The Arunachal Times - Archives

Killer tobacco claims 2,200 each day

Workshop advocates for strict implementation of COTPA-2003

ITANAGAR, Jan 9: More than 2,200 Indians die each day from tobacco related diseases and it kills nearly 5.4 million people globally each year. Tobacco use will cause 10 lakh death each year in India by 2010, according to reports of the World Health Organisation and surveys conducted from time to time.

Sensing the danger from this ‘global epidemic’(use of tobacco products) the media (including print and electronic) unanimously observed that the section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA)-2003 which prohibits smoking in public place must be enforced strictly.

In a Media Advocacy Workshop on Tobacco Control organized jointly by the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and Itanagar Press Club (IPC) here today, the media persons were made aware of the fact that Sikkim is marching ahead in regard to implementation of tobacco control acts and rules which must be a good example to follow by the law enforcing authorities and NGOs of the state.

One of the resource persons of the workshop and state Epidemiologist Dr L Jampa said, health department and NGOs alone can not bring awareness among the common people about the ugly impact of tobacco use. He pointed out that the health and environmental losses caused by the tobacco is much more than the revenue generation.

Giving a brief history of the use of tobacco and its production since 1566, Jampa, however, informed that Arunachal Pradesh has been taking every step to check and control tobacco being used in the state in various forms.

During last 15 years Arunachal became the 2nd highest state in regard to chewing of tobacco, Mizoram being in the number 1 position. However, the good news is that tobacco cessation centres are being set up in West Kameng and East Siang districts to check and control the use of tobacco and tobacco related products. Besides these, state level steering committee and district level monitoring committees have been formed for strict enforcement of laws against tobacco use.

Calling upon the media to perform a pro-active role to check and control use of tobacco products, Dr. B. B. Rai, Executive Director, Sikkim VHA said “ we should not invite death by using tobacco products”.

Rai, however, said that the use of tobacco and tobacco products has been a part of socio-culture life of the people in Sikkim. But at the same time, the NGOs such as VHAS( Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim) succeed to bring in awareness among the people against use of tobacco in some extent. In every Govt department in Sikkim, someone will find sign board banning use to tobacco in office premises, he informed.

Pradeep Kumar, senior journalist and President, IPC hoped with the active involvement of media, the state Government would be able to implement different tobacco control measures.

Ajay K. Tripathy, Senior Manager, VHAI highlighted about different roles that VHAI has been playing in the country on tobacco control.

115 farmers educated on Intensive Aquaculture

ITANAGAR, Jan 9: In one of the technology out-reach programmes in Papum Pare district, all together 115 farmers of Sangdupota circle were trained on Intensive Aquaculture by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) , Papumpare in collaboration with District Fisheries Development officer (DFDO) , Yupia on Jan 7 and 8. National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad sponsored it.

The selected beneficiaries from different villages of Sangdupota area (Poma, Jote, Dola, Basar, Nyello, Bat , Yadung etc) have been imparted training on various subjects on fish farming including the Integrated farming system and intensive aquaculture.

In his inaugural address Dr. T. Heli. (P.C ,KVK Papumpare) highlighted the importance and need for conservation of natural resources and wildlife.

While Nabam James (DFDO, Yupia) S.K. Jaiswal (FO, Yupia), V. Safi (SMS, Fisheries. KVK) delivered lectures on lay out, design and construction of fish pond, fish pond management and value addition on fish products, N. D. Neekom (STA,Deptt. Agri.) inspired the participants on the entrepreneurship development considering the conducive location of the area for agri – farming.

M. Piel (DAO,Yupia) highlighted the over all view of agriculture in the district and encouraged the farmers for commercial cultivation of crops as the income generation source .

Dr. Heli. (PC, KVK.) requested the participants to form Farmer clubs and tie up with National Agri. and rural Development Bank. (NABARD) for the credit support in future.

Panye Mattang (ASM, Chairperson , Sangdupota.) who was key person and inquisitive participant throughout the 2-days training advised the villagers to take full benefits of the training programme and disseminate knowledge gained to other villagers.

The resource persons from various disciplines also visited different fish pond construction site of the individual farmers of different villages and suggested various measures.

AEKSU to support eviction drive

ITANAGAR, Jan 9: All East Kameng Students’ Union (AEKSU) has unanimously decided to support the authorities in its proposed eviction drive against unauthorized occupants of the public land in the headquarters of the Kurung Kumey district.

The union also appointed its vice president S D Londa as chairman of the mass eviction drive students community which will extend all possible help to the authorities for successful eviction. Meanwhile, Londa appealed the people to cooperate with the authorities in this regard.

