9th ITFAA at Guwahati
Huge response leaves encouraging signs
Participation by Iranian companies for the first time was largely responsible for the biggest and surprising success of the fair. The 9th International Guwahati Trade Fair was organised by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) from February 22 to March 6 and like previous occasions, it turned out to be a huge success.

Egyptian sculptures and paintings welcomed one and all at the entrace and the huge crowd visiting the fair on all days got the opportunity to see and purchase at cheap prices what big names in the corporate world like LG, Usha, Whirlpool, Samsung, Philips, Akai, Onleyo, Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto along with public sector undertakings like Coir Board and North Eastern Handloom Development Corporation Ltd. had to offer. In fact, the Iranian stall was the real show stealer in this year’s Guwahati Trade Fair. It was the first time that Iran participated — a pleasant surprise to the appreciative crowd. As far as Bangladesh’s participation was concerned, this was the second successive year which drew a good response like the previous year.

What became an instant success with the crowd were the melamine products of Bangladesh and Iran. The ‘Goetab’ melamine of Iran, which is one of the biggest names in the melamine world, was a huge draw at this fair. Goetab Melamine is exported to Africa, South America, Europe as also to other Asian countries. Goetab’s huge sale was also a big gain for the organisers to confirm its entry to the next year’s fair here for which the ITFAA has grand plans.

Mr. Abdullah, the head of Goetab industry, was himself present and he looked visibly very happy at the overwhelming response that the melamine products received. Mr. Sanjay, who is the chief marketing officer of Goetab in India was also present and he was all praise for the Guwahati crowd, the ITFAA for its excellent organisation and management. Rajesh Das, the vice president of ITFAA, the man who was mainly instrumental in bringing Iran to the Guwahati fair received special mention for his efforts.

“We were doubtful coming to Guwahati as the North-East is branded a very disturbed zone but it was Rajesh Das who persuaded Mr. Abdullah and other related members of the Goetab fraternity during the last IITF in New Delhi. He guaranteed all co-operation, support and security cover. But from what we have experienced here, it is not only a surprise but we are really moved. The crowd is terrific — they are knowledgeable, disciplined and very appreciative. Our sales are good and we will definitely come back for the future editions of the Guwahati Trade Fair,” said Sanjay.

Eighteen companies from Bangladesh participated in the fair under the export promotion bureau, an umbrella organisation. They offered a wide range of products from leather goods, processed food to artificial flowers, silk, cotton, muslin sarees and the famous Jamdani sarees, that were huge in demand in the last Guwahati fair. In fact, the team from Bangladesh had come with a twin purpose — to take part in the fair and make efforts for opening new frontiers in trade and commerce with the North-East region.

The tone was set when speaking at the inaugural function of the fair, First Secretary of Bangladesh High Commission S. M. Islam invited all North-Eastern states to participate in the Dhaka International Trade Fair for boosting trade ties. He asked Seven Sister states to explore the ‘huge potential market’ of Bangladesh, as it has much to offer due to its geographical proximity, socio-economic cohesiveness and similar lifestyles of peoples on both sides of the border.

He called for reorientation of trade fair ‘from one of competition to one of co-operation’ and also opined that the North-East had all potential to become the ‘golden gate of south east Asian economy’. The counter of ‘sharif melamine’ was the main centre of attraction along with the exquisite Jamdani sarees in the Bangladesh pavilion. The Bangladesh based Shiral Melamine is one of the fastest growing melamine companies in the world today, exporting to around 15 countries since 1998. It is also exporting its product to the North-East for the last two years.

The 9th International Trade Fair and its huge success almost established the Guwahati fair as one of the leading trade fairs in    the country. There were about     300 stalls, which were all divided into clear-cut enclosures according to the products that they were selling.

Peaceful Nagaland: From imagination to reality
Since its formation in 1963, Nagaland has lost more than it gained  mainly due to militancy. But now people’s desire for peace has helped the State to defy all odds and march towards a better future.

On December 1, 1963, the State of Nagaland came into being. However what the State has gone through from the time of its creation can be described as more than a roller-coaster. Being afflicted with insurgency for over 50 years, it earned the dubious distinction of being the State of the Union with the highest militant density. Being remote and deprived, it was counted as one of the poorest States in infrastructure. It was faced with a difficult financial position as the problem of repeated RBI embargo became very thorny. To top it all serious bottlenecks in governance issues like fatigue in bereaucracy, absenteeism and poor functioning of government institutions came in the way of development of the State.

However, with the ushering in of the new century, multi-sectoral reforms were initiated. The church, missionary bodies and the Naga Hoho (the apex body of various Naga tribes) came together to take the unprecedented initiative of spreading the message of ‘peace and reconciliation’. It found instant support of the people. Killings, extortions, insecurity of life and property turned the society of peace loving people into one of fear and suspicion. Both the bursting urban areas and several villages have been gravely affected by such events. Fear psychosis had gripped the people. The economy was crippled and the government functioning came a copper due to lack of conducive atmosphere. Hence it came as no surprise that the people of Nagaland from the villages in the most interior parts to the urban folk came out open spontaneously expressing their deep desire for peace to prevail.

