Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Two persons killed, eight injured in accident in Assam

Aizawl: Two persons were killed and eight others injured when a maxi-cab they were travelling met with an accident near Chamring village in Aizawl district on Wednesday, police said in Aizawl on Wednesday.

The Mizoram-bound maxi-cab coming from Silchar in Assam rolled down into a gorge about 200 metres below the Aizawl-Lunglei road.

Among the dead were a mullah, who used to work in a mosque in Saiha district, and a Manipuri identified as Tomba Singh, an automobile mechanic who succumbed to his injuries after being brought to the Primary Health Centre in nearby Sialsuk village.

All the eight injured persons, which included one Mizo from Lunglei, were also admitted to the Sialsuk PHC where their condition was stated to be stable.
READ MORE - Two persons killed, eight injured in accident in Assam

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Abductors demand Rs 30 lakh

Aizawl, Nov 28 : The abductors of the two timber merchants and their driver have sent a ransom note demanding Rs 30 lakh for their release, police today said.

“Though concrete information was yet to be obtained, the ransom note was reported to have been sent to the team leader (mahaldar) of the timber traders,” the police said.       

A gang of five militants abducted Sapan Kumar Roy, 52, of Dosda Bazar in North Tripura district, his driver Govinda Nath, 35, of Dharmanagar in the same district and Sankar Nath, 35, of Rangamati in Assam’s Karimganj district, on Sunday night from Rajiv Nagar on the Mizoram-Tripura border, the police said.

Mizoram police said a hunt was on to trace the hostages.

The BSF officials deployed along the Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border suspected the NLFT militants to be behind the kidnapping. But state police officials here said it was the handiwork of the Borok National Council of Tripura, which was allegedly operating from the Bru relief camps in North Tripura district.

, were also involved in the recent burglary, where Rs 198 lakh was looted from the office of the block development officer, at Zawlnuam village, on the Mizoram-Tripura border. However, they are still missing.
READ MORE - Abductors demand Rs 30 lakh

Friday, November 23, 2012

Expert for federal agro approach

Aizawl, Nov 24 : A federal approach is the urgent need of the Northeast to achieve development, particularly in the field of agriculture.

Mizoram Economics Association president Lianzela said this while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of a two-day UGC-sponsored national seminar on Agricultural Development in North East India. He said it was the only way the small states of the region could ensure "economics of scale" to achieve marketability of their agricultural and other products.

"This will help establish a solid foundation of physical and institutional infrastructure for joint regional action for tapping the enormous potential of the region in agriculture for growth and poverty reduction," he said, while advocating a "growth triangle" involving neighbouring regions with an eye on the Look East policy.

Academicians from various colleges, Mizoram University, Central Agricultural University, Selisih, and Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, as well as officials from the Mizoram department of agriculture presented various papers at the seminar, which was organised by the Government T Romana College in association with the association.

Prof. C. Hazarika from the department of agricultural economics, Assam Agricultural University, in his paper, "North East Agriculture, Dynamics and Perspectives", said the region was a classic case of economic underdevelopment in an area of vast potential. He said not enough had been done to exploit the vast natural resources of the region and that there was need to invest more in infrastructure with proper planning for the region to achieve its goal.
READ MORE - Expert for federal agro approach

Mizoram begins rationalisation of teacher-student ratio

Zodin Sanga,

Aizawl, Nov 24
: Under pressure, the Mizoram government has agreed to revalidate marching orders for over 60 teachers, the first major step towards the much demanded rationalisation of teacher-student ratio.

Succumbing to pressure from the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, the state’s apex students’ body, the government on Thursday said that it would issue fresh orders on November 27, after it had put on hold due to pressure from teachers’ associations.

Following the government’s nod, the students’ called off a protest rally earlier slated for Thursday.

“As demanded by the teachers’ associations, the government requested us to wait till January next year. But we made it very clear that we can’t wait for that long as there are a number of schools in the rural areas which are doing with just one teacher while some others don’t have science and mathematics teachers,” an MZP leader said.

The MZP insisted that the government should not let the students face year-end examinations without two important subjects – science and mathematics. The transfer order issued last week was suspended on November 19 in honour of Mizoram Primary Schools Teachers’ Association and Mizoram Middle School Teachers’ Association’s request.

Government sources said recruitment of about 300 teachers was underway to fill up the posts left vacant by teachers who have gone on voluntary retirement recently. The teachers’ associations requested that transfer of teachers is carried out after these vacant posts are filled up.

