FEBRUARY 29 LEAP YEAR BABIES

Julius Ceaser should be proud today that at least three babies checked into the Earth by “Caesarean section” in hospitals across Meghalaya on a calendar day, which he first officially declared and made popular - now known as Leap Year.

February 29, is a rare day in a Leap Year and comes every four years to compensate for the extra .242 days or about six hours the earth takes to complete one revolution around the Sun. Every four years the extra 24 hours are added into a day so as to keep records tidy.

 

The odds of being born on this day are 1 in every 1461 and naturally “leapers” consider themselves lucky being born on this rare day.

Today in this hilly north-eastern state of India, Meghalaya ten emergency pregnancy-related calls were received by EMRI (which caters to emergency needs)  from different hospitals in Meghalaya. One girl child was delivered in an EMRI ambulance while rushing to Ganesh Das Government Hospital,” Aurie Robert Passah, Public Relations Officer, EMRI said. There are no official records so far of the other nine cases.

In different city hospitals here at least four male babies were born on this day – one at Nazareth Hospital and three at the Woodland Hospital. Waiting to get details from other hospitals was as difficult as waiting for this day itself.

The fun bit of being born on a Leap day is that a person adds an extra candle only after four years. So he/she can remain a sweet 16 till the age of 64 years! On the darker side you get to cut your birthday cake only after four years.

Worldwide, February 29 is also observed as the Rare Disease day. The day raises the awareness on Rare Disease, which are sometimes genetic in nature. India is a partner country joining the International Community to raise the awareness level on these rare Diseases.

CLIMATE CHANGE, INDIA DEVELOPING WEATHERPROOF CROPS

With the entire World’s focus on climate change, India has already initiated an ambitious project to engineer crops that can withstand extreme climate.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Processing has set up a network project in February 2011 dubbed National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Rearch (ICAR.)

NICRA is mandated to undertake research work on crop development that is “weatherproof” keeping in mind global warming and the changing Monsoon pattern.

The project is being monitored directly by the Prime Minster’s Office and has been allotted Rs. 305 crore to carry out its research and technology in the first year. There is all likelihood fund flow would increase for the agency, during the twelfth five year plan.

Under the project, climatologists together with agriculture scientists are mapping 500 districts of India and documenting their changing climatic pattern over the past several years. Not less than 19 other different agricultural research projects are being carried out under NICRA.

“The climate changes in 500 districts across India would be documented by the end of March 2012. This would help scientists to prepare better crop varieties based on the climate needs of a specific district,” AK Singh, Deputy Director General, National Resource Management division of ICAR, said.

A recent study says that grapes in Australia are ripening prematurely due to global warming. The Melbourne's School of Land and Environment reported that in certain wine-growing regions in Australia, grape maturation dates have advanced about eight days per decade due to climate change.

As of now, Indian agricultural scientists say the country need not worry too much about global climate change and its impact on agriculture, but must remain cautious against extreme seasonal behaviours that affects crop.

“Global temperature is increasing by .2 degree Celsius annually, data from the past 50 years suggest. Such increase isn’t a worry so much as extreme weather conditions in a season where temperature increase by over four to five degree Celsius in a day,” Singh said.

Cautioning that there are indications of the Indian Monsoon getting “more intense” in the years ahead, Singh said, short burst of heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells and similar short spell of high and low temperature are the challenges ahead for the Indians farmers.

 

“In the north-eastern part of the country flash flood due to intense Monsoon are an impending threat. We are developing seeds that can withstand submergence for a longer duration,” he added.

Scientists in the northeast informed that under NICRA they are already working on a flash flood resistant variety of Rice. The rice variety – RC Maniphou 7 - can withstand water submergence for twelve days and have 78 per cent fertility rate.

Similarly, developing extreme temperature resistant Rice variety – RCPL 132 and 136 - that can withstand temperature of up to 45 degree centigrade is in the trial process.

 “Agriculture is India’s mainstay and so the government is investing in research and development of new technology to ensure food security for the people in the years ahead,” he added.

