ROING NEWS

Training imparted on population census

2010-03-20T20:06:00.000+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, MARCH 20: The first District Level Population Census Training was held in the Anchal Samity Hall here yesterday. The long day training was held to impart training to the Census Charge Officers of various Sub-Divisions and Circles of Lower Dibang Valley District.

Y W Ringu, Deputy Commissioner cum Principal Census Officer of Lower Dibang Valley District in her inaugural speech has asked the Charge Officers to take the Census Operation seriously and without any leniency as the data created in the census would be the basis for further planning, grants and funding for the next ten years in the district. She further said that the15th Census of the country has a very long vision, far reaching and magnanimous with de-duplicating measures and has called upon them to ensure that the works are done in strict accordance with the timeline set by the Govt. She also called upon the Charge Officers to properly monitor the work done by the Enumerator to ensure that correct and accurate data are collected without any overlapping by the enumerator, as they will be held answerable for any errors, if found later. She further asked them to ensure that the house listing by the enumerators must be completed by May 8 next. She also asked them to maintain the secrecy of data collected during Census Operation as per the Census Act 1948 and Rules 1990 informing that the information is confidential and do not come under public domain or RTI Act. However, she clarified that the information under National Population Register would come under Public domain. Wishing them the best, she exhorted them to get themselves clear from every doubt and participate in the training actively.

Lod Gambo, SDO(SADAR) cum District Census Officer in his welcome speech has highlighted the importance of the Census. He also exhorted to collect accurate data without any error and to achieve the target within the time frame by the Govt. M. Tato, EAC cum Census Charge Officer also spoke on the occasion.

The Resource Persons from Director of Census Operation, Shillong, R K Manisana, Statistical Investigator (SI) Grade-I and A Choudhury, SI Grade-III imparted training. Charge Officers including T. Miso, SDO Hunli, D.Tali, SDO Dambuk, M. Pertin & Alen Pertin, EACs Hqtr, Rakesh Tacho, CO Desali & Jally Umpo, CO Hqtr and 10 Special Charge Officers from ITBP, BRTF, NHPC etc took part in the training.

District Collaboration Committee formed to fight TB

2010-03-20T20:03:00.000+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, March 20: The first meeting of the District Collaboration Committee formed under the guidelines of National Framework for Joint HIV/TB Collaboration activities was held under the Chairmanship of Y W Ringu, Deputy Commissioner, Roing in her Office Chamber yesterday.

Dr A. Yirang, District Medical Officer cum Vice Chairman cum Nodal Officer has informed that active TB disease is the commonest opportunistic infection amongst HIV-infected individuals and vice-versa. Hence, to enhance the collaboration between Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and National AIDS Control Programme and to reduce the burden of TB and HIV in India, District Collaboration Committees were formed in the district.

Dr S J Mitapo, District TB Officer cum Member Secretary has highlighted the aims and objectives of forming the Collaboration Committee which are to establish a mechanisms for coordination between RNTCP and NACP at National, State and District levels, to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to Tuberculosis in people living with HIV/AIDS and also to decrease the impact of HIV in tuberculosis patients and provide access to HIV related care and support to HIV infected TB patients. The committee should organized training for programme ofiicials & field staffs on TB/HIV, establish cross referral mechanism for TB patients to NACP & ICTC for counseling and HIV infected TB patients for additional care and support for HIV disease. He also informed that the committee would ensure the smooth implementation and regular review of TB/HIV Collaborative activities and the committee should meet on quarterly basis.

Dr Yirang has also placed before the house for formation of a District Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) in the district to ensure that minimum quality health services are provided to the people of the district specially in regards to Sterilization Services.

Dr M. Basar, DRCHO has informed that the District Quality Assurance Committee would monitor the quality of Sterilization services provided at static health centres like Govt hospitals, private clinics and health camps organized by govt. or NGOs.

The level of services with minimum facilities required, quality needs and technical soundness of the staff are the norms to monitor them.

Dr Ista Pulu, Gynaecologist cum Medical Superintendent, District Hospital also spoke on the occasion informing the lack of requisite medical facilities in the district hospital.

The house decided to propose the govt for posting of an empanelled vasectomy surgeon and a anaesthetist to meet the required composition of the district QAC or to empanel one of the local doctor of the district after obtaining required training.

Basu Perme, Ex-MLA cum President, ACLS, Dr N. Yirang, Child Specialist and N. Umbrey, CDPO Roing had participated in the meeting.

Arunachal’s growth trajectory and hydro-projects

2010-03-16T08:18:00.000+05:30

THE SENTINEL
On March 10, an organization called Up-stream Project Affected Area which comprises of almost 15 villages of Pangin-Boleng area along the banks of Siang River in East Siang district registered their protest in the form of a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Pasighat. In true sense of mass movement, the protest was supported by elites and youths like the East Siang District Students’ Union, Adi Students’ Union and Pangin-Boleng Students’ Union. Two interesting facets were witnessed from the protest movement. One, large presence of electronic and print media from Assam on the protest day at Pasighat and second, post-protest remarks of Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a press briefing at Itanagar.

Though Khandu cried foul of being misquoted wherein he referred to the protesters as anti-Arunachal; but his words are on record with media houses. His comment was distasteful. Perhaps, expectations of the protesting youths and village folks were of a statesmanship from the Chief Minister. Although he did clarify later; yet he failed short of retracting from his comment. One should bear in mind that the protestors hail from the village and areas where indigenous Arunachalees resisted British military expeditions; thus became part of Indian history and Arunachal’s folklore. Villagers’ forefathers fought with bows and arrows against the mighty British army and laid down their lives at Kekar-Monying. Thus in the early part of 1912, Arunachal became part of India’s freedom movement. Therefore, calling the children of patriots as anti-Arunachalees, that too when they were airing grievances within the democratic mechanism, was totally uncalled for. But it was appalling that the apex body of Adis, Adi-Bane Kebang, did not react at all to the Chief Minister’s comment. This is where the younger generation despises civil society.

It was also surprising to note that media houses from Assam were present in huge numbers and they were taking more interest in the protest than Arunachal media houses. Was it the lack of interest from local media houses or was it the over-enthusiasm of those from Assam? Answers could be both ways and time would tell the real reason behind it. But it would not be too far-fetched to imagine their motive behind such keen interest therefore protesting people would do well to remember that the first exploration and detail project report (DPR) for the dam over Siang River was prepared by Brahmaputra Flood Control Board (BFCB) which is even today largely an Assamese dominated organization. Why there wasn’t a protest in 1982 and why there is a protest today by certain sections of our neighbouring state?

From the socio-economic and ecological perspective, every dam may not be good and every dam may not be bad. But in case of Lower Siang Project, resentment appears to be combinations of socio-economic, ecological and emotional reasons too. This project is in the seismic zone V; resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy has not been explained properly; huge area of paddy field is projected to be submerged but with no alternatives in sight. Lastly, probability of submergence of historical site like Kekar-Monying, may have stirred emotions and sentiments of locals besides grievance of not being taken into confidence before GoAP embarked on the great journey of development with marathon signing of MoUs and MoAs.

Bereft of biasness, purely from common sense, one can draw an analogy between R&R policy and older version of PMGSY wherein GoI had put population as the eligibility criteria. As a consequence, Arunachal Pradesh did not benefit much. Similarly, Hydro-Power R&R states that 1 hectare of cultivable land would be compensated with Rs 1,75,000 or would be provided alternative cultivable land subject to availability of government land. But points are: has GoAP or Hydro-developers assessed the average size of land ownership? In topography full of terrains, hardly 15% of the populations have landholding of more than a hectare. Additionally, there is hardly any good cultivable land on higher ridge and most pertinently, there is no government land available in the vicinity. These are facts known to GoAP, Hydro-developers and locals; then why are they playing hide and seek; why are they pretending to be suffering from Ostrich syndrome? It is about time they need to sit across the table and negotiate to move forward.

