Coaching Centre Helps Educate Arunachal Tribal Children

Itanagar, Jun 21 : In a state like Arunachal Pradesh which has the lowest literacy rate in the country, a coaching centre, tucked away in an obscure village, has been imparting quality education to the tribal students for years. The coaching centre, situated amidst greens at Misram village in Pasighat, headquarters of the East Siang district, has around 350 students on its roll, from nursery to class VII.
Known to students as the 'Litchi' school because of the abundance of stately litchi trees around the structure, the coaching intitute was started in January, 2000 by three people from Kerala Lekha Ramachandran, her husband D Ramachandran and brother-in-law C K Babu.
The centre has become so famous in its 11-year existence that students from far away villages in the state like Balek, GTC, Mirbuk and Diking come to take classes.
“Even students from Assam get rental accommodation here at Pasighat to join the centre,” C K Babu told PTI. Babu said that the idea of the centre was first mooted by Lekha Ramachandran who is very fond of children.
The notion that tribal students are weak in their studies has been amply proved wrong by this centre, Babu felt. I will say all they need is a little push and good guidance. Today many tribal students are cracking competitive exams, points out Babu.
As soon as the students get their report cards from school, their parents first come to show it to us. This shows that they are satisfied with our work. It feels like the hard work we did has finally paid off, Babu smiles.
Many former students of the coaching centre are now employed as doctors, engineers and government employees. Several are pursuing professional courses like MBBS, veterinary and engineering in many renowned institutions of the country.

Confused Parents, Clueless Students Look For Help

By Vijetha S.N
Delhi University admission procedure takes its toll

Finding their way: Admission seekers at a Delhi University college on Monday.

New Delhi, Jun 21 : The Vishwavidyalaya station of the Delhi Metro railway is noisy and crowded -- crammed with clueless students headed in all directions. The air is filled with different dialects and laughter mingles with loud shouts. The admission procedure has taken its toll among Delhi's young and it's now time to make an inventory of things to look forward to once college begins.

However, outstation students have other issues to plough through before they can blend in with life at the University. Students from small towns find it especially tough dealing with issues that crop up as soon as they come for admission. Many of them are accompanied by parents and siblings but still find navigating through the many colleges and filling up endless forms complicated.

Deeksha from Haryana, accompanied by her father and brother, has been sent back twice for not filling out the application form correctly. “I still don't understand what to fill in many of the slots but feel silly asking them again and again,” she says. Someone has told them bad things about the hostel and they are too timid to find out from the authorities if it is so.

In contrast, Amy and her sister from Manipur have managed to find their way and complete the admission formalities in time.

The general advice from senior outstation students is to remain alert at all times and unhesitatingly ask for help in case of getting lost. The North Campus can be overwhelming for anyone new to the city.

Recounting her experiences when she first landed here from Meerut, Smiti, a former student of Miranda House, says: “For the uninitiated, it is always better to be on your guard. Everyone from the rickshawallah to the guy selling fruit on the pavement will try to fleece you if they know you are an outsider.”

Battling loneliness and dealing with a “different” roommate can also be challenging, as students from different parts of the country and aboard with varying cultures and upbringing are forced to live in the same space.

“I had a roommate who would take the TV remote and obviously I couldn't fight for it like I would with my brother back home,” says Madhu from Pune.

Another student from Jharkhand remembers being teased mercilessly for calling everyone ‘maam'.
Smiti's experiences have led her along with a few friends to form “DU Jugaad”, a website that lists information to help you wade through the confusing North Campus, from finding accommodation to helping you locate a nearby gym or beauty parlour.

“My parents left me in Meerut and came here to look for my accommodation. They were totally confused and did not find anything for a week. Luckily I managed to get a seat in the college hostel. I see the same story repeating itself this year with confused parents and irritable students trying to make sense of everything” she says, adding, “Delhi does not have the reputation of being a friendly city and we want worried parents and outstation students to feel that they have a friend in us.”