INDIAN AIR FORCE LOSES MATCH, WINS GOODWILL

Somewhere in the Eastern skies, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is engaged in an intense war game called ‘Pralay’ under a controlled environment, but in the real game under a harsh environment, the IAF was defeated fair and square here today.

The IAF men were no match for a bunch of determined villagers who bombarded the Men in Blue in a friendly football match with two goals to nothing.

The match was the first of its kind held to “narrow the trust deficit” between the IAF and local villagers, which has its Eastern sector headquarters here at Upper Shillong.

The team of villagers were called the Kings-IX with the Syiem (traditional chief) of Mylliem, Latho Manik Syiem as its patron. The IAF team was called the Air Force Station Laitkor-IX. Laitkor Station Commander, Group Captain, Sanjay Misra, was there to witness the match.

The players descended on the playground, which also doubles as a helipad. The elevated ground was situated near the Lumlyear village, which in local dialect means “windyvillage”.

The peek-a-boo of the Sun behind the clouds, and the gusty nippy wind at 6000 feet above the sea level was no ordinary environment for a game of football and definitely not recommended for the faint hearted.

At times the wind threatened to uproot the makeshift tents erected for the dignitaries. The radar, which keeps a constant vigil of the entire Eastern sky, was a witness to these episodes.

The IAF men in their traditional navy blue jerseys and the Kings-IX, rightly in golden yellow jerseys, scratched it out and understandably the match did not reach stratospheric heights in terms of skill display.

But the Kings-IX displayed better skills and composure and scored twice in each half ofthe game to win the match. Local villagers who came at the venue to cheer their boys were ecstatic.

Syiem said that the friendly football match was a good initiative from the IAF to build goodwill amongst the villagers. “There were some issues, but those are a thing of the past. This football match is a good initiative to move forward and build goodwill amongst villagers and the IAF,” he said at a post-match prize distribution ceremony.

Local legislator Ardent Basiawmoit, who spearheaded several agitations against the IAF in the past, also had similar views. He said that there is need for more interactions between the IAF and the villagers so that “trust and respect” is mutually built and both benefits.

Group Captain Mishra said the IAF’s motive was not in wining the match, but to “win the trust and goodwill” of the villagers – and to an extent he succeeded. “We want to narrow the trust deficit between the villagers and the IAF and we would continue to work in that direction,” he affirmed.

ASSAM SILK TO GET MODERN DESIGNER TOUCH

Assam’s sublime silk textiles – Muga, Eri and Paat silk – would soon have contemporary patterns and designs of National Institute of Design’s (NID) and National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) with an eye on emerging global trends.

Although the ethnic hand woven pattern on these silk textiles are in huge demand, however, the new NID centre at Jorhat and NIFT, Shillong have shown interest in giving a “contemporary touch” to the exquisite silk textiles.

The crafts bazaar is upbeat about the new development as NID and NIFT’s expertise would come in handy, Tapan Kumar Sharma, Marketing Manager, North Eastern Handicraft and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd said here today.

“NID and NIFT’s expertise in evolving new contemporary designs and patterns on Eri, Muga and Paat silk textiles would definitely give a boost to the already famous textiles,” he said.

Sharma said that there is a huge demand for these forms of silk commonly called Assam Silk in all the fairs, the corporation organises in different parts of the country.

 “We are trying to keep pace with the market demands and we usually get feedback from prospective buyers. These feedbacks are passed back to concerned government Research and Development organisations for new products,” the Marketing Manager added.

Apart from Assam silk, the intricate Cane products from different states of the northeast are a huge crowd puller in the National fairs. The furniture made of Cane had done exceptional business apart from Assam silk.

“In the past year alone we sold handloom and handicraft products worth Rs. 17 crore and this fiscal we are targeting a much higher figure,” he said. This sale figure of the corporation is almost double the amount from 2007-08 figure of Rs. 9 crore.

In the process, local artisans are getting a fair share of the business done by the corporation and tremendous exposure in showcasing their products and learning from experiences in the National market, Sharma said.

