Page 24 - Northeast India

Territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs: CM Biren

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs, reacting to a demand made by 10 MLAs for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state. The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps. Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month. He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference here, said, I assur

800 farmers, entrepreneurs authorised to use GI tag for 13 NE products

A central government agency has authorised 800 farmers and entrepreneurs to use the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for 13 agricultural products of the northeastern region, an official said. The 13 produces are Arunachal Orange, Tezpur Litchi and Karbi Anglong Ginger of Assam, Kachai Lemon and Chak-Hao' Black Rice of Manipur, Khasi Mandarin orange and Memang Narang orange of Meghalaya, Mizo Chilli of Mizoram, Naga Tree Tomato and Naga Sweet Cucumber of Nagaland, Queen Pineapple of Tripura and Sikkim Large Cardamom and Dalle Khursani chilli of Sikkim. The North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), under the DoNER Ministry, will forward the 800 user authorisation applications for usage of these products from the eight NE states to the Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai. NERAMAC Managing Director Commodore Rajiv Ashok (Retd) said on Thursday that the initiative is a significant step towards promoting and protecting the traditional agricultural practice

Riots had actually been in decline before Manipur's May violence

State joined the northeast in reporting a fall in the number of terrorism cases, too

NESO urges Centre to help in evacuating people stranded in Manipur

The influential North East Students' Organisation (NESO) on Saturday urged the Centre to immediately intervene in evacuating people of different states of the region stranded in violence-hit Manipur. In an open letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, NESO secretary-general Mutsikhoyo Yhobu said the apex students' body of the region is deeply perturbed over the prevailing situation in Manipur, which has left many people from other states stranded and in need of immediate evacuation. In view of the prevalent law and order situation in Manipur wherein regular air services have been disrupted, it appealed to the Union ministry for immediate intervention to schedule chartered flights for evacuation people to their respective states. Stating that many people have lost their documents in the ongoing arson and violence, NESO appealed to the authorities concerned to sympathise with them and consider other means of identification.

Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended

The mass protest was organised to oppose the demand to include the state's Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category

Northeast's second largest air cargo terminal opened in Tripura's Agartala

Northeast India's second largest air cargo terminal was inaugurated at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala by Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Friday. The largest such facility in the region exists at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The new building was constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore and cargo handling facility at the airport was restored after being shut since December 4 last year due to the absence of security vetting by regulatory body, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The suspension of services had caused inconvenience to traders as well as postal service. "Today I inaugurated the domestic air cargo terminal, which will play a pivotal role in flourishing the state's economy. Tripura has witnessed massive growth in connectivity over the last few years. The airport has been upgraded keeping in view future needs," the minister said during the inauguration programme. Chief Minister Manik Saha, during his recent v

Banks need to support MSMEs, startups in northeast: DoNER min Reddy

MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, and banks should support them and startups in the northeast, Minister of Development for the North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy said on Friday. Addressing the 'Northeast Banking Conclave' here, Reddy said the northeastern region has unique challenges, which require innovative practical solutions. Stressing that the connectivity and transport infrastructure have improved in the region, he said all state capitals should be connected by Railways by 2024. There has been an increase of 113 per cent in air traffic through 17 airports in the region, including 3 international airports. Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said the Prime Minister has decided to improve the per capita income of the people of the northeastern region. Government schemes for financial inclusion are doing well and there is an increase in credit growth by 85 per cent. He asked bankers to improve banking infrastructure in the region and also o

Banking infra needs further strengthening in NorthEast: Bhagwat Karad

The government schemes on financial inclusion are doing well and there is an increase in credit growth by 85 per cent

CSR spend in Northeast anything but generous in FY22, shows data

The concluding part of a three-part series on corporate social responsibility spending looks at regional disparities in allocation

NE's largest multipurpose indoor stadium being built in Shillong: Sangma

He said that the indoor stadium would have facilities for different disciplines such as basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball among others

Centre launches scheme to promote tribal products of Northeastern region

Union Minister Arjun Munda said that through TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation), the scheme aims to empower individuals to become self-employed and self-reliant

Arjun Munda to launch scheme to promote tribal products from northeast

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda will on April 18 launch a scheme to promote tribal products from the northeastern region of the country, an official statement said on Monday. The scheme -- 'Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER)' -- aims to enhance livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans in the region, the statement issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs said. The PTP-NER scheme will focus on increasing efficiency in procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products from the northeastern states of India, it said. It aims to provide backward and forward linkages through incubation support, aggregation, skill and entrepreneurship development, sourcing and procurement, marketing, transportation and publicity to tribal artisans in the region. As part of the scheme, 68 Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) will be organised from April to May in the northeast to empanel tribal artisans from the ..

