For People in Imphal, The State Is A Failure

By Gaurav Sharma

Imphal, Dec 11 : Ibungochoubi Ningthoukhongjam, 49, owns five mobile phones, not because he is a gadget freak but to ensure he does not lose contact during an emergency, as one cannot count on the erratic telecommunication network in the Manipuri capital plagued by months of civil unrest and supply blockages.

"Carrying five mobile phones is cumbersome. The extremely poor mobile connection forces a person like me to keep them. When the diesel supply won't reach the gensets in mobile towers, how can you expect uninterrupted communication? This state is a failure," Ningthoukhongjam told a visiting IANS correspondent.

There are many like Ningthoukhongjam, who are languishing in Manipur which is riddled with decade-old ethnic clashes, insurgency, sporadic economic blockades and the clamped under the much hated Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The recent 121-day economic blockade, brought about by a dispute between the Nagas and the Kuki tribes over the creation of a new administrative district, literally brought the entire state to its knees by pushing prices of essential commodities sky-high. The blockade led to severe shortage of essentials, petroleum products and cooking gas cylinders, besides medicines and machines, causing untold misery to Manipur residents.

Even on normal days, life in Imphal comes to a standstill after 5 p.m. All you can see on the deserted roads are stray dogs and police vehicles.

Shops too down shutters after 5 p.m. in this city of around 250,000 people. Venturing out alone, without any plausible reason, may be foolhardy as you or your vehicle may draw unnecessary attention of the armed forces, who dot the roads, and who can ask you to produce your identity cards.

However, with their gritty determination, people have come to terms with life here. They don't bemoan the bandhs, curfews, economic blockades or other travails of life in verdant and panoramic Manipur, home to some 2.7 million people.

"We don't complain any more as there is nothing much you can do as the state government is sleeping and the centre does not care. Movement for secession is bound to rear its head as Manipur has been forgotten by the government of India," a local told IANS, refusing to be named.

The students from upper middle class families go to other parts of the country to pursue higher education.

"Anyone who wants to pursue good education cannot do so in Manipur as, due to the numerous bandhs, education gets disrupted," said Nintagmba, who is studying in Delhi.

The prevalence of drug use is very high in this state bordering Myanmar, from where opium and other narcotics are smuggled here.

Many youngsters and middle-aged people in the state are in the grip of substance abuse.

"Seeing the present state of affairs in Manipur, it does not seem that the situation will improve even after 10 years. You cannot expect a miracle when nothing has changed over the decades," said 44-year-old Imphal resident Rakesh.

(Gaurav Sharma can be contacted at gaurav.s@ians.in)

Mizo Idol 2011: A Platform For Young Artists To Showcase Talent

Aizawl, Nov 27 : Mizo Idol 2011, a state level talent hunt, is turning out to be the most popular annual event among the youth of Mizoram who are opting for music as a full time career.

More than 600 youngsters from eight districts of the state participated in it this year.

The three month long contest finally reached its final round with two contestants, Lalthuthaa and Biakmuana, competing for the crown.

Lalthuthaa reckons that the event will promote Mizo traditional music "If I win the Mizo Idol contest I will try my level best to take traditional music of Mizoram to the mainstream," Lalthuthaa said.

The event is extremely popular with the youth in the region and the thousand strong crowd present for the final audition clearly reflected this fact.

"It is a show that helps the teenagers and youth to showcase their talent so that they can present themselves at the higher levels," Longmui Saihi, a local said.

Another local, Christobel, believes that there is a need for more such shows.

"I am hoping that we have more shows like this so that people also get to know the talent we have in the northeast," he said.

There are several bands like Boomerang and solo musicians like Rebecca from Mizoram who have played with top musicians in several contests and live shows across the country.

Mizo Idol is currently in its sixth edition and is providing a huge platform to artists from the region to the showcase their skills.

"I would request all our singers to go outside Mizoram and venture. This will give them an experience of performing outside the state and can surely have a huge impact," organizer Tato Lalthantluanga said.

Several musicians from the region like Rewben Mashangva and late Bhupen Hazarika are known not just in the country but across the world as well.

Fighting To End NREGS Corruption In Their Village at Meghalaya

By KumKum Dasgupta

Fatima Mynsong (39), Acquiline Songthiang (37) and Matilda Suting (38)

Fighting to end NREGS corruption in their village at Meghalaya Believe it or not, activist Anna Hazare and minister of rural development Jairam Ramesh could now actually have common mascots in Matilda Suting, Acquiline Songthiang and Fatima Mynsong.

The three have been fighting corruption in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for the last three years in Meghalaya.

“I hate corruption and there is so much of it around us,” says Mynsong, a primary school teacher from Jongksha, a village of 600 households, 32 kilometres from Shillong.

When the NREGS, which entitled each household to up to 100 days work, began in the village in 2008, there was much anticipation since stable work options are rare in that area.

Songthiang, who is a school teacher, and her colleague Mynsong got involved in the implementation process.

