North East Today

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Bank deposits safe, says Prime Minister
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured the Lok Sabha that deposits in PSU and private sector banks are "entirely safe" but said the nation must be prepared for a "temporary slowdown" in the economy. In his statement, the Prime Minister said that the banks, both in the public sector and in the private sector, are financially sound, well capitalised and well regulated. He struck a note of caution against the backdrop of a stock market crash and fears of global crisis hitting the Indian banks. Exuding confidence over huge capital investment in the pipeline, he said, "nevertheless, we must be prepared for a temporary slowdown in the Indian economy".

RBI cuts repo rate by 100 bps to 8%
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
In an expected but significant move, the Reserve Bank of India on Monday cut the key short-term lending rate (repo) by 100 basis points or one percent to 8 percent. It is the first time since 2004 that the central bank has reduced the repo rate. The rate cut comes into force with immediate effect and would help boost liquidity in the Indian markets. It will also help lower interest rates and spur consumption to keep the economy ticking. The repo rate cut would make the banks' borrowing from the RBI cheaper.

Lok Sabha adjourned over Assam violence
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time on Monday as Assam MP S K Bwiswmuthiary staged a sit-in protest over the ethnic violence in his state that has claimed 49 lives earlier this month.
When Lok Sabha re-assembled at 12 noon, Bwiswmuthiary entered the house holding photographs of the violence in Assam and walked right up to the speaker's podium. On Friday also, he had protested because the house did not refer to the people killed in clashes in the state. Bwiswmuthiary said Muslims had insulted the indigenous Bodo religion and that a Bodo woman had been gang raped. The speaker then said he would be allowed to speak after the initial proceedings of the house are over. When Bwiswmuthiary got the chance to speak, he attacked the Muslim community and detailed the incidents of violence that shook the region. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MPs interrupted him and objected to the words used by him. The speaker then asked him to stop his speech and let the house conduct other proceedings. Bwiswmuthiary then marched to the speaker's podium again and accused the United Progressive Alliance government of being responsible for not checking the violence. He staged a brief sit-in near the podium and there was pandemonium in the house as BJP MPs raised slogans in his support. Left MPs criticised his actions and the speaker warned him that he would be suspended if he continued to protest. The Assam MP was later led to his seat, but as he continued his protests, the speaker adjourned the house at 12.35 pm till 4 pm.

Rape slur on CRPF in Udalguri
NE TV Correspondent, Udalguri
20 Oct
Once again there is tension in Udalguri and this reports coming from the troubled area say the peacekeepers are responsible for the fresh tension arising out of a rape incident. Two women were allegedly raped by CRPF jawans deployed in areas under the Udalguri police station.
Tension has gripped Udalguri once again. Even as the troubled Lower Assam district is slowly regaining normality, the latest incident of CRPF Jawans involved in two rape cases could lead to further unrest. The two women one a Bodo aged 45 years and another a Rajbonshi woman aged 35 years have alleged they were raped by the CRPF Jawans in Udalguri area. It may be mentioned that since the communal violence erupted beginning this month in Udalguri, CRPF Jawans had been deployed all over Udalguri and Darrang districts to maintain law and order. However this latest incident has once against cast a slur on the security forces who are supposed to help bring back normalcy. The victims already reeling under the impact of the violence have suffered untold miseries after the incident.

One of them recounts, she was gathering her cattle from the fields when the Jawans chased her and raped her at the field.

The women had initially not wanted to come out in the open against the rape incident out of shame and fear of further harassment. But with the help of nearby people both of them decided to seek police help. Even the police didn't cooperate with the hapless women, they alleged. At the police station, they alleged the police tried to frighten them citing 144 CrPC and curfew in their attempt to prevent the women from lodging any complaint.

The police meanwhile say they are conducting an investigation, now that a complaint has been registered, but they have made no arrests so far. Talking to NETV the officer in Charge of the Udalguri police station said that CRPF's 136th company has been deployed in the area to prevent further outbreak of clashes. The police are yet to act against the guilty Jawans.
The rape incidents are generating protests from various quarters.

Several Bodo and Rajbonshi organizations have condemned the rape incident and called for stringent measures against the guilty CRPF personnel involved. They also threatened to launch agitation if action is not taken immediately.

President awards 1,059 villages for sanitation drive
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Monday issued a clarion call to implement the ''total cleanliness mission'' in all villages of the country by 2012. Giving away Nirmal Gram Puraskar to the village heads of 1,059 villages of 13 states in the eastern region, she expressed happiness that the rural people were showing interest in the ''total sanitation'' campaign, focussing on points like high dropouts in the school due to lack of sanitation facilities as well as solid waste management.

President Pratibha Patil on Monday presented Nirmal Gram awards to 1059 villages of Eastern region for total cleanliness under the Total Sanoitation programme. The awards were presented in a solemn function held at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium. This year, 328villages of Westr Bengal, 226 vilages of Chattisgarh, 156 villages of Bihar, 142 villages of Jharkhand, 94 of Orissa, 37 of Sikkim, 30 of Tripura, 14 of Assam, 11 of Meghalaya, 8 each of Mizoram and Nagaland, 4 of Arunachal Pradesh and one village of Manipur were selected for this year's Nirmal Gram award, presented under the Centre's Total Sanitation programme. In the first phase, 3213 villages of North India were presented the award in a function held at Hissar of Haryana on October 17. While presenting the awards, the President urged the non-government organisations and the government to work in close cooperation with the people in this direction. Stating that sanitation was a key issue as nearly 250 crore people in the world lacked toilet facilities, she said the international community, including the United Nations, was taking steps to motivate the people to go in for complete sanitation. The UN had declared 2008 as International Sanitation Year. She added that the best way to honour womenfolk would be to provide proper sanitation facilities in homes. The President expressed concern that for lack of proper sanitation in schools, girls had to sometimes even quit their studies.

Recalling that the Centre had launched the ''total sanitation mission'' way back in 1999, she exhorted the people to realise the vision of Mahatma Gandhi who had asserted that ''cleanliness was even more important than freedom.'' She appealed to the women and children to play a yeoman role in implementing the ''total cleanliness campaign'' in their areas of influence.
Addressing the function, union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that the Centre has allotted Rs 14,000 crore for implementation of the total sanitation programme in the country.

