Mizoram to Take Joint Verification of Bru Refugees

Aizawl, Sep 5 : The Mizoram government and representatives of the Bru refugees, lodged in six relief camps in Tripura, have decided to take up joint verification on the proposed resettlement of the refugees once they are repatriated, Bru leaders today said.

Two leaders of the Bru Coordination Committee, Sujimoni Reang and Elvis Chorkhy, were in Aizawl to hold discussions on the issue with top officials of the state home department.

Chorkhy, who is also the president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), said that the refugees wanted to return soon and the Mizoram government asked each family to make up to four choices of the villages where they want to resettle.

The MBDPF had already submitted the lists of the refugees numbering 31,703 to the state government, who have been scrutinising people enrolled in the state voters' lists with the aid of Bru leaders."

We are pursuing necessary arrangements for the early repatriation," Chorkhy said, adding that they were working closely with the state government on the preparations.

Chidambaram, during his Aizawl visit on May 25, had urged the Bru leaders to ensure that all the refugees returned to Mizoram latest by the end of October.

Hundreds of Brus left Mizoram in 1997 and 2009 due to similar incidents when Bru militants murdered two Mizos, a forest guard in October 21, 1997 and a 17-year-old boy near Bungthuam village on November 13, 2009.

India Betting Big on Rs 1,700 cr Project in Northeast

New Delhi Sep 5 : India is betting big on a Rs 1,700 crore project to develop an alternate route through Myanmar to transport goods to the Northeast, as against the current congested passage via Guwahati, to promote relations with Asean countries and develop the northeastern region.

"We are betting big on the ambitious Kaladan multi-modal project. Once complete, bilateral trade would grow manifold. It will also help in overall development of the Northeast region and particularly land-locked states like Mizoram," the Minister of the Department of the Northeast Region, B K Handique, told PTI.

At present, essential commodities such as rice and other consumer durables are brought into the region through 'the chicken neck corridor' via Siliguri. This route is not only long, but is also time consuming and highly congested, a government official said.

In this light, India and Myanmar had in 2007 inked a pact to set up a multi-modal project, which comprises building a port, inland waterway facility and connecting road in the neighboring country. India is funding the mega-project, which aims at bringing goods into the Northeast through Myanmar.

"The Kaladan project envisages connectivity between India ports on the eastern sea board and Sittwe Port in Myanmar and then riverine transport and by road to Mizoram, thus providing an alternate route for northeastern India for the transportation of goods," Handique said.

In addition to the Kaladan project, India is already in a dialogue with Bangladesh to develop a rail link between a bordering town in Meghalaya to Chittagong in Bangladesh, which is a port city. The government is working to develop more routes to ship goods in the Northeast region.

Critics of the project say that the multi-modal project is expensive and "time consuming". But Handique said the project will further India's 'Look East' policy and make the Northeast region the "vanguard" of policy to foster ties with East Asian countries.

Under the multi-modal project, it is envisaged to ship goods from the Kolkata port to Myanmar's Sittwe Port, which is being developed by the Essar Group at a cost of over Rs 311 crore. The sea distance between Kolkata and Sittwe is 539 km.

From the Sittwe Port to Setpyitpyin in Myanmar, an inland waterway route is to be developed along the river Kaladan. From Setpyitpyin to the Myanmar-India border, a 62 km road is to be built to carry the cargo.

Finally, from the international border, national highway NH-54 would be stretched by 100 km to touch Lawngtlai, in Mizoram, for bringing the goods to the most populous part of the region. The entire project could cost about Rs 1,700 crore, a  government official said.

"The overall project is scheduled to be operational by 2014-15," Handique added.

In 2009-10, India and Myanmar had trade worth $1.5 billion, up about 30 per cent from 2008-09.

Mahanta Back as Assam Opposition Leader

Guwahati, Sep 5 : Two-time former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has bounced back as leader of the Opposition 10 years after the party he founded made him an untouchable. Late Saturday night, Mahanta was unanimously chosen leader of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Legislature Party. It turned out to be a

mere formality as predecessor Chandra Mohan Patowary – he is the AGP president – had a month ago decided to quit the post of Opposition leader to “concentrate on strengthening the party”.

Mahanta’s comeback is seen as the AGP’s bid to reinstate him at the helm of party affairs. This, despite a clause that he would not hold a key post in the AGP within three years of the merger of his faction, AGP-Progressive, with the parent party in October 2008.

Mahanta’s election, though, wasn’t without some drama. Of the 24 legislators, former party president Brindaban Goswami and former minister Ramendra Narayan Kalita chose to skip the meeting that Patowary presided over.

Another MLA, Liaquat Ali, left the meeting early citing Ramzan-related reasons, but said he would accept whatever decision the party takes. Mahanta was subsequently named AGP Legislature Party leader.