Arunachal is on growth trajectory…. No one must be left behind; GoAP must carry along every Arunachalee and it is its responsibility to ensure that. It is a matter of time before Trans-Arunachal Highway kicks-off in the right earnest, connect with Trans-Asian Highway and Arunachal would soon become the gateway to South-East Asian market. Therefore, young Arunachalees also must be vigilant about vested parties and people, who would not like to see Arunachal become an economic power or a super-power in the coming years.

JARPUM GAMLIN
(The writer is CEO, The Sentinel, Arunachal Edition)

Ok for cops to take a swig or two: Arunachal Minister

2010-03-14T12:27:00.000+05:30

Arunachal Pradesh's Home Minister could be in serious trouble. Tako Dabi says it's ok for cops to drink while on duty.

Tako even emphasised on the fact that drinking on duty can help energise them.

"Normally an officer on duty or in office does not drink but in case they take a swig or two that is absolutely normal. Behaviour after drinking would be wrong. Look at us, how much do we drink. It is energizing," he said.

Source: NDTV (Click here for video link)

Statement misinterpreted: Khandu

2010-03-14T09:25:00.003+05:30

THE SENTINEL
ITANAGAR, Mar 13: Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today clarified that he had no right nor had he ever intended to curb the freedom of expression of the people in the State when he commented on the protest movement at Pasighat against the Lower Siang hydro-power project in a press briefing on Thursday.

Yesterday, the Arunachal Citizens Right (ACR), a capital-based civil society organization, had objected to the reported comment of the CM on the anti-dam agitation as anti-Arunachal.

So long as the anti-dam protests are democratic and voiced within the ambit of constitutional democracy – the freedom of right to expression and freedom of right to live - no Constitutional authority has the right to call them anti-State or anti-government,” ACR had pointed expressing surprise on the reported statement of the Chief Minister that anti-dam protestors are anti-Arunachalee.

Reacting to the objection, Khandu today reiterated that his government has made it clear time and again that if the local people of the area did not want any hydro power project in the area, no project would come up.

“The Government is never in favour of forceful displacement of project affected families if the R R Package is not acceptable to them. But swaying away on political pressure with vested interest will not be tolerated,” he said. Khandu claimed that the genuine people who would be affected by the Lower Siang project met him personally and expressed no objection to it. He said, instead the people have welcomed the project and were willing to cooperate in its implementation.

The Chief Minister further clarified that most of the hydro-projects proposed in the State run-of-the-river (RoR) projects with no or negligible submergence of habitation, agricultural or forest land. He said there are very few projects involving construction of regular dams with submergence of large areas.

“As such the apprehensions of large communities being displaced are being flouted by vested interests exploited by politically motivated people. People should be careful of elements that provide incomplete and wrong information on hydro projects as it is not at all pro-bono-publico,” Khandu said while claiming that his statement (during the press briefing) was misinterpreted. He maintained that what he said was anti-hydro project protestors are acting on political motivation, which is anti-development and not at all in interest of the State.

Umbrey to revamp education sector in LDV

2010-03-14T08:14:00.000+05:30

ROING, Mar 13: True to his election commitment to revamp the education sector in Lower Dibang Valley district, MLA Laeta Umbrey allocated an amount of Rs 1.50 crore from Special Plan Assistance (SPA) fund for the infrastructure development of Govt Higher Secondary School, Roing during his whirlwind tour to various schools of the district recently.

While interacting with the students and teachers of the school, Umbrey hoped that development of infrastructure including extension of classrooms would help improve the quality of teaching.

While inspecting the Balek Middle School, the MLA said, teachers should work hard with sincerity and dedication to improve the education scenario. The teachers should be the role model for the students who are the future citizens of the state and country, he added.

Responding to the grievances submitted by the chairmen of the village level committees of respective school, the MLA assured to look into the basic amenities like electricity, water supply to the schools from MLALAD fund. However, he said major grievances will be taken up on priority basis for redressal during ensuing financial year. Tanyong Tatak DDSE who also accompanied the MLA during the tour had made an earnest appeal to the teachers to devote their maximum time in teaching.

The DDSE also warned of serious action against those teachers found irregular in their duty. During his recent tour the MLA covered Balek, Abango, Injeno, Koronu, Delo, Arongo, Abali and Iduli schools.

Source: Arunachal Times

Government dubs anti-dam movement as anti-Arunachal

2010-03-13T08:10:00.000+05:30

ITANAGAR, Mar 11: Reiterating for the umpteenth time that if the people do not want dam, no dam will be constructed, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, however, today said that the ongoing anti-dam movement at Pasighat in East Siang is nothing but a ‘political move’ and dubbed it as anti-Arunachal and not anti-dam.

Speaking to reporters here today, Khandu claimed that the villagers who would actually be affected by the 1600 MW Lower Siang Project have accepted and welcomed the project. He informed that only about 43 families in the project affected areas will face submergence and the implementing agency, the Jaypee Group, has already offered them compensation as well as relief and rehabilitation packages at its cost, which the families have accepted.

“Those agitating at Pasighat are neither residents of project affected areas nor hold any land in the vicinity of the project site. While they are agitating at Pasighat the actual affected people have come here to meet me,” Khandu said. He further claimed that such anti-development agitations are results of political vendetta and nothing to do with the actual project. Highlighting the lack of resource in the state Khandu stressed on hydro-power as the only revenue generating source on which the state can ride to development. He pointed that if the hydro-potential is not tapped there would be no solution to recurring floods and paucity of state funds.

“Where from are we supposed to generate revenue if not hydro-power? When the 7th Pay Commission comes up with another set of recommendations, how do we pay the employees? How do we employ the hundreds of educated youths graduating every year?” Khandu questioned. He said that only because of hydro-power projects, the State is benefiting in many ways and gave the instance of the advance payment made by NHPC with which the Apex Bank was revived. He further informed that as per the condition set up by the state government the NHPC has agreed to pay Rs 17 crore for establishment of a Law College and another Rs 10 crore for construction of a state convention hall. The foundation stones for these two would be laid within April, he added.

Khandu further revealed that the Government has made it mandatory for the power developers to employ local eligible youths in every category of their official hierarchy. He said that several companies have already accepted to employ local engineers starting with Jaypee, which reportedly offered to take in at least 50 Junior Engineers immediately.

To provide employment to all jobless engineers, Khandu revealed that the state government is contemplating a policy to make it mandatory for all qualified engineers to work in private and public sector power developers at least for six years before inducing them in government departments. However, it is yet to be decided if the recruitment would be conducted by the power developers or the state government would. Even if the recruitment is done by the state government the new recruits would be sent on deputation to these power developers.

Chief Minister should respect freedom of expression: ACR
Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu’s statement that anti dam protesters are anti Arunachal have evoked strong reaction from Arunachal Citizen’s Right. So long as the anti-dam protests are democratic and voiced within the ambit of constitutional democracy – the freedom of right to ex-pression and freedom of right to live - no Constitutional authority has the right to call them anti-State or anti-government. In today’s democracy, the State and its government is bound by its best practices to listen to the voices of its people and not ignore them. After all the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, it said.

In a press statement on Thursday, Chief Minister had said that anti-dam protestors are anti-Arunachalee and politically motivated.

Chief Minister should accept and listen to the anti-dam protests in that spirit of democratic and consensual decision making, said its Chairman Bamang Tago in a statement.

