DEO Kiphire inaugurates GHS Singrep

The inauguration programme for the upgradation of Government High School in Singrep was held on April 22 with DEO, Kiphire, Deenabandu Panda, as the chief guest. The chief guest, in his speech, emphasized on proper implementation of RTE Act and directed the VECs to utilize their power and function for the extension of GHS, Singrep. The programme was attended by ADC (SSA), Sethricho Sangtam; President SYTKJ, Achum Sangtam; VECs, GBs, Village elders and students.

The programme was chaired by Thsakhongse A Sangtam, Assistant Teacher GHS Singrep, while the welcome address was delivered by Head Teacher, Daniel Tikhir, and the vote of thanks was delivered by President Singrep Village Students’ Union.

Transfer and posting of NCS and NSS officers

Governor of Nagaland has in a notification No. PAR-4/24/2009 (CSB) dated Kohima, the 23rd April, 2015 transferred and posted the following NCS and NSS officers with immediate effect:

Keyirangding Hegui, NCS, SDO (C), Mon is transferred and posted as Under Secretary, Tourism Department.

M. S. Thangpong, NCS, SDO(C), Changtongya is transferred and posted as SDO(C), Mon.

Chumlamo Humtsoe, NCS, SDO (C), Suruhoto is transferred as posted as SDO (C), Changtongya.

Warren Hollohon Yepthomi, NCS, SDO (C), Zunheboto is transferred and posted as SDO (C), Suruhoto.

M. Yashei Konyak, NSS, Under Secretary, Social Welfare is transferred and posted as Under Secretary, Horticulture Department.

Zakabo V. Rotokha, NCS, SDO(C);, Tuensang (designate) is retained as SDO(C), Kuhuboto.

C. Phuniang, NCS, EAC, Meluri is transferred and posted as EAC, Noklak.

Eastern Konyak Union Unit (EKUUM) censures Assam Rifles highhandedness

‘We have suffered enough. We need peaceful development’

 The Eastern Konyak Union Unit (EKUUM) has condemned the high handedness of Assam Rifles personnel, who have been alleged of preventing road works from Chen Moho to Nyanching via Throilu under the Indian Myanmar Friendship Project Scheme.

A press note from the EEKUM alleged that on April 7, personnel of the 33 AR, 5th Battalion “blocked” construction of a 15 meter stretch of the road and seized goods from members of the public. It further stated that the AR personnel had “forbidden” people from travelling across the road from one village to another.

The EKUUM has appealed to both the Assam Rifles and the Naga political groups for a peaceful atmosphere in the area. “We are not in favour of any group. We need peaceful development only.”

The said road project, construction for which began on 2013-14 is yet to be completed. On the other side of the border, the EKUUM informed that the road from Monyakshu to Nyanching via Chen Hoyat had also been left incomplete without any notification on October 2013, with only a few kilometers completed.

The EKUUM asserted that the road is not only for people in the border areas but is a link to connect Eastern and Western Nagas. It reminded that the significance of the road project had also been stressed on by Nagaland MP and former Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and the former R&B Minister as well.

The EKUUM questioned as to “who has been prohibiting the workers or contractors to stop immediately before the road is completed.” It urged the concerned authority to complete the road construction as per the agreement.

The people on the border areas, the EKUUM, lamented have lived in a state of constant struggle. People here, it recalled have not been able to live freely due to continuous turmoil in the area beginning in the 1950s. “We have suffered enough as human beings and we want justice on humanitarian grounds,” appealed the EKUUM.

ENPO, ENPUD condemn murder

The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) along with Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Union Dimapur (ENPUD) have vehemently condemned the gruesome killing of late Aorpan Das, son of late Niranjan Das on April 20 at Mon – Namtola road under Mon district.

ENPO and ENPUD stated that such barbaric and inhuman act was an attempt to create misunderstanding and disunity of the already existed peaceful relationship between the Nagas and Assamese brethren for the last many years.

While conveying condolences to the bereaved family members, the ENPO and ENPUD urged the law enforcing agency to book the culprits involved without losing any time and award befitting punishment as per the law. The ENPO and ENPUD further urged all concerned to remain calm and maintain peaceful co-existence and to co-operate with the law enforcing authorities in order to bring justice to the family of the victim at the earliest.

Confession of a Head Hunter: Christianity Saved My Life

“I wouldn’t be alive and talking had I not converted to Christianity,” Khon Khiam, one of the last surviving warriors of the bygone Naga head hunting era says in his calm demeanor during a conversation recently at his home at Noklak village.

In his twilight years with a declining memory, Khon Khiam (short for Khiamniungan) cannot remember his exact age. And he can only recall patches of his life.

