According to Chief Minister Zoramthanga, his government is planning to extend maternity benefits for the birth of up to four children. Elsewhere, these are available only for two births.

Mr. Zoramthanga told journalists here that he is concerned about the small size of the State’s population. According to him, the population is 8,91,958 and it this one reason why the State feels isolated from the rest of the country. “That is why we are in favour of more population…,” he said, pointing out that the State’s birth rate was low.

He said the Church was playing a major role in this regard, “helping us to a great extent.” The State has a Christian population and religion has a major influence on the government’s polices and programmes.

Source: The Hindu

Produced and promoted by the Folk Art and Culture Guild of Manipur in collaboration with Meghalaya-based Springboard Surprises, Exodus: The Bob Marley Tribute could well have been a Shillong gig in terms of ambience, enthusiasm and appreciation of music.

The lead vocalist of the Roots Reggae Band, Keith Wallang, stirred the capacity crowd at the Iboyaima Shumang Lila Sanglen with his rendition of the Marley classic Natural Mystic and appropriately ended the concert with Exodus. In between, Phu Ning Din from Assam’s Karbi Anglong district had the fans tapping their feet with the reggae anthem Buffalo Soldier.

The other artistes who performed at the concert were Daniel Boko from Arunachal Pradesh, hometown hero Reuben Mashangva, Dymsal and Sarhlee from Shillong and Jerry Sailo of Mizoram. Some of them sported long, braided hair like Marley did.

Wallang gave away interesting mementoes, including T-shirts with Marley’s picture emblazoned across them, and cigarette cases to those who correctly answered questions on the singer’s life and music. An excited boy who won a T-shirt said: “May the world become a more peaceful place and the soul of the reggae king rest in peace. I enjoyed the concert, and it felt like I was listening to the genius himself.”

Manipur’s Laishram Momo, a drummer of some repute, put things in perspective by calling Marley’s music “relevant to all of us” in the Northeast. “We are paying tribute to the king of reggae because his songs are patriotic and give inspiration to the oppressed and downtrodden.”

The Roots Reggae Band, comprising singers from across the region, celebrates Marley’s birthday every year with a concert but Imphal hosted the concert for the first time.

Born in Jamaica in 1945, Marley died young of cancer — at the age of 36 in 1981. The most striking characteristic of his music was that it transcended race, gender and class.

“To those fighting oppression, his ‘rebel music’ has a particular resonance. But one need not be oppressed and dispossessed to embrace Marley’s message of liberation, his anthems of hope and his dreams of freedom,” Momo said.

Source: The Telegraph

Dhaka, February 8, 2008: A plague of rats has destroyed the crops of tens of thousands of people living in Bangladesh’s remote Chittagong Hill Tracts. Aid workers have warned that the destruction of crop has left the people in a “near-famine situation”.

The rat population has soared in recent weeks as they feed off the region’s bamboo forests, which are blossoming for the first time in decades. Neighbouring states in India have suffered from the same problem.

According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) about 150,000 people living in the hills along the country’s south-eastern border with India have been affected.

Prasenjit Chakma of the UNDP, who has visited the area, told the BBC that people there had been reduced to eating roots to survive, but even these are now running out.

‘Disaster zone’
He said fields had been stripped of their plants, and are now dotted with large rat holes. “The rats are much bigger than usual. They eat everything that is fresh and green,” he said.

The rodents have multiplied at an alarming rate - the bamboo blossom is such a good food source for them that when they eat it they can breed up to eight times a year - four times more often than normal.

According to local folklore, the flowering of the bamboo, and the subsequent surge in rat numbers, occurs every 50 years. They say the last time it happened was 1958. People across the border in India share this same belief - and the same problem.

In Mizoram state, the bamboo began to blossom last year. The government there declared it a disaster zone after the rats went on to eat people’s food stocks.

Here, the authorities and relief agencies have begun to get some aid to the hungry, but they admit it is not yet enough, and that the problem is spreading, as more forests start flowering.

Mr Chakma said the region will face problems for the next three to four years, until the rat population declines. He said there are so many of them, it is difficult for the farmers to kill enough to make a difference.

“The situation is very serious. The people living in that region are very poor anyway. It is now a near famine situation,” he said.

