'Women Marginalized in Parts of Northeast'

By Nirmalya Banerjee

Kolkata, Jan 11 : When Nirbhaya is raped and killed in Delhi, the whole country rises in condemnation against the incident. But when a Manipuri actress is molested in distant Chandel while on a fund-raising show, it turns into a Meitei versus Naga issue.

Citing this as an instance of discrimination against women in the north-east, associate professor of Manipur University N Vijaylakshmi Brara argued on Wednesday that women were still a marginalized part of society in many parts of the region.

She was speaking in Kolkata on 'Conflict, Gender and Displacement with special focus on India's North-East' at a conference organized by the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration jointly with Calcutta Research Group. "What mattered in the Chandel incident was the pride and the honour of the community. Nobody bothered about the individual," she explained. Citing the instance of opposition in Nagaland to allowing women to have their quotas in elected municipal bodies, she said women in parts of the northeast were still marginalized. She wondered why the Meira Paibis - powerful vigilance groups of women - were not involved in peace negotiations with undergrounds in Manipur.

Women were especially vulnerable to continued violence in the northeastern states, Vijaylakshmi and other speakers pointed out. The Naga-Kuki clashes in Manipur in 1997 was followed by a "domestic chaos" as the divorce rate shot up in families formed from intermarriages between these two communities, Vijaylakshmi said. Associate professor of Cotton College, Guwahati, Rakhee Kalita said after coming overground since the ceasefire, many women cadres of the United Liberation Front of Asom had "gradually disappeared."

While many menfolk among the ULFA cadres who had come overground had subsequently been rehabilitated in sociey and even co-opted in government jobs, women members had been 'tossed about between the outfit and the government." While ULFA plead inability to help them, the government would turn a deaf ear. "For fear of facing social stigma, these women are disappearing."

Former president of Naga Mothers' Association Kheseli Chisi said 80 per cent of the internally displaced persons in ethnic violence were women and children. She was in favour of changes in some customary laws which were fetters for women.

Northeast Fashion Gets New Platform

Northeast fashion gets new platform

Following the first ever Shillong Fashion Week (SFW) in 2012, Guwahati is set to host the North East Fashion Fest (NEFF). The event, endorsed by Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, will give the local talents a chance to promote their craft and boost their business.

The four-day festival, organised by Basics Concepts and Marketing, will start Feb 20 at the Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok in Guwahati, Assam's main city.

"The core value of NEFF is to provide a platform for all contenders within the northeast Indian fashion industry to network and alliance with national and international partners and makers for increase in sales and development of their business," Manish Jha, one of the organisers, said.

As many as 16 designers from New Delhi, Mumbai and northeast regions have been roped in to showcase their collection. A few confirmed names are Nida Mahmood, Rajdeep Ranawat, Raakesh Agarvwal and Janjum Gadi.

Soha Ali Khan has been roped in as the festival ambassador, while actresses like Mugdha Godse, Huma Qureshi, Evelyn Sharma and Jiah Khan are expected to walk for the designers during the fashion gala.

"There have been a lot of fashion shows happening in Shillong, but our idea is to not only do the same shows, but also to involve couple of Bollywood actors to draw national attention. Bollywood really helps in promoting a new venture in a big way," Jha added.

Apart from fashion shows, there will be open studios, workshops, lectures, exhibition of fashion and lifestyle products and cultural programmes and activities during the fest.

Nida Mahmood, known for her quirky collections, feels the northeast culture has received very little attention despite the fact that its people are few of the most fashion forward. She is confident that events like these will help the cause.

"I have spent a short time of my growing up years in the northeast. So, I have seen what a beautiful place it is and what amazing textiles they have. Though since then, I never got the chance to go there and explore. So, I thought this is great opportunity to exchange thoughts and design inspirations," Mahmood said.

"It is one of those small steps that is going to have long lasting impression as there is so much to explore in those regions," she added.

TOI Lifetime Contribution — Naga Mothers Association

Members of Naga Mothers Association. 

