Nagaland news updates (June 29): Tuensang ultimatum, Kohima 'smoke-free town', new CDPO office & Naga integration

Tuensang ward serves ultimatum to Power department

EMN
Dimapur, June 28

Allegedly enduring ‘darkness’ for over three months, the community of the Saksi NAP sector 13 ward in Tuensang town has served an ultimatum to the Power department demanding restoration of electricity before July 7.

Failing to meet the demand would invite an own course of action, the community stated in a representation on Tuesday. The Power department will be held solely responsible for any ‘untoward incident’ as fallout, they warned.

A representation addressed to the chief engineer of the department from the public of said ward urged the department to immediately work on the 33 KV-transformer for the area. The transformer is said to have been grounded since March 19, 2016.

Appended by the ward’s president, O Somba Chang, and the secretary Lumtiba Sangtam, the community questioned the alleged ‘inefficiency and lackadaisical attitude of the department in restoring power supply to the ward which has been reeling under darkness for over three months.’

‘Unable to bear with the indifferent attitude of the department,’ the ward has served an ultimatum demanding restoration of power supply before July 7. Failing to meet the demand would invite the area’s public to take an own course of action, they warned. The department will be held solely responsible for ‘any untoward incident arising out of the issue,’ they added.

Kohima sets out action board for ‘smoke-free town’

EMN
Dimapur, June 29

Following the “declaration” of “Kohima city” as “smoke free city” by the district administration of the capital town, the district’s administration has issued a number of guidelines and “action plans” to see effective implementation to “smoke-free Kohima city” as envisaged though the COTPA 2003 Act. The guidelines are (given verbatim):

* All public places including the entertainment centre and venues such as play grounds/stadiums/conference halls/heritage & open air public sites etc. shall be Smoke Free, and such specific conditions shall be invariably incorporated in the allotment orders/permissions issued by appropriate authorities to the organizing bodies/users for strict adherence. The sponsoring body for any public events/gathering shall be directly responsible for enforcement.

* All public places under the management of firms/individual/society ownership viz. hotels/restaurants/shopping centers/public transport shall invariably display appropriate signboards and ensure smoke free atmosphere.

* Wide ranging publicity and sensitization activities will be launched for effective awareness and enforcement of the declaration:

a)            Notify the guidelines in media, official forums, NGOs, local bodies.

b)            Put up sign boards/signage/slogans/stickers etc in open public places in various dialects by DLCC.

c)            The 22 Tobacco Free Schools will be sensitized to be Ambassadors of Smoke Free campaign whenever they are.

d)            Awareness campaign shall be held in AHoDs/HoDs, DPDBs, Police/ Administration and various social platforms, and outstation bus/ taxi stand.

e)            Power point presentations in soft copies shall be prepared for wide circulation.

4. Clear distinction between “tobacco free” and “smoke (tobacco) free” implications will be maintained in the process. Concept of “smoking zones”, “Public places” will also be clarified and sensitized to strengthen enforcement.

5. Copies of COTPA 2003 will be circulated to all agencies for effective enforcements.

6. Timelines for above action plans as well as periodical assessments and review of success and constraints will be taken up.

The DLCC will endeavor to leave no stone unturned for successful achievement of the declared “Smoke Free Kohima” city.

Another CDPO office inaugurated for Social Welfare deptt. 

EMN
CHIZAMI, JUN 29:

Another Child Development Project Officer office of the Social Welfare department has been inaugurated. The new office was inaugurated at Chizami in Phek district by Minister for Social Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs Kiyaneilie Peseyie.

In his inaugural speech, the politician disclosed that there were 60 operational ICDS projects operating all over Nagaland, catering to the needs of deserving people, especially women and children through a network of 3, 455 Anganwadi centers. He said that the rapid expansion of the department entails bigger responsibility to every officer for rendering better and more meaningful service to the people.

He also stated happiness that the Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved the strengthening and restructuring of ICDS with an objective to prevent and reduce young children under nutrition, enhance early development and learning outcomes in all children from 0-6 years of age, improve care and nutrition of girls and women as well as to reduce anemia prevalence in young children. He also informed that the department has already sent proposal for the creation of more ICDS cell in the state and said that they are now awaiting approval.

Further impressing upon that there is room for improvement and development in the manner of delivery and execution of all round development programs in the state, he said, “let us all look forward to the future, forgetting the past and things that bind us from moving forward.

Let us join hands to bring unity, peace and prosperity to our land. Without peace, we have no development.”In the meantime, he appealed to the people of Chizami to extend their cooperation and support to the government so that the aims and objective of the CDPO office in particular and ICDS schemes in general can be fully achieved.

Another politician, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher and Technical Education Deo Nukhu sought the support and cooperation of the people in Chizami area while urging them to make the best use of the office. He asked them to avail the benefits especially for the growth and welfare of the women and children.

The parliamentary secretary also impressed upon the gathering that it has been a long cherished desire of the people while stating that the CDPO office was approved 4 years ago by the government of India. In this regard, he congratulated the department on the inaugural of the office and also extended his gratitude to the concerned authority for making it a reality.

In her short speech, the secretary for Social Welfare, Dellirose M Sakhrie emphasized on public participation for successful and effective implementation of the program. Stating that a productive society requires development of human resources, she dwelt on the importance of raising children in the right way by imparting values and principles that will later make them responsible citizens.

The deputy commissioner for Phek district, Morohu Chotso, also spoke on the occasion while Village Chairman of Chizami, Kewepelo Tsuhah highlighted that CDPO office is one of the most important offices as it focuses on the development of children welfare. “No other development is more important than the development of children as they are our future”, he stated.