Source: BBC News

New Delhi, February 8, 2008: In a gesture aimed at making the Kaladan river navigable and allowing big ships to enter upstream into Mizoram from Myanmar’s Sittwe port, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar will venture into the waters of the Kaladan river in a boat near the Indo-Myanmar border on February 13. Aiyar’s boat ride is significant considering that India is seeking to create an alternate route to Northeastern region by setting up the Rs 545 crore Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport project, which would allow direct multi-modal connectivity to the northeastern region bypassing Bangladesh.

Severe pressure on the Siliguri Corridor and Bangladesh’s continued intransigence in providing India transit rights through its territory to the northeastern region are the primary drivers behind the project.

Aiyar, who will reach Mizoram on February 12, may also undertake an aerial survey of the Kaladan river as it flows into Myanmar. He is scheduled to visit Hruitezawl, the site proposed by the Mizoram Government for tax-collection on goods coming in from the Myanmar side. Further, Aiyar will visit Hmawngbu, the site proposed by technical consultants RITES for Indo-Myanmar trade centre.

The Ministry of External Affairs has decided to fund the Kaladan project and hand it over to the Myanmar side on completion. The Framework Agreement and Protocols for facilitation of transit transport and joint maintenance and administration of the project are likely to be signed in the first week of April.

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seaboard and Sittwe port in Myanmar and then through riverine transport and by road to Mizoram, thereby providing an alternate route for transport of goods to the Northeast.

Once complete, the project will provide connectivity between India and Myanmar, brightening chances of development of trade between the two countries.

The project involves development of a trade route between the two countries along the river Kaladan which is navigable from its confluence point with the Bay of Bengal near Sittwe up to Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) in Myanmar, on its north.

Beyond this, the river is not navigable owing to shallow water depth and frequent rapids.

While transportation by road is proposed for this stretch, the option of blasting the rocks is being explored to make it navigable in order to give big ships direct access into Mizoram. As of now, the plan is to have waterway transportation from Sittwe port to Kaletwa and road transport from Kaletwa to Indo-Myanmar border.

From the Indo-Myanmar border, road will be constructed up to NH-54 in Mizoram.

The work for upgradation of port and waterway and construction of road from Kaletwa to Indo-Myanmar border are expected to be completed by 2011-12.

Source: Indian Express

The variety of subjects handled by the filmmakers from the eight tiny states of the region was as heterogeneous as their cultures and this has made the special package of the region unique.

The package, curated by writer-journalist Chandan Sarmah, was inaugurated by Aribam Shyam Sharma at the Godrej Theatre in the NCPA Complex in south Mumbai Tuesday.

The opening film was Jahnu Barua’s 55-minute movie ‘A River’s Story: The Quest for the Brahmaputra’. The movie treats the river as the main character and shows how it influences the people of the states and the ecosystem of the land as it flows through it from Tibet in the east to the Bay of Bengal in the west.

The package included Aribam Shyam Sharma’s ‘Guru Laimayum Thambalngoubi Devi’, a 25-minute documentary on living guru of classical Manipuri dance and the first female artiste of the Manipuri movie. Interestingly, there was a 28-minute documentary on Sharma by Brajabidhu Singh.

First-generation filmmakers, including women, aged between 24 and 28, have made most of the movies shown at MIFF.

Jyoti Prasad Das’ 28-minute documentary ‘The Green Warriors Apatanis’ is centred on women of the Apatani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. At a time when women are going to great extent to look beautiful, these tribal women do exactly the opposite - they make themselves look ugly by covering their faces with black pigment to avoid being abducted by the warrior tribesmen.

Noted Assamese filmmaker Gautom Bora’s 35-minute documentary ‘Beyond Death’ deals with the Buddhist tantric rituals of Gelukpa sect of the Monpa tribes of Arunachal Pradesh who revere death as they believe the end of life opens the door for re-birth.

Insurgency has been bane of northeast region for nearly three decades now. How this scourge has affected the normal life in the region is the subject of Meghalaya’s director Bobby Wahengbam’s “Joseph Ki Macha”. Another entry from Meghalaya is “Bad Places”. Tarun Bhartiya directs it.

Drinking rice bear is an integral part of Tai-Ahom community. Some esoteric rituals are still performed in secrecy when the womenfolk of the community prepare it. ‘Abiding Brew’, a 44-minute documentary, directed by Chandra Narayan Barua, delves into these secret rituals.

