Saturday, August 16, 2008

Kuki Students' Organisation Delhi Freshers' Social Meet 2008


CHIKIM Traditional Display
The Kuki Students' Organisation Delhi Freshers' cum Social Meet 2008 was held on the 16th August 2008 at MTNL, RK Purum, New Delhi. Pu Holkholun Lhungdim, President, Kuki Inpi graced the function as the chief guest. He thank all the participants of the great rally that leads till Tihar jail in Delhi.


The Audiance

Pu WL Hangshing, The Chief Election Commissioner

The Freshers'

For Pi Lamkholhing's Hinkho ipiham? Click here

Munirka, Delhi ah NE 2 sualluih in om

By Vaphualization

Apaita August 12 Sepnawnni ziinglam dak 1.30 veel in Munirka, New Delhi ah singtangmi numei 3 sualluih in om. A kigen dan in hiai numei 2 geel ahihleh a sepna uapan inn zuan a pai ahi ua, vai pasal 7 diing veel in ana man taang ua, lamgei a innkaal luutna lak ah a deihtawk un kisual huan uhi. Numei te kikou mahle uh a panpih diing mi a omkei. Police incident report bangmah a omkei a, FIR leng a ki file kei a, numei te hihna leeng theih ahikei a, sualtu te hihna leeng bangmah theih ahikei.

Singtangmi numei 2, vai pasal 7 in nuamtakmai in a khoih uh chihna ahimai. Atawpna ah, a vualzou te ahihleh tua vai pasal 7 te ahi ua, a vuallel bel, a hehpih huai lia 2 geel ahi uhi.

Munirka a om Unaupa Muan leh a lawmpa, sepnawnni ziing beltak, daak 6 veel in vaakkhia ua, Munirka sung a lamgei khat ah, numei' bra 2 leh underwear 2 mu uhi. A nitak a vuahzu ahihziak in ana thehbuan thamta hi. Amau bel banghiam thiltung khat a zaan a om hidi'n gingta mahleh uh hihtheih bangmah a neikei uh.

Tu sintawpni nitaklam in Unaupa Muan kiang ah a lawm numei khat in, "Ka sepna ua ka manager pa un Munirka ah sepnawnni zingkal dak 1.30 veel in singtangmi numei 2 ki sualluih chi eive," chiin geenkha hi. Hiai kisualluihna mun leh sepnawnni zingkal a a thil muhna mun uh kibang a, Muan in a hon bulhtuah chiang in sualluihna pen ana tungmah ahihdan a honchian ta.

Minu ahihleh Priya a seem ahi. A manager pa un a hilhna ah, numei kikou thawm azak phet un inntung ah kal in ensuk uh a, huai ah, singtangmi numei 2, a sepna uapan innlam zuan hidia gintak, te pasal 7 vel in lamgei ah ana man uhi. Huchiin, inn kawm pialna khat ah kibaan sual mai daan uh ahi.

A vangtah huaina mahmah bel, mit a mu a entu mi hiaizah om mahleh, kuaman tua numei te ava panpih sawm kei uh. Kuaman police control room 100 a sam kei uh. Naaksang in, hiai thil hi, etnop suah in a en heekhawk hiilhial tel uhi.

http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4095&ac=0&Itemid=2

Friday, August 15, 2008

Chin Students' Association Delhi phuankhiat in umta

Tedim Chin Development Society Delhi (TCDS) makaite thukim na tawh Chin Student Association, kum 50 val a upa pawlpi in nimit 2.8.2009 Delhi tual Pa Gin Sian Lian inn ah CSA Delhi unit kiphuan khia hi. CSA Motto pen : "Takkheh" cih hi. Convener ding in Tg. L Cin Muan Lal tanvan pia uh hi. Delhi pan khasim a ki hawmkhia Vaphual thukizakna zong CSA Delhi unit tung TCDS in ap-pah uh hi. A sawt lo in pan mun hawnna hong hong nei khia pah ta ding uh hi.

CSA tawh kisai a theilo te khual na in CSA painzia tamlo theihna behlap ding in kong gelh beh hi.

Chin Student Association pen 1956 kum in a kiphaun khia pawlpi hi. Kum 2006 in Kum 50 ci-na pawi Blue Star sanginn ah nasia tak in ki bawl hi. Hih hun ah Kawlgam pan in Zomi lasiam Tg. Thawn Kham leh Pa Lengtong Paunote hong kihel in Concert nasia takin ki bawl hi.

CSA pawpi lapi pen Han Lung Ciam Ni Sia Pau Za Cin Hatzaw phuak ahi hi. CSA Founder President pen zan lam deuh a hongnusia khin Sia Lian Za Go Hatzaw a hih hi. Tulaitak CSA Hq President pen Siapi Dal Lian zi Siapinu Niangno ahi, Siapi Dal Lian zong CSA Hq Adviser a hih hi. CSA Hq General Secretary Sia Kap Khan Muan ahi hi.

India gam ah Zomi sungah sang naupang pawlpi tuam ki nei hi. Tedim Kampuate Chin Student Assiciotion ci'n ki pawl khawm a, Paite kampaute Siamsian Pawlpi ki ci hi, Zou kampau teng Zou Sangnaupang Pawl cin ki pua uh hi (tu kum in ZSP Kum 50 cin na zang ding in a ki ngak thawi mah mah laitak uh a hi hi). Vaiphei kampaute Zirlai Pawl kici a, Simte kampaute Khangthak Zun Pawl kici uh hi. Hih sang naupang pawlpi khempeuh Zomi Student Federation (ZSF) min tawh ki pawl khawm uh hi.

CSA Delhi Unit kum sawt Zotang bang dam in Topa'n thupha hong pia ta hen.

Deihsakna tawh
MC Khaipu
Bekanlei


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ZSP Golden Jubilee: Is it worth a celebration?

(Challenges for one and all)
By- HangP,
Andhra Pradesh, India

ZSP Hqtr. in October 2008 chiang in Golden Jubilee thupitah in lop ding vaiguan nei a, hinanleh tamthu tawh kisai thu ging apat in kalungsim a thu khat aging den hi. Namdang te Student Organisation te tawh ZSP ka enkah a, mite’n bangjat achievement anei y? ZSP in bangjat anei ei? A history te ka enkah hi. ZSP ichi chiang in Zou sung ading a apex student body ahia, hinanleh student te ading in Golden Jubilee tan atung tan in jong a nasep/plan a sepkhie khatbeh muding kathei sih hi (ka theilou ahile anyone tell me please). Student body ngaisah malah in ama leh ama jong ki enkol joulou in tamveipi ICU (Intensive Care Unit) ah ana um hi. WHY! Tuathamlou in Golden Jubilee tawh kituah in Hqtr lamkai te’n ZSP Jubilee Theme ding khat beh hing phuang va uh kana chi sim le tunitan bangma zah ding a umsih a, Jubilee ni ngahla a sim leh mal a ikhuang vengvung uh chilou bangma muding theiding a umsih hi. Jubilee tawh kituah in Student organization khat ihisam leh Literacy lam bang pibawl in Theme in nei lei aphatuam de aw chi ngaidan bang kanei hi.

Bang pen e ilop ding uh? Bangpen e ikipahpi ding uh?

ZSP sep leh bawl lawm vai in kipah vai chi lei lah bangma muding a umsih ngal a, buaina bangma umlou a Golden Jubilee tan ipawlpi atung zou chilei lah ei leh ei kihem isuah jel ding a, azieh pen buaina ana um ahi zieh in. Pasian kung ah ZSP buaina te kawmkal a kum 65 tan nahing puitung chia kipahthu igen ua ilop ding uh chilou ngal lop ding leh kipahpi ding bangma um kasa sih hi. Tualeh thupitah a lop ding ZSP in bangma achievement aneisih hi. Bel hawm (Empty vessel) maw ilop ding uh ! Tuabang lopna ding in budget tuajatpi pammai nasa sih uh ama, igam a kiel leh genthei hun tambang laitah a sum tuajatpi bangma lou a nopbawlna maimai a nikhat ninih a imawh zahbei ding uh pammai na chiang um kasa hi. Golden Jubilee melmu bang inei y? A Jubilee suang leh souvenir maimai tawh lungkim nalai ding ihi uh ama. ZSP in Zou Sangnaupang te ading in bangma bawlthei neilou leh bawl sawmlou ama. Hun peisa te ah bangma ana bawlsih nanleh Jubilee kum ahi tawh kituah in tukum beh in Sangnaupang te phattuam na ding khat bawl leh hoi nasa sih uh am?

Bang pen e ZSP Hqtr mawpuahna leh sepding a silhoi?

