ZORO Calls For Adoption of UN Declaration

Aizawl, Feb 1 : Zo Re-unification Organisation has called for the adoption of the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) of 2007 by the Indian Parliament.

On the occasion of the 119th anniversary of the Kuki-Chin-Lushai Conference, the umbrella organisation for Zo tribes across the region resolved here today to appeal to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly to take necessary steps for adoption of the UN Declaration by the Indian Parliament.

Zoro is an organisation that stands for re-unification of all Zo tribes scattered across the Northeast region, including Myanmar and Bangladesh. Since its formation in 1988 at Champhai in eastern Mizoram, Zoro has been struggling to bring the Zo tribes, divided by the British, under one single administrative unit.

''The Britishers convened the famous Kuki-Chin-Lushai Conference at Fort Williams in 1892 and decided to amalgamate the Kuki-Chin-Lushai country.
The process of bringing Zo people, who are now divided in three countries of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, under a single administrative unit is not realised till today,'' R Thangmawia, Zoro president, said in his speech today.

Zoro had been observing the anniversary of Kuki-Chin-Lushai Conference every year since the last two decades.

Zoro is optimistic that its objective can be achieved within the framework of Article 36 of UN Declaration 2007.

Addressing the function today, Thanggmawia said that the UN Declaration, adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007, agreed to give the right of nationhood to around 370 million unrecognised nationalities around the globe.

''The UN Declaration confers the rights to protection of social and cultural practices and protection of the wealth of their lands to the indigenous people,'' he said.

''The declaration also gives the indigenous people, separated by international and national boundaries, the right to have cultural and political integration,'' he added.

During the same occasion last year, Zoro had passed a resolution calling for taking concrete steps towards creation of single administrative unit for all Mizo tribes scattered in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Mizoram All Set To Become 'Leprosy-Free'

Aizawl, Feb 1 : Mizoram is closing in on the distinction of being a 'leprosy-free' state with the count of lepers currently standing at 17.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of Anti-Leprosy Day here today, Director of Health Services C Lalthanmawia disclosed that since 1982, leprosy had affected 1,395 people in Mizoram, of which 1,380 had been cured.

''There are only 17 lepers left in the state. All of them are migrants from Bangladesh confined in the southern-western part of the state. Currently there are no lepers among the Mizos,'' he said.

The health department, in a communique, said the anti-leprosy campaign was kicked off in Mizoram since 1981 and it was currently aiming at a total eradication of the ailment.

In 2001, leprosy-affected people formed less than one per cent of the total population, allowing Mizoram to get incentive cash awards from the Union government. With this, the upgradation of the state's lone leprosy hospital at Tlabung would be funded.

At present, 17 leprosy patients, all of them are migrants, are being administered treatment at the hospital. Health officials said leprosy was rampant along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam.

Army Deserts Mubarak, March Today

Cairo: Embattled President Hosni Mubarak today offered to open "immediate talks" with opposition groups as pressure on him mounted from the powerful military which termed the peoples' demands "legitimate" and said it will not fire on protesters.

A demonstrator prays at Tahir Square, in central Cairo, on January 31, 2011

The offer came as tens of thousands of Egyptians started converging at the Tahrir Square -- the hub of the anti-government demonstrations in the heart of Cairo -- for their 'million man march' to force 82-year-old Mubarak to step down.

"President Hosni Mubarak has tasked me with opening immediate talks with the political forces to begin a dialogue around all the issues concerning constitutional and legislative reforms," newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman said on state television.

He said steps were underway to implement decisions of the appeals court contesting results of autumn legislative elections in certain constituencies, Al Arabia reported.

Former IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei addresses demonstrators at Tahrir Square on Sunday

Suleiman also said the government would move to "deal as soon as possible with the priorities of fighting unemployment, poverty, corruption and reach the required balance between wages and prices".

Amid heavy presence of military and armoured vehicles on the streets in downtown Cairo, protesters waving placards reading 'down with Mubarak', 'Mubarak's game is over' spilled on the Tahrir Square.

Identity cards of protesters were scrutinised by the Army personnel before letting them into the square.

Sensing the strong public sentiments, the military made it clear that it was not out to crush today's mass anti-government protests and said their demands were "legitimate."

"To the great people of Egypt, your armed forces, acknowledging the legitimate rights of the people... have not and will not use force against the Egyptian people," the military said in a statement on state tv.

Angry demonstrators shred a poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo

"Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody," the army statement said.

Facing the first serious challenge to his 30-year-rule, Mubarak has been hoping for the military backing to stem the tide against him.

In a desperate move to cling to power, Mubarak last night sacked his much-hated interior minister in a revamped cabinet and appointed a new intelligence chief to mollify opposition groups, but the protesters remained unmoved and stated that they would accept nothing less than his departure.

Mubarak also appointed top general Murad Mowafi, a former north Sinai governor, as the new intelligence chief.

Concerned over the fast-moving events in Egypt, the US has sent a diplomatic troubleshooter with close ties to the Arab nation on a mission to Cairo to meet President Mubarak and other senior officials.

Egyptian demonstrator chants anti-Mubarak slogans at Tahrir Square in central Cairo

Frank G Wisner, a former ambassador to Egypt, flew in here yesterday as questions were raised whether the US was using him as an emissary to persuade Mubarak to step down.

Stepping up their campaign, a coalition of opposition groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, gave the President a Friday ultimatum to quit, as the death toll in eight days of violence crossed 150.

They rejected the new Cabinet dominated by regime veterans, and called for continued protests to ensure the fall of the crumbling regime.

Another million-strong march was also planned in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, as national train services were cancelled in an apparent bid to stymie protests, Al Jazeera reported.

The state-owned national carrier EgyptAir said it was cancelling all domestic and international flights from 3 pm to 8 am until further notice, coinciding with a curfew in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, the Qatar-based channel reported.

The rally planned for today will mark a week since the start of the biggest anti-government protests in Egypt.

Egyptian demonstrator holds a sign up following prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo, on January 31, 2011

The protests broke out last Tuesday giving vent to peoples' anger over three decades of repression, rampant corruption, lack of democracy and good governance.

Meanwhile, many people are reported to be panic buying in Cairo amid the unrest.

"I walked into a supermarket and saw complete mayhem," an Al Jazeera correspondent said.

"People are stocking up on supplies as much as they can. There are very few rations available in the stores. They are running out of basic supplies, like eggs, cheese and meat.

Deliveries have not been coming for days."

Chaos has also been reported at Cairo's international airport, where thousands of foreigners are attempting to be evacuated by their home countries.

Meanwhile, the authorities claimed that the turmoil in the country had not affected the passage of traffic through the famous Suez Canal.

Source: Indian Express

LG Launching 3D Smartphone

LG Optimus 3D

Expectations are rife that LG is all set to launch Optimus 3D smartphone.

The company has reportedly sent out an invite for a press conference to be held on February 14 at the Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, where it is likely to launch the new handset.

The invite shows a handset that analysts say resembles LG Optimus 2X and reads "Into the New Dimension and says Experience the new world that LG is opening."

LG Optimus 3D will be based on Google Android platform. The glasses-free 3D handset is said to run on Nvidia Tegra 2 processor (same as LG Optimus 2X), carry an 8-megapixel camera with flash, front camera and movie recording.

The 4.3-inch smartphone was partially revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2011.

What is Radio Tagging?

Radio Tagging or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a gift of modern technology, which incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic, coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person.

RFID is used in place of bar codes in many retail markets globally. The use of this technology is also made to keep a tab on animals in the wild, specially, the endangered species, and for the management of animals in advanced countries.

RFID uses communication via radio waves to exchange data between a reader and an electronic tag attached to an object, for the purpose of identification and tracking.

Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.

To understand the technology of RFID, one first needs to understand that it is chip-based. In terms of technology, RFID has two components.

There is a tag with a microchip in it. The microchip in turn is attached to an antenna that picks up signals from and sends signals to a reader.

The tag contains a unique serial number, but may have other information, such as a customer's account number.

Tags come in many forms, such as the smart labels that are stuck on boxes, smart cards and key-chain wands for paying for items, and a box that can be affixed to windshield to enable toll collection without stopping the vehicle.