The administrator also thanked the parliamentary secretary, the minister for social welfare and the department for the initiative taken towards the opening of the office. Earlier, Kewe Kenye, OSD, Social Welfare gave the introductory speech.

Liezietsu iterates “integration” at Manipur workshop (photo)

EMN
KOHIMA, JUNE 29:

A ‘political conference- interface of the NPF Manipur state unit’ was held in the indoor stadium of Senapati of Manipur stated on June 28.

Addressing a gathering of NPF party workers from Manipur and Nagaland, the president of the NPF Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu said ‘Nagas belongs to same family, Nagas by blood and not by choice and it is our birth right and fundamental right to live together under same administrative units’.

Dr Liezietsu asserted that nothing was done against anybody when members of the same family expressed the desire to live together. He recalled that for the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on four occasions on December 12 1964, August 28 1970, September 16 1994 and December 18 2003 for “Naga integration.”

The politician also told the gathering that the recognition given by the Election Commission of India to the four NPF MLAs elected in last Manipur election was a great leap forward for the party to reach out to the people.

Describing the resignation of the four MLAs against the three bills passed by the Congress government of Manipur as a ‘bold step and highest sacrifices’ , Dr Liezietsu said this has clearly demonstrated party’s policy and took a determined stand for the Naga and hill people.

On the forthcoming election in Manipur due to be held next year, he has asked the party workers to set its priorities without further delay and let leaders in the hill area understand the necessity of having a common platform to protect their rights.

Slamming Ibobi’s leadership for playing divisive politics resulting in creating an atmosphere of hatred between different sections of the people, Shürhozelie said Ibobi has forgotten the Indian democracy of having healthy competition among different political parties based on policy and principle.

Dr Liezietsu reaffirmed of the party’s pledge to the highest ideal of morality, brotherhood, peace and harmony with all sections of people.

Also addressing the gathering, Minister School Education and SCERT and also in-charge of Manipur State, Yitachu said that there is nothing wrong launching NPF party in Manipur, while stating that it was not to create enmity, rather create an opportunity and for justice to prevail.

Lauding the four NPF MLAs of Manipur for a commendable job for the security and destiny of the future Nagas and hill people, Yitachu has urged the concern members to grab the opportunity and take the right issue forward for a secure future.

President NPF MSU, N Awangbow Newmai in his keynote address affirmed that the party’s commitment to stand for the right of the Naga people and tribal will never compromise, and that it will continue to stand for political, economic and social justice in our society.

United Naga Council president, Gaidon Kamei said though UNC is an NGO organization, it has supported NPF for having a common desire and objective. He also appealed the elected members and party workers to stand firm on their objective of resolving the protracted Naga political issue for the interest of whole Naga people.

In the second session interface, a deliberation on the party functionaries and principles with central office delegates along with ADCs members from 4 districts, party workers and others was held.

(Al Ngullie, June 29, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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Nagaland observes International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations’ mandated event against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It is observed annually on June 26, since 1988. The observance was instituted by a General Assembly Resolution 42/112 on 7 December 1987. The UN's 2007 World Drug Report puts the value of the illegal drug trade at US$322 billion a year.

By a resolution in December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe stated date as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

In Nagaland, various organizations commemorated the day with formal programs besides advocacies. Phek town observed International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26 by organizing a formal program at the Phek Town Council hall.

The event was sponsored by the District Legal Service Authority of Phek district and organized by local nongovernmental organizations the Eureka Life Foundation, Phek Town Chakhesang Students’ Union, and the Phek Town Youth Society.

120 members from said groups attended the program, a note from the organizers issued to the media on Monday informed. The guest speakers for the event were Vetsuyo Vero, a program manager of the Eureka Life Foundation, who spoke on topics of harm reduction; Theputo Venuh, president of the Phek Town Chakhesang Students’ Union, who spoke about the consequences of drug addiction in the society.

Likewise, another speaker, Dr. Azo, a senior medical officer, spoke about the effects of drugs on human life, besides the behavioral problems, economic drawbacks and negative aspects of alcoholism; Nusakho, pastor of PTBC, spoke about morality and religion; Dr. Chandan Singh of the 46th Assam Rifle also spoke. Dr. Singh spoke about the ‘menace of drugs’ and drug trafficking in Nagaland; GH Ralia, the district session judge of Phek district spoke on issues concerning the implication of laws against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the organizers informed in the note.

Elsewhere too, members of the District Legal Services Authorities on Monday conducted seminars and educational programs across Nagaland to commemorate the International Day against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking. Various programs were conducted in various districts in collaboration with church organizations, schools, and nongovernmental organizations targeting venerable sections of the society, a press release from the services, under the legal services authorities under the aegis of the Justice & Law department, informed on Monday.

The organizers stated in the press release: “Considering the phenomenal rise in drug trafficking and drug abuse amongst the youth, children and adolescence has serious complications, adversely affecting national health and economy, the legal services authorities felt that a contribution to the society can be extended by playing a role in the reduction of supply and demand, de-addiction and rehabilitation against drug abuse and addict.”

“In spite of comprehensive legislations such as the drugs and cosmetic Act 1940 and the NDPS Act 1983 the drug abuse is in an organized manner which is growing manifold.” To curb the “rising issue”, the press release stated, the legal services authorities under the aegis of the Justice & Law department, “endeavors to implement the action Plan of National Legal Services Authority (Central Authority) under the scheme ‘legal services to the victims of drug abuse and eradication of drug menace scheme-2015’.”

