30 November 2010

Enraged Over Inaction, Northeast Students Write to PM

Abusing-NE-WomenNew Delhi/Gangtok, Nov 30 : Scores of students and professionals from the northeast protested here on Monday against the rape of a BPO staffer from Mizoram and submitted a memorandum to PM Manmohan Singh.

Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline, said that nearly 1,000 people participated in the protest organised by the Mizo Students Union and the Mizoram Welfare Association.

Placards with slogans like 'Delhi Police Act Now!' and 'Justice should be given to the victim' were held by the protesters.

They demanded that the BPO company where the victim worked be booked for inadequate safety measures for its employees.

Asin Kinimi, a student from Nagaland, said: ''Our focus should primarily be to keep the pressure on the authorities and Delhi Police. Only then promises will be kept. In this gangrape case, we have to keep demanding speedy justice for things to actually materialise.''

They submitted a memorandum to the PM seeking compensation for the victim under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act).

''Students from the northeast who live in Delhi are often subjected to harassment and discrimination because of the way they look.

But unfortunately, despite cases of sexual harassment, authorities do very little except making lofty promises,'' Chandra said.

Delhi Rape Case: Sonipat Youth Let Off, No Headway by Cops

Delhi-PoliceNew Delhi, Nov 30 : As the 30-year-old BPO employee, who was gangraped on Wednesday morning last week, slowly recuperates and recovers from the shock, cops claim that the victim is assisting them in investigations. She is helping Delhi Police prepare sketches of the accused.

Police said that the victim from Mizoram and her colleague are helping them with the case. ''A woman cop and counsellors have been helping her to come out of the trauma. The driver of the cab in which the two travelled on the night of the incident told us that he took a particular route everyday while commuting from office and it was on the request of the two girls that he dropped them outside their gate. We are examining his statements,'' said a senior police officer.

The police said the youth from Sonipat who was called for questioning in connection with the case was let off after he was found to be clean. ''We verified his movements and we found nothing amiss. However, five youths who matched the description of the suspects given by the girl are being questioned,'' said a senior police officer who is part of the probe.

DCP (South) H G S Dhaliwal said: ''Various teams are working on all the angles. We are questioning few persons who have criminal background. The suspects are relevant to the case.'' The questioning of suspects is based on some inputs. There is a definite trail, said a senior officer.

Police have failed to crack the case despite deploying 15 special teams. The cops have also released two sketches and are questioning several suspects, studying CCTV footage and recording statements of three witnesses. Investigators said that the make of the vehicle used in the crime could be a pick-up van.

Meanwhile, the victim and her colleague came out in support of their employer. Speaking to TOI, the victim's friend said, ''Our company should not be blamed for what has happened. We feel that it is important to let public know that we have received full support from our company. We do not feel like an employee but we feel as a part of a big family. We have been loyal to this company for past several years. We do not want any one to hurt or jeopardize the name of the company.''

The 30-year-old BPO employee was walking towards her home in Moti village near Dhaula Kuan early last Wednesday morning along with her colleague when five men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her. She was later dumped in Mongolpuri.

29 November 2010

Mizo Girl Rape Case: 4 Detained in Delhi

rape-accusedNew Delhi, Nov 29 : Four persons were today detained in connection with the rape and abduction of a Mizo woman in south Delhi with the investigators saying these people were “very relevant” to the case.

DCP (South) H G S Dhaliwal said 15 teams were working on the case and they were looking into all possibilities.

“We have detained four persons who have criminal background. The suspects are very relevant to the case...We are looking at all possibilities. The detentions are based on some inputs. There is a definite trail,” he said.

However, Mr. Dhaliwal said it was an early stage of the probe.

On November 24, the victim was walking towards her home in Moti Village near Dhaula Kuan in the morning along with one of her colleagues when some men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her. She was later dumped in Mongolpuri after which she approached police.

Asked whether investigators have ascertained which vehicle was used for the abduction, Mr. Dhaliwal said it could be a Mahindra pick-up van but they were waiting for results of laboratory tests.

Police said they have released two sketches of suspected culprits, besides questioning several suspects, surfing through CCTV footage and recording statements of three witnesses.

Investigators had also rummaged through mobile phone records of a number of “possible” suspects residing in Mongolpuri area as they believe that the culprits were “very familiar” with the locality and they could be staying there.

Mizoram Bru Militants Traced to Tripura Refugee Camps

bru refugess in camp in tripuraAizawl, Nov 29 : Suspected Bru militants who had looted cash and valuables from two trucks at Kanhmun village along Mizoram-Tripura border came from the relief camps of the Bru refugees in Tripura, police said today.

The militants in army uniform, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, intercepted the trucks carrying cinnamon and decamped after forcibly taking Rs 3,000, vehicle documents and mobile phones from the truckers on Saturday, Superintendent of Police of Mamit district, Dingluaia said.

He said Bru militants had planned to attack an India Reserve Police outpost at Kolalian last week, but the attempt was foiled after the arrest of three rebels who were sent to recee the outpost.

Security has been beefed up along the Mizoram border with Tripura and Assam after the two incidents and police parties were sent to patrol the border areas.

Meanwhile, four Bru families returned to Mizoram from Tripura relief camps on Saturday on the promise that they would be given rehabilitation and resettlement fund even if they come back without the help of the government, official sources said.

The repatriation process was discontinued after anti-repatriation elements in the refugee camps organised road blocks to prevent the refugees from returning to Mizoram and obstructed Mizoram government officials from carrying out identification of the refugees, the sources said.

Meghalaya Examining Demand For Garo Territorial Council

meghalaya garolandShillong, Nov 29 : The Meghalaya government was examining the Achik National Volunteer Council's (ANVC) demand for creating a Garo Hills Territorial Council in the western part of the state, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said Monday.

'The government will come out clear on the stand of the government after examing their (ANVC) demands,' Sangma told the assembly during the question hour.

The ANVC, a powerful rebel group operating in Meghalaya's Garo Hills region, has been in a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the state governments since July 23, 2004 to facilitate the ongoing dialogue.

On March 16, former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief P.C. Haldar initiated political negotiations with ANVC to ensure lasting peace in the Garo Hills.

Sangma also informed the assembly that the rebel group had scaled down their demand for statehood for Garos to that of Garo Hills Territorial Council in line with the Bodo Territorial Council of Assam.

He said the ANVC had submitted a representation to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on their demand.

Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat had earlier told IANS that the state government would submit its views and comments on the ANVC's demand to New Delhi within three months. He also made it clear that the decision on the creation of the autonomous council mainly lies with the central government as it needed a constitutional amendment.

The ANVC, one of the five Garo rebel groups, operates in Garo Hills region and has training camps in Bangladesh.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.

Amnesty Appeals For Information on Arrested India Rebel

By Subir Bhaumik

Rajkumar Meghen Mr Meghen was held in Bangladesh

UK-based Amnesty International has asked India and Bangladesh to disclose the whereabouts of a separatist leader from India's Manipur state.

Rajkumar Meghen, who leads the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was held by Bangladeshi police in September and handed over to Indian authorities.

Earlier, his son told the BBC that the family was "very worried" for Mr Meghen's safety.

The UNLF is the oldest separatist group in India's north-east.

Formed in 1964 to fight for Manipur's liberation from India, the group is estimated to have 5,000 armed fighters.

It is the only group that has managed to retain territory in some areas of Manipur's borders with Burma, despite repeated military offensives by the Indian army.

Mr Meghen, whose alias is Sanayaima, was flown out of Bangladesh recently in an Indian aircraft, senior Indian officials told the BBC earlier this month.

Indian authorities have not commented publicly on Mr Meghen's whereabouts.

