north east online - north east india news: May 31, 2008

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Freedom and friend for five-year-old gibbon

Guwahati, May 30 : She was born free and to freedom she has returned.

Five-year-old Siloni is the first gibbon in the country to be released into the wilds after being reared at a rehabilitation centre. She was released at Kaziranga on Sunday but the official announcement was delayed, as the forest department wanted to ensure that she would adapt to her new home.

The department undertook the rehabilitation project in association with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

The gibbon, rescued when she was only a few months old, was supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). She was rescued from Silonijan in Karbi Anglong after poachers killed her mother in February 2003.

Since then, she has been living at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Kaziranga.

Moreover, Siloni will not lack company in the wilds, either. Before her release, she was kept in a cage for four months. The cage was hung from a big tree inside the Panbari reserve forest in Kaziranga.

“A male gibbon struck up a friendship with Siloni immediately and has been visiting her ever since. So, when Siloni was set free, the two took off together. We are sure they have found a home by now,” said Rathin Barman, a senior WTI official told The Telegraph.

The male gibbon was monitored for five months to study his home range and behavioural characteristics before being considered as a partner for Siloni.

The governing council of the CWRC, chaired by the commissioner and secretary (forest) and chief wildlife warden of Assam, approved the gibbon’s release.

The official said she was acclimatised for more than four months at the Panbari reserve forest. “Soon after her release, Siloni showed more interest in exploring the forests than in the wild male,” the official added.

Only two other organisations in the world, the Kalaweit Care Centre in Kalleif, Indonesia, and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project in Phuket, Thailand, work towards the rehabilitation of gibbons whose life span is about 20 years.

The hoolock gibbon (Bunopithecus hoolock) is an endangered species listed in Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Experts said the survival of the species is threatened because of habitat loss, hunting and illegal trade.“Habitat fragmentation has forced many gibbons in Assam to live in isolation, often without a mate,” a wildlife official added.

Telegraph India

Assam govt lays new conditions for peace talks with militant

Guwahati, May 30 : The Assam Government has laid down some new conditions for holding peace talks with the militant outfits. From now onwards, the militants have to come forward with a proposal of talks within the parameters of the Constitution only. This was decided at a meeting of the Unified Command, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr. Tarun Gogoi at Dispur on Thursday.

It resolved that rebels would now require giving in writing to the Government to abide by the laid down norms for sitting in peace talks. Once the Government approves a peace proposal, the outfits have to surrender their weapons and stay in designated camps till the peace process is over.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of four Corps of the Army Lt. General B.S. Jaswal, who heads the operational group of the Unified Command, was present at the meeting along with representatives from the Border Security Force, the CRPF, State Police and the Home Department.

AIR Guwahati Correspondent reports that the State Government came out with the idea perturbed by recent violences by the Jewel Garlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) militants in North Cachar hills district.

AIR News

ADB to check floods with expert help

Guwahati, May 31 : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has, for the first time, undertaken an ambitious plan to work out a long-term strategy to check the perennial problem of floods and erosion in Assam.

The bank, which has sought help from international experts for the project, will submit a draft report for the first phase of its work in June. It has identified four vulnerable areas — Palasbari in Kamrup district, Bonpora in Kaziranga, Dibrugarh town and Motmora — for the project.Flood control minister Bharat Chandra Narah said the bank had sought technical assistance from German and Japanese experts to prepare detailed reports for the project. Work is expected to begin in end-2009.

In the first phase, the ADB has decided on a plan outlay of Rs 500 crore that will be given to the state on a 90:10 basis. This means the state will bear 10 per cent of the project cost, while the rest will be given by the Centre as a grant. The bank will loan the money to the Centre.

The project, christened the Northeastern Integrated Flood and River Basin Erosion Management Project, aims at reducing the vulnerability of the areas to flood and erosion through comprehensive planning using new techniques and cost-effective and sustainable methods, Narah said.

“The foreign agencies being involved by the ADB to prepare the project reports are very experienced. They have the experience of handling similar projects in Bangladesh and other flood-ravaged countries,” water resources secretary Paran Baruah said.

He added that ADB was planning to use geo-textile bags instead of boulders to check erosion along a 25-km-stretch on either side of the Brahmaputra in these four places. “Boulders are not locally available. So ADB has decided to use geo-textile bags which will be filled with sand. These textile bags are said to be very strong and durable,” Baruah said. Though ADB is expected to submit the draft proposal in June, the loan will be sanctioned only in 2009, Baruah said. The bank will organise a workshop to sensitise the stakeholders so that work on the project goes on unhindered without facing any protests or objections.

