Naga reconciliation now a reality: ANSAM, president

Imphal, January 31 : After the Ukhrul leg, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) today convened a public meeting at Senapati Public Ground where over 3000 Nagas from Tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati participated.

At the end of the programme, there was a "public declaration" where the gathering Nagas shouted in chorus supporting the reconciliation process of the Nagas initiated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).

In today's Senapati meet, 12 members of the FNR headed by its convenor Rev.Dr Wati Aier participated while from the 'Joint Working Group' (JWG) of the NSCN-IM, NNC/FGN and NSCN-K seven members participated.

From the NSCN-IM side, senior leader of the outfit Kraibo Chawang spoke on the occasion and C.Singson represented the NSCN-K side.

NNC/FGN vice president Zopra spoke on behalf of his group.

The programme started at around 11 am and concluded at 2 pm.

At the end of the programme Naga Peoples' Organisation (NPO) president shouted slogan, 'we support' and the crowd echoed in chorus, 'Naga reconciliation'.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, United Naga Council (UNC) president Samson Remmei advocated the need of the Naga frontal organisations actively in the ongoing Naga reconciliation.

Samson Remmei also said that after the reconciliation process started with numerous meetings and joint football matches the incidents of violence have been reduced drastically in Naga areas.

He said that the three Naga "political groups" (NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and NNC/FGN) have now started sitting down together in the same platform and talk peace and reconciliation.

The UNC chief exhorted that the development is historic.

All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) president David Choro while giving vote of thanks on the occasion said that the Naga reconciliation was a dream "but now it has become a reality".

He urged all the Nagas to involve in the ongoing Naga reconciliation process.

Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) convenor Rev Dr Wati Aier dwelt on the history of how the FNR came into being.

It is pertinent to note that under the initiative of FNR football matches among all the Naga underground groups and Naga civil bodies had been organised both in Thailand and in Nagaland last year.

Joint advent Christmas of the NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and FGN under the aegis of the FNR was also observed in Dimapur last month.

 
 

NSF expresses concern at NU’s reservation quota

Dimapur, January 18 (MExN): With its statement over Nagaland University’s Schedule Caste and Other Backward Tribes reservation going unheeded, the Naga Students’ Federation is starting to feel not too happy at the university’s apathy.
In fact, the NSF took stern cognizance at the NU authorities that an interview in the opposed format, for recruitment of non-teaching staff of the university, is being held. The NSF has demanded that NU scrape the interview immediately, or face action.
“We regret that despite a memorandum submitted by the NSF and ENSF demanding re-advertisement of the vacant post as per the guideline of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, Dated 5th July 2005, wherein it is clearly stated that Nagaland State has the opportunity to avail 45% reservation in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ category of posts in any office, the NU authorities have gone ahead with the conduct of interviews,” stated an NSF statement today. The NSF said the NU authorities’ attitude is undermining the sentiments and aspirations of the Naga “educated” youths.
The NSF has demanded that the NU authorities immediately revoke the ongoing interview and start afresh by advertising the stipulated reservation quota of the ministry. “Failure on the part of the NU authorities to do so would compel the NSF to take our own course of action for which the Vice Chancellor and Registrar will be held solely responsible of any unwarranted situation arising out of it,” the NSF stated.
The organization had reminded the NU authorities that Nagaland does not have any reservations for Schedule Caste and Other Backward Tribes, only Schedule Tribe. The reservation quota should have been for the Schedule Tribe category to which Nagas belongs, the NSF stated.
“The aspirations of the Naga educated youths cannot be siphoned off by any vested interest individual. Therefore, the Federation will never accept the out come of the interview and we will continue to uphold our principal stand until our demand is fulfilled,” the federation added.

 
 

How will medical education change in the future?

Medical school has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. Think about how many drugs medical students had to learn 50 years ago. Compare that to today, where new classes of pharmacological agents are being developed practically every year. On top of those changes, we're seeing so much happening in the world of molecular medicine, genomics, pharmacogenetics, personalized medicine, and medical devices. Plus, we're inventing new treatments and applying new strategies to treat certain diseases and conditions. The study of medicine has become much more complex over the years.

The traditional medical school in the United States if 4 years long and it's a graduate program for students who have completed a 4-year college degree. There are a handful of medical schools that combine undergrad with medical school so that you can complete your education in a shorter period of time.

Given all the recent advances in medical technology, disease management, and pharmacology, is 4 years of medical school enough? In the future, will medical school be longer than 4 years? Maybe residency will get longer. There are some people out there who are actively advocating that certain residencies should be longer because physicians who complete those residency training programs are not feeling properly equipped to practice medicine.