very remote and far-flung district with difficult surface communication
and rudimentary network connectivity. And the district head quarters is at Hawai
while DMO's office is located at Swamy Camp, by around 100 km. So sometimes, in case
of exigencies, i.e in attendance of sudden meeting at Itanagar, illness at home,
parent-teacher-meet(PTM) at children's school and their health issues, it might not
have been possible for me to seek and get approval all the time from the controlling
authority or even when granted, I might not have returned to head quarters in time.
Anyone who works in places like Anjaw and Anini will understand my problem and sympathize
with me.
I welcome and appreciate the transparent, clean and affective administration the
incumbent chief Minister cum Health Minister is trying to usher in.
My anguish is that before taking such extreme measure, I should have been given a
chance to present my side of the story, which prima facie, does not call for "Suspension".
My children and my immediate family are going through severe mental and emotional
turmoil/ trauma as everyone seems to be giving them the accusing look. My name and
reputation has suffered the ignominiousness of 'suspension', even though I did not
deserve to be judged so harshly?
I therefore appeal to the intelligent and knowledgeable readers to judge me based
on evidence available and not on hearsay evidence Nyabin Ete and Dr. Tabyo.
I therefore appeal to the appropriate authorities to revoke the suspension forthwith,
which will somehow ameliorate the suffering and mental and emotional agony of my
children and my immediate family.
Yours,
Dr. Tayi Taloh
SSA salaries not released yet
Dear Editor,
with reference to your publication dated April 20 under heading "SSA salary released",
I on the behalf of teaching community working under SSA would like to express their
disappointment and resentment over the error made in the esteemed daily.
It was in the news in this daily on 20-04-16 that the state govt has released the
pending salaries of SSA teachers amounting to Rs 1009.84 lakhs. But the truth is
that no such amount have been released yet for the purpose, and the teachers are
still waiting for their last four months pending salary to be released.
It is a matter to be worried whether the state government is trying to befool the
teachers or this esteemed daily is making such a blunder mistake by its erroneous
publications?
This could not be believed to be a clerical mistake as the readers are still awaiting
for the correction.
Where lays the mistake?
It is my personal appeal that if it is really difficult for the govt/department to
address the problem faced by the SSA teachers, then their hopes shouldn't be crushed
with such fake news.
Despite being befooled, the said community is still very hopeful that govt will keep
its promise by paying salaries on monthly basis as published in this daily a few
months back.
Yours,
G. Umbrey, Itanagar