Assam Governor SC Mathur spoke about the objective of the Nirmal Gram award.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also present in the function, announced to give top priority to total sanitation and safe drinking water.

The programme was also attended by union minister of state for rural development Chandrasekhar Sahu, Assam revenue minister Dr Bhuumidhar Barman and Public Health Engineering minister Rihan Daimari among others. The Union Rural Development Ministry had introduced the Nirmal Gram Puraskar scheme in 2003 as an initiative for the Panchayati Raj Institutions. Last year about 5,000 villages were awarded and this year the number had increased to over 11,140. However, the programme has not attained much success in the Assam as only 14 villages of the state managed to win the award this year.

Centre to rebuild flood-ravaged houses in Assam
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
The houses damaged in this year's flood will be reconstructed by the Centre. This was announced by union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in Guwahati on Monday.

In a press conference held in Guwahati on Monday, union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that all projects under the Bharat Nirman will be completed by 2010. He also promised to allot funds for the developmental projects in 90-10 pattern in stead of the previous 75-25 pattern. He also said that the Northeast has made remarkable progress in rural development.

The minister also told NE TV that the Centre would rebuilt all the houses damaged in the recent flood in Assam. He also informed that his ministry has already released a fund of Rs 6,000 crore for the development of Assam.
He also cautioned against the misuse of machineries of the NREGA scheme. According to the minister, altogether 9 lakh families of 27 districts of Assam have been provided job cards. Besides, 4 lakh bank accounts have also been opened so far in the state.

Security tightened ahead of President's visit to Tezpur
NE TV Correspondent, Tezpur
20 Oct
Security has been tightened in and around Tezpur and adjoining areas in Sonitpur district in view of the president's visit to Tezpur to lay the foundation stone of the fifth Medical college of Assam. Police said they are keeping strict vigil over the venues where the president will be visiting. Besides, the foundation stone laying ceremony, Patil will address a gathering at Tezpur and attend function of the 4 corps of the army.

Meghalaya all set to welcome President Patil
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Just ahead of the maiden visit of the country's first citizen to Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary has termed her visit as very important for the state and all the people are geared up to welcome her when she lands in Shillong and Tura.
The sleepy town of Tura is all set to welcome President of India Pratibha Patil in Tura, the district headquarter of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya. All elaborate preparation is being made to welcome the president for the historic visit. She will be inaugurating the long pending Baljek airport on October 23 and is schedule to address a public gathering at MP stadium Tura. Her excellence will also be meeting senior citizens, NGOs leader and public.

Former Meghalaya CM EK Mawlong laid to rest at Mawprem
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong was finally laid to rest today, to days after his body was kept out of public view as per Khasi tradition. Mawlong was buried as per Catholic Church rituals at the Shillong Cemetery.
Prominent leaders of Meghalaya, different churches, and a large gathering of people took part at the funeral service of the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya EK Mawlong, as he began his last journey from this earth. The funeral service was performed as per Catholic Church rules. A large gathering of clergy and church members were present for the funeral services. Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, Former Chief Minister Dr. DD Lapang, leaders of the UDP, a party which Mawlong had co-founded, his family members and a large gathering of people of all walks of life from his Umroi constituency and from other parts of the state as well took part in the funeral. Wrapped with the UDP flag, Mawlong was laid to rest at the Mawprem Cemetery. The Meghalaya government accorded him a state funeral and also announced a daylong state mourning on Monday. The Tricolour also flew at half-mast in all government establishments. In his condolence message Donkupar Roy recalled Mawlong's tenure as Chief Minister in 2000-01 and his active service to the state and people. He termed the demise as a great loss for the people. Condoling the death leader of the Opposition DD Lapang said the state had lost a noble son who was loved and respected by the people.

George Lyngdoh the eldest son of EK Mawlong was also present at the funeral. He recalled the days with his father and a determined politician who dedicated himself for his state.
Former Meghalaya chief minister and sitting UDP legislator E.K. Mawlong died on 18th October at Shillong Civil Hospital at the age of 62. He is survived by four sons and two daughters. Mawlong was not keeping well ever since he won the Assembly elections in February on a UDP ticket from Umroi constituency in Ri Bhoi district, defeating Congress candidate Stanlywiss Rymbai. Mawlong started his career as a schoolteacher in 1968 and taught till June 1971. He later worked in the Accountant General's office. As chief minister, Mawlong could complete only a short tenure in office — from March 2000 to December 2001. As the Speaker of the Assembly from 1983 till 1988 and again from 1998 to 2000, Mawlong was known for strictly maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House. In 1972, he was elected to the Khasi Hills District Council as an Independent. Three years later, Mawlong joined the Congress and became president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress and also served as an Indian Youth Congress member. Before Mawlong joined the UDP, he strengthened the Hill State Peoples' Democratic Party (HSPDP) as its president. He was elected president of the UDP in 1997 and continued as its head till 2001. Prior to his death, Mawlong served as the chairman of the State Development Reforms Commission with the status of the chief minister.

Dasmunsi shifted to Apollo hospital from AIIMS
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who was admitted to AIIMS following a severe heart attack, was on Monday shifted to corporate Apollo hospital for further treatment of his neurological condition. He was shifted at 10.30 am on Monday. His family wanted to shift him for further treatment of his neurological condition. The condition of 62-year-old Dasmunsi, who has been under treatment at AIIMS for the past eight days, continues to remain the same. American neurologist Den Henley, who is here to examine Dasmunsi, had earlier an informal discussion about the minister's health with the multi-discipline team of doctors treating him. The 62-year old minister was admitted to AIIMS following complete left ventricular failure on October 13.

