Northwest stays wet, hail storm breaks out in east

Vinson Kurian

Thiruvananthapuram, March 31  Northwest India witnessed rain or thundershowers at a number of places during the 24 hours ending Monday morning even as a hail storm and light to moderate rain marked the unsettled weather in the North-East.
Rain or thundershowers occurred at most places in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, at a few places in west Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and east Rajasthan.
Forecasts until Tuesday said that rain or snow will occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarkhand.
In the plains, rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places in Haryana and Punjab and at isolated places in the rest of the region. Isolated thunder squalls are likely in Haryana, Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand.
FICKLE NORTH-EAST An India Meteorological Department (IMD) outlook said that the volatile weather in the North-East would continue to trigger isolated heavy rain and isolated thunder squall for two more days.
The activity may get reduced later, but indications are that this could at best be a temporary given forecasts of isolated to scattered rainfall breaking out afresh upstream over northwest India from an incoming western disturbance.
During the 24 hours ending Monday morning, the highlight of the weather was a two minute-long hailstorm that occurred at Cherrapunjee.
Light to moderate rain occurred at many places over Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, and at isolated places over Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram with isolated rather heavy falls over Assam and Meghalaya.
A webbing of cyclonic circulations and a trough in the westerly flows sat in judgment of the volatile weather. A cyclonic circulation each lay over sub-Himalayan West Bengal as well as over east Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar.
RAIN OR SNOW As for the northwest, rain or snow is likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh till Tuesday. Jammu and Kashmir may get ‘crowned’ by isolated rain or snow from Wednesday as the fresh western disturbance kicks in.
Towards the east, rain or thundershowers have been forecast at isolated places over Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim during the next two days. Isolated thundershowers are also likely over east Uttar Pradesh and at many places over the region during next two days.
The causative cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood has been persisting. Another cyclonic circulation lay anchored over Madhya Pradesh.
MERCURY OUTLOOK International models are suggesting a flare-up of mercury over central and east-central India over the next few days with the daytime maximum likely to peak to a blistering 45 degree Celsius over north Orissa and adjoining Chhattisgarh.
The 40-degree Celsius belt will sit in a ‘T’ over west Madhya Pradesh, central India and adjoining east central India on Monday and Tuesday. Akola and Nagpur recorded 41 degree Celsius each on Saturday.
The maximum heating belt is also forecast to extend to west-central India and the west coast and to northwest India in due course, according to these models.
On Monday, the spate of thundershowers had brought down maximum temperatures to below normal by 3 to 6 degree Celsius over northwest India and parts of the North-East States. They were above normal by 2 to 4 degree Celsius over central and adjoining east India.

Mizoram govt to adopt sixth Pay Commission report

The Mizoram government would implement the recommendations of the sixth Pay Commission for the state government employees, the assembly was informed.

In a written reply to a query from C. Ramhluna of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Chief Miniser Lal Thanhawla, who also holds finance portfolio, said implementation would be undertaken after the submission of the report by the Fitment Committee.

The term of the Fitment Committee has been extended till May, he said.

The state government has estimated that there would be an additional expenditure of Rs 283.60 crore under the non-plan and Rs 55.64 crore under the plan fund if the sixth Central Pay Commission recommendation is implemented, he said.

However, the final additional expenditure would be worked out only after the submission of the report of the Fitment Committee.

Burma is an International issue: China

China’s representative in Geneva has said at the United Nations Human Rights Council that issues of development and national reconciliation in Burma are difficulties and challenges that are in the interests of the entire international community.

“We understand the difficulties and challenges that Myanmar [Burma] is confronted with in domestic development and in promoting national reconciliation, especially in the current rampant financial crisis,” said Yan Jiarong on March 16.

“The stability and development of Myanmar is not only in the interest of the region, [but it is] also the interest of the whole international community,” she added.

The statement was in response to a recent report on Burma’s human rights record by UN Human Rights Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana who visited Burma in February.

China hoped the world would foster a conducive environment for gradually achieving democracy and development in the country, Yan said.

In the past, Beijing regularly refused to be drawn into debate on the Burmese crisis, referring to the matter an internal issue. In a 2007 UN Security Council meeting, China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution on the release of political prisoners in Burma.
However, China appears to be shifting its policy on Burma. It has cooperated on Burmese issues with other countries, such as the United States and the European Union, as well as India and Southeast Asian nations.
China has been the Burmese junta’s closest ally, particularly since 1988. It also sells arms, warships and aircraft to the Burmese regime despite international condemnation.
Chinese officials have visited Burma recently and met with high-ranking generals, including the head of the junta, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. On Wednesday in Naypyidaw, Than Shwe met Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Li Changchun, a senior official of the ruling Communist Party of China, left on Friday for a four-country trip of the Asia-Pacific region, where he will also visit Burma.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15341

EXIM bank-in Mizoram thlithlai

(Maruata a nu nen)
Aizawl, Mar 19 : Export-Import Bank of India, Mumbai Chief Manager Vanlalruata Fanai chuan tunlai hian Mizoramah product hrang hrang khawvel ram danga thawnchhuah theih tur a awm leh awm loh a rawn thlithlai mek.

"Hmanni lawka Vietnam-a Mizoram trade & commerce minister Lalrinliana Sailo, Secretary Esther-i leh Joseph L Ralte te an kal rahchhuah kha a ni a. Kan bank aiawha kal chuan kan chairman hnenah Mizoram dinhmun hi a lo thlen a, kei hi handicraft, horticulture leh agriculture product thawnchhuah tur a awm dawn leh dawn loh survey turin min rawn tir ta a ni," tiin Vanlalruata Fanai chuan Evening Post a hrilh.
"India ram pawna thawnchhuah tur a awm em tiin tunah hian zirchianna ka rawn nei a ni," tiin a sawi a, Mizoram Entreprenuership Network (MEN) Genral Secretary Joseph L Ralte leh Treasurer Daniel Hauhnar ten Vanlalruata hi tawiawmin Mizoram Iskut Growers Assiocation, Anthurium Society hotute kawmna a nei tawh a, trade & commerce minister leh secretary te a hmu bawk.
Mizoram tana a tangkai theihna sawiin, "Mizo awmchhun ka ni mai a, thahnem pawh ka ngai, tunah hian market kan zawnpui thei a, export-tu turte pawh a hmuna rawn enfiahin pawisa hmang pawhin kan pui thei a ni," tiin a tangkai theih tur thu Vanlalruata chuan a sawi bawk.
Exim bank tia kan hriat lar Export-Import Bank of India hi financing institution-ah chuan a apex body a ni a, India sawrkar ta niin India ram atanga product hrang hrang thawnchhuahpuitu an ni. (Courtesy Evening Post)

Raging Mizoram fire leads to pollution

AIZAWL: Massive smoke caused by forest fires has led to pollution and increase in the average temperature in Mizoram, the state Pollution Control Board said.

The quantity of nitrogen dioxide in the air stood at 19.5 ppm on March 12, but it remained negligible on a normal day, when measured by the high volume sampler, the board secretary, C Lalduhawma said.

He feared that even the amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide might have increased.

"The readings of 19.5 ppm nitrogen dioxide would be normal for the metropolitan cities in the country, but it is very high for Mizoram, which is regarded as pollution free," he said, adding it could trigger a plethora of health hazards in the state especially respiratory problems.

He added that the temperature in the capital city Aizawl has gone up by 1.22 degree Celsius when compared with the average temperature of the last ten years.

Meanwhile, all flights to and fro the state's lone Lengpui Airport remained cancelled due to low visibility caused by smoke, airlines officials said.

Forest inferno caused by burning of jhum cultivation often spreads out to other areas and so far, taken away four lives besides causing loss to flaura and fauna for the past two months.

President’s Rule to be imposed in Meghalaya

The Centre decided to impose President's Rule in Meghalaya where the NCP-led government survived a controversial confidence vote in the state assembly by a whisker.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Centre had received a report from Governor R S Moosahary about breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state and recommended President's rule.
"After taking note of what happened in the Meghalaya state assembly yesterday, the Governor has reported that there is a breakdown of Constitutional machinery and recommended imposition of President's Rule and keeping the assembly in suspended animation," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
He said the Governor's report was accepted by the Cabinet and a suitable recommendation was being sent to the President.
Aided by the Speaker who invalidated the votes of four rebel members ignoring the Governor's directive and exercised his casting vote to break a tie, the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government had on Tuesday survived a confidence vote in the assembly.
Speaker B M Lanong suspended five MLAs, who withdrew support to the government, under the Anti-Defection Law ignoring the Governor's directive that he maintain status quo on the voting rights of members and cast his vote when there was a tie in the 60-member House during division.

Pope visits Africa, reaffirms ban on condoms

Pope Benedict XVI refused Wednesday to soften the Vatican's ban on condom use as he arrived in Africa for his first visit to the continent as pope.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya, left, walks with Pope Benedict XVI at the airport in Yaounde, Tuesday.