Hqtr khat ahi buang sam leh Block leh Branch te tawh kichimatna(relation) siam hoi henlen, Branch umsun Shillong leh Delhi lam te tawh Jubilee kum ahi tawh kituah in relation tha siem henlen, ngaidan deidan kikup dialdial hun neileh silhoi ahi. Hqtr in ama deidan, Branch ten amau deidan chia sil apei zing zieh in khantouna hatlou ahi. Pangkhawm hatna ahizing hi chi manghil sihvai. Tualeh nampi student body khat ahi buang samleh literacy lam jong ngaisah deuleh deihuai hi. Pawl Sawm exam dingte coaching maimai tawh bangtanvei lungkim ding ihi y? Zodawn lam ah govt. skul hunkhop a um a, tualeh hattuam mission skul jong hunkhoptah um hi. Tamte khatvei beh ZSP Hqtr in vehna nei henlen Lamka tan jong hing tung joulou sangnaupang tampi te laisim na va entup le uh bang asiatna a um diai. Govt. skull leh mission skul te ah thu vanei uhen kachi na ahilaijang sih a, amabou va enkhie uhenlen sangsye te nasep dan ahoi nai ahoi sih ei, hichijaw deuleh chi ngaidan leh deidan vakum le uh phatuam in sangnaupang tampi ading in jong encouragement hoitah hiding in kagingta hi. Silhoi ahia, tua silhoi khu govt. leh hattuam ten jong dal ding un kagingta sih hi. Amau ading a jong phattuam ding ahiman in, ahin ahing dal tah uleh jong kihou dan khat chu a um ding hi. Tam pen ZSP mawpuahna hisih nachi maithei, ngaitua tha in ei leh ei iki entup lou leh koi in hing ettupsah ding. Govt in skul hing peta ei ma in iki entup lou leh govt in hing entup sah lou ding a, sangsye te’n semlou in sum lazel ding ua, ei leh ei kihem isuah mai ding uhi. Bangtan vei ei leh ei kihem nalai ding ihi y? I gam a skul te iki ettup leh azal zou ding tu eima ihi. Zodawn a skul te hoitah in pua lei neilou sa leh hahsa sasa in Lamka ah sangnaupang te ahing pei uh ngailou ding hi.

Golden Jubilee hita buang sam a, ZSP in Lamka beh a Sangnaupangte ading Hostel neu khat beh anei hunta hilou ama. Tuni a nikhat ninih Golden Jubilee hawmpi lopna ding a ikiphal leh thalop bang un kumtampi dai ding leh sangnaupang hunkhop phattuam nading silte ah kiphal in kithalop hilei bangza in inam ipawlpi akhangtou diei, na ngaisut ngai ei? Koi ta phattuam na ding kibawl sih nachi maithei, tam thugual(sentence) mama ahi ikhanmawbawh uh. Tuni a aneijou pen, aseng joupen nahi vang in natu nata khang a bang dinmun ah a um ding y chi namu ngel ei? Khovel khu kipei in kilumlet zing ahi chi manghil sih vai. Nikhat ninih pallun te tawh buai non sih vai in hun leh kum tampi daiding sil phatuam te ah atha in hanchiem chiet vai.

Tuaban ah, Zodawn a iskul te uh aginat lou vang in tuate apat hing khangkhia a pawl sawmzou hing pass hunkhop um gige hi. Tuate innsung hahsa tamkuam jong um ua, pawlsawm ban a ding hahsa sa mama nu-leh-pa tampi um ding hi. Tua bang hahsa te a ding ZSP Hqtr in scholarship khatbeh inei uh hunta hilou maw. Zou MIL a mark mutam penpen te cash award ipieh utawh lungkim nalai ding ihi y? Award tuam tuam te tawh lungkim ngetngut nalai ding maw. Inn sung hahsa pawlsawm ban sunzom jou nonlou te a ding khualna a scholarship khat nei silhoi leh khantouvai mama kasa hi. Tampi hisih nanleh admission fee leh tuition fee beh achin leh jong ahun khop hi ikipatna ding uh. Tuabang tuah ding mikiphal umlou ihiai, ahilou leh ZSP in tuabang angaisut lou zieh a umlou? ZSP maimai jong hilou in ZLS leh hattuam te’n jong tam bang nei le uh hattuam mi jong pung in mipite phattuamna jong ahiding hi. Pasian nasem jong ihi veve uhi. Hattuam te’n jong eima innsung a Pasian na semlou in mi innsung ah isep sawm zing ua, eima innsung a meikhu peisuah ding gel lou in mi innsung a meikhu umzing nading ibuaipi uhi. Mangzing gammial ichi zing uleh Zodawn koizaw ipoimaw ngai zawh y? Hattuam te’n koi zawh panpi na in budget ah sum aseng tam zaw y? Ei leh ei iki panpi lou le koi in hing panpi ding? Hattuam te’n Sawm akhat ingai poimaw bang un I hattuam mite leh inam mite hahsatna te ngaipoimaw lei igam inam khangtou ding hi. Gammial iveinat nalam un eima innsung a khomial lam imu nonsih uhi. [Tam tawh kisai lam tazah in hunsah vai nalung lut leh ‘Economic Drain of Wealth: All out and no In’ chia hattuam te nasep tawh kisai a ka article sawtlou in tam mun ma ah ahing tuang ding a ana sim mai tan aw.]

Tuazieh in Golden Jubilee melmu in lamkai te’n bang e sangnaupangte ading a sil phattuam ding khat hing ngaitua le uh kumsawt a Jubilee melmu jong ahi ding a inam leh sangnaupangte phattuamna jong ahi ding hi. ‘Better late than never’ chi bang in bangma akikhel nai sih a, bangma lou sang in bang ekhat a hoijaw nalai hi. Bawl lou sang in jong bawlkhiel/lawsap ahoijaw nalai hi chi ngaitua tha va ui. Atawpna ah, Golden Jubilee Pawi tawh mitsuh kialou ding in hanchiem chiat vai, Jubilee a ding a ikithalop bang un mailam hun ah jong kithalop zing chiet vai. Mailam hun ah ahithei tan in ZSP pen ICU ah koi da hamham sawm ta vai e guai! KALAISAI !

Ei leh ei kipanpi sih lei koi in hing panpi ding
Ei leh ei kitawsawn sih lei koi in hing hanthawn ding
Ei leh ei kihem sih lei koi in hing hem ding
Ei leh ei ki entup sihlei koi in hing entup ding
Ei leh ei ki dou sih lei koi in hing dou ding
Ei leh ei ki gense sihlei koi in hing gense ding
Ei leh ei kidem sih lei koi in hing dem ding
Ei leh ei…………………………….


Thou in, Kuan in, Sem in
Ilouma kibang, Sisan in zong chin leh tuai ihi.

Full text of PM Manmohan Singh's I-Day speech

NEW DELHI: Following is the text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address from the Red Fort on the occasion of the nation's 61st Independence Day:

My dear countrymen, brothers, sisters and my dear children. Greetings to all of you on this happy occasion of our Independence Day. This is a sacred day for every Indian. Today we remember the sacrifice of those who under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi fought for our freedom from foreign rule. Today we remember the hard work and dedication of all those who have toiled to build a free and modern India. And we re-dedicate ourselves to that cause.

We remember our farmers, our workers and our teachers. We remember our soldiers - who defend our borders in snowy mountains, in deserts, in jungles, on the shores and in the oceans.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago, on this day, I stood here before you and spoke to you about our government's new vision for a new India. I said to you that it is our desire to build an India that is just and humane;

An India that treats all its citizens as equals;
An India that is prosperous;
An India that lives in peace;
An India in which everyone can find work suited to his or her talent and can work for his or her brighter future.
An India that is secular, that is fair and just to all its people. An India united in its diversity.

It has been our sincere endeavour to work for the building of such an India.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago I stood here and said to you that I have no promises to make, but I have promises to keep. The implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme was our promise to keep; To give a "new deal to rural India", was our promise to keep; To make our economy and society inclusive was our promise to keep; To take India to its rightful place in the comity of nations was our promise to keep; It has been the sincere endeavour of our Government to keep each of these promises.

We have given a new deal to rural India.

Through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana we are investing Rs. 25000 crore in agriculture; To provide relief to our debt distressed farmers we have waived loans taken from the banks amounting to about Rs.71,000 crore;

In the past four years we have increased bank credit for agricultural sector from Rs.81,000 crore to Rs.225,000 crore, and have reduced the interest rates for farm loans;

In order to improve the economic conditions of farmers we have steeply increased the procurement prices for food grains; 50 percent for wheat and 30 percent for paddy;

The National Food Security Mission has been set up to enhance production of rice, wheat and pulses; Irrigation, watershed development, rain fed areas development, and flood management have received our special attention; Our effort at increasing investment in rural areas and reducing the debt burden of farmers has turned our agricultural economy around.

After almost a decade of stagnation especially from 1998 to 2004, investment in agriculture is increasing and there has been a revival in this area. We have had record production of food grains, cotton and sugar in 2007-08.

Our farms are once again green. Our godowns are once again filling up. Our farmers are once again hopeful about their future and their welfare.

Brothers and Sisters,

I spent the first ten years of my life in a village that had no electricity, no drinking water supply, no doctor, no roads and no phones. I had to walk many miles to a school. I had to study at night in the dim light of a kerosene lamp. After independence there has been considerable development in rural areas, yet many of our citizens still live a life that I lived in my childhood.

That is why when our government took over, we launched Bharat Nirman, to build rural infrastructure. Our government is committed to transforming rural India. In these four years we have taken important initiatives. I am confident that a new and prosperous India will be built due to our efforts.

My dear Countrymen,

Four years ago I spoke to you about our "Seven Sutras" - the seven priorities for our Government - agriculture, water, education, health care, employment, urban renewal and infrastructure.

In each area we have taken important initiatives. I have already spoken about our initiatives for agricultural development and farmer's welfare.

The second important area of development has been infrastructure development. There is a new dynamism in our railways. New roads are being built. New seaports and airports are being developed.

More and more of our people now live in our cities. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Mission has been funding urban development and modernization of our cities. The National Rural Health Mission has been expanding public health facilities and services in rural areas.

As someone who started his professional life as a teacher, I feel proud to say that our Government has been giving special attention to the development of education in our country. There is a massive increase in public investment in education at all levels. In elementary education, in secondary education and in higher education.

We have strengthened Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and expanded the mid-day meal programme upto upper primary level in all districts of the country. About 14 crore children are being provided mid-day meals under this scheme.

We are establishing 6,000 new high quality model schools, with at least one school in each block. 373 new colleges are being opened in backward districts. We are opening 30 new universities, 8 new IITs, 7 new IIMs, 20 new IIITs, 5 new Indian Institutes of Science, 2 Schools of Planning and Architecture, 10 NITs, and 1,000 new polytechnics.

I have called the 11th Five Year Plan our "National Education Plan". We want every section of our society to get access to education. Every child belonging to a family of SC, ST, OBC and all Minorities, every single child, boy or girl, must have access to modern education.

Our government is implementing several new scholarship schemes for the educational development of our children. Schemes for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for children hailing from SC, ST, OBC and Minority families are being implemented. Special scholarships for meritorious students from SC, ST, OBC and Minority families have also been launched. Scholarships for overseas studies are being given to SC and ST students. National merit-cum-means scholarships for children hailing from economically weaker sections and children with disabilities have also been approved.

We have established a new Skill Development Mission which will work under the supervision of the Prime Minister. A Skill Development Corporation will be created by the Government with the active participation of the private sector to give special training to our young men and women, our workers and our technicians.

I am happy to say that we are sincerely implementing most of the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Committee Report on social, economic and educational empowerment of our Muslim community.

India will be transformed only when every Indian is literate, well fed, healthy and can secure gainful employment.

I want to see a modern India, imbued by a scientific temper, where the benefits of modern knowledge flow to all sections of society. This year we hope to send an Indian spacecraft, Chandrayan, to the moon. It will be an important milestone in the development of our space programme.

Brothers and Sisters,

Providing employment has been a special priority for us. Our policies for agriculture, for industry, for infrastructure development and for skill development, will all promote employment.

Our beloved former Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi had said, " Garibi Hatao". Our leader Shrimati Sonia Gandhi has given us the slogan, " Rozgar Badhao ". Our Government is making special efforts to create "rozgar " to fight " garibi".

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is a historic initiative of our Government. Today the entire country is covered by this programme. The NREGA is providing minimum livelihood support to the crores of neediest among us. It is aimed to soften the sharp edges of poverty.

To create more employment we need more investment in agriculture, in manufacturing and in infrastructure. We need a new wave of industrialization to generate more employment. If industrial development has any adverse impact on some of our rural folk, we will ensure that there is reasonable compensation and proper rehabilitation. A new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy has been formulated and we will seek Parliament's approval for it.

We have introduced a bill in Parliament to provide social security to the workers of the unorganized sector. Our Government has launched the Aam Aadmi Beema Yojana, under which one member of each landless family in rural areas will be insured. We have also started a programme to provide health insurance to Below Poverty Line families of workers in the unorganized sector. Citizens above 65 years of age, living below the poverty line are being covered under the Indira Gandhi Pension Scheme.

My dear countrymen,

In the past four years we have seen a sharp increase in the rate of investment. This has contributed to an increase in the rate of growth of the economy. For the first time in history, we have had four years of nearly 9.0 percent economic growth. India is among the world's fastest growing economies.

But there are new challenges that we face. We have the challenge of inflation. I know how much each one of you is concerned about the recent rise in prices. The inflation we have seen this year is basically due to external factors. All over the world and in global markets the price of food, fuel and other commodities has been rising. In many developing countries the rate of inflation is double that in India.

Our government has worked hard to ensure that in India the rate of inflation is not as high as in many other countries. We have also taken special measures to insulate the poorer sections of our society from the full impact of rising food and fuel prices. Our government has not raised the price of kerosene and fertilizers. We have not raised the issue price of wheat and rice under PDS.

We are taking determined measures to bring prices under reasonable control. I have urged all Chief Ministers to improve and strengthen the PDS to ensure availability of essential commodities to the common man at reasonable prices. The Reserve Bank of India is moderating the growth of money supply in the country so that inflation can be controlled. However, while making these efforts we should avoid doing anything which hurts our growth.

Brothers and Sisters,

Today, while speaking about the achievements of our government, I wish to make one more promise. We have done much, but I realize that there is more to do. The problem of malnutrition is a curse that we must remove. Our efforts to provide every child with access to education and to improve health care services for all citizens will continue. We need to take forward our initiatives for giving equal status to women and for their social and economic empowerment. I promise to you that we will continue striving for the development and prosperity of our country. We will work hard to take the country to greater heights in all fields.

Brothers and Sisters,

We must apply modern science and technology to find long-term solutions to our energy problem. Our crude oil and gas reserves are limited. We must find alternative energy sources. I would like our scientists and engineers to find ways in which we can make better use of solar energy, wind energy, bio-gas and other sources of energy.

Our economy must grow at the rate of at least 10 percent every year to get rid of poverty and generate employment for all. A basic requirement for sustained growth, and for the development of our agriculture and industry is availability of energy, particularly electricity.

All over the world, there is growing realization of the importance of atomic energy to meet the challenge of energy security and climate change. It is a clean, environmental friendly and renewable source of energy.

India's atomic scientists and technologists are world class. They have developed nuclear energy capacities despite heavy odds. But there are handicaps which have adversely affected our atomic energy programme. We have inadequate production of uranium. The quality of our uranium resources is not comparable to those of other producers. Many countries have imposed sanctions on trade with India in nuclear materials, nuclear equipment and nuclear technology. As a result, our nuclear energy programme has suffered.

The nuclear agreement that we are negotiating with developed countries will end India's nuclear isolation. It will open up new opportunities for trade in dual-use high technologies and nuclear materials and equipment, opening up new pathways to accelerate industrialization of our country. It will enable us to provide electricity to meet the needs of our farmers, our artisans, our traders and our industry.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago I said to you that an important challenge we face is the challenge of providing good governance. We have taken several steps to make government transparent, efficient and responsive. The Right to Information Act was one major step. We have initiated reform and modernization of Government. The National e-Governance Plan will make it easier for all our citizens to deal with the various agencies of Government.

We have completed the examination of the report of the Sixth Pay Commission. We have gone beyond the recommendations of the Commission in increasing emoluments of government employees. While doing this we have taken special care of the interests and welfare of our armed forces and paramilitary forces, and government employees working at lower levels in our civil services. This is one more step in making government more efficient.

We need more reforms at all levels of government. We want to improve our schools, our hospitals and other public services. The Panchayati Raj Institutions have an important role to play in decentralization and reform of Government. We must enhance their administrative and financial powers. I appeal to state governments to take all possible steps for improving governance and to help in the central government's initiatives.

My dear Countrymen,

Terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism have emerged as major challenges to the unity and integrity of our country. The recent terrorist attacks in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and other parts of the country have shocked the nation. What words can I find to condemn such acts of barbarism. I share the sorrow and grief of people affected by terrorism. The government of India will take concrete steps to rehabilitate and help such families.

I commend our security forces and intelligence agencies for the dedication with which they are dealing with the problem under difficult circumstances. But I agree that we have to further strengthen our intelligence agencies and police forces to deal with the problem of terrorism.

We will examine the functioning of our intelligence agencies and police and security forces and take all possible steps to equip them to tackle this challenge. Whatever resources are required, will be provided. Whatever manpower is required will be provided. We are firm in our resolve to meet the challenge of terrorism.

I urge the state governments, all political parties, civil society groups and social and religious leaders to cooperate with us in rooting out terrorism from our country.

Brothers and Sisters,

I am confident that we will overcome these challenges. But this requires hard work and unity of purpose. This requires a politics of consensus, not confrontation. This requires dialogue among communities, not discord.

The challenge of communalism, of extremism and of terrorism cannot be won by a nation divided.

The challenge of environmental and ecological destruction cannot be won by a society divided.

The challenge of economic modernization and social development of all, of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, of Other Backward Classes and Minorities, cannot be won by a people divided.

Brothers and Sisters,

I have said on a number of occasions that I am greatly concerned about the problem of regional imbalances in development. Some parts of our country are doing much better than others. Some States are being left behind. This pattern has persisted for far too long. We must ensure that the less developed States catch up with the developed ones.

We must pay special attention to the development of the north-eastern region. Our Government has taken several initiatives to increase public investment in the northeast and in Jammu and Kashmir. We are investing in infrastructure and in education in these regions to encourage development and generate employment.

Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern region require an era of peace for them to catch up with the more developed parts of the country. We have been taking various initiatives to promote peace and stability in these States. These initiatives will be taken forward.

The recent incidents in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are a cause for concern. In this hour of crisis, divisive politics will lead us nowhere. I appeal to all political parties to keep the long-term interests of Jammu and Kashmir in view and come together to find a permanent solution to the problems of the state.

The sacred shrine of Shri Amar Nath inspires all Indians to march together. This shrine is a shining example of our secular tradition, where Hindu pilgrims have been looked after for years by their Muslim brothers. Issues related to this sacred place, especially the issue of providing the best possible facilities to pilgrims, can only be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and goodwill. Dividing people in the name of religion can complicate these issues further which can also pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country. I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cooperate with us in establishing peace in the state. It is my conviction that all issues can be resolved only through dialogue and peaceful means.