Respecting protests and listening to them is the hallmark of democracy; protests within the tribal society indicate lack of consensus in decision making.

Arunachal Pradesh, today, is a nascent state, trying to move cautiously towards the path of growth and development that would bring real and both qualitative and quantitative change in the lives and livelihood of the tribes and indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, development planning, governance and decision making cannot be imposed from the top by a handful of people in the government and the bureaucracy, he added.

Today, the world over, the international community and country governments have come forward to protect and conserve our world’s forests to halt rapid change in climate and emission of carbon; where as in Arunachal Pradesh with one of the highest forest cover and pristine forests and biodiversity hotspots, is looking towards a specter of destruction of thousands of hectares of community managed forests and biodiversity with the proposal of more than 100 large hydro projects coming in, Tago said.

Courtesy:The Sentinel, Arunachal Times

Jatan Pulu bags Karmayogi Award

2010-03-12T18:50:00.001+05:30

THE SENTINEL
ITANAGAR, March 8: The International Association of Lions Clubs, District 322D, awarded the prestigious Karmayogi Award 2009-10 to Jatan Pulu, Asst. Director Research (Retd), Government of Arunachal Pradesh on March 6 at Guwahati. The award was given by International Director, H.O.B. Lowal at a ceremony. Karmayogi award is given to the distinguished people for their dedicated and meritorious services to communities. Jatan Pulu is the first Arunachalee to receive the award comprising Rs. 51,000, a shawl and commendation certificate. Jatan Pulu, a respectable elderly person from Idu Mishmi community has two books to his credit ‘Idu Phrase Book’ and ‘Digaru Phrase Book.’ He has been closely associated with Vivekananda Kendra, Idu Mishmi Cultural & Literary Society, Arunachal Vikas Parishad and RIWATCH.

CCI accords cabinet approval on Dholla-Sadiya bridge

2010-03-06T10:26:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure accorded its administrative approval to undertake the project for construction of bridge between Dhola and Sadia ghats along with 2 lane connecting roads from near about Dhola to Islampur Tinali in Assam at an estimated cost of Rs.827.10 crore and Total Project Cost (TPC) of Rs.876 crore under the BOT (Annuity) basis.

The CCI also gave its approval to award the project on Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Transfer (DBFOT) basis following the annuity model approved by Cabinet for four roads of Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads & Highways under SARDP-NE with total concession period of 17 years and to make twenty five semi-annual annuity payments on the basis of accepted bid to the Concessionaire during twelve and a half years after successful completion of the road and to incur expenditure on the project in question out of the budget allocations for SARDP-NE.

The project road will provide connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh with Assam linking NH-37 in Assam to NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh. It will also facilitate numerous hydro power projects coming up in Arunachal Pradesh and foster socio-economic development of the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The road would also greatly facilitate the security/defence agencies to combat anti-national activities and threat in the border areas.

Background:
Construction of bridge between Dhola and Sadia ghat including approaches is one of the four projects approved ‘in principle’ by the Cabinet in January 2009 as part of the Arunachal Pradesh Package of roads and highways.

Why would not China claim Arunachal?

2010-03-05T00:29:00.005+05:30

Why wouldn’t China claim Arunachal? After all it’s our ignorance on the geo-political facts that gives more teeth to their claim.

A map of Tibet published in the front cover of a 16 page booklet ‘Imperialist China-threat to Bhuddism, tribal culture and national integration’ includes the Chinese claim area of Arunachal as part of ‘sovereign’ Tibet.

The booklet published by the Heritage Foundation, Guwahati was widely distributed during an awareness campaign by Arunachal Vikas Parishad(AVP) in the border districts of Arunachal denouncing Chinese claim on Arunachal and calling for independence of Tibet.

Now AVP needs to explain that, if they are supporting for the cause of Tibetan independence then, are they including the state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of sovereign Tibet? Or was it done in haste not realizing that there are many different maps of Tibet available where the borders have been redrawn according to the changing political scenario.

The basis of Chinese claim on Arunachal as many believe is on the basis of this early map of Tibet. Also the Tibetan govt had time to time from 1890 to 1950 laid claim to Sikkim, Bhutan and the whole of Arunachal Pradesh. So the agenda of free Tibet can have consequential claims at any point of time.

Although people are unhappy about repeated Chinese claim but Tibetan interests being too much propagated in the soil of Arunachal Pradesh may not go down well with many of the local indigenous tribes. So AVP has to tread carefully with respect to Chinese claim and not mix up the issue with their pan-Hinduism agenda of Tibetan independence.

Time to defeat NSCN designs on Arunachal

2010-03-02T11:01:00.000+05:30

JARPUM GAMLIN (THE SENTINEL)
ITANAGAR, Mar 1: As the top NSCN leaders arrived in Delhi to take forward their ‘peace talks’, it is time the government and the polity spared some thought for the victims of NSCN’s design for ‘Greater Nagalim’, especially in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. For the discerning Arunachalee, there is not much of a difference between China’s claim over Arunachal’s territory and that of the NSCN. But the silence that greets NSCN’s actual attempts to grab the State’s territory in stark contrast to the vociferous protest against China’s diplomatic hulla-golla, makes it that much more deafening. After all, as Arunachalee Indians, NSCN and its ideology are against ‘one India’ concept as its demand for Independence is yet to scale down.

It is intriguing to note that on one side, NSCN is engaged in cease fire and peace talks for more than a decade now, but on other hand, during this same period NSCN has been ruthlessly asserting themselves in Arunachal Pradesh, which has manifested into illegal activities including kidnapping, extortion and arms training of Arunachalees. Another unknown facet to the world and mainland Indians is the boundary dispute with Assam for years. Although the horse shoe is considered a talisman, yet horse shoe-shaped geographical map of Arunachal does not have same talismanic effect on its citizens. Thousands of kilometers along the foothills of Arunachal are in a horse-shoe shape touching Assam at every inch, and every inch is a trouble spot. Burning down of houses, bringing down of infrastructure, physical assault on Arunachalees and harassments of commuters is a common phenomenon along the inter-state boundary towns despite agreement to maintain status quo. Nobody owns up the responsibility to solve the boundary dispute.

Emergence of a new school of thought seems to be more accurate in pointing out that Arunachalee political leaders have been using problems with NSCN to claim benefits under security related expenditure (SRE), 100% funded Central special scheme for modernization of police force, etc. Additionally, it is pointed out by many in private conversations that problem with Assam government is an alibi to hide the wrong-doings and therefore government would want this stalemate over boundary to continue. One visit to towns and villages within 20-30 kilometers inside, from the imaginary boundary line, Arunachal side would tell tales of backwardness: work departments can’t construct infrastructure because of legal intricacies involved. Therefore, even in the 21st century, there are hundreds of villages, which are devoid of road, electricity and other modern amenities. For want of roads, there is no conveyance movement to these villages that could carry rations provided under PDS, which has resulted in starvations in these hamlets. Cascading effect of such apathy is that government officials also do not wish to stay there hence anarchy prevails in absence of administrative mechanisms. Such events have emotionally enraged the Arunachalees especially in Siang and Subansiri belt, which is now referred to as Taniland so much so that NSCN is taking advantage and has been rousing rebel groups under its guidance on both banks of river Brahmaputra - on one side, National Liberation Council of Taniland (NLCT) and on other side Arunachal Naga Liberation Front (ANLF).

