GUWAHATI, August 3: Expressing concern at the diversion of Tribal fund during the Eighth Five Year Plan, Centre has sent a letter to the state Government seeking a detailed report in this regard. Centre's move assumes significance as several Tribal bodies have been demanding a probe into the 'diversion or misuse' of funds in the state. The letter, which was sent on July 25 by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry also asked the state Government to look into the matter immediately. During the Eighth Five Year Plan, Centre Government had released Rs 7,802.75 lakh, of which the state Government could utilise only Rs 5,804.42 lakh and rest of the amount was 'diverted or spent' for other purpose owing to prevailing shortage of fund. Meanwhile, several organisations have welcomed the Centres move. Talking to this reporter, the president of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), Urkhau Gwra Brahma alleged that due to diversion of Central fund, the ongoing schemes for the uplift of tribals are severely affected particularly in Darrang district. In this context, he expressed the view that the state Government has not only diverted the fund but also surrendered a substantial amount of Special Central Assistance (SCA) due to failure in submitting fund utilisation certificates. "AGP-led Government is not sincere to solve the problems of the tribal people," the president said and urged the Centre to institute an enquiry to find out the facts. Expressing disappointment with the diversion of Central fund, the ABSU leader said "it is a systematic exploitation on the tribal people by the state Government for which tribal people have resorted to the path of agitation. While hailing the Centre's move, the general secretary of the All Assam Tribal Sangha, Aditya Khaklari demanded the state Government to submit a report as early as possible. "The Tribal Sangha and several other organisations have been demanding the Centre to initiate steps against diversion of fund, and at last which have met little success," Khaklari said. He, however, said that the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry should ensure that tribal fund are utilised properly in future. When asked as to why the Central fund was diverted, the general secretary smugly said that it was nothing but an 'anti-tribal' attitude of the AGP-led Government. Another important fact is that, the implementing agencies like ATDA and APTDC are not sincere in rendering proper services for the people and as a result of which ongoing schemes have suffered a setback, Khaklari added. Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) also appealed to the Centre to monitor the ongoing schemes in various parts of the state. The ATTSA president, Simanchal Digal alleged that a huge fund under Special Central Assistance (SCA) has been misused by the state Government despite repeated demand from various quarters. Digal reiterated that fund meant for the development of the tribal people should be utilised only in the tribal areas. (Surajit Khaund; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

JORHAT, August 3: The Tocklai Experimental Station here, reputed to be among the foremost and best tea research centres in the world, is all set to add more zing to the 'cuppa' that cheers. In the words of Tea Research Association Chairman Abani Borgohain, 'the best-ever clones ever developed by this premier tea research organisation are presently undergoing commercial trials.' Reputed to be sturdy and qualitatively superior to existing clones in almost all respects, 'the promising aspects of the newly-developed varieties - P - 463 and P - 492 - provided they successfully pass the commercial trial hurdle, are all set to revolutionise the tea industry. 'In terms of crop yield and overall quality, it is simply unbeatable.' Though first disclosed in 1999 but yet to be officially released, 4,000 cuttings of the newly-developed clones have already been distributed for trials to select gardens in Upper Assam, Dooars and Terai in order to determine their suitability/adaptability in different soil conditions and agro-climatic zones. Borgohain was confident that Tocklai's 'latest babies' will help to buoy up the image of the institution, which has unfortunately been in a state of turmoil since 1993, played as it is by frequent strikes and lock-outs over non-implementation of service rules, which were non-existent till 1997. With threats of a renewed agitation by the Tocklai Employees' Union from August 10 next in protest against non-fulfilment of their 9-point charter of demands, the atmosphere at the tea research institution is naturally tense. Set in this gloomy backdrop, the present achievement of the Tocklai scientists deserve kudos as successful commercial trial of the said clones will help them achieve a major milestone insofar as research and development is concerned. The last officially released clone variety was TB-30 in 1993. Added to these, modified systems of tea manufacture has also been developed to suit present day demands, claimed Borgohain. Experiments on isolating heavy metals and checking them from being absorbed by the the tea bush from the soil itself is also going on, besides trials on reducing pesticide residue content is made tea leaves. With crop production throughout tea-growing belts in the country taking a severe beating during the last two consecutive seasons, the position in Assam as well was not too rosy either, warned Borgohain. An abrupt fall in prices of made tea has hit the industry hard, coupled with a low internal consumption rate, which according to the TES Chairman emanates from the present day younger generation preferring cold drinks to hot beverages. In any case, Borgohain sounded an optimistic note when the said that the latest of Tocklai's 'jewels' has enough potential to be able to pep up the industry anew while retaining interest of the connoisseur in the fabled drink. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

