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Tripura”s rural bank posts record Rs. 35.35 crore profit

June 4, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Agartala, June 4 (ANI): The Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB), one of India”s 84 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), posted a net profit of Rs.35.35 crore in 2009-2010, the highest among RRBs in Tripura.

The bank has 111 branches across the state, which gives flexibility to its customer to open account in any branch.

“We are satisfied. So many people cannot come to Agartala to open an account, so they open an account in Jotanbari, so it is very helpful, we can come any time and open an account,” said Edison Uchoi an account holder.

The bank”s credit-deposit ratio is now 39 percent.

“We did a total business of 2850 crore rupees, in which there is a deposit of 2550 crore rupees and advance of 800 crore rupees and we have achieved a profit of Rs.35crore, 35 lakh in 2009-10. This is the highest amount of profit by any rural bank in the northeast or eastern India,” said D Mushahary, chairman, Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB).

He further claimed that TGB also attained a record in per branch business and per staff business with rupees 2,567 lakh and rupees 438 lakh respectively in fiscal 2009-10 and has targeted to achieve a net profit of rupees 500 lakh (50 million) in the current financial year.

The TGB has issued 1,500 biometric cards to disburse wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and pension under National Old Age Pension (NOAP) schemes.

Tripura is the second state after Andhra Pradesh to use biometric cards for payments under the NREGA and NOAP. (ANI)

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Cultural fest ”Octave 2010” concludes in Kolkata

April 1, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Apr 1 (ANI): A three-day cultural festival, ”Octave 2010”, showcasing northeastern cultural heritage, has concluded in Kolkata.

The festival was organised by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) between March 29 and March 31.

Over 200 dancers, musicians, crafts persons from Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland , Sikkim and Tripura were participated in the event.

“Here in EZCC we were organised a programme called ”Octave”, where we were presented the folk art and the culture of the north eastern states. There were eight northeastern states as we know, but many of us don”t know about the richness of their culture. So we have arranged the programme. Here we were presented folk dances of all the eight northeastern states. In addition to that, we have also organised a fashion parade,” said Dr. Jayanta Sthanapati, Director of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC).

Handicrafts from all the northeastern states were put on display at the stalls.

“I liked coming here. There is a lot to see at the stalls. There are traditional costumes of all the northeastern states; there is a lot of bamboo handicraft. It is all very good,” said Deepti Raha, a visitor.

Participants from these states performed traditional folk dances.

A fashion show was also held where traditional garments of the northeastern states were showcased. (ANI)

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Chairman, PM bid farewell to retiring Rajya Sabha members

March 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari Tuesday led the house in bidding farewell to 13 members whose term is ending April 2.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan also recalled contribution of the outgoing members in their speeches.

Ansari said the house will miss the members who were not returning.

Expressing his heart-felt appreciation for their contribution, he wished them long life and good health.

The prime minister also appreciated the contribution of retiring members and recalled that he has been a member of the house for nearly 19 years.

‘My experience is that this house has some unique characteristics which enrich public life and reflect plurality and diversity of the country.’

Jaitley said new members enter the house with a certain awe and ‘all go back wiser, considering the environment of the house’.

He said the members had excellent inter-personal relations. ‘Even if we disagree, we learn a lot from each other,’ he said.

Rahman said the dynamic exposure in the house will come handy to retiring members in discharging their public role.

Members who will retire April 2 include two from Assam, one each from Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Nagaland, three from Kerala and five from Punjab.

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Union Budget a shot in arm for Northeast development

March 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 10 (ANI): The Union Budget addressed the importance of infrastructure for sustained economic development and allotted money to boost the growth potential would be realized only if infrastructure does not become a severe and critical handicap.

The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in February aims at developing infrastructure in the northeast.

Rs 1,114 crores have been earmarked for development of infrastructure under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

Appropriate infrastructure will ensure a smoother farm to market connectivity indirectly enhancing the trade and commerce.

The Rail budget too focused on connecting remote areas of northeast with the rest of the country.

Connectivity with South Asian nations like Bangladesh and Nepal has been given a high priority.

Proposal of a direct rail link between Tripura and Bangladesh will indirectly promote India’s “Look East Policy.”

“Timing problem will be solved by this problem. Usually we take a long time to get cargo from any other states. After this train will begin, we will take less time and save money, which will be profit to us and good for our business,” said Habul Biswas an exporter.

