300,000 Enumerators Not Enough For Census Work in Northeast

Guwahati, Apr 3 : Along with the rest of the country, the massive exercise of counting and profiling India's 1.2 billion people began in the northeast  with enumerators collecting personal details of chief ministers and governors among others.

An estimated 300,000 officials in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been detailed to carry out the task of door-to-door headcount for the National Population Register.

'The idea is to list the number of people residing in each state besides providing house numbers and also listing the household goods used by each house,' R.K. Das, principal census director of Assam said. Also taking into consideration the terrain of Northeast India, the current number of enumerators might not be enough to complete the same in time.

The census in Assam would be carried out in three phases - the final figures would be published in the 2011 census report.

'The census report would also provide economic indicators, besides touching on aspects like literacy, housing facilities, amenities, caste, religion and other things,' Das said.

'This is the first time the enumerators would be seeking details of assets, properties, household goods, literacy and other information to create a comprehensive database to be incorporated in the National Population Register,' the official said.

They will first begin the process of house listing, which records information on homes. The headcount of people will take place from Feb 9-28, 2011. The full census results will be released in mid-2011.

'I and my wife filled up all the details as sought by the census officials. People should cooperate with the officials and reveal the truth and not try to suppress facts,' Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

‘One Laptop Per Child’ To Be Implemented in Manipur

Imphal, Apr 3 : The ‘One Laptop per Child (OLPC)’ project aimed at developing children’s education through computer technology will be launched in Manipur in April 2010. According to L Jayanta kumar, education minister, Manipur Government, laptops for the scheme will arrive in the first week of April and the government has earmarked Rs 155 lakh to get these laptops designed for learning and teaching students in state.

“The state government is procuring1000 laptops for the implementation of the scheme in first phase of the project.  The scheme will be implemented in some selected government schools including those set up as model schools by the education department,” the minister has said.

The laptops cost around Rs 11,000 per unit and come with features designed specifically to meet the needs of Indian school children. The laptops have been tailored in such a way that course content and certain text books can be made available in local languages, so they should prove invaluable to the Indian school children.

The OLPC project was introduced in India in 2007 when students of Khairat village near Karjat received these laptops. The scheme was implemented by OLPC Inc, a non-profit organization funded by multinational companies.

Assam’s NC Hills District Renamed Amid Tribal Protests

Guwahati, Apr 2 : The Tarun Gogoi-led coalition government has renamed ethnically volatile and corruption-riddled North Cachar Hills district as Dima Hasao with immediate effect.

Dimasa groups argue the new name would go a long way in countering the Naga claim on the hill district. Large swathes of NC Hills fall in the Greater Nagaland map of Naga militant outfits.

Tarun Gogoi Assures Economic Package For Manipuris in Assam

By Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Apr 2 : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has assured a separate economic package for Manipuris living in Assam’s 13 districts.

The assurance was given to a Manipuri delegation which included Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister Urban Development and Housing, Gautom Roy, Excise Minister, Ajit Singha Parliamentary Secretary (Finance), MLAs of Algapur and Silchar LACs Rahul Roy and Bithika Dev respectively, MLA of Sonai LAC Kutub Ahmed Mazumder, who said is be the lone Manipuri-speaking member of Assam Legislative Assembly was also part of the delegation, a local daily in Imphal, Hueiyen Lanpao, reports on its website.

The Assam Chief Minister has also given assurance for constituting a separate ‘Economic Development Council’ for about 8 lakh Manipuri-speaking people living in Assam’s 13 districts, who play a major role in the State’s general elections following submission of a memorandum, the report added.

The joint memorandum signed by Prof L Gourababu Singha, member, Linguistic Minority Development Board of Assam, Dr M Santi Kumar Singha, general secretary, Manipuri Diaspora Assam, Jayanti Devi, president, All Assam Manipuri Women Meira Paibi Coordination Committee, M Ningamba, vice-president, All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union, Ng Brajakishore, general secretary, Barak Valley Metei Convention, Kamini Singha, general secretary, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam, K Swapon Singha, member, Thougal Marup, Hailakandi, Krishnamohan Singha, member, UMAA, Kunjababu Singha, Guwahati Manipuri Social Organization, Ksh Singhajit Singha, member, Fidam, was submitted to Chief Minister yesterday (March 31), it said.