ITANAGAR, August 3: Poor recovery of repayments is the main impediment in the smooth flow of loanable funds in this strategic frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh, according to the state Bank of India officials here. Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, assistant general manager SBI regional branch, Itanagar, SC Sarkar said one of the problems being faced by the bank in Arunachal Pradesh is the poor recovery climate, which has hampered the flow of loanable funds. However, he said this could be done away with if the state government could initiate step to help the recovery efforts of banks by activating the Bakijai route by appointing Bakijai officers in the district. Stating that all 46 branches of the SBI operating in the state could not make much profits since its inceptions, Sarkar it was owing to high overhead costs of the branches, particularly in the currency chest branches, in which the full cost of police guards is borne by the bank instead of being shared by the state government. Despite several problems, SBI has been implementing various government-sponsored schemes like PMRY and IRDP (now merged with SGJY), margin money scheme of KVIC and KVIB and others, he said and added that kisan credit cards too were introduced by the SBI in the state in order to meet credit requirements of the good agricultural borrowers of the bank. He said the bank has also played a pioneering role in financing tea gardens to the tune of Rs 3.67 crore in this Himalayan state. Sarkar said total deposits of SBI in the state rose from Rs 370.34 crore on 31.3.99 to Rs 439.69 crore on 31.3.2000. Similarly, the total advances too have been increased from Rs 39.84 crore in March, 1999, to Rs 47.33 crore in March, 2000, he said, adding that the bank has also made an investment of Rs 18.88 crore in the state and subsequently credit and investment ratio too has been improved to 15 per cent as on 31.3.2000 as compared to about 10 per cent on 31.3.98. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 3: Starved by the inadequate supply of small denomination notes and coins, traders in Manipur have adopted a novel way to continue their daily business transactions by issuing objects of their own sweet will in place of coins or small denomination notes. However, for any tourist, either domestic or foreign, it is a matter of surprise when he or she is offered a few pieces of toffees or match boxes in lieu of changes. A trader said a parallel economies running in Manipur following the failure of the Reserve Bank of India to supply adequate currencies from its Guwahati office. When contacted, state Bank of India's officials here said that lifting of currency notes and coins from Guwahati had been hampered owing to lack security. Since RBI had restricted printing and issue of notes up to certain denominations, the Guwahati office is handicapped to dispatch currencies without proper security to areas it serves, officials said. While demands for opening a branch of RBI in Manipur was mounting, the Centre was still noncommittal to similar demands from other Northeast states. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 3: The state finance minister, H Lokhon Singh, told The Imphal Free Press this evening over the phone from New Delhi that he was presented a proposal for a complete Central government takeover of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS, to the Union Health and Water resources minister, PK Thakur. Lokhon met the Health minister at his office chamber and informed him of the state government's desire of a Central takeover of the RIMS on the plea that that the state's resources are poor and it is finding it difficult to meet its share of the institute's running cost. The RIMS is already 50 percent funded by the Centre through the Northeastern Council, NEC, and the remaining 50 percent of the running cost is met by the state, as per existing arrangement. Lokhon said the minister was accommodative to the state government's viewpoint and informed him that the matter can be considered after the state government submits an official proposal. The finance minister said that the state government will be at the soonest possible submitting a detailed formal proposal to this effect to the Union Health Ministry. PK Thakur, who is also in charge of water resources, was concerned by the inordinate delay in the completion of the Khuga Multipurpose Project in Churachandpur district even after 20 years of its sanctioning by the Finance Commission in 1980, Lokhon said. The Union minister told him that he would be making plans to personally visit the state after the current Parliament Session and oversee the progress in the Khuga project, the finance minister added. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; August 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 4: The National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) has released a net amount of Rs 978.87 lakh to the Assam Plain Tribes Development Corporation Ltd till the end of June, 2000 providing an opportunity for the tribals to better their lives. About Rs 339 lakh has been made available to the Assam state Development Corporation for SCs Ltd till the end of May for similar development efforts for the Scheduled Castes. Sources in the NSFDC, an organisation under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, told The Assam Tribune here that for the current financial year an allocation of Rs 322.17 lakh has been made for the APTDC while another Rs 186.34 lakh has been earmarked for the ASCDC for the normal developmental schemes. The NSFDC finances income-generating schemes for the SCs/STs at concessional rate of interest through the state SCs and STs development corporations, which are its channelling agencies. The income-generating schemes are meant for families belonging to those sections of the society whose annual income is below Rs 31,952 pa in rural areas and Rs 42,412 pa in the urban areas. To finance the poorest of the poor among the target group, the NSFDC has also launched a micro-credit finance programme through the state channelling agencies and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Rs 35.86 lakh has been sanctioned to the APTDC during 2000-01 for this purpose while Rs 20.7 lakh has been sanctioned for the ASCDC for the same period. Of the various programmes financed by NSFDC for self-employment, term loan assistance is provided for projects or units costing up to Rs 30 lakh. The quantum of the NSFDC's term loan assistance may be up to 90 per cent of the project cost, the sources said. Interest rate may be seven per cent for loans up to Rs 5 lakh and 9 per cent for loans above this, the sources added. The NSFDC also provides grants for skill development programmes through its channelling agencies. Up to 85 per cent of recurring expenditure towards the training programmes is extended as grant, the sources said. Asked about allegations from some quarters that the state government has not provided the counter guarantee required for availing NSFDC loans, sources pointed out that the state government's counter-guarantee for APTDC was approved in 1999. However, the counter guarantee for the ASCDC is yet to be executed even though it has also been approved. As far as the APTDC is concerned the state government has made a Rs 4 crore guarantee available to the NSFDC, the sources added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 5, 2000)

