Protect Northeast Youths in Delhi

Concern over racial profiling, attacks in capital

Shillong, Nov 18 : The North East Support Centre and Helpline has sought the intervention of Delhi police commissioner to end the frequent harassment faced by youths from the Northeast working there.

In a statement issued here, the director of the Centre, Madhu Chandra, said the organisation had today submitted a memorandum to Delhi commissioner B.K. Gupta, seeking his help.

The organisation was formed in New Delhi four years ago by concerned groups to assist youths from the Northeast who were in distress or in danger of physical and psychological harm.

“We are writing to you in deep distress about the plight of women, especially those from the northeastern states, living and working in the national capital. Thousands of educated girls from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura, who come to work in the call centres and IT sectors in Delhi and other parts of the city, are facing racial discrimination and sexual assault,” Chandra said in the memorandum.

According to him, boys and girls from the Northeast live in small groups and are often alone, thereby becoming soft targets for harassment at their residences and workplaces.

“We appreciate your reassurance expressed during the North East Conclave, held on November 13, to look into the problems faced by people from the Northeast in Delhi,” Chandra said.

He said the racial attacks and sexual assaults on the region’s communities and women continued unabated in parts of Delhi and Safdarjung Enclave had become a favourite with the habitual offenders.

Chandra pointed out that a boy and girl from Manipur were looted and beaten up last night while they were returning home after withdrawing money from an ATM in Delhi’s Safdarjung Enclave.

The organisation has demanded that a special helpline for Northeast communities should be set up immediately, which may be headed by an official not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police and preferably from the Northeast region.

The organisation also urged Delhi police to initiate special night patrolling in all the vulnerable areas, including Safdarjung Enclave, Munirka, Mahipalpur, Nanakpur, Motibagh, Mohamadpur, Khanpur, Sarojini Nagar, New Friends Colony, Defence Colony in South Delhi, North Delhi Campus, Nehru Vihar, Gandhi Vihar in North Delhi and Sikanderpur in Gurgaon.

“Special night patrolling in these areas will not only prevent racial or gender-based violence faced by people from the northeastern region, but also ensure safety for all the working women returning late at night from workplaces,” Chandra said.

The organisation also wanted the policemen to register cases when victims approached the police stations.

AFSPA Unlikely To Be Withdrawn From Manipur Soon

By K Anurag

Imphal, Nov 17 : Civil society groups in insurgency-hit Manipur have been carrying on with their campaign for withdrawal of 'draconian' 1958 Armed Forces Special Powers Act, alleging that security forces operating in the state often resort to excesses taking advantage of the Act in force.
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Particularly unique is the crusade Irom Sanu Sharmila who has been on fast since November 5, 2000 demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur.

She has been kept confined and force-fed through her nose inside a high-security ward in Jawaharlal Nehru  Hospital in Imphal as a case of attempted suicide is registered against her every time the court grants her bail after a certain period.

However, notwithstanding the popular demand in the state for withdrawal of AFSPA, the ruling Congress is in no mood to mount pressure on its government to try for withdrawal of the Act from the state even though the next round of Assembly election is fast approaching in the state.

The Act is unlikely to be withdrawn from the state in near future because of the prevailing insurgency situation.

A highly-placed source in Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee informed that the state party unit didn't subscribe to the idea of withdrawal of the AFSPA in view of 'prevailing situation' in the troubled state.

The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations and they can raid any premises sans any warrant , arrest anyone on suspicion and even open fire after giving a mere warning.

The source informed that the ruling Congress in the state, however, was in favour for 'suitable review' of the provisions of the Act that has been the focus of mass discontentment in the troubled bordering state.

"The situation in the state warrants that the AFSPA remains in force. However, time has come for suitable review of the Act," a senior MPCC leader said adding the situation has to improve for withdrawal of the AFSPA.

The party has advised for amendment of the Act to make it bearable for the common people who are caught between the insurgents and security forces in the state.

Nestle To Set Up Northeast India Unit

By Tejeesh NS Behl

Mumbai, Nov 18 : Swiss dairy major Nestle’s Indian subsidiary, Nestle India, on Thursday said it is actively scouting for locations in the north-east for setting up a manufacturing plant in the region.   The company will initially focus on packaged foods such as noodles and chocolates “We

have been planning to expand our presence in the north-east and intend to set up a manufacturing base there, with a go-to-market readiness of the unit in the next one-and-a-half years,” Antonio Helio Waszyk, chairman and MD, Nestle India, told HT.

The company has shortlisted four sites across two states and the deal is likely to be signed in the next quarter. Waszyk, however, declined to divulge investment details or names of the states where it is scouting for the sites.