He landed in Cameroon, the first stop on a trip that will also take him to Angola.

Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit harder by AIDS and HIV than any other region of the world, according to the United Nations and World Health Organization. There has been fierce debate between those who advocate the use of condoms to help stop the spread of the epidemic and those who oppose it.
The pontiff reiterated the Vatican's policy on condom use as he flew from Rome to Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, CNN Vatican analyst John Allen said.
Pope Benedict has always made it clear he intends to uphold the traditional Catholic teaching on artificial contraception -- a "clear moral prohibition" -- Allen said. But his remarks Tuesday were among the first times he stated the policy explicitly since he became pope nearly four years ago.
He has, however, assembled a panel of scientists and theologians to consider the narrow question of whether to allow condoms for married couples, one of whom has HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
It is still not clear how the pope will rule on the matter, said Allen, who is also a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
The Catholic Church has long been on the front line of HIV care, he said, adding that it is probably the largest private provider of HIV care in the world.
More than 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to a 2008 UNAIDS/WHO report. Nine out of 10 children with HIV in the world live in the region, which has 11.4 million orphans because of AIDS, the report said, and 1.5 million people there died of the disease in 2007.

Norway Sides with Humanity

By Carlos(Buffalohair)Guevara In an era where nations of the world are choosing economics over humanity it’s refreshing to note that Norway is not one of them. Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen blacklisted *China’s Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. for its continual business dealings with the criminal regime of Burma excluding Dongfeng from a lucrative global investment fund. Kristin Halvorsen was quoted as saying; "We cannot finance companies that support the military dictatorship in Burma through the sale of military materials" This was truly a wonderfully stark contrast to the threat laden visitation by Denmark’s Ulla Toreas and Norway’s Erik Solheim. Behind closed doors this duo threatened pro democracy groups with the loss of funding if they did not participate in the impending 2010 elections. This sent a chilling message throughout the exiled Burmese communities around the world and many people simply could not believe their ears. Truly this was not a message the good people of Denmark and Norway wanted to give and it is heartening to note Norway’s stance on humanity. Noting Dongfeng’s sale of 900 trucks to Burma that were converted for military use, Norway’s Counsel of Ethic’s stood by their code of ethics which clearly respected human life over financial gain. In a time where economics has become a priority over human suffering it was great news that this Scandinavian nation made a stand on the side of morality and human rights. There is no question Beijing will not be happy with this turn of events and will most likely resort to their veiled forms of extortion to sway this landmark decision. A self sufficient nation such as Norway does not need Chinese money and attempts to extort them will be futile at best. They are their own nation. Norway’s Kristin Halvorsen is a champion of humanity and proved to the world, money is not everything. Other nations should follow this example.

Burmese Troops Mobilize on Bangladesh Border

New Delhi, Mar 18 :  Tension between Bangladesh and Burma went up another notch on Tuesday as the Burmese junta mobilized army and navy units along the border area, according to Bangladesh media.

The Dhaka-based Daily Star reported that Burma started erecting barbed-wire fences unilaterally along the 200-km border with Bangladesh.

“The neighboring nation is also mobilizing its troops and naval force,” the newspaper said.

It said that Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed that Burma has been increasing its forces in the border since Burma naval ships “intruded” in the Bay of Bengal in November 2008.

The Daily Star said a number of Chinese-made naval ships are stationed close to the maritime boundary with the neighboring country.

The Burmese junta withdrew an oil and gas-drilling rig from Bangladesh’s maritime boundary that the junta claimed as its territory, the newspaper reported.

“Since then Myanmar [Burma] has kept its soldiers on high alert alongside the Bangladesh border while Bangladesh also had its troops on alert for some time,” the newspaper said.

The New Age newspaper also reported on Tuesday that some 200 troops from Burma’s border force had been stationed to work on the construction of fences on the border.

According to Bangladesh’s home secretary, Abdus Sobhan Sikder, a new contingent of Burmese troops had been mobilized across the Naaf River.

Burma and Bangladesh have held meetings to discuss the disputed area since 1974, but the talks were put on hold for more than two decades and only resumed in January in 2008. A meeting in Dhaka in November was the fourth round of talks following recent tension in the Bay of Bengal involving maritime vessels from both countries.

In October, Burma sent navy ships into the area and permitted a South Korean company to explore for nature gas in the disputed area, prompting Bangladesh to position naval ships in the area.

Since early this year, high ranking generals of the Burmese junta, including Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye and Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein and key ministers, have traveled to Arakan State, near the border.

Recently the Burmese junta had been criticized over so-called Rohingya “boat people” who claim to originate from Maungdaw and Buthidaung, an area near the Bangladesh-Burma border.

However, the Burmese Foreign Minister rejected the term Rohingya, labeling them “Bengali” at the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in February in Cha-am, Thailand.

According to the Dhaka-based Narinjara, Burma has been preparing to build a barbed-wire fence on its border with Bangladesh to prevent human trafficking.

Rain water Harvesting

The Northeastern hill ranges stretch over six Indian states Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya, extending over Bangladesh and northern Myanmar, touching the southern slopes of the Brahmaputra valley and the northern, eastern and southern slopes of the Barak valley.

The Meghalaya plateau covers the entire state of Meghalaya and the Karbi hills of Assam. .


The climate and rainfall of the area varies considerably across the region. Encircled by hills and plateaus, rainfall varies even more than temperatures.

The average annual rainfall reaches a peak of 13,390 mm in the Cherrapunji-Mawsynram region. But areas that fall in the rainshadow region of the Meghalaya plateau need irrigation.

While the northern slopes of the Brahmaputra valley receive an annual average rainfall of 2,500 mm, the area south of the valley and the northern part of Meghalaya receive an annual rainfall of about 2,000 mm.
Distribution of the population in the Northeast is also very uneven.

Within the plains there are pockets of very high population density, such as the Manipur plains (400 persons/sq km) and the Nowgong plains (302 persons/sq km). The vast hill tracts, however, have a low population density.

The water resources potential of the region is the largest in the entire country. Given its heavy rainfall, it also has abundant groundwater resources. But only a small part of the region has been studied to estimate the groundwater potential.

The maximum scope for development of groundwater exists in Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. The available surface water resources have hardly been tapped because of the rugged nature of the terrain. Hence, cultivation in the region is largely rainfed and jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) has been widely adopted.2

Nonetheless, there are documented instances of some indigenous rainwater harvesting systems used for cultivation, of which some are ingenious.

Settled agriculture is practised in the form of irrigated terrace cultivation in parts of Nagaland and a few villages of Meghalaya. Channels are dug to irrigate these fields.

The other chief indigenous source of irrigation is the bamboo irrigation system found in parts of Meghalaya, and in some villages in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland

President’s rule likely

NEW DELHI, Mar 18 : Meghalaya appears to be heading for a spell of President’s rule as Governor R.S. Mooshahary on Tuesday sent a report to the Centre on the fragile political situation in the State.

Highly placed government sources said the Governor’s report mainly focussed on the trust vote in the Assembly held earlier in the day in which the Nationalist Congress Party-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance managed to survive. The Governor’s report is likely to be placed before the Union Cabinet for consideration.
Cabinet meet today The Cabinet is meeting on Wednesday and it may agree with the Governor’s report and recommend imposition of President’s rule.

MPA wins floor test by one vote

Shillong, March 18 : Amid high political drama, the Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government today survived a crucial trust vote scraping through with a casting vote by Speaker Mr BM Lanong.

The Speaker cast his vote when there was a 27:27 tie in the 60-member house during division.

The tie-breaker came after the Speaker invalidated votes cast by four of the five suspended members in a secret ballot. The Congress tally, which had gone up to 31, then dropped to 27.

The Speaker then cast his vote taking the tally of the ruling NCP-led coalition to 28.

The coalition government was reduced to minority on 9 March following withdrawal of support to the MPA by Independents Mr Limison Sangma and Mr Ismail R Marak. The crisis was heightened when on 11 March the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Mr Paul Lyngdoh, who is also the Urban Affairs Minister, pulled out.

On 12 March, Health minister and Hill State People's Democratic Party MLA Mr Advisor Pariong resigned and went “missing”. Deputy Speaker and NCP MLA Mr Sanbor Shullai was also reported missing.

On the same day, the chief minister announced that he would take a vote of confidence in the Assembly on 17 March.

Earlier today, the Opposition made a ruckus and stalled the proceedings of the House for over an hour insisting clarification from the Speaker over his yesterday's decision to suspend the five deserting MLAs.

The opposition Congress cited Governor R S Mooshahary's directive asking the Speaker to maintain status quo on voting rights of members.

The house was adjourned for 15 minutes after one of the suspended members Lyngdoh challenged the Speaker's ruling.