DIBRUGARH, August 4: The Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) has stated in an interim report that to arrest floods and erosion in the Upper Assam districts, the river Debang will have to be brought to its old course and the Ananta Nalla blocked at its offtake point near Hatighuli in Tinsukia district. Over the past several years, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries have been playing havoc with life and property in several Upper Assam districts. Among the worst affected by floods is the Dhemaji district and the worst erosion hit has been the Rohmaria area of Dibrugarh district. While lush paddyfields in the Dhemaji district now have a layer of three feet of sand and silt, the tea and rice rich Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts are now mute witness to the devastation caused by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. While funds constraint is a problem with the Assam Government, nonetheless the state Flood Control Department has been writing to the Centre and Central agencies like the CWPRS to rise to the occasion and help the state in distress. On June 9 this year, the CWPRS wrote to the state flood Control department stating that under the given circumstances, the best way for a long term solution would be to redirect the Debang to its original course off Hatighuli, while the Ananta Nalla be blocked to prevent further erosion and flooding of areas downstream of Hatighuli, near Saikhowa. This is because the Brahmaputra is exhibiting a southward trend by creating a new stream in Ananta Nalla, and effectively transforming the Dibru Saikhowa National Park into a second Majuli in the making. While the letter of June 9 is interim in nature, the CWPRS has promised to send its detailed morphological studies report at an early date. The final report is getting delayed due to several factors, which include sluggish input feeding from the Flood Control engineers in Assam and a glitch in availing of satellite images from the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA). However, with the bottlenecks now being thrashed out, it is expected that the final reports will come in from Pune sooner than later. This will open up the final hurdle, that of getting the funds to execute the works. Several technical persons, who know more than a thing or two about flood and erosion control in the unique context of Assam, told this correspondent of the things and projects they would like to see being executed. The believe that a check dam to close the offshoot of the Ananta Nalla at Saikhowa can save the whole south bank of the Brahmaputra from Dholla up to Dibrugarh from erosion. Temporary protection works at eroded patches can save agricultural lands at Hatighuli, Nepalibasti, Daisajan gaon, Katiagaon, Kaliapani, Motapong, Natungaon, Guijan and Rohmaria. Construction of semi-permeable spurs can save tea estates located along the Brahmaputra. Repairs to existing embankments by plugging holes created by rats, ants etc, to check leaks and seepage. With the Brahmaputra and its tributaries causing widespread damage to property worth thousands of crores of rupees and misery to thousands of people, any delay in taking the bull by its horn can only worsen matters, may be to a point where repairs become impossible. Too much of fertile agricultural land has already been lost to the river, any further loss would become unbearable, said the Dibrugarh MLA, KK Gogoi. He reiterated that to get solutions to such problems, one will have to move ahead as a team. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 5, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 5: Beginning August 15 there will be a statewide ban on sale of mekhela-chadar produced in powerlooms as the state Government has decided to enforce the Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Protection) Act, 1985 for protection and development of handloom sector in the state. Alongwith mekhela-chadar, the ban will be also applicable on sale of powerloom produced dakhana (worn by Bodo women), danka (worn by Mising women), khamlet and phanak (Manipuri dreses) as these items are reserved for exclusive production in handloom under the Act. In pursuance of the above Act, it is intimated that any person engaged in production of these articles or class of articles in powerloom or any other looms other than handloom or store such product in violation of the Act is liable to face imprisonment up to six months or may be fined with a maximum of Rs. 5,000 per loom or may face both. In the case of continuing contravention an additional fine may be imposed which may extend up to Rs 500 per loom per day during the period in which such contravention continues after conviction for first such contravention. State Sericulture Minister, Ramendra Narayan Kalita today informed that the concerned traders dealing in these items have already been notified about the Government initiative. For effective implementation of the ban, the state Government has empowered all the Assistant Directors of Handloom and Textiles to function as the authorised officer to exercise the power conferred under the provision of the Act. The officials are authorised to search and seize all the four articles produced in powerloom if found stored or kept for sale. All the Deputy Commissioners of the state have been directed to take appropriate steps for implementation of the ban on the sale of these items. It may be mentioned