Repoll Likely in 33 Booths of Manipur

Imphal, Jan 31 : Repolling is likely to be held in 33 poll stations of Manipur's hill districts where suspected NSCN (I-M) cadres indulged in massive booth rigging.

A source said the state election office has recommended repoll at 9 booths of Ukhrul, 4 in Tamenglong, 8 in Senapati, 6 in Chandel and 6 in Churachandpur. A letter has been sent to the Election Commission for approval, he added.

On the other hand, reports of poll-poll violence are pouring in from several parts of the state. Life came to a grinding halt in Thoubal on Monday owing to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the state unit of CPI to denounce the killing of a woman in police firing to control a mob at Tentha village in the district on Saturday night. Many people were also injured.

The victims were supporters of CPI candidate M Nara Singh who contested from Wangjing-Tentha constituency.

Bandh supporters damaged a large number of vehicles in several parts of the district. Owing to the strike, business establishments at the district headquarters remained closed.

On Sunday morning, NSCN (IM) cadres shot and injured a Congress worker in Chingai constituency of Ukhrul district after abducted him. The victim has been identified as H Chingnaoleng. Later, an irate mob torched the residence of Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate Paul Muinao at Ukhrul district headquarters, a source said.

Chingnaoleng, who sustained bullet wounds, is undergoing treatment at the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) here.

In the meantime, chief electoral officer PC Lawmkunga has announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for the four polling personnel, including a presiding officer, who were killed in a shootout at Tampi police station in Chandel district during Saturday's polls. Besides the quartet, one CRPF jawan, a girl and a suspected NSCN (IM) cadre also died when the rebels tried to capture a booth.

Mizoram Economy Flourishing

Aizawl, Jan 31 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today said that due to the long 20-years insurgency, Mizoram could not join with its counterparts in respect of development in economy but with the help of various nationalised agency like NABARD, the state’s economy and development is on the path of improvement.

The chief minister was saying this while delivering a speech at the ‘State Credit Seminar for 2012-13’ organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mizoram regional office in Aizawl today.

Lal Thanhawla Mizoram is rich in various natural resources which will greatly act as a catalyst in the improvement of the state`s economy. He also informed the gathering that his government will take necessary steps to materialise the points which are mentioned in the State Focus Paper prepared by NABARD.

State Credit Seminar 2012-13 is being organised to discuss State Focus Paper prepared by the NABARD for the upcoming year i,e,. 2012-13.

Lal Thanhawla while expressing concern for improvement of farmers said that agriculture credit flow should be introduced more extensively across the state so that each and every farmer enjoys the benefit. The chief minister also asked NABARD to introduce scheme for government flagship programme New Land Use Policy (NLUP) beneficiaries so as to make them successful in utilising the funds received through the programme (NLUP).

He further asked NABARD to continue giving credit support to various self help groups and give special attention to hand-loom sector. “NABARD should frequently organise awareness programme so that loan repayment will be more regular, he appealed. The present condition of loan repayment which stood at 63% is comparatively low,” said the chief minister.

It can be noted that NABARD is expanding its developmental initiatives for all round economic growth of Mizoram through various financial and promotional interventions.

India Ramps Up Ties With Myanmar, Thailand

By Jyoti Malhotra

New Delhi Jan 31 : The road from Moreh, a town on the Manipur-Myanmar border, to Imphal was used by the Japanese army in 1944 to come right inside the heart of British India’s north-east, even challenging the might of the empire.

For decades thereafter, the Imphal-Moreh road as well as other border roads in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland were pretty much left to their own fate, as India deliberately ignored the development of border infrastructure, fearful of easing an enemy’s passage inside the country once it had broken through the frontier.

But as India revamps its mindset on border areas and begins to look at neighbouring states — such as Myanmar and Bangladesh — as part of a contiguous hinterland that must also participate in India’s economic growth, the first glimmer of a shift in South-East Asia’s balance of power is becoming slowly apparent.

Take the stream of visitors making their way to Delhi recently, in the run-up to India’s commemoration in December 2012 of its “Look-East policy” and its 20-year-old partnership with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).

Vietnamese president Truong Tan Sang’s official visit last October was quickly followed by Myanmarese president Thein Sein, also in October. Last week, just as Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, 44, arrived in the capital to attend the Republic Day parade, the first woman head of government in several decades, Myanmar foreign minister Maung Lwin was departing Delhi’s shores.

Interestingly, 2010’s chief guest at the Republic Day ceremonies was South Korean president Lee Myung-bak, while last year’s chief guest was Indonesian president Susilo Yudhoyono, the latter a key member of Asean.

Yingluck, whose closeness to her brother and former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is an open secret, is a businesswoman, as well as married to one. She is expected to follow in Thaksin’s footsteps, which is to promote a CEO-like approach to governance, even though Thaksin, still a billionaire, remains in exile in London and Dubai.

That school of thought clearly struck a chord in Delhi last week, through the official dialogue as well as at her meeting with the industry associations. Annual India-Thailand trade currently touches $7.5 billion, but with Yingluck proposing greater Thai investment in India — in the hotel industry, in the food-and-vegetable cold chain — chances are that both countries will double their target by 2015.

Still, it was Yingluck’s offer to India to invest in an Italian-Thai joint venture that is seeking to build a world-class port and attendant infrastructure in the Dawei special industrial zone on Myanmar’s south-western coast, that has stirred the tea leaves in the region.

Dawei’s geographical location — on the isthmus that separates the Andaman Sea from the Gulf of Thailand — is so compelling that it has the potential to completely transform India’s relationship with Asean as well as East Asia.

Both Chennai and Kolkata are just across the Bay of Bengal, and both countries are already talking in terms of ramping up connectivity across this large lake by introducing ferries to Yangon, as well as Dawei.

As Myanmar emerges from its self-imposed isolation and reaches out to the world, and the world returns the compliment, Dawei could soon become a major stop on the maps of merchant ships.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Yangon and her announcement that the US would soon revoke sanctions on Myanmar (this is expected to happen once democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi participates in the April elections) is both a reaffirmation of the democratic spirit in Myanmar — as well as the US return to challenging China’s rising power in Asia.

In Clinton’s wake, from Pakistan to France, the world is beating a path to Myanmar’s door. Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari has been the most recent visitor, but dignitaries from France, UK and Australia have travelled both to its interior capital, Naypydaw, as well as paid obeisance to Suu Kyi in Yangon. Interestingly, Myanmar’s parliamentary speaker, Shwe Mann, told his Indian counterpart, Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, as well as Indian officials during his visit here in December, that “India’s model of inclusiveness was a model for Myanmar.”

Myanmar’s foreign minister, Maung Lwin, reiterated the message last week, giving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a detailed account of Myanmar’s “planned and orderly commitment to reform,” both economic and political. Agreements with several dissident ethnic groups have been reached, he said, and discussions with those holding out, such as the Kachins, remain on the cards.

India’s trade and economic figures with Myanmar, at $1.25 billion, are low, especially when compared to Myanmar’s trade relationship with China, touching $4 billion. Myanmar exports natural resources, such as timber, and agricultural products such as kidney beans or ‘rajma’, to India, while India exports machinery, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

Nevertheless, Delhi remains heartened by the fact that only days before Thein Sein came to India last October — he began his visit by paying his respects to Buddha’s shrine in Bodh Gaya — the Myanmarese cancelled a $3.6-billion dam that China was building in their country.

Thailand’s proximity means it is a natural player in Myanmar. Besides the Dawei investment, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported last week quoting the New Light of Myanmar, four foreign companies were forming a joint venture with three domestic companies to run a special economic zone in Pathein, in the Ayeyawady region, also in south-western Myanmar. Two of the four foreign companies are from Thailand, one from Hong Kong and the fourth from Indonesia.

Indian officials point out that strategic interest in Myanmar, as well as in the greater Asean region, can only be complemented by “greater Indian business interest. Indian companies should take advantage of the fact that India refused to kowtow to US pressure and withdraw from Myanmar. Now as Myanmar opens up, they have to be first off the mark,” one official told Business Standard.

Essar and ONGC Videsh are making money from their 20 per cent stake in an oil block off the Rakhine coast, officials point out, while a detailed project report on building a 1,200-Mw project on the Chhindwin river is almost ready.

Officials say they hope the private sector will make use of India’s $500-million credit announced during Thein Sein’s visit to improve ties with Myanmar.

Delhi’s intention to expand its presence in the region is at last showing on the ground. Finally, 132 km of a beautiful, road from Moreh, the Manipuri border town, and across the border to Mandalay, as well as the last 165-km stretch to Mandalay has been built.