Nestle India currently has seven manufacturing facilities across the country (see table). The company’s factory at Tahilwal in Himachal Pradesh is expected to be commissioned next year.

The company’s business model for distribution in the north-east would be different from its existing models elsewhere in the country, said Waszyk, a Brazilian.

“Since sourcing of milk in the region may be difficult, we intend to initially focus on packaged foods such as noodles and chocolates and we may need to depend on our existing suppliers in other parts of the country for sourcing the ingredients,” he said.

The company, which entered the pasteurised and ultra-high temperature (UHT) processed milk segment in 2000, also plans a re-launch of the product in December, in a bid to boost its market share.

The company has registered a 40% growth in rural sales last year. “The five rupee Kitkat, the one rupee éclair and the Chotu Munch are doing extremely well in the rural areas,” said Waszyk.

Dengue Spreads in Manipur Town, 33 Test Positive

Imphal, Nov 17 : Authorities in Churachandpur have begun a multi-pronged campaign to combat the spread of dengue in the district.

Deputy commissioner (Churachandpur) Jacinta Lazarus said 33 cases of dengue have been reported in and around the town. The DC, who is also the chairman of the district level monitoring committee set up to systematically fight dengue, added that 30 teams have started a house-to-house survey from Wednesday.

Each team consists of a government health staff, an Asha member and two village defence force personnel, the DC said. She added that the teams, besides raising awareness on the epidemic, were also carrying out random health checks.

The teams are also sanitizing waterlogged areas which are the breeding ground of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. A cell has also been opened at the district hospital to collect samples of suspected persons for conducting free laboratory testing, the DC added.

She said fogging was also being done in certain areas. "Since the cases have been reported at the district headquarters, we are concentrating the anti-Dengue drive there. But we are also prepared to meet the challenges if the epidemic spreads in the interior areas of the district," added Lazarus.

The monitoring cell was set up after local legislator and Manipur power minister T Phungzathang convened a meeting to discuss the problem at his residence on Monday.

The minister, who allotted Rs 10 lakh for the drive from his local area development fund, appealed to locals to participate and co-operate with the monitoring committee.

The executive director of the district rural development agency is the vice-chairperson of the committee and the chief medical officer of the district is its member secretary.

The SP, ADC and top functionaries of the health department are its members.

Manipur, Hydro Companies Agree to Develop 1,500-MW Tipaimukh Dam

New Delhi, Nov 17 :  Hydro developers NHPC Ltd. and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVN) have established a joint venture with India's Manipur State to develop the 1,500-MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric project on the Barak River in Manipur.

Officials of the two government-owned hydro developers and the northeastern India state signed a promoters agreement October 22 for setting up the joint venture. NHPC is to have 69 percent of the venture, with SJVN having 26 percent and Manipur 5 percent.

Tipaimukh is proposed to be a multi-purpose storage project with the main objective to generate 3.8 billion kWh annually. It also would moderate flooding of downstream areas. Construction is expected to require 87 months.

The project has been in the pipeline since 1954. In 2006, India's North Eastern Electric Power Corp. courted bidders for the project, which is to include two diversion tunnels, four spillway tunnels, two headrace tunnels, two surge shafts, two power tunnels, cofferdams, switchyard, powerhouse, and a main rock fill dam to be 163 meters tall and 390 meters long.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delayed the laying of a foundation stone for the project in 2006 due to opposition of local people who said the project threatened thousands of homes and a sacred lake holding the sword of a legendary hero.

Tribal groups said the sword of revered hero Jadonang lies in one of five lakes to be inundated. Also to be inundated was an island called Thiledam, meaning life and death, where locals say souls of their people find eternal rest.

Chin-Kuki-Mizo Groups Should Also be Given a SUPRA State

Sinlung Says: Now that the Indian government seems to have made a stand on the Naga Issue. Next come issue of the Zohnathlak - Kuki, Paite, Mizo, Hmar, Lai, Pawi, Chin (Chin-Kuki-Mizo Groups). Shouldn’t they also be given a SUPRA State? They have divided by state boundaries for so long.

We know its coming soon…

Northeast States Ignored Over NSCN(IM) Peace Pact

By R Dutta Choudhury

Guwahati, Nov 17 : The Central Government has not given due consideration to the views of the concerned State Governments while preparing the roadmap for signing an agreement with the NSCN (I-M) and now only a few minor differences are to be settled before formally signing the peace accord with the militant outfit.

However, the date for signing of an agreement with the militant outfit is yet to be finalised.

Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the Governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh opposed intrusion into their territories while going for a settlement with the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre has also ruled out the possibility of creation of a greater Nagalim with inclusion of Naga-inhabited areas of other States.

