GUWAHATI, January 1: Karbi hamlets in many parts of Karbi Anglong district are facing serious threat from unabated encroachment by illegal migrants. But the authorities are yet to wake up to the problem. A recent incident at a Karbi hamlet in Lankajan area under Diphu Legislative Assembly constituency is a reflection of the simmering tension prevailing between indigenous Karbi people and illegal migrants trying to encroach upon their land. About 200 Karbi inhabitants of the hamlet had to flee for life when a large group of illegal migrants armed with sharp weapons and firearms let loose a reign of terror in the village in a cold December night. The villagers were robbed of their belongings. Even two women including a Class IV student and a pregnant woman was allegedly raped by the miscreants during the raid in the Karbi hamlet. The General Secretary of the Karbi Students Association (KSA), Longsing Tokbi while talking to The Assam Tribune accused the district administration of remaining a mute spectator to the incident despite memoranda submitted by the KSA, ASDC and CPI-ML requesting action against the illegal migrant miscreants involved in the incident. On the other hand the miscreants kidnapped a local ASDC leader, the gaonburha of the hamlet and seven other people during the raid and later handed them to Nagaon Police, who in turn arrested them on charges of harbouring militants, the KSA leader alleged. He further informed that no step had been initiated by the administration to provide security to about 200 terror-striken villagers, who had fled their village after being attacked by the miscreants. They are now being sheltered by Karbi people in neighbouring villages. The KSA alleged that the illegal immigrants were trying to grab land of Karbi villagers by scaring them away. These illegal migrants, who are now settling down at the bordering areas of the hill district, were forced to flee Kokrajhar areas by Bodos during the 1996 riots in the district. This is not an isolated case in the hill district. In many other parts of the district illegal migrants from Nagaon district areas are trying to grab land in the hill district thereby creating an atmosphere of tension among the indigenous Karbi people. On the other hand, a large number of small tea growers, some of whom are former militants, are trying to grab Karbi Anglong land in areas bordering Golaghat and Nagaon district to set up tea plantations. The KSA General Secretary informed that large areas of Karbi Anglong had been grabbed by small tea growers at Duarbagori and Socheng Dhenta areas. He alleged that valuable trees were being felled illlegally to create areas for tea plantation while the Revenue Department of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council was yet to take any step to arrest encroachment. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 2, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 3: The Assam government appears to be in a fix over the rehabilitation of the next of kin of martyrs and physically-disabled activists of the six-year-long Assam agitation. The problem becomes acute against the backdrop of the burgeoning unemployment scenario in the state and the Centre's recent directive to impose a "ban on all appointments". The government failed to do anything despite Governor Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha's recent notification directing suitable rehabilitation of the next of kin of martyrs and those physically handicapped. The All-Assam Students' Union (AASU) has decried the government's negligence, accusing political parties of putting the sacrifices of the martyrs and the freedom fighters on the backburner. It warned of a fresh agitation if the government failed to rehabilitate all participants of the Assam agitation. AASU advisor and former general secretary Samujjal Bhattacharyya said, "It is only during the elections that the political parties raise this issue of providing jobs to the next of kin of the deceased and those physically disabled. It is a pity that we tend to forget the valiant sacrifices of our heroes who laid down their lives for the greater cause of Assam. "When the government is continuing with the appointments through the back door, then why are these people left in the lurch?" he asked. Bhattacharyya warned the government against implementing the Centre's "faulty policy" of imposing a ban on appointments. Of the 855 martyrs and 865 persons rendered physically disabled, the government has so far rehabilitated only 400 families. Official sources said all appointments to the martyrs' families and other freedom fighters of the Assam agitation were stopped since 1986. The present AGP-led government, which came to power in 1985, rehabilitated only three families while the Congress, which returned to power in 1991, failed to rehabilitate even a single family. While the