Mizo Student Body Doubts no of Bru Refugees in Tripura

Aizawl, Aug 22 : An influential Mizoram student body today expressed doubt over the number of Bru refugees in six relief camps in North Tripura who fled the state and said it has to be reassessed.The figure given by the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), which made a survey of Bru refugees, could not be accepted, a statement issued by the student federation, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) said.

According to MBDPF President Elvis Chorkhy, there were 31,703 Bru refugees belonging to 5,448 families in six relief camps in Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura district as per a re-survey conducted by the Bru body.

The refugees migrated to Tripura in 1997 and in 2009, due to communal tension created by killing of of two Mizos by Bru militants.In the population survey conducted by the MBDPF during June 15 to July 28, the total figure was 27,261 people belonging to 5,421 families but it had to be conducted again as many people complained that they were not included in the head count.

The difference was that in the final compilation after the resurvey the number of Bru refugees increased by 6,442 and the number of families also increased by 476.The figure, after the re-survey, became more doubtful as the Tripura state government placed the number of Bru refugees at over 40,000, the MZP said.

"The MZP stood firm on the earlier consensus reached in a meeting of NGOs and political parties that the state voter's list of 1995 should be based to determine the bona fide residents of Mizoram amongst the Bru refugees," the statement added.

The population survey conducted by the MBDPF, following instructions from the Mizoram government, was seen as the first step for repatriation of the Bru refugees from Tripura as Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, while visiting Aizawl on May 25 urged Bru leaders to ensure that all the refugees returned before the end of October.

Meanwhile, the state government said that the final compilation of the Bru refugees would be scrutinized by officials and that those included in the Mizoram voters' lists would be repatriated in the first phase.

ONGC Project to Help End Northeast’s Power Crisis

Agartala, Aug 22 : The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) 726-MW project coming up in Tripura will help to resolve the power crisis in the electricity-starved northeastern region by 2012, ONGC officials said Saturday.

India’s hydrocarbons exploration major has been setting up the gas-based power project — its biggest so far — in south Tripura’s Palatana, about 65 km south of capotal city Agartala. The plant is expected to be operational by March 2012.

‘The forthcoming power project would be the single largest investment of Rs.9,000 crore ever invested in the northeastern region of India,’ ONGC chairman and managing director R.S. Sharma told reporters here.

‘With the commissioning of the giant power project, the electricity requirement of the seven northeastern states would largely be met up by 2012,’ he said.

Sharma said that the Bangladesh government has agreed to allow India to use its waterways to transport the turbines and heavy machines for the power project, for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone in October 2005.

He said that India would develop a jetty in the Ashuganj river port in Meghna river in eastern Bangladesh, 31 km from Agartala and expand the road, if necessary, across the border, to ferry the equipment for the project.

‘ONGC intends to ship the power generation equipment from the Haldia port in West Bengal to southern Tripura via Bangladesh in order to save considerable transportation time,’ a senior ONGC official said.

He said dispatching the heavy equipments by surface within India (through the mountainous northeastern states) is extremely difficult.

‘A consortium comprising the US-based General Electric (GE) and India’s state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has been awarded contract to supply the all-important gas turbines for the thermal power project,’ Sharma said.

The first unit of the project with a generation capacity of 363 MW is expected to be operational by December next year.

The power plant is being developed by the ONGC Tripura Power Co (OTPC), a new company formed for commissioning the project.

ONGC, also a public sector undertaking, has 50 percent equity stake in OTPC. The balance is held by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Service (IL&FS) and the Tripura government.

According to ONGC officials, the state-run Power Grid Corp of India Ltd (PGCIL), OTPC and the northeastern states would set up a 660-km transmission line at the cost of Rs.1,771 crore to hook Palatana with the national grid at Bongaigaon in western Assam.

The much expected commissioning of the power project, a co-generation waste heat recovery power plant and ONGC’s first major commercial project, has been delayed due to difficulties in transporting heavy turbines and machineries to south Tripura.