With the Thais also building their share of the stretch from Myanmar, the trilateral highway between India, Myanmar and Thailand could soon put India’s neglected north-east in the heart of Asean’s action.

Hmar Students Vows To Stop Tipaimukh Dam 'At Any Cost'

Silchar, Jan 30 : Hmar Students Association (HSA), a powerful student's body in Manipur, has threatened to stop the implementation of proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydro-electric Project near the Manipur-Mizoram border, 500 metre downstream from the confluence of the Barak and Tuivai rivers "at any cost".

Talking to a group of Silchar and Dhaka-based journalists at Tipaimukh village in Churachandpur district of Manipur, nearly 140 km from here, the HSA activists, who were visibly angry with the government and those supporting the proposed 162.80 metre-high rockfill dam, said they are ready to give their blood, but they would not allow the dam to be contructed in their village.

"We have been on an awareness drive in the six or seven villages adjacent to Tipaimukh against the ills of the dam. The villagers are on a constant vigil to stop any officials from visiting of the project site in this area. Although there's no sign of the project here till now, we are leaving no stone unturned to stop it," said Ringa Khabru, a member of HSA.

The Hmar students' activists said if the dam is constructed here, thousands of tribal people will lose their habitats and livelihoods. "They will lose everything - the traditional land, culture, economy and the nature surrounding us. We don't have faith in the promises of rehabilitation made by the government. We believe that the governments both at the Centre and in Imphal understand our sentiment and will not come forward to implement the project," an HSA activist said.

The Tipaimukh hydro-electric project is set to be implemented as a joint venture with the equity participation of the NHPC and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL). The MoEF cleared the project on October 10, 2008.

Work for forest clearance is in progress while the completion cost of the project is estimated at Rs 9,211 crore. The project was expected to take 87 months for completion and would come up during the 12th five year plan.

One Drop At A Time: Conserve Water Like The Mizos Do

By Anil Gupta

Aizawl, Jan 30 : The recent 28th Shodhyatra in Mizoram has been quite cathartic for me. I had been aware of the need to conserve water and proper practices that we should follow in our daily life.

But I must confess. When I washed hands with soap in the morning, the tap used to remain open while I scrubbed my hands. After this trip, it is difficult to do so.

While walking in Mizoram from Sailam to Melriat, about two weeks ago, we came across an extraordinary spirit of water conservation.

Every single house in smaller villages had a rooftop water conservation mechanism. The streets were extremely clean with dustbins every 50 or 100 yards. Even in the evening, one could not see any sign of trash on the roads.

The drains were clean too. But while absorbing all this cleanliness and conservation spirit, we came across an interesting sight. There was a tap from which a few drops were dripping.

This will be quite a common sight at most places and one could easily see a water pool below or around the water point. Here was an inspiring sight.

There was small channel put below the tap (see figure) which collected these drops and diverted them into a canister, thus saving them. There was no wastage of water at all. Shodhyatris were dumbstruck by this sight. Could a culture be so frugal when using water, they asked.

In the next village, I wanted a cup of water in the morning to take my herbal medicine. I went to the tap where there was already a bucket being filled by kitchen volunteers. When they saw me, they closed the tap, pulled the bucket away.

They took the cup from my hand, opened the tap, filled it, closed the tap, and gave the cup back to me. The bucket was put under the tap again, which was then opened to fill the rest of it up.

What would I have done? Probably, I would have pulled the bucket away, filled the cup, and moved the bucket back, without closing the tap even once during the process. If some water would have flown waste, I might have ignored it. After this incident, I can't do so anymore.

I am of course conscious of the fact that water wastage is rampant in our society. What is more agonising is that even some of us who are aware, conscious and feel responsible have habits which are not benchmarked with the most exalted values and cultures. Can something be done about it? I don't know.

How did Mizoram do it? This culture was so ingrained among children and adults alike that nobody had to be told about this value. There were no slogans on the walls, no hoardings at all, no warning of punishment.

Can we make Mizoram water harvesting capital of India? Can people from Gujarat, Rajasthan get inspiration from the Mizos?

Will leaders and adults listen or should children just break from the tradition of indifference towards these values?

The author is a professor at IIMA

Northeast Militancy Dip Poses New Challenge

 Member of Hmar People's Convention (HPC), an armed group demanding self-rule in North-Cachar Hill district of Assam, meet traditionally dressed dancers during the arms laying down ceremony at Guwahati in the northeastern Indian state of Assam January 24, 2012. Hundreds of separatists in India's northeast handed over automatic rifles and other weapons to the home minister and senior paramilitary and army officers, signalling the government remains open to peace talks in the region.

Tezpur, Jan 30 : The steady decline in militancy across the Northeast has posed a new challenge for the army — tapping the energy of warrior communities to ensure that the region does not relapse into bloodshed.

Almost all militant groups in the Northeast have either disbanded or are on ceasefire mode barring some 150 guerrillas left with United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) commander-in-chief Paresh Barua and some Manipur-based militants with diminishing firepower.

Security analysts say the last nail in the coffin of militancy in the region was possibly hammered in with the surrender of 1,695 rebels from nine armed groups in Guwahati last week.

“It was the beginning of the end of militancy in the Northeast, but it also left us with the huge task of motivating the youth in order to properly utilise their natural fighting spirit,” said a senior army officer on condition of anonymity.

Most communities in the Northeast — Nagas, Meiteis, Ahoms, Karbis, Dimasas, Bodos, Mizos, Nyishis and Noctes to name a few — have had a history of waging wars to fiercely protect their territories and their cultures.

Geo-political changes over the years in the region, however, “diverted their energies” into secessionism.

“The army has a greater responsibility today to be more people-friendly, acquaint locals with the opportunities it provides. People in the region are born fighters, and tapping their energy and spirit will go a long way in nation-building,” said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi at a Fauji Mela here on Sunday.

Organised by the Tezpur-based Four Corps, the Fauji Mela was on a scale unprecedented in the country. Some 17,000 people turned up for the Mela that showcased multifarious combat actions as well as an aerial display by Sukhoi jets.

Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, GOC of Four Corps, said a series of workshops have been already organized by the army to motivate educated youth particularly from the backward districts to join the armed forces.

“We have spent about Rs 26 crore last year in various programmes under Operation Sadbhavana that included special training for recruitment drives, and motivating young people right from the school level,” Lt Gen Gurung said.

The Four Corps is responsible for securing most portions of the 1,080-km boundary that Arunachal Pradesh shares with China.

Blast Rocks Imphal A Day Before Polls

New Delhi, Jan 27 : A day before polls in Manipur, one person has been injured in a blast in west district of Imphal.

Police say they suspect the used of IED in the blast.

The area has been evacuated. The blast occurred a day after campaigning for Manipur assembly election ended on Thursday.

Manipur will on Saturday elect a new 60-member assembly to mark the start of make-or-break elections in five states. The staggered exercise, which ends with the vote in Goa and Uttar Pradesh on March 3, will be this year's first major test for political parties.

Along with Uttarakhand and Punjab, a grand total of 137 million voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise in the five states.

Official sources said major insurgent organisations had been targeting and attacking Congress workers and candidates in the past two weeks by lobbing grenades or exploding bombs.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had questioned as to why insurgents were targeting only Congress and asked whether the insurgents had a 'hidden agenda.'

Withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 from the state and protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur were the main issues that that were highlighted during the campaign, the reports said.

Except Congress, all major political parties had promised to withdraw the AFSPA, if voted to power.

The Congress said it would lift it only after an improvement in the law and order situation, the reports said. Shortage of electricity and water supply, bad road conditions of the national highways and problems faced by the state due to frequent blockades on the national highways were the other issues raised during the campaigning.

The few public meetings which were addressed by national leaders in the past one week included a meeting by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee at Langjing in Imphal West district where she promised that AFSPA would be lifted if her party came to power.

BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Hema Malini and a few central leaders of other parties had also addressed some meetings in interior districts in the past week.

A spokesman of the Maniur people's party (MPP) told mediapersons that the Congress had failed to deliver the results during its last ten-year rule.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar had earlier said that Manipur had witnessed a spurt in corruption and criminal activities during the last ten-year Congress rule.

Alleging that the government remained silent about incidents like the one in which state advocate general Koteshore Singh was shot at by a minister during a tour and the killing of a boy by a minister's son, he asked "Was there at all any government in the state?"

Demanding action against the culprits, he said if the BJP was voted to power it would put the guilty behind bars besides correcting the system.