Brothers and Sisters,

Our ancient Himalayas are under environmental threat. If the Himalayan glaciers recede, the flow of water in our sacred rivers will go down. Climate change can disrupt our economy in several ways. Some of our coastal areas could be submerged. Our monsoon pattern may change. We need long-term solutions to such threats. A national consensus is also required for the Government to evolve effective policies to deal with these problems.

Our government has come forward with a National Action Plan on Climate Change. This plan shows how each of us must adapt our ways of working and living and how we must treat our natural resources, so that our carbon emissions remain within reasonable limits and our environment is protected.

My fellow countrymen,

Our goal in South Asia is to seek a peaceful, stable and prosperous neighbourhood. We seek to accelerate the pace of social and economic development in our country and our region, while safeguarding our national security. Our foreign policy has been based on these principles.

We wish all our neighbours well. We welcome the strengthening of democratic forces in our neighbourhood, especially in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. The recent blasts in our rmbassy in Kabul have cast a shadow over our efforts to normalize relations with Pakistan and to bring a lasting and honourable peace in our region. I have personally conveyed my concern and disappointment to the Government of Pakistan.

If this issue of terrorism is not addressed, all the good intentions that we have for our two peoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated. We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take. The terrorists and those who support them are enemies of the people of India and Pakistan, of friendship between the two countries and of peace in the region and the world. We must defeat them.

In the last year we have strengthened our relations with the major powers, Latin American countries, Arab countries and African countries. We will continue our efforts in this direction, keeping in view our national interests.

India is today viewed with respect as one of the world's fastest growing economies. People of Indian Origin are engaged in diverse activities around the world and their capabilities are recognized the world over. Their achievements inspire us. The world today expects India to regain its due place in the comity of nations. This is a moment of opportunity for us.

We are rapidly marching forward to regain our rightful place in the comity of nations. But to reach that goal we have a lot of work to do at home. We have to overcome each of the challenges I have spoken about. We have to forge a greater unity of purpose between various political parties, between different communities, between all sections of our society, rich and poor.

We have to manage our natural and financial resources more prudently. We have an obligation to our future generations. We cannot think only for ourselves. We cannot think only about survival from day to day, from year to year and from one election to another. We have to think about the welfare and well-being of our children and grandchildren, their grandchildren and future generations.

If we resolve to work together as a nation, and work hard and with commitment to the welfare of all our people, there is nothing that we cannot do.

Let us resolve today to stand together, to strengthen the unity and integrity of our country and to stand firm in our determination to build a new India of our dreams.

My dear children, please join me in saying Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!


----------------
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indias_Vision/Full_text_of_PM_Manmohan_Singhs_I-Day_speech/articleshow/msid-3367668,curpg-1.cms

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Women's Role in Community: In the Context of Kuki Society

- Hoineilhing Sitlhou

Exploring Women's Role in the Community: A Study of the Problems and Prospects in the context of the Kuki Society.
In this paper, I would like to determine the extent of inequality, if any, in the context of the Kuki Society, and explore the myths and realities regarding Kuki women. The paper will examine the gender relations in the society. The aim is to find out the reason for the unequal participation of men and women in the socio-political sphere of the Kuki society; what is hindering the Kuki women’s participation in the political and social sphere as equal partner?

Gendered Spaces as defined by Customary laws

To understand the feasibility of gender relation among the Kukis, it would be helpful to looked into the structural arrangement of the society. Legitimately, the Kukis follow the patriarchal system of family structure. As a result, the line of descent, law of inheritance and law of residence is appointed to the male line only and the children follow the clan name of the father. Therefore, a male child is always preferred to a female child to continue the line descent. Only the eldest son remains in the ‘Inpi’ meaning the parental house to look after his parents.

However, the permanent type of family system and the accepted one is one in which the eldest son of a family called ‘Upa’ lives with his parents along with his unmarried brothers called ‘Naopa’ and unmarried sisters. When the younger brothers get married they moved away from their parental house. Similarly, the women folk also move to the house of their husbands at the time of marriage. In the case of ‘Chapagam’ (barren fatherhood), the law of inheritance is passed on through the next closest or nearest male relative of the family, which is the reason why a male child is preferred.

The inheritance of property by the eldest brother does not necessarily mean that the other sons are fully denied of any share. It only means that the lion share goes to the eldest son who is a legitimate heir as per the custom. In the case of the extinction of all male line in close and distant relatives, then only daughters are given. Since such case is very rare, there is no right to inherit property for a kuki women. It is unfortunate to note that in spite of their tremendous condition to the family income, they have no right of inheritance. At present, also this is still the general trend though a few thoughtful parents do share their property among daughters and sons.[1]

Women’s Status and Role as explained in existing literatures

Women were not attributed an altogether subjugate position in the society. They were also honoured, but in separate domains. According to T.S. Gangte, great importance is given to the relationship of the mother‘s brother and the sister’s son in the Kuki society. This has significance in view of the practice of preferential marriage of mother brother’s daughter. The “tucha-sunggao relationship”, of the Kukis is also reckoned from a female line. ‘Luongman’ or Corpse Price is another peculiar system of the Kukis. This is the price for a woman when she dies.

Her father or elder / younger sons claim the price, in father’s absence, as a token of love and affection between the uterine relatives. This also reveals the important position held by a woman in a family life, and the weightage given to propagation of the descent through male line. In the system of ‘Lom’ or ‘Lawm’ that was functional in villages in the past, there was also a female ‘Lom Upanu’. The Kuki women do not hold any priestly office but there are instances of unofficial priestess or sorcerers. Among the many ceremonies and festivals that they celebrate, CHANG-AI is the only one where the Kuki women play the leading role.

The women folk’s at all crucial times would unduly be behind all major issues and events. While the role of men in human capital formation have been stressed and studied, women’s roles have been ignored though their roles are as substantial. The economic role played by women in traditional rural society particularly in the field of agricultural and cottage industry is magnanimous, but their contribution has been devalued and ignored most of the time.Even in the past, the role of women, especially in the economic sphere was inevitable. The women did most of the work of the village both in the agricultural field and in the household. In the writings of Mangjel Paokai Sitlhou
[2], we find how women in the past were busy in weaving after the harvesting is over.

A Thadou woman who has exceptional knowledge of embroidery technique has a very high reputation in the community. The women in the house were responsible for clothing the whole family. In the process of shifting cultivation, most men were content to perform the more honorary task of slash and burning to clear the area for cultivation, whereas the women were attributed the more monotonous and laborious task of planting, weeding, nurturing and harvesting the crops . Within the household domain, it has always been the women: who did the burdensome chores, carried the heaviest loads, rose earliest in the morning and if they had any opinions, those were never regarded as important. Every husband was afraid of being dubbed as ‘hen-pecked’ and so would not lift his finger to help his wife in any domestic work.

Traditional saying gave popular expression to this attitude: “a woman’s mind does not reach across the stream”; “neither Crabs nor women have any religion; “a fence can be changed; so can a wife.” A woman had no rights at all. Body, mind and spirit, she belonged from her birth to her death to her father, her brother, her husband. Her men folk could treat her as they like; and a man who did not beat his wife was scorned as a coward.
[3]

According to Mangkhosat Kipgen
[4], in the social organisation and village administration women had no place –except under special circumstances where the widow of a deceased chief might rule over the village on behalf of her minor son until his maturity. The society was male dominated. In community matters women were not consulted—and if they volunteered their opinions were not given weight. However, within the four walls of her room she exercised more influenced if not more important than the men folks than the later were prepared to admit.

The mission schools change the participation of the women in public sphere of community life through church and mission activities. It was true that even Christian parents preferred that the girls should be at home to tend to household chores and to work in the field, but the organisation of Christianity gave them a space, which was not provided to them by the traditional and customary village administration. Nevertheless, there is a hierarchy inside the church in which the women are not allowed in certain areas considered the strict domains of the men.
[5]

Education changes the very structure of the society by changing the status of women. The education of girls contradicted the stereotypical role of women in the tribal society. It was a role that saw them as the centre of domestic life but not in fact active participants in the kinds of decision-making positions and processes that education encourages of those who receive it.

These factors, contributed to the status pattern and concept of worldviews of the Kukis towards the issue of gender equality. This concept also became the basis for other arrangements at the level of the family, the community and the society as a whole. With the acceptance of Christianity, the gender hierarchy debate has been further justified by the Creation Theory in the Bible.

Gendered Spaces as defined by the family

Another issue that need our consideration is the unequal education meted out to sons and daughters. Women’s educational opportunities have expanded substantially today in our society, including opportunities for all forms of academic as well as professional training. However, significant gender differences persist in the relative importance attached to the education of girls and boys, and in its perceived purpose. Women’s position is still defined primarily by marriage, home and hearth, and only secondarily by the need for economic independence.

This is reflected in gender differences in school enrolment, drop out rates (villages), levels of completed education, entry into university, and the subjects chosen. Even where parents send girls to school, most do so mainly to improve their marriage prospects. Investment on the education of women over a point of time is considered a waste of money as they were going to another family anyway. The girl membership in the family is deemed as only temporary. Even if the family is broad minded enough to encourage the ambitions and academic excellence of their daughters, men feels insecure and threatened at the prospects of having a spouse who would be more outgoing than they would.

