DARJEELING HILLS: Rebuilding lives of Cyclone Aila victims still a challenge (Third of three-part series)

FROM BLOG.TARAGANA.COM

PATHAR PRATIMA – Many of the one million people affected by Cyclone Aila live in small islands amid a maze of rivers and canals in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. The topography is making it tougher for them to rebuild their lives. 

The damage inflicted by the May 25 cyclone on the poor residents of Sundarbans is so severe that the best efforts of humanitarian agencies are proving inadequate. 

Thousands of people in the two West Bengal districts covered by the Sundarbans – South and North 24 Parganas – have lost their livelihood options. Survival itself has become the most challenging task for them. 

“Huge resources are required to provide even immediate relief; much more would be required to rebuild their lives,” Zubin Zamin, humanitarian response manager with NGO Oxfam India, which is working in the Sundarbans to provide relief to the cyclone victims, told IANS. 

Zaman’s immediate requirement is 10,000 mosquito nets as all residents face an alarming increase in the number of mosquitoes. “We are trying to raise resources for that,” he added. 

“After the cyclone, the island villages were flooded with the river water as embankments were breached. There has been no effort to pump out this water from these villages even after more than a month has passed. The stagnant water has led to breeding of mosquitoes. This is proving to be a major health hazard,” Gopal Pramanik, president of local NGO Sundarban Social Development Centre, told IANS.

CAREER WATCH: CAREER PROSPECTS IN MARINE ENGINEERING

By  Dr. K. Jeyaprakash

Three quarters of the earths surface is surrounded by water and for that reason itself Marine engineering is a very exciting and challenging field for those who are passionate about sea and are fond of working with tools. Even though waterways are comparatively used less for traveling, above 80% of the goods transportation happens through sea. For international export and import of freights, countries mainly depend on ships and other water vessels. Marine Engineering is the most basic profession as far as ships and navigation is concerned.  

Marine engineering is a branch of Engineering that deals with nautical architecture and science. The term ‘Marine Engineering’ is meant for research conducted in oceans and coastal or inland waters connected to the sea. Marine Engineering courses deal with construction and maintenance of ships and other sailing vessels.  

Marine Engineers have the complete responsibility of the ship’s technical management. They are responsible for selecting the ships’ machinery, which may include diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines; and for the design of mechanical, electrical, fluid and control systems throughout the vessel. They are the members of a ship’s crew who are in charge for managing a team of marine technicians and craftspeople. The construction, operations and maintenance of the engine room are the main duties of a Marine engineer.

Today’s Video Pick: From the Top 2

PHOTO FEATURE: Torch Rally in Darjeeling

A GJM Torch Rally in Darjeeling. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

SIKKIM: Sikkim’s first-ever newsletter on legal matters released

FROM ZEENEWS.COM

Gangtok, June 29: Sikkim Governor B P Singh on Monday released the first-ever newsletter on legal issues published by the State Legal Services Authority for dissemination of news and information related to judicial matters for the benefit of the members of the legal fraternity and the common people. 

The periodical, to be published as monthly and quarterly bulletins, will help create an awareness among the general public about the working of the judicial system in the state, he said at a function in the premises of the Sikkim High Court here. 

The Governor lauded the High Court authorities for their initiatives to educate the people about the judicial process through the newsletter. 

Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and judges of the Sikkim High Court were present at the newsletter release function.

 

 

SIKKIM: BRO builds road pavement leading to Nathu La

FROM THE HINDU

Gangtok (PTI): To facilitate smooth traffic between Gangtok and the strategically important Nathu La frontier, a 152-meter long steel-reinforced concrete pavement was inaugurated on Monday on Jawahar Lal Nehru Road here.

The Border Roads Organization (BRO) have constructed the road pavement at Chandmari, which had been lying in dilapidated condition for some time. 

It had even resulted in a number of road accidents in the past, besides causing inconvenience to the motorists plying through the route, including the army cavalcade. 

The construction of the pavement is a part of ‘Project Swastik’ of the BRO as part of its ongoing effort to repair and renovate road networks under its jurisdiction, an official release said here.

 

 

REPORT: Are we not racist?

