Nagaland is Northeast India’s Biggest Mary Kay Market

Dave Grant, Vice President of Sales Development Education, Mary Kay Asia Pacific Region, Puneet Madan, Director- Sales Development and Hina Nagarajan, Country Manager of Mary Kay Cosmetics display the latest  products of Mary Kay launched at a press conference held at Jumping Bean Café in Dimapur on January 28.

Dimapur, Jan 29 : Global beauty leader Mary Kay Cosmetics India Pvt Ltd., reported to be one of the largest direct sellers of skincare and color cosmetics, today launched three new products at Jumping Beans in Dimapur on January 28. The three new products include two fragrances – Affection Eau De Parfum for women and Domain cologne spray for men and also MelaCEP Whitening System.

During the press conference, Hina Nagarajan, Country Manager of Mary Kay Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd., India announced that “Mary Kay is going to spread its operations in Nagaland, as it is one of the biggest markets for the company in North East India.” She also announced that by end of April, an office in Dimapur will be set up to support the business of Mary Kay’s Independent sales force members. She revealed that the office will facilitate ordering of products, payments and delivery of products.

Hina Nagarajan said Nagaland has contributed a lot to the Mary Kay annual global campaign called “Beauty that counts” through the sales of lipsticks where a part of the sales of every “Mary Kay Crème lipsticks” in specific shades is donated to an initiative for women and children around the world.
“There are around 800 to 900 sales force members in Nagaland alone” stated Puneet Madan, Director  of Sales Development. He said that it was not only Dimapur that was showing a positive response. Other districts of Nagaland as well such as Peren, Phek and Mokokchung were showing a tremendous interest in Mary Kay products, he said. Dave Grant, Vice President of Sales Development and education of Mary Kay Asia Pacific Region and other Mary Kay representatives were also present at the press conference.

Also, in a personal interaction with Hina Nagarajan, she revealed that the Mary Kay consultants are trained every month and there are various courses and certified make-up training courses provided by professionals. She said  Mary Kay believes in product and culture. “Culture training is very important to Mary Kay because they are going to be the messengers of Mary Kay,” she said.

Nagarajan also opined that the opportunity to work for a business like Mary Kay starts from mainland towns but spreads rapidly to other towns in the interiors as well. “It is not easy to do business in the North East states,” she said. She also revealed that Mary Kay is keen on investments in northeast especially Nagaland and that their focus will be to strengthen further infrastructure development.

via Morung Express News

LR Ruata Khohreng is Kuki Idol

By L Nehkholien Haokip

Churachandpur, Jan 29 : The much envied Kuki Idol Northeast India final contest was held yesterday at Royal Academy compound D.Phailen Churachandpur, LR Ruata Khohreng walked away with the title.

More than 3000 public gathered to see the event braving a cold, chilly night.

The program started at 6.30 pm and continued till 12.30 pm. The program began with the singing of the Kuki Idol anthem followed by an opening prayer by Dr.Lunkhohao Haokip, Founder President Agape Christian Music Centre (ACMC) reading the Bible scripture from Corinth 1: 11.

The Chief Guest, Damma Vaiphei, special contractor, in his speech thanked the Kuki Idol committee (KI) for inviting him as the chief guest of the mega event song contest.

He also expressed hope that organizing such event will lead to unity amongst the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi community in the days to come.
He donated a sum of Rs.one lakh to the organizer.

The Guest of Honor, Theienna Touthang, social worker in his speech asked why the organizer approached a layman like him to be the guest of honor and ignored Government officers in such mega event. He went on to say that the idea behind organizing Kuki Idol should always be preserved.
He donated a sum of Rs.20,000/ to the organizer.

He reminded the gathering that any program may be entertaining at times and maybe not so at other times but the initiative of the Kuki Idol and the difficulties they faced in organizing such mega event ought to always be kept in mind.

Helien Kipgen, social worker, in his presidential speech stressed that music can bring about unification and national integration and appealed to the public to extend co-operation to Kuki Idol Committee and donated a sum of RS.30.000/ to the organizer.

Kuki Inpi Manipur General Secretary, Thangkhochon Lhungdim, in his speech praised the organizer saying that it was up to the mark and systematic.
He said that the aim and object of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) is reunification and peaceful co-existence of different communities of the state.In the final round song contest, LR Ruata Khohreng, son of Sharningdinga Hohreng and Lakhumi Kohreng of Darchoi Tripura emerged the ultimate winner of the Kuki Idol contest 2009-2010 from among the top ten finalists.

About LR Ruata:

Born on April 5, 1988, LR Rauta is a matriculate and aims to become a good singer. Football and singing are his hobbies.

