Students in Former NC Hills Seek a New Image For Region With music

Haflong (Assam), Sep 9 : A section of students in the renamed North Cachar Hills district of Assam, intend to take on militancy and corruption through music.

The Dima Halam Deogah or 'The Black Widow' militant outfit created a bad image of the region. Besides, financial scam by N C Hills Autonomous Council in January this year brought disrepute to the district as well.

People of the district are eager to improve the image of their area with music.

Dima Hasao, an autonomous district in Assam, is home to Dimasa, Zenes, Kukis and Hmars tribes.

To mobilize public opinion a 'Rock for Peace', a music concert was organized here recently by local students under the aegis of Halflong Music Society.

Choir groups performed songs on national integration and self-motivation in an effort to end corruption.

"We have faced a lot of conflict in our district, so a lot of youth instead of choosing the right direction are going for power and are choosing the wrong option. So this programme aims to bring the youth together and give them a platform where they can come together," said Mercy Rongpipi, a peace activist.

"Whenever we go outside, people ask us where are we from? When we say we are from Haflong of Dima Hasao, they feel that it's a very dangerous place; only terrorists live there and as if only killings and corruption happens there. So we want to prove them wrong," said Dao, organizer of the Haflong Music Society.

Endless violence and corruption has been a major hurdle in the socio-economic development of the Dima Hasao district in the past.

"When you come from Guwahati, you can see the condition of the roads, houses and people out here. We don't have proper roads, or communication facilities. Our communication is completely in shambles. Not only the road communication, be it the trains or any other. Even the mobile phones that we use, it's not like available outside. The network stays off for more than half of the month. You can basically make out how much difficulty has been here," said DAO, organizer of Haflong Music SocietyMilitancy led to corruption and that in turn affected the growth and development of the region.

Today, people here seek peace and development. By Peter Alex Todd

Flood Red Alert in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Sep 9 : A red alert was sounded in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district today as the Siang river was flowing above the danger level following heavy rains.

The river was flowing one meter above the danger level and could breach embankments, deputy commissioner Onit Panayang told PTI.

"The level of the water was rising since yesterday following downpour for the last couple of days in the higher reaches," he said.

The road connecting Mebo from Pasighat was completely washed away cutting off surface communication, the DC said.

People residing in low-lying areas of Pasighat town were shifted to safer places and D Ering higher secondary school earmarked as a relief camp if needed," he said.

Panyang said he had informed his counterpart in Assam's Dhemaji district about the situation.

The district administration was also constructing embankments as an alternate measure, the DC said.

The Siang river, which originated in China as Tsangpho culminated in Assam as the mighty Brahmaputra.

Larissa Riquelme Poses Nude For Playboy (NSFW)

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme has posed naked on the cover of the September issue of Playboy Brazil. The model made headlines when she posed nude during the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Paraguayan model Koke (L), boyfriend of model Larissa Riquelme, puts his snapshot camera between her breasts, as she poses in front of a poster of the September issue of Playboy Brazil, after a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme 's three-dimensional pictures appear in this month's issue of the Brazilian version of Playboy magazine.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Three-dimensional pictures of a totally naked Riquelme appear in this month's issue of the Brazilian version of Playboy magazine.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Famous Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme is posing with 3D glasses after a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Paraguayan model Koke (L), boyfriend of model Larissa Riquelme, puts his snapshot camera between her breasts, as she poses in front of a poster of the September issue of Playboy Brazil, after a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme during the press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme poses with 3D glasses in front of her picture of the Brazilian version of Playboy magazine after attending a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Larissa Riquelme answers questions to journalists as an image of her posing for the Brazilian version of Playboy magazine appears behind on a screen during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme poses with 3D glasses in front of her picture of the Brazilian version of Playboy magazine after attending a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Larissa Riquelme answers questions to journalists during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010. (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Larissa Riquelme answers questions to journalists during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010. (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Larissa Riquelme answers questions to journalists during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Larissa Riquelme answers questions to journalists during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 8, 2010.  (AFP/Mauricio Lima)

Mizo CM Seeks World Bank Assistance

Aizawl, Sep 9 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who is currently in Washington DC, has sought the assistance of the World Bank to develop healthcare and human resources in the North-eastern state.

According to an official sources here today, Mr Thanhawla met one of the vice-presidents of the World Bank and the Executive Director representing India in the global financial bank yesterday to explore the possibility of assistance in healthcare and human resources sectors.

The Chief Minister suggested upgradation of healthcare services delivery system in the state so that one of the minimum needs of the people could be adequately met.

This would include upgradation of medical facilities at primary, district and state-level with better in-house services, diagnostic and clinical facilities and specialised medical services in few important disciplines.

He also sought for IT-enabled networking system to facilitate distance consultation with experts and specialists by people of remote areas.

He also raised the need for a state-of-art medical college and a comprehensive and well-planned programme for control of cancer and drug abuses in the state.