Strongly reacting to the MZP’s protest, the two teachers’ associations said in a statement on Thursday that transfer of teachers in the middle of an academic session would badly affect education.

“As there are no teachers’ quarters anywhere in Mizor am, transfer of teachers, especially to rural areas, is not an easy task,” the statement said.

The teachers said that all the 198 teachers recruited recently to fill up posts left vacant by teachers on VRS were posted in rural schools where there were inadequate teachers.

“As 300 other teachers are going on VRS, there are plans to appoint teachers to fill these posts within December this year. These new teachers will be posted in rural areas where there is shortage of teachers,” the statement said.

Severely criticising “interference” from outside, the teachers also expressed deep anguish over teachers being “kicked around like a football” by even students’ organisations. They felt that such activities brought dishonour on the teachers, who are called builders of the nation.

According to an ‘annual publication 2011-2012’ prepared by statistical cell under the school education department, there are 31,8,231 students and 23,705 teachers in primary to higher secondary schools in Mizoram, which means there is one teacher for every 13 students, against the Right To Education Act (RTE)’s norms of one teacher for every 30 students. However, many schools in the far-flung areas have been facing shortage of teachers.
READ MORE - Mizoram begins rationalisation of teacher-student ratio

Thursday, November 22, 2012

CIPHET signs MoU with Mizoram for providing cost effective storage

LUDHIANA: Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) here today  licensed the technology of Evaporative Cooled (EC) room structure to state of Mizoram.

Director CIPHET U.S Shivhare signed a memorandum of understanding with Sh C.Lalniliana, Directorate of Agriculture (Research & Education), Government of Mizoram.  The Evaporative cooled room structure is on farm storage solution, which store 5-7 tons of fruits and vegetables. This EC structure requires minimum energy and very low maintainance to operate.

“It maintains a moderate low temperature and sufficiently high relative humidity for  storage of fresh fruits and vegetables,” informed Dr U.S Shivhare, hoping that it would be very useful for small and medium farmers in state of Mizoram.

Sh. C.Lalniliana said that initially they would construct two-three EC structures. “We would encourage other farmers to adopt this easy and economic solution to check post harvest losses,” he added.

The cost of construction of EC structure is Rs 2 to 4 lakh. While potato could be stored in this structure for 55 days and Kinnow could be stored upto 25 days. Head, Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control  Division Dr S.N Jha and Institute Technology Management Unit Incharge Dr K.Narsaiah were also present on the occasion.
READ MORE - CIPHET signs MoU with Mizoram for providing cost effective storage

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Meeting with Bru refugees before voter list revision

Aizawl: A six-member team of election officials from three districts in Mizoram left for Tripura Tuesday to conduct hearing on the ongoing summary revision of electoral rolls among the Bru refugees lodged in six relief camps in Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura district.

State election department sources said that the officials would conduct the hearing in different relief camps from tomorrow till November 30 and the team was scheduled to return to Mizoram by December 1.

As per directions from Election Commission of India, the election team would enroll new voters who attain the age of 18 on or before January one, 2013 and only the descendants of those already enrolled in the voters' lists would be included.

Tripura government was instructed to make all the necessary arrangements including security for the team, the officials added.
READ MORE - Meeting with Bru refugees before voter list revision

Mizoram villagers donate land for Sainik School

In Mizoram, 61 families of Chhingchhip village, about 50 km from Aizawl, have donated land for setting up the state’s first Sainik School. While the land donated by 44 families will be part of the campus, that donated by the 17 others will be used for constructing an approach road to link the Sainik School to the highway. Appreciating the contribution of the villagers, who have declined to accept compensation for the land, Chief Minister Lal Thanhalwa said though the Sainik Schoool won’t directly benefit them, “this is more due to their dedication”. Two decades ago, the state’s only airport at Lengpui was also constructed on land donated by villagers. The Sainik School is coming up on a 100-hectare plot and its construction cost is estimated at Rs 100.33 crore.
READ MORE - Mizoram villagers donate land for Sainik School

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

CM lauds Mizoram journalists

Aizawl, Nov 15 : Chief minister Lalthanhawla lauded the state press for the selfless service they have rendered for the past four decades. He encouraged the gathering of journalists to show more perseverance and courage in their pursuit of factual reports, particularly when writing about political personalities.