As Kuki Idol, LR Ruata Kohreng carried home lucrative check prize of RS.one lakh.

The other top ten finalist were Mamang Kipgen of Haipi Sadar Hills contestant No-56 Top-10 MS Liena Kuki of Molen village ,Sadar Hills,contestant.No-44 Top-9,Shokhop[ao Haokip of Molnom village Chandel district contestant No-8,Haoneo Touthang of New LAmbulane,Imphal contestant N.-18 top7,Hoieng Touthang of Janglenphai village CCPur contestant No-14 top-6, Lamginlen Chongloi of L.Munpi village Sadar Hills contestant-No93 top-5, Jamgoulen Lhungdim of D.phailen CCPur contestant No-68, top4 Thangtinlen Haokip of Leisen village CCPur contestant No-106 top 3 and Shei Haokip of Khenjang village CCPur contest no-108 as top-2 .

The top 9 finalists were given Rs.10,000/ each as consolation prizes.

Specially invited groups and individual artistes like Kuki Artiste Progressive Union (KAPU) Kuki Gospel Artiste Association (KUGAA), Maneithangza Mang Kipgen (Jingkal Bongnoi party) and Nagaland Icon, Miss Thiennu Haokip gave a scintillating performance in the mega event making it an evening to remember.

The closing prayer led by Rev.Dr.Dongzathong Tungnung, marked the closing function of the Kuki Idol North East India contest 2009-2010 .

Benny Khongsai judged performance of the contestant, NC Doungel the Lyrics, Manglun Haokip judged voice control, Tongmang Haokip the Song choice and Athiem Keivon Songpijang, NC Hills, gave his overall impression about the contestants.

via Hueiyen News Service

Floods, Urbanization Eat Into Assam’s Rice Fields

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Farmers plough a paddy field in Mayong, about 50 km east of Guwahati.

Guwahati, Jan 29 : The total area under rice cultivation in Assam, which registered a bumper record production of 40.7 lakh metric tones of rice in 2008-09 — an all-time high — has been shrinking over the past decade and more. From 26.46 lakh hectares in 2000-2001, it dwindled to 24.84 lakh hectares in 2008-09, with the state having the lowest area under rice cultivation — 21.90 lakh hectares — during 2006-07.

Likewise, the rice yield has also witnessed a sharp downward trend in the past one decade, coming down from 39.98 lakh metric tones in 2000-2001 to an all-time low of 29.10 lakh metric tones in 2006-07.

“This is definitely a worrisome development despite the fact that we created a record of sorts by producing 40.7 lakh metric tones. We are worried with the trend that we experienced till 2007-08,” said Pramila Rani Brahma, state agriculture minister.

Brahma cites four major reasons behind the decrease in rice growing area as well as production.

“While nature has been playing havoc with the Brahmaputra and several of its tributaries causing massive silt deposits on the rice fields, developmental activities too have to be held responsible for it to some extent,” she said.

The agriculture minister says construction of the four-lane East-West Corridor from Srirampur to Silchar had already reduced the cultivation area. “We have asked the Public Works Department to find out how much farm land has the National Highway Authority of India acquired for the construction of the East-West Corridor,” Brahma said.

Likewise, expansion of urban centers including Guwahati has been identified as another reason behind shrinking of rice fields.

“Establishment of industrial estates and other institutions have also cut into paddy fields. Assam does not have enough fallow land, and thus every time something new comes up, it has to be at the cost of agricultural land,” Brahma said.

People in Palashbari and Amingaon, both close to Guwahati, have been agitating against acquisition of agricultural land for setting up a BSF camp and a defense installation. A mega gas cracker project coming up in Dibrugarh district has also sparked off similar protests.

Nature’s havoc, too, has reduced large tracts of agricultural land into wasteland. With floods continuing to remain Assam’s annual scourge, Dhemaji district has turned out to be worst-hit, where over 60 per cent of the agricultural land has been devastated either by floods or by silt deposits, ranging from five to seven feet, in the past seven to eight years.

“Last year alone, over 700 hectares of agricultural land became unusable due to silt deposit. At least 10,000 hectares of land must have met the same fate in the past decade,” said Khagen Bargohain, additional deputy commissioner, Dhemaji.

Farmers in Assam grow three major varieties of rice, these being Ahu (autumn rice), Sali (winter rice) and Boro (summer rice).

“Though farmers in Assam have been traditionally used to growing only one crop a year, the government is now beginning to motivate them to go for at least two rice crops,” said agriculture minister Brahma.

