Centre sanctions Rs 5 crore for war museum
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 crore to Nagaland for undertaking renovation work on the World War II museum project at Kigwema, according to State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said. Inaugurating the newly renovated State museum, Mr Rio said that this had been made possible during his recent visit to New Delhi and meeting with Union Art and Culture Minister Mr Jagmohan. He said the Union Minister would be visiting the World War II museum either in November or December next. Maintaining that the State possessed a unique history, rich culture and tradition, Mr Rio, however, regretted that Nagaland’s people did not give much importance to their cultural heritage. “Unless we preserve our cultural heritage, the future generation would blame us,” he added.

Banks harassing loan seekers: Tripura Minister 
Nationalised banks in Tripura are harassing unemployed educated youths while giving them loans under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), Tripura Industry and Commerce Minister Pabitra Kar alleged. Mr Kar said that banks were violating PMRY guidelines by asking loan-seekers to give share money of the beneficiary at a higher rate. “The banks on their own stipulated some mandatory norms which are not under the scheme,” he added. During the last financial year, there was a target to provide loan to three thousand such youths under the scheme. Unfortunately various branches of nationalised banks so far sanctioned loans to only 1276 baneficiaries, the minister added.

Most Meghalaya teachers untrained : CM
More than half of Meghalaya’s primary teachers were untrained, Chief Minister D. D. Lapang said. Inaugurating a District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), fourth in the State, in Ri-Bhoi district, he said, “60 per cent of the lower primary and 66 per cent of upper primary teachers were untrained. Opening of such institutes would help teachers equip with effective techniques of teaching and inculcate a sense of positive thinking and professionalism in their work.”  The DIET was set up as per the national policy for education to train teachers, he said. State’s minister for Higher and Technical Education M Suchiang said 40 per cent of children between the age group of 6-14 years were ‘drop-outs’  in schools and the opening of DIET would provide opportunities for the teachers    to gain access to the effective techniques of teachings.   Trained teachers would surely bring down the drop out rate in the district and State as a whole, he said.

Governor urged to conduct probe
The people of the Senapati district has appealed to Manipur Governor Arvind Dave to conduct a high level probe into the alleged misuse of funds and gross irrregularities in implementation of schemes in the district. A memorandum submitted to the Governor alleged that the progress report submitted by the DRDA chairman had shown work under the PMGSY, SGRY schemes were complete without proper verification. Most of the developmental works were untouched though bills were encashed, it alleged.

Nagaland Governor call to use herbs
Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta has exhorted the people to identify potential areas of medicinal plants and start a model project in the State. Inaugurating the diamond jubilee exhibition of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at Kohima Science College, Mr Datta maintained that the State needed to start proper documentation on herbal medicines for commercial purpose. Mr Datta stressed on the need to know the application of technology to part with the rest of the States, taking into account viability of processing and commercial aspects. Terming tourism as the fastest growing sector, the Governor maintained that Nagaland possessed tremendous potential for eco-tourism and called upon the people to conserve and protect the flora and fauna of  the State. State Agriculture Minister Huska Sumi also   spoke on the occasion.

Rs 47 cr Central allocation
The Centre has allocated Rs 47 crore for the NE states under various non-conventional energy programmes. The amount, allocated by the Union Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, was ten per cent of the gross budgetary support. Of the total amount, Rs 1. 50 crore was sanctioned for setting up of State nodal agencies in all the NE states for exclusive implementation of various non-conventional energy programmes. Of the allocation, an expenditure of Rs 34. 23 crore was incurred during  March 2003, making a cumulative expenditure of       Rs 46. 69 crore during April 2002 to March 2003.

CM sanctions Rs 5 lakh for FFMB
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the Freedom Fighters Memorial Bhawan (FFMB) at Jorhat. This was announced by the Chief Minister while naming a road in the Mallow area of the town. Mr. Gogoi announced in the meeting that in every district, roads and buildings would be named after renowned persons in the field of art, culture and sports. Lauding late Jogen Saikia’s contribution to society, after whom the road has been named, Gogoi said that Jogen Saikia was an idol for him during his student days as far as social service is concerned. Noted freedom fighter,   Tileswar Bordoloi presided  over the function. 

Minister flags off distillery consignment  
Arunachal Pradesh Tax and Excise Minister T. C. Teli informed that in the last financial year Rs 31 crore revenue was collected by his department of which 50 per cent came from liquor establishments. While flagging off the first consignment of Arunachal Distillery and Bottling Pvt Ltd product, he said with the production of country liquor in the State, revenue was going to increase, which would have direct impact on stipend and salaries of government staff, which the government had enhanced. The Excise Minsiter said that unlike timber, minerals or other businesses, which had extracted raw materials and destroyed the environment, this business required no exhaustible raw materials. He said at present liquor establishments were the only notable revenue sources for the State over taking forest power.

12 women ‘extortionists’  held at Tezpur
Twelve women ‘extortionists’ from Rajasthan were arrested by police from various areas of Tezpur. According to police, these girls who hail from Raipur district of Rajasthan were forcefully collecting money in the name of existing poverty in Rajasthan. Police also suspect the gangs to be involved in acts of immoral traffickings.

Former Arunachal minister joins BJP
H Ponglaham, a former minister of Arunachal Pradesh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party along with his supporters. Ponglaham, a Congress leader hailed from Tirap district has expressed his full confidence in the Central and State leadership of the BJP. Meanwhile, Kangir Jamoh, president, State unit of BJP has welcomed Ponglaham for joining his party. 

