Women Groups in Meghalaya Not to Celebrate Women's Day

Shillong, Mar 5 : Intensifying their agitation against Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong, several women organizations here will boycott the International Women's day celebrations on March 8.

The women groups are protesting against Mr Lanong's refusal to 'apologize' for his 'venomous vipers' remark which has prompted them to boycott the International Women's Day celebrations.

''We will launch our signature campaign against Mr Lanong's unwarranted remarks against the fairer sex,'' Jaintia Youth Federation (Women's Wing) chairperson, Mary Anne Pohshna, told reporters here.

Apart from the signature campaign, the women's group would wear 'black flags' during the Women's day.

Mr Lanong reportedly called some women right activists 'venomous vipers' in a press conference held last Friday.

''These women are against everything, they are like venomous vipers,'' he had stated.

The deputy chief minister was reacting to an article written by a local English daily editor in which he was criticized for claiming there was 'no oppression of women in Meghalaya,' at a regional level conference on women's rights organized by the National Commission for Women here last month.

The women right activists further threatened libel suit for his 'venomous viper' remark against women, if he didn't apologize. They also demanded Lanong withdraw his statement that there was 'no oppression' of women in the state.

However, Mr Lanong denied making any statement calling the women right activists 'venomous vipers'.

''This is nothing but falsity, he (Lanong) should verify facts and figures,'' another activists suggested.

GoC-in-C Eastern Command Reviews Situation in Northeast States

Kohima, Mar 5 : Prior to his taking over as army chief, GoC-in-C Eastern command Lt Gen V K Singh reviewed the security scenario in Manipur and Nagaland in a series of meetings with senior army officials during his two-day visit to the north east region.

Defence sources here said Singh today reviewed the situation in Nagaland with Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) Maj Gen Sandeep Singh at IGAR(N) headquarters, Kohima.

He was also briefed about the overall situation and preparedness in north eastern states which fall under the operational command of army?s 3 Corps by Lt Gen N K Singh at its headquarters Rangapahar near Dimapur.

The GOC-in-C also called on Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the sources said.

Where Every Drop Means a Day’s Walk

 

Water woes

Dhubri, Mar 5 : A pot delicately balanced on her waist, Surkhi sets out for her daily five-hour trek to fetch her family’s quota of drinking water from a distant spring.

A few paces down, she is joined by her group, clanging their vessels along the un-motorable dusty paths across a cluster of remote tribal villages on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary in Dhubri.

Basic amenities are an absurd fantasy in Tangaon, Baghapara, Sadullabari and Kumargathi, where every pail of water means a day’s journey on foot.

A single North Eastern Council road leads to the villages but brings little hope for better living conditions. “Drinking water has remained one of the biggest problems for the villagers in this area. The women form groups and walk for miles towards the hills to reach their source of water. Their struggle does not end there. They have to dig up the earth near the hills and when the spring of water surfaces, they collect it in their pots,” said Sukendu Koch, a resident of Tangaon, about 20km from Mancachar town.

Koch said it takes four to five hours to fetch a pot full of water, every drop of which is spent judiciously.

Bodruzzaman Firdowsy, an academician who writes on the plight of villagers under South Salmara-Mancachar subdivision of Dhubri, said most of the villagers living along the Assam-Meghalaya inter-state border are deprived of basic needs.

“Though a very small section of villagers have been able to apply modern technology to increase the production of paddy, a vast population is still lagging behind. But scarcity of drinking water is the primary problem,” Firdowsy said.

Subdivisional officer (civil) of South Salmara-Mancachar subdivision of Dhubri district, Sayeed Isfakur Rahman, said he was aware of the scarcity of drinking in these villages and the steps being taken to improve the situation.

“A Rs 2-crore drinking water project has been prepared and sent to the government for sanction. If this project is set up, then there should be no scarcity of drinking water,” Rahman said.

According official sources, there were 21 drinking water projects in the subdivision but nine have shut down and only seven are functional.

There is hardly any sign of any development.

Paddy is still cultivated using old-fashioned methods, primary schools have been built only on paper while healthcare facilities are non-existent.

Lafarge's Limestone Mining Problem Likely to Hurt Indo-Bangla Trade Ties

Dhaka pursuing the issue with Indian central govt: Muhith

By Jasim Uddin Haroon

Dhaka, Mar 5 : The Indo-Bangla trade relation that received an impetus after the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi stands to suffer setback due to abrupt suspension of limestone mining by Lafarge in the Indian state of Meghalaya due to court intervention.

The Indian Supreme Court February 5 last restrained the French cement giant, Lafarge, from carrying out mining of limestone at east Khasi Hills in Meghalaya for its integrated cement plant at Chhatak in Sunamganj saying the extraction of limestone cannot be allowed in the eco-fragile region.

