The Arunachal Times - Archives

BJP blames UPA of inaction, demands NE Security Council

ATNS with inputs from UNI

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: Amid reports of Chinese border incursions and cross-border firing in the recent past in Ladakh, besides reported intrusion in Rimkhim in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Bharatiya Janata Party, North East organizational in-charge P Chandrasekhar Rao today urged the UPA Govt to establish North East Security Council to be linked with the National Security Council to ensure internal and external security of the people of the north eastern region.

Addressing the media persons here at the BJP headquarters today, Rao said that security of the North East has become volatile under the Congress regime. But the Congress during its 65 years rule could not take the NE security issue seriously.

Rao claimed that though the neighboring China in connivance with the ISI has been trying to destabilize the peace in the North East, the Congress did not take any integral policy to thwart external threat.

''Since long, China along with Pakistan is trying to create instability and trigger separatist movement in the northeastern states” Rao said, and alleged that the Centre had failed to moot out suitable border management policy in this regard.

''The UPA government should initiate strong measures in this regard and an all-party meeting should be convened in the NE states to chalk out suitable strategies to ensure peace and security of the North Eastern region which bordering more than one neighbouring countries,'' Rao suggested.

He demanded that the Centre constitute a study group including security experts and representatives of civil societies for visiting all the border areas of the region and frame suitable policies for effective border management.

Former MP and BJP leader Tapir Gao said ''Centre should not underestimate what is happening in those areas of Arunachal which share border with China and should create more infrastructure equivalent to the other side along the Mac Mohan Line''. He also suggested holding bilateral talks with China for reopening of the border trade along the border. Stating that India has done a ‘mistake’ by recognising Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in which the entire territory of Arunachal comes, Gao disclosed that it should be rectified by excluding Arunachal. He further said that India might have construction work of border roads along the India-China border immediately after the Chinese invasion in 1962 but that did not happen.

Referring to the China’s opposition of the proposed visit of Tibetan, spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to the state in November, Gao said the leader has a separate identity throughout the world and he could visit any place. ''China has no right to interfere in this matter,'' he added.

BJP to field maximum candidates

Meanwhile, the state BJP had decided to field maximum candidates in the ensuing Assembly elections slated for October 13 next and the final list of contesting candidates would be released within a day or two, both Rao and Gao disclosed.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi would arrive at Itanagar in a two-day visit on September 19 to kick off electioneering for the party and to release an election manifesto, they informed and added that BJP star campaigners Shatrughan Sinha and Smriti Irani along with party chief Rajnath Singh are also scheduled to visit the state on a phased manner for election campaign.

Meanwhile, Lohit District Congress President and former minister Nakul Chai has resigned from the Congress and joined BJP today along with DCC office bearers and his supporters, BJP informed.

'RBI goes to School to spread financial awareness'

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: As part of their Platinum Jubilee year celebration, officials of RBI Guwahati visited Govt. Secondary School, Ganga and conducted a workshop today on financial inclusion where talks were delivered on Central Banking, banking system, banking habits and banking facilities in the country.

As many as 400 students, and almost all the teachers, including the Teacher-in-Charge enthusiastically participated in the work shop.

RBI officials explained about the concept and necessity of financial inclusion, financial literacy and awareness regarding the central bank (RBI), commercial banks, banking facilities and the system.

The teachers and the students were also told about the important features of currency notes and how to differentiate between a genuine and a forge currency note.

To encourage the students, they were also told about the Young Scholar Scheme of RBI where students between 18 and 23 years are given training facilities in RBI offices.

The work shop was very well accepted by the students as well the teachers and a large number of them participated in the question – answer session.

RBI officials also handed over sports items and books to the teacher-in-charge for the benefit of the students. A documentary on banking and banking habit was also shown to the students.

Through this programme , RBI wanted to spread the message of financial literacy to a wider audience for the ultimate objective of financial inclusion of the section of the citizens who are still left out of the banking system."

RGU and Kyot. University partnership takes off

Bomdila, Sept 16: The Center for South Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Japan and Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Japan in association with Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh will conduct a series of Health Development Projects and Medical Service Camps in Arunachal Pradesh starting with some select villages in West Kameng District.

This was finalized in a meeting held at Bomdila on Sept 15 which was attended by Programme Coordinator Dr T Riba from Rajiv Gandhi University Doimukh, Project Coordinator Tsering Wange from Himalayan Holidays, Bomdila, Field Coordinator Leiki Norbu from Govt College, Bomdila, Office Secretary Karma Gyeltshen from Bhutan and six member delegation from Japan led by Dr Ando Kazuo and Yasuyuki Kosaka (RIHN).