government has blamed the families of not coming forward to avail of the offer, the families have accused the government of not taking their cases seriously. "For the past 15 years, we have been running from pillar to post for assistance, but to no avail," a victim said. However, sources said the government was in no position to declare them as beneficiaries unless they submitted the necessary documents. "Anybody can come and claim that he is a kin of a martyr, we just cannot provide a job to anyone like that," a senior official said, adding that the government is still unsure about the existence of 14 families missing since the days of the agitation. State chief secretary PK Bora said all necessary steps were being taken to rehabilitate the families of the victims. He, however, refused to comment on whether the Centre's instructions to ban all appointments was posing a problem in this regard. "We are examining the matter," he added. (Siddhartha Dutta Kashyap; The Telegraph, Calcutta; January 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 4: The Indo-US primate project has called for a revision of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to protect several "critically endangered" primate species. The Northeast centre of the Indo-US project, in its annual report for the period December 1998 to November 1999, said several species included in Schedule II should be considered for inclusion in Schedule I so that no one can kill, capture or keep them as pets. The centre is working in the region for conservation of endangered primate species since 1994. "Primate hunting is difficult to control because in many cases, it is a part of a traditional way of life of the people," the report said. It added that the need of the hour is to educate people and control human population for protecting wild fauna. The report said eight out of the nine primate species of the Northeast are dependent on forests. "All possible priority should be given to maintain the forest areas either by increasing protected area networks or by creating more and more community-based conservation," the report said. "Since habitat loss is the principal threat to primates, topmost priority should be given to conservation of the wild habitats," the report emphasised. During the past five years, the Indo-US project has encountered nine species of primates in the Northeastern states. The report said of the nine primate species, four have been categorised as "critically endangered" species. The Indo-US project report said although the 1996 red list of threatened animals by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is comprehensive and identifies a significant number of Northeast primate species as "threatened," revisions are required. "The revisions should ensure that all the distinct threatened species are given proper consideration," the report said. After carrying out a series of surveys, the Indo-US project also said more armed staff were necessary in the Holongapara wildlife sanctuary as there has been selective felling in the fringe areas by local tea garden labourers. "The illegal activities are beyond the means of the forest guards to halt," the report said. The wild habitat, which has a total area of 19.5 square km, is located in Upper Assam's Jorhat district. It has been renamed the Gibbon wildlife sanctuary. Holongapara is home to seven species of primates. The Indo-US project report said after the detailed survey, they have been able to locate 29 groups of five primate species with a total of 338 individuals in the sanctuary. However, the research team could not locate any Assamese macaque in the wild habitat. In 1998, eight Assamese macaques were located in Holongapara sanctuary. A research team of the Indo-US project first took up a survey of the wild habitat in May 1996. Research fellows have been constantly monitoring the area to document the rate of change in primate population and to prepare a comprehensive conservation and management plan. "During monitoring in 1997-99, there was no evidence of hunting or trapping in the wildlife sanctuary," the report said. (Anirban Roy; The Telegraph, Calcutta; January 5, 2000)

