A special KHADC session, which Mr Shylla termed as illegal, voted in favour of his ouster as CEM on Tuesday amid heated exchange of words between him and Congress MDC Ronnie V Lyngdoh, who moved the motion.

The voice vote was conducted after the six-hour-long debate where 20 MDCs, mostly from Congress, expressed their lack of confidence in the leadership of Mr Shylla.

The State Congress recently issued a directive to the party MDCs in KHADC to withdraw support from Mr Shylla, prompting the no-trust motion.

Subsequently, MPCC president OL Nongtdu had asked Mr Shylla to resign "gracefully", which was refused by the latter. Mr Shylla even threatened to move the court against holding the KHADC session "violating rules of the House". He is likely to file the petition on Wednesday.

According to Rule 36 of Assam District Council Rules 1951, he said, approval of the Governor was required before convening the session.

Questioning the "exigency" of removing him "on invalid reasons", Mr Shylla said the Congress MDCs could have used provisions of Sixth Schedule to invoke direct intervention of the Governor.

"If there were such exigencies as you had claimed, why have you waited till today?" he asked the MDCs.

The revolting MDCs maintained that Mr Shylla's move on Khasi Lineage Act, privatisation of trade, work permit and professional tax collection had prompted them to bring the no-trust motion against the CEM.

The House had to be adjourned for nearly one hour to allow Chairman Martamlin Pyrbot to examine the rules of business after Mr Shylla's objection to holding of the session without prior approval from the Governor.

"This is the darkest day in the history of Meghalaya that all MDCs including the Chairman trampled the rules for political expediency," Mr Shylla lamented after the voice vote.

He also clarified in the House that he had no role in formulation of the Khasi Lineage Act as it had been passed in March 1997 when he was not an MDC.

The Khasi Lineage Bill was lying with the State Government for eight years until the then KHADC CEM Prestone Tynsong moved the Government in February 2005 and had Governor's assent to it.

"I was an MLA at that time and it was Mr Tynsong who took the initiative to wake up the Government to have Governor's assent to the Bill," he said adding, "Now that Waibha Kyndiah is facing trouble due to provisions of the Act, Congress MDCs are trying to nail me."

Cleophas B Syiem, the newly-elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) in KHADC, will be elected as the new CEM at a special session of the House on February 7. Mr Syiem enjoys the support of 19 Congress MDCs besides six of UDP and two each from MDP and KHNAM in the House of 30 members.

The Garo Hills College Students' Union (GHCSU) and the GSU have issued separate statements urging the electorate to use the power of their vote to usher in a change to Garo Hills.

"Avoid casting your vote for a bottle of whisky, a cup of tea and a handful of currency (money) it will serve no purpose for society. Before casting your vote ask yourself whether your candidate can fulfill his promises?" stated the College Students union and added that one should not choose a candidate based on the Mahari (clan), religion or party affiliation.

The GSU, in the meantime, has also issued a call to the "A'chik citizens" residing in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills to help bring about a change that has not been seen in this part of the state for the last 35 years.

The GSU, has since the month of November and December-2007, organised a series of awareness campaigns in those areas of Khasi Hills dominated by Garos. Meetings were held in Rynku, Jirang, Aradonga, Moheskola and Pillangkata.

SHILLONG: Toll gates or rather "extortion gates" will cease to exist, bringing a direct relief to the truck operators and indirectly affecting the price of essential commodities.

The East Khasi Hills district administration has termed all the check gates put up by various State Government departments, district councils, Shillong Municipal Board, Himas and others as illegal and ordered the police to dismantle them.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Bhalang Dhar said the all such toll gates on national highways and PWD roads in the district would be dismantled.

"After a detailed survey conducted by the district administration, it was found that all the check gates put up by various authorities along NHs and PWD roads are illegal as they have not obtained permission from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway and the PWD," Mr Dhar said.

There are numerous complaints from truckers about exorbitant "tax" charged by these toll gates, most of which are being operated by lessees. The lessees usually demand higher "tax" than the permitted rate and do not issue any voucher for the payment made by commercial vehicle operators.

Even the DC admitted that most of these check gates were charging triple the rates the respective departments had fixed.

Tuckers are used to be assaulted by the persons manning the toll gates if they refuse to pay the demanded amount.