The US$ 280 million Lafarge project - which has around 9.0 per cent share in Bangladesh's cement market is now in a state of uncertainty although the Supreme Court of India has allowed it to export the already extracted limestone to Bangladesh.

While talking to the FE exclusively on Wednesday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said: "We are really worried about the interim stoppage of limestone supply, as the company will face serious trouble if the extraction of limestone is shut permanently."

Mr Muhith also said: "We are now pursuing the Union Government of India to settle the issue amicably and ensure continuation of limestone extraction from the Shella village of Meghalaya."

Lafarge has a long-term agreement to extract limestone from the area and supply those to its Bangladesh plant for cement production.

However, the country's business community said such abrupt halting of limestone supply will have an adverse impact on the bilateral trade relations and hurt the growth of businesses on both sides.

Shahedul Islam, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) said that the stoppage of limestone supply would not only hurt the cement company and its sponsors but also a large number of small investors who had invested in the Lafarge stocks.

Mr. Shahed added: "This company is equipped with a competent board of directors and has the state-of-the-art technologies and production facilities. But investors are incurring losses soon after the news of the stoppage of limestone extraction by Indian Supreme Court broke out."
The share price of Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd took a free fall since the interim order by the Supreme Court of India on February 7 in 2010 halting of limestone quarrying in Meghalaya.

The current share price, as of Wednesday, stands at Tk 437 each, which rose to Tk 660 back in July 2008.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya BM Lanong at a seminar held in connection with the India-Bangladesh Trade Fair 2010 in the city had expressed the hope that Lafarge Surma Cement would get limestone supply shortly.

He also said: "We need not worry about the movement of limestone from Meghalaya to Bangladesh."

The visiting Deputy Chief Minister had also said initiatives of both the governments in strengthening cross-border ties would positively help secure investors' interest.

Mr. Shahed said further growth in trade between Bangladesh and neighboring states of India would suffer a blow unless both the governments take effective measures to protect and promote investors' interest.

Lafarge started its quarrying of limestone after both the governments exchanged letter of comfort in November 2000.

All other necessary approvals from the State government of Meghalaya, Ministry of Environment and Forest and the local Darbar were also duly secured.

The case filed by the Shella Action Committee (SAC) remains pending before the Supreme Court as the Court has scheduled the next hearing on March 19.

Friends of Kaziranga- a Film on Unsung Heroes of The Park

Guwahati, Mar 5 : They toil hard and unsung with minimum bare facilities to protect the endangered rhino along with other animals and it is their conservation efforts that has brought fame and glory to Assam's Kaziranga National Park.

Forest guards of the Park have been long neglected but a 21-minute documentary film ''....and the Friends of Kaziranga'' by Assam's noted film editor Kaju is a humble effort to pay tribute to these guards who work against all odds to protect animals.

Be it natural disasters like floods or threat from both poachers and animals, forest guards work round the clock and it is entirely due to their efforts that the Kaziranga National Park has become the success story that it is today.

''I decided to make the film as there is no denying the fact that the commitment, dedication and untiring efforts of every forest guard is the key to the successful conservation story of the national park'', Kaju said.

These forest guards, who stay away from their families in anti-poaching camps located deep inside the forests of the
Park, face many hazards.

Till a few years ago they had to deal with these situations with outdated equipment and little monetary benefits, he added.

The monetary and infrastructural benefits for the guards have improved in recent years but still there is acute shortage of manpower and as a result, only a few of them have to cover vast areas for long periods.

The film, produced by Biswajit Borkakoti, begins with beautiful shots highlighting the exotic flora and fauna of the Park and it soon launches into the basic theme of the trials and tribulations of the forest guard.

''The film displays perfect editing sense in some intense moments of activities by the guard deep inside the jungles which is balanced with the shots of lectures by environmentalists and forest lawmakers in a seminar hall'', said noted film critic Chandan Sarma.

The film, on the one hand, portrays the struggle of the forest guards and on the other, their commitment to conservation and protection of wildlife, he said.

The filmmaker poignantly captures the scenes where the animals suffer during floods and the untiring efforts of the guards in protecting them from both inundation and poachers.

The background narration by popular Assamese actor Kapil Bora also adds to the quality of the film with vital information about the guards and the Park as the story unfolds.

''I have tried to convey to the viewers the genuine love and sense of belonging of the forest guards with the Park and its wildlife'', the director added.

Scam Rocks Assam Assembly Over Rs 1000-cr Scam

Guwahati, Mar 5 : The Assam Assembly was today rocked by the Rs 1000-crore scam in the North Cachar hills district as the Opposition pressed for an adjournment motion which was avoided by the Speaker after opposition by the treasury bench.