Isolated Tribal Villages Facing Starvation in Manipur

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal, Aug 22 : Three tribal villages in Manipur's Ukhrul district are facing starvation due to their being cut off from other parts of the State since the July 29 landslip between Chingai and Quingai.

The situation worsened after another landslip on August 15.

In addition, the washing away by a flash flood of the wooden bridge over the Rondei river connecting these villages with the rest of the district has greatly impeded transportation.

Tribals told The Hindu that some of them have to walk over 20 km. to fetch life-saving drugs and other consumer items. Transport of people to hospitals in Imphal has been impeded. Although villagers had informed the District Collector and other officials, no relief has been forthcoming.

An official who assessed the damage reportedly said that over Rs. 1. crore would be needed to rebuild the bridge.

Rosou Rhi Awarded as ‘Best Designer’

Rousou Rhi (middle) with models wearing his designs.

With Fashion becoming a booming industry, the painstaking effort of zenith designers has lifted the Nagaland's fashion trend to a higher level. Another milestone, young Fashion Designer Rosou Rhi representing Nagaland returns home with hard earned pride.

At the fashion event with theme “Magical Thread of North East” held Shillong and Kolkata, from July 28 till August 7, fashion designer Rosou Rhi was credited the title ''Best Designer’.

Secondly, bonus the title 'Favorite Designer’ was also awarded to Rosou Rhi, by Miss Jessy Nanvat, the Stall Manager from Sikkim State.

Rhi''s design showcases comprised Naga Ethnic Design and Traditional Attires of various tribes of Nagaland under the theme “Super Ethos”. While at the event the same time, Nagaland Stall was also recognized as the ‘Best Stall’ led by its manager Ayangla Aier. Altogether, eight (8) states took part in the event.

Rosou Rhi, a Chakhesang Naga who hails from Zhavame Village is today recognized and lately labeled the most sensational Fashion designer in Nagaland. The new Fashion

Icon has pulled off tremendous achievements during the precedent years and has since been always moving ahead. Meanwhile Rhi has thanked the organizing committee Fashion Society Shillong (FSS) for smooth professional conduct of the programme and also acknowledged Robertson Lamare, Class -1 Contractor, Meghalaya, for upholding him in his expedition.

The event was sponsored by Ministry of Textiles Government of India in collaboration with the Directorate of Sericulture and Weaving, Government of Meghalaya. Next extravaganza continuing event will showcase Rhi’s exclusive collections at Mumbai to be held September 2010. Private co-sponsor include Vire, Managing Director-Nukhu Innovisions.

via Nagaland Post

Taboo Tourism to Cast Spell on World Outside

By Naresh Mitra

In the days of yore in Mayong, a sleepy little village in Assam, there lived a sorcerer by the name of Chura Bez. Word of his magical powers had spread far and wide, and with good reason. Chura Bez was known to be able to disappear into thin air just by muttering the ‘Luki Mantra’ .

“I was a young girl then, but my grandfather’s stupendous feats are fresh in my mind’s eye. Now you see him, now you don’t — we would rub our eyes in disbelief as he suddenly became invisible,” says his 75-year-old granddaughter, Nareswari Devi.

Although he lived a long time ago, the village is still abuzz with lores of his wondrous feats.

The invisibility trick displayed the lesser of Chura Bez’s powers. He had knowledge of the potent ‘Baagh Bandha Mantra’ by invoking which he could sedate an angry tiger. Nareshwari is brighteyed with excitement as she narrates how her grandfather tranquilised a big, ferocious cat in front of a huge crowd at Teteliguri, a cluster of houses in Mayong, in the 1960s. “When his mantra started working on the animal, it simply lay down on the ground like a tame cat,” she says.

Chances are you have never even heard of Mayong and its magicians. But the village, which is situated just 50 kilometres from Guwahati, is famous for its sorcery and exorcism, inspiring both awe and curiosity in the outside world. Legends, anecdotal accounts and magical texts abound in its history . Its very name comes from the word ‘maya’ and it is purported to be the ‘land of illusion’ .