“In the present rail budget the proposed Agartala-Akhuara rail connectivity on materializing shall help in industrial development of Tripura, better relation between the people of both nations as people to people contact shall increase, trade and business shall also boost up and thus Tripura shall develop and also northeast. Hence we are very happy with the rail budget, as there is proposal for Agartala-Akhuara rail connectivity,” said Jhantu Debnath, an employee.

Keeping in mind the welfare of people, the apex agency for development in northeast, DONER, has been allocated an additional Rs 285 crores, raising its funds to Rs 1760 from Rs 1475 crore.

To promote better air connectivity and facilities, Rs 121 crore has been set aside for the development of airports.

In addition Rs 80 crore has been added to the funds allocated to the Northeast council.

The council will now be given Rs 623 crore instead of Rs 543 crore for the development projects it has undertaken.

Though the subsidy for the Assam gas project has been reduced but regular funding will be maintained.

Mukherjee has also committed liberal funding towards the ongoing projects.

“There has been a tax relief to the common man. A relief of Rs 26000 crore has been diverted towards it. It is good for middle class as it is rising,” said R C Joshi, Chairman, Final Institute of North East Region.

“The budget actually puts back in track the agenda of reform that is very important. It shows the indication that government is thinking differently of how to give subsidy in future,” Madhujya Bezbaruah, Economist, Guwahati University.

Development of the Northeast region is a thrust area for the government

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28th Agartala Book Fair attracts book lovers

March 5, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Agartala, Mar 5 (ANI): Thousands of book lovers are coming every day at the ongoing 28th Agartala Book Fair.

Organised by the Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (ICAT) Department of Tripura with the cooperation of state publishers, the twelve-day-long fair is being held at the Sishuniketan ground of Agartala. It ends on March 11.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the fair in the presence of Assam Sahitya Sabha Padma Shri Rong Bong Terang and Vice-Chancellor of Tripura (Central) University, Arunoday Saha.

Book sellers from Kolkata, Delhi, Bangladesh and others are participating in the 163 stall book fair.

Booklovers consider the fair to be a golden opportunity.

Writers and publishers are also very happy about the fair doing good business.

This type of fair not only creates a healthy atmosphere in northeastern state, but also ensures the huge public participation. (ANI)

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Tripura police arrest a juvenile with three American made pistols

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala, Sep, 16 (ANI): A 16- year- old juvenile, who fled from custody with five other Bangladesh nationals, was arrested by Agartala Police on Wednesday.

Police have recovered three American pistols and ammunition from him.

West Tripura District Superintendent of Police K V Sreejesh said: “Based on the information last night we arrested one person from the Battala area and recovered two loaded pistols from his position.”

“During the interrogation, he informed about another pistol hidden in a temple near the Agartala railway station which also we have found along with eight live cartridges and six magazines,” Sreejesh added.

The juvenile arms carrier has been identified as Shiva Das and is suspected to have received the pistols from Bangladesh.

Police suspect an arms racket is on ahead of Durga Puja in Tripura.

A case has been registered under the Arms Possession and Using of Fire Arms Act. By Pinaki Das (ANI)

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Banking transforms lives in rural areas in northeast

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala (Tripura)/ Jorhat (Assam), Sep.16 (ANI): Banking services are playing a major role in transforming the lives of people in rural areas of the northeast India.

To upgrade infrastructure and attract more investment, banks have undertaken several economic upliftment policies and schemes.

In Tripura, a financial outreach camp was recently organized at the State’s Pitra village to raise awareness among villagers about banking and central banking services. It also intended to bring them under the fold of mainstream banking.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took the initiative along with different functioning banks in the State. It came as a boon to thousands of villagers, especially farmers, who enthusiastically participated in the camp.

Villagers were familiarized with various banking facilities, security features of currency notes. They were given an opportunity to exchange their soiled and mutilated currency notes and exchange currency notes for coins.

The participants put up their queries about banking facilities in the area.

“Here we do not have any banking system. Because of the camp the villagers would be benefited. With bank accounts, people will get to know about savings and this will help them in the future,” said Bubantala Jamatia, a Pitra villager.

“This outreach camp has helped poor villagers and we are now opening accounts without depositing any money,” said Anishmia Sarkar, a villager. o improve the banking sector in northeast, the Reserve bank of India has set up a Committee on Financial Sector Development.

The committee has made several major recommendations, including financial inclusion, opening of bank branches and enhancement of credit flow to the region.

