13 Years Later 30,000 Head For Home in Mizoram

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Away from the national spotlight, over 30,000 Bru tribals who have been staying in temporary camps in Kanchanpur in Tripura for 13 long years have finally begun their journey back home.

Uprooted from their homes due to a communal riot, they are returning to the three Mizoram districts they belong to in batches. The first batch of 53 families returned on November 3 and has started settling down while the second batch of 48 families left on Saturday.

“It is definitely a very significant thing happening to a small community that once led a happy, colourful life. It may not seem very striking to people outside Mizoram, Tripura or for that matter outside the Northeast. But that our people are heading back to where they originally belong is itself a positive thing,” said Elvis Chorkhey, general secretary of the Bru Coordination Committee (BCC), the apex body of the Bru community in Mizoram.

The displaced people hail from Mamit, Lunglei and Kolasib in Mizoram. They had to take refuge in the adjoining Kanchanpur sub-division of north Tripura in the backdrop of major ethnic violence between them and the Mizos in 1997 which claimed about 10 lives and witnessed large-scale arson. The Brus (also known as Reangs) are demanding, among other things, an autonomous council within Mizoram as the Chakma, Lai and Mara tribes already have, and recognition of their language.

While efforts to shift them back to Mizoram have continued, it is only in the past two years that a proper repatriation and rehabilitation package was finally worked out and agreed upon by the community, with the Mizoram government also agreeing to get them back.

Still, the process was stuck till Union Home Minister P Chidambaram visited the state in May this year.

While 231 displaced Bru families consisting of 1,115 persons returned to Mizoram between May 21 and 26 this year immediately after Chidambaram’s visit, the process again got stuck when the refugees suddenly raised a new demand that they be sent back to one district and not to the three where they originally came from.

“We are expecting to wind up the entire process of bringing back the 5,000-odd families in a phased manner hopefully by Christmas, or at the most by February next year,” David H Lalthanliana, officer on special duty in the Mizoram Home Department, told The Indian Express over the telephone.

Under the package that has been worked out, each family would be provided Rs 80,000, including cost of housing material for building new homes as well as a cash component. The package also includes free ration for one year and establishment of schools, hospitals and other amenities for the community. This apart, a special development package has also been promised once all the people have returned.

A section of leaders from within the refugees has also demanded that the Mizoram government allot them at least two Assembly constituencies. However, the Mizoram government has made it clear that it would only implement in letter and spirit the guidelines laid down by the Union government.

A group of leaders like Bruno Msha and A Sawibung, who are opposed to the repatriation process, further wants a four-cornered negotiation involving the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF), the Centre and the state governments of Mizoram and Tripura, so that a memorandum of understanding could be signed incorporating a series of their demands.

On Wednesday, those opposed to the repatriation put up a road blockade, preventing Mizoram officials from going to Kanchanpur to move out the second batch. On Friday, clashes broke out between the pro- and anti-repatriation leaders in Kanchanpur when the latter tried to prevent a joint team of Mizoram and Tripura officials on their way to identify the families who were willing to be part of the second batch.

The Centre has been providing the refugees 600 grams of rice per day for each adult and 300 grams for each minor. There is also a “cash allowance”, of Rs 5 and Rs 2.50 per day, respectively. “But the lack of healthcare support and educational facilities and the dangerously poor hygienic conditions have already cost the families dear,” said Chorkhey.

At least 12,000 of the refugees living in camps in Narsingpara and Ashapara in Kanchanpur till recently were children, with both infant mortality and maternal mortality being high. Hoping their lives would finally change, a majority of the people say they want to get back as early as possible. “Thirteen years is too long a time to spend in refugee camps. Life there can never be normal under any circumstances,” added Chorkhey.

From Hit Jobs to IT Posts, Former Manipur Militants Come a Long Way

By P. Vaidyanathan Iyer

It was a first of its kind mass programme to rehabilitate surrendered militants, and it involved not just giving them technical or vocational skills for jobs but also imparting them behavioural and soft skills to help them adjust in states away from home — taking some to even positions in reputed companies.