that the state Government had already imposed ban on sale of powerloom produced gamochas with effect from last Bohag Bihu under the provision of the same Act. The Sericulture Minister today claimed that the ban on sale of powerloom gamocha was a success story and the efforts had paid rich dividends regarding increase in production of handloom gamocha in the state. The Minister informed that the handloom sector in the state produced about 4,87,05,600 metres of mekhela-chadar per year against the annual demand for 6,08,82,000 metres in the state. While imposing the ban on the sale of powerloom mekhela-chadar the Department has taken certain steps to boost the production so that the statewide demand for the item could be met by handloom sector weavers in the state. For the purpose 68,000 commercial weavers all over the state have been covered under 360 Project Package schemes and 48 Handloom Village Development Programmes in a phased manner. These schemes are aimed at increasing the working days of the commercial weavers from the present average of 120 days per year by providing aid for setting up work-shed so that they can continue their work during the rainy season also. The weavers will be provided margin money of Rs 2000 each to procure loan from banks in addition to supply of modern implements. The Sericulture Minister today informed that in its efforts to boost production of handloom mekhela-chadar the state Government is prepared to buy unsold items lying with weavers co-operative societies in the state. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 6, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 6: The Centre would give a special thrust to set up food parks in the Northeastern states to facilitate new food processing units that could value-add to the region's vast horticultural resources, Minister of State for Food Processisng Chaoba Singh said on Saturday, reports UNI. Inaugurating a seminar here on development of the Northeast, he pointed out that the food park scheme would provide a total technology and infrastructure package to important horticultural produce collection centres. Facilities for the food park would include cold storage, cold chain, warehousing, processing technology, bottling facility and effluent treatment systems. Chaoba Singh said the Northeast was ideally suited for agro-horticulture-based industries because of its vast fertile lands, diversity of crop varieties, and abundant and underutilised output. He emphasised that the hope of the region was in the planned development of the horticultural processing sector. The Minister said food processing industries would create the badly needed employment opportunities, increase rural income and facilitate a big trade base in the Northeast. He was confident that the Brahmaputra valley region could once again become the engine of India's economic activities when adequate backward and forward linkages get developed. He pointed out that the region was a land of opportunity earlier with the economic activities linked to tea, jute, rice, meat and forest produces. But today the Northeast has become an area of insurgency and violence because of the inadequate attention paid to its development, mounting unemployment and popular discontent. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 7, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 6: After the Central Government's permission to allow foreigners to visit Nagaland, the Union Home and Tourism Ministries have received demands for lifting restrictions on the foreign tourists in other Northeastern states as well. These states, including Manipur, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, have made a beeline for the two Ministries, and requested that foreigners should be allowed a free access in order to boost tourism. The government had last month lifted the ban on foreign tourists in certain districts of Nagaland. A decision on the demands of the other Northeast states is now likely to be taken at a meeting of the tourism secretaries on September 7, which will be followed by a meeting of the state tourism ministers where the ministers from these Northeast states will present their case. A senior Tourism Ministry official said: "While we have received requests from the other states, a decision on this matter can be only be taken by the Home Ministry in view of the security constraints. We have only forwarded the requests from various states to the Home Ministry." The other N-E states want to join the bandwagon set into motion by Nagaland and the increase it has registered in attracting foreign tourists after entry rules were liberalised. "The other states also want to replicate Nagaland's success story," sources at the Tourism Ministry said. The concerned ministries are at the moment looking into a representation given by the Manipuri Students Federation urging the Central Government to lift restrictions on foreign tourists' entry into the state. In a memorandum submitted to Home Minister LK Advani and Tourism Minister Ananth Kumar, the federation has drawn their attention to the attractive tourist spots in Manipur. It has sought to allay the Home Ministry's fears by assuring that Manipur was a safe place for foreign tourists and there had not been a single incident of kidnapping or killing of foreign nationals in that state. At the moment the foreign tourists are allowed to visit Manipur only after getting special permits from the Home Ministry. Similar representations have also been made by tourist associations from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Tripura. (Anju Sharma; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 7, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 7: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in a bid to encourage export of pineapples from the Northeast is experimenting with the cultivation of organic pineapple in the region for which there is a good market, especially in Europe. Almost 19 per cent of the total land under horticultural crops in the region is devoted to pineapple cultivation and Assam, along with Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur, are among the major pineapple producing states in the country. However, it is only now that an attempt is being made to grow the fruit organically in the