Pain and agony is not so much against NSCN or Government of India or Assam but the very thought of the reality and realization that government of Arunachal and Arunachalee public are too subservient to assert its political rights and self respects that we rightly deserve but have been denied for long. In a sense, such ‘peace-talk’ is an opportunity for state government and civil society to let known the plight of Arunachalees at the hands of ultras such as NSCN and paternalistic Assam government. Therefore, time could not have been better than this to draw national and international attention on the plight of Arunachalees since media world over has been following the peace talks between GoI and NSCN.

It is only a wishful thinking that a group or groups should have gone to New Delhi to register its protest against Naga peace talks in a similar scale to the protests by AAPSU against Chinese claims over Arunachal. Arunachalees must stop Central government from ignoring this small but strategic State with geo-political importance in the light of continued Chinese claims over it as well as ‘gateway State’ to the South East Asian market in near future. Time is ripe for tough political negotiators to take centre stage but would we ever get to see one in Arunachal?

(The writer is CEO, Sentinel)

Mayu middle school upgraded to Secondary

2010-02-27T15:52:00.002+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, Feb 27: Laeta Umbrey, MLA 43rd Roing Assembly Constituency has inaugurated the Govt. Secondary School, Mayu which is being up graded from Middle School amidst the gathering of Panchayat Leaders, Public, Officers, VEC members, Teachers and students.

Congratulating the people, Umbrey said that the long felt demand of the people were fulfilled with the up gradation of Mayu School to Secondary level as there has been overcrowding of students in the lone Higher Secondary School of the district headquarter. As the things does not finished in simply upgrading the school, the MLA called for coordinated efforts of the elected representatives including Panchayat Members, VEC members, Public and teachers to make the school function well and well equipped in all respect to cater to the need of the students.

Mr Umbrey informed that a DPR for School auditorium has already been prepared and sent for approval to the govt. He also assured to provide fund for construction of a class room, a separate office room for Head Master, 50 pairs of bench & desk and electrification of the entire school building with a ceiling fan provision in every class through MLA LAD as demanded in a memorandum. It is also to mention here that the MLA has already provided fund for construction of toilets in the school before.

Tanyang Tatak, DDSE Roing has called upon the teachers to be sincere, punctual, dedicated and devote their energy for the welfare of the students quoting, “If the Engineers commit mistake, it is cemented in the bricks. If Doctors commit mistake, it lies in the Grave yard. But if Teachers commit mistake, the whole nation suffers”. He also requested the parents to share the responsibilities as 50% of the responsibility of their children’s education lies with them in motivating and creating a congenial environment for studies at home. He sought the support of the public particularly the Village Education Committee (VEC) members in maintaining the school infrastructure.

Kuthundu Linggi, member VEC submitted a memorandum to the Chief Guest and Kana Pulu, Chairman VEC have presided over the meeting. Among others, Chilliko Meto, Zilla Chairperson, Dature Miuli, Ex-Zilla Chairperson, Namo Linggi, ZPM Roing, Rao Dele, ASM Chairperson Hunli-Desali Block, Abu Saring, DAEO were present on the occasion.

The Sacred Dibang at mercy of hydro-power merchants

2010-02-27T10:40:00.003+05:30

The river Dibang which is locally known as Taloh by the Idu Mishmi tribe is one of the principal tributaries of the Brahmaputra river. Originating from snow covered southern flank of the Himalayas close to Tibet border at an altitude of more than 5000m, it emerges from the hills to enter the plain area near Nizamghat in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. The river finds its reference in the chanting of mantras of Igu (priest) of the Idu Mishmis and is the cultural lifeline of the indigenous tribe. For generation it has sustained their ancestral land that formed the basis for their cultural identity, beliefs and values. The river is intricately woven into cultural consciousness of every Idu Mishmi and is an intrinsic part of peoples’ identity and spiritual perception of the world and the life thereafter.

The proposal for large number of dams in the state of Arunachal Pradesh under Prime Minister of India’s 50,000 MW Hydroelectric Initiative to fast track hydropower development in the country is destined to cause an irreparable loss to the tribal community. While the state boasts of more than 55,000 MW capacity of hydro power potential, the Dibang river alone has an economically exploitable potential of 10,977 MW installed capacity. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has identified 16 hydro power projects in the Dibang river basin which includes India’s largest 4500 MW Etalin-Attunli project. The region is also proposed with country’s highest 288 mtr Dibang dam. With the onslaught of several hydropower projects on the river revered by Idu Mishmis, undeniably a debate is being stimulated over the issue on right to ancestral land, identity and culture which forms the basis of the existence of a tribal community.

Since past May 2007, the All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) and Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (ICLS), the apex body of the tribal community have been raising concerns over the sudden spurt of large number of dams being proposed in their ancestral land. For the 12,000 tribal people inhabiting along the tributaries of Taloh River, these projects for them means ‘cultural genocide’.

The Taloh river finds a sacred place in the heart of Idu Mishmis since it originates from a place called Athu Popu which is much revered and considered holy. It is situated near the Keya Pass at about 12000 ft in Himalayas which once served as trade route to Tibet. The Idus believe that Athu Popu is the place where ‘Sineru’, the first priest from the community successfully guided a soul, his own mother’s to the land of dead by mourning over her death for several days. While he wept the tear stained the stone and is still visible today. The Athu Popu is the resting place for the soul on their journey towards the land of dead and the river Taloh serves as its route. So during the burial, the head of the deceased person is kept facing towards the river which is a ritual followed in the tribal community. The priest praying for the departed soul carries the soul of the dead through Taloh river on their journey towards land of dead.

Considering how river Dibang plays an important part in the cultural and religious aspect of the tribal community, it is now of great concern that with building of large number of dams the sanctity of this river would be ruined forever. According to Kotige Mena, former member of ICLS, the entire riverine ecology is a place of worship.

“Our priests draw their power from rivers and mountains and if it is destroyed then how can they pray? If you take away the idol from a temple then whom will you worship?”, asks Mena.

For Idu Mishmis, the Dibang River has not only been culturally and spiritually intertwined in their lives but has a pervasive role in the overall development of an Idu society. Devoid of a strong traditional tribal council, the Idu society is entirely built on Ana system. The word Ana means relative and the concept of kinship based on Ana is very strong in the Idu society and it serves as a means for the community to stay united. So to preserve, reiterate and to celebrate that Ana system the Reh festival is celebrated by every individual member of the community once in a lifetime.

In celebration of this festival, the river has always played an important role. The Dibang river is the breeding place for Mishmi Garra, a fish species which is the main diet for women during the Reh festival. The fish is locally called ayu and is offered as a gift to the sisters by host brother to maintain the genealogical bonding. The festival is usually organized in a large scale and requires months of preparation. For preparation the Idus entirely depend on the river and forest for raw materials and food stuffs. So the destruction of river and its ecology will eventually mean an end to the socio-cultural subsistence of Idu Mishmis.

Summing up the fear, Ingore Linggi, a senior journalist from the community says, “River Taloh serves as a repository to our spiritual and cultural realization. If the river and its entire landscape is destroyed then the generations to come will forget how our forefather use to live and what their culture was”.

Imposing development on tribal people by dismantling their social and cultural environment will definitely bring a change, good or bad, but cannot sustain or bring back the culture which took thousand years to develop. It’s time the tribal community assert their cultural rights.

Raju Mimi
(The author is Panos South Asia Media Fellow 2009)

AASU offers support to AIMSU on dams

2010-02-23T18:52:00.000+05:30

ROING, Feb 23: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today offered support to All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) in their movement against large dams. In a meeting held here in Roing between the two student groups, AASU President Shankar Prasad Rai said, “We are with the Idu Mishmis in their fight against large dams”.

He said he was earlier mistaken about AIMSU’s struggle against large dams. “After discussion with AIMSU, I have understood that their fight is not against dams per se. Development needs to be planned to suit the local demands and there is no question of small or big dams”, Rai said.