Mizo National Front Paid Ransoms: Congress

Aizawl, Jun 21 : The Congress has continued to train its gun on the main Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), maintaining that the latter had paid ransoms (to kidnapers) when it ruled the state for ten years.

''The Congress stands by what it has said. The truth is the MNF government had paid ransoms. There is no point of denying the truth, which had been upheld by a court of law,'' chairman of Congress media department C Lalruata said at a press conference here today.

The reiteration came after MNF vice-president and MLA Dr R Lalthangliana, in a press conference last week, strongly refuted Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s allegations that the MNF had encouraged kidnapping culture in Mizoram by paying ransoms to the criminals.

The blame game is over the kidnapping of two construction firm’s executives by cadres of banned outfit UDLA from their road construction site in northern Mizoram on June 6, who were rescued by Mizoram police after ten days.

According to the Congress, 69 people had been kidnapped by militants in 24 separate incidents during the MNF’s rule from 1999-2008.

All the hostages were released by the kidnappers after receiving ransoms.

''When then Congress MLA R Lalzirliana revealed before the media on May 8, 2003 that the MNF government paid ransoms, then Home Minister R Tlanghmingthanga charged him with defamation case,'' he said ''When two witnesses, the one who couriered the ransom money and another person, who was among the militants and received the money, testified that ransoms had been paid, the court had no other option than to give a clean chit to Lalzirliana,'' Mr Lalruata said.

In another incident of kidnap, a gang of highway robbers abducted a Mizo youth, who was travelling with other passengers in a maxicab between Shillong and Silchar, the MNF government paid Rs 5,00,000 (which was half of the demanded ransom) for his safe release, he said, adding, ''The MNF is yet to clear the remaining Rs five lakh.'' The Congress further accused the MNF party of introducing kidnap culture in Mizoram.

Referring to the Mizoram insurgency led by MNF, Lalruata said, ''During the period of 1966 to 1986, the people of Mizoram were introduced to the term ‘kidnap.’ Those days, the kidnap victims were mostly members of Mizo Union and People’s Conference parties and government officials. Those who had enough money to pay the ransoms, were released and those who did not have money were ‘silenced’, Mr Lalruata recollected.

''Kidnapping is one of the most common crimes taking place in every part of the world. In most cases the hostages are released after payment of demanded ransom. No one has ever denied paying ransom. Why has the MNF party denied it?,'' Lalruata asked.

The party further claimed that when the militants kidnapped the two ABCL executives on June 6, the people’s expectation from the Congress government was that the hostages would be rescued without paying the ransom demanded.

''People’s expectation has been fulfilled,'' Lalruata proudly said.

More Palm Oil Cultivation in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jun 21 : The Mizoram agriculture department claimed that under Integrated Scheme of Oilseed Oilpalm and Maize (ISOPOM) more oil will be cultivated from palms in Mizoram in an area covering about 3000 hectares. ISOPOM has been introduced in Mizoram in the year 2004 and at present oil is cultivated from palms in four districts of Mizoram covering 7150 hectares.

In the meantime, under the Rashtri-ya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) scheme  an  area expansion programme covering 1000 hectare is to be undertaken for oil cultivation.

Moreover, the request to extend upto 3000 hectares has also been granted. The central government has agreed to sanction Rs 1480 lakhs for RKVY scheme, out of which Rs. 740 lakhs has been disbursed.

For the purpose of ISOPOM the central government has also granted Rs. 481.26 lakhs. Oil from palm is being cultivated by 5595 families; and 2000 more families are estimated in the new scheme.

Meanwhile, all that is remaining will be provided through New Land Use Policy (NLUP), said the agriculture department officials.

Nuts Dropping Due To Mobile Signals?