The Opposition bench sought to discuss on the 'conspiracy angle' over the scam as well on the NIA charge sheet.

However, the treasury bench asserted that since the matter was handed over to the CBI, there was no need for any an adjournment motion.

Opposition members were dissatisfied with the ruling of the Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai and walked out as the latter asked them to raise the matter through a different device of the House.

''We raised the matter and wanted an adjournment motion, but the way two ministers namely Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rakibul Hussain defended the government and tried to oppose the motion, it is evident that who are guilty in the scam,'' said the Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary.

This is noteworthy that NIA has unearthed Rs 1000 crore financial scam. The issue has been rocking the state for the past few days as The Week magazine quoting Intelligence Bureau report named seven ministers who were allegedly involved in the scam.

Amongst them were Dr Sarma and Mr Hussain. Both denied involvement in the scam and the latter moved the court

High Attrition Among All The Forces

New Delhi, Mar 5 : At the time when the government is on the recruitment drive to increase the strength of the central police organizations, it has witnessed resignation and voluntary retirement of as many as 14,576 personnel within an year in 2009 with the BSF reporting the highest attrition among all the forces.

Figures furnished by the minister of state for home affairs Ajay Maken to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday showed that total 6,537 officers and jawans of the BSF had either resigned or sought retirement from the border force last year.

The CRPF, which is the main counter-insurgency force in the country, is at the second spot in terms of reporting high number of attrition among forces.

A total of 3,855 personnel of the force had either sought voluntary retirement or resigned during the period. It is followed by the Assam Rifles with 1,280 personnel, CISF with 1,196 and ITBP with 957. In the Intelligence Bureau, 149 personnel had sought VRS or resigned in 2009.

As far as cases of suicides are concerned, 28 CRPF personnel committed suicide last year as compared to 26 such cases in BSF. The incidence of fratricide was the highest in Assam Rifles with six such cases last year, followed by CRPF with five.

Youtube Video Shows Nexus of Drug Mafia, Goa Police

Panaji, Mar 3 : A video uploaded on the popular Youtube website showing an Israeli drug dealer talking about his alleged links with the Goa police's anti-narcotics sleuths has created a flutter in the state.

The 8.16-minute long video was uploaded on youtube. com by user OrenbenYaish back in April 20, 2008, and features Atala, a reportedly notorious Israeli drug peddler.

Atala, an Israeli youngster with close cropped head, is shown in the video speaking about how a senior anti-narcotics cell (ANC) officer, whom he identifies as 'Ashish', regularly sells him drugs seized from raids and even deposited with the magistrate.

"This Panjim police... this narcotics the chief.. Big chief. Maybe he is one giving drugs. Maybe... he said something to give it to friend. All the time he is giving me five kg charas, ecstasy...," Atala, who has been arrested previously on drug peddling charge told an unidentified person in the video.

"He is very young. Three star (inspector). Before I meet him two star.., only two star. Now he get one more star and he is now big chief... The head anti-narcotic. He know me from before. The first time I meet him. I fight with... he said Atala, listen u my friend. I know u good heart. I like you. I create no problem for you. Give me 10 ecstasy. I tell listen.. You are anti-narcotics. I not give u 10 ecstasy. I scare to give you. He said you are my friend. I open my pocket and give him 10 ecstasy," Atala says, adding this risk had forged the relationship between the two "more stronger and stronger and stronger".

During the video, an unknown person, whom Atala identifies as an ANC official, also hands him a white plastic bag with cocaine.

Atala, who is seated in car parked near Calangute, also says that the rear seat of his car is packed with cocaine, heroine, charas, etc.

Incidentally, the ANC was headed by police inspector Ashish Shirodkar for a period of more than two years since 2008.

Ashish's mobile phone number read out by Atala in course of the conversation, also matches with the official phone number of Shirodkar listed in the police records.

The arrest of David Driham alias Dudu, a notorious Israeli drug peddler, has opened a Pandora's box for the state police. Sources said that Dudu under interrogation has named three police officials and several journalists, including reportedly an editor, who he said he had bribed in order to carry on his business unhindered.

The video and its details have stunned the Goa Police.

When contacted, Superintendent of Police Veenu Bansal refused to comment on the issue, virtually scampering away from the media at the police headquarters.

Deputy Inspector General Ravinder Yadav said he was not in a position to comment on the video right away.

"We will be in a position to say anything only after we verify the genuineness of the footage," he said.

Hours after Yadav was handed over a copy of the controversial footage by mediapersons in Panaji, Director General of Police (DGP) Bhim Sain Bassi claimed that he was not aware of such a video.

"Now that you have told me, we will view it and take appropriate action," Bassi said.

Watch the Video Below: