Hospitals closed down in Manipur to demand new pay package
Imphal, Dec 27: All the OPDs of the government hospitals were closed down today in support of the ongoing strike demanding the implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations for the government employees in Manipur.
This was informed here by Manipur Health Service Officer’s Association president Dr Ksh Manglem Singh, Family Welfare Department Employees Association vice-president H Haridayal Sharma and Medical Department Employees Association president Oinam Ganesh Singh in a joint statement.
They said the OPDs would remain closed till December 29 except for all the medical institutions under the Moirang Assembly constituency due to bypolls.
However, such closure would be relaxed for three consecutive days from December 30, they added.
“If there is no positive reply than on January 2, the OPDs will be closed for another three days. From January 5, the stir will intensify with the clearing of all the patients. There will be no new admission to the hospital wards. Only the casualty and emergency services will remain open. From January 8 onwards, closure of all the casualty and emergency services will be effected,” they said.
The Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of all Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation (AMGEO) started a series of agitation for the implementation of the new pay package.
They alleged that the Central Government employees had already started enjoying the new pay structure.
The JAC said it would continue its agitation, until the demands were met.
Meanwhile, work was hit in most of the government offices on account of the stir. The JAC began its stir by asking its members to wear black badge on November 11 and 12. The JAC was also demanding the merger of 50 per cent DA/DR with basic pay pension, along with rectification of pay anomalies.
It also demanded the restoration of ‘Died-in-Harness Scheme’ and fixation of Minimum Wages based on the Consumer’s Price Index 2007, along with payment of arrears and Variable Dearness Allowances (VDA).
Facilities like Duty Allowance, Messing Allowance and TA should be given to the home guards of Manipur Ad-hoc employees, the JAC said. The JAC had also asked for fixing the age of retirement at 60 instead of 59, in line with the Central government employees’ scheme.
Official sources said the State government had already formed a committee to look into the matter.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had already stated that the government had no resources to pay the employees and the latter would have to wait till the implementation of the 13th Finance Commission. (UNI)
Additional BSF troops deployed along B’desh border
Agartala, Dec 27: The Union Government has decided to deploy additional Border Security Force(BSF) personnel in the areas bordering Bangaldesh in the wake of tension along the western border of India.
According to reports, flights of Indian Air Force had brought two companies of BSF jawans last night in the State, following a security-related meeting here between Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and BSF Tripura Frontier officials yesterday.
The report added that more troops were soon expected.
Meanwhile, the BSF authority had reportedly deployed additional troops this morning in seven sensitive locations along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.
The commanding officers of the areas had also held a meeting with local police and other paramilitary forces.
State Home Department officials today said in view of the general election in the neighbouring country on December 29, the BSF had already increased the strength of jawans along the 2,840 km-long India-Bangladesh border in the northeastern region.
The Bangladesh authority had launched operation against the criminals and preventive detention to hold peaceful election.
As a result, huge number of Bangladeshi criminals had started moving out of the neighbouring country.
Altogether 31 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by the BSF in the state on December 24.
“Moreover, in the wake of the movement of additional Pakistani troops to the Line of Control in Kashmir and western border following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Centre had issued high alert and leaves for the security personnel were cancelled,” the BSF officials further informed. (UNI)
Meghalaya news
Prisoners threaten to torch jail hospital
Shillong, Dec 27: Prisoners in Meghalaya have threatened to burn down a hospital inside Tura district jail, if authorities failed to provide proper medical facilities.
About 180 prisoners, lodged in the Tura district jail, served an ultimatum to jail authorities after the death of a fellow prisoner.
Solomon Shylla (42), convicted for a rape incident, was declared brought dead at Tura Civil Hospital on December 23 after he sustained head injury, when he slipped and fell down in the toilet inside his cell.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Ferline C A Sangma told UNI here that the prisoners had resorted to an indefinite hunger strike on December 23.
The jail authorities had tried to have a dialogue with the them, but in vain.
They went on the hunger strike to protest the lack of medical facilities inside the jail from December 23, she said, adding the prisoners felt that Shylla could have been saved, if there were proper facilities.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner, however, admitted that the medical aid inside the jail was inadequate. “ There should be a regular supply of important medicines,” she said.
Sangma said the prisoners withdrew the strike on Christmas eve on a condition that Inspector General of Police in-charge, Prisons, Anil Pradhan, should visit them to oversee the poor condition of the Tura district jail.
“They wanted the IG, prisons, to visit them within a month’s time. We have sent a WT message to IG Prisons informing him about the prisoners’ demands,” Sangma said.
The prisoners also demanded the presence of the media to expose the plight of the Tura jail.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner F R Kharkongor ordered a magisterial inquiry into incident.
The inquiry is headed by Additional District Magistrate TG Momin.
Momin is expected to submit his findings by first week of January. (UNI)
Of images and Christian institutions
Staff Correspondent
SHILLONG, Dec 27: Presentation of Christian arts has given birth to a new debate on the use of images by Christian institutions. A presentation by Fedrick Hynniewta, a postgraduate artist from Shantineketan and a graduate in mass communication, in Shillong today revealed the evolving art of the Christians.
He referred to the ancient cave paintings in Europe to the Renaissance period of Christian Art that has flourished in Italy, France and Spain which spread to other parts of the world through the ages from Byzantine to post-Renaissance as compared to Roman and Gothic.
Federick narrated the origin of Christian Art in Rome how initially artists borrowed Greece-Roman art elements and incorporated in their perception about Christian imagery believed to have originated in the catacombs in the 4th Century AD. Later, the use of images in the 8th Century AD gave birth to controversy in the Church between those who support the use of images and those who are against it.
Christian theologists like Pope Gregory in the 8th Century AD and Thomas Aquinas during the 13th Century AD justified that the pictures can act as agents to reach God as they illuminate the Biblical text, particularly among the illiterates.
Touching on the prevailing debate on the use of images in the church, scholars and theologists are of the opinion that Christian Art is anagogic in nature. Fedrick was of the view that the transition in the language of visual art forms from Byzantine to post-Renaissance reflects the concern of the church, and artists engaged themselves to accomplish the mission of the church.
He also mentioned that the Christian art during Renaissance made a remarkable achievement to strike a balance between the idea of humanism and theological aspects of the Church. Federick summed up that art and religion always reflect the reality of the society while aptly stated ‘art is a product of its time’.
Talking about the relevant local situation, Federick stated, “The church should not treat culture as museum piece, and artists have a responsibility regarding faith, culture and identity of the people as a whole”.
The four-day art competition held under the aegis of the Shillong Arch-diocese was initiated to revitalize the vibrant art tradition of the church in Shillong that has inspired many to get involved in the art practice in particular and captivate the masses in general.
This attempt has persuaded some artists to contribute to the noble purpose while others endeavour to work at their own convenience and for the past one month, or so artists have produced some artworks as a first step to that direction.
On this Christmas occasion, some works have been completed and were on display at an art exhibition organized during the Christmas Festival from December 24 to 28 at Don Bosco Hall, Laitumkhrah.
Causes behind Juvenile crimes
Staff Correspondent
SHILLONG, Dec 27: Alcohol addiction and poverty are the main causes of juvenile crimes in the State, feel representatives of NGOs and other women organizations in the State. A survey has revealed that three out of every five families whose children are involved in criminal activities are victims of domestic violence. The activists working to check this problem want a multifaceted approach to tackle it.
According to a worker of childline, traumatic women of domestic violence usually leave their kids unattended and subsequently the kids nurture the tendency to leave home.
“This is the trend in Shillong, and domestic violence emanates from alcoholism,” stated the childline worker. Jasmine Lyngdoh, in her elaboration on juvenile crimes termed early and unprepared parenting as another reason for juvenile crime. “Some girls give birth to children much before they realize the duty of a mother and in course of time neglect the parenting duties”, stated Lyngdoh, adding, “Delinquency crops up when the children are deprived of proper guidance”.
Another reason for juvenile crimes is poverty. In Shillong, poverty-stricken families allow their children to indulge in pick-pocketing or stealing in order to feed the family. This is because either the father leaves to care for them or he is an alcoholic with no work.
Astonishingly, the survey reveals that parents allow their children to consume ‘dendrite’ as a way to make them work without any complaint.
Tribal party threatens stir in Tripura against wildlife sanctuaries
Agartala, Dec 27: Tribal party Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) today threatened to launch agitation to protest the alleged state government move to set up four more wildlife sanctuaries in the tribal-dominated hilly region in Tripura.
Informing this, INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma told newspersons that the party protested the establishment of new sanctuaries as well as “deprivation” to the actual beneficiaries in the implementation of Scheduled Tribes and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
In this regard, the INPT, also the opposition political party in Tripura, would meet the Governor on December 29, Debbarma added.
Debbarma alleged the threat of eviction gained momentum when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Teliamura in West Tripura constituted a committee on July 15.
The panel was formed to conduct a survey for the proposed Baramura Bird Sanctuary under the Baramura and Deotamura reserve forests, and an elephant conservation reserve under the Atharamura reserve forest, he added.
Following the plan’s execution, about 10,000 people in Atharamura, Deotamura and Kalajhari hill ranges would face eviction, according to him.
He alleged that the state government was trying to displace tribals from their decades-old habitations, where they had been practicing jhum (shifting of cultivation by slash and burn).
However, state Forest Minister Jitendra Choudhury stated that government had to think about wildlife conservation as well as the consequences of man-animal conflict in the forest areas.
“During the past two years, we have been reported seven incidents where elephants, monkeys and wild bears attacked the forest hamlets and farmlands in Atharamura and Kalajhari ranges. The elephants have encroached human habitations several times, Choudhury said.
He felt that unless the Forest Rights Act was implemented and right disputes on forest land were settled, nothing would happen.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar yesterday held a meeting with the officials, who were responsible for the implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, and directed them to complete all the administrative formalities by January 31, sources added.
Altogether 1.24 lakh applications were received from the forest dwellers asking for benefits, sources further informed. (UNI)
Rare terra cotta, pottery crafts on display
NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Displaying the rare terra cotta and pottery crafts of self help group cluster from Andro village in Imphal east district, black pottery crafts of SHG cluster from Nungbi village in Ukhrul district and Kouna (water reed) crafts, water hyacinth crafts, cane and bamboo crafts of SHG cluster from Kongba in Imphal east district, the 10-day Manipur Handicrafts Exhibition was inaugurated by Meghachandra Kongbam, joint director, Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi as chief guest yesterday evening at Balram Exhibition Hall, House No. 236, Satya Niketan here.
The Crafts and Social Development Organization, CSDO, is organising the 10-day exhibition which will continue upto January 4, under the sponsorship of the office of the development commissioner (handicrafts), Union ministry of textiles.
Inaugurating the exhibition, the chief guest stated that organizing a grand handicrafts exhibition in the national capital by a voluntary organization from Manipur, a distant place from Delhi, was a rare occasion. It gave a right platform for the master craftspersons for showcasing their unique products so that it could create a marketing link for export of their products outside Manipur.
He appealed to the master craftspersons to think of their products to have unique quality with regional touch so that buyers could be attracted to their products. Production sector, distribution sector and marketing sector were the essential elements for any kind of industry which must go hand in hand.
Th Premeshwor Singh, general secretary of CSDO said that the exhibition could benefit the craftspersons of various self help groups for introducing their unique products in the national capital as well as exposing themselves to the national market.
Apart from selling the products, the exhibition had a live demonstration programme on how the products were made. Premeshwor said that the CSDO had its showroom at Kongba bazar and its sales counter at Trade Centre, Porompat in Imphal. He was planning to open a showroom in New Delhi for global marketing of the Manipuri handicrafts products. (Agencies)
Corporates turn to North-east region in 2008
New Delhi, Dec 27: Corporates showed a great deal of interest in North Eastern Region (NER) in the year 2008, thanks to the initiatives taken by the Centre for the development of NER, including Vision 2020 called the “North East Region Vision 2020”.
The Vision document was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2008. It was a people’s plan for the NER as they wanted to see it by the year 2020.
The document was based on 35,000 suggestions and responses received by the government through its questionnaires.
The Vision document laid emphasis on structural transformation, poverty eradication, maximising self-governance, harnessing resources for the benefit of the people, building capacity in people and institutions, strengthening infrastructure, creating a centre for trade and commerce, effective governance and establishing peace and harmony.
A three-day conference of 16 Thematic Groups constituted for framing the objectives of the NER Vision 2020 was held in Shillong from December 3, 2008, where conveners of each of the group gave presentations elaborating their Action Plan for the same.
The Government in its bid to promote tourism in the NER conducted a “National Conclave on Promoting North-East as a Destination for LTC Travellers” in January in New Delhi.
Following this, the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules were relaxed for the Central government employees permitting them to travel by air. The new rules applied to employees irrespective of their grade or post.
Under the revised rules, Group A and B employees of the Central government had been entitled to travel by air from their place of posting or nearest airport to a city in the NER. Employees belonging to other categories were able to travel to a city in the NER from Guwahati or Kolkata.
All Central government servants were allowed conversion of one block of Home Town LTC into LTC for destinations in the NER.
The Ministry organised the fourth NER business summit in Guwahati in September, generating a high degree of interest expressions in the region by the corporate world.
Receiving 247 EOIs from 64 companies, the figure almost doubled the number of interests generated in the last summit. Of the 247 EOIs, 64 were from Assam, 45 came from Arunachal Pradesh, 34 from Meghalaya, 19 from Tripura, 17 from Manipur, 26 from Mizoram, 27 from Sikkim and 15 from Nagaland.
Agro and Food processing sector received 65 EOIs, Tourism over 50, Infrastructure over 70, Information and Technology over 30 and Manufacturing sector got 12. An MOU was also signed between the Indian Chamber of Commerce and its Bangladesh counterpart to focus on promotion of trade between the NER and Bangladesh.
During the year under review, a Special Summit on Banking Industries and Credit Issues in the NER with an emphasis on financial inclusion was held in Delhi in October 2008. Union Minister for Development of North East Region Mani Shankar Aiyer and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram also participated in the summit.
The summit deliberated on issues like overview of the banking and credit, financial inclusion, industrial growth and credit system, Micro Finance, expanding micro-financing, micro finance initiatives and future role of the NEDFI in the NER.
It also focussed on entrepreneurship through Women Groups, role of financial institutions in promoting investment with reference to MSMEs and financing rural business hubs in the NER.
The Conference on NE States Investment Mart 2008 was held in the capital on October 14th.
The objective of the conference was to ensure speedy economic development through accelerating the pace of industrialisation in the NE States, to bring the NER significantly visible in the industrial map of India and to provide an excellent platform for both the states as well as prospective investors to share information and investment plans and projects.
The conference offered the opportunities for one to one business meetings with the Chief Ministers/State government officials at Investment Hubs. (UNI)
Source: The Sentinel
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Imphal, Dec 27: All the OPDs of the government hospitals were closed down today in support of the ongoing strike demanding the implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations for the government employees in Manipur.
This was informed here by Manipur Health Service Officer’s Association president Dr Ksh Manglem Singh, Family Welfare Department Employees Association vice-president H Haridayal Sharma and Medical Department Employees Association president Oinam Ganesh Singh in a joint statement.
They said the OPDs would remain closed till December 29 except for all the medical institutions under the Moirang Assembly constituency due to bypolls.
However, such closure would be relaxed for three consecutive days from December 30, they added.
“If there is no positive reply than on January 2, the OPDs will be closed for another three days. From January 5, the stir will intensify with the clearing of all the patients. There will be no new admission to the hospital wards. Only the casualty and emergency services will remain open. From January 8 onwards, closure of all the casualty and emergency services will be effected,” they said.
The Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of all Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation (AMGEO) started a series of agitation for the implementation of the new pay package.
They alleged that the Central Government employees had already started enjoying the new pay structure.
The JAC said it would continue its agitation, until the demands were met.
Meanwhile, work was hit in most of the government offices on account of the stir. The JAC began its stir by asking its members to wear black badge on November 11 and 12. The JAC was also demanding the merger of 50 per cent DA/DR with basic pay pension, along with rectification of pay anomalies.
It also demanded the restoration of ‘Died-in-Harness Scheme’ and fixation of Minimum Wages based on the Consumer’s Price Index 2007, along with payment of arrears and Variable Dearness Allowances (VDA).
Facilities like Duty Allowance, Messing Allowance and TA should be given to the home guards of Manipur Ad-hoc employees, the JAC said. The JAC had also asked for fixing the age of retirement at 60 instead of 59, in line with the Central government employees’ scheme.
Official sources said the State government had already formed a committee to look into the matter.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had already stated that the government had no resources to pay the employees and the latter would have to wait till the implementation of the 13th Finance Commission. (UNI)
Additional BSF troops deployed along B’desh border
Agartala, Dec 27: The Union Government has decided to deploy additional Border Security Force(BSF) personnel in the areas bordering Bangaldesh in the wake of tension along the western border of India.
According to reports, flights of Indian Air Force had brought two companies of BSF jawans last night in the State, following a security-related meeting here between Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and BSF Tripura Frontier officials yesterday.
The report added that more troops were soon expected.
Meanwhile, the BSF authority had reportedly deployed additional troops this morning in seven sensitive locations along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.
The commanding officers of the areas had also held a meeting with local police and other paramilitary forces.
State Home Department officials today said in view of the general election in the neighbouring country on December 29, the BSF had already increased the strength of jawans along the 2,840 km-long India-Bangladesh border in the northeastern region.
The Bangladesh authority had launched operation against the criminals and preventive detention to hold peaceful election.
As a result, huge number of Bangladeshi criminals had started moving out of the neighbouring country.
Altogether 31 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by the BSF in the state on December 24.
“Moreover, in the wake of the movement of additional Pakistani troops to the Line of Control in Kashmir and western border following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Centre had issued high alert and leaves for the security personnel were cancelled,” the BSF officials further informed. (UNI)
Meghalaya news
Prisoners threaten to torch jail hospital
Shillong, Dec 27: Prisoners in Meghalaya have threatened to burn down a hospital inside Tura district jail, if authorities failed to provide proper medical facilities.
About 180 prisoners, lodged in the Tura district jail, served an ultimatum to jail authorities after the death of a fellow prisoner.
Solomon Shylla (42), convicted for a rape incident, was declared brought dead at Tura Civil Hospital on December 23 after he sustained head injury, when he slipped and fell down in the toilet inside his cell.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Ferline C A Sangma told UNI here that the prisoners had resorted to an indefinite hunger strike on December 23.
The jail authorities had tried to have a dialogue with the them, but in vain.
They went on the hunger strike to protest the lack of medical facilities inside the jail from December 23, she said, adding the prisoners felt that Shylla could have been saved, if there were proper facilities.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner, however, admitted that the medical aid inside the jail was inadequate. “ There should be a regular supply of important medicines,” she said.
Sangma said the prisoners withdrew the strike on Christmas eve on a condition that Inspector General of Police in-charge, Prisons, Anil Pradhan, should visit them to oversee the poor condition of the Tura district jail.
“They wanted the IG, prisons, to visit them within a month’s time. We have sent a WT message to IG Prisons informing him about the prisoners’ demands,” Sangma said.
The prisoners also demanded the presence of the media to expose the plight of the Tura jail.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner F R Kharkongor ordered a magisterial inquiry into incident.
The inquiry is headed by Additional District Magistrate TG Momin.
Momin is expected to submit his findings by first week of January. (UNI)
Of images and Christian institutions
Staff Correspondent
SHILLONG, Dec 27: Presentation of Christian arts has given birth to a new debate on the use of images by Christian institutions. A presentation by Fedrick Hynniewta, a postgraduate artist from Shantineketan and a graduate in mass communication, in Shillong today revealed the evolving art of the Christians.
He referred to the ancient cave paintings in Europe to the Renaissance period of Christian Art that has flourished in Italy, France and Spain which spread to other parts of the world through the ages from Byzantine to post-Renaissance as compared to Roman and Gothic.
Federick narrated the origin of Christian Art in Rome how initially artists borrowed Greece-Roman art elements and incorporated in their perception about Christian imagery believed to have originated in the catacombs in the 4th Century AD. Later, the use of images in the 8th Century AD gave birth to controversy in the Church between those who support the use of images and those who are against it.
Christian theologists like Pope Gregory in the 8th Century AD and Thomas Aquinas during the 13th Century AD justified that the pictures can act as agents to reach God as they illuminate the Biblical text, particularly among the illiterates.
Touching on the prevailing debate on the use of images in the church, scholars and theologists are of the opinion that Christian Art is anagogic in nature. Fedrick was of the view that the transition in the language of visual art forms from Byzantine to post-Renaissance reflects the concern of the church, and artists engaged themselves to accomplish the mission of the church.
He also mentioned that the Christian art during Renaissance made a remarkable achievement to strike a balance between the idea of humanism and theological aspects of the Church. Federick summed up that art and religion always reflect the reality of the society while aptly stated ‘art is a product of its time’.
Talking about the relevant local situation, Federick stated, “The church should not treat culture as museum piece, and artists have a responsibility regarding faith, culture and identity of the people as a whole”.
