Congress Govt Blamed For Excess Job Cards in Mizoram

Job Card Holders Working Under NREGS in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 24 : The opposition Mizo National Front today held the Congress government responsible for excess NREGS job cards in the state. The number of job cards had exceeded that of the households in six of the eight districts, the MNF said in a statement, quoting the Mizoram Statistical Handbook 2010.

Even though the number of job cards - 1,98,186 - issued by the state rural development department for 2010-2011 is less than the total number of households - 2,14,704 - in the eight districts, as a whole, the number of job cards is higher than that of households in six districts, resulting in 26,318 excess job cards.

Given that a single job card earns Rs 129 per day for 100 days in a year, Rs 3395.02 lakh has been wasted while implementing the NREGS in Mizoram, the MNF said in a statement.

Since majority of village councils, who monitor NREGS in their respective jurisdictions, are ruled by Congress, the party is responsible for this gross misappropriation of public money through fake job cards, the statement added.

While in Aizawl district, there are 37,367 job cards against the total 78,606 households; Saiha district has 12,947 job cards against 14,545 households, according to the records. In the remaining six districts, the number of job cards exceeds that of the households by 26,318.

Not only job cards, the number of family ration cards also exceed that of families in Mizoram, over which the Comptroler and Auditor General of India has also voiced serious concern.

The CAG, in its report for the year ended March 31, 2010, stated that the state s food, civil supplies and consumer affairs issued excess ration cards ranging between 66,746 to 1,23,570 during 2007-2010.

As a result, Mizoram had an excess number of population ranging between 1,07,708 to 3,70,414 during the period.

According to the report, the department issued 315838 ration cards against the projected 249092 number of households in 2009-2010.

The excess population, therefore, came to 370414 against the projected population of 1126067.

In 2007-2008, 311203 ration cards were issued against the projected 187633, making an excess population of 107708. Even though the projected number of households remained the same in 2008-2009, the ration cards came down to 305997.

However, the population according the FRCs jumped to 1552009 in 2008-2009.

The excess of ration cards came down to 66746 in 2009-2010 from 118364 in 2008-2009 and that of population to 370414 from 529637.

Whereas Mizoram s population, according to the FRCs issued in 2009-2010, was 1496418, the actual population as per the Census 2011 stands at 10,91,014.

Irom Sharmila Writes Back to Anna, Seeks Help For Her Freedom

Irom Sharmila turns down Anna's invite

Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila has expressed solidarity with Anna Hazare, but has nonetheless expressed her inability to attend the campaign in Delhi. The Sangai Express says that responding to the invitation sent to her to participate in the anti-corruption fast at New Delhi and for a strong Lokpal bill, Sharmila asked Hazare to either get her released from custody or to come to Manipur and join her in Manipur.

Irom Sharmila writes back to Anna, seeks help for her freedom

Only then can she join him in his "amazing crusade to root out corruption”

Kunal Majumder
New Delhi

Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila has requested Anna Hazare to speak to the concerned authorities for her freedom so that she could join him in his "amazing crusade to root out corruption which is the root of all evils". Yesterday, close aides of Sharmila had ruled out an unconditional support and spoken about the need for reciprocity from Team Anna towards her cause. She has been demanding a repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from North East and has been on fast since last ten years.

In a written reply to Anna, 38-year-old Sharmila welcomed his invitation, but said that she is unable to exercise her right to protest as an Indian citizen. She has been under house arrest at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Imphal since she began her fast. She also invited Anna to Manipur, a state she describes as “most corrupt affected region in the world”.

Many observers doubt if Anna, a former soldier, would support her cause which is against an act that ensures protection of armed forces from civilian litigations. Her own aides accept that though the method of protest in both cases is Gandhian, the causes are entirely different. For Team Anna to get Sharmila on board would mean a wider acceptance of his movement.

Perhaps if Anna’s protest had been here in Manipur, the response would not have been so vigorous: Irom Sharmila

As thousands back Anna Hazare’s protest against the Jan Lokpal Bill draft, the theatre of action remains the national Capital. In the periphery of this vast country, another Gandhian has been on fast for 10 years. Irom Sharmila continues her fast to compel the Centre to withdraw Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In this exclusive interview to Ratnadip Choudhury, she speaks her heart out on how the protest against AFSPA needs the support of the entire nation.

