Honeymoon Tester is Latest Dream Job

By A. Pawlowski

The winning couple will be sent to resorts in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel agency will pay couple to go to romantic destinations for six months and blog about trip
• Applications have been pouring in from all over the world for "The Ultimate Job"
• It was partly inspired by Australia's "Best Job in the World," which launched others
• Man recalls spending six months as "wine country lifestyle correspondent" for $60,000

Wanted: Luxury-loving couples available to globetrot for six months and get paid to test out the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations around the world.

It's a hard offer to resist, but what's being described as "The Ultimate Job" is just the latest in a series of recent dream positions to capture the public's imagination and serve as a brilliant marketing tool for people and places.

"It's been sort of crazy," said Rosemarie Meleady, managing director of RunawayBrideAndGroom.com, describing the response to the new promotion.

The Irish travel agency came up with the idea in part after seeing last year's blockbuster "Best Job in the World" campaign in Australia.

More than 1,000 couples have already applied for the chance to be sent to resorts in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States.

The winners will be asked to blog about their experiences a few times a week "when they can get out of the hammock after sipping a glass of champagne," Meleady said, and write for The Irish Times once a month.

They will also be paid 20,000 euros (about $27,000). Hopefuls have until April 7 to apply for the "horrendous assignment" -- as the company teasingly calls it -- which starts mid-May.

You don't have to be Irish to apply, but you do have to tout Ireland as part of the process.

"We've had applications from Korea, China, Macedonia, Croatia, India and Saudi Arabia," Meleady said. "They're coming in about five every hour -- I'm working around the clock."

There's also been high interest from the United States, with one couple who is to be married in a California vineyard this summer vowing to cancel their plans if they win so they can get hitched in Ireland instead.

How it started

The travel dream job craze exploded onto the scene in January 2009 when Australia's Tourism Queensland announced it was seeking someone to spend six months on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef.

The person was to be paid almost $140,000 to blog about the experience and promote tourism in the area -- or the "Best Job in the World."

Ben Southall, a 34-year-old British man, beat out 34,000 other applicants for the gig, which ended earlier this year.

"I think I've done more in these six months than I've done in the previous 34 years of my life. To be able to do this sort of thing, in this location, and report on it can't really be classed as work," Southall told CNN as he prepared to return home.

The success of the Tourism Queensland idea inspired several similar dream jobs.

Last fall's "67 Days of Smiles" campaign by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Florida paid a couple $25,000 to spend 67 days visiting every theme park and attraction in Orlando and -- you guessed it -- write about it.

I had a lot of spectacular times, but it was never a vacation
--Hardy Wallace, former wine country lifestyle correspondent

Then there was the "Really Goode Job" created by the Murphy-Goode winery in Healdsburg, California. About 2,400 people applied last spring to become the company's "wine country lifestyle correspondent" -- a person tasked with promoting the winery through social media sites. The six-month gig paid $60,000.

"It was the most fun job I've ever had in my life," said wine aficionado and blogger Hardy Wallace, 36, who was selected for the position just a few months after he was laid off from a sales and marketing job in Atlanta, Georgia.

He knows what you're thinking: The gig probably amounted to nothing more than sipping wine and visiting a few Web sites, right? Wrong, Wallace said; it was actually a ton of work. In six months, he wrote 200 blog posts, shot 45 videos, sent 7,000 tweets and attended numerous events to promote the winery, he recalled.

"I had a lot of spectacular times, but it was never a vacation," Wallace said.

The job opened up many doors when it ended last month, and Wallace now permanently lives in Sonoma County, California, splitting his time working for two small wineries he's always admired, he said.

"A year ago, I was unemployed, and I was trying to figure out how to make this work. And when I think of everything that's happened in the past year, I'm extremely grateful," Wallace said.

Allure of travel fuels viral marketing

Some of the companies behind the campaigns are probably very grateful too.

The "Best Job in the World" generated tens of millions of dollars in free publicity for Tourism Queensland thanks to bloggers and media outlets fascinated by the story, said David Meerman Scott, a marketing strategist and author of "The New Rules of Marketing & PR."

He travels all over the world as a speaker and has been asking audiences in countries like Japan, India, Estonia and Latvia whether they have heard of the Australian campaign. On average, 20 percent of people raise their hands.

"That's remarkable -- that you can do something which doesn't cost a lot of money, compared to television commercials, and 20 percent of the world ... has heard of it," Scott said.

The chance to go to exotic places was a big selling point in the "Best Job in the World," and copycats have followed because travel is associated with luxury and it's something lots of different people can write about, Scott said.