The domestic ideology of European societies that was formed among the middle class between 1780 and 1830 applies among the Kukis. The ideology maintained that the world was divided into two separate spheres, the public and the private. Men should be involved in the public sphere of work and politics, making money and supporting their families. Women should stay at home in the domestic sphere, caring for their children and husbands and dependent on their husbands for financial support. Most women were expected to give up employment on marriage because their main role is as wives and mothers.

They are sometimes compelled to have career breaks due to the role conflict they face in their dual role as domestic careers and professional women. Incidents of domestic violence in the form of wife beating, emotional blackmail and verbal abuses prevails in this society. Families that are female-headed household due to widow hood, marital break down, or male out-migration were not given the same respect by the community. Gender based violence is supported by the patriarchal system which perpetuates the belief that women are inferior and should be subordinate to men.

Opinion Poll

Armed with some basic questions on this issue, an inquiry into public opinion was attempted by interviewing six respondents, with equal candidature from both the gender group. All the respondents are pursuing their research in different disciplines in Jawaharlal Nehru University of New Delhi. Each respondent was asked to comment and share his or her views on the following issues of concern:

1. Do you support the view that the Kuki society is an egalitarian society in terms of gender relation?

2. Are there differences in treatment of a male and female child in the Kuki family? If yes, please specify areas of preference.

a. Education
b. Property or inheritance
c. Others

3. What is the ideal character of women? Choose from the following personality types.

a. Assertive
b. Soft-spoken
c. Loud
d. Quiet
e. Graceful
f. Polite
g. Ambitious
h. Humble, obedient
i. Economically independent

4. How would you describe the economic contribution of the Kuki women in both traditional and modern societies?

5. Who is more actively involved in the community?

a. women who are financially independent
b. Women who are dependent on their spouse

6. What is the best place in which women can exercise their leadership role uncontested in the society?

a. At home
b. In the field
c. Both home and field
d. In the Church

7. What are the reasons behind the lack of participation of women in the social and political issues confronting the Kuki society?The findings from the survey can be analysed in the following manner. There is a general agreement among the respondents that compared to our counterparts in the Indian mainland who have to battle against social practices like female foeticide, infanticide, child marriage, sati etc., the Kuki woman enjoy a comparatively more comfortable position in the society. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to say that we enjoy complete equality in the society. A female respondent opined that the idea of an egalitarian society is still lacking in pragmatic term. Women who take up leadership role usually face scorn.

A male respondent says that the status-quo is changing in favour of women against the male-dominated traditional society. Like other societies, women are often the last in the draw to receive resources like education and property within the family. Compared to property, education is slightly more equally accessible to both sexes. Respondent ‘R’ says that male child gets preference for higher education as compared to female because the parents feel they are a better investment. The conventional personality type of Kuki women ought to soft-spoken, quiet, graceful and refined, polite, humble, obedient as against the qualities like assertiveness, ambitious and economically independent according to popular vote.

Most respondent feels that women contributed equally in the economic sphere with men in both traditional (agricultural societies) and modern societies. However, in the agricultural societies, the contribution of women, although important, was not acknowledge. Respondent ‘R’ says that today there are many Kuki families that are female-headed and women are the sole breadwinners in the family. The stigmas faced by widows are also comparatively lesser today as compared to the past.

Respondent ‘L’ says that the involvement of women in community work does not necessarily depend on whether she is financially independent on dependent on her spouse. However, majority of the respondent supports that it is the working-women who contributes more in the social arena as financial independence and education makes them out-spoken, assertive, confident and self-reliant. There is a unanimous agreement among the respondents that the home is the only place in which women can exercise their leadership role, uncontested in the society.

A rather direct question was put-forward at the end to the reason behind the unequal participation or the lack of participation of women in the public sphere in combating the many problems of the Kuki society. It was not surprising that this question received better input from the female respondents. Respondent ‘L’ says that this was because of the patriarchal set-up and our hand-to-mouth existence in which education is solely a means to livelihood. There is also a selection among the children in a family as to who should be educated and who should not be.

Respondent ‘T’ says that the root-cause of unequal participation is the rigidity of traditional norms that still governs our day-to-day existence. The next candidate ‘N’ says that there are many factors behind this unequal participation, starting from the patriarchal mentality. What we are today is shaped by the way we were moulded from childhood by the family and the society we belong to. Women have never really been encouraged to come out from the confines of the four walls of their household. For a woman to come out in the forefront as a strong personality requires supportive and broad-minded relatives.

Conclusion

In my survey of literature, I learnt that there is also a need to recognise the paucity in writings and research on specific areas like women. From Colonial day’s literatures, records, accounts of our expedition, warfare, customs and traditions to the present day local literature, it is striking to note the lack or almost non-existence of the acknowledgement of women. Today there is a positive change in women’s participation in the social sphere. However, this is still inadequate to wrestle the problems ailing our society. The call is for the active involvement of every member to contribute his or her bits.

To build socially equal partnership between women and men, we will also need to re-examine our assumptions about key social institutions, in particular the family, and about men’s role and women’s roles within the home and in society. To transforms these roles and institutions might takes decades and need to start at the individual level.

[1] Gangte T.S., 1993, The Kukis of Manipur - A historical analysis, Gyan publishing house, New Delhi.
[2] Sanajaoba, Naorem, (ed.), 1995, Manipur: Past and Present, Mittal Publications, New Delhi
[3] Lloyd, J. Meirion, 1991, History of the church in Mizoram: Harvest in the hills, 1991, Synod Publication Board, Aizawl, Mizoram
[4] Kipgen, Mangkhosat, 1997, Christianity and Mizo Culture: The Encounter between Christianity and Zo Culture in Mizoram, Mizo Theological Conference, Aizawl, Mizoram
[5] History of Christianity in Manipur, source materials, 2005 (ed.), compiled by Elungkiebe Zeliang, published by Christian Literature Centre, PanBazar, Guwahati for Manipur Baptist Convention, Imphal
Source: KukiForum.Com

Govt to create over 37 lakh jobs under new scheme

New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) The Centre today announced a new employment generation scheme to create over 37 lakh jobs by merging the existing Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) and the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP). The new credit-linked subsidy programme, called Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The financial implication of the new scheme, to be implemented over a four-year period, is estimated at Rs 4,485 crore, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here. "The expected employment generation under the new scheme would be 37,37,500," he said.

Under the PMEGP, which will be implemented through the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the maximum cost of a project admissable under the manufacturing sector will be Rs 25 lakh. For the services sector, the cost ceiling will be Rs 10 lakh, Chidambaram said.

Subsidy levels for the scheme in urban areas will be 15 per cent in the general category and 25 per cent in the special category, which includes SC, ST, OBC, minorities and ex-servicemen. In rural areas, the subsidy levels will be 25 per cent in the general category and 35 per cent in the special category.

"The PMEGP improves upon the subsidy levels and the cost limits of projects compared to those available so far under the PMRY," Chidambaram said adding that it also ensures that salient features of the REGP are not diluted in any way. PTI.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20080814/1416/tnl-govt-to-create-over-37-lakh-jobs-und.html

Manipur government kneels, ATSUM calls off agitation

Imphal, August 12: With the Congress led Secular Pro gressive Front (SPF) Government approving ex tension of service of teachers engaged on contract basis in hill district schools for a four month period and assuring to 'positively' look into other demands, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) has decided to call off its 48 hours general strike with immediate effect.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is informed to have personally conveyed the Government's decision to extend the service period with the ATSUM reciprocating with the agitation call-off in addition to withdrawing its proposed Independence Day boycott stand.

Interacting with news persons at its Old Lambulane office this afternoon, ATSUM's information and publicity secretary Joseph R Hmar said the decision to call off the twin agitation was taken after the Govt issued an order for service extension of 1198 teachers effective from September 1 till December this year.

Moreover, the Govt is said to have assured to look into ATSUM's other demands such as revision of the Government's recent decision to cancel grant-in-aid to Govt aided schools and increase reservation of tribal candidates in Manipur University.

According to the AT SUM functionary the Chief Minister assured to review cancellation of grants to 171 aided schools out of 604 and to involve district administration in the revision work.

Joseph also said the Government citing lack of number of students in the hill district schools for cancellation of grants is discriminatory as the same yardstick had not been applied with regard to schools in the valley areas.

He nevertheless iterated that as the Government is willing to rectify such anomaly ATSUM too is ready to soften its stand so as to extend an opportunity to redress the matter.

Regarding the reservation issue in MU Joseph conveyed that it would wait the Government's next move as the Chief Minister has assured to put up ATSUM's demand for 31 percent job and admission quota of tribal candidates before the State Cabinet.

He, however, cautioned that ATSUM would wait up to August 14 on what the Government's next move/measure would be before deciding on its proclaimed, agitations throughout August month which include economic blockade.

Regarding the indefinite economic blockade being planned along the National Highways ATSUM would provide detailed information through the mass media at the opportune moment, he said.

Regarding the 48 hour general strike call which had been enforced since August 11 midnight, he clarified that ATSUM would have deferred/held back the agitation programme as the Government undermined ATSUM's deadline for 2 pm (August 11) deadline to convey its stand on demands of the student body.

The ATSUM functionary contended that with the Government issuing an order for service extension of contract basis teachers which ATSUM received only at 6 pm there was a communication gap consequently resulting in going, ahead with the general strike.

He conceded that inspite of imposition of general strike there is no report of any untoward incident.


Source: The Sangai Express

Govt approves Sixth Pay Commission report

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday approved the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, heaping civil and defence staff with a salary hike bonanza on the eve of the country's 61st Independence Day.

