After 'Iron Lady', Manipur Produces a 'Mr India'

Panaji, Nov 24 : If Irom Sharmila, who is on a fast for the past 10 years to protest human rights violations by security forces in Manipur, is the state's 'Iron Lady', then Khundrakpam Pradip Kumar Singh is its 'Mr India'.

Pradip was infected by the deadly HIV/AIDS virus in 2000, when he injected himself with an infected syringe in a drug-induced stupor. But instead of collapsing in defeat and despair, he chose to take hold of his fate. He trained for years and became a bodybuilding champion, not only winning the 'Mr. Manipur' title in 2007, but also the runners-up trophy in a national bodybuilding championship the following year.

And now, a film on his life - titled "Mr India" - is being screened at the 41st International Film festival of India (IFFI) here.

For Pradip, the film is a message of hope.

"A person with HIV/AIDS can do anything. Anything at all. All we need is moral support," Pradip told reporters at a press conference here.

"I am here on behalf of all those who are suffering from HIV. In fact, it is not AIDS which kills you, but the response of the society that does you in," he added.

Pradip has already been the subject of five films in Manipur.

According to the film's director Haobam Paban Kumar, the 47-minute film has also won a national award.

Part of the proceeds from the film, for which Paban's friends provided technical assistance free of cost, would go towards sponsoring Pradip.

"Pradip needs Rs.40,000 a month for his nutritional supplements. We are getting a good response from distributors," Kumar said, adding that while commercial release of such a film was tough, screening it in some Manipur theatres was an option.

Pradip, meanwhile, vividly remembers his struggle.

"I was lying in bed, and that time everyone, barring my family, deserted me. My best friend also turned away. That was the time I decided that I was going to show to the world that this was not the end of me. I was going to rise up from my bed and do it alone. Then I joined a gym," he said.

He defied doctors, who advised him against heavy weights training, and worked steadily towards his goal.

"I am standing in front of you. If I can do what I did, despite of HIV/AIDS, I am sure anyone else can," Pradip said.

Tripura Overjoyed With Somdev

Agartala, Nov 24 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today congratulated Somdev Devvarman for winning gold medal for India in the Asian Games, while Somdev's father Prava Ranjan Deb Barman narrated how tense he was when the match was in progress.

In a message, the Chief Minister said, "Somdev made our country as well as the state proud by winning gold in both the doubles and in singles in Asiad. The people of Tripura are looking forward for his visit to the state."

Somdev's father, a resident of Agartala said, "I was tense while following his performance on the television, wondering if he would be able to fetch the yellow metal. I was beyond myself when he finally made it."

Secretary of Tripura Tennis Association, Sujit Roy said his organisation would give India's tennis sensation a hero's welcome when he returned home.

Businesses Would Have to Pay Us First: Assam Student Body

Guwahati, Nov 24 : The influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Wednesday admitted to accepting donations from business houses, and said it is not doing 'anything wrong'.

'Yes, we have to depend on donations and we shall continue to take donations to run AASU. Whoever does business in Assam and reaps profits shall have to donate money for running AASU,' the student union's adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya told journalists here.

AASU held a press conference here Wednesday a day after a newly floated students' forum released phone conversations between a businessman and an AASU leader regarding monetary transaction.

'Yes, I was the person who spoke in that audio tape and there is nothing wrong in accepting voluntary donations from business houses operating in Assam,' Bhattacharya said.

The Forum of Ex General Secretary Post Graduate Students' Union of Guwahati University Tuesday released an audio tape where Bhattacharya was heard talking about receiving Rs.2 lakh from an official of Vishal Mega Mart shopping chain.

The AASU leader, however, accused Assam power minister Pradyut Bordoloi and former chief minister and leader of opposition party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of orchestrating the leak.

'The persons who held the press conference against me were close to both the power minister and Mahanta,' he said.

AASU supporters Wednesday forced the closure of all five Vishal Mega Mart malls in the state. The malls are located in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Tezpur, and Guwahati.

'It was unethical on the part of Vishal Mega Mart to have tapped the phone in the first place.

We had an understanding with Vishal for Rs.2 lakh donations annually,' the AASU leader said.
'We believe -- and have no hesitation in saying -- we had not done anything wrong by accepting donations to run a big organisation like AASU,' he added.

AASU commands the support of an estimated 5 lakh students in the state. It spearheaded a violent six-year anti-outsider agitation in 1979.
It is active in raising issues of Bangladeshi migrants, mega dam projects, and corruption.

Bru Militants Blocking Obstructing Repatriation To Mizoram

Aizawl, Nov 24 : The Mizoram government Tuesday said militants are obstructing the repatriation process of over 41,000 Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in six camps of north Tripura for the past 13 years.