RunawayBrideAndGroom.com can attest to the allure of globetrotting and the power of viral marketing. The company's Web site has had 100,000 hits since announcing "The Ultimate Job," Meleady said.

"It snowballed, it's so exciting," she added.

Travel Through Manipur Hills to Understand Tribal Culture

Churachandpur (Manipur), Apr 4 : Manipur, a land of pristine natural beauty consists of valleys surrounded by magnificent hills that are inhabited by different tribal communities.

A substantial portion of the population resides in the hill districts of the state.

During the journey to Sadar Joute and Sikibung villages, one can meet tribals inhabitants and take a look at their way of life. Sadar Joute is  a village in Senapati District, located around 65 kilometers from Imphal.

Sadar Joute is dominated by the Kuki tribe and is spread across an area of 2000 hectares and has a population of 200 and has 34 households.

Untouched by the modern influences, the villagers, who depend largely on farming and forest produce for their livelihood, lead a simple life.
Weaving by womenfolk is an additional source of income for the villagers.

Thanks to the physical distance the village faces problems of inaccessibility and under-development.

Lack of proper water storage and supply facilities, health centers and education facilities are some other problems faced by Sadar Joute villagers.
Though some developmental schemes like the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the rural electrification scheme Atenglok Multi-Purpose Pico Hydal Power Project have made a difference, but still a lot more needs to be done.

After the coming of Pico Hydel Project in our village, we don't have to face load-shedding anymore. We can use electricity whenever we need. We don't suffer from shortage of electricity as we used to earlier. We are very happy about it, said Manglen Changsan, Sadar Joute village chief.

The Manipur autonomous District Council election, which will be held after a gap of 20 years, is round the corner and people residing in the hill districts are hopeful that it will help bring about progress and development in the area.

With militancy and related problems rampant in the region, preventive security efforts also need to be strengthened.

We rarely get the full amount of funds sanctioned by the Center. Militant groups in the state extort money and we receive just a meager amount. If we elect a sincere, hard working representative in the forthcoming district Council election, then we hope there will be development in our village, said Peter, a local, Sikibung village.

We need schools for our children, a health center and proper road connectivity. Also, for youngsters like us, we want new projects like weaving and other projects in our village that will provide jobs, said Zoujam Changsan, a local.

The story of the Sikibung village in Ukhrul District is as same as that of Sadar Joute and developmental work needs to pick up pace, here also.
Situated over 8o kilometers from Imphal, the picturesque Sikibung is inhabited by the Naga tribe who depend on cultivation of Yongchak.
Yongchak is a bean and a favorite ingredient in many Manipuri dishes.

Villagers feel that the proper implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) would provide some source of income.

One yongchak tree can produce beans worth Rs. 4000. And every house has at least 10-20 yongchak trees, which makes it quite profitable. This is how we earn our livelihood.

NRGS has helped us. That is the only source of income we have now, said Phungrei, Sikibung village chief.

The Autonomous Hill District Council elections are scheduled to be held in two phases in the month of May.

People in the hill districts are looking forward to electing their representatives who will work for them and bring development to the region.

A Hut in Saidan Village Tuithraphai, shot in 2003 – lonely yet enchanting – Every time I think of home, I see this picture in my head.

Now Free Emergency Treatment at Assam's Private Hospitals

By Syed Zarir Hussain

Guwahati, Apr 4 : Imagine a heart attack or a road accident victim being wheeled into a private hospital and the family members worrying not about the patient's health but about how will they meet the hospital bills.

In Assam, from now on anyone needing emergency treatment need not bother about the bills. The state government has made it mandatory for all private hospitals to provide free treatment for the first 24 hours.

This benefit is part of the Assam Public Health Bill, 2010, passed by the state assembly Thursday, the first such watershed legislation in the country guaranteeing the right to healthcare without a patient having to look for a government hospital in case of an emergency just because of financial constraints.

'The entire idea of this bill is to ensure quality healthcare facilities and making it easy for people, rich or poor, to avail themselves the best of treatment in the first 24 hours in an emergency situation,' Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in an interview.

'The persisting inequities and denials in the matter of healthcare in the state was a concern, and hence this bill.... We hear of people afraid to take a patient to a private nursing home in the case of an emergency because of financial reasons. Now this bill makes it mandatory for all concerned to treat free of charge,' the minister added.

'I would put the bill as a revolutionary step towards better healthcare in Assam. The idea for free treatment for the first 24 hours in all private hospitals is a very bold step,' Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) R.C. Deka  said over phone from New Delhi.

Not just that, the legislation also makes it mandatory for all new development projects in the state to pass a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) test.

'We know about environmental clearance in the case of a new project, but nobody bothers about the health hazards of such projects, and hence the mandatory HIA clearance provision kept in the bill,' the minister said.