"Amnesty have told us they have written to the Indian and Bangladeshi governments seeking the whereabouts of Rajkumar Meghen," Mohammed Baniyamin, general secretary of the Manipur-based Family of the Involuntarily Disappeareds Association, said.

He said Amnesty had asked Delhi and Dhaka to allow Mr Meghen access to lawyers to defend himself.

Mr Baniyamin said Amnesty was yet to hear from either of the two governments.

Mr Meghen's wife Ibengmungshi Devi has also appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to trace her husband.

She has also filed a petition in the court.

Hundreds of Manipuris have mysteriously disappeared in the last few years after Indian security forces intensified their anti-separatist campaign in the state where more than a dozen rebel groups are active.

Many were found dead later.

Bangladesh has handed over more than 50 leaders and activists of Indian separatist groups since a crackdown began in 2009.

Many more have fled Bangladesh to evade capture or been caught on the border by Indian guards.

Ibobi, Most Mocked Chief Minister on Facebook

By Khelen Thokchom

ibobi singhImphal, Nov 29 : lolsss sob sob taibi (brother Ibobi)...u look so vulnerable:D.”

i stand beside him.....”

“wow taibi urubada (wow brother Ibobi)......”

wis i could c him like this.”

hi hai sathiheeeeeeeeeeee sidi nagland kangbuna tourijatla sibo (This is serious matter. Is Ibobi Singh’s conditioned caused by Nagland?).

This is a comment thread that runs in the Facebook about a morphed photograph of Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

The photograph shows Ibobi Singh with four long stitches in the face and sobbing. The caption runs something like this — AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers) hit Manipur CM (chief minister) Ibobi.

Ibobi Singh who is the only chief minister in Manipur who has completed a full term and poised to crate history by becoming the first chief minister to complete two consecutive terms, is the most mocked and referred personality in Facebook by the Meiteis.

Many morphed photos of the chief minister are uploaded and Meitei Facebookers studying or working in other parts of the country and abroad are having a great time by passing unbridled comments on Ibobi Singh.

About 10 morphed photographs of Ibobi Singh have been uploaded and comments are passed on the chief minister. Ibobi Singh’s is also the most tagged photograph.

One photograph shows Ibobi Singh as a young and seductive girl while others show him as a macho man, a gladiator and a Korean rocker.

Another photograph shows Ibobi Singh as the main character of the Academy award winning film Avatar and comments say Ibobi could be a film actor.

In most cases, the Facebookers criticised Ibobi Singh, but the comments are not derogatory and Ibobi is made the favourite subject for time-pass.

In most cases after the initial comments on Ibobi Singh’s morphed photos, the Facebookers go on to their favourite gossip about friends and their jobs.

“The Facebookers are only trying to find an outlet for their grievances in the digital world. They fulfil their wishes there which they could not in real world. They are only trying to vent their anger and Ibobi Singh being the head of the government, becomes the natural subject for discussion,” says M.C. Arun, a social anthropologist.

“If people frequently start discussing or mentioning about a particular person it is because his importance is felt. So it is the right opportunity for the person or the chief minister to maximise his contribution to the state,” says R.K. Lenin, a psychiatrist with the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

Other social thinkers said those taking part in the discussions were not happy with the manner in which the Ibobi Singh government was running the administration and were airing their grievances in a harmless manner on the Facebook.

They also said that the upcoming Assembly election was on the minds of those taking part in the discussions.

“Prices of essential commodities continue to be high, corruption remains the main concern of the people and the government fails to deliver the goods. So naturally Ibobi is in the minds of each and every Manipuri,” they said.

A section of Facebookers opposes the manner in which Ibobi Singh is being portrayed on Facebook

“After all he is the head of a government and it is not nice to see his morphed photos,” one of them said.

Stalked Away From Home

By Patricia Mukhim

Women from the Northeast voice their grievances before Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

It is commonplace to hear of girls from the Northeast, living, working or studying in Delhi, being treated like easy game who can be raped and molested at will. It reflects the sick mentality and unresolved problems of masculinity of the average Indian male in the national capital. The racial profiling of girls from this region is bad enough. Now there is a tendency to exploit their vulnerabilities as well because most girls work late shifts and come home in the wee hours. They are probably being closely watched by those with a bad intent and pounced upon when they come home alone at night.

The media has played its role in highlighting the recent horrific incident that befell a 30-year-old girl a few days ago. She was returning from work at 1am when she was gangraped in a tempo that is meant to cart goods. It is not difficult, therefore, to imagine the profile of the rapists. They come from an economic class that has known and seen deprivation from close quarters and who try to hit back at the world by attacking those weaker than themselves because they are in no position to talk back to those who badger them. This is India’s reality and anyone who is in Delhi would know just how unequal the economic organisation is and how like a pyramid it looks, where the top represents the elite who can purchase everything they want, including sex, while the base comprises those millions who do not even have a roof over their heads and for whom sex is a sort of revenge against their fate.

Stark reality

It is also a stark reality that no mall or bistro or restaurant in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore or Chennai is complete without a northeastern face. The other day, I went for a quick lunch at a bistro called Double Decker in South Extension, New Delhi. The girl behind the bar was from Manipur and so were the hostesses, including the one manning the very exclusive looking entry where one had to enter one’s name and telephone number. I picked up a conversation with the girls and asked them where they came from although I could guess that they were from the hills of Manipur. This is not to exacerbate the racial profiling because there are also other tribes from Manipur whose youth work as salesmen and salesgirls in some of the plush malls in Gurgaon. My point is that Manipur more than any other northeastern state has made it difficult for the young to continue to live there. They are forced to leave their homes in search of livelihood elsewhere.

You will invariably run into girls and boys from Manipur in branded cosmetic stalls like Clinique, Inglot and Shiseido. They explain things very meticulously to their clients. Perhaps they are employed because they possess these soft skills, apart from being adept at their own make-up and many of them certainly have flawless skin. Recently, I also met two Khasi saleswomen at a Titan watch showroom in South Extension. So our young people are venturing out and they have a right to look for opportunities outside. But that does not mean that they must fall prey to the male libido. They have every right to move around without fear. The Delhi government cannot shirk its responsibility by throwing the onus of security onto Northeast students and working population.

Many of the northeastern girls I have met in Delhi live around Moti Bagh with friends or siblings who also study and work. All of them slog to make a decent living. Women return home very late because they either work at call centres or in malls and bistros, all of which have long working hours. Their brothers suffer in silence knowing very well that their sisters are vulnerable. The whole notion that rape is a direct consequence of the way a woman dresses and behaves is a very male-centric polemic where women’s bodies are meant to be under the control and subjugation of men and where there is an unwritten code that women cannot behave the way they wish to without serious consequences.

Silent suffering

Last time when a similar incident happened in Delhi and a girl from the Northeast was murdered by her boyfriend for very obscure reasons, Delhi police came up with a list of dos and don’ts about how we should conduct ourselves. Surprisingly, there were no such directives for the rapists. Needless to say this is a slur on all of us. I would have thought that such a serious racial attack within our own country should have been taken up by the North East MPs Forum and that the matter should have come up for discussion in Parliament. But there was complete silence from their end. Who are our MPs representing anyway if they cannot assist their own people during such exigencies? I am also wondering why the Northeast students and working population based in Delhi have not written a petition to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her intervention. Otherwise, Sheila Dikshit is unlikely to take things seriously. The last time some MPs from Manipur went to meet her on this issue she browbeat them instead, because they were too polite to talk back to her. Such is Delhi culture.

Indeed, every northeasterner who comes to Delhi is stunned by the crudity, the vulgarity and the baseness of the average male behaviour in this city. That there is a racial difference is evident not just in our looks but also in our demeanour.

This is not a case of “othering” but ours is a society that is not aggressive, loud or abrasive and it is certainly more respectful towards women. Even while disagreeing on issues, we do not shout down the opponent.

