Image of Diyun Bazar

Here are few photos of Diyun Bazaar which I have taken during my recent visit. It seems the economy is growing but at the same time the area is getting congested and dirty.  Sanitation and drainage is a big problem. There are still  many families who are using open latrine system and the administration should encourage and punish those whose don't build a concrete latrine in the township area. I think all the families staying in Diyun township can afford a concrete and cover latrines . Otherwise there is chance of breakout of diseases.

 

Awakeing of the Public leaders of Diyun

It’s very heartening to see that the local people of Diyun- Bordumasa are awakening to the fact that the infrastructure condition in the area is pathetic. Especially to see public leaders like Lajala Singpho, ZPM RC Deori and Anchal chairperson TNN Innao.
http://www.sentinelassam.com/arunachal/story.php?sec=2&subsec=7&id=78305&dtP=2011-06-15&ppr=1
Yes it is a fact that the closing of ropeway (maintain by Oil India Ltd) is causing a lot of hardship to the people around the area. But they have to be aware to the fact that a company cannot build roads and bridges and maintain them. OIL will maintain it till they think it’s viable and profitable for them. When it is no longer useful for them they will just leave it.
So they cannot blame OIL . Anyway there are hardly 100 staffs station at Manabhum, so there is no point maintaining a ropeway for them since the operational cost is quite high.
I also found it very ironic that the public leaders are critical of OIL. “Innao-Pisi (Ropeway) road under Public Work Department that has a span of 21 kms has never been maintained ever since it was constructed decades ago. It is one of the busiest roads in Changlang district that is being used by OIL. That is perhaps the reason why PWD cares least about its maintenance, the leaders felt and unanimously demanded immediate transfer of the road in question to OIL Company for regular maintenance and safety. “
But is the conditions of other portion of Diyun- Namsai roads much better? I think it’s more pathetic. If they think that PWD does not maintain the road properly, why does not they complain to the higher authorities against the Junior Engineer (Civil) station at Diyun ? Where are the money sanction for the maintenance of the road going? Are they all getting a portion of the spoils ? Why did they keep quiet for such a long time ?

Non-inclusion of some Chakma villages in Census list in Arunachal Pradesh

While surfing through the net another incidence of high handedness of a govt. official of Arunachal Pradesh has came to light. This time it is the Extra-Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Diyun Circle who is also the Census Charge Officer (CCO), who is acting against the guidelines issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

The incident was reported by Merinews. Here is the full news.

Chakma tribals of three Arunachal villages out of Census 2010

AS THE country debates the inclusion of caste in the Census India 2011, about 450 families comprising of 2000 people belonging to the tribal Chakma community from three villages under Diyun Circle in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh are likely to be left out from the ongoing first phase of House-listing and Housing Census for Census India 2011.

The three Chakma inhabitated villages in question are Modakha Nala, Sukha Nala and Shillongpahar under Diyun Circle in Changlang district of the state. These villages are reportedly not covered in the ongoing census work following a direction from the Extra-Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Diyun Circle who is also the Census Charge Officer (CCO).

The Census Charge Officer of Diyun Circle has directed the supervisors and enumerators not to cover the three villages of Modakha Nala, Sukha Nala and Shillongpahar in the ongoing census.

The said direction of the CCO has come to light after the residents of Shillongpahar approached the CCO on May 9, 2010 as no enumerator visited their village for data collection. The villagers submitted a written complaint to the CCO for inclusion in the ongoing census. Instead of hearing their grievances the CCO informed the villagers that they will not be included in the ongoing census work. Interestingly, the same direction was written by hand on the complaint by the CCO. The CCO’s direction on the complaint which is available with this writer read as under:

"Under no circumstances people residing in RF/ARF area shall be included in the ongoing Census work. Enumerators have already been briefed about the matter”.

The villagers informed this writer that they have been residing in these three villages since 1966. They further stated that their villages had previously been covered for the House-to-House Child Census under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (Order No.ED.SSA/DEV-1/2006-07 dated 6.12.2006, C.R.C. Coordinator, Diyun Circle) and the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairperson, District Health Society, Changlang district appointed Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) under the National Rural Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Order No.CMD/RCH/ASHA/07/-08/29/2 dated 10.9.2007) from these villages.

The direction of the CCO is not in line with the guidelines issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. In its Circular vide No. 9/31/2010-CD(CEN) dated March 3, 2010 (CENSUS OF INDIA 2011 – CIRCULAR No. 16), the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India directed all the census officials in the country to prepare a comprehensive list of villages, towns and sub-districts which should include inhabited as well as uninhabited villages as well as forest settlements, unauthorized colonies, etc. Further, the circular directs the Principal Census Officer to ensure that all habitations have been included without any omission.

The Census in the country is carried out under the provision of the Census Act and Census Rules and the amendments thereafter. The duties of the Census Officers have been identified under Rule 5 of the Census Rules 1990 of the Census Act 1948. There are penalties for failure to carry out the duties under the provisions of the Census Act under the Section 11.