After work in the first phase is completed, the bank may undertake a similar project .

in other flood and erosion-affected areas of the state, Baruah hoped.

Telegraph India

KCP (MC) unfazed, pledges to cleanse RIMS

Imphal, May 30 : Reacting to widespread condemnations against the act of exploding bomb at the RIMS Hospital complex some days back, the KCP (MC) affirmed that such outbursts could not stop the armed group from carrying out its campaign to detoxify the premier health care centre from unwanted ills.

A statement issued by the KCP-MC’s secretary military affairs Lanheiba Meitei conveyed of the outfit’s acceptance that triggering the blast at the hospital is indeed an act of terrorism, but hastened to add that under what compelling circumstance the action was carried out needs to be introspected by all.

Expressing that administrative anomalies in RIMS is not a recent phenomenon and the KCP organisation had been striving to weed out vitriolic elements within the RIMS set-up in addition to reminders to RIMS authorities to clean up the mess, Lanheiba said the entire truth could be laid bare for public scrutiny if and when Dr Mohen and Dr Fimate fall into custody of the KCP (MC).

Exuding confidence that had Dr Mohen and Dr Fimate been committed and sincere ills afflicting RIMS could have been easily sanitised, the KCP (MC) also questioned passive stance of various civil society and student organisations on the important issue.

Proclaiming that no sort of security arrangement could deter KFL cadres of the KCP (MC) from accomplishing the entrusted task, Lanheiba pointed to the May 25 blast at RIMS to drive home the point that it could breach any security cordon.

Suggesting that, if willing, there is enough time to mend one’s conduct rather than rely upon newsmedia to project as saintly, the secretary disowned the alleged telephonic threat by affirming that KCP (MC) had never asked for favouritism related to employment in RIMS.

KCP (MC) also appealed to doctors practising in private clinics against levying exorbitant fees from the patient saying that such monetary lust only demeans the noble profession.

Announcing that functions/activities of all medical centres, including the JN Hospital and private hospitals/clinics would be closely monitored, hospital authorities are also advised to ensure food provided to the patients are not sub-standard to avoid embarrassing situation.

Moreover, pharmacies in and around hospitals are also asked to display authentication documents such as licence and issue genuine cash memos for medicines purchased.

TSE

4 killed, 26 hurt in Behiang mishap

Churachandpur, May 31 : In yet another disastrous road mishap along the Tiddim Road stretch of Singhat and Behiang four passengers have been killed and twenty six others injured when the bus in which they were travelling in fell into a stream near Sialsi under Singngat sub-division at around 2 pm today.

Swiftly responding to the situation, troops of 57 Mountain Division at Behiang post of 9 Assam Rifles rushed to the site and helped the passengers out of the ill-fated bus.
While the injured passengers were being evacuated to Singhat after providing first aid at Behiang post, two more succumbed to their injuries thus increasing the toll to four fatal casualties.

As per the last report, all the injured passengers along with the deceased were brought to Singhat, the PRO informed.

On January 17 this year, an overloaded truck with about 70 passengers met a devastating accident due to a dilapidated bridge over Ngasuonlui.

Twenty people lost their lives, and more than 26 were injured, some crippled for life and some yet to recuperate even to this day.

According to eye witnesses, today’s mishap occurred near the cemetery of Behiang, the border village which is located about 55 kms from here.

Identifying two of the victims as Mangmuanhang (25) of Tonjang and Hangdoumang (34) of Suangphahmun, an elder of Tonjang village Kamminthang said that at least twenty five other passengers were injured, twenty of them seriously.

He, however, could not identify the third victim.

‘All I know is that he belonged to Panglian village’, Kamninthang said.

As to the improvement that could be seen along the road stretch after the January 17 mishap, Sianzathang of Tonjang said pucca road has now come up till Bualkot village, half way to Behiang.

However, the remaining part of the road is yet to see any positive changes or development.

In fact, the Ngasuan bridge and another over Tuivai river are presently being revamped by the Department concerned.

According to the attendant at the ticket counter of the ill-fated passenger bus bearing with registration number MN 02/ 7293 belongs to one Chandrashekhar, a non-local scrap-dealer and the driver is Lialian.

A team of para-medics from the State Health Department accompanied by 2nd OC of Singngat Police Station Zuala have rushed in to the spot to aid the injured.