As soon as the project began, Mynsong found to her horror that someone had fraudulently withdrawn money for the purchase of materials and wages by forging her signature.

Angry, she went up to the village executive committee and challenged them. Instead of launching a probe, the secretary just told her to mind her own business. Songthiang also had a similar experience.

“We were very angry and wanted to file a Right to Information case but did know how to go about it,” recounts Mynsong. Luckily, a cousin knew and helped frame the letter. An old friend and neighbour Matilda Suting, a housewife, also joined their fight.

When the news of misappropriation spread, some of the villagers came out in support, while many others stayed away. This divided the village into two camps. “We called a meeting of the NREGS workers and told them what was happening.

It was a giant leap for us but we believed that we must not accept corruption,” Mynsong reminisces.

Their rations were stopped and the three were even physically assaulted.

However, all these did not dampen their spirits.

Slowly, the wheels of justice moved and a chargesheet was filed against the erring officers. “Our people are often taken for a ride. This has to stop,” says Mynsong confidently.

Tipaimukh: Bangladesh May Move International Court

Dhaka, Nov 27 : Bangladesh on Saturday said it expects India not to proceed with the cross-border hydro-electric Tipaimukh dam project in Manipur without consulting it, warning that it may approach international courts if it is "ignored" by New Delhi.

"As a friendly country, Bangladesh trusts India ... (but) if India ignores Bangladesh, we will go to international courts to preserve our existence," Water Resources Minister Ramesh Sen told an experts' dialogue on river management.

He said "national interest" may prompt the government here to seek redress against the proposed cross-border hydro-power project.

Sen said that Bangladesh has already informed New Delhi that it is ready for a consultation with India on the proposed project.

The minister's comments came as main opposition BNP today said it received a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in response to a mail sent by its leader and ex-premier Khaleda Zia three days ago on the Tipaimukh dam issue.

"We have received Dr Manmohan Singh's letter from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka but since madam (Zia) is outside Dhaka on a political programme, we are yet to know the contents," Zia's press secretary Maruf Kamal Sohel told agency.

Zia earlier demanded that India immediately "discontinue the construction of Tipaimukh dam" and suggested a joint survey to be carried out on its impact.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni two days ago said the Indian government was yet to approve the controversial project as her ministry was reassured by India that the dam would not divert waters from the common river, Barak.

"We have information that the Tipaimukh dam project would take 87 months for implementation and the Indian central government has yet to approve it," she had said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week told Parliament that a high-level delegation would be sent to India to discuss the issue, while proposals have also been made to conduct a joint study to asses Tipaimukh's viability.

Dhaka last week demanded details of Indian steps on Tipaimukh "in full transparency" as New Delhi said that it had signed a 'Promoter's Agreement' to install a Joint Venture Company (JVC) for the project.

Mizoram is Maoist-PLA Hub

Guwahati, Nov 27 : The most peaceful state in the Northeast, Mizoram, was allegedly used as a meeting point by Maoists and leaders of the Manipur-based militant outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the PLA’s anti-national activities, discovered that a meeting was held between the outfit’s leaders and Maoists at Champhai in Mizoram on July 15, 2010.

According to the agency, similar meetings between the outfit and Maoist leaders were also held in Calcutta, Guwahati and Rourkela.

An official source said the militants might have selected Mizoram because of its history of being a peaceful state for more than two decades.

Insurgency in Mizoram had come to an end after the Mizoram Peace Accord was signed in 1986, and since then, the state has remained by and large peaceful.

The NIA said a group of PLA leaders had also imparted arms training to Maoists at Saranda forest in Jharkhand from September 11 to November 20 last year.

The PLA had allegedly trained Maoists in basic military tactics, guerrilla warfare, ambushing and wireless communication skills and a couple of more such training sessions were scheduled for next year.

According to the investigating agency, the self-styled chief of PLA’s external affairs wing, N. Dilip Singh, who was arrested from Paharganj in Delhi on October 1, was one of the main trainers.

Singh joined PLA in 1988 as a “sepoy” and was subsequently promoted to the rank of “captain” in 2009.

“After obtaining necessary permission from the court, Dilip Singh is being brought to Guwahati for interrogation,” the source said.

“The team of NIA officers that is bringing the PLA leader from New Delhi is expected to reach Guwahati tonight and he will be booked in a NIA case (number 1/2011),” the source added.

The NIA has registered the case against PLA at its Guwahati branch under Sections 120 (B), 121 (A) of the IPC and Sections 17, 18, 18-A and 18-B of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case was registered in pursuance of a Union home ministry order dated June 8, 2011.

“The NIA has also learned that Left-wing extremists have paid money to the PLA for acquiring Chinese-made arms, ammunitions and communication devices and also for imparting training to their cadres,” the source said.