Above all, we live in an open society where it is not taboo for boys and girls to mingle. Though many of the tribes come from patriarchal backgrounds, there are palpable differences in the behaviour of men from this region and from the so-called Indian mainstream.

Women from the Northeast enjoy social mobility and know they are safe in their own surroundings. There are thousands of Naga girls studying in Shillong and Guwahati, away from their parents.

Yet they breathe easy, knowing that there are no potential rapists stalking them. Many of the girls I spoke to in Delhi told me that the city was unsafe after 10pm. They said they were never sure who was lurking behind the shadows since large parts of Delhi were dimly lit.

Scarred for life

There is this sad story of a girl working in a fast food joint of Delhi who silently suffered sexual advances from a colleague because she was afraid to complain.

Taking advantage of her vulnerability, the man one day abused her sexually. When she reported the incident to the higher-ups, she was asked to prove her innocence. Such incidents leave a deep scar on a woman, lead to depression and mar normal life.

While it is good that men and women from the Northeast are stepping out of their comfort zone and learning to swim in the rough waters of Delhi, there are no rules in this hurly-burly world called Delhi.

You cannot choose to plunge only in shallow waters but must swim to the deep end whether or not you are ready. Delhi is a fast growing city that does not even know which way it is growing.

And like every other big city here or in the West, women are vulnerable to all sorts of onslaughts. So the best way to be home and dry is to learn self-defence and stop feeling victimised.

Keeping that in mind, I would suggest that every northeastern girl enrol in a martial arts training institute and learn not just self-defence but also the art of making the attacker cringe in pain.

(The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)

Northeast Students' Rally to Protest BPO Staffer's Rape

delhi protest northeast studentsNew Delhi, Nov 29 : Scores of students organizations from the Northeast India and others from the northeast living in the capital will hold a protest rally at Jantar Mantar Monday to protest the gangrape of a BPO staffer from Mizoram earlier this week and demand speedy justice.

The rally will be organised by the Delhi Mizo Students Association and will begin at 1 p.m.
Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline said: 'Students of the northeast who live in Delhi are often subjected to harassment and discrimination because of the way they look.

But unfortunately, despite cases of sexual harassment against girls of the community, authorities do very little except make lofty promises'.

'The rally therefore aims to voice out the community's angst against such unfair treatment meted out to them. And to demand for quick justice.

Even last year there was a huge hue and cry after two such cases and a lot of promises were being made to make the city safer for the community, but nothing was being done,' he added.

A 30-year-old Mizo woman was abducted by four men and gangraped in a moving goods carrier early Wednesday.

She was abducted soon after being dropped along with another girl, 100 metres from her home, by her office vehicle in Dhaula Kuan area in south Delhi late in the night.

The men then drove all the way to Mongolpuri in northwest Delhi and dumped her there.
Police have registered a case and are investigating.

On Friday, police released a sketch of one of the accused based on a CCTV footage of the four accused and by the questioning of the victim's friend.

Shillong Chamber Choir To Sing In KL

By P.Vijian

Shillong-Chamber-ChoirNew Delhi, Nov 29 : The talented choir entertained US President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Delhi.

Come Dec 15, the Shillong Chamber Choir from India's hilly northeast region, will enthral audiences at a private function in Malaysia.

The dedicated singers-cum-social workers, who take care of street children and aged people with money earned from their programmes, will perform in the function at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

"We sing to earn for the marginalised children. All our team members live together in the same house in Shillong.

"We train together and help children from poor background and those who are mentally-challenged," founder and maestro Neil Nongkynrih told Bernama in an interniew on Sunday.

The versatile troupe, which started in 2001, is already collecting accolades, having won the Indian reality television show, 'India's Got Talent' (Season 2) this year, with its fusion of Bollywood, gospel and jazz.

This year, it also won the World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China with gold diplomas in all the three categories -- Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popular.

The 16-member team hails from Meghalaya state, located in the remote north-east of India, where people are often known for musical talents.

Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya.

Their repertoire includes western classical greats like Bach, Gershwin, Handel, Gershwin, Mozart and their very own folk songs.

They sing in the Hindi and English languages.

"In Malaysia, our team would love to sing in the national language. Music is a powerful tool, we want to use music to heal and uplift people," added Nongkynrih.

The group looks after 25 children at their home in Shillong.

28 November 2010

Mizo Rape Victim to Fight On, Refuses to Leave Delhi

By Vijaita Singh

rape_victimNew Delhi, Nov 28 : Despite her nightmarish experience, the 30-year-old BPO employee, who was  abducted and raped by five men in south Delhi, has decided to stay back and pursue her case so that no one else from her community has to suffer the same fate.

The woman, who hails from Mizoram, is presently undergoing treatment at a south Delhi hospital. She has refused to go back to her native place till the accused are brought to book.

The victim is extremely brave and is coping with the situation quite well. When we asked her if she wants to go back to her native place, she said no.

She added that she was here to fight the case and see that it reaches its logical conclusion. She said if she will not do so, other women from her community will continue to be victimised,” said Takam Sanjoy, MP from Arunachal Pradesh. Takam is actively pursuing the Dhaula Kuan rape victim’s case.

This year, at least 17 cases of heinous crimes like rape and molestation, involving women from the north-eastern states, have been reported.

Meanwhile, the victim’s parents arrived in the Capital on Saturday.

Takam added that they would meet the Union home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday to discuss strategies to help protect women from the north-east.

“A team of psychologists is taking care of her. We are worried about how the police are going to handle this case as we did not have very good experience in the past,” said Madhu Chandra, spokesperson, Northeast Support Centre and Helpline.

The victim is being taken care of by the Mizoram government.

“The government authorities are taking adequate care of her and she has been provided accommodation as well. Her colleague, who escaped the tragedy, is also extending full support,” said Takam.

On Saturday, the victim helped the police prepare the second sketch of one of the five accused.

In Haryana, Get a Bride For Rs 1K From Bihar

By Sukhbir Siwach

bride-groom from biharChandigarh, Nov 28 : Haryana, reeling under a skewed sex ratio, is faced with yet another startling fact – an NGO has found that girls are being "bought" and brought to Haryana from 20 states across the country. The state's sex ratio stands at 837 in the 0-6 years age group, its lowest in the last five years and second only to Punjab.

In one case, the family of a girl from Bihar was paid just Rs 1,000.

In its report released in Pune on Saturday, the NGO, Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra, has found that most of the girls were brought from West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. It's findings also indicate that girls were bought within the state too.

The NGO surveyed 10,190 households in Haryana and found 318 women who were bought and married off to men in Haryana. The NGO has shared the findings with the Haryana government.

Among these 318 women, 145 are from different parts of Haryana, followed by West Bengal (43), Bihar (27), Andhra Pradesh (17), Assam (15), Uttar Pradesh (14), Himachal Pradesh (11) and Rajasthan (10). Women have been brought from other states too, including even prosperous states like Gujarat.

The NGO has covered a population of 56,520 in 92 villages of five districts -- Sonipat, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Sirsa and Mewat. The study was conducted to ascertain whether the brides came from other states and if a price was paid to get them to Haryana.

The NGO found that in number of cases, men had to buy their wives despite the fact that dowry system is prevalent in Jatland.

The report says whenever respondents were asked about money being paid for brides, the women chose to be silent. Only 15 women out of 318 reported that money was paid to their families. The amount varied between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh.

"This may not be a big amount but these girls come from poor families and this could be luring parents to give away their daughters, despite the girls going to faraway lands and having to adjust into alien culture," the report said.

Indian Railways to Invest Rs 17,000 cr in Northeast India

india-railways
Guwahati, Nov 28
: The Ministry of Railways has an investment plan of over Rs 17,000 crore in different projects in the North-east, which are scheduled for completion by 2015. The Central Government has also approved augmentation of foodgrain storage capacity in the region by 5.25 lakh tonnes, more than doubling the existing storage capacity of 4.58 lakh tonnes.