Countdown for Chandrayaan-1 begins
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Chandrayaan-1, the country's first unmanned moon mission, with the beginning of 49-hour countdown on early Monday.
The countdown for the launch of Chandrayaan-1, which began at 5.22 am on Monday is progressing smoothly. The unmanned spacecraft using India's tried and tested rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota. All operations were progressing satisfactorily for the launch of the spacecraft. The 49-hour countdown has number of activities including the major propellant filling of PS-2 and PS-4. Earlier the countdown was set to 52 hours. But since all the formal activities for the launch was finished three hours earlier from the original schedule, the countdown time was set at exactly 5.22 am. The officials are optimistic that weather will not interrupt the launch of Chandrayaan-I. According to the statistics given by the SDSC officials, Chandrayaan-I spacecraft carrying 11 payloads weighs about 1,380 kg at the time of its launch and was shaped like a cuboid with a solar panel projecting from one of its sides.

India 5 wickets away from a memorable win
NE TV Bureau
20 Oct
India piled up a run mountain and then Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma knocked the daylight out of Australia's riposte to put the host five wickets away from a memorable win in the second cricket Test in Mohali on Monday.
Chasing 516 for an improbable win, Australia got off to a rousing start before Harbhajan mowed down the top order with his triple strikes and Ishant had them in complete disarray, dealing a double jolt on the penultimate day. Their top order blown away, Australia were gasping for breath at 141 for five wickets when stumps were drawn. Michael Clarke (42) and Brad Haddin (37) would return tomorrow, hoping to delay the inevitable. With a 201-first innings lead behind them, India declared their second essay at 314 for three with Gautam Gambhir (104), Virender Sehwag (90), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (68 not out) scoring bulk of the runs at a brisk pace. In reply, Matthew Hayden (29) and Simon Katich (20) counter-attacked, scoring at seven-an-over before Harbhajan ran amock. Hayden fell to the second delivery of Harbhajan and the off-spinner then removed Katich with his last delivery of the over. In his next over-- on the other side of the tea break -- Harbhajan trapped in-form Michael Hussey (1) for is 299th Test victim. Ishant responded in style, castling his bunny Ricky Ponting (2) and then removing Shane Watson (2), Australia's topscorer in the first innings. Clarke and Haddin stemmed the rot with an unfinished 83-run stand but that may not prove enough in the end. Earlier, with Brett Lee out of action in the morning session, Delhi duo Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir knocked the sting out of the attack with their strong-arm nonchalance. Dhoni promoting himself at number three was a statement of intent and Sourav Ganguly also stepped on gas. Dhoni pulled and pumelled his way to his second fifty of the match, taking up the gauntlet whenever Lee offered a bouncer. The Indian captain remained unbeaten on 68 off 84 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six.

Political parties slam attacks on north Indians
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Political parties of various hues today strongly attacked the Maharashtra government over its "failure" to curb violence against north Indians in the state by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena cadres. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh slammed the Congress-led Maharashtra government while CPI(M) Polit bureau member Brinda Karat and BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain condemned both the Central and state governments for the attacks on north Indians. Prasad, while strongly condemning attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra termed the incident as the failure of the state government. Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh also joined the Opposition parties in criticising the attacks.

10 mn tonnes of soil lost to unplanned mining, cultivation, says Meghalaya Governor
Uranium mining a win-win situation for Meghalaya, claims Mushahary as he allays fears of radiation
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Sooner or later, Meghalaya will start what has been a much debated issue in the state… uranium mining. The worst fears expressed by people of Meghalaya have been what happens to them after the radiation. Meghalaya has lost much of its top soils to the unscientific mining and jhum cultivation being practiced in the last many decades and the governor of the state says worst will happen in the next 20 years if the practice continues. RS Mooshahary however allayed people's fears of the impact of radiation from Uranium mining.

Meghalaya governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary on Monday cautioned that Meghalaya has already lost over 10 tonnes of soil to various forms of unscientific mining and particularly the jhum cultivation being practiced over the years. The state is poised to lose more of its top soils in the next 20 years if the trend continues. Speaking at a book release function in Shillong, the Governor has called for scientific approaches to any practice, be it mining or agriculture, that might have a bearing on the future of the state and its people.

On the much debated issue of Uranium mining which has suddenly shot to prominence and necessity especially after the Indo US Nuclear agreement, the governor allayed fears of the people on the likely impact the radiation from the mining could have on the people. Mushahary strongly favored scientific uranium mining in Meghalaya which accounts for more than 16 % of the country's uranium deposit. Citing empirical evidences from the other mining sites, the governor emphatically said there was no evidence of any harmful radiation and consequences on account of uranium mining. He also informed about the Centre's measures to ensure that mishaps do not occur.

Calling upon the government to convince the local people who are the primary stakeholders, on the development, the uranium mining will trigger, the governor said the mining is going to be win-win situation for the state.

He also dispelled apprehensions that mining will lead to influx of outsiders citing the Umiam power project which has become the base of the state's development amid strong protest in the initial years of its implementation.

Sensex loses shine late afternoon
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Indian equity markets opened strong on Monday taking cues from the positive opening in other Asian bourses. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark, the Sensex, regained the 10k mark in early trade and continued to stay in the green through the afternoon. At 2:00 pm, the Sensex was trading at 10,184.44 levels, up nearly 210 points. However, that was far lower than the highs earlier in the day, when the Sensex had jumped over 470 points. Similarly, the broadbased National Stock Exchange's Nifty was up nearly 1.43 percent by 2:00 pm, hovering at 3118.30 levels.

NE Challenge Cup Hockey tourney from tomorrow
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
All states of the northeast except Sikkim and Mizoram are participating in the Northeast Challenge Hockey Tournament, which gets underway tomorrow at Bhetapara Hockey stadium in Guwahati. Manipur will meet Nagaland in the opening match while last year's Champions Assam will take on Tripura in the second match of the opening day. Olympian Thoiba Singh of Manipur will inaugurate the tournament in the presence of NE Hockey Association President GM Srivastava and other dignitaries from host state Assam. The finals will be held on 25th October.

Pakistan violated ceasefire pact 58 times since 2003: Govt
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Pakistan had violated the five-year-old pact on ceasefire 58 times since the ceasefire agreement came into effect from November 2003, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday. Replying to a question in Parliament, Defence Minister A K Antony said since January 2008, Indian positions on the Line of Control have been fired upon 34 times, while the total ceasefire violation by Pakistan has occurred on 58 counts. On measures taken up by the government to prevent recurrence of such incidents, Antony said, protests are registered through the established mechanisms of hotline, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Director General of Military Operations.

