KOHIMA, March 31: Nagaland has recorded the highest population growth of 5.6 per cent against the national average of 2.1 per cent, official sources said. Sources said the 14th census of India would be taken up from March next year. It would be the world's largest census operation involving more than five lakh workers. According to an official survey conducted recently, the indigenous tribal states in the Northeast like Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya recorded a heavy influx of illegal immigrants. During 1981-91 census, the states of the region experienced a annual growth rate, which was much higher than the national average of 2.1 per cent. Population growth rate was the highest in Nagaland, followed by Mizoram with 3.9 per cent , Arunachal Pradesh with 3.6 per cent, Tripura with 3.4 per cent, Meghalaya with 3.3 per cent, Manipur with 2.9 per cent and Assam with 2.4 per cent. Interestingly, presence of scheduled caste population in Nagaland and Mizoram was also revealed in 1981-91 census report, sources said. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 1, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 1: The postal department on Friday released a set of four special postage stamps on 'natural heritage of Manipur and Tripura' with the objective of focussing public attention on the rich biodiversity of Northeast India. The stamps depicts siroi lily, sangai deer, slow loris and wild guava. Tripura information minister Jitendra Chowdhury formally released the two of the four stamps here at a function. Slow loris (nycticebus coucang) is a round-headed, owl-like eyed lemur found in Tripura and adjoining parts of Northeast India. They have a distinctive brown stripe, marking the middle line of its back and terminating on the crown. Distinctive also are the brown circles round its lustrous eyes. The slow loris is believed to spend the day in sleep waking at dusk to hunt for food. Wild Guava (psidium guineense) is a rare plant found only in Tripura. The fruit of wild guava is edible but it is smaller in size than the guava and sour in taste. The plant is of small bushy type but if protected, attains the size of a small tree. Siroi lily (lilium macklinae), an iris species, is a beautiful lily found only in the upper reaches of Rirohi Hill ranges of Manipur. The plant grows in the Sirohi Kasom area of the hills on the windward side and eastern flank. It starts flowering with the advent of spring. Sangai deer (cervus eldi eldi) or brow antlered deer is a sub-species of the deer available only in Manipur. The deer is distinctive for its peculiar bow-shaped antler, unique body structure and its elegant movement, which is often described as dancing. At one time it was considered to have become extinct. Systematic efforts succeeded in arresting the declining trend in the population of sangais. Today the Keibul Lamjao National Park boasts of possessing more than 150 sangais, an appreciable progress from the 14 heads counted in 1974. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 2, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 4: For all connoisseurs of the famed silk fabrics of Sualkuchi, here is a warning. The fabrics that are being passed off as the famous Assamese muga silk may not be what it is claimed to be. It could well be the relatively ordinary tassar silk that is being lapped up by the unsuspecting customers. Of course, after paying for what is supposed to be muga. For that matter, it is not only the Sualkuchi products that are fooling the people. The same is true for almost all the so-called muga fabrics of the region. But that does not mean that there are no exceptions. The exceptions, though, are far and few. According to sources closely involved in the silk industry in the region, the so-called muga silk is mostly tassar silk given a deep golden hue through artificial methods. This is what is available in the general market while the real muga is reserved for the more cautious customers. A huge racket has developed in this trade, the sources informed. What has spawned the artificial muga trade is the low cost of production and the high returns. The deed is done in such a manner that it is almost impossible to detect the fraud except under laboratory conditions. The sources said that the Sualkuchi area, the heart of the muga silk industry, is flooded with Chinese tassar brought in through Nepal. The pale coloured tassar is then given an artificial deep golden colour and passed of as the original muga. The lure lies in the huge profits. The Chinese tassar is available for Rs 1,500 for a kg at the most while muga is priced at Rs 3,000 per kg at the very least. The returns, naturally, are double than what a genuine muga fabric would fetch. "The customers are being fooled," the sources alleged. At the same time, the renowned muga silk industry is taking a beating. According to the sources, demand for muga cocoon and yarn in the Sualkuchi area has virtually dried up as few care to produce the original fabric. The state government has been intimated about the affair but has failed to react, the sources further said. (Anujata Talukdar; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 5, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 6: About 14,000 patients suffering from leprosy have been detected in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Terming it as "most alarming," modified leprosy elimination programme (MLEP) in-charge and society secretary RW Lyngwa at a camp held recently at the community health centre in Nongpoh said, its main thrust was total leprosy eradication. Lyngwa said the eventual target of leprosy control was to bring down the ratio to one leprosy patient per thousand. A one-day skin examination camp for detection of possible leprosy cases for timely treatment was conducted on March 31 last at Nongpoh. The camp was organised jointly by MLEP and the Ri-Bhoi district leprosy society. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 7, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 7: A rhododendron tree on Japfu mountain in Kohima district, 30.79 metre in height and 2.41 metre in girth, has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest standing tree of the species, official reports said. Reports further said that the state boasts of other rare species of orchids like the bulbiphyllum rothschilidianum, orchidiums, together with animal species like Indian pheasant and the blythe tragopan. The state government has decided to shift the present Zoological Park here to Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary in Dimapur and convert it into a captive breeding centre for blythe tragopan. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 8, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 6: The Meghalaya government has renamed many important roads and villages in the state. The road from General Point) Cantonment) via Oxford Hills to Sankardev College here would be now known as Captain K Clifford Nongrum Road. Capt. Nongrum was the first martyr from Meghalaya in the Kargil war. According to official sources, the National Sports Club of Assam and the Tura indoor stadium have been renamed as U Tirot Sing Syiem indoor stadium and PA Togan Sangma indoor stadium respectively. The road from Jylli shop to Rynja market which passes through Nongshilliang H Elias School here would be known as Elias Road. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 8: The recently held two-day national conference on safeguarding the ethnobotanical resources of NE region of India lamented lack of attention and scientific screening of the traditional knowledge on herbal medicine in the NE region. It also recommended, among others, establishment of a national ethnobotanical data centre in NE India, a regional ethno-herberium, an ethnomuseum and an ethnogarden in the region and preparation of inventory of medicinal plants of the region which have a market value in India and abroad. The conference, which was sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and organised by the department of Botany, Cotton College in collaboration with the Eastern Circle of the Botanical Survey of India, World Wide Fund for Nature-India and Botanical Society of Assam and came to a conclusion on March 28 last here, observed that lack of attention and scientific screening have already resulted in loss of information and practice in folk medicine and warned that there is a likelihood that some such knowledge and wisdom of various communities might have passed on to others resulting in their patenting outside. If the age-old practice is allowed to die, it will be a national loss as knowledge and practice concerning all these are parts of national heritage, opined the experts taking part in the conference. They also referred to the NE region as a goldmine for medico-ethnobatanists because of its high plant diversity and rich tradition of herbal practice among various tribes. Many herbal products of the region, if scientifically screened, may prove to be of great pharmaceutical as well as commercial value, they observed. Not less than one thousand plant species have been known to be used by various communities in NE region for curing various diseases including malaria, jaundice, diarrhoea, heart ailment, sexual and reproductive system-related problems. Some of these may become effective alternative medicine if developed scientifically the experts observed. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 8: A plan has been launched for increasing the reach of Doordarshan in the Northeast and other mountainous areas in the country, information and broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday. The minister also announced that the Kashir Channel of Doordarshan will increase its reach to 98 per cent of the population in Kashmir by June next year, and that the power supply in the area had improved vastly in the past few months. Addressing an editors' conference on social sector issues here, Jaitley said that he would be visiting the Northeast after the Parliament session to study the problems being faced by Doordarshan. A group of members of Parliament from the region had met him in this connection on Friday. He said that mountains often created a shadow area making it difficult for terrestrial channels to reach the region. Replying to a question, the minister said that the government was committed to encouraging private broadcasting while helping Doordarshan. At the same time, he said that state ownership in owning or funding the print media "would be a remedy worse than the problem" facing smaller newspapers. principal information officer NJ Krishna chaired the session. Jaitley said it was unfortunate that the media, and particularly the print media, had begun focussing too much on fashion and similar issues instead of devoting space to developmental and social journalism. He said it was important to remember that the media influenced the human mind and therefore had to be constructive. But Doordarshan still retained a large chunk to developmental and rural programmes, he pointed out. While upholding the role of the media during the Kargil operation as largely positive, the minister said it was necessary to understand that problems like terrorism and hijacking are solved by commando operations or negotiations and not by the media. He said the media overstated its case in Kandahar in the case of the reportage of the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814. "It should be a lesson for all of us," he added. The minister said that the broadcasting and advertising codes did not cover the free-to-air channels under the Cable Act of 1995 and therefore often violated this by showing objectionable advertisements. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

