KSU celebrated its 1st Birth Anniversary

Diphu, May 28: The Karbi Students Union (KSU) today celebrated its 1st Birth Anniversary at yellow Tree cafe in Diphu.

The program hosted by Sar-im Tokbi, was presided over by KSU President George Timung while the welcome address was delivered by Bamonkiri Rongpi.

Saising Rongpi, Convenor Hills Tribal League (HTL) who grace the program as a guest said upliftingly that the members of KSU are previous students of the university, so they know and understand the problems and hardships of the people of Karbi Anglong. 

He further said that students play a vital role in the society and must act in order to safeguard the region.

Khorsing Teron, Chairman JACAS also attended the program as a guest. He said in his address that it is high time and one has to give priority to the development of Karbi Anglong. In this regard maintaing unity and integrity among the society is the only source for obtaining development, said Khorsing. 

He further highlighted the struggle movement  of the Karbis of the past thirty years demanding Autonomous State and the countless people involved in the struggle including the students.

Today in the program the student organisation also felicited its new members with Karbi poho (scarf). 

General Secretary Richard Ingti briefed about their achievements during the first year of their formation. With the aim of  promoting Karbis Academically and socially President George Timung said and urge the members to work wholeheartedly and with dedication to achieve the goal. 

A lot of things can be done for the promotion of education in the district. 

The program concluded with vote of thanks delivered by Mindar Rongphar.

KAAC Elections announced: Model code of conduct enforced

From left, SP of Karbi Anglong Dr. G.V Siva Prasad and DC of 

Karbi Anglong Adil Khan while addressing the press conference at Diphu. 

Ballot Papers make a comeback, EVMs replaced 

Diphu, May 11: The elections to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) is set to be held on 12 June, 2017, announced the Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong Adil Khan in a press conference today.

Election results to be declared on 17 June, 2017.

DC Adil Khan today announced the date for the KAAC elections as set by the State Election Commission.

The schedule for the election will be as follows:

Last date of filling nomination on 19.05.2017 between 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM,

Scrutiny of nomination papers on 20.05.2017 between 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM,

Publication of the list of validly nominated candidates on 20.05.2017,

Withdrawal of candidature on 22.05.2017 between 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM,

Publication of list of contesting candidates on 22.05.2017,

Date and time of Poll on 12.06.2017 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM,

Date of Re-poll (if any) on 15.06.2017 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and

Date of Counting on 17.06.2017 from 8:00 AM till completion of the counting process.  

With the process of election on the roll, Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in the district from today by DC Adil Khan as stated in the press conference.

Out of the 26 constituencies of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, 9 constituencies of Hamren Sub-Division will be under the control of Deputy Commissioner of West Karbi Anglong,  Hamren, 10 Constituencies of Diphu  Sub-Division will be under the control of Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong and 7 constituencies of Bokajan Sub-Division will be under the control of SDO(C) Bokajan.

The Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong and Deputy Commisioner of Hamren and SDO(C) Bokajan will be the Returning Officer and District Election Officer respectively during the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

There are 270981 voters in Diphu sub-Divison out of which 137964 are male voters and 133017 are female voters. There are also 110 number of very, very sensitive Polling Station, 162 number of Sensitive Polling Station. Comparatively safe are 289 Polling Stations out of a total of 561 Polling stations in the Karbi Anglong District.

The maximum expenditure limit by a candidate in the General Election of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has been fixed at Rs. 3.5 lacs.

Ballot paper will be used this time instead of EVMs informed Deputy Commisioner of Karbi Anglong during the press conference.

Further, Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan appealed to all the people of Karbi Anglong to ensure free and fair poll during the election. 

Red Horn Division busts UKDA hideout

Diphu, May 8: A team of Red Horn Division seized a cache of arms and ammunition and other articles on Sunday in a successful operation against a militant group United Kuki Democratic Army (UKDA) in their hideout. The operation took place in East Karbi Anglong District area, reportedly.

According to sources, the operation was undertaken by MOLSANG, a team from Sarihajan Army Camp on 6 May, 2017, based on an intel they received. The well executed operation resulted in the recovery of three country made self loaded rifles (SLR), five hand grenades, three SLR cartridges, one ammunition pouch and three combat outfits.