The Speaker ruled that “natural justice” had been meted out to them as prime facie it appeared that the five MLAs had violated the Anti-Defection law and directed that the vote be taken.

Defying the Speaker's order, the four legislators-- Lyngdoh, Shullai, Sangma and Marak cast their votes.

Immediately after Mr Lanong announced the result of the confidence vote, the opposition Congress members created a din shouting that he was “biased” and had “violated” the Constitution and walked out of the House.

Fake currency racket busted in Assam

Shibu Kr Barman, who run the fake currency unit in Guwahati

A fake currency unit has been unearthed by the the army in the heart of Guwahati.

In exclusive information available with TIMES NOW, Shibu Kr Barman, the accused, had been producing fake notes since the past several years, though he insisted that he had been doing this only since the past seven months or so at this locality of Santipur in West-Guwahati.

"I have been doing this for past 6-7 months, but this machine is very slow...so I could just about print Rs 70,000," Barman told TIMES NOW.

The speed and ease with which Barman demonstrated the process, stunned the army and the police. All he had purchased was a scanner and some glue to produce the counterfeit notes. He gave several consignments to one Abbas Ali, who would then send them to different destinations in the country.

Fake currencies are being confiscated in the North-East at regular intervals by police and security forces, but this is the first time that a manufacturing unit has been unearthed in Guwahati. The army has been working several months to trace Barman. Police now, has launched a hunt to trace his other accomplices.

"This is just a tip of a big racket...I hope the police will investigate more and get to the root of if," Lt Javed of the Indian army, who was involved in the operation told TIMES NOW.

Aware that this may well be just the tip of the Iceberg, the police have picked up the army's trail, given the sinister possibilities of the ULFA's and HuJI's involvement.

By Rajeev Bhattacharya

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Prasar Bharati assesses technology at DD for C’Wealth coverage

New Delhi, Mar 16 : After Prasar Bharati’s floating of global tenders for coverage of the 2010 Commonwealth Games fuelled protests among its employees, board of directors of the public broadcaster is assessing if Doordarshan can be upgraded to provide high definition broadcast of the event.

Prasar Bharati’s Board of Directors has asked its CEO B S Lalli to find out if the technology at Doordarshan can be revamped at a cost of Rs 463 crore, allocated to it by the Government for broadcasting and coverage of the Games.

"The Board has sought from Lalli a report detailing the costing for transforming Doordarshan’s SDTV broadcasting platform to a HDTV one," Prasar Bharati Board member Sunil Dang told the news agency.

Sources in Prasar Bharati said the mini PSU Broadcast Engineers Corporation India Limited (BECIL) has already been engaged to determine the cost of upgrading Doordarshan’s transmission facility to high definition.

However, at present there are only a few TV sets in the country, which are high definition (HD) enabled. Moreover, such sets are manufactured abroad, a senior DD official said.

"The cost of these sets are in the range of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 each and they are not currently available in the country," the official said.

Two Burmese Settlers Raped and Killed

Buthidaung, Mar 16 : Two young female settlers from Burma proper were raped and killed by a group of miscreants in a model village in Buthidaung Township 80 miles north of the Arakan State capital, Sittwe, said a police official on the condition of anonymity.

The two young women, ages 23 and 19, were the daughters of 48-year-old U Maung Maung Than from Tha Rafi model village near Taung Bazar in northern Buthidaung Township.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at a vegetable garden being cultivated by the two young women two kilometers from their model village, when they visited the garden to sell vegetables to a local Muslim man.

On the evening of 1 March, a local Muslim man told the women he wished to buy vegetables from their garden, so the women went to the garden with him.

When they arrived at the vegetable garden, five men who were hiding inside the garden seized the women and restrained them. They later raped them one by one and then killed them, throwing their bodies into nearby Taung Bazar Creek.

Family members and local police found the bodies of the two women near the creek at midnight on the day of the incident and sent the bodies to Taung Bazar hospital for autopsy.

The police official said they know the identity of the perpetrators but have been unable to arrest anyone so far because they have fled across the Burmese border.

A local resident said the older woman was a mother of two children but the younger woman was single. The Tha Rafi model village was established by the Burmese military authority and settled with ethnic Burmese in order to increase the number of Buddhist communities in the region.

MIZO ROCK BANDS....TRUELY AMAZING!!!!! Unbelievable!!!

I am really surprised and got goose bumps after listening the Mizo Rock bands...heyy Guyss they are truely amazing!! Why we go outside of india in neighbouring countries to find the talent and promote in our country while we have great talent and potential in india itself....First we need to promote these hidden talents...nobody knows about it in North-West-South in india. I was just stunned and speechless after hearning and watching the compositions, lyrics, songs, Quality, sound....everyting is supererb ....They are doing a gr8 job. I am really happy to find this music talent but also disppointed that they guys are performing and broadcasted in their state and TV channels only.They have such kind of caliber and quality as they could compete even beat other country rock music. First listen and watch all the music videos which i am going to share with you all...Though there are lots of good bands are forming there but here i am introducing the few best ones...and i am sure u will be surprised and like them......and please promte them on your level........ROCK music in india is still alive by North East Indians....I am really proud of Mizorum to be part of india!! Lets cheer for them.....Check it out!!!!!

VEry very nice....Latest Video Released by BOOMARANG- Steller-Mizo


The Scavenger Project mizo 'Signs' (Awesome!!-ULTIMATE!!!)


Myth of fate-paradise


All that you are -Ninth Side


Chris - True Color - Mizo (Very close to Bryn Adams.....Very very nice!!!)


Take away by Drop Doubt!!Awesome singing and composition!!....
Embeddiing is disabled so giving you the link...for youtube......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRQ3aQkeJvA


Another very creative and gr88 video by 9th side..."Blow"


Arms Of Silence-Like light to flies (Indian rock band)

Rare Superman comic sells for $317,200

A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman has sold for $317,200 in an Internet auction. The previous owner of Action Comics No. 1 bought it for less than a buck.

It&aposs one of the highest prices ever paid for a comic book, a likely testament to the volume&aposs rarity and its excellent condition, said Stephen Fishler, co-owner of the auction site ComicConnect.com and its sister dealership, Metropolis Collectibles.

The winning bid for the 1938 edition, which features Superman lifting a car on its cover, was submitted Friday evening by John Dolmayan, drummer for the rock band System of a Down, according to managers at ComicConnect.com.

In addition to being a musician, Dolmayan is a dealer of rare comic books. The auctioneers said he acquired the Superman comic on behalf of an unidentified client.

"I imagine it&aposs someone from the entertainment world,"said Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer at ComicConnect and Metropolis Collectibles.

Only about 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 are known to exist and they seldom come up for sale.

" Maybe in a booming economy, it would have done a hundred grand more, but in this economy, I think the price is great," Fishler said.

The man who had previously owned the book purchased it in a secondhand store in the early 1950s when he was nine years old.

He paid 35 cents.

Human rights violation maximum in UP, Delhi: Survey

Uttar Pradesh has topped the list of states with maximum number of complaints relating to human rights violation and New Delhi follows a close second, according to NHRC statistics.

The statistics reveal that out of the total 94,559 cases of human rights violation last year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received 55,216 from Uttar Pradesh alone.

This accounts for about 58.39 per cent of the total complaints received by the Commission from across the country, followed by Delhi from where a total of 5,616 such complaints were filed till December last year.

Gujarat, which stands third in the list, accounts for a total of 3,813 complaints of human rights violation. The NHRC received a total of 3,672 such complaints from Bihar.

Haryana too was close with 3,493 complaints, followed by Maharashtra (3,483), Rajasthan (2,640), Madhya Pradesh (2,246) and Punjab (1,082).

However, the Commission did not receive a single complaint of human rights violation from Lakshadweep, while only seven such complaints were filed from Dadar and Nagar Haveli last year.

'Telecast programmes on domestic violence'

BANGALORE: One woman is beaten up in every three minutes, and with 45 percent of Indian women suffering from domestic violence, it has become necessary to create awareness among the public through telecasting domestic violence related programmes and the various laws and Acts that can be enacted to this effect, says, Kiran Bedi, IPS.

She was speaking at a seminar on ‘Domestic Violence- Issues and Challenges,’ organised by the Women Empowerment Committee, a wing of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, here on Saturday.

“More and more family counselling centres should come up. Law students should come to the field and try their hand in such cases,” she added.

Further sharing her experience at the Star Plus telecast series “Aap ki Kacheri”, she said: “I have come across cases where the ‘panchas’ have decided the marriage of a woman without her knowledge, and there are also cases where women have been treated as ‘public utility service’. There are various laws protecting the victims of such domestic violence, which should be made known to the people”.