“Nothing much should be read into the absence of some of our leaders,” said Patowary, adding his focus now would be on ensuring the AGP and its allies do well in the 2011 elections.

Mahanta also rubbished infighting with the party. “The party has reposed faith in me, and it is my duty to deliver,” he told HT.

Mahanta’s return coincides with an uncertainty surrounding the AGP’s electoral alliance with the BJP. A section within the AGP favours going it alone in the polls, as the BJP’s rise in Assam has been at the expense of the former.

A question mark also hangs over the Congress ties with ruling tribal ally Bodoland People’s Front, which as 12 legislators in the 126-member House. The Congress and its associates have 73 MLAs.

Northeast Women in Delhi Protests Against Sexual Assault

By Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, Sep 5 : Several women and students from Manipur gathered in front of the "Wow" restaurant and bar at Delhi's Connaught Place holding placards and festoons strongly condemning the alleged sexual assault of a woman from the Northeast region, by the Manager of the restrobar where she worked.

Besides condemning the sexual assault the students and women from Manipur and other States of Northeast demanded speedy processing of the FIR.

The girl, from Manipur, worked at the said restrobar on and she was physically assaulted by the Manager on the charge that she was watching TV instead of attending to her duty on August 24 night.

The girl on the other hand, fought back and accused the Manager of trying to sexually molest her and approached the police lodged a complaint.

Organizations set up by people and students from the Northeast also took up her case.

NE students protesting at the Connaught Place police station

With restrictions imposed under CrPC 144 in and around Connaught Place, the OC of Connaught Place police station called in the demonstrators for a meeting at the police station and reportedly informed the co-coordinator of the demonstration, Ms Lemyao Shimray to discuss the matter along with the said victim.

When Ms Shimray inquired about the status of the FIR, the police officer replied that the accused, the Manager of the restaurant, has been arrested.

Speaking to the media, Mr Mukesh, who has taken over as Manager of the restrobar said, "The owner was not in town when the incident took place, and so Rohit Sharma (the accused Manager) was here till August 27". On the incident, the new Manager said, "I cannot comment now, the law will take its own course".

He further said "this is the first time that such an incident that has happened in our restrobar and many people from the Northeast are still working here, and this is the proof of the good atmosphere of this restaurant ".

Till the time of filing this report late in the evening the demonstrators were at the police station.

Assam Tea Business Getting Healthier

By Azera Rahman

Tinsukia (Assam), Sep 5 : A green revolution is sweeping Assam, empowering many people for the first time and rejuvenating the state’s economy. Small tea gardens now dot the landscape as more and more people turn their backyards into mini tea plantations.

It does not really matter if you have a small patch of vegetable garden to spare or a big mass of land.

According to the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association (AASTGA), the number of small tea growers has swelled to 65,000 in the last two decades. And it is on the rise.

Assam currently produces around 480 million kg of tea. Around 30 percent of this comes from small tea growers.

Lakhi Gogoi is one of the many who has his own tea garden – Rajashree Tea Estate – in the upper Assam district of Tinsukia.

‘In 2008, my green tea leaf production touched 80,000 kg. In 2009, it rose to 81,000 and this year I am expecting it to touch 100,000. Tea business is good business,’ Gogoi told IANS.

Although Gogoi worked in a well-known tea company earlier, he had no knowledge of the business.

‘I am well accustomed to the know-hows of tea cultivation, spraying pesticides, pruning and plucking. It was a matter of time before I realized that if the big tea companies can grow these plants and reap such big benefits, so can I,’ he said.

‘After years of toying with the idea, I began my venture in 1996 on a small patch of land. Over the years, I scaled up my operations and now grow tea in 50 bighas of land,’ Gogoi said.

Depending on the market conditions, the price of green tea leaves varies between Rs.12 and Rs.18 a kg.

Said an AASTGA official: ‘By growing tea in underutilized uplands, small tea growers have brought in a green revolution in Assam by bringing in huge socio-economic changes.’

‘More than 900,000 people are involved in the small tea growing business in Assam. Almost 250, 000 hectares of land is covered for such plantations. They contribute to 29 percent of the total tea produced by Assam, which is 14 percent of the total tea production of India,’ the official added.

Even farmers in villages, who traditionally grew vegetables, are now opting for tea cultivation. ‘Tea cultivation brings much higher profits and is a steady source of income,’ said D. Bora, a farmer.

In a state where unemployment looms large, youth are the biggest beneficiaries.

Rajiv Sharma, 28, decided to try his hands in tea plantation two years ago. He started small — growing tea bushes in the backyard of his house. And there has been no looking back since.

‘My parents were initially sceptical and said tea production has always been the big companies’ cup of tea. But I was willing to take the risk. I started small and now have the capacity to invest in more land for more plantations,’ Sharma said.

Unlike the big tea companies like McLeod Russel India and Goodricke, small tea growers do not have their own factories. They sell their leaves either to the big firms or smaller private factories which in turn manufacture and market it under different brands.

