News Briefs Vol. 3 Issue No. 36

October 1-15, 200

SD Burman’s wife felicitated

Meera Deb Burman, lyricist and widow of legendary music composer Sachin Deb Burman, has been felicitated by the Tripura goverment in the house of his late son Rahul Deb Burman in Mumbai. Tripura Information and Culture Minister Anil Sarkar felicitated her on behalf of the State Government. Meera’s daughter-in-law, singer Asha Bhosle, also was present. Nonagenarian Meera, suffering from health problems and bed-ridden for years, could neither speak nor respond. Sarkar presented her a cheque of Rs 1 lakh and gifts. Sachin Deb Burman belonged to the erstwhile royal family of Tripura.

Arunachal Govt denies ULFA-Congress nexus

Arunachal Pradesh Government denied allegations of a nexus between the ULFA and the state Congress leaders and said it was ready to face any investigation in this regard. None of the ministers or Congress leaders in Arunachal Pradesh were in any way involved with any banned organisation, Water Resources Minister and government spokesman Tako Dabi said while reacting to the allegation made by a section of media and the BJP. Some leaders with vested interest were exploiting the news item to settle political scores against the Congress government led by Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, he told reporters. According to reports, Prabal Neog, commander of ULFA’s 28th battalion and instrumental in the massacre of Hindi speaking people in Assam, who was arrested at Tezpur on September 17, had named three Arunachal ministers extending him logistic support, during interrogation.

Draft vision document for NE released

Draft vision document ‘Peace, Progress and Prosperity in the North Eastern Region: Vision 2020’, prepared by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, was released. The document deals extensively with all aspects of the problem plaguing the region including militancy and examines policies like the Look East Policy. Several recommendations are incorporated in the document for the region’s economic uplift. The NEC prepared the 329-page report. “The current official position on the solution of problem of insurgency, also advocates rapid economic development,” the report said adding, “there is however, a serious flaw in the argument.”The voluminous report puts a question mark on the market scenario in the remote and backward region. “Without a market there can not be any economic activities,” it added.

Sikkim Govt directs traders to hire locals

The Sikkim Government has issued a notification mandating industries and business enterprises to employ local people as a prerequisite for obtaining trading licence. A recent notification issued by Sikkim’s Urban Development department states that prospective traders and businessmen would be given trading licences only if they employ local residents in their enterprises on preferential basis. Jobs could be given to non-locals only if local people are not available for it. The State Government had recently incorporated some amendments to the Sikkim Trade Licence and Miscellaneous Provision Rules.

Women in violence-hit Manipur paint to combat stress

Apart from opting ‘Art’ as a career, women in Manipur have taking up painting as a therapeutic way to combat stress and express their feelings. In the past two years, the number of girl students enrolling in the art college has increased manifold. “I am glad that the response is encouraging and girls are taking keen interest,” said Y. Nabachandra, Principal of the Imphal Art College. Girl students who have taken up this medium say they want to send a message to society about the prevailing law and order situation in the state. “I want to depict the crime that is taking place in the society in my paintings,” said Seityabati Devi, a painter. These women feel that painting acts as an excellent therapy to counter the trauma faced by them. “I feel such shameful and harmful feelings should be tackled through peaceful means. Art is one such solution,” said R.K. Shangrila Devi, another painter.

Your Visit No

Since April 20, 2000