GOALPARA, April 8: Recent excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Suryapahar unearthed huge brick-walled structures as well as rooms attached to stupas. Suryapahar, about 12 km east of Goalpara town, is a confluence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism as revealed by the Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas and Jain vestiges. Although persistent demands of the local people around the hill compelled ASI to start excavation in March, 1993 and to resume work in subsequent years, the excavations each time lasted only a few days. However, startling relics were exposed each time and particularly in 1996 and 1998, the hidden treasures unearthed were of immense historical importance. This year the excavations carried out in March lasted only three weeks. Under the supervision of NK Sinha, archaeologist of ASI the excavation work done recently exposed a rectangular brick-walled structure around the altar unearthed earlier. The structure which is yet to be exposed completely has a wall of 3½ feet thickness, the length and breadth of it being about 150 feet and 100 feet respectively. Traces of a 8½ feet wide road lined by stone and leading to the structure from the east have also been found. An earlier excavation revealed a Buddhist stupa in crusiform along with the monastery (vihara) for housing the monks, thought to date back to the eighth or ninth century AD. This year's excavation exposed more of it and unearthed another structure also made of brick, nearby. However, people here expect that the excavation work would be carried out for a longer duration and without much interruption. Along with excavation, the ASI is also carrying out conservation work. The Ganesh Kund, which probably served as a natural tank, was damaged with passage of time, but the ASI has conserved it and has connected it with pathways to enable pleasurable walk by the devotees and tourists. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

ITANAGAR, April 7: The forest officials here detected and seized carcass of barking deer, in the capital complex, kept ready for sale at local Naharlagun market. The incident took place on Thursday when the officials were on their routine patrol. However, the culprit managed to escape before the arrival of the officials, wildlife officials here said. Later on, the carcass was disposed of in an auction. The officials said such patrolling would be intensified in the coming days to curb poaching of wild animals and birds. Incidentally, a few people had been selling deer meat in the open market for quite some time at an exorbitant price. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 11: Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta launched a new weekly television magazine Samay at a function held at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra on Sunday. The magazine, produced by Agile Communications, will be telecast on Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati, soon. Doordarshan deputy director-general PK Singson and noted liiteratuer and filmmaker Bhabendra Nath Saikia were also present on the occasion. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 12: The average literacy rate of the Northeast states in 1997 was 77.4 per cent which was well above the national average of 62 per cent. However, drop-out rates were relatively high in the region. For instance, dropout rates in classes I to V in this region was 48.06 as against the national average of 39.58. The percentage of rural habitations served by primary school in some of the states of the Northeast also was lower against the national average of 93.76, in Arunachal Pradesh 77.87, Assam 88.64, Meghalaya 87.97, Tripura 85.00 and Sikkim 83.44 per cent. (PIB; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 13, 2000)

BARPETA ROAD, April 12: The recent tiger census carried out by the Manas Tiger Project authority in Manas National Park (MNP) revealed that tiger population in the MNP is decreasing and it is estimated to be less than 70, according to a reliable source. The official numbers will be declared after May. Earlier the population of tiger in the MNP was 92 in 1988 and 81 as per the tiger census conducted in 1993. The census also indicated that the population of Indian wild dog, a common species generally found in Kokilabari area of MNP and the pigmy hog, one of the 19 endangered animals protected in Manas, is increasing considerably, but the population of 'hog deer' is decreasing drastically. The tiger census was conducted through the 'pug-marks' method. Altogether 250 departmental staff, 50 members from the Manas Bandhu Group, an NGO, and 18 elephants were engaged throughout the MNP except Indo-Bhutan area and some high risk areas, in the census work. Manas was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985. Nowadays the condition of MNP is very pathetic and some areas of the park have become like deserts, where the number of wildlife has gone down due to insurgency, poaching and breakdown of morale among the forest staff. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 13, 2000)

DHUBRI, April 13: Erection of border fencing and posting of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along the Assam-Bangladesh border in Dhubri district have failed to effectively check the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and the indigenous people of the bordering district have been reduced to minorities in their own land. Unabated infiltration of foreigners is still going on, forcing some indigenous people living in the border areas to escape to relatively safer places and according to records available, about 70 per cent of the voters in Dhubri are now Muslims, which prove the demographic change that is taking place. This correspondent recently toured the border areas extensively and found that large scale infiltration is still taking place as the quality of the fencing left much to be desired. The fencing and gates are damaged in many places, giving enough scope for the Bangladeshi nationals to sneak into the state, while the role of the BSF personnel posted along the border is also doubtful. In the border in the northern side of the river Brahmaputra, it was found that the distance between the border posts of the BSF makes it easy for the infiltrators to sneak into the country through the holes in the fencing, while, the height of the bridges in the border roads in such that one can easily cross over to Assam under the bridges. The situation is even worse in the Mankachar sector in the southern part of the river Brahmaputra where the quality of the border fencing is much worse. This correspondent witnessed some foot tracks and each track led to a hole in the fencing, which prove that illegal infiltration is going on through these areas under the noses of the BSF personnel. Interestingly, the BSF even do not allow the border police personnel to move freely on the border