The four-day art competition held under the aegis of the Shillong Arch-diocese was initiated to revitalize the vibrant art tradition of the church in Shillong that has inspired many to get involved in the art practice in particular and captivate the masses in general.
This attempt has persuaded some artists to contribute to the noble purpose while others endeavour to work at their own convenience and for the past one month, or so artists have produced some artworks as a first step to that direction.
On this Christmas occasion, some works have been completed and were on display at an art exhibition organized during the Christmas Festival from December 24 to 28 at Don Bosco Hall, Laitumkhrah.
Causes behind Juvenile crimes
Staff Correspondent
SHILLONG, Dec 27: Alcohol addiction and poverty are the main causes of juvenile crimes in the State, feel representatives of NGOs and other women organizations in the State. A survey has revealed that three out of every five families whose children are involved in criminal activities are victims of domestic violence. The activists working to check this problem want a multifaceted approach to tackle it.
According to a worker of childline, traumatic women of domestic violence usually leave their kids unattended and subsequently the kids nurture the tendency to leave home.
“This is the trend in Shillong, and domestic violence emanates from alcoholism,” stated the childline worker. Jasmine Lyngdoh, in her elaboration on juvenile crimes termed early and unprepared parenting as another reason for juvenile crime. “Some girls give birth to children much before they realize the duty of a mother and in course of time neglect the parenting duties”, stated Lyngdoh, adding, “Delinquency crops up when the children are deprived of proper guidance”.
Another reason for juvenile crimes is poverty. In Shillong, poverty-stricken families allow their children to indulge in pick-pocketing or stealing in order to feed the family. This is because either the father leaves to care for them or he is an alcoholic with no work.
Astonishingly, the survey reveals that parents allow their children to consume ‘dendrite’ as a way to make them work without any complaint.
Tribal party threatens stir in Tripura against wildlife sanctuaries
Agartala, Dec 27: Tribal party Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) today threatened to launch agitation to protest the alleged state government move to set up four more wildlife sanctuaries in the tribal-dominated hilly region in Tripura.
Informing this, INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma told newspersons that the party protested the establishment of new sanctuaries as well as “deprivation” to the actual beneficiaries in the implementation of Scheduled Tribes and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
In this regard, the INPT, also the opposition political party in Tripura, would meet the Governor on December 29, Debbarma added.
Debbarma alleged the threat of eviction gained momentum when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Teliamura in West Tripura constituted a committee on July 15.
The panel was formed to conduct a survey for the proposed Baramura Bird Sanctuary under the Baramura and Deotamura reserve forests, and an elephant conservation reserve under the Atharamura reserve forest, he added.
Following the plan’s execution, about 10,000 people in Atharamura, Deotamura and Kalajhari hill ranges would face eviction, according to him.
He alleged that the state government was trying to displace tribals from their decades-old habitations, where they had been practicing jhum (shifting of cultivation by slash and burn).
However, state Forest Minister Jitendra Choudhury stated that government had to think about wildlife conservation as well as the consequences of man-animal conflict in the forest areas.
“During the past two years, we have been reported seven incidents where elephants, monkeys and wild bears attacked the forest hamlets and farmlands in Atharamura and Kalajhari ranges. The elephants have encroached human habitations several times, Choudhury said.
He felt that unless the Forest Rights Act was implemented and right disputes on forest land were settled, nothing would happen.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar yesterday held a meeting with the officials, who were responsible for the implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, and directed them to complete all the administrative formalities by January 31, sources added.
Altogether 1.24 lakh applications were received from the forest dwellers asking for benefits, sources further informed. (UNI)
Rare terra cotta, pottery crafts on display
NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Displaying the rare terra cotta and pottery crafts of self help group cluster from Andro village in Imphal east district, black pottery crafts of SHG cluster from Nungbi village in Ukhrul district and Kouna (water reed) crafts, water hyacinth crafts, cane and bamboo crafts of SHG cluster from Kongba in Imphal east district, the 10-day Manipur Handicrafts Exhibition was inaugurated by Meghachandra Kongbam, joint director, Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi as chief guest yesterday evening at Balram Exhibition Hall, House No. 236, Satya Niketan here.
The Crafts and Social Development Organization, CSDO, is organising the 10-day exhibition which will continue upto January 4, under the sponsorship of the office of the development commissioner (handicrafts), Union ministry of textiles.
