ICC Puts Shillong Choir On Mute

By Hemal Ashar

Mumbai, Feb 21 : Shillong Chamber Choir that was meant to sing at the World Cup closing ceremony on April 2 is yet to receive confirmation; say they need time to practice

The Shillong Chamber Choir, a choir group started in 2001 and based in the North Eastern city has dashed off a letter to International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar seeking clarity on whether they will be performing at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on April 2 for the World Cup closing ceremony.

The choir, comprising 15 singers, finds itself in limbo. Spokesman and manager Damon Lyndem claimed that Showtime Event Management along with Maverick Media had approached them to be part of the closing ceremony, and they were required to sing the national anthems of the two countries that played the finals.

The choir has yet to receive a written confirmation about their travel plans and schedule, although the World Cup kicked off yesterday.

"We have written a letter (Sunday Mid Day has a copy) to the ICC and faxed it on February 17, because there is little clarity on the issue. We have emails from Showtime Event Management Company, managers of the closing ceremony, inviting us to perform. But if we are to sing on April 2, we need to be informed. Usually at big ticket events, we are told at least two months in advance," said Lyndem on the phone from Shillong.

The choir that includes mostly Shillong-based singers (one is from Nagaland, and another from Paris) claims to have been practising the national anthems of all 14 participating countries for the last few months. "We have to be well prepared for such a prestigious event," said Lyndem.

Showtime Event Management Company, Managing Director (MD) Michael Menezes said over the phone from Delhi, "Showtime and Maverick suggested that the Shillong Chamber Choir sing the anthems at the closing ceremony. But we are awaiting final approvals from the ICC. Once we receive them, the Shillong Choir will be informed."

Menezes can't comprehend what the preparation fuss is about. "They need to practise just two anthems of  countries that reach the finals, in the three days prior to the closing ceremony. If they have been practising 14 anthems, they are being a bit over-enthusiastic, I think.

It's difficult to imagine Canada or even Ireland making it to the final (laughs), though I am not degrading any country."

Mizo Organisation For Good Governance

Aizawl, Feb 21 : In order to check the rampant corruption cases in various government offices and misuse of funds meant for development projects, the Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP), literally meaning peoples’ organisation of Mizoram is of the view that Mizoram needs good leaders who dare to run the administration with firm conviction.

This view was highlighted in a seminar organised by the MTP in Aizawl Press Club after presentation of a paper on ‘Who is most important for good governance’ written by C.H. Thangkhuma.

The participants were also of the view that the leader required by Mizoram is a courageous person who dares to take action against corrupt persons and violators of the law without caring for the next election.

In a review on the past governments rampant corrupt practices, the MTP viewed that most of the former ruling parties had caused enough damaged to the society.

In the recent past, the state witnessed connivance with militants in a bid to capture power while other parties were busy with distribution of easy money for a short term political gain.

Participating in the discussion, the MTP chairman, K. Sapdanga asserted that MTP never seeks for power and position and its interest is good and efficient government which can live up to the expectation of the people.

Northeast Regional Parties Forge Common Front

New Delhi, Feb 21 : Major regional parties of the north-eastern States in principle today decided to form a platform named as ‘Northeastern Democratic Front’ to unitedly take up common issues of the region. The front would unitedly fight election wherever possible. This was disclosed by PA Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader.

The parties decided to form the Front in Guwahati soon.

The move shows some positive signs as some of the region’s bigger regional parties showed up for a meeting to revive the regional plank.

The meeting, which got under way at Sangma’s Aurangzeb Road House around 6.30 pm, was attended by AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary, Opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AGP leaders Kumar Deepak Das and Biren Baishya, among others. Chief Minister of Nagaland N Rio and Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling and the representatives of People’s Party of Arunachal, Manipur People’s Party, Trinamool Congress and Mizo National Front and other regional leaders also attended the meeting.

The timing of revival of the regional plank is significant. AGP has this time decided to maintain distance from national parties, mainly the BJP, and opted to join hands with smaller regional parties. The regional party, though, is in a quandary over openly joining hands with the Badruddin Ajmal-led AUDF. Both the parties see a common enemy in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government.