For petroleum products storage, an augmentation plan was under way by IOC involving an investment of more than Rs 500 crore, to be completed over the next three years.

This was revealed during the two-day review meeting Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar had with the chief secretaries of the eight north-eastern States on the progress of the major infrastructure projects in the region. The meet decided on having “firm milestones and targets” for completion of the ongoing projects in all the four key sectors, i.e., roads, railways, foodgrains and petroleum products.

“This will bind the implementing agencies as well as the sanctioning authorities at various levels both in the States and the Central Government to take the required steps to achieve the mutually agreed timelines, and thereby provide the necessary thrust towards completion of all pending projects,” an official release said.

In order to ensure compliance with the deadlines through timely action by all agencies, it was decided that each Chief Secretary would set up a committee headed by him for each of the four sectors, comprising secretaries of the State departments concerned as well as representatives of the ministries/departments concerned of the Central Government to monitor and ensure that the projects progressed according to the agreed timelines.

On the Railway Ministry’s investment plan of more than Rs 17,000 crore in projects in the region to be completed by 2015, it was assured that those projects would be taken up as per schedule and funding would not be a constraint.

On the road sector, it was emphasized that NH-44, NH-53 and NH-39 would be taken up on priority and efforts would be made to speed up work, including maintenance, before the onset of the next monsoon. The need for regular maintenance of the roads, particularly by BRO, was also stressed.

It was revealed that the Centre had in principle granted approval for augmentation of foodgrain storage capacity in the region by 5.25 lakh tonnes through construction of additional depots by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The meet also agreed on providing adequate security for the projects under implementation for preventing slippages. “The State governments were requested to make suitable arrangements so that the personnel working on the projects feel safe and protected enough to work on the projects unhindered,” it said.

Willie Nelson Busted With 6 Ounces of Marijuana

New York, Nov 28 : Singer Willie Nelson has been arrested with six ounces of marijuana in a Texas-Mexico border town.

According to ABC local station KVIA, the country music legend was put in the slammer before posting the $2,500 bond shortly afterwards. He then headed to Austin, where he'll be performing at the Austin City Limits Live concert in February, reported the New York Daily News.

However, it's not the first time Nelson has been charged for drug possession.

In 2006, he was busted with a pound-and-a-half of weed and mushrooms and charged with a misdemeanor. Nelson's new album Country Music was released in April, this year.
willie nelson marijuana

Vishal Mega Mart Offers Apology to AASU Over Donation Row

Vishal Mega MartGuwahati, Nov 28 : Finally the tussle between the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the business firm Vishal Mega Mart over the issue of donation came to an end with the authorities of the business firm today tendering apology in writing to the people of Assam and the students’ body.

The authorities of the business firm also apologized to AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya personally for the recent episode over donation in which his name was dragged to controversy.

The Vishal authorities, represented by their COO Manshu Tandon and their retail chain president Pawan Agarwal, also announced in their written statement that the Vishal outlet would remain closed throughout the State tomorrow, ‘as a mark of their goodwill and respect for the people of Assam.’

The Vishal authorities clarified that they have been contributing to the AASU ‘at their own pleasure.’ There has never been any demand. They also acknowledged the useful social activities of AASU for all sections of the people of Assam.

They admitted that one of their officers conspired with a local political person to tap the telephonic conversation between Samujjal Bhattacharyya and their organisation, without the knowledge of the top management of the firm.

“Undoubtedly, it was an unethical act. We are extremely sorry for it. We realise that the publicity given about the telephonic conversation has hurt the self-respect and sentiments of the people of Assam. We admit that the behaviour and the conspiracy of our said officer in collusion with the local political person was an attempt to lower the honour and prestige of AASU. We sincerely apologize to the people of Assam and AASU. We assure that such unethical act will never be repeated,” said the Vishal authorities.

They also said that they agreed that ‘Vishal would undertake social activities, especially in the field of education, on the advice of AASU.’

They assured that the local employees of Vishal would not be harassed in any way. Rather, they said, they would make efforts to ‘increase the employment chances of the local people.’

AASU president Sankar Prasad Roy and general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi told this newspaper that their organisation welcome all investors to Assam. But, the AASU leaders said, they (investors) should come to the State with the commitment towards its people. None of them should indulge in any act that may hurt the sentiments of the people of the State, warned the AASU leaders.

Meanwhile, the Asom Yuva Parishad (AYP), the youth wing of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has expelled its secretary Niren Deka from the organisation for his anti-AASU stand on the donation issue. The Parishad had earlier served a showcause notice on Deka giving him three day’s time for the reply. But Deka failed to respond to the showcause notice, said the Parishad in a press release here today.

Assam Ex-Governor Involved in NC Hills Scam

By R Dutta Choudhury

governor of assamGuwahati, Nov 28 : It is now an established fact that huge amounts of money provided to the NC Hills Autonomous Council by the Central and State Governments were misused over the years, but has now come to light that the Council also lost substantial amounts of revenue due to large-scale irregularities and the name of a former Governor also cropped up in the report of the special audit of the accounts of the Council carried out by the office of the Accountant General (AG).

The report of the special audit, which is available with The Assam Tribune, reported that the Council lost substantial amount of revenue because of the irregularities committed in supply of bamboo to the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC), while, the Council also lost huge amounts due to the failure to collect the land revenue.

The report said that in October, 2006, the Council signed memorandum of understanding with three contractors for extraction and supply of 2.90 lakh metric tonne of bamboo to the HPC on payment of royalty to the Council at the agreed rates. In December, 2006, one of the contractors reported rejection of the “Muli” species of bamboo by the HPC without any recorded reasons and the Council filed a writ petition to the Gauhati High Court. Following that, the HPC agreed to accept the “Muli” bamboo at a much lower rate, which was not accepted by the contractors. An arbitrator was appointed to look into the matter and he awarded compensation amounting to Rs 18.09 crore to three contractors proportionately. The award was accepted by the Governor of Assam and he directed the Council to pay Rs one crore in the proportion of the award amount and also to waive royalty of Rs 50 lakh.

However, in January, 2008, Rs one crore was paid to one single contractor against the direction of the Governor. It may be mentioned here that Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh was the Governor of Assam at that time. The report further said that further amount of Rs one crore was paid to another contractor in March, 2008 without the approval of the executive committee of the Council and the records proved that the payment was authorized by the Chief Executive Member.

In fact, the audit report found a number of other glaring irregularities in supply of bamboo to the HPC. During the period from 2007-08 and 2008-09, orders were issued to five contractors for supply of 4.34 lakh MT of bamboo but only 80,000 MT was supplied, which resulted in loss of revenue amounting to Rs 3.95 crore. Even the penalty amount of Rs 88 lakh was not realized from the contractors by the Council as per terms of the contracts. There were several occasions when the royalty rates were reduced without any valid reason resulting in huge loss of revenue. The report further said that records of the Divisional Forest Officer on the quantity extracted were ignored.

The audit report said that during the period from 2007-08 to June 12, 2009, the target for collection of land revenue was Rs 8.02 crore against which, only Rs 3.79 was collected, leaving a shortfall of Rs 4.23 crore. The reasons for the shortfall were not on record. However, the Council stated before the AG that the collection target could not be achieved due to law and order problem. The reply was not tenable on the ground that the target for collection of land revenue was fixed by the Council every year taking into account the prevailing situation in the district since law and order problem in NC Hills is a regular feature, the report pointed out.