FROM THE HINDU

Forget alleged racist attacks in Oz. Mizoram CM’s remarks of being made to feel like a foreigner in India has sparked a debate. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo reports

Striving for an identity Students from North-East states who have made Hyderabad their home

In India I’m asked if I’m Indian. When I go South, people ask me such questions. They ask me if I am from Nepal or elsewhere. They forget that the North East is part of India. I have told many ‘see, I am an Indian like you’.” 

— Pu Lalthanhawla, Mizoram Chief Minister, speaking at a seminar. 

The Mizoram Chief Minister’s statement came in the wake of allegations of racial discrimination against Indians in Australia. Lalthanhawla’s statement turned the focus on racism closer home. 

Ask your friends from any of the seven North-Eastern states who’ve moved to the South and they’ll recall being asked — ‘Are you from Nepal or China?’ ‘Are people from Northeast short in stature?’ ‘Is Guwahati in Darjeeling?’ ‘What language do you speak?’ While these can be attributed to sheer ignorance, other incidents amount to discrimination. “I have seen instances where, on spotting a group of young women from Northeast, autowallahs snigger and call them ‘Chinese chowmein’,” says Kaberi Gogoi, a marketing professional who moved to Hyderabad nine years ago. ‘Chinese’, ‘chinkys’ are barbs they are left to deal with. 

Nagaland? Where’s that?

Young professionals who moved to Hyderabad after studying in Delhi rate our city as much more tolerant, though. Instances of eve teasing and racial remarks are fewer here, they say. “What happens here is more out of ignorance. A doctor once asked me if Nagaland is in Malaysia,” recalls Salome Takka, a public relations professional. 

The difference between Assamese, Nagas, Manipuris and Mizos blurs into ‘those from the hills’. “There is a marked difference in our lifestyle, food and culture and that is often misinterpreted. For example, young women in the North-Eastern states are comfortable in short skirts, shorts or strappy clothes; it’s their way of life. 

But girls who dress up similarly here draw curious glances and are considered easy going,” says Salome. She grew up in Bangalore and spent her college years in Nagaland before moving to Hyderabad six years ago for work. Having spent many years in the South has helped her acclimatise better, she adds. 

Zachamo Odyuo, a pastor associated with the Naga Christian Fellowship, moved to Hyderabad in February this year with this wife and child and is getting a taste of Hyderabad’s hospitality. Hyderabad, he feels, is far more hospitable and welcoming than Delhi.

NEPAL: Soap opera about Dalits brings rural Nepal messages of change

FROM THE MANILA TIMES

By Claire Cozens, Agence France-Presse 

KATHMANDU: When the power cuts that frequently plague Nepal were at their worst last winter, one of the biggest frustrations for many people was missing their favorite television soap opera. 

Every Sunday night for a year, entire villages across the country have gathered around a single television for the latest episode of Dalan, or Exploitation, a historical saga set in Nepal’s rural west. 

In a nation more attuned to the noisy glamour of Bollywood movies from neighboring India, the popularity of the slow-paced serial about a family of Dalits—the lowest social caste or the untouchables—has taken everyone by surprise, not least its makers. 

“ Dalan is a very simple show and we really didn’t expect it to be the huge success it has become,” said the telenovela’s producer Purna Singh Baraily. It has fans as far away as Dubai, Hong Kong and the United States, where it is shown via satellite. 

“The fans say they love the characters and the fact that the show deals with its subject matter realistically,” said Baraily, himself a member of the caste. 

“I have had people say to me that they don’t feel like they are watching a television program, they feel like they are there.”

Baraily wanted to make a show that would highlight the problems facing Dalits in Hindu-majority Nepal, where being born into a low caste is still a huge disadvantage. 

Discrimination against Dalits, who make up around 13 percent of Nepal’s population, was outlawed in the 1960s. 

But the tradition of “untouchability” survives, particularly in rural areas, where Dalits are frequently banned from entering temples or drinking from communal wells. 

Even in the capital Kathmandu, they are often unable to find accommodation, with some landlords refusing to rent to people with Dalit names. 

Baraily initially won a $50,000 grant from the European Union to shoot a documentary, but opted instead to make a soap opera, believing its message would be more likely to reach the rural communities where Dalits suffer most. 

He persuaded a well-known Dalit poet to write the script, and the result was a drama that follows three generations of Dalits and the changing attitudes toward them. 

Shooting began at the height of the Maoist insurgency in 2003, posing huge problems for the production team, who faced suspicion from both sides in Nepal’s decade-long civil war. 