AIZAWL, January 5: At least 89 people, including 12 women, died due to drug abuse in Mizoram during last year, state commissioner of excise R Lalzauva said here on Tuesday. Lalzauva, quoting departmental records, said that out of the 89 deaths, 81 people died due to consumption of Spasmo Proxyvon, a pain killer widely used by the Mizo youths, while six people died due to heroin abuse, two others died due to Nitrazepam. Altogether 427 people, including 41 women, have died due to drug abuse in the state since 1984 when drug-related death was first detected in Mizoram, he further said. Out of this, 393 died due to Proxyvon abuse while heroin and Nitrazepam claimed 32 and three lives respectively. The number of deaths due to drug abuse in he state during 1998 was recorded as 84. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 6, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 6: Look at the picture. This is a picture of a bronze sculpture collected from Sree Sree Damodar Atar Than of Nagaon Narowa Balisatra - depicting a winged Vyala - a grotesque mixture of a horse and a lion. The sculptures of the Vyala or Gaja (elephant) - Vyalaya were used as couriers of the asana (seat) of the Lord by the Assamese Vaishnavites. Here the impression sought to be given with this coinged Vyala is such that it has landed on the earth from heaven carrying on its back the asana of the Lord. However, the asana here is missing. And herein lies our story. This is a century-long story of devotion, commitment, trauma and sacrifice underwent by the people of Balisatra to preserve their, nay Assam's, glorious heritage of Vaishnavite culture! The hardship these people faced over the centuries is quite ostensible from the dissociation of this Vyala from the bronze asana on its back! Damodar Ata, the greatest grandson of Mahapurusha Sreemanta Sankaradeva, set up the Balisatra Than about 5 km north-west of Bardowa in 1650 AD (1572 Saka), while on a mission to find out the Bardowa Satra. Damodar Ata was the son of Govinda Priya, the daughter of Haricharan - who was the youngest son of Sreemanta Sankaradeva. Haricharan's son Chaturbhuj adopted Damodar Ata and made him his legal heir, which made the family of Damodar Ata known as Na-Rowa family - the 'newly planted' one, claimed the Sree Sree Narowa Balisatra Parichalana Samittee. The Balisatra was however set up by the Bhakats of Rampur Satra later on. Damodar Ata finally succeeded in finding out the Bardowa Satra camping at Balisatra Than and got an about 5 km-long road constructed within a night between Balisatra and Bardowa. As the road was constructed under the light of Jor (a traditional lamp made of bamboo and Nahar seeds etc.), the road is known as Jordhara Ali. The road was as straight as a straight line. It still exists, but named as Nagaon-Dhing via Balisatra-Dumdumia PWD road. It needs no mention that Bardowa Satra is associated with Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva, and hence was the strain taken by Damodar Ata to find it out and restore the past glory to it. Bardowa and Balisatra Than thus became the centres of Assamese Vaishnavite religion and culture and these two institutions contributed a lot to the Assamese literature and culture in course of time. Balisatra has the unique distinction of becoming the place where the first Charitputhi - the eulogies and family history of the Mahapurusha, was written. Ramakanta Ata of the Satra was the man who introduced the Katha-Charita in Assamese literature. Now the Satra is a place where several precious items and literary works connected with Srimanta Sankaradeva, like the manuscripts of famous Chitra Bhagawat and Angusthapraman Gunamala are preserved. Chitra Bhagawat is a rare illustrated manuscript of Assam which was prepared to describe the Bhagawata with beautiful illustrations. This was published by late Sahitya Ratna Hari Narayan Dutta Baruah with the permission of late Shivendra Ata of Balisatra. On the other hand, the thumb-size Angusthapraman Gunamala was written by Srimanta Sankaradeva at the instance of king Naranarayana. There are several rare manuscripts written by the Vaishnavite scholars which are still preserved by the people of Balisatra. Most of the manuscripts were written on Sanchipat - the unique durable paper prepared by the Assamese people in the bygone days from the Sanchi plants. There are some other valuable artefacts like the one shown in the picture, also in the Balisatra and its Damodar Atar Than. It is worthmentioning here that the Chitra Bhagawat and Angusthapraman Gunamala were some of the precious items Damodar Ata brought along with him from Bijni while on his mission to find out Bardowa Satra. People of Balisatra treat these items as more precious than their lives. Despite several calamities over the centuries, these items are kept with such a care, which no one will be able to describe in words. But today, only about 300 families are there in and around Balisatra who are desperately fighting all the odds to preserve this treasury of invaluable items with virtually no help coming forth from any quarter. Meanwhile, due to the faulty land policy and votebank politics of the State's rulers, the Rampur Satra, which was set up by Ramdev Ata, the grandson of Damodar Ata, on the bank of Ara Suti of the Brahmaputra between Balisatra and Bardowa Satra, has now been wiped out. The Balisatra is also facing the threat of extinction because of the above reasons. But, there is none in the State administration to pay any serious attention to all these problems, lamented Bharat Chandra Deva Goswami, a