The source said the Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had formulated a comprehensive scheme for strengthening of transmission and distribution system in NE Region and Sikkim for obtaining World Bank assistance.

Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, will submit the scheme soon for the consideration of the World Bank.

The Mizoram component of the scheme envisaged an estimated expenditure of Rs 714 crore and involved construction and upgradation of transmission lines and setting up of required sub-stations in view of the fact that weak transmission system had loaded to very high transmission and distribution loss, the sources added.

The Chief Minister requested the World Bank to clear the scheme expeditiously for funding after receiving it from the Indian government.

64% of DoNER Projects in Mizoram Completed

Aizawl, Sep 9 : About 64 per cent of total 88 DoNER projects in Mizoram have been completed so far, Chief Secretary Vanhela Pachuau said here today.

After a review meeting on Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) under DoNER Ministry, the chief secretary informed that out of 88 projects costing Rs 691.02 crores 56 costing Rs 308.42 crores have been completed. DoNER has released Rs 252.57 crores for another 32 projects out of which Rs 211.85 crores have been utilised by the various implementing departments leaving a balance of Rs 40.72 crores, he said.

About 21 ongoing projects involving Rs 277.88 crores were being delayed due to various reasons such as delay in issue of work order and delay in implementation, submission of progress report and utilisation certificate, official sources said.

The chief secretary decided that all the defaulting departments and agencies should submit progress report certificates for utilisation of fund and other documents required for release of further installments.

In addition to these projects, there are 51 projects already retained by DoNER involving Rs 439.87 crores. The concerned departments were instructed to pursue these projects to expedite sanction so that more funds may be available during the current year itself.

During the 2009-2010 fiscal, DoNER had released Rs 31.58 crores for 11 projects. ''In order to sort out various problems, the meeting decided to form a standing committee to examine the various problems at various levels so that more projects may be sanctioned during the current year,'' the sources added.

Prez to Address Mizo Varsity's Convocation

Aizawl, Sep 9 : The Mizoram University (MZU) is gearing up to accord a red carpet welcome to President Pratibha Patil who is scheduled to address the university's sixth convocation on September 24.

The President will grace the convocation at the varsity's multipurpose hall.

Mizoram Governor and MZU chief rector MM Lakhera and Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla would also attend the programme, MZU sources said today.

The university is constructing three helipads within the campus for the visit of the President.

''As the protocol, we are constructing three helipads, 90 sq ft each, near the School of Physical Sciences, and these will be completed soon,'' MZU registrar Benjamina said at a press conference.

Awardees of the convocation included 27 gold medalists, 15 book prize winners, five Ph D awardees and four M Phil awardees, Ms Benjamina said.

The President is expected to arrive in Aizawl on September 23.

She will spend the night at Raj Bhavan.

20 Mizoram Bru Militants Surrender With Arms in Tripura

Agartala, Sep 9 : Twenty separatist militants of the Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) outfit surrendered to the para-military Assam Rifles, police said here Thursday.

Formed in 2003, the BLFM, a separatist outfit of minority Reang tribals locally called Bru, was active in Mizoram and southern Assam, neighboring northern Tripura.

'The militants led by their commandant Apit Branto surrendered to Assam Rifles' 14-battalion commandant Ratnakar Trivedi at a simple ceremony early Thursday and deposited some firearms,' a police spokesman told reporters.

'This surrender would go a long way to restore peace and normalcy in south Assam and Mizoram, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar,' Assam Rifles officials said at the ceremony.

In April 2005, the Mizoram government and the militant Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) had signed an agreement after 13 rounds of talks to solve the decade-old ethnic crisis, leading to the surrender of about 1,040 militants of the BNLF and BLFM. But some BLFM and BNLF militants did not surrender at that time and continued their violent activities.

Both the rebel outfits have been fighting for setting up an autonomous council for the Reang tribals, a primitive tribe among the tribals in northeast India.

Differently-Abled at Arunachal Orphanage Try to Make a Mark

By Utpal Boruah

Itanagar, Sept 9 : They are physically handicapped, but Mani Rapgyal, Thupten Tsering and others like them at the orphanage run by Padmashree awardee Lama Thupten Phuntsok in Arunachal Pradesh''s Tawang district are not deterred from doing something in life.

Mani Rapgyal, who had to set aside his dream of pursuing business after an electric shock forced doctors to amputate his hands, is now a teacher by profession.

Thupten Tsering (19) and Tenzing Dorjee (20), the other inmates of the orphanage ''Manjushree Vidyapith'', are also handicapped but both of them are determined to shine in the world of art.

"For these children of a lesser god, being without their hands is not a hindrance as long as toes are in place," a beaming Phuntsok said.

There are 173 inmates in his orphanage 23 of whom, all physically handicapped, are very gifted.

Thupten Tsering, presently studying in Class XI, has mastered the art of playing a modern keyboard with the stumps of his amputated hands.

Similarly, Tenzing Dorjee has learnt to draw colourful paintings with his toes. .