The proposed Joint Health Development Programme in Arunachal Pradesh would include medical services to people mostly residing in village and rural areas and will cover varied subjects like Medical assessments to detect diseases, comprehensive geriatric functional analysis and quality of life, health education information for prevention of diseases, following up of lifestyle change, medical treatment and prognosis, awareness of healthy lifestyle and rehabilitation exercise.

West Kameng DMO Dr. Dani Duri has assured all possible help and local support in organizing this rural health camps with due permission from the State Govt.

He along with Rinchin Tsering from Dirang village has been invited to attend an International Conference to be held in Kyoto, Japan in December. Both will be official guests of RIHN Kyoto University.

To scale Mt. Everest is my dream: Tine Mena

Bishnu Rana

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: After mountaineer Tapi Mra, who created history in the field of mountaineering in the North-East, it is now time for Tine Mena, a young and bouncy Idu Mishmi girl from interior Dibang Valley who has been keenly swayed in the adventure sports and has taken part in every mountaineering expedition held at Darjeeling, Kohli Peak in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Kohli Peak (17,770 Ft) was scaled jointly by the J&K Police Mountaineering Team and North-East Adventure Foundation comprising 37 members (17 from J&K Police & 20 from North-East) on 12 August last, informed Tine Mena.

Mountaineering is really a risky & challenging sport which is beyond the reach of common people, but still my interest in adventurer sport is impulsive. I took 6 months of rigorous training in the Tenging Sherpa Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling and participated in number of expeditions since then. But the poor financial back up and lack of moral support from family member is discouraging me, expresses Tine Mena in an interaction with ATNS. “To scale the Mount Everest is my dreams, vision and determination”, she says.

She is also one of the representatives from the state and selected in the Everest Expedition Team in Guwahati recently.

Meanwhile, she extended thanks and gratitude to those people from the Idu Community who have generously contributed to lead 5 members team from Arunachal Pradesh including Sosi Meto, Pobita Mili, Echan Meggi, and Puna Linggi respectively to participate in the North-East Climbing Expedition in Manipur.

Nation building and elementary education

B.R Das

Senior Lecturer DIET, Roing

After 63 yrs of Independence, Government of India has finally decided to include education as a fundamental right. Universalisation of Elementary Education has been accepted as a national goal in India since Independence. The Directive Principles of State Policy envisages that to Provide free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age. The National Policy an Education 1968 (Kothari Commission) resolves to Provide Free and Compulsory Education of satisfactory quality to all Children upto 14 years of age in the 21st century. Universalisation of Elementary Education is the epicenter of structural adjustment Policies to improve the welfare of children, women, poor and deprived people. Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s compulsory education bill reflected the spirit of India’s freedom movement.

Literacy and population size are the basic ingredients of the national development. Article 41 and 45 of the constitution enunciated the directive principles of state policy on education which is the basis of new approach. Twelve states and four union territories enacted legislation for free and compulsory education in elementary level. All the state have exempted childrens tuition fees upto upper-primary level. The bill of free and compulsory elementary education has already been passed in parliament. The three aspect of universalisation of elementary education i.e,

1) Universal access (100 % Access)

2) Universal retention (100 % retention)

3) Universal achievement (100 % pass)

is to be achieved in this five year plan. Therefore the number of primary schools have been increased from 2.11 lakh in 1950 to 6.90 lakh by 2008. During this period gross enrollment ratio (GER) at primary level has increased considerably. 95 percent of the rural population of the country has a primary school within one kilometer and 85 percent upper primary school within a distance of three kilometer with eighteen crores children and 35 lakhs teachers. we have achieved one of the largest elementary education system in the world.

The first national policy on education,1968 recommended free and compulsory elementary education and equalization of educational opportunities especially for girls, SC and ST which is being achieved except in BIMARU (Bihar,Madya Pradesh, Rajastan and Uttar Pradesh) states due to the traditional socio- cultural system. The plan allocations for elementary education have been increased steadily though still not adequate to fulfill the constitutional commitments. Sixty years of freedom have seen higher levels of spending by the central govt. and state govt. under SSA, EFA,UEE to provide quality education for all. Better school, infrastructural, better and equal pay for school teachers, mid-day meal subsidized text books, uniforms etc. but it is yet to be achieved in Arunachal Pradesh.

