Newsletter of the Tsunami Rehabilitation Network...
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Weekly News January 16, 2006

This week's news round up is organized under various headings as follows.
Click on the item to go directly to the section you would like to read.


Government Updates
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has put up the list of
beneficiaries for house/agricultural damage at
http://www.and.nic.in/dc/dc-index.htm . Also uploaded is a document that
details tsunami damages, gives sector wise details, fund flow patterns,
challenges faced etc. at http://www.and.nic.in/visit/pm-visit.htm
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New on the TRINet website
Flyers and application forms for a new set of workshops being organized by
Auroville NCKRC on eco-restoration and EM technology, sanitation and
hygiene. (downloads section).
Report of Third Policy Dialogue on Tsunami Rehabilitation organized by Dhan
Foundation on 13th January 2005 at Chennai
http://www.trinet.in/downloads/13janrep.htm

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General
The Auroville Tsunami relief effort has put up an interesting before and
after picture essay on the relief and rehab work in the Villupuram district
at http://www.auroville.org/tsunami/projects/before_after.htm


Tsunami left Andamans with more land: Port Blair: Long after tsunami killer
waves receded from the Andaman coastlines, authorities are baffled by the
discovery of vast tracts of land which have emerged from the sea to the
north of the archipelago. The administration of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands is consulting experts about the new topographical features caused by
the impact of the tsunami following an underwater earthquake a year ago. As
a result of the powerful seismic turmoil, about 140 hectares of land have
been added to the area of the Union Territory. In the north of the islands,
the land came to the surface of the sea because of a significant rise in
land level. While the rising level of land in the north has intrigued
experts, in Nicobar, 300 km away from Port Blair, the seismic event has
created an entirely different situation. Land has been submerged as a result
of the island apparently "tilting".
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1368087.cms


The struggle goes on: K.P. Sasi's The Time After Tsunami, a 38-minute
documentary produced by Visual Search and Actionaid India in association
with Voices from the Margins, seeks to set the record straight. The
documentary is largely based on the testimonials and findings gathered by
the People's Tribunal on Post Tsunami Challenges and Responses, which
included eminent persons such as retired Justices H. Suresh (former judge of
the Mumbai High Court) and D. Sreedevi (former judge of the Kerala High
Court), former Chairperson, National Women's Commission Dr. V. Mohini Giri
and Dr. Gopal Guru (professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University) and was assisted
by a 13-member expert panel. Speaking solely through expert opinion and
statements of victims, it raises urgent questions on caste and religious
discrimination, neglect of ancillary trades, victims' rights to dignity and
proper living conditions, ownership of natural resources such as beaches and
the larger issue of lack of transparency in disaster management efforts.
While these questions have been raised before, their attribution to
individual victims brings a dramatic immediacy to them. For copies of the
CD, email: www.visualsearch.org  or info@...
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/01/13/stories/2006011303470300.htm


Earthquake and Tsunami Caused Less Damage than Overfishing to Sumatra's
Coral Reefs: Sedimentation Remains a Problem: The results of the underwater
surveys in Aceh indicated that relatively minor physical damage to coral
reefs was caused by the tsunami as compared with the well-documented
devastation experienced on land.  Tsunami damage recorded included
overturned corals and swathes of broken corals where large tree branches and
tree trunks had been washed across the reef as the waves receded. The
earthquake damage to coral reefs was more severe than that caused by the
tsunami.  Damage included uplifted reefs, shattered beds of coral, and
overturned coral colonies.  Several islands such as Simeulue were tilted,
with one end rising as much as 2 m while the other end descended a similar
amount.  This caused tens of hectares of living coral reef to be raised
above the high tide level and killed, while other reefs descended into
deeper water, altering the ecological zonation. The earthquakes and tsunami
have left the Acehenese more dependent than ever on their marine resources
for survival.  Coral reefs can recover relatively quickly following a
reduction in fishing pressure.  There is now an opportunity to invest in a
long-term strategy to rehabilitate the marine resources of Aceh through
education, coastal management, regular monitoring and the establishment and
maintenance of marine protected areas.
http://www.reefcheck.org/news/aceh.asp


Virtual relief efforts-Internet valuable as tool to organize disaster
relief: "You have this system of 10,000 ants, none of which are actually in
charge but somehow they manage to do these very complex engineering tasks
and social organization and resource management things that are mesmerizing
feats."  The quote is not from an entomologist but from Steve Johnson, a
long-time Internet guru. His point, proved repeatedly as the Internet
community responded to recent disasters, is that the Internet is an
organizational tool that is transforming the global community into a single
organism.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/business/060108/parrots.shtml


Govt. urged to declare tsunami national disaster: TIRUNELVELI: Urging the
governments to declare tsunami as a national disaster, over 500 fishermen
including 400 women took out a rally at Nagercoil on Monday and submitted a
petition to the Collector. They demanded that the affected fishermen be
given "adequate relief and fish-gears immediately." Reconstruction of the
bridge at Manakkudi, which was destroyed during the catastrophe, should be
commenced immediately. Sethusamudram Project should be stopped forthwith "as
it would badly hit the livelihood of the fishermen in this region."  As the
fishermen face a lot of hurdles in bringing their catches to the ground,
fishing harbours with all facilities should be established at Colachel and
Thaengaaipattinam.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/10/stories/2006011004850300.htm


Brit aid body flayed for "not spending" donations on tsunami-hit sufferers:
London: A report prepared by the Valid International, an internationally
acknowledged limited company specialising in improving the quality and
accountability of humanitarian assistance, has said that the UK's Disaster
Emergency Committee (DEC) has carried out an "impressive" relief work in the
tsunami-hit areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India, but a large amount of
funds collected by it were still lying unused in its bank accounts, even as
lakhs of homeless tsunami-victims continue to live in make-shift tents
without basic facilities. DEC's members include Oxfam, Save the Children,
Merlin, British Red Cross and ActionAid. The report was prepared by a team
of independent evaluators commissioned by the DEC itself to assess how the
aid agencies under the DEC's umbrella, had responded to the disaster, The
Telegraph reported. According to the paper, so far the DEC has spent a total
of 128 million pounds - 40 million pounds in Indonesia, which suffered up to
80 per cent of the casualties; 40 million pounds in Sri Lanka; 31 million
pounds in India and 17 million pounds across Thailand, Somalia, the Maldives
and Myanmar. Indonesia is expected to receive more this year.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=84845


The right way to rebuild Asia's coastal barrier: In the wake of the December
2004 tsunami, the Indian Ocean nations affected are admitting that the
damage was partially self-inflicted. Over the past 20 years, these countries
have systematically destroyed one of the most effective barriers to ocean
forces - mangrove forests - in the name of development. Shrimp farms,
tourist resorts and urban expansion have devoured 35 to 50 per cent of these
'bioshields' over the entire region. Many of these deforested pockets of
prosperity were hit hardest, the tsunami washing away years of economic
growth. Now, governments in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and
Thailand all want to restore what nature once provided for free: they plan
to spend millions of dollars replanting thousands of hectares of mangrove
forest. Scientists applaud the 'greening' agenda but warn that to succeed,
replanting strategies must include workforce training and supervision,
maintenance of seedlings, and increased public awareness about coastal land
use. Some economists add that we need a better understanding of the
relationship between these endangered ecosystems and the communities that
rely on them.
http://www.scidev.net/gateways/index.cfm?fuseaction=readitem&rgwid=3&item=Featur\
es&itemid=492&language=1


Nation plans joining Asian disaster forecasting system: Hanoi. The Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environment would co-ordinate with relevant sectors
to develop a disaster warning system that predicted tsunamis, earthquakes,
storms and floods. The disaster warning project would be launched in 2010. A
plan on co-ordination between the sectors on the project would be submitted
to the Prime Minister before June 30 this year. The Prime Minister directed
the Viet Nam Science and Technology Institute to work with the Ministry of
Planning and Investment, as well as with international organisations, to
develop Viet Nam's capacity for forecasting natural disasters. Work on
minimising the impact of natural disasters in Viet Nam would also be a
Government priority.
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01MIS110106


Turning Disasters into Peacemaking Opportunities: The December 2004 tsunami
that devastated Aceh in Indonesia kick-started negotiations to end a
conflict that has lasted for almost 30 years and led to widespread violence
and displacement. Before the tsunami, peace negotiations between Acehnese
rebels and the Indonesian government had collapsed in May 2003, leading to
the imposition of martial law. A rush of post-disaster goodwill alone is
unlikely to carry warring factions through the complexities and stumbling
blocks of a peace process. To maintain momentum, humanitarianism needs to be
transformed into political change-addressing the root causes of the conflict
at hand, putting in place confidence-building measures, and taking on the
vested interests of those who benefit from a continuation of conflict.
Policymakers and humanitarian groups must be proactive in dealing with the
remnants of conflict, designing a rebuilding process that addresses the
social and economic needs of ex-fighters and disaster victims alike and
calling for sustainable and equitable development that reduces the
likelihood of recurring conflict as much as the vulnerability to future
disasters.
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/sow/2006/toc/7/


Conference on sustainable hazard reduction plans: Government/public sector
coordination at senior levels, capacity building at the ground level of
public service and strengthening the social capital at grass-roots level
were identified as the three main components in a sustainable hazard
reduction plan for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The discussions based on
sustainable hazard reduction and management (SHARM) principles, emphasised
relief, recovery and reduction (RRR) on a sustainomic framework for hazard
management i.e. taking economic, social and environmental impacts of
disaster into consideration. The need for macro-economic and fiscal policy
to reflect recovery programs; need to think beyond the pre-tsunami
development levels; safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable; risk
reduction and transfer and dependence on technology were some salient points
brought up for dialogue on policy.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/15/new27.html

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Housing and Infrastructure

Hyderabad NGO to build houses for tsunami survivors: NAGAPATTINAM: Word and
Deed India, a Hyderabad-based NGO is constructing 300 permanent houses for
the tsunami survivors of Vanagiri village near Poompuhar in Nagapattinam
district. The Tamil Nadu government has procured 30 acres of land for this
purpose. In a function held at Vanagiri, Nagapattinam Collector
Radhakrishnan laid the foundation stone for constructing the 300 houses.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060112001227&Topic=0&Title=Sout\
hern%20News%20-%20Tamil%20Nadu&Page=T


Raman Singh lays foundation stone for houses for tsunami hit, Nagapattinam:
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today laid the foundation stone for
construction of 125 permanent houses for tsunami victims at Panangudi
village in this district. Speaking at a function held at the District
Collectorate here, he said the entire project cost of Rs 20 crore would be
borne by the Chhattisgarh Government. The work on the project would commence
soon, he added. He also interacted with tsunami-affected fishermen from the
Panangudi village and heard their grievances.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=220338&cat=India


Doing its BITS for tsunami: The BITSunami Trust - set up by the BITS
(Pilani) worldwide alumni to provide long-term rehabilitation to tsunami
victims  - adopted Naluvedapathy and Pushpavanam villages. The initiative
had the backing of corporate houses like Wipro, WeP, HP, AllSec, RedHat and
iSoft. Today, the results of the good work are there for all to see. The
Trust was started with the aim of taking rehabilitation beyond ad hoc relief
activities and of identifying problems capable of causing permanent damage
to the ecology if not corrected immediately. Seawater after the tsunami
strike had left saline deposits on large tracts of agricultural land. A
quick soil test of 125 acres in the villages revealed six inches of topsoil
had salinity. Tractors were deployed immediately to shave off the affected
layer and make the land fit for farming. Task number two was to help
fishermen rebuild their boats. For this, a boat manufacturing unit was set
up in the villages. The BITSunami team then went on to construct a new
school and rebuild and repair several old ones. Toilet blocks for girls were
constructed in 12 schools to stop them from dropping out. Toilet blocks for
boys are being constructed now. On October 1, 2005, the Trust took up a
marathon tree plantation project at Pushpavanam village in collaboration
with Wiprocare. The Trust is currently gearing up to capitalise on the
ecological plantations in Pushpavanam and Naluvedapathy by setting up a
biomass-based power generation unit.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1596542,0035.htm

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Livelihoods
Livelihood restoration activity to be taken up in tsunami-hit areas:
Tuticorin : The State Government will carry out livelihood restoration
activities in tsunami affected areas in the district on an outlay of Rs.9.65
crores sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank, under the three-year-long
Tsunami Emergency Assistance Project. The works envisaged under the project
will start this fiscal and will be implemented by the District Rural
Development Agency. The project would restore the livelihoods of families
below the poverty line residing at tsunami-hit Alwarthirunageri,
Ottapidaram, Sattankulam, Srivaikundam, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Udangudi and
Vilathikulam blocks in the district. Mr. Natarajan, Project Officer, DRDA,
said apart from the livelihood restoration project, one more ADB-aided
project was in the pipeline aimed at carrying out repair works on 30 road
stretches totalling 44.275 km spreading over 30 coastal village panchayats
at a cost of Rs 7.26 crores.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/11/stories/2006011104160300.htm


Rs 1,200 crore spent for tsunami relief in TN: Minister: CUDDALORE: The
Tamil Nadu Government has extended assistance to tune of Rs 1,200 crore for
the tsunami-affected fishermen in the State, said Law Minister D Jayakumar.
Inaugurating a free saree and dhoti distribution scheme in Thazhanguda, near
here, on Saturday, he said that the State Government had sought an
assistance of Rs 9,000 crore from the Centre for taking up permanent
rehabilitation activities in the tsunami-ravaged regions. He added that the
State Government had planned to take up dredging work of river mouths and
establishment of a protection wall along the coastline for the benefit of
the fishing community, but the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance
Government had extended only Rs 850 crore as tsunami relief to the State.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060115092836&Page=T&Title=South\
ern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0


Long march for land rights in TN by Gandhians: Madurai. Gandhians from all
over the country will jointly undertake a long march from Chennai to the
tsunami-hit Nagapattinam in April this year to campaign for land and
livelihood rights of the people devastated by the disaster. The march has a
three-point agenda of securing the rights of the people over housing, land
and livelihood resources, noted Gandhian P V Rajagopal, Vice-Chairman of the
New Delhi-based Gandhi Peace Foundation, told UNI here during his visit.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=216507&cat=India