He appreciated the bravery and intensity with which presspersons in other states pursued their reports and hoped that the local press would learn from them.

The chief minister was speaking at the ruby jubilee of the Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA) as the chief guest. Lalthanhawla was the founder president of the association 40 years ago.

“When we started out we were like a bunch of kids, but everything has a beginning and I am proud to see that the humble beginning has bloomed into a powerful body of people who can make a difference for good,” he said.

The state has over 40 dailies now, with each district headquarters publishing at least two or three dailies, not to speak about the numerous periodicals and magazines. There are over two dozen dailies in the capital alone, the largest being Vanglaini, Aizawl Post, Zozam Time and possibly the only evening newspaper in the Northeast region Evening Post.

“Going by ratio to population which is about 11 lakh, the state has the most daily newspapers,” Thanhawla said.

Lok Sabha MP, C.L. Ruala also attended the function. There are over 196 accredited journalists in the state.
READ MORE - CM lauds Mizoram journalists

Trio arrested at IGI airport for smuggling drugs

Three persons were arrested today from the IGI airport here for allegedly smuggling narcotic drugs worth more than Rs 60 lakh in domestic market.

The trio, identified by security agencies as C Lalchhal (28), C Znanghak (27) and Zorema (21), hailing from Mizoram, were found to be moving suspiciously around 1430 hours at the Terminal-1D of the airport when they were intercepted by a CISF squad.

"The trio were travelling to Guwahati on an IndiGo flight and they work in an Adidas firm in Gurgaon," CISF spokesperson and Deputy Commandant Hemendra Singh said.

The trio, he said, were carrying three large suitcases and on suspicion the CISF team asked them to go through a detailed inspection which led to the recovery of 77.5 kg of pseudoephedrine tablets, a popular narcotic stimulant.

CISF authorities subsequently called up Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths who arrested them and confirmed the narcotic drugs, which have an estimated value of Rs 62 lakh in domestic market.

Central Industrial Security Force, which is the designated security force to guard civilian airports in the country, has deployed special squads to detect the movement of drugs and other contraband at vital airports like Delhi and Mumbai among others.
READ MORE - Trio arrested at IGI airport for smuggling drugs

Mizoram to sign Rs 151.15 cr loan with ADB

Aizawl, Nov 14 : With project-1 under the North Eastern Region Capital Cities Investment Programme (NERCCDIP) having been implemented, Mizoram is soon to sign another loan deal worth Rs 151.15 crore with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to execute project-2.

Urban development and poverty alleviation (UD and PA) principal secretary R L Rinawma will sign the agreement on behalf of the Mizoram government with ADB officials on November 19, an official statement said today.

"The ADB loan would be utilised for improving urban infrastructures like water supply, sewage system and solid and liquid waste management," the official statement said.

Elaborating on the projects, officials said the greater Aizawl water supply scheme (GAWSS) phase-II would be provided with adequate power supply. "Once completed, the GAWSS Phase-II would be utilised to its fullest capacity," officials said.

The main water supply pipes of greater Aizawl water supply scheme phase-I, which are as old as 25 years, would be replaced with new ones. Three large water reservoirs would also be constructed.

This project would also revolutionise liquid waste disposal system in Aizawl.

"All the liquid waste will be sent to a treatment plant from where it will be recycled. This improved sewage system will prevent landslides in Aizawl to a great extent," the officials said.

Public urinals will be constructed in ten different locations within the city and five septic tank trucks would be purchased.

While 70 per cent of the loan would be repaid by the central government, repayment of the remaining 30 per cent would be borne by the Mizoram government.

Officials said Mizoram was adjudged the best performer among the NE states under project-I of NERCCDIP.

In 2009, the ADB approved a loan of 100 million dollars to carry out fiscal and social reforms in Mizoram under the project named Mizoram Public Resource Management Programme. The first installment of 47 million dollars was released in 2009.
READ MORE - Mizoram to sign Rs 151.15 cr loan with ADB

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Arrested PLA cadres quizzed in Aizawl

Three hardcore militants of Manipur-based People's Liberation Army, arrested at Saitual in Mizoram on Saturday, were questioned by sleuths of investigation agencies, including the National Investigation Agency.