While submitting the memorandum, Linguistic Minority Development Board member L Gourababu Singha urged Tarun Gogoi for immediate declaration of the formation of the council. Members of Manipuri Women Meira Paibi Coordination Committee (Assam) also presented Assam CM with a traditional Manipuri ‘Moirangkabi Khudei’.

Due to the demographic conditions this community has not been able to rise politically and economically. Moreover, this linguistic minority community is facing a tremendous socio-economic crisis. To solve the present problem and overall development of this deprived community, the Chief Minister has also been urged to constitute a separate Economic Development Council for the Manipuris in Assam.

The Ministers and the MLAs of the ruling Congress party of the State have pleaded the Chief Minister in favour of the Manipuri delegation headed by the apex Manipuri organization, Manipuri Diaspora.

Dr M Santi Kumar Singha, general secretary of Manipuri Diaspora has expressed gratitude to all the Ministers and MLAs of Barak Valley for their support and initiative taken to fulfil the long-standing demand of this deprived community.

Shillong to Have 5-Star Taj Hotel

By Supratim Dey

Kolkata/ Guwahati Apr 2 : Close on the heels of setting up a 5-star hotel in Guwahati, the Taj Group is now exploring the possibility of setting up another such hotel in Meghalaya. Vice president of Taj Hotel Resort and Palaces Rajiv Gujral had a meeting with Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang in this regard recently.

Sources said that Gujral discussed the “prospect” of setting up a 5-star hotel “in and around” Shillong, the picturesque hill station. It is learnt that Lapang has asked the Taj Group to submit a formal proposal, indicating the places where it would be interested in making investments.

Due to gradual increase in business activities in Shillong, Gujral said that it was a “lucrative” place for investment in various sectors. However, he cited the absence of proper infrastructure for private sector to invest in the state. Sources said that Gujral has agreed to submit investment proposals soon and has asked for assistance of the state government in this regard.

The foundation stone of the Rs 95-crore 5-star hotel in Guwahati by Taj Group, Taj Vivanta, was laid by Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on March 9 in the presence of Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, among others.

The hotel will come up at Khanapra on GS Road, and would be spread over 4.5 acres. It is expected to be commissioned within two years.

Cultural Fest 'Octave 2010' Concludes in Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 1 : A three-day cultural festival, 'Octave 2010', showcasing northeastern cultural heritage, has concluded in Kolkata.

The festival was organized by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) between March 29 and March 31.

Over 200 dancers, musicians, crafts persons from Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland , Sikkim and Tripura were participated in the event.

"Here in EZCC we were organized a programme called 'Octave', where we were presented the folk art and the culture of the north eastern states.

There were eight northeastern states as we know, but many of us don't know about the richness of their culture. So we have arranged the programme. Here we were presented folk dances of all the eight northeastern states. In addition to that, we have also organized a fashion parade," said Dr. Jayanta Sthanapati, Director of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC).

Handicrafts from all the northeastern states were put on display at the stalls.

"I liked coming here. There is a lot to see at the stalls. There are traditional costumes of all the northeastern states; there is a lot of bamboo handicraft. It is all very good," said Deepti Raha, a visitor.

Participants from these states performed traditional folk dances.

A fashion show was also held where traditional garments of the northeastern states were showcased.

Assam Comes on India Inc Radar

By Madhumita Mookerji & Nandini Goswami

Kolkata, Apr 1 : The Northeast was never high on the corporate radar because of its insurgency-related issues and lack of infrastructure.

But things are changing now. Assam seems to be the next big-ticket investment destination for corporate if one scans the member list of the state’s newly-formed investment advisory board.

The state is wooing investments worth Rs 100,000 crore over the next five years and around Rs 35,000 crore alone could be channeled into river ways with 20 ports planned from Dhubri to Dibrugarh.