Irrigation is not yet a popular concept in Assam. While canal irrigation has remained almost a non-starter, sinking several thousand shallow tube wells some 10 years ago has come as a big relief for farmers, especially in the lower Assam districts.

“Last year was a big surprise. While we could raise the area under rice cultivation from 21.90 lakh hectares in 2006-07 to 24.84 lakh hectares in 2008-09, the state did record a bumper harvest of 40.7 lakh metric tones. And this was despite a huge loss of three months due to a drought-like situation,” Brahma said.

The state government has fixed a target of 46.7 lakh metric tones for 2009-10 as well, expecting the agricultural growth rate to move up from 1.2 per cent in 2008-09 to 2.17 per cent in the current year.

Noted agricultural scientist B K Sarma said that the tendency among farmers to shift to cash crops and vegetables was also responsible for the fluctuating rice production in Assam. “Vegetables and cash crops fetch more returns while cultivation of bao paddy, a deep-water variety, has slipped sharply as farmers have also started focusing on pisciculture in the low-lying areas,” said Sarma, a former ICAR scientist, who has recently come out with a book called Rice Diversity of Northeast India.

Elephant Killed, Then Eaten in Assam

Guwahati, Jan 29 : On the same day when a rhino carcass was discovered in Kaziranga National Park, villagers of Murpholuni forest beat stumbled upon an elephant carcass in the Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve which covers an area of 1881.51 sq km of which an estimated 596 sq km has been encroached.

Poaching of elephants has rarely been reported. Elephant deaths were either due to speeding trains or vehicles and the it's the phenomenon of man-elephant conflict which had engaged wild life experts.

So, while the rhino and the tiger were under stress from poachers, the elephant seemed under stress from habitat loss due to large scale encroachment of reserve forests and elephant corridors.

But the latest carcass indicates that the elephant is also the poachers' target.

When the forest officials were informed they denied it was a recent killing and refused to even visit the site.

Golaghat district where the incident took place had 58 wild and 37 domestic elephants as on 30 September 2009.

In Assam 5246 elephants were found in 2002 census while in 2007, 5281 elephant were counted. Significantly the number of tuskers have gone down from 237 in 2002 to 169 in 2007.

But the forest department records do not reflect any tusker deaths.

Perhaps elephants were being poached but not revealed by the concerned authorities.

Vacancy For Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at Assam University, Silchar

Post: Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at Assam University, Silchar

Date of Interview : 29 January 2010

A Junior Research Fellow (JRF) (preferably NET/GATE Qualified) is required to work in a 3 year DST sponsored project entitled “Interaction of vanadate, molybdate and tungstate with hydrogen peroxide and hydroxylamine: Synthesis, characterization, reactivity, aqueous and solid state properties” in the Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar.

Fellowship : Rs. 12,000/- p.m. + HRA as per University rules.

A walk-in-interview will be held in the Department of Chemistry on 29-1-2010 (Friday) at 2.30 pm.

Interested candidate may attend the interview directly with a copy of curriculum vitae, photograph and academic credentials.

Advance copy of application may be posted at pradip_paul2006@rediffmail.com

Dr. P.C. Paul
P.I. Dept. of Chemistry
Assam University, Silchar.

More details here

India’s Central Govt Reviews Assam’s Security

By R Dutta Choudhury

Guwahati, Jan 29 : The Government of India will adopt a cautious approach in regards to talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) despite pressure from the Assam Government. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today reviewed the security scenario in the state in a high level meeting with the officials of the State Government.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune today that though the level of violence in Assam came down in recent times, the situation is still far from normal and the meeting held at New Delhi today reviewed the overall situation. Sources said that there have been some disturbing intelligence inputs about the situation in the bordering areas and though the DHD(J), commonly known as the Black Widow group, surrendered weapons, the situation in the hill district remains a matter of concern.

Sources said that recently the militants belonging to National Socialist Council of Nagalim NSCN-IM started issuing demand notes in the hill district. Even a newly posted Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer received a demand for Rs. 5 crore from the militants. As the NSCN (I-M) is under cease-fire agreement with the Government of India , the activities of the members of the group in NC Hills have become a matter of serious concern and it was one of the key points of discussions in today’s meeting.

The Government of India has taken serious note of snatching of weapons from the headquarter of an Assam Police battalion in Cachar in November and what was more dangerous is that the weapons were snatched by the members of a newly formed militant group United Tribal Liberation Army. Sources said that the activities of the newly formed militant outfit was one of the issues discussed.

In addition to these, the overall law and order situation was reviewed and the State Government was asked to make optimum utilization of the forces available as it might not be possible for the Centre to rush additional forces whenever required.