Hitler Marak granted bail
Former Meghalaya Forest Minister Adolf Lu Hitler R. Marak, who was arrested on June 27 for his alleged nexus with the banned A’chik National Volunteers’ Council was released on bail. East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Donald P. Wahlang granted bail on condition that he should make himself available to the authorities for investigation and interrogation as and when required. The Court further observed that the accused should not indulge in any activity pro-judicial to the security of the State and should not hamper and tamper with evidence. Hitler had been accused of having nexus with the banned outfit after two of its cadres were arrested from his official vehicle in May.

Surrendered militants in Home department
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said that the State government was contemplating inducting the surrendered militants into the Home Department. Reacting to a calling attention motion moved by the Opposition members, the Chief Minister informed the House that effort would be made by the government to provide alternative job opportunities to those who come overground and join the mainstream.

Wanglat declared unattached
Congress MLA L Wanglat, who was expelled from the party, will now be treated as an “unattached member” in the House with immediate effect. Wanglat was expelled from Congress for six years by Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Mukut Mithi who is also the Chief Minister on June 18 last following his anti-party activities.

Anindita sponsored for Guinness
Terming Anandita’s (Mirchibala) capability to eat 100 chillies in one minute as a great achievement, Brig (retd) M. Kumar of Dharampal Satyapal Ltd, Bamunimaidan, said, “It is a matter of great pride for all of us in Assam that we have a girl of such extraordinary capability who can march to the Guinness Book of World Records.” Mr Kumar said this while announcing the company’s decision to sponsor the girl for her journey to London to appear in a test for entering her name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

NSCN (IM) extorting in Changlang: DC 
Deputy Commissioner of Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh, Talam Tapak has charged the NSCN (IM) of not only extorting money in the district but also of carrying out recruitment drives there. Mr.Tapak said that a good number of NSCN (IM) cadres along with the banned ULFA were extorting huge amount of money from different communities of the district. He also alleged that the militants also extorted fund from the local MLA, Sanchum Nimu, through an emmissary recently, and added that the outfits are recruiting local Arunachali youths for the organisation. Recently, 10 Arunachali youths of Changlang were abducted by the NSCN (IM), the Deputy Commissioner said, adding that of them two youth jumped from the Tirap bridge and escaped. After reaching Changlang, they informed the authorities about the activities of the ultras.

Centre urged to set up anti-infiltration squad
Meghalaya Government has urged the Union Home Ministry to set up an anti-infiltration squad in the State to check cross-border movement of ultras and foreign nationals. The State Government presented a paper on the prevailing law-and-order situation in the State, to the Secretary, Union Home Ministry (Border Management), P Sinha and the Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajiv Agarwal who visited the State recently. The MHA officials were apprised of the fact that there were only 194 staff manning the foreigners’ infiltration cell which needed to be strengthened.

Nagaland girl brings laurels to State
Shaswati Bhattacharjee, a girl from Dimapur has brought laurels to Nagaland by achieving celebrated position of 1st class first in the finals of B Sc (Bio-Tech) from Bangalore University. She is the grand-daughter of Manik Bhattacharjee, a veteran social worker of Nagaland who has dedicated his life for the cause of education and health services. He was the brain behind establishing the first women’s college in Nagaland. The principal and the management of Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, where Shaswati did her early schooling, has congratulated her on her achieving such a prestigious position.

Defamation case against Cong MLA
The Mizoram Government has filed a defamation case against  a Congress legislator for accusing the Government of paying ransom to rebels for release of abducted persons. The public prosecutor filed the case in the court of Additional District Magistrate (judicial) recently against Congress  MLA R. Lalzirliana for making allegations of paying ransom to rebels against the Government. The legislator was charged  under section 501 of the Indian Penal Code and the hearing   was fixed for August 22.  Earlier, Lalzirliana told newspersons that he had evidences including the number of currency notes that the Mizo National Front (MNF) Government paid as ransom for the release of NEEPCO personnel abducted by Manipur’s Hmar People’s Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) militants in 1999.

Book on Sankaradeva released
A book titled “Sankaradeva his life, preachings and practices “ authored by Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam was formally released by Pankaj Bora, Education Minister at a function held at the auditorium of Directorate of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Guwahati recently. 

Centre clears stamp on Jyoti Prasad
Central Government has cleared issue of a commemorative stamp in honour of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. The long-pending demand was in the cold storage of the Communication Ministry until the Prime Minister’s Office intervened. In a letter, the Prime Minister has informed Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Brindaban Goswami that a commemorative stamp would be issued to honour Jyoti Prasad. The stamp, however, is likely to be issued next year, as the current year’s calendar was full.

New office bearers of journalists union

Brozendra Ningomba and Ratan Luwangcha were elected vice president and general secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) during a meeting of the standing committee of the AMWJU. The meeting presided over by the newly-elected AMWJU president Shamjai Wangkhemcha also elected Thiyam Ranjan Singh and Thokchom Basanta as joint secretaries of the Union.

Nagaland to get a UK-sponsored university
Nagaland will soon get a UK-sponsored university with various courses, provided the State Government cleared the proposals which have already been submitted. The North Eastern Education Society (NEES), the agency which had taken initiative in this regard, has already met State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who expressed happiness over the new venture. According to the proposals, the State Government has been asked to issue gazette notification which will lead to the formation of the same. They added that the State Government had also been asked to grant an amount of Rs 10 lakh to the NEES to carry out feasibility study and make norms. The State Government was also asked to allot 100 acres of land for construction of the university in Dimapur in April, 2004, so that the admission could be done from August in the same year, the sources said.

Meghalaya gives priority to solve border tangle
A 10-point common minimum programme was adopted by the  Meghalaya Government to find an amicable solution to the vexed boundary dispute with Assam topping the list. The CMP includes formulation of policies on economy and education, strengthening of the rural economy, human resource development, influx, health care, promotion of international trade, employment generation through industrialisation and formulation of self-employment schemes. Chief Minister D D Lapang said a committee has been constituted to follow up the implementation of the common minimum programmes.

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