Lacklustre Campaigning Ends in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 27 : A lacklustre campaigning for Saturday's Manipur assembly election ended at 3 pm today with candidates confining themselves to door-to-door campaign and not holding major public meetings.

Reports from districts said the candidates confined themselves to door-to-door campaigning due to threats from insurgents.

"Unlike the past, we could not use loud speakers because of threat from some insurgents groups who said they would eliminate us," Thambou Singh, a Congress worker in Yaiskul assembly constituency in Imphal East district said.

Official sources said major insurgent organisations had been targetting and attacking Congress workers and candidates in the past two weeks by lobbing grenades or exploding bombs.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had questioned as to why insurgents were targetting only Congress and asked whether the insurgents had a 'hidden agenda.'

Withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 from the state and protection of the territorial integrity of Manipura were the manin issues that that were highlighted during the lacklustre campaign, the reports said.

Except Congress, all major political parties had promised to withdraw the AFSPA, if voted to power.

The Congress said it would lift it only after an improvement in the law and order situation, the reports said.

Shortage of electricity and water supply, bad road conditions of the national highways and problems faced by the state due to frequent blockades on the national highways were the other issues raised during the campaigning.

The few public meetings which were addressed by national leaders in the past one week included a meeting by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee at Langjing in Imphal West district where she promised that AFSPA would be lifted if her party came to power.

BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Hema Malini and a few central leaders of other parties had also addressed some meetings in interior districts in the past week.

A spokesman of the Maniur people's party (MPP) told mediapersons that the Congress had failed to deliver the results during its last ten-year rule.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar had earlier said that Manipur had witnessed a spurt in corruption and criminal activities during the last ten-year Congress rule.

Alleging that the government remained silent about incidents like the one in which state advocate general Koteshore Singh was shot at by a minister during a tour and the killing of a boy by a minister's son, he asked "Was there at all any government in the state?"

Demanding action against the culprits, he said if the BJP was voted to power it would put the guilty behind bars besides correcting the system.

Mizoram Achieves 100% EPIC Coverage

Aizawl, Jan 26 : All the 6,53,208 voters in Mizoram have electoral photo identity cards (EPIC), state chief electoral officer K Riachho said today.

During an observation of the National Voters Day at Vanapa Hall here today, the CEO handed over appreciation certificates to the district administrators of Aizawl, Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Mamit and Kolasib which had achieved cent percent EPIC coverage during last year.

Now the entire Mizoram has achieved cent per cent EPIC coverage, the CEO said. Mizoram has an electorate of 6,53,208, according to the electoral roll 2012 published by the state election department today.

There are more female voters (3,31,664) than their male counterparts (3,21,544). The increase from the 2011 electoral rolls was 12,454 voters. Tuichawng assembly seat in south Mizoram's Lawngtlai district has the largest number of voters at 25,198 while the Thorang constituency in Lunglei district has the least electorate at 12,039. The sex ratio in the electoral roll was 1031 female in every 1000 male while according to Census 2011 the sex ratio was 975.

The CEO also handed over EPICs to 20 selected youths who got voting rights in the latest electoral revision. Speaking at the function, Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) secretary Lalbiakmawia Ngente said the MPF's efforts in ensuring clean and low-profile elections in Mizoram had received acclaim from the Election Commission of India.

The Election of Commission of India has advised all the states to arrange benches for voters in each polling booth on the polling day as has been practiced in Mizoram at the initiatives of the MPF, he said. Along with the rest of the country, the second National Voters Day was observed in all the district capitals of Mizoram.

How To Deal With Insomnia Or Sleep Disorders

By Hema Subramanian

I sincerely hope you haven’t come across this article in the middle of the night. For many of us, it is troublesome to get the recommended dose of 8 hours of beauty sleep. These episodes of sleepless nights  may come and go, last up to weeks, or be long-lasting (chronic) for many of us.

Insomnia is trouble falling asleep or staying awake through the night.

 How do I know if suffer from a sleep disorder?
 If you’ve have any of the following conditions you might suffer from a sleep disorder:

1. Trouble falling asleep on most nights
2. Feeling tired during the day
3. Not feeling refreshed when you wake up
4. Waking up several times during sleep

 What might cause insomnia?

1. Hormones – Changes in the internal physical condition like hormonal changes or a physical ailment may cause sleeplessness. Also with age sleep patterns tend to change. You might have heard older people say that they wake up more often at nights. Medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, are known to be triggers.
2. Physical pain or discomfort – Obviously, any type of pain will cause lack of sleep and affects one’s healthy functioning and mental state. 
3. Lifestyle habits – Regular night-outs or late night parties, high amounts of junk food (especially at night), irregular eating, sleeping at odd hours, working late nights or working the night shift triggers a random response in the “Circadian Cycle” (responsible for maintaining natural processes) and may eventually cause insomnia.
4. Medications and drugs – One of the side effects of medication for ailments may be sleepless nights. If you have been taking sleeping pills, withdrawal symptoms may cause rebound insomnia.
5. Mental health – Any form of mental distress like anxiety,  sadness and severe disorders like depression and bipolar disorder can cause insomnia. Such times call for professional help.
6. Stress - Mind affects body and body affects mind. Stress takes its toll, whether it is short-term or long-term. This vicious cycle of stress affecting sleep and vice versa causes chronic insomnia.

What you can do to sleep better

1. Sleep time – Each one of one is unique, even with our sleep patterns. Some people feel refreshed with only 6 hours of sleep; others might need 9 – 10 to 11 hours. Know what your body needs. Fix up your sleep time accordingly. Always maintain regular sleep and waking up times to regularize your sleep patterns.
2. Visit the doctor – Your physician can help to review any drugs, medical conditions or stressful situations that may be causing your insomnia or making it worse.
3. Lifestyle management – Maintain a routine that is not extreme. If your work demands it, balance it by other factors like diet and a healthy mental state. Meditation, creative visualization may help you be calmer and restful.
4. Daytime sleepiness – Stop those afternoon naps. 2 p.m.to 6 p.m. is the most susceptible zone for naps. Indulge in some physical activity that requires you to move about during that time.
5. Physical activity – Physical exercise or a walk before bed time is ideal for chronic insomnia. Team up with someone or even with soothing music to help you maintain it as a habit.
6. Diet – Have a healthy dinner, drink warm milk or herbal tea with camomile. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco to help you sleep quickly.
7. Pamper yourself to sleep with warm bath with bath salts, massages, soothing music or chants, stomach rub or a hot water bottle.
8. Avoid any engaging activity like watching TV or reading a book just because you cannot sleep.
9. Do something monotonous – Count sheep or try to chant the alphabet backwards. Keep at it till you sleep out of sheer boredom. 

Follow these simple rules and realize that your body needs rest and therefore it is absolutely imperative that you get enough sleep. Research suggests a lot of diseases, conditions, stress-related disorders, etc. can be avoided by ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.

SEC Cracks The Whip On NECS

Aizawl, Jan 26 : The Mizoram state election commission has cracked the whip on North East Consultancy Services, preventing the latter from observing its foundation day on January 28 where Mizoram chief minister and others were scheduled to speak.

An official statement said today, as the NEC intended to go ahead with its scheduled programme despite the SEC's notification sent to the NEC chief managing director Robert Romawia Royte on the afternoon of January 24, the SEC ordered the Aizawl deputy commissioner to make sure that the function does not take place and instructed the director of art & culture department to ensure that Vanapa Hall remains lock from dawn to dusk on the scheduled date.

Any attempt to violate the election model code of conduct will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law, the official statement said.


According to the statement, the NEC chief MD had sent an application to the SEC to allow the chief minister, Nagaland education minister, Mizoram education minister and MLA and former Mizoram education minister Dr R Lalthangliana to address the function as per schedule. However, the SEC rejected the request on grounds that there could be violations of the election model code of conduct.

However, since local newspapers carried the scheduled programme today indicating that the company intended to go ahead with its scheduled programme, the SEC issued the notification today itself. Reacting to the government official statement, NEC chief MD Royte denied any attempt to defy the SEC s order.

When I received the SEC s letter around 1800 hours on Wednesday, my publicity department had already sent the programme for publication to the newspapers which I did not realise until later. My company has no intention to defy the SEC s order.

Therefore, I have cancelled the observation function, Mr Royte said.

Hmar Students’ Demand Stern Punishment For Rape Accused

New Delhi, Jan 26 : The Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), Delhi, has written to chief minister Shiela Dikshit demanding stern punishment for the accused in the rape of 20 year old girl from Manipur on January 18 in the national capital.  A copy of the letter addressed to the Delhi chief minister was received here today.