“The Maoists were convinced we were spying for the army. And because of the subject matter, the army thought we must be on the side of the Maoists,” said Nabin Subba, the show’s director. 

To make things even more difficult, Dalan was shot mainly on location in a remote village with no electricity and no road access during the monsoon months. 

The show’s cast ran into the hundreds and many of the actors had no experience, having been recruited from local villages to keep costs down. 

Once shooting was over, Baraily and Subba even faced scepticism from national broadcaster NTV, which didn’t think viewers would want to watch a show about Dalits. 

A year later, their simple tale of a high-caste Brahmin who is rejected by his community after falling in love with a Dalit woman has proved a hit, and won a nomination for Britain’s prestigious One World Media Awards. 

Although Nepal does not measure viewing figures, the show appears regularly in the local papers and has an army of loyal fans who have been spurred into action by the drama. 

NEPAL: Journalists caught up in power tussle

FROM GULF TIMES

Nepalese journalist Gyanendra Mishra believes he was lucky to survive an attack by gunmen earlier this year.

The 25-year-old radio producer suffered bullet wounds to his left shoulder when three armed men attacked him in broad daylight, putting him in hospital and leaving him afraid to pursue his chosen career.

Mishra’s attackers were never caught but he is convinced his terrifying ordeal — one of a series of recent attacks on media workers in Nepal — was related to his job, and says he is now facing family pressure to give it up.

“Whenever I go out alone now, I feel scared. There is the constant fear that someone might attack me again,” he told AFP.

“My parents are very worried and they are asking me to change my profession.”

Media workers are increasingly finding themselves caught up in the bitter struggle for power in Nepal after the fall of the Maoist-led government in May.

Many say the biggest threat comes from the Maoists, who fought a decade-long civil war with the army before signing a peace agreement in 2006.

Since then, the former guerrillas have publicly embraced multiparty democracy and confined their fighters to camps under the supervision of the United Nations.

But members of their youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), have held a series of at times violent protests in recent weeks, and have appeared to target media organisations that criticise the Maoists.

Earlier this month YCL members attacked and set fire to a van carrying copies of the Kathmandu Post and Kantipur dailies after they ran a story contradicting claims a YCL worker was murdered by a rival party.

NEPAL: Pocketless trouser for staff to check bribery

FROM GULF TIMES

Nepal’s anti-corruption authority has come up with a novel solution to rampant bribe-taking at the country’s only international airport — the pocketless trouser.

The authority said it was issuing the new, bribe-proof garment to all airport officials after uncovering widespread corruption at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.

“We sent a team to observe the growing complaints about the behaviour of airport authorities and workers towards travellers and we discovered that the reports were true,” said Ishwori Prasad Paudyal, spokesman for the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

“So we decided that airport officials should be given trousers with no pockets. We have directed the ministry of civil aviation to implement our order as soon as possible,” he told AFP.

“We believe this will help curb the irregularities.”

Paudyal said CIAA investigators had observed theft as well as bribe-taking by airport officials, who would lose their jobs if the situation did not improve.

His comments came a day after Nepal’s new Prime Minister Madhav Mumar Nepal expressed fears that corruption was tarnishing the airport’s reputation.

SIKKIM: Olive answer to heart attacks?

FROM THE STATESMAN

GANGTOK, 29 JUNE: Research being conducted by a student from Sikkim, to extract drugs from olive leaves that can prevent heart attacks, has attracted global attention. Research done by Mr Hemant Poudyal’s in Queensland, Australia had found olecuropein and hydroxytyrosol compounds in olive leaves which have medicinal properties. Tests done by him had proved 100 per cent successful when it was experimented on mice.

Mr Poudyal, a resident of Ranipool near Gangtok, is presently studying at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia which is one of the top 32 universities in the world.

At the University of Queensland, Mr Poudyal was working on finding an alternative natural-based medicine to combat heart attacks as part of his studies, that finally led to his research on olive leaves. He is arguably the first resident from Sikkim to conduct research of such complex nature.

His success has led Mr Poudyal to be invited to the 7th Costamisfrr International Workshop 2009, scheduled to be held at Kuala Lampur in Malaysia .

The workshop will be held from 9 July till 11 July, where Mr Poudyal will be making a poster presentation on his research work and findings for an alternative medicine to prevent heart attacks.