Police sources said 'SS 2nd Lt' Moirangthem Inaocha, 43, Moirang, Manipur; 'SS 2nd Lt' Chongtham Suresh Singh, 37 of Mayang Imphal and 'SS Lt' Longjam Tomba Singh, 46 of Langdum Mamang Leikai Imphal East district, were arrested at Saitual, about 80 kilometres east of Aizawl, while on their way to Champhai town near the Myanmar border.

Naba Singh, 51, a teacher at Zote near Champhai and his wife Champasana, 51, were also arrested along with the trio.

But the couple was found to have no connections with the militants outfit. "Acting on a tip-off, we laid a trap and arrested them while on their way to the Myanmar border in a vehicle on Saturday," a source from Saitual police station said.
READ MORE - Arrested PLA cadres quizzed in Aizawl

Narcotics worth over 1cr seized

 GUWAHATI: In one of the biggest seizures of narcotics in the region, customs sleuths on Monday succeeded in seizing a huge consignment of pseudoephedrine tablets worth over Rs 1 crore from a godown in the city's Boragaon area. Two persons have been arrested.

The arrested have been identified as Rajen Sen (28) of Hailakandi district and Laltan Puia (38) of Mizoram. They were taking the consignment to Mizoram. The duo has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and also charged under the Customs Act.

The sleuths recovered the consignment from a truck which was hidden inside the godown. The seizure included 1174 tablets of pseudoephedrine and 101.56 kg of pseudoephedrine crystals.

"This consignment came from New Delhi and was supposed to be handed over to agents in Myanmar. Basically, pseudoephedrine is a stimulant and youths take it to get energy. The cache is worth Rs 1, 02, 75, 433 in the black market," said a customs official.

Medically, pseudoephedrine is used to treat nasal and sinus congestion or congestion of the tubes that drain fluid from your inner ears. It is the raw material for producing amphetamine tablets, also known as party drugs.
READ MORE - Narcotics worth over 1cr seized

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Mizoram chief minister's biography released

The biography of Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, authored by journalist-turned-writer David M Thangliana, was released here today.
Releasing the book, Home Minister R Lalzirliana said Lal Thanhawla was a man of principle. "He is a good Mizo and a good Indian at the same time."
Congress leader Lal Thanhawla (74) is a four-time chief minister of Mizoram. He first became chief minister in 1984, and again in 1989, 1993 and 2008.
READ MORE - Mizoram chief minister's biography released

Myanmarese drug cartels find new route via Mizoram

Mizoram, which shares a 404-kilometre porous border with Myanmar, has become a favoured passage for cross-border ‘party drug’ cartels based in the neighbouring country. A recent spurt in seizures of pseudoephedrine-based drugs from Aizawl, majority of them from flight passengers, has proved this.

With the seizure of 60 kilograms (46, 5000 tablets) on Thursday, Lengpui Airport security police have seized 1,03,62,519 tablets of pseudoephedrine-based drugs from the state’s lone airport during the last two months and nine days.
READ MORE - Myanmarese drug cartels find new route via Mizoram

Mizoram hydro projects violating safeguards

 AIZAWL, Nov 12 – Two major hydro electric projects in Mizoram have gone ahead without following any of the safeguard mechanisms under the Environment Impact Assessment notifications (1994 and 2006).

While the construction for the resurrected 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project (THEP) in Aizawl District, under North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) is on the fast track, since April 2011, locals and experts question its legality as no public hearing was known to have been ever held.

A public hearing is a mandatory requirement under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions before starting any major project as the only safeguard against big dam builders riding rough-shod over the claims of affected people.

The other project, Serlui-B (12 MW), in Kolasib District is completed. But it is with the dubious distinction of creating the first official ‘dam refugees’ in the State, as per the Builum Inquiry Commission. When asked about his view, SL Sailova, a retired IAS officer who chaired it, said, “We need power yes, but Mizo people now have to think whether we can have that by destroying so many people’s lives. No proper rehabilitation was in place and there was corruption at all levels. Personally, I don’t think so.”

Aggrieved Dam Affected People (DAP) of THEP have a strong case if they want to take the matter to the courts, opined environmental law experts, such as the Environmental Support Group (ESG).

Watching the dam being built at a hectic pace near their village, locals in the THEP neighbourhood are at a loss over their future as no official information is shared about the dam and its impact since it began, Vanlalvena, the Village Council president (VCP) of Zohmun, a village in the THEP vicinity told The Assam Tribune during a visit to the dam area.