RFID tags could be active tags, passive tags or semi-passive tags, meaning they may lie dormant or send information of varying degrees and types, depending on how the chip is programmed.

The use of RFID on humans is however, rare. Indian students at the Tri-Valley University, US, which has been declared as a 'sham' university, have been required to wear anklet tags to monitor their movments. Many others have been detained and released on bond.

This has enraged external affairs minister S M Krishna, who has said that the tagging of Indian students is "inhuman and unacceptable".

Mizo Missionary Doctor Travels to Serve Kandhamal Victims

By Dibin Samuel

A nurse gestures at the Moorshead Memorial Christian Hospital Trust.

Thanks to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, a missionary doctor will now be available full time to serve the victims of violence in Kandhamal.

Dr. KC Zova along with his wife and one year old son reached Kandhamal on Friday, January 28.

Dr. Zova will serve at the Moorshead Memorial Christian Hospital Trust (MMCHT), a reputed dispensary that has enormously contributed to improving health status and quality of life for dalits and tribals in the region.

"It was a very challenging decision to leave behind a good job and travel to a violence-affected region where I can serve the needy and displaced. I always wanted to use my medical expertise to serve God's purpose. I am happy I got this opportunity," said Dr. Zova, a native of Aizawl.

He added: "People here are in dire need of medical aid. Two years after the violence, still so much is to be done to restore their normal lives. After reaching I found that the families needed special care and treatment. I realise serving them is serving God.”

The hospital, which was founded in the year 1937, currently has 22 indoor patients who were victims of the 2008 violence and are cared by the staff. It runs a rehabilitation center for the mentally retarded and physically challenged, and also has a training school for students.
Incidentally, since 1970 the hospital has not had a full time missionary doctor to serve the needs of the poor.

"We are very happy to have an enthusiastic and committed person like Dr. Zova. His presence and support will help us serve the medically underserved communities, especially the families of the 2008 violence," said Dr. Pradeep Mallik, director of the MMCHT.

A people’s tribunal headed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court AP Shah last year said there was a lack of trauma counselling, medical assistance and other forms of humanitarian assistance for Christians in the aftermath of the violence.

It urged the state authorities to provide immediate medical and psychological, particularly trauma counselling to the victims, particularly the women and children.

via christiantoday

Swu Harps on 'Honourable' Deal For Peace

Dimapur, Feb 1 : NSCN (IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu on Monday said political negotiations were always aimed at arriving at an "honourable" agreement.

"Any proposal that is acceptable to only one party is not a solution. It should always be acceptable and honourable to both parties.

We are seriously seeking to arrive at an honourable political settlement," he said.

In a message on the occasion of the outfit's 32nd "raising day", Swu reiterated that he was committed to reconciliation among the Nagas. His message was read out by the outfit's "chief principal secretary", Samson Jajo, at a function at Hebron Camp here.

Swu said he has come to Delhi for the third time "at the invitation" of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for political talks and he was thankful to the Centre for making necessary arrangements for his "safe arrival".

Stating that integration of all Naga areas is "our birthright", he called upon every Naga to fight for integration of "Greater Nagaland" at any cost.

He said, "When other people are trying to disintegrate Nagalim (Greater Nagaland) into pieces, how can the Nagas watch helplessly? There is no balcony in Nagalim from where we can watch the drama of life.

Every Naga is expected to participate in our struggle for the integration of Nagalim. "Swu told the Nagas to be a prepared for any eventuality. "Prepared people will never be disheartened, for we know that only the prepared people are destined for victory," he added.

Women Voters Lead in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 31 : Women voters in Mizoram have surpassed men in the updated electoral roll released by the state’s chief electoral officer early this month.

The state now holds the record of being one of the seven states and Union territories, where women voters outnumber men.

Two other northeastern states — Manipur and Meghalaya — are among these seven states where women voters outnumber men. In these two states, there are 8,62,272 and 65,6371 women voters while the men voters are 8,18,355 and 6,33,390 respectively.

Mizoram’s chief electoral officer K. Riachho said this year’s updated rolls had registered 640,754 voters, of which 325,081 were women and 3,15,673 men, a lead of 9,408.

He said the revised voters’ rolls in Mizoram in July last year had registered 6,33,455 voters, of which the women voters stood at 3,20,207 and men voters at 3,13,248, giving the women a lead of 6,959.

The women voters of this tiny state have steadily been maintaining their edge over men in all the state-level polls.

However, the women have always lagged behind in contesting the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.

In the last Assembly election held in December 2008, no woman candidate could win in the state though five of them were in the fray.

Mizo CM Meets Bharat Parikrama Team

Aizawl, Jan 31 : The Bharat Parikrama team consisting 80 youths from 15 States has left here after a three-day visit to the State since January 25.

The tour was organised by Ministry of Home Affairs under the aegis of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs and Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mizoram Zone.

The team called on State Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla here on Thursday. Expressing happiness at the team’s visit, he said that despite being from different social, cultural, religious and economic backgrounds, all of us should take pride in being Indians first and foremost and advised the visiting youths to work for the country’s progress and development, fostering the bonds of brotherhood and universal love among different communities.

The Chief Minister said that at times, peoples’ geographical knowledge is so poor that they fail to place Mizoram as a part of India but expressed hope that the youths would add to their knowledge about the rich heritage of our country through travel programmes like the current one.

The Bharat Parikrama team had also an interaction session with prominent citizens and important government officials at the I & PR Auditorium. The team also visited Falkawn, a typical Mizo village, the Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram University, the 10th Assam Rifles among others.

NID to Revive Northeast Textile Industry

By Lakshmi Ajay

Ahmedabad,  Jan 31 : Year 1961: The Indian government realised the need for development and growth of small industries in the country and joined hands with Ford Foundation, to sponsor a three month visit of renowned American designers—Charles and Ray Eames.

The visit resulted in setting up of the National Institute of Design (NID) on the lines of industrial design education being imparted in Bauhaus and Ulm in Germany.

Cut to 2011: The Ahmedabad-based institute—which functions as an autonomous body under the department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India—delivers under graduate and post graduate programmes in 17 diverse disciplines in design.

NID was ranked 32nd by Business Week in its list of top 60 European and Asian design programmes in the world. The institute has, over its 50 years of existence, established two more campuses at—Gandhinagar (Post Graduate campus) and Bangalore (R&D campus).

Director of the institute Pradyumna Vyas says there’s more. “We will be starting a full-fledged two year photography PG diploma course from this year. Also, we are looking at expanding the universal design programme and establishing several research chairs based on this. We plan to develop modules for design for craft so that one can create visual, learning materials in schools and colleges,” says Vyas.

Taking advantage of its autonomous status, the institute is thinking of further expanding within the country with four new campuses. “We will be setting up campuses in Hyderabad and Jorhat. Whereas, plans of setting up campuses in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana are on the anvil. We will train faculty and create the curriculum development for all the four centres.

While the institute has had enquiries from Middle East countries to set up a campus, at present, it is more focused on having international exchange programmes and pedagogic relationships. “Going overseas is not an option right now. We are looking at consulting opportunities so that we can add to our corpus of funds for the institute,” adds Vyas.

NID has international exchange programmes with around 35 overseas institutions. It has signed 40 memorandum of understanding for knowledge sharing with design institutes across the world out of which 24 MOU’s are with European institutions alone.

The talent pool housed in NID is actively involved in live projects and research chairs that promote the cause of traditional design by marrying it to sustainable entrepreneurial ideas. “Our students are working on several projects with Ford Foundation and our incubatee cell Nidus is also supporting interesting innovations started by students and developing their entrepreneurial ideas,” adds Vyas.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry invested Rs 10 crore in the incubatee cell for venture funds which is called ‘designerpreneurship’.

NID has now taken up the task of reviving and restoring languishing textiles of traditional craftsmen and artisans through several multi-crore live projects in the North east.

Assam Police To Tap Phones

An eye on criminals, terrorists

PANKAJ SARMA

New gadgets

Guwahati, Jan 31 : Close on the heels of the phone-tapping controversy that shook the nation, the police machinery in the state is gearing up to intercept phones and text messages with the aid of state-of-the-art technology.