Justice N Kumar, Judge, High Court, Karnataka, highlighted the Acts enacted to this effect and said: “Though we cannot make laws and Acts for every other kind of domestic violence, the laws which are existing are not being implemented properly due to the ignorance of the people. People can form associations and work towards such effects and this would probably lessen the frequency of such domestic violence”. Vijayakumar, president of Rotary Club of Bangalore and Rosa Paramel, chairperson, Women Empowerment Committee were also present.

Voices from the margins

PUSHPA CHARI

Through their embroidery, women in Chile and India weave a sense of their selves into narratives of extraordinary vision and hope. “Selvedged Voices” is on in Chennai from March 20 to 22…

Magical Narratives: (Clockwise from top left); An arpillera showing children of political prisoners being fed in a community kitchen; Santhal women with Khatwa embroidery and a Sujuni panel.

Folk Art, termed by Yeats “the oldest aristocracy of thought and the soil where true art is rooted”, has historically been perceived as partially a woman’s space, instinctive to her many traditional roles as a nurturer and caretaker of family and children, singer of lullabies, weaver and teller of tales going down the generations, decorator of home and hearth, joiner and embroiderer of stitches. Often many of these identities coalesced into one grand creative design as in embroidery where ordinary, talented women embroiderers stitched up stories mundane and magical, whimsical and fantastic, celebratory and sad. Or poignant and tragic when life pushed the women to the edge and the starkness and pain, the inner and outer poverty of their lives led their moving fingers to create embroidered narrative tapestries representing a cry of their selvedged voices.
Message of hope

Selvedge, a word which stitches together “self” and “edge” much as women as far off as Chile and India, living on the edge in the margins of society expressed their sense of self by stitching together narrative tapestries, now being seen as collectors’ items, and priceless pieces of folk art. If on the “Arpilleras” or tapestries created by Chilean women in Pinochet’s terrorist regime “shredded lives luminously reassemble on rough burlap” as Marjorie Agostin so poetically puts it, the Khatwas and Sujunis of Bihari women are an account of their lives, sometimes of joy, but mostly of deprivation. Dr. Skye Morrison calls these tapestries “accomplishments of ordinary women with extraordinary visions”. Created with loving hands yet portraying the grim realty of their lives, they nevertheless give a human dimension to violence in every form, even a message of hope and beauty. As Raniben Bhikha, creator of a panel telling a story of dams, ponds and people mused: “Once I saw a rainbow at the temple.” And then she put a beautiful appliquéd rainbow into the pictorial narrative…
“Selvedged Voices: Women’s Narrative Textiles from Chile and India” is a unique exhibition , a moving “moveable feast” bringing together the stitched narrative tapestries made up of the threads of identity, the history and hopes of the marginalised woman of Chile , the tribal women of Bhuj, the Santhal women of Jharkhand and Bihar’s “Sujuni” artists. This extraordinary exhibition has been curated by Dr. Skye Morrison, Professor and Head of Textiles at Sheridan School of Craft and Art design in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and an internationally acclaimed authority on Khatwa and Sujuni art. “Selvedged Voices: Women’s narrative Textiles from Chile and India” is being sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and organised by The Crafts Council Of India, Sunita Shahaney, Honorary Consul of Chile in Chennai and The Confederation of Indian Industry. The Arpilleras have been loaned by the The Fundacion Solidaridad, an NGO in Chile which supports the production of arts and handicrafts.
And to keep rhythm with the haunting music of the stitched narratives and tapestries will be the folk and ballad music sung by Chilean musicians and the mesmerising dances of the Santhals.
Arpilleras are three dimensional appliqué textiles rooted in the old pictorial appliqué tradition of Chile. Colourful rags are used to create images and then embroidered upon on Hessian or burlap called Arpilleras in Spanish. Part of contemporary craft, they are generally full of vivid colour and “busy-ness”, movement, fun and frolic though sad events of daily life are also chronicled. It was only after the military coup of 1974 in Chile which led to the establishment of Pinochet’s regime that another genre of Arpilleras came to be crafted, as women’s voices were raised against the regime’s oppression and absolute censorship. According to Marjorie Agostin, Chilean poet and Professor of Spanish and Latin American literature at Wellesley College, U.S., more than 10,000 men, so called dissidents, disappeared under the Pinochet regime. It was the protest against this and to search for their beloved relatives that women “Arpilleristas” began one of the most unique forms of protest in Latin American history as Agostin puts it. They began to create Arpilleras or wall hangings made of scraps of cloth that narrated through the fabric itself life under Pinochet. Interspersing their Arpilleras with images, photographs and names of their missing loved ones, they smuggled out the tapestries in the hope of locating their relatives. They worked relentlessly in basements, secret meeting places, churches and NGO centres to create stunning works of folk art. Many of these desperate yet hope-imbued Arpilleras will be on view at the “Selvedged Voices” exhibition , a moving “testimony to the tenacity and faith of women in their struggle for truth and justice”.
Evocative

“A woman imagining her missing relative through a wire fence”, “Groups of women going on hunger strike”, “Where are the 32 missing prisoners from 1979?”, “The oven at Lonqun where the mortal remains of 15 prisoners were found” are some of the poignant and haunting tapestries on view. Yet, amidst the horrible devastation, faith and hope do triumph in brightly coloured “Welcome to democracy”, “Women working in fruit harvest”, “Knitting workshop” etc.
India’s “Khatwa”, “Sujuni” and Bhuj artisans’ narrative tapestries and textile art forms “transcend time and space” as Dr. Skye Morrison puts it. They are graphically stunning pictorial commentaries on everyday life in tribal and small town India. Khatwa is a narrative and abstract appliqué form featuring chain and straight stitch embroideries with interlocking geometric and floral patterns done by Santhal women in bright and bold colours. Contemporary Khatwa panels are colourful, compelling portrayals of tribal life, social issues such as the spread of Aids, bride burning etc.
Sujunis were originally made by Bihari women using straight stitch embroidery on layered saris and dhotis quilted with threads drawn from the sari borders. The contemporary Sujuni, developed with NGO artisan interaction, features densely embroidered figurative and domestic imagery filled with patterned cloth and “given movement through the interplay of two and three dimensional space”. Today’s Sujuni embroiderers narrate stories about dowry, treatment of widows, the environment , the uses of cow dung and so on. Humour too has its place as in the “Dung Story” panel bordered with rows of smiling cows! Not only have the new Khatwa and Sujuni panels given their embroiderers an expanding world view and immense self worth, in their handling of social issues they have made their panels uncompromising art forms.
Kalaraksha’s lovely appliqué panels made by the women of Bhuj also present concerns such as the environment, the careful use of water, the devastation wreaked by earthquakes. Done in soft pretty colours, they are vibrant and spontaneous with an unmistakable touch of tribal art sensibilities. West Bengal’s beautiful Kantha embroidery narrative panels are also on display at the exhibition along with Soof, Sozini, Chikankari and Rabari embroidery pieces.
Strengthening bonds

Both Indian women artisans and Arpilleristas will hold demonstrations of their skills at the exhibition site. Also on the anvil are technique, ideas and skill sharing workshops between the women artisans from Chile and India as well as interactive workshops and sessions between the artisans and The Craft Council of India. Hopefully, the “Selvedged Voices” exhibition, which concludes on March 22, will open up new markets for craftspeople in both countries, provide greater exposure for these beautiful narrative art forms and lead to a harmonious evolution of the crafts based on artisan interaction. And above all, strengthen the artisans’ common commitment to environmental concerns, justice and human dignity through their beautiful stitched folk art narratives.
Quick facts “Selvedged Voices: Women’s Narrative Textiles from Chile and India” will be inaugurated in Chennai on March 20 at 10.30.am by Her Excellency Dr. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile.

Jaitley’s sulk a misunderstanding in big family: Joshi

Kolkata, March 14  Playing down the controversy over senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley skipping a party meet, party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi Saturday said such “misunderstandings” happen in a big family.

“There is no problem in the BJP. In a big family, at times there are misunderstandings. These kinds of things happen in a big family,” the former central minister told the media here. 

Jaitley, who is in charge of the BJP’s election campaign, was miffed at the appointment of Sudhandhu Mittal as coordinator for the party’s campaign in Assam and joint coordinator for the northeast, without consulting him. He skipped the party’s central election committee meeting Friday.

To persistent queries from scribes on Jaitley, Joshi said: “You ask him (about his absence). May be he had some work. It is the media which blows up such things.”

Joshi said the BJP was on a strong wicket after getting new allies in place of parties like the Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) which have broken ranks with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“We have got O.P. Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Janata Dal as new friends. During the last five years, the success story of BJP is considerably bigger than what the media projects,” he said.

Joshi termed the Congress-Trinamool alliance as one prompted by the need to fight against a common foe - Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

But when asked if he thought the Congress was really a foe of the CPI-M, the veteran leader said: “In this election, they are foes. But as (Sitaram) Yechury of the CPI-M says, they may join hands after the polls.”
Joshi categorically said that building a Ram temple in Ayodhya will have a place in the BJP manifesto. “It is not only an issue of the BJP, but the issue of the entire country. We feel everybody should come together to build the temple. If necessary, the law should be amended.”