The department stated that the scheme “ensures to disseminate awareness to the general masses the legal provisions, various programs and schemes of the Government and to ensure essential legal services to the victims of drug trafficking and drug abuse. The legal services authorities intends to co-ordinate with de-addiction and rehabilitation center for rights of drug victims and launch sensitization programs in coordination with various stake holders.”

The services conducted a seminar with the members of the center and the management of KRIBA Foundation, the organizers informed. The legal fraternity ‘presented the benefits and provisions of central schemes as offered though the National Legal Services Authority, the group stated. The visitors talked to them about the scheme ‘legal services to the victims of drug abuse and eradication of drug menace scheme-2015.’

In Kohima, the day was commemorated with Sunday School children of Jakhama Christian Revival Church. The program was organized by the Kohima District Legal Services Authority, the organizers informed. A brief introduction about the international event and its importance was given by Metseilenuo, a paralegal volunteer with the KDLSA. Keduvi Zhotso, a panel lawyer with the KDLSA, highlighted the ‘Legal services to the victims of drug abuse and eradication of drug menace scheme-2015. Dr. Ayo Thao spoke on the health aspects of drug abuse and use. A discourse on the legal aspects of child rights was presented by Zhkuseto Natso, also a panel lawyer with KDLSA.

The UN General Assembly held a Special Session on drugs in April 2016. This special session marked an important milestone in achieving the goals set in the policy document of 2009 "Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem", which defined action to be taken by Member States as well as goals to be achieved by 2019.

NALSA (Legal Services to the Victims of Drug Abuse and Eradication of Drug Menace) Scheme, 2015

The phenomenal rise in drug trafficking and drug abuse amongst the youth, children and adolescents has serious implications, adversely affecting national health and economy. Curbing it is the highest priority for the State as well as the society.

It is an open secret that drugs have spread their dreaded tentacles on innocent children, adolescents, youth and women. The horrible dimension, which this menace has acquired, can be gauged from the average age of initiation of drugs which is as low as nine-ten years.

Recent empirical studies reveal that about 7 crore people in India are involved in substance abuse, out of whom about 17% are addicts.

The illicit cultivation of plants wherefrom the substances/drugs are derived is an area of major concern. Generally, people are unaware of the ill effects of such cultivation. In order to prevent illicit cultivation of substances, participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Local Bodies is necessarily required.

Although many agencies of the State as well as Non-Governmental Organizations are working in the field for eradication of drug trafficking and drug abuse, there is lack of coordination amongst them. Individual efforts of different functionaries and agencies have not achieved the desired results. Experience shows that the victims of drug abuse have no idea how to tackle the issues of treatment and rehabilitation.

Considering the fact that Legal Services Institutions can contribute a lot to curb this menace, a resolution was passed in the 131h All India Meet of State Legal Services Authorities held at Ranchi (Jharkhand), concluding that Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse should be a major area of concern for all Legal Services Institutions and a necessity was felt to examine the issue therein.

Objectives

·        * To disseminate awareness amongst the general masses regarding the Legal Provisions, various Policies, Programmes and Schemes, in respect of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances as well as to create awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse amongst the children in schools and colleges, street children, urban slum children, injective drug user(s), families, prisoners, workers in unorganized Sector, Chemists, drug pedlars, sex workers and general masses etc.
* Organizing literacy camps for sensitizing the farmers who are carrying out permissible cultivation of various substances/source plants about the adverse health and life threatening effects of consumption of such drugs and substances.
* To spread awareness amongst the parents, teachers and students about the ill effects of the substance abuse.
* To sensitize the various stakeholders viz; Judiciary, Prosecution, Members of Bar, Police, Forensic Laboratories, De-addiction Centres, Corrective Homes, Rehabilitation Centres, School, College and University administration, Children Homes, Old-age Homes, NariNiketans, Schools for Special Children, Ministerial Staff of Courts, etc. about the drug menace and effective measures to curb it.
*To mobilize the available infrastructure in identifying the victims of drug abuse, their treatment and post detoxification rehabilitation.
* To tap the potential of the Panchayati Raj Institutions/Local Bodies at grassroot level for intervention and prevention of drug abuse and destruction of illicit cultivation of plants used to derive the drugs/ substances.
* To maintain effective coordination with the Drug De-Addiction Centres. and Rehabilitation Centres etc. for better facilities and respect for the rights of the victims and to intervene, if any, breach is noticed.
* To coordinate the activities of various stakeholders working in the field.
* To ensure essential legal services to the victims of drug trafficking and drug abuse. (Source: nalsa.gov.in)

(Al Ngullie, June 27, 2016. Eastern Mirror) 

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The Longest Battle: Drug users in Nagaland fight on

During the ‘80s-‘90s, they were hunted, shamed, or tortured and killed, merely for being victims of circumstances. Today, drug addicts in Nagaland are finding new hope and new lives thanks to social and state interventions. However, the fight is still far from won, writes our Correspondent Atono Tsukru    

There are no reliable records outlining the probable history of drug addiction in Nagaland, except for conversational lore from veteran drug users over the decades. Nonetheless, it can be confidently stated that a visible trend of drug addiction began to emerge in Nagaland during the early ‘80s.

The ‘80s were a time when drug addiction was being closely associated with pop culture movements, primarily characterized by the music industry of said era and the youth rebellion associated with such movement across Europe and in the West.  For Nagaland then, drug addiction began to build itself around a small, accessible and commercially cheap pharmaceutical–the cough syrup Phensedyl.