region. The effort is being undertaken as part of the APEDA's drive to develop model organic farms in the region. A ten hectare plot of land is being prepared near Agartala to attempt organic cultivation of pineapple. The model farms were launched on May 15 this year with similar experimental organic cultivation of jowa rice and sugarcane at Sipajhar. According to the field officer at the APEDA's regional office here, Bidyut Kr Barua, organic agricultural products have a good market in Europe and the US. He sees a great potential for pineapples grown in this region, especially of the organic variety. According to Barua, apart from pineapples, jowa rice and sugarcane organic cultivation of passion fruit is also being tried at Mao. Organic cultivation has to adhere to well-defined norms, procedures and practices for the preparation of land, application of inputs such as seeds, organic manure, etc. as per rigorous certification guidelines. The APEDA is involving non-governmental organisations to train farmers in the necessary manner. A monitoring team has been formed to keep track of the developments, Barua says. The main idea of the model organic farms is to involve nine to ten farmers in ten hectare of land so that others can follow it up. The APEDA plans to have an European certification agency to certify the organic products. It is planning to bring one such agency to the region to study the model farms. All the efforts are ultimately aimed at creating a special niche for the organic farm products of the Northeast in the export market. The stress is being put on pineapple which is one of the primary horticultural products of the region. The main target in Europe is Germany which has the largest demand for organic food products, says Barua. Even otherwise, there is enough scope for export of pineapples that can be tapped. Already there are attempts being made to explore new export markets. Negotiations are on between a Mumbai-based export firm with the Nagaland food processing department. Another exporter is looking for pineapple slices in glass jars instead of tin cans. APEDA is also trying to take the region's pineapples to markets in the Middle East, Barua says. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 7: Coffee cultivation in the Northeast has declined over the decade owing to various reasons, including the Coffee Board's lack of manpower, reports UNI. Revealing this, a Coffee Board official said the north eastern region had 10,000 hectares of land under coffee cultivation in 1990, which now has been reduced to a mere three thousand. Production at the initial stage was at four thousand tonnes per annum which now stands at around four hundred tonnes annum. He said the main hurdle in the growth of coffee cultivation was the lack of infrastructure and emphasised on the need for having offices for constant care in the major crop areas like Nagaland and Karbi Anglong district of Assam. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 2000)

DHUBRI, August 7: The proposed new broad gauge railway line from New Mainaguri (West Bengal) to Jogighopa (Assam) via Boxirhat is soon going to be shelved, according to a feasibility report proposed on the line. It is known from a letter written by AS Choudhury, DGM(G), Alipurduar to the Railway Users Advisory Committee that the proposal for the construction of the new BG line from New Mainaguri to Jogighopa at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 700 crore is now going to be shelved for two reasons - (i) unproductive nature of the line and (ii) constraints of resources. It may be recalled that the demand for the new line was first acceded to by Ram Vilas Paswan when as the Railway Minister of the United Front government he had ordered a ground survey on the project. The survey was completed and report submitted to the government in due time and in the last Railway Budget, new Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee allocated Rs 600 crore against this new line thereby indicating that the construction of the proposed line had received the green signal from the Railway Ministry. It now remains to be seen how the new BG Line Demand Committee will react to this barrier from an unexpected angle. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 2000)

JORHAT, August 7: The district administration here has sent a detailed project report on 'Avenues for Development of Pottery and Clay modelling Industry at Salmora' in Upper Majuli to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for approval. A Rs -9 lakh project, the programme envisages economic uplift of the financially weak potters' lot by providing modern training at the Composite Training Centre here at Lichubari through an exchange programme whereby artisans from Gouripur in Dhubri will impart training to the former. Provision for advanced equipment along with better and modern designs with an aim to make marketing of the finished products economically more viable has been mooted. A copy of the programme has also been submitted to the Khadi Village and Industry Commission. Upper Assam Commissioner Arun Kumar had ordered a detailed survey on the present status of the local pottery industry at Salmora, of which the present project report is an outcome. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 8: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, C P Thakur today promised that the long-delayed Northeastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) will be made functional in two years time though it would take five years to become a full-fledged institute. Laying the commemorative stone to mark the initiation of the construction of buildings of the Institute at the permanent site at Mawdiangdiang, about 10 kms from here today, Thakur said once fully functional, the Institute would play the role of apex referral service for the entire region and also function as hub of all health related activities in the region. Saying his Ministry is attaching great importance to the Institute and its further development, the Health Minister assured "the long-felt need of the people of the region would soon be a reality." Thakur observed that the region is facing several problems in the field of health. "There is also an overall shortage of both health infrastructure and health manpower in general and a severe shortage of specialist doctors", he said. "As the institute will be on par with the AIIMS, New Delhi, I hope a new leaf will be turned in the annals of medical education in the region", he also said. Referring to the rich resources of medicinal and herbal plants in the region, the Union Home Minister assured all steps would be taken to exploit the untapped resources for the benefit of the region. The region has tremendous scope for export of herbal plants and medicines, he said while citing that China's exports in the field was to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore annually as against only Rs 200 crore-Rs 300 crore by India. Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob and Chief Minister EK Mawlong, speaking on the occasion stressed on the need to expedite the construction work of the Institute. The Rs 422.60 crore Institute will have 35 post-graduate departments on the line of AIIMS and a 500-bedded referral hospital at the permanent site at Mawdiang diang. Already declared a national institute, the NEIGRIHMS is scheduled for completion by 2005. Later today, the planning committee of the Institute met with Union Health Secretary J A Choudhury in the chair to work out the construction schedule of the Institute. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 9, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 7: After remaining in cold-storage for the last 14 years, the Northeastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) is back on the rails. The long delayed autonomous institute, the foundation of which was laid by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 and which was on the verge of being scuttled, is now likely to see the light of day. The Union Health Minister, CP Thakur is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the constructions of the institute at its permanent site at Mawdiang-diang, about six kilometres from here, at 11.45 am tomorrow. "The long delay has come as a blessing in disguise as the entire concept of the Institute has been changed to make it a super speciality institute destined to emerge as the hub of health infrastructure in the entire north-eastern region", the Institute director, A K Barooah told newsmen here last evening. The original proposal for the Institute was for Rs 71.18 crore with only 19 super specialities. The new conceptual plan prepared by Barooah aims at establishing a specialised and advanced health care system and envisages a post-graduate Institute with 35 teaching disciplines in different specialities and super specialities at the revised estimate of Rs 422.60 crore. "The actual construction work at the 306 acre campus will be started as soon as the monsoon is over," assured Barooah. He claimed that the first phase of the Institute which will be a self-contained township with all modern facilities, will be commissioned within about two years. Designed as a post-graduate medical institute in the model of AIIMS, New Delhi and PGIMER, Chandigarh, NEIGRIHMS is the first and the only post-graduate medical institute in the region and the third in the country established by the Union Ministry of Health. Barooah expressed grave concern at the acute shortage of both health infrastructure and manpower in the region when compared to national norms. Citing an example, he said, Meghalaya has only one doctor for a population of 4,758 as against the national average of 2,083. With the region facing even greater shortage of post-graduate medical teachers, Barooah is facing a uphill task to find "qualified" teachers for the institute." Our advertisements in national newspapers looking for teachers has been fruitless. "He informed", We are now offering a package of 13-14 incentives including free furnished accommodation valued at up to Rs 1 lakh to attract 'teachers' to the institute. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 9, 2000)

JORHAT, August 9: Development activities along the Assam-Nagaland border within Jorhat district have taken a backseat over the past few months as an amount of Rs 23 lakh sanctioned by the state government for welfare works in the area for the financial year March 2000-2001 is still awaiting release. A bone of contention between the two neighbouring states since the past few decades, frequent skirmisher along the border over allegations of land encroachment have been a constant pain in the neck especially for the Assam Government, which has all along claimed that land-hungry Naga folks have covertly and in some cases overtly grabbed cultivable land well within the state's boundary. Despite an earlier sum of Rs 20 lakh being pumped in for border area development during '99-2000 and 17 bridges having been constructed in the area, a considerable amount still remains to be accomplished. The much-publicised Vision Plan too envisages a number of border roads, new electrification schemes, potable water supply, besides irrigation facilities for border villages at a cost of Rs 1.68 crore to be completed within the period 2001 to 2025. Though there are ten border outposts (BOPs) along the Assam-Nagaland border within Jorhat district, namely Rajabari, Gabharu, Bandarchaliha, New Sonowal, Chukephala, Chutiakari, Dessoi Valley, Gorajan, Panikheti and Kheromia, the last-named five are yet to be electrified. Additionally, there are allegations that four BOPs are very much inside the state's reserved forest areas and not along the border, as their names suggest. Gabharu, Dessoi Valley, New Sonowal and Chukephala fall under this category. Going by statistics alone, even while taking a cursory glance at reserved forest land encroached upon by the Nagaland Government within Jorhat district, the Assam counterpart's claims on the subject seem to be well-founded. For example in Mariani Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) alone, Dessoi Valley Reserve Forest has witnessed 13,1332,14 hectares being encroached and Naga villages like Sutaphala, Aokum, New Chungtia, New Lengpha, Watiyium, Aasenden, Aasangkum, Akashika, Aghautito, Khaktato, Mayamti, Mamtimyim and Akahute being established. Though there is till date no polling station within the said areas, churches, schools, police check-posts and basic facilities like electricity, water supply, veterinary and food processing