He did not agree with the remark that the BJP remembers the Ram temple only before elections. “It’s the media which remembers the temple during the elections. But it is an issue for us throughout the year.”

Indian Army hopes recession, pay commission will help it draw talent

New Delhi, Mar 14 : The ongoing recession and the implementation of the sixth Pay Commission would help the Army fill in 11,000 post of officers currently vacant, a top Army recruiting officer said today.

"There is a definite shortage of 11,000 officers.

We hope to attract better talent at a time when jobs in the other sectors have become limited owing to the recession and the announcement of the Sixth Pay Commission," Adjutant-general Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal told newsmen.

Governor Hovin Rashtriya Sainik Board Thukhawm

Nimin khan Mizoram Rajya Sainik Board inkhawm vawi 12-na chu an President Mizoram Governor hovin Raj Bhawan Conference Hall-ah neih a ni a, Board Vice-President Chief Minister Pu Lal Thanhawla leh Board Ex-Officio member Home Minister Pu R.Lalzirliana bakah memebr dang an tel kim.

Meeting thuhma sawiin Board President Mizoram larsap chuan sipai bangte leh an chhung leh khat hamthatna tura hma lakna hrang hrang a tarlang a. Indopui II-na tuartu (World War Veterans) leh indonaa sipai thite nupui (War Widows) mi 1360-te chu chhawm-dawlna tangkafai cheng nuai 133 sem an ni, a ti a. Nikum Armed Forces Day puala thawhlawm khawnah Rs.92,078 hmuh a nih thu leh Vijay Diwas/Ex-Servicemen Reunion Rally pawh neih a ni thu a sawi. Sipai bangte tan bik hriselna lama inenkawlna tur ram pum huapa April 2003 atanga beihpui thlak pawh Mizoramah chak taka kalpui a ni a ti a. he Scheme hnuaiah hian sipai bang leh an chhungkhat mi 1177 an inziak lut tawh a ni a ti. Defence Minister’s Discretionary Fund atangin sipai bang leh hmeithaite chu cheng nuai 74.10 tanpuina sem a ni tawh a. Sipai bang la valai tak tak mi 22 Mizoram 5th IR Battalion-ah lak an ni a ti.
Nimina inkhawm chuan thil chi hrang hrang engemawzat an rel a. Chung zingah chuan Gallantry Cash Award te, Indopui II-na kaihhnawihho tanpuina sum dil belh te, sipa thihsan hmeithai leh sipai inhliamte tana ex-gratia tihpun rawtna te, Champhai leh Kolasib-a Sainik Office hawn chungchang te, Mizorama Sainik School din tur chungchang leh Mizoram sorkar hnuaia Territorial Army Battalion (home & hearth) din tur chung-chang te a tel.
Ex-Servicemen hamthatna tur an sawiho bawhzui hian Board Vice-President Chief Minister Pu Lal Thanhawla chuan Kargil indona hmasa bera nunna chan ta Ex-Sepoy Rohmingliana farnu Zo-thansangi chu Police Department hnuaia Grade- IV hna pe turin a hriattir nghal a.Kum 2004-a inkahna atanga ramtui leilo Ex-Sepoy Zonunmawia unaupa Zoram-sanga pawh Police Department-ah bawk driver hna pe nghal turin Chief Minister hian a hriattir bawk. (Courtesy Mizo Aw)

The Mizoram Government IT policy

1. PREAMBLE

1.1 Information Technology (IT) is the world’s fastest growing economic activity. It is transforming resource-based economies to knowledge-based economies. IT has become the greatest agent of change and promises to play this role even more dramatically in future. IT changes every aspect of human life, apart from impacting changes in the field of communications, trade, manufacturing, services, culture, entertainment, education, research and national security. IT breaks old barriers and is building new interconnections in the emerging concept of a single global village. It has also become one of the critical indicators of the progress of nations, communities and individuals. The advent of IT offers opportunities to overcome historical disabilities. IT is a tool that will enable Mizoram to achieve the goal of becoming a strong, prosperous and self-confident state. IT promises to compress the time it would otherwise take for Mizoram to advance rapidly in its march towards faster development and in occupying a position as a progressive and self-sufficient state.

1.2 Mizoram recognizes IT as the fastest and the most advanced vehicle of change for all-round progress and development of the State. In view of the potential of IT, the State Government advocates widespread proliferation of IT in the State and adopts the following policy supports for promotion of IT in the fields of E-Governance, Empowerment of the people and the society, Education, Industry, Health, Rural Development, Agriculture, Tourism, IT for Masses, and IT Enabled Services.

1.3 The Policy shall come into effect from the date of notification of this policy, till such time, the government may consider the necessity of modification. The government also reserves the right to make any amendments in the policy.

2. VISION
2.1 To make Mizoram the most IT literate state in the country and a global center of excellence in IT Education, Training, Research, and Development. This vision translates into a mission. The vision objectives are:

* Employment Generation
* Creation of Wealth
* IT led economic growth

2.2 To accomplish its vision, the Govt. of Mizoram will play the role of pro-active facilitator, Pro-active motivator, Pro-active promoter, in order to Spread IT to the masses speedily, and to ensure speedy IT led economic development.

OBJECTIVES
The following are the objectives of Mizoram IT Policy:
3.1 Promotion of IT Industry, IT software, IT Products, and IT Services within the state.
3.2 Promoting IT for the masses.
3.3 Setting up a goal of achieving total computer literacy in Mizoram by the year-2010.
3.4 Improvement of efficiency and productivity in governance.
3.5 Improvement of transparency and responsive-attitude in governance.
3.6 Generation of IT-skilled manpower and IT capacity-building in the State.
3.7 Promotion of IT skills and IT know-how among the youth of Mizoram enabling them to engage in gainful self-employment and in IT related activities.
3.8 Propelling growth of IT and IT related activities.
3.9 Providing of people-friendly interfacing between Government and citizen.
3.10 Providing better information and interactive services to tourists, businessman and entrepreneurs.
3.11 Dissemination of knowledge to farmers, agriculturists and rural population of Mizoram.
3.12 Improvement of revenue assessment and collection mechanism.
3.13 Improvement of general employment opportunity and employment generation.
3.14 Widespread use of IT in educational Institutions.
3.15 Development of capabilities of Governance as a catalyst for economic development by collaborative action and learning.
3.16 Proliferation of Internet, E-Governance, E-Commerce and E-Education.

CLASSIFICATION OF IT POLICY
4.1 IT POLICY FOR GOVERNMENT
4.1.1. The Government shall constitute a Task Force with members from various organizations and experts that would conceive and oversee the implementation of the programs envisaged under this policy. The Task Force shall formulate an Action Plan so as to achieve the objective.
4.1.2. The Government of Mizoram shall endeavor to examine the possibility of creating the Department of IT to entrust the works of co-coordinating IT matters and implementing any IT projects. The department of IT shall be nodal agency till such a time Industries Department will be the nodal agency. The nodal department shall be the single window for all the clearances, incentives and certification and premises required for the IT activities. The basic objectives of the nodal department shall be to adopt the role of pro-active facilitator, pro-active motivator, pro-active promoter, to spread IT to the masses speedily and to ensure IT led development. It shall also be responsible for the creation of infrastructures, manpower development and employment generation, etc.
4.1.3. The Government shall endeavor setting up of Electronics Governance and Citizen facilitation to provide better services and improved quality of governance and citizen facilitation through development of sound infrastructure providing high level of communication. Electronics governance shall envisage the developing of cabling infrastructure to carry voice, data and video for Secretariat Complex and several information kiosks in Aizawl city.
4.1.4. The Government shall endeavor to introduce IT literacy as compulsory for recruitment to government services. In case a person has to be recruited without IT literacy, he/she should compulsorily acquire it within one year. All the existing staff of the government must be asked to attain IT literacy in the next 5 years.
4.1.5. The Government shall endeavor to strengthen Administrative Training Institute (ATI) for conducting IT Awareness, short-term courses in Computer Application, Office Automation, etc.
4.1.6. All District Office Headquarters shall endeavor to give Internet /Intranet connectivity by which they will be able to communicate with their respective Secretariats. Similarly, all Directorates shall be given a similar communication facility with their respective Sub-Divisions and subordinate offices, thereby enhancing faster communication and giving added efficiency to the governing mechanism.
4.1.7. The Government shall endeavor to make a special budget allocation every year to complete its IT program. Each department may consider setting aside a budgetary allocation of 2% for the development of IT in their respective department.
4.1.8. The Government shall endeavor to provide facilities to users/citizens for filing of documents electronically to various Departments where government and citizen interface is necessary. The Task Force shall identify Government departments and set priority for introducing such facility in the Departments on phased manner.
4.1.9. The Government shall revamp and strengthen Zoram Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. (ZENICS). ZENICS will play the role of facilitator and assist various government departments in selection of appropriate Hardware, Software, and Training programs in accordance with their needs.
4.1.10. Every department shall endeavor to put all Government regulations, schemes, forms, tenders etc. on the Internet.
4.1.11. The Government shall constitute a high level committee that will implement Cyber Laws to combat such activities like serious piracy cases and illegal business practices and also to take appropriate action Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of creator, of content and software through vigorous enforcement of relevant copy right laws.