Irom Sharmila

Manipur newspapers trash invite to Sharmila

Manipur does not seem to be amused over Team Anna’s invite to Irom Chanu Sharmila - who has been on a fast for nearly 11 years now — to join the campaign against corruption and in favour of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the national capital.

“We have sent a letter to Irom Chanu Sharmila, through which we have not only expressed our solidarity with her but have also invited her to join this campaign against corruption,” said Akhil Gogoi, a member of Team Anna, on Tuesday.

In Manipur, however, a section feels that while Hazare is news, Sharmila has remained a non-entity. “Both are activists in their own rights and while Hazare has managed to fire the imagination of a large number of Indians with his take on corruption, Sharmila has been waging a quiet struggle away from the spotlight in a heavily fortified room at the security ward of JNIMS Hospital. While Hazare is News, Sharmila is a Non-entity,” said Sangai Express, a leading English daily from Imphal in its editorial Tuesday.

The newspaper also goes on to say that it is the issue — her demand for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act — that has kept her out of “national focus”.

Another Imphal newspaper, Hueiyen Lanpao, said: “It (the invite) can be interpreted as mischievous, callous and patronizing, which smacks of insincerity and total lack of knowledge of the ground reality of Sharmila’s struggle in Manipur.”

79 Militant Groups Active in Northeast

Cadres of a militant outfit from Manipur state undergoing training at its hideout at a jungle along Indo-Myanmar border.

New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Centre may have opened dialogue with some underground outfits, but according to an estimate of the Home Ministry, there are 79 insurgent groups including splinter factions, which are active across six North Eastern States.

A detailed list of the militant outfits furnished by Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran in the Lok Sabha reveals that Manipur has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of 50 active militant outfits in the region including 22 valley-based and 27 hill-based outfits.

One militant outfit, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) has 12 factions, while Kuki National Front has four factions.

While Assam has five active militant outfits including ULFA, NDFB, DHD,UPDS and KLO, neighboring Meghalaya has overtaken the State and now boasts of nine insurgent outfits. In neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, apart from the two factions of NSCN, another militant outfit, National Liberation Front of Arunachal has reared its head in the State.

Another interesting revelation is that barring Sikkim, rest of all the North Eastern States are now affected by militancy.

Mizoram, which was given a peace bonus by the Planning Commission last year, now has three militant groups including Hmar Peoples Convention (HPC D), Hmar National Liberation Front and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).

Nagaland and Tripura have six and three militant outfits respectively.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that there have been inputs suggesting liaison of top leaders of some of the insurgent groups in the Northeast India with the neighboring countries like China and Myanmar.

The Government of India has raised concern with China from time to time on the issue through the diplomatic channel, Ramachandran added.

Sadar Hills Impasse; Health Of Hunger Strikers Deteriorate

Dr. M.Lala Gen.Secy Red Cross at CHC Kangpokpi examining the health condition of seven admitted hunger strikers.

Imphal, Aug 23 : The conditions of the seven hunger strikers who were admitted to a local hospital on Saturday have deteriorated, said the hospital authority and advised the state government of Manipur to take over their care even as the strikers reportedly continue to refuse eating and even nose feeding.

Twelve women have launched hunger strike on August 15 in support of the ongoing general strike launched by Sadar Hills District hood Demand Committee (SHDDC) for the creation of Sadar Hills district that began on midnight July 31. Seven hunger strikers were on August 20 admitted to a community health centre at Kangpokpi under critical condition. Their health have reportedly gone from bad to worse since they continue to fast inside the hospital and refused to eat under the supervision of the attendant doctor.   

Having given up all attempts, Dr Pushpa Rai, MO in-charge at the health centre, reportedly stated in a medical report forwarded to the additional deputy commissioner that the authority at the center was unable to manage the seven hunger strikers. “They refuse to eat and nose fed,” she said and sought the intervention of the state government.

Meanwhile, an emailed press statement from Delhi by SHDDC said, “We feel proud of the hunger strikers and who volunteered themselves to sacrifice even their precious lives for this noble cause because district hood will bring more development and strengthen the integrity of the state.”

The statement maintained that a “diplomatic approach in Delhi and meeting with central leaders are progressing. We got attention of the VVIPs and all our meetings are positive and encouraging. Substantial solution to end the impasse over the movement of district hood is awaiting.”  

While observing that the present movement is set to be fought unto the last despite the verbal assurances and lip promises, the statement persuaded the people of Sadar Hills to “unceasingly lend helping hands, moral support and volunteers of the noble cause to continue and strengthen the movement and remain adamant for there will surely be the day we will achieve our aspiration.”