Before returning, they are expected to conduct post-mortem on the deceased and investigate into the circumstances leading to the mishap.

It is believed that failure to negotiate a curve road due to the vehicle’s high-speed may be the behind the tragedy.

TSE

CCpur-Tuivai road in March 09′

Singzol (CCpur), May 31 : Come March next year and the construction work of the road connecting Churachandpur district headquarters and Tuivai on the Manipur-Mizoram border will be completed.

Speaking to the villagers of Singzol, who rolled out the red carpet for the Minister, K Ranjit said that the road connecting Churachandpur district headquarters and Tuivai, covering a distance of 162 kms, will be upgraded to a State Highway and the construction work will be finalised by March next year.
Significantly K Ranjit is the first Minister to ever visit Singzol.

The construction work of the road was taken up after the North East Council released a sum of Rs 82 crores in 2005 and the actual process of the work started in 2006 .

Different contractors were engaged in the construction of the road.

The Minister was accompanied by the Thanlon AC MLA Hangkhanlian, Chief Engineer of the PWD Dr G Tonsana and media persons during the tour.

The touring team was greeted by a black topped road over a stretch of 20 kilometres on the Churachandpur-Singhat road while the BMW work on the remaining stretch of 14 kilometres was also found completed.

Road widening work as well as construction of culvert along the route from Singhat to Tuivai was in progress as the team traversed through.

However the Works Minister was visibly irritated on seeing that work on the stretch of the road awarded to a special contractor identified as Ch Rajgopal had not made any progress.

Besides instructing that the work should be taken up immediately, the Minister warned that if no progress is witnessed then the special contractor would be black listed.

The road widening work as well as the construction of culverts started in 2006 and the amount released so far is Rs 19 crores.

Striking a positive tone, the Works Minister said that construction of the road will be taken up after the Monsoon from September/October this year.

March is the tentative deadline set for the completion of the CCpur-Tuivai road, said the Minister and urged the people to extend all possible co-operation.

The objective of the SPF Government is equitable development of the hills and plain, said Ranjit and added that the CCpur-Tuivai road is a step towards this.

All along the way villagers came out to greet the Minister and his team and at a village called Tongpam, Ranjit inaugurated a water supply scheme, while the foundation stone of a guest house was laid at Singzol.

The estimated cost of guest house is pegged at Rs 1 crore.

Though the foundation of the said guest house was built earlier, the foundation stone for the same was laid by Ranjit belatedly.

On seeing that the foundation for the guest house was sub-standard, the Minister instructed that the work be started afresh.

Ranjit and the team also inspected the condition of the Tuivai bridge.

Though black topping process is on along the 34 kms stretch from Churachandpur to Singhat, the Minister was not at all pleased to find the work being carried out over a 800 metre stretch.

Ranjit instructed that the work be started anew and added that no bill will be issued pending the fresh work.

The task of constructing the CCpur to Tuivai road was initially entrusted on the BRO, but due to man power shortage, the same was taken over by the State PWD.

TSE

42-day old infant talks to blind mother

Imphal, May 31 : This is not Ripley`s believe it or not story. But this is the hottest topic of gossipers in and around Moirang locality in Bishnupur district of Manipur. According to the local people there, a 42-day old infant talks to his blind mother during night time assuring his blind parents that he would make them see after he attained three months!

Whether the news is true or not is for anyone to find out for himself or herself, but curious locals have started thronging the house of this wonder child.

Mema and Oinam Sanayaima of Thanga Oinam village in Bishnupur district, both blind, who had their first contact while attending a blind school run by the Presbyterian Mission, were married in 2006. Fortytwo days ago on April 12, the couple received their first born male child at Churachandpur district hospital.

Doctors at the hospital said that the child would be able to have normal eyesight unlike his blind parents.

Mema is known for her ability to heal sickness through prayers which she proudly claims was a gift of God to her in a vision. Today, she also proudly claims that her child has also been a gift of God, who will change their (she and her husband) lives, something which she has already seen in her vision.

When Newmai News Network went to see the wonder child on Friday at their present location at Moirang Lamkhai Hemam Leikai, 40 kilometers from Imphal, in Bishnupur district, a sizeable inquisitive crowd had thronged their house trying to get a glimpse of the wonder child.

The blind mother of the child, Mema, told NNN that she and her husband have been moving as directed by God in her vision, which also made them stay in their present house at Moirang Lamkhai. Mema said that God had instructed her to venture out from their house before the child attained three months.