The audit also found glaring irregularities in financial management and said that funds were diverted from development schemes to meet the other inherent expenditures. The report revealed that the Council is to meet its expenditures on salaries and non salary components related to inherent functions out of revenue generated from its own sources. But in 2007-08, the expenditures on the same heads amounted to Rs 27.93 crore against revenue of Rs 7.43 crore. The position was worse in the following year when the Council spent Rs 39.11 crore against revenue generation of Rs 6.63 crore and up to June 12 in the following year, the Council spent Rs six crore against revenue generation of Rs 50 lakh, the report said. The excess expenditure was made by diversion of funds from the schemes under Agriculture, Education, PHE ad Health Departments, the report added.

27 November 2010

Tawang Monastery Faces Danger Due to Landslides

monastery_tawangItanagar, Nov 27 : The famous Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is under imminent threat of collapse following massive landslides around it.

The 330-year-old monastery, also known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, which stands on the spur of a hill about 10,000 feet above sea level, is witnessing massive landslide around it since Monday, officials said.

The landslide had already damaged the plantation and some electric posts around the monastery located in Twang-chu valley of Tawang district, they said.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu visited the site yesterday to assess the damage and asked the district administration and public works department to put their men and machine in place to contain further damage to the site.

Khandu also said he would take up the matter with the Centre to save the monastery, one of the biggest in the world.

The monastery, belonging to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism, was founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680 in compliance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama.

The monastery has a three-storey library which boasts of a collection of 400-year-old Kangyur scriptures, large collections of Sutras, Tangym, Sungbhum, old books and invaluable manuscripts -- both handwritten and printed, many of them in gold.

The monastery has 65 residential buildings, currently housing about 450 Lamas. It controls 17 gompas and a few nunneries in the region.

International Photography Competition in Nagaland

Kohima, Nov 27 : An International photography Competition, named as Hornbill International Photo Festival with a theme 'Colors of Nagaland', will be held from December 5 to 7 here.

According to the organisers of event management group XL, led by its Director Abu Metha, photographers from any part of the world can join the competition and the photographes would be judged by renowned artist of the US Heather Layton from Rochester University, Alban from Germany and Manish Khanna from New Delhi, besides some local judges from Nagaland.

The prize money would be Rs one lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000.

The photographs must bear the theme with colors of Nagaland, either in colours or in black and white and should be submitted by December 2.

Forms of the competition could be downloaded from www.xlnagaland.com, sources said.
hipfest

Naga Chilli Eating Competition During Hornbill Festival

Nagaland Hornbill Festival -  Participant Enjoying his DrinkKohima, Nov 26 : Naga Chilli Eating Competition with the theme 'A bout with the world's Hottest Chilli' would be held on December six at the Heritage Village in Kisama during the week-long Hornbill Festival beginning from December one.

Talking to media persons here last evening, director of ''XL'' Abu Metha said the competition was sponsored by Nagaland Tourism Department and managed by the XL Group of event manager.

Naga Chilli is an indigenous product and Naga people like its hot taste and can devour several chillies at a time.

Now, the competition is being held to prize Naga Chilli eaters who can endure more hotness. The competition is open for Nagas and non-Nagas of the state and also from outside the state.

Mr Metha said the competition would be recorded and would be telecast globally. Further the event would be available in 'You Tube' for internet users.

Dr Tolto Metha, member of XL, informed that the competition, first of its kind at the Hornbill Festival and in Nagaland, would have 32 competitors from 16 tribes.

Kuki Village Chief Shot Dead in Manipur

manipurNear Manipur-Myanmar border

Imphal, Nov 27 : A village chief was shot dead in Manipur's interior Chandel district bordering Myanmar, a delayed official report said today.

The report from the district said chief of Moljol hill village, Ngamkholet Baite (56), was gunned down by two suspected Kuki militants in front of his wife, Linnei Baite at

Teibijang area under Chakpikarong police station while returning to their home from their paddy field on Wednesday.

It said the two militants followed the couple and without saying a word, one of the miscreants shot at Ngamkholet from point blank range killing him on the spot, official sources said.

His body was handed over to the family after post mortem at J N Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital here last evening, sources said.

Linnei Baite  lodged a complaint with Chakpikarong police station, sources said adding that no individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the crime.

Motive behind the crime was not immediately known although tribal enmity could not be ruled out,

Rice Shortage in Mizoram Hits Bru Repatriation

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

rice mizoramAizawl, Nov 27 :
A series of protests by anti-repatriation groups, coupled with a severe shortage of rice in the state, has prompted the Mizoram government to go for a temporary halt in continuing with the repatriation of Bru refugees from the neighbouring state of Tripura.

Official sources in Aizawl said Mizoram was facing a severe shortage of rice in view of short supply by Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the recent months.

“It has become a problem for the state to feed its own people. In such a situation, providing free ration to the Bru refugees is definitely going to be a problem,” a senior state government official said over the phone.

The repatriation of refugees, over 30,000 of them, who have been staying in sub-human condition in relief camps in the Kanchanpur sub-division in Tripura for over 13 years now, had just begun when Mizoram has been hit by a rice shortage.

“With the stock position of rice is depleting, the state government has temporarily halted the Bru repatriation process.

While altogether 101 families have been brought back and settled in the past two weeks or more, we are now waiting for the rice stocks to improve,” said David H Lalthangliana, OSD in the state Home department.

The Mizoram government is required to provide free ration to the repatriated Bru refugees for a period of one year. Though funds for this free ration come from the Centre, with the foodstocks depleting, the repatriation has been put off for now, he said.

Earlier, protests by a section of Bru refugees who are against repatriation had also created hurdles. “Every time we go to Kanchanpur, they put up a road blockade and hold demonstrations against us. This has also hampered the repatriation process,” Lalthangliana said.

Delhi Far From Safe For Women

delhi unsafe for womenNew Delhi, Nov 27 : Ever since a Mizo woman was pulled into a vehicle near her house at Moti Bagh and gangraped by four men on November 23, people from the Northeast have been alleging that they are being discriminated against.

While every networking site has people denouncing the act, many blogs and web portals have also come out strongly against the lack of safety measures for women from Northeast states in Delhi.

“When the rapists saw the woman alighting from the office cab, they did not check to see if she was Mizo or Manipuri or Arunachali. She was simply Northeastern, and therefore an easy target,” says Madhu Chandra, the spokesperson of NE Helpline, highlighting how people from the seven Northeastern states are categorised under one definition in Delhi.

Incidents of Northeastern women being eve-teased are common, and it has often been alleged that the police do not bother to look into their complaints. Jasmine Rupini from Tripura, who has been living in the city for the last five years, says, “We are here to study and work, not harm anybody. Yet, we are the ones who are targeted.”

While the ‘Stop discriminating against people from the North-East regions’ community on Facebook has over 162 people demanding stringent action against the guilty, news portal ‘Mizoram Express’ has urged politicians to make Delhi a safer place for women. The Mizoram Student Union is also planning a demonstration on Monday to demand justice for the girl.

Though security has been increased in Nanakpura, where the incident occurred, residents do not expect it to remain for long. “Whenever something terrible happens, they post policemen at every corner to make us believe that they are doing their job well. But as time passes, the administration forgets about the crime,” says ST Jha, a resident of Nanakpura.

“Nothing has changed since 2005. I feel as vulnerable as I felt then,” says Asha, a Manipuri girl.

However, 21-year-old Jasmin, a student of Motilal Nehru College, does not believe that Northeastern girls are specifically targeted. “That’s not correct,” she says, “I feel that all the girls are unsafe in the city. Whenever I go out at night, I take male friends along.”

With inputs from Atikh Rashid (a student of EXIMS)

Handique Calls For Overhaul of Security in Delhi

Bijoy Krishna HandiqueNew Delhi, Nov 27 : Reacting sharply to the rape of a Mizo lady, Minister of Mines and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Bijoy Krishna Handique, has called for a complete overhaul of security measures for female employees of NE Region working in the BPO sector in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.

