Fake Nursing Institute in Manipur Dupes Students

Scores of students enrolled in a nursing academy in Manipur's Porampat town were duped after the institute turned out to be a fake one.

The matter came to light when the authorities of the S. Kumar Nursing Institute failed to issue original admission cards to its students, with examinations just a few days away.

Activists of the Democratic Students' Alliance Manipur (DESAM) threatened a complete shutdown of the academy if the officials failed to rectify the irregularity.

Students have appealed to all concerned to take up necessary action against the authorities of the institute.

"The school is not recognized by authorities. The founder of the institute made duplicate and fake admit cards and distributed them among the students. We have lodged complaints in the institute, and are protesting for this reason," said Tonibala Devi, a student.

According to students, officials had maintained that it was affiliated to the National Institute of Medical Sciences situated in Silchar, but contrary reports have marred this claim.

Moreover, DESAM activists alleged that the authorities refused to show the affiliation papers when demanded.

Setting a deadline for three days, the DESAM has demanded that the institute officials immediately communicate with the family members of the students, failing which the premises of the academy would be completely blocked by its activists.

"The students were going to give their exams but are unable to do so since they have fake admit cards. Many students have complained to us regarding this," said Islauddin, Vice-President of DESAM.

The institute charges admission fees of Rs. 26,000 and Rs. 36,000 per student for its two courses.

So far, the institute has collected nearly Rs. 2.8 million from its students in the past one year.

They are also running a paramedical and acupressure hospital in the same institute.

A trust comprising the Managing Director Yumnam Surjitkumar and other trustees Yumnam Dilip, Yumnam Ingba and Devananda operate the institute.

Security Vigil as Mizoram Readies For Christmas

Aizawl, Dec 22 : Security is beefed up in Mizoram including the border areas in view of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. According to police sources, elaborate patrol parties of security forces have been arranged to cover all the vulnerable border villages.

They are also to collect relevant information about the movement of anti-social elements looming large in the border areas.

In the meantime, IPC and Non-IPC crimes recorded in Police Stations within Champhai District, southern Mizoram bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, during January to November this year registered sharp increase as compared to the corresponding period last year. This was reflected in the crime review meeting held in Champhai today under the Chairmanship of the District SP, Mr. C. Lalthanmawia.

According to the report, the total number of IPC cases registered during the period was 195 while Non-IPC cases were 115. The sharp increase was due to increase in burglary, theft, rape and MLTP cases. The crime meeting was attended the Additional SP, SDPOs, officer in charge of the Police Stations and case IOs.

Meanwhile, Bru Displaced Welfare Organization (BDWO), Young Bru Association (YBA) and Bru Displaced Women Welfare Committee (BDWWC) welcomed the decision taken by representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Mizoram in their last meeting held on December 13 to complete repatriation of the Bru refugees by March next year.

In a joint resolution passed at their joint meeting held in Naisingpara yesterday, the 3 Bru Organisations however, deplored invitation of the Bru Coordination Committee.

President, Elvis Chorky and non-invitations of other Bru leaders. The 3 Bru Organisations also condemned alleged arrest and the subsequent beating of 2 Bru youths on Saturday by the IR Police while they were taking bath in Langkaih River.

Christmas Gift For Obama From Shillong Choir

Shillong, Dec 22 : This Christmas, Barack Obama will receive a gift all the way from Meghalaya - a repertoire of 'Christmas Everyday', a music album of the Shillong Chamber Choir that performed for the US president when he came to India.

'We are in touch with the US embassy and will definitely send President Obama an album of our Christmas carols,' Damon Lyndem, spokesperson of the choir, told IANS.

The album was released by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator and leader of the opposition Conrad K. Sangma.

On Nov 8, the 16-member choral group performed for the US president and Michelle Obama at the banquet hosted by President Pratibha Patil.

The Obamas appreciated the performance of the young choir mentored by pianist and conductor Neil Nongkynrih. The group presented a medley of gospel songs interspersed with popular Bollywood numbers.

Their album consists of popular Christmas carols such as 'White Christmas', 'Rudolph, the red nose reindeer' and 'Santa Claus is coming to town among others.