Meanwhile, on the issue of talks with the ULFA, sources said that the State Government was putting pressure on the Centre to explore the feasibility of starting the process of talks with the jailed leaders of the militant group. However, the Centre would adopt a cautious approach regarding talks. Sources said that the Government of India is examining whether holding of talks with only the jailed leaders would bring the desired results if one faction of the outfit remains outside the purview of talks.

Moreover, the Government of India would have to consider the international relations before taking any decision to release the jailed leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa to facilitate talks.

“The Government of Bangladesh, after sustained pressure from India, adopted a tough stand against the militants taking shelter in that country and handed over senior ULFA leaders including the chairman of the outfit. If they are released immediately it may send wrong signals in the international community as India is still putting pressure on Bangladesh to take action against other militants holed up in that country. Moreover, India is also putting pressure on Myanmar to take action against the militants taking shelter in that country and if the arrested ULFA leaders are released immediately, it may send wrong signals,” sources added.

However, the Assam Government is still putting pressure on the Centre to start the process of talks with the ULFA and though the Centre is exploring the possibility, there is no chance of the Centre giving up the pre-conditions for talks. The Centre has already made it clear that the talks must be held within the framework of the constitution of India and the outfit would have to abjure violence.

via The Assam Tribune

India’s National Panel to Take Up Child Trafficking Issue

New Delhi, Jan 29 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is rushing a team to Chennai to take up the issue of trafficked children from Assam and Manipur. The decision to dispatch a team to Tamil Nadu came following pressure from NGOs to institute a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry on the large-scale trafficking from Assam and Northeastern States.

Chairperson of the NCPCR, Shanta Sinha told newsmen that a team has been assigned to visit Tamil Nadu to take up the issue with the State Government.

The Commission is also going to convene a meeting of the Northeastern States and the destination States to work out a coordination plan for State to State mechanism. “We are concerned about the Northeastern States,” said the chairperson.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Shakti Vahini and Bikalpa Dhara also met the chairperson with a demand to institute an inquiry and take necessary action.

In a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the two NGOs called for a CBI probe into the whole issue of trafficking.

Trafficking from the Northeast India and Eastern Himalaya region is continuously on the rise and needs a detailed investigation. There are all the possibilities that organized gangs have started operating in the area to traffic women and children.

Since these crimes are spread over different States it would be beneficial that this investigation is done by federal agency like the CBI, the NGOs said.

It was also pointed out that the Chennai incident is not an isolated case, in July last the Kolkata police had rescued 25 Northeast children who were going towards Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, there was a media report about the plight of 1600 children who had been shifted to schools in Karnataka.

On August 5, 2008, Nagaland girls were rescued from traffickers in Malaysia. One trafficker was caught in Nagaland but nothing happened.
“These are very disturbing trends,” said Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini.

At least 76 children hailing from Manipur and Assam were rescued by Child Welfare Committee, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu from a children’s home in Magappair, Tamil Nadu.

This is the second time that CWC had rescued trafficked children from Manipur in Tamil Nadu.

All the rescued children were rescued from an unregistered orphanage called Bethesda Blessing Home located at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, the CWC claimed to have rescued 17 from a Children Home in Magappair, Tamil Nadu few days back.

Reports have it that Bethesda Blessing Home lacked both infrastructure and enough food to feed the children and the crackdown was done by the members of CWC of Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

Out of the 76 children, 54 of them (all boys) belong to Manipur while the remaining hail from Assam, the source said adding the children were staying at BB Home since July, 2009.

Poisoned Land: A Commentary

Poisoned Hills: Opium Cultivation surges under government control in Burma, a 56 page report by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) was launched at Bangkok’s Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT).

The following is an overview given by Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) on the occasion.

Thanks to the Palaung ladies for this sober reminder that the world is not just Haiti and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie breaking up.

I had read the report with great interest. There are, I think, 5 points made by the writers:

•    Areas transferred to the Burma Army by ceasefire groups are booming with poppy fields
•    Military authorities are exacting protection fees from the poppy farmers
•    Authorities tolerate drug involvement of their allies while it is politically expedient, and then use the issue to crack     down on them when they show signs of dissent
•    Opium growing is replacing traditional Palaung tea growing
•    Increase of drug production is linked to militarization

All these points are in line with our own findings.

Areas transferred to the Burma Army by ceasefire groups are booming with poppy fields

In the Shan State, the largest commercially grown poppy fields, until 2006, were in 3 areas: Kokang, Wa and Loimaw (the last one incidentally is the late Khun Sa’s birthplace).

But the three, in 2003, 2005 and 2006 respectively became opium free. Since then cultivation has moved to Burma Army controlled areas by a process known as Balloon Effect which means when you squeeze one end of the balloon, it swells up in the other end.