Heart attack is quite frequent among humans and only synthetic drugs are presently used to tackle it.

DOOARS TERAI: Locals ransack residence of rape accused

FROM THE STATESMAN

JALPAIGURI, 29 JUNE: The residents of Naya Line of Torsha Tea Plantation under Kalchini block ransacked the residence of a person who allegedly attempted to rape a minor girl of the area yesterday.

According to the police officials, Mr Barun Sharma (40) took one of his friends’ 11-year-old daughter and his own daughter to Hasimara. “He kept his daughter at his relative’s place at Hasimara and took the other girl to the Nimti forest area. There he allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of the minor girl,” said the ASP, Alipurduar, Mr Sabyasachi Raman Misra.

The official further stated that the girl had somehow managed to escape from the hold of the person and started rushing towards the main road screaming for help. “A private bus moving along the road stopped and a lady passenger took care of the girl and brought her to Alipurduar. Later she was brought to the Alipurduar police station,” added Mr Mishra. The locals ransacked the residence of the alleged molester. The accused was arrested at Jaigaon today and produced at the Alipurduar sub-divisional court.

SIKKIM: Gangtok roads to get a facelift

FROM THE STATESMAN

GANGTOK, 29 JUNE: City roads in Gangtok are set to get a facelift with the state urban development and housing department (UDHD) ready to undertake the maintenance of roads in and around the capital on a priority basis.

The coming work was announced by the state chief secretary Mr ND Chingapa after a coordination meeting of all secretaries and heads of departments held at the conference hall of the Tashiling Secretariat on Friday.

It was also announced in the meeting that the UDHD would first embark on repairing and concreting Nam Nang and other roads connecting the capital to the outside areas. The concreting of Sonam Tshering Marg would be tentatively taken up from 4 July, after which the road would be closed to traffic for four days. “Inconvenience to the public is highly regretted,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by the chief secretary, Mr ND Chingapa. This is the first coordination meeting to be held after the formation of the new government.

Representatives from the finance and revenue department also stressed that the revenue collection target should be accelerated. They said more effort is required to collect more and boost the state revenue. He also said that all pending advances are be settled expeditiously.

SILIGURI: Repoll in Darjeeling booths ordered

FROM THE STATESMAN

KOLKATA, 29 June : The state election commission has ordered a repoll in five booths of Asansol and Darjeeling after receiving adverse reports from the observers and returning officers. Repolls in these five booths will be held tomorrow.

In municipal areas, re-polling has been ordered in three booths of the Asansol Municipal Corporation. Similarly, repolling for two booths of the Champasari gram panchayat under the Matigara block of Darjeeling district has been also ordered.

Officials of the state election commission said regarding the Matigara block, where panchayat elections were being held, wrong ballot papers were sent to two of the polling booths ~ booths 29 and 29A located in the Amiya Pal Chowdhury Juniopr High School ~ because of which repolling had been ordered.

While electronic voter machines will be used for the polls in the municipal areas, ballot papers are used in case of elections in panchayat areas.

SILIGURI: Referee issue leads to postponement of football leagues

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 29 JUNE: The ongoing tussle between Baghajatin Athletic Club (BAC) and Siliguri Mahakuma Referees’ and Umpires Association (SMRUA) over the decision of referee Dilip Kar to give marching orders to Mahananda Sporting Club forward Sujan Lama, during a Super Division Football League 2009 match between the two teams at the Kanchenjungha Stadium on 23 July, took an unfortunate turn last evening when the Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad (SMKP) decided to postpone both the super and first division leagues until the issue was resolved. The decision was taken after the SMRUA formally informed SMKP that their referees would not officiate any match featuring the BAC.

Mr Samir Bindu Dhar, general secretary, SMKP, who informed that the parishad had convened a meeting for the general secretaries of all first and super division football clubs yesterday at 6:30 p.m. in the SMKP office to discuss the issue, said: “It is our duty to ensure that all league matches are conducted properly. We had no choice but to postpone the leagues as the referees refused to officiate the BAC matches.”

Mr Dhar, who described the SMRUA’s decision as “unfair and unwarranted,” lashed out at the association for ignoring the interests of both the parishad and the participating teams. “The parishad and the clubs will have to incur financial losses of about Rs 4 lakh due to the postponement,” he said.