roads without prior permission, which is quite unusual as both the BSF and the Boarder police are posted for the same purpose and lack of proper coordination between them can only help the Bangladeshi nationals and smugglers. Some of the people living in the border villages admitted before this correspondent that they have relatives living in the other side of the fencing and they cross over very often to attend to social functions. The people of the Binachora area said that sometimes they cross over to meet relatives and friends by taking permission from the BSF personnel, but as per law, the BSF is not authorised to grant such permission. They also admitted that there were instances when they bribed the BSF personnel posted at the gates to sneak in and out in case of need. If the villagers of the border areas can go into Bangladesh and come back, the Bangladeshi nationals can easily do the same. Official sources said that a large number of people from Bangladesh also cross over through the neighbouring state West Bengal. Sources revealed that there is no fencing in the West Bengal-Bangladesh border and the Bangladeshi nationals very often cross over through the Dinhata area of West Bengal and then cross over to Assam as the state has 18 kms of unguarded border with the neighbouring state. Sources further revealed that some agents also help the Bangladeshis to cross over to India and send them to different parts of Assam. Some people from Bangladesh also cross over through the vacant border in Meghalaya and cross over to Assam to take shelter of the IMDT Act. According to official records, Dhubri district of Assam has 95.023 kms of surface and 47.972 kms of riverine border with Bangladesh and the strength of the BSF and the Border police force is not at all adequate to check infiltration. With hundreds of boats plying on the rivers, it is impossible to check each and every passenger, while the facilities available with the Border police is also not adequate. The river police has only five motor boats and only two of these are in running condition. Sources said that during the period from 1984 to September last year, 2099 fresh Bangladeshi infiltrators were detected and were pushed back. But sources admitted that was only a tip of the iceberg and only a small percentage of the Bangladeshi infiltrators can be caught. Sources said that once a Bangladeshi national manages to sneak into the country, it is almost impossible to detect him as the Bangladeshis are ethnically similar in language, dress and physical features to the people living in the border villages. Moreover, the people living in the border villages are reluctant to provide information to the police about infiltrators as many as these people are known to the border villagers. The Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, is also posing hurdles in the way of detection and deportation of foreigners. Official sources revealed that up to September last year, 19520 cases were recorded under the provisions of the IMDT Act and 923 persons were declared as foreigners. But expulsion orders could be served only on 468 persons and only 189 of them could be deported. Sources said that after the Bangladeshi nationals are declared as foreigners, they change their addresses during the grace period and it is almost impossible to trace them out. Giving details of the other problems faced because of the IMDT Act, sources revealed that under the act, the police can only take statements and the suspected foreigners cannot be forced to show documents. The police is also not authorised to arrest, seize documents and search the houses of the suspects and the enquiry becomes less effective. Sources further said that only the persons living within the three km radius can lodge complaint about a suspect and it is known fact that such persons would never come to lodge complaint. Moreover, very often, the witnesses do not come to the court on time and this delays the whole process. Though the BJP led government at the Centre time and again promised to take effective steps to check infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals, after visiting the border, it was evident that effective steps are yet to be taken. Mere promises to take steps to provide constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam would not solve the problem as the indigenous people have been reduced to minorities and suspected immigrants are virtually controlling the economy of the bordering district. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 13: Kaziranga National Park (KNP) authority has prepared a project for preservation of the wetland areas inside sanctuary. The project has been submitted to the government of India for its approval through the state government. The park director, BS Bonal told this scribe during a recent visit to Kaziranga that there were about 200 odd water bodies inside the KNP. Every year due to the flood silt gets deposited at these water bodies gradually reducing depth. It is extremely important to keep these wet areas free of excess siltation as they are the main habitats for rhinos, swamp deer, fish species. Every year large number of migratory birds flock the park in the lure of delicious fishes available in those water bodies. As a mater of fact, these water bodies are key to the entire ecosystem of the national park, Bonal said. In view of siltation in these wet areas over the years, it has become necessary to go for massive desiltation for the purpose of preservation. But the KNP authority is not properly equipped to take up a sustained desiltation drive. Hence, they have prepared the project and submitted to the Centre for approval so that necessary fund and equipment are made available for desiltation work on regular basis. The director said the Park authority should be provided with a dredger for the purpose. "If we had a dredger of our own, every year during the winter season, we could have dug out excess silt from many water bodies." There will not be any dearth of man power to carry out the job, provided the equipment are made available as per the project submitted by the KNP authority. Meanwhile, the wildlife personnel engaged in the KNP has been very successful in arresting poaching in the