The Association stated that: “Considering the seriousness of this case and similar incidents that happened at the National Capital Region (NCR) and the unprecedented racial/gender-based violence meted to the people of North East India living in NCR, we, the Hmar Students' Association, Delhi demands the following to be taken up by your good office at the earliest so that justice be delivered to the victim, who is physically and mentally disturbed by the trauma she went through.”

 The Association demands that the rapist be “punished appropriately without fail as per the law of the country.” It wants that the rapist in the case be “booked under suitable sections of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989,” and  also the victim be compensated under the same Act or any other prevailing laws that cover this nature of crime.

Further, the Association demands that “a special cell headed by an IPS officer from North East India be established within the Delhi Police to pro-actively deal with the issues and problems regularly faced by people from the North East India in NCR.”

Also related the sequence of event which led to rape incident and police inaction thereafter, the Association said that the victim after escaping from the rapist returned to her place and an FIR was filed at Dwarka Sector 28 police station on January 19 and her statement taken by the concerned police.

“The police who promised to arrest the rapist after 2 hours of filing of the report, arrested the rapist only after 5 days after the incident,” the Association explained. The letter was appended by the president James Pusing Sanate and secretary Zacharia Varte.

Congress in Manipur May Buck Anti-incumbency Mood

It is likely to emerge as the largest political party, despite boycott call by militants and stiff competition

Imphal/Churachandpur (Manipur): The Congress party is likely to emerge as the largest political party in the 60-member Manipur state assembly although it faces stiff opposition from new political entrants in the state such as the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which are fighting the state polls for the first time.

Congress is expected to reduce its tally from a high of 30 seats in the last assembly elections to around 20 in the strife-torn state, which will require it to co-opt other parties to form a government.

Tight cover: The residence of Trinamool Congress candidate P. Songlianlal in Churachandpur. The elections are being held under the security vigil of 350 companies of paramilitary forces, with a total deployment of 62,000 personnel. Photo: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint

The other contenders in the fray for the 10th assembly elections include the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is fighting the low-key election as part of a coalition comprising the Manipur People’s Party (MPP), the Janata Dal (United) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist, or CPI (M). The Congress has also been boycotted by the Coordinating Committee (CorCom), a coalition of seven valley-based underground outfits.

“There are no such things as issues here. Money will drive elections,” said a weary Hilam Rajesh, editor of The Sangai Express, the largest circulated daily in the state. The stairway to his office is flanked by state police commandoes as the publication has been receiving threats from militant groups.

Also, unlike other states, religion and delimitation are not factors in Manipur. The last delimitation exercise was carried out in 1976. An attempt made in 2002 met widespread opposition with allegations about valley and hill areas misrepresenting the number of voters.

“Manipur politics is all about assertion of ethnic identities,” added Konsam Ibo Singh, who teaches political science in Manipur University.

Of the 60 seats in the assembly, 20 are in the hills, with the balance in the valley, which is primarily inhabited by Meities, who are Hindus. The Nagas and Kukis are tribes with a significant presence in the hills.
The Manipur state elections have seen large fluctuations in voting percentages. While 82% voted in the 2007 assembly polls, the number fell to 46% in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

There is popular sentiment in favour of the Congress in the Meitei-dominated valley.
Sundar Sharma, a 25-year-old Meitei from Imphal, said, “Congress is not much corrupt. We will vote for it.”
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, said: “Anti-incumbency is very high. The Congress performance has been very bad and the people are angry.”

The NCP is contesting 22 seats on its own and is part of an opposition alliance that is contesting in 43.
Some say the candidates are more important than their parties. “Politics is here more about personalities than parties,” said Radhabinod Koijam, president of the NCP in Manipur and a former chief minister.

To compound problems for the Congress, while the state government had earlier banned Naga separatist leader T. Muivah from visiting his birthplace in the state, Neiphiu Rio, Nagaland’s chief minister, is actively campaigning in the Naga-dominated hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong.
These are among the districts that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), wants to be carved out to form the Naga state of Nagalim, along with Naga-dominated areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.

“The ideology of the NPF is to speak of the political voice of the Nagas. Our voice is not being heard. We are fighting elections for the first time in Manipur as part of our plan to fight elections from the Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam,” said Abu Metha, press secretary to Neiphiu Rio.
NPF is fighting elections in 12 seats in the four hill districts.

However, Phungzathang Tongsing, Manipur’s power minister, who is contesting from the Churachandpur assembly constituency, commented, while sitting in his palatial compound in Imphal. “What is the purpose of NPF? What is their programme? They can’t do anything for the state of Manipur.”

While the security establishment is strongly opposed to withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) from more areas, as it provides soldiers immunity from being prosecuted in any court of law, almost all the political parties are opposing it.

“There are divisive forces trying to break Manipur. Our fight is against corruption. We also want removal of Afspa,” said M. Nara Singh, CPI state secretary, sitting in his election office under a dim light. His party was a part of the Congress government but is now contesting independently in 24 seats.

Arguing similarly, TMC’s Kim Gangte said, “We are against this draconian law. If Manipur is part of India, it is time that the centre should look at it (removing Afspa).”

Underground groups
The CorCom has boycotted the Congress and has warned its candidates and workers against campaigning. Grenades have been thrown at the homes of candidates, cadres and party offices and there have been instances of improvised explosive devices (IED) camouflaged in cabbage being planted to cause damage.
The CorCom has named 38 Congress candidates and their 1,790 supporters in 38 constituencies as being covered under the threat.

“There is a law and order issue,” said Congress’ Tongsing, whose Churachandpur assembly constituency faces a keenly watched contest between the Congress, NCP and TMC. The other contenders are from the Shiv Sena and an independent.

P. Songlianlal of the TMC, who is also contesting the seat, said, “CorCom and NPF don’t have a problem with us.”The election marks several firsts. Apart from Muslim candidates fighting on Shiv Sena tickets, it will be for the first time that elections to all the 60 seats will be held in one phase. In 2007, state assembly elections were held in three phases with the parliamentary elections of 2009 being held in two phases.

The elections are being held under the security vigil of 350 companies of paramilitary forces for the state, with a total deployment of 62,000 personnel. Of the 2,357 polling stations in the state, only 160 are classified as normal by the Election Commission, with 1,325 termed sensitive and 872 hyper-sensitive.
Ratnakar Baral, director general of police (DGP), dismissed the apprehensions. “We are fully prepared,” he said.

Baral replaced Y. Joykumar Singh this month at the directive of the Election Commission.

While P.C. Lawmkunga, additional chief secretary and chief electoral officer for the state, admitted that his “most serious concern is the security”, he added that the Election Commission was “very much prepared in terms of manpower and security”.

utpal.b@livemint.com

Padma Vibhushan for Dr Bhupen Hazarika

Posthumous award

New Delhi, Jan 26 : In what is being perceived as a major let-down, Dr Bhupen Hazarika has been nominated posthumously for the Padma Vibhusan Award despite a growing demand for the Bharat Ratna to the legendary singer and composer. The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.

Dr Hazarika is among seven whose names have been nominated for the Padma Vibhusan, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of the Republic Day celebrations. Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories–Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March-April. This year the President has approved of 109 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 14 in the category of Foreigners and NRIs and Posthumous. This year, there are five Padma Vibhushans, 27 Padma Bhushans and 77 Padma Shri awards. There are 19 women among the awardees, an official declaration said.

The balladeer and prominent cartoonist Mario De Miranda have been nominated posthumously. Dr Hazarika was the recipient of the Padma Shri (1977) and the Padma Bhusan (2001).

This year, none from the North-east has been nominated for the Padma Bhusan Award, while Sunil Janah of Assam has been nominated for the Padma Shri in the category of Art and Photography. Dr Ralte L Thanmawia of Mizoram has been nominated for the Padma Shri in the category of literature and education.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding pressure on the UPA-II Government to honour Dr Hazarika with the coveted Bharat Ratna, the Centre chose to ignore it. The list of those seeking the highest civilian award of the country is long and quite a few influential names figure in it, said sources, adding that names included that of Choudhury Charan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhyan Chand, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bhindra among others.

Others who also desire the award include popular actor Amitabh Bachchan. Further, names of Mirza Ghalib and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaya have also been in circulation for the Bharat Ratna.

Supporting the case of the Dada Saheb Phalke awardee was Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who personally took the matter with the Prime Minister following huge public demand. The matter was also raised in the Parliament and the North East MPs’ Forum twice passed a resolution recommending the singer’s name for the highest civilian honour.

Reacting to the development, Kumar Deepak Das, who was among the first to raise the matter in Parliament, described it as most unfortunate. Just because he was from Assam, he was deprived of the highest civilian award.