retired teacher of the Dumdumia HS School and the president of the Sree Sree Damodar Atar Than Parichalana Samiti. His feelings were supported by Mukul Kalita, secretary, Than Parichalana Samiti and Kana Khatoniar, president, Sree Sree Narowa Balisatra Parichalana Samiti and Kusha Bardoloi, secretary, Satra Parichalana Samiti. The Satra Parichalana Samiti was formed in 1990 to do away with the mismanagement of the Satra with the active participation of the common people. Despite the nonchalant attitude of the rulers towards the protection of the Satra and its overall development, the people of Balisatra have renovated the Than and the Satra and made even the State's former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Digen Bora and MP Tarun Gogoi make contributions for the purpose. The state government is turning a deaf ear to the demand of setting up a mini museum at Balisatra, and hence is the popular move there to set up such a museum. But, without government's help the people of Balisatra will not be able to save the Satra and Than land from the land-hungry immigrants, nor there is any scope to rename the Nagaon-Dhing via Balisatra-Dumdumia PWD road as Jordhara Ali - will the people of other parts of the State lend their help to the Balisatra-Dumdumia people in these connections, enquired Bharat Chandra Dev Goswami. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 7, 2000)

IMPHAL, January 7: Reacting strongly to the report that the Assam government has taken steps to recognise Bishnupriya language as "Bishnupriya Manipuri", Manipur Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh has said the good relations between the two states may end if the reports were true. In a letter to Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Nipamacha Singh yesterday urged him not to take any hasty step on the matter as five special leave petitions were pending before the Supreme Court. The five petitions have challenged the Assam and Tripura governments' decisions to recognise Bishnupriya language using "Manipuri" as either prefix or suffix. Controversy over Bishnupriya language erupted again after Assam education minister Thaneswar Boro directed his department to prepare text books for teaching "Bishnupriya Manipuri" language in 102 schools in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts with effect from January 12, 2000. Nipamacha Singh told Mahanta that the people of Manipur do not object to teaching of "Bishnupriya" language in schools in Assam. But, he said, Manipur has serious objections to recognising the language as "Bishnupriya Manipuri". Saying Bishnupriyas and Manipuris were different languages, the Manipur Chief Minister urged Mahanta not to succumb to the pressure of biased and politically-motivated people. He said the Manipuri language was included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution like Assamese and alleged that the Bishnupriyas were trying to dilute the distinct identity of Manipuris for their personal gain. Though the Assam government had taken a decision on May 25 to recognise the language as "Bishnupriya Manipuri", the implementation was deferred in July following an agitation by Manipuri students based in different states of the Northeast. But the Assam education minister's statement added fuel to fire. The Manipuri students are now up in arms against the Assam government's latest decision. With Manipur Assembly elections round the corner, Nipamacha Singh cannot afford to take a soft stance on the issue. (Oinam Sunil; The Telegraph, Calcutta; January 8, 2000)

SHILLONG, January 7: An intelligence report by the Mizoram Excise department has expressed concern over the mushrooming of heroin refineries and amphetamine laboratories in Myanmar. The country shares an international border with four of the seven Northeastern states. The report has also warned that drugs inflow into the region may increase if preventive measures are not taken immediately. The shift from manufacturing heroin to the production of amphetamines or "speed pills" could spell disaster for the youth of the region, already deep into drugs, the report said. The drug syndicates have also set up heroin refineries and speed pill laboratories in Tiddim and Kalaymyo townships and the Naga Hills of Sagaing division in Chin state, the report said. The newly-acquired mobile heroin distilling units have only added to the menace. The seizure of a large quantity of ephedrine which was being smuggled into Myanmar also confirms the existence of a large number of drug producing laboratories in that country, it added. The report accused the Myanmarese Army of colluding with the traffickers. "The United Wa State Army, largest producer of drugs in the Golden Triangle, has the firm backing of the Myanmarese Army. The United Wa State Army is responsible for producing the speed pills along the Indo-Myanmar and