Meat Prices Spiral in Mizoram

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Aizawl, Apr 14 : The Mizos, strictly meat-eaters, are faced with an unpalatable problem these days — spiraling prices of chicken, beef and especially pork.

In the bustling markets of Burrabazar and Khatla in Aizawl, 1kg of pork, the favorite delicacy of tribal Mizos, nowadays costs Rs 170. Last year, pork sold for Rs 80 a kg.

The prices of chicken and beef have also skyrocketed, available at Rs 190 and Rs 200 a kg.

“We simply cannot afford meat at such high prices. It is difficult now to have meat for both meals,” said Sangliana, a teacher in a secondary school in Aizawl.

The huge gap in demand and supply has led to the problem, sources said. Mizoram needs 6,000kg of pork everyday but suppliers can only provide 2,500kg.

The director of animal husbandry and veterinary, L.B. Sailo, said over phone that at present pigs are being imported from adjacent Myanmar in small numbers.

Sailo said the Mizoram government has asked the Centre for Rs 5 crore to build a slaughterhouse and also a pork processing plant in Aizawl to produce bacon and ham.

Meat prices in Mizoram markets are always inflated and these do not reflect the market conditions.

The Mizoram government, in order to control the prices of animal products and agriculture produce, passed a bill last month, the State Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development And Regulation) Bill, 2010.

“Armed with this new regulation, we will be able to control the soaring meat prices,” said Mizoram’s trade and commerce minister Lalrinliana Sailo.

Mizos generally prefer their pork boiled, usually without oil or spices. The dish, popularly called sihneh buhchiar, is a boiled delicacy with potatoes and beans. Sometimes, garlic is used in some households as are vegetable stems and leafy vegetables. Chillies, red or green, are a strict no-no.

[ via Telegraph India ]

Northeast is No Dumping Ground

By Nending Ommo

The Central Government has time and again asserted that Northeast India is an integral part of India and that government accords highest priority to the development of Northeast. In his latest visit to the state, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his confidence that the Northeastern states would emerge as one of the best regions of the country. All said and done, why double standard demeanor and step motherly treatment to the region?

The news hitting the national headlines about transferring of tainted Justice P D Dinakaran to Sikkim High Court is a fiery issue amongst the legal fraternity. For who do not know who he is, Justice Paul Diwakar Dinakaran was Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court till last week.

The 59-year-old Dinakaran was among five judges recommended to the government by the Supreme Court collegiums of judges, which is like a politburo, for a promotion to the Supreme Court last year. Allegations of corruption and the illegal acquisition of land by Dinakaran and his family in Tamil Nadu led to the recommendation to be cancelled.

He was accused of “possessing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income, unlawfully securing five housing board plots in the name of his wife and two daughters, entering into benami transactions, and acquiring and possessing agricultural holdings beyond ceiling limit”.

While the inquiry against him was being carried on and though he was not performing judicial functions but administrative works only since last December, the collegiums asked Dinanakran to go on a long vacation so that another judge Madan B Lokur could take over as Acting Chief Justice since an Acting Chief Justice can only assume charge only if the Chief Justice proceeds on leave. But Dinakaran apparently refused to comply.

In helplessness and in haste the collegiums sent to the Centre for approval of the President to transfer him to Sikkim High Court as its Chief Justice. The move was seen as punishment.

In December, the Rajya Sabha admitted a motion backed by members of different political parties to impeach Dinakaran. If he is found guilty, he can be impeached by the Parliament.

Before transferring him to Sikkim HC, there were rumors that Justice Dinakaran was to be transferred to Gauhati High Court. These rumors sparked protests, with Assam’s lawyer body taking to the streets in opposition to his transfer. This is not the first time a transfer to the Gauhati High Court was met with protest. A similar situation arose when three Judges of the Karnataka High Court, Justices V. Gopala Gowda, N.S. Veerabhadraiah and Chandrashekaraiah, in focus during the Mysore sex scandal popularly known as the ‘Roost’ sex scandal were rumored to be transferred to Gauhati High Court.