The Prime Minister is a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam but in this case he has failed to honour the sentiment of the people of the State he represents, Das added.

General secretary of NEMPF Biren Baishya, who had called on the Prime Minister and submitted a petition along with chairman Mukut Mithi, said he is still hopeful.

Meanwhile, Khamliana from Mizoram and Md Abdul Bari of Odisha have been jointly selected for the National Communal Harmony Award for the year 2011 in the individual category.

Khamliana, 56, is the founder president of Mizoram Youth Club established in 1990. The Club is a well-known voluntary organisation rendering social service and strengthening national integration in Mizoram.

Mizoram Chief Secy Urges Officials To Prepare Voter List Sans

Aizawl, Jan 26 : Mizoram Chief Secretary Van Hela Pachuau today called upon officials involved in preparations of voter lists to work without fear or favour to ensure that no foreigners were enrolled in the electoral rolls.

Addressing a function on the occasion of the second National Voters Day, Pachuau said while all the citizens, attaining the age of 18, should be enrolled so that they have the right to vote, utmost care should be taken so that no foreigners were enlisted in the voter lists.

"If elections, the most important exercise of the people in the democratic government, are free and fair, democracy is strengthened while abuse of the elections and the voters' lists can endanger the very foundation of democracy," he said.

All the voters in Mizoram have recently possessed electoral photo identity card (EPIC) and the state became the seventh state to achieve it.

Protected Area Permit Extended in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 25 : The Protected Area Permit(PAP) regime, in which foreigners desiring to visit some states are required to have special permit from the union home ministry has been relaxed for yet another year in three NE states with some conditions.

A letter from the Union Home Ministry to Mizoram chief secretary Van Hela Pachuau, today said PAP relaxation was extended for another year from December 31, 2011 in the states of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.

Visitors from Afghanistan, Pakistan and China would, however, require prior permission from the union home ministry to visit the three states and those from Myanmar could cross the border and travel upto 16 km with permission from it.

All foreigners visiting the three north eastern states have to report themselves to Foreigners Registration Officers of the respective states within 24 hours and foreign Christian missionaries visiting the states were required to obtain missionary visas, the letter said.

Mizo Farmers Reap Benefit From Oil Palm Cultivation

Aizawl, Jan 25 : The Government of Mizoram is increasingly promoting oil palm cultivation in the state with multiple aim of generating jobs, benefiting farmers and attracting edible oil makers.

It has earmarked 1,33,000 hectares of land in Mizoram for oil palm cultivation as the region's climatic and geographical conditions are suitable for its growth.

Farmers can harvest oil palm seeds 3-4 times a year and a bunch of oil palms weigh nearly 30-35 kg. They sell the seeds to private organizations at a cost of Rs 4.75 per Kg from which edible oil is produced.

Over 3000 families are engaged in oil palm cultivation across Mizoram of which nearly 850 are in Kolasib district.

"Oil palm, sugar, vegetables, these are the main crops. We are giving our best advice to the cultivators by providing them field school lessons, giving field visits and other things so that the production can be increased," said K Zirliana, District Agricultural Officer, Kolasib.

R. Thansiama, a farmer, who have taken up oil palm cultivation, recently received Rs 45,000 monetary support from the state government under the New Land Use Policy Scheme to expand his farm.

He started planting palms in 2002 and owns over 1000 of these in his seven-hectare large farm.
"In the first year, I planted 300 trees, in the second year, I planted 500 trees and as of today I have more than 1000 trees in my farm," Thansiama, said.

Biggest Arms Surrender To PC By 9 Rebel Groups

By Prabin Kalita


Guwahati, Jan 25 : Militancy-hit Assam was able to shirk off this tag on Tuesday with the biggest surrender of over 1,600 cadres of nine outfits in a day. However, a few remnant groups, including Ulfa hardliners led by Paresh Baruah, did not join the peace process.

An assortment of about 201 small and big weapons were deposited by the groups comprising five Adivasi, three Kuki and a Hmar outfit, before Union home minister P Chidambaram and chief minister Tarun Gogoi. Welcoming the cadres back into the mainstream, the home minister said, "We can build a great India, a great economy and we ask you all to join us in this glorious task of nation building."

Gogoi, on the other hand, reiterated his appeal to Baruah and his group to join the peace process. "Our doors are open for those who are willing to join the peace process but we will firmly deal with hardliners," he said.


Hailing the mega arms surrender ceremony, the home minister said, "Not often do we see so many groups, which have taken the path of militancy, returning to the path of peace, reconciliation and brotherhood. We believe that in our republic and democracy every voice deserves to be heard and all differences can be settled through talks and consultations."

Chidambaram said, "In the past couple of years, we have reached out to several outfits. We have signed the suspension of operation with the pro-talks faction of Ulfa, we have signed a memorandum of settlement with UPDS and negotiations with the DHD(J) are in the final stages. We expect a memorandum very soon, talks with DHD(N) are progressing well and talks with the NDFB (Progressive) will continue. Talks with the KLNLF are also progressing and the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB has declared unilateral ceasefire."

The nine outfits, Kuki Revolutionary Army, United Kukigram Defence Army, Hmar People's Convention (D), Kuki Liberation Army, Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam, Birsa Commando Force, Santhal Tiger Force, All Adivasi National Liberation Army and Adivasi People's Army had earlier declared a ceasefire. Chidambaram added, "We assure you that the government of India and the government of Assam will treat everyone of you as equal citizens with honour and dignity."

Also present at the ceremony were the 4th Corps GoC Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, 3rd Corps GoC Lt Gen Dalbir, director general of police and chairman of the Operational Group (Unified Command), J N Choudhury, GoC, Red Horns division Major General R N Nairand GoC Red Shield Maj Gen Binoy Poonnen.

The additional director general of Assam Police (special branch), who was responsible for the arms surrender ceremony, said, "All major outfits have finally come to the peace process except a few remnants and deserter groups."

Meghalaya To Train Teachers Online

Shillong, Jan 25 : Meghalaya government is tying up with IGNOU to train its elementary school teachers ‘online’ to save on teachers’ training programmes and cope with the demands of the provisions of Right to Education (RTE).

“We are tying up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for imparting on-line ‘in-service’ training to the teachers of the state this year,” the Education Minister Mr Roytre C Laloo told reporters here.

“Besides, fresh teachers will also be given a two-year training course by DIETs of the state,” he said.

According to the minister, “The online concept of providing training to the teachers will, to a great extent, reduce the expenditure as the government has to pay two salaries for a given post when the teacher has to go for teachers’ trainings.”

Mr Laloo said, “The amount thus saved from in-service teachers would be used for sending those fresh teachers for trainings.”

At present, Meghalaya is facing shortage of trained teachers which is another challenge in implementing the RTE in the state, the minister said.

He further informed that an official committee of a six-member ministers including Meghalaya will hold a meeting to discuss on the draft rules to curb unfair practices by students and institutions.

“The meeting will be held by February 15,” he said.

78 Lakh Trees To Be Felled For Tipaimukh Dam

By Roopak Goswami

Guwahati, Jan 20 : Seventy-eight lakh trees will be chopped as part of the forest clearance process for the 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric project in Manipur, an exercise that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says will be taken up for “national interest”.

The project, which has been in the eye of controversies following opposition from Bangladesh, has received support from the Centre, which has promised not to take any steps that would adversely affect the neighbouring country.

The project near the Manipur-Mizoram border, 500 metres downstream of the confluence of river Barak and the Tuivai in Churachandpur district of Manipur, received environmental clearance in 2008.

Alarmed by the diversion of a very large area of forest land and felling of more than 78 lakh trees, the forest advisory committee, under the ministry of environment and forests, has recommended that a sub-committee, along with domain experts in the field of ecology, wildlife, hydrology and others, visit the project site to make an on-the-spot assessment of impacts.

The committee, which met on January 11-12 in New Delhi, also recommended that the sub-committee may suggest appropriate measures on further reduction in dam height to minimise forest land requirement.

The committee said the forest land proposed for diversion contains 78,16,931 trees and 27,000 bamboo columns.

Principal chief conservator of forests, Manipur, has been quoted in the report as saying “no compensatory measure would help in mitigating the loss caused by felling of such large number of trees as also the diverse impact on the habitat, flora, fauna, bio-diversity and environment, unless additional non-forest areas in affected districts or adjoining districts are taken up for compensatory afforestation”.

The per megawatt requirement of forest land at 16.22 hectares is also substantially high, the committee said.

