Mizoram Parents Asked to Protect Kids

Aizawl, Oct 31 : Parents in Mizoram need to be more aware of their responsibility towards protecting and guiding their children and wards in the prevailing atmosphere of rampant pedophilia.

This was the first recommendation made by a research study titled Study on Child Sexual Abuse in Mizoram which was released here on October 26.

The research was funded by the social welfare department and undertaken by Rohmingthangi — a teacher from the department of history in Pachhunga University College — on behalf of Human Rights and Law Network (HRLN).

The period studied is between 2003 and 2009. Of the total number of cases studied, 17.31 per cent are children aged up to five. This includes rape among other forms of abuse.

The main research query was “why rape happens in Mizoram,” and a detailed study on backgrounds of the victims and those of the perpetrators to give parents, guardians and society tips on safeguarding them from the child predators.

The study calls for more awareness on the concept of child right and recommended NGOs like Mizoram Hmeichhe Insuikhawm Pawl (MHIP), a women’s federation which had formed a committee, to fight rape. Such steps are required along with counselling and rehabilitation of the victims, the report said.

A disturbing finding of the research and one which reflects on the judiciary is that among the perpetrators of rape there are repeat offenders. The research has also criticised the attitude of traditional village leaders and even some NGOs for trying to settle the matter by pressuring the victims’ side to forgive and forget.

At the same time, many elders of families prefer to keep the matter hidden fearing stigmatisation. The concept of punishment for a crime is yet to sink into local society. This requires a change as it encourages the abusers and leaves the child even more traumatised.

Another finding which badly shows up lack of childcare in families is the fact that 86.88 per cent of the child victims suffer repeated abuse and majority of the abusers are close relatives, including eight cases involving biological fathers and also some teachers.

The study said victims were of both sexes though the girls outnumbered the boys. This showed that parents who are usually careful about their girl children should not be complacent about their boys who are usually left to roam around on their own.

More than 50 per cent of the rape cases studied involve both victims and perpetrators were middle school-level children. The study recommended that sex education be introduced in schools at this age so that they will be aware and be able to defend themselves by reading the danger signs. Interestingly the study found that most of the rapists were influenced by video porns. According to overall police records of such cases between 2003-2009 there were 435 cases of rape including rapes of minor.

Single Window Clearance For Development Projects in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 31 : Single window clearance system would be applied to speed up implementation of infrastructure development projects in the state, Mizoram Public Works Department Engineer-in-Chief Vanlalduhsaka said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Vanlalduhsaka promised maximum utilisation of the working season by clearing all backlog and new projects, especially construction of roads, bridges and buildings.

"We expected to receive Rs 636.91 crore for construction and maintenance of roads during the current fiscal," he said, adding that the state PWD would need more reliable contractors and timely commencement of the projects.

He said that the density of roads in Mizoram was extremely low at 35.27 kilometres per 100 square kilometres as against the national average of 129 kilometres per 100 kilometres.

"The state PWD would need 59 years to reach the All India average if allotted Rs 500 crore a year, but we would require 129 years at this year's rate of fund allocation," he said.

On the building side, the engineer-in-chief said that only eight per cent of the government employees could be provided with government quarters while Nagaland could provide quarters to 70 per cent of its employees.

He also lamented that the state PWD was allotted only 10 to 15 per cent of its annual requirement for maintenance of roads which resulted in their extremely bad condition.

"The PWD was allocated 19 per cent of its fund requirement this year for road maintaintenance this fiscal, which is the highest ever allocation ever," he said

India Chokes NGOs Dependent on Western Charity

By John Dayal

After trying to bludgeon the Catholic church in Tamil Nadu into submission and withdrawing its support to the protest against the Russian-aided nuclear power plant in Koodankulam, the Indian government now seems bent upon choking civil society voices seen as challenging it on issues such as torture, religious freedom, and the life and death powers the military exercises over citizens in the country’s north eastern states.

The weapon of choice is the threat to cancel licenses under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act that allows non-government organization, especially religious groups of all faiths, and Human Rights advocacy activists, to carry on their work with foreign financial help in an impoverished country where corporate and individual philanthropy is virtually unknown.

While a large number of Hindu God men and women are also major recipients of donations from international charities, including church agencies in Europe and the United States, Indian Catholic and Protestant groups, with slim local resources, are to a large extent dependent on foreign funds to carry on their charitable and development work among India’s poor and marginalized communities. The Christian institutions working in education and health sectors among the Tribals and the Dalits, once branded, as untouchables in the iron Caste system, are particularly vulnerable. As it is, the meltdown in the west has severely impacted on their work.