Thai-Myanmar borders. More than 300 million amphetamine tablets are manufactured annually in the areas under its control," the report said. The Myanmarese forces also escort consignments to the border areas, namely, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, the report added. Excise sources said they could not keep silent over the findings as Mizoram shares a 404-km border with Myanmar while Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a total of 1,000 km, making them natural conduits for the drug trafficking. The heroin is refined and finally despatched through the forests to the Northeastern states by drug syndicates run by militant groups of Myanmar. Indo-Myanmar talks: The Indo-Myanmar talks got underway under heavy security here today. The Army-to-Army talks on co-operation on training and border management began immediately after breakfast at the 101 Army area while the civilian talks on trade and commerce began at 3.30 pm at Hotel Polo Towers here. Both countries said they would not allow any insurgent camps and anti-government activists on each other's soil. The Union trade and commerce minister, Union power minister and other officials, however, refused to brief the Press on the outcome of the talks. Unofficial sources said the Indian Army and the Myanmarese armed forces will soon start a training exchange programme of Army officials. (Linda C; The Telegraph, Calcutta; January 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 7: For some of them it was about 26 years back, for some about 20 years back and for some about seven to four years back, when they were self-sufficient;- they could also feed others with the produces in their fields. But, today they are all reduced to wage labourers- dependent on the whims of others- earning a petty sum of about Rs 40 per day per head when there is any work to do within the areas of their access, which may be at places within the urban limits of Guwahati, Mirza or Bijoynagar, or within the limits of their rural neighbourhood. Not less than two thousand families- which makes an astounding figure of displaced people, pauperised by the mighty Brahmaputra, on the about 40-km-long river embankment between Palasbari and Nagarbera near the city, for decades or for years in sub-human condition braving the vagaries of nature and mocking at the policy makers, planners and record collectors (like those of Guiness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records) with a grin. To put the entire human civilisation and the urbane elites to shame, these people have never allowed the progress of life and the cycle of nature to be upset by any Bohemian onslaught. Yes, they have been fighting out the tides to keep their tradition, their culture and ethos intact, no matter whether they are made to pay Rs 10 for a kilogram of cauliflower or Rs 5 for a small bhag of Puthi-Khalihana consisting of hardly 20 small varieties of fishes, during this winter harvesting season, which is heralding the Idd and Bhogalee Bihu- the festivals of plenty! The Idd and the Bhogalee Bihu will perhaps be celebrated this time also in almost all other parts of the State with much pomp and gaiety, and perhaps no one will, as usual, care to make any query as to whether the people living on the embankment between Palasbari and Nagarbera will be able to keep their hearths warm on the festival days! According to Bipin Das (48), a small shopowner at Satrapara village under Palasbari Police Station, Brahmaputra has eroded a 15 square kilometre area of Satrapara, Bholapara, Dakhala, Nahira and Guimara villages since 1960. Embankments constructed to prevent the flood water of Brahmaputra from inundating the areas were also eroded at least on four occasions during the period between 1960 and 1998, he said. The Das had to shift their homestead four times to evade the wrath of the Brahmaputra. More than 1,000 families of these villages who were well to do farmers' families, were pauperised by the Brahmaputra, Das said. Citing an instance of the industrious zeal of the farmers of the area, Das said that some of the affected farmers of the area on their own shifted to Malaybari near Sonapur, in the late sixties and they made Malaybari famous for agricultural produces. Malaybari today occupies an important place in the agricultural map of the State, Das added. The Brahmaputra has so far eroded about five puras (5 x 4 = 20 bighas) of paddy fields belonging to Das' family. So far about 200 families of Satrapara, Bholapara and Dakhala have shifted on their own to other places, but those who have chosen to stay back in their native villages are living under pitiable condition, Das lamented. Dandiram Das (40) of Guimara, who ploughed about five puras of land till four years back, now works as a daily wage labourer in others' fields or with sand carrying trucks to maintain his seven-member family. He has