Tripura sounds bird flu alert along Indo-Bangla border
NE TV Correspondent, Agartala
20 Oct
An alert has been sounded along the porous Indo-Bangla international border in Tripura following reports of bird flu in the neighbouring country, said a news agency quoting Tripura govt officials.
Sylhet, Srimanagal and Habigunj districts of Bangladesh, bordering Khowai subdivision of West Tripura district and Kamalpur subdivision of Dhalai district, have recently been affected by avian influenza. Border Security Force (BSF) was keeping a close vigil along the 856 km-long border to prevent the entry of chicken and poultry in the border markets. The state government also alerted all the district administrations and was organising workshops with the employees on disease control.

Tension grips Dimapur after trader's death
NE TV Correspondent, Dimapur
20 Oct
Tension grips Dimapur town following the killing of a local cable operator by some miscreants. A businessman, who was abducted 4 days ago by armed miscreants, was found dead on Sunday morning. Prasenjit Dhar was abducted from his residence in Lhomthi Colony, Dimapur on October 16 by some miscreants. After three days, his dead body was recovered from Bor Lengri, Karbi Anglong with his throat slit. Dimapur Police, which is investigating the case, has not been able to establish any facts. According to sources this is the fourth incident in Lhumthi colony where businessmen have become the target of armed miscreants. Meanwhile, the traders' community of Dimapur have downed their shutters on Monday in protest against the continuous attack on the non-local traders. They also held a meeting with the district administration officials seeking security.

Source: the netvindia.com

Hydro power generation in North East

— Anubhav Dutta
Ideally for any developmental work with public investment the overall benefit of the project in terms of fulfilling people’s interest should be a thrust area of our policy makes and executors. But usually it hardly happens like that in reality, consequent to which an instinctive resistance to any developmental project foisted on the people has become a common issue in contemporary society. At times reactionary political elements swarming all over the society infiltrate into such issue in order to derive a political mileage. However, a general lack of scientific knowledge stands on the way of logical explanation of the cause of resistance of the people against such developmental works notwithstanding the fact that there is always a scientific reason behind such people’s opposition to a developmental project. In fact greed for more and more money has become the driving force behind any developmental strategy mooted by our political executive in the changed era of economic globallsation. An unsustainable exploration of nature to achieve a rapid multiplication of capital without an iota of thought on the overall benefit of such exploitation for the community as a whole which owns such natural resources could be reckoned as a flagrant violation of the tenet of sustainable development now recoined as clean developmental mechanism in modern parlance. In such an ordeal faced by the people an organisation vouching for development in the true sense of the term and having knowledge base and a comprehensive analytical capability is always an asset to guide the people in a correct democratic path. Here committed NGO could definitely play a constructive role.As to the water resource management of the north easter region with immense hydro electricity potential, the State governments of the region should have prepared a common water policy long back in order to ensure the collective interest of the people living in different States of the region. Capital investment in the matter of exploration of bydro potential of the region always happened to be a constrain in the past because of fund paucity of the government which happens to be the only investor in the field. Naturally the immense hydro potential could not be exploited for the economic prosperity of the region for the obvious reason. Yet after acceptance of liberal economic policy the flood gate of private investment in the generation sector too was opened. Consequently the multinational players in the market started rushing to the NE region to do business in hydro power generation. Thus MOU for exploration of hydro potential to the extent of 5000 MW with various private players were signed by Arunachal Pradesh Government with concurrence from the Central Government in consonance with the new power policy. Needless to mention that to achieve a lucrative commercial viability of such venture the optimum capacity of a unit should be quite necessitating high dams. Further it necessitates more water resources to be stored in a reservoir with high dam across the river. In this connection a holistic water resource management policy encompassing the flow from the reservoir upto discharge from the pen stock of the hydro turbine as well as to the valley is a prerequisite to ensure the natural econological equilibrium of the concerned river and the associated valley. Secondly construction of a high dam in a very sensitive seismic zone like NE India needs special consideration and extensive study. But people have reasons to doubt whether the above mentioned points were taken cognizance of by the authority (which incidentally falls under the ambit of environmental study of the project) before granting clearance for construction of such mega Hydro Electric project. In the meantime intransparency has been displayed in the ongoing process of signing of MOU and people have every to suspect some foul play.Kalpa Brikhya, a Delhi based NGO working in the sphere of preservation of ecology raised the issue before the people of the region. Many conscientious individuals and thinkers of the region too raised their concern on the ambitious hydro power generation plan of the government and its probable effect on the delicately poised ecological balance of the region. This endeavour became successful and public was mobilised. In the mean time the citizen committee of Roing District submitted memorandum to the authority raising their protest against the proposed hydro-flectric projects. However, till now the authority has failed to publicly give any plausible explanation of their action, nor divulge the truth to dispel people’s suspicion on the whole matter.It would be worth mentioning in this context that apart from seismic hazard posed by high dam, eventually leading to natural disaster of the past, akin to Koyna Dam collapse of Gujarat in the seventies, mega hydro project could result in eviction of people living in the vicinity of the river. Secondly, such project could lead to submersion of habitable land at the cost of displacement as well as contributing to global warming by way of generation of excessive green house gas caused by submerged vegetation and trees. An ideal Clean Developmental Mechanism must take cognizance of not only such socio economic and environmental factors but should quantify such possible damage and the follow up redressal measures also. The people have a right to know about it because such developmental project has a definite linkage with their future socio-economic condition to be moulded once the projects are materialised. It is felt that the present drive of the authority to explore hydro power of the region is more guided by an excessive pecuniary gain rather than by the tenet of sustainable development or an overall welfare of the mankind. In fact medium sized multipurpose hydro electric project could be the best alternative for the region which could have added prosperity to the agrarian society of the region. Yet commercially the optimum size of the project is quite high. It has been allegeal that due to absence of any comprehensive water resource management policy for the region as a whole, the south flowing tributaries of the Brahmaputra with the primary source at the hillock of Bhutan have changed their natural course creating flood havoc in the undivided Kamrup and Barpeta districts of Assam. Incidentally hydro electric power has already been harnessed from these rivers and excessive discharge from the reservoirs during monsoon has been alleged to be the cause of such unprecedented flood in the region. The political executive of Assam made little endeavour to unearth the truth behind such allegation and to dispel doubt of the people. In a recent press conference of the Kalpa Brikhya, the pertinent point related to lack of water resource management in the region was raised to draw the attention of the State government. Ironically the government spokesman made a half hearted remark on it later on without any iota of realization on the gravity of the problem. The other political parties and vocal student bodies of Assam too are yet to probe deeper into the matter. Naturally the genuine grievance of the common people of the region may ultimately lead to a situation to the liking of the anarchy loving political elements of the region. Therefore it is high time for the people and political parties of the state to cogitate on the crucial issue and be prepared for a joint movement to ensure collective interest.All said and done, the untimely flood and erosion in Dhemaji district in recent times have already created political furor in the State. Yet all these activities have been centred around corruption related to short term flood prevention measures taken by the government rather than any talk on the long term flood management of Dhemaji district. source: assam tribune editorial 08.07.08