4.2 IT POLICY FOR EDUCATION
4.2.1 The Government shall endeavor to set up Study Team on IT Education under the chairmanship of the Director of Education Department for implementation of IT in Education.
4.2.2 In order to achieve total computer literacy in Mizoram the Government shall encourage the use of Information Technology in schools, colleges and all educational Institutions for which special program and special resources shall be envisaged by the Education Department in collaboration with the IT nodal agency of the State for creating necessary infrastructure to achieve this goal.
4.2.3 The Government shall start a special training program for school/teachers to help them make use of IT in teaching. All School/College teachers shall endeavor to become IT literate by the year 2005. For this purpose, the Education Department shall draw up IT Education Program for School and college teachers of different levels.
4.2.4 The Education Department shall strive to develop an appropriate curriculum for all educational institutions of Mizoram so as to make IT a compulsory subject from the level of Primary School to Higher Secondary School.
4.2.5 An IT Course Module shall endeavor to be made compulsory component for all Degree Courses within 3 years.
4.2.6 The State Government shall endeavor to launch a special scheme for the introduction of computer/IT education in schools and the scheme shall be launched as early as possible.
4.2.7 The Government shall endeavor the setting up of North Eastern Institute of Information Technology (NEIIT) to be deemed University. Establishment of this type of institutions shall be given high priority by the State.
4.2.8 The Government shall endeavor to take effective steps towards the generation of more IT experts in association with global giant companies to meet the demands of IT Industry both for domestic and export market. The Academic curriculum and Professional curriculum will be designed to meet the world class certified professional in the latest technology. Unemployed Educated Youth shall be trained to become IT professional for sustainable self-employment.

Ceasefire groups in influx fight

Platform on the cards

AASU members take out a rally for the deportation of illegal migrants from Bangladesh in Guwahati. File picture Guwahati, March 7 : Several ceasefire groups have joined hands with civil organisations to consider floating a “common platform” that will fight the threat posed to Assam by influx from Bangladesh. In a closed-door meeting held here yesterday and today, the groups stressed the need to resolve internal differences within indigenous communities before tackling the problem head-on. The pro-talks Ulfa faction, the Dima Halam Daogah (Nunisa), the Birsa Commando Force and Adivasi Cobra Military are part of the ceasefire group. The civilian groups included the Asam Satra Mahasabha, the Assam Tea Tribes Students Association and the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam. Though no resolution has been adopted yet, the groups are trying to come out with a common manifesto to check the growing threat from influx. Birsa Commando Force’s commander-in-chief Birsing Munda told The Telegraph today that around 40 representatives from ceasefire and civilian groups sat for two hours yesterday to chalk out strategies to combat the influx problem. Assam Tea Tribes Students Association general secretary Pallav Lochan Das said the next meeting would be important. Ulfa’s pro-talks leader Mrinal Hazarika, DHD chairman Dilip Nunisa, Adivasi Cobra Military chairman Xabrias Xaxa were among those present at yesterday’s conclave. “It was a face-to-face discussion yesterday and today. The first discussion was held on February 26 and we will be holding our next meeting 10 to 15 days later. Almost everyone realises the threat from this influx and the need to come together at the earliest by sorting out our internal differences. The representative of the Satra Mahasabha observed that these differences are becoming bigger, sharper and with communal undertones. These need to be checked and here the Assamese middle-class has to play a proactive role. A common manifesto is very much on the cards,” Munda said. At the meeting, Munda and Xaxa stressed the need to ameliorate the problems of the Adivasi community, especially their struggle for the Scheduled Tribe status. Explaining the rationale behind their demand, Munda said despite being a part and parcel of Assam, the community, which includes the tea tribes, are still not considered Assamese in letter and spirit. “Our problems should also be addressed. More importantly, we are the worst sufferers because our land is being grabbed by these infiltrators. We have requested that our Scheduled Tribe demand be included in the common manifesto so that we can openly come out against the Bangladeshi problem. More or less, the other groups appear to have appreciated our concerns and demand,” Munda added.

Bangla keen on made-in-NE fair

Guwahati, March 7 : Inspired by the success of the Made in Northeast India show — the first standalone expo on handicrafts of Northeast India — in Thailand, Bangladesh has evinced a keen interest in hosting a similar event to establish closer links with the region.

“Why can’t we have a Made in Northeast India show in Bangladesh which is the closest neighbour to the region?” asked Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh, at an international buyer-seller meet here today.

The meet was organised by Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam in association with the office of development commissioner (handicrafts).

The Made in Northeast India show was also organised by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam and supported by development commissioner (handicrafts), ministry of textiles, in Bangkok from January 26 to 31.

Speaking on the common values and culture of Bangladesh and the Northeast, Khundoker said the people of both regions shared rapport. A variety of products from different parts of the region was exhibited at the buyer-seller meet held in a city hotel .

Khundoker said trade was growing with India, though a trade imbalance still existed. While India exported goods worth $2.4 billion to Bangladesh, the latter, however, could export goods worth $350 million.

“There is a lot of scope in trade considering the geographical proximity,” Khundoker said, adding that trade between Bangladesh and the region could increase. While Bangladesh imports coal and limestone from the Northeast, exports from the country to the region are few.

Inaugurating the meet, Assam industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi said efforts were on to promote Brand Northeast as this was important in today’s world of regional integration.

“The situation has changed a lot now and the Northeast is integrating its future with its neighbours,” Bordoloi said.

The minister said as the region was the closest landmass to its Southeast Asian neighbours, it is time that the Northeast played a pivotal role. “The Northeast could become an interface with Southeast Asia for India,” Bordoloi said.

Tharadol Thongruang, counsellor (commercial) in the Royal Thai embassy, was today made a life member of Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam for his contribution in forging links between Thailand and the Northeast.

Thanking the organisers, Thongruang said a lot had changed since he had first visited the region five years back.

S. Dkhar, regional director (Northeast) in the office of development commissioner handicrafts, said they were focussing on making innovative designs so as to get more value for the products.

Cong list out for Sikkim, Mizoram seats

NEW DELHI, Mar 6 : The Congress has named Khara Nanda Upreti for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim, while C L Ruala will be the party candidate for Mizoram.

This is the second list the party releases after the one for Uttar Pradesh, in which 24 candidates were nominated.

The party also released a list of 30 candidates for the Assembly elections in Sikkim to be held simultaneously with the general elections.

The list includes former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari from Khamdong-Singtam.

Mizos blame Chins for HRW report

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A social organization in India’s northeastern state of Mizoram has demanded an apology from the Chin community living in the state over a report published by Human Rights Watch.

The Young Mizo Association (YMA), a social organization in Mizoram state, on Tuesday, at a meeting with at least 23 Chin organizations demanded they refute a human rights report on Mizo’s treatment of Chin published by HRW.

A Chin representative, who attended the meeting, told Mizzima that the Central YMA was enraged over the HRW’s accusation that Mizo’s have ill-treated the Chin, who fled their homes in Burma.

J H Zoremthanga, President of CYMA, in the meeting, accused the Chin leaders of misinforming the HRW on YMA’s treatment of the Chin community, living in the state.

“He [Zoremthanga] said that HRW's report on YMA and Mizo authorities is not true and is exaggerated,” said the representative adding, “He asked us to apologize for the report.”

Human Rights Watch, in its report “We are like forgotten people”, released in January said Chin people living in western Burma have been silently suffering under the military junta’s rule and systematic persecutions have led several thousands to flee to neighbouring countries, particularly to India’s northeastern State of Mizoram.

The report also said Chin people are further faced with hostile treatment by host communities in India including Mizoram state. Particularly mentioning the YMA, the report said, Chin people are subject to torture and at times forcibly evicted by the YMA.

“Chin in Mizoram face security abuses, severe discrimination, religious repression, and lack of jobs, housing, and affordable education,” the report said.

HRW further said local Mizo landlords are reluctant to rent out houses to or overcharge Chins in Mizoram as they do not have official status and documents.

Moreover, the report said local authorities had come in the way of the Chin community having their own place of worship.

"The YMA announced that the Chin should not worship in separate churches. They said if we want to stay in Mizoram, we should attend Mizo churches," HRW quoted a Chin as saying.

But the CYMA denied HRW’s report saying they were allegations to damage the Mizo’s benevolent attitude towards their Chin cousins.