Only in this case, the police will be using a “lawful interception and monitoring system” to monitor only phones used by persons indulging in illegal or subversive activities. The aim is to protect people and prevent untoward incidents, a highly placed police source said.

The source added the sophisticated system, which would be a first for the state police, would be used for monitoring and interception of telecommunications only with required authorisation from Union or state governments in accordance with the provisions of the law.

“The Assam police headquarters has floated tenders inviting bids from qualified parties and the bids will be opened on February 2. The system will be procured with funds provided by the Centre under the police modernisation scheme,” the source said.

He said the system would be able to monitor and intercept telecommunications in GSM (global system for mobile communication), CDMA (code division multiple access) and PSTN (public switched telephone network) networks.

“We are going for a system which can simultaneously monitor 30 conversations at a time and can store data up to 30,000 hours. Moreover, the system should also show text messages in multiple languages and should have advanced features like speaker identification, 3G feature for monitoring video calls and faxes, among others,” he added. The interception activity of the system must be such that it does not interfere with the operation of the telecommunication networks or make the target aware that he is being monitored. It would also be used to locate the target on the basis of cell tower information.

Phone tapping can be a key tool in intelligence gathering, which is an important part of police functioning, particularly in the wake of threats of terrorism and other hi-tech crimes, he said, adding, “As criminals and terrorists are adept at employing technology, the police will also have to do so to counter them.”

The source said the system would be used for intercepting conversations only in the interests of national sovereignty and integrity, state security, public order or preventing incitement for an offence and adequate safeguards would be in place to ensure that it is not misused and no individual’s right to privacy is violated.

He said the Union or state governments are empowered to order interception of telecommunications under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, but only in “public emergency, or in the interest of public safety” and Rule 419 and 419A sets out the procedure of interception and monitoring. “According to law, the state home secretary is empowered to order interception,” he added.

The supplier of the system will also have to provide training to persons designated by Assam police on various technical and operational aspects of the system.

Agatha Sangma: Youthful Hope For The Development of Northeast India

By Anjana Dey

Ms. Agatha Sangma: The young face of Indian politics hails from West Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

Recently at the North East Students Fest (NESFEST) hosted by the University of Delhi, I had an opportunity to both listen and interact with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Rural Development Ms. Agatha Sangma. The youngest Minister in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet, Ms. Sangma is pretty much the face of NE youth now trying to make mark in India’s development story. Born and brought up in Delhi but with full respect for her roots in the North East region, Ms. Sangma considers both the NE and Delhi as her home. What is also a fact of interest to me, is that Ms. Sangma holds a Masters in Environment Management and surely has a good understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the NE region.

It was in 2009 when Ms. Sangma took the oath as a Minister. Wearing a traditional stole and sarong in beige and white, the then 28 year old Ms. Sangma folded her hands into a gentle namaste for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi sitting in the front row, before taking her place beside President Prathibha Patil (Click here to watch the video). Speaking about the oath taking ceremony at the NESFEST, she proudly shared how when everybody expected her to take the oath in English, she surprised everyone by doing so in Hindi as she believes she is equally a part of India as anybody else.

During the NESFEST, Ms. Sangma addressed the audience and other guests with a smile and began her speech by speaking about the issue of Indian citizens having multiple identities yet the nation standing as one largely due to the ‘unity in diversity’ that is inherent to the working of this nation. However she admitted that regionalism has been an inseparable part of India and one outfall that it has had is the unfortunate violence incidents against NE students in Delhi. In response to the increasing number of such incidences in the capital, Ms. Sangma informed how she and few other MLAs and NE students organised a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Ms. Sangma also realizes the lack of information and awareness among the people from different parts of India about the the Northeastern region. She considers the integration of culture as a very important parameter for national integrity and to facilitate this, she shared about her meeting with the Education Ministry Mr. Kapil Sibal. She has already initiated the process of ensuring that the syllabus of Indian history includes the contribution of the NE people as well. She feels that through such an integration process, the people of NE will feel more connected to the mainland while at the same time, rest of India will be able to learn about the role played by the people of the NE region during independence and later on for the betterment of the country.

During the Fest, I approached Ms. Sangma and introduced her to the working and objectives of NE Greens, my experience of working with Delhi Greens and how I now felt a strong need to return to my hometown of Duliajan and initiate a lot of green work in order to promote sustainable development in the region. Her first reaction to this was a comment on the region itself. Ms. Sangma believes that the existing lifestyle of the people of the Northeast region is very sustainable. However, the modern wave is changing a lot of that and there is a strong need to protect the cultural diversity and sustainable practices in the region. This coming from a politician appointed as a Rural Development Minister is indeed noteworthy, and very encouraging. Ms. Agatha Sangma is said to be the face of NE India in Indian politics and meeting her indeed convinced me of the same.

Editor’s Note: Anjana Dey hails from Duliajan, Assam and will be writing on NE Greens as a staff reporter. She has been an active member of the Delhi Greens organisation and takes keen interest in contemporary environmental issues and challenges. Anjana completed her Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Delhi in 2010 and is now working for a clean, green Planet with a more promising future. ( anjana(at)negreens.com )

via negreens.com

Ensure Manipur-Bound Tankers Are Not Harassed: IOC to Assam

By Rahul Karmakar

Guwahati, Jan 31 : The Indian Oil Corporation has asked the Assam government to ensure that Manipur-bound oil tankers are not harassed during transit through Assam.

The IOC plea followed transporters' decision to stop plying on National Highway 39 due to security reason. The last incident saw militants in Assam's

Karbi Anglong district firing upon oil tankers and injuring at least six transporters less than a fortnight ago.

NH39 - it starts at Numaligarh in Assam and ends at Moreh on the Manipur-Myanmar border after passing through Nagaland - is prone to blockades and extortion.

Top IOC officers held a meeting with Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh to discuss highway security and fuel scarcity in Manipur on Sunday. Manipur has been facing acute fuel problem since the two-month highway blockade by United Naga Council mid last year.

The IOC officials included on the oil major's director of marketing GC Daga, general manager (Northeast) A Pandian, deputy GM (LPG-Northeast) AC Sharma, deputy GM (operation) P. Anbalajam and chief retail sale manager Deepak Anand Bharale.

After meeting Singh, the IOC officials appealed to Manipur oil transporters to reconsider their stand of staying off NH 39. This highway, they pointed out, was much more convenient and shorter than NH 53 that links Manipur capital Imphal via southern Assam.

The IOC officials also promised an infrastructure upgrade in order to check Manipur's recurrent fuel crisis.

Let There Be Light in Villages, Too

Shillong, Jan 31 : With an aim to provide light to the hundreds of households in the state that are still languishing in the dark, the Meghalaya government has embarked on an ambitious sustainable power project, aptly coined Light a Billion Lives (LaBL), to provide light generated by solar energy to houses at Mawsynram and adjoining villages in East Khasi Hills district.

Meghalaya is the second state in the northeast after Assam to implement such an unique project aimed at providing escape from perpetual darkness.

The project is especially directed to help students who find it difficult to carry on with studies after sunset. Notably, students in rural Meghalaya often shoulder various responsibilities such as household chores, tending to their farms and cattle and hence night time is the only period available to them for studies.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is spearheading the project in order to cater to the power requirements of this once power-surplus state. "This project is aimed at providing solar light to villages in rural areas as an alternative source of energy. The LaBL project has been handed over to three multi-purpose cooperative societies which will run and manage it expeditiously to ensure that people are benefited from it," said an official associated with implementation of the project on Saturday.

Meghalaya's registrar of cooperative societies FR Kharkongor said, "The project involves setting up of a solar charging station (SCS) at the cooperative society level, with five cost effective and easily installable solar photo-voltaic cell panels and 50 solar lanterns. One panel can support ten lanterns and each lantern can effectively provide eight hours of recorded light though they have been known to last a little longer."

"This is not only an effective way of helping rural areas with energy needs but also providing a way to cooperative societies to augment their revenue generation capacity," added Kharkongor.