“As far as Reserve Bank of India is concerned, the approach is that we work together, the State government, the banks, the non-governmental organizations, the local Panchayati Raj institutions and the Reserve Bank will act like a catalyst to make people come together an work for economic development,” said Usha Thorat, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

The United Bank of India (UBI) has drawn up a plan for economic upliftment of the seven northeastern States called ‘Vision 2020 for northeast’ aimed to cover rural people.

‘Vision 2020 for northeast, the plan, was declared during a press conference by UBI held at Tocklai in Jorhat in Assam.

It would include introduction of low rate interest loans for the poor, unemployed youths, farmers, women, self-help groups, small scale industries and entrepreneurs among others.

The bank also handed over rupees 750 million loan to 8,673 Union Bank of India (UBI) account holders.The loans have benefited us a lot. The bank provided us loans based on the need of the customers. We are really satisfied,” said C. Saikia, one of the customers.

At present there are 252 Union Bank of India branches in the northeast region of the country. The bank is setting up 15 branches in different parts of Assam. Two branches each will also be set up in Manipur and Nagaland. By Pinaki Das / Vaschipem Kamodang (ANI)

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Tripura withdraws security escorts along highways

September 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Dhalai (Tripura), Sep 15 (ANI): Consequent to the decline in activities of insurgents in Tripura, the government has decided to withdraw the 16-year-old system of escorting all vehicles plying along the major highways linking Agartala with the rest of the country through Assam and other states.

This was disclosed by A Chaturvedi, Inspector General of Police, Tripura at Dhalai on Monday.

In 1993 the State had promulgated an order that no vehicles will be allowed to ply without security escorts along the highway.

The highway is the lifeline of the landlocked state surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides – north, west and south.

“The reason for withdrawing the convoy system is that now we have gained confidence and now the problem of extremism is controlled and the morale of extremists is very low,” Chaturvedi said.

However, to avoid any terror act, patrolling and static deployment of troopers continues and even intensified at certain spots.

The government may allow plying of vehicles round the clock after observing the situation for one year. (ANI)

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Tripura felicitates Sourav Ganguly

September 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala, Sep.14 (ANI): Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was felicitated by the Tripura Cricket Association here on Sunday.

This was Ganguly’s third visit to state after 15 years.

Ganguly after visiting the MBB Cricket Stadium said that there has been rapid infrastructure development of cricket in the state and with it in the coming days the state can go for conducting national and international matches.

The former Indian captain also met budding cricketers and coaches and gave them useful tips, which were welcomed.

During his visit, Ganguly accepted an offer of being the technical adviser for development of cricket in Tripura.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar also felicitated Ganguly, who will leave the state on Monday. By Pinaki Das(ANI)

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Tribals attend RBI’s financial outreach camp in Tripura

September 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala, Sep. 6 (ANI): Thousands of tribal families turned out to participate in a financial outreach camp organized by the Reserve Bank of India in Pitra village of Tripura.

The camp was organised with the objective of bringing awareness among villagers about banking norms.

“Bank wants to lend for projects which would generate economic activity will lead to development of north east.

So we have to be able to work together. The state government, the banks, the non-governmental organisations, the locals, Panchayati Raj institutions and the Reserve Bank will act like a catalyst to make people come together and work together for economic development,” said Usha Thorat, deputy governor, Reserve Bank of India.

Organised on the occasion of Platinum Year celebration of Reserve Bank, the camp witnessed hundreds of villagers gathered at the stalls of different banks for opening of new bank accounts.

The villagers were also informed and familiarized with various banking facilities, security features of currency notes, exchange their soiled and mutilated currency notes, exchange currency notes for coins and also look into their complains with regards to banking facilities.

“In the village there is no banking system and this camp will be of great benefit to us. The villagers had no means of saving but now we think we can save something for our future,” Bubantala Jamatia, a villager

Under the model, post offices, cooperatives, NGOs, financial institutions, self-help groups, retired employees of state or central government may act as an agent of the banks and provide services to people. (ANI)

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Reservation for students in National Institute of Technology in Tripura

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): The Union Cabinet today approved the implementation of reservation for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to the National Institute of Technology in Jirania in Tripura.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (CEI Act, 2006) was notified on January 4, 2007. Section 3 of the CEI Act, 2006 provides for reservation of seats in Central Educational Institutions, according to which, 15 per cent seats are reserved for the SC 7.5 per cent for the ST and 27 per cent for the OBC.