This is Sangma’s third attempt at bringing all the regional parties together. In 2009, he had made attempts to revive the defunct North East People’s Front after being fed up with the ‘dirty tricks of Congress party’. The North East People’s Front was launched about seven years ago.

At least 13 non-Congress parties had then joined hands. The parties then included the AGP, BJP, Manipur People’s Party, Nagaland People’s Front, Bodoland People’s Front, PLP, Kamtapur Progressive Party and AUDF, among others. The Front had resolved to work out a unified poll strategy to fight Congress in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

But the move came a cropper after AGP joined hands with BJP and fought the parliamentary poll as alliance partners.

The North East States together have the strength of 25 MPs in the Lok Sabha, out of which14 are from Assam.

AASU Irked Over PM’s Silence On Core Issues

Guwahati, Feb 21 : The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Sunday came down heavily on the Prime Minister’s ‘attitude of indifference’ towards the core issues of the State including the problem of cross-border influx, NRC update and corruption.

The student body described the Prime Minister’s skirting of the burning issues as another attempt to deceive the people’s aspirations.

Addressing media persons here, adviser of the student body Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya said that Dr Manmohan Singh’s two-day visit to the State had actually encouraged the illegal infiltrators and the perpetrators of corruption as the Prime Minister kept mum on all these issues crucial to the welfare of the State.

Dr Bhattacharya said that the people of Assam including the AASU had much expectations of the Prime Minister’s visit as everyone had hoped that he would announce a clear stand on infiltration and NRC update.

“The Prime Minister even avoided the issues of flood, erosion and big dams,” said Dr Bhattacharya, adding that Dr Singh who represents the State in the Rajya Sabha should tender a apology to the people of Assam for failing to implement the major clauses of the Assam Accord.

It needs to be mentioned here that the AASU criticized Manmohan Singh for not commenting on corruption and mentioned that Singh through his silence has institutionalized corruption in the State.

On the other hand, the student body said that the people of Assam had to always fight for their rights and even when they had a Prime Minister from their own State, they would have to fight for their rights.

The AASU warned that it would be compelled to take to the path of agitation if the Prime Minister kept showing a lackadaisical attitude towards the problems of the State.

“Assam has always been deprived and there is no change in this situation even during the term of Manmohan Singh,” said Dr Bhattacharya, pointing out that State would be even be deprived of major stretches of the four lane project as per a notification of the government of India that mentions dropping of 230 kms from the four-lane project.

Human Trafficking Manual Helps Police in Northeast

By Azera Rahman

Shillong, Feb 20 : What does human trafficking mean, why is it done, what punishment can it attract and how do we rehabilitate victims? A manual on human trafficking brought out by an NGO is proving a boon for police in the northeast where trafficking is a major issue.

Impulse, the NGO, has simplified the law and put it together in a handbook which has been adopted in police training schools across the northeast and it is bringing in winds of change in the region.

Hasina Kharbhih of Impulse has her focus clear - to combat trafficking and rehabilitate victims 'because without rehabilitation there is always the risk of the victims being pushed back into the vicious cycle'.

'If awareness level is low, then prosecution of the culprit becomes difficult. You can sensitise officers at the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IPS (Indian Police Service) level, but at the police station level that becomes a challenge,' Kharbhih told IANS.

'No one has the time to read legal books, and from our ground-level experience we know that a lot of cops are not aware of the anti-trafficking laws,' said Kharbhih.

Therefore three years ago, the NGO decided to put together a comprehensive handbook which starts from scratch and explains what trafficking means and the reasons why it is done - commercial sexual exploitation, paedophilia, forced marriage, camel jockeying, child or bonded labour, domestic servitude and organ transplantation.

The handbook simplifies laws like the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act and also gives a

summary of various offences under different sections of penal provisions and the punishment or fine for them.

It also talks about how to prevent trafficking, the investigation process and alternative strategies to combat the menace. The manual also gives guidelines on victims' protection and rehabilitation.