The new legislation has been generally hailed.

'We are going to enforce the legislation in letter and spirit and hope the public sector cooperates with us,' the minister said.

But private hospital owners and shareholders are miffed with the legislation.

'The idea of free treatment for the first 24 hours could prove to be economically unviable for private hospitals,' said G. Buragohain, a private nursing home owner.

(Syed Zarir Hussain can be contacted at zarir.h@ians.in)

Assam: First state to enact right to health

Guwahati: Assam: First state to enact right to health: Assam is the first state to enact right to health for all the citizens of the state.

The Assam Public Health Bill, 2010 was passed in the Assembly this Thursday without any hurdle.

It has also been made mandatory that all government as well as private hospitals will have to offer 24 hours free service to patients seeking emergency treatment.

This Act guarantees people’s right to health and that there should be no denial of healthcare to anyone whether by government or private healthcare service.

It also empowers the state Health Department in order to fix accountability and responsibility in cases of recurring outbreak of viral, communicable and waterborne diseases

Meghalaya's Second Airport Turns White Elephant

Shillong, Apr 4 : Almost two years after President Pratibha Patil had formally inaugurated the ambitious Baljek Airport, no plane has so far taken off from the virgin runways.

Built at a cost of around Rs 12.77 crore, almost twenty years were spent behind the second airport in the state.

Located about 35 km from West Garo Hills district headquarters Tura and about 160 km from the Guwahati Airport, Baljek was intended to enhance communication facilities for the promotion of emotional and economic integration of the country.

"Due to ill planning, the Baljek airport, though completed, remains inoperative. The possibility of operation in near future is also remote as the cost for improvement and development of existing airport (Rs 80 crore), estimated to be over six times of the expenditure (Rs 12.77 crore)

Vacancies in Manipur Youth Affairs and Sports Department

Introduction
The main objective of the Youth Affairs programme is to encourage and support active participation of youth in the March of socially valuable & nation building activities and development of personality of the youth. The Senior Youth Officer from the Department is assisted through 75 Youth Officers in implementing multifarious youth welfare courses of study. The following are the details of the activities. Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) and also to allow for the higher budgetary support to sport in their respective country budgets

Vocational Training
At present, the complying training is being conducted through the Department. Application forms are available in every district offices. The selection of the trainee is treated a District Selection Committee with the Territory Youth Affairs & Sports Officer concerned as the Chairman.

Computer Training
The main objective of the training is to create computer awareness among young people especially to those young people from rural and remote country.

Important Dates
The Youth Affairs and Sports Department, Manipur publishes all the application dates and other important data in local media or newspapers.

Application form
The candidates can download application form from official website. The candidate submitted their filled in application forms for Youth Affairs and Sports Department, Manipur in available on online.

Contact Details
Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Manipur
Manipur State Unit
Room No. 79, New Secretariat Building
Imphal, Manipur
Email: – sio-man@hub.nic.in

Indian Govt Considering Replacing Armed Forces Special Powers Act

Itanagar, Apr 4  : On a visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the recommendations of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and the Second Administrative Reform Commission on replacing the controversial the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) with a more humane law would soon be placed before the Cabinet.

"There was a statement by the Prime Minister that he will take steps to replace the AFSPA by a more humane law.

Following that, the Justice Jeevan Reddy committee was appointed. That committee has made certain recommendations. The 2nd administrative reforms commission has also made some recommendations.

Considering all the recommendations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has finalized its view and has submitted a note to the Cabinet," he said.

The AFSPA is in force in some northeastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said provisions of the ceasefire agreement with NSCN factions in Nagaland did not apply to militancy-affected districts of Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal and security forces would act if ultras from Nagaland and Assam were found to be active there.

Asked about the Centre's stand not to press for ADB or World Bank for loans for watershed projects in Arunachal Pradesh following objections raised by China, which considers the state as its territory, Chidambaram said ".

If we need loans from ADB and WB we will seek them. But, if we don't need them, we will not seek them. After all they are loans, not grants.        "I can assure you that projects in Arunachal Pradesh will not suffer for want of funds."

Asked about the strategy against militants in the northeast who were using Arunachal Pradesh forests as a corridor to their bases across the Myanmar border, he shot back "We can't discuss strategy and tactics against militants at a press conference.

Whatever needs to be done will be done. Decisions have been taken, but you can't expect us to divulge them."

On steps are being taken to seal the Myanmar border to thwart attempts by militants to cross over from camps in Myanmar, Chidambaram retorted "What do you mean by sealing? Are we waiting with some wax to seal the border?"

