| Villagers stoke jhum fire, govt clamps ban |
| Silchar, March 14 : Six farmers have been charred in bushfires raging through jhum fields in three districts of Mizoram since mid-February. Mizoram minister for forest and environment H. Rohluna today said while two siblings were charred to death in Lunglei district on Thursday, another was burnt to death in Sherchip district while three others were charred in Aizawl district. It is not known when the other four were killed. He said the victims in the Lunglei fire have been identified as C. Lalrinmuana, 47, and Lalrinchhana, 35. Rohluna disclosed that peasants had lit the fire for clearing the bush and undergrowth on the jhum fields to make them conducive for farming. The forest minister, however, said a blanket ban on jhum fire took effect on March 10, and the forest department would now be very strict in enforcing this ban on burning bushes. Last year, four persons had been charred by a bushfire in Mizoram. Despite that, the bushfires were set off after the harvest this year too. Jhum farming starts with the clearing of jungles on cultivable lands in the northeastern states during the summer months to make the areas agriculture-friendly. In Mizoram, rice is cultivated in about 85,000 hectares of land, of which two-thirds are still are under jhum cultivation in a cyclical order. In the slash-and-burn mode, the fields are left fallow till it is time to till and sow a fresh set of crops. The state government is aware of the pernicious effect of such this cyclical farming practice as it robs the land of its nutrients. Under an ambitious scheme of alternative and permanent agriculture practice in the state, the Congress government under the stewardship of chief minister Lalthanhawla, had chalked out an over Rs 2500crore plan for doing away with jhum (shifting) cultivation. The new scheme has been christened the New Land Use Policy and it primarily envisages terrace farming in the state in a bid to restrict the farmers to a particular strip of land for years together. |
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Saturday, March 13, 2010
Bushfire toll rises in Mizoram
Mizoram sets world record for dance troupe
AIZAWL, India — A troupe of 10,780 tribal villagers in India's northeast set a record Friday for the largest dance ensemble in the world with a carefully choreographed routine to welcome in the summer.
The dancers spread out over three kilometres (around two miles) to perform an eight-minute jig with bamboo sticks, setting a record at the expense of the previous holders -- a 7,700-strong group in Cebu, in the Philippines.
"A new Guinness world record was created with 10,780 dancers performing the bamboo dance for eight minutes in perfect rhythm," a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records, Lucia Sinigagliesi, said after the event.
Sinigagliesi handed over a certificate to the arts and culture minister of the state of Mizoram, in India's far east, which borders Myanmar, where the dance took place to the sound of bamboo sticks being knocked together.
"We are delighted to create history," the minister, P.C. Zoramsangliana, told AFP in the capital, Aizawl, where the troupe in traditional tribal dress assembled at a military ground.
The bamboo dance, locally known as the Cheraw dance, is the harbinger of the Chapchar Kut festival of the Mizos tribal group, which marks the end of winter and advent of summer.
Friday, March 12, 2010
'Jhum' fire claims two more lives in Mizoram
At least two young people were killed while burning their 'jhum' forest in Mizoram, officials said here Friday.
The tribal people in the hilly terrain of northeastern states have for generations been carrying out the traditional slash-and-burn method of cultivation, locally called 'jhum' cultivation, which has resulted in degradation of forest land and worsening of the soil condition.
'Two brothers -- C. Lalrinmuana, 47, and C. Lalrinchhana, 35 -- were burnt to death Thursday night while burning their 'jhum' forest at Theiriat village in Lunglei district, 170 km south of capital city Aizawl,' a senior police official told reporters.
He said that the victims were trapped in the forest fire.
At least seven people have died this year in the 'jhum' fires in the northeastern state of Mizoram since February.
About 80 per cent of farmers in Mizoram still depend on 'jhum' cultivation which involves clearing of forests and burning the slashed trees, weeds and bamboos.
To discourage 'jhum' cultivation, the Mizoram government has undertaken an ambitious plan to implement its flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NULP).
