RBI Extends Banking Facilities To Remote Areas of Northeast

Agartala, Jan 18 : The Reserve Bank of India, recently conducted a financial outreach camp in remote villages of Tripura.

For the people of Bagmara village in Tripura's Dhalai District, banking facilities was just a dream till some years ago, but today, hundreds of them are a part of it, thanks to the financial outreach programme that has been initiated by the RBI.

They villagers are happy, as more than 725 of them got their zero balance accounts and for the first time they will have a passbook.

325 soft loans were also disbursed mainly among the women self help groups of the region.

Apart from Reserve Bank, State Bank, NABARD, United Bank of India and Tripura State Cooperative Bank had also set up stalls.

The main aim behind organizing this camp was to aware and educate people and prevent them from putting their money in the unauthorized non banking financial companies and institutions in hope of hefty returns.

"Education on financial literacy is one of the most important areas that require focus and our officials are working in collaboration with the local bodies. They are very active in educating people on various facilities available to the people from the bank," said S Karuppasamy, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India.

This was the 18th camp organized by RBI in Northeast since 2009 for enhancing banking facilities.

Through these camps, the central bank has included more than 1000 villages and spread awareness on various banking facilities and security features of currency notes in northeast.

Reserve Bank aims to improve the credit-deposit ratio, increase the agri credit flow and the number of branches would increase to stimulate growth of industry, trade and commerce in region.

"We have received a soft loan of Rs 12,000 at very low interest rate from a bank during this camp. With the money, there will be rise in our income and it would enable us to run our families better and educate our children," said Sima Narang, member, Self Help Group.

"We have received loan from the bank to cultivate mushroom. We hope to make good profits now and also expect similar co-operation from the bank in future," said Ratna, another member of Self Help Group.

These facilities will not just help people keep their money safe but also pave way for the economic development of the region.

Extending banking facility in the northeast is a huge challenge for the banks because of the regions difficult terrain, lower population densities, poor infrastructure and communication facilities and law and order problems.

Mumbai International Film Festival To Get A Taste Of The Northeast

Kolkata, Jan 18 : With increased entries from the north-east, this year’s edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) will have a major representation from the region.

Besides a special package of 10 films from the North-East, 6-7 other films from the region will be screened in the India’s largest documentary, short and animation film festival from 3 to 9 February.

“We were pleasantly surprised this year as we got 32 entries from the north-east. This shows that the quality and the quantity of films have improved in the region,” MIFF director Bankim said.

Manipur alone has representation of around 10 films. Imphal-based journalist Borun Thokchom’s The Silent Poet and Romi Meitei’s Rock and Egg (14 minutes) will be competing in the international section while Chandam Netraj’s April 6th (10 minutes) will be competing for the best documentary in the Indian section.

Besides, Saikhom Ratan and RK Suresh’s SOS will also be screened at the 12th edition of the MIFF.

The Silent Poet shows 15 minutes of unused footages of Iron lady Irom Sharmila’s life under custody and how she continued her 11-year-long hunger strike against AFSPA.

It also reveals the poetic side of the human rights activist, who is nose-fed to keep her alive.

SOS, on the other hand, is a brief but detailed illustration of Sharmila within 21 minutes. Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar’s Mr India, which had bagged the best non-feature film award on social issues in the 57th National Film Awards for 2009, will also be screened.

The 47-minute documentary chronicles the life of an HIV patient who overcame all odds and barriers to win Mr India title.

Besides few films from Assam, one film each from Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh will be shown at the film carnival.

MIFF has received a record 791 entries from all over the world with 37 countries entering the festival. From this year, the award money has been enhanced significantly and the Indian competition section has also been
revived to promote national talents.

Manipur Poll Campaign Yet To Gather Steam

Imphal, Jan 18 : Barely 11 days to go, lacklustre campaigning for the coming 28 January Manipur assembly polls is at a very low ebb with candidates confining to hoisting flags at their houses and their supporters.

Reports from all districts said, apart from hoisting flags at their houses, candidates were doing house-to-house campaigns to woo voters in their favours.

Yet to wave to the people. Reuters

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which was a major issue in previous election was no longer a major issue this time although the political parties raised this issue during the campaigning, reports said.

Reports said candidates while campaigning were concentrating the erratic power supply, shortage of drinking water, insurgency problem, previous government’s failure to make the national highways free from any trouble. There has not been any major public meetings of any party to woo voters in any part of the state to woo voters, reports said adding that it may be because of restrictions imposed by various insurgent outfits on political
parties.

Political observers said no political parties or their supporters have not been campaigning in favour of their candidates by using public loud speaker system or have they put up any posters at any public places in favour of their candidates.

‘It is silent all over unlike in the past,’ reports said adding that the polls this time was totally different from the past.