As travel and market interactions with the world outside grew, hard narcotics such as heroin were accessible and highly coveted by local users. While offering the strongest high, heroin began to grow too excessively expensive following high demand. The price for the narcotic shot up, forcing local drug users to seek cheaper and widespread pharmaceuticals such as the Phensedyl, and painkillers such as (now banned) Spasmo Proxyvon, Relipen, and Nitrosun. Said drugs were easily available across the state on counters then.

Most of the drug supplies were said to have come from the neighboring state of Assam, from its outposts such as Lahorijan, Khatkati and Bokajan. Drug users could procure the pills at cheaper rates of Rs 20 per strip of eight capsules back then, it is said.

Later, another hard but low-quality drug, Brown Sugar, entered the scene. However, Brown Sugar didn’t last long due to its low quality and high price, veteran users say.

As the number of drug users increased in Nagaland, there was a time in the late ‘80s and through to the ‘90s when the society began to ostracize drug users–It was an era when drug users were caught, severely beaten or tortured, while many were shot dead, particularly by Naga underground workers. It was a form of punishment and deterrent that attempted to prevent youths from using drugs.

However, such inhumane measures only deepened the damage instead of curing the malady.

The president of health welfare activists Nagaland Users’ Network, Ketho, told this correspondent that there were no ‘proper’ official records available about data concerning drug use, users and impact indictors. He surmised nonetheless that there were roughly about 40,000 drug users and 16,340 Injecting drug users (as per assessment coverage through NSACS during 2014-2015) across Nagaland.

A former drug addict, Ketho now lives a drug-free and alcohol-free life. He is passionate at working for the wellbeing of drug users in Nagaland.

Offering insights into his life, Kheto said his affair with addiction began in 1991 when he was in class-ii, when he tasted Phensedyl for the first time. From then on, one thing led to another that led to his becoming a full-fledged, hardcore intravenous drug-user (IDU), a person who injects narcotic substances into the body as a means to attaining quicker ‘high.’

But then his life hit rock bottom. He decided to get rid of the addiction. He made five attempts to detoxify and two attempts to rehabilitate before he could finally defeat it.

In his words, the practice of intravenous drug use in Nagaland has reduced drastically during the past few years.

However, there are many ‘oral drug users,’ Kheto explained. One of the contributing factors to the decline in IDU is intervention in the form of rehabilitation, NSACS and network and support program primarily for HIV/AIDS prevention and control. In 2006, the Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) program came–a method that advocates switching from illegal drug to legal drugs, which drew positive responses from drug addicts. Many have enrolled in program since then, he said.

Currently, there are 31 OST centers in the districts; Nagaland is the only state in the country that has it in all the districts. Narrating the plight of drugs users in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Ketho said the state government and the civil society did not know how to deal with drug users back then. They were severely tortured by ‘non-state actors’ (Naga underground activists).

Due to such inhuman response, ‘drug use went under the carpet,’ Ketho said. Intravenous use started which, he said, in turn also contributed to the growth of HIV/AIDS in Nagaland.

Thankfully, with the passage of time, he said, awareness came and people were sensitized.

However, the support from the society has not been very good. ‘They are neither supporting nor doing anything also,’ Ketho says.  On the use of oral drugs by adolescents, especially the cough syrup, he said preventive measures at the initial stages were crucial:

‘If we don’t take some sort of primary preventive measures, they will graduate to injection and might repeat the same story of what we have faced back in the ‘80s and ‘90s,’ he warned. The need of the hour is to reach out to this young group of people who have begun using drugs, he said.

Offering a word of advice to the young, Ketho said ‘Never do drugs. It’s not a good thing. Once you start, a day may when you will not be able to leave it very easily.’

Forty year old Khrie-o from Botsa, a drug user for 16 long years and currently on the OST program for 10 years, has a story not unlike Ketho’s. Khrie-o started doing drugs in 1987. Recalling his ordeal of addiction for sixteen years, he said life had been miserable back then: constant conflicts with family members for money to procure drugs, which graduated into stealing from friends and neighbors.

Though giving up on drugs and on road to recovery had not been an easy journey, Khrie-o is feeling grateful for the OST program, which he started in 2006. ‘Without it, my life would have been a different story.’ He said in gratefulness to be living a normal life now and performing normal chores like any other man.

Full of emotions, the veteran drug user said life was miserable for the fact that he was ‘unwanted’ and having had to lose the trust and faith of family, friends and the society. ‘You were looked down all the time,’ he said.

Again, although struggling with the abscess and Hepatitis-C due to prolonged intravenous drug use, Khrie-o was visibly joyful when he said he was living a better life today by slowly reintegrating himself into society, and earning livelihood by engaging in a humble electronic and mobile repairing business.

Sharing his concern for his friends who are on OST and are unemployed, Khrie-o said skill-development training programs can help a lot and encourage them to live as normal citizens part of society.

Ironically, coming as a good initiative is ‘Operation Salvage’ rehabilitation centre in Heningkunglwa, Peren founded by ‘Non State Actors,” the armed Naga underground group NSCN-IM. The center is said to have been successful for 13 years with clients from various parts of the state and its neighbors.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, T Meren Jamir, head counselor of the center said that there were currently 52 clients from Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. They comprise drug addicts and alcoholics. The oldest client is a 59-year-old while the youngest is 15. Among the clients, one is a Ph.D holder and 12 are graduates.

As the world observes the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, Ketho spoke of the burden that remains: the huge number of drug users in Mokokchung, Mon, Tuensang and Wokha district is pointing to the need for more rehabilitation centers across Nagaland.