Meghalaya politician sends his duplicate to function, gets busted

Body doubles are known for their “bold scenes,” which the real actors shy away from in movies, but C Kharkongor was “caught in the act” after he tried to take the role forward of Umroi  legislator, Stanly Wiss Rymbai at a public function.

Kharkongor, a Xerox copy of the Umroi legislator in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, complete with the trade mark flowing beard and stout stature turned up at a school function, Rolin Modern Secondary School, Nongsder, as the Chief Guest instead of his master, but was caught in the act.

Apparently, Rymbai had no inclination to be part of the function and looked up for help from his humshakal. In turn, a gleeful Kharkongor suited up and tried living as a politician for a brief moment of his life at the function.

Kharkongor’s mistake? He forgot to give a whiff of grey shade to his beard, but nonetheless that went amiss initially. But what went totally against the impersonator was his speech delivery and his overall mannerism.

“It was funny at first, but the humour soon vanished into a sense of shock, despair and betrayal,” School Principal, Molina Lyngdoh said.

She added the school had organised a food fest on December 12 and invited Rymbai to be its chief guest. Rymbai never once refused the invite.

The school principal said she was aghast at the legislator’s insensitivity in the whole affair. “He (Rymbai) is least concerned about the sentiments of the people of his own constituency and this incident is testimony to that,” Lyngdoh said.

In political history, Kings, Queens and present day politicians have had “political decoys” to avoid detractors.  The most recent in present memory is said to be Saddam Hussain’s. In fact, Saddam is said to have had several decoys to avoid his detractors. Hitler, Stalin, Kissinger and many others all had their decoys.

In Kharkongor's case, it was filmy, pure Bollywood style as Rymbai’s excuse of not turning up for the function was in all probability not based on fear perception. Kharkongor on the other hand is a school teacher from a nearby village in Umsning  not like the decoys whose identities are kept top secret.

Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said they never, during the function, questioned Kharkongor although he was totally busted, but instead thanked him for turning up as the Chief Guest. A beaming Kharkongor shook hands smiled and vanished. 

INDIAN WOMEN WORST OFF THAN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN NATIONS: VICE PRESIDENT

 Vice President Hamid Ansari today said, some women
devlopment indices in India are worst than those in Sub-Saharan
African countries due to years of “discrimination and deprivation.”

Addressing the XIX convocation of the North Eastern Hills University,
Ansari said, the overall picture of gender inequality in India is
“distrubingly stark.”`

“ Every third women in India suffers from energy deficiency. This
level is higher than all Sub-Saharan countries. 55 per cent of adult
Indian women – every second women – suffer from iron deficiency. Here
too the Sub Saharan African countries do better,” Ansari told the
gathering.

Touching on women’s participation in the fields of politics, economics
and judiciary, he said, less than 11 per cent of the seats in the
Indian Parliament are held by women. The situation is worst in state
Assemblies. Moreover, women hold less than ten per cent of the
Ministerial position at the centre with a lone Cabinet Minister.

The level of female economic activity is lower and so is female
participation in professional and technical works. The Vice President,
said that according to the Five Year Strategic Plan of the Ministry of
Women and Child Devlopment for 2011-2016 it has been noted that just
14 per cent of women are employed, while 54 per cent of men are
employed in the urban sector. In the rural sector, the figure is 31
per cent for women and 55 per cent for men.

 “ Since Independence there have been only five women judges of the
Supreme Court, constituting just 3 per cent of appointments,” Ansari
pointed out, stating: “ thus the picture of discrimination and
deprivation that emerges is disturbingly stark.”
He said the way out was “not to camaflouge reality” by restoring to
tokenism and parading exceptions, but by addressing the problem head
on.

He said the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 has
outlined three policy approaches to do away with gender inequality and
therfore a begining was made.

In the policy it has been proposed to make the legal system more
responsive and gender sensitive for women’s needs. Moreover, women
must be economically and socially empowered through focused efforts,
he added.