Ironically, instead of removing the tainted judge, the Centre is showing it’s helplessness in disciplining the judge by transferring him to Sikkim as if it was Sikkim’s fault in his corruption.

The $ 64,000 dollar question is, is the move justifiable? Punish him, why punish Northeast. Is Northeast the modern Kaalaa Paani that tainted judges should be deported here? Is Northeast seen as a punishment posting?

Here I am not singling out Sikkim nor the legal fraternity per se for the reason that if it can happen to Sikkim and legal system, it can happen to any one of the North eastern states and in any department and it can indeed very much happen to and in Arunachal. We are no dumping grounds, let us be sentient and show our logical resistance for common good.

(The contributor is based at Pune and he can be reached through ommondg@gmail.com)

[ via The Arunachal Times ]

Wildlife Team to Visit Before Uranium Drilling in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 14 : The standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) will send a site inspection team to Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya to ascertain people’s views on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) proposal to conduct its exploratory mission in the park.

The DAE has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to de-notify an area of eight sq km on the Rongcheng plateau along the environs of Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya South Garo Hills for exploration of uranium ore.

“Survey in the recent years has identified possibility of economical uranium mineralization in the Rongcheng plateau,” a DAE official said.

He said the DAE wanted to start the exploration exercise to mainly confirm the uranium deposits to meet the country’s nuclear energy requirement which will be to the tune of 20,000 MW by 2020.

On Tuesday, the board standing committee meeting, chaired by Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi, decided to depute a site inspection team to Balpakram.

“We will be visiting Balpakram later this month to seek the views of the people on the DAE’s proposed exploratory drilling of uranium, and submit a report to the standing committee,” NBWL member Bibhab Talukdar said.

The 220 square km Balpakram National Park, apart from being an ecological hotspot, is also a sacred place for the indigenous Garo community in Meghalaya hills. The park is also called land of the eternal death in Garo mythology, as it is believed that the spirits of the dead reside here.

It is also believed by Hindus that Hanuman, while looking for the herb ’sanjeevani’ with which to cure Laxman, who was injured in the battle against Ravana, found it in Balpakram.

The area is home to rare and endangered species of wild life which include the Holock gibbons, Slow Loris, tigers and elephants.

State Chief Wildlife Warden Sunil Kumar said that the proposed exploration drilling exercise will have no biotic interference in the park.

“Since the drilling exercise is of temporary nature, which will be carried out as a day time activity I don’t think it will disturb the landscape or ecology of the area,” Kumar told IANS.

“Once the exercise is completed. The drilling areas will be restored to ensure that there is biotic interference in Balpakram,” he said.

However, several NGOs, including the powerful Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has opposed the DAE’s proposal to conduct its drilling exercise inside the national park.

“We oppose DAE’s move to explore uranium deposits inside the park and we have also decided to ban outsiders and government officials from entering Balpakram,” GSU president Alex Sangma said.

The drilling exercise, he said would surely affect the fragile biodiversity of Balpakram and would be tantamount to encroaching on the tribal rights.

Meanwhile, the GSU will send a letter to Chief Minister D.D. Lapang to oppose any move to de-notify eight sq km the Rongcheng Plateau to facilitate exploration of uranium.

Earlier, the DAE has discovered about 9.22 million tones of uranium ore deposits in Meghalaya.

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) plans to produce 375,000 tones of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tones of the mineral a day.

It has also proposed to set up a Rs.1,046-crore open-cast uranium mining and processing plant in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district, which has an estimated 9.22 million tones of uranium ore deposits.

Cyclone Kills 68 in Northeast India

New Update: 120 dead in storm in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam

KISHANGUNJ/RAIGUNJ/GUWAHATI: A severe nor'wester packed with a wind speed of 125 kmph left 120 people dead, hundreds injured and a swathe of destruction in seven districts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.