A group of 128 youths belonging to the Kangleipak Communist Party (Lallumba faction) in Manipur undertook the 90-day behavioural, spiritual and technical training programme at Triveni, an ashram in Markal village near Pune, that began on August 16. Several are now placed with reputed companies or are in the process of being recruited.

Five, who got training in computers, have been hired by Tata group company Syntel. Another 33, who took mobile repairing as their subject during training, have been absorbed by Ever Electronics, an LG vendor. LG itself, besides Hitachi and Kirloskar, has evinced interest in recruiting some others.

The programme was a Union Ministry of Home Affairs initiative to successfully absorb the 128 youths in mainstream society. Several of those who surrendered were leaders of the group, who decided to give up arms disillusioned by the violence.

With Union Home Minister P Chidambaram taking personal interest in making the rehabilitation programme work, the National Skills Development Corporation, a public-private partnership under the Finance Ministry, took up the responsibility of working out the logistics. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) funded the programme, amounting to Rs 300 per day per militant.

Encouraged by its success, the ministry now plans to have more surrendered militants undergo similar programmes. It also hopes that others will be encouraged by the programme’s success to give up the path of violence.

Among the KCP militants who underwent the programme were 12 hardened members, comprising its leadership and all in their late 20s or early 30s. Rest of the cadres were mostly in their teens or early 20s. The 128 had surrendered in March following tripartite talks between the Centre, state and the KCP (Lallumba faction). “The terms of surrender included a compensation of about Rs 3 lakh per person,” Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North East), MHA, told The Indian Express. Besides, they were promised a stipend during the training period.

It wasn’t quite easy to get the youths on board even after their formal surrender. The first time, after all the arrangements had been made to take them for training by train, the group suddenly refused to board. Finally, the group, which included spouses of four militants and their three infants, were handed over to the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-founded International Association for Human Values (IAHV) by the MHA on August 6.

Escorted by security forces, they were brought from Manipur to Dimapur, the nearest railway station, in Nagaland.

The spiritual and behavioral aspects of the training were provided by the IAHV and the vocational training in trades such as information and computer technology, electrical, and AC, refrigeration and mobile repairing, by the Kohinoor Technical Training Institute. Trainers at the ashram had to also deal with addiction.

The IAHV later got them to Guwahati, where they were lodged for about three days. On the insistence of the leaders, exclusive coaches were booked at much higher costs for the 128 surrendered militants to take them to Mumbai, and then on by chartered buses to Pune.

Despite all this, the authorities ran into a problem. Many of the youths had undertaken such long train and bus travel for the first time in their lives, and fell sick.

Once the youths had settled in though, everything else fell into place. Sources said that when they were in the Army camp, they would escape in spite of the best security cover. Here, they stayed on.

First Community Radio Service of Northeast Launched

Guwahati, Nov 22 : Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday launched the first community radio service of the North East ‘Jnan Taranga’ under the aegis of Krishnakanta Handique State Open University (KKHSOU) at a function held at NEDFI House here, said a press release.

Lauding the initiative of KKHSOU for starting the first radio community service in the region, Gogoi said that it would go a long way in educating the students of the State and the region in different disciplines.

The Chief Minister said though there has been a spurt in the growth of TV channels and Internet, radio still continues to remain a powerful medium of communication. He said his Government would provide necessary assistance to set up more radio stations across the State.

He suggested to the authorities of KKHSOU to start airing stories on the successful entrepreneurs of the State and the region to motivate and inspire the upcoming generation.

Underscoring the need for imparting education in tune with the times, Gogoi asked the authorities of KKHSOU to introduce new subjects to attract more and more students. “Knowledge is power and our biggest asset. A knowledge-based society can contribute more than anything else towards the rapid progress and development of a society,” he said adding that his Government has given added thrust to education in the last nine years.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor of KKHSOU, Prof Shrinath Baruah said that with the launch of the first community radio service, the university is now looking forward to starting such service in Lakhimpur Girls’ College and Garhgaon College. The Ministry of I&B has accorded necessary approval to start such service in the two colleges.

Baruah further said the university plans to set up 30 study centres in educational institutions and would air programmes from the headquarters through BSNL line on lease. “A web portal is also on the anvil in 2011. It will enable students to download learning materials both print and visual,” he added.

Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University, Okhil Kr. Medhi, Director, Distance Education, RR Rosiah and former deputy director, Prachar Bharati, RN Chakraborty also spoke on the occasion.

‘Jnan Taranga’ which was aired on an experimental basis on January 28, 2009 on 90.4 FM, will be available on the same frequency daily from 5 pm to 7 pm, morning 6 to 8 and in the afternoon from 12 to 2.

Sikkim Music Festival

Iranian and Canadian music bands perform at Music festival

Gangtok, Nov 22 : Two international music bands, from Iran and Canada, performed at the Royal Challenge Sikkim Music Festival held in Gangtok this evening.

Arsames, the Iranian band which describes its music as "ancient death metal" had Ali Madarshahi on vocals, Morteza Shahrami on guitars, Ahmad Tokalloualso on guitars, Rouzbeh Zourchang on bass and Saeed Shariat on drums.

"The Sikkim Music Festival 2010 is the first such festival being held in this part of the world, especially in North East India and we did not want to miss the opportunity to perform in such a music fest for the first time," the band members said while interacting with media-persons.

"Iranian people are quite unknown to the world, so we want to let the people and the world to know about our civilization. Above all, our music is traditional and we want the world to know us through our music," they added.

Avatara, the Canadian band with a huge fan base in India, also performed at the event.

Manipur Scribes Cease Work, Papers Off Stands

Imphal, Nov 22 : Newspapers didn't hit stands in Manipur on Sunday as scribes here went on a cease work protesting against militant threats.

In last few years, there have been unexplained killings of about 10 journalists, including editors, in Manipur.

Though none of the culprits have been brought to book by law-enforcing agencies, CBI is currently investigating the killing of K Rishikanta, a young sub-editor of an English daily in 2008.

Following a meeting convened on Sunday, an office-bearer of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union said the journalists will resume work from Monday.

AMWJU, including all media units of the state, organized a rally in Imphal following similar threats to media houses last month.

Mass Movements Must Fight Corporates: Arundhati Roy

By Satyasundar Barik

“They are eyeing rich natural resources of tribal heartlands”

Writer-activist Arundhati Roy is escorted by security personnel as ABVP activists stage a black flag protest against her remarks on Kashmir, during her visit to Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Bhubaneshwar, Nov 22 : Writer Arundhati Roy, who faced an angry protest by Sangh Parivar activists here on Sunday, urged those involved in mass movements to oppose corporates which she said were eyeing the rich natural resources of tribal heartlands.

Ms. Roy came here to attend a meeting on ‘Cultural resistance to war on people in corporate interest.'

As soon as she reached the venue, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists waved black flags to protest her recent remarks on Kashmir, terming them anti-national.

They also started shouting that she should leave the venue immediately. Soon a scuffle broke out. The organisers chased away the agitators. The police took at least 10 of them into custody.

Unperturbed, Ms. Roy addressed hundreds of tribal activists from different parts of Orissa. “The number of poor people living in India will be more than that of the total poor in 26 African countries. The condition of poverty in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal is critical. All the attention is, however, trained on these States, as these poor are raising their voice against land acquisition attempts by big corporates of the world,” she said.

She said the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, prohibited land acquisition in tribal areas. “But now, people in power say it is imperative to acquire land from tribals for development. Those who frame policies are the violators.”

“Earlier people's movements had sprouted to get back excess land lying with zamindars. But the nature of the struggle has undergone a change. Now it is a fight not to let the land — whatever is left with the tribal population — be snatched by the corporate-backed government,” she said.

Ms. Roy alleged that leaders thought development was possible only when 80 per cent of the population started living in urban areas, and they wanted to vacate villages in the interest of corporates. “They are inviting the military to take over the affairs. Our States are becoming military States. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Lalgarh have already been militarised.”

Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao and Oriya writer Bibhuti Patnaik spoke.

Large Dams Pose Threat to Brahmaputra Dolphins

Guwahati, Nov 22 : Construction of large dams on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, being opposed by many quarters, is also posing a serious threat to river Dolphins which are on the verge of extinction.

Noted dolphin expert Dr Abdul Wakid said the Brahmaputra river system in Assam is considered as one of the last refuges of the species unimpeded by dams in its sea-bound flow compared to the Ganga.