“After a decade, launch of the National Mission for Empowerment of
Women in March 2010 is an important development that will enable
coordinated assesment of current government interventions and align
future programmes so as to translate the recommendations and
approaches of the National Policy into reality,” the Vice President
said.

However, he cautioned that mere government intervention was not
enough. “ Better results would be produced by women citizen empowering
themselves and being encouraged to do by enlightened segments of
public opinion,” Ansari said.

INDIA A RIOT OF COLOURFUL FESTIVALS

“This is festival time,” Vice-President Hamid Ansari said and described India as a “riot of colours” reflected in its many  festivals found nowhere else in the world.

Ansari deliberating at a get together meet with representatives of all religions here today, said, the enormity and beauty of the many festivals celebrated in the country makes India one of the most unique countries of the world.

 

He said that there are countries where one festival is celebrated in a year or in some cases two to three, but in India “all festivals” are celebrated.

“India celebrates all festivals, because it is part of our character to celebrate diversity,” the Vice president said at the meet held by the Central Puja Committee.

Ansari said this “celebration of diversity is a great virtue” and would continue in the country like in the past with “great gusto.” “This is what makes India unique in the world,” Ansari reiterated.

Further equating celebrations to human emotions, Ansari said festivals are celebrated because it gives us pleasure just like the emotion, laughter, which gives pleasure to human beings.

He exhorted the citizens of the country on this festive occasion, to be “good human beings.” “Goodness of human being is primary, because it is impossible to be a good citizen if you cannot be a good citizen,” he said to the gathering.

Ansari on the other hand also described himself as a “lover of flowers” after witnessing the green houses blossomed with orchids and other colourful flowers at the Horticulture hub at Upper Shillong earlier during the day.

 “Say it with flowers is not a vague expression. It is going to take concrete shape in the state and Meghalaya’s profile would rise both in India and internationally,” the Vice president said.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Governor, RS Mooshahary who also spoke on the occasion said: “religion is not the final word and like everything is also in the process of evolution.” 

http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/

Bring back good ol' HAM Radios

The earthquake in Sikkim, India has created a sense of urgency amongst planners and today reintroduction of HAM or amateur radios was emphasised for uninterrupted communication during a post disaster situation.


During a meeting at the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner’s of office here in Shillong the state capital of Meghlaya, India, central government officials, security personnel and experts on urban risk reduction the idea to reintroduce HAM radios was taken up with keen interest.


Most participants felt that communication was vital in a post disaster situation to speed up rescue and relief operations. However, a senior official from the state owned telecom department, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, said that reliance on mobile and landline is fraught with risk.


“The cables might snap in the event of an earthquake or disaster. In such a scenario landline and mobile phones would not work, so Digital Satellite Public Phones are the best options,” the BSNL official, George Matthew, said.


However, another participant, Lt. Col. Sanjoy Banerjee from the Assam Rifles went a step further, stating, such phones might develop technical snags with satellite failure. He therefore suggested that the best way was to take a relook at HAM radios.


“These radios are not just cost effective, but totally free from external cables, depending on free to air radio frequencies. School and college students can be trained as a hobby. Handling the equipments is very easy,” the Army official stated.


HAM radios were lifesavers during the world wars and the only means of fast communication between handlers. It use to operate through Morse code, but now voice can be transmitted. However, with the advent of new technologies, HAM radios have been consigned to mere recreation of radio-enthusiasts. The Ministry of Telecommunication gives licenses after a candidate passes the Amateur Wireless Telegraph Operator's Licensing Examination.


There are various HAM radio clubs across India and also institutes giving training to enthusiasts and cadets of Bharat Scout and Guides to operate these radios. Lt. Col. Banerjee says these “outdated technology” has proved their worth time and again, and as recent as the 2004 Tsunami.


“We need to seriously think of expanding the network of HAM radio enthusiasts because of the simplicity of the technology and cost effectiveness,” he emphasised during the meeting.