Development of human resources

— Dr Ratneswar Sarma
The North East has become the most distinctive and important part of the country. It has been hinted by no less a person than the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission M Ahluwalia. He also said that Guwahati would be the nerve centre of all activities including the establishment of a regional airline base. He even did not hesitate to admit that ‘we have not done much as we should for the development of the NE region.’On the perspective of the India’s ‘Look East Policy’ it is needless to assert that the NE region is going to be the fastest growing and dynamic region of the country by providing a ‘corridor’ for its economic growth and to compete with China, Japan and other parts of the world.Taking a note of these defacts and anticipating the activities that might follow the gold rush, it is not hard to imagine that a number of major players will converse to this region. This has already been indicated by the presence of a major consultancy giant like the TCS and a show of interest by one of the world’s largest IT player, the Infosys. Other foreign players like the TAC (Thai Contractors Association) – a conglomerate of 120 Thai companies, CP Aquaculture – intending to invest $10 million in aquaculture alone, some companies like Inmode Trading Company, Thai Silk Association etc, showing interest for joint ventures with their Indian counterparts, are also in the field. Considering the huge amount of fund that might be poured into, it is natural to apprehend that on the plea of lack of infrastructure and adequate skilled manpower, lack of proper conducive environment, etc, some of the centres of activities might be shifted out of this region by vested interests, as was done in the past. The alleged attempt to include the State of West Bengal in the NER map in the recent CII consortium is one such example.In this perspective the society, the governments, the think tanks of the NE region should rise to the occasion and redefine their strategies to be adopted in the immediate future. It is time to initiate a multi pronged effort with enough stress on education for inclusive growth of this region. The Government and its education planners should remodel the present curricula to create adequate number of skilled manpower in various fields including IT, tourism, agriculture and aquaculture etc to groom the youths of this region to enable them to grab the opportunities that are in store for the future. The recent joint initiatives made by the TCS and the Guwahati IIT have provided a great opportunity to the youths in IT sector, if the local youths are adequately prepared to grab it.It is needless to mention that the State is responsible for providing opportunities for education to all. Our concern for – reaching out with education to the disadvantaged population groups in dispersed locations where conventional schools are not viable, providing a choice to the learners for what they want to learn, providing a safety net to the dropouts so that they do not fade out into illiteracy, and providing education to those who cannot attend conventional schools for a variety of social and economic reasons as well as to those missed out and are now ‘over age’ – leads us to conceptualise the system of open learning.The basic focus in the open system is that, the child is empowered to learn more at his own pace and with the help of a technique of continuous self-evaluation process. The necessity to update knowledge and skills regularly, continuing education is growing in importance because of the traditional approach of getting a degree before starting one’s professional life is being progressively replaced by lifelong education. In spite of the fact that with the globalisation of trade, production, educational services and with the creation of the highly interconnected world the digital divide is widening between the urban and rural societies, between the rich and the poor and even between the advantaged and the disadvantaged nations. So it in only through continuing and lifelong education this digital gap can be narrowed down.There are some distinct advantages of open learning over learning in the formal and distant learning system. The learners in the formal system are brought to schools under conventional compulsions, whereas in open learning system they come for education on their own accord without any bindings or rigidity and experience the joy of learning through self-learning techniques. The open learners, unlike in the formal system, can pace their own progress and programme of studies without any bindings of completing a certain number of papers in certain prefixed time as per the choice/whims of the curriculum designers.Before we discuss open schooling and its advantages let us pose ourselves a question. Why open Schooling? A look into the performance of the two organisations viz SEBA and AHSEC in the last decade will show the pathetic picture of the educational scenario of the State vis-a-vis secondary and senior secondary (HS) education, the entry phases for the higher, technical and vocational education. They conduct annual examinations for the secondary and senior secondary students. The former, once even conducted two examinations per year to accommodate the learners branded as ‘repeaters’ who bear a lifetime social stigma as ‘below average’.A look into the performance of the Higher Secondary Education Council of Assam (AHSEC) in last few years – usually blamed as the performance of the students – throws light upon the colossal loss of the human resource. The highest percentage of failure in their final examination in last 10 years was 54.82 per cent (more than 60,000). The number of students failed (condemned) in each year is increasing as the number of candidates increase. The performance of SEBA is more dismal. On average 1.36 lakh students fail in each year – highest 1.52 lakh (71.06 per cent) in 1997 and 2.06 lakh (69.06 per cent) in 1994. However, the situation has improved in recent years. Failures in the final examinations do not show the entire pool of the deprived lot so far as their education is concerned. For example a large number fails even to reach the class X level each year. As per SEBA records 32.77 per cent, a whopping 85,372 were left out in 2001 in class IX alone. A large number leave the formal education system before the terminal stages for good for different reasons.The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), a Government of India (HRD) sponsored organisation has a nationawide network for providing facilities of open schooling to the deprived and unpreached learners. However, their textbooks are in Hindi and English. This has hampered the children, especially of the rural areas, to come to the NIOS. This is one of the reasons that in Assam the English and Hindi medium students have harvested the benefits of the Open Schooling to a great extent. The State Open Schools (SOS) can easily address the shortcomings. Presently there are about 20 States that have started or in the process of starting their SOSs which include among others, Delhi, Bihar, WB, MP, AP, HP, Karnataka, Kerala, TN, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, J&K (all before 2004) etc.The policy of the National Institute of Open Schooling is of playing a pivotal role in the promotion and development of Open Schooling in the country, particularly in regional medium under the aegis of NCOS, a forum under the NIOS. The Government of Assam had also taken an initiative to start its own SOS by constituting a task force in August 2005. The members of the the Task Force prepared and submitted in the same month the Techno feasibility report and a Cabinet Memoranda showing the viability and sustainability of the project. Later a letter of commitment from NIOS for a grant of Rs 20 lakh had also been incorporated. It is up to the Government of Assam now to take advantage of these facilities for the sake of the young and old group of the society, which also should be a governmental priority. However, like nurturing a tree at the leaves, the Government has started a State open university. source: assam tribune

