MNF forges alliance with MPC, MDF
Aizawl: Mizoram’s main Opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) on Tuesday inked pre-poll alliance with Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) for the state Assembly polls to be held on November 25. As per the agreement reached between the three parties, the MNF would contest on 31 seats, the MPC eight seats and the MDF one seat. The MPC would contest on Tuirial seat in Kolasib district, four seats — Chalfilh, Aizawl North-I, Aizawl North-II and Aizawl East-I — in Aizawl district, Champhai South in Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai district, Hrangturzo seat in central district of Serchhip and Lunglei East in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district. The MDF would contest from one of the two seats in southernmost Mizoram’s Saiha district, the Palak seat. Announcing the decision on the alliance at a press conference, MNF senior vice-president Tawnluia said the alliance was made by the three parties to form a true democratic government in the state, protect the people, land and religion and for all-round speedy development. Tawnluia said that a joint campaign kick-off programme would be organised on Friday in Aizawl when the common candidates of the alliance might be announced and the campaign kick-off rally would be addressed by all the presidents of the three parties. Leaders of the MNF, MPC and MDF accompanied Tawnluia in the crowded press conference. The MNF and the MPC had forged alliance in 1998 and stormed to power by defeating the Congress which was ruling the state for two consecutive terms since 1989. (PTI)
MNF wants to end favouritism, if voted to power
Aizawl: To put an end to nepotism, opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) has promised voters that recruitment for all government jobs would be made through employment exchanges, if the party is voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections to be held on November 25. MNF leaders said yesterday that they would stop the practice of recruiting youths for government service on the basis of recommendations made by politicians and government officials. The MNF leaders, former ministers R Lalthangliana and Liansuama and former legislator Lalchhandama Ralte, also assured voters that Lok Ayukta, an anti-corruption authority at the state level, would be set up which would be empowered to investigate government employees and public servants, including Chief Minister and ministers. The party, they said, would also work for unification of the ethnic Mizos and apologised for the resolution passed in the Assembly for fencing the Mizoram-Myanmar international border during MNF rule. The opposition party also promised to scrap the existing ‘life-time payment’ of vehicular road tax being imposed by the present Congress government which, they said, was a “heavy burden” on vehicle owners and the common man. (PTI)
Arunachal Pradesh govt to set up two new model colleges
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to set up two new model colleges at Tirap and Longding districts to improve the education scenario. State Education Minister Bosiram Siram said, “The state government is putting more emphasis on education, particularly in the higher education sector,” while inaugurating the 18th college week of Rang-Frah Government College (RFGC) at Changlang district on Monday, official sources said today. He assured that the present shortage of faculty members at RFGC and other government colleges of the state would end with the appointment of 94 newly selected assistant professors. The minister also said that recruitment of school teachers would be conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) in order to improve the standard of education. Siram said the stipend for the students had been increased substantially. Earlier, Siram visited the upcoming new campus site of the college and asked the Principal and the executing agency to complete the project as per the requirement of the college, the sources said. (PTI)
Over 3000 houses sanctioned for Puroik community under IWY
Itanagar: The Union Rural Development Ministry has sanctioned 3,111 additional houses for the Puroik community, residing in East Kameng, Papum Pare and Kurung Kumey districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The ministry has sanctioned 780 houses in East Kameng, 331 in Papum Pare and 2000 houses in Kurung Kumey districts under the Indira Awaas Yojana for the financial year 2013-14, which is over and above the normal allocation for the state, official sources said here today. The information was conveyed to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh at a meeting in New Delhi yesterday, the sources said. The development comes in the wake of continuous efforts of the chief minister to increase the allocation for housing facilities to the backward communities of the state. The state government has been initiating schemes for achieving social inclusion amongst the backward communities, the sources said. Ramesh also informed that the empowered committee meeting for the 57 road works under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) would be convened on November 5 next for final consideration and sanction of these roads, of which 21 roads are in border areas, mostly on Indo-China and Indo-Bhutan border, the sources said. (PTI)
New tea board officials to work for small growers
Jorhat (Assam): The freshly recruited development officers and factory advisory officers of the Tea Board of India have been asked to do their very best for the development of small tea growers (STG). Inaugurating a three-week induction programme for the 34 TBI recruits here today, Upper Assam Commissioner Syed Iftikar Hussain called upon the new officers to do their best to help the small tea growers as they play a very significant role in the map of the country’s economy. “With positive steps taken by the union Commerce Ministry over a lakh of small tea growers will be able sort out their grievances and receive proper guidance from officers like you,” Hussain said. “It is because of them (STG) that the country can boast of its brand ‘Indian Tea’ and is famous for its quality throughout the world,” he said. The induction programme was sponsored by the TBI and union Commerce Ministry and organised by the Tea Research Association (popularly known as Tocklai). (PTI)