Manipur had initially submitted a proposal to obtain approval of the Centre under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for diversion of 20,464 hectares of forest land, which was later revised to 25,822.14 hectares.

Later, according to the consideration of recommendations made by the northeastern regional office of the ministry of environment and forests, the area of forest land proposed for diversion was further revised to 22,777.50 hectares.

Mizoram also sent a proposal for diversion of 1551.60 hectares of forest land, which is being processed separately.

The total diversion is 24,329 hectares of forest land, of which 22,777.50 hectares is in Manipur and 1551.60 hectares is in Mizoram.

The project is being executed as a joint venture of the NHPC (69 per cent), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (26 per cent) and the Manipur government (5 per cent). It was initially proposed to be executed by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited.

The Tipaimukh project is expected to take 87 months for completion and will come up during the 12th Five Year Plan. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 9,211 crore at September 2008 price level.

Many project proponents, including government departments have been urging the Centre to expedite the process of granting environment and forest clearances as otherwise the projects were getting delayed.

Though the environmental clearance given in 2008 had said downstream impacts of the project in Assam should be studied because of construction of the dam, sources said nothing had been done till now.

The clearance letter had also said since the Tipaimukh project involved large submergence, a comprehensive study of the possible greenhouse emissions from the project should be carried out.

Sources, however, said this also had not been done. “How shall we kill ourselves in an age of climate change...let us count the ways. Instead of investing money in enhancing efficiency and making existing hydroelectric power projects deliver on failed promises, myopic planners in the Prime Minister’s Office and Planning Commission are laying out a silken trap for the Indian people...promising power and delivering a slow death from ecological instability instead,” wildlife expert Bittu Sahgal told The Telegraph.

“This is going to be an ecological disaster. There is great impact in the upstream area and one can very well imagine what may happen downstream, which has still not been studied,” Firoz Ahmed, wildlife conservationist from Assam, said.

“This will be transformed into a desert. This is an exceptionally rich biodiverse area,” R.K. Ranjan Singh, an environmentalist and adviser to the Manipur-based NGO Citizens’ Concern for Dams and Development, said.

“No project in the country, howsoever necessary, should be cleared by any authority if it involves large-scale cutting of trees. Such action is a disaster for the future of a nation and the country requires a strict land use policy urgently,” Valmik Thapar, eminent wildlife conservationist, said.

Tough Tipaimukh Test For Manipur’s Chosen One

By Naresh Mitra

One point on the National Highway 53 in Manipur's Tamenglong district - where the Barak river flows quietly between lush-green hills before entering Assam to create the fertile Barak valley - has to be one of the most photoraphed spots in the state.

But one recent evening, when passengers of a bus travelling via the stretch stepped out to click some pictures with the setting sun in the backdrop, they were greeted by an ominous prophecy. In broken Hindi, a Zeliangrong youth, incidentally from a village also named Barak, said: "The river will be killed and it's beauty will never be the same again. And with the death of the Barak, our people will be in great danger."

The youngster was referring to the 1500-MW hydro-electric project at Tipaimukh in Manipur's Churachanpur district. His concern is shared by civil society groups in Manipur, but even with the assembly election approaching, politicians have ignored the issue which could imperil the safety and liveihoods of those living in the catchment areas of the Barak.

One particular tribe that depends on the Barak - or Ahu, as the river is known among locals - is the Zeliangrong Nagas of Tamenglong district. Zeliangrongs - an acronym coined in February 15, 1947 to represent Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Puimei tribes under one name - are proud of their heritage and still recall the anti-British resistance under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang and later Rani Gaidinliu with pride. "A large chunk of Naga-dominated areas, including Tamenglong, will be affected, but surprisingly, even some Naga politicians in the fray are more concerned with the issue of integration of Naga-dominated areas rather than talking about the dam," an Imphal-based activist, said.

Pointing out that more than 100 villages are likely to be submerged once the project is complete, Aram Pamei, president of the Imphal-based Naga Women's Union (NWU) said politicians hardly seem concerned about the rammifications of the hydel project. However, Pamei observed that some Naga politicians are indeed voicing their concerns regarding protection and land and resources of Naga people. "There are a few Naga politicians who are raising the issue, but politicians and political parties on a wider scale should have shown more concern about the project in this election," Pamei observed.

Last year, the Congress-led Manipur government signed a tripartite MoU with NHPC Limited and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited to implement the project, which has also met with some opposition in Bangladesh.

CPI candidate Letkhongam (Angan) Touthang, who is contesting from Jiribam constituency, has said that review of the Tipaimukh project is one of the major poll issue in this election. "Concerns over Tipaimukh is a people's issue. The project will not only affect people of Manipur but also Assam's Barak valley. Even my constituency faces the threat of submergence," he said.

Manipur government spokesperson and Congress leader, N Biren Singh said that project is going to usher in an era of development. "Power availability is a must for development, and Tipaimukh will aid Manipur's growth. Of course there will be submergence of areas, but there will be adequate rehabilitation for the affected people. We will take all the necessary care," he assured.

Meghalaya: Where Women Rule, And Men Are Suffragettes

By Timothy Allen

In the small hilly Indian state of Meghalaya, a matrilineal system operates with property names and wealth passing from mother to daughter rather than father to son - but some men are campaigning for change.

When early European settlers first arrived here they nicknamed it "the Scotland of the East" on account of its evocative rolling hills.

Coincidentally, today the bustling market in the state capital, Shillong, is awash with tartan in the form of the traditional handloom shawls worn ubiquitously since the autumn chill arrived.

Not far from here the village of Cherrapunji once measured an astonishing 26.5m (87ft) of rain in one year, a fact still acknowledged by the Guinness book as a world record.

But the rainy season is over for the time being and it is Meghalaya's other major claim to fame that I am here to investigate.

Tartan, and pipes, are popular in Shillong

It appears that some age-old traditions have been ruffling a few feathers of late, causing the views of a small band of male suffragettes to gain in popularity, reviving some rather outspoken opinions originally started by a small group of intellectuals in the 1960s.

I am sitting across a table from Keith Pariat, President of Syngkhong-Rympei-Thymmai, Meghalaya's very own men's rights movement.

He is quick to assure me that he and his colleagues "do not want to bring women down," as he puts it. "We just want to bring the men up to where the women are."

Mr Pariat, who ignored age-old customs by taking his father's surname is adamant that matriliny is breeding generations of Khasi men who fall short of their inherent potential, citing alcoholism and drug abuse among its negative side-effects.

"If you want to know how much the Khasis favour women just take a trip to the labour ward at the hospital," he says.

"If it's a girl, there will be great cheers from the family outside. If it's a boy, you will hear them mutter politely that, 'Whatever God gives us is quite all right.'"

Mr Pariat cites numerous examples of how his fellow brethren are being demoralised. These include a fascinating theory involving the way that gender in the local Khasi language reflects these basic cultural assumptions.

"A tree is masculine, but when it is turned into wood, it becomes feminine," he begins.

"The same is true of many of the nouns in our language. When something becomes useful, its gender becomes female.

"Matriliny breeds a culture of men who feel useless."

I talk to Patricia Mukkum, the well-respected editor of Shillong's daily newspaper. She assures me that her heritage is only one of the reasons why she has risen to the level she has and points out that the tradition of excluding women from the political decision making process is still very strong in their culture.

As a mother of children by three different Khasi fathers however, she is the first to admit that their societal anomaly has afforded her ample opportunities to be both a mother and a successful career woman.

Making reference to the routine problems facing women just over the border in West Bengal, Miss Mukkum is resolute.

"Our culture offers a very safe sanctuary for women," she declares.

I decide to see for myself in a remote village in the East Khasi Hills. After two hours walking through thick jungle I meet 42-year-old Mary.

She is a "Ka Khadduh", the youngest daughter in her family and consequently, the one destined to live with her parents until she inherits the family house. Her husband, 36-year-old Alfred, lives with them.

When I talk to her inside their home, Mary tells me that women do not trust men to look after their money so they take control of it themselves. I glance at Alfred for a response but he musters only a smile.

Mary goes on: "Most men in our village leave school early to help their fathers in the fields. This is a great detriment to their education."

I turn to Alfred once more. He responds with another shy smile.

Mary admits she has never heard of the men's right's movement, but thinks the system will never change.

Khasi women are in charge of running the household

Alfred maintains his Mona Lisa smile.

As we are talking, a praying mantis careers into our hut and slams into the side of my head.

After the laughter dies down, I take the opportunity to break the ice with Alfred by pointing out that female mantises eat their mates after sex, making a gesture with my arms mimicking the insect's claws, an action the Khasi called "takor" and one which turns out to be the gesticular equivalent of sticking two fingers up at someone. There is more laughter at my expense.