Zoremthanga, during the meeting, held in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram, urged leaders of the 23 Chin political, social, religious, human rights and women’s organizations to condemn the report and to write letters of complaint to HRW that their report was based on unfounded and biased information.

"He urged the Chin community leaders to complain to HRW for the report," a Chin representative said. He added that the tone indicated that there could be repercussions if the Chin leaders fail to condemn the report.

Chin state in western Burma and India’s Mizoram state share a porous border of about 400 kilometers. Traditionally, the Chin and Mizos regard each other as ancestral cousins and there has been constant interaction between the two communities despite international boundaries separating them.

However, since 1988, the number of Chin people arriving in Mizoram state has swelled greatly and according to a few NGOs there are at least 60,000 Chin people living in various parts of Mizoram.

Occasional disputes among the Chin and Mizo have erupted in the past and in 2003, following an alleged rape of a Mizo teenaged girl by a Chin man, the YMA ordered evictions of the Chin from the state.

Despite the disputes, the Mizo people continued allowing the Burmese community, particularly the Chin, to remain in the state.

And the Mizos were the first community in India to have staged a mass rally in support of the monk-led protest in Burma in September 2007 and condemned the Burmese junta for its brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

Aizawl bomb kum 43-na ‘Zoram Ni’

Aizawl, March 5: Zawl khawpuiin senmei a chan ni kha kum 1966 March ni 5 kha a ni a, kumin hi a tum 43-na a ni ta a, kum 41 a liam hnu, a kum 42-naah khan Zoram Ni chu a vawikhatna atan Aizawl Vana Pa Hall-ah hman a ni a, kumin hian a tum hnihna chu Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) huaihawtin hman a ni leh ta.

Hnam sipaite chuan kum 1966 March ni 1 khan Zoram independent an puang a, khami tum khan Zoram hmun hrang hrangah sipai hmunte chu an hualchep a, Aizawl ngeiah pawh Assam Rifles chu tui in tur pawh nei lo khawpin an hual chep tawh a ni. India sawrkar chuan kha thil thleng kha an ngawihbopui mai mai lo a, Tezpur Assam atangin thlawhna pali ngawt an rawn tir a, chung thlawhna chuan Aizawl khawpui leh Mizoram khaw hrang hrangte chu bomb hmangin a bei ta chiam mai a, hei hi India rama mahni khua leh tuite bomb hmanga beih hmasak ber leh awmchhun a ni.
Hunter leh Toofani thlawhna hmangin Aizawl khawpui chu civil mi leh Hnam sipai thliarhrang miah lovin an rawn bei a, he beihnaah hian a zirchiangtu historian Dr JV Hluna chuan thi hi 13 vel thleng a finfiah thei tawh a, he ni hi Mizoramin a tawnah chuan ni rapthlak ber tiin a sawi hial.
Dawrpui pheite chu nasa takin a kang a, India Airforce chuan mahni khua leh tuite ngei mai chu nasa takin dimna awm miah lovin a bei a, Mizoram khawpui chu a kang hluah hluaha nu nau mangangin khawpui an tlanchhiatsan nasa hle.
Nasa taka Mizoram beih a nih hnu hian a hun laia India ram prime minister Indira Gandhi chuan he thil thleng hi a zep tlat a, media lamin an kawm pawhin, "ration kan thlak" tiin a sawi a, Khasi MP-ten Aizawl rawn tlawhin anni hian bomb kang bangte chu kengin Delhi lamah hian Mizo thlavang an zuk hauh nghe nghe niin Dr JV Hluna chuan a lo ziak tawh a ni.
Mizoramin nasa taka India Airforce kut a tawrh lai hian Indira Gandhi hian Mizoram mipuite aiin a rama chauh hi a duh niin sawi a awm nghe nghe a, amaherawhchu khatih hun laia thil thleng ‘evidence’ kha khawi hmunahmah hmuh tur a awm lo a, thlalak emaw, record emaw a awm lo.
Jet fighter hmanga Aizawl beih chungchang hi Mizo zingah sawichhuah a tlem hle a, kum 2007 khan Dr JV Hluna chuan hemi chungchang a chhui chianna paper chu a tichhuak a, heta tang hian journalist beng thlengin english paper Newslink chuan a rawn ziak a, hemi hnu lawk hian Pathianni chhuak Zalen-ah tarlan niin Zozam Weekly leh chanchinbu hrang hrangah thailan a ni chho ta a. Zozam weekly chuan jet fighter beihna tuartute an office lama in report turin hman an la a, report pawh an dawng nual a ni.
Kum 2008 khan Mizo Zirlai Pawl lam chuan jet fighter hmanga Zoram beih ni chu hriatrengna hman thain an hre ta a, nikum khan Zoram beihna lam veitu Zoram Ni Organising Committee nen thuhovin March ni 5 khan Vana Pa Hall-ah a vawikhatna atan Zoram Ni hi hman a ni ta nghe nghe a ni. Kumin hian Zoram Ni hi I&PR hall-ah vawiin hian hman a ni leh a, Mizoram Journalist Association (MJA) president K Sapdanga chu khuallian niin he hun hi MZP te huaihawta hman a ni.

Phaiah Mizo tlangval an che buai

Aizawl, May 4 : Hyderabad khawpuia Mizoram atanga thalai rual hnathawk tura an thawn thlakte chuan harsatna nasa tak an tawk niin Hyderabad Mizo Zirlai te hnen atanga thu dawn a ni, anmahni thawnthlatu nia tarlan Juliet-i erawh Evening Post hian a bepawp thei lo thung.

"Hman deuh khan Mizo thalai thenkhat chu pawisa engemaw zat deposit tir an nih hnuah security guard turin lak an ni. Hyderabad hmunah an rawn thawn a, an beisei ang an hmu lova, chenna mumal an nei lova, an hotute nen intih thiam loh nasa tak an neih hnuah a then phei chu na takin an sawisa a, a then phei chu phuar betin inchhungah an kalhkhum nghe nghe a. Hyderabad Mizo Association ten theihtawp an chhuah hnuah an chhanchhuak thei hram a ni. Aizawl chanchinbu thenkhatah press release hial siamin fimkhur a tul zia an tarlang a.
Vawiin lamah ka beisei loh lutukin phone ka dawng a, Mizo harsatna nei an awm thu a ni. Mizo mi engemaw zat Mizoram atangin rawn thawn leh an ni. Anmahni ruaitu leh buaipuitu hi hi Juliet niin an sawi. Juliet-i biak pawh tum pawhin a biak theih lova. Pawisa erawh chu deposit a awm hran lova, mahse harsa ve tak tak te an nih avangin pawisa puk chawpa rawn kalte an ni. Mizoram lamah an duty-na tur hmun hi Building nalh leh ropui tak tak an lo hmuh tir a, an hlawh pawh cheng 5,000 anih hnuah kaichho zel tura hrilh an ni. Mahse, Hyd an rawn thlen hnu hian an beisei ang a ni ta meuh lo a ni. Awmna mumal tak an nei mang bawk silova, duty turin a then chu an lo kal lo zeuh zeuh a ni awm e. Tichuan, vawiin lam khan mi 6 chu an hotuten an thawmhnaw nen an lo vawmchhuak tawp mai a ni. Kalna tur an nei lova, pawisa hman tur mumal an nei hek lo.
Mizo tlawmngai ten an awmna tur an ngaihtuah pui a, an chhungte pawisa nghakin haw an tum mek a ni. Hetiang hi kan tawng ngun ta hle. Awareness mumal zawk hi kan nei har ta hle. Engmah hriat chianna nei hmasa lova, phai lama hna zawn kawngah inzirtirna ka mamawh ta hle mai a. Unskilled labour tan phei chuan, Mizorama chhuahsan hi a him ber em aw?" (Courtesy Evening Post)

NE Sports Snippets

Manipur league

Imphal: North Imphal Sporting Association tamed New Lamka Youth Club by 3-1 goals to take the top spot in the ongoing 3rd Manipur State League at Bishnupur Mini Stadium on Monday. North Imphal Sporting Association have 30 points while Southern Sporting Union, Manipur Police Sports Club, Tiddim Road Unique Gamy Players Union are trailing with 28 points each.

Youth men win

Imphal: Youth Club cum Information Centre, Kontha Ahallup, overpowered Khongman Students Club by 4-1 goals in the 11th Dr Kanti Mukherjee Memorial Invitation Hockey Tournament at Khuman Lampak Hockey Stadium on Monday.

Sunlight on top

Kokrajhar: Sunlight Club annexed the Dag Trophy cricket tournament title defeating Discovery Club by 81 runs at Dwimalu playground in Kokrajhar. In the final match played on Sunday, Sunlight won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 161 runs in 28.5 overs losing all the wickets. In reply, Discovery were bundled out in 25.3 overs scoring 80 runs.