The validity of the THEP Environment Clearance received in 1995 is questionable as the project was revived with fresh estimates, said experts consulted. Under the norms an EC is valid only for five years after it is issued if the project is stalled. It was halted in 2004 and work started again in April 2011.

But the Nodal Officer for the Forest Conservation Act, Addl. PCCF, Rosiama Vanchhawng said that the EC was valid as final clearance was issued in 2000. “A final clearance is final” he said. But he could not comment on the issue of public hearing not being held.

He pointed out that in September a multi-disciplinary committee was set up with representatives from forestry, wildlife, ecology, etc., to oversee effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures. But these do not include a look at the social impact of the dam on the people living in the area. Besides, as per the EIA all impact studies should be completed before any construction works begin. It’s also compulsory that all project related information be made available to people in the local languages which was not done by either NEEPCO or the State.

Also a question how the project was allowed when the very land on which the dam is based is under massive dispute over compensation claims, huge payments to fraudulent claimants and non-payment to the genuine ones, over which a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Society for Social Action (SOSA). The Gauhati High Court ordered the CBI to unravel the corrupt network of officials and political nepotism.

Vanlalvena and his compatriots said they are against “becoming like Builum” and they will fight it to get their traditional rights over the lands and forests recognised. But how? They do not know, they confess, as being poor common people, no one is listening to them, they said. They might start a joint platform with the vcs of the other affected villages – Ratu, Mawchar, Saipum, Palsang, N Khawdungsei, Serzawl, Lungmuat, Bukpui, Saiphai, Hlimen, Darlawn, Khawruhlian, N Chaltlang, Nisapui and Thingtherh.

The noise generated by the claimant associations and some armed outfits for autonomy over the years has overshadowed these genuine people’s rights issues, it would seem.
READ MORE - Mizoram hydro projects violating safeguards

Women dominate workplaces in Mizoram

Woman working at a meat shop in Aizawl. Post Photo
Zodin Sanga, Aizawl (Nov 12 ): From meat shop to stone quarry to government offices, the womenfolk dominate workplaces in the otherwise traditionally strict patriarchal tribal society in Mizoram.
A recent survey conducted by Mizoram Presbyterian Church’s synod social front has revealed that women outnumbered their male counterparts even in the male-friendly workplaces like butcher houses and stone quarries.
Women constitute 54 per cent of work force in different government offices and 71 per cent in commercial establishments, like restaurants, shops and vegetable markets.
Even in what is considered to be male-friendly workplace like stone quarry, 62 per cent of the workers belong to the weaker sex, the study revealed.
Most of the women working in stone quarries are engaged in chipping stones. In the teaching profession, women are outnumbered by men with the fairer sex constituting 36 per cent of the total number of teachers from middle school to university.
While 51.5 per cent of students from middle school to higher secondary are female, their ratio among the university students is 47 per cent. The study further revealed that people between 45 to 65 years of age constitute the major workforce in Mizoram.
Only nine per cent of the workforce in Mizoram belong to 18-35 age group, while 58 per cent are aged between 45 t o 65. Another 33 per cent are a ged between 35 to 45, the survey revealed.
The participation of women in workplaces appeared to have increased, compared to a similar research conducted by Dr Lalhriatpuii two years back. According this woman researcher’s book ‘Economic Participation of Women in Mizoram’, the weaker sex constitutes 43.98 per cent of t he total workforce.
Like in any tribal society, w omen were confined to household chores in olden Mizo society. The significant increase of women’s participation in the economy of the society may be attributed to the women empowerment propagated by women organisations, the most influential one being Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl or Mizo women federation, which has branches across the state.
“The organisation’s decade of campaign for women empowerment has clearly reflected in the participation of women in the state’s economy,” said B Sangkhumi, president of MHIP.
Women dominating workplaces, however, does not mean encroachment on men’s authority. The women leader said their members were taught to respect men’s authority as a result of which Mizo society still follows strict patriarchal system.
The other two areas where w omen hold their heads high are education and competitive examinations. Women have held top positions in high school board, university and competitive examinations for the last many years.
When the European missionaries set up schools in Mizoram in the early 20th century, the students were mainly boys as girls were not allowed by their parents to learn.
Now, more and more Mizo girls have joined professions like medical, engineering, mass media and communication, management, computer engineering and IT.
Many Mizo women have also become contractors and suppliers, doing brisk business with the state government.
However, there are still some areas where women empowerment does not work – church and politics.
Though the Presbyterian Church, the largest denomination in Mizoram, has m any women theologians, woman ordination seems still a far cry. In politics, only three women have been elected to the state assembly since its inception in 1972.
Lalhlimpuii, who was made social welfare minister in the short-lived Laldenga ministry in 1987-88, was the only woman minister the state has ever had.
READ MORE - Women dominate workplaces in Mizoram