The AASU President promised to take up the matter with central executive body of the union and also with AAPSU.

AIMSU said it is pointless to talk on development when the govt does not have the mechanism to deliver benefits to the people.

“What if Roing town is turned to New York City and you don’t find a single Idu Mishmi soul then what use the development can be”, said Unti Umbrey, President AIMSU.

The Idu Mishmi student union remaining consistent to its stand against large dams said, “Our demand with respect to dam is not in terms of quantity. It is the exploitation in the name of development which is being imposed on us and that is what we are questioning”.

“Yesterday it was fine talking of development when govt proposed for a single dam. But today 17 dams are proposed in the Dibang River basin alone. What the govt has to say now?”, asks the union.

Frustrated at govt’s inaction, opts for customary law

2010-02-22T23:27:00.004+05:30

AASU to meet AIMSU to discuss on the recent kidnapping
ROING, Feb 22: Frustrated at the authority for slow pace of action to arrest the culprits involved in kidnapping of Akepi Miuli on Feb 3 last at Sadiya, Assam, the aggrieved family of the victim now wants to take up the matter in accordance to local customary law.

In a meeting held between the victim’s family and the district administration today, the family conveyed that they were loosing faith on the authority.

“Almost a month has passed and the police in Assam keeps repeating the same dialogue of culprits identified, three arrested”, said a family member.

“We are informed that the arrested people are relatives of the culprits and the real kidnappers are still roaming free”.

Giving ultimatum of three days, the family wants the matter to be solved through customary law if the culprits are not immediately arrested.

Accompanying the family members, AIMSU Chief Advisor Tone Mickrow expressing regret over slow pace of action said, “If any person from neighboring state is harmed in Roing, then the culprit is immediately booked. But if any Arunachali is harmed in Assam, then we fail to get justice”.

No loose comments: Ringu
Earlier in a separate meeting with the AIMSU members, Deputy Commissioner YW Ringu asked for all the administrative officials and police officials to refrain from passing any loose comments under any situation.

She was responding after a complaint by Miuli against officials trying to round up the blame of AIMSU’s action in response to kidnapping on him.

Also AIMSU had earlier served ultimatum to police head for passing comments over the union.

AASU Central Committee in Roing
The Central Executive Committee of the powerful All Assam Students Union (AASU) led by its President is in the town to discuss on the recent kidnapping at Assam.

The visiting team will have be having a meeting with AIMSU tomorrow. They will also discuss on dam issue.

23 Years of Statehood of a State without a Border to Call its Own

2010-02-20T08:56:00.001+05:30

JARJUM ETE
On February 20, 1987 Arunachal Pradesh attained its statehood. Were we in a tearing hurry to assert it? Why - I still wonder. Those days, as a young woman, multitasking as a self-mployed struggling entrepreneur, a mother of two little ones, trying to finish graduation from the night college, volunteering with the pioneer women’s body, the APWWS for its revival, and making efforts to be a dutiful wife than now, the snatches of dialogues about the Statehood that one could gather here and there did not make much sense or impact. Today, when the results of the hurried act of assertion is not only being felt but seen and lived before our own eyes, I do get a mixed feeling. Questions loom larger than ever. And so I ask it in public. That too, on the occasion of the 23rd Anniversary of Statehood of the State.

The original five districts of Arunachal Pradesh have now grown into 16. More are being demanded. And anticipated. For better administration. For easier access. For more developments for the various tribal groups. More schools, colleges, hospitals for its people. Good efforts. Laudable development interventions to look back at. Of course, all are not satisfied by the way things go most often.

From time to time, China mentions about Arunachal Pradesh in its monologues and some international dialogues. And thanks to its controversial claim, the world today seems to know that there is a place called Arunachal Pradesh on this planet. We are also known for its rich biodiversity, the hydro potential, our varied cultural heritage. Some even think and call us a ‘living museum’, whatever that is supposed to mean. Of course, I am irked by such thoughtless, insensitive opinions. My pride as an Arunachali woman is hurt, when I realize that we are also a State where our leaders continue to take more than one wife, not because they love women more, but because they presume that women are to be possessed. And many educated young girls seem to think so too despite their education et al. Thanks to the internalization of such tribal values even by literate parents who equate ‘progress’ with acquisitions and connections to the power lobby. Many more miles to arrive!

One of our young academics succinctly said: ‘We Arunachalis have covered much in the last 50 years plus… from feudal tribalism to socialist democracy to capitalist market.’ What can we do when we are not able to train our young minds in the best possible ways. And we tacitly watch over with smugness when our streak of wild tribal barbarism shows up its ugly face now and then in different garbs. Recently, my alma mater, the only university of the State was the unfortunate witness of one such incident which, most unfortunately, seemed to have gone unnoticed by the guardians of the institution and the State.

We have had to span the wide gaps. From illiteracy to internet. From sickness to the state-of-art medical services across the country. From the frog-in-the well to the global village. Many are marching ahead. Many are left behind. Many get killed in the rush and stampede towards growth. Whatever that means to whomever. We are a state on march. The destination for all of us may not be the same. But the crowd pushes all of us along with it.

I was asked to head the Galo Welfare Society (GWS) - the apex body of the Galo tribe of central Arunachal - as its first woman President on 6th January 2010. A tour to the villages in the foothills of West Siang district is what we started with on the 11th February to 14th February. It was overdue. These people had been always feeling neglected by the State and its own community. To reach out to them in these psychologically remote villages and also to acquaint ourselves about their concerns. In all the three places we had meetings with the villagers - at Durpai, Torajan and Kangku, the circle headquarters - it was the same story. No roads. No medical facilities. No water supply. Schools sans teachers. School buildings sans walls. One had to make a detour of almost 16 kilometers in a vehicle to reach another village, hardly two kilometers away by foot.

The women sang of the lost glory of their villages, their hopes for a better life for their children being crushed under the burden of their souls - of being Arunachalis who have to keep thwarting the approaches and enticements of the revenue officials from the neighbouring state of Assam simply to be able to live up to their own images of themselves as proud tribals who had always lived and prospered amidst dangers in the wilds.

The elderly men told stories of how they used to sell their excess grains in the market during monsoons. And how, today, those same hardworking farmers have to stand in queue for a BPL ration card in hope for the AAY rice, which hardly ever reaches them. They also mentioned of the attacks on them from across the border by neighbours. How their villages were razed to the grounds in September 1987 by thousands of people, setting their granaries and homesteads on fire, rendering their children and old ones, the women with babies at their breasts, scrambling for cover in the jungles. Their paddyfields were occupied by the so-called neighbours with the support of their administrative machineries and our own STATE watched immobilised.

We were in such a hurry to get our statehood that we did not even have the patience to ask for demarcation of our boundaries with our neighbours. Maybe, we had our reasons. Maybe, for lack of experience towards attaining statehood, our administrators and leaders of those days forgot to ask for proper maps of demarcation of boundaries with the neighbours. But how was it possible that no one in the Home Ministry or whichever ministries dealt with the Statehood document of Arunachal did not find it necessary to mention about the boundary demarcation at that point of time?

Undivided Assam of the British days, or the post independence Assam was the Big Brother. Even today. Without going into other details, even the cursory glance one has about the boundary disputes that states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal, Meghalaya has with Assam, only indicates that either the Big Brother planned it that way or the bureaucrats in the Government of India were not well equipped to anticipate the present problems beforehand. Many of us in the tribal world also have learnt to be cunning these days. But the innocence of our tribal elders is unbelievable. I am angered why God continues to create people like us in a world ruled by the devious and the cunning. Their innocence moved me to tears. They have so much faith in the judiciousness of the Government of India that my skepticism is exposed now. But I hope and fervently pray that these innocent people are right and someone important, in the right place in the Government of India, sits up seriously and gives these people the justice they deserve.