The duties assigned to the Census Charge Officer, among others, include to “ensure full coverage, accuracy and timelines in taking census. ”

The Chakmas, who are already very poor, of these three villages are worried that if they are not included in the ongoing census they will be further deprive of accessing benefits under various welfare and development projects of the government. Any omission in population can be rectified only after 10 years and hence it is important to net the entire population without any omission.

The first phase of House-listing and Housing Census for Census of India 2011 which started on April 15, 2010 in Arunachal Pradesh ends on May 31, 2010. The Census of India 2011 is very important as for the first time National Population Register (NPR) will be prepared. Based on the NPR data, a Unique Identity (UID) Number will be issued to each citizen which will be useful for accessing benefits under various welfare and development projects of the government.

The M-Pen issue

The issues that is burning in the local politics in Arunachal Pradesh is the land row between the Chakmas and the Singphos residing in and around M-Pen. The problem does not seem to be as big as it was made into if precautionary measures had been taken from both the parties. It could be resolved through dialogue involving the concern parties.
The reason for making it into a big issue is that it involved the Chakma community.
We have been reading all the bias report from some of the Arunachalee dailies. But did they bother to hear the opinion of the Chakmas residing in M-Pen? No , because they are landless and refugees ? They took only the opinion of some Singpho leaders , and other students bodies.
How many time a Arunachalee daily reported about the plight of Chakmas, who are leading a miserable life without the facilities of proper education, health care, job, etc? How many times did they report the atrocities meted out to the Chakmas ?
Now the Singpho leaders are claiming that they posses Land Possession Certificate (LPC) .Where was those LPC before 2 years. Just because they have the political and the bureaucracy backing they can get LPC anytime. Which is not the case with the Chakmas .
There are many question to be ask. The whole issues is taking advantage of the administrative power and make the poor, de-enfranchise people to the brinks of landless.
The main occupation of the Chakmas is the agriculture. If the are without left landless , how will they feed themselves ? Nobody can deny the fact that Chakmas are feeding all the people in Diyun and Miao circle with their agricultural products. How many local people of Singpho and Khamti work in their agricultural fields? You can count in your fingers. They all give their agricultural land to the Chakmas for share-cropping.
So, in order to get to the conclusion it is very important to listen to the both side of the story. Here we are listening the version of only one side. While the other side the powerless and without any voice.

Rigging and Booth- Capturing In Arunachal Pradesh

It is very very surprising to wake up early and reading such ridiculous articles about my state. I always thought that people in my state will never do such thing whether they win or loose. But the power hungry politicians in the state can do anything now to win the election. 

“In the days of yore, when rigging and booth-capturing were the order of the day in Bihar, it was not unusual for polling centres to register a voter turnout of 90% and above”

I think the politician in the state are taking lessons  from their counterparts in Bihar…. It is so ridiculous to   see a turnout of more than 100% in the state where the overall voters turnout all over the country is struggling to cross 50% mark.

We hape put Bihar to shame..

Look at the figures below:

Figures released by the office of the Tawang district election officer suggest that the voter turnout in the Luguthang Primary School polling station 108.11%. Other booths in the assembly segment had a similar tale. It was 104.48% in Gyamdomg Medium School, 104.38% in Mirba community hall, 102.70% in Thingbu Medium School, 101.72% in the Kharjung Primary School, 101.56% in the Bomja Primary School polling centre and 100.55% in the Lhou Secondary School. 

Palin recorded -battering turnout. The Korayar polling station, for instance, recorded a 154.08% turnout. It was 136.86% in Kembing, 127.14% in Riaga, 21.13% in Resteriang and 120.40% in Korayar. 

Is our state going the Bihar's way? 

If the situation goes in this direction, then just think 20 years ahead ,what will be the our situation? There will be daylight robery, kidnapping , abduction and so on. The symptoms of which are slowly showing up. Think about it.

INC candidate strive for solution to Chakmas- Hajongs problem

So finally , the INC candidate takam Sanjoy decided to include the Chakma and Hajongs problem in its election manifesto. Which as usual  erupt every time an election is near its corner. But this time they are singing a  different tunes. Which is very commendable.  The  best solution can be reached only through dialogue instead of direct confrontation.

I personally feel that  the Chakmas wants to solve the problem through dialogue involving all the concern parties . Solution which is acceptable to all the parties. The AAPSU, the main agitation party, should understand that a solution can only be reach by peaceful means.  They should come to the table.

During every election whether the Lok Sabha , State assemblies or AAPSU election in the state the candidates use this issue as its main agenda to garner votes .Only using the issue for gaining votes during election and forgetting it afterwards only will add to their woes. In this way both the public as well as the victim will get frustrated thus eroding their faith on them.

Also it is important to know what the BJP says about it since its candidate Kiren Rijiju and Tapir Gao still didn’t mince a word about the issue. We want to hear your opinion Mr. Rajiju ?