With age catching up on him, Khon spends most of a day inside the smoke fuming kitchen hearth and guzzles black tea.  And he is happy to answer a question or two, so long as he can connect the bits and pieces of his life.
“I never thought it important to determine my age,” Khon ponders for a while and remarks. Like any wise old man would utter, life, according to Khon, is not counted in years but in deeds.

Pic : Khon Khiamniungan

But he is certain he has crossed 100. Certain details still flood back. “I was around 17-18 years old when a team of British Administrators passed Noklak while on their way to Pangsha, a Naga village bordering Myanmar,” Khon recalls. This supposedly happened in the early 30s.

Still looking lithe and able with fascinating tattoos marking his wrinkled torso; a reminder of his tumultuous head hunting days, Khon may be one of the few head hunters alive.

“I might have died early…I am happy I converted to Christianity, it saved my life,” he mutters once again, evoking a reminder of his many comrades who chose to follow the head hunting path and died early, in the hands of enemies at bloody battles.

More memories come flooding back. Khon was one of the best warriors from his village with five enemies heads felled by his dao. That was back then.

“I remember I never walked behind, I was one who always led the way,” Khon says his status of being a warrior.
But converting to Christianity was never that easy, Khon remembers with a chuckle.
“I cannot recall exactly when, on one occasion, I converted and rejected Christianity merely because I did not want to quit drinking rice beer. Then I again reconverted in 1966.” Khon can recall the exact year and the name of the missionary who baptized him-one Imti from the Ao tribe.

That was when Khon quit rice beer and head hunting for good.
Khon was also one of the warriors representing Tuensang district to participate (as a dance troupe) at the Nagaland Statehood inauguration in 1963 at Kohima.

The troupe journeyed all the way from Noklak to Tuensang, Mokokchung and to Assam by foot. From Assam, they were taken on a train till Dimapur. And finally to Kohima on motor transport. What was the fondest memory of the journey? Khon is asked. There is a hint of a smile. “I can still clearly remember the scrumptious food we had in Assam.”

Yes, there are certain memories even age cannot erase.

Imti Longchar
Noklak

Students demand for better health care in Kiphire

A joint team from five areas comprising of Kiphire Area Students’ Union (KASU), Longmatra Area Students’ Union (LASU), Singti Area Students’ Union (SASU), Amahator Area Students’ Union (ARSU) and Seyochung Area Students’ Union (SASU) led by officials from the respective students union conducted a joint inspection in district hospital Kiphire on March 26.

The student’s union leaders while acknowledging the service rendered by few dedicated doctors and staffs despite of the insurmountable obstacles they face while carrying out their duty, addressed to the Principal Director Health and Family Welfare that during the inspection and interaction with the staff, various pertaining matters faced by the doctors and staff were deliberated.

Highlighting the plights in the District Hospital, the unions stated that the lack of work force and basic vital medical equipments is putting the lives of patients at perils. Even after decades of upgradation, the hospital to the status of district hospital, crucial medical equipments such as ultra snography ECG, and Boyle’s apparatus was found to be missing. The lack of basic medical equipments is dogging the effective functioning of the hospital. Even X-Ray which is in use is only a portable x-ray as the original x-ray is damaged and so far is not being repaired nor replace till now. The hospital is under-staffed with just a few doctors and nurse staff, leaving the citizens of Kiphire in a quagmire. Thus, in the absence of sufficient work force and basic medical equipments doctors helpless.

They also stated that it was also quite disturbing to learn that district hospital Kiphire is without specialist doctor in the field of medical surgeon, pediatrician, and radiologist. While some senior medical officers of anesthetist and gynecologist was found to be not regular. Faced with lacked of work force and basic medical equipments doctors are left incapacitated with more work force and high medical equipments. It will greatly ease the burden of doctors and staffs enabling the doctors to carry out their duties in a more efficient and better environment. It may also be mentioned that at present with just a few handful of doctors and nurses only 8 regular nurses. It becomes an uphill task for doctors and staffs to function smoothly.

“The state of the hospital is in a precarious situation, with ever-increasing demand for better health care. There is as urgent need to appoint more doctors and nurses to catered to the demand of good health care in a far flunk places like Kiphire,” the students union stated in the open letter.

With pragmatic approach by the concerned department, it will altered the feeling of discrimination. Kiphire being located in a strategic area, it has the potential to be the hub of health sector for the entire eastern region. It can also generate good revenue for the department and the government.

It may also be mentioned that, in this regard various memorandum and appeal has been submitted by the department as well as by various NGO. However, there is no concrete response from the department till date.

“The concerned department cannot remain inert as countless of lives are at stake here.  We implore upon the concerned department to immediately address the grievances’ of the people, keeping in mind the socio economic status in a place like Kiphire,” added the joint statement.
(MExN)