Interaction initiative between 12 Garwal Riffles and Journalists

Diphu, May 8: Today an interaction program was held between Diphu based 12 Garwal Riffle army and Diphu fraternity of Jounalists at PWD Guest House .

During the interaction program discussions ranged over the present problem of socio-political life of people in the region.  

The 12 Garwal Riffle echoed the opinion that skill development training have to be imparted to the unemployed youths in the district so that they can start their own entrepreneurship.

During the programme, the members of District Press Club of Karbi Anglong presented  a Karbi Poho as sign of adoring to commandant officer Cornel  J.V. S Rawat. 

Foundation stone laid for Manja market shed

Diphu, May 8: Foundation stone for Manja market shed was laid today in a programme in Manja.

The honour of laying the foundation stone was done by KAAC EM for Environment and Forest Pradip Singnar, in the presence of VDC Chairman Rensing Tokbi under the Lumbajong Development Block.

During the programme Manja Bazar Committee President, Baburam Rongpi, Kuki National Assembly President Thongthang, Marson Jigdung VDC Chairman Dhansiri, Ropin Hasnu, BJP Executive Member district committee and others were present.

According to information by Manja Bazaar Committee, for the last decade the Bazaar had a total area of three and a half bighas; but due to encroachment the Bazaar area remains only about one and a half bighas.

On the other hand, the foundation stone for boundary wall around Siloni LP School, at Bura Teron Longnit village was also laid today by EM Pradip Singnar.

The program was attended by School Managing Committe president Longnit Teron, Village headman Bhupen Teron, Headmaster Bidyasing Teron, ex-VDC Chairman Madhuram Lekthe and other BJP workers.

There was on the same day a programme for laying foundation stone for construction of a slab culvert at Tikoklangso. EM Pradip Singnar did the honours o

f laying foundation stone for the culvert as well.

Talking to Reporters, EM Pradip Singnar said that for construction of market shed at Manja, a grant in aid was sanctioned from special budget of the 9th Finance commission.

Making waste management part of our culture

(Diphu Market near Power House)

The innocent citizenry of Diphu Town have often been hit by accumulating garbage spewing out fumes of foul smell everywhere, just because our Town Committee is chronically failing to manage its finances, which again is the money given by the tax-paying citizenry. We hardly have any issue with the sweepers as they mostly continue with their work despite their salaries pending for up to 52 months. Wow, they are so large hearted, but how would they accommodate the Town’s interest for unlimited period of time with their home and hearth deprived of the most basic of life?

The bazaar is often the hardest hit as most garbage accumulate because of commercial activities and such activities bring with them their load of garbage.

As one was walking through the bazaar lanes one would have seen litter everywhere. Litter here. Litter there. Litter, litter everywhere. Bottles, paper, plastic, all of it. But again, had somebody wanted to throw a wrapper or an empty bottle and searched for a garbage-can they couldn't have found one because there were no such bins posted in the lanes for collection of wastes. Worst of all, Diphu bazaar does not even have a public lavatory.

So whose responsibility was it to look after cleanliness? Firstly, garbage cans should be a priority for anyone managing the township, especially in the bazaar area. But saying that would just mean pointing fingers at the easiest target to blame; because it cannot be said to be certain that, had the officials made garbage-cans available, people would have surely used it. A large number of the crowd might have littered anyway, but that does not excuse the responsibility of the officials to make garbage-cans available.

Also, so much littering wouldn't have occurred had the vendors selling items with wrappers and things that generated waste kept their own waste-basket at hand.

All the Alu-chat walas, chana walas, and all such vendors with their paper plates and wrappers and anything that generated waste should have been made to keep a waste-basket at hand so that customers who enjoyed their items could have left the waste there itself making it part of their business responsibility to dispose them later.

So where does the real problem lie? Is waste management not a part of our culture?

Starting from the consumers, to vendors, to businessmen, to the Town Committee: are we not conscious of all the litter? Is waste management not a priority in our daily lives and culture?