"But the situation will change once the dams come up on the river's tributaries and forerunners as proposed in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya," Wakid, also the head of Aaranyak's Gangetic Dolphin Research and Conservation Programme, said.

In a recent survey conducted in the entire Brahmaputra river system, a team, led by Wakid, recorded the existence of 264 dolphins. Of them, 212 dolphins are in the Brahmaputra mainstream, 29 dolphins in Kulsi river and 23 in Subansiri river.

Among the 168 dams proposed to be built in the Northeast, the Lower Siang, Dibang, Lower Demwe, Lower Subansiri and Kulsi dams have been identified as the most threatening dams for the survival of Brahmaputra dolphins, Wakid pointed out.

Construction of dams causes major changes in flow regime, sediment load and water quality of running water besides degrading the dynamic attributes of downstream water and reduce the flow of sediments essential to the formation of stream channel islands and bars, Wakid said.

"Dams suppress natural fluctuations in flow and temperature which encompass optimum conditions for large number of aquatic organisms and the number of ecological niches for supporting diverse biotic communities is reduced," Wakid said.

The combination of these radical changes in environment and ecology downstream of the dams in all likelihood will affect the river dolphins by changing the type and seasonal availability of prey, changing the geomorphology of dolphin habitat and disrupting the natural flow regime of the river, he said.

The Siang, Dibang and Lohit rivers are the main water sources for Brahmaputra and its water flow level will fluctuate greatly when the proposed dams begin operation.

"These huge flow fluctuations will result in rapid unpredictable increases and decreases in depth and velocity. This will cause a reduction in fish diversity and abundance which in turn will affect the prey-base of dolphins and also the Brahmaputra riverine ecosystem," he pointed out.

Construction of the proposed dams may reduce the upstream distribution of dolphins in the concerned rivers and block any upstream migration.

The most relevant example is the Ranganadi river of Assam's Lakhimpur district which reduces the summer distribution of river dolphins in this river by about 30 KMs, Wakid said.

Meet The Man Who Breaks 50 World Records a Year!

London, Nov 21 : He holds 122 Guinness World Records - and one of them is the official record for holding the most world records - New Yorker Ashrita Furman doesn't pass up the chance of breaking a world record, no matter what he has to do.

Furman has walked 80 miles with a milk bottle balanced on his head, performed 9,628 sit-ups in an hour, balanced a 93-pound stack of milk crates on his chin, and balanced 700 eggs on end simultaneously, reports The Sun.

His other feats include hula hooping for the fastest mile at Ayers Rock in Australia and completing the fastest mile on a pogo stick in Antarctica.

Born Keith Furman, he grew up obsessed with his yearly copy of the Guinness Book of World Records. At 15, he discovered yoga and meditation.

"I could make progress in every field if I meditated - in sports, mental agility, everything. I realised it wasn't my body but my spirit that got me through - I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it. After that I knew I could achieve my childhood dream of breaking a Guinness World Record," he said.

Furman broke his first record in 1979 performing 27,000 star jumps. And it was too much fun to stop. In 1986, he set the record for underwater pogo stick jumping and introduced it on US TV show Good Morning America on April Fool's Day.

That same year he began setting records at historic landmarks by doing forward rolls along the entire 121/4 mile route of Paul Revere's Ride in Massachusetts and jumping 111/2 miles up and down the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan on a pogo stick.

"I think those are two of my favourite records," he recalled.

Furman admitted his record breaking has become an obsession.

"I would stay up until two or three in the morning, sifting through the 40,000 records on file for ones I had a shot at breaking - I came up with a list of about 1000," he confessed.

"I've broken over 350 records in my life and it hurts when somebody breaks mine but I just think, 'Right, what would it take for me to win that one back?'"

"I am always looking for the next challenge so I often train for about four or five records at once. There is no goal number in my head now, but lately I've been breaking about 50 records a year," Furman added.

So will he ever stop?

"Why would I when I'm having so much fun? Whether it's hopscotch, skipping ropes or hula hoops, I get to be a big kid every day. When it stops being fun, I'll stop. But until then there is always a new challenge to face, always another mountain to climb - I want to try Mt Fuji on stilts next!"