Political observers said every voter should have the opportunity to choose the representative of their choice and too much restrictions both by insurgents and authorities was ‘not advisable’.

Seven major insurgent organisations have banned the campaigning of congress and its workers saying that they were against the ‘revolutionary movement’ of Manipur.

The insurgents have exploded and hurled grenades and bombs at several places across the Manipur valley at several places in the past two weeks during which some were injured and houses destroyed.

Press statements issued by them said they would not spare the persons who disobeyed their ‘diktat’ before and after the elections.

Official sources said some militant had also attacked the candidates of non-congress candidates by lobbing grenades saying that no former militant should fight the elections held under the provisions of Indian Constitution.

Election office sources said candidates had been instructed not to go out in the night to campaign for the elections although whoever have filed nomination papers have been provided adequate security personnel.

Sources said out of 350 companies of forces including 280 paramilitary forces, more than 218 companies have arrived in Imphal adding that the personnel were now engaging in foot patrolling and other activities to acclimatise the situation.

Reports from the districts said no community feast was held to woo voters this time unlike in previous elections because of restrictions from the election commission.

In the previous assembly elections, candidates had organised community feast at every place to woo voters.

Election office said observers including police observers had come and were closely monitoring the activities of the candidates and supporters in regard to their expenditures, and other things.

Mizo Pioneer Laid To Rest In Tomb He Built

Peter Hauhnar lights a candle at the tomb of his father in Ri Bhoi.

Umran (Ri Bhoi), Jan 17 : The founder and editor of a Mizo vernacular daily and a man with many firsts on his resumé, Paul Zakhuma Hauhnar, 85, has been finally laid to rest in one of the two tombs he had constructed 10 years ago for himself and his wife.

Hauhnar, who had settled in this hamlet in Ri Bhoi district, around 40km from Shillong, died on January 11 and the unconventional funeral was held the next at his residence, Breezedale.

His love for his home had prompted him to construct the two tombs so that he and his 84-year-old wife, Virginia Biaknemi, could forever rest there and be remembered by their five children, 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Hauhnar also had many firsts to his credit.

Besides starting and becoming the editor of a Mizo vernacular daily, The Aijal Daily News, in 1963, he was also pioneered a public transport system in Aizawl.

He also was the first Mizo to graduate from the Notre Dame University in the US, and the public transport system, Aizawl Town Service, was based on his experiences in the US. He converted a station wagon into a passenger vehicle, which ferried passengers between Dawrpui to Kulikawn areas of the town at 50 paise per ride. A young woman was appointed the conductor. Two jeeps were also pressed into service to ferry people, especially the sick.

Hauhnar also played a major role during the 1966 Indian Air Force raids against Mizo National Front (MNF) rebels and ferried dead civilians to burial grounds and also took the initiative to rehabilitate affected families.

As the law and order situation worsened, Paul and family moved to Shillong in 1967, only to know after a few months that MNF rebels had torched his paternal home in retaliation against his neutral stance.

After settling at Umran in 1977, he combined business and protection of environment and started the Breezedale Tourist Resort in his residential complex, while preserving the pristine beauty of nature.

According to Haunhar’s son, Peter, he used to educate people in and around Umran not to hunt wild animals, especially deer, which were found in the forests of Umran in the past.

“He carried out a lot of charity work in and around the locality, and we will continue to emulate his example,” said his youngest daughter, Cecilia Zohmingliani Ravi, a doctor currently working in the US.

Manipur Terror Outfit Extorted Rs 150 cr in 4 yrs

By Rajesh Ahuja

New Delhi, Jan 17 : A probe carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has laid bare the thriving extortion industry in Manipur.

It reveals that banned terror outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF) earned around Rs 150 crore between 2007 and 2010 through extortion.

Besides UNLF, many other terror outfits are also extorting money in the state.

According to sources, while the outfit extorted around Rs 44 crore in 2007, it earned around Rs 38 crore in 2008, Rs 36 crore in 2009 and Rs 30 crore in 2010.

According to NIA sources, one part of the proceeds from extortion has been used by the outfit to   procure arms and ammunition and other part was invested by it in genuine business.
“Most of the funds come from contractors who execute various central and state government schemes,” said source.

The probe agency has arrested three top UNLF cadres, N Bomi Singh, Y Brojobidhu Singh and A Ibomcha Singh, who were allegedly part of the conspiracy to launder money into businesses. According to NIA, the trio held different positions in the Association for Extensive Growers Innovative Service.

Lalthanhawla Gets Taekwondo Black belt

By Manoj Anand

Aizawl, Jan 16 : In what has been seen as a rare appreciation to his love for sports, the South Korean government has conferred the black belt degree in taekwondo to Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla.

Master Lee Jeong Hee, a general sports manager under the embassy of Republic of Korea in Delhi conferred the honorary belt to 73-year oldchief minister on behalf of the Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo Federation.

