Central Govt’s assurance to Tuki
Itanagar: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, V Kishore Chandra Deo on Thursday assured Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki that his Ministry is ready to favourably consider the demand of the state government for change in nomenclature of few tribes of the state.
The Union Minister informed Tuki, when the latter called him at Shastri Bhavan in Delhi, that recommendations for change in nomenclature of scheduled tribes in the state have to come through proper channel as per norms to enable the Ministry to work on it, official sources informed here.
He requested the state government to immediately send official recommendations for the same through the state secretariat. He assured that the recommendations would be positively considered by the Union Ministry.
Tuki, accompanied by Tourism and RWD Minister Pema Khandu, briefed Deo of the demands of some tribes of the state for change in nomenclature including the need to change ‘Any Naga Tribe’ to the original nomenclatures of individual tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
To the request of the chief minister for granting of scholarships to students of the state studying in various institutions as well as those undergoing courses in various skill development trades, the Union Minister informed that there is already a system in place for grant of scholarships to tribal students, sources said.
He requested the concerned officials and individual students to go through the grants available with the Ministry and apply through proper channels.
Khandu, who belongs to the Buddhist community of the state, also requested scholarship to students from the state undergoing religious studies in universities run by Buddhist institutions. In response Deo informed that provision for scholarships is available with the Ministry and can be availed by the students, which the Ministry would be happy to provide. Responding to another request of the chief minister, the Union Minister assured that the Ministry will finance in skill development training for unemployed youths of the state through various schemes. (UNI)
SEC preparing for Mizo Assembly polls
Aizawl: Mizoram chief electoral officer (CEO) Ashwini Kumar on Thursday said that the state election machinery has been making preparations for the coming 40-member state assembly polls likely to be held during November this year.
Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said that the number of polling stations from 1,068 was increased by 58 after rationalisation of the enlisted voters.
He said training have been conducted in the state level as well as in the district levels for election officials and first level check on electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was conducted in the presence of representatives of the political parties and NGOs.
A plethora of new activities to ensure free and fair elections would be introduced during the coming polls, Joint CEO H Lalengmawia, who accompanied Kumar, said. Lalengmawi made special mention to the proposed deployment of static surveillance teams, flying squads, expenditure and accounting monitoring cells, and video surveillance teams.
He said that the services of internet and cell phones, especially SMSes would be employed to the maximum in the electoral process. (PTI)