KOHIMA, Jan 10 : With their tiny frames, traditional attire, ready chuckles, and expert cooking, this group of Naga mothers looks what mothers are expected to. But when the stories emerge — of six-hour journeys into jungles to meet armed groups, of working with the HIVpositive in the early 1990s, of long legal battles — it's clear their idea of a mother's role is one that few women or men would be equal to.

The Naga Mothers Association (NMA) was formed in 1984 in response to the drug and alcohol addiction ravaging Nagaland at the time. "Every Naga tribe had a women's wing, women were strong in the church's activities. But with NMA they came together in an organised manner," says Sano Vamuzo, one of the network's founders and, at 80, an active adviser to NMA.

NMA's constitution mandates that every adult Naga woman is automatically made a member with an annual membership fee of Re 1. Leaders are selected from among members nominated by each of eight Naga tribes.

"In the beginning, the biggest issue affecting homes was drug addiction," says Abei-U Meru, also a founder and now NMA president. "The mothers came together because it was hurting every home." Along with spreading information, NMA started a rehabilitation centre. In the 1990s, it played a pioneering role in tackling HIV and AIDS. In September 1991, recalls founder memberformer president Neidonuo Angami, they visited the HIV-affected in Manipur Jail. "Food was thrown at them, such was the stigma. We were the first to go in and shake the patients' hands."

Through the 1980s and 1990s, NMA addressed the violence that tore Nagaland apart: atrocities by the Indian army against Naga groups and civilians, and then years of fratricidal killings between various Naga factions. "Daily gun battles would see two or three boys shot dead outside our homes. We would bring the shrouds for them," Meru recalls.

NMA made 'Shed No More Blood' its motto — one the women have gone to great lengths to uphold. Every time tensions simmered, they took off in a car on barely-there roads into the jungles of Nagaland and neighbouring states to urge leaders of factions to talk; NMA's only demand that peace be maintained. Ever since the 1997 truce between Naga groups and the Centre, NMA's been active in negotiations to settle the vexed issue of a homeland for all Nagas. But the ceasefire hasn't meant an end to the violence.

In 2010, the NMA helped calm one of the mosttense situations in recent years after two young Nagas were shot dead by the army at Mao town on the Manipur border. "For eight days, villagers refused to claim the bodies, tensions escalated on both sides," says Rosemary Dzuvichu, a university professor and NMA adviser. Stopped by the army at every step, Dzuvichu and Meru pushed through security cordons, shrouded the bodies and took them to the boys' families.

Over the past two years, NMA's been fighting an adversary of a different kind: some men in the Naga tribal and political leadership. In 2006, the Naga government brought in 33% quota for women in urban local bodies. But the state began to waver once the NMA pressured it to hold elections with the quotas. The mothers went to court.

The government said reservation for women would be in conflict with customary law, a position that enrages the NMA. "Customary law says Nagas can't buy and sell land. Does anybody follow that," asks Sarah Nuh, NMA's vice-president. "Culture is not static. It has to change," agrees Lochumbeni Humtsoe, the network's secretary.

When the high court upheld the state's position, NMA moved Supreme Court. The order's expected by the monthend. Balancing the state's tribalism with their ideals is a delicate task that NMA finds itself doing a lot. "Within NMA, we've forged alliances across all tribes. There's unity," says Vamuzo. Often, male leaders ask the women to put their tribe's interests first. Nagaland has never had a woman MLA. Naga Hoho, the apex tribal body, too, doesn't have women. "They expect women to speak only on social issues, not to make decisions," says Nuh.

"They worry women leaders will next go for their MLA seats," laughs Dzuvichu. The older women are sure a new leadership will emerge. "The elders planted the seed very well," says Neidonuo. "Many younger ones ask: Why mothers? Let's change the name to women. I say no. The NMA is for all women, unmarried or married, mothers or not. But the word 'mother' has dignity in Naga society. Everyone respects a mother. The name stays," says Vamuzo.

Load shedding to remain in power-starved Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 10 : With the rising demand for power, load shedding is unlikely to leave the power-starved Mizoram even as the chief minister and his parliamentary secretary have endorsed privatisation of power distribution for better power.