Bihar accounted for the highest number of 77 deaths in five districts, followed by West Bengal with 39 in one district and Assam where four persons perished in one district in the storm that struck at midnight last night.

The fatalities in Bihar occurred in Purnia (33), Araria (33), Katihar (7), Supaul (2) and Kishenganj (2) districts.

In West Bengal, all 39 deaths were reported from in North Dinajpur district while in Assam four died in Dhubri district.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.50 lakh to next of kin of each of the deceased, besides ordering construction of pucca houses under the Indira Awas Yojana and foodgrains.

West Bengal government said Rs 2 lakh would be paid to next of kin of each of those who were killed in North Dinajpur.

Kolkata, Apr 14 :  A cyclone demolished thousands of mud huts and uprooted trees in several villages in eastern India, killing at least 31 people, an official said Wednesday.
Srikumar Mukherjee, the civil defense minister, said the cyclone struck Tuesday night in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal state, snapping telephone and electricity lines in the area.
Mukherjee also said hundreds of people suffered injuries in the region, nearly 315 miles (500 kilometers) northeast of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state.
The worst-hit villages were Hematabad, Raiganj and Kiran Dighi, where police and rescue have recovered 31 bodies, Mukherjee told The Associated Press.
The cyclone demolished nearly 50,000 mud huts, he said.

Nagaland Turns To Music as Militancy Subsides

By Peter Chachei

  Dimapur, Apr 14 : Music forms an inseparable part of a Naga's life. The community just loves music. As peace takes root in the state, musicians and music lovers are optimistic about a better tomorrow.

There is no doubting the fact that Nagas are good musicians and can get a crowd giving. Concerts, rock shows, music competitions and festivals are a regular feature in Nagaland.

Youth here are passionate about music and many opt for it as a profession. No surprise then that the music industry here is a vibrant one. Moa Subong and Aren Subong of Dimapur have created an indigenous musical instrument called the Bamhum.

The duo want to popularize this instrument across the country, and even abroad. Nagas need a chance to showcase it at international level, opines musician Aren Subong.

"Nagas are talented. All you need is to be talented for success, we need to move out and go global and showcase our talent at the international level. The creation of a Naga Music Task Force is a positive sign for the music industry and the government has recognized it. So, we can now get loans and other facilities, and, I am sure one day, we will be popular," Subong said.

Rock bands like Divine Connection the Eximonous Group and Azi Tetseo have already made a name in Nagaland. Nesie Merano, another professional musician, foresees a great future for Naga musicians.

"I think Nagas are blessed with the gift of musicians who had privilege to go abroad and study. Because even when I was staying in Delhi, the number of music graduates in Nagaland are more than that in Delhi or Bombay and I am glad that they are back to serve as an inspiration for others," Merano said.

With music studios being set up and the easy availability of high-end musical instruments, the music industry in Nagaland is the growth path. A drop in militancy and the ongoing peace dialogue between the rebel Naga leadership and the Central Government has also given hope to the musicians.

"We have so much of talent in Nagaland hidden, music industry unless we have peace we cannot let it out. So I think it is a positive step and should come to a point where people realize that enough is enough," said Nevi, a local, about militancy and the talks.

People in the state believe things are getting clearer and look forward to a successful outcome of the talks. "I strongly believe that things are getting transparent and people have opportunity to see and hear what is going on at the talks at any level. I have a strong faith that this time talks will be fruitful," said Tali Angh, a singer from Nagaland.

Musicians in India have found a nationwide platform with the advent of talent hunts on television. Many artists from northeast like Debojit Saha from Silchar, Assam, who won Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 have already proved their ability.

And musicians from Nagaland are now looking for their moment in the sun.

More Autonomy Assured For Northeast India Tribals

Agartala, Apr 14 : The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is keen to give more autonomy to the autonomous district councils in northeast India for the development of the tribals, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy said Tuesday.