The Minister, who visited the rape victim, on Thursday told this newspaper that his Ministry was closely working with Delhi Police and working out ways to ensure safety and security of the employees engaged in the BPO sector.

The Police have constituted 15 Special Investigation Teams to look into this case and they have informed that they have sufficient clues to nab the culprits within two to three days.”

The Ministry is also going to write to the State Governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to take up the issue with the BPO industry.

The Mizo girl was forcibly picked up minutes away from her home, when she was returning from work at around 1.15 am early this week.

Handique said the incident may not have occurred, had the BPO Company, where the two girls worked bothered to follow the guidelines. The women employees are to be accompanied by a guard and vehicle was required to wait till the girls entered home.

“I take exception to the conduct of the BPOs. The responsibility of the safety of the employees ultimately lies with the BPO Companies. However, it is very disheartening to notice that there is no compliance on their part at all. The BPO Companies must follow the guidelines issued by the Police from time to time,” he said.

At the same time, Handique has convened a high level meeting between the Police Heads of NCR including Gurgaon, the Resident Commissioners of the eight North Eastern States, and senior officials from the Ministry of DoNER next week.

After the deliberations in the meeting, Handique will meet the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Delhi to apprise them about the scenario of the safety of working women of the North Eastern Region working in NCR.

The action plan worked out included measures like proper verification of antecedents of drivers employed by the BPO companies, installation of GPS on all vehicles, women Employees should not travel alone with cab drivers and should not be the last one to be dropped.

Meanwhile, BJP North East Sampark Cell (NESC) led by senior party leaders such as party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman today staged a demonstration at the Jantar Mantar, protesting against the ever growing incidents of molestation and rape of women from the North East in the national capital.

Addressing the protesters, Sitharaman demanded that the Union Home Ministry convene an emergency meeting and assure people of the North East that their children studying and working in Delhi were safe. She said the party would raise in Parliament the issue of their safety.

Meanwhile, Kumar Deepak Das, AGP MP has written to the Prime Minister about an incident, when a cultural group, which had come to perform at the International Trade Fair, were looted by a group of armed miscreants at Paharganj on the night of November 19.

Meanwhile, S K Bwiswmutriary MP has also condemned the incident of rape and called on the people of North-east living in the capital region to unite and fight against the menace.

26 November 2010

Mizoram to Discontinue Bru Repatriation

Mizoram governmentAizawl, Nov 26 : The Mizoram government has decided to discontinue the ongoing repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in North Tripura district in the wake of reported protests by anti-deportation elements.

A meeting of senior officials, chaired by state Home Minister R Lalzirliana here yesterday took the decision, even as 101 Bru families have returned to Mizoram in two phases of the repatriation since November three, home department officials today said.

The anti-repatriation groups, lodged in relief camps, not only blocked roads to prevent the refugees from returning to Mizoram, but even obstructed state government officials from identifying bonafide residents of Mizoram among refugees, they said.

"We may continue the repatriation process with the help of Tripura police, but those opposed to the process might resort to some improper action which can tarnish the image of the Mizoram government," an official said, adding, such people had intimidated and beaten up some pro-repatriation leaders.

The repatriated families have been given free ration and Rs 80,000 each as rehabilitation package for re-locating in Mamit district, they said.

Sex on Church Premises Shuts Mizo church

United Pentecostal ChurchAizawl, Nov 26 : Deeming that sex on hallowed portals was ''desecration'', a church in Mizoram was shut down for a week after an unmarried couple was found making love on its porch.

The couple was caught having sex on the porch of the United Pentecostal Church (northeast India), located at Darnam locality in Serchhip, on the night of November 14 by Vanlalsanga, a church elder.

"The act of sex on the premises of the church was considered a blasphemy and the church was closed for a week. It was opened after a pastoral board meeting pardoned the couple,'' Vanlalsanga said on Thursday.

Most of the church denominations in the state regard pre-marital sex as a ''grievous sin''. Earlier, some churches have been dismantled due to ''desecration'' by couples making out and were opened again only after rebuilding and cleansing.

In the incident at the United Pentecostal Church, the meeting of the pastoral board decided not to dismantle the church as the act was performed on the porch.

The board also pardoned the couple for their ''profany in the name of God'' and the church was opened again for religious services.

26/11: No Force in Force One

Mumbai, Nov 26 : Mumbai's elite anti-terror squad, Force One, was formed just after 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

Created along the lines of Israel's Mossad, the commando body is expected to guard the city like a fort and be ready 24 hours to repel any terror attack. But two years later, Force One is yet to gather force, with no home to stay and lack of funds.

The 99-acre plot announced as a Force One hub is still locked in a dispute with tribals who live there. So without enough space, Force One struggles to train its 300 hand-picked commandos.

But lack of space is just one of its handicaps.

In the last two years, Force One has had only three training sessions of 15 days each with its Israeli trainers. Reason, sources say, is lack of funds. Each session costs the state Rs. 10 lakh.

The commando body also faces a serious equipment crunch. Only ten per cent of the commandos have bullet-proof vests and helmets. Other essentials of terror-fighting, like blast-proof eyewear, goggles with rear view, stun grenades and digital radios, were promised but never arrived.

When US President Barack Obama visited Mumbai last month, the Mumbai Police didn't deploy its Force One. It instead asked the National Security Guards to help with security. This clearly is the most telling sign of Force One's lack of equipment.

Yet, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil claims Mumbai is much better prepared today. ''We have made a lot of arrangements," he said recently.

The Force One story, however, may not be entirely true of the police force - Mumbai's first line of defence.

The state has ordered for it Rs. 36 crore worth arms and ammunition in the last two years. Yet, the bulk of the force is not firearm trained. And of the 43,000 cops, only 150 have bullet-proof jackets.

To guard the vulnerable coastline, the police flaunt a fleet of amphibian vehicles. Yet many of them cannot swim in high seas or use marine equipment.

Today, as the memorial parade showcases the might of Mumbai police, what goes unsaid is the story of an overworked, ill-trained and under-equipped force, forced to stand guard against mighty terror attacks.

Northeast Community in Delhi Quite Vulnerable

15 cases this year `tip of iceberg`

By Durgesh Nandan Jha

delhi gangrape northeast girlNew Delhi, Nov 26 : The gangrape of a 30-year-old woman from Mizoram early Wednesday morning once again highlights the dangers that women from northeast face in the capital.

And despite repeated incidents of rape, molestation and racial discrimination, the police and the state administration have completely failed to curb such cases over the years.

Racial attack and crime against people from the community continues unabated in the city, says Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of the NGO Northeast Support Center.

"So far this year, more than 15 serious cases of molestation and abuse against people from the northeast have been reported. In 2009, 39 cases, including eight cases of molestation, one rape case and 20 cases of boys being beaten thrashed, were reported,'' he added.

Activists say that the number of cases reported to the police is just a tip of the iceberg. "In 2009, when a 19-year-old Naga girl was murdered by an IIT PhD scholar in Munirka, the police said they will start special helpline number for northeast people. But it never happened.

Patrolling services during night in areas populated by people from northeast Dhaula Kuan, Munirka, Mahipalpur, Kotla Mubarakpur, Gandhi Vihar and North Campus is still not up to the mark. Also, in the Delhi Police (Amendment) Bill 2010, there is no mention of any special measures to check crime against people from the northeast,'' Chandra said.

Jasmine Rupmini, a postgraduate student of Delhi University who belongs to Tripura, said that the police wakes up only when there is a rape or someone is killed in broad daylight. "But we face harassment and discrimination every moment, every day. Sometimes we reply but mostly we ignore,'' she said.