The DC said all these illegal practice had to be stopped immediately as this is one of the reasons for increase of price of essential commodities.

The district administration has directed the police to arrest any person if found collecting "tax" from vehicles.

SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills DC's Court on Tuesday deferred its verdict on a petition questioning the tribal status of Waibha Kyndiah, son of Union Minister PR Kyndiah, to February 22.

The junior Kyndiah on Tuesday filed his reply to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Bhalang Dhar on the petition filed by Seng Tip Kur Tip Kha U Khasi.

The organisation had questioned the tribal status of Mr Kyndiah as "he was no longer a Khasi after assuming his father's surname in violation of the Khasi Lineage Act."

The organisation is likely to file another case in Gauhati High Court seeking postponement of election to Nongkrem constituency, where Mr Kyndiah is a Congress candidate, until the DC's Court gives its verdict.

If the court rules against him, his poll prospect will be ruined as Nongkrem is a constituency reserved for ST.

With the delay in hearing of the case, Mr Kyndiah can, for now, file the nomination as ST from Nongkrem seat.

The DC said he would discuss the matter with legal experts before pronouncing any verdict in the case.

On Monday, the KHADC Registration Authority ruled that Mr Kyndiah ceased to be a Khasi "as he took the surname of his father".

However, whether or not the KHADC contention against the tribal status of Mr Kyndiah holds any legal validity is far from clear.

Emerging from the DC's chamber, Mr Kyndiah told reporters that he was confident the DC would give the verdict in his favour.

He asserted that he is a "tribal Khasi" and that he deserves to enjoy all the rights of a Khasi in Meghalaya.

Shillong: The medicinal powers of the herbs of Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar may not have any takers in the rest of the world, but the battle-hard insurgents have discovered their benefits at the time of crisis.

In the wake of shortage of sufficient medicines in their camps, rebel groups like ULFA and NSCN (K) have resorted to herbal remedies, mostly obtained from the herbs found in the Arunachal and Myanmar forests, a top Army intelligence official told PTI here requesting anonymity.

Villagers in Arunachal and Myanmar are well versed in the medicinal value of the exotic herbs and the militants often make use of their knowledge for remedies for their ailments.

According to the official, common ailments among the cadre in the camps located inside dense forests are malaria, water borne diseases, skin problem and digestive disorders. "There are also inputs that in case of an emergency, the militants even pick up herbal medicine men (called Nyibu locally) from villages in Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar who treat the cadres for the diseases,'' the official said.

They said that by now the rebels had learnt certain remedies and procedures to make the drugs themselves and so the 'abductions' have also come down.

It is reported that every year the Army cuts off rations and medicine supply routes to the camps before the outbreak of the monsoon. The militants are thus forced to come out of their camps during the malaria season for treatment.

Bhavani Hazarika, a top leader of the ULFA's 28th battalion, died in September, 2007 due to cerebral malaria.

The Army claims to have successfully closed down several routes to the camps in Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh through which the cadres ferried the medicines and other aid. The official said that another disease often afflicts the rebels which is called Makhlong in local dialect in Myanmar. The disease, similar to blood dysentery, in reported to be common in the camps in Myanmar.

According to a BSF source, cadres in the camps in Bangladesh have also started to use locally available herbal drugs. (PTI)

To ensure that Debarpan reaches the top three, people of the State may send in their votes via SMSs by typing SGPJ DEBARPAN and send it to 57575. Voting lines will remain open till February 20.

Last year Amit Paul of Indian Idol fame send the city into a voting frenzy.

Shillong: The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited (ECGCIL), a Government of India enterprise organised a seminar on credit insurance covers and claims procedure for banks here on Tuesday.

The seminar was organised to create awareness on export credit insurance covers in order to protect banks against the risks of insolvency and protracted default by exporters who avail fund-based and non-fund based export facilities from banks. "These credit insurance covers are available for pre-shipment and post-shipment credits established in connection with export transactions," the officials said.

Officials including the H Kumar Dhar, Deputy General Manager ECGCIL (Kolkata branch) Mrs Vasantha Srinivas V attended the seminar among others.

Later, officials from the corporation hold an interaction session with bankers from the city in which different views and opinions were shared among them, like aims and objectives and the benefits besides the system of implementing of the scheme.

Shillong: MDP is expected to field candidates in not less than 30 constituencies for the 2008 Assembly election.

