Tuesday, November 22, 2011
What is exclusively in Mizoram?
Friday, November 18, 2011
Duati cruise into semifinal
NAINITAL: Day two of Federation Cup Women's Boxing Championship presented by the Monnet Ispat & and the big guns powered through to the semifinals of the tournament. Set in the lap of nature the DSA Ground in Nainital, Uttarakhand provided a scenic backdrop for the pugilists to display their skills.
Krishna Thapa of Madhya Pradesh, who bagged a silver medal at the 12th Senior National earlier this year, pulverized Anita Kahar of Assam to advance to the semifinal stage of the championship. Playing in the light fly weight category, both boxers started strongly matching each other punch for punch in the first two rounds. Beginning of the third though, Thapa took control of the game amassing seven points as opposed to Anita's two.
The National Games silver medallist held on to the advantage and went on to secure a 22:15 win, in her opening bout of the tournament. The 20 year old who missed out on a gold at the recently concluded Senior Nationals, looks in prime touch and is hoping to go all the way this time around.
"It was a good victory for me and I am happy with my performance. I have a good rhythm going on and hope to carry on the confidence and the form till the end of the tournament," expressed an elated Thapa after her bout.
The fly weight class witnessed some exceptional performance, Vanlal Duati of Mizoram put up quite a show against Shabana from Delhi. A gold medallist at the 34th National Games, Duati opened cautiously measuring her opponent in the first round. In the second the former national champions launched an offensive onslaught to which the Delhi boxer had no reply.
The 22 year old secured her semifinal spot with a comprehensive 7:2 win. Sonia Lather Singh of Andhra Pradesh also cruised to next round with an impressive victory. A silver medallist at the senior nationals, Singh had little trouble drubbing Sudesh of All India Police, she moved to the semis with a 19:3 win on points.
Local girl Vinita Mahar ousted Neetu Goyat of Manipur in what was a scintillating performance. The teenage boxer, who also bagged a silver medal in the competition last year and a bronze medal at the National Games earlier this year, was at her destructive best as she pulled the rug from under Goyat's feet, knocking her out in the third round.
In the feather weight division, also from Uttarakhand, Priyanka Chaudhary had an easy passage into the round of last four. A bronze medallist at the 34th National Games, Chaudhary beat K Manasa of Andhra Pradesh on points (18:4).
The Championship which has transformed into a ritual over the years is a contest which brings out the best state and board teams from the domestic arena. The top eight teams from the National Championships are invited to partake in the tournament along with the host team.
This edition of the Monnet Federation Cup witnessed a participation of 67 boxers representing All India Police, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.
READ MORE - Duati cruise into semifinal
Krishna Thapa of Madhya Pradesh, who bagged a silver medal at the 12th Senior National earlier this year, pulverized Anita Kahar of Assam to advance to the semifinal stage of the championship. Playing in the light fly weight category, both boxers started strongly matching each other punch for punch in the first two rounds. Beginning of the third though, Thapa took control of the game amassing seven points as opposed to Anita's two.
The National Games silver medallist held on to the advantage and went on to secure a 22:15 win, in her opening bout of the tournament. The 20 year old who missed out on a gold at the recently concluded Senior Nationals, looks in prime touch and is hoping to go all the way this time around.
"It was a good victory for me and I am happy with my performance. I have a good rhythm going on and hope to carry on the confidence and the form till the end of the tournament," expressed an elated Thapa after her bout.
The fly weight class witnessed some exceptional performance, Vanlal Duati of Mizoram put up quite a show against Shabana from Delhi. A gold medallist at the 34th National Games, Duati opened cautiously measuring her opponent in the first round. In the second the former national champions launched an offensive onslaught to which the Delhi boxer had no reply.
The 22 year old secured her semifinal spot with a comprehensive 7:2 win. Sonia Lather Singh of Andhra Pradesh also cruised to next round with an impressive victory. A silver medallist at the senior nationals, Singh had little trouble drubbing Sudesh of All India Police, she moved to the semis with a 19:3 win on points.
Local girl Vinita Mahar ousted Neetu Goyat of Manipur in what was a scintillating performance. The teenage boxer, who also bagged a silver medal in the competition last year and a bronze medal at the National Games earlier this year, was at her destructive best as she pulled the rug from under Goyat's feet, knocking her out in the third round.