Section 4 (a) of the CEI Act, 2006 provides that the provisions of Section 3 of the Act shall not apply to a Central Educational Institution established in the tribal areas referred to in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) located at Jirania in the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council, Agartala was unable to extend the benefit of reservation to students belonging to OBC category in view of the non-applicability of the CEI Act, under Section 4 (a).

Several writ petitions were filed in Guwahati High Court, Agartala and High Court, New Delhi challenging applicability of reservation of the SCs and STs in NIT, Agartala while not extending the benefit of reservation to OBCs.

There was a popular demand from political parties and public representatives that the benefits of reservation for OBC should be extended to NIT Agartala in view of the substantial population of OBCs in the State.

A notification was issued with the approval of the President under Paragraph 12AA(c) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India on 13.7.2009 to the effect that provisions of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act shall apply to Jirania in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council in respect of Central Educational Institutions situated therein namely NIT, Agartala subject to modifications of Section 3, 4 and 6 of the CEI Act, 2006.

It benefits Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other socially and educationally Backward Classes of students. (ANI)

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Tripura fast emerging as a major tea exporting state

July 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala, July 11 (ANI): With its favourable agro climatic conditions, Tripura is fast emerging as a major tea exporting state in the region. The industry has evolved into a major business in the northeast.

The tea gardens here like the Manu Valley Tea Estate are in the process of modernizing production and are using the latest automatic machinery.

The tea estate has also imported Japanese machinery for plucking of tealeaves and is one of the biggest factories for tealeaf drier in Asia.

Last year, the 90-year-old tea industry in the state created history by exporting the beverage.

Despite the global economic meltdown, the tea industry in Tripura is reaping good profits in which 1 lakh Kg of tea named ‘Jewel Tips’ were exported to Iran, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

This generated revenue for the state and benefited the workers tremendously.

“Last year, we exported to UK, Iran, and Uzbekistan. In TATA also we have supplied more than 100,000 kilogram of tea. Now, the second phase has just started and the market is very good this year. Talk is going on with the TATA tea,” said J. C. DAS, General Manager with Tripura Group of Gardens.

“Earlier, we use the hand plucking method but now we are using machines. This has benefited us a lot as the work is completed faster and we get more money as well. We are very happy,” said Sudangshu, a Tea worker in Tripura

There are over 57 tea gardens in the Tripura, with about 6,000 hectares under plantation. Currently, the state produces about 7.5 million kilograms of tea in a year.

To give a boost to the tea industry, the Tripura Government, in collaboration with the Tea Board, is providing better irrigation facilities. Initiatives have also been taken to produce “Bio-tea”, which is free from any chemical residue.

Tea plantations have now become one of the promising industries in Tripura and are likely to witness more success in the coming years. By Pinaki Das(ANI)

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No proposal with Central Govt. to introduce Bill for police reforms

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 7 (ANI): The Centre today informed the Lok Sabha that in light of the recommendations made by the Soli Sorabjee Committee there is no proposal under government’s consideration to introduce a Bill on police reforms.

“Police is a state subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and therefore, police reforms is primarily the responsibility of the state government,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullapally Ramachandran said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

“There is no proposal under consideration to introduce a Bill on Police Reforms” he added.

Ramachandran said his ministry had set up the Sorabjee Committee to draft a Model Police Act in September 2005, which submitted its report along with Model Police Act on 30th October 2006.

He said the copy of the Act was sent to all states and Union Territories for consideration and appropriate action.

“As per available information, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttrakhand have either framed new police Act or amended the existing one.” (ANI)

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Left Front wins 109 seats unopposed in Tripura civic polls

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala July 5 (ANI): The ruling Left Front in Tripura won unopposed 109 Village Panchayat seats.

Left front candidates were also elected unopposed to one seat each in Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.

According to the Tripura state Election Commission, election to the local bodies in the state will take place on July 20. Over all 9,500 aspirants were in the fray for Village Panchayats, 622 candidates for Panchayat Samiti and 200 candidates for Zila Parishads.

Tripura has given 40percent reservation for women in the local bodies. Tripura has more than four lakh women voters, which is nearly 49 percent of the state’s total electorate. (ANI)

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Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa lag behind in providing toilet facilities in rural households

July 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa figure among the list of states lagging behind when it comes to providing the toilet facilities in rural households.