The handbook has been approved by the ministry of home affairs and is backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Kharbhih said the NGO hopes that the handbook would be adopted at the national level.

'The reality is that NGOs can't work alone. It has to be a collaborative effort in which all stakeholders, like law enforcement agencies and society as a whole, are involved,' said Kharbhih.

According to Kharbhih, trafficking in the northeast is linked to underdevelopment, political strife, porous borders, poor health services and lack of awareness.

According to National Crime Records Bureau data, 22,939 women and girls were kidnapped and abducted in the country in 2008. In 2009 the number rose to 25,741. Latest UNODC data on southeast Asia says that 150,000 people fall prey to trafficking every year.

'While trafficking across the border is rampant, it's also happening within the country. Advertisements luring young girls with jobs in airlines or in the beauty industry are becoming a trap. Victims (women) are sold to middlemen for Rs.15,000-30,000, while children are sold for Rs.5,000-7,000,' she said.

The 15-year-old NGO has also developed a model, the Meghalaya model, which has been verified for replication in South Asia by the USAID, the UNDP and the Indian government.

'Combating trafficking involves five Ps - prevention, protection, press, policing and prosecution and four Rs - reporting, rescuing, restoration and rehabilitation. Based on this we developed the Meghalaya model,' Kharbhih said.

After a child or woman is reported missing, the information is fed into the NGO's database, publicised in media and passed on to its partners in other states and a First Information Report (FIR) is registered.

Once a victim is rescued after raids, he or she is sent to a shelter while the NGO or its partners start tracing the victim's family.

'We follow up the progress of the rescued victim for two years. The final step is hopefully the prosecution when we follow up with police on the progress,' she added.

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

Sikkim Orchid Production Gets Boost With Agro-Export Zone

Gangtok, Feb 20 : Sikkim's orchid production will get a boost with an exclusive agro-export zone for its promotion coming up there. The centre will be set up at a cost of over thirty one and a half core rupees.

This was announced by the Deputy Director General (Horticulture) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr. HP Singh while chairing a National Seminar on Orchids in Gangtok today.

He said, orchids rank the sixth in the top ten cut flowers in the international market.

To promote commercialization of cymbidium orchids, the National Research Centre for Orchids, Pakyong has selected fifty five local farmers from five different locations in Sikkim to get training.

Earlier, in his inaugural speech, State Agriculture Minister D.N. Thakerpa said that about nine lakh orchid cut flowers are produced in the Sikkim every year which fetches an annual income of 40,000/- rupees to each family involved in the job.

Gorgeous in Goa: A New Bikini Bombshell Calendar!

Ace photographer Subi Samuel recently shot a swimsuit calendar on the beaches of Goa. Check it out!

Indian bikini calendars are becoming a booming business in promotions. And the latest to jump on the bandwagon is lensman Subi Samuel, who shot a sizzling 2011 edition for prominent beer brand Cobra.

Shot on the beaches of Goa, the calendar features six models -- Maiza, Eva Abrahamova, Carla Dennis, Sonakshi Sajnani, Nina Marchuk and Andressa van den Eden Class -- across the 12 months.

Samuel, who was approached by Cobra, saw this as an opportunity to do something 'more than the ordinary'.

"The calendar isn't out-and-out sexy. And it isn't all about pictures of models lying around on the beaches," he says, adding that he hoped to make it more 'fashionable' and 'stylish' rather than sexy.

"We used extreme wide angle lines, made the most of the landscape and exploited the locations rather than simply focus on the body of the model," he says.

Goa, the photographer says, was the most obvious choice for a shoot of this nature.

Samuel, whose best work has been in closed studios and controlled environments, confesses that the crowds they attracted were unnerving at times.

"Despite the fact that Goa is a place where the locals are used to seeing women in bikinis, people did tend to gather around when the shoot was happening. This despite the fact that we'd scouted for places that weren't very crowded," he says.

The other challenge he faced was that of not letting the calendar come across as cheap. And so began the hunt for the right models.