"Divisive policy of vested interests and uninvited section of communities should be ignored and not accounted to for the spirit of narrow mindedness usually brings worst result. However, it will be good and our society would be a healthy one if everyone has the spirit of positive thinking", it said.

Meanwhile, with the agitation by SHDDC entering its 22nd day today and another agitation triggered by the Nagas since yesterday, the people of Manipur are reeling under sharp and exponential price rise of essential communities.  

A 9-member Red Cross Society (RCS) Manipur led by its general secretary Dr M Lala sought a meeting with SHDDC today seeking access to National Highway 39 to ferry in life saving drugs which have run out owing to the ongoing agitation. The SHDDC has reportedly given the permission to bring in the required drugs via National Highway 39.

The team also went to Senapati to meet members of United Naga Council (UNC) concerning the same matter but had returned without meeting them as none of them were available at the district headquarters.

The Red Cross team then visited the seven hunger strikers at the health centre and interacted with them. The general secretary reportedly advised the hospital authority to shift the hunger strikers immediately to Imphal as their conditions have deteriorated.

Source: Newmai News Network

Boxing Star Mary Kom Sends Out Message Of Peace for Manipur

Imphal, Aug 23 : M C Mary Kom, the boxing sensation from Manipur, has appealed for a restoration of peace in Manipur, saying instability has come in the way of development and progress in the state.

Time and again, the people in Manipur have taken to the streets to protest against militant activities like bomb blasts, killings and extortions.

Frequent strikes and shut downs have adversely affected normal life in the state.

"When we go out to play, we hear lot of bad news like killing, kidnapping, bomb blast in different places, so we always have mental disturbances and cannot do training peacefully. We cannot concentrate on our preparation for competitions," said Mary Kom.

The five-time world-boxing champion was born on March 1, 1983 in a poor family, and believes that it is easy to run away from problems, but it takes a true champion to fight against all odds.

She began boxing in Class 8 and won her first boxing title in December 2000. She then went on to win her first world boxing title at USA in 2001.

Two decades ago it was impossible to believe that any one from Manipur could win a world champion title, not because there was dearth of talent, but because instability caused by militancy prevented the youth from realizing their potential.

"I want to give a message that we want peace in Manipur. If there is peace in Manipur, then we can focus on our field," said Mary Kom.

She says that Manipur has no dearth of talent. This was visible at the Commonwealth Games 2010 where athletes like Sandhya Rani, Renubala Chanu and Monica Devi from Manipur won laurels for the country.

"Young sportspersons from the region are coming up. There are even world champions among the youth, not only in Manipur, but in other northeast states also. If these youth are trained properly, then I am sure, they can achieve laurels at all levels," she said.

For years people in the Manipur has been reeling under the dark shadows of militant activities that have delayed the development of the region. And, it is the success stories of Mary Kom and others that have inspired people and given them hope. It is time to listen to them and their message about restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

Northeast Students Flay India's 'Double Standards'

Guwahati/Imphal, Aug 23 : North East Students' Organization (NESO), the apex body of students from the seven northeastern states, strongly criticized the Centre for maintaining double standards - while, on one hand, the government is buckling to public pressure and paying to Anna Hazare's fast for the implementation of a strict Lokpal bill, on the other, it is ignoring Manipuri hunger striker Irom Sharmila Chanu.

The students' body has demanded the release of Sharmila, who is currently in judicial custody and is being kept at the security ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Sharmila has been on a hunger strike for the last 10 years to have the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) repealed from the region.

"For the last 10 years, Iron Lady Sharmila has been on a hunger strike for the sake of people from the region. But her democratic protest has never cut any ice with the Centre. Our question is why doesn't the Centre accord any importance to her cause?" said Gumjum Haider, general secretary of NESO.

NESO further said the Centre should respond equally to the needs of the people all over the country. "People in a democracy have the right to express their feelings and the government is bound to listen to their needs. We have full support for Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. But we are hurt at the way Centre is maintaining different standards by ignoring Irom Sharmila and paying attention to him," he said.

New Delhi is treating the northeastern people as second class citizens, feels Neso. "Why is this Army act enforced in the northeast when the Centre is refusing to do the same in Maoist-affected areas where violence is much higher?" Haider asked.