'The NLUP would be implemented for coordinated, balanced and inclusive development of farmers and poor people. It would help in economic empowerment of all sections of people,' Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said at a function here earlier this week.
He added that the NLUP would also help in afforestation and protection of environment besides providing livelihood to the tribals.'
READ MORE - 'Jhum' fire claims two more lives in Mizoram
The tribal people in the hilly terrain of northeastern states have for generations been carrying out the traditional slash-and-burn method of cultivation, locally called 'jhum' cultivation, which has resulted in degradation of forest land and worsening of the soil condition.
'Two brothers -- C. Lalrinmuana, 47, and C. Lalrinchhana, 35 -- were burnt to death Thursday night while burning their 'jhum' forest at Theiriat village in Lunglei district, 170 km south of capital city Aizawl,' a senior police official told reporters.
He said that the victims were trapped in the forest fire.
At least seven people have died this year in the 'jhum' fires in the northeastern state of Mizoram since February.
About 80 per cent of farmers in Mizoram still depend on 'jhum' cultivation which involves clearing of forests and burning the slashed trees, weeds and bamboos.
To discourage 'jhum' cultivation, the Mizoram government has undertaken an ambitious plan to implement its flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NULP).
'The NLUP would be implemented for coordinated, balanced and inclusive development of farmers and poor people. It would help in economic empowerment of all sections of people,' Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said at a function here earlier this week.
He added that the NLUP would also help in afforestation and protection of environment besides providing livelihood to the tribals.'
Unknown disease kills over 100 livestock in Mizoram
Aizawl, Mar 12 : An unknown disease has reportedly claimed over 100 livestock in Khawdungsei village in the northeastern part of Mizoram.
''We are yet to receive any official information. However, on getting the reports, we immediately sent a veterinary doctor to the village today, while another team of vet would visit tomorrow,'' the disease investigation officer of animal husbandry and veterinary department in Aizawl said today.
The department has no idea as to what disease has allegedly killed more than 100 chickens, six pigs and one dog since February end.
According to Khawdungsei village council president Lalsiamliana, the animals refused to eat food, gradually became weak and died after few days.
He alleged that they had reported the matter to the concerned veterinary field assistant, without any response from him.
The villagers suspected that the disease was spread by imported piglets brought in from neighbouring Manipur during the first week of February.
Even though the veterinary department is yet to confirm the death and identify the cause, the department official did not rule out the possibility of swine flu being the cause.
READ MORE - Unknown disease kills over 100 livestock in Mizoram
''We are yet to receive any official information. However, on getting the reports, we immediately sent a veterinary doctor to the village today, while another team of vet would visit tomorrow,'' the disease investigation officer of animal husbandry and veterinary department in Aizawl said today.
The department has no idea as to what disease has allegedly killed more than 100 chickens, six pigs and one dog since February end.
According to Khawdungsei village council president Lalsiamliana, the animals refused to eat food, gradually became weak and died after few days.
He alleged that they had reported the matter to the concerned veterinary field assistant, without any response from him.
The villagers suspected that the disease was spread by imported piglets brought in from neighbouring Manipur during the first week of February.
Even though the veterinary department is yet to confirm the death and identify the cause, the department official did not rule out the possibility of swine flu being the cause.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Tripura blames Mizoram for not taking back refugees
Agartala, Mar 5: Tripura Government today accused the Mizoram Government of violating the union home ministry's directive on taking back the Bru/Reang refugees, sheltered in North Tripura district for the last 13 years.
"The Mizoram Government has been violating the union home ministry's direction over the repatriation of Reang refugees," Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury told the state assembly.
He said when the Centre and Tripura government were taking initiatives to send them back, the Mizoram government was "not responding properly".
Chowdhury said a series of tripartite meetings had been held in Delhi, Aizawl and Agartala and the Mizoram Government had agreed to take them back but finally did not meet their promise.
More than 37000 refugees have been sheltered in six evacuee camps at Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura district. They migrated to Tripura in 1997 following ethnic clashes with the Mizos in western Mizoram.