The source said Singh and PLA’s self-styled lieutenant, Arun Kumar Singh, were in Delhi to discuss the modalities of providing logistics, arms, ammunitions and communication equipment to the cadres of Maoist groups and for setting up joint training camps of Maoist and PLA cadres in Myanmar.

He said during interrogation, Dilip Singh had told Delhi Police that the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and CPI (Maoist) had signed a joint declaration on October 22, 2008, in which both sides had decided to extend full support to each other in their struggle against a common enemy — the government of India.

The RPF, which is the political wing of PLA, runs a government-in-exile in Myanmar, with Irengbam Chaoren as its “president”.

Over 1102 Jobs in Forces Vacant For Mizo Youth

Aizawl, Nov 27 : Over 1102 constable and riflemen posts in Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces have been lying vacant for Mizo youths, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Chairman N K Raghupathy said here today.

Talking to reporters, Mr Raghupathy said the said posts were strictly reserved for Mizoram and would remain vacant even if they were not filled up this time. He said the SSC will float advertisement for the posts in early December and last date for submission of applications is January 4, 2012.

Application can also be submitted online. In Assam Rifles, there were about 600 vacant posts of which about 370 were reserved for the border areas.

Besides these, recruitment for officers, inspectors and sub-inspectors in various central paramilitary forces, CRPF, BSF, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police were underway.

Expressing regrets that the SSC had received minimal applications for posts under the SSC from the Northeast region, the Chairman promised that if at least 50,000 applications are received from Mizoram, sub-regional centre would be set up in Aizawl.

He invited the media to help create awareness among the youth on the vacancies of posts.

The SSC Chairman, who was flanked by Assam Rifles DIG and BSF DIG, appreciated pre-recruitment rally conducted by the paramilitary forces in Mizoram.

Include Northeast India in National Anthem

Sinlung Says: There is no mention about Northeast India in the Indian National Anthem. When even the regions mentioned do not feel the belongingness, how can the people of Northeast India feel the same…We know it will not be included but some sort of recognition can touch hearts in far flung areas like northeast India.

Kudos..AGP

AGP demand NE’s inclusion in National Anthem

New Delhi, Nov 26 : In what could be a case of 60 years too late, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Friday demanded inclusion of Assam and North Eastern region in the National Anthem.

Making a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha, AGP MP, Kumar Deepak Das on Friday demanded that Assam and North East be mentioned in the National Anthem.

The feeling of alienation, which is increasing may manifest separatist attitude among the youth in the North East, he warned, adding that such inclusion may help to unite the nation bringing prosperity and peace in the country.

Seclusion of Assam, as well as North-East in the national anthem is an ignominy for the people of the region. After the Constituent Assembly officially adopted Rabindra Nath Tagore’s ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the National Anthem on January 24, 1950, the freedom fighters, and national leaders and other patriots of the region approached the Central Government, including the then Prime Minister of India, for inclusion of Assam in the anthem, as the entire region was ignored, but without any results, he recalled.

Even mention of name of the mighty Brahmaputra or any of the most rescued assets of the explored paradise of the North Eastern Region in that National Anthem would have given recognition to the North-east, he claimed.

PM To Visit Imphal, Assures Ease Of Economic Blockade

Imphal, Nov 26 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to visit Imphal on December 3, has assured to help alleviate the current crisis in the state due to the intensified economic blockade on two National Highways.

Officials here said a state cabinet meeting was held on Thursday after receiving a confirmation letter about the PM's visit to the state from the PMO. It is speculated that the PM would be accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during the visit.

Responding to a letter sent by former Union commerce minister Mohan Dharia, the PM said, "Let me assure you that we will work together with the state government to do everything possible to improve the situation that you describe."

Denouncing the state government's alleged bid to bifurcate Naga-dominated areas to create new districts, the United Naga Council (UNC) has been imposing economic blockade on Imphal-Silchar and Imphal-Dimapur routes since August 21. The UNC is also demanding the Centre to make an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas without linking the state government.

Upon learning of the turbulent situation gripping Manipur, former union minister had written to the PM on October 17, requesting him to intervene in the matter. In his reply letter sent to Dharia recently, the PM said, "Our government is reviewing the situation of essential commodities in Manipur on a daily basis."

Even as over 1000 empty trucks left Imphal to bring commodities from Assam along the Imphal-Silchar route on Thursday, under heavy security, the PM said the Centre has arranged for transport on the two highways by organizing convoys and protection for trucks carrying essential commodities into Manipur.

Meanwhile, ahead of the PM's visit, repairing and beautification works in the restive Imphal city are underway at a fast pace since the past couple of days.

The PM will land here in a special BSF flight at 10.30 am of December 3 and will inaugurate some major projects of the city convention centre, state bus terminus, assembly complex and the Imphal bench Gauhati high court building, under construction as part of the capitol project in Imphal.

Inauguration of the Imphal bench Gauhati high court building would be attended by the Supreme Court Chief Justice as well, sources said, adding the PM will also inaugurate NIT and address a public meeting at Kangla fort in the afternoon.