Mizoram assembly passes budget for 2008-2009
Mizoram Assembly passed the state annual budget for 2008-09 amounting to Rs 2,625.03 crore as presented in the legislature by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who also holds Finance portfolio.The state annual budget, sans new taxes and new tax rates on the year of the state assembly election, is estimated to open with Rs 84.65 deficit and close with Rs 30.36 crore as the next fiscal is estimated to have a surplus of Rs 54.29

Tax free deficit Budget presented in Meghalaya
Meghalaya Finance Minister Conrad K Sangma presented a “tax free” deficit Budget of Rs 125.34 crore for the financial year 2008-09. The estimated expenditure was Rs 3,844.20 crore against anticipated receipts of Rs 3,718.86 crore leading to a deficit of Rs 125.34 crore, which the government would try to reduce through resource mobilization. The Assembly also passed the vote on account budget of Rs 139.12 crore for the financial year of 2007-08.

Manipur Tourism Meet in Delhi
Government of Manipur has organized a Manipur Tourism Meet 2008 at Dilli Haat in New Delhi. The event is being sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency said, “Manipur has many attractive, unexplored spots for tourists, which we want to show it to the world. Varieties of ethnic groups in Manipur speak themselves about what the beautiful Manipur is.” He was speaking as the chief guest in the inaugural function of the three-day Manipur Tourism Meet 2008 last evening at Dilli Haat here.Dr Meinya said that nature had endowed a pleasant climate, beautiful landscape and beautiful people to Manipur. It was the land where the world famous game – Polo (Sagol Kangjei) originated. Leena Nandan, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India who was the guest of honour said that Manipur had been playing a major part in the field of cultural tourism of the country. Kanjilal Gaur, Executive Director of the Indian Association of Tour Operators who was also the guest of honour at the function stated that the Association would extend all possible help to the Government of Manipur for organizing package tours to Manipur.  T N Haokip, Minister Tourism, Manipur was the Chief Guest at the closing function of the Manipur Tourism Meet 2008 at Dilli Haat. Mukesh Jagga, President of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India also attended the closing function as the guest of honour.

NSD unit in NE
Alma mater to many national and international artistes, the National School of Drama is planning to set up five new Regional National Schools of Drama, out of which one would be based in the North-East. The premier institute has also already furnished the said proposal to the Central Government in this regard. Dr. Sherin, registrar, NSD, informed.Dr. Sherin was in Guwahati in connection with the beginning of the Poorvottar Natya Samaroh in Guwahati from March 26 to April 10. In the Samaroh, 28 different plays would be staged in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam. Theatre groups, which confirmed their participation from the North-East region, hail from Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Assam.

Regional film industry demands Govt action
As part of its prolonged battle against piracy, people from regional film industry have decided to move the State Government urging the latter to float an exclusive department to check the flourishing piracy racket, which has its source in the Indo-Bangla border. “As the threat is more from outside the State than within, the State Government must initiate action to check this rampant crime, which is costing the film industry crores of rupees annually,” said Ranjan Baruah, civil activist and a member of Swargajyoti Motion Pictures. Baruah while asserting that the Censor Board has failed to keep a control on the industry, said, “Around 80 per cent of the VCD movies produced in the State do not bother to get the certification of the Board, which is a gross violation of law. All the digital products like music albums or VCDs must be censored to promote quality,” Baruah pointed out, adding, “The Censor Board must take these growing instances of violation seriously.”

Centre’s nod to Ayurveda institute
The Centre cleared the path of setting up of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in Shillong, at a cost of Rs 67.51 crore. The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal. The Institute would be an autonomous organisation under the Department of AYUSH. The decision will facilitate promotion of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, expansion of healthcare, improvement in the doctor-population ratio and R&D on bio-resources in the North-East, an official spokesperson said. The country has 225 Ayurveda and 181 Homoeopathy colleges, of which, there is only one Ayurvedic College and three Homoeopathy colleges in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The North-East has no teaching institutions other than the two States, even though there is considerable demand for Ayurveda and Homoeopathic systems in North Eastern States. The spokesperson said Shillong is a central place in the North-East, where students and patients from the other north-eastern States may avail the facilities of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in the proposed Institute.

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