Centre Rejects Manipur's Bid To Impose Inner Line Permit

By Madhumita Chakraborty

The Centre is reported to have turned down the Manipur government's demand for the introduction of the provision of Inner Line Permit system to restrict entry of outsiders in the state under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has already intimated the Manipur government about the Centre's opposition to the ILP, as "there is no provision for the introduction of ILP in Manipur."

The Centre, instead, asked the Ibobi government to defuse the crisis and keep strict vigil on the non-Manipuri people who are engaged in different low paid trades.

Last year, several non-Manipuri residents, mainly from Bihar, were killed by rebels belonging to the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak who have been demanding the ouster of all non-Manipuris from the state.

The state government had to open relief camps for the displaced non-Manipuri residents besides strengthening the security for their family members.

Even social organisations openly condemned the killing of non-Manipuri traders and daily labourers by the extremists.

However, this time the situation is different.

Various social organisations, including students and women groups, are up in arms against the non-Manipuri people settled in Manipur and engaged in different trades.

72 year-old social activist K B Sharma went on fast while the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit led by Sapamcha Jadumani launched a relentless campaign forcing the state assembly on July 13 to pass a Private Member Bill on the introduction of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 provisions in Manipur.

The JCILP, which is spearheading the movement, has set November 18 as the deadline for the introduction of the ILP in Manipur.

Jadumani states that "ILP does not need Centre's clearance".

The JCILP has warned that 'if the ILP was not introduced by November 18, there will be massive movement in the state'.

"We don't wish to become minority in our homeland," the organisation said.

This Inner Line Permit system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 was introduced long ago in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The aim was to ensure that ethnic tribes of these three states could maintain their distinct identity and at the same time promote their culture and tradition.

Even an Indian citizen, who belongs to any other state, has to apply for Inner Line Permit for visiting those states.

The introduction of Inner Line Permit was never considered for Manipur, being a multi-ethnic state. In fact, some state governments in the region believe that the ILP system is hampering the prospects of tourism in the region.

Meghalaya government opposed the introduction of ILP, but at the same time introduced steps to tighten work permit and trade licence for 'outsiders'.

The Manipur cabinet also recommended the introduction of the ILP system in the state to check the entry of "Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals".

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is reported to have clarified that his government would take a series of steps to effectively check the entry of 'Bangladeshi and Myanmarese citizens' in Manipur.

Intelligence sources confirmed that seven underground outfits, including PLA, PREPAK and KYKL, who formed a coordination committee just on the eve of the last assembly elections in the state, are now 'sponsoring' the movement against the 'outsiders'.

Mizoram Allocates Rs.410 crore To End 'Jhum Cultivation'

Aizawl, Jul 18 : Under its New Land Use Policy (NLUP), Mizoram is laying emphasis on ending the age-old "jhum" shifting cultivation and has allocated Rs.410 crore in this year's budget to enable about 30,000 more tribal families to shift to stable farming, a minister said Tuesday.

"In this year's state budget, Rs.370 crore has been earmarked for the execution of the NLUP. Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana, Rs.40 crore has also been sanctioned for the same NLUP," Mizoram Finance Minister H. Liansailova told the state assembly during its on-going budget session.

He said: "Already 90,139 farmers families have benefited under the state government's flagship scheme, and 29,861 more families would be benefited during this financial year."

"The Planning Commission has appreciated the Mizoram government for launching such a unique scheme. The NLUP's success could be a model for other northeastern states," he added.

The Mizoram government initiated its New Land Use Policy (NLUP) in January 2010 to put an end to the age-old shifting or slash-and-burn method of cultivation, and help the tribal farmers to shift to stable cultivation of various cash crops.

The minister claimed that after launching the NLUP, 'jhum' cultivation areas have been reduced by 42 percent and as such the forest cover has been increased in these areas.

This shifting form of farming usually involves cutting down of entire forests in the hills, allowing the slashed vegetation to dry on mountain slopes prior to burning and sowing of new crops. Rice is inter cropped with vegetables, maize, cotton, mustard and so on.