Forty minutes later however I have yet to get a comment from Mary's husband and all too soon it is time to leave.

I feel that the last word should come from Alfred so I ask my translator to target a simple question directly at him.

"What does he think of the matrilineal system?"

There is a long and considered pause. After what seems like an eternity the silence is finally broken.

"He like," pipes up Mary, and it is time to go.

How to listen to From Our Own Correspondent:

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Manipur & Its Search For Elusive Justice

By Meenakshi Ganguly

Manipuris want impunity to end. Not only has it shattered any existing faith in the justice system, many feel it has emboldened the security forces to commit further abuses.

Manipuris will soon stand in line to vote for a new state government. As with voters elsewhere, during the campaign they will be promised jobs, development and new infrastructure. The one promise on which successive governments have failed to deliver, however, is one of bringing justice to the people of the state.

Manipur has remained under the stranglehold of abusive armed groups and inept politicians. In each election, the armed groups — and there are many, with a range of political demands, though they are mostly extortion gangs — have called for a boycott of the polls. Those who participate, candidates and voters alike, risk violent attacks.

Things are so bad that earlier this month, all newspapers in Manipur published a blank editorial, in response to threats from armed groups that insist that the newspapers publish their statements. Newspapers face a double whammy: some militants have also demanded that they not publish statements of rival groups.

In the hope that an elected government will finally do its job, that of providing security and upholding fundamental rights, Manipuris have ignored the threats and turned out to vote. Yet, the government has failed to ensure even the most basic rights of life and liberty. Armed groups aside, Manipuris remain at risk of arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings by the government’s own security forces.

The state government and local administration have also failed to address grievances that feed public discontent and support for militant groups. All of these problems are made worse, though, by Manipur’s climate of impunity. The Central government, while claiming to be committed to protecting human rights, has largely ignored serious violations by its security forces, at best attributing abuses to a few “bad apples”. But even in cases involving “bad apples”, the government rarely investigates, let alone prosecutes those responsible. Manipuris want impunity to end. Not only has it shattered any existing faith in the justice system, many feel it has emboldened the security forces to commit further abuses. Impunity, fostered both by a lack of political will and by laws shielding the abusers, has led to an atmosphere in which security forces are effectively above the law.

The lack of accountability has become deeply rooted because of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the 1958 emergency law under which the armed forces are deployed in internal conflicts and enjoy broad powers to arrest, search and shoot to kill. The law is widely despised among the population because it provides soldiers who commit atrocities effective immunity from prosecution.

When the Central government isn’t ignoring Manipur, it tries to sweep Manipur’s problems under the carpet. In December, the police in Delhi went so far as to refuse permission for a solidarity protest to support a decade-long hunger fast by Irom Sharmila, who has demanded the repeal of the AFSPA ever since soldiers gunned down 10 civilians in Manipur on November 2, 2000. She is nasally force-fed in judicial custody.

The AFSPA has led to abuses and serious hardships in other parts of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, the repeal of the law has become a crucial election issue. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has spoken out against it.

But in Manipur, where the law has been in force much longer, political leaders have found neither voice nor wisdom. Irom Sharmila may have become known for her courage and her peaceful endeavour in India and beyond, but in Manipur’s capital, Imphal, the government has ignored her appeal. Instead, Manipuris remain hostage to an Army that claims it cannot operate without the powers and immunity provided by the AFSPA.

Hardly anyone in Manipur disputes that armed groups pose a serious security risk. Last year, two militant groups successfully imposed a three-month economic blockade on the surface supply of goods, crippling the economy and pushing prices out of control. Manipuris want law enforcement, but without human rights abuses or a blank cheque for the security services. The Army’s several decades of deployment in Manipur have not only resulted in widespread abuses but polarised the situation. The Army is damaging its reputation in India and abroad by insisting on protecting perpetrators of human rights abuses.

In 2004, following widespread anger over the custodial killing of a suspect, Manorama Devi, by the Assam Rifles, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Imphal with a promise to review the AFSPA. The review committee — and several other experts since then — recommended repeal of the law. The Army opposes repeal. Now halfway through his second term, Dr Singh has been unable to prevail over his divided Cabinet to deliver on the promise.

Manipur erupts into national news only when the rage brings Manipuris out onto the streets. The Central government takes notice when the Assembly building is burnt down, elderly women strip and invite the Army to rape them as they have raped others, prices become ridiculously high due to weeks of blockade or when mothers and schoolchildren engage in weeks of demonstrations. It should not take such drama for the government to wake up to the problems in this corner of the Northeast.

The writer is the South Asia director at Human Rights Watch

World's Largest Family Meets Governor

Aizawl, Jan 19 : The largest family in the world on Wednesday received a guest in Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushothaman at their home in Baktawng Tlangnuam village.

Purushothaman and his wife had photographic session with Ziona Chana, his 39 wives and children and grandchildren altogether numbering over 160 but staying under one roof.

Ziona, head of the family, which is considered the largest in the world, is also the chief of the Chana religious sect.

C. Lalrinthanga, a leader of the sect, said Ziona also invited the governor for a typical Mizo tea session and organised a cultural show performed by the members of the sect and students of the village.

"The governor was in the village for around two and half hours and seem to enjoy the visit to this picturesque village, known throughout the world due to Ziona," an official accompanying Purushothaman said.

The governor was at Baktawng Tlangnuam during the last leg of his travel through Serchhip district of the state.

Politics Still Male Dominated in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 19 : Manipuri society may be predominantly woman but politics has remained a male bastion for ages. Women voters have outnumbered men since the 1990 polls. But, they have not been able to make their presence felt in the political scenario of this picturesque state in northeast.

Out of a total of 17,40,819 eligible voters, 8,89,497 are women who will decide the fate of 279 candidates, including 14 women aspirants, in the Assembly elections slated for January 28.

Poll officials said there are 14 women candidates of whom 10 are from the four valley districts and the remaining four from the hill districts.

The lone woman legislator O Landhoni, who is the wife of Chief Minister M Ibobi Singh, is contesting as a Congress nominee from her native Khangabok seat in Thoubal district.

In contrast, there were just six women candidates in the last Assembly elections.

L Mema, president of Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup, a woman vendors' body in IMA Keithel, the biggest of them managed by the fair sex in the region, says women have not dominated politics as they have done in the society because of lack of proper financial support and heavy social responsibilities.

"The women unlike their men counterpart do not resort to muscle and money power to fight the poll," she said.

"There are chances of women winning the poll if there is free and fair poll without the use of money and muscle power," says Mema, leader of Meira Paibi, an anti-liquor body.

So far the Assembly has just seen four women MLAs including sitting member Landhoni with the other former MLAs being Keisham Apabi Dev, Hamingla Shaiza, and Wahengbam Leima Devi.

Except the constituencies of Karong, Tadubi, Kangpooki and Thanlong, female voters outnumber males in all the 60 seats.

"The male dominance in politics apart, the fate of the candidates in the January 28 poll will be decided by women only," says T Nenie Haokip, a woman activist.

This time 14 women candidates including three from Congress, two from Manipur State Congress Party, one each from BJP, CPM and Trinamool Congress, are in the fray against the six in the previous 2007 polls.

Japanese Team Digs Assam’s WW II Cemetery For Remains Of 11 Soldiers

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, Jan 19 : A three-member delegation of the Japanese government on Wednesday started digging a special site in the Guwahati War Cemetery to exhume the remains of 11 of its soldiers who perished in World War II in order to take them home for a formal official burial before a reunification with their respective families.

“We have got some data from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission that the Guwahati War Cemetery has graves of 11 Japanese soldiers who died in Northeast India during the Second World War. We propose to take whatever remains we find here for an official burial in our country,” said Ken Miyashita, Deputy Director in the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry in Tokyo, who is leading the team.

Half-a-dozen labourers provided by the local administration here dug the whole row of 11 graves up to four feet depth, but no significant remains could be located till sunset on Wednesday. The Japanese officials, however, collected some remains, but refused to comment.

J N Pathak, a local magistrate supervising the digging said nothing can be ascertained unless confirmed by the forensic laboratory. Officials from the archaeology department and forensic science laboratory were also present during the digging which will continue on Thursday too.

The Guwahati War Cemetery, established in 1952 by shifting graves, mostly of soldiers who had died in different hospitals during the War, has 521 graves, 11 of which belong to Japanese soldiers. Others buried or cremated here include 324 British, 143 Indian, 24 Chinese, four Canadian, four South African and one from New Zealand and two unidentified soldiers. This is also the first time that a CWGC cemetery in India is being dug up for relocating a grave.