The general secretary said that the SMRUA’s decision came at a time when the SMKP was trying to resolve the issue. “Though referee Dilip Kar’s report on the match did not support the observer’s report, we accepted Kar’s version and requested the association to help us in running the league smoothly,” Mr Dhar said.

The general secretary said that they might rope in referees from outside Siliguri to run the league.

KURSEONG: Rohini road: A deathtrap for passengers

FROM THE STATESMAN

Kurseong, 29 June: Kurseong-bound passengers from Siliguri can save minutes off their journey time by taking the Rohini bypass road. However, the road currently poses a risk to life and limb. For the last few months, the Rohini road has been in a deplorable condition, with cracks at every step.

After seven years of construction work, the road was inaugurated by the DGHC on 16 July, 2007. Rs 10.42 crore has been spent on the road.

Since the Pankhabari road has been announced as one-way till 5.00 p.m. by the administration, most of the Darjeeling-bound Siliguri vehicles ply via Rohini road. Hence, it is one of the busiest roads in the region.

One passenger, who was a regular visitor to Kurseong from Siliguri, said it’s been a year since he last visited Kurseong. “Nowadays I try not to think about visiting Kurseong as most of the vehicles use Rohini road, which is uncomfortable and unsafe.” Another passenger said that besides proper repair works, the road needs several parapets, since a lack of parapets along the slope of the road makes passengers fear the journey.

A driver, Mr Pramod Chettri, said that the rough conditions of the road make it difficult to drive on and consume a lot of fuel. Passengers are also afraid of accidents. Residents of the area feel that, besides the ongoing agitation, political parties should concentrate on development for the benefit of the common people.

When questioned, the GJMM, vice-president, Mr Pradeep Pradhan, said: “Keeping in mind the interests of the common people, we have already complained and demanded to the authorities regarding immediate repair works on the Rohini road.”

DOOARS TERAI: Early shutters for shop raids

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Trader Rajib Biswas at his shop after the incident. (Anirban Choudhury)

Alipurduar, June 29: Traders here have decided to down shutters everyday at 6pm for an indefinite period after a shop was robbed in the main market area here last evening and the gang of six fled with Rs 50,000. 

The decision was taken in a meeting of the Alipurduar Byabsayee Samiti this morning. 

“Our members are feeling insecure. Many a time, we have demanded that police patrol the town in the evenings, but nothing had been done. At least 10 incidents of burglary in shops were reported in the past one year. After every incident, we tried to draw the attention of the administration, but no action was taken. Till the administration assures us of security, our shops will shut at 6pm,” said Paritosh Das, the secretary of the traders’ body. 

Around 7.30pm yesterday, a man of about 45 years had entered the shop of Rajib Biswas, a wholesaler of pulses, and enquired about a sample. As a shop attendant approached the stock, the man took out a revolver and pointed it towards the owner. Immediately, six other armed persons rushed in and closed the wooden door from inside. 

“All the gang members were speaking in Bengali. They demanded the key of the vault. But I told them that the shop-owner (they did not know that Rajib was the owner) had taken it to his home. They tried to beat us up but I begged their mercy and asked them to take away whatever they like without harming us. The robbers then took Rs 50,000 and sped away in three motorcycles parked outside the shop,” Rajib said. 

The 32-year-old shop-owner has lodged an FIR in Alipurduar police station. 

Before fleeing, the gang had disconnected the telephone line and taken away Rajib’s cellphone. Traders in the area came to the rescue but the robbers fled, firing in the air. 

Dipto Chatterjee, the chairman of the Alipurduar Municipality, is worried about shops being looted in busy market places. “This shows the absolute failure of the administration and people have no faith in the authorities. Such incidents are happening repeatedly because of the carelessness of the police,” he said. 

DARJEELING: Gurung surrenders for threat speech

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, June 29: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today surrendered in the judicial magistrate’s court here in connection with an election speech that police had found inciting. 

On March 30, Gurung while addressing a convention of party supporters at Gymkhana Hall had said: “Our Tibetan brothers have for long been voting blindly for the Congress, but all the hill people, including our Muslim brothers, should only think about Gorkhaland as this is their place too.” 

In his “advice” to these communities, which The Telegraph had reported, Gurung had said his party would keep an eye on every vote during the election. At the same meeting, the Morcha president had “requested” former Congress Lok Sabha member Dawa Narbula not to file nominations for the general elections. The Morcha leader had earlier accused Narbula of not uttering a single word in support of Gorkhaland in Parliament. 