Another concern is that the expenditure and expense: the huge amount of money that a client has to pay for admission into rehabilitation centers itself draining on the clients as much as the drugs are draining on their bodies. Ketho pointed out that drug users were a group of people who were financially drained from having to support addiction; their families are mostly also not in a very ideal positions to support them financially even to seek help from rehabilitation centers.

Yet another concern: women who use drugs. Although fewer compared to their male counterparts, there are women who use drugs, including intravenously. The stigma attached with female drug users is even sharper, Ketho said, and there is a need for rehabilitation centers that would take care of women specifically. There are none at present, he said.

The leader of the Nagaland Users' Network has requested the Nagaland government to also revive the detoxification centers across the state attached to district hospitals. The centers are either nonexistent or ‘very poorly functioning,’ Ketho said. Drug users need to have a variety of options for treatment. Rehabilitation is not the ‘100% solution’ for all drug users, he added.

(Al Ngullie, June 25, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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NEDA appeals for more funds from PM

Leaders of the recently-floated North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) have appealed to the prime minister to “institutionalize budgetary provisions so that 10% of the funds of the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) is mandatorily deposited with the Ministry of DoNER,” the chief minister stated.”

The office of the Nagaland chief minister issued a press release on Thursday stating the appeal.

The NEDA have “pointed out,” according to the Chief Minister’s Office, to the prime minister of India that annual fund allocations for the northeast region “being stagnant” at Rs 800 Crore.

“What we require today is greater empowerment of the Ministry of DoNER and the NEC to serve as effective vehicle for transferring resources and capacities to the northeastern states, the CMO stated referring to a “memorandum of request” said to have been signed by

“Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, Assam Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal, Arunachal KalikhoPul, Assam Minister and Convenor of NEDA HimantaBiswaSarma, Meghalaya MP LokSabha and President of NPP Conrad Sangma, Ex Chief Minister of Mizoram and President of MNF ZoramThanga, Assam Minister and AGP President Atul Bora, Working President of UDP  and former Meghalaya Minister Paul Lygndoh, among others.”

The decision was taken after the leaders of the NEDA met at Guwahati last night, the CMO informed.

It was also requested that annual fund allocation to the NEC should be “substantially enhanced and mechanisms be created and systems put into place… to fuel the much-desired growth of this largely backward region” of the country.

Pointing out that former Prime Minister Vajpayee had announced in the conference of governors and chief ministers of the northeastern region including Sikkim in January 2000 that the government had created a pool of non-lapsable funds for the Northeast and Sikkim meant for development projects in the region so that resource gaps could be filled, the signatories said in the early years when the visionary development plan was executed, the region witnessed “dramatic changes in its development trajectory.”

“As the benefits of economic development had yet to steadily accrue to the region, this initiative, which stipulated that at least 10% of the budgets of the Central Ministries/ Departments, would be earmarked for the development of North Eastern States was truly s definite blessing,” the letter to the prime minister is said to have stated.

“However, in the recent past, it has been noted with great apprehension that the quantum of funds allocated to the Northeast under the NLCPR has been declining. At a time when the fund allocation to the Ministry of Development of the North East Region (DoNER) and the North East Council (NEC) should have increased with corresponding rise in cost index, it is ironic that it has stagnated, to the extent that it currently has only an annual allocation of about 800 crores.

“This has greatly impacted the rate of growth of the infrastructure and economies of the Northeastern States,” the letter said.

Stating that development was driven by good planning, the signatories said this must be “backed by appropriate and consistency of funding.”

“The strategic importance of the States in this region, whether as a buffer to the claims on our territory by neighbors or as a corridor to the economies and markets of South East Asian nations as part of the Act East Policy, need hardly be underlined," it added.

(Al Ngullie, June 23, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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Helpline for women launched for Nagaland

The governor of Nagaland PB Acharya has launched a helpline for women ‘Helpline-181’ on Thursday. Acharya launched the facility in the premises of the district hospital of Dimapur besides inaugurating Sakhi- One stop Centre, indented to support women affected by violence both in private and public spaces.

Addressing the gathering, PB Acharya said that society was seeing women marching ahead in every field. He highlighted the multiple roles played by women as home makers, guardians of children and ‘the hard work put in by them in every field.’

"Yet despite all these, sometimes women are taken for granted and not looked at as human beings due to greed for money and entertainment and we should change this mindset with all seriousness", the governor said.

The governor also observed that domestic violence is committed by own near-and-dear ones. Terming women as the living force behind human race, Acharya reminded the gathering that women are ‘our mothers, our sisters and our daughters.’ He was optimistic that the problems of distressed women would be addressed through this project and appealed to stakeholders to cooperate ‘so that violence against women declines.’

The minister for Social Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiyaneilie Peseyie, who was also present at the ceremony, appealed to the people to ‘cooperate for strengthening the security of women.’ "Let us all join hands to bring unity, peace and prosperity in our land", he said.

The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, also addressing the event, said that project was relevant and timely. ‘Violence against women needs to be addressed with urgency as a social concern. The real test of the project will be seen when services are provided to the women in need to achieve the commitment," he said.

The chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for Women, Dr. Temsula Ao, also spoke during the occasion. She said that violence against women was escalating and, she felt, the ‘need for introspection at the obstacles put up by society’ was needed at this juncture.

‘Why do we even need such centres? We have to consider and question ourselves as the biggest threats are from within,’ she said. Ao hoped that the centre would prove to encourage women in finding justice.

(Al Ngullie, June 23, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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Current against Nagaland as state heads for water crisis

Solution points to political will to act

For a tribal community indoctrinated by decades of political violence into seeing only politics and political issues as important, matters such as depleting water levels and Swidden (so-called “jhum”) cultivation do not hold fire, nor fan the fire of activism. 