Boveio Poukai Dao, general secretary of the Naga Students' Association, said that the local police is not very supportive when it comes to registering complaint or acting against the accused. "We are told to behave in a certain manner or dress `responsibly'. Rather than acting against the offenders, police preach us and try to dissuade us from filing complaint,'' said Dao.

Another activist said that since the Centre has failed to provide job opportunities in northeastern states, people migrate to Delhi and face humiliation. "The private sector has also not invested in these states due to insurgency,'' Dao said.

Rice Shortage in Mizoram

rice shortage in mizoramAizawl, Nov 26 : Shortage of rice, the staple food of Mizos, has affected the common people of Mizoram and also hampered the process of repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in neighbouring Tripura.

General Secretary of the Bru Coordination Committee (BCC) Elvis Chorkhy today said the state officials found it difficult to provide free ration to the repatriated refugees due to shortage in rice stock in government godowns.

“We were told by the officials that the repatriation process would not be resumed now due to shortage of rice,” Chorkhy said, adding that they apprehended that if the repatriation resumed now, they would face scarcity of food.

Since the first phase of repatriation began on November three, 101 Bru families have returned to Mizoram and were re-settled in Mamit district, on Mizoram-Tripura border.

They were provided with free ration of around 600 grams a day for each adult and 300 grams for each minor.

Scarcity of rice also plagued the whole state, which was attributed to transportation problems faced in Assam and Mizoram by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department.

“Though the situation is not that alarming to the extent of facing famine, we have to distribute whatever stock we have,” one official said.

Northeast India Girls Battle Racial Slurs, Feel Like Aliens

By Ambika Pandit

northeast India Gurgaon-victimNew Delhi, Nov 26
: Reena, a Delhi University student from the northeast, was on a cyclerickshaw when four bikers brushed past, feeling up her thighs and snatching away Rs 15,000 that she was carrying.

And after all the fight she put up she was literally dragged by the bikers for some distance she reached the police station only to see the constables smirk at her. They simply asked her to give a written complaint and leave.

This was one of the many similar incidents shared during a group discussion organized by NGO Jagori as part of its `safe cities' programme.

The vulnerability of women from the northeast and the sexual harassment faced by them in Delhi has been catalogued in the international four-city study labelled "Learning from Women to Create Gender Inclusive Cities'', which was presented at the three-day international conference on safe cities for women in the capital that concluded on Wednesday.

The study takes into account the vulnerability of women working in call centres in Delhi.

The Delhi chapter of the study has a section, `Place of origin', highlighting that students and young women from the northeast states reported facing particular forms of discrimination. Young women reported being called names such as "chinki'', "momos'', "thukpas'' and "noodles''.

"The findings are an outcome of a focussed group discussion carried out as part of the study to understand the concerns of women from the northeast states of the country who come to Delhi to study or work,'' pointed Kalpana Viswanath from Jagori.

The discussants comprised six young women, aged between 19 and 22, from Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur, who are studying at DU. They stay in private hostels or PG accommodations mainly along with other men and women from their states.

The study points that since they have different racial features from north Indians, they are subjected to humiliation, molestation and sexual violence.

Everyone in the group agreed that Delhi is unsafe for women, particularly those from the northeastern states. "People perceive us as different. They have preconceived notions about women from the northeast and brand them as `untraditional, easy, and available for sexual favours','' said one of the participants.

"When I wear salwar kameez people stare. If I wear shorts they say `she is ill mannered'. No matter what we wear people always comment,'' Tina from Manipur said.

The Delhi chapter also looks at safety of women working in BPOs. A focus group of nine female employees aged 23-28 years working at a BPO at different times of the day were interviewed. They said they feel secure wearing I-cards so that they're not misunderstood if they are out waiting for their cabs at night.

Significantly, crowded places seem to be as unsafe as deserted places. One of the participants shared how she was teased while waiting for her 11pm cab in a market.

Another employee revealed that her cab with only female passengers on board was followed and asked to pull over by strangers who banged on the windows. This, too, occurred in a marketplace and not a secluded spot.

Names of participants have been changed.

Assam Traders Say No To Donations

donations assamGuwahati, Nov 26 : Trade and industry bodies in Assam today came out strongly against the demand for donations by various organisations and said this would send a wrong signal to prospective investors in the state.

The Assam Chamber of Commerce even said only dishonest traders were giving donations to students and other organisations to hide the dirty side of their business and asked the “honest” businessmen not to succumb to such demands.

“Business is a cut-throat competition in the current environment and there are still many honest businessmen. I do not see any reason to demand donations from the businessmen who are earning money by adopting honest means. If earning money is the only reason for giving donations, then the salaried class would also have to do the same. As a businessman I have never given any donation to any organisation,” the state convenor of the chamber, Rupam Goswami, told The Telegraph.

Asked to comment on the ongoing conflict between the AASU and Vishal Mega Mart, Goswami said the management of the business outlet should have protested at a time when the AASU had demanded donations. He said it seems that the Vishal’s management tried to politicise the issue, which was unfortunate.

Mahavir Jain, president of the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce, said forceful donations were illegal and anyone resorting to such practice must be brought to book. He, however, said businessmen donate a portion of their profits to different organisations for social causes.

“I don’t want to comment on donations by making the conflict between AASU and Vishal Mega Mart a case study. I am worried that if the business community is harassed or intimidated in the name of donations, it will send a very wrong signal about the present state of affairs of Assam to outsiders,” Jain said.

The business community in Jorhat did not want to comment on the issue.

“Please don’t drag us into this. But what is happening is very unfortunate,” an office-bearer of the Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce said on condition of anonymity.

Bikash Gogoi, convenor of the Dibrugarh district unit of Assam Chamber of Commerce, said donations demanded by various organisations hadbecome a nuisance for the business community in the state and it would affect the economic growth of Assam.

At a time when Assam is faced with the burning unemployment problem, it couldn’t afford to tolerate hooliganism in the name of donations for “social causes”, he added.

Via The Telegraph

Mohun Bagan to Help Soccer Development in Northeast India

Mohan Bagan KolkataKolkata, Nov 26 : City soccer giants Mohun Bagan Thursday joined hands with Assam Football Association (AFA) in a first of its kind venture in Indian sports to help in the overall development of the game in the north eastern state.

As per the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed Thursday, Mohun Bagan would help Assam Football Association in various administrative and technical aspects of the game.

‘The club will also send its technical experts to AFA from time to time to guide the association in the coaching camps for the Assam state teams. The club will also send its administration and management Experts to AFA to conduct workshops, seminars and courses,’ said Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra, one of the signatories of the deal.

‘Mohun Bagan will train talented footballers of Assam in the club’s soccer academies,’ he added.

AFA, on its part, will help the club in recruiting talented footballers of the northeastern states for its academy and team,’ said AFA secretary Ankur Dutta, who also signed the MOU.

Mohun Bagan also agreed to arrange friendly matches during exposure trips of the Assam sides in Kolkata with their club team. In return, the club would also send its different age-group teams to Assam for exposure trips and tournaments, Dutta told media persons here.

25 November 2010

More Delhi Cops in Areas Where Northeast Girls Live

New Delhi, Nov 25 : Expressing shock and dismay at the abduction and rape of a Mizoram girl in the capital, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath today sought more PCR vans and extra police posts in areas where women from the Northeast India live in large numbers.

Tirath said that she would take up the issue with the Home Ministry.

"I am very much concerned about these incidents happening to the girls from Northeast India.

I had already taken up this issue and I am going to reiterate this issue with the Home Ministry that they should have extra kiosks and PCR vans in all police stations in areas where there is a concentration of girls from Northeast India," she told reporters here.Delhi-Police northeast girl

She said that there was a need to ensure safe working conditions for women. "I am also asking the police to hold gender sensitisation workshops in every police station so that police personnel at all levels are adequately sensitised to these problems".