"In Mawsynram, the Mawlyngbna multi-purpose cooperative society levies a charge of Rs 5 a day as rent for one lantern. The revenue model is left to the societies to work out as they have total charge of the units," he further said.

Chairman of Mawlyngbna multi-purpose cooperative society, Lurshai Tohtih said, "The demand for solar lanterns for both domestic and commercial purposes in the area is very high and it would only increase in the rainy season in view of people facing acute electricity shortage." The government has also decided to extend the project to other parts of the state so that eventually rural areas in the state that are not electrified yet would be provided with power.

The registrar of cooperative societies in collaboration with TERI and the Bethany Society, a Shillong-based NGO would soon begin implementing the project in the southern slopes of the War Jaintia area of Jaintia Hills district. Here again, the project would be managed by two other cooperative societies.

The entire package is worth Rs 1.45 lakh. While Rs 95,000 has been borne by TERI, Rs 25,000 was contributed by the Meghalaya Cooperative Society and Rs 25,000 each by the three other cooperative societies.

India Hottest Destination For Gay, Lesbian Tourists

New Delhi, Jan 30 : As the government legalised homosexuality in India two years ago, tour operators in the country are trying to sell India as the ultimate tourists destination for gays and lesbians.

A section of the tourism industry hopes to benefit from visits by homosexual tourists, a market which is yet to be exploited in India, said travel experts at the 18th South Asia Travel and Tour Expo (SATTE) Friday.

Gay and Lesbian Tourism was largely discussed at a session in SATTE, organised under the banner of ITB Berlin.

Director of Indjapink, the first and only gay travel boutique for gay vacations, Sanjay Malhotra claimed that after Delhi High Court rule in favour of homosexuals, the tourism industry in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Tourists (LGBT) has increased manifold.

On July 2, 2009, the Delhi High Court had ruled in favour of scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises sexual acts between consenting adults of the same gender.

"Gay men usually come in groups from Western Europe, United States and Canada and their favourite destination is Kerala, Rajasthan and Varanasi," Malhotra said.

He also said two years ago gay men and lesbians have been bypassing India for other countries like Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia but now things are changing and stated that in three years India will become the hottest destination for gays and lesbians.

Indjapink organises vacation and tour programmes for gays and this year they are looking to cater lesbians.

"Gays or lesbians are the biggest spender of lifestyle products. They have maximum disposable incomes as they come from DINK (Double Income, No Kids) group. So they are recession proof and they are vacation savvy," Thomas Boemkes, managing director, Tom On Tour, a portal for gay travellers and friends.

According to Rika Jean Francois, sales director - South Asia and Pacific, ITB - Berlin one of the panel member in the discussion informed that India is still perceived as a conservative society, but it has all the capacity to become a hottest destinations for gay and lesbian markets.

"After the High Court tourism industry in India is exploring the gay and lesbian market and many see this as a start, but there are more challenges which should be addressed," Malhotra said.

He also further stated that one of the biggest challenges Indian market is the heightening insensitivity of the hospitality industry in many luxury hotels.

"Although New Delhi has a string of luxury hotels only one or two is gay friendly. For example, in a hotel despite informing that a group of tourists is gay, the front desk staff at certain hotels allotted rooms with separate single beds," he added.

He also said when a gay couple demanded candle light or flower petals in the bedrooms, hotels often refuse.

"As India has different tourist spots which are rich in culture and architecture, museum, monuments and markets it would easily attract the LGBT communities, but Indian tourism industry should know how to capitalise on this by avaialing special packages and segments for the LGBT commuity," Malhotra added.

To address these issues Malhotra said, "Indiajpink is planning to organise workshops with string of hotels in various cities. The workshop would involve drivers, housekeepers, doormen and bartenders to ensure hassle-free holidays for the LGBT clients."

A total of 38 countries are participating in the SATTE exhibition that started Friday in Pragati Maidan, which has stalls from 25 states of India.

Source: IANS

Kawasaki Ninja 250R

Ninja 250R, introduced by Kawasaki Motors in 1983 and the most charismatic 250cc sports bike in its segment, has finally made its mark India. The lightweight Ninja 250R has Supersport styling, a very rider-friendly engine, excellent performance and an amiable chassis.

Engine

Powered by a 249cc liquid cooled, parallel twin, DOHC petrol engine, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R has a power of 32bhp at 11000 rpm with the maximum torque of 22 Nm at 8200 rpm. The Ninja 250R sports a revised six-speed transmission for smoother shifting and works on a more durable clutch along with a new radiator that provides better cooling without adding extra weight to the bike.
The refined engine of Ninja 250R delivers smooth, step-free power improving low- and mid-range power to offer dynamic rider-friendly response. The combustion chamber has been designed in a way that optimizes combustion efficiency and reduces emissions.

Though this bike is available in 4 colours in the global markets, Bajaj has launched it in only two colours in India - Lime Green and Ebony Black.

Bajaj will be importing the Ninja 250R in CKD (Complete Knock Down) to make the bike more affordable in Indian market. The starting price of Ninja 250R in Chennai and Delhi start from 2.69 lakhs.

Design

Ninja 250R brings forth sharp handling and crisp dynamics - something that the Indians have been craving for from a very long time. Putting on a complete fairing with large plastic and steel parts, the Baby Ninja gives a very aggressive look when cast a look at the head with dual-lamp headlamp.

The rear view mirrors that are mounted on the smart fairing gel with the overall look of the bike. A black tinted windscreen, sandwiched between the rear-view mirrors, protects the rider from wind blast. The front turn indicators give an addictive look and enhance the machismo look of the bike. Ninja 250R comes complete with 6 spoke black alloy wheels with racing strips at the rim. The slim and sharp protection cover gives a sporty look to the tail part. Adding to the attraction of the Ninja 250R is the step-up seat at the back.

The instrument cluster of the Ninja 250R including the speedometer, odometer, trip meter and tachometer are a downer as they all come in the analog format. However, the cluster comes with the warning lights such as low oil, low fuel, choked air filter, high oil temperature and low battery indicators

Ride And Handling

With the top speed of 176kmph, the Ninja can accelerate up to 100kmph at 5.75 seconds. As claimed by Bajaj, the bike gives a mileage of 42.5kmpl. The 6-speed gearbox of Kawasaki Ninja 250R reduces friction while shifting the gears under power, making the ride smooth as butter. The paper-base friction plates help increase clutch durability.

Enhanced by the well designed dual catalysers, the bike meets the strict emission standards. To provide a steeper steering without compromising the wheelbase when mated with a longer swing-arm, Ninja 250R rests a new diamond-type frame made of high tensile steel. Compared to the 2008 model of Ninja 250R, the fork is larger and stiffer and with revised settings.

Ninja 250R features an excellent braking performance powered by a balanced action two-piston caliper and large 290mm front hydraulic discs further enhance the stopping power. The rear features two-piston caliper grips with 220mm petal disc.

Images: Kawasaki

Text: India Syndicate

Mercedes to Develop a Small Car

Mumbai: Trying to hitch a ride on the Indian auto gravy train, luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is developing a premium small car specially for the Indian market.

The car is being developed with help from Merc's research and development centre in Bangalore at an investment of around Rs 6,000 crore, a senior company official told FE .

The development of the premium small car is over and above Merc's plans to introduce its A and B-class cars -- small category cars that it sells globally -- into the country.

"In the long term, we can develop our own car for India. The days of having global models are changing and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are looking at market-specific models. We feel there would be a need for an India-specific car by us in the future," said Uwe Jarosch, chief financial officer and member of the board of management, Mercedes-Benz India.

"If we are investing 1 billion euro on the development of the car, then we definitely need huge volumes to justify that," he added.

With the Indian car market on steroids -- 13,69,174 cars were sold in April-December 2010, 30% more than the previous year -- global car-makers such as Hyundai, Honda, Volkswagen and Skoda have already launched premium small cars in the past three to four years.

BMW had also expressed its interest to launch its Mini, a premium small car, in India. While these cars cost between Rs 5 and Rs 8 lakh, Merc's car is expected to be priced higher. The India-specific premium small car is expected to be based on the next-generation Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture (MFA) platform.