Tsunami farmers demand full relief: Pondicherry, Jan 12: CPI Pondicherry
state committee secretary N kalainathan, joined the party's agriculture
union workers and other party activists in blocking some roads in Karaikal
today, demanding that the Cenrre extend full relief and rehabilitation to
agriculturists affected by the Tsunami. The union said Chief Minister N
Rangasamy had assured them that a relief package would be given to farmers.
But nothing had been done so far and hence they had decided to resort to
this type of agitation. (Agencies)
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BCA9DE5DF-9B9B-4DE2-8\
750-69EA56598E52%
7D&CATEGORYNAME=Tamil+Nadu

Fishing settlements to boost tourism in Pondy: Most of the fishing
settlements that are being constructed for the tsunami-affected families
will have a strong interface with tourism promotion, said Relief and
Rehabilitation Commissioner B V Selvaraj. Giving a presentation on the
action taken by the government in the first stage of the tsunami relief and
rehabilitation works to D K Sankaran, Secretary (Border Management and
Disaster Management), Ministry of Home Affairs, at the Chief Secretariat on
Tuesday, he said that efforts would be taken to landscape and develop a zone
in the villages for tourism promotion. Foreign and domestic tourists could
interact with the fishermen and get a feel of ethnic styles of fishing and
coastal communities, he added.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060113020246&Topic=0&Title=Sout\
hern%20News%20-%20Tamil%20Nadu&Page=T


Training. on tailoring concludes. Port Blair, Jan 10. Thiruvalluvar Club
here has conducted a six months' training programme in tailoring for the
needy women including tsunami victims at Bhatu Basti. In a valedictory
function held at the conference hall of State Social Welfare Board today,
certificates were given to the trainees. The Chairperson SSWB, Smt Pritam
Kumari Nanda, the Pradhan Sippighat Panchayat Smt Saraswathi Narayanan also
attended the function. The function concluded with the vote of thanks
proposed by the Secretary, Thiruvalluvar Club, Shri Karunanithi, a
communication said.
The Daily Telegrams, http://www.and.nic.in/wednesday.htm

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Health
Workshop on trauma counseling by SA: Port Blair, Jan 10.  A three-days
Trauma Counseling Workshop was conducted at Havelock by The Salvation Army
(SA). In which altogether 200 people from the different community of
Havelock have attended the workshop programme.  In this connection Capt. V B
Sailas, the National Trauma Counseling Coordinator highlighted the
importance of Psycho Social support to those who have still stress and fear
of tsunami in their mind.    This workshop has been conducted as a part of
post tsunami rehabilitation programme of the organization, which has a
proposal to conduct a workshop on Trauma counsleling to be conduct by a
group of trauma counseling experts arrived from mainland in this connection.
Capt. Babu, Trauma Counseling Territorial Coordinator of Nagapatnam followed
by Capt. Jiva Ratnam have also expressed their views regarding trauma
counseling.
The Daily Telegrams http://www.and.nic.in/wednesday.htm


U.S.-based doctors plan health care centres: CHENNAI: Doctors from Tamil
Nadu settled in the United States have proposed to reach out to villages,
the "bread basket of India," by building health care centres. A primary care
centre has been proposed for Vavipalayam near Coimbatore. At Nagapattinam,
the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) will set up a
primary health care and mental health care units for the tsunami victims.
The AAPI, which has so far established 15 free clinics across the country,
would fund the Nagapattinam project, said a U.S.-based psychiatrist Malathi
Koli.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/08/stories/2006010814160500.htm

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Women
Tsunami fund focuses on marginalized populations: A year after the tsunami
that killed more than 200,000 people roared ashore in South Asia, about half
of the $2 million raised by Unitarian Universalists has been spent to help
some of the world's least privileged people. Now greater emphasis is being
directed to gender rights. "In all cases, women are vulnerable and often aid
does not address that," says Martha Thompson, manager of the Rights in
Humanitarian Crises Program for the Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee, who has been overseeing the relief fund set up jointly by her
organization and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/tsunamifundfocusesonmarginalizedpopulations\
2491.shtml


Remembering the tsunami from a female perspective: Natural disasters, for a
long time, were treated as a matter of material fix up job - it was
considered sufficient to provide shelter and amenities and at the most,
bring some work to the affected people. Reports from Nagapattinam district
in Tamil Nadu, India as recorded in a study, Gender and Tsunami Relief and
Rehabilitation, conducted in March 2005 by the Womankind Worldwide suggest
that single women and women headed households have not been able to meet
basic needs. Women's livelihoods in the tsunami-affected areas have tended
to be dependent on natural resources and on the produce brought home by men.
The tsunami has destroyed natural resources and consequently women's sources
of income. Currently, some efforts are being made to give unconventional
skills to women so that they could begin from a new base. But it is not
clear yet, how much resources and efforts will be extended to build the
infrastructure and the base which would help women gain and maximize
benefits from their recently acquired skills. If this is not done and the
traditional means of livelihoods are not revived with women in a good
position to advance their interests, there would be fewer job opportunities
for women in the future.
http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=911&p=report&a=1

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Children
Cultural programme for tsunami victims: Karaikal: The Centre for Education
and Development Alternative (CEDA) Trust here conducted a "community
integration day" on Thursday to relieve the children from tsunami trauma. A
large number of children from the affected villages of Madagadi, Keezhaiyur,
Vadakkutheru, Lingathadi and Keezha Vanjur participated in the cultural
programmes, organized by the Trust. Backiyam, director, CEDA Trust,
explained the rehabilitation work being carried out in the Karaikal
district.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/14/stories/2006011400550700.htm

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Other Countries
Indonesia
Boat-building boom threatens Aceh fisheries: According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization, a wing of the United Nations, 4,700 boats were
destroyed during the tsunami. To date, 4,400 have been rebuilt and another
1,500 are on the way. More worrisome than the number is the kind of boat
being built, says Mr. Martin, a marine rehabilitation specialist for the
Belgian Red Cross. Since many large offshore fishing trawlers were lost, the
Red Cross is indeed building large boats. But most of the aid community is
focusing on the smaller boats that fish shallow breeding grounds,
potentially depleting stocks before they have a chance to rebuild. "The
trend, if all the boats pledged are built, is to have 25 percent more boats
than existed before the tsunami," says Martin, himself a former commercial
fisherman. There are times, Martin says, when aid groups should not give
people what they ask for, but what they need. "In Pidie [a town on Aceh's
eastern coast], there are fishermen who are receiving small boats with
global positioning systems and lights and double motors, which they never
had before," he says. "They don't know how to use it, so they sell it to
somebody else".
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0111/p11s01-woap.html