The Mizos believe that they belong to one of the lost tribes of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament. It is believed that one group of the tribe had entered China through Afghanistan and later travelling further east made Mizoram their home. Many Mizos are now returning to “home” in Israel in search of their “promised land”. Director Pradeep Gogoi’s documentary “Israel Ram Tana Dilna” is based on this Mizo exodus.

Director Deepak Bhattacharya’s 19-minute documentary “Unakoti - The Mask Icon” traces the history of a 30-feet high hooded deity of Shiva engraved on the rock in a hill, which is 180 km from Tripura’s capital Agartala.

The northeast package was introduced in the MIFF only last year when 11 short movies were screened within a time span of five hours. This year, the festival devoted 12 hours for films from northeast.

The festival 2008 also has a seven-movie special package from Jammu & Kashmir. These two remote border regions have been given preference at the MIFF to expose their otherwise neglected cinematic talents in an international film festival.

Source: IANS/ MSN

At a time when the Centre is advocating family planning to check the population boom, the Mizo National Front (MNF) Government is contemplating a slew of measures to encourage birth of more children.

According to Chief Minister Zoramthanga, the state government is planning to give maternity benefits up to four children. At other places in the country, only two maternity benefits are allowed.

Zoramthanga is concerned over the small population in the state which joined the national mainstream not too long ago.

In a chat with senior journalists during the two-day editors’ conference on infrastructure issues related to the North East, which concluded recently, he said that the state was trying its best to get out of the problem.

The population of Mizoram is just 8,91,958 and it is one reason why the mountainous state feels itself isolated from the rest of the country, explained the chief minister.

Defending his position, he said that unless such measures were taken, the population of the state would go down. “That is why we are in favour of more population in the state,” he said, pointing out that the rate of birth rate was low.

He said the church was also playing a great role in this regard. “The church is helping us to a great extent.”

Source: The Hindu

People are realizing that knowing Hindi could be of great help in the future, including employment and cultural exchange.

“We are the citizens of India. For the integrity of India, we should learn Hindi. As after crossing Mizoram, we can’t even do shopping,” said C. Darlianthanga, the President of the Hindi Teachers Association in Mizoram.

Recently, a special seminar was organised on the promotion of languages at Aizwal in which not only academicians, but also school and college students participated with great enthusiasm.

“Ten years back, people didn’t give importance to Hindi compared to other subjects and other languages. In fact, in the past, people regarded Hindi as irrelevant and of no value since they thought it did not have any prospects. Even to some extent, the Hindi language was ridiculed,” said J. H. Zoena, Deputy Director, Hindu Education, Mizoram.

Mizoram, presently, has two Hindi training colleges that offer a Bachelor’s degree in Education to take up jobs as Hindi teachers to students of standard eleven and twelve. There is also a two years diploma course in Hindi.

Mizoram has over 401 posts for high school Hindi teachers, around 826 posts for the middle school Hindi teachers and 1187 posts at the primary level. In all, 2414 posts for Hindi teachers are vacant.

Over 3,000 Mizo students have taken up Hindi training courses at the under graduate and post-graduate levels in different colleges.

“Mizoram people often have to deal with workers from other States who come here for construction works. Communication is a major problem with them. Considering these practical problems, Mizos have started taking an interest in Hindi. Now Hindi is a career- oriented subject and language for Mizos,” added J H Zoena, Deputy Director, Hindu Education, Mizoram

Ever since peace was restored in the State in 1985, Mizos have started exploring the outside world. They are venturing out in a big way for higher studies and jobs.

This has not only broadened their vision but also made them realize that learning Hindi could get them connected with the rest of India.

Source: DailyIndia.com

In October 2007 the Government of India released a UNAIDS sponsored report on the awareness level of AIDS and preventive measures in the country, of which Mizoram’s capital Aizawl, was also under the study. The study revealed that AIDS awareness level in the state capital was one of the highest in the country. However, what Mizoram needs to know is how to tackle the alarming growth rate of this deadly virus, despite the study findings that Aizawl citizens are highly aware about where and how to get protective ‘gears’.