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mizo boy who conquered Mount Gorichen to be awarded Rs 1 lakh

Aizawl Nov 8 : A Mizo boy who conquered the 6,488 metre Mount Gorichen in Arunachal Pradesh will be given Rs one lakh by the Arunachal Pradesh government, an official statement said here today.

The statement said that Zoramsanga was the first to reach the summit of the Mount Gorichen among mountaineers from other states in the expedition held during September 22 to October 25.

Zoramsanga was not only selected to participate in the Mount Everest expedition, he was employed by the Arunachal Pradesh government as support staff, the statement added.
READ MORE - Mizo boy who conquered Mount Gorichen to be awarded Rs 1 lakh

Monday, November 5, 2012

Mizoram Hmeithai Association received national award

New Delhi, Nov 6 : Four voluntary organisations were today conferred the Durgabai Deshmukh awards by President Pranab Mukherjee here today for their contribution to women’s development.

Mukherjee gave away the award for 2005 to joint winners — Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association and People’s Forum Bhubaneshwar.

While the Association runs residential schools for under- privileged children, provides aid to widows and distressed women, and runs a home for women in difficult circumstances, the Forum was honoured for its services in rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of mentally ill women.

The award for 2006 was given to Sumangali Seva Ashram of Bangalore for its activities in education and development of the deserted, orphan and needy children and creating socio- economic opportunities for development of women.

~ Press Trust of India

Address by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of presentation of Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh award for women’s development at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 5, 2012

Swami Vivekananda had said, “All nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. A country and a nation which does not respect women has never become rich.”

I am pleased to present the “Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for Women’s Development” to the four organizations whose work is being recognized today.

It is also an occasion to reflect on the contribution made by Dr Durgabai Deshmukh to the cause of women and social development. She was a Parliamentarian, an institution builder and a pioneer in social development. She was the first Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board. As a Member of the Planning Commission, she endeavored to integrate, consciously and systematically, the element of social development into the planning process. For this task, she set up the Council for Social Development as a platform for generating new ideas and for research, advocacy and field experiments in social development.

Dr. Durgabai believed that “In the field of social welfare, the Government alone cannot initiate and carry out all the necessary measures for its citizens. Nor can it alone see to the preventive services that keep a society healthy. Only when spontaneous, dedicated work springs from the very soil it is linked with, can national efforts have real depth and meaning”.

Distinguished Guests, the Directive Principles of State Policy provide that “the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people”. Government of India, through its programmes and policies has engineered a major directional change in public policy by its focus on inclusive development. Government is committed to the development of the weaker and vulnerable sections of our society. It aims at a process of rapid and inclusive growth based on empowering the citizens of the country through education and skill development. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the National Rural Livelihood Mission are important initiatives to provide employment opportunities. Similarly, the National Urban Livelihood Mission is shifting its focus from metropolitan cities to Class One and Medium Towns. The National Programme for the Urban Homeless is a new scheme which will bring shelter and relief to the destitute. Gender budgeting has been duly integrated into our planning process to ensure that each and every developmental sector gives due emphasis to the participation of women in our nation’s growth and progress.

However, achievement of the desired goals can become a reality only with the concerted effort of the Government, private and voluntary sectors. Voluntary efforts for social welfare has deep roots in the history and heritage of India. Whether it is empowerment at grassroots level or emergency assistance, the voluntary sector enjoys considerable advantage due to its innovative, multi-sectoral and motivated approach. Voluntary organizations have played an important role in the shaping of participatory democracy in India. They have reached into remote and sometimes inhospitable terrain and approached weaker sections of our society with empathy and understanding. There has, therefore, been due attention, in our Five Year Plans, to galvanizing public cooperation through the deep and wide network of the voluntary organizations. Presently, the Planning Commission has initiated a Non Governmental Organisations Partnership System with the participation of about 11 Ministries and Organisations. These include the Ministry of Women and Child development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Department of Higher Education and others. I am sure this initiative will impact positively on sections that it is intended for.