Because, it was not only in the bazaar area that littering is witnessed. Many of the public places are full of it. Roads, parks, rivers and tourist spots: nowhere does anyone seem to take littering seriously. In places like the waterfalls in Bhelughat, the amount of littering is just embarrassing to see, and to think of it, these are the places that tourists and people from outside visit and see.

As we are a people from the hills with abundance of nature let it be our priority to show kinship to our environment. As littering is a form of pollution and something that can possibly affect to bring shame upon the community where it happens, let us make waste-management and cleanliness a big part of our culture, our priority  and our community daily life.

High Drama witnessed in KAAC over separate electoral roll issue

KAAC says “matter subjudice”, 25 organisations say CEM “running away”

Diphu, May 3: High drama was witnessed today at the KAAC Secretariat when the official discussion on the joint demands of the 25 organizations was abruptly aborted after the CEM declared that the Council though in agreement with most of the demands was unable to take any step further as the matter was subjudice. As the CEM walked out of the meeting the representatives were left wondering in the KAAC Conference Hall where the discussions took place. Later the organization leaders addressed the press outside the Secretariat and demanded the resignation of Tuliram Ronghang. The leaders then shouted slogans, laid on the ground and rolled down the road till  the Council gate, shouting, shrieking and some were seen weeping in exasperation and disgust. They later assembled at the Government Boys’ High School Field to take stock of the whole incident.

Apart from the CEM and his colleagues, the meeting was attended by the Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan and Superintending Police Dr. G.V.Siva Prasad. The meeting was held as per the assurance of the Chief executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council  (KAAC) Tuliram Ronghang to the 25 organisations given earlier when the organizations had called for  Karbi Anglong Bandh.

As soon as the meeting had begun, on behalf of the Sixth Schedule Implementation Committee (SSIC), Adviser Jones Ingti Kathar briefed the meeting about the demands of the organizations that included enactment of a new “Council Act and Rule under Para-2 sub para-7 (a & b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and to prepare a new electoral roll under para-20 of the Sixth Schedule.

The Rengma Naga Students Union (RNSU)President,  Phenpiga Rengma also addressed the gathering saying that they were asking for “our own rights which are guaranteed in the sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution framed for the welfare of the people of the Sixth Scheduled area”.

The Dimasa Students Union (DSU), President Dhiraj Difusa, also addressed the meeting to say that “Sixth Schedule is our right we have to get benefit from it”. Learders of various organistions voiced their opinion in the meeting.

Replying to the discussion, the Chief Executive Member Mr Tuliram Ronghang informed the gathering that though the KAAC was in agreement with most of the points raised by the leaders of the organizations, they were unable to proceed on the issue as the matter was subjudice. Reading from the letter of the KAAC Standing Counsel Mr Jayanta Chutiya, Advocate he said that,  Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No.9/2017 filed by Ratan Terang and ors. vs State of Assam and Ors and the petitioners have prayed for a direction to strike off the names of disqualified non-tribal voters who and whose ancestor were not permanent resident of Karbi Anglong  District on the qualified date of i.e 01-03-1950 from the voter list for the election of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and to direct the KAAC authority to supervise and control the election to the Election to the Autonomous Council instead of conducting the election by the state Election Commission, Assam. The Advocate had written that the above matter pertaining to the preparation of voter list was presently pending before the Division Bench of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court and the whole matter was subjudice. As such in his opinion no decision may be taken by the authority of KAAC at this stage when the matter was pending  before the Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court for final adjudication.

Mr. Ronghang also said that the Council could not disregard the Hon’ble High Court over the matter and would prefer to wait for the Hon’ble High Court’s order before proceeding on the issue. Mr Ronghang also said that it was themselves which filed the PIL which was now coming in the way of resolving the matter outside the Court room. At this Mr J.I Kathar replied if it was subjudice, then holding of election before the final adjudication would also be subjudice. After that perhaps sensing nothing substantial would come out of the discussion, the CEM and his colleagues rose to leave the meeting and Mr JI Kathar shouted that they were running away from the meeting as they were unable to face the tribal leaders.  

Later while taking stock at the Boys’ High School field speakers speaking in turns called for boycott of the election and would prevent any election campaign to take place in Karbi Anglong.