Talking to The Shillong Times, MDP general secretary, BK Khongjirem said the party is considering potential candidates seeking MDP tickets from some constituencies for the ensuing election.

Name of candidates from constituencies like Nongstoin, Sohra and some more are to be released shortly, he informed.

"The third list of the party candidates will be released soon."

"The party will field not less than 30 constituencies for this 2008 Assembly election," he added.

Earlier, MDP had released 18 nominees for the election.

BCC President, Mose P Sangma, walked out of the Congress with fourteen other members, who hold several different posts in the Congress. They include presidents and secretaries of various primary Congress committees in the constituency including a village laskar and a delegate to the State MPCC from the area.

The BCC president has accused the sitting Congress MDC and official party candidate, Saleng A Sangma, of financial mismanagement alleging that district council schemes have not been implemented in the area.

"We have lost faith in the Congress under the present leadership and that is why we have left the party," said the BCC President.

Accusing the sitting MDC of failure to bring in development despite representing the area in the GHADC for four years, the BCC president has taken recourse to the RTI to gain access to the official records.

"We have obtained documents from the Council through the RTI Act and it shows developmental schemes for road communication in the rural areas have not been implemented," claimed the BCC president.

Shillong: The KSU has found out that there were stark contrast between the prices of essential commodities, as fixed by the concerned authorities and those sold in the markets in the city. A random survey conducted by the KSU Farmer and Consumer Cell has brought to notice that that the price of essential commodities in the market is higher than what has been fixed by Deputy Commissioner (Supply), East Khasi Hills.

Informing this here on Tuesday, KSU Farmer and Consumer Cell Wallambok Syiemiong said according to the prices fixed by the DC (Supply), rice which is supposed to be sold between Rs 10 and Rs 12, the shopkeepers were selling the same between Rs 17 and 18, for sugar, the Government rate was Rs 14 while the same was sold in the open market between Rs 18 and 20 and mustard oil, fixed at Rs 56 and Rs 60, it is sold at Rs 65 and Rs 70.

"The undue advantage taken by shopkeepers and businessmen has badly affected the common people, especially those belonging to the underprivileged section," Mr Syiemiong said.

He called upon the concerned authority to look into the matter at the earliest as it affects the public at large. The union also said there were complaints from people in rural areas claiming that APL rice were not released for the past few months, while expressing concerned that the sanctioned APL rice might have been sold in the black market.

Within days of reports that Rahul Gandhi had spent a night in a Dalit household, television channels showed him taking lessons in paragliding. The gulf between these two novel experiences for the new Congress general secretary underlined the distance that he would have to cover before he could hope to be accepted as a figure of importance on the political scene and not a dilettante to whom politics is a part-time occupation.

To be fair, the lifestyle of major personalities in Indian politics has generally had the stamp of the upper class, and was consequently far removed from the quotidian lives of ordinary people. The apocryphal story of the noted Bengali Congressman of the pre-independence period, J.M.Sengupta, asking his valet to lay out his "meeting ka kapda" typified this distance. Only the Mahatma tried seriously to bridge the gulf, but his efforts provoked Sarojini Naidu’s part-cynical, part-humorous comment: "if the Mahatma only knew how much it cost the Congress to keep him poor".

It is not being suggested that unless the leader lives like a follower, he cannot inspire trust. On the contrary, the followers usually prefer their leaders to be a cut above them – even a patrician like Jyoti Basu with a touch of hauteur. What is more to the point, however, is that neither tokenism nor elitist hobbies can seem odd if a politician exhibits certain qualities of mind and heart.

For a start, he must be able to convincingly articulate a vision based on an obvious grasp of existing realities with all their nuances. If Rahul’s father and grandmother could score sweeping electoral victories in 1984 and 1971, the reasons were precisely the fact of their ability to touch a chord in the popular mind, evoking the hope that their aspirations would be fulfilled.

The secret of Rajiv Gandhi’s success, for instance, was his vision of taking India into the 21st century while Indira Gandhi raised the expectation of wiping out poverty. It is another matter that both amounted to false promises. Rajiv Gandhi was mired in the old Congress malady of corruption while Indira’s "socialism" proved to be a fake one. But, even then, their achievement was that they had something distinctive to say. Rahul’s problem is that so far he has stuck to routine political rhetoric without iterating his own specific ideas.