In the feather weight division, also from Uttarakhand, Priyanka Chaudhary had an easy passage into the round of last four. A bronze medallist at the 34th National Games, Chaudhary beat K Manasa of Andhra Pradesh on points (18:4).
The Championship which has transformed into a ritual over the years is a contest which brings out the best state and board teams from the domestic arena. The top eight teams from the National Championships are invited to partake in the tournament along with the host team.
This edition of the Monnet Federation Cup witnessed a participation of 67 boxers representing All India Police, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Bru repatriation from Mizoram to Tripura picking up speed
Aizawl/Agartala, Dec.1 : The much-awaited repatriation of tribal refugees from six camps in North Tripura to Mizoram has begun.
Two hundred and sixty five refugees returned to their homes on two consecutive days last month.
Over 31,000 Reang tribals, locally called Bru, were displaced from Mizoram in 1997 following violence directed towards them, and now thirteen years late, Bru families, staying at Tripura’s Ashapara and Naisingpara refugee camps, have been relocated at Kolalian village of Mamit district in Mizoram.
The governments in Tripura and Mizoram, and representatives of the Bru Displaced People’s Forum are working jointly to ensure a smooth repatriation of these refugees.
“We the executive committee of MBDPF on the good side of the Government of India, the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram extend full cooperation to Center and the state governments in sending 53 families as token of our willingness to go to our homeland, said A. Shawibunga, the president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum.
The Tripura Government has been providing free transportation facilities up to the Tripura-Mizoram border so that Bru families return to their native place. The Government of Mizoram would reimburse the transport expenses,” said D.K. Chakma, the sub-divisional magistrate of Kanchanpur.
During a visit to Aizawl in May this year, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had asked the Mizoram Government and tribal leaders to repatriate all Reang tribal refugees to their ancestral villages.
The Mizoram Government has said that it would provide Rs.80, 000 to each repatriated refugee family for house construction and farming assistance.
It will also provide free rations to the displaced tribals for a year, adequate security and financial assistance for the `Jhum cultivation’.
Jhum or Jhoom cultivation is a local name for slash and burn agriculture practiced by tribal groups in the north-eastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, as also in several districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet.
The system involves the clearing of a piece of land by setting fire or clear felling and using the area for growing crops of agricultural importance such as upland rice, vegetables or fruits.
After a few cycles, the land loses fertility and a new area is chosen.Most farmers make huts near their land for shelter. Jhum cultivation is most practiced on the slopes of hills in thickly forested landscapes.
The cultivators cut the treetops to allow sunlight to reach the land. They burn all the trees and grasses for clean and fresh soil; it is believed that this helps to fertilize the land, but can leave it vulnerable to erosion.
Later seeds and crops are planted. Plants on the slopes survive the rainy season floods.
Refugees returning home are happy and look forward to a better future.
“I am returning to my home along with my baby and I am very happy. My father is staying back at the camp. I am happy to return,” said Shairati Reang.
Bru refugees are living in six evacuee camps in the Kanchapur sub-division of North Tripura bordering Mizoram.
It is expected that their early repatriation will help maintain peace and stability in the region.
READ MORE - Bru repatriation from Mizoram to Tripura picking up speed
Two hundred and sixty five refugees returned to their homes on two consecutive days last month.
Over 31,000 Reang tribals, locally called Bru, were displaced from Mizoram in 1997 following violence directed towards them, and now thirteen years late, Bru families, staying at Tripura’s Ashapara and Naisingpara refugee camps, have been relocated at Kolalian village of Mamit district in Mizoram.
The governments in Tripura and Mizoram, and representatives of the Bru Displaced People’s Forum are working jointly to ensure a smooth repatriation of these refugees.
“We the executive committee of MBDPF on the good side of the Government of India, the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram extend full cooperation to Center and the state governments in sending 53 families as token of our willingness to go to our homeland, said A. Shawibunga, the president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum.
The Tripura Government has been providing free transportation facilities up to the Tripura-Mizoram border so that Bru families return to their native place. The Government of Mizoram would reimburse the transport expenses,” said D.K. Chakma, the sub-divisional magistrate of Kanchanpur.
During a visit to Aizawl in May this year, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had asked the Mizoram Government and tribal leaders to repatriate all Reang tribal refugees to their ancestral villages.
The Mizoram Government has said that it would provide Rs.80, 000 to each repatriated refugee family for house construction and farming assistance.