The repatriation of 41,600 tribal refugees from north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division to their villages in western Mizoram began Nov 3. Since then, 400 Reang tribal refugees, locally called 'Bru', have returned to their homes.

When 66 families were ready to return home Friday, hundreds of other refugees put up a blockade on the Tripura-Mizoram highway, protesting non-settlement of their eight-point demands.

'The police arrested 655 protesters and cleared the blockade. Subsequently, 48 refugee families left Tripura for their homes,' a Tripura official said.

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana Tuesday alleged in Aizawl that militants of Reang tribals are intimidating innocent refugees in Tripura relief camps and are trying to spoil the repatriation process.

'There are some Reang tribal extremists who are intimidating and threatening innocent tribal immigrants and also indulging in illegal activities,' the home minister told reporters.

Lalzirliana said the security forces are prepared to take firm action against these guerrillas.
A Tripura government official, however, said there was no specific report of militants' intimidating the home-bound refugees.

'The refugees have been demanding an eight-point rehabilitation package, including formation of an autonomous district council in Mizoram, and reservation for them in government jobs and state assembly. They (refugees) want a four-partite written agreement involving the central, Tripura and Mizoram governments, and refugee leaders,' Kanchanpur Sub-divisional magistrate Dilip Chakma told IANS on phone.

'There might be a splinter group of militants. But we have no specific reports of militants' intimidating the home-bound willing refugees,' he added.

In April 2005, the Mizoram government and the militant Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) 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 Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM), another separatist outfit.

Both the rebel outfits have been fighting for setting up an autonomous council for the refugees.
Over 41,600 Reang tribals, locally called Bru, have been living in six camps in north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division since October 1997. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos following the killing of a Mizo forest official.

AASU Rejects Assam Govt Proposals

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya addresses a news conference on the NRC update in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov 24 : The All Assam Students Union today rejected Dispur’s formula to resolve the standoff over the stalled process for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951 while the state government exuded confidence of a breakthrough within 15 days.

Though the pilot project to update the NRC in Barpeta and Chaygaon revenue circles was not put on hold officially, it lost steam after four persons died in police firing on the supporters of All Assam Minority Students’ Union at Barpeta on July 21.

After holding talks with AAMSU factions and the AASU over the past two days, Dispur is thinking of making changes in the application form, conducting house-to-house enumeration and accepting documents approved by the Election Commission for revision of electoral rolls and updating the NRC as proof. But AASU has objected to the first two proposals, saying it will leave loopholes in the process of NRC update.

The AASU and 26 other ethnic organisations, after holding discussions with the cabinet sub-committee headed by revenue and Assam Accord implementation minister Bhumidhar Barman, today stated that the application form, in its current structure, was simple, transparent and fit for updating the NRC. Hence, there was no need to make any change in it. AASU said if the form was changed, it would suit the purpose of Bangladeshis migrants and help them enrol their names in the NRC. “The state government’s move to modify the form in order to make it comprehensible for the people is unnecessary. It is the responsibility of the government to explain to the people in a simple manner how to fill up the form rather than change it,” AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya said.

AASU has also rejected the government’s proposal for house-to-house enumeration and stated that the NRC should be updated by inviting claims from direct descendants of those whose names figured in the 1951 NRC or in the state’s electoral roll of 1971. Bhattacharyya said they have asked Dispur to give them the three proposals in writing within the next five days so that they can respond to them accordingly.

Government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sarma told The Telegraph on the sidelines of a government function here that Dispur was hopeful of a breakthrough because of “very positive talks” between the students’ organisations and the cabinet sub-committee. He said discussions were held on “seven to eight points” and the students’ organisations would get back to the committee within seven days with their response.

“We will go for a statewide count in a phased manner within 45 days, instead of the pilot project, to make up for the delay. We will even get the Centre’s nod within 45 days,” Sarma said, admitting that Dispur was often accused by AASU and AAMSU of siding with the other. “But I can say talks are moving in the right direction.” The pilot project was to end in December.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said house-to-house enumeration was important so that no locals were left out.

Manipur Reaps Mustard Success

A mustard field

Imphal, Nov 24 : The agriculture department of Manipur has been successful in cultivating mustard on untilled soil on a large scale, and is preparing to unravel this feat to the country through a national conference early next year.

The department adopted the method five years back, and now, after seeing the success, many farmers have started cultivating mustard in their fields, immediately after paddy harvest.

Officials of the agriculture department said that this system is not practised in any other part of the country.

“The system is a success. We are introducing it at the national conference for kharif, being organised by the agriculture ministry in Delhi in February next year,” deputy director Ph. Rajendro Singh (soil chemist) and the man behind this campaign, told The Telegraph.