Arguably, a general secretary cannot freely air his own views. They must be in line with the party’s, especially because he is still regarded as young and inexperienced. Such views may also be misconstrued if he is to hold forth on subjects with which he is not directly concerned. At the same time, it will be absurd to claim that he is just an ordinary office-bearer. His special position as a scion of the party’s first family is no secret. The deference shown to him by the other members is evidence of his distinctiveness. What is more, the unwritten consensus within the party is that he is destined for bigger things.

But, as of now, there is no sign that either he is ready to assume greater responsibilities or that he will develop the capabilities to play a larger role. It still seems that he is only in politics because of the insistence of his mother and would have been happy to lead a private life of his own. But since he has taken up, willy-nilly, what can be described as his family’s profession, it might have helped if he had shown an aptitude for certain skills. Rajiv Gandhi’s training as a pilot made him familiar with the world of computers and modern gadgetry, which impressed an India which was still accustomed to typewriters being used in offices and where laptops and ATMs were unheard of.

The only time he is said to have spoken out on a controversial subject was when he countered CPI (M) M.P. Brinda Karat’s opposition to the entry of foreign universities during a parliamentary committee meeting. But even if he lets only his elders in the party to tiptoe through the minefield of contentious issues, he can at least present his vision of India, as his great grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, did when he referred to the industries and dams as the temples of new India and explained how India’s many religions and cultures had to live in harmony if the country was to stay united.

It is possible, of course, that Rahul has had to be extra cautious because of his party’s coalition arrangement at the Centre. He obviously has to be careful about what he thinks, for instance, about the economic policies or the nuclear deal lest he should ruffle sensitive feathers. The only time he is said to have spoken out on a controversial subject was when he countered CPI (M) M.P. Brinda Karat’s opposition to the entry of foreign universities during a parliamentary committee meeting. But even if he lets only his elders in the party to tiptoe through the minefield of contentious issues, he can at least present his vision of India, as his great grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, did when he referred to the industries and dams as the temples of new India and explained how India’s many religions and cultures had to live in harmony if the country was to stay united.

Much of it may seem platitudinous, but they are still highly relevant at a time when a major party doesn’t mind being called a Hindu nationalist organisation and the small regional parties continue to cynically exploit sectarian sentiments to build vote banks. As a young man unattached to the government but representing the legacies of his forebears, Rahul is someone who can outline the high principles behind customary platitudes with considerable effect if only because he commands greater media and public attention than any other general secretary. It will also show that the hopes placed in him by his family and the party may be fulfilled.(IPA)

India has progressed in its globalisation quest to an extent that it can no longer work on policies which are focused on protecting domestic market in tradable sectors or assume that it can ward off the negative consequences of international financial market turmoils or other global developments having impact on trade and capital flows. After six years of sustained expansion, the world economy is on a downturn though output growth would not be significantly affected in emerging economies. Both this slowdown and the credit market crunch in the wake of the housing mortgage crisis in America have thrust the central banks to the forefront for remedial actions on the monetary and credit front while governments have to supplement them with fiscal policy measures. Financial Globalisation with all its innovative products is at the root of the present crisis in financial markets.

As global asset markets crashed against the background of America heading into a recession, the Federal Reserve in USA moved in panic to effect one of the largest cuts in short-term interest rates, from 4.25 to 3.0 per cent, ostensibly to stave off recession in the world’s largest economy whose travails have begun to spread across the world including emerging economies, irrespective of their negligible exposure to the sub-prime mortgage market crisis originating in the United States. Such a deep cut in US interest rates would have further dampening effect on the dollar and could lead to another surge in capital flows into rapidly growing market economies like China and India.

The Reserve Bank of India’s Third Quarter Review on January 29 would likely reflect a modified stance designed to ensure sustainable levels of capital inflows through easing of monetary policy so as not to add pressures on both liquidity and the exchange rate. It would be one more balancing act of RBI when global events have left it with no other option. Most central banks are now currently obsessed with the fall-out of protracted financial market instability on economic growth which is already slowing up in most developed countries.