During every election time, great words are being said by the candidate that when they are voted to power they will solve the Chakma and Hajongs  issue. How many of them really want to solve the problem for all?

Mr. Sanjoy  promised to strive to solve the Chakma-Hajong issue if elected. “The Chakma and Hajong issue has been put on the backburner. But I will work earnestly to find a solution to the imbroglio by initiating a dialogue among the Centre, state government, Chakma leaders and the representatives of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union,” he added. Mr. Sanjoy , we  don’t want you to only  “STRIVE TO SOLVE ”  but to "SOLVE" it.

Denial of Voting Rights to the Chakmas and Hajongs Of Arunachal Pradesh

As the time for 15th Lok Sabha election is nearing, everybody in the country is gearing for the elections. This time the mood is different from the previous elections. The situation has changed after the Mumbai attack. Now even the corporate sectors is encouraging its employees to exercise their voting rights, helping them to get their name enrolled in the voters list.
But far away for the attention of the mainstream nation news lies the plight of two communities, Chakmas and Hajongs, who are struggling for gaining citizenship's and voting rights. Their lives is torment between the questions of Indian or refugee. Their faith is slowly eroding from the Indian justice system. The Election Commission Of India which claim to be a fair and independent body has not even able to enforce its order on the Arunachal Pradesh Election Commission ,which in a way work for the state government and changes colour at the whims of them. As the saying goes justice delayed is justice denied. The are struggling from the last 48 years to lead a life of a responsible and proud citizen of India. How long will justice elude these communities ?

The following is a report by Asian Centre for Human Rights, a leading NGO based in Delhi:
http://www.achrweb.org/countries/india.htm

III. Denial of voting rights to the
Chakmas and Hajongs

In June 2007, the State government of Arunachal Pradesh headed by Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu formed a high powered committee to find out an amicable solution to the Chakma-Hajong issue. The high powered committee headed by Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative Assembly, Setong Sena and includes, among others, all four members of legislative Assembly of the Chakma-Hajong inhabited Assembly Constituencies as members.Both the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) and the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP) welcomed the establishment of the Committee.
At the same time, over 12,000 Chakma and Hajong eligible voters continued to be denied enrollment into electoral rolls. Electoral activities in the four Chakma-Hajong inhabited Assembly Constituencies of 14-Doimukh, 46-Chowkham,
49-Bordumsa-Diyun and 50- miao remained suspended as a result of complaints of bias on the part of the local electoral officials.On 6 September 2007, the Election
Commission of India revoked the suspension and ordered the conduct of Special Summary
Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission issued specific guidelines as to how to conduct the revision of electoral rolls in the Chakma and Hajong areas. As earlier, the local electoral officials who are
also employees of the State government of Arunachal Pradesh did not comply with the guidelines and instead they imposed their own directions to ensure that even the 1,497 previously enrolled voters were deleted. As many as 36 out of 326 enrolled voters were deleted from 14-Chowkham Assembly Constituency even before beginning of the Special Summary Revision 2007. In 49-Bordumsa-Diyun and 50-miao
Assembly Constituencies several Chakma villages were not even officially informed about the revision process and were informed only after the Election Commission of India issued specific instructions following complaints from the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chakma and Hajong claimants were subjected to harassment, humiliation and were openly
discriminated by electoral officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Changlang district Hage Batt, who has been designated as Electoral Registration Officer of 49- Bordumsa-Diyun and 50-miao Assembly Constituencies. Instead of conducting the hearing of claims and objections at Diyun, Mr Batt sat at Bordumsa, which is 60 kilometers away from Diyun. As there were no means of transportation between Bordumsa and Diyun, none out of 7,311
Chakma and Hajong claimants from Diyun Circle could appear for hearing. The hearings were re-held at Diyun only after the Election Commission intervened on complaints from the Committee for Citenship Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP).
Taking cognizance of these violations of its guidelines by the local electoral officials, the Election Commission of India deputed two teams to the four Chakma-Hajong inhabited Assembly Constituencies. But justice continues to elude the Chakma and Hajong citizens as the Election Commission has again failed them. In February 2008, the Election Commission ordered the publication of final rolls in three of the four Assembly Constituencies (14-Doimukh, 46-Chowkham, and 50-miao). 49-Bordumsa-Diyun remained in abeyance until further orders. Out of about one thousand eligible voters, the names of only 201 claimants were included in the electoral rolls in 14-Doimukh while in 46-Chowkham, out of more than 1400 new claimants the names of only 14 were enrolled and names of 44 previously enrolled voters deleted. Similarly in 50-miao, only 1 out of about 4500 new claimants was included in the electoral roll.The Election Commission of India assured the CCRCHAP that it would send 2 more teams to Itanagar to examine claimants’documentation from 49-Bordumsa-Diyun. At the end of the year, the Election Commission of India had failed to enforce its guidelines.

For verifying the claim please Check:
http://ceoarunachal.nic.in