By Ajit Patowary
 
Guwahati, Jun 21 : The general belief that the signals released by the mobile phone towers are responsible for the nut dropping and reduced production of areca nut, which has been disturbing the farmers of the State these days, is not based on scientific facts. This is the assertion made by Dr Govinda Acharya, Scientist-in-Charge of the city-based Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (CPCRI) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He was talking to this correspondent.

Assam is one of the major areca nut producing states in India. India again, in its turn, is one of the major areca nut producing countries in the world, with around 3, 97,000 hectares of land under areca nut cultivation and producing around 5,00,000 metric tonnes of the nut annually.

Assam has 71, 000 hectares of its land under areca nut cultivation and its annual areca nut production is around 65,000 metric tonnes, which is around 16 per cent of the total Indian areca nut production. However, Karnataka occupies the top position in this respect. This south Indian state produces around 45 per cent of the country’s total areca nut.

Dr Acharya maintains that except the rumours, there is no evidence so far in support of the above belief on reduced areca nut production in Assam. Areca nut is a perennial crop. Its nature is that if in one year its farmers get better crops, there is a reduced production the next year, he maintains.

Moreover, he has said, our farmers are also not using fertilizers in the cases of coconut and areca nut. Chemical fertilizers are not used by most of our farmers connected with the bari (orchard) system of plantation. In Assam, there is no commercially developed large-scale coconut and areca nut plantation.

The other two factors that are affecting the areca nut plants in the State are immature nut falling and nut cracking (splitting) due to the deficiency of micronutrient borax. Borax deficiency is observed all over Assam. In this respect, application of borax in each of the areca nut plants at the rate of 25 grams twice a year is helpful.

The first application is to be made in April-May, followed by the second one in September-October, along with the recommended doses of other chemical fertilizers.

It is noteworthy that areca nut splitting is caused also by sudden rainfall activities after high temperature during the March-April period. For the past several years, incidents of immature nut falling and nut cracking have been observed in Assam.

Most of the areca nut produced in Assam is meant for domestic consumption. A portion of Assam areca nut is exported in the form of supari (dried areca nut) to other states and there is high potential to increase the production and export quantity of areca nut and thus to help the socio-economic condition of the farmers.

There is high potential of manufacturing different sizes and shapes of plates and dishes from the areca nut leaf sheath locally known as dhakuwa. Moreover, tannin from areca nut is used in wine industries as well as in the dye industries.

Dr Acharya has said that the doors of the CPCRI are open for all farmers for any type of technical problems they are facing in areca nut and coconut plantations.

A Frog Match To Appease The Rain God in Assam

Photos: Luit Chaliha

Not everybody loves a good drought in Assam and not atleast the villagers of Kaloogaon area in Assam's Sivasagar district. A dry spell that has hit most parts of Assam over the past two months, which has led to severe water shortages for irrigation. Thus the worried villagers arranged for an unique marriage – the wedlock between two frogs.

The ceremony was performed by two priests and attended by nearly 500 people from the surrounding areas. It is a Hindu belief in the region that frog marriages please the rain god. For many people, the sound of frogs croaking is a sign that a monsoon will soon come. “We hope the frogs can help and rain will come down,” says Hemen Kalita, a villager.

But, organising the marriage ceremony was no mean task. All customs of a Hindu Assamese marriage were performed, marriage song were sung and the bride was given loads of gifts. A grant feast with various Assamese delicacies was on the platter. The guests blessed the couple and prayed for rains.

Text by Ratnadip Choudhury
ratnadip@tehelka.com

SM Krishna in Myanmar

Krishna in Myanmar to sign infrastructure deals

Yangon, Jun 20 : Marking the first high-level engagement with Myanmar's three-month-old civilian government, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna arrived here Monday on a three-day visit during which they sign major infrastructure and development project pacts.

Accompanied by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Krishna flew in here from New Delhi on a special aircraft. He was received by Yangon regional Minister for Education, Health and Foreign Affairs Nyan Tun Oo and Indian ambassador V.S. Seshadri.

The new civilian government of President Thein Sein took charge March 30 after his party won the November 2010 elections.