The NLUP aims to restore ecological balance by providing the farmers alternative sustainable and permanent land-based means of livelihood.

It also aims to create 21,480 hectares of bamboo plantation to benefit 10,740 families.

Mizoram has a large forest cover area of 75.77 percent of the total land.

According to an official report, the NLUP intends to keep 60 percent of the state's total geographical area under forest cover and bring the rest under land-based development.

About 80 percent of farmers in mountainous Mizoram, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, still depend on "jhum" cultivation.

Chekrovolu Swuro

Full Name: Chekrovolu Swuro

Born: 21 November, 1982 (age 30)

Sports: Archery

Chekrovolu Swuro, the archer from Nagaland, is part of Indian National Women Archery team who had won silver medal at the World Championships in Turin, Italy in 2011.

Chekrovolu Swuro’s moment of glory was winning the Bronze medal at 2008 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

In 1999, she won a Silver medal at the 1st Asian Archery Circuit Meet. In 2000, she performed well and won a Silver medal for her team at the 3rd Asian Archery Circuit Meet.

She would be participating in the Women`s Individual Event as well as the Women`s Recurve Team Event.

Will Separate Parties For NE Students Help Them?

By Neha Das

With admission over in DU seniors are now planning to welcome the freshers. But a special effort is being made to make the Northeastern students feel more comfortable.

In their attempt to remove a sense of alienation, many colleges are planning to organise separate freshers’ parties for them. But is it a great idea to have a separate party especially for Northeast students? Will it mainstream them or will it deepen the so-called divide?

Metrolife spoke to few students from DU regarding the issue of organising community-based freshers’ parties apart from departmental and regular college dos. While some students said it is an important tool for interaction between newcomers and seniors, others disagreed with the concept and saw it as an act promoting groupism.

Vanlalzauona Hnialum, a fresher from Manipur who has got admission in Shyam Lal College, feels that this is a positive step. “Having a separate fest would help promote our culture. We can also mingle with our fellow community members and strengthen our bond within the community.”
Victor Jamatia from Tripura, pursuing Geography (Hons), seconds Vanlalzauona. “It is good for those who come from far-off places; it will help in community build-up. We will get to meet our seniors from the Northeast. They will help us relax. In a regular fest we are not involved by general students and are ignored. So, in a separate fest we would get a chance to take part in the preparations as well.”

Recently, a few incidents in the Capital have highlighted the vulnerability of students from the Northeastern states. Numerous demonstrations and meetings to curb these problems have also been held in the City. So it is important for certain measures to be
taken, for them not to feel marginalised. Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline also welcomed it as positive change in the University.

“If they are planning this out of a general concern for NE then organising separately is well and good. But, if they are doing it in order to bring some sort of solution then it should be integrated along with all other communities, not just by and for NE students. Cultural integration is very important to explore our vast and varied cultures and societies, which form our country.

“Organising separately for NE students will help mingle them within the different tribes of NE and not with mainline communities. For that separate parties should be done. In most of NE cultural functions, traditional costumes are usually worn. Such traditional costumes could be mocked at by others at such a gathering.

Terming this step as more problematic, Spriha Rastogi from DU, said, “It will add to the existing issues. This will result in groupism and students from NE will not mingle with other students. Parties should always be for everyone and not held separately. How else can they be mainstreamed?”

Laishram Bombayla Devi

Full Name: Laishram Bombayla Devi

Born: 22 February, 1985 (age 27)

Sports: Archery

Height: 5`4"

Weight: 59kgs

Laishram Bombayla Devi born on 22 February, 1985 in Manipur is part of the 4-member archery team that would be representing India at the 2012 London Olympics.

She was also a part of 2008 Beijing Olympics contingent competing in the women`s individual as well as team events, but failed to reach the finals in both events.