The scientific analogy that the extinction of bees would push humankind into extinction, literally, is a correlative truth of life that tribal communities such as those of Nagaland have yet to fully understand. One silent, but gradually disturbing instance of such underestimated issues is the case of depleting water resources in the hilly northeastern state.     

The dangers posed by depleting water resources and the lack of sustainable water management in Nagaland could only mean a move in the universal direction of degeneration: adverse impact on livelihood, agriculture production, rural development and, in turn, impact on the demographic economics of the state and her people for generations to come.  

In February this year, for the first time since Nagaland’s inception as a state, the government of Nagaland placed on the table the ‘Nagaland Water Policy 2016.’ The policy-document was handed over to the government with accompanying acknowledgment that the modern maladies of Climate Change and pollution, among others, was staring to affect the quality and quality of water in Nagaland.

The final draft of the policy-document was obtained by this reporter on Wednesday, June 22 from the Indian Environment Law Organization / Offices (IELO), a legal group understood to have helped German company German Development Co-operation (GIZ) in drafting the policy.

The document states that the issue of water resource development had been in constant neglect even long after the formation of Nagaland as a state (December 1, 1963).

“After the formation of state of Nagaland, water resource development has not received required attention and priority resulting in fragmented institutional framework and skewed water governance,” the document states.

The predominant sources of water in Nagaland are surface water in rivers, streams, ponds and natural springs and subsurface water occurring as ground water. Nagaland has four main rivers, namely, Doyang, Dhansiri, Dhiku and Tizu.

The challenges to mitigating current outflow, augmenting existing sources and ensuring sustainability of sources are myriad as the document shows:

·        * Villages in Nagaland are located at the hilltops and their population has been increasing since their establishment. Once sufficient, the existing locally available water resources are unable to meet existing water demand in the villages for drinking and sanitation purposes. Additional sources of water supply in the villages therefore need to be augmented.

·        * The existing system of community water storage structure in the villages aimed at meeting domestic water requirements of the inhabitants need improvement for ensuring water quality, whereas quantity of water needs to be seen in the context of increasing potable water use in the villages.

·        * After the formation of state of Nagaland, water resource development has not received required attention and priority resulting in fragmented institutional framework and skewed water governance.

·        * Due to a wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water, likely to exacerbate due to a number of variable factors including climate change impacts resulting in incidences of water related disasters such as loss of soil fertility, flash floods and river meandering, the water crisis in the state is likely to deepen.

·        * Access to water for drinking and other domestic needs is an emerging challenge in many urban areas, towns and villages in the state. The potential for inter-village water transfer with the payment for ecosystem services mechanism needs exploration.

·        * The scenario of groundwater in Nagaland is rather oblique. Groundwater being part of hydrological cycle is sufficiently not addressed in the water resource planning in the state whereas instances of groundwater exploitation are increasing with an alarming rate.

“The development of water resources projects in Nagaland needs to be done within the framework of community participation by involving village level institutions,” a recommendation states. It was underlined that the development of irrigation infrastructure was critical to ensuring food sustainability in the state.

The document also warned that natural water bodies, streams and springs that form core of natural water infrastructure in the state are being increasingly polluted. Springs that are the main source of drinking water supply are however protected by traditional institutional regime at the village level, which needs to be further strengthened with scientific inputs.

“However, communities value water as per customs and sanctions, consciousness pertaining to existing water stress that is likely to result in water scarcity needs to be created at the Village Council level,” the document stated.

Another urgent demand that redress sought was that scientific capacity building of institutions for the integrated water resource management in the state needs to be undertaken on an urgent basis.

Likewise, spring and stream mapping and characteristic of catchment areas, recharge zones and flood plains needs to be better understood towards planning for any likely change caused due to climatic variations and incidents of natural disasters.

The solution as highlighted by the conservation in the document is a six-pronged strategy:

·       

•      First, the state is committed to give a broad and uniform policy direction to all state water resource management institutions for creating enabling environment and institutional vision for achieving the policy objectives, notably equitable and sustainable water resource management.

• ·    Second, through this policy, the state aims to restructure the fundamental roles and relationship between institutions involved in water resources management to improve their coordination and harmonize their operations. The restructuring is also aimed at strengthening and empowering local as well as state level institutions towards achieving their full participation in the water resources management.

• ·     Third, the state, with the objective to ensure basin level planning, will create new institutional structure at the basin level or rework the existing institutional arrangements to create basin level institutional regime that will coordinate with village level institutions on integrated water management.

• ·    Fourth, the State will place high priority on enhancing scientific and personnel capacity of water sector institutions to promote scientific planning, adaptation measures and organized ground level implementation.

• ·    Fifth, the state will ensure that water and land use planning is synergized as in the unique agricultural context of Nagaland the two are inter-dependent. Hence, any capacity development in water resource planning has to take view of capacity enhancement for land use planning as a necessary measure.

• ·    Sixth, most importantly, the state will enact a comprehensive state water law (Acts, Rules and Regulations) and enabling rules to give effect to the above-mentioned strategies in a time bound manner. The intended water legislation will aim at complementing the role of Village Councils in managing land and water resources in the state.

The document has cautioned that due to a wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water, the current situation is likely to exacerbate due to a number of variable factors including climate change impacts resulting in incidences of water related disasters such as loss of soil fertility, flash floods and river meandering, the water crisis in the state is likely to deepen.

“Owing to the unique hydrological, social and legal context of Nagaland, a state specific water policy is necessitated which is responsive to its existing and future needs encompassing a long-term water resource management program,” it stated.