While there were protests from the CPM in the plains against Gurung’s speeches, the Darjeeling Sadar police filed a suo motu case against him under Section 171F of the Indian Penal Code the same day. 

Today, judicial magistrate Debjyoti Mukherjee granted bail to Gurung till August 24, the date for the next hearing. Gurung’s defence lawyer Dinesh Chandra Rai said the bail was granted on a bond and surety of Rs 500. 

Gurung had arrived in court without any announcement and surrendered around 10.30am. His lawyer said the Morcha president was there till about noon, when the formalities were completed. 

Section 171F deals with the “offence of undue influence of personation at an election”. Although the section is bailable, if found guilty one can be imprisoned for up to a year and fined or can face both penalties. 

Senior police officers, refused comment on today’s development, saying that it was subjudice. 

A day after the speech, municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya had slammed the Morcha president and accused him of threatening voters a day after the speech. The Darjeeling CPM had also lodged complaints with the Election Commission of India, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities soon after. 

ESSAY: India’s Maoist Standoff

New Delhi’s decision to ban its Maoist party after a standoff between insurgents and security forces in West Bengal state will not resolve the conflict, borne of administrative apathy and strong-arm tactics, Sudeshna Sarkar writes for ISN Security Watch.

By Sudeshna Sarkar for ISN Security Watch

One week ago, the Indian government banned its Maoist party, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), after a growing confrontation between insurgents and security forces in its West Bengal state.

The move came after the rebels announced they had taken control of Lalgarh, a village some 170 kilometers from the state capital Kolkata, where they led a landmine attack on the convoy of the chief minister of the state and two federal ministers in November.

The Maoist insurgency in India received a boost in 2004 when three underground organizations advocating an armed struggle – the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML), Maoist Communist Center and People’s War Group – merged to form the CPI (Maoist). With the ban, it now joins other proscribed terror organizations like the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Hijbul Mujahideen.

The November attack saw the red-faced administration and police begin a stringent operation against the villagers of Lalgarh, most of whom are tribespeople called adivasis.

“At least 11 people have died, and several others have been abducted, during a wave of political violence in Lalgarh in the last seven months,” Amnesty International noted in its appeal to the government to avoid unnecessary violence.

AI alleges that police are arbitrarily detaining members of the adivasis community and using excessive force.

“Allegations that police carried out atrocities against the adivasi community are at the heart of the protests [...]. The police response allegedly included arbitrary detention of seven persons, three of them schoolboys, for several days and excessive use of force on at least 50 persons including eight women. No inquiry was held so far into the alleged violations.”

Since 1977, West Bengal has been continuously ruled by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM). Ironically, the Maoists it is now battling are its own offshoot.

In 1967, CPM hardliners broke away to lead a peasant uprising in Naxalbari in northern West Bengal, triggering the first Maoist insurrection, also known as the Naxal movement. Though the then Congress government ruthlessly suppressed it, it continued to smolder in three townships in West Bengal, including West Midnapore, where Lalgarh is located.

After the November attack and police retribution, Lalgarh villagers formed a local committee to oppose police atrocities. However, the protest was commandeered by the Maoists, resulting in a whirlpool of violence between the rebels, CPM cadres, police and the villagers.

Disenchantment breeds contempt

West Bengal’s human rights organizations blame the state government for the Lalgarh confrontation, especially its questionable land deals, prevailing corruption and unleashing of violence when opposed.

“Midnapur, Bankura and Purulia, three districts in West Bengal that have a majority adivasi population, have remained deprived of their rights since British rule in India,” says Kirity Roy, president of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Manch, a human rights organization in West Bengal that is monitoring the situation in Lalgarh.

“The CPM had been winning elections in Lalgarh since 1997,” Roy told ISN Security Watch. “Even after ruling the state for 32 years, they failed to provide deliverance. The government has not provided them drinking water, education, shelter, healthcare, roads or even food, though these are rights guaranteed by the constitution. They live on leaves, shoots and roots, and there are frequent starvation deaths. After the violence and the ensuing limelight, the government has put up some langarkhanas (soup kitchens) as an eyewash measure without addressing the root causes.”