Lyndem said some of the proceeds from the album's sale would go towards establishing a music school in Meghalaya as pledged by the 16-member group after winning talent hunt show 'India's Got Talent 2' on Colors channel.

'We would keep aside an amount from the sale of the album towards building the music school as promised,' Lyndem added.

The choir also won India's first gold medal at the World Choir Olympics held in July in China.

Mentored by its pianist, the group was formed in 2001 and comprises mostly college students.

Media Promotes Sex Among Mizo Teens: Research

Aizawl, Dec 20 : People all over the world use the media everyday, whether it's using a computer, watching TV, reading a newspaper, talking on the phone or listening to the radio, the mass media today is part of everyday life.

However, as with new opportunities come new problems, the impact of media has its negative sides which can be especially harmful to the teens.

A research recently conducted by Synod Social Front, an organ of Mizoram Presbyterian Church, has found that the advent of media has promoted sex among the teens in this Christian state.

The research found that cell phone has become an important tool to draw teens into sexual temptation.

Questionnaires were distributed to teenagers in Aizawl, other district capitals and rural areas, during the survey, which found that about 99.06 per cent of surveyed teens in Aizawl have cell phones.

Outside Aizawl, 92.2 per cent of the surveyed teens used cell phones. The interviewees included teens between the age of 11 to 15.

The research also found that TV, movies, video games, and Internet use have changed the lives of teens, causing them behavioural problems.

Too much exposure to media has serious health consequences on the teens, the research said.

Media is responsible for creating ideals about body image, owing to which several teenagers (especially girls) suffer from inferiority complex and resort to unhealthy practices to lose weight and get skinny, the research found.

The amount of excessive violence in media, be it the television, movies or the video games, tends to increase aggressive tendencies in teenagers.

The amount of celebrity hype created by the media causes many children to make irrational demands for designer clothing, accessories and other perks of the celebrity life.

Most of the interviewed teens disclosed that they watched TVs for more than one hour daily while they used mobile phones for one hour on an average.

The research strongly recommended that the enforcement of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 in the state.

As many as 84.9 per cent of the teens surveyed said they got sexual temptation from the media, while 89 per cent in Aizawl and 93.6 per cent in rural areas said that teenage girls tend to wear sexy clothes due to the influence of media.

Most of the teens said they did read fashion and beauty magazines.

Cosmopolitan and Zawlaidi, a local monthly magazine considered x-rated, were the favourites of most of the teens in Aizawl who read magazines, the research stated.

No Indian Militant Camps in Bhutan, Says Thinley

Guwahati, Dec 20 : Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley Monday said there were no Indian separatist bases in his country and pledged not to allow rebels to enter the country for shelter.

'There are no Indian militant camps or bases in my country and we shall ensure that no militants are able to enter Bhutan,' the prime minister told journalists in Guwahati.

Bhutan had for more than a decade been the safe haven for militants from Assam and West Bengal - chiefly the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO).

The three groups had well-entrenched bases in Bhutan since the mid-1990s until 2003 when Bhutan launched a full-scale military offensive code-named Operation All Clear to evict the Indian rebels.

An estimated 30 militants were killed and at least 50 captured by Bhutanese troops and handed over to India.

Bhutan shares an unfenced 605-km border with Assam in India's northeast.

'After the 2003 operations, we don't have any militant bases in our country and no detainees as well. All the captured militants were handed over to Indian authorities,' the prime minister said.

Thinley called for cooperation and support from India in jointly fighting terror.

'The evil of terrorism needs to be fought effectively with the help of our friendly neighbour India,' he said.

Thinley also stressed the need for boosting bilateral trade and commerce between the two nations.

'We are hopeful of benefiting from the rapid economic growth in India and at the same time we are also initiating a lot of economic reforms in our country,' the prime minister said.

Thinley was on a visit to the southern Bhutan districts adjoining Assam and later took a scheduled flight from Guwahati to Paro in Bhutan.

Constitutional Safeguards Sought For Hmar Tribe

Silchar, Dec 20 : Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) Barak Valley in a series of memoranda to the Centre and the Government of Assam since 1988 has been seeking constitutional safeguards for Hmar tribe living outside the two autonomous districts of NC Hills and Karbi Anglong in the three plain districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi on the scheduled tribe list.