After arbitrarily cancelling as many as 4,300 FCRA permits – on specious arguments that their addresses could not be verified -- the Union government is now issuing orders virtually banning some European and US funding agencies from the country. Indian groups have been told they need to take prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which also controls the intelligence agencies and some central police forces, before they can submit their projects to funding agencies named in the government’s prohibitory list.

Prime among them is Cordaid, a Dutch Catholic charity that is accused of having given funds to some Indian NGOs who are working for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that is responsible for many human rights abuses in Kashmir valley and the North Eastern States. The Reserve Bank of India has circulated an order to all banks in India that they have to inform it if they notice any transfer of funds from Cordaid to local NGOs. Cordaid is also held responsible for partly funding the India Against Corruption trust headed by social activist Anna Hazare and his erstwhile colleague Arvind Kejriwal whose newly formed political party is challenging the ruling Congress and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

Authoritative sources in the government say several other European charities, specially from the Scandinavian countries, are also on the government’s radar, as are many Indian NGOs with whom they have had relationship in the past.

The NGOs affected by the government withdrawing their FCRA permits have protested, but only a few of them have had the precious license restored. In a few other cases including some high profile advocacy groups, permission has been given for them to operate their bank accounts for payment of essential services, but they cannot withdraw any money in cash.

This has, understandably, created a panic among organisations working in development and training at the grassroots. Among those who risk going bankrupt for want of funds are several groups working among victims of violence against the Christian community in Kandhamal district of Orissa state.

Mr. Sanjay Patra, a highly respected transparency expert heading the Financial Management Services Foundation, there is no reason for the government’s paranoia, as there are several other laws on the books to check any misuse of funds, or diversion of money to terrorism on insurrectionist activities. Mr. Patra is also a leading light of the Voluntary Associations Network of India [VANI], which provides an interface with the government. VANI is now engaging with the government to get the FCRA licenses restored for the NGOs that have fallen foul of the authorities. VANI is also urging the government to change provisions in the FCRA rules that make it mandatory for all NGOs to seek a renewal of their permissions every five years instead of the earlier permanent ones. Anyway, money received from foreign charities under FCRA rules can be used only in designated activities and cannot be diverted to other areas.

Of the more than two million NGOs registered in the country those registered under FCRA are 38436. Of them, 21508 Associations reported a total receipt of an amount of Rs. 10,337.59 crore [about US Dollars 195 million] as foreign contribution. Many have FCRA permits but actually do not get any funds from abroad.

The government says the NGO sector in India is vulnerable to the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, and therefore requires some form of policing of their funds and activities. But it has not been able to adduce any real evidence indicting the NGOs or linking them with terrorist or other unlawful groups other than in political rhetoric. According to government data, list of donor countries is headed by the USA (Rs. 3105.73 crore) followed by Germany (Rs. 1046.30 crore) and UK (Rs. 1038.68 crore).

The FCRA law is a reflection of India’s paranoia on what is euphemistically called the “foreign hand”, or fears that the West is intervening in Indian politics and culture. India’s right wing has accused the West of financing conversions to Christianity and supporting “Christian” insurrectionist groups in states such as Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya in the North East. No evidence has ever been adduced for this, other than political gossip and innuendo.

The law was drafted by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government in 1975 when she declared a State of Internal Emergency, all but suspended the Constitution and imposed censorship on the Media, arresting thousands of political dissidents and leaders of political parties. The government then said that Socialist leader Mr. Jaiprakash Narain, leading a movement against corruption and for democratic reforms, and several Gandhian groups supporting him were funded by western agencies and were trying to induce the Indian army to mutiny. Subsequent governments overturned many of Mrs. Gandhi’s laws, but retained the FCRA as a useful instrument to tame civil society.

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4 DU Students Suspended For Assaulting Northeast Youth

New Delhi, Oct 30 : The College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University, has suspended four students and made the campus out of bound for an ex-student for physically assaulting a fellow student in the campus on Friday.

Based on prima facie evidence the college inquiry committee has taken the decision pending the completion of the inquiry.

D Hriinii, a student of CVS, was walking out of the college after his classes on Friday when he was attacked by a group of youths waiting at the gate, said his brother D Apao. Hriinii had to be rushed to a hospital.

"My brother was the fourth student from the northeast beaten up that day. Three girls and a boy were playing cards in the field when a basketball hit them. The boy called some of his friends and they beat the guys who were playing basketball . Later they beat up my brother though he was not involved. Another student from northeast was also beaten up," said Apao.

A FIR was lodged where seven students were named. According to Inderjit, principal of CVS, the college will take strict action against the students. "Of the five students named, one is an exstudent and he will not be allowed inside the campus. Three students who were identified — one from third year and two from first yearwere suspended with immediate effect till further orders . We are trying to identify one more student as they have just given his surname ," said the principal.