The Assam Arunachal boundary dispute is being heard by a Border Dispute Commission in Delhi. While in April 1979, an agreement to maintain status quo on the interstate boundary was signed between Assam and Arunachal, the elderly neighbour does not seem to have kept its part of the agreement. The land where it started afforestation activities in mid 90s after evicting the Galos, the same lands are witnessing the planting of people on the very same ground. Mostly vote banks of the politicians. And the Galo tribes people are no wiser with the ways of the world. They are only hoping that the concerned Commission members would be keeping a track of what is happening on the ground - on their ground. Are they? Is the State government keen about helping these people? Just a few questions to brood over on this day of celebrations. What is there to celebrate for these Galos and many other Arunachalis who are eking out a living on the disputed inter-State boundary areas from Balemu to Kanubari?

(The writer is President, Galo Welfare Society, former Chairperson, APSCW and an activist)

Development projects should not be at the cost of indigenous people: ACR

2010-02-19T18:19:00.001+05:30

ITANAGAR, Feb 19: On the eve of statehood day, Bamang Tago, Chairman of Arunachal Citizen Right (ACR) appreciating the Khandu Govt. and the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh for improving the socio-economic condition of the people and lauding the govt's initiaitve for railway connectivity to Naharlagun sought to remind the govt that any developmental project should not be at the cost of Indigenous tribal culture and identity.

Informed consent must be sought sufficiently in advance of any final authorization by the State or third parties or commencement of activities by a company that affects indigenous peoples and their lands, territories and resources. Prior consent requires comprehensive procedure to ensure that indigenous peoples have sufficient time to understand and analyze the information they receive. Time bound requirement for information dissemination should be compatible to the situation of indigenous peoples. (National legislation may contain provisions for a notice or information but this is not sufficient to provide substantial information) Respect is shown for time requirements of indigenous consultation/consensus processes.

Keeping these in mind, ACR apprehends that massive floating of influx of outsiders alongwith the railway will definitely be a threat to the Indigenous people of Arunachal besides, increase in crime and health hazard that the railway project may bring with it.

Thanking the British Kingdom for promulgation of Bengal Eastern Regulation of 1873, Bamang said the regulation has given protection to the Arunachalees restricting outsiders entry without ILP. However he feels, the present situation of the Banderdewa check gate and other check gates, where ILP is being checked, has already in an appalling condition with the security (CRPF, ITBP) personnels responsible for checking the ILP seems to have miserably failed and not on the spirit of regulation.

There have been instances of not going through the ILP documents properly. It has been witnessed that they allow anyone who shows them any stamped document, may it be an appointment letter, an application or any other official letter irrelevant and not connected to ILP. This probably is because of the fact that they are mostly not well educated or may be systematically ignoring the importance of Regulation and with the advent of railways connecting to this tiny tribal populated area might be worsen. Therefore, ACR beseeches that its the duty of Govt. to let the People of Arunachal Pradesh know the mechanism if worked out so far so that the public may not have any doubt and worry about their security and fear of health hazard and cultural invasion due to unchecked influx. According to the 2001 census on population, Arunachal Pradesh has only 64.22% tribal population out of the total of 10,97,968 persons; the percentage of decadal growth from 1991-2001 being 26.21%. And in comparison to 90.09% and 89.53% of tribal population respectively in districts like Lower Subansiri and Upper Subansiri, Papumpare has only a mere 56.56% of tribal population.

The connectivity is a very important part of progress whether its rail, road or air but priority should be given to the kind of connectivity that benefits the common people of Arunachal Pradesh while considering new Railway, road and Air link projects, we must keep in mind that two third of our villages still remained unconnected, said Bamang.

"While some of us can afford to go to Delhi, Kolkata or Bangalore for costly medical care to this date, there are many districts which don’t have district hospitals live alone public health dispensaries in the circle head quarters".

"On the eve of statehood day our government and those at helm state affairs should be reminded again that the people of Arunachal and our nation state can only progress true developing a strong and meaningful education, health, food distribution system along with livelihood security", said Bamang.

Village council bans illegal hunting and collection of firewood/leaves

2010-02-18T18:40:00.000+05:30

ROING, Feb 18: With abundant natural resources, Roing the district headquarter of Lower Dibang Valley district is one of the most favored destination for any govt employee. If one can walk a few miles then they can have everything needed for their daily household needs from nearby forests. From firewood to fulfilling daily requirements for self consumption, the place is also gifted with free flowing rivers for fishing.

Unlike other parts of Arunachal, the place doesn’t provide restriction to non inhabitants for their dependence on natural resources. However with growing population and with shrinking resources, the local inhabitants especially the Idu Mishmis are worried and concerned.

“The illegal hunting of wild animals in this part of region is growing day by day. This has left us with concern since our tradition doesn’t encourage indiscriminate killing”, says Aegami Meme, a local villager from Kebali village.

The Idu Mishmi tribe is perhaps one such tribe in Arunachal that has the custom of prohibiting indiscriminate killing of wild animals. It has for generation followed a unique and rigid system of conserving natural resources.

“A person has to observe several restrictions in their diet for five days if he kills a wild animal. And there is total restriction of killing wild animals like Hoolock Gibbon and is believed that bad omen befalls”, says Meme.

Nowadays due to uncheck restriction in this part of region, there has been growing cases of illegal hunting of endangered Mishmi Takin, Flying squirrel, Hoolock Gibbon and other wild species. This correspondent once spotted few policemen in civil dress in their official motorbike with police written in their number plate rushing towards Mehao wildlife sanctuary.

Likewise there have been many instances of local villagers spotting intruders which mostly include govt officials and staffs in their official vehicle going for hunting in thick jungles of the sanctuary that houses several endangered species.

In a recent case, a group of villagers discovered many dead fishes in the river that died due to poisoning in the outskirts of Dibang Reserved Forest. A complaint has been lodged in the office of DFO (T) by the panchayat leaders of Kebali-Chidu for initiating strict against the culprits.

A check post has been erected in the road leading to Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary by the village council of Kebali-Chidu with aid from All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU). The villagers have now put complete ban on illegal hunting, collecting of wild leaves and firewood by outsiders and have imposed strict penalty.

Assault boils down to fund crunch

2010-02-18T16:04:00.001+05:30

The Sentinel
ITANAGAR, Feb 17: On February 13 last, RWD Executive Engineer R Choudhury, posted at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley, was assaulted at his official residence reportedly by two local youths. The assault was so brutal that the officer is undergoing treatment at a Dibrugarh hospital. Except for the victim’s family members, colleagues and a few educated persons, none reacted to the incident, far less criticized it. This was kind of a rehash of what had happened at the only university of the State a few weeks ago when no less a personality than the Vice Chancellor himself was bashed up and none, not even the people who matter, reacted to criticize it but chose to remain tight-lipped over shaming of the State and its people.

The latest incident of Roing has an uncanny similarity with that at the University as these are not a one-time incident. Things of this nature have happened in the past, though not to such a degree. Minor incidents of this nature seem to be cropping up time and again. And all such incidents of violence stem from something, which has something to do with contract works. One has to look at the wider picture to get an understanding of why this kind of incidents keep happening off and on. In the Roing case, the root cause arguably circles around the deplorable and meagre financial allocations of the works department on which a major chunk of the populace depends to earn a semblance of livelihood. This circling vortex of shrinking financial assistance sometimes seem invisible to the common public. These departments, which those in the knowing call ‘providers of the society’ albeit in hushed tones, are all financially constrained. This again roots down to the capability or inefficiency of the elected representative.