But the Centre has agreed to the formation of Naga councils in the Naga-inhabited areas of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur for economic development of the areas as well as protection of Naga culture and customs.

Sources revealed that the NSCN has demanded formation of such councils incorporating parts of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam, Tirap, Changlang and parts of Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh and the hills of Manipur inhabited by Naga people.

However, the geographical boundaries of the states would not be affected and the State Governments would have the responsibility of maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, on the road map prepared by the MHA for signing of an agreement with the NSCN, sources said that Nagaland would be given the status of a special category state with its own flag and Naga nomenclature would be given to the administrative posts in Nagaland.

The NSCN has given up its demand for sovereignty and though the outfit demanded that the head of the State should be called the Prime Minister, the demand has been turned down. The Restricted Area Permit (RAP) system will also be introduced in Nagaland.

Sources said that at one point of time, following years of negotiations, the leaders of the NSCN verbally agreed only to a financial package for the Naga inhabited areas, but as the Central Government is keen on expediting the peace talks, the NSCN leaders adopted a tough stand and forced the Government to accept the demand for creation of Naga councils in the Naga dominated areas of the other states.

CCEA Nod To Create Livelihood Opportunities of Rs 683 crore in 4 Northeast States

New Delhi, Nov 17 : Decks were cleared today for implementation of a World Bank-aided project to create self employment opportunities for tribals, particularly women in four most disadvantaged northeastern states.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) at an estimated cost of Rs 683.2 crore.

"The objective of the NERLP is to improve rural livelihoods especially that of women, unemployed youth and the most disadvantaged in four North Eastern States," an official spokesperson said.

The project is expected to cover nearly three lakh households in 1,624 villages of 58 blocks falling in Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

The NERLP will be implemented by the DONER ministry in Aizawl and Lunglei districts of Mizoram, Peren and Tuensang districts of Nagaland, South, West and 15 poorest Panchayat wards of East district of Sikkim and West & North districts of Tripura.

The project will cost Rs 683.2 crore of which Rs 614.8 crore will be in the form of a soft loan from the World Bank and Rs 68.4 crore as a contribution from the Centre over a period of five years.

The objective is to reach 70 per cent of the poorer households in the village and help the poorest of the poor on priority.

The NERLP has four components - social empowerment, economic empowerment, partnership development and management, project management.

Chetri And Lalpekhlua Do The Star Turn For India

By Amitabha Das Sharma

ACROBATIC: Jeje Lalpekhlua (in blue) acquitted himself admirably in the friendly against Malaysia on Wednesday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

With a fine display of attacking football, India outplayed Malaysia 3-2 in the last of two FIFA international football friendlies at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.

Having drawn the previous match at Guwahati 1-1 on Sunday, India made the perfect transition savouring two goals from strikers Sunil Chetri and one from Jeje Lalpekhlua. The Malaysians replied through their gifted striker Safi Sali.

India's new coach Savio Madeira fielded eight new names in the starting line-up, compared to the side that turned out at Guwahati on Sunday. Chetri, Gourmangi Singh and Syed Rahim Nabi — named the captain for the match — were the three who were retained.

The Indians got rid of the initial sluggishness and settled to a nice rhythm by the half-hour mark. The remarkable aspect of the Indian performance remained in the novel blending in the attack that had the experienced Chetri pairing effectively with the youthful Lalpekhlua. Tipped as the two best attackers in business, after the retirement of Baichung Bhutia, they impressed with their sense of opportunism and knack for scoring.

An effective combination in the midfield added more fluidity as Lalrindika Ralte, Baldeep Singh, Rocus Lamare and Francis Fernandes, entrusted with the creative role, stuck commendably to their tasks.

The efforts paid off in the 39th minute when the reflexive Chetri, after neatly receiving a long floater from skipper Nabi, finished with a deft half-volley.

Malaysia levelled the score just before the break. It came off a fine essay of passes in the Indian box, which the host's defenders failed to check, allowing the deft Sali to slot home.

Redoubling their resolve to regain the lead, the Indians adopted a more aggressive approach after the break. It succeeded in its mission within two minutes into the second half as Chetri authored a brilliant move that Lalpekhlua finished with a deft placement.

Second strike

After Lalpekhlua missed an opportunity that came close on heels of the second goal, Chetri did the atonement for the former by finishing the next opportunity in the 52nd minute (3-1).

Medeira exhausted his quota of substitution — which is six for an international friendly — to preserve the lead but could not stop the visitor from narrowing the margin. Sali proved his class again when he caught the Indian defence on the wrong foot in the 59th minute.

The host effectively sealed up its defence hereafter.