“Congress governments, both at the centre and states, are always sincere for the development of tribals and to grant more autonomy to the backward tribals,” he told reporters here.

In the northeast, there are 16 tribal autonomous district councils (ADCs) - constitutional autonomous bodies to facilitate the socio-economic development of tribals, who constitute 26.93 percent of the northeast’s total population of 38,857,769 (2001 census). Of the 16 ADCs, six are in Manipur, three each in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram and one in Tripura.

Narayanasamy, who is also a Congress general secretary, was in Tripura to supervise the party’s organizational activities ahead of the May 3 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

“Late prime minister Indira Gandhi and the Congress had taken bold steps to constitute these ADCs in northeast India,” he said, charging the Left Front government in Tripura with utterly failing to ensure the development of the tribals and to solve their problems.

“The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist)-led Left Front government has been allocating fewer funds for the tribals even though they (tribals) constitute one-third of Tripura’s 3.5 million population,” the minister said.

Criticising the Left Front government, Narayanasamy said that due to its misrule, Tripura has been lagging in many sectors compared to the other northeastern states.

His remarks drew an angry response from the CPI-M. Terming the allegations as “rubbish”, CPI-M Tripura state committee secretary Bijon Dhar asked: “If Indira Gandhi had constitute the ADC in Tripura, why the Congress had boycotted the first ADC elections in 1985?”

“After a long struggle by the CPI-M and its frontal organizations, the ADC had been constituted in 1982, and the Left Front government had over the years strengthened the autonomous body. We want to give more power to ADC,” Dhar, also a CPI-M central committee member, told reporters.

“Congress is responsible for the backwardness of the tribals across the country,” he alleged.

Poor Rain Hits Assam's Ginger Farms

Guwahati, Apr 14 : Depleting rainfall has adversely affected ginger yields. The Ginger Growers Co-Operative Marketing Federation Ltd (GIN-FED) has estimated the total worth of Karbi Anglong ginger in Delhi's Azadpur Mandi (the largest fruit and vegetable market in Asia) to be Rs 20 crore (US$1=Rs 45). 

Raw ginger produced in the district is supplied to different states of India including cities such as Delhi, Siliguri, Kolkata, Punjab and Haryana. From these pockets, ginger in dried and powdered forms reach the Middle East and the West. Sadly, the tribal ginger growers living in the difficult hilly terrain of Karbi Anglong have benefited little from this lucrative export trade. They are also ignorant about the realities of global warming, which is affecting their crop so decisively.

Many of the ginger cultivators here are women and very few among them have gone to school. They have always used their traditional knowledge to grow their ginger and attribute shrinking yields to the fact that there is "less water in the soils of our hills". In fact, water - even for domestic consumption - has become a scarce commodity. These women have to fetch it from earthen wells that have been manually dug in the low-slopes of the hills, since there are some villages that are yet to be covered by the government's safe drinking water scheme.

Jiten Saranfangsa, Managing Director, GIN-FED, explains that even farmers of the Khnobamon area of the neighboring Singhasan hills - the core zone of raw ginger production that produces 80 per cent of the total ginger production in the district and which is considered the finest quality in the country - have reported a decline in production.

Until the establishment of GIN-FED in April 2007, the first ever commodity-based cooperative marketing federation in the Northeast that was set up through the initiative of Dr M. Angamuthu, the then deputy commissioner of the district, poor tribal farmers were exploited both by an oppressive trading customs like the crop-mortgage system, and by individual money-lenders and ginger buyers. Women growers got the worst deal.

Immediately after its establishment, GIN-FED first fixed the minimum rate per kilo at Rs 8 and simultaneously worked towards mass credit linkages for farmers by introducing the Ginger Card or G-Card. GIN-FED also started procuring ginger directly from the growers.