She along with Deepika Kumari and Chekrovolu Swuro booked three Olympic quota places at Turin during the world championships in 2011. She would be competing in the Women`s Individual Event as well as the Women`s Recurve Team Event.

Northeast Road-Rail Links Snap Due To Landslide

Agartala/Silchar, Jul 17 : Surface links between the northeastern states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram as also southern Assam and the rest of India have worsened since Sunday with massive landslides blocking a crucial national highway, and the rail services snapped three weeks ago yet to be restored, officials said.

Tracks damaged three weeks ago by landslides caused by heavy rains are yet to be restored, and "it is uncertain when the railway services would be restored in the region," Northeast Frontier Railway's (NFR) divisional railway manager Rakesh Kumar Goel told reporters on Monday.

Worsening the surface communications in the same region, massive landslides occurred on Sunday on the crucial National Highway No 44 linking these northeastern states with the rest of India.

A Tripura government official said heavy rains triggered the landslides, and the Assam-Agartala NH 44 has been blocked at Sonapur and Tongseng in Jaintia Hills district in eastern Meghalaya, bordering Assam, with huge boulders covering the road.

"The BRO (Border Roads Organisation) engineers and workers immediately started work to clear the debris and to restore the traffic," the official added.

Sonapur and Tongseng, about 150 km from the Meghalaya capital Shillong, is a landslide-prone area and is linked with National Highway No.40 connecting Shillong and Guwahati in Assam, the gateway to the rest of India.

"Allout efforts have been made to resume both passenger and goods train services between Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and southern Assam and the rest of India by first week of next month," NFR's Goel told reporters at Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao district in southern Assam.

"As the damage to tracks, bridges, tunnels and adjoining areas is so colossal, restoring railway services in the region is getting delayed."

The official said: "Over 200 people comprising engineers and railway workers led by senior officials of NFR's Lumding division are working round-the-clock to clear the debris at many places."

The main hurdle for the early resumption of the train services along these routes is tunnel No 17, which was severely hit by the landslides on the Barail hills.

Railway services were suspended in the region June 25 following heavy rains and landslides that damaged large stretches of railway tracks, bridges, tunnels and adjoining areas in southern Assam's mountainous Dima Hasao district.

Tripura transport department secretary Kishore Ambuly quoting NF Railway authorities said: "Due to intermittent and torrential rains, restoration works are getting delayed and fresh landslides are taking place in and around rocky areas."

The landslides at about 90 places, following incessant rains, have in some places washed away or damaged nearby surface roads in Dima Hasao district, about 300 km from Assam's main city Guwahati.

Over 3,500 passengers in four trains were stranded for four days at three places on a single metre-gauge rail line in the region. They were rescued by railway and district administration personnel and sent onwards to their destinations.

The Dima Hasao district is connects Tripura capital Agartala and parts of Manipur, Mizoram and southern Assam with the rest of India by a single 108-year-old metre-gauge railway track.

The foundation stone for conversion of these railway tracks from metre-gauge to broad-gauge had been laid by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in January 1996. The cost of the broad gauge project has now mounted to Rs 2,800 crore from Rs 648 crore in 1996.

The suspension of train services has severely hit supply of essential commodities and food grain, sending prices soaring. The region is heavily dependent on the supplies of rice, essential commodities and vital items from the other parts of India.

"The Tripura food and civil supplies department has in separate letters requested the Food Corporation of India and the union ministry of food and civil supplies to ensure immediate stocks of essentials, specially rice," an official of the Tripura government said.

In June-July 2010, railway traffic was disrupted for 34 days after a 300-metre track between Harangajao and Mailongdisa, 78 km from southern Assam's main city, Silchar, was washed away by heavy landslides.

Mizoram Churches Support Over 2,000 Missionaries

By Achunga Chuaungo

The total number of Christians in Mizoram is thought to be 911,543 (84% of the population).

The Church in Mizoram sponsored over 2,000 missionaries in India and abroad this past year, according to an official data.