units have been set up by the neighbouring Government. Similarly, in the Tiru Hills RF under Mariani LAC too, 4,829,15 hectares encompassing Yachang, Compound Basti, Lirumen Basti, Akumen Basti and Chairman Basti have been encroached upon. Dessoi RF too can draw a parallel, with 1,532,34 hectares presently under Morongial Naga Basti having been 'lost' to Nagaland and churches, police stations and the like being set up. As for Teok revenue circle, 1,65,73 hectares have 'fallen' to land-guzzling Nagaland. Naga villages like Chairman Basti, Ankuman Basti, Sampung and Charing Basti have come up in the area even as schools and churches have been speedily constructed by the encroachers just to lend an aura of genuinity insofar as jurisdiction and religion are concerned. Border watchers here feel that unless drastic measures were undertaken by the Centre to oust encroachers and 'clearly' demarcate the 'disputed' areas, the stalemate is bound to continue ceaselessly. In the process it is the Assam Government which stands to lose, as the several Central commissions have till date only harped on maintaining status quo along the border, which has in fact proved to be a Godsend for the encroachers who continue with their modus operandi of 'grabbing a metre a day' while it lasts. (Sanjoy Barkataki; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 10, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 9: Members of Parliament from the north-eastern region cutting across party affiliations once again reiterated the demand for total merger of the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL) with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) rather than making BRPL a subsidiary of IOCL. A total of 28 MPs of the region recently submitted a memorandum separately to the Prime Minister, the minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the finance minister for speeding up the merger process. Earlier also in December last year, a similar memorandum was submitted to these three dignitaries on the same demand. The memorandum said the Northeastern Region Oil Workers' Coordination Committee (NEROWCC) - a common forum of oil employees' unions of the region - initially raised the demand against making BRPL a mere subsidiary of IOCL. This is because they felt the BRPL had the potential of playing a vital role in developing the petrochemical and petroleum sectors of the region only by its merger with IOCL. Similarly the state government of Assam also intimated the Union Government its advocacy of only a merger of both the entities, in the interests of the region's development. The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) also have been demanding the merger of BRPL and IOCL. The MPs expressed anxiousness at knowing the final steps taken by the Union government in this regard and pressed for an early decision in this connection. The MPs include Arun Kumar Sarma, Jayashree Goswami Mahanta, PA Sangma, Basanti Sarma among others. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 10, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 10: The Nagaland government has constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary RS Pandey in order to make the administration more effective, responsive and transparent as a follow-up action of the Chief Ministers' conference, reports PTI. According to official sources here on Wednesday, the committee recently made a detailed discussions on each recommendations of the Chief Ministers' conference and issued directives to certain departments. The committee felt that "citizens' charter" is important for grievance redressal and providing provisions for independent scrutiny of a department with involvement of citizens and consumer groups, the sources said. The committee was of the view that there was an urgent need to streamline the system for redressal of public grievances, besides maintaining transparency and good public relation business in office functioning, the sources added. For an effective public redressal mechanism, the committee recommended that the commissioner or secretary to P and AR department be nominated as the chief public grievances officer having jurisdiction over all departments in the matter of public grievances, the sources said. Self-employment scheme: Nagaland is contemplating on introduction of a state-sponsored self-employment scheme for educated unemployed in the age group of 21 to 40. The Industry Secretary Jane Alam told a seminar here on Wednesday that Chief Minister's self-employment scheme for educated unemployed proposed two categories of beneficiaries, offering up to Rs 1 lakh for an individual and Rs 3 lakh for joint venture with at least two partners. The candidates should have the minimum qualification of matric appeared. For youths with matriculation qualification, individual project sanction is Rs 2 lakh while for joint venture it is Rs 5 lakh (two partners) and Rs 8 lakh for three partners. While the subsidy component is 25 per cent, the remaining 75 per cent of the project cost will be financed by banks and financial institutions, the scheme proposed, emphasising the need for an effective mechanism to recover loans. Explaining the imperatives of loan recovery, the secretary said the village development boards and village councils are to play a crucial role in successful implementation of the proposed scheme as guarantors of the loans to be offered to beneficiaries. Alam pointed out that the peculiar land holding pattern in Nagaland, does not facilitate banks and FIs to take drastic step to recover the loans as under the present law prevailing in state, no land can be mortgaged. Under such circumstances, therefore the only village-level constitutional organisations must ensure steady recovery of loans, he said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 11: In line with the Government of India's special policy for the development of north eastern region, a workshop at Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat was held recently, for preparing the strategy for assessing the environmental quality of the north eastern states including Sikkim, stated a press release. The workshop was jointly organised by the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC) of Lucknow and RRL, Jorhat, both CSIR laboratories. Held