"Prior to the GIN-FED initiative, we were exploited by the middlemen, who gave us only Rs 2 or Rs 3 per kg. This year, while GIN-FED has come forward to procure ginger at a minimum rate per kg of Rs 15, the traders immediately raised their procurement rate to Rs 18," say Rima and Mintu, who are members of GIN-FED Farmers Club.

Furthermore, within a period of three years, the GIN-FED credit linkage scheme has reached out to 7,015 ginger cultivators, 50 per cent of whom are women, says Saranfangsa.

Although growers do organic farming, the practice of shifting cultivation has come in the way of their availing of the organic certificates from agencies since the slash and burn technique produces more carbon in the soil. "We have driven a massive campaign among the farmers to do cultivation in defined areas instead of adopting shifting practices. These efforts have yielded good results," he says.

GIN-FED officials are hopeful that with the organic certification it would only be a matter of time before Karbi Anglong ginger emerges as a distinct brand, along the lines of Assam Tea.

Growers produce mainly two varieties of ginger: Nadia, with high fibre; and Aizol with less or no fibre. Aizol is more in demand and has negotiating value in Delhi and the international market - but growers are often reluctant to cultivate this variety as it is prone to different kinds of disease. Nadia is resistant to bad weather and other adverse conditions. This year the price for Nadia stood at Rs 18 per kg as against Rs 21.50 for Aizawl.

Women play a major role in all the stages of ginger production, from preparing the fields for cultivation to harvesting the crop. They also make sure to plant the Eri (silkworm food plant), chillies and arum-roots, simultaneously with the ginger, to make some extra money for their families.

The effect of the drought that has affected the whole of Assam spells trouble for this year's crop of ginger too. Santosh Sandhan, a senior official of the Department of Agriculture, is not optimistic about the harvest, "Last year's drought means that this year's ginger yield will be affected." 

It takes about ten months for the ginger root to mature and the harvest season is spread out from October to April, depending on climatic zones.

Apart from the "adverse climate", the poor ginger growers have also been victims of an unstable social climate over the years. Unsurprisingly, women are the worst sufferers of the endless conflict in this region between insurgent groups representing different hill tribes. Control of the lucrative ginger trade was, in fact, one of reasons for the violent armed conflict that broke out in 2004 between the Karbi and Kuki insurgent outfits here.

Tribal women growers also speak of other problems: The hill areas do not have a permanent land patta system, and the entire land belongs to the forest department. Ginger growers there use the forest land but are not entitled to land documents or bank loans - barring those facilitated by GIN-FED.

Says Rebika Inghipi, 25, and Rabinson Ingti, 30, of the Kania Ingti village, coming to the root of her problems,  "Even if we have a bumper crop, we cannot claim that ginger gives us our livelihood as the land does not belong to us. We always have to depend on the mercy of the forest department - and this is an uncertain proposition at all times."  

Meghalaya's Fashion Industry Success

Shillong, Apr 14 : The very cozy Meghalaya, is now getting hot with it's flourishing fashion industry. Meghalaya now boasts a host of fashion houses.

Fashion houses selling trendy attire and accessories are mushrooming at Meghalaya. One of the major contributors to the upliftment of the fashion industry is the Fashion Society Shillong, which is a non-profit organization and have been promoting designers, models and weavers of the Northeast for the past 25 years.

"Fashion has developed in the region by leaps and bounds. With the subject taking popularity with the changing fashion technology, and students go for designing not only in Meghalaya but in other parts of the state as well," said Aldous Mawlong, Chairman, Fashion Society Shillong.

This boom has gained more focus on the western and Indian mainland trends. It has also added an additional source of business to the local weaves, local motifs, and some of them have made designs to blend in fusion. All this promises a greater success ahead.

Meghalaya fashion industry is attracting scores of models and designers. One of the models, Dristi Parna Mahanta, said, "Yes, there is a lot of scope of fashion not only for me, but all the models if they take fashion seriously."

Miss North East Pageant has become an annual feature on the region's calendar and also attracts a lot of tourists.