A delegation of the Association on Saturday met L Phangcho, Commissioner and Secretary WPT and BC Department of Government of Assam and submitted a memorandum to him, citing specific grounds why their demand for constitutional safeguards for Hmar tribe should not be conceded to.

Around 1.20 lakh Hmars live in the three districts of Barak Valley who constitute a large chunk of population. Lalthuthung Hmar, president, and Zarzolien Hmar, general secretary of the Association reminded that their memorandum submitted to him on September 24, 2008 was forwarded by him to the Director, Government of India, tribal affairs who in turn suggested the State Government to initiate necessary action in this regard. Both the leaders regretted to say that till date, nothing has been done on the matter.

They have alleged discrimination against the Hmars of plain areas in respect of the all India and UPSC examinations.

They are denied constitutional entitlements due to their non scheduled tribe status. All though the Government of Assam did grant education, employment and economic benefits for quotas reserved against ST (Hills), the same could not be applicable to Hmars.

This has culminated in denial of the privileges to the Hmars of plain districts as enjoyed by the Hmars of autonomous districts.

Lalthuthung Hmar and Zarzolien Hmar further said considered against the tribal characteristics, background of deprivation and distinctive cultural heritage and tradition and their contribution towards the development of Assam, their grievances should be considered on priority basis.

Even after six decades of independence and development planning, Hmars are at the bottom of the human development indices.

The Association leaders have forcefully argued for recognizing the Hmars of the plain districts as ST by enacting a legislation in the Parliament.

They believe he would take the matter with the Chief Minister of Assam and through him the Tribal Affairs Ministry Government of India for accommodation of their legitimate aspirations for their socio-economic, cultural and academic improvement.

Mizo Students Body on Racial Discrimination, Sexual Assault

Aizawl, Dec 20 : Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mizoram’s most influential students' body has urged Mizo MP-duo C L Ruala and Lalhmingliana to voice the issue of sexual abuses like rape, molestation and racism in the Parliament, faced by many students and employees from the north eastern states in New Delhi.

The Mizo students' body at the same time also asked Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla to take steps for the safety of North East students in New Delhi.

In its press release MZP states, “Thousands of students from the seven sisters (North East) in their aim to have better education had gone to other parts of the country especially in New Delhi but it is pain to learn that many of them are facing discrimination and harasments meted out by the mainland people."

The Mizo students' body also said, “Thousands of educated girls from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh who had come to work in Call Centers and IT sectors in metros are facing racial discrimination and sexual assault.

They live in small groups, and are often alone, which becomes a soft target for harassment in their residences and workplaces".

All Northeast Capitals to Get Railway, Air Network

New Delhi, Dec 19 : With lack of connectivity posing as a major hindrance in the economic growth of the northeast, the Centre has decided to bring all the state capitals in the region under railway and air network. Officials in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said Railways has undertaken an

ambitious project to link all capital cities at an estimated investment of Rs 17,000 crore by 2017.

Till now, railway network is available in Assam and some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The officials said the government has decided to set up an airport in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar while another has been planned for Kohima in Nagaland.

Both the state capitals do not have aerial connectivity. The government has set deadline of July, 2015 to complete work on the green field airport in Itanagar while no target has been fixed for the Kohima airport.

On the rail project, the officials said it was proposed in the Vision Document 2020, a blueprint for overall development of the region, which was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008.

They said the construction of railway lines between Assam's Harmauti and Itanagar is expected to be completed by March 2012 while the work on laying railway lines between Assam's Azara and Shillong is expected to be over by 2017.

The officials said the mega railway project to connect the capital cities will be able to meet the deadline of 2017 if respective state governments expeditiously provide land. Asked about poor aerial connectivity within the region, they said DoNER Ministry was ready to provide subsidy to any private airline if it starts an exclusive "intra-state" operation.

Although most of the states have air link with major cities in the country, the network among the states was not satisfactory. The DoNER Ministry had floated tenders for an exclusive air network within the region but failed to get any response from the airlines.

Noting that government was also determined to improve road network in the city, the officials said the DoNER Ministry has sanctioned Rs 703 crore to the NE states since February to improve various arterial roads.