As such, they had moved to Thanga Khunjao and Sendra in Bishnupur district earlier before coming to Moirang Lamkhai.

The curiosity that had imbued the minds of the people and that made the topic of discussion searing is - believe it or not, the one and half-month child speaks to his mother during night time and assures his parents they would have a normal eyesight. However, when asked whether rumors spreading around the child are accurate, the mother preferred to conceal the secret.

IFP

Sericulture provides employment to Tripuras rural folk

Agartala, May 30 : Sericulture has emerged as a profitable employment avenue for rural folk, particularly women in Tripura.

Various government schemes for sericulture, which involves growing of mulberry trees for the leaf (which is the only food for silk worm), rearing of the silk worms and spinning of cocoon for the silk thread, are in operation in the state.

Women entrepreneurs have been given special preference under the schemes. Tribals particularly the Jhumias (nomadic farmers who slash and burn forests for cultivation) are also involved in sericulture as an alternative to Jhum cultivation.

Most of the beneficiaries use their wasteland to grow mulberry trees where farmers rear silkworms till it reaches the spinning stages of cocoon.

“We have taken to sericulture as we are able to earn handsome amount. We have formed cooperative society for women and carry out this task in our free time. Every year, we earn between 20,000 to 25,000 rupees. But the profit can be more if we are able to look after the worms properly,” said Rita Paul, silkworm farmer.

India produces a variety of silks including Mulberry, Tussar, Muga and Eri depending on the feeding habit of the silkworms.

Some of the northeastern states like Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram
have accorded a fairly high priority to sericulture.

In Tripura, around 4,500 beneficiaries are directly involved in the subsidiary occupation further improving their socio-economic status.

Besides imparting technical know-how, the government also distributes silk threads to the weavers for producing the finished products like sarees, dress material through the handloom cluster co-operative societies.

” We impart knowledge about silk production to sericulturists in Tripura. We also provide them technical assistance under various schemes launched here. We have our own farm in Madhubani and conduct various activities for farmers under the action plans,” said Shibayan Sen, official, Central Silk Board.

The annual production of silk in the state is little more than 6.00 metric ton worth six million rupees.

At present, only about 30 per cent yarns is being consumed for fabrics and the rest is sold outside the state.

Experts say that the agro-climatic condition of Tripura is highly favourable for extensive growth of sericulture and the allied industry has a great prospect.

“Mulberry grows very well in waste lands of Tripura. The Central Government is giving lot of emphasis for further development. So, silk has a better future until and unless a little bit of problem posed by China. But still Indian silk has a lot of demand all over the world,” said Tripurandra Mohan Ganguli, Retd. Director of Handloom, Tripura.

Sericulture in Tripura is a high priority agro-based industry and plays a vital role in the economy and employment potential, particularly in the rural and semi-urban parts of the state.

India stands second only to China in silk production. While China produces 70,000 metric tons of raw silk, India is far behind at 14,200 metric tons.

According to officials, India requires 120,000 metric tons of silk to meet its share of demand in world market. With better infrastructure facility, the sericulture industry could improve its productivity to 15 per cent as against the current nine per cent.

ANI

Lease of life for Shillong hotel

Shillong, May 31 : Since 1986, the Crowborough Hotel here has been a symbol of an ambitious project gone wrong.

Today, the hotel got a new “lease” of life when the Meghalaya government and a local entrepreneur signed an agreement, the first step towards turning the Shillong address into a major commercial space with help from a reputed hospitality chain.

PRISM demands fresh probe into pastor’s death

Aizawl, May 29 : The PRISM (People’s Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram) today demanded a fresh investigation into the alleged murder of Reverend Chanchinmawia.

“The fact that Revd Chanchinmawia had received threat mails several times due to his outright criticism of the Government, the circumstances of his death, the manner of the police investigation and the missing of the weapon of crime (found near the pastor’s body) indicated that his murder had been meticulously planned,” the PRISM stated in an appeal submitted to the court of the ADM(J), Chawngtinthanga. The organization also appealed to the court to initiate a fresh probe into the matter.

Revd Chanchinmawia, a pastor of the Khatla Presbyterian Church and president of the Mizoram Presbyterian Synod-sponsored Mizoram People’s Forum, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his quarters at Khatla on October 1, 2007.