sanctuary. The Director informed that the problem was now under control. He informed that in the year 1997, 12 rhinos were killed by poachers and in 1998 the number of rhinos poached were eight. It came down to only four rhinos in 1999. In January this year, two rhinos fell prey to poachers bullets. The Director said "pro-active action being carried out against poaching and the vast information network set up to check poaching" has started paying dividends. The poachers have also been deterred by the series of encounters took place inside the national park with wildlife personnel resulting in death of total 60 poachers during the period between 1992 to 1999. Several sophisticated arms including US made carbine were recovered from killed poachers, Bonal informed. He attributed the success in checking poaching to the sincere and relentless efforts of wildlife staff and officials and support from the police and civil authorities. The villagers of the surrounding villages have also become very conscious about the importance of protection of the endangered rhino and have been extending co-operation to the park authority by giving prior information about movements of poachers in the area. In order to generate the goodwill among the villagers in areas surrounding the national park, the KNP authority used to organise cattle immunisation programme among other similar welfare activities in those villages. The efforts have gone a long way in increasing the co-ordination between the villagers and the wildlife personnel in the Park. But in the last few years, the KNP authority could not organise such welfare programme for the benefit of villagers due to non-release of funds. The director said, "The rhino's life will be always in danger till the superstitious belief about the medicinal values of its horn persists among the people." He, therefore, underlined the need for a worldwide campaign against such baseless belief for which the rhino has been paying the price with its life. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)

DHUBRI, April 15: They are not sure of their nationality and they have not voted for the past 15 years or so. This is the condition of the people of Chit-Bangla village located in the tri-junction bordering Assam, West Bengal and Bangladesh. Chit Bangla is a village located in the tri-juncture and no one is certain whether the village falls under Assam, West Bengal or Bangladesh and as such no government bothers to look after the villagers and they are left to fend for themselves under trying conditions. Though the border pillar between Assam and West Bengal is located near the village, there is no border fencing in the area to demarcate whether the village is in India or Bangladesh. The people of the village would like to stay in India, but they are yet to get recognition from the government authorities. Abdul Hamid, a 70-year old man of the village, talking to this correspondent, said that they are not sure of their nationality. However, at the same time, he said that they would very much like to be Indians rather than nationals of Bangladesh. Hamid said that they have no voting right as no one bothers to come to them for their votes. He revealed that they voted about 15 years back in Bangladesh elections and since then the Bangladesh authorities have stopped including their names in the electoral rolls of the country. At the same time, the Indian authorities have not included their names in the voters' list of India, he said. The small village has 18 households and a population of only about 70 persons. As it is a small village, the political leaders of both India and Bangladesh have not bothered to fight for the rights of the people of the Chit-Bangla village as their votes would not make much of a difference to the electoral fortunes of the political parties. There is no motorable road to the village and this correspondent walked at least a couple of kilometres to reach the village recently. Almost all the villagers are very poor and their main occupation is cultivation in small plots of land in and around the village, while, a few villagers depend on fishing in the nearby rivers. The condition of the villagers is such that they even do not have proper clothes to wear and none of the villagers do not have a government job as they are not educated. Very rarely they get a visit from an outsider and on most of the time, they are in a world of their own. As the villagers are not accustomed to getting visits from strangers, almost the whole village gathered in front of the thatched house of Hamid when this correspondent visited the village and described their woes. When requested for a photo session of the children of the village, all the villagers rushed home to fetch their children without bothering about the fact that most of their children did not have proper clothes to wear and it was evident that not having proper clothes to wear was a way of life for them and they are not at all bothered about it. Hamid said that for marketing they have to go to Jhaukhuti in West Bengal and of late, some of the villagers have started to send their children to primary schools in Jhaukhuti. As they have nobody to complain to, the governments of West Bengal, Assam or Bangladesh have never bothered to take care of these people living under trying and unusual circumstances and till date they do not have any health care facilities. Hamid said that if someone falls sick, he has to be carried on bullock carts to Toofanganj in West Bengal, about 12 kms away from the village, for treatment. Hamid claimed that they have no close link with the villages in Bangladesh but they have ties with the neighbouring villages in West Bengal. Even a few girls of the village have been married to youths in the neighbouring villages of West Bengal. They come to Assam very rarely, he added. However, the villagers of Assam frequently visit them to collect mustard oil produced with indigenous methods in Chit-Bangla, which is a major source of income for the village. The governments of Assam, West Bengal and Bangladesh should now take a collective decision about the village as the villagers should not be allowed to suffer for no fault of theirs. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)