Increasingly the trend in monetary stance is a shift in emphasis at present from inflation control to growth, especially in economies which are on the brink of sharp slowdown or even recession, as is feared in USA where a section of economists are of the view that the economy is already in recession. It is these fears, highlighted by the market mayhem which took a global dimension in the week beginning January 21, that forced Fed’s hands ahead of its scheduled meeting at the end of the month. This is being complemented by a 150-billion dollar stimulus package of the Bush Administration with the backing of US Congress. The Administration hopes that "timely and targeted" tax rebates of the order of 100 billion for individuals and married couples could trigger consumption and revive economic activity.

As the Sensex in Mumbai Exchange dropped in four digits for two successive days, the Finance Minister Mr P Chidambaram did fire fighting assuring investors that India’s economic fundamentals are strong and indicated Government’s readiness to take fiscal measures to overcome weak spots in the production processes to avert any slowdown from the projected robust growth of 8.5 to 9 percent. India would respond with "appropriate fiscal and monetary measures" to meet the situation arising out of the hefty US cuts which would trigger larger capital flows into emerging economies like India as well as the financial market crisis which would impact on its economy, he said. Advocates of cut in key rates (repo, reverse repo) and the reserve ratio (CRR) base their argument on slowdown in the economy, inflation hovering below four per cent and the need to check a surge in capital flows.

The New Year has had a stormy start with pronounced fears of a global recession and widespread loss of confidence driving markets down to low depths after six years of solid growth in the world economy. India’s stock markets reacted as other Asian markets did taking their cue from the sudden downturn in America’s principal market. Uncertainties surrounding the global economy, especially USA, have not lifted –even the stock market was cool to Fed’s bold slashing of interest rate – and the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also sought to assure investing public not to give in to fears or market rumours as India’s strong economic fundamentals have not changed.

The equity market crash, which punishes millions of small investors, has once again underlined the need for effective mechanisms for strengthened supervision of financial system and regulation of markets to prevent undue volatility. Growth and Markets, though not directly linked, will therefore get the attention of the Finance Minister when he presents his budge for 2008-09 on February 29 though he is also expected to announce incentives for sharp revival of "stressed" sectors both in output and exports, in the light of the recent slowdown trends. The Prime Minister also set up to suggest policy measures to reverse the downtrend in manufacturing output

Reflecting the domestic trends and global develop-ments of recent days, the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister, has revised the growth estimate for the current year from 9 to 8.9 per cent while it envisages a further moderation to 8.5 per cent in 2008-09. In its view, successive interest rate increases to fight inflation has curbed demand for consumer goods, especially durables. This is something for RBI to consider how far it could soften the interest rates, as the Council itself notes that, given the pressure on prices of oil, food and other raw materials likely to continue, inflation management in 2008/09 would be "quite challenging". RBI is not required to give its indicative growth and inflation targets till it announces its monetary and credit policy for next year in April. But there is great expectation on interest rates, as with the Fed cuts the rate differential between USA and India has widened with consequences for both capital flows and appreciation of the rupee.This is where the Finance Minister wants early action, monetary and fiscal.

On the fiscal side, the Council headed by Dr.C., Rangarajan favours income-tax adjustments in slabs but not any substantial rate reductions, and also cuts in excise duties in sectors where demand has gone down like consumer durables. This is in line with the common theory that more money in the hands of investors would spur growth. This consideration would apply also to the Finance Minister’s resource mobilization strategy in which the burden falls more on direct taxes, as in recent years. It is revenue buoyancy, from greater tax-payer response, that has helped the fiscal consolidation to progress, thus creating scope for making available more resources for plan expenditure. (IPA Service)

Sir,

In view of Assembly elections bipartite and tripartite meetings are going on to reach an unerring solution as to who should be our next leader? And which party should come to power for better governance of our state. As we all know a country or a state without governance looks queer and weird. Election is a medium through which the body of electors chooses their leader.

As election is a decision-making process so the electorate get a golden opportunity to choose their desired leader. Pre-election scenario is quite different from that of the post-election setup. So electorate should use their power properly and meticulously. Our vote is our power and it's very precious because it decides the fate of our constituency, state and country as a whole. One should not let his or her vote go waste by voting selfish and avaricious politicos. We have to form such a government which can ensure and guarantees peace, progress, prosperity and all round development of our state. Electorate have the prerogative to know who is what and who is an efficient person before casting their votes. Well, growth and development may be a few people's concern but assistance in the hour of need is everybody's concern. Choosing an altruistic, generous leader is not an easy task especially when more than one person is contesting from the same constituency. If one rack's one's brains he or she will reach an antiphon as to who should be the next leader? We have come across various leaders and their governance so now we are in a position to decide who is what and whom should we vote to power. In spite of all these our votes still fail to choose the right person. It is because of the fact that we get attracted and allured by tricky politicians who campaign in such a manner that we vote for them and repent afterwards. So the saying goes 'Think twice before what you do'.