The Statistical Abstract of Mizoram 2011, published by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, states that 2,382 missionaries are sponsored by at least eight different church bodies.

Presbyterian Church of Mizoram sponsored 990 missionaries, of whom 472 are female and 518 are male. Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) sponsored 577 missionaries, United Pentecostal Church (North East India) (UPC-NEI) sponsored 125 and United Pentecostal Church (Mizoram) (UPC-Mz) 83.

Adding to the list would be the Salvation Army which sponsored 281, Seventh Day Adventist 57, Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM) 247 and Lairam Isua Krista Baptist Kohhran (LIKBK/Jesus Christ Baptist Church of Lairam) 22.

Despite being one of the most backward state in India, the churches without fail raise funds “for the ministry of the Lord”, says Zosangliana Colney, leader of Mizoram Presbyterian Church.

Besides tithes and offerings, Christians in Mizoram still follow the practice of setting aside a handful of rice before every meal. The rice is then collected each week and sold or even sent to homes of missionaries. The impressive tradition supposedly began in the year 1914.

Meanwhile, going by the stats, the Mizoram Presbyterian is the biggest denomination having 472,840 members within the state, followed by BCM (146,331), UPC-NEI (91,720), UPC-Mz (41,558), Salvation Army (55,791) and Seventh Day Adventist (19,235).

It further reveals that there are 2,612 church buildings across the state. Also, there are 184 schools of which 89 belong to the Presbyterian Church and 46 to the Roman Catholic.

The total number of Christians is thought to be 911,543 (84% of the population).

According to the statistical abstract, published by the Government of Mizoram, the state has about 31,562 Hindus, 10,009 Muslims, 326 Sikhs and 179 Jains There are some 3,105 people following religions described as “others.”

Buddhism, with over 70,494 followers, is the second largest religion in Mizoram.

The population was based on the Census 2001 in which the number of Christians was placed at 7,72,809.

Mizoram, one of the Seven Sister States in Northeast India, shares land borders with Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Bangladesh and the Chin state of Burma. Thanks to English missionaries, the state ranks second in India with a literacy rate of 88.49%.

'Misogynist' Jibe at Assamese Outside State

By Gaurav Das

Guwahati, Jul 17 : As if derogatory terms like 'chinki' or 'junglee' weren't enough, people of the Assamese community, both students and working professions, are facing flak for the GS Road molestation incident in places like Bangalore and Delhi in the form of verbal taunts and jibes.

The city has now become synonymous with the July 9 incident. Just type 'g' and 'u' on search engine Google and the first links that come up are on the Guwahati molestation.

"I have been living in Delhi for the past 24 years, and I had created an impression in front of my non-Assamese friends that we, as a people, are free and open-minded; we have no dowry system and women get a special respect in our community. But after this incident, the non-Assamese people who know me have begun asking me whether this is the way the Assamese men treat their women. With this incident, the image of our people has taken a severe setback," said Ashim Dutta, a Delhi-based web designer and entrepreneur.

And it is not just the molestation incident that is behind this loss of face for the Assamese. The recent public thrashing of MLA Rumi Nath, which was caught live on camera, had sent shock waves across the nation. And the incident which was still fresh in the minds of people when the young girl was publicly molested by a mob on GS Road last Monday. The entire episode, which was recorded on camera, resulted in a massive national outrage.

The footage of the assault, which was being repeatedly aired by major national broadcasting networks, has not only enraged the general populace but put the spotlight on Assamese community. The incident has smudged and tainted the image of the docile Assamese, and this at a time when the state was just emerging from decades of insurgency, which had earned it the sobriquet of being 'strife-torn'.

Chandan Medhi, an Assamese software professional based in Bangalore, said, "The G S Road episode has given a chance to those who love to term Assam as some sort of savage land. Since the incident I've been barged with questions like 'Is this a regular affair?', 'Is this the way you all treat women for having a peg or two?', and the worst one - 'Are we misogynists?"