Inaugurating the exhibition, the chief guest stated that organizing a grand handicrafts exhibition in the national capital by a voluntary organization from Manipur, a distant place from Delhi, was a rare occasion. It gave a right platform for the master craftspersons for showcasing their unique products so that it could create a marketing link for export of their products outside Manipur.
He appealed to the master craftspersons to think of their products to have unique quality with regional touch so that buyers could be attracted to their products. Production sector, distribution sector and marketing sector were the essential elements for any kind of industry which must go hand in hand.
Th Premeshwor Singh, general secretary of CSDO said that the exhibition could benefit the craftspersons of various self help groups for introducing their unique products in the national capital as well as exposing themselves to the national market.
Apart from selling the products, the exhibition had a live demonstration programme on how the products were made. Premeshwor said that the CSDO had its showroom at Kongba bazar and its sales counter at Trade Centre, Porompat in Imphal. He was planning to open a showroom in New Delhi for global marketing of the Manipuri handicrafts products. (Agencies)
Corporates turn to North-east region in 2008
New Delhi, Dec 27: Corporates showed a great deal of interest in North Eastern Region (NER) in the year 2008, thanks to the initiatives taken by the Centre for the development of NER, including Vision 2020 called the “North East Region Vision 2020”.
The Vision document was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2008. It was a people’s plan for the NER as they wanted to see it by the year 2020.
The document was based on 35,000 suggestions and responses received by the government through its questionnaires.
The Vision document laid emphasis on structural transformation, poverty eradication, maximising self-governance, harnessing resources for the benefit of the people, building capacity in people and institutions, strengthening infrastructure, creating a centre for trade and commerce, effective governance and establishing peace and harmony.
A three-day conference of 16 Thematic Groups constituted for framing the objectives of the NER Vision 2020 was held in Shillong from December 3, 2008, where conveners of each of the group gave presentations elaborating their Action Plan for the same.
The Government in its bid to promote tourism in the NER conducted a “National Conclave on Promoting North-East as a Destination for LTC Travellers” in January in New Delhi.
Following this, the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules were relaxed for the Central government employees permitting them to travel by air. The new rules applied to employees irrespective of their grade or post.
Under the revised rules, Group A and B employees of the Central government had been entitled to travel by air from their place of posting or nearest airport to a city in the NER. Employees belonging to other categories were able to travel to a city in the NER from Guwahati or Kolkata.
All Central government servants were allowed conversion of one block of Home Town LTC into LTC for destinations in the NER.
The Ministry organised the fourth NER business summit in Guwahati in September, generating a high degree of interest expressions in the region by the corporate world.
Receiving 247 EOIs from 64 companies, the figure almost doubled the number of interests generated in the last summit. Of the 247 EOIs, 64 were from Assam, 45 came from Arunachal Pradesh, 34 from Meghalaya, 19 from Tripura, 17 from Manipur, 26 from Mizoram, 27 from Sikkim and 15 from Nagaland.
Agro and Food processing sector received 65 EOIs, Tourism over 50, Infrastructure over 70, Information and Technology over 30 and Manufacturing sector got 12. An MOU was also signed between the Indian Chamber of Commerce and its Bangladesh counterpart to focus on promotion of trade between the NER and Bangladesh.
During the year under review, a Special Summit on Banking Industries and Credit Issues in the NER with an emphasis on financial inclusion was held in Delhi in October 2008. Union Minister for Development of North East Region Mani Shankar Aiyer and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram also participated in the summit.
The summit deliberated on issues like overview of the banking and credit, financial inclusion, industrial growth and credit system, Micro Finance, expanding micro-financing, micro finance initiatives and future role of the NEDFI in the NER.
It also focussed on entrepreneurship through Women Groups, role of financial institutions in promoting investment with reference to MSMEs and financing rural business hubs in the NER.
The Conference on NE States Investment Mart 2008 was held in the capital on October 14th.
The objective of the conference was to ensure speedy economic development through accelerating the pace of industrialisation in the NE States, to bring the NER significantly visible in the industrial map of India and to provide an excellent platform for both the states as well as prospective investors to share information and investment plans and projects.
The conference offered the opportunities for one to one business meetings with the Chief Ministers/State government officials at Investment Hubs. (UNI)
Source: The Sentinel
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