COUNTRY LIQUOR V/S INDIAN MADE FOREIGN LIQUOR

If a man who had one glass too many of Indian Made Foreign Liquor collides with a spirited soul high on country liquor, who amongst the two is “legally” wrong? Needless to say that if the heady question is put to the two intoxicated subjects we are in for a long night, but, legally the man who sipped even an ounce of country liquor would cool off the night in the local cell. Country liquor brewed from Rice is banned in India. The reason being Rice is an “essential commodity” and is a protected and regulated under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. “Generally country liquor is brewed by fermentation of Rice, so it is illegal. Rice cannot be misused to make intoxicants when thousands in India still go hungry to bed,” Meghalaya Home Minister, HDR Lyngdoh representing Sohiong constituency in Meghalaya, known for its country liquor, said. Incidentally, IMFL is made from neutral spirit distilled from sugarcane molasses. Sugarcane is also listed as an essential food crop, but neutral spirit is manufactured from molasses which is a by product of the sugar industry and therefore its distillation is permitted to manufacture alcohol. Here in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh has been vocally trying to legalise country liquor manufactured in Sohiong under pressure from the people in his constituency. Manufacturing country liquor illegally is a thriving vocation in Sohiong and the liquor from there is distributed to many parts of the state. “Legalising such country liquor would help make the whole manufacturing process more hygienic, which in many case is not, and also free from dangerous adulteration,” the Home Minister said. He said there needs to be a way out to manufacture such brew from “items not listed under the Essential Commodities Act.” “Availability of legalised local brew also gives a fillip to the tourism industry as most tourists do want to try out such brews, like Fenny in Goa,” he pointed out. Sohiong which gets its name from an indigenous fruit of the state is also successfully manufacturing the Sohiong wine. The wine has gained popularity in annual wine festivals, but poor bottling of the product has been a big drawback. Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said that not just country liquor, but, people’s expertise in wine-making needs government patronage and he would once again draw the attention of concerned departments in this regard.

Anna Hazare's clarion call echoes in Shillong

The fight against corruption, spearheaded by Anna Hazare, has been sanctified by a Church leader in Meghalaya who said “political education to elect clean leaders must go hand in hand with spiritual teachings.”

Taking part in the support rally of Anna Hazare’s nine-day indefinite fast against corruption, Reverend K Pyrtuh of the Presbyterian Church here said: “the Church and all religious groups must lay more emphasis on educating people so that morally and spiritually clean leaders are elected to enter the hallowed precincts of democracy.”

Asked about his motivation to join today’s rally, the Church leader said: “as a concerned citizen of India I am as troubled and saddened as others about the scourge of corruption in our country. As a member of the Church I am morally and spiritually inclined to take a stand against this sin (corruption).” The rally was taken out from Police Bazaar to Laitumkhrah and was attended by a cross section of the society.

Rev. Pyrtuh took the connotation of corruption to local levels and said the fight must not be confined to monetary benefits, but, also look into issues of violence and exploitation of the poor and the weak.

“Everywhere in the country the poor and the weak are being subjected to violence and exploitation by mafias, the rich and powerful. The fight therefore must be against such exploitations of structural inequality. There must be freedom from fear in our democracy,” he added.

Right to Information activist, Michael Syiem on the other hand said, corruption in Meghalaya is endemic. “Look at the figures…the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in Meghalaya has increased from 49 per cent in 2001 to 66 per cent in 2011 despite all the welfare schemes,” he pointed out.

Syiem is of the view that if the welfare schemes were “implemented honestly” the number of BPL families should have decreased. “We need an independent Lokayukta in the state so that corruption can be tackled effectively,” he added.

Agnes Kharshiing, a women social activist, dismissing the government bill on corruption as “Jokepal” said, the central government must awaken to the fact that the people would not accept a bill which does not effectively address the menace of corruption.

“Our full support for Anna Hazare. The government must enact a strong anti-corruption bill. This is the collective voice of the common people of India for the government to hear,” she said while handing out pamphlets to the people having both the government and Anna Hazare’s draft version of the Lokpal bill.