The need of the hour is that the task of providing education to all the age group of 6-14 years by 2010 cannot be achieved by govt. alone without active participation of the community. The country today has one of the largest illiterate population in the world. Caste, gender, class, and regional disparities in UEE though reduced are still glaring and persistent. Therefore, it is hoped that with a clear vision, firm will, higher investments, greater dedication and community participation would fulfill our goal of UEE.

Lord Viswakarma… the divine engineer

GR Biswakarma writes on the occasion of Viswakarma Puja

There are number of god and goddesses in the Hindu belief. There is a presiding deity in almost all spheres of human activity in the Hindu faith. Lord Viswakarma, who occupies an important place in the Hindu pantheon of gods, he is know as the divine architect and engineer. The month of September brings with it an essence of the forthcoming festivities. As a mark of reverence and to seek divine inspiration the God of Architecture and engineering, Lord Biswakarma or Viswakarma, is worshipped on September 17th every year, on the Kanya Sankranti Day. According to mythology it is he, who was the architect of Dwarka, the city that was built for Lord Krishna. Lord Viswakarma is worshipped all over India, and particularly in the industrial cities, by those who work with tools and factory machinery. He is regarded as the supreme worker, the very essence of excellence and quality in craftsmanship. Viswakarma revealed the sciences of industry to man and is thus the patron god of all the workers and engineers providing them with courage and inspiration. Lord Biswakarma is said to be the solution to all kinds of troubles related to manual work and so people who belong to the working section of the society generally venerate this Lord and pray for his mercy.

Viswakarma is known as the divine engineer since the Puranic age. According to the mythology, lord Viswakarma had constructed opulent places spread over the four yugas. In Satya yuga, he built the Swarga Loke or heaven. He then built the Sone ki lanka in treat yuga, the city of Dwarka in Dwapur yuga and Hastinapur and Indraprastha in subsequent Yuga. Yet another mythology that he make the idol of Jagannath out of the “Daru” or sandalwood log.

All over the country factories, workshops and manufacturing units are in festive mood on this day. Shop spaces are cleared to make way for the deity. The Lord on the back of his appurtenance (vehicle), the elephant, holds in his four hands, a water-pot, the Vedas, a noose and craftsman’s tools. In beautifully decorated pandals the image of Viswakarma and his faithful elephant are inaugurated and worshipped.

Like everywhere else in the country, Viswakarma Puja in Arunachal Pradesh also has some special significance. The state is in fact one of those states that see one of the most elaborate celebration of Viswakarma Puja, in the country in general. One can see considerable public enthusiasm, decorative pandals are seen along the roads. The festival, in the state is characterized by the worship by people, mostly workers, of the implements with which they earn their daily bread. Artisans clean their tools and repaint old machines; shop and factory floors are decorated for the occasion; loud speakers blare out music and the earthen idol of Viswakarma with four hands, carrying a water-pot, a book, a noose and craftsman’s tools and riding his vehicle, elephant can be seen being worshipped everywhere. Artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers, factory workers and workers of all kind worship Lord Viswakarma on this day and pray for a better future, safe working conditions and above all success in their respective fields. Workers also pray for the smooth functioning of various machines. The idol of Biswakarma at the end of the festival is immersed in water.

However, faith often defies logic. It is irony that the god, who is credited with designing and building places, has hardly any temple or permanent idol of his own. Unlike the other Hindu gods and goddesses, there are very few permanent places of worship dedicated to the divine engineer.

Moveover, it is much irony and very difficult to comprehend why the idols of the god of engineering which was worshiped with full religious way by the people with a faith are discarded like a bag of garbage on the streets, river on the very next day of the puja, why not we try to keep it with respect. The question why….. may has no rational answers, as this is associated with a religion and worship coupled with faith and belief associated with this.

(gang_grb@rediffmail.co.in, drganggrb@gmail.com)

CYO extends cooperation

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: While congratulating Nabum Tuna for being elected as the general secretary of the Dera Natung Govt College Students’ Union for the session 2009-2010, Capital Youth Organisation (CYO) president B Nachung has urged the education department to ensure adequate faculty members in the prestigious college.

School sports meet

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: Banyum Abu English Medium School, Mengio conducted its annual sports competition recently.

Attending the function as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, both Tadar Dike and Gollo Ram appreciated the Banyum Abu Society for running the school and contributed few amounts to the school committee and also donated sports items.