There are some factors we have to take into consideration before casting our votes. Let's go constituency wise. Is the constituency developed/developing in all respects? Or is it still dormant? What has the MLA of the respective constituency done for its overall development? Problems may vary from one constituency to another, but some problems relating to infrastructure, water, drainage, sanitation etc., remain the same. Taking all these into account and also other things will bring the perfect leader in front of our eyes.

Chants and slogans during the election time are meant for attracting voters towards a particular leader and party. Some contestants even go to the extent of hiring sophomoric people to campaign for them. Vote is everything for this type of politicians and they can sacrifice everything to win election. Clashes and conflicts among various communities are the result of such type of election campaign. It is OK if the aspirant flays and criticise the opposition party but it has a devastating effect if the wannabe criticises the leader of the opposition party in the name of religion and community he belongs to. This is the tendency of the present day electioneering. The ramification of such political campaign is cataclysmic. They promise peace, prosperity and development but indirectly they are the one who actually paves the way for communal disharmony resulting in slow growth and stagnant economy.

I spent a good four weeks visiting friends and people and I asked them about the state of political affairs in Meghalaya. Needless to say almost everyone commented on how pathetic the situation is, how corruption had seeped into every little nook and corner of our political setup. The government has failed to impress people. Its priorities are left far behind and reshuffle and frequent change of leadership have created bad impression.

Discussions and advice always remain in paper and nobody care to follow. The present politicians are the root cause of concern. They manipulate and divide the country as per their requirement and dump their voters once get elected. Today when India is becoming a rising super power and economy is flourishing the present lot of politicians and new vibrant young generation should take on. It is high time that the citizens of this country should rise above caste, creed and colour while choosing their leader so that India can boast of having good educated leaders who are interested in social service.

Yours etc.,
Subash Deb,
Shillong
Via e-mail

"We have information that militant groups like All Adivasi National Liberation Army (ANLA) has established links with Maoists which a matter of serious concern," Gogoi told reporters here.

He said his government was taking steps to declare ANLA as a banned group.

Claiming that people of Assam have rejected militancy, Gogoi said his government was moving ahead to ensure the state's allround development.

The high turnout in the recent panchayat polls has proved that people of Assam have great faith in democratic values and the Constitution, he said.

"I am extremely happy that against all odds people came out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights in spite of threats, violence and call for boycotting the polls."

Gogoi said he was particularly happy that ULFA chief Paresh Barua's sister also participated and won the election.

According to him, people of the state voted for Congress because the government had successfully implemented various developmental schemes.

"The Planning Commission has complemented us for efficient fiscal management and good performance in implementation of various developmental programmes," he said, adding the GDP has increased significantly during his government's rule. (PTI)

Karat, in an election rally here recently, alleged that the former Prime Minister had helped insurgent groups defeat the Left Front Government before the 1988 Assembly polls which he finally succeeded. He had also held responsible the Congress and then Prime Minister for fomenting militancy in the north eastern region.

AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan, who took stock of the election preparation here on Tuesday said that then Prime Minister had no relation with underground outfit. "He had tried to bring the misguided people into the mainstream. He did it for NE states as well Sri Lanka and for which he had to render supreme sacrifice," he said.

Chavan said that the party would take effect step over the derogatory remark of Karat but did not say whether the Congress will lodge complainant with the Election Commission against the derogatory comment.

The WSU also alleged that the authorities were not doing much in this regard, even after the list of names of the abducted boys was handed over to them by the union. ''It has been 25 days since a complaint has been lodged with the local police station,'' the union stated. (UNI)

Imphal: Legendary filmmaker from Manipur Aribam Syam Sharma has been selected for the V Shantaram Award for Lifetime Achievement in documentary filmmaking.

Official sources said here on Tuesday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced the award at the inaugural function of the 10th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), 2008, for Documentary, Short and Animation Films.