Parliamentary secretary for power Lal Thanhawla, who flanked the chief minister at a press conference here today, disclosed the peak hour demand of power in Mizoram has risen to 107 MW as the number of electric consumers in the state are now more than 1.7 lakhs.

"With 68 MW we are receiving from the Mizoram central projects and 18 MW the state generates, we are 21 MW short of our demand. In this situation, load shedding is inevitable," Lal Thanzara said. At present, Mizoram has hydel projects that can produce 29 MW of the state's total potential for about 5000 MW.
"During the last two years, the Mizoram government has taken up hydro projects to be able to generate a total of 2400 MW of electricity," he said.

Of these projects, the 210 MW Tuivai hydro electric project is being taken up under PPP mode with viability gap funding from the finance ministry. "It is under state sector and the first of its kind in India," he said.

He also informed the entire 60 MW of power produced by the under construction Tuirial hydel project will go to Mizoram. Even as the Joint Electricity Regulation Commission (JERC)for the states of Manipur and Mizoram is conducting a series of public hearings on the Delhi-based Eternity Partners' application for intra-state trading license in Mizoram, both Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who holds the power portfolio, and his parliamentary secretary, endorsed privatisation of power distribution as recommended by the Electricity Act, 2003.

"The application for trading license is under consideration. The government is not supposed to be deterred by oppositions by some sections of the public," Lal Thanhawla said, referring to opposition by some organisations during the public hearing on Tuesday. Sources said the Eternity Partners has offered to sell power at much lower than Rs 3.6 per unit which is the present tariff of the state power & electricity department.

Want Job, Pose As Militant!

By Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Jan 10 : Seven Manipuri youths who were lured away with the promise of giving them jobs through a recruitment rally of Assam Rifles, were allegedly asked to pose as militants if they want the jobs.

This came to light during a press conference called by the said youths from Heirok Part II Maning Leikai village in Thoubal district who went to attend the so called recruitment rally of Assam Rifles unit at Chandel on Tuesday afternoon.

From December last year to January 5 this year, one lady S Purnima Devi from Andro village in Imphal East district and Th Rameshor Singh of Heirok village along with Purnima’s husband Gambhir who is stationed at the Assam Rifles unit, allegedly lured the youths with the promise of giving them jobs.

Speaking to media, M Thoiba of Heirok Maning Leikai village who returned home along with E Mohendro, N Jonny, M Premkanta, Th Milan, N Herojit and M Oken, all from Heirok Part II Maning Leikai village, after visiting the 42 Assam Rifles camp at Chandel, said that initially, they offered jobs but asked us to pose as militants belonging to KYKL-MDF in the forthcoming surrender ceremony.

The incident evoked sharp reactions from the Heirok residents, but no untoward incident was reported with the timely intervention of the locals clubs and police.

Meanwhile, Thoubal police detained Purnima and Rameshor following a complaint by local clubs.

PRO, Assam Rifles, in a press statement, on Tuesday clarified that they did not approach any locals for joining insurgent groups for peace process/surrenders. “However, after preliminary investigation at battalion level they were not found part of the group. Thus, these seven youths were returned,” the PRO added.

The statement claimed that the press release was aimed at defaming the Assam Rifles and interrupting the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and KYKL (MDF).

MPC Blames Mizo Govt For Alienating

Aizawl, Jan 9 : Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) today slammed the Congress government in the state for "alienating" ethnic Mizos who entered the state from other states and countries.

A press statement, issued by the MPC, accused the Lal Thanhawla-led government of discriminatory attitude towards the Mizos who fled neighbouring states, Myanmar and Bangladesh due to alleged persecution by majority communities in their respective states or countries.

"While all the political parties in Mizoram pledged for the unity and integrity of the Mizos, the state government perpetually alienated the Mizos coming from outside the state by refusing to enroll them in voters' list and denying ration cards to them," the statement said.

MPC urged the government and all political parties to work for the integration of all ethnic Mizos divided by the colonial British rulers.