Meanwhile, the union demanded the authorities concerned to cancel all land possession certificates issued to the ‘unauthorized occupants’ of public land and constitute an enquiry committee to find out the persons or authorities involved in such allotment of public land.

Computer education gets priority in West Kameng

ITANAGAR, Jan 9: In her endeavor to make the people of the West Kameng district, especially the youths, computer literate in this era of Information Technology, Deputy Commissioner Swati Sharma on Saturday inaugurated the free computer classes with a modest beginning of five computer sets and ten trainees in the NIC building annex at Bomdila.

Impressing upon the trainees and all the HODs who were present on the occasion, Sharma categorically stated that, it is important for everyone to learn computer as today world depends on it for all purposes. She further informed that the outstanding trainees would be admitted in the IGNOU Diploma Courses, which would then pave way for securing the future of the incumbent concerned. If the number of trainees increases, some instructors from the Army would also be made available, she added. DIPRO

Arunachal under the grip of winter blues

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, Jan 9: The severe winter condition which has been creating havoc across the world seems to have made its way in Arunachal Pradesh too.

The whole state is under the grip of extreme winter condition with temperature dipping to minus degree in higher reaches like Tawang, Mechuka, Ziro, etc. Tawang town already experienced snowfall of the season few days back.

The district headquarter of Lower Subansiri, Ziro, is also under the grip of severe winter weather. The biting cold and foggy climate has made life miserable for the people of Ziro valley. Students who thronged Ziro township to appear Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service prelims exam are being hit hard by bad weather.

“I just reached Ziro from Itanagar yesterday and surprised to find myself in comparatively unpleasant cold weather. Since landing here, I have been suffering from cough and it’s too cold to bear,” told one aspiring candidates of the much awaited state civil service examination.

Twin town of Itanagar and Naharlagun too have witnessed considerable fall in temperature during last few days. The night especially endures frosty atmosphere with temperature touching single digit. The aged people and student community are the worst affected.

“My class 12 CBSE exam is just months away and am trying hard to study. But this sudden change in weather has made it quite tough to continue my study during night time,” said Techi Aku, a student of government higher secondary school, Naharlagun. On Saturday (Jan 9) capital city Itanagar recorded temperature of 18 degree Celsius though it was pleasantly sunny through out the day.

Interestingly, a large number of outsiders, particularly, people from warm places like Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala etc residing in the twin town of Itanagar and Naharlagun for some reasons or others are finding it difficult to cope up with this spine chilling weather.

“In the last few days during night it has become unbearably cold and my family is struggling hard to survive,” told one of the vegetable vendors at Naharlagun market, who is a native of Bihar.

UAEA’s demands

ITANAGAR: Unemployed Arunachal Engineering Association (UAEA) has demanded creation of assistance engineers and junior engineers posts in the state trans-highway department.

Raising voice against ‘officiating and ad hoc posts of assistant engineers, the UAEA also urged the all engineering departments to cancel all such officiating posts within a week and conduct direct recruitment through APPSC for filling up the vacant posts.

Namsai ST achieves revenue target

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Service (APSTS) Namsai transport station has achieved the revenue target fixed for 3rd quarter of financial year 2009-10.

Against the revenue target of Rs 67,50,986 fixed up to the end of 3rd quarter, this transport station earned Rs 70,74,022.

The highest revenue of Rs 8,80,108 were collected during November -09, informed J L Saikia, Station superintendent of Namsai transport station.

NSUI clarifies

ITANAGAR: National Students’ Union of India, Arunachal Pradesh president Kafa Bagang clarified that Ziro-I block unit of NSUI has already been dissolved prior to the election of the NSUI unit.

No new executive body in the district or block level has been formed till date, Bagang said and added that issuing of press releases by any executives of the dissolved NSUI unit is violation of the NSUI constitution. Bagang was reacting to the press release published in this daily on Jan 07.

Road safety measures lauded

ITANAGAR: All Ar-unachal Pradesh Public Transport Federation (AAPPTF) in its meeting held yesterday at Naharlagun has appreciated the state traffic police, especially road safety Cell for conducting awareness programmes on road safety and traffic guidelines.

The awareness progr-amme is proved beneficial for the drivers and owners of the vehicles not only in the Capital Complex and but also in the state as a whole, the AAPPTF said and assured to extend cooperation in such educative programme in order to minimize the road accidents which become a major problem in the twin capital city.

Meanwhile, AAPPTF has congratulated Jalley Sonam for being appointed to the post of chairman, workers welfare board.