According to Information and Broadcast Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, the revised pay scales will take effect from January 1, 2006.

He added that arrears will be paid in two installments, 40 per cent this fiscal and 60 per cent in the next financial year.

Approving the recommendations with slight modification, Dasmunsi said that the new system includes four pay bands and the mid-level officers have been placed in the highest pay band.

The minimum entry level pay has been raised to Rs 7,000 from Rs 6,660 per month recommended by the Commission. The minister also added that special allowances will be provided to Army commandoes and their Naval and Air Force equivalents.

The Sixth Pay Commission, headed by Justice B N Srikrishna, had in March submitted its report to the government, recommending an average 28 per cent hike for central government staff and defence personnel.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday held a meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and Finance Minister P Chidambaram to discuss the pay commission report and the recommendations of the empowered committee of Secretaries that went into it.

The pay round comes roughly once a decade and the previous one in 1997 raised salaries for federal employees by nearly 40 per cent, prompting many state governments to follow suit and blowing the combined state and federal deficit to nearly 10 per cent of GDP.


Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Govt_approves_Sixth_Pay_Commission_report/articleshow/3363796.cms


============

  • 6th Pay Commission Detail Reports
  • Call for Aug 19 general strike reaffirmed

    IMPHAL, Aug 13: The joint coordinating committee formed in connection with the conspiracy to exclude international weightlifter L Monika from the ongoing Beijing Olympics has reaffirmed its call for a 24-hours general strike form 6 am of August 19 to protest against the discrimination by national level organisations and sports bodies.

    The co-convenor of the coordinating committee, during a press conference held this evening at the Manipur Olympic Association office at Khuman Lampak main studium, mentioned that there will be no participation in any event or game organised at the national level by players from the state until justice is delivered in the case by the Central government.

    He said it was unfortunate to announce a boycott of the players from the state who had already gone to participate in many national level regional championships, inter SAI championships and athletics events but the stand on the boycott by the committee would remain on these players and coaches unless there was satisfactory explanation from those concerned, the spokesman added.

    The spokesman of the coordinating committee further mentioned that the committee had already completed mobilisations throughout the state to launch a state-wide protest by coordinating the local bodies and district level civil society organisations in the state.

    The committee would conduct non violent agitations by holding dharnas and sit-in protests in the respective localities, he said.

    The spokesman also mentioned that the stand of the state government regarding the issue was not satisfactory and it was necessary to take the issue directly to the people of the state.

    The press conference of the joint coordinating committee was attended by representatives of the DESAM, AMSU, and various state level sports organisations.

    Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=2873

    Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    Chief Minister leh ATSUM team in Prime Minister muding

    ATSUM in kiphinna 2 khahkol, maban sunzom ding

    Imphal, Aug-12: Manipur govt in singtanggam a laizilna lam a nelsia thu ah ATSUM lungkimlou in 'August Agitation 2008’ chi a kiphinna tuamtuam abanban a om dia a bikhia tungtang uah zan a govt tawh ATSUM makaite kihouna sil omdan mipi in a theichet deina zia in tuni sunnung dah 2.00 in Old Lambulane ATSUM office ah Joseph R. Hmar, Secretary (Information & Publicity)/ATSUM in Press Conference sam in thil omdan hilhchian hi. Aman a gendan in govt in ATSUM thilphut teng a tangtun nailouh ziakun maban a kiphinna ding bikhiahsate ngeina bangin paitou ding a, hileleng Aug 12-13,2008 sung dakkal 48 General Strike leh Aug 15,2008 a Independence Day boycott ding thu bel zukkik(relax) uh hi’n gen hi. Manipur University a tribal seat reservation tungtang maban sunzom a phuzui dingin Chief Minister leh ATSUM team kithuah in August 2008 sung New Delhi pha ding uh a, Prime Minister kimuhpih ding uh hi’n ATSUM Information Secretary in gen hi.

    Joseph R. Hmar in a gendan in Govt in Grant-in-Aid school 171 beisak ding a govt in order a suah himahleh Cabinet in etkik thak(review) dingin thupuk uh a, singtanggam district tuamtuam a contract basis a sem teacher 1199-te hun leng behlap lemsa uhi. ATSUM in govt school(aided leh full-fledged) te deptt official-te tawh joint inspection bawlin kha 2 sunga report pe ding a kimansa ahihdan eng taklang hi. Manipur University a tribal seat reservation tungtang ah state Cabinet in thupukna bawl dingin ATSUM in deih a, tulela Delhi a omlai Chief Minister Ibobi leh ATSUM President in telephone a kihouna bangin joint team in Aug 2008 sungin Delhi phakhawm ding uhi.

    Huaite ziakin zan in ATSUM in kiphinna pat a sawmte tawpsak dinga mansa ahihdan uh govt theisak uh a, contract basis teacher-te tungtang sunnung dak 2.00 tan a Order suak ding a lam-et himahleh nitak dak 6.00 in huai order a muh phet ziakun ATSUM in district tuamtuam a makaite theihsakna piak ding tungtang ah lemtanlouhna tuak uh hi’n Joseph in gen hi.ATSUM in a thilphut teng pichin ahih nailouh man in kiphinna ding omlai teng tawpsak theih hinai tuanlou ding hi’n gen hi. Aug 12 -13, 2008a General Strike leh Independence Day ding boycott thu zukkik himahleh kiphinna dangte sehsa bangin pai ding a, Aug 16,2008 akipan in thilphut teng lawhchin masiah Economic blockade paitou ding a, Aug 18,2008 akipan kal khat sung school tengteng khak(close) hiding hi. Aug 25, 2008 akipan in hunchiam omlou in govt school teng khak hiding a, Aug 30, 2008 in Delhi ah Protest Rally om ding chi’n ATSUM Information Secretary in taklang hi.

    http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4077&ac=0&Itemid=2

    Ill-treated Manipuri kids try to flee Padappai home

    By M C Khaipu

    Hih a nuai ah Chennai a thupiang Manipur pan Children home a omte bawlsaitna a tuak na thu tuni Times of India ah hong suak hi. Directory help assistance ka phone sawn leh a phone ki pickup lo a hih man in bang mah kihih thei kei. Innlam a Zomi Mother's Association te koih ding in ka up hang in a mau Combatore ngen a koih uh hi in thei ing. Zomi Mother's te a contact theih dan ding a thei omleh ana contact in ei a te Chennai ah a om kha hiam cih zong kankhiak hoih ding hi. Ka phone no pen 9941730889/9282142889 leh inn phone 044 65128741 hi, thu theih beh na neih uh leh hong hilh ta un.

    Lungdam
    Topa Thupha
    MC Khaipu
    ZONO Group

    Ill-treated Manipuri kids try to flee Padappai home
    The Times Of India Chennai Edition 13th August 2008

    Chennai: A group of 22 children is allegedly being held captive by a self-proclaimed social worker in Padappai, 40 km south of Chennai.

    The children, aged between five and 10, were brought here a few weeks ago by Justin, a pastor at a Tambaram church who claims to have opened an orphanage called Life Children’s Home. The social defence department, which sent a team to inspect the place, is yet to confirm if the orphanage is registered with it.

    Childline received a call on Sunday, saying the children were being beaten up. Childline volunteers, along with a police team, visited the timber depot that doubles up as a home for the children. Childline then approached the Chengalpattu division of child welfare committee (CWC), a quasi-judicial body mandated to look into such matters, but the CWC could not make much headway.

    Incidentally, four days before Childline received the call, Daniel Schmid, a teacher from Switzerland, told TOI that the children were being tortured. Schmid said he had come to visit the orphanage to which he had made a donation of Rs 50,000 a few months ago. “The children are being punished for even being playful. This is not the environment I thought the children would be in when I made the donation,” he said.

    Schmid said five children had tried to escape, but employees of the orphanage caught them and brought them back.

    Curiously enough, the CWC has thrown its hands up. “We have no powers to rescue the children. Our role is to take care of them after they are rescued by the police. However, we have deputed an officer to visit the orphanage and give a report,” Mohammed, a committee member, said.

    ‘CWC has powers of a judicial magistrate’

    Chennai: The child welfare committee (CWC), a quasi-judicial body, has said it has no powers to rescue the 22 children allegedly being held captive in a timber depot near Chennai. This, say experts, is not true. “According to the Juvenile Justice Act, the CWC has the powers of a judicial magistrate. In case of such a complaint, it can invoke the powers to ask the police to produce the children before it,” said S Kannayairam, a former official of the department of social defence.

    Kancheepuram SP K Periyaiah said he was “looking into the matter.” Asked why no action had been taken for two days after Childline approached the police, he said: “We have not received any written complaint.”

    Denying the charges, Justin said he had brought the children to provide them good education. “I have all documents to prove that the children were brought from Manipur with permission from the local tribal council. The orphanage is a registered body,” he said.

    -----------------------------------

    Zono: This news in the Times Of India brings out the unheard voices of the children from Manipur. Eventhough it was mentioned as Manipuris we suspected to be our people. If anyone or any organization know more details about the incident about these children. Please feel free to contact us at the 044-65128741 or 0-9941730889.

    ATSUM withdraws general strike

    IMPHAL, Aug 12: The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur has withdrawn its 48-hour state-wide general strike which commenced from last midnight along with the boycott of the Independence Day.