The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, a citation and a shawl, instituted by the Films Division of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will be conferred on the accalimed filmmaker on February nine. ''It is for the first time in the history of the MIIF that a person from the North East has been bestowed with the prestigious award,'' Manipur Information Centre Joint Director Meghachandra Kongbam said.

Bhagwan Das Garga was the first recipient of the V Shantaram Award for Life Time Achievement in the field of documentary during the MIFF, 1996. (UNI)

NEW DELHI: World's largest riverine island, Majuli, located in a complex delta system, at the confluence of Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers in Assam has been recommended as World Heritage Site under the "Cultural Landscape" category for this year.

India currently has 27 World Heritage Sites, 22 of which are cultural and five natural. Red Fort was the most recent addition to the list last year. If inscribed, Majuli Island will be first world heritage site in India under the 'cultural landscape' category, which contains both cultural and natural components.

Majuli is located in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river. For the past five hundred years or so, Majuli has been seen as the cradle of Assamese culture and a centre of the neo-Vaishnavite movement.

With 31 Satras, which are institutions of culture and education, and are also the main repositories of the cultural resources of Majuli, the island witnesses an annual cycle of floods, erosion and siltation and has a complex and fragile eco-system, with a delicate balance of interaction between man and nature.

Majuli was first nominated for World Heritage Status in 2004. The International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, had carried out a detailed evaluation of the Majuli Island in 2005.

Based on the ICOMOS report, the World Heritage Centre sought additional information by way of the mapping of Satras and their influence, inventory of cultural resources of the Satras, their condition analysis, preparation of a risk preparedness strategy for the island.

The nomination came up for consideration before the World Heritage Committee in 2006, but was referred back for collating and providing the additional information.

The Archaeological Survey of India, which acts as the nodal agency for nomination of Indian sites on the World Heritage List, has prepared a detailed document with the help of consultants and has submitted the additional information for consideration of the World Heritage Committee at its next meeting to be held at Quebec City, Canada in June 2008.

Given the complexity of the site, the additional documentation has been prepared using a multi-disciplinary approach and in consultation with a number of field agencies including those under the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Government of Assam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who represents North East, had earlier called a meeting to discuss issues relating to Majuli with Minister Tourism & Culture Ambika Soni and Minister Water Resources Saifuddin Soz. These issues included the threat of erosion by the Brahmaputra river and the status of Archaeological Survey of India's preparedness to resubmit the site for consideration by UNESCO in 2008.

Subsequently, a high level Central team assisted by DG, ASI Anshu Vaish visited Majuli Island for an on-site review of the status on both counts.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi, who hailed the decision said that the Government would spend 20 crore rupees released for the island to preserve its ancient history.

It was the fifth rhino to be killed by poachers in the State so far this year and the fourth one to be killed inside Kaziranga National Park, a world heritage site.

The male rhino was killed in the central Kohra Range of the park. Though forest guards from near by camps rushed to the direction of gunshots, the poachers managed to flee with the horn.

Director of KNP SN Buragohain informed that raids were being conducted in some suspected poachers dens in the vicinity of the Park on searches of the horn and the gang of poachers.

Green brigades and public in general in the State have been demanding stringent measures from the Government to tackle the alarming threat of poachers in the rhino abode in the wake of killing of several rhinos since last year.

Under pressure from wildlife activists, the Government formed a high-powered committee to prescribe recommendation for effective wildlife policing in the national park.

The committee in its report submitted to the Government on February 2 last suggested slew of measures including infusion of young blood in field duty in the rhino abode, arming the wildlife personnel with sophisticated arms and weapons and set up an intelligence network in cooperation with fringe villagers and establish better coordination with State Police in fighting poachers.

The poachers have been running riot in the national park since last year during which 13 rhinos were killed inside the sprawling wildlife habitat that is reeling under shortage of manpower to guard it effectively.

Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain on Tuesday assured to step up vigil in the Park. He informed that said the five watch-towers and 25 new guards camps would be set up along the National Highway 37 that runs along the southern fringe of the park.

One mobile squad would be appointed, while other five rapid action units would also be constituted through appointment of additional 100-armed home guards immediately.

He admitted that there was need for increasing the strength of filed staff in the national park from the present 437 as the park area had been expanded to about 860 square kilometers from the earlier 430 square kilometers.