Initially, he was believed to have committed suicide, based on the statements of his wife and their maidservant. However, this theory raised doubts on the day itself.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), however, could not find any evidence to support the homicide theory. The SIT report was submitted to the court on December 6, 2007.

Meanwhile, all the Opposition parties also demanded a CBI probe into the death.

UNI

NE states seek central funding for educational infrastructure

Gangtok, May 31 : The north eastern states demanded central assistance for building schools and related infrastructure for proper implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The lack of school buildings and related facilities in the villages of NE states have proved to be an impediment in the education of children in spite of the implementation of the SSA, Mizoram Education Minister R Lalthangliana, who presided over a meeting of the education ministers of the NE region, told reporters here.

The NE states are committed to universalisation of primary education and liberal funding by the Centre was required to implement SSA and other schemes.

Lalthangliana expressed satisfaction over the Centre agreeing to bear 90 per cent of the expenditure for implementing SSA in the 11th plan, keeping with the demand by the NE states.

He also stressed the need for good teachers and said that expenses on providing training to them should also be shared by the Centre in the proportion of 90:10.

There was need for strengthening the higher secondary education too - a fact agreed to by all the NE states, he said and suggested that NGOs be co-opted for spreading education.

Asked, he ruled out the impact of militancy and related activities on the academic activities or implementation of SSA in the NE states.

Meghalaya Education Minister Manas Choudhuri concurred with Lalthangliana and said the two issues were not related.

PTI

Bamboo bloom spells doom for Mizoram villages

Lawngtlai, May 31 : In an election year, Mizoram is facing its worst famine in years. Following a bamboo flowering phenomenon and an increase in rat population, there has been an acute shortage of food grains.

More than one lakh people go hungry everyday and many villages are surviving on one meal a day.

“My biggest worry is this famine which affects Mizoram and this year it’s the greatest problem I am facing. With the famine I face elections,” says Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

Part of the destruction has been caused by bamboo bloom with rats destroying entire crops, grain bins, fruits, even houses. Known as Mautam - which in Mizo means death of the bamboo – the phenomenon occurs every 48 years.

However, even prior knowledge does not help. “There is a desperate need for international agencies to give more relief. The government is doing its little bit. But only a little bit. There’s obviously a need for more relief. The government needs to move into these villages,” says Action Aid officer Mrinal Gohain.

Meet Phodoti. It’s an eight-hour walk for her to collect food. After much bargaining, she manages a sack of rice. She will now cross the forest, the river and then climb up to reach her village that borders Myanmar. Not a penny of Central or state funds reaches this corner that’s fighting hunger everyday.

Money was released to build roads under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act but they were never built

“We have no money to buy government ration. All our crops have been destroyed. We search for food everyday,” says Phodoti

With the onset of the monsoon will start landslides and villages bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh will be totally cut off, making things worse for people desperately short of food.

CNNIBN

Russia offers 200 MBBS seats for Mizo students

Aizawl, May 31 : With a view to strengthen bilateral relations with India, Russia has offered 200 MBBS seats for Mizoram.

This is a part of Indo-Russian Friendship Society’s endeavour to promote friendly cooperation, particularly in the field of education, Mizoram Higher and Technical Education Director Dr H L Malsawma said here today.

”Mizoram, because of its high literacy percentage, has been given this considerable number of quotas,” he said.

”We have the opportunity to send as many as 200 students to pursue MBBS in Russia provided there are required number of qualified students from here,” the director said.

Dr Malsawma, also chairman of the Indo-Russian Friendship Society in Mizoram, said the EDURUSSIA has been entrusted with undertaking educational concerns for study of various technical courses besides MBBS in Russian universities.

Moreover, the Russian-Asian Centre for University Services (RACUS) has been authorised by various governments to carry out admissions in various medical universities under the Russian government, he stated.

Meanwhile, Mizoram branch of Indian Medical Association has asked the people to be cautious while applying for the offered courses in Russia.

However, education director Malsawma reassured that there is no need to panic as the initiatives were taken at the government level of both the countries.

India and Russia had declared the year 2008 as ‘Year of Russia in India’ and 2009 as the ‘Year of India in Russia’ to strengthen the existing bilateral ties.

Commenting on the bilateral initiatives, former Russian president Vladimir Putin had stated that ‘relations between India and Russia were not based on short term expectations and political conditions and holding the year of Russia in India and India in Russia would open new horizons for bilateral cooperation’.

In his address early this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also said India and Russia were bound together by civilisational linkages and relation between the two countries was time tested and based on solid foundations.