NESO further said it would start a democratic agitation to make the Centre hear the voice of Manipur. It also demanded that Afspa, for which Irom Sharmila is protesting, should be repealed.

"Even in the past, we tried to make them hear our voice, but in vain. But their attitude is compelling us to start an agitation. Very soon, our delegates would be visiting the ministers concerned in New Delhi and then we will decide what to do," he said.

"We want the act, which is totally logic-less in any democracy, to be repealed from the region. The act violates our basic human rights. Moreover, like Anna Hazare, Irom Sharmila too should be set free," he said.

On the other hand, Anna's invitation to Sharmila to join the anti-graft stir at the national capital looks improbable at the moment as she is currently under judicial custody. Though the matter is being discussed by hordes of human rights defenders in Imphal, many feel that the invitation is not appropriate as the cause of Anna and Shamaila's agitation is quite different.

On Saturday night, Team Anna contacted prominent human rights defender Babloo Loitongbam on the phone, seeking Sharmila's participation in the anti-corruption campaign in New Delhi. Babloo, who is the executive director of Human Rights Alert (HRA), referred the matter to Just Peace Foundation (JPF), a trust formed for the cause of Sharmila's unrelenting struggle against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Seeking repeal of the military Act, which gives unbridled powers to the armed forces and even allows them to shoot persons on mere suspicion, Sharmila has been on a fast since November 5, 2000. She is being forced-fed through her nose by the government at the security ward of state-run Jawaharlal Nehru hospital close to her Kongpal Kongkham Leikai residence in Imphal East.

"When I was contacted by Team Anna on the phone, I clearly told them that Sharmila is currently under judicial custody for which there would be no possibility for her join Anna's anti-corruption rally in New Delhi," said Babloo.

Irom Singhajit, the elder brother of Sharmila and managing trustee of JPF, told TOI that a meeting is being convened in Imphal to discuss the issue. "Since Sharmila is under arrest, she cannot join the anti-corruption stir and the possibility of sending our members to join Anna's campaign can't be ruled out," said Singhajit. He added that a decision would be taken very soon.

Mizo Chiefs Welcome Mizoram Cabinet Move

A picture of a former Mizo Fanai Chief

Aizawl, Aug 23 : The former Mizo chiefs have warmly welcomed the Lal Thanhawla Cabinet s recent decision to give them compensation, which they have been fighting for in the high court for 17 years.

The Mizo chiefs are extremely pleased by the Mizoram cabinet s decision to give us compensation for their lands, which the Assam government had confiscated by its self-imposed authority, against the Constitution of India, Mizo Chiefs Council said in a statement today.

The Cabinet s decision is balm to the wounds inflicted upon the Mizo chiefs, the statement said.

The Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Lal Thanhawla, on August 17, decided to send its recommendations on this matter to the Centre for final approval and payment of compensation.

Mizo sovereign chiefs who had ruled the then Lushai country , as called by the invading British troops, continued to hold their chieftainship during the British rule, but the government under independent India abolished the chieftainship and replaced it with democratically elected village councils.

The former chiefs and their descendants were rendered landless and without subjects and the government refused to pay compensation while in neighboring states, the chiefs were allowed to continue or dethroned by payment of compensation.

The Mizo chiefs council challenged and fought the decision of the government and even moved Gauhati High Court seeking justice.

AASU Attacks PM For Not Keeping Promise On Floods

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, Aug 23 : The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress-led government at the Centre for allegedly not keeping its promise of treating Assam’s flood and erosion as a “national” problem.

“The Prime Minister had, in a tripartite meeting on May 5, 2005, announced that the government will declare Assam’s flood and erosion as a national problem. But more than six years have passed and nothing has been done,” AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharyya also pointed at an Assam government advertisement issued soon after the meeting of May 2005, which clearly mentioned that the PM had agreed to declare it “national” problem.

He said, “What is more disturbing is that the Prime Minister is no stranger to Assam. He has been a member of the Rajya Sabha from here since 1991.”

The AASU, which on Sunday sent relief material for the people affected by the recent flash floods in Dhemaji district in eastern Assam, also blamed the state government for not reaching out to the majority of the flood victims. At least 10 persons have been killed in the flash floods and several are still reported missing. While the flash floods have affected over 1.54 lakh people in the district, the people are now facing severe shortage of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s Monday visit to Dhemaji had to be called off due to inclement weather.

According to sources, he is likely to make an aerial survey of the district and visit a few spots on Tuesday.