The police force was strengthened through Centre’s modernisation scheme. Regular petrol was introduced on highways and regular monitoring of the performance of senior police officers done. Three years prior to ceasefire, figure of insurgency related killings stood at 17 per month. Three years after ceasefire, it stood at eight per month. Figures at the end of 2001 showed 5.6 per month. The chart (on the facing page) , contrasting study of rate of crime from 1998 to 2001, itself tells the story.

There were also significant fiscal reforms ushered in. The most important move was to rightsize the Government through workcharge and casual employee Act 2001 as also putting a ban on creation of posts. Sick undertakings like the sugar mills were wound up. Widening the tax base, rationalising tax rate, user charges being applied on power, water, timber, mechinaries, plugging loopholes and realising arrears were some of the relevant tax reforms. The State Government also made a serious attempt at pruning unavoidable expenditure. And the results have there to be seen. There has been no RBI eimbargo for the last two years. Nagaland also became the first State to fulfill the eleventh Finance Commission norms, a milestone indeed.

There are monthly meetings of secretaries and directors on 20th of every month to assess the situation. ‘Vision groups’ have been constituted in every department and seminars are held on topics related to ‘transparency and accountability’. The cabinet has gone all out to promote transparency. Each scheme and its working is publicised. Civil Services Board has been constituted and impetus is put on intensive human resource development that includes training of nodal media persons and weekly IT training in secretariat. Citizens charter has been drawn in some sectors like police and civil supplies. The DC has been empowered to write ACR’s of district-level officers. This has improved the attendance figures as now it stands at an all time high of 80 per cent. Fraud cases are dealt with severely and any person involved in such activities in government organisations is punished by directly removing him/her from service. The ‘Imagine Nagaland’ exercise with UNICEF assistance using ‘appreciative enquiry’ technique is currently on. Under this exercise, the focus is on children, tapping inter governmental wisdom and finding route to tap external assistance. The ‘Imagine Nagaland’ programme has given at least 150 recommendations to follow on.

There has been communitisation of Nagaland public institutions and services ordinance 2002. Here delegation and decentralisation are the key and traditional social capital is used. However, there are also safeguards as checks to this open policy. Year 2001 also saw chalking out of Nagaland Tourism Policy, Industrial Policy and the Nagaland Municipal Act as well. The emphasis has been laid on eco tourism and ethnic tourism. The Hornbill festival in the first week of December has now been declared an annual fixture. The Government of India has also relaxed its Restricted Area norms for Nagaland to tap more tourism. Foreign tourism has almost grown six times in the last couple of years. Amendment has also been made on the land revenue Act to facilitate mortgaging assets to financial institutions.

Rainwater harvesting in about 50 places, promoting quality of primary education and targeting AIDS control through NGOs are the new reform programmes. This chapter of reforms has brought in optimism in government and the society as a whole. There are new directions, especially for the tenth Plan. With crime coming down, there is      hope and dynamism in the functioning of the State. The State has indeed taken a holistic approach towards reforms and aims to make it a continuing process.

Mizo Government may reach a settlement with BNLF

Mizoram Government and the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) might soon sign a memorandum of settlement to end the four-year-old Bru insurgency in the State and expedite repatriation of Brus from neighbouring Tripura. Informed sources, on the condition of anonymity, said that the State Government had drafted a memorandum of settlement which would be discussed in the fifth round of talks with the BNLF in the later part of this month or early April. They, however, refused to divulge the terms and conditions of the draft agreement.

The sources felt that there could be deadlock in the future dialogue if the BNLF insisted on its demands for a separate autonomous district council carving out the north-western belt of the State. The Mizoram Government delegation led by State Chief Secretary H. V. Kalringa and BNLF representatives led by its home secretary Zaithanga Apeto held the fourth round of talks recently. BNLF is a Bru underground organisation fighting the State Government since late 1997 and indulging in violent activities like murder, abduction, extortion and other illegal activities.

However, the Mizoram Government has made it clear that it had no intention to create a separate autonomous district council for the Brus/Reangs by carving out some parts of the State. Mizoram Home Minister Tawnluia answering in the State Assembly questions from Zakhu Hlychho of the Congress and J Lalthangliana of the Mizoram People’s Conference said that the delegation of the State Government and the Brus National Liberation Front (BNLF) had held four rounds of talks and would continue to have dialogue to reach a solution to the Bru problem. He informed the State Legislature that the government did not have any knowledge of a recent ruling by the apex court on the repatriation of Brus from neighbouring Tripura. He admitted that the State administration is yet to make final identification of Brus who were bona fide residents of Mizoram, now staying in six refugee camps in Tripura. He said, ‘once they are repatriated, they would be resettled in the districts where they used to stay before the exodus in later part of 1997.’ The Bru militants have committed murders, abductions, extortion and other offences in Mizoram soil which made the State Government insist that the repatriation of the Brus from Tripura would not be implemented until and unless the insurgents lay down arms.
                 
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