Distinguished guests, the organizations who have received awards today have distinguished themselves through their outstanding contribution to society. The Mizoram Widows Association, the Peoples Forum Association, the Sumangali Sewa Ashram in Bangalore and the Snehalaya of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra have brought hope and dignity to women and children who need the support of Government and society. They have given a new direction to the lives of disadvantaged sections of our society including widows, destitute women and abandoned and underprivileged children. They have worked in difficult and remote parts of the country rescuing and rehabilitating the exploited. They have given the gift of education to the deprived and underprivileged among them – and helped them to be self-reliant through vocational training, micro-credit and other assistance. I have no doubt that they will inspire the hundreds of other organizations like themselves, located all over India – in rural as well as urban centres.

With these few words, I once again congratulate the Central Social Welfare Board for instituting this prestigious award. I offer my felicitations to the four awardees of the prestigious Dr Durgabai Deshmukh awards for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 and wish them success in their future endeavours.

President confers Durgabai Deshmukh awards for social work
Smt. Krishna Tirath reiterates WCD Ministry’s commitment to social welfare

President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh awards for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 at the Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, here today. The keynote address was delivered by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development.

The eighth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year was 2005 jointly awarded to the Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association and the People’s Forum, Bhubaneswar. The Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association has worked for bringing succour and relief to thousands of widows and destitute women and hundreds of abandoned orphan children. The Association runs residential schools for under privileged children, provides aid to widows/distressed women and runs a home for women in difficult circumstances. It has a home for abandoned children and arranges for their adoption. It also runs a mobile clinic in the remote areas of Mizoram.

While the People’s Forum, Bhubaneswar was awarded for its landmark services in the rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of mentally ill women and for its exemplary work with women in distress. The main activities of the institution include its mission ASHRA for destitute women’s mental health, helping the formation of Self Help Groups of poor, needy and oppressed women and to attain improvement in their socio-economic condition through economic activities by giving priority to women directly in production activities so that opportunities are created for them to earn additional income.

The ninth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year 2006 was awarded to Sumangali Seva Ashram of Bangalore. The main activities of the institution include care, education and development of deserted, orphan and needy children and socio-economic opportunities for development of women. Apart from its initiatives in formal and non-formal education, the institution carries out Vocational Training, provides Micro credit facilities, runs a Family Counselling Centre, has more than 100 Creches, promotes Income Generating activities, runs a Short Stay Home and Awareness Generation Programmes for women.

The tenth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year 2007 was awarded to Snehalaya of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra for its landmark work in the rehabilitation of women of the red light areas and other destitute women. Snehalaya has successfully intervened to rescue hundreds of girls and women who were caught in the quagmire of prostitution and has rehabilitated them in the mainstream of society.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development said that Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh was the mother of social service in India and the visionary founder Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board. She noted that Durgabai Deshmukh was a feminist, a Parliamentarian, an administrator and a great visionary. As a Member of Parliament she carried out programmes for educating, training and rehabilitating needy women and children. Dr. Durgabai, in her unique way demonstrated to the world that women, through co-operative endeavor, could achieve the vision of universal opportunity and justice for society, the Minister added. She congratulated the awardees for their work for the needy. The Minister said that the Ministry of Women and Child Development is committed to supporting the Board in all its endeavours. Since the mandates of the Ministry and the Board are largely identical vis-a-vis the development of women and children, the Ministry of WCD as the funding body is giving increasing funding support year after year. In the year 2007-08 the Board received funds to the tune of about Rs. 138 crores from the MWCD and in 2012-13 the funds allocated are about Rs. 190 crores.

The Central Social Welfare Board was set up by a Resolution of Government of India dated 12th August, 1953 with the object of promoting social welfare activities and implementing welfare programmes for women, children and the handicapped through voluntary organisations. Dr. Durgabai became the first chairperson of the Central Board which she, with her practical knowledge of the field and personal experience, managed successfully for 10 years. Dr. Durgabai was honoured for her outstanding contribution to the cause of Peace, Social Welfare, Literacy and work among the downtrodden by national and international agencies. She won the Nehru Literacy Award, UNESCO Award for outstanding work in the field of Literacy and was decorated with the PADMA VIBUSHAN. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a stamp in her honour.

The Central Social Welfare Board had constituted the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh award in 1997 and it is given every year to a voluntary organisation that has done outstanding and innovative work in the field of women’s development.

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Presidents Secretariat
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