Malaysia
No Boat For Tsunami Hit Fishermen In Selangor: SHAH ALAM, 8 Jan (Bernama)
Fishermen in Selangor who were hit by the 2004 tsunami were given financial
aid to repair their boats, State National Fisheries Development Board (LKIM)
Director Othman Yusof said. He said there was no allocation to give them
boats because the losses incurred by the fishermen in Selangor were not as
serious as those in Kedah and Perlis. "LKIM allocates between RM300 and
RM1,500 for each fisherman (in Selangor) for repair of their boats and we
have given the money to them," he told Bernama here Sunday. On top of the
financial aid to repair their boats, Othman said the fishermen were also
given RM500 each. A total of 12 fishermen in Selangor were affected by the
tsunami.
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=174547

Sri Lanka
Red Cross constructs national disaster management centre: The Red Cross
Movement has pledged to construct 15,000 houses to the tsunami affected
families and the reconstruction is ongoing in districts destroyed by the
natural disaster in the island, said Mr.S.H.Nimal Kumar, National Secretary
of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, who was elected to chair the Disaster
Management and Relief Committee of the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescents Societies at its general assembly held in Seoul, South
Korea, recently. "At the national level, work on the construction of SLRCS
National Disaster Management centre in Katunayake has already commenced with
the support of Korean Red Cross Society.
http://www.sibernews.com/the-news/tamileelam/red-cross-constructs-national-disas\
ter-management-centre-200601103314/
FAO and MFAR distribute fisheries inputs to fishers in Kalmunai: The Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Ministry of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) distributed 3 571 nets and 15 outboard engines
to 290 beneficiaries in Kalmunai this past weekend. The input distribution,
funded by the governments of Japan, Belgium and the Humanitarian Aid
Department of the European Commission is designed to restore the livelihoods
of tsunami affected fishers.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6KY9VA?OpenDocument

Thailand
Deadline set to decide on Moken citizenship: Phuket: Officials in
tsunami-hit Phangnga and Ranong provinces were ordered yesterday to speed up
efforts to resolve the nationality status of Moken sea gypsies, most of whom
were displaced by the tsunami in late 2004. Interior Minister Kongsak
Wantana gave the authorities under his ministry a deadline of Jan 20 to
finish granting the Moken Thai citizenship. More than 2,000 Moken, whose
coastal communities were ravaged by the tsunamis in the two provinces, would
be granted Thai nationality if they were born in Thailand and alien status
if they were born outside the country. The deadline will save the
authorities having to process requests by people unqualified to obtain
citizenship later on.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Jan2006_news18.php



Indonesia
Tsunami aid stuck in Indonesian port for months: More than 70 shipping
containers packed with mosquito nets, school supplies and timber for tsunami
survivors have been stuck at an Indonesian port for months because of
inadequate documentation, an official said today. "I have been trying to
reach the owners, through letters and phone calls, telling them to claim the
shipments, as we are worried that the aid will be damaged if it stays here
too long," said Tommy Sianipar, a senior official at Belawan International
Port on the east coast of Sumatra Island. Sianipar said 74 containers
carrying aid materials had been waiting at the port for several months
because of inadequate paper work provided by the organisations that arranged
the shipments.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=168710702&p=y687yy4x8

Help on the way for stuck tsunami aid: The Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction Agency (BRR) has formed an integrated task force to clear the
containers of tsunami aid still languishing at ports in Jakarta and Belawan
in North Sumatra. Spokesman Sudirman Said said when the authority for moving
aid to the disaster area shifted from the National Disaster Management
Coordination Body (Bakornas) to the BRR, it had caused some confusion. "In
the early stages of the disaster, it was Bakornas which was in charge. Now,
it's a bit confusing, so we've taken the initiative," he told The Jakarta
Post on Thursday. Comprising officials from the BRR, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, the Customs and Excise Office, the Ministry
of Social Affairs and Bakornas, the task force itemize containers of useful
aid and ensure they made it to the intended recipients.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20060114.C03&irec=4

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http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=348256

Rural Employment Guarantee Programme discussed by NAC
NEW DELHI, JAN 13 (PTI)

The Centre's ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
(NREGP), which is to be launched soon in 200 districts, came up for
discussion at a meeting of high-powered Nationl Advisory Council here
today.

The meeting, chaired by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, reviwed the
operational guidelines being finalised to bring about
delivery-oriented implementation of the programme and to ensure
"outlays are transformed into outcomes".

Noting that the process of extensive discussions with groups of
experts and NGOs and with the Ministry of Rural Development needed to
be continued, it was felt that financial mechanisms be put in place
in order to ensure that the programme was executed efficiently.

Issues concerning the Jarawa Tribe in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
including the protection of their cultural identity and natural
habitat, health status and regulation of traffic also came up for
discussion.

It was decided that the issues involved should be examined in a
multi-disciplinary sub-group and also taken up with the Centre at an
early date, an official release said.

A detailed presentation was made on the areas of concern relating to
regional development and Centre-State relations in respect of plan
allocation and Central assistance to the States and Union Territories.

An analysis of the causes of regional disparities showed that several
policy measures may require to be introduced to promote growth,
infrastructure and human development on a more even basis.
--

First People of the Kalahari have been given The Right Livelihood
Award, known as the alternative Nobel prize, in recognition of their
'resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands, and
for upholding the right to their traditional way of life'.

We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and
determine their own futures.

Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK

Tel: 020 7687 8700
Fax: 020 7687 8701
http://www.survival-international.org

Another matter that I forgot to mention in the last email is that the
security issues are by no means so straightforward. A great deal of crime
occurs in the Andaman sea and thereabouts, such as drug running, piracy and
arms smuggling, most of it being connected with the Thai mafia and some of
it coming out of Phuket. Thai boats are already fishing, legally and
illegally, and some with devastating techniques such as explosives, in the
Andaman waters. Even now, some foreign poachers are a serious menace, with
their fast boats, guns, and excellent knowledge of the local topography. How
is the Navy and Coast Guard expected to deal with these threats if, say,
some foreign operators lease islands and have a legal excuse to have their
ships and boats coming in and out all the time?