But those who move in enchanted circles are well aware of Mayong and its power. The country’s first family of magicians, the Sorcars, has a deeprooted connection with the mysterious hamlet. Sorcar senior, the ‘Jadusamrat’ or ‘emperor of magicians’ as he was known, lived here for a while and studied magic.

Sorcar junior vouches for the credibility of the claim. “My father stayed with magicians in Mayong and learnt a lot from them. I visited Mayong several times in the 1960s. The village is a rich repository of magical practices and the practitioners here are experts in the use of applied psychology and the application of various chemical substances in the art. I’m indebted to them for teaching me many aspects of magic I did not know,” says Sorcar Junior.

However, present-day Mayong is just a foggy reflection of its celebrated past. Cauldrons bubbling with mysterious potions and magicians muttering hexes and charms have been replaced by magicless realism of ‘muggles’ and by symbols of progress.

The village boasts of a high school, a college, a healthcentre and a police station. The residents are predominantly dependent on agriculture and the use of diesel-powered water pumps is common, even though stories from the past abound on how magic was used to summon rain during times of drought.

But the people of Mayong do not want to give up their enchanted heritage. Almost every household takes great pride in possessing manuscripts of mantras and treatises on sorcery and exorcism. There are many magic practitioners who use the art to cure common ailments.

And residents, especially youth, have realised that tourism could be the best way to keep their inheritance alive.

Utpal Nath, an economics teacher and a researcher in folk medicines at the village college, elaborates on how the villagers plan to attract tourists. “These days, many people are turning to alternative medicines and faith-healing . Our practitioners have been doing this for generations, and we can use this as our USP to woo tourists. We also plan to showcase scriptures on sorcery and rituals associated with magic,” he explains.

Mayong Village Museum and Research Centre (MVMRC), a local body engaged in preserving its heritage, has submitted a tourism plan to the Assam government. The state tourism minister, Rockybul Hussain, said that the government has already submitted a project to the Centre about it. “Preservation and promotion of sorcery practices is a part of our tourism promotion plan for Mayong. We plan to showcase the magical heritage of the village to attract tourists,” he says.

MVMRC is also engaged in compilation of various folk medicines and collection of artifacts used in sorcery. Last year, the organisation documented the sorcery performances of 50 practitioners in the village. Eighty-year old Upasing Nath is one such expert whose exorcism rituals and traditional healing methods were recorded. Although he cannot perform awe-inspiring feats like Chura Bez, he uses his magical powers to cure common ailments. “To promote tourism in Mayong, we can put up magic shows and offer treatments for various ailments through our traditional folk medicine ,” he says.

The Mayong hills nestle the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary which has in the world’s highest density of one-horned rhinos. It draws nearly 50,000 visitors every year. MVMRC plans to set up a museum near the sanctuary along with a folk medicine centre. “Today, most of the tourists visit Mayong for Pobitora. But we want to promote Mayong for itself. If we add some magic to its rich past and heritage, it will throw open a brand new tourism opportunity in the area,” says Nath, who is also the secretary of MVMRC.

The king of Mayong, Taruni Singha, who was coronated in 2005 as a successor to his father Ghanakanta Singha, feels that the involvement of the youth could be a potent factor in reviving the occult tradition of Mayong. “There has to be active involvement from the young people if we are to revive our ancient magical practices and showcase it to the outside world,” says Singha. Kishore Bhattacharjee, a folklorist at Gauhati University, observed that Mayong has always drawn attention for its tradition of witchcraft, “The attention the village has got for its magical practices has inspired local inhabitants to reposition it as a place of magic and traditional healing.”

With the people’s efforts and a sprinkling of magic, this dream should soon become a reality.

Aizawl Plans For 2 Wheeler Taxis

Aizawl, Aug 21 : The Mizoram government is planning to introduce two-wheeler taxis in the state capital Aizawl.