Development is slated to take place in six key areas — infrastructure, agri and agri-value-added services, housing, healthcare, education.

The entire development is proposed to be non/low carbon and all the major infrastructure players could be roped in.

Tatas alone, said sources, could bring in large investments in the state. It is learnt that Tata Housing has recently signed two MoUs with the Assam state government for setting up commercial and residential projects that will include an eco-city in which investments could go up to Rs 5,000 crore. DNA caught up with various government officials and corporate houses for a closer view of things.

Ranjit Barthakur, who pioneered the Assam Investment Advisory Board, said, “The Tatas are likely to invest another Rs 300-400 crore in their education and hospitality projects…The first Tata Institute of Social Sciences campus outside Mumbai is coming up in Guwahati.”

Guwahati’s first five-star hotel, Vivanta by Taj group is also on the anvil. In fact, Tata Group head, during first Assam Investment Advisory Board meet earlier this month, said: “We are here by choice…we have been attracted to the tremendous change seen in Assam…”

A number of frontline hospitality brands are also eyeing this north-eastern state.

Vindi Banga, president, global foods, home and personal care, Unilever, told DNA: “HUL will help out on a project to improve the quality, productivity and sustainability of the tea plantations in Assam, which are a state asset…HUL’s personal products factory today produces about 40,000 tonnes, employs 700 people directly and creates indirect employment for about 3,000 people. Most of our raw material for this factory is procured locally, from around 50 suppliers, most of whom are first generation suppliers for us.”

According to a State Bank of India official, “The financial giant is looking to increase its lending exposure, once big-ticket investors are in place here.” The bank has expanded rapidly over the last two years in the North-East, with around 520 branches, of which 263 are in Assam alone.

Aditya Khaitan, managing director, McLeod Russel, said, “We produce 72 million kg of tea from 50 tea estates in Assam and have started making other investments like jatropha planting. At some point, we could think of oil refining as well.”

Mizoram Hopes to Upstage Shillong as The New Education Destination

High literacy state dreams big

New learning curve

Aizawl, Apr 1: Mizoram is planning to build an education empire, making its sterling literacy rate the capital.

The Congress government is planning to turn the hill state into the new education hub of the Northeast, upstaging Shillong, which has so far been the learning destination, by establishing a number of institutes.

Mizoram minister for education and law Lalsawta today said over telephone from Aizawl that these new institutes would aim at drawing students from various states of the Northeast, apart from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.

He said among a fresh crop of “classy” higher educational centres, which the Mizoram government has proposed to set up, are a National Institute of Technology (NIT) and a university in collaboration with a group of education entrepreneurs from Singapore.

At present, Mizoram only has a Central University, which has its campus in Thanril, a bustling new neighborhood of Aizawl.

Currently, the Northeast boasts of only two NITs — one in the Silcoorie area on the southern fringes of Silchar and another in Agartala.

Lalsawta said four more polytechnic colleges would also spring up in the state with central grants.

Mizoram now has two government polytechnics — one in Aizawl and another in Lunglei, the second most populous town in the state’s southern flanks, bordering Myanmar.

Regarding the new NIT in Mizoram, the education minister said its entire cost would be borne by the Centre.

The site and the possible cost of this new institute are yet to be planned, and a team of specialists has been engaged to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

Lalsawta said a few sites in and around Aizawl town are now being considered for the proposed NIT.

The NIT in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has been given the responsibility to act as the intermediary for building the model, formulating subjects and courses and estimating the possible costs for establishing the high-tech NIT in Mizoram.

To begin with, Rs 100 crore will be pumped in to raise the infrastructure for the institute, the minister said.

A team of the educational entrepreneurs from Singapore had also visited the state and met state chief minister Lalthanhawla to discuss the possibility of setting up of the second university in Mizoram, which Lalsawta said would be named after Rajiv Gandhi.

The team would make some more trips to Mizoram before evolving a blueprint for the new university.

[ via The Telegraph India ]