Earlier in the day the SHO and ACP visited the college and met the students from various states of the northeast including the coordinator . The students alleged they have named seven students in the FIR and action has been taken only against four so far and that more students were involved in the assault.

Cement Prices in Northeast To Increase

Guwahati, Oct 30 : After two sharp cuts, prices of Cement manufactured in Northeast India are likely to increase by Rs 20 to 25 per bag.

The increase in the price is attributed to lack of continuous coal supply, increase in the prices of Gypsum besides increase in the cost of diesel.

The government of India has waived-off the off-season discount of 10 percent on railway fare and even service tax of 3.69 percent has been imposed from October 1, 2012.

Sources added that there is every possibility for a hike in cement prices of Rs 20-25 per bag in near future.

Mizoram Teachers To Have Dress Code

Aizawl, Oct 29 : The Mizoram education department has proposed a dress code for teachers, which seems to be aimed mostly at women teachers, as it prescribes the wearing of puan (Mizo sarong) at least twice a week.

They should not wear revealing blouses and needed to be dressed decently, the code said.

State education secretary K. Lalnghinglova said the government would soon come out with the code, which would include ethics of teachers and students alike in all government-run educational institutions.

Under this code, teachers who are found using drugs or alcohol will be punished.

Smoking on the school premises is to be strictly prohibited for teachers and will be a punishable offence.

Students smoking and chewing paan will also be punished and sending students to buy cigarettes and paan will be considered punishable.

Male teachers should not come to teach in their shorts, T-shirts or in chappals.

He said the code of ethics and dress code for both teachers and students would soon be published and enforced by the state government.

However, some teachers said this new effort by the government was regressive.

It was also defamatory for teachers, who were always decently and formally dressed, as befitting to their role as instructors of children.

They said many schools already have uniforms for teachers, which they diligently wear everyday.

As for puan, women teachers have not given up the practice of wearing it.

20,000 Gas Cards Suspended in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 29 : Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOC) in its drive on consumer verification has so far suspended around 20,000 gas connections in Mizoram. Meanwhile, food, civil supply & consumer department has asked IOC officials for re-connection of the suspended consumer cards as per provision of law.

According to a report by mizonews.net, as per existing regulation of IOC, there should be only one gas connection per family but in Mizoram one family has 2 to 3 connections.

Therefore to verify this know your customer (KYC) was being carried out in the state. Verification was being done on the consumer’s gas card, photo ID, house number and ration card. Since sale and transfer of gas consumer card to other was not allowed, many people were facing great problems, reports said.

Mizoram Consumers Union (MCU) general secretary Thanglura said that as per 2011 census there are 2,20,000 households in Mizoram. Against this, there were more than 2,40,000 were in possession of gas consumer cards.

I Will Not Visit Mizoram Again: Mary Kom

Aizawl, Oct 29 : Local media report here said that Bronze Medalist of the London Olympic MC Mary Kom of Manipur has accused Mizoram media of filing false news on what she said during a press conference at the Aijal Club on October 20 when she visited the state at the invitation of Eternity Partners.

Reports added that Mary Kom has demanded clarification from Mizoram media, and also told Manipur press persons that she will not visit Mizoram again.

In the mean time, the media persons of Mizoram who attended the Press Conference deny the accusation and said that Mary Kom had blame media persons of Manipur for being ‘biased’ and even recorded video is there with them to prove the truth. Mary Kom emphatically mentioned the problems she had faced as a tribal.

Besides the problems that she faced from Asian Games qualifying to Olympic qualifying, even after the Olympic, and even after winning Bronze medal, while other media went to interact her, there was none to be seen from media of her home state Manipur.

Meanwhile, for L Sarita, other women boxer from Manipur itself, press conference was called, and such was her condition and status on the low, report mentioned Mizoram media as saying.

After Mizoram media and some national media filed the news of Mary Kom’s interaction to media persons at Aijal Club, and after she reached Manipur, Mary Kom called a Press Conference, in which she said with tears in her eyes that Mizoram media were writing wrongly what she had said.

She told Manipur media of her plan that she would take a legal action against the Mizoram media on the ground that they defamed her, and also said that she will consult law experts for this, sources said, adding that she will not go again to Mizoram until and unless the media persons of Mizoram gives clarification.

Reports also added that, while interacting with the mediapersons in Mizo language Mary Kom, in reply to the query whether she considers herself belonging to “Zohnahthlak” (descendant of Zo or Mizo), said: “Mizo is Mizo, Kom is Kom.”