The MFA can have a wide range of wheelbases and configurations on it, and is capable of supporting a fuel-cell powertrain and other green technologies. Merc will begin discussions with Indian vendors soon regarding developing the car, the official added.

"Every OEM today wants to expand its portfolio to meet the requirements of various segments of the market," said Abdul Majeed, auto practice leader at PwC, adding, "other than Mercedes-Benz, we would also see other luxury car makers make similar moves in the premium small car segment."

Currently, there are 600 people working at Merc's R&D centre in Bangalore and the company plans to double the number by next year. The R&D centre supports Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Germany and is on par with its other R&D centres in the world (it works partly on new platforms already).

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz said it will start semi-knocked down (SKD) assembly of M-class and GL by end of this year. In the recent future, the company will be launching the new Maybach next week and new generation C-Class by April this year.

It is also mulling a small engine on E-Class and C-Class models. Moreover, the company is also setting up brand centres in major metros, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.

Source: Financial Express

Gates Heats Up Talk On Climate Change, Bats For India

Davos: Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates did not mind taking cudgels with world leaders when batting for India’s poor in the raging global debate on sustainable growth, where climate change clearly seems to be edging out growth and development, so critical to emerging economies.

"Climate change issues cannot be addressed by asking the poor to cut back on consumption. You can't get 90 per cent of carbon dioxide reduction by telling them to reduce their nutrition levels. You can't have a just world by asking them to use less energy," Gates said, responding to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said climate change was the entry point for sustainable growth.

In his opening address at a session on "Redefining Sustainable Development" moderated by foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman, the UN Secretary-General was clear that the world needed sweeping changes and some out-of-box thinking to create growth in a resource-constrained environment. "One resource scarcest of all today is time," said Ban Ki-Moon.

According to Gates, the world population would grow by a factor of 1.5 over the medium-to-long term. "If we take care of a baby in the first 30 days, reproductive planning and vaccination is more important than the clamour for asking the poor in North India to cut back on their energy consumption. You can't ask a household to light one candle instead of two," he said.

Gates, like governments in most emerging economies, wants people to lead better lifestyles. "We don't want a situation where the bottom two billion of the population uses less energy. The poor will consume more food and more energy." He believes that the world needs a breakthrough to address the issues of climate change and clean energy. "But innovation gets underfunded. And food for poorest is the most underfunded," Gates said.

Friedman didn't lose this opportunity and quickly prodded leaders to react to US failure on innovation in clean technology.

"One of the biggest engines of innovation is the US economy. But climate change has become a four-letter word in the US. A clean energy bill in the US is likely only by 2013," he pointed out, prodding the panel comprising three heads of state (Finland, Indonesia and Mexico) and CEOs of two global corporations, RIM (of Blackberry fame) and Walmart Stores.

Pat came the reply from Mexican President Felipe Calderon. "Is the US doing enough? Answer is no. The US needs to be a leader," he said. Ban Ki-moon felt that the climate change challenge must be first addressed by the developed world: "The US and European countries have a moral responsibility. But President Obama is facing some difficulties in domestic politics. The US should be followed by China, India and Brazil."

Calderon and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, heads of two emerging economies, subtly made it clear that growth was an imperative, even as it was possible to simultaneously take care of climate change. "It is a false dilemma that growth comes at the cost of sustainability. It is possible to promote growth and preserve nature," said Mexican President Calderon.

"From the perspective of developing countries, it is necessary to continuously grow and build stronger economic capacity over years. But, there is no contradiction between achieving economic growth and sustainable development," said Indonesian President Yudhoyono.

Global CEOs, however, had a slightly different perspective. President and CEO Walmart Stores Mike Duke said business should not be sitting and waiting for government to initiate action. For instance, he said, Walmart will soon launch the sustainability product index to understand the background of any product being sold through its stores.

RIM chairman and co-CEO Jim Balsillie said the world needs to be radically ambitious because despite all the good things business is doing, the problem is far worse that it was 20 years ago and is only getting worse. "We have to fundamentally rethink economics," he said.

Source: The Indian Express

And The Bands Came Marching In

By Pritha Chatterjee
The President’s Bodyguards during the Beating Retreat ceremony on Saturday.

The 62nd Republic Day celebrations culminated in a scintillating show by bands of the Armed Forces at Vijay Chowk, in the backdrop of the stately Rashtrapati Bhavan on a pleasantly chilly Saturday evening.

This year’s event highlight was the nearly 100 per cent renditions of Indian compositions, with 19 of the 25 songs being composed by Indians. For pipes and drums, where there are no existing Indian compositions, Western renditions had to be played.

Like every year, the ceremony had a huge crowd as audience. A doctor couple from Mizoram, who have been trying to get passes for the past three years, finally managed to see “the magnificence of the lit-up Rashtrapati Bhavan”.

“Though we are government servants, passes are hard to come by. I have attended the Republic Day function twice before, but I always wanted to see this performance,” said the 45-year-old doctor. According to him, the show was more “organised and coordinated” in comparison to the chaotic Republic Day celebrations. “We had heard the President’s house looks its most beautiful at this ceremony. Today we saw that,” added his wife.

Students from the Gyan Shakti School, Noida, were happy as they witnessed the ceremony for the their first-time. “Our school got passes for 25 of us. It was wonderful to see such a grand show. I saw the Prime Minister and the President for the first time,” said an excited student.

UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, who could not attend the Republic Day parade due to ill health, was also seen enjoying the performances of the military bands.

The audience’s favourite was easily the ‘Drummers call’ during the finale, which saw many audience members standing up to applaud the collective percussionists’ performance from all bands. The performance of the Navy and Air Force bands, accompanied by chimes from the North and South Block, also caught the audience’s attention. The second composition to be played — the “Indian Star” — where band members marched smartly into a star formation with their commander at the centre, was also appreciated.

Of the 35 bands that performed, 20 were from the military and 15 were pipe and drum specialists. The Navy and the Air Force together had four bands, while the Army was represented by 27 bands.

The unfurling of the Tricolour, before the Rashtrapati Bhavan was lit up against the setting sun, got a standing ovation from the crowd.

Remote Control Rebels

Why China’s meddling in the Northeast should worry Delhi

By Ajit Doval

Nations accustomed to making episodic responses to high-profile security events run the risk of missing out subterranean trends and realities.

Wang Qing, a Chinese woman spy masquerading as a television reporter, was recently arrested and deported after she visited the headquarters of the NSCN(IM), a Naga rebel group, in Hebron, some 30 km from Dimapur.

But the news attracted little attention. The authorities say she admitted to being a spy for the People’s Security Bureau, a Chinese intelligence agency. She had had a four-hour-long closed-door session with T. Muivah, a rebel leader who is holding talks with the Indian government.

The rebel group, however, would have the Indian government go by what its spokesperson Phunthing Shimrang says—that “the general secretary (Muivah) has made it clear we are holding talks here and have no relations with China”.

Of late, the security discourse pertaining to the Northeast has been marked by good news: peace engagement with the rebels, improved cooperation from Bangladesh, dissent within insurgent groups and so on.

But, in a region that has a 5,215-km international border as opposed to just one per cent of that with the Indian mainland, the external factor, though pivotal, is often glossed over.

China, with which India has an uneasy security relationship, shares a border of nearly 1,561 km with the northeastern states.

It has a dubious record of meddling with insurgent groups there. There was a lull since the mid-’80s, but there is increasing evidence of China reviving its covert offensive in the region.

Chinese support to rebel groups has waxed and waned in accordance with the content and direction of our bilateral relations, their evaluation of the strength and grit of New Delhi, the viability of insurgent groups.

Naga rebels were the first to establish transborder contacts, in the early ’60s. The 1962 Indo-China war only catalysed the process.

Facilitated by Pakistani intelligence in Dacca, Kughato Sukhai, the self-styled Naga prime minister, wrote to Chinese leaders on May 29, 1963, alleging persecution and oppression by India.

He exhorted China to “honour and follow their principle of safeguarding and upholding the cause of any suppressed nation of Mongolian stock”.

In November 1966, China welcomed a 300-strong contingent of Naga rebels led by Thinusilie and Muivah. Trained, and laden with huge quantities of arms and equipment, the contingent returned in January 1968 and established a huge camp in the Jotsoma jungles.