State transport department official P Lalthlengliana told the press here today that the introduction of two-wheeler taxis would generate employment as well as help ease the problem of traffic jams during peak hours.

''The two-wheeler taxis would enable commuters to reach their workplaces on time. At the same time, it would generate employment for youths,'' he said.

The official also informed that with the amendment to the Mizoram Motor Vehicles Rules 1995, recently approved by the state Cabinet, it would no longer be possible for one to own a vehicle without a garage.

''From August 30, it will be mandatory for new vehicle owners in Mizoram to have a garage (owned or hired), without which no vehicle will be registered,'' he informed the press.

Being a hilly terrain, majority of houses in Aizawl are accessible only by stairways, compelling many residents to park their vehicles on the roadside nearest to their homes. Roadside parking has made the already narrow roads narrower.

The transport official said steps are being taken to change the parking rules under which after December 15, 2010, vehicle owners would not be allowed to park their vehicles on roads, but in garages either self-owned or hired.

Power of Community Media: Remote Village Gets Healthcare

By Stella Paul

An IndiaUnheard video by Daniel Mate, our correspondent from Chandel district of Manipur has inspired a local organization Burning Voices to donate a carload of lifesaving medicine for villagers who were in dire need of healthcare in a remote village.

The story comes at a time when community and citizens media is just starting to gain ground in countries where mainstream media is widely seen as obsessed with TRP ratings and advertisement revenues.  But when met with these facts, the media players hit back with 'will such media work?'

Well this story presents the proof that it does.

On 24th May this year, IndiaUnehard published Daniel Mate’s video Village Lacks Healthcare. The video report showed the plight of a tribal village called Bongli, 10km from Tengoupal, Manipur which had no access to healthcare. The lack of medicine and proper healthcare was forcing people to using herbs and faith healing to take care of their sick and dying. The only remaining option is to travel 10 km to Tengoupal, where if they are lucky the Public Health Centre would be open. If it is open they may not have adequate staff to attend their needs. Despite complaints have been made, the government has taken no action so far to improve the situation for these people.

Once this story was shown on IndiaUnheard website, Daniel was contacted by Burning Voices - an organization from Manipur which provided him with the medicine needed for the village. Daniel, with the help of Kuki Student Organization and a doctor distributed these medicines among the villagers of Bongli as well as some other neighbouring villages that needed it.

The video, thus  has created 3-fold impacts.

1. It made possible for over 500 people access healthcare in more than one village which had no hospital, no medicine whatsoever.

2. The video inspired locals take action to find solution to local problems

3. The video has, since also encouraged Daniel to bring our more unheard community stories with the global audience through his videos.

The sceptics of people-powered media can take a re-look at their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, community reporters like Daniel should take a bow.

50,000 Displaced in Assam Floods

Guwahati, Aug 21 : Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods in Assam Saturday, displacing at least 50,000 people in the state’s Lakhimpur district, officials said. No casualties have been reported.

A government spokesperson said floodwaters of Singora river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river, entered at least 40 villages forcing residents to take shelter on raised platforms and railway tracks.

“There has been a breach of about 20 to 30 metres in two embankments and that led to floodwaters entering human settlements,” a district official said.

“So far, there are no reports of casualties in the floods. Measures are being taken to plug the breaches in the mud embankments.

“We have sounded maximum alert and have already kept disaster management teams on standby. We are also taking stock of essentials and other commodities in the district,” the official added.

Locals blamed the authorities for swindling central funds for strengthening embankments.

“Huge amount of money sanctioned by the central government for construction and repair works of embankments were pocketed by contractors and officials and the result is that one big push breaches the mud dykes,” said Dharanidhar Das, a local resident.

The 2,906-km-long Brahmaputra is one of Asia’s largest rivers and traverses its first stretch of 1,625 km in China’s Tibet region, the next 918 km in India and the remaining 363 km through neighbouring Bangladesh before flowing into the Bay of Bengal.