Half of Arunachal Population Still Make Living Out Of Forest

A bird’s eye view of Tawang city of Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Jan 8 :  Even though the Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a ‘Green Arunachal’ campaign to protect its greenery, a recent Census report has found that half of the state’s population is still dependent on forest for their livelihood.

Over 68 per cent of the total population in the state use firewood for cooking as well as a source of income by selling it in the market, according to the census conducted in 2011.

The report, which was released here recently at a seminar organized by the Directorate of Census Operations, found that only about 29.2 per cent people in the state have LPG connections, compelling them to search alternative fuel sources.

About 65.7 per cent households in the state enjoy electricity connections.

The report found that 38 per cent of the population still had no latrine, though the number had reduced by 5.7 per cent from the 2001 Census.

However, 18.8 per cent use pit latrine facility which was 25.8 per cent earlier.

On the drinking water front, 65.5 per cent of households are having tap water connections, while 13.1 per cent depend on hand pumps and 5.7 per cent are having well water provisions for their daily use.

The report said that 14 per cent people in the state have two-wheelers and 7.9 per cent four-wheelers, which has increased from 6.8 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively recorded in 2001.

Another interesting data was that 68.3 per cent households have their own houses, and 22.6 per cent of people live in rented houses.

While access to telephones has increased dramatically from a lowly 9.2 per cent to 48.3 per cent, the number of television set owners has increased by above 14 per cent.

However, the number of radio set owners has decreased by 17 per cent as compared to previous data recorded in 2001.

The overall crime graph in Arunachal Pradesh has also seen a decrease by six per cent this year in comparison to the previous year’s crime record in the state.

In 2011, around 2,355 crimes were recorded, which was five per cent less than the 2,539 cases in 2010.

Crimes like murder, crime against women and extortion have marginally increased across the state, rape and kidnapping cases being an exception.

Santosh Hegde Panel To Probe Manipur Encounter Deaths

Former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde

New Delhi, Jan 9 : Supreme Court rejects State’s demand to entrust job to NHRC.

A high-power commission headed by the retired Supreme Court judge, Santosh Hegde, will probe six encounter deaths in Manipur.

A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ms. Ranjana Desai passed this order on a writ petition by the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association, which complained that over 1,500 fake encounter deaths had occurred in the State in the last 10 years.

The Bench said: “This matter requires a further careful and deeper consideration.” It rejected Manipur’s contention that “the occasion for this court to examine those cases would arise only if it holds that the NHRC had failed to perform its statutory functions in safeguarding human rights of the people in the State.”

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The Bench said entrusting the probe to the National Human Rights Commission “will completely dissipate the vigour and vitality of Article 32 of the Constitution.”

The Bench said “Article 21 coupled with 32 provides the finest guarantee and most effective protection of the most precious of all rights — the right to life and personal liberty. Any indication of violation of this right would put all the faculties of this court on high alert to find out the truth. In case the court finds that there has, in fact, been violation of the right, it would be the court’s bounden duty to step in to protect those rights against the unlawful onslaught by the state. We, therefore, see no reason not to examine the matter directly but only vicariously and second-hand, through the agency of the NHRC.”

The Supreme Court said: “It is true that Manipur is a disturbed area, that there appears to be a good amount of terrorist activity affecting the public order and, maybe, even security of that State. If the police version of the incidents in question were true, there could have been no question of any interference by the court. Nobody can say the police should wait till they are shot at. It is for the force on the spot to decide when to act, how to act and where to act. It is not for the court to say how the terrorists should be fought. We cannot be blind to the fact that even after 50 years of our independence, our territorial integrity is not fully secure. We request the commission to make a thorough enquiry in the first six cases.”

The commission, which includes the former Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh, and the former DGP, Karnataka, Ajay Kumar Singh, would also address the larger question of the role of the State police and the security forces and make a report on their functioning within 12 weeks. If it was found that they violated legal bounds, the commission should make its recommendations for keeping the police and security forces within the legal limits without compromising on the fight against insurgency, the Bench said.