For documenting their success story, the department is now planting mustard plants in an area of one hectare at Maklang of Imphal West. Every detail of the process will be recorded — from the day the seeds are sown till they are harvested — for presentation during the conference, with video clippings and photographs.

The department is also hoping to support farmers in cultivating enough mustard seeds for sale outside the state and to produce mustard oil adequate for local consumption.

Last year, mustard was cultivated in 56,000 hectares and the yield was 43,600 tonnes. This year, because of floods, the area was reduced to 26,750 hectares and yield target is 50,000 tonnes.

The department had bought 200 tonnes of mustard seeds from the farmers last year, for distribution this year. The distribution target this season is 500 tonnes.

Farmers, mostly from the valley, have already taken to mustard cultivation on a large scale. From this year, the department introduced this system in the hill areas, mostly in the slopes bordering the valley. Many farmers’ self-help groups have been formed in various localities for distribution of seeds and for practising collective farming.

“The zero tillage mustard cultivation is a success and this means added income for the farmers. The results are making farmers in Maklang area very happy,” N. Ram Singh, president of a self-help group called Nongchup Imphal Loumi Sinmi Chaokhat Thourang Lup, said.

The department is hoping to achieve the target of producing enough mustard oil for the state in the next few years.

In the meantime, the department has also started experimenting with zero tillage pea cultivation. “We have sown seeds in some selected areas. If this is also successful, we will spread it throughout Manipur,” Rajendra Singh said.

128 Manipuri Militants Undergo Rehabilitation Training

Bangalore, Nov 24 : Nearly 128 Manipuri militants underwent a 90-day intensive spiritual, behavioural and vocational rehabilitation training conducted by the Art of Living and its sister organisation, International Association for Human Values (IAHV) here.

The militants from KCPMC Lallumba that laid down arms on August 6 joined the programme on August 16.

"Manipur, today, is one of the worst insurgency affected states in the northeast. We were not merely looking at training them in technical skills and soft skills, but their complete rehabilitation," said Darshak Hathi, International Director, Art of Living.

Based on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's ideals of ''Inside every criminal, there is a victim crying for help'', the programme aimed at stress elimination, bringing inner peace, sensitivity and making them socially responsible citizens.

Alongside, there was a Vocational Skill Development Training programme to impart technical training to the group in computers, mobile-repair and other electrical equipment.

Centre Looks Into Palm Plantation Scope in Northeast

By SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

New Delhi, Nov 24 : The government is actively considering to bring in more areas under oil palm cultivation within the country in the next few years to reduce the palm oil import bill. At present, almost 99% of the country's annual palm oil requirement is imported due to low local output.

The government, at a meeting on oil palm cultivation, has decided to explore the possibility of palm plantations in non-traditional areas including Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Patna, Pondicherry, Manipur, Meghalaya and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

It has also decided to impress upon states such as Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Maharashtra�which have been identified for palm plantation under Oil Palm Development Programme (OPDP), but haven't done so yet�to start taking measures to grow palm if not from this fiscal then from next fiscal. The government is also considering to launch a mission on oilseeds and oil palm to give a special thrust to domestic palm cultivation in the next Five-Year Plan.

Annual edible oil imports have steadily climbed in the last few years to over 8 million tonne, due to rising consumption and stagnant domestic oilseeds production. Palm oil comprises over 80% of the total edible oils imported into India.

Presently, all programmes and schemes related to planting of oil palm are covered under the integrated scheme of oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize (ISOPOM).

�Oil palm development programme is progressing at a slow pace and the area coverage is not taking place as per envisaged targets,� it noted. According to government's assessment, only 1.78 lakh hectares have been covered under oil palm plantation till now as against a potential 10.36 lakh hectares. The meeting called for reviewing the subsidy on oil palm cultivation from Rs 15,500 per hectare to Rs 40,000 per hectare and on inputs required for it.

Ever since import of edible oils was brought under the open general licence in 1995, domestic palm oil prices have fluctuated considerably because of its direct linkage to oil markets in Malaysia and Indonesia. Noting this, the meeting which was chaired by agriculture secretary PK Basu decided to recommend the commerce ministry for a review of the import duty and import policy on edible oils. It was also decided to depute a team to Malaysia to consider the possibility of import of germplasm fand and study the technique for direct extraction of refined oil. The states were suggested to utilise funds available under various schemes to bring irrigation facilities for palm plantation.

The meeting also recommended enactment of Oil Palm Act by implementing states on the basis of existing legislation in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Mizoram. Members at the meeting, which also included representatives from the state government and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), suggested diversification of planting material import sources, bridging the seed gap to ensure availability of quality seeds in time. The suggestions made are to be implemented by March 2011 so that recommendations of committees and expert groups can be fed straight into the mission.