“The percentage of rural households without toilet facilities in Bihar stands at 72.58 percent while in Jharkhand 69.08 percent households lack the basic sanitation. In Orissa 64.79 percent rural households are without the toilet facilities,” said Union Minister Of Rural Development C.P.Joshi in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

In sharp contrast Sikkim is the only state in the country, which has achieved a unique distinction of having achieved Universal Sanitation with no backlogs while Kerala and Tripura are on the way to achieve the similar feat.

The findings appear in the backdrop of a nationwide Total Sanitation Campaign . The campaign was launched by the Central Government in 1977 to provide toilet facility in each and every household in the rural areas of the country.

Based on the proposals received, Total Sanitation Campaign projects (to be implemented over a period of 4-5 years) have been approved for 593 rural districts in the country since the inception of TSC.

The major components of the TSC include information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, incentive of Rs. 1500 from Government of India and Rs. 700 from State Government per toilet for BPL households to construct toilets, provision of toilets in schools and Anganwadis, provision of community toilets, rural sanitary marts, etc. and assistance for village solid and liquid waste management.

Since it is a demand – driven program, funds are released as per eligibility criteria based on utilization of funds by the districts. (ANI)

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Adventure camp for the northeastern youth

May 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Churachandpur (Manipur), May 29 (ANI): About a hundred youngsters from across northeast region of the country are attending a fortnight long adventure camp at Churachandpur area.

At the camp, training in basics skills of mountaineering, trekking and rappelling is being given to the adventurous youth of the region.

Organised by the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) under the civic action programme of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has drawn many youngsters.

“Potential is lot (aplenty). But due to lack of financial help we cannot conduct more of adventure training camps here at Manipur. This time we got some sponsorship from CRPF (India’s paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force) under the civil action programme. This time plenty of students are coming from different parts of Manipur. We received more than 100 applications out of which we selected only 100,” said Surjit Singh, President of Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA), Imphal.

It is hoped that the camp will help the youngsters in future to join higher-level training camps like the courses conducted at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling.

Youngsters, mostly from the Seven Sisters of the North East-states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh-are attending the camp.

At the camp, young trainees are camped in tents and provided nutritious food.

The adventure activities being taught at this camp include cave expedition, crossing obstacles, rock climbing, parasailing, trekking and hiking in and around the hills of Imphal valley.

An added attraction of the training camp will be the motorcycle relic hunt and sight seeing spread over the last two days.

According to Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, such camps should be held on a regular basis in the region. Since these would help the youth to develop a positive focus in life and also prevent the young minds from going astray.

Manipur has produced a good number of famous mountaineers and also champions in adventure sports who have won medals at national and international level.

Having commenced on May 24, the camp will last till June 8. By L.C.K. Singh (ANI)

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People in north-east have high hopes from their MP Manmohan Singh

May 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Imphal/Kohima/Agartala May 26 (ANI): The recently concluded Parliament elections, which elicited the participation of over 65 percent voters, have raised the hopes of the people that the region will be given special attention by the centre.

People expect the new Members of Parliament to take up their needs in the Central Parliament. The response of the people towards elections also displayed their faith in democracy and rejection of militancy.

The swearing-in of B.K. Handique, who was elected from Jorhat, as a Cabinet Minister, has strengthened their belief that the Central leadership is keen to ensure peace in the region.

All the Members of Parliament, elected from seven states in the region, wish to work for the development of the region, which is rich in natural resources. They hope efforts will be made to exploit the natural resources and the tourism and trade potential.

” I will continue to work for the welfare of my people,” said B.K. Handique.

People in the northeast have high expectation from their political representatives and hope that they will effectively neutralise the insurgent groups who have not allowed peace to prevail.

In Manipur, the Indian National Congress made a sweep in elections on both the Inner and Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency seats.

“As usual we have the manifesto of our party. This is an all- India manifesto. We also have a state manifesto. We will try to implement whatever we have proposed in the manifesto of our party under the guidance of the party president and chief minister,” said Dr. Th Meina Singh, Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur.

In Nagaland, the Nagaland People’s Front won the lone Lok Sabha seat of the state.

People expect that factional clashes will end in the State.

In Tripura, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidates won in both parliamentary constituencies.

“We shall continue our fight inside as well as outside the parliament for the development and betterment of the lot of the people in the state,” said Khagen Das, MP from West Tripura.

In Assam, the Congress party won seven of the 14 Lok Sabha seats.

Bharatiya Janata Party registered win in four seats while its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) secured one seat. The Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secured one seat each.

In Meghalaya, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party won one seat each.