“We do not have any details about the Japanese soldiers except their names and dates when they died. But, most importantly, the Guwahati War Cemetery is the only Commonwealth War Cemetery in India that has graves of Japanese soldiers,” said Salew Pfotte, regional manager of Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are altogether nine war cemeteries in India maintained by the CWGC, five of which are in Northeastern India.

The Japanese government had started the process of taking back the graves in November 2010. It was then that a three-member delegation of the Japanese Embassy in India came to Guwahati to inspect the cemetery.

Northeast Emerges As Major Human Trafficking Hub

New Delhi, Jan 19 : Taking advantage of their Mongoloid features, tribal girls from the North-east are trafficked as foreigners at a higher rate, while Assam has emerged as a major source State of the region.

These startling facts have emerged in a day-long review meeting organised by Home Ministry with Anti-Trafficking Nodal Officers of the State to review the progress of anti-human trafficking initiatives taken by the States. Officials from Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram participated in the meeting.

The hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao and the tea gardens have emerged as hot spots for trafficking of young boys and girls.

Minor girls from Karbi Anglong were rescued from Apollo Circus. Another batch of minor girls was rescued from Moonlight Circus, said SP Juliet Barua, who is the State’s Nodal Officer.

Nodal officer from Mizoram said that they have managed to rescue four girls from a brothel in Mumbai, where they were sold as foreigners at a higher rate. The kingpin of the racket has been detained and is now serving term in a Mumbai prison.

Sleuths have also managed to rescue four Mizo girls from a spa in Goa along with seven Naga girls, where they were trafficked.

Instance of girls hailing from Myanmar and Bangladesh being trafficked through the North-east have also come to light, said officials.

Additional Secretary, B Bhamthti said a comprehensive scheme ‘Strengthening Law Enforcement Response in India Against Trafficking in Persons Through Training and Capacity Building’, was sanctioned.

It has been proposed to establish 330 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) throughout the country and impart training to 10,000 police officers through training of trainers component.

The Home Ministry released Rs 8.72 crore as first installment for the year 2010-11, to all the State governments for establishing 115 Anti-Human Trafficking Units. 101 AHTUs have become functional. In 2011-12 110 AHTUs are to be established, she said.

Bird Flu Fears May Make Eggs Cheaper

By Anindita Dey

Mumbai, Jan 19 : Cautious exports due to bird flu fear in Orissa and Meghalaya may result in softening of egg and poultry product prices in the domestic market.

According to industry sources, India has just started receiving orders from West Asia and Saarc countries after the export ban was lifted a month before. However, orders were suspended after bird flu was confirmed in Orissa and Meghalaya. Both states have now put a quarantine procedure in place and started bird culling.

Some hatcheries have reportedly stopped selling in the north-eastern states as a precautionary measure.

As a fallout, industry sources say domestic prices may soften a bit due to an artificial increase in supply in some parts of India, while demand remains the same. “The first impact is that people just stopped buying eggs and poultry on such news. Besides, egg is a perishable commodity. Even if the shelf value is bit longer due to winters, except for very cold places, many parts of India, especially in central western and southern parts, it needs to be sold fast,” added sources.

However this may bring some relief to retail customers, who have witnessed a sharp surge in egg prices in the last few months. From Rs 2 per egg in the beginning of 2011, prices have doubled to Rs 4. In some places, it is even available at Rs 5-6 per egg. In Chennai, reportedly, prices have already been slashed from Rs 3.20 to Rs 2.95 per egg, due to resistance from buyers.

In December, the National Egg Coordination Committee, besides raising prices, had also raised the prices for layer birds to Rs 43 a kg (Rs 38), while the Broiler Co-ordination Committee’s rate for cull birds is up by Rs 9 a kg to Rs 50. According to egg producers, the sharp increase in prices is attributed to the cold wave in north India and cyclone in the south India, which is a hub for poultry. These two factors have led to a decline in production.

In 2008-09, following the outbreak of bird flu in northeast India, the West Asian countries banned poultry products from India and it led to a fall in egg exports, especially from the Namakkal zone in Tamil Nadu, otherwise dubbed as an export hub for poultry.

Currently, while there is no export ban from India, importers are holding back orders and watching the situation, said an egg exporter from India.

Mizo Woman’s Murder Trial Reopens Debate: Live In Relationship

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Terming live-in relationships as an ‘infamous western cultural product’, a city court has observed that these are largely perceived to be immoral and are a ‘fashion statement’ visible only in urban areas.

The observation of the court can largely be seen in contrast to the Supreme Court ruling that legitimised the live-in relationship.

Additional Sessions Judge Surinder S Rathi remarked, “Traditionally speaking, live-in relationships were alien to our nation till late. Even today it is fad which is visible only in urban areas.”

The judge made the remarks while sentencing to a prison term a woman from Mizoram for killing her live-in partner in North Delhi area over three years ago. The court also slapped a fine of Rs seven lakh on Zarzoliani, 28, for stabbing her Nigerian live-in partner to death.

The judge noted, “Lately, not only the Honourable Supreme Court gave a legal cover to this infamous western cultural product but our Parliament also accorded it some degree of protection by including the live-in relationship under the definition of domestic relationships in Section 2 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.”

The ASJ further said, “Despite all developments granting a level of legal legitimacy to the live-in relationship, it is largely perceived to be an immoral relation in our society.” Zarzoliani had killed Victor Okon Efflong, also 28, as she did not approve of him withdrawing money from her bank account. Zarzoliani once worked in an orphanage in Manipur and had moved in with Victor in his rented apartment in north Delhi near Delhi University.

The court also raised doubts on the approval of live-in relationships by families. Citing an example in this case, the court noted, “There is nothing on record to show if the family of the convict had consented to or was even aware of her having a live-in relationship with the deceased Nigerian national, Victor.”

Zarzoliani was convicted of the unintentional killing of Victor as the court said the act was not premeditated and was executed a fit of rage as it is not known if they had any regular income and Victor’s act of withdrawing money from her account was a ‘spark on a mound of explosives’.

The ASJ also ordered a departmental inquiry by the DCP Central against Kishan Lal, the Investigating Officer of the case for sharing its details with the media during the trial and getting it published like a story in a crime magazine with his photograph which the court said was a move “aimed at self glorification”.

The court has called for an action-taken report within two weeks. The judge ordered that the fine of Rs seven lakh will be remitted to the family of Victor in Nigeria.

Same Story from Hindustan Times:

‘Live-in relationships an urban fad’

Despite legal legitimacy, live-in relationships are largely perceived to be immoral and it is a fad visible only in urban areas, a Delhi court observed on Tuesday while dubbing it as “infamous western cultural product”. In remarks that may stoke a controversy, Additional Sessions Judge

Surinder S Rathi said, “Traditionally speaking, live-in relationships were alien to our nation till late. Even today, it is fad which is visible only in urban areas.”
The judge made the observations while handing down a seven-year jail term and a fine of Rs 7 lakh to a woman hailing from Mizoram for killing her live-in partner, a Nigerian national, in north Delhi over three years back.

“Lately, not only the Supreme Court gave a legal cover to this infamous western cultural product but our Parliament also accorded some degree of protection by including live-in relationship under definition of domestic relationships as defined in Section 2 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,” he noted.

Rathi also said that “despite all the developments granting a level of legal legitimacy to live-in relationship, it is largely perceived to be an immoral relation in our society.”

The case pertains to 28-year-old Zarzoliani stabbing her live-in partner Victor Okon Efflong, 28, to death in 2008 as she did not approve his withdrawing money from her bank account.

Zarzoliani once worked in an orphanage in Manipur and had moved in with Victor in his rented apartment in north Delhi near Delhi University.

The court noted that “there is nothing on record to show if family of the convict had consented to or was even aware of convict having a live-in relationship with the deceased Nigerian national Victor.”

Zarzoliani was convicted for unintentional killing of Victor as the court said the act was not premeditated and was executed in heat of the moment as it is not known if they had any regular income and Victor’s act of withdrawing money from her account was a “spark on mound of explosives”.

Rathi also ordered a departmental enquiry by DCP Central against the Investigating Officer of the case, Kishan Lal, for sharing the details of the case with the media during the trial and getting it published like a story in a crime magazine with his photograph, which the court called a move “aimed at self glorification”.

The judge directed that the fine of Rs 7 lakh will be remitted to the the family of Victor in Nigeria. In case, she does not pay, she will have to undergo simple imprisonment for another one year.