Elections 2009: Indian Christians demand a place in society

Leaders from every Christian denomination sign a joint memorandum to be submitted to India’s political parties. In it they reiterate their trust in democracy and their commitment to building a pluralist society. They demand security, respect for rights, and an end to the impunity for the perpetrators of anti-Christian violence. They propose setting up a national commission to evaluate the “economic deprivation” and “social exclusion” many Christians have to endure.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – On the day the Indian government announced the date for the next federal elections (from 16 April to 13 May) Indian Christians have spoken with single voice demanding political parties guarantee security for minorities across the country, ensure their participation in the election, defend religious freedom and not allow violence and discrimination to go unpunished. All Christian denominations have signed a joint memorandum directed at political parties. They presented it today at a press conference chaired by Mgr Vincent Concessao, archbishop of New Delhi. Representatives of Evangelical, Pentecostal and other Protestant Churches were also present. Officials from organisations like the All India Catholic Union, the National Council of Churches in India and the All Indian Christian Council (AICC), were also represented.
“We are small in number, but we make an impact on the nation through services in education, social work and health, and as the voice of the marginalised and oppressed,” the memorandum said.
In the document Christian leaders renew their “hope in the democratic process,” as well as in India’s plural and secular society as defined by the 1950 constitution.
They urge the “people, and specially Christians, to fully take part in the political democratic process, including exercising their voting rights in the coming general elections.”
“Christian activists and NGOs must ensure that our names are listed in the electoral rolls”. At the same time political parties should provide “adequate representation to our community in their selection of candidates.”
The memorandum stressed that poverty and unemployment affect “all citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste or gender.” Even more, “the crisis in rural India is monumental and demands urgent action.”
The current global recession comes with a “social crisis” that is “no less grave.” And “religious, caste and gender intolerance are manifestations of this.”
For Christian leaders the upcoming elections are thus “an opportunity to halt the trend, and reverse the negativity.”
Christian communities expect parties to enforce “the rule of law” and put to an end the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of anti-minority violence.
The authors of the memorandum complain that states, police and criminals, who through their actions endanger religious freedom, have been guaranteed impunity.
As evidence the statement lists the many episodes of violence inflicted upon Christians in Orissa and the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madya Pradesh.
Christian leaders want the central and Orissa governments to respond to a situation of “deep insecurity.” They demand an “end to the campaign of disinformation” by parties and the media. They want the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate “the assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakhmanananda Saraswati” which set off “subsequent anti-Christian violence”.
For those people who are still displaced, living in relief camps in Kandhamal, the authors of the document want “an adequate standard of living,” as well as “education for displaced children”.
They further demand that “relief camps continue until the establishment of suitable conditions [. . .] for displaced persons to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity, to their homes, or to resettle voluntarily.”
Likewise they want “compensation for those who have been affected by the violence, including covering the loss of crops, livestock and employment”.
In light of the discrimination visited upon Christians the signatories of the memorandum call for the creation of a national commission of inquiry akin to the Rajinder Sachar Committee, which was set up in 2006 to look into the situation of the Muslim community.
This body should evaluate “economic and development issues of the Christian religious minority, especially amongst Dalits, Tribals, landless labourers and marginal farmers, coastal and fishery workers and urban youth”.
For the authors of the memorandum, political parties should remember that the1950 constitution guaranteed every Dalit rights and privileges, which hitherto have been enjoyed only by those who are Sikh or Buddhist, at the exclusion of Christians.
They add that it is urgent to end discrimination against women, stressing that all the Churches have upheld the “sanctity of life” against “any attempt to destroy it at any stage.”

Mizoram plan sum 30%-in pun beisei

Aizawl, March 2: Sawrkar thar a piang a, sawrkar kum thar (April 2009-March 2010) budget pawh a punna a sang dawn hle niin Mizoram Planning Commission vice chairman Lalkhama (IAS) retired chuan a sawi a, plan sum punna hi official level-a hriat chinah chuan zaa 25 a nih theih tur thu a sawi.

Kum 2008-2009 financial year chhung atana hman tur, annual plan kha a hun laia chief minister leh finance minister ni bawk Zoramthanga chuan cheng vaibelchhe 1,000 a pharh a, hei hi kum 2007-2008 nena tehkhin chuan a punna hi 17% a ni a, kumina a punna tur hi a sang hle dawn niin a lang.
"Tun hnaia central lama official zuk kalten thu an rawn hawn dan chuan planning commission chuan Mizoram 2009-2010 annual plan hi 25% velin a pung dawn a, chumi awmzia chu kum hmasa annual plan cheng vaibelchhe 1,000 chu sawrkar kum tharah hi chuan cheng vaibelchhe 1,250 a ni thei dawn tihna a ni a, a punna chu valbelchhe 250 a nih beisei a ni," tiin Lalkhama chuan Evening Post a hrilh.
Mizoram state planning commission vice chairman chuan sawi chhunzawmin chief minister hian plan sum hi a la final rih lo tih a sawi a, a final hunah chuan plan sum hi a sang leh duai dawn niin a sawi a, "annual plan hi cm-in a final hunah chuan 30% laite pawhin a pun beisei a ni," tiin a sawi. 30%-a annual plan sum hi a pung a nih chuan sawrkar kum thar 2009-2010 chhunga Mizoram plan sum punna tur chu cheng vaibelchhe 300 vel a ni dawn a ni.
Plan sum pun chhan hi sawrkar tharin New Land Use Policy (NLUP) a tharthawh vang a ni thei em tih zawhna chu chhangin, "NLUP vang hi a ni deuh bawk a, NLUP hi sawrkar laipui lam pawhin an hlut hle a, environment protection a ni tel nghal bawk a, hei hi khawvel kal dan pawh a ni," tiin NLUP vanga plan sum hi pung a nih theih thu Lalkhama chuan a sawi.
Hemi chungchangah hian Evening Post chuan Agriculture etc. changtu minister H Liansailova chu a lo bepawp tawh a, ani pawh hian NLUP vang hian department hrang hrang plan chu a pun theih tur thu lo sawi tawhin, "|henkhat chuan 30% ten an tih pun a ngai a, a \hen chuan 50% ten an tihpun a ngai," tiin a sawi a, NLUP chu budget-a awm tur a nih avangin plan sum pawh hi a pun phah niin a ngaih theih.
Mizoram state planning commission vice chairman chuan sawrkar tharah beiseina thar a neih thu a sawi a, "Fiscal management lamah pawh hma kan sawn tehreng ang, tumna goodwill \ha tak neia ti an ni a, tunhma ai chuan kan kal \hat ka ring a lawm," tiin a sawi.
Kum hmasa lama India hmarchhak state annual plan sum punna a inthlau hle a, Tripura state plan sum a pun miah loh laiin Arunachal Pradesh plan sum punna chu 56.44% a ni a, Assam chu 31% a ni thung.
Annual plan sum pung hi Mizoram tan thil lawmawm a nih leh nih loh chungchangah Pachhunga University College Economics department Lecturer Lalthlamuana Ralte chu Evening Post-in a be pawp a, Muantea chuan, "He thil hi a lawmawm emaw, lawmawm lo a ni thei. Annual plan sum punna pawisa hi khawi a\angin nge kan dawn tih hi a pawimawh lai ber chu a ni dawn a. Tunah hian kan state plan sum hi 30% velin a pung a nih chuan central assistance emaw, Mizoram state tana India sawrkain pawisa min puk sak a\anga pung a ni thei," tiin a sawi a, "Central assistance vanga plan sum hi a pun chuan a lawmawm a, mahse chuti ni lova pawisa kan puk avanga annual plan hi pung anih chuan a lawmawm lem loh, chu ai chuan ba neih belh loa 10% vela pun dan ngaia pun hi a lawmawm mah zawk," tiin sawi.
Economics lama mi thiamte chuan annual plan hi kum tin 10-15% vel hian a pung ve hrim hrim niin an sawi a, 30%-a state annual plan sum a pung a nih chuan leiba a pung emaw, central lam \anpuina vang emaw a ni thei niin an sawi.
Central sawrkarin 2009-2010 atana interim budget a pharhah chuan plan-a hmanral tura a riruat chhin zat chu cheng vaibelchhe 2,85,149 a ni a, non-plan atan cheng vaibelchhe 6,68,082 a ni thung. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) atan kum 2009-2010 chhunga an dah zat chu cheng vaibelchhe 30,100 a ni a, SSA hnuaiah mihring chenna zaa 98 chu khung vek tum a ni a, agriculture lamah nasa taka \an lak tum a ni bawk.
Sawrkar kum thar 2009-2010 hian kumin April thla tir a\anga 2010 March ni 31 thleng a huam dawn a, tuna kan rawn tarlan sumte khi hemi hun chhunga hmanral zat tur hi a ni. (Courtesy Evening Post)