Talking to The Sentinel, a prominent businessman Muchu Mithi, seen as an upcoming politician from Roing to reckon with says, “It seems our elected legislator doesn’t seem to have much influence or is unable to exert pressure in the capital circles to divert funds into our district. I have seen several instances sitting at Itanagar where funds that were supposed to come to Roing have been diverted to other areas. Maybe our representative just doesn’t understand the official system to follow up with these.”

Mithi, son of Rajya Sabha member and former Chief Minister Mukut Mithi, blames lack of funds with the departments for the frustration of the public who tend to pour their anger on hapless officials. He says as long as this happens, the trend will continue forcing officials to function with a fear psychosis ultimately leading to near defunct offices.

There is a point in Mithi’s argument though he specifically maintained that the violence inflicted on the engineer is unwarranted and condemnable by all sensible and civilized people. It is natural that the pubic at times misinterpret when told that funds are not available. The conception at such times is that the official is hiding facts when the truth is “coffers are empty”.

“I have been told during various conversations with our society elders that our legislator is someone who ‘Talks the talk, and not the one who walks the Talk’. I reason its time with his years of experience as a Member of Parliament and MLA, that he learns to Walk the Talk,” Mithi throws the onus on the MLA.

At hindsight, violence of whatever kind, justifiable or not, is deplorable in today’s world. May be, its time to study the root causes of these. To begin with, judicious and equal distribution of funds to all the districts could be explored.

Mass social service to promote tourism

2010-02-17T22:12:00.003+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, Feb 16: A week long Tourism Awareness Programme organized by the department of Tourism, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh at Roing concluded today with a social service at Roing Bazaar area. Participating in the cleanliness drive under the banner of Eco-Tourism, Laeta Umbrey, local legislator has called upon each and every sections of the society to make the Roing township clean and tourist friendly. He lauded the initiative taken by the Tourism Department and exhorted them to continue the same. He also informed that proposed Solid Waste Disposal Scheme amounting to Rs 2.67 Crores for Roing Township under District Urban Development Agency has been sanctioned by the Govt. and the scheme will be implemented soon.

Earlier, in the inaugural function Lod Gambo, SDO (SADAR) presiding over the programme has solicited the department for much needed programme as the district has vast tourism potentials and can be a tourist hub in future if given the needed exposure and training to the people. T. Karga, Superintendent of Police participating in the programme has dealt at length on the safety measures of tourist. Jibi Pulu, a prominent tour operator of the district has emphasized on infrastructure development to accommodate and attract tourist and sought for proper identification of local guides and the role & responsibilities of local guides.

Apart from imparting training to PRIs, NGOs, SHGs, Govt. Officers, Tour Operators, Hotelliers, Hotel Managers, Auto & Taxi Drivers in regards to handling of tourists, communication skills, cleanliness, hygiene etc, Trekking to Ezengo Hills under Adventure Tourism, Local Food Up gradation Programme and identification of Local Entertainment Group were held.

Mrs Manna Bengia, District Tourism Officer (Hq), Itanagar, Tako Yadam, Tourism Information Officer, Govt. of India and Chuku Mama, Lecturer from Polytechnic College, Itanagar were the resource persons.

Engineer assaulted, authority vows to deal with attackers with iron hand

2010-02-17T10:16:00.002+05:30

ROING, Feb 16: R Chaudhury, Executive Engineer of RWD Department was physically assaulted late in the night of Feb 13 by some unknown miscreants at his residence. Before leaving the scene, the assaulters also damaged some properties in the house.

The victim sustained serious injuries in the face and had to be admitted in a hospital in Dibrugarh.

The attack on the engineer has been condemned by the Lower Dibang Valley Engineers Association and the local MLA Mr Laeta Umbrey regretting the incident vowed to deal with attackers with iron hand.

“The assaulters will have no place in this society”, said Umbrey.

The motive behind the attack was not known until one engineer disclosed that the attackers were demanding some contract works from the victim to which he had refused.

The Engineer association in a statement has warned of a peaceful dharna in front of DC office if the administration failed to arrest the culprits within 48 hours.

Umbrey inaugurates free eye camp

2010-02-16T23:49:00.002+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, Feb 16: Laeta Umbrey, MLA 43rd Roing A/C along with Chilliko Meto, Zilla Chairperson inaugurated Free Eye (Cataract) Camp here at District Hospital, Roing today.

Lauding the efforts of entire medical team of District Hospital in successfully organizing such camp in the district for the last sixth years, Mr Umbrey in his inaugural speech as Chief Guest said, “without a team spirit no matter what professional skill one may have, one can not succeed in conducting such philanthropic works of eye camp”. He exhorted them to maintain the same spirit in the days to come as it is a boon to the poor people who could not go outside of the district for eye operation. He requested them to conduct such camp at Hunli Sub-Division for one day, if feasible so that the poor people of that area also get benefit from such camp and assured to bear 100% expenses for organizing such camp at Hunli.

Chilliko Meto, Zila Chairperson and the guest of honor of the programme appreciated the humanitarian works done by the District Health Society and exhorted them to continue the same spirit. He also assured moral and physical in organizing such camp in the district in future.

Lod Gambo, presiding over the programme as chairman said that such programme are really quite helpful to the poor people and requested the Medical Team to conduct such camp periodically either half yearly or annually.

Dr Atlok Yirang, DMO in his welcome speech has informed that this is the sixth eye camp conducted by District Health Society at Roing after the bifurcation of the then combined Dibang Valley District and till date 317 cataract cases had been treated so far in the district.

Expressing gratitude, he said that the cooperation rendered by the elected representatives and HoDs of work department when ever they are needed is highly appreciable and had morally boosted the medical staffs in organizing such camp. Apart from Cataract Operation, eye scanning for the school children from class 1-8 (at the age group of 6-14 years) have also been conducted and 7500 students have been treated so far, Dr Yirang added.

Dr K K Deb, Senior Eye Specialist cum State Programme Officer, National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) said that Cataract accounts for 60% of blindness and is a curable disease with a minor operation. He further sought helps from all corners in successful conduct of such camp.

Dr Ista Pulu, SMO cum Medical Superintendent of District Hospital informed that 400 eye patients have been treated so far in this eye camp out of which 42 Cataract patients have been admitted for operation.

Along with Dr K K Deb, Dr Beauty Borang, Eye Specialist from Pasighat is conducting the eye operation. The Diet Requirements of the patients are being sponsored by NHPC Roing and Kerala Sama Jam, a welfare society of working Keralian people in the district. Laeta Umbrey, MLA has donated Rs 25,000/- to the Eye Camp and another Rs 25,000/- to the district hospital for maintaining cleanliness of the hospital as promised earlier.

A sorry state for Desali

2010-02-16T23:43:00.002+05:30

AJAY SARING

ROING, Feb 16: Desali, a remote circle headquarter lying at the north eastern most corner of Lower Dibang Valley District at an altitude of about 1000 metres above sea level near China border known for its scenic beauty and once craved for by the govt. employees for posting among the remote places is now looked redundant and forgotten.

The place which got road connectivity in the year 2000 with its extension up to Donli village, 7 km further from Desali in the year 2002 is now remained blocked and unopened for vehicular movement since 2004 when the massive landslides washed away the road formation in some places. The circle headquarter which was electrified in the year 1987-88 through DG Sets and then was followed by electrification of the nearby hamlets like Mariso, Hukani with the openning of Theafra Mini Hydel in the year 2001 is now looming under darkness.