>   Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:05:26 -0000
>   From: "sakhuja_v" <sakhuja_v@...>
> Subject: Andamans-Phuket link
>
> Here is sommething I wrote after i returned from Port Blair in
> September 2005.
> For your reading pleasure.
> Best Regards
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> Sahara Time 11 - Sep - 05
>
> INTERNATIONAL
>
> Andamans-Phuket link
>
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> In June 2005, Port Blair Municipal Council and Phuket Province of
> Thailand signed an agreement at Phuket to strengthen friendship. The
> agreement was signed to exchange experts in the fields of health,
> education, trade associations and also to make available experts on
> transportation and other developmental matters. Although the
> agreement is at the local body level but it has blessings from
> ministry of urban development for twinning of cities. This is indeed
> a welcome development after both Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
> Phuket were battered by the Tsunami waves. Both the islands are
> recovering from the after effects of the disaster and concentrating
> on development. Tourism is the main source of livelihood in the
> islands as lots people depend on this. Post-tsunami, tourism is hit
> badly. The two governments are taking many steps for reviving
> tourism industry and this agreement is very important component of
> that strategy.But there is no unanimity on the matter. Opening up of
> Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism is being opposed on the
> grounds of national security. It is being argued that the islands
> should be preserved in their present garrison format. And the
> argument is based on the fact that the Islands occupy a commanding
> position for the control of maritime traffic from the Indian Ocean
> to the Pacific Ocean through the Malacca Straits and the Ten Degree
> Channel. The Islands lie astride the sea-lane through the Malacca
> Strait and thus hold the key to the Eastern Gate to the Pacific
> Ocean thereby keeping sea routes under constant surveillance. The
> islands also act as the first line of defence.
> They also cite the vulnerability of the islands due to their
> geographical separation from the mainland and the potential for
> inducing a sense of isolation. Besides, the Islands are prone to
> attempts at subversion by state as well as non-state actors of the
> littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal as also illegal settlements
> and influx of refugee population having similar ethnic affinity.
> From the logistic point of view, the Islands are totally dependent
> on the mainland for all essential support. Therefore, opening up the
> islands for commercial purposes and inadequate military preparedness
> in the Islands could induce adventurous action from interested
> parties.
> These are indeed very valid arguments but merit debate. It will be
> useful to examine in this context, Hawaii, the US territory in the
> Pacific Ocean where both the US military establishment and tourism
> industry coexist.  Like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hawaii is
> strategically located as a first line of defence against any
> misadventure by any Asian country in the Pacific. As soon as the US
> plunged into the Second World War, military fortifications in Hawaii
> quickly came into action to attack and defend from Japanese forces.
> Notwithstanding that, Pearl Harbour attack took place.
> There are 25,000 military families accounting for about 100,000
> people in Hawaii. Most of them live in Oahu and the military owns
> about 42 per cent of the land (over 230,000 acres) in Hawaii and
> wants more.
> This land is leased from the state and private owners and makes the
> defence sector second largest revenue source after tourism in
> Hawaii. What is significant is the fact that the military has
> contributed immensely to Hawaiis economy and infrastructure.
> The department of tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is
> debating to bring about changes in the existing tourism regulations
> for the islands. It is seeking a significant expansion of tourism
> operations, including the "opening up" of ten islands in the first
> phase of tourism development. It has suggested that the
> establishment of an "empowered, high-powered body", under department
> of tourism, located in Port Blair, to enable single window clearance
> and a resort approval regime for eco-friendly tourism infrastructure
> development. It has recommended construction of 10 resorts in the
> islands, development of golf courses wherever land is available in
> different parts of the islands with environmental clearance, and
> promotion of the islands as an international cruise destination. But
> these initiatives are constrained by the mandatory restricted area
> permits for foreign tourists who are granted 30-day visit permits to
> the islands on the grounds of national security.
> According to a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) survey on the
> Asia Pacific region, India will show an annual growth in tourism to
> the tune of 13.7 per cent in 2003-07 and could well join the elite
> club of 33 other markets of Asia-Pacific that will see double-digit
> growth. Inbound arrivals to India are expected to touch 45.56 lakh
> in 2007, compared to just 27.26 lakh in 2002.
> India could soon emerge as a major force in the tourism sector but
> this can happen only if the infrastructure is improved and new
> tourism destinations are identified. The tourism momentum has
> already set in with India registering an annual average growth rate
> of 19.22 per cent in 2003-05, much ahead of Maldives (13.21 per
> cent), Sri Lanka (10.95 per cent) but it needs to be sustained.
> Today, advances in aviation technology mean that Port Blair is "over
> flown" by travelers crossing the Indian Ocean who look for
> destinations like Pattaya and Bali. What, perhaps, is needed is to
> build tourism related infrastructure that would provide incentive to
> the travelers who transit through Port Blair. First and the foremost
> important thing is the extension of airport runway from 6,000 feet
> to 11,000 feet to accommodate wide-bodied long haul aircraft and
> other related infrastructure to declare Port Blair an International
> Airport. Secondly, build maritime infrastructure to facilitate major
> cruise liners to dock in Port Blair harbour.
> Port Blair has a great opportunity to take advantage of the current
> globalisation for the mutual benefit of the state and its residents.
> It can exploit its tremendous potential in cross-cultural
> communication and tourism business in the Asia-Pacific region. It
> can draw upon professional resources to provide the guidance and
> skills necessary to position itself as an international player in
> the growing tourism economy. Keeping in mind that it is extremely
> important to safeguard its fragile and diverse ecosystems, some of
> the A&N islands can be declared as a Special Tourism Zone. And, the
> security establishment must rethink its broad-brush security
> concerns.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>

Is Sahara Time a magazine belonging to the airline? In that case, I see a
motive behind this one-sided promotion. Hawaii is not, repeat not, an ideal
model for the Andamans to develop on. We have had so much discussion on this
issue, I don't want to repeat it, but I find the idea of leasing islands to
operators, in the current regime where environmental laws are routinely
violated with complete impunity, to be frightening and an abdication of the
government's duty toward these islands and their inhabitants. There is
absolutely no point in talking about ecotourism and Special Tourism Zone,
etc., when the administration has demonstrated that it will not curtail even
the current illegal building of resorts in protected coastal areas.
Madhusree