Samuel points out that the key to keeping a swimsuit shot tasteful lies in selecting the model. "It is important to have a model who is comfortable with her body. We also usually prefer models who aren't voluptuous and slightly on the leaner side. When we were selecting girls for the calendar, we were looking at women with some amount of international experience."

"We looked at over 35 models whose profiles modelling agencies Toab and Purple had forwarded to us. After shooting their pictures and a few rounds of auditions, we zeroed in on the six who are featured."

He continues, "I've always hated the concept of projecting women as objects of sex. I'd made this clear right at the outset when I was discussing the shoot. So we also took a conscious decision of cutting out a lot of postures and focussed only on those that would lean more towards being fashionable."

This isn't the first time that Samuel has shot a swimsuit calendar. About four years ago, he got behind the camera to shoot one for Indiatimes.

Putting one together, he says, is no different from any other assignment. "In all honesty, while people make a lot of hoopla about a swimsuit calendar, there is really nothing much to it. As a professional it is no different from shooting a catalogue that highlights a product. You cannot approach it with the idea that you will score with one of the girls."

Speaking about the growing trend of swimsuit calendars, the photographer confesses that a lot of it has to do with the popularity of the Kingfisher Calendar. "Everyone has suddenly woken up to the fact that a calendar like this can actually run! And it seems to me that there will only be more such calendars in the future."

In the following pages, we bring you a preview of the beautiful photographs. We start off with Andressa van den Eden Class, who sets August aflame.

Soaking up the sun

Eva Abrahamova, on the October page, soaks up the sun on the seafront.

 

Precarious perch

July sees Nina Marchuk drape herself across a rock in a graphic print monokini.

 

Wonderful one-piece

The lovely Maiza shows off her endless gams and flowing braid in the month of January.

 

In fields of gold

Here we see Nina Marchuk once again, reclining sensually in a field of gold for June.

 

Silvery nymph

And here is April beauty Maiza's second appearance, standing out in sexy silver against a rocky landscape.

DRDO Unleashes Latest Weapon: Mosquito Repellent!

It has been developing missiles and other state-of-the-art equipment for the armed forces, but the Defence Research and Development Organisation is now ready to take on the oldest human enemy -- mosquitoes -- that are vectors of diseases like malaria, and dengue with a new insect repellent cream.

Launching the 'Maxo Military' and 'Maxo Safe and & Soft Wipes,' DRDO said the cream-based product will fool the mosquitoes, will have a pleasant fragrance and will not block your skin pores -- a common problem with such products.

While a tube of mosquito repellent gel costs Rs 36, the DRDO-developed 'mosquito tissue' can be bought for only Rs 3

"This cream is based on a uniquely configured, researched and tested molecule which acts like a decoy and cheats the mosquito. It does not allow mosquitoes to sense the presence of human blood in their vicinity," Prahlada, chief controller, research & development, Defence Research and Development Organisation told reporters.

The artificially developed molecules in the cream interfere with the sensory mechanism of the mosquito and stop it from biting the humans.

Research and developed by DRDO, the product would be manufactured and marketed by Jyothy Laboratories Limited which also holds the license to sell it outside the defence forces.

The first of its kind mosquito repellent has been developed under a special technology commercialisation programme signed between the DRDO and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

DRDO and FICCI signed for the Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialisation programme in 2009 and have successfully commercialised more than 20 products for mass production by the private industries.

"The cream has been developed keeping in mind the requirement of soldiers posted in forest and swampy areas. These soldiers are always susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, chikungunya and dengue," said M P Ramachandran, chairman and managing director, Jyothy Labs.

Based on diethyl phenyl acetamide technology, the product has gone under a series of advancements after its initial launch a few years ago.

Talking about the advance researches in the mosquito repellent creams, Prahlada said, "Mosquito repellent creams actually block the skin pores by sticking to it, and do not allow the skin to breathe.

"But this wipe does not block the skin pores, allowing it to breathe with a good fragrance. It gives a very smooth and comfortable feeling just like that of a facial cream or a moisturiser," he added.

Besides Indian Army, the cream would also be supplied to the central paramilitary forces which are engaged in border policing and Naxal-infested areas.