Vision Document set a height that we have to scale

By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 30: In what has been termed as the ‘departure from the past’, the Vision Document 2020 has been prepared through the three-year-long mind boggling exercises for the north-eastern region. The three volumes of the document are scheduled to be released formally by Prime Minister Manmohon Singh at New Delhi on July 2.“The message in the document is clear-the involvement of the people of this region has given special emphasis to generate a sense of well being among them,” said Falguni Rajkumar, secretary to the North-Eastern Council (NEC), while addressing the press here today. He said, “The vision document is a statement on vision to see ahead to know the height we have to climb and the distance we have to travel to catch up rest of India.”The document has envisaged an average growth rate of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of the north-eastern States at 12.95 per cent per annum. The present average growth rate of the GSDP in this region is around 7.5 per cent, much less than the national average. To achieve the projected target in this regard, the document envisages the required additional investment at the tune of Rs 13,29,891 crore during the period from 11th Plan to first three year of 13th Plan. Rajkumar said, a proposal is all set to place before the Union Cabinet next month to chalk out collective planed programme with the fund amassed by the minimum 10 per cent budget allocation of the 49 ministries for the north-east.Currently the funds, which is expected to be raised to about Rs 30,000 crore per annum, have been spent by the respective ministries for the development of the north-east and non-utilized fund goes to non-lapsable Central pool of resources (NLCPR). Apart from the Government fund, the NEC has decided to stress on the private investment in this region, to cover the required investment volume of about Rs 70,000 crore.However, he said, selection of industry is a major problem for the north-east. Which needs is less capital intensive with huge employment opportunity like tourism sector, he said. The NEC secretary has also stressed on the collaboration between outsider investors and local entrepreneurs to avoid negative view on the investment. Several industrial giants are looking for local partners to invest in the north-east, he said. source: sentinel assam

Ethnic nepotism or merit?

Rajesh Dev

Everyone everywhere seems to be engaged in cutting the heads off a hydra. Large sections of the people are alarmed at the deteriorating quality of our political life, our social values, our academic standards or what have you. These worries are being articulated with serious reflection but distinctive personal biases by expressive commentators. Yet these commentaries seem like incremental interventions that perhaps inadvertently, neglect the core issues of quality and measure of human material. All our institutions, values and norms are sensing deterioration in quality human material that gets characterised as sectoral institutional collapse. Indeed the issue concerning the quality of human material and the related anxieties are certainly universal and therefore may seem gratuitous, to be articulated only as a “regional” North-eastern anxiety in a dedicated page of this newspaper. Interestingly, a reader recently reminded me that the issues that I have often raised through these columns are not necessarily issues that have exotic growth in the region called the North-east, but is a pervasive ailment of the national soul. I wish I could tell him that it has exactly been my customary estimation in these columns that anxieties of the region are not typically unique. So the violations of the rights of minorities in Gujarat, or the expressions of violent antipathy towards certain communities in Mumbai or the blatant reflection of political depravity amongst the political class or even the transgressions of citizens’ rights by extra-legal organisations. All have their parallel manifestations in this region that so patently declares its difference. Nevertheless, there are aspects that introduce “unique” vernacular elements to these universal stories of anxiety that is not typical of this region called the North-east but other locales too. The metaphorical category called the North-east also encounters identical anxieties but the idioms for articulating these anxieties have typical local eccentricity. In Meghalaya, currently there is an animated anxiety concerning its institutions of learning. The Meghalaya chief minister recently rued the corrosion in the “quality of education” in his his state; while the minister for higher and technical education passionately declared the wish of the government to make the state capital a “knowledge city”. Even observers scrutinising the working of a number of such institutions, in the state and the region, have criticised the complete lack of integrity and transparency in the functioning and appointment procedures in institutions of higher learning. Yet the “regional” bias of these expressions lies in the fact that all forms of social anxieties are sought to be explained and reconciled through a fixed ethnic prism. Indeed ethnic identity that forms the basis of social differentiation and oppression in the region is the most proximate idiom through which rationalisation of social anxieties and concerns are made. Even the most progressive of voices inadvertently identify with this ethnic idiom to explain social conditions. Explorations that begin with concerns for merit in institutions like the Indian Institute of Managements subliminally revert to this ethnic idiom to explain lack of academic propriety. So ethnic nepotism by the incumbent director is obliquely assumed to be the reason why the newly established IIM at Shillong has a large number of faculty members and office-bearers from a particular community. Another section of society is of the opinion that it is ethnic discrimination that denies many indigenous aspirants any substantive roles in institutions like the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. Both these institutions, along with many others, are thus caught in the bind of ethnic arguments and indigenous claims. The region has around 16 universities, six medical institutes, one IIM, one IIT and one NIT besides a host of colleges that also offer post-graduate courses. Yet we find the largest portion of students in institutes of higher institutes in other parts of India belonging to this region. It is estimated that 20 per cent of the IT workforce in many states of south India belong to the region. Applicants having the desired qualifications for posts in various institutes have been denied appointment to faculty positions in states like Meghalaya, because of pressures that emanate not from concerns of merit but ethnic kinship and skewed criteria of reservations. There are also subtle pressures in some states for the conversion of faculty positions reserved for Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes into reserved positions for Scheduled Tribes. Institutes are denied the autonomy and control over matters of appointment and measures for quality control because of prevailing social perceptions. Questions of merit cannot be determined simply by adherence to formal degrees and institutional positions. We may recall that the influential theorist and philosopher Karl Popper was a cabinet-maker and school teacher. So was Will Durant, who taught in a school. Their professional positions however did not subvert their innovative originality as thinkers and creative scholars. Social perceptions, conventional norms of merit and current notions of control over institutions need to be sincerely addressed without ambiguous loyalties if institutions in the region are to have social relevance and worth. It is the design, character and autonomy of our institutions that will ultimately shape the content and quality of the societies in the region. Source: http://www.thestate sman.net/ page.news. php?clid= 14&theme=&usrsess=1&id=210878