  >   Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:05:26 -0000
>   From: "sakhuja_v" <sakhuja_v@...>
> Subject: Andamans-Phuket link
>
> Here is sommething I wrote after i returned from Port Blair in
> September 2005.
> For your reading pleasure.
> Best Regards
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> Sahara Time 11 - Sep - 05
>
> INTERNATIONAL
>
> Andamans-Phuket link
>
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> In June 2005, Port Blair Municipal Council and Phuket Province of
> Thailand signed an agreement at Phuket to strengthen friendship. The
> agreement was signed to exchange experts in the fields of health,
> education, trade associations and also to make available experts on
> transportation and other developmental matters. Although the
> agreement is at the local body level but it has blessings from
> ministry of urban development for twinning of cities. This is indeed
> a welcome development after both Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
> Phuket were battered by the Tsunami waves. Both the islands are
> recovering from the after effects of the disaster and concentrating
> on development. Tourism is the main source of livelihood in the
> islands as lots people depend on this. Post-tsunami, tourism is hit
> badly. The two governments are taking many steps for reviving
> tourism industry and this agreement is very important component of
> that strategy.But there is no unanimity on the matter. Opening up of
> Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism is being opposed on the
> grounds of national security. It is being argued that the islands
> should be preserved in their present garrison format. And the
> argument is based on the fact that the Islands occupy a commanding
> position for the control of maritime traffic from the Indian Ocean
> to the Pacific Ocean through the Malacca Straits and the Ten Degree
> Channel. The Islands lie astride the sea-lane through the Malacca
> Strait and thus hold the key to the Eastern Gate to the Pacific
> Ocean thereby keeping sea routes under constant surveillance. The
> islands also act as the first line of defence.
> They also cite the vulnerability of the islands due to their
> geographical separation from the mainland and the potential for
> inducing a sense of isolation. Besides, the Islands are prone to
> attempts at subversion by state as well as non-state actors of the
> littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal as also illegal settlements
> and influx of refugee population having similar ethnic affinity.
> From the logistic point of view, the Islands are totally dependent
> on the mainland for all essential support. Therefore, opening up the
> islands for commercial purposes and inadequate military preparedness
> in the Islands could induce adventurous action from interested
> parties.
> These are indeed very valid arguments but merit debate. It will be
> useful to examine in this context, Hawaii, the US territory in the
> Pacific Ocean where both the US military establishment and tourism
> industry coexist.  Like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hawaii is
> strategically located as a first line of defence against any
> misadventure by any Asian country in the Pacific. As soon as the US
> plunged into the Second World War, military fortifications in Hawaii
> quickly came into action to attack and defend from Japanese forces.
> Notwithstanding that, Pearl Harbour attack took place.
> There are 25,000 military families accounting for about 100,000
> people in Hawaii. Most of them live in Oahu and the military owns
> about 42 per cent of the land (over 230,000 acres) in Hawaii and
> wants more.
> This land is leased from the state and private owners and makes the
> defence sector second largest revenue source after tourism in
> Hawaii. What is significant is the fact that the military has
> contributed immensely to Hawaiis economy and infrastructure.
> The department of tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is
> debating to bring about changes in the existing tourism regulations
> for the islands. It is seeking a significant expansion of tourism
> operations, including the "opening up" of ten islands in the first
> phase of tourism development. It has suggested that the
> establishment of an "empowered, high-powered body", under department
> of tourism, located in Port Blair, to enable single window clearance
> and a resort approval regime for eco-friendly tourism infrastructure
> development. It has recommended construction of 10 resorts in the
> islands, development of golf courses wherever land is available in
> different parts of the islands with environmental clearance, and
> promotion of the islands as an international cruise destination. But
> these initiatives are constrained by the mandatory restricted area
> permits for foreign tourists who are granted 30-day visit permits to
> the islands on the grounds of national security.
> According to a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) survey on the
> Asia Pacific region, India will show an annual growth in tourism to
> the tune of 13.7 per cent in 2003-07 and could well join the elite
> club of 33 other markets of Asia-Pacific that will see double-digit
> growth. Inbound arrivals to India are expected to touch 45.56 lakh
> in 2007, compared to just 27.26 lakh in 2002.
> India could soon emerge as a major force in the tourism sector but
> this can happen only if the infrastructure is improved and new
> tourism destinations are identified. The tourism momentum has
> already set in with India registering an annual average growth rate
> of 19.22 per cent in 2003-05, much ahead of Maldives (13.21 per
> cent), Sri Lanka (10.95 per cent) but it needs to be sustained.
> Today, advances in aviation technology mean that Port Blair is "over
> flown" by travelers crossing the Indian Ocean who look for
> destinations like Pattaya and Bali. What, perhaps, is needed is to
> build tourism related infrastructure that would provide incentive to
> the travelers who transit through Port Blair. First and the foremost
> important thing is the extension of airport runway from 6,000 feet
> to 11,000 feet to accommodate wide-bodied long haul aircraft and
> other related infrastructure to declare Port Blair an International
> Airport. Secondly, build maritime infrastructure to facilitate major
> cruise liners to dock in Port Blair harbour.
> Port Blair has a great opportunity to take advantage of the current
> globalisation for the mutual benefit of the state and its residents.
> It can exploit its tremendous potential in cross-cultural
> communication and tourism business in the Asia-Pacific region. It
> can draw upon professional resources to provide the guidance and
> skills necessary to position itself as an international player in
> the growing tourism economy. Keeping in mind that it is extremely
> important to safeguard its fragile and diverse ecosystems, some of
> the A&N islands can be declared as a Special Tourism Zone. And, the
> security establishment must rethink its broad-brush security
> concerns.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>

CORRECTED-India to open remote Andamans to foreign flights
16 Jan 2006 13:34:01 GMT
   Source: Reuters

By Palash Kumar

   NEW DELHI, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Foreign tourists could soon be boarding direct
flights to India's remote Andaman and Nicobar islands in a move officials hope
will provide a major boost to communities hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

   Most visitors have so far been Indians keen to see the most far-flung outpost
of their country, which borders Indonesia.

   Travel is expensive and time consuming, with a one-way flight from Delhi to
the islands' capital, Port Blair, costing $570.

   The islands, home to ancient but dwindling tribes, are also a major military
base and foreigners need special permission to visit Port Blair and are banned
from the more remote Nicobars.

   But the islands' top official told Reuters international flights would soon be
allowed to land in Port Blair.

   "A decision has been taken to declare Port Blair an international airport,"
chief administrator D.S. Negi said.

   "As the islands are on the main air route to most of the Southeast Asian
countries, lots of tourists can come."

   Charter flights from nearby Thailand had previously been suggested. Plans to
open Port Blair to international flights have been discussed for some time.

   Ringed by palm trees and with dense rain forests, coral reefs and sparking
sands, and lapped by the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean, the islands --
1,200 km (750 miles) east of the mainland -- are likely to be a major draw.
   Some of the beaches there have been ranked as among the best in the world by
newspapers and magazines.

   "It's a paradise for those who really love nature," Negi said during a visit
to Delhi where he met tourism ministry officials.

   Visitors would also be able to island-hop, the official said, using
helicopters and light aircraft, instead of the rickety ferries that connect the
islands.
   Negi said 10 uninhabited islands would be opened for "high-end" tourists
willing to pay premium rates.

   Of the 572 islands that form the chain, only 38 are inhabited, many by members
of tribes who live as they have for millennia with virtually no contact with the
outside world.

   Most of the islands are closed to tourists, including Indians, mainly to
protect their unique flora and fauna or tribes. Conservationists have expressed
concern over plans to boost tourism in a fragile environment, especially with
drinking water already in short supply.

   The Dec. 26 tsunami, triggered by a massive earthquake off the Indonesian
island of Sumatra, close to the southernmost Nicobar island, killed almost
230,000 people. More than 3,513 are listed as dead or missing in the island
chain.

   http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL306425.htm


   With Regards


Pulak Barua
Product Development Manager
V-empower Inc.
________________________________________________________________________________\
_______________________________________________
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Mr. Sakhuja,
Was wondering if you have any thoughts and ideas about what would be the
environmental and social implications of large promotion of tourism in the
A&N islands - the construction of large tourism infrastructure, issues like
availability of fresh water for the residents as also the visitors, waste
disposal and management, the impact on the fragile coral reefs and forests
etc.

pankaj sekhsaria
----- Original Message -----
From: "sakhuja_v" <sakhuja_v@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 6:35 PM
Subject: [andamanicobar] Andamans-Phuket link