Even the Communist Party of India (CPI), a CPM government ally, admitted Sunday that the confrontation was due to state negligence. “An element of not undertaking the actual work they should have done, particularly in the areas inhabited by tribal people [did exist],” A B Bardhan, CPI general secretary, said during a television interview. “They neglected it. Yes. I will say so.”

NEPAL: Law, order govt’s priorities – PM

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA.NET

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister MK Nepal on Sunday assured the government is committed to ending culture of impunity. His assurance has come at a time when the nation is mired in increasing incidents of violence, vandalism and volatility. 

Interacting with the representatives of the Civil-Businessmen Network in the capital, PM Nepal said the government, besides its top priorities namely peace process and statute-drafting, is equally concerned about maintaining law and order in the country. 

On curbing the rising cases of abduction and killings, he said he issued directives to concerned authorities including the home ministry to bolster the law and order situation in the country. His directives included among other things a classification of crimes [by nature], strict surveillance on criminal nexuses, a prompt apprehension of culprits and, if need be, departmental action against those underperforming their duties. 

PM Nepal outspokenly lauded the role of police administration in tracking down the criminals implicated in the Assumption Church blast that occurred a few weeks ago leaving three persons dead. 

Insisting that the police administration is never short of experience and expertise, he said it’s only the trend of giving protection to criminals during the past that was taking its toll at present. 

SIKKIM: 10,000 LPG buffer stock creation process goes underway

Confusion over inclusive or exclusive quota, 30 percent higher supply demanded

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: Following the State government’s decision to tie up with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for creating of an exclusive buffer stock of around 10,000 cooking gas cylinders to meet the emergencies this monsoon, the major authorized dealer State Trading Corporation of Sikkim (STCS) has already started working towards this direction.

It is informed that the STCS has already stocked its quota of 3000 LPG cylinders as buffer stock. The organization has started working on the buffer stock creation as per the decision of the State government. Out of the 3000 LPG cylinders stored as buffer stock, 2000 cylinders are with the Gangtok godown while the remaining 1000 cylinders are lying with Jorethang branch, it is informed. This is being done in interests of the people despite STCS suffering financial loss by the extra LPG cylinders.

At the same time, funds are routinely rolling for procurement of the normal requirement of gas cylinders by the STCS from IOC.

Each of the seven authorized LPG dealers in Sikkim have been asked to store their quota of buffer stock to meet the overall target of 10,000 LPG cylinders as buffer stock. The IOC will also contribute its share in meeting the overall buffer stock target.

There are three distributors in Gangtok, one each at Ranipool, Singtam, Namchi and Jorethang.

Mixed reactions have come from the private distributors on the creation of buffer stock of LPG cylinders. Private dealers have been directed to store around 1500 cylinders as buffer stock exclusively.

One such distributor said that the LPG supply to Sikkim is quite normal than the last time when there was a shortage. The distributing agency has already stored 1500 cylinders as buffer stock.

PUBLIC WARNING: Leptospirosis Threat in Darjeeling

It has been reported that Leptospirosis is on the rise in Darjeeling due the increase in the number of domestic rodents. Residents are requested to take necessary precautions. 

Leptospirosis [lep-to-spy-RO-sis] is a potentially serious bacterial illness that is most common in the tropics. Leptospirosis can affect many parts of the body.

Infected wild and domestic animals pass leptospirosis-causing bacteria in their urine.

People get leptospirosis by contact with fresh water, wet soil, or vegetation that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals.

Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics.

To prevent leptospirosis, minimize contact with fresh water and mud that might be contaminated with the urine of infected animals. 

What is leptospirosis? 

Leptospirosis is a potentially serious illness that can affect many parts of the body. 

What is the infectious agent that causes leptospirosis? 

Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira interrogans, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium (spirochete). 

Where is leptospirosis found? 

Leptospirosis-causing bacteria are common worldwide, especially in tropical countries with heavy rainfall. Infected rodents and other wild and domestic animals pass the bacteria in their urine. The bacteria can live for a long time in fresh water, damp soil, vegetation, and mud. Flooding after heavy rainfall helps spread the bacteria in the environment. 

How is leptospirosis spread? 

People get leptospirosis by contact with fresh water, damp soil, or vegetation contaminated by the urine of infected animals. People who canoe, raft, wade, or swim in contaminated lakes, rivers, and streams can get leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is also a problem for people who work in contaminated flood plains or wet agricultural settings.

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