One of the challenges that the small tea growers are facing is that of maintaining quality.

‘Not all growers are aware of banned chemicals. All they seek for are strong pesticides which will kill the pests – thus making the wrong choice. As a result, this tea does not get a good price at tea auctions,’ Sharma told IANS.

It is for this reason tea leaves of small growers are manufactured and branded differently from the main brands by the big tea companies. Nevertheless, almost 25 percent of the tea manufactured by the tea moghuls are from the small growers.

While the small tea growers are helping to change the socio-economic condition in Assam, they hardly get any help from the state government.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia’s recent announcement of a special scheme to provide financial assistance to the community has, however, given them some hope.

‘If the government is seriously thinking of helping us, it will be great. We are after all an unorganized sector. Let’s just hope it is not another empty promise,’ said Gogoi.

(Azera Rahman can be contacted at azera.p@ians.in)

Arunachal MLAs Want Solution of Border Row with Assam

Itanagar, Sep 5 : Several legislators in Arunachal Pradesh have urged the state government to resolve the decades-old boundary dispute with Assam.

In the Assembly yesterday, Trinamool Congress MLA Kamthok Lowang pressed for expediting the findings of the one-man Boundary Commission, besides urging the state government to take up the issue seriously with its Assam counterparts.

Referring to the recent boundary flare-up at Kamkuh Rusa under Kanubari sub-division in Tirap district, Lowang said that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, both ruled by the same party, can easily settle the dispute through discussions.

He further demanded construction of an inter-district road without touching Assam in order to avoid incidents like that of the recent economic blockade.

Participating in the discussion, Home Minister Tako Dabi said when the status quo was in place, peace needed to be maintained along the disputed boundary areas.

He emphasised on the urgent need to show restraint by both sides till the Boundary Commission comes up with a solution.

Avowing that a strong political will was needed for an early solution to the boundary imbroglio, Dabi suggested a road map for development of the disputed areas along the inter-state border.

Finance Minister Setong Sena, who had led a delegation to hold parleys with the Assam government recently at Dispur, told the House that both the governments have decided to maintain peace and normalcy in the disputed areas.

He further informed that both Assam and Arunachal have decided to maintain status quo till the commission submits its report.

Sharing his sentiment on the vexed issue, Laeta Umbrey of the Trinamool Congress felt that the Centre should intervene into the boundary dispute between the two neigbours.

Kanubari MLA Newlai Tingkhatra also sought government's patronage for road connectivity from Kanubari to Bogapani, and urged early establishment of various departments.

Assam to Appoint Bollywood Personality as Brand Ambassador

Mumbai, Sep 5 : After Gujarat, now it is Assam's turn to look towards Bollywood to sell its brand of tourism.

The northeastern state's tourism authorities have appointed a consultant to head-hunt a Bollywood celebrity to promote its tourism among travel buffs in a big way, a top official said.

"We have recently engaged an acclaimed film director, Jahnu Barua to advice us on the appointment of a brand ambassador to promote tourism in a big way," Assam Government's Principal Secretary, (Finance and Tourism), Himangshu Sekhar Das, told PTI here.

The state is looking at someone from Bollywood to endorse the brand, Das said, adding, efforts were on to rope-in the ambassador by October. Assam's USP is that besides being the gateway to the northeast, it boasts of two UNESCO World Heritage sites -- Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, he said.

Besides, the state also offers a wide range of choices like wildlife and tea and golf tourism. There are also many religious and culture centres, he said.

"We now plan to hit the market in a big way and attract more domestic and international tourists to the state," Das said, adding in the international segment, Germany, the UK and the US were some of the big markets for the state.

Rogue Meghalaya Cop Dismissed

Shillong, Sep 5 : Champion R. Sangma, a Meghalaya police officer-turned-militant who floated the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), has been sacked, an official said Saturday.
“The government has terminated Champion’s service. He is no longer a policeman and is a free-bird now,” Director General of Police S.B. Kakati told IANS.

He said the order terminating services of Champion, a deputy superintendent of police, was notfified by the government about 15 days ago.

Champion floated the GNLA in 2008 and fled to forests.

Kakati said Champion was an indisciplined officer and his dismissal was sought on several instances.

“He (Champion) never attended work and remained absent for months, therefore, his post was never made permanent and his dismissal was sought after a departmental inquiry into his conduct,” the police chief added.

Champion, whose militant organisation is demanding sovereign Garoland in west Meghalaya, has forged a close operational relationship with other northeast-based insurgent groups such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

The GNLA’s foot soldiers are deserters, mostly from the NDFB, the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and the Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF).

According to police, the GNLA is reported to have made extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore from legislators, government officials and businessmen.

Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hills region, is being used as a safe haven by various northeast-based militant groups, including the NSCN-IM, the ULFA and a faction of the NDFB, state police say.