Reality as it is

Reality as it is

It is natural that there should be such hype about the press conference called by the ULFA’s 28 Battalion on Thursday as reflected by the media coverage of the event. After all, were not the top leaders of the battalion pointing to things that people would not expect from the lips of ULFA leaders? Were not the rebels harping on what ULFA c-in-c Paresh Baruah has denied all these years? Were not the hardened militants indicating their willingness to abdicate the path of violence for ever and appreciate the fact of Indian democracy? Were not they being mature enough to realize the futility of armed struggle against the Indian state? Was not an influential section of the ULFA coming to terms with the reality of the day? Therefore, the excitement, hype and expectations that marked the press conference — the first of its kind in the history of ULFA’s ‘insurgency’ — seemed to be so very natural.However, there is hardly anything surprising about what the pro-talk ULFA leaders said in the press conference, be it the indifference of the Bangladesh-based top ULFA leadership to the suffering of the lower-rung cadres back home, or the manner in which the top leadership has turned a blind eye to illegal immigration from Bangladesh to Asom (especially after the outfit came under the grip of the ISI), or even the business empires that Paresh Baruah and chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa have established in Bangladesh while pretending to be staging a revolution for the people of Asom. This newspaper said all this long ago. Yet, the element of surprise — should one call it so — is that for a section of the ULFA that has thrived on the loot extracted from the people it had set out to liberate, the cause of Asom should now weigh more than the temptation to serve the ISI and enjoy luxuries on foreign shores. Therefore, we welcome the latest peace initiative of Mrinal Hazarika and his comrades. One would definitely ask: Are some of the ULFA leaders beginning to realize that the outfit’s brand of insurgency has actually turned out to be one of the worst forms of criminal terrorism against one’s own brothers and sisters at the behest of hostile foreign powers?So where does one go from here? Let it be reiterated that unless the entire outfit, including of course the top leadership based in Bangladesh, comes forward for a meaningful peace process in the best interest of the people of Asom, it is unlikely that anything tangible will result from the peace overtures. And for the peace process to be meaningful, as the pro-talk ULFA leaders should now realize, ‘‘sovereignty for Asom’’ cannot be on the agenda. Now one only hopes that the State would not have to bear yet another — and more horrendous — cycle of attacks and counter-attacks. Neighbouring Nagaland should serve as an example where three different factions of the NSCN, all championing the same cause, have made commercial hubs like Dimapur a war zone, killing their own brethren, despite the fact that two of the factions have a ceasefire agreement with the Centre. Therefore, let us be less euphoric, more realistic. If much water has flowed down the Brahmaputra, there is a lot more to flow too. source: sentinel assam editorial 29.06.08

Vision 2020 hope for N-E

Vision 2020 hope for N-E
New Delhi, June 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will release the Vision 2020 document on July 2 amid the buzz that the DoNER ministry would soon be scrapped. The document’s unveiling will coincide with the opening of tenders for a regional airline for the Northeast the same day.

The document has been prepared for the past three years and is the crux of inputs from 30,000 questionnaires answered by various sections of society from the eight states. DoNER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar wants the NEC to don the role of a regional planning association.

Northeast Echoes

Peace as a political tool
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s cup of woes seems to be overflowing with conflicts on so many fronts. The resurgence of Bodo militancy after a lull has only sharpened the contours of conflict in Assam. It was not at all pleasing to the ears to hear two prominent leaders of the Bodo people, publicly trade charges at one another.

Supporters of Hagrama Mohilary accused U.G. Brahma of masterminding the fratricidal killings in Bodoland. Brahma threw back each allegation at his detractors. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Bodos are a culturally superior race with a history of civilisation that is longer than most of the other tribes in the Northeast.

How a group that is culturally and intellectually endowed could be subsumed and pushed to the fringes of development is a historical aberration that can only be revisited with much anguish and a sense of loss of something irretrievable.

Historically, the living space of the Bodos comprises nearly one-third of Assam. But in terms of development what is euphemistically referred to as “Bodoland” remains a laggard. The creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was a temporary palliative. As always the beneficiaries of such political endowments are the leaders of the movements and their kin. The rest of the Bodo people have remained at the subsistence level. For them a BTC or a state government are one and the same.

Co-existence
At one conference attended by Bodo women, one was surprised to learn that the Bodos living along the borders of Bhutan get their electricity from that country. They earn their livelihood across the border and depend very little on Assam.

For them it is advantageous that India and Bhutan co-exist peacefully because any imbalance between the two as had happened during the Bhutanese operation against the Ulfa, tends to create a livelihood problem for them. As long as such simple folks continue with their economic pursuits and stay out of political discourses about their rights and the infringement of those rights, there will be a lid on political aspirations.

But history is a grim reminder that marginalised groups do tend to seek their place in the sun sooner than later. It is evident that several Bodo people are dissatisfied with the BTC. They do not see the council as an answer to their development backlogs.