The Indian National Congress won two seats in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Mizoram. In Sikkim, the Sikkim Democratic Front won the lone parliamentary constituency.

People in the north-east are happy that Dr. Manmohan Singh, who has a house in Assam, will give special attention to the north-east. (ANI)

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Tension along India-Bangladesh border over barbed wire fencing

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Tripura, May 23 (ANI): Tension prevailed along the India-Bangladesh border on the outskirts of Akhwara region, in Tripura, over the construction of a barbed wire fencing by the Border Security Force (BSF).

The villagers are concerned as the newly constructed barbed wire fence will block free access to the graveyard, which would now fall on the other side of the fence.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the border guard of Bangladesh, has raised objection to the move of BSF saying that the treaty signed between the two nations prohibits construction of the fence within 150 yards from the border pillar on both sides.

A mass protest against the BSF move and people demanded free access to their burial land.

The local councilor gave assurances to the villagers that their grievances would be addressed with utmost priority. “It (Graveyard) will not be covered by the fencing.

BSF will not erect fencing just in front of the graveyard. They will be able to use the graveyard freely,” said Ratan Das, local councilor.

Villegers complained that the BSF constructed the fence at night and did not consult them. They now allege that their life is under threat as the forces may fire at them.

Amina Khatun, a local protester said, “BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) as well as BSF had taken gun positions against each other. BSF instructed us to move away with our children as there may be firing at any moment. We are not against fencing but we want the access to burial ground.”

A meeting at company commander level on Akhaura border has been organized by BSF and BDR to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Tension prevails in the area and the villagers on both sides of the border are reported to be moving to safer places.(ANI)

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Tripura tribal woman’s effort to revive traditional weaving art

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Agartala, May 23 (ANI): A tribal woman makes serious effort to revive the dying tribal art of loin loom weaving of ‘Chakma’ tribe in Tripura.

Traditionally, all tribal communities in Tripura have been weaving their cloth for their ethnic attires. They also make sheets, thin towels, dress material, carpets and carrying bags.

Realizing that the traditional art is being forgotten, Smriti Rekha Chakma, a tribal woman of Tripura is doing her best to bring the art to limelight again.

She had learn the art of making Chakma dress from her grandmother. She had set up a small training centre in the backyard of her home to teach others the indigenous method of making cloth using loin loom.

“I found that gradually the art of indigenous Chakma way of dress making is getting lost so I took the initiative to preserve it. I am giving training to those who are interested in learning the ethnic way of making our dress like….,khadi . And for this I was selected for the National Award for Excellence in Shawl weaving,” said Smriti Rekha.

Loin loom weaving among Chakma is called ‘Bein’ and weaving practice is known as ‘Bon-kada’.

Smriti Rekha wants to spread the rich heritage of ethnic Chakma textiles among the new generation. Today women of all age groups are coming to her centre to learn the art. Not only youth but even aged women who could not learn the art earlier due to lack of a trainer and training centre come to the centre.

“When I came to know about this training centre I contacted them and joined here. Now I am learning and am hopeful that after completion I shall be able to earn enough to be financially stable,” said Rani Chakma, a Trainee.

Today her woven cloth is in great demand and particularly during the festive and marriage season the price goes up.

Smiriti’s effort is not only to save the ethnic art but also to give employment to many. By Pinaki Das (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agartala, age groups, attires, carpets, dress material, ethnic art, grandmother, kada, Khadi, limelight, Marriage Season, new generation, Rekha, rich heritage, Shawl, towels, traditional art, tribal art, tribal communities, tribal woman, tripura, woven cloth

CPI (M) Politburo begins discussions on poll debacle

May 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): The CPI (M) politburo meeting on Monday began to discuss the poll debacle.

The meeting is being held amid reports that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has offered to quit.

Politburo member and Left Front chairman Biman Bose described the report as “rubbish”.

Bhattacharjee is not attending the meeting, as he has to oversee the law and order situation in West Bengal after the announcement polls.

Apart from Bose, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, Nirupam Sen, Pinarayi Vijayan, M K Pandhe, S R Pillai and the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tripura, V S Achuthanandan and Manik Sarkar are attending the meeting.

The politburo is expected to seriously introspect the causes of their poll debacle, especially in their bastions of West Bengal and Kerala.

The other issues that could be taken up are land acquisition for industries, corruption and infighting on national issues.

The Left tally was an abysmal 24 compared to the 2004 figure of 61. (ANI)

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