four school going children and he is to pay their school fees. The free text book scheme of the state government is the only solace he is getting in educating his children. And his children,- they run a ' shop', which is enough to tell one the 'standard' of their living! The children are doing this to help their parents tide over the problems they are facing. At Chimna, about 1,300 families were affected by the erosion of the Brahmaputra. According to Farman Ali (75), of these, about 800 are Assamese speaking Muslim families and about 500 are Assamese speaking Hindu families. Earlier, the Brahmaputra was only about one kilometre in width between Chimna on the south bank and Bamundi on the north bank, but, now the river has become about eight kilometre wide here, Ali said, adding, the erosion, which started in the late fifties, has robbed each of the affected families so far about five puras of land on an average. Farman Ali's family had three puras of basti and 15 puras of paddyfield. Now, his four sons are working as wage labourers like the other adult male members of the Chimna families. (To be continued) (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 8: While describing the miseries faced by the people living on the 40-km-long embankment between Palasbari and Nagarbera it is quite relevant for one to tell as to how these people have been fighting the cold and the rainy days. For beating the shivering cold they use the quilt made of worn-out cloths, jute cloths and sacks which seldom experience the touch of soapy suds as even for their owners soap suds are luxuries! These people use wild creepers, bushy plants and in cases cow-dung cakes as their fuel to keep themselves and their hearths warm. It is worth mentioning here that cow-dung is a rare material for these people who were rich farmers till recently as fodder for the cows is quite unmanageable for them today. Sterile sand with deceitful patches of wild vegetation covered what has been left of the river bank in most of the areas here. During the rainy days, there people take the cover under the roofs built with the wild reeds growing in the river sand in some particular pockets and low-quality straw etc. said Farman Ali (75) and Mabud Ali (60) of Chimna. Mud plastering of the walls of the dwelling huts is also a rare phenomenon here contrary to the general practice prevalent in the rural areas of the State. Why? Said Farman Ali, in reply to this question, because of the virtual non-availability of cow-dung! It needs no mention that cow-dung is the common adhesive used in the State while plastering the house walls with mud. During the festivals and marriages what do they do - one may rightfully ask this question. Farman Ali and Mabud Ali had the answer - "We celebrate these occasions by glaring up the localities with the mirth we have preserved like the proverbial miser Kuber in our shattered hearts, unburdening ourselves of the load of sorrows with tears, reminiscing our days of prosperity". This is how they are sticking to their resolve to not to bow down before the all pervading irony of fate. But, this they do not accept as an unsurmountable fait accompli for all the time to come. They are still engaged in the task to create a new sun that will dawn on their skies with rays of hope. Though stumbling in every step they are not giving up the hope to start life anew, which will bring back all the happiness they are robbed of by the cruel hands of fate. This is how Farman and Mabud explained their present state of mind; devastated though, they are not defeated, as described by Devakanta in his immortal words - Niyatir sate hera manuhar Sangram akshay, Niyatir jay Aru manuhar biryyar gourav (Man's struggle with fate is relentless, though fate comes out the victor, man outshines fate with his resolve and boldness)! Though all the able-bodied adult members of these uprooted families in these areas have to leave their dwellings as soon as the dawn unwraps the cover of darkness, in search of some meagre amounts to keep the fire in their hearths burning, they have been relentlessly engaging themselves in a fight to get themselves rehabilitated. Considering the fact that they do not have the capacity to buy land for shifting and settle permanently in some safer places, they have now started organising themselves under the banner of the Kamrup District Kishan Sabha. They staged several dharnas infront of the SDC's office at Mirza last year demanding their suitable rehabilitation. But, surprisingly the other organisations of the State are yet to demonstrate any interest on the issue. And about the government's concern for rehabilitating these displaced people, Dandiram Das (40) of Guimara recounted thus, - Jatin Mali, MLA from Palasbari and a former State Minister, assured the displaced people, prior to 1996 elections, that they would be rehabilitated within three