It will also provide free rations to the displaced tribals for a year, adequate security and financial assistance for the `Jhum cultivation’.
Jhum or Jhoom cultivation is a local name for slash and burn agriculture practiced by tribal groups in the north-eastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, as also in several districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet.
The system involves the clearing of a piece of land by setting fire or clear felling and using the area for growing crops of agricultural importance such as upland rice, vegetables or fruits.
After a few cycles, the land loses fertility and a new area is chosen.Most farmers make huts near their land for shelter. Jhum cultivation is most practiced on the slopes of hills in thickly forested landscapes.
The cultivators cut the treetops to allow sunlight to reach the land. They burn all the trees and grasses for clean and fresh soil; it is believed that this helps to fertilize the land, but can leave it vulnerable to erosion.
Later seeds and crops are planted. Plants on the slopes survive the rainy season floods.
Refugees returning home are happy and look forward to a better future.
“I am returning to my home along with my baby and I am very happy. My father is staying back at the camp. I am happy to return,” said Shairati Reang.
Bru refugees are living in six evacuee camps in the Kanchapur sub-division of North Tripura bordering Mizoram.
It is expected that their early repatriation will help maintain peace and stability in the region.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Dhaula Kuan gangrape: Sketch of third rapist released
New Delhi, Dec 1: The sketch of the third accused, who allegedly raped a 30-year-old BPO employee in Dhaula Kuan on November 24, was released by the police today.
Police had released two other sketches on November 26 and 27 respectively. The sketch, made by the State Crime Record Bureau of the Delhi Police, has been made on the basis of interrogations held with both the victim and her colleague, who had a lucky escape from the clutches of the criminals and other witnesses, an official said. As the victim and her colleague are gradually coming out of the trauma, the police is able to draw the sketches, an official said. On the basis of earlier sketches, police had detained four people yesterday and interrogations with them were on. The victim, hailing from Mizoram, was kidnapped by five drunken men near Dhaula Kuan and gangraped for over 40 minutes in a moving vehicle. She was forced into the vehicle near Nanakpura Gurdwara and found in a semi-conscious state in Mongolpuri Industrial Estate.
Reportedly, the description of the accused by the victim to the police, suggested that they could either be involved in construction work, driving, cleaning or mining work. One of them was of lean built and had tied a loose cloth on his head.
READ MORE - Dhaula Kuan gangrape: Sketch of third rapist released
Police had released two other sketches on November 26 and 27 respectively. The sketch, made by the State Crime Record Bureau of the Delhi Police, has been made on the basis of interrogations held with both the victim and her colleague, who had a lucky escape from the clutches of the criminals and other witnesses, an official said. As the victim and her colleague are gradually coming out of the trauma, the police is able to draw the sketches, an official said. On the basis of earlier sketches, police had detained four people yesterday and interrogations with them were on. The victim, hailing from Mizoram, was kidnapped by five drunken men near Dhaula Kuan and gangraped for over 40 minutes in a moving vehicle. She was forced into the vehicle near Nanakpura Gurdwara and found in a semi-conscious state in Mongolpuri Industrial Estate.
Reportedly, the description of the accused by the victim to the police, suggested that they could either be involved in construction work, driving, cleaning or mining work. One of them was of lean built and had tied a loose cloth on his head.
Breakthrough in Mizo woman rape case soon: Chidambaram
New Delhi: The Delhi Police is expected to get a breakthrough very soon in the case of abduction and rape of a Mizo woman in south Delhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram said and regretted the incident.
"I am sorry for what happened in 5-6 days ago. Contrary to press reports, I think they (police) are pretty close to apprehending the suspect," he told reporters here.
The Delhi Police yesterday had said that 15 teams were working on the case and they were looking into all aspects. Police have also detained four persons who have criminal background and was looking at all possibilities.
On November 24, the victim, a BPO employee, was walking towards her home in Moti Village near Dhaula Kuan in the morning along with one of her colleagues when some men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her. She was later dumped in Mongolpuri.
The incident led to protests from various quarters, including students from the Northeast.
READ MORE - Breakthrough in Mizo woman rape case soon: Chidambaram
"I am sorry for what happened in 5-6 days ago. Contrary to press reports, I think they (police) are pretty close to apprehending the suspect," he told reporters here.
The Delhi Police yesterday had said that 15 teams were working on the case and they were looking into all aspects. Police have also detained four persons who have criminal background and was looking at all possibilities.