When Indian forces attacked it in June that year, they recovered Chinese weapons and incriminating documents.

These initial interactions of northeastern insurgent groups with China gradually expanded. Soon, it came to patronise, train and arm Mizo, Meitei, Kuki and Assamese insurgents.

Procurement of weapons from China’s Yunnan province, their transportation into India across Myanmar or via the sea route, arrangements for money transactions, liaison with Thai insurgents—all this got institutionalised over the years.

Recent developments, though coming after a long lull, indicate a major policy shift on part of China, one that should give India cause for worry.

In October 2007, on the invitation of the Chinese authorities, Anthony Shimray, in charge of the NSCN(IM)’s foreign affairs, visited China and met Lee Wuen, head of the intelligence unit of Yunnan province (of which the deported spy was an operative) and other officials in Dehong Mangshi, near Kunming.

He handed over to the Chinese a letter from Muivah, self-styled “prime minister” of NSCN(IM), naming Kholose Swu Sumi, a Sema Naga from Zunheboto, their “permanent representative” in China.

The Chinese welcomed this and wanted Kholose to keep them updated on the movements of the Indian army, particularly in Arunachal, the activities of the Dalai Lama and Tibetans and on the NSCN(IM)’s peace talks with the Indian government.

In April 2009,  it was the turn of Isak Chisi Swu, the NSCN(IM) president involved in talks with New Delhi, to visit China.

Paresh Baruah of ULFA, too, visited China in 2010. Reports say he led a group of 80 cadres which received training and weapons in Yunnan province. This is significant, for the Maoists are known to be sourcing weapons from ULFA.

China’s renewed interest in insurgencies in the northeastern states cannot be wished away, coming as it does in the backdrop of its increasing aggressiveness, military activities in border areas, claims on Arunachal Pradesh and the links of the Maoists with insurgents in the Northeast.

Engaging the rebels in talks will alone not suffice. New Delhi must display greater clarity of vision. Mistaking talks with insurgent groups as an end rather than a means to an end will push us into a self-made strategic trap.

(The writer, ex-director of the Intelligence Bureau, now heads the Vivekandanda International Foundation, Delhi.)

We Are Indians First, Says Mizoram Chief Minister

Aizawl, Jan 29 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who made headlines in 2009 by saying he was a victim of racism in his own country, emphasised here today that each and every citizen of India is Indian first.

''India is a land of diversity, made up of people belonging to different tribes and castes and following different religions. But, all of us are Indian first irrespective of where we come from and we should all be proud to be a Indian,'' Lal Thanhawla said to a team of Bharat Parikrama, who met him at his official residence here.

The four-time chief minister, who had received a 'son of India' award in his previous tenures, expressed regrets that there used to be 'some national leaders who could not tell where is Mizoram' and that he himself had often been mistaken for a foreigner.

''Where we come from or what religions we belong don't matter. We should all accept one another as one and bring the great country forward,'' he added.

Welcoming the touring members into one of the remotest parts of India, Mr Lal Thanhawla expressed hopes that the tour would bring about better brotherhood among the people of India.

The team members included 80 youths drawn from 15 different states. They are on all-India national integration tour conducted by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mizoram zone, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, under the sponsorship of the ministry of home affairs.

The touring members, are not only in Mizoram for the first time but also in a Northeastern state.

''I almost could not believe that I am still in India. The people and the land are completely different from the mainland. I am proud of this great country and proud to be Indians and feel really fortunate to have this opportunity to explore the incredible India,'' said a team member who came from Uttar Pradesh.

Construction of NH 53 in Manipur in Full Swing

Imphal, Jan 29 : The National Highway (NH) 53, which has emerged as the lifeline of Manipur after Naga groups imposed an economic blockade on NH 39 last year, is one of the Centre's flagship projects in the northeast.

The Central Government has been pumping funds into the northeast for the development of infrastructure that forms one of the pillars of growth.

The work is under progress on National Highway (NH) 53 from Imphal to Jiribam, which is the alternate route to NH 39 for trucks and other vehicles.

The NH 53 became the lifeline of Manipur after Naga sponsored groups imposed an economic blockade on NH 39 last year.

The government has since then shows a keen interest in improving the condition of the highway. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) was sanctioned Rs 392 crores for its repair with a final deadline of 2013. 30 companies of the BRO are involved in the construction that includes the use of more than 600 labourers, out of whom 60 percent are locals.

Work on seven bridges is complete and on the other two is in progress. As of now, 50 percent of the ground has been levelled. About 150 kilometers of the road is said to be in a deplorable state, while the remaining 71 kilometers is said to be in good condition.

"The Border Roads Organization is maintaining this road well and the progress is good. They have started the patching up work, and wherever widening is needed, they are doing it," said Rumpeo Kamai, Chairman, Sekhaino Village.

"The Border Roads Organization is doing good work here and Manipur should contribute towards it. If the highway is not constructed, the people of Manipur will face problems and the government should understand that the highway is needed for the people of Manipur," added Pavitra Singh, a villager.

The work at the construction site, however, often slows down due to problems like land acquisition formalities, instability and militancy.

Militant groups like National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) and Naga National Council (NNC) extort money from contractors and want a specific percentage of funds allocated for the project. Continuous monsoon showers also affect the work.

Recently, a high level delegation appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the leadership of M C Mehanathon visited the construction site to assess progress.

"We heard reports that the road was in bad condition. So, the ministry deputed me to look into the matter and check how the work was going. The Government is keen that NH 53 should be the alternate lifeline of Manipur," said M C Mehanathon, Director (NE-1), MHA.

"The Border Roads Organization is doing the best and they have deployed their manpower. Now the work is under good progress and roads will improve in next 2-3 months and by 2013 the work will finish," he added

Northeast Fair Gives ‘Cashless Transaction’ A New Meaning

Centuries-old barter mela sidesteps inflation, builds new bridges of communal harmony

PHOTOS : ANJANA DUTTA

By Ratnadip Choudhury

Delhi, Jan 29 : Over the past five decades, Thaneswar Ingti gets to meet his friend Dhanidhar Amsong only once a year.

Dhanidhar treks down the hills of Meghalaya to the plains of neighouring Morigoan in Assam, carrying huge quantities of home-grown items that he had been exchanging over the years with Thaneswar’s fish, sweets, rice powder and rice cakes. Thansewar and his friend are among those thousands of people from different indigenous tribes of the northeast, particularly from Assam and Meghalaya, who gather for three days in a year, without fail, at the nondescript village of Dayang Belguri in Assam’s Morigaon district, where a community fair believed to have started in the 15th century is still keeping alive world’s oldest trade system – the barter system. Popularly called Joon Beel Mela (joon means moon and beel means wetland, as the fair is held beside a large natural water body shaped like a crescent moon) the fair has been a melting pot of ethnicity with people from different communities of the hills of the northeast meeting the dwellers of the vast plains, exchanging their goods only through barter and strengthening the bond of ethnic bonhomie.

“My friend Dhanidhar, like other hill people, brings for us items that we cannot grow in the plains due to flood and erosion. We get to stock our essentials and need not pay for this. Since they do not get fresh fish and sweets, we catch fish for them and prepare indigenous sweets and exchange with them. There is no money involved, no profit and loss equations, its all about trust and love,” says Thaneswar as he helps Dhanidhar pack up his sacks.

This fair is a legacy of Gova Raja, the Tiwa community king who started this fair where the ground rules of getting any item is that there is no use of money, only barter.

The fair serves purposes beyond trade. The northeast had recently witnessed fierce communal clashes between the Garo and Rabha communities. Moreover, high inflation had hit the poor people of the remote villages like never before. So the barter-driven Joon Beel Mela came as a huge respite. People from different tribes – Rabha, Garo, Tiwa, Karbi, Mishing – enjoyed rubbing shoulders with each others as they participated in cock fight contests and community fishing. For most of these tribes, it is the only chance they get the pile up their year’s stock.