The BTC we are told has failed to live up to the expectations of the hoi-polloi. There is allegedly no system of financial accountability and this is the crux of the matter. When people ask for greater autonomy for themselves what the leaders are actually asking for is more money to play around with. It is so easy to forget “the people” in whose names armed struggles were raised and whose blood was shed for the cause.

In cold blood
Besides the current blood-letting in Bodoland which has yet to raise the temperature in Dispur, the other battlefront that could spoil Tarun Gogoi’s sleep is the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) led by Jewel Gorlosa. This group is known to be mentored by the NSCN (I-M) and therefore as unscrupulous in its operations. Recently, the DHD (J) killed a dozen truck drivers who were on routine trips through North Cachar Hills to the Barak valley and beyond carrying food supplies.
The manner in which the drivers were shot in cold blood and at point blank range is reminiscent of the cruelties of the Gestapo. The DHD (J) then attacked the railway employees who were merely carrying out their duties. As a consequence the rail authorities suspended their work and trucks refused to move.

The repercussions were felt in Mizoram and Tripura whose foodgrain quota was dwindling by the day.

Having carried out their horrific massacre the DHD (J) then calls a unilateral truce. This trigger-happy group probably woke up to the seriousness of the situation only belatedly when it began to affect their own people and a hue and cry was raised by the Dimasa people themselves.
Today there are over 40 companies of security forces posted in the North Cachar Hills, the largest ever for the smallest area. This became necessary in order to complete the railway gauge conversion and the trans-Asian highway.

The role of the NSCN (I-M), a group that is ostensibly on a truce with the Centre, but is providing the fuel to different armed groups across the region has not come in for close scrutiny. But things being so convoluted you can never be too sure as to who is fuelling what and under whose direction.

Be that as it may the Assam government is expected to have some plan of action to deal with groups like the DHD (J) which have assumed the characteristics of marauders.

If such groups are not put down with an iron hand one foresees many more splinters emerging each with its own ideology but all of them out to make a fast buck. The complete absence of the rule of law in North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, and Bodoland can no longer be covered up.
The lawlessness in Assam has in fact reached such serious dimensions that even the state forests will now be guarded by the army. This is quite a telling account of the ground situation in that state.

All these are bad enough indications but what is worse is Tarun Gogoi’s proclivity to buy peace in instalments.

His government is all out to sign a truce with a faction of Ulfa whose cadres are faded and jaded and have lost their firepower. Normally, no armed group would sing the peace tune if it could still survive in the jungles. And the rule of the game is that talks are held only between equals.

Why should the state agree to a peace proposition from an ineffectual group? Unless of course there is an uncoded quid pro quo that the group will serve the political dispensation at Dispur in some strange way.

Ulfa on back foot
The argument that Ulfa has not killed anyone for months together and therefore deserves a chance at peace is specious. If Ulfa is on the back foot now it is only because they have run out of steam. At this juncture the outfit is in dire need of oxygen. If it is starved of it for some more time it might have to surrender. Hence the proposal to smoke the peace pipe.

If the Tarun Gogoi government succumbs as it appears to have done then the future of Assam will stand gravely compromised.

Non-resident Assamese are appalled by the number of bandhs calls, which have crippled particularly the tea industry. Any attempt to give Ulfa its much-needed time to regroup will spell disaster for Assam. It will also be the death knell to entrepreneurship and industry both of which are meant to trigger economic growth.

Alas. Politics pushes people to look for short-term gains and abandon any long-term policy for the common good.

(The author can be contacted at patricia17@rediffma il.com)

THE TELEGRAPH - JUNE 23, 2008

North East airline to take off next year

North East airline to take off next year

SHILLONG, June 15 – Come 2009, the eight States in the North East will come closer with greater air connectivity. The North Eastern Council has set in motion a process to run a commercial airline between the landlocked States of the region. A global tender for the proposed airline, floated in May, will close on June 30. NEC adviser (T&C) MS Sodhi said the NEC would give subsidy to make the commercial air service economically viable.At least a dozen more airports would be constructed in the region during the 11th Five Year Plan in addition to the existing 11 airports, the official said. Also detailed project reports to revive the non-functional airports like Rupsi, Kamalpur, Pasighat and Tezu were being prepared by the Airports Authority of India.“Though the tender process needs time and has to be approved by several Ministries at the Centre, NEC intends to launch the airline service by January 1 next year,” Sodhi said. The basic objective of the airline would be to provide air connectivity to all the State capitals in the North East as well as other airports in the region including Bagdogra in north Bengal. Further, it has plans to provide a schedule with a minimum frequency which allows for travel from one destination to another as well as to utilize the existing airline schedules to provide connectivity on trunk routes. The aircraft to be inducted in the new airline would be Jet or turboprop ones with short take-off and landing capability. The carriers must have a minimum start-up capital of Rs 30 crore and operate at least four aircrafts with a take-off mass of over 40 tonnes. This has been a long-standing demand of all the State Governments in the region, with Nagaland already buying helicopters for commercial service linking remote districts. The proposed airline will be expected to fly 400 flights every month connecting the region internally by the end of 2009. A tender floated last year did not gain the kind of response the government had hoped for. Officials said the new tender was expected to bring in better offers. The government is also considering a proposal to relax norms to allow airlines flying in the North East to connect international destinations from Guwahati airport. According to Airports Authority of India officials, the absence of night landing or instrument-guided landing facilities in most of the North East airports has made it difficult for commercial flights to land after 4 pm. Eight airports are likely to get night landing facilities. “A detailed project report is being prepared to set up a new airport in Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs 340 crore. Sikkim Government will pay about Rs 100 crore and provide land at Pakyong,” they said. At present Sikkim depends on Bagdogra airport near Siliguri. The AAI has also selected sites at Banderdewa near Itanagar and Chiethu near Kohima for new airports in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland respectively. Construction of these airports is likely to be taken up during the 11th Five Year Plan. “Airlines might be permitted to provide connections out of Guwahati to countries in Southeast Asia. Besides improving connectivity, this could also contribute to the viability of airline operations in the North East,” the NEC officials said. Besides, the Centre also plans to study how to link some of the tourist destinations in the North East like Tawang, Kaziranga and Majuli island by air. – PTI