Chiliko Meto, Zilla Chairperson who is also the native of the circle in a public meeting held at Desali recently during the visit of Laeta Umbrey, MLA Roing has expressed the urgency of restoring the road connectivity from Hunli to Desali and to the nearby villages. He highlighted the hardships faced by the people in bringing Essential Ration Commodities (ERCs) from Hunli travelling 32 km on foot. The closing of Desali CPO has aggravated the problems of the people and recalled that ERCs were dropped by helicopter when CPO was functioning. He earnestly sought for re-functioning of the CPO centre as FPS owner also fails to meet the demand of the people due to road in-connectivity and he further requested the local legislator to take up the matter with the state govt.

The Health Unit at Desali, where once first doctor of the state, Late Dr Odang Lego served in his first posting is now running without a nurse and doctor for several years. Mr Umbrey was disappointed visiting the health unit and commented “How can a nursing assistant prescribed medicine and even if he knows the proper medicine, how can he advised doses!” Dr S J Mitapo, SMO an accompanying entourage informed that since the system of Health Unit in the state has already been abolished, there is no source for funding and posting of medical staffs to the health units in the present system. Therefore, the matter should be taken up with the higher authority immediately for upgrading the health unit in to a PHC. The dignitaries also visited the Desali Power House with a DG Set lying unused with its wire cut down by rats. When enquired, Mr Mishra, Junior Engineer (Power) who already served in the area and recently again taken over the charge of Desali Circle has clarified that the DG Set was functioning from the year 1987-88 till 2004, however due to break down of surface communication it could not be taken out for repairing. He, however said that he will get the engine checked by an electrician and then will give the detail reports. Mr Umbrey asked him to get the work done at the earliest and assured to bear the expenses for the restoration of the DG Set.

The condition of Govt. Secondary School, Desali is not a different one. The school which was upgraded to Secondary School is now having only 8 teachers and 38 students that too up to middle class. The Old Girls and Boys hostel were lying abandoned with the students shifted to some new hostel buildings. When asked, Panya Saring, JT Head Master in charge of the school informed that due to ration and stipend problem few years back and due to absence of Science & Maths Teachers for last 2-3 years, most of the students have left the school and joint some other schools at Hunli and other places. However, he informed that with the initiative of Rakesh Tacho, Circle Officer Desali and with the support of public, the school is coming back to normalcy as revolving fund to meet up the basic requirements of students has been evolved and informed that with the help of the revolving fund now the hostellers are getting eggs and meats every week and the confidence of parents to the school are coming back slowly. He expressed hope that the school will function in its normalcy from the coming session if adequate subject teachers are posted.

Mr Umbrey however shouldering the responsibility as the elected representative of the area has determined to try his best affords for restoration of the road connectivity and to bring into normalcy the functioning of the school and sought the cooperation from all the panchayat leaders and public of the area for bringing all round development to this remote circle.

Quality education for hills people: Umbrey

2010-02-16T19:24:00.002+05:30

ROING, Feb 16: Ever since the Desali govt school was upgraded to secondary school in late 80s, it could produce only one student who could passed Class X exam. With education standard deteriorating every year, the school has been functioning as middle school with no students to enroll for higher classes as most parents prefer their children to study in towns.

Expressing shock over the poor educational scenario in Hunli-Desali sub-divion, Laeta Umbrey MLA Roing laid stress on quality education for hills people while on his six days tour to remote location.

Calling for judicious use of development funds, he advised the local panchayat leaders for focusing their energy and effort towards education and discouraged on bringing petty schemes.

The worsening condition of the lone secondary school in Desali however is being given a facelift, informed Rakesh Tacho, Circle Officer, Desali.

"The deterirating scenario cannot be changed overnite but will require continued effort from the govt establishment", said Tacho while speaking separately to this correspondent.

In trying to improve the enrollment of students in the school, he informed that sufficient quota of rice was being allocated for the hostel. Also the mid day meal scheme in school which failed to get implemented earlier will now be implemented, said Tacho expressing optimism that enrollment in the school will grow.

However amidst the deteriorating education scenario in the hills region, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Hunli, which is the lone residential school for girls is a success story. The popularity of the school can be gauged by the fact that students enrolled come from every nook and corner of the twin districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley besides meeting the education requirement of local girls.

Impressed by the school in delivering quality education, Umbrey in his second day of tour on a visit to the school generously donated Rs 50,000 and assured every financial help. While in a meet with the students he encouraged the students to speak in their Idu Mishmi dialect besides learning other languages.

Advising the local panchayat leaders gathered, he said, “The KGBV belongs to all of us and every one of you must lend their helping hand and cooperate with the school management for smooth functioning of the school”.

Komini Meto, Secretary of Abralow Memorial Multipurpose Society that runs the KGBV School informed the visiting dignitary that the school was currently in the process of up gradation to secondary school.

Umbrey successfully completes his six day tour to Hunli-Desali sub division

2010-02-14T22:26:00.001+05:30

AJAY SARING
ROING, Feb 14: The six days tour programme of Laeta Umbrey, Member of Legislative Assembly, 43rd Roing Assembly Constituency to the Hunli-Desali Block ended successfully and safely today. During the tour, Umbrey visited almost all the villages under Hunli Subdivision trekking a total distance of about 98 km on the hilly terrains on foot. The MLA interacted with the people of the border villages viz., Mitaka, Donli, Taloni, Chanli, Churoni, Mariso, Hukani, Jambu Pani and Eyanli under Desali Circle during the tour.

While interacting with people, Umbrey said that the main motto behind his touring programme is to know the ground realities and hardships faced by the people of these remote villages. During his tour the local legislator has exhorted the people that priority must be given to the quality education and there should not be any compromise in this regard. Requesting the Panchayat Leaders for cooperation for ensuring quality education to the children, he said that instead of opening schools at various villages, concentration should be given to the Govt Secondary School at Desali with adequate teacher which is running without Science and Maths Teachers for several years. He urged them to revive and brings in to normalcy the functioning of the school.

Heeding to the demand of people for providing fund for construction of School Building, Boys’ & Girls’ Hostel buildings and teachers’ quarters at Desali, Mr Umbrey called for judicious use of Border Area Development Programme (BADP) fund for infrastructure development and creation of permanent assets like schools & hostel buildings, hospitals, etc. instead of spending on porter tracks and CC steps. Regarding up gradation of Desali Health Unit to Primary Health Centre, posting of teachers and doctor, functioning of Desali CPO, handing over of construction work of Hunli-Desali road to BRTF, the MLA assured to take up the matters with the concerned authorities in the district and the state.

The MLA announced to provide Solar Home Lighting System to every house holds of Mitaka, Donli, Taloni and Dapowa village through MLA LAD fund within a year. He also assured to provide fund for construction of a joint Rekho building for Donli & Taloni village. He suggested the people of Churoni, Mariso and Hukani villages which are scattered around 3-5 km on the hills with about 16 houses to migrate to a common place at the river bank site and assured them to provide fund for construction of their houses.
The Local MLA was accompanied by Chiliko Meto, Zilla Chairperson, Tamune Miso, SDO Hunli, Anjite Menjo, ZPM Iduli Block, Rao Dele, Anchal Chairperson Hunli-Desali Block, Dr SJ Metapo, SMO cum District TB Officers, Rakesh Tacho, CO Desali, Other Panchayat Leaders, Public, Officers and Officials from Hunli Sub-Division. The dignitaries also visited Anganwadi Centres, Rekho and Community Schools of various Villages. The respected Panchayat Leaders submitted memorandum to the MLA.