Amit Shah urges Indians to visit its 'first village' Kibithoo in Arunachal

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday urged people to visit Kibithoo -- "India's first village" -- in Arunachal Pradesh to enjoy its natural beauty and take inspiration from its history. Shah visited and stayed overnight in Kibithoo, which is India's eastern most forward post, along the border with China, on April 10. Posting a video showing the snow-clad mountains, waterfalls, river and valleys in the village, Shah wrote on Twitter: "Captured the beautiful landscapes during my visit to Kibithoo, India's first village. Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural beauty. I urge all to visit Arunachal Pradesh, especially Kibithoo, to be inspired by its history and stunned by nature's marvels". During his trip, the home minister had said that Kibithoo should not be termed as India's last village but first village as the Sun's rays fall first in this village in the country. The area also has a military history as Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle

BJP to return to power by winning over 300 seats in next year's polls: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that the BJP will win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats across the country in next year's general elections and return to power with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm. Addressing a rally in Dibrugarh, the senior BJP leader exuded confidence that the saffron party will win 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Shah said, "Northeast was once considered a fortress of the Congress but despite Rahul Gandhi's yatra (Bharat Jodo Yatra), the party failed to perform well in the recent assembly elections in three states in the region." Assembly elections were held in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. The BJP formed the government in Tripura, and came in power as alliance partners in the other two states. Alluding to Rahul Gandhi's controversial remarks during his visit to United Kingdom, Shah said, "He (Gandhi) insulted India from foreign soil. If he continues like this, ...

Today's India not of 1962, but of Modi and Shah: Arunachal CM Khandu

In an obvious message to China, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said today's India is not what it was in 1962 but a country that belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In the presence of Shah, Khandu also said it was perhaps for the first time that a Union home minister came to a place located so close to the border with China. Shah was here on Monday to launch the Modi government's ambitious "Vibrant Villages Programme" (VVP) to ensure all-round development of the villages located along the northern border. China had, on Monday, objected to Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. "It is not an India of 1962. Today, it is Narendra Modi's India, it is Amit Shah's India," Khandu said amid applause from the audience that mostly consisted of those living close to the Sino-Indian border. India had faced Chinese aggression in 1962 and Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle between the Indian Army and the China's ...

Sikkimese feel betrayed as Article 371F violated: SDF chief Chamling

SDF supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling claimed that the Sikkimese people feel betrayed as Article 371F, which guarantees special provisions for Sikkim, was violated. The former chief minister, in a telephonic interview with PTI, also alleged Sikkim had become a hotbed for political violence and sought President's rule to ensure a free and fair election in 2024. According to Article 371F, only the descendants of Sikkim subjects (those who lived in the state before its merger with India) whose names were mentioned in the 1961 register are Sikkimese with rights to own land, get state government jobs. They were also exempted from paying income tax. But now, the Financial Bill, 2023 redefines Sikkimese as any Indian citizen domiciled in Sikkim, extending to them the same benefits as that of the original inhabitants whose forefathers' names were in the 1961 register, Chamling said. This violates Article 371F, which was the basis for the merger of Sikkim with India in 1975. People of Sikkim fee

After scripting history in polls, Naga women denied 33% quota in ULBs

Scripting history, two women were for the first time elected in the February 27 elections to the Nagaland assembly

India's northeastern region will be gateway to South East Asia: MoS Singh

He said that the PM-DevINE showcases the importance being attached to the development of the northeast region by the government as 'New Engine Growth of India'

Railway line to Kohima to be completed by 2026: Northeast Frontier Rail

NF Railways CPRO Sabysachi De on Tuesday asserted that the construction work has been going on in full swing and they are fully confident to complete the project within the deadline

Focus on logistics policy at PM GatiShakti workshop for NE states

The two-day regional workshop on PM GatiShakti National Master Plan -- organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry -- concluded here on Saturday, with more than 140 officials and industry players taking part in the session. The theme for the second day was National Logistics Policy. States, including Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, gave presentations on their respective logistics policy, she said. DPITT Special Secretary (Logistics) Sumita Dawra said that these workshops are facilitating wider adoption of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy across states and Union territories (UTs), in the spirit of cooperative federalism. Such initiatives bring more vigour and build synergy among different stakeholders resulting in mutual learning among states or UTs and central ministries or departments, she said. On the first day, the workshop had focused on ways to strength