It is significant that before Mr Lal Thanhawla, the federation had conferred this honorary degree to only one Indian — Shah Rukh Khan.

In an obvious attempt to promote taekwondo in India, the South Korean government however intends to confer honorary black belt to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi also.

Disclosing this to reporters at Aizawl, the renowned taekwondo teacher and sports manager of Korean embassy Master Lee Jeong Hee said,

“Mizos, who have similar physical features with Koreans, have the capabilities to be globally-known in this form of martial arts.”

Master Lee, a sixth-dan blackbelt in taekwondo, sent to promote taekwondo in India by World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and South Korea government, is in Mizoram to coach Mizo taekwondo fighters for six days, starting from Sunday.

Fresh Death Of Fowls, Culling Continues in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jan 16 : Fresh deaths of domesticated fowls have been reported in Meghalaya, even as the culling of birds in a three-kilometre radius of the bird-flu epicentre of Williamnagar in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills entered its third day Sunday, an official said.

More than 2,321 birds, including domesticated fowls, were culled and buried with lime and bleaching powder in 10 villages within the three-kilometre radius of the government-run farm at Williamnagar - the epicentre of H5N1 virus, the official said.

"The culling exercise would continue in 10 more villages within the three-kilometre radius of the farm. We are hopeful to complete this exercise in a span of another three days or so," Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Director D. Lyngwa told IANS.

Besides, the 13-member rapid response team have destroyed total 892 eggs and 850 kilograms of feeds during the two days, he said.

The government had recently sent samples to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal after more than 3,000 birds died in the past few weeks at the farm in Williamnagar.

Meanwhile, there have been fresh reports of death of domesticated fowls outside the culling area in and around the district headquarters.

"It is difficult to quantify the exact number of deaths because the villages have not officially informed us but nonetheless surveillance teams have been deployed in those areas to monitor the health of the birds," East Garo Hills District Magistrate Pravin Bakshi told IANS.

Expressing concerns on dumping of dead fowls into the Simsang river by villagers, Bakshi said a special team have launched an awareness campaign, urging villagers to bury their dead birds in a deep pit with lime to prevent the H5N1 virus from spreading to humans.

Though there has been no report of the infection spreading to humans, the district official said health workers are conducting house-to-house surveillance to confirm if any person is infected with H1N1 virus.

The state health and family welfare department rushed a micro-biologist and a pathologist to Williamnagar.

"A team of specialists is stationed at Williamnagar to monitor human health in view of the birds testing positive for H5N1. The government will provide all necessary medicines," said state medical chief A.C. Hazarika.

The government has asked all districts to monitor the health of all poultry. The movement and sale of poultry and poultry products from the affected area has been stopped.

Mizoram Asked To Hold Talks With HPC-D

Aizawl, Jan 14 : The Centre has asked Mizoram chief secretary Vanhela Pachuau to reopen peace negotiations with Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic).

Confirming the news, state home minister R. Lalzirliana told this correspondent today that he had earlier ruled out holding any peace dialogues with the HPC(D), which sprang up after the militant Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) reached a settlement with the state government in 1994, following which 375 of its cadres surrendered.

The Union home ministry’s instruction came recently, after the state government did not renew the six-month suspension of operations agreement with the HPC(D) clamped on November 11, 2010 on the plea that the rebels were insisting on the inclusion of an overseas Hmar tribal Christian missionary, Rochunga Pudaite, in their negotiating team.

Chief minister Lalthanhawla had resented the inclusion of Pudaite in the peace talks, saying that he was “foreigner” as he had already taken up US citizenship.

The state government has informed the Centre that it would adhere to its instructions and pursue peace talks with the Hmar rebels.

However, the chief minister has pointed out to the Union home ministry that the state would have to first ascertain with which HPC(D) faction it should have a dialogue.

The Centre had asked the outfit to surrender in the winter of 2010 before peace talks could be started with the Mizoram government.

The internecine feuds of HPC(D) has forced the state government to nurse doubts about a positive outcome even as it holds the fresh peace dialogues with the Hmar insurgents.

The HPC(D), according to the Central intelligence agencies in Aizawl and Haflong, are now a divided house with the present leadership split up in two camps.

While its founder president Lalhmingthanga Sanate is leading one faction, the other is led by John F. Hmar, an important member of the 12-member executive council of the undivided HPC.

The founder president of the outfit, Lalhmingthanga Sanate, was “impeached” by the executive council of HPC(D) on September 29 last year for signing a “deed of agreement” with the Kuki National Organisation, an outfit active in Manipur, Mizoram and Assam’s Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts, without its permission.

John F. Hmar, who was holding the powerful post of publicity secretary of the HPC(D), is now the chief of the rival faction of the outfit.