    The decision to suspend the agitation was taken after receiving a positive response from the state government in regard to their demands, said Joseph R Hmar, information and publicity, ATSUM at a press conference held today at its office at Old Lambulane in Imphal.

    Mention may be made that the ATSUM started a series of month-long agitations during the current month.

    Before the announcement of the suspension, the general strike reportedly partially paralysed life in some parts of the hill areas of the state even though there was no impact of the strike in Imphal.

    No passengers buses plyed on the inter-district roads and NH-53 and 39 owing to the general strike.

    In Tamenglong district, as reported by our correspondent, shops and other establishments including government offices remained closed and no passenger buses from Imphal arrived at the district headquarters for the day.

    Meanwhile, ATSUM spokesperson Joseph, while announcing suspension of the stir and boycott of the state Patriots’ Day and Independence Day with immediate effect, said that the government had agreed to the revision of its decision regarding the cancellation of grant-in-aid to the aided schools along with extension of services of contract teachers in the hill schools.

    He informed that the state government had extended the services of the 1198 contract teachers from September 1 to December 31 of the current year.

    In the press conference, Joseph observed that the state education department was a department riddled with problems and if the head of the department did not handle it with care, more problems would be created.

    Most of the problems in the department were its own creation due to lack of efficiency in handling the problems in time.

    He said the state government engaged teachers (265 science graduates, 484 arts graduates, 20 Hindi graduates, 100 Hindi matriculates and 150 primary) on the basis of its own assessment report of shortage of teaching staff in the government schools in the hill areas.

    But considering the salaries given to them, the authority did not extend the engagement period, he charged adding that now after the ATSUM agitated against it, the state authorities had extended the engagement period.

    On the other hand, Joseph said the state government had decided to cease extension of grant-in-aid to the aided schools located in the hills on the basis of number of students in the said schools but the same action was not taken on the aided schools in the valley area despite less number of students.

    As for instance, he observed, the Keithelmanbi Junior High School having classes from Standard I to VII, had only 158 students even though it should have at least 240 under the norms for the aided schools. But the school was not included in the list of the affected schools.

    Likewise, he produced various datas of aided schools which had less number of students but were still not included in the list of affected schools.

    The state government extended grant-in-aid to the aided schools under Manipur education code 1982 of the rule framed in 1977. But the rule said that in every class of each aided school there must be 20 students each in the hills and 30 in the valley schools.

    While talking on the matter of reservation in the Manipur University, the ATSUM president had a talk with chief minister, O Ibobi Singh over phone, he said.

    The chief minister had assured that a team comprising representatives of the students body and state government, led by himself (chief minister), would go to Delhi and press the Prime Minister within this week.

    If there could be no amicable solution at the meeting the ATSUM would resume its stir which includes indefinite economic blockade on the highways from August 18, closure of government schools from August 25, protest rally at Delhi on August 30 till their demand on the reservation issue is resolved, he added.

    Source: http://ifp.co.in

    Tuesday, August 12, 2008

    India's Look East Policy, Northeast India and the Kukis

    - T.H. Robert

    We may have often heard about the ‘Look East’ policy of India in newspapers and magazines. Recently, it’s the buzzword of Northeast media, academicians and bureaucrats. So, what is this ‘Look East’ policy, how will the Northeastern region benefit from it, what is the present status of this policy, and the place of the Kukis in this policy is briefly analysed.

    India’s Look East policy, which was initiated in 1991, marked a strategic shift in India’s perspective of the world. It was developed and enacted by the government of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and rigorously pursued by the successive governments of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. The essential philosophy of the Look East policy is that India’s future and economic interests are best served by greater integration with East and Southeast Asia.

    Thence, Look East policy is an attempt to forge closer and deeper economic integration with its eastern neighbours as a part of the new realpolitik in evidence in India’s foreign policy, and the engagement with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the recognition on the part of India’s elite of the strategic and economic importance of the region to the country’s national interests. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, the Look East policy is not merely an external economic policy; it is also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy.

    The Look East policy is the product of various compulsions, changed perceptions and expectations of India in the changed international environment. The end of cold war brought about a fundamental change in the international system, which focuses on the economic content of relations and led to the burgeoning of the formation of regional economic organisations. While India was opening up to the world market, it became aware of the growing trends towards regionalism and feared that it might be marginalised from the dynamics pushing the global economy.

    The economic reforms, coupled with the integrative forces of globalisation; frustration with the process of integration within South Asia and the renewed concern about the antecedent and powerful China and its impact on India’s security, as well as India’s unease at Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region made India to rethink the basic parameters of its foreign policy. In this changed international system in the aftermath of the cold war, the success stories of the East Asian Tiger economies and the radical shift in India’s economic and strategic circumstances caused New Delhi to pay more attention to the rapidly growing economies of East and Southeast Asia.

    In the initial stage, the focus of the Look East policy was much on ASEAN and focused primarily on trade and investment linkages. India’s conscious efforts to forge closer economic ties with ASEAN member states pay dividends; bilateral relations between India and ASEAN improve rapidly. India becomes a sectoral dialogue partner in March 1993 in the three areas, namely, trade, investment and tourism; a full dialogue partnership in 1995; member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 1996 and finally to a Summit Level Partnership in 2002.

    The second phase, which began in 2003, is more comprehensive in its coverage, extending from Australia to East Asia, with ASEAN as its core. The new phase marks a shift in focus from trade to wider economic and security cooperation, political partnerships, physical connectivity through road and rail links. India-ASEAN cooperation now covers a wide field, including trade and investment, science & technology, tourism, human resource development, transportation and infrastructure, and health and pharmaceuticals.

    India signed “Long Term Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” with ASEAN, which is the corner-stone of India’s Look East policy. India prefers to use the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as a template for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), because of its comprehensive coverage of goods and services trade as well as investment. When negotiating FTAs, India takes the position that service trade is as important as trade in goods as trade negotiators believe the country’s economic strength lies in its services sector.

    As part of the endeavour to strengthen India’s linkages with the East and Southeast Asian region and reinforce the Look East policy, a sub-regional grouping, called BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation) was established in 1997. With the addition of Myanmar and, in 2004, of Bhutan and Nepal, the grouping came to be known as BIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

    This forum has identified six sectors for focused cooperation: trade and investment, technology, transport and communications, energy, tourism, and fisheries. When India initiated BIMSTEC in 1997, it received strong support from Thailand, which also saw it as a political and economic forum to bridge Southeast Asia and South Asia. India promotes BIMSTEC to establish economic links with peninsula member countries of ASEAN to boost the development of its seven Northeastern states.

    India is also part of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MCG) Project, which also includes Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It came into being on November 10, 2000 where the representatives of the six member states met at Vientiane and came up with a set of guidelines known as the “Vientiane Declaration”. The declaration outlined the areas for institutional interaction based on assessment of the capabilities of its member states.

    In order to give a well-structured outlook to the initiative, a concept paper was worked out which delineated the agenda for cooperative efforts, where the project is primarily aimed at the development of three main areas for cooperation tourism and culture, infrastructure and Information Technology as envisaged by the Vientiane Declaration. The MGC is an extension of India’s Look East policy and also a reminder of its constant cultural interaction with the mainland Southeast Asian countries.

    After nearly 16 years, the Look East policy has yielded many benefits and supported India’s economic transformation and growth, including closer and strategic contacts between India and Southeast Asian countries, an impressive increase in the quantum of bilateral trade and increased people-to-people interaction. There has been substantial progress in India’s trade with other developing countries and with Asia, with the initiation of the ‘Look East’ policy. The share of developing counties has doubled to about 30% of India’s trade, while Asia’s share has doubled to 24.2%. In other words, about a quarter of India foreign trade now comes from its Asian neighbours. Trade with ASEAN countries increased from US$ 15 billion in 2003-4 to US$ 30 billion in 2007.

    However, a need is felt to focus the benefits of these cooperations more sharply on the Northeastern region, which is a natural bridge between India and Southeast Asia. A new paradigm of development whereby foreign policy initiatives blend seamlessly into the national economic development is felt and there is need to make these structures work for the Northeastern region. While colonial rulers built railways and roads mostly to take tea, coal, oil and other resources out of Assam, the disruption of old trade routes remained, to use Sanjib Baruah’s word, “colonialism’s most enduring negative legacy”.

    In its efforts to bail out Northeast India from the region’s difficulties as a result of the loss of connectivity and market access following the partition of 1947 and recognition of region’s geographical proximity with East and Southeast Asia, India focus the benefits of this cooperation more sharply on the Northeastern region.

    Thus, after a century and half the opportunity has now arisen to undo the effects of colonial geopolitics. There has been much talk about the potential of the Look East policy in transforming the region. In this foreign policy vision Northeast India is often described as the gateway to Southeast Asia. According to Rajiv Sikri, Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Look East policy “envisages the Northeast region not as the periphery of India, but as the centre of a thriving and integrated economic space linking two dynamic regions with a network of highways, railways, pipelines, transmission lines crisscrossing the region.” Thus, there is an effort to open the region that involved opening doors and windows in intellectual, cultural, political matters as well as in the economic arena.

    The very first outcome of India’s conscious efforts is the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement signed on January 31, 1994 for the establishment of trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The agreement specified that trade should be conducted through the designated custom posts, viz, (a) Moreh in India (Manipur State) and Tamu in Myanmar, (b) Champhai in India (Mizoram State) and Rih in Myanmar and (c) other places that may be notified by mutual agreement between the two countries. The border trade at Moreh (India) and Tamu (Myanmar) was opened on 12th April, 1995.