On November 24, the victim, a BPO employee, was walking towards her home in Moti Village near Dhaula Kuan in the morning along with one of her colleagues when some men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her. She was later dumped in Mongolpuri.
The incident led to protests from various quarters, including students from the Northeast.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Rain harvesting in Mizoram
Laishram Shamungou
A media team from Manipur which had recently conducted a tour of Mizoram got a first hand experience of how the Mizos settling on top of the mountain harvest rain water to overcome the problem of water scarcity.
The Government has also chipped in with assistance to help in construction of water tanks at many places for harvesting the rain water for the people as its water supply scheme has limited coverage on account of the topographical feature of the State.
Around 341 villages have been so far brought under the water supply scheme of the Mizoram Govt and over 305 villages, mostly in rural areas, are yet to get the full benefit of the Rural Water Supply Scheme being taken up by the Govt.
In addition to this, there are 130 other villages which these schemes have not been able to cover.
In such a situation, Mizoram Govt initiated the project of rain water harvesting since 1986 to solve the problem of water scarcity in these villages.
Today, rain water harvesting tanks are conspicuously present in almost every part of Mizoram.
These tanks have been constructed close to residential areas.
According to an official of Mizoram Govt, Till date, 24,185 rain water harvesting tanks have been constructed with the assistance of Mizoram Government while another 1242 private tanks by individual families.
From next year, Mizoram Govt is planning to construction more tanks at a total estimated cost of Rs 5 crores for harvesting rain water, the official disclosed.
An official of the Public Works Dept, Govt of Mizoram explained that permission for construction of new Govt office buildings is not granted if there is no arrangement for storing the harvested rain water.
READ MORE - Rain harvesting in Mizoram
Imphal, Nov 27 : To solve the problem of water scarcity faced by the people settled atop the mountains, Mizoram Government has been extending its help in constructing water tanks at different places to harvest rain water.
The water, thus, collected is enough to meet the requirement of the people round the year.
With the success of this innovative and convenient approach of rain harvesting, Mizoram Government is planning to construct more such water tanks in other uncovered areas at an estimated project cost of Rs 5 crores from next year.
Although Mizoram receives an annual rainfall of 250 centimetre, people living on the hill tops normally suffer from water scarcity as the rain water runs off quickly down the steep mountain slope.
The water, thus, collected is enough to meet the requirement of the people round the year.
With the success of this innovative and convenient approach of rain harvesting, Mizoram Government is planning to construct more such water tanks in other uncovered areas at an estimated project cost of Rs 5 crores from next year.
Although Mizoram receives an annual rainfall of 250 centimetre, people living on the hill tops normally suffer from water scarcity as the rain water runs off quickly down the steep mountain slope.
|
A media team from Manipur which had recently conducted a tour of Mizoram got a first hand experience of how the Mizos settling on top of the mountain harvest rain water to overcome the problem of water scarcity.
The Government has also chipped in with assistance to help in construction of water tanks at many places for harvesting the rain water for the people as its water supply scheme has limited coverage on account of the topographical feature of the State.
Around 341 villages have been so far brought under the water supply scheme of the Mizoram Govt and over 305 villages, mostly in rural areas, are yet to get the full benefit of the Rural Water Supply Scheme being taken up by the Govt.
In addition to this, there are 130 other villages which these schemes have not been able to cover.
In such a situation, Mizoram Govt initiated the project of rain water harvesting since 1986 to solve the problem of water scarcity in these villages.
Today, rain water harvesting tanks are conspicuously present in almost every part of Mizoram.
These tanks have been constructed close to residential areas.
According to an official of Mizoram Govt, Till date, 24,185 rain water harvesting tanks have been constructed with the assistance of Mizoram Government while another 1242 private tanks by individual families.
From next year, Mizoram Govt is planning to construction more tanks at a total estimated cost of Rs 5 crores for harvesting rain water, the official disclosed.
An official of the Public Works Dept, Govt of Mizoram explained that permission for construction of new Govt office buildings is not granted if there is no arrangement for storing the harvested rain water.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
CIJWS trains troops to fight guerillas like guerillas
By Ibochouba Maibam
IMPHAL, Nov 24 : The Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), in Vairangte, Mizoram, gives not only jungle warfare and counter insurgency training, but also normal education at its Information and Research Centre instituted under the name of the founder of the school Brig Mathew Thomas inside the school campus.