Cherrapunjee tourism potential watered down

Nature has painted Cherrapunjee in water colour, but ironically an outstanding luxury resort overlooking seven majestic waterfalls in the area stands like a painter’s dried-out canvas.

The Meghalaya tourism department’s luxury resort built and completed at a cost of Rs 2.8 crore at Mawblang locality of Cherrapunjee (Sohra) is being watered down because the government has failed to get a water connection - yes you heard that right.

Cherrapunjee receives the highest rainfall on Earth with average annual precipitation of 1263 mm. Tourists from around the world flock to this place just to get soaked in this amazing spectacle of nature. Sadly, there are an estimated 25 rooms for tourist in the area.

An old government claim is to develop Cherrapunjee’s neglected tourism infrastructure on a priority basis. Building the resort has been just one of its “develop Cherrapunjee tourism” plans. However, the plans now seems like wasted pictures.

The centrally-sponsored resort has everything going for it. The view is amazing. It sits pretty over the seven breathtaking waterfalls called the Nohsngithiang waterfalls.

It has twelve aesthetically-built cottages in three blocks. Two luxury cottages, a banquet hall and a restaurant. There is adequate parking space, moreover, all over the resort there are stone benches on different elevations for quite relaxation.

Tourism department officials, blame the villagers for not letting their water source to get connection for the resort. The villagers deny this allegation, saying none approached from the government side with such a request.

However, the officers from Sohra sub-division are trying their best to get the water connection. A sub-divisional official said on condition of anonymity that efforts should have been made to get permissions for such connections when the construction work started.

“Now with the project completed with full furnishing it is not a pretty sight to see it being wasted for water connection,” the official said.

A local resident of the area, D Chyne, remains unamused. “This is how the disarrayed and directionless tourism department works here. In no time the resort’s paint would wear down and its expensive fixtures lost. What can a single watchman do, when the government has failed,” he questions discouragingly.

India would hunt and destroy enemy aircraft

India would not hesitate to hunt and destroy hostile aircrafts that violate its airspace posing threat to the country’s sovereignty.

Indian Air Force Vice Chief- designate, Air Marshal, KK Nohwar said at the Eastern Air Command headquarters here today that every nation has a right to protect its sovereignty and deal with threats accordingly.

Air Marshal Nohwar warned that enemy aircrafts would “meet the same fate as the Pakistan Navy’s reconnaissance aircraft Atlantic,” which was shot down by the Indian Air Force in 1999 after it violated Indian airspace.

Atlantic on a reconnaissance mission violated India’s airspace in 1999 after the Kargil war. It ignored the Indian Air Force’s order to land and eventually was shot down in which 16 Pakistani Naval airmen men were killed.

On a different note, the Vice-chief designate said, Indian Air Force taking over six Advanced Landing Grounds in Arunachal Pradesh was to help the civilian population there and to counter Chinese threat.

“Since Arunachal is a landlocked State the ALGs would be the lifeline of civilians living in remote areas of the State. The ALGs are meant to reach out to more civilian population where bigger aircrafts can make sorties to send food supplies,” the Air Marshal said.

The ALGs that have been taken over by the IAF in Arunachal Pradesh are – Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Pasighat, Vijaynagar and Ziro.

Air Marshal Nohwar, currently serving as the EAC chief, said that the Indian Air Force in its modernisation process is phasing out the MIG-21 and replacing them with advanced aircrafts like the multi-role combat planes Su-30 MKIs and the indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft.

He added old radars would be replaced with modern ones and even mountain radars would be used keeping in view the topography of the region.

“However, the single biggest challenge for upgrading infrastructures in the region is its climatic condition with rainfall being one of the main hurdles,” Air Marshal Nohwar said.

SHILLONG FREEDOM FOREVER: Meghalaya trying to spice up ICDS

SHILLONG FREEDOM FOREVER: Meghalaya trying to spice up ICDS: "India’s north-eastern state, Meghalaya, is trying to spice up the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme by adding local nut..."