"Our Ministry is shortly going to inaugurate a working women's hostel in Jasola for the girls from North-East," the Minister added.

The 30-year-old victim was walking towards her home in Moti Village in south Delhi early yesterday morning along with one of her colleagues when four men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her.

This is the latest in several incidents of sexual assaults in the city where girls from the North-East were at the receiving end.

MBA Seats For Cash: This is India

IT dept raids Welingkar's Director

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's DirectoIn raids that stretched for almost 48 hours, the Income Tax (IT) authorities over the November 20 weekend searched the residences and office of Dr Uday Salunkhe, Director of Welingkar Institute of Management, Matunga, Mumbai. While it is learnt not a lot of cash was found, documentary evidence has been seized to help with further investigation.

The raids that started on Saturday were apparently spurred by a lone complaint filed by a student last year, that of being charged illegal capitation fee for a seat in the institute's MBA-equivalent program. However, this complaint was made a year ago during the 2009-10 admission season but for want of time and other pressing matters, no action was taken then. "This student was persistent over the months and so the decision to raid was finally taken," said an IT official on the condition of anonymity.

The Income Tax raid was spurred by allegations that Dr Salunkhe, an engineer-MBA and a PhD who holds important positions at the Mumbai University, was charging capitation fees and admitting students through the backdoor instead of through the normal process of entrance exams and interviews. IT officials were not willing to admit or deny that Salunkhe's bank lockers in both Pune and Mumbai had been sealed. One IT official told us that the Director had totally denied amassing any ill-gotten wealth and had claimed that whatever wealth was seized from his residence or the Welingkar campus belonged to the trustees of the institute. IT officials have also questioned some more staff of the institute.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

According to sources, the board of trustees of Welingkar Institute of Management have been embroiled in bitter rivalry since some time. "There is already an issue brewing among the trustees and some licenses were revoked a couple of years ago when similar raids were carried out," added the IT official. In 2004 and in 2008, the IT department had carried out similar raids and discovered irregularities in the trust's functioning.

Both the IT officials as well as sources from Welingkar Institute of Management told us that the raids were linked to the internal rivalry among the institute's board of trustees. "For years now, there have been factions in the trust and all these raids have happened at a time when elections in the trust are round the corner," said an official from the college, implying that such tipoffs to the IT department were part of the rivals' gameplans against each other.

"It is easy to target Dr Salunkhe since Welingkar Institute is the most famous of all the institutes run by this particular board of trustees and nets in the highest revenue. Those who want to gain control will naturally want to target Dr Salunkhe," the official added.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research is part of the Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, Pune. The charitable trust SP Mandali manages 43 educational institutions in Maharashtra including the well-known Ruia College and Poddar College in Mumbai.

While media reports have stated that huge sums of money were found in the residences of Dr Salunkhe and some of the other Welingkar staff, IT officials refused to confirm or deny it. "We cannot tell you what we have found or its quantity but it is enough for us to investigate further." IT sources told us that had the raids been carried out during the admissions season, may be the find would have been different.

For now, the IT officials are concentrating on unearthing clues from documents and email correspondences of the institute. Further evidence garnered through such investigation will decide the future course of action.

"Emails and other important correspondence is usually stored in servers abroad which make our job difficult. But we have learnt to combat these issues as well," said the IT official. The IT person adds that what they have got as evidence until now could probably be just the tip of the iceberg.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

The IT official, from his experience in dealing with such issues, said that in IT violation cases related to education, things get complicated as so many educational institutes are run by politicians or influential people who find it easy to flout the law. "And besides, there are those institutes not run by government and do not get government aid. If these want to start something new or advance the existing facilities, they don't see any way out but to charge capitation fees. Since capitation fees are not legal in our country, people find alternative ways to collect them."

Rajasthan-based Atul Bapna, who is a career counsellor and is also in the business of facilitating management quota seats says that except for very few b-schools, most in the country charge capitation fees.

"There is a management quota in every b-school and use is made of that quota to get in the revenue for the college. It is a well-known fact. These things become an issue only when some student or parent does not get the admission at the discussed rate and decides to take action. Such raids does not affect the functioning of any institute. Capitation fees are here to stay," he says.

Bapna adds that the process of admission via the capitation fee route is carried out behind closed doors in these colleges. Lack of transparency in b-schools' functioning aids such activities.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

The day the raids were carried out, was also the convocation day for Welingkar Institute of Management's 2010 graduates. Apparently, Welingkar officials had discussed this with the IT officials who first agreed to let the convocation happen. However, the institute and the officials could not sustain that agreement and the convocation got cancelled. "We had students coming from all over the world. They had to just go back. When we were told that we had to cancel so we sent SMS, called and emailed as many as we could to not come to the institute that evening, but so many still did," said an official from the college.

We spoke to students on the Welingkar campus at Matunga. One of them said that while there was a concern among the students about the IT raids, it had not affected their lecture schedule or studies. "Yes, we are wondering what is happening but we are not directly affected by it. Our lives as students are going on as usual."

There has been no official mail from the institute to the students explaining the current situation. Officials from Welingkar said that any such communication is sent out only by the Director.

When we visited the campus on Wednesday, it seemed its usual busy self. There were no hushed tones to be heard nor any alarm on the faces of students. Only the security officials seemed extra cautious and kept me waiting at the security office for a while till the institute gave a green signal for me to enter. Guess, the security guards may have been given strict instructions post the raids, not let in unknown faces, lest they turned out unfriendly too.

Source:pagalguy.com

US Consul General to Visit Nagaland During Hornbill Festival

US Consul General, Kolkata, Beth A PayneKohima, Nov 25 : The US Consul General, Kolkata, Beth A Payne will be attending the inaugural ceremony of the Hornbill festival as the state guest on December 1 next at Kisama Heritage village here.

According to official sources here today, Ms Payne is likely to inaugurate one of the events of the famous tourist festival which would be showcasing the culture and tradition of all the Naga tribes at the Hornbill festival.

The seven-day festival will begin at the Naga Heritage village in Kisama from December 1 next.

She will have a brief press interaction during her stay in Nagaland, official sources said.

Beth A Payne assumed her duties on August 1, 2008, the sources added.

Assam Activists Vandalise Vishal Mega Mart Stores

Vishal Mega Mart shopping malls in AssamGuwahati, Nov 25 : Hundreds of activists of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) Thursday vandalised at least three Vishal Mega Mart shopping malls in Assam. About a dozen students were injured when police used batons to disperse them.

AASU accused the shopping chain of defaming it, two days after a newly floated students' forum released telephonic conversations between a Vishal Mart executive and an AASU leader regarding monetary transactions.

Malls in Guwahati, Jorhat and Dibrugarh were attacked, a police officer said.

'In all the three places, about 100 AASU activists sneaked past security barricades and started pelting stones. They then entered the premises and resorted to large scale vandalism,' he said.

At a press conference Tuesday, the Forum of Ex General Secretary Post Graduate Students Union of Gauhati University released an audio tape where AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya was heard talking about receiving Rs.2 lakh from an official of Vishal Mega Mart shopping chain.

AASU admitted to accepting donations from business houses, and said it was not doing 'anything wrong'.

AASU also forcibly closed down six Vishal Mega Mart malls Wednesday - in Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Tezpur, and Silchar - and asked the management to tender a public apology before opening the outlets.

'There was no request from Vishal Mega Mart management for providing security. We were caught unawares by AASU activists,' the police officer added.

AASU has warned of more attacks if Vishal Mega Mart did not apologise.

AASU commands the support of an estimated five lakh students in the state. It spearheaded a violent six-year anti-outsider agitation in 1979.

It is active in raising issues of Bangladeshi migrants, mega dam projects, and corruption.