months after the elections. Some plots of land were also allotted to some of these people at a low-lying area in a reserve near No. 1 Kukurmara Jiakur. But when the displaced people of Guimara and other areas who were selected for the allotment went to Jiakur they found that the Jaikur villagers were not aggreable to the move and, moreover, the plots of land earmarked for the purpose were also not suitable for cultivation and habitation. The people of Guimara and adjacent areas who went with hopes to Jiakur had to return to their wretched huts frustrated. And since then Jatin Mali has also ceased to show up in these areas inhabited by the erosion-affected people, Das said. According to Adar Ali (62), an ex-Railway employee of Gumi Chawk, the previous Congress-led government in the State distributed pattas (land documents) among a handful of families while the present AGP-led government also distributed pattas among a few families. But, in most of the cases there pattas have failed to bring in any change in the lives of these displaced people. Hoping against hope, many of these families, particularly, the majority of the Baniapara, Ambari, Hahuapathar, Bhakuwamari, Jahirpur, Kathalguri, Patheliapara, Naoalipur, Alikash, Gohainpara, Telipara, Bherbheri, Panikhaiti, Barbhita, Biturtari etc. villages have migrated to some unknown destinations. No one knows their whereabouts today, lamented Ali. Perhaps, there prosperous peasants of the bygone days, being hunted by the memories of their past, have jumped into the dark in search of new sun in their horizon and to keep life blooming. But, will the planners of our State care to measure what sort of loss the State's economy has to incur due to the absence of these skilled farmers, when developing human resource is a hot issue on their agenda? (To be continued). (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 9: Poor natal care and shoddy infrastructure in rural areas have led to a spurt in infant mortality rates in Assam. With only 22 per cent of deliveries getting "skilled attention" in the state, chances of child mortality before the age of five is high. Nearly 142 children die in Assam before they reach the age of five despite the fact that female literacy rate in the state is much higher than the rest of the country. Mothers in rural Assam still prefer the services of dais (midwives) while giving birth to their children as there is an acute shortage of women doctors in the rural Assam. According to a random household survey, only 29.7 per cent deliveries in Assam are institutional, while 39.2 per cent women seek treatment for natal complications. Voluntary Health Association of India activists said dais charge Rs 250 to Rs 500 per visit as there are hardly any qualified doctors in rural areas. The problem is that an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) in Assam has to cover an area of 19.22 square km while in Kerala, the effective area of an ANM is limited to under 6 square km, which implies a walking distance of less than 1.5 km. The hostile terrain also makes it difficult for the female health worker to cater to the patients. A study conducted by the European Commission on improving reproductive and child health services in the region said creating awareness was not enough. It had to be backed up by improvement in service delivery. Though family planning awareness among married women is high, actual use of contraceptives was much lower. It must be kept in mind that the public sector is the main provider of reproductive and child health services in the region which is not the case elsewhere in the country. "The emphasis should be on improving service delivery rather than demand generation" the report recommended. "The utilisation levels have remained low, except immunisation levels. "The increase in immunisation levels appear to have been brought about by hectic campaigning rather than by services delivered through the routine mode," the report stated. Health experts feel that in view of the state's diverse demography, it would be prudent to select a district having a significantly low population density and analyse the spread of population at the sub-district level and then decide the approach to be followed for service delivery within each sub-district level. The campaign mode will not help increase the percentage of deliveries handled by trained hands. "It would be better to identify educated persons from low population density areas and provide them with skills comparable to an auxiliary nurse midwife which would help the public sector in arranging service delivery on fixed days," the report suggested. The report said a proper management structure should be chalked out at the district level and roles and responsibilities of programme managers should be defined in the plan of action. (Roopak Goswami; The Telegraph, Calcutta; January 10, 2000)