PRI leaders, GBs and well wishers attended the opening ceremony.

Dambuk HSS beat Roing HSS in the U-17 Subroto Mukherjee tournament

Ojing Tayeng

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: Government Higher Secondary School, Dambuk beat Roing Higher Secondary School in penalty kick by a margin of 4-2 goals in the final match of the district level Under 17 Subroto Mukherjee football tournament played at Roing yesterday.

The first goal came from the Roing higher secondary school in the first half but it was equalized by the Dambuk higher secondary school in the second half. The match had to be decided through penalty kick after both team failed break the deadlock in the extra time.

However, in the penalty shot out the goal keeper of the Dambuk HSS Tokbom Tayeng successfully saved three shots of the opponent. On the other hand Dambuk HSS scored three goals in the penalty shot out.

Meanwhile, Umda Lego of Dambuk HSS has been adjudged the best player of the tournament.

The principal, Dambuk HSS School Yirang appreciated his school team and asked them to perform better in the state level tournament which will be played at Itanagar.

DM’s order

DAPORIJO, Sept 16: District Magistrate cum DEO Hage Khoda Shalla, IAS has ordered all license holders of the district to deposit all types of fire arms under their possession to Police Stations of their respective circle within Sept 25. Non-compliance of the order within the stipulated period will lead to seizure of the firearms, cancellation of license and prosecution as per law.

Carrying of Daos in the township before 4.30 am and after 5 pm and use of loud speakers before 6 am and after 8 pm is prohibited. The contesting candidates and political parties are directed to strictly observe the Model Code of Conduct and also to take prior permission from the DEO/RO for conducting party rallies and meetings. (DIPRO)

Farmers' Club

ITANAGAR: NABARD in collaboration with Rural Development Society and United Bank of India, Naharlagun Branch, launched Popu Village Farmers Club on Sept16.

The Farmers Club will endeavor to bring credit discipline, capacity building and adoption of latest technology in agriculture and allied activities. Besides S.R.Jadhav, Asst. Gen. Manager, NABARD, District level officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary and fisheries department guided farmers on the occasion.

‘Arunachal Election Watch’

ITANAGAR: In order the help the citizens of Arunachal to know details about the disclosure of the candidates in the Assembly election, a national level NGO -Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in coordination with the local NGO Arunachal Citizens Right(ACR) has decided to launch the ‘Arunachal Election Watch (AEW)’ in the state. ADR would also share experience, seeks support and suggestions in monitoring the AEW.

Kri wishes on Biswakarma puja

ITANAGAR: Former MLA Tezu Karikho Kri has extended wishes to all the craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers and employees /casual workers of all the engineering / technical departments of Tezu-Sunpura on the occasion of “Biswakarma Puja”.

I pray Lord Biswakarma –the divine architect of the universe to shower his blessings for a better future, safe working conditions.

While extending special wishes to the Lohit Drivers’ Welfare Association, he applauded their excellent services and quality in craftsmanship.

(Readers’ Forum)

Solve drinking water problem

Madam,

I have been residing at H Sector, Itanagar since 1989, within a few years this area has been witnessing the increase in the population with construction of new private residential buildings, but the size of the water tank which feeds the entire population of the area remains the same. The tank even fails to supply the minimum water that required for daily use.

We cannot stop the construction because every citizen has the right to live in the Capital for livelihood. Therefore, I earnestly request the concerned department to take immediate steps for regular and adequate supply of potable water to the area.

Moreover, water leakage of sub-branches pipe lines in many areas of the Capital should be renovated. The Head of Department should take immediate step to solve the problem of water scarcity, if we don't take immediate step, it would be humiliating for our future generation.

In fact, our state, which is blessed with water resources, should not face such type of scarcity, but because of the lack of proper management scarcity of water is prevalent. We always complain to the enquiry office but there is no response from the authority. They only use to say 'I knew your problem but what could we do? If they do not know what to do, then who will know? Many of the J.E had come and gone but none of them did anything in response to our complaint, thus the water tank remains same.

Many of the people of our sector have been facing water problem and they used to carry it from other sources. Every morning we are defying a worse day. It is a universal fact that no one can live without water and air as we know that these all are complimentary goods for human being. So I would like to beseech to all the higher authority of the P.H.E. Department to be benevolent to our 'H' Sector people. It is an interest of human life; our life is in your hand.

Yours,

Hage Tai 'H'Sector

Itanagar