> Here is sommething I wrote after i returned from Port Blair in
> September 2005.
> For your reading pleasure.
> Best Regards
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> Sahara Time 11 - Sep - 05
>
> INTERNATIONAL
>
> Andamans-Phuket link
>
> Vijay Sakhuja
>
> In June 2005, Port Blair Municipal Council and Phuket Province of
> Thailand signed an agreement at Phuket to strengthen friendship. The
> agreement was signed to exchange experts in the fields of health,
> education, trade associations and also to make available experts on
> transportation and other developmental matters. Although the
> agreement is at the local body level but it has blessings from
> ministry of urban development for twinning of cities. This is indeed
> a welcome development after both Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
> Phuket were battered by the Tsunami waves. Both the islands are
> recovering from the after effects of the disaster and concentrating
> on development. Tourism is the main source of livelihood in the
> islands as lots people depend on this. Post-tsunami, tourism is hit
> badly. The two governments are taking many steps for reviving
> tourism industry and this agreement is very important component of
> that strategy.But there is no unanimity on the matter. Opening up of
> Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism is being opposed on the
> grounds of national security. It is being argued that the islands
> should be preserved in their present garrison format. And the
> argument is based on the fact that the Islands occupy a commanding
> position for the control of maritime traffic from the Indian Ocean
> to the Pacific Ocean through the Malacca Straits and the Ten Degree
> Channel. The Islands lie astride the sea-lane through the Malacca
> Strait and thus hold the key to the Eastern Gate to the Pacific
> Ocean thereby keeping sea routes under constant surveillance. The
> islands also act as the first line of defence.
> They also cite the vulnerability of the islands due to their
> geographical separation from the mainland and the potential for
> inducing a sense of isolation. Besides, the Islands are prone to
> attempts at subversion by state as well as non-state actors of the
> littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal as also illegal settlements
> and influx of refugee population having similar ethnic affinity.
> From the logistic point of view, the Islands are totally dependent
> on the mainland for all essential support. Therefore, opening up the
> islands for commercial purposes and inadequate military preparedness
> in the Islands could induce adventurous action from interested
> parties.
> These are indeed very valid arguments but merit debate. It will be
> useful to examine in this context, Hawaii, the US territory in the
> Pacific Ocean where both the US military establishment and tourism
> industry coexist.  Like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hawaii is
> strategically located as a first line of defence against any
> misadventure by any Asian country in the Pacific. As soon as the US
> plunged into the Second World War, military fortifications in Hawaii
> quickly came into action to attack and defend from Japanese forces.
> Notwithstanding that, Pearl Harbour attack took place.
> There are 25,000 military families accounting for about 100,000
> people in Hawaii. Most of them live in Oahu and the military owns
> about 42 per cent of the land (over 230,000 acres) in Hawaii and
> wants more.
> This land is leased from the state and private owners and makes the
> defence sector second largest revenue source after tourism in
> Hawaii. What is significant is the fact that the military has
> contributed immensely to Hawaiis economy and infrastructure.
> The department of tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is
> debating to bring about changes in the existing tourism regulations
> for the islands. It is seeking a significant expansion of tourism
> operations, including the "opening up" of ten islands in the first
> phase of tourism development. It has suggested that the
> establishment of an "empowered, high-powered body", under department
> of tourism, located in Port Blair, to enable single window clearance
> and a resort approval regime for eco-friendly tourism infrastructure
> development. It has recommended construction of 10 resorts in the
> islands, development of golf courses wherever land is available in
> different parts of the islands with environmental clearance, and
> promotion of the islands as an international cruise destination. But
> these initiatives are constrained by the mandatory restricted area
> permits for foreign tourists who are granted 30-day visit permits to
> the islands on the grounds of national security.
> According to a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) survey on the
> Asia Pacific region, India will show an annual growth in tourism to
> the tune of 13.7 per cent in 2003-07 and could well join the elite
> club of 33 other markets of Asia-Pacific that will see double-digit
> growth. Inbound arrivals to India are expected to touch 45.56 lakh
> in 2007, compared to just 27.26 lakh in 2002.
> India could soon emerge as a major force in the tourism sector but
> this can happen only if the infrastructure is improved and new
> tourism destinations are identified. The tourism momentum has
> already set in with India registering an annual average growth rate
> of 19.22 per cent in 2003-05, much ahead of Maldives (13.21 per
> cent), Sri Lanka (10.95 per cent) but it needs to be sustained.
> Today, advances in aviation technology mean that Port Blair is "over
> flown" by travelers crossing the Indian Ocean who look for
> destinations like Pattaya and Bali. What, perhaps, is needed is to
> build tourism related infrastructure that would provide incentive to
> the travelers who transit through Port Blair. First and the foremost
> important thing is the extension of airport runway from 6,000 feet
> to 11,000 feet to accommodate wide-bodied long haul aircraft and
> other related infrastructure to declare Port Blair an International
> Airport. Secondly, build maritime infrastructure to facilitate major
> cruise liners to dock in Port Blair harbour.
> Port Blair has a great opportunity to take advantage of the current
> globalisation for the mutual benefit of the state and its residents.
> It can exploit its tremendous potential in cross-cultural
> communication and tourism business in the Asia-Pacific region. It
> can draw upon professional resources to provide the guidance and
> skills necessary to position itself as an international player in
> the growing tourism economy. Keeping in mind that it is extremely
> important to safeguard its fragile and diverse ecosystems, some of
> the A&N islands can be declared as a Special Tourism Zone. And, the
> security establishment must rethink its broad-brush security
> concerns.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

Here is sommething I wrote after i returned from Port Blair in
September 2005.
For your reading pleasure.
Best Regards
Vijay Sakhuja