Most researches at hand fail to ascertain the magical solution to HIV menace as more people tend to have multiple sexual partners with the growing influence of ‘the western way of private lives’. Mizoram government may not have succeeded in containing the upsurge but it may have found the next best thing. This is not perfect but it costs nothing and unlike the AIDS vaccines it has no fallout too. It is called—how should people protect themselves? To put it simple: right information to right people.
There are now hundreds who lived with HIV, registered as well as unregistered. The awareness level in urban areas is laudable; but how well does one receives the news about those cases in rural areas which are hardly noticed by officials. Discussion of sexual subjects in Mizo society, even in urban areas, is still very much a taboo. But, what is more appalling is the immature attitude of the society towards people living with HIV. The ’sinner’ gets what he or she deserves outlook must be laid off.

An article published in the ‘Journal of Infectious Diseases’ claimed that after contracting AIDS virus, an individual is highly infectious for about a month, after which he/she is likely to transmit the virus to others. If this is true, a person who had engaged in sexual activity ‘outside’ can still prevent the spread of the dreaded viruses by abstaining from any sexual activity with other partners.

If one is to enumerate researches, majority of them have established that most AIDS victims contract the virus not from casual relationships but from girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands and wives. Even people with only one or two trusted long-term duhlai (partner) are at the risk of contacting the disease if one of them is on the HIV superhighway. Should we blame our open-way of social life? This is an area where the government must take the driver seat and steer a way towards a free AIDS state. If Mizoram can become one of the most literate states in the country, this task is a challenge the government can euphorically take it up as a major exercise.

Accurate health information is empowering. It may not be entirely right that information about life long partners and sexual activity may solve AIDS problem in the state, but it could at least help people to identify the blot from where there are chances of contracting the virus.

*The writer is a Bangalore-based journalist.

Guwahati, February 6: Four months from now, the tiny northeastern state of Mizoram will witness the first-ever seismic survey. If everything turns out as expected, the far-flung state would become another major oil-producing state of the country.

Oil India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director M R Pasrija said here today that Mizoram had already shown “tremendous possibility” of becoming a major source of crude oil and petroleum, especially because of its strategic location in the Assam-Arakan region.

“Mizoram, being situated in the Assam-Arakan basin, has tremendous possibility of becoming a major source of petroleum and natural gas in the next few years. Oil India is launching its first-ever seismic survey in the state in another four months,” Pasrija said. The Oil India CMD said Mizoram had more chances of turning out to be major source of natural gas.

“There is already a large reservoir of gas on the other side of the Indo-Bangladesh border. Myanmar’s gas reserves are also almost in the same region,” he added.

The ministry of hydrocarbons has already identified an area of over 3,600 sq kms between Saiha and Lunglei in Mizoram for exploration of hydrocarbons in the next four or five years.

The adjoining state of Tripura has already become a major reservoir of natural gas in the past few years.

Oil India, meanwhile, has stepped up its production in its two oilfields in Arunachal Pradesh. “Our two oilfields at Kharsang and Kumchai have been doing very well in the recent years, and the entire Jairampur belt is turning out to be a major reservoir,” Pasrija said.

He, however, expressed concern over the ageing of the country’s two oldest oilfields — Moran and Naharkatiya — and said Oil India was looking at acquiring the latest technology to cope with the ageing factor of these two areas.

“Both these oilfields are more than five decades old, and we are trying to manage them more effectively so that we are able to enhance the output,” Pasrija said.

Source: The Indian Express

Aizawl, February 3, 2008: In Mizoram enrolment of students is reported to have doubled in government schools with the state government deciding to change the curriculum from Mizo medium to English medium from the new academic session.

This news was reported by the Mizoram School Education Director Malsawmthangi on the One Day Consultation Meeting for VCP/VEC chairman under Aizawl District held at the SCERT Auditorium in Chaltlang.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director held that the reason why enrolment is so few in government schools in recent years is due to the low quality of education, saying that students in government schools are usually faced with huge problems when they reach high school as the medium of teaching in high schools are English. “With this being the problem, parents opt for English Medium Schools even though the fees are much higher. However, with the introduction of English medium in government schools, enrolment has increased immensely,” she said.

The Director also held that the plan to introduce Voluntary Retirement Scheme for senior teachers in the state is to improve the quality of education.

“With the development of education in the state, some teachers who were qualified to teach students in the past are now ineligible as they are under-qualified. Therefore we have decided to introduce this new scheme for the improvement of the quality of education,” she said.

The Director also urged Village Councils in every village to monitor the working of teachers and give their complaints, if any, to the education department as soon as possible.

Source: Assam Tribune