(Al Ngullie, June 21, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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Nagaland's institutions observe International Day of Yoga

A number of government departments and institutions and nongovernmental organizations in Nagaland observed International Day for Yoga on June 21. International Day of Yoga or commonly and unofficially referred to as Yoga Day, is celebrated annually on June 21 since its inception in 2015. An international day for yoga was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. Yoga claims to be a physical, mental, and/ or spiritual practice.  

Dimapur

International Yoga Day was observed at Dimapur on Tuesday with students from various colleges and schools participating in the event. The program was conducted at the DDSC.

During the program, the participants were taught about the importance of yoga. A session of step-by- step yoga postures were taught by Prof. Amod Sharma and Rosy Jemu. The program was organized by the department of Youth Resources &Sports.

CRPF

The 173rd battalion CRPF at Dimapur airport organized a program to mark International Yoga Day with children from nearby schools. Around 120 school children from three schools and 250 CRPF personnel participated in the program under the supervision of Sh. Joseph Keishing, commandant of the battalion. Sh.Joseph Keishing, commandant of the 173rd battalion interacted with all students and personnel after completion of the yoga session, a note from the battalion informed on Tuesday.

“(Yoga) embodies unity of mind body and soul, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment, harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the World and Nature. It can help us to release stress and live a healthy life,” the organizers informed.

Livingstone Higher Secondary School

Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School also observed the day with a program in collaboration with the 24 NL (I) COY NCC of Kohima and the 1st Naga Girls Battalion of NCC Kohima. All together 1157 students including NCC Cadets from 6 educational institutions from across Dimapur participated in the yoga session.

Andrew Ahoto, orincipal of the school encouraged the gathering about the significance of the International Yoga Day and the benefits of yoga. The instructor for the Yoga session was Uto Chishi, a teacher from the school, a note from the organizers informed on Tuesday.  

Janjati Shiksha Samiti

Janjati Shiksha Samiti (Vidya Bharati) of Nagaland celebrated International Yog Day in the digital class room of VB Infants’ digital Home at Kevijau village in Dimapur. Pankaj Sinha, organizing secretary led the participants, the group informed on Tuesday in a note.

Assam Rifles / IGAR

The Inspector General of Assam Rifles (north), the ‘nodal agency’ for all the security forces in the region commemorated International Yoga Day by bringing together troops of Assam Rifles, CRPF, and other security forces of Nagaland to a common pedestal across Nagaland, the IGAR informed in a note on Tuesday.

“A total of 86 officers, 358 JCOs, 4010 other ranks celebrated the yoga day across the state. HQ IGAR (N) organised the Yoga in salubrious environment of Kohima at the helipad ground which was attended in strength by Assam Rifles troops, CRPF troops, families & School children with great fervor,” the security force stated.

International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21 in all the three military garrisons of the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School at Shokhuvi, at Dimapur and at Diphu.  “A strength of around 2000 soldiers including 500 families performed yoga simultaneously.  The development of yoga can be traced back to 5000-10000 yrs old, however the people from the west started attracting attention in 1893’s parliament of religion in Chicago, when Swami Vivekananda vowed the attendees with his lectures on yoga and the universalities of the world’s religions,” a note from the organizers informed on Tuesday.  

“The Yoga Day was observed under the able patronship (sic) of Brig Gurjap Singh, Commandant Assam Rifles Training Centre & School.  The aim of the yoga day was to integrate the body and mind to achieve harmony and peace.  Yoga has been incorporated as a part of routine physical fitness for the troops.  Besides own troop, the overwhelming response, willingness and presence of ladies and children have proved their curiosity for yoga and made International Yoga Day a big success.”

BJYM

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) of Nagaland also organized a program to mark the day in Dimapur on Tuesday. A note from the BJYM informed on Tuesday that the group’s president Vikuho Dominic stressed on the importance of yoga. “…it is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and now practiced in various forms around the world,” the note stated. He also asserted that “Yoga balances body and soul, physical health and mental well being and urged upon the peoples to embrace healthier choices and lifestyles and to commit to unity among the peoples.

“Vikuho further pointed out that, the Yoga is a tools for transformation with a vision to make a major offering of Yoga and a possibility for people  of all age groups, religions, nationalities and  social background to experience meditativeness   (sic) expanding  their perception of life from individuality  to universality,” the note stated by way of explanation.

“The president also said that, some of the benefits through Yoga include, enhancing health, joy, peace, love, success and inner exploration; enhance vitality, focus, memory and productivity stabilizes the body, mind  and emotions.  Strengthen and stabilize the spine can relieve back pain, stress, anxiety, tension and improve overall health.”

Holy Cross Higher Secondary School

International Yoga Day was observed at Holy Cross Higher Secondary School on June 21 too. The event for the school was organized by M Gnana Nirmala, National and State Training Commissioner, and Secretary for Hindustan Scouts & Guides. More than 300 students participated in the program, a note from the school on Tuesday informed. Yoga was conducted by Govind, a trained yoga teacher from  Haridwar.

Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School

Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School of Dimapur observed the second International Yoga Day as well. On Tuesday morning, 80 students from the school participated in the yoga session at the stadium in Dimapur. Another program was organized in the assembly hall of the school.

“A student contributed a song on Yoga. Shri Monoj Bhattacharjee, principal dwelt upon the importance of the yoga and its impact on human health, especially to the younger generation. Shri LC Das, founder headmaster delivered a speech on the various aspects of the Yoga. Shri Sajal Ray, Yoga teacher also explained the benefits of the yoga,” the school stated in a press release on Tuesday.