“The price rise has also hit us from the remote villages as we do not have sufficient money to get to the cities and buy required items. The transport, staying and shopping have all become so expensive but here the story has remained the same for decades. I have been coming to this fair since childhood. I have seen my parents exchange goods through barter in this fair. After marriage I have kept the tradition going. It’s also about meeting our friends from the hills. I need not think about inflation at least for three days,” says Rita Rabha.

It’s not just the rural folk who find the mela a boon. This time around the mela also saw a lot of people reaching there with home-cooked food from the cities of Assam to exchange for the hill onions the tribals of Meghalaya bring each year.

“I never thought that in this busy city life that we have I will actually have to buy jungle onions on barter, but the price rise has got us back to ancient traditions,” says Bhabesh Kalita, who came from Guwahati. This one-of-its-kind fair has remained confined to the northeast. “Days ahead of the fair, members of Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi and Jaintia tribes come down from the neighbouring hills with various products. They stay together in fairs, build new relations and exchange their products… Many people across the globe who these day teleshop or book products online might not even be able to think of it. The exchange of goods leads to exchange of ideas and feelings,” says senior journalist Mukut Medhi, who has covered the fair on numerous occasions.

Exchange of ginger, bamboo shoots, turmeric, pumpkin, medicinal herbs, dried fish and indigenous sweets takes place in the backdrop of songs and dancing. The Tiwa Raja inaugurates the fair and also collects tax from the tribals as it used to be decades ago. The Assam government has also chipped in to promote the unique fair. It now gives annual royal allowance for the 19 customary kings from different communities under the erstwhile Gova kingdom of Assam. “This is happening spontaneously. It is so cold here yet the people have come here because this event is all about trust. The old trade systems might not be pertinent these days but the fact remains that here you can see there is no fight over any deal because money is not involved. We wish to carry on the legacy for generations to come,” says Jor Singh Bordoloi, the secretary of the fair organising committee from the Tiwa community.

With traditions getting lost in the rat race of globalisation, the Joon Beel Mela stands as a pointer to how ancient social orders still hold good and keep people knitted together.

HT Sangliana Terms Somasekhara Report as ‘Unfortunate’

By M Raghuram & Vidya Iyengar

Bangalore, Jan 29 : The justice Somasekhara committee report on the 2008 church attacks in the state has been dubbed as ‘directionless’ by Christian leaders.

A statement from the Bishop’s office of Mangalore Catholic Diocese said, “The commission had failed to suggest to the government any measures against the organisations and people, who were responsible for attacks on churches and on Milagres Adoration Monastery."

It also rapped the report for not condemning the attack on women and children, or suggesting any action against the perpetrators.

“The report has given contradicting views and some sections had been seriously opinionated which does not give scope for punishing the attackers. The report does not satisfy the Christian community in any way,” it said.

Meanwhile, the vice-chairperson of the national commission for minorities, HT Sangliana, said the report was on expected lines. “I did not expect it to be dynamic or specific, because, the commission was politically appointed,” he said.

Sangliana condemned the panel’s observation that in ‘some incidents, there were indications of self-infliction or collusion or make-believe method to create evidence’.

He also criticised the report for not specifying the action that should be taken against the police officers, who had failed to take preventive measures.

"Actually, the report is not according to the parameters laid by the commission. Somashekara had also suggested, creating a separate police station to look into religious matters, but that is an impractical suggestion,” he said.

Sangliana also said that there was no mention of any compensation that was made to the injured nor to the churches that were damaged.

Ivan D’Souza, a prominent Christian leader in Mangalore, termed the report as directionless and biased.

Don't Become A Porn Addict

Don't become a porn addict (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

While a little indulgence doesn't harm anyone, constantly giving into your craving for graphic visual stimuli may do more long-term damage than you can imagine

A man married for 10 years, and father of two, approached a doctor due to his sudden and peculiar inability to get an erection. While all tests proved normal, psychotherapy revealed an age-old fetish. As a teenager, the man had been accidentally exposed to his older cousin changing clothes. The visual stimulated him to such a degree that he masturbated to the memory of that image throughout his life, including when he was with his wife. After many years, when he met his cousin again, post two children she had put on weight and become 'unattractive' in his words.

The sight of the new unflattering figure of his cousin ruined his memory thereby incapacitating him to get an erection. His treatment required a lot of counselling and therapy and he had to be retaught the art of stimulation.

Behind closed doors; on dimly lit computer screens in seedy cyber cafes; in hostel dorm rooms under heavy bedding; and in computer folder's aptly named 'system files', usually lie pages and pages and countless gigabytes of pornography. It's not the highest grossing industry in the world for nothing. It has takers across generations, nationalities and kink quotients.

While most wives and girlfriends either accept it, relish it or chose to ignore it, porn in some form can be found lurking around most homes.

Studies reveal a condition called Sexual Attention D e f i c i t Disorder or S A D D, where over exposure or over indulgence to visual stimuli such as pornography, makes it difficult for a man to have a healthy sexual relationship with his partner. His stimulus is triggered by visual or graphic images instead of an actual woman, making it impossible to sustain intercourse. Dr Rajan Bhonsle, the HOD of sexual medicine at KEM hospital elaborates on the condition and describes the impact that pornography and the like, have on mature adult relationships.

Kink express
SADD can be traced back to three basic sources, the first being a burn-out.

Throughout a man's teenage years, over-exposure to porn and its explicit forms such as pedophilia, multiple orgies, voyeurism, etc. develop acute insensitivity towards the act of making love. The initial reaction to perverse material, which is what most pornography constitutes, is of shock. But over time, it turns to acceptance and enjoyment. This develops into a need for more deviant variety to keep the stimulus sustained.

Gratification through usually masturbation based on visual stimuli, make it difficult for a man to be aroused or stimulated by his partner in bed. This plays havoc in most marriages or relationships since even a very responsive woman is unable to replicate the mood or manoeuvres of what the man is usually attuned to.

While it is not difficult to recover from any addiction, a sexual burn-out is particularly tricky. It takes a lot of time and energy to stay away from sex and channel your sexual energy elsewhere. This is also the primary reason why boys should be dissuaded from over-exposing themselves to pornographic material at a young age.

Multiplicity
Another common cause for SADD between couples is due to the multiple partners the man has before he commits to a monogamous relationship. The multiple variety of partners give them a been there-done-that attitude towards sex which makes it very difficult for a woman with a normal sex drive to stimulate her partner. The man's premarital activity supersedes all sexual expectations he may have from his current partner thereby making it very difficult to sustain or enjoy a healthy physical relationship.

It's a fix
Peculiar fetishes and fixations, like the one mentioned earlier, are another reason why men are unable to perform in bed. Many a times, the visual image of what sort of woman or what specifications of a figure stimulate a man may not exactly match that of their partner.
This leads to disappointment and an inability to find them sexually attractive. While therapy is a common cure, counselling and exercises with your partner through communication greatly aid in rebuilding the idea of sexual attraction for.

How to cut back
- Give yourself a break. Save the sexual excitement for your partner and decrease the frequency of masturbation. When you do self-service, try using your nondominant hand. Since you wont apply the same level of physical intensity, you wont be as easily numbed to the sensations of intercourse.

- Back off the porn. When you masturbate, use your own memory of sex and your own erotic history to stimulate yourself instead of relying on other visual images.

- Connect with your partner. Share fantasies, experiment with role play and involve her in your thought process. Get yourself and her to a point of physical and mental arousal by sharing your thoughts with her. Step away from the computer.

Visa Fraud: 'Didn't Violate Law, Help Us Complete Study'

Washington: Duped by an American university, a harassed group of Indian students has met the Consul General in San Francisco seeking help to complete their studies and claimed that they have not violated any law.

A group of 35 students from Tri-Valley University (TVU) yesterday met Consul General Sushmita Gongulee Thomas. Thomas said she had also sought factual position from the US Government on the status of these students.

"We are seeking factual position (from the US Government) on the status of these students and how these students can be helped in transfer to other colleges, so that they can complete their studies," Sushmita Gongulee Thomas, Consul General of India in San Francisco, said.

On January 25, Thomas said, she wrote to the Office of Foreign Mission, in San Francisco and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeking detailed information on this case. She hasn't received any response from them so far, Thomas said.