    The agreement initially provided for cross border trade in twenty two products, mostly agricultural/primary commodities produced in the trading countries (not the third country products that dominate the informal border trade). In 2001 a few more items were added to the list of tradable items. In practice, the agreement actually does not go much beyond according a formal sanction to exchanges traditionally going on between the local populations in the border areas of the two countries. Despite this potential, the trade through the Manipur-Myanmar route has remained small and insignificant, amounting to a few crores per year and with little impact on the regional economy.

    The Preferential Trade Areas, on the other hand, have failed to foster trade as shown by the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Myanmar experience. The slow progress in economic ties with these countries is due to the military and security establishment playing a major role in shaping India’s foreign policy to these two countries. Trade with both these countries has been stagnant and there seem to be differences with Bangladesh over transit arrangements that India seeks for its links to the Northeast, about the existence of training camps for insurgents in their territory. Similarly, trade with Tibet and Yunnan provinces of China have been almost absent except, the existing trade at Nathula in Sikkim, though India and China have agreed to initiate border trade through the Himalayan pass between Tibet and Sikkim.

    There is much talked about opening new trade route or reviving the ancient land trade route through Northeast that will lead to economic development of this region. However, before meaningful trade activities can be undertaken agriculture in the region needs to be improved both in terms of production and in terms of productivity. Processing industries have to be set up to manufacture quality goods which can be offered in international markets at acceptable prices. The entire infrastructure of roads, railways, communication and air transport will have to be completely revamped.

    Similarly hotels, restaurants and resorts will have to be built for sophisticated tourists. If that cannot be achieved Look East policy will not benefit Northeast. In that case the Look East policy will only provide a bridge between the rest of India and Southeast Asia of which Northeast will forever remain an “underbelly”. These types of results probably were not envisaged when the policy was devised. Economic development of Northeast is, therefore, an important requirement.

    To achieve the policy’s objectives, India is negotiating bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with East and Southeast Asian economies. India has entered into FTAs with Thailand and Singapore; there are plans to create a free-trade area with Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia by 2011 and with the remaining ASEAN countries - the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam - by 2016.

    India’s trade with countries bordering the Northeast has seen the most dramatic expansion, with the share going up more the five times from 1.7% in 1992-93 to 8% in 2003-04. This dramatic expansion of trade with India’s eastern neighbours has had little or no impact on the Northeast as most of this trade expansion has taken place through the seaports. It would not be incorrect to argue that the Northeast has once again been marginalised.

    India is looking east, but not through its contagious Northeastern borders. For the Northeast to gain from FTAs with the economies of the east, the key variables are transit arrangements, proliferation of trade routes and custom check post, easy visa regime making it possible for traders, businessmen and transport operators to move in and out of the region. For this to be possible requires substantial investments in infrastructure, construction of highways and bridges, re-establishment of rail links and communication facilities which is largely absent. The Shukla Committee on ‘Transforming the Northeast’, estimated such investment to exceed Rs 25,000 crore.

    As a part of its ‘Look East’ initiative, India has concluded a number of bilateral and multilateral projects, aimed at enhancing connectivity between the Northeast and Southeast Asia. In this regard India built the 165-km long Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road connecting Tamu and Kalaymyo-Kalewa. The other important ongoing and potential infrastructure projects are India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Trans Asian Highway, India-Myanmar rail linkages, Kaladan Multimodal project, the Stilwell road, Myanmar-India-Bangladesh gas/oil pipeline, Tamanthi Hydroelectricity project and optical fiber network between Northeast India and Southeast Asia.

    India and Myanmar recently agreed on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility, which envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seaboard and Sittwe Port in Myanmar and then through riverine transport and by road to Mizoram, thereby providing an alternate route for transport of goods to Northeast India. Efforts are also underway to improve infrastructure, particularly road links, at the second India-Myanmar border trade point at Rhi-Zowkhathar in Mizoram sector by upgradation of the Rih-Tidim and Rih-Falam road segments in Myanmar.

    Apart from developing road links, efforts are underway to have a rail link from Jiribam in Manipur to Hanoi in Vietnam passing through Myanmar. However, the process of enhancing connectivity between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia is not a cakewalk because there are also geographical, technical, political and security challenges that limit the process of infrastructure development.

    To take maximum benefit from the policy, the Northeastern region should develop industrially. The new North East Industrial Policy 2007 has practically made the whole region a special economic zone. The industry departments of various states of the region have only benefited the ‘subsidy eaters’ until now. Otherwise, no policy initiative, no opportunity is going to benefit the Northeastern region.

    The then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed holding of an India-ASEAN car rally at the ASEAN-India summit in Bali 2003 to draw dramatic attention to India’s geographical proximity with ASEAN countries. The ASEAN-India car rally became a reality in 22nd November 2004 which was flagged off in Guwahati. In his speech Manmohan Singh referred to India’s Northeast as a gateway to “Asian Century”. Through these efforts the government of India is showing its keenness in developing the Northeast. But still the government lacks commitment in its various efforts.

    It is the vision and concentrated efforts in various thrust areas after micro studies and appropriate project formulation which can bring Northeast to a standard in which it will be able to stand the challenges of the Look East policy and will also be able to fully participate in the new milieu. The macro studies have been already done. Considerable work of identification of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and industrial products have also been carried out. But the real work has to start in the field. Only then Northeast can hope to be a part of the bridge connecting India and south and Southeast Asia.

    In contrast to the lukewarm effort for economic integration, the Look East policy’s concessions and aid are meant to persuade the neighbouring countries to expel insurgent groups seeking shelter in these countries. Frequent visits by the Indian generals and counter insurgency experts are meant to pressure these countries to cooperate with the Indian state to crush these movements. In some cases, joint operations with the Myanmar army have been launched to flush such groups. India has also provided arms and ammunition to aid such effort by neighbouring states.

    Till date, there is almost no role for the states of Northeast India in the Look East policy - except as a site for events such as the ASEAN-India car rally. This, for instance, is in sharp contrast with the role that the province of Yunnan plays in the Chinese pursuit of closer relationship with its neighbours in South and Southeast Asia. It was in Yunnan’s capital Kunming where experts, scholars and business people from China, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh got together to initiate the BCIM Forum.

    Yunnan’s provincial government plays a far more active role in attracting foreign investments to the province than Northeast Indian states. It plays a role in institutions of the Greater Mekong sub-region. But, there is little room for India’s Northeastern states in the Mekong Ganga Cooperation forum or in BIMSTEC. The difference is quite ironic given that China’s political system is centralised and authoritarian while ours is democratic and federal.

    Sushil Khanna views that China develops its backward regions through greater economic ties with ASEAN whereas India’s policy of strengthening its ties with eastern neighbours has been limited to counter insurgency efforts. India is watching with apprehension the increasing Chinese investments in trade-related infrastructure like new highways linking Kunming (Yunnan) with northern Myanmar and Thailand. India too has offered to link its rail network with Bangladesh and build highways to Thailand through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

    It is still contemplating opening up land route for large-scale trade with the Yunnan province through the Stilwell Road. But all these efforts are dwarfed by its obsession with counter insurgency and need to consolidate its military hold on an unstable region. Thus, the success of the policy depends on the commitment of the government to implement the policy and to give role for the Northeastern states in this policy.

    When the whole of the Northeastern region is so enthusiastic to get a pie from this policy, it is pertinent to ask “What is the place of the Kukis in this policy?” We may say the Kukis has no state or even a district fully controlled by us so as to benefit from central funds or grants. But why do we always have a blame game?

    Most of the Northeastern states receive about 80 percent of their budget from the central government as grant and only 20 percent is to be raised by the respective states. Year after years, they passively depend on the central funds for their survival. But how is this money spent? Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh, firmly believes that this money is not going for development.

    This money goes to a series of interlocutors who happen to be politicians, expatriate contractors, extortionists and people working to deliver benefits to the people for whom these expenditures are intended to. Mere ‘more money’ is going to compound our problems because the way money is being spent today and the way the money is actually finding its way into uses not necessarily for which it was originally intended.

    As the world changes dramatically with the end of the cold war in the early 1990s, the economic dimensions of international politics has become prominent and every nation focuses on economic development. D.H. Robertson epitomised the role of trade in development by his famous statement that ‘trade is an engine of growth’. The opening of Moreh trading point is India’s recognition of the role of trade in bringing development. And, Moreh is the first and only thriving trading point in the Northeastern region.

    India is bringing so much opportunity to our doorsteps. When we look into this deeply through geographical contours, it can be said that both the Indian and Myanmarese side of the border is inhabited by Kukis and this opening can be exploited to the fullest by trading and opening permanent business establishments. In doing this, we can conserve our lush forests by diverting the pressure on land, especially shifting/jhum cultivation.

    However, in reality we can find that all these opportunities are grabbed by other communities or outsiders. It seems we are still in the old world and cannot think beyond jhum cultivation for our livelihood. Whosoever opens business establishments, instead of maturing, deteriorates day by day. So, it is time for us to learn from others, adjust with this globalised world, grab the opportunities instilled to us by the Look East policy and push forward.

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    The author is a research scholar at the department of Political Science in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), India.


    Source: http://www.kukiforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=409:indias-look-east-policy-northeast-india-and-the-kukis&catid=42:article&Itemid=100076