“Students of all the classes from Nursery to Class - 10 displayed their yoga feats during the whole day.

It may be mentioned, that the Vidyapith has introduced Yoga as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary section from this academic session.”

Kohima 

A program marking the day was organized by the directorate of Youth Resources & Sports in collaboration with the National Cadet Corps of Kohima, National Service Scheme (NSS), Bharat Scouts & Guides, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Patanjali Yog Samity in Kohima town on the 21st at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.

The governor of Nagaland PB Acharya, legislators and top government officials of Nagaland, senior citizens and students from different schools and colleges turned out for the program.

Interacting with the media, PB Acharya called Yoga an ‘invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition’ which he claimed ‘helps in balancing of mind, body through an action. It helps in changing our life styles and creating consciousness. He also added that Yoga has nothing to do with religion and maintain that it is a science and an exercise to keep our body fit.’

Yoga claims to be as a ‘holistic way of life that integrates the ancient knowledge by uniting the body, mind and soul. Yoga postures of simple techniques which emphasize the inner experience of meditation for the well being of mind, wisdom and techniques.’  Yoga is taught in ‘pure techniques’ that claims to help in strengthening the body and the mind.

Participant from across Nagaland, according to the NYKS, Nagaland zone:

SL.NO	NAME OF DISTRICT	Venue	M	F	TOTAL
1	KOHIMA	IG Stadium	792	615	1307
2	DIMAPUR	DDSC	60	70	130
3	ZUNHEBOTO	Indoor Badminton n Hall	89	61	150
4	PHEK	Indoor Badminton Hall	21	11	33
5	WOKHA	GHSS, Badminton Court	19	25	52
6	PEREN	Town Hall	12	31	43
7	MOKOKCHUNG	Town Hall	181	171	352
8	TUENSANG	Indoor Badminton Hall	40	12	52
9	MON	Indoor Badminton Hall	26	28	54
10	KIPHIRE	DC Compound	9	2	11
11	LONGLENG	Indoor Badminton Hall	16	30	46
			1265	1056	2321

Mount Olive

The National Cadet Corps of Mount Olive College in Kohima observed International Yoga Day on Tuesday. The event was conducted in the college’s campus. The unit led by Tokali Swu and Shikatoli Zimiks.

Modern College

International Yoga Day was also celebrated at Modern College in Kohima on June 21 “to bring peace, harmony, happiness and success to every soul in the world,” in the words of the organizers. “This was a great opportunity to imbibe the value of discipline .Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual practice that needs to be carried every day. The students got the chance to know how Yoga embodies unity of mind and soul,” the college claimed in a note that was issued to the media on Tuesday. Yoga instructors Santu Thapa and Amit Mukhiya exhorted the gathering to imbibe yoga “to have a positive lifestyle and increase the level of well being.”

Nagaland BJP

The Nagaland Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed international Yoga Day at Brahma Kumaris Centre PWD junction in Kohima on Tuesday.

Nagaland BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu, speaking on the occasion, exhorted the people to adopt yoga as a way of life for healthy living. He said that yoga has become immensely popular in the international arena, which is a pride of India.

The programme was led by Rupa, who runs a yoga centre in Kohima.

Mokokchung

Commemorating the second International Day of Yoga on June 21, a yoga session was held in the Indoor Stadium of Mokokchung town. Around 125 members from the NSS, Bharat Scouts & Guides, and the Mokokchung unit of the NYKS participated in the program, under the guidance of D. Halam, of the 44th Assam Rifles training team and Tovili Wati, District Organizer Commissioner (guides).

Mon

International Yoga Day was held at Mon too on Tuesday. The program for Mon was conducted in the Indoor Stadium. Dr. Esther Konyak gave some basic instructions on yoga. She encouraged the members to practice yoga as it ‘moulds our body flexible and bring peace of mind.’

The additional deputy commissioner of Mon district, MA Shihab, addressed the program. He spoke on the importance of yoga and said it ‘helps to balance and develop harmonious relationship between the mind and body, helps develop physical and mental discipline and maintain physical fitness, reduce stress, control feelings and unwanted thoughts and contact with nature.’ Shihab said that practicing yoga ‘can help achieve success in life, relief pain and help to attain the full potential of life.’

Phek

The department of Youth Resources and Sports of Phek observed the second International Yoga Day in the Indoor Badminton Hall of Phek on June 21. The program began with a brief introduction from Youth Resources Officer Vineikholie. In his address, the officer emphasized the importance of yoga “as it keeps the body healthy,” a DIPR report quoted him. The session was conducted by Havildar Haribansh Singh from the 46th Assam Rifles.

Tuensang

The event was also conducted in Tuensang town in the Indoor Badminton Stadium on June 21. The “Yoga Day” was organized by the District Youth Resources and Sports division of Tuensang. Volunteers from the Bharat Scout and Guides, NYK, NCC and some citizens attended the event. The volunteers were instructed some basic Yoga postures by Madendangba, an NYK volunteer.

Zunheboto

Joining the rest of the world, International Yoga Day was observed on 21st June at Indoor Stadium, Zunheboto. The program was organised by Department of Youth Resource and Sports in coordination with NSS, NCC and NYK Zunheboto Unit. Around 150 participants took part in yoga practice. Keynote address was delivered by Asst. Professor, Periasamy, SDO (C), Shanavas IAS spoke on health benefits with yoga practice, while vote of thanks was proposed by Asst. Professor, Kezhadi.

(Al Ngullie, June 21, 2016. Eastern Mirror)

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