The Centre imparts to students knowledge of current events and developments in science and technology through newspapers and TV.
It also educates them of the different communities and religions of the Northeast region, besides of course the ways of militants organisations of the Northeast and their history.
The CIJWS, it may be recalled has the reputation of being one of world’s most prestigious special warfare training institutions, with troops from several countries participating in its programmes.
Vairengte is a town in the Kolasib district of Mizoram about 130 km from Aizawl.
The CIJWS was established in 1970 and the motto is “fight a guerrilla like a guerrilla”.
A demo was witnessed by a Manipur media team which toured Mizoram under the banner of the All Manipur Working Journalist Union, AMWJU, and sponsored by the Manipur government.
Maj Gen AK Raj Senha and other officials briefing the visiting journalists sketched a history of the CIJWS.
So far about 26 countries including the United States, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afganistan, Tajiskistan, Brazil, Srilanka, Niger, etc had trained and the number of trained officer are about 6391, JCOs 10092, and OR 1454557.
A spokesperson nd said students are imparted special skills in countering insurgency.
More interestingly, selected officers, JCOs and NCOs, no matter where their posting, as well as men of the CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles, besides “students” from foreign countries, are enrolled for an extensive course in basic as well as NE-specific CI operations.
The success of this school prompted another counter insurgency training centre, the Kaziranga special jungle warfare training school in North Eastern India, added the spokesperson.
Demonstration of how the students were provide training were also shown.
The original plans to setup a counter insurgency unit to train soldiers came up following fighting with Mizo militants in the 1960s, he said.
General Sam Manekshaw mooted the idea for such training and it took shape in 1967, he further said.
The crisis in neighboring Bangladesh however prompted a temporary rethink as the academy trained the Mukti Bahini guerrillas to attack Pakistan Army strongholds.
Operation Jackpot was one such naval operation undertaken by the rebels largely aided and planned by Indians that drove home the strength of this school.
After the Indo Pakistan War 1971, it returned to its primary focus of counter insurgency, it said.
READ MORE - CIJWS trains troops to fight guerillas like guerillas
IMPHAL, Nov 24 : The Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), in Vairangte, Mizoram, gives not only jungle warfare and counter insurgency training, but also normal education at its Information and Research Centre instituted under the name of the founder of the school Brig Mathew Thomas inside the school campus.
The Centre imparts to students knowledge of current events and developments in science and technology through newspapers and TV.
It also educates them of the different communities and religions of the Northeast region, besides of course the ways of militants organisations of the Northeast and their history.
The CIJWS, it may be recalled has the reputation of being one of world’s most prestigious special warfare training institutions, with troops from several countries participating in its programmes.
Vairengte is a town in the Kolasib district of Mizoram about 130 km from Aizawl.
The CIJWS was established in 1970 and the motto is “fight a guerrilla like a guerrilla”.
A demo was witnessed by a Manipur media team which toured Mizoram under the banner of the All Manipur Working Journalist Union, AMWJU, and sponsored by the Manipur government.
Maj Gen AK Raj Senha and other officials briefing the visiting journalists sketched a history of the CIJWS.
So far about 26 countries including the United States, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afganistan, Tajiskistan, Brazil, Srilanka, Niger, etc had trained and the number of trained officer are about 6391, JCOs 10092, and OR 1454557.
A spokesperson nd said students are imparted special skills in countering insurgency.
More interestingly, selected officers, JCOs and NCOs, no matter where their posting, as well as men of the CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles, besides “students” from foreign countries, are enrolled for an extensive course in basic as well as NE-specific CI operations.
The success of this school prompted another counter insurgency training centre, the Kaziranga special jungle warfare training school in North Eastern India, added the spokesperson.
Demonstration of how the students were provide training were also shown.
The original plans to setup a counter insurgency unit to train soldiers came up following fighting with Mizo militants in the 1960s, he said.
General Sam Manekshaw mooted the idea for such training and it took shape in 1967, he further said.
The crisis in neighboring Bangladesh however prompted a temporary rethink as the academy trained the Mukti Bahini guerrillas to attack Pakistan Army strongholds.
Operation Jackpot was one such naval operation undertaken by the rebels largely aided and planned by Indians that drove home the strength of this school.
After the Indo Pakistan War 1971, it returned to its primary focus of counter insurgency, it said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)