Replying to another question on demands for renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Central University incorporating the name of the state, which required a constitutional amendment, Chidambaram said he had received a representation and would pass it on to the ministry concerned.        

On the inter-state boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal, he said "a new judge Tarun Chatterjee has taken over as chairman of the Boundary Commission and we will act after it submits its report."

Man With Half a Body Defies The Odds by 'Fathering a Child'

Despite only having half a body, Kenny Easterday insists he can live the life of a normal man.

Now he appears to have proved it after claiming he has fathered a child.

Easterday, 35, was born with a rare condition called sacral agenesis, which prevented his spine from developing normally.

Defying the odds: Kenny Easterday is living a normal life beyond expectations in Virginia

When he was just six months old, doctors amputated Kenny's legs and used part of his shinbone to complete his partially-formed spine.

Kenny is so small he can fit inside a suitcase but that hasn't stopped him playing pool, bowling, working - or having a love life with fianceé Nicky, 33.

Affectionate: Kenney Easterday with Desiree, the seven-year-old who could be his daughter

In an American television documentary, he and Nicky revealed that they were together seven years ago - after which she became pregnant with her daughter, Desiree.

The pair are soon to found out if Desiree is actually Kenny's child. And they hope to start a new family to join Nicky's two children.

Together: Kenny with fianceé Nicky in a still from the American TV documentary

Kenny's greatest dream is to have a child, he revealed in the documentary.

'I want a child to carry my name, someone that can carry my legacy and be able to say 'Well that's my daddy',' he said.

Rare: Kenny's legs were amputated when he was six months old and a part of his shinbone was used to complete his spine

Kenny was not expected to live past 21.

As a boy Kenny was offered prosthetic legs but he hated wearing them and preferred to use his hands or a skateboard to get around.

'My dad pretty much taught me how to walk on my hands,' said Kenny, from West Virginia, USA.

Active: Kenny uses his arms to prop himself up as he plays pool, in a still from a documentary on his life

He is also a fan of bowling, as seen in this clip from the American TV documentary

'I just told him to walk behind his mother, because she walks like a duck so just walk like her,' Kenny's father said in documentary made about his life.

As a child Kenny starred in the 1988 film, The Kid Brother, a dramatised version of his early life.

'If I'm handicapped it's because of these damn legs,' Kenny said in the film as he pushes over his prosthetic legs.

See Kenny in the TLC documentary here

IIM-Shillong First B-School to Webcast Convocation

Shillong, Apr 4 : The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Meghalaya is set to be first business school in the country to webcast its first convocation ceremony live April 3.
“We will be the first business institute to webcast our convocation ceremony to attract students to join the institute,” Director of IIM-Shillong Ashoke Dutta said.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has consented to be the chief guest for the first convocation of the youngest IIM named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

That apart, Dutta said, the postal department will also release a special cover to commemorate the historic convocation ceremony of the institute, which got job offers for its students, with an average annual salary of around Rs.10 lakh and the highest pay package worth a whopping Rs.34 lakh.

Top recruiters included Deloittes, E&Y, KPMG, PwC, Ogilvy & Mather, Viacom, Warner Brothers, AC Nielsen, Cadbury, Citigroup, HDFC, Standard Chartered, Axis Bank, Tata AIG, SBI Cap, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Siemens, Bosch, Ford, Honda, Lafarge, Hero Group and ONGC.

“We are already surging ahead with long and strong strides towards sustainable development, keeping its commitment intact towards development of society and environment,” Dutta said.

He said IIM-Shillong’s convocation is going to reflect the high-spirits of the institute as 63 students of the two-year flagship post-graduate diploma programme are going to be awarded their diplomas and certificates in presence of the board of governors, the director, the faculty members and the proud parents. Four students will also be awarded medals.

IIM Shillong follows a unique concept of winter internships. Under this, students go for internships in the months of January and February.

The institute took in its first batch of students in July 2008 and is looking at increasing the number of seats to “anything between 90 and 120″ this year. It started in 2008 from a makeshift campus and still functions out of an interim facility.

Surrounded by pine trees, lush green lawns and mountains in the backdrop, the institute is functioning from the Mayurbhanj Complex — the erstwhile summer palace of the kings of Mayurbhanj, Orissa.

The Meghalaya government has allotted a 120-acre plot on which work is under way for a state-of-the-art academic-cum-residential campus.

The institute will also hike its annual fees for the next academic session. The board of governors will take the decision in April.

“Our main thrust is on innovation, inclusiveness, adaptability, hunger for entrepreneurship, energy, agility, drive, networking, technology leadership and to achieve excellence by synergising complementary competencies within the team and the organisation charged with the aspiration for a broader vision and a higher purpose,” Dutta said.