The civilian government has replaced the military junta under Senior General Than Shwe that ruled Myanmar for over 22 years.

Krishna's visit is looked at by India as an opportunity to engage the new civilian regime and to take stock of broad-based engagements with Myanmar.

Before leaving for Delhi, Krishna said in New Delhi: "The visit will give us an opportunity to further vitalise our multi-faceted relationship. We will exchange of views on enhancing security cooperation and collaboration in connectivity, IT, energy, agriculture, power, telecommunications and infrastructure."

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Krishna will meet the Myanmar president and the foreign minister.

The two sides will sign memorandum of understanding on a project to link India's Manipur state with Tiddim in Chin state of Myanmar for more border trade.

India has also offered to cooperate with Myanmar on a trilateral highway to Thailand.

They will also sign an agreement setting up Myanmar's second industrial park with Indian help. India will supply 100 computers to Myanmar's land records department to digitalise its operations.

Myanmar is the only Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) country that India shares a land border with.

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India's interaction with Myanmar continues strongly, despite Western nations disapproving this relationship, citing poor democratic credentials of the erstwhile military junta, which is still influential.

India supported the former military rulers' desire to carry out political reforms in the country.

The urgency shown by India to have close relations with Myanmar is also the result of increased Chinese involvement in Myanmar's infrastructure projects such as roads, ports and power plants.

Myanmar shares a 1,642-km winding and porous border with four northeastern states of India - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

Abhay Deol Stands For Irom Sharmila

By Prashant Singh

Mumbai, Jun 20 : Abhay Deol is known to be a thinking man’s actor. So it’s hardly surprising to see him talk his mind on the burning issue of Irom Chanu Sharmila’s hunger strike. The ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’ has been on a hunger strike for over 10 years now, demanding that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces(Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Manipur.

And Abhay is surprised by the government and media’s indifference to Irom’s stance. “Are we waiting for another martyr like Swami Nigamananda?” says the 35-year-old actor, hinting at the man who died after a 114-day hunger strike in Haridwar, demanding immediate stopping of quarrying in the river Ganga.

“I don’t know if Swami Nigamananda was poisoned or not, but ultimately, he gave his life for a cause. It’s high time we take a look at Irom’s cause before things go out of hand,” says an amazed Abhay, adding that while whatever Baba Ramdev or Anna Hazare do promptly makes headlines, Irom Sharmila has been sidelined.

“Think about it, Anna Hazare goes on a strike and gets desired results, Baba Ramdev tries to make a point and everyone hears him. So, why is no one, including the government, looking into or paying heed to Irom Sharmila’s demands?” says the actor, glad to be speaking about the cause.

According to Abhay, AFSPA has been “used and misused” repeatedly in Manipur. “Even the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called it a draconian law. So, why can’t it be looked into? Do we want a renewed round of insurgency in the state? If not, steps must be taken now to keep things under control,” he warns.

In fact, Abhay feels that the media too, tends to go overboard with certain news-making topics. “I think you guys (media) should pump up her cause too, instead of focusing only on one subject,” says Abhay, claiming that recently, a portion of his interview about Irom’s case was edited out of a TV interview “because the government wouldn’t have liked it. I think we have to really get rid of the fear psychosis.”

Ask Abhay if he ever tried to meet Irom and he says: “It’s very difficult to meet her because of the complexities of her case. But if, as an actor, I can make people aware about her cause, I’ll be most happy. Many feel that an actor can only take his shirt off, which is very unfortunate. I have been trying to speak about this issue as much as I can.”

Who’s Irom Sharmila?
Irom Chanu Sharmila, an activist, journalist and poet from Manipur, has been on hunger strike since November 2000 to demand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), which she blames for violence in Manipur and other parts of India’s northeast. Ever since her arrest, she has been regularly released and re-arrested under IPC section 309, a punishable act meant for a person who “attempts to commit suicide”.