READ MORE - Tripura blames Mizoram for not taking back refugees
"The Mizoram Government has been violating the union home ministry's direction over the repatriation of Reang refugees," Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury told the state assembly.
He said when the Centre and Tripura government were taking initiatives to send them back, the Mizoram government was "not responding properly".
Chowdhury said a series of tripartite meetings had been held in Delhi, Aizawl and Agartala and the Mizoram Government had agreed to take them back but finally did not meet their promise.
More than 37000 refugees have been sheltered in six evacuee camps at Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura district. They migrated to Tripura in 1997 following ethnic clashes with the Mizos in western Mizoram.
Mizoram Medical Outreach
It is day three of our first Jewish Voice medical clinic in Mizoram, India. We will only be able to treat patients for half the day today here in the village, because we must spend the rest of the day tearing down our camp and transporting medical supplies and staff to our next medical clinic in another location.
This won’t be our first time in our second location. We first traveled to this village in 2008, bringing food to needy Jewish People there. Rats had completely decimated their crops, causing a severe famine.
Today we plan on seeing some 500 patients before we leave for our next location. So far, our staff of around 33 has seen 2, 950 patients during our two-and-a-half day medical clinic. And we estimate that number will increase to more than 3,000 by the end of our first clinic.
Our prayer team has seen God move mightily among those suffering with various pains, witnessing God’s healing touch. The team believes that God will completely heal all who came for prayer today.
READ MORE - Mizoram Medical Outreach
This won’t be our first time in our second location. We first traveled to this village in 2008, bringing food to needy Jewish People there. Rats had completely decimated their crops, causing a severe famine.
Today we plan on seeing some 500 patients before we leave for our next location. So far, our staff of around 33 has seen 2, 950 patients during our two-and-a-half day medical clinic. And we estimate that number will increase to more than 3,000 by the end of our first clinic.
Our prayer team has seen God move mightily among those suffering with various pains, witnessing God’s healing touch. The team believes that God will completely heal all who came for prayer today.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Minor dies of alleged food poisoning
Aizawl, Mar 2 : A minor allegedly died of food poisoning at Saiha in the southernmost part of Mizoram yesterday.
Sources today said all the members of a family complained of pain in stomach since morning on February 27 after consuming meals.
They became weak and administered themselves dextrose injection at their residence, it was learnt.
Later the youngest in the family, three-year-old Thangveli, was found dead on her bed. The condition of two other family members - Delili (17) and Beiryuto (12), who were rushed to Saiha Civil Hospital, was stated to be stable, sources informed.
Medical Superintendent at Saiha Civil Hospital Dr Harry said over phone that they would be released tomorrow.
On one hand, the family blamed the food items consumed during dinner that included mustard, tomato, dal and zawngtah (parkia roxburghii), commonly found in most families' meals, for their illness.
On the other hand, the hospital officials said, ''There are reports that they consumed tumbu (banana flower) and khanghu (acacia pennata) cooked together, a leftover from previous meal, without properly heating them. This could be the reason.''
READ MORE - Minor dies of alleged food poisoning
Sources today said all the members of a family complained of pain in stomach since morning on February 27 after consuming meals.
They became weak and administered themselves dextrose injection at their residence, it was learnt.
Later the youngest in the family, three-year-old Thangveli, was found dead on her bed. The condition of two other family members - Delili (17) and Beiryuto (12), who were rushed to Saiha Civil Hospital, was stated to be stable, sources informed.
Medical Superintendent at Saiha Civil Hospital Dr Harry said over phone that they would be released tomorrow.
On one hand, the family blamed the food items consumed during dinner that included mustard, tomato, dal and zawngtah (parkia roxburghii), commonly found in most families' meals, for their illness.
On the other hand, the hospital officials said, ''There are reports that they consumed tumbu (banana flower) and khanghu (acacia pennata) cooked together, a leftover from previous meal, without properly heating them. This could be the reason.''
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