Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

DoNER fund allocation slashed: New Delhi, May 2: Several development projects in the North-East are likely to be hit following massive reduction in allocation of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) funds. The Ministry made a projection of Rs 2,922 crore for the current fiscal, however, actual allocation was pegged at Rs 1455 crore, leaving it high and dry. Subsequently, the Ministry intimated a Parliamentary Standing Committee that due to reduction in the allocation by almost 50 per cent projects would suffer. The Ministry would not be able to implement the scheme for development of the region. The reduction in allocation is the latest set back to hit the Ministry. However, there has been increase in plan outlay for Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and North Eastern Council (NEC) and North Eastern States Road Projects, whereas loan to NEDFi has remained static. Besides, the projects under development of inland waterways in the NER have been entrust...

NE people consume more alcohol, tobacco: New Delhi: After entering the record books for highest consumption of tobacco in the country, the North-East has had people addicted to high consumption of liquor, now. According to the "Alcohol Atlas of India," consumption of alcohol in northeastern states is higher than many other parts of the country. Interestingly, women in the region drink more than their male counterparts. The "Alcohol Atlas of India," prepared by Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance (IAPA), was recently released by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. The overall patterns of alcohol consumption vary throughout the country, the Atlas said. Besides the North-East including Sikkim, women also tend to drink more in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Goa are others states which have recorded high alcohol consumption in the country. Earlier reports had said that the North-East suffered ...

Cabinet agrees to provide guns to Heirok, Chajing: Imphal, May 2: The State Cabinet during a meeting held on Friday with the Chief Minister in the chair has decided to accede to the demands of the Heirok and Chajing people to provide them guns after creating posts of Special Police Officers (SPOs). The demands to issue guns to the people of Heirok and Chajing were raised following the slaying of three people and injuring another by opening fire by PREPAK cadres at a Thabal Chongba venue at Heirok and killing of a 53 year old man by KCP (MTF) at Chajing Konjeng Leikai. A senior Cabinet Minister of the SPF Government informed The Sangai Express that provisions of guns to the people will be provided after creating the posts of SPOs as was done in Jammu and Kashmir. After deliberating on the matter for about three hours, the State Cabinet adopted a concrete decision in this regard and resolved to activate SPOs from June 12 . For Heirok, 300 SPOs will be recruited while Chajing will have 20...

Swu invites Khaplang’s deputy to Bangkok: Kohima, May 2: Two decades of hostilities later, the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim has invited Khole Konyak, commander-in-chief of its long-time bete noire NSCN (Khaplang), for talks in Bangkok. This is not the first time, though, that the NSCN (I-M) has written to the top leader of NSCN (K). In the past, too, several letters have been written to NSCN (K) chairman S.S. Khaplang and Konyak, but the manner and style of writing the letters had displeased the Khaplang group’s policy-makers. Highly placed sources said Konyak has received a letter from the chairman of the NSCN (I-M) Isak Chishi Swu inviting him to come to Bangkok for talks to push forward the ongoing reconciliation and unification process among the Naga warring groups. However, there were no details about the letter sent by Swu, but sources said its purpose was to iron out the differences and push forward the reconciliation and unity process initia...

CII award for state health worker : Imphal, May 2: The Confederation of Indian Industry in its effort to promote women's empowerment at the community level has instituted an award known as Women Exemplar for grassroot community women who have excelled in different fields of work thereby making a significant contribution to the development process. Since 2006 the award has been given to women of the country for their outstanding contributions to the society. For the year 2008 the award was given to Manipur Voluntary Health Association`s program director N Nanda for health by the chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit on April 29 at the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. 50-yr-old suffers fatal stroke after UG demand: Imphal, May 2: In a bizarre incident a 50-year old headmaster of a primary school died after suffering from a BP stroke on April 30 at Moreh after he was asked to give Rs. 5 lakhs by one of the valley based UG groups, sources said. The victim, Naorem Bisembor, 50, of Tentha K...

Normal life affected in Manipur: Imphal, May 2 (PTI) The BJP-sponsored general strike against price rise affected normal life in Manipur on Friday with shops, markets and business establishments remaining closed. Very few vehicles were visible on the roads in view of the strike, official sources said. However, transport services between Manipur and the neighbouring states were not affected by the strike. Attendance in government offices was also normal. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state. Source : Press Trust of India Another Story :

Maoists eye India's northeast: New Delhi, May 1: Indian intelligence and security agencies are worried over the efforts of Maoist rebels to set up bases in the already restive northeast, which has now overtaken Jammu and Kashmir in militancy-related violence. Security experts are analyzing the possible ramifications of the move. Following inputs from the Intelligence Bureau, the Interior Ministry sounded a red alert to the region's seven states directing them to put their police and central paramilitary forces on high alert, said a top IB official, who declined to be named. The official said agencies are worried because the presence of Maoist rebels would further complicate the situation in the region, already under the grip of a severe armed conflict. Intelligence inputs sent to the federal Interior Ministry suggest Maoist rebels have supported the issue of scheduled tribe status in Assam that would grant the state's residents greater access to educational and employment o...