(Khun Seng, Khun Sa’s uncle was reported to have remarked in late 2007, that beginning the 2007-08 season, the Wa withdrawal from the field would not matter anymore, as the rest of Shan State were replacing the shortfall.  

On the other hand, the Wa output had been grossly exaggerated, according to Ko-Lin Chin’s The Golden Triangle (2009). “The Wa area could produce no more than 100,000 kg (100 tons) a year,” he quoted Zhou Dafu, Deputy Director of the Wa Central Authority, P.55-56)

More than 10 years after its implementation, the 15 year (1999-2014) opium eradication master plan has yet to offer significant results.

Out of 51 targeted townships (43 in Shan, 4 in Kachin and 2 each in Chin and Kayah), only 13 of them can so far claim opium free or almost free of poppies.

The only thing significant is the fact that 9 out of these 13 townships are under the ceasefire groups’ control. (For details, see Shan Drug Watch 2009 Newsletter, P. 7-8)

On top of it is the fact that many untargeted townships have become poppy growers. So have untargeted states and divisions like Arakan, Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe. It has even crossed the western border into Bangladesh’s Chittagong hills.

Military authorities are exacting protection fees from the poppy farmers

Military authorities, at least on the local level, are certainly engaged in this pastime. Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, is an example. Burma Army-backed militias are collecting protection fees for the military there. Unlike their top generals who are getting paid by businessmen seeking concessions for gold, minerals, gems and such,  they don’t have that kind of luxury.

In addition, they have been under the self reliance policy (to feed, clothe and even equip themselves) since 1996. That is why they are destroying less poppy acres than they are reporting to their superiors.

That is why they are faking the facts and figures in their reports. Because they have to depend on the local people for their own existence.

Authorities tolerate drug involvement of their allies while it is politically expedient, and then use the issue to crack down on them when they show signs of dissent

In August, Kokang, an area in Shan State under the control of Peng Jiasheng, the ceasefire leader, was invaded and occupied by the Burma Army, when he refused to accept the Border Guard Force program offered by Naypyitaw.

This is nothing unusual, if we have been following events in Burma from the beginning:

1960 The Burma Army set up People’s Militias aka Ka-Kwe-Ye against Shan rebels. Two of the known militia leaders then were Law Hsinghan and Khun Sa. Their involvement in drugs was encouraged and protected by the Burma Army.

1989 The Burma Army began supporting the former rebel groups that concluded ceasefire agreements against remaining rebel movements, including Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army, that had chosen to fight against it

2004 (after Gen Khin Nyunt’s fall) The militias were once again came under the blessings against the ceasefire groups and the other rebel movements, especially, since last year. They are so well protected that drug entrepreneurs are relying on them both for protection and transportation. Militia transports are rarely stopped at junta checkpoints.

Opium growing is replacing traditional Palaung tea growing

In Shan State, there are two main non-Shan ethnic groups: Palaung and PaO. The Palaung report has said that many of the farmers are turning to poppy planting instead of their traditional tea planting. “This is because the regime has been controlling the price of tea, while commodity prices have been rising, so farmers cannot earn a living from tea anymore. It also takes three years to grow tea before it can be picked and sold, but opium can be grown and sold during only one season (4 months).” That is the same situation for the PaO who have for centuries been known as cheroot leaf planters. But nowadays their cheroot leaf plantations are making way for poppy plantations, a sort of crop substitution in the opposite direction. One PaO publication had even mourned: PaOs used to be synonymous with cheroot leaves. Now poppy flowers are replacing them as our new national symbol.

Increase of drug production is linked to militarization

That is obviously because of the militarization of politics in Burma. During the British days, when they had a total of 15 infantry battalions in the whole of Burma, of which 2 were in Shan State, opium production was under control. But when the number of infantry battalions has climbed up to more than 500, more than 150 in Shan State alone, opium production is out of control. That is because these army units are placing a big burden on the local populace for their existence. For example, a Thai private receives $ 248 per month but his Burmese counterpart only gets $22. How do we expect him to survive on that amount without bullying the people?

My request therefore is two fold:

To the UNODC: It’s time to start thinking of ways to work with independent civil society organizations (CSOs) to get your facts and figures right. How do you expect to formulate an effective drug control program without them?

To Burma’s ruling junta: You have been fighting the people for yourself for so long. It’s time you started fighting for them. You have also been militarizing politics for so long and it is getting the people nowhere. It’s time you really started demilitarizing politics and all political issues. Then all the people including yourself will be the winners. Thank you.

via shanland