at RRL auditorium under the name and title "Workshop on Environmental Quality related to Food, Water and Health", the workshop was the first of its kind which provided an unique platform of the experts and officials concerned of the region to collectively discuss and interact on the environmental problems confronting the region. JS Sandhu, FNA, Director, RRL, Jorhat and PK Seth, FNA, Director, ITRC Lucknow presided over the workshop which was attended by a total of 54 participants from the North eastern states viz. Assam, Arunahcal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland. The participants included experts, scientists, medical personnel, top government officials and others besides the scientific community of RRL, Jorhat. The objectives behind the workshop were (i) to identify the typical problems causing health hazards (ii) to undertake preliminary assessment of quality of food and water samples (ii) to explore organising regular training programmes in food and water quality assessment methodologies and instrumentations. The business of the workshop started with the presentations of ITRC, Lucknow and RRL, Jorhat with the help of slides and transparencies. PK Seth presented the activities of ITRC in which he dealt at length the work being pursued at ITRC in the areas of environmental toxicity related to food, water and health and also briefed the expertise available at ITRC. SK Khanna, Dy. Director, ITRC also spoke about the methodologies adopted by ITRC for identifying problems related to pollution and contamination causing health hazards. NC Dey, scientist spoke abut the RRL's activities in the area of testing and analysis and the infrastructural facilities available at RRL for analysis. He also mentioned abut the problems related to water which used to be frequently referred to RRL for analysis and also discussed about the projects that had been carried out at RRL on water and food with relevant findings. After the presentations of ITRC and RRL, the workshop was made open for interactions by the participants present. There was overwhelming interactions among the participants and during the discussion a number of very serious health problems, requiring immediate and urgent attention of the government as well as other concerned, came to the fore. Of these, special mention can be made about the serious health problem raised by A.B. Paul, Additional Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering Department of Diphu abut the fluorine contamination of natural drinking water in and around the Karbi Anglong district of Assam that silently but surely effected lakhs of villagers causing permanent physical deformity and making invalid. Sounding a note of caution he mentioned that unless the problem is checked immediately, it is likely to spread and engulf more and more other areas sooner or latter. At the close of the workshop, ITRC Director, PK Seth suggested for channelling the problems through appropriate means by using even the bits and pieces of the small data that are available in small pockets of various places and localities of the region. As recommendations, it was unanimously decided by the workshop that (1) all the Government department, agencies and NGOs of different states of the NE region, dealing in environmental problems concerning water food and health, must exercise at their local-level to identify the problems of their locality and then pass on the same to a common regional platform to discuss further for prioratizing the problems and for adopting strategies for finding solutions. (2) All efforts will be made for creating awareness among the masses about the problems and preventive measures to be taken and (3) RRL and ITRC will work for imparting training of the trainers who in turn will train the masses to detect and identify the problems at local-level.

GUWAHATI, August 13: Union information technology minister Pramod Mahajan has urged the youth of the Northeast to drop their guns and take to computers. At the inauguration of a software technology park here on Sunday, Mahajan said: "Bullets and barrels can never bring in peace and prosperity. The youth of the region should understand the miracle of information technology." According to him, India would emerge as the global leader in IT in the next few years. Giving the example of Germany, the minister said they are considering allowing Indians to work there. "Indians have established their credibility all over the world and have raced ahead of the developed countries," Mahajan said. The minister praised the officials concerned for completing the Guwahati software technology park on time and announced a rebate of 15 per cent for entrepreneurs at this park. "Our mission is to take IT to the villages," Mahajan said. He asserted that his ministry was committed to connect all 484 blocks in the region through the Internet. With the inauguration of the software technology park, the IT ministry has fulfilled one of the commitments given by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in his Rs 220-crore package, Mahajan said. He said the Prime Minister's package will be implemented on time. On the occasion, chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said, "Over the past two decades, the advances in IT have been instrumental in shaping the economy and social fabric of our society." Mahanta said computers, communication and software were the key ingredients that have revolutionised the industrial sector. "Assam and the Northeast are besieged with problems like unemployment and insurgency; with the growth of IT sector, we are sure that educated youth will find employment," Mahanta said. The chief minister also requested Mahajan to start a city hub as soon as possible. Mahanta, who looks after the IT portfolio in the state, said entrepreneurs and first-time investors to the software technology park lack investment resources and would find it difficult to afford 64 kbps leased line connectivity individually because of its high cost. The chief minister suggested that it would help the entrepreneurs if connectivity could be provided at 9.6 kbps to each user by splitting the 64 kbps leased line on a time-sharing basis at least for the first six months. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; Guwahati; August 14, 2000)