Hundreds of Indian students,mostly from Andhra Pradesh, face the prospect of deportation from the US after authorities raided and shut down Tri-Valley University in the Silicon Valley on charges of a massive immigration fraud.

"According to the group that came to the Consulate, a large number of students had not violated any visa or immigration rules and were unaware of the fraudulent nature of the school. Their primary concern is to complete their education for which they feel that they should be allowed to seek admission in other schools," said Ashok Kumar Sinha, Consul (Community Affairs), Indian Consulate San Francisco.

"They are also concerned about reports in the media that indicate that all students of the TVU were part of the scam. Many of the TVU students, specially the more recent ones and some who transferred from other accredited universities, were unaware of the true nature of the university and have suddenly found themselves to be victims," Sinha said.

Sinha said the Consulate is taking up the matter with Investigations by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

"The Consulate, on behalf of those students who have not violated any immigration rules, is taking up the matter with ICE to find out how these students can be helped so that they can seek admissions in other universities or can go back honourably to India without forfeiting their chance of ever being able to return to the US," he said.

Currently, their SEVIS information has been blocked by DHS without which they cannot seek transfers or admissions to other universities. "The Consulate is also trying to enlist the support of local immigration attorneys to answer immigration related questions of these students," Sinha said.

According to a federal complaint filed in a California court last week, the University helped foreign nationals illegally acquire immigration status. The university is said to have 1,555 students. As many as 95 per cent of these students are Indian nationals, the complaint said.

Investigations by ICE found that while students were admitted to various residential and on-line courses of the university and on paper lived in California, but in reality they "illegally" worked in various parts of the country as far as Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

ICE has called it as a "Sham University". It also found that more than half of these students were reported to be residing in a single apartment located in Sunnyvale California.

During the course of the investigation ICE found that the university gave the residential address of its students in order to conceal that they did not live in California, said the court papers.

For a student to maintain an active immigration status, they must show proof that they are making reasonable process toward completing coursework and physically attend classes.

Unconfirmed reports said that nearly two dozen students have been arrested or detained so far in various parts of the country.

Meanwhile, affected students with assistance of Indian-American community and immigration attorneys have launched a petition campaign seeking help from the Department of Homeland Security.

"We respectfully plead with you not to penalise us or our families and bring shame to our entire family and the village/ towns we come from, by deporting (removing) us from the US and causing us loss of name, reputation, money, resulting in devastation to us and our families and crashing all of our dreams," says the petition, a copy of which has been posted on the website of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA).

TANA president Jayaram Komati said he has been in conversation and has also met local Congress Representatives from California and urged them to help ensure that the effected students be given the chance to enroll in other institutes of higher learning within the US.

The organisation has also approached Murthy law firm and requested them to approach Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) with the intention to save the effected people from potential deportation and/or detention and argue that they were victims and that they be give the ability to enrol elsewhere.

Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Web-based technology, SEVIS to track and monitor schools and programmes, students, exchange visitors and their dependants while they are legally enrolled in the US education system.

In their petition, these students said that they have invested a substantial portion of their parents savings to come to the US for studies.

"We thought that we were so fortunate to obtain the F1 visa to enter the US and study here or that we were able to obtain admission and then we could file a change of status to study at this US University," the petition says.

"We relied on the government to do its job and protect us and allow us to complete our education so that we can support ourselves and our families by being able to live in the US for a few years or return to our home countries with a good education and then obtain good jobs in our home countries," the petition says.

"We respectfully request DHS and ICE to favourably consider and provide us with all viable options. For example, we humbly request that ICE provide us an opportunity to continue our education and pursue our lifelong dream to study in the US by allowing us to study at another University within the US by allowing another University to issue us a new Form I-20 and then for USCIS to approve the F1 status with a new University or College, or allow us to file a change of status to another status like an H1B or F2 within the US legally if any such options are available to us with an employer or based on a spouse living in the US," it says.

Source: Agencies

General Motors to Bring Camaro to India

General Motors’ iconic budget friendly sports car Camaro is set for an India entry.

President of General Motors international operations Tim Lee said that FE that the company is going to introduce a right-hand drive for the two-door car which could then make its way into the second fastest growing auto market in the world.

The Chevrolet Camaro was first displayed in India at the Auto Expo last year, but at that time the company had ruled out any immediate plans of introducing the swanky car in India.

Though Lee did not reveal the tentative time period or price of the car, it is expected to fetch a price in the range of Rs 30 lakh plus. This would make the car most expensive offering from GM in India, however this ranks as the cheapest sports car in the world.

"As we go through the development phase of the new generation Camaro we will try and do a right hand drive. But we will not assemble it here," he said. In the US the Camaro base price starts at around $20,000 and goes up to $40,000 (or Rs 18 lakh). Since the company would attract an import duty of 110% since it is a completely built unit (CBU), the price of the car would double. Lee said that with the introduction of the car, GM would use its entry as a brand builder.

"We will not sell a lot of Camaros in India but it will be a brand builder for the company bringing many people to our showrooms," said Lee. Looking back at the 14-year old history of the company in India, Lee said that its performance had been 'spotty' and "incosistent."

He said that going forward the company's focus in India would be to design the best cars and to have a business model which is sustainable and profitable.

"We want to profitable so that we can employ more people in India," he added. Chalking out GM's India plans, Lee said the company is going to look at every segment in the country to increase its sales including a car priced below the Spark.

In fact the company's president and managing director Karl Slym later told FE that the company is mulling introducing an 800 cc powered Spark. This would make it the cheapest offering from GM in its 14-year operations in India so far.

"The 800cc Spark is already available in Europe. And we could introduce the car in India," said Slym. The 800cc Spark was introduced in China, however was later discontinued.

"We need to see whether everything is right before we introduce the car," he said. Last week GM India held a board meeting which was chaired by Lee where a ten-year growth plan was unveiled.

Source: Financial Express

All FIRs on Delhi Police Website From Feb 1

New Delhi, Jan 28 : Implementing the directions of Delhi High Court, the Delhi Police would upload all the new First Information Reports (FIRs) registered on their official website - www.delhipolice.nic.in - from Feb 1.

Anybody can download the same from the website while an accused can also get a copy from the police station by paying Rs.25. The move comes following a direction by the court Dec 6, 2010 when it said that an accused is entitled to get a copy of the FIR within 24 hours of its registration and police cannot deny the request.

'We will be uploading the FIRs from Feb 1. The FIRs will be uploaded from the police stations and the software has been installed,' Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

An accused can apply for the copy of an FIR at a charge of Rs.25 for four pages and Rs. 10 for each extra page.

According to a senior police official, the court has exempted the force from making public the FIRs related to sensitive issues like terror, espionage, rape, molestation, kidnapping etc.

However, whenever it does not make FIRs public, such a decision has to be taken by an officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police and they have to inform the area magistrates.

ISB to Offer Management Programme With Rs 7 Lakh Annual Stipend

New Delhi: Looking to churn out high-quality faculties, the Indian School of Business (ISB) will soon offer a fully-funded Fellow Programme in Management, that will also provide students with an annual stipend of up to Rs seven lakhs.

The Hyderabad-based ISB is planning to start the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) in September 2011.

" FPM would be equivalent to any PhD programme (in management) worldwide... The programme would be fully-funded and students would receive a stipend of up to Rs 7 lakhs every year," ISB's Dean Ajit Rangnekar told PTI.

A full-time programme, FPM would be for a period of four to five years. With this programme, ISB would focus on creating research-focused people, who would qualify for faculty positions in top business schools.

According to ISB's Senior Associate Dean Sanjay Kallapur , FPM would be introduced from September this year and the first batch is expected to have about 10 to 15 students.

An excellent academic record as well as a good score in GMAT or GRE are among the pre-requisites FPM. Graduates, post graduates and those without any work experience can also apply, he noted.

The academic year for the programme would be divided into five terms, each having a duration of two months. FPM would be offered in seven areas -- Accounting , Financial Economics , Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour, and Strategy.

The programme incorporates knowledge and best practices from global business school INSEAD. Regarding expenses related to FPM, Rangnekar said that ISB is expecting to see a cost of about Rs 2 to 3 crore, including stipend to students and salaries to teachers.

Source: PTI