Sahara Time 11 - Sep - 05

INTERNATIONAL

Andamans-Phuket link

Vijay Sakhuja

In June 2005, Port Blair Municipal Council and Phuket Province of
Thailand signed an agreement at Phuket to strengthen friendship. The
agreement was signed to exchange experts in the fields of health,
education, trade associations and also to make available experts on
transportation and other developmental matters. Although the
agreement is at the local body level but it has blessings from
ministry of urban development for twinning of cities. This is indeed
a welcome development after both Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
Phuket were battered by the Tsunami waves. Both the islands are
recovering from the after effects of the disaster and concentrating
on development. Tourism is the main source of livelihood in the
islands as lots people depend on this. Post-tsunami, tourism is hit
badly. The two governments are taking many steps for reviving
tourism industry and this agreement is very important component of
that strategy.But there is no unanimity on the matter. Opening up of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism is being opposed on the
grounds of national security. It is being argued that the islands
should be preserved in their present garrison format. And the
argument is based on the fact that the Islands occupy a commanding
position for the control of maritime traffic from the Indian Ocean
to the Pacific Ocean through the Malacca Straits and the Ten Degree
Channel. The Islands lie astride the sea-lane through the Malacca
Strait and thus hold the key to the Eastern Gate to the Pacific
Ocean thereby keeping sea routes under constant surveillance. The
islands also act as the first line of defence.
They also cite the vulnerability of the islands due to their
geographical separation from the mainland and the potential for
inducing a sense of isolation. Besides, the Islands are prone to
attempts at subversion by state as well as non-state actors of the
littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal as also illegal settlements
and influx of refugee population having similar ethnic affinity.
From the logistic point of view, the Islands are totally dependent
on the mainland for all essential support. Therefore, opening up the
islands for commercial purposes and inadequate military preparedness
in the Islands could induce adventurous action from interested
parties.
These are indeed very valid arguments but merit debate. It will be
useful to examine in this context, Hawaii, the US territory in the
Pacific Ocean where both the US military establishment and tourism
industry coexist.  Like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hawaii is
strategically located as a first line of defence against any
misadventure by any Asian country in the Pacific. As soon as the US
plunged into the Second World War, military fortifications in Hawaii
quickly came into action to attack and defend from Japanese forces.
Notwithstanding that, Pearl Harbour attack took place.
There are 25,000 military families accounting for about 100,000
people in Hawaii. Most of them live in Oahu and the military owns
about 42 per cent of the land (over 230,000 acres) in Hawaii and
wants more.
This land is leased from the state and private owners and makes the
defence sector second largest revenue source after tourism in
Hawaii. What is significant is the fact that the military has
contributed immensely to Hawaiis economy and infrastructure.
The department of tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is
debating to bring about changes in the existing tourism regulations
for the islands. It is seeking a significant expansion of tourism
operations, including the "opening up" of ten islands in the first
phase of tourism development. It has suggested that the
establishment of an "empowered, high-powered body", under department
of tourism, located in Port Blair, to enable single window clearance
and a resort approval regime for eco-friendly tourism infrastructure
development. It has recommended construction of 10 resorts in the
islands, development of golf courses wherever land is available in
different parts of the islands with environmental clearance, and
promotion of the islands as an international cruise destination. But
these initiatives are constrained by the mandatory restricted area
permits for foreign tourists who are granted 30-day visit permits to
the islands on the grounds of national security.
According to a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) survey on the
Asia Pacific region, India will show an annual growth in tourism to
the tune of 13.7 per cent in 2003-07 and could well join the elite
club of 33 other markets of Asia-Pacific that will see double-digit
growth. Inbound arrivals to India are expected to touch 45.56 lakh
in 2007, compared to just 27.26 lakh in 2002.
India could soon emerge as a major force in the tourism sector but
this can happen only if the infrastructure is improved and new
tourism destinations are identified. The tourism momentum has
already set in with India registering an annual average growth rate
of 19.22 per cent in 2003-05, much ahead of Maldives (13.21 per
cent), Sri Lanka (10.95 per cent) but it needs to be sustained.
Today, advances in aviation technology mean that Port Blair is "over
flown" by travelers crossing the Indian Ocean who look for
destinations like Pattaya and Bali. What, perhaps, is needed is to
build tourism related infrastructure that would provide incentive to
the travelers who transit through Port Blair. First and the foremost
important thing is the extension of airport runway from 6,000 feet
to 11,000 feet to accommodate wide-bodied long haul aircraft and
other related infrastructure to declare Port Blair an International
Airport. Secondly, build maritime infrastructure to facilitate major
cruise liners to dock in Port Blair harbour.
Port Blair has a great opportunity to take advantage of the current
globalisation for the mutual benefit of the state and its residents.
It can exploit its tremendous potential in cross-cultural
communication and tourism business in the Asia-Pacific region. It
can draw upon professional resources to provide the guidance and
skills necessary to position itself as an international player in
the growing tourism economy. Keeping in mind that it is extremely
important to safeguard its fragile and diverse ecosystems, some of
the A&N islands can be declared as a Special Tourism Zone. And, the
security establishment must rethink its broad-brush security
concerns.

Post-catastrophe, tsunami of tourists in Andamans
       Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi

       The Tsunami came and played havoc, but on the positive note it gave a
much-required "publicity" to Andaman and Nicobar islands, giving a fillip to the
Tourism industry here.


Waking up to this growing tourism potential that the region has to offer, the
Union Territory is seeking a nod from the Central Government over leasing out of
islands to private players and modernisation of airport.

Speaking to the reporters here on Sunday, Chief Secretary (Andamans) DS Negi
said, "While the hiring of pilots and planes has already been approved by the
Centre, modalities are being worked out to get Centre's permission to lease out
10 islands to private investors and modernise the airport to international
standards to promote Andamans, which was badly hit by the tsunami."

He said tsunami has created "awareness" about the islands and in a way it worked
as "an advertisement" for the islands' tourism sector. "Now people are more
aware about the islands than before. We expect a 10 per cent growth in tourism
sector this year," Mr Negi said, adding that the administration would act as a
"facilitator" for the tourism sector.

The "ambitious" plan for leasing out islands got a fillip with the Union Tourism
Ministry concluding its inter-ministerial consultation, involving other
ministries like Environment, Forest and Defence, he said.

Allaying fears about the "geographical instability" of the region, the Chief
Secretary said that the investment climate in the islands was "perfectly
alright" and there was "no scope for any apprehension".

"World-renowned seismologist Roger Bilhams, who conducted studies in the islands
after the tsunami, has concluded that Andamans is safe for another 1,000 years
and categorically said there was no need for any fear," he said.

Meanwhile, at a meeting in the Prime Minister's Office attended by top Central
officials on Saturday, the Centre agreed "in principle" to improve inter-island
air connectivity, the Chief Secretary said.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has also been asked to submit a 'Cabinet note' in
two months on the status of Port Blair airport for attaining international
status. The Defence Ministry has, however, cleared the proposal.

"This move, apart from encouraging tourism, will connect all Southeast Asian
countries giving untapped income for the country and also the domestic air fare
will go down," Mr Negi said.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=NATION&file_name=nt7%2Etx\
t&counter_img=7


One's profession and career should be their  hobby, passion and cause

Sudarshan Rodriguez,
Marine Conservation Management Analyst
Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,
38 Balakrishna Road,
Valmiki Nagar,Thiruvanmiyur ,
Chennai-600 041
Tamilnadu, India.
Phone:+91 44 4201 9470
Mobile: +91 9840680127
Fax: +91 44 42015470

Email: sudarshanr@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Asia Pacific Ocean News, January 2006Quite a useful and interesting list of
reports and information.
Pankaj

----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth Flynn Neeley
To: PACIFIC@...
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 11:24 PM
Subject: [PACIFIC] Asia Pacific Ocean News, January 2006


ASIA PACIFIC OCEAN NEWSLETTER



JANUARY 2006

This newsletter is produced regularly and distributed free of charge by SeaWeb
to keep interested individuals informed of current news and events.  For more
information, please email apinfo@...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

CURRENT ISSUE:
(1) Year of the Sea Turtle
(2) Bleaching Threatening Regional Coral Reefs
(3) Challenges of Post-Tsunami Recovery
(4) Dead Seabirds Worry French Polynesia
(5) New Resources for Journalists and Scientists
(6) Upcoming events


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

(1) YEAR OF THE SEA TURTLE

All sea turtle species in the world are critically threatened by commercial
trade, habitat destruction, and marine pollution. In light of this fact, two
international forums have declared 2006 to be 'the Year of the Sea Turtle'. 
Members of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the
Indian Ocean - South-East Asia Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (IOSEA)
hope to build relationships with communities to monitor and safeguard nesting
sites, and to promote protective policies for long-term conservation.  Turtle
tagging and monitoring programs are underway in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

The 'Year of the Sea Turtle' announcements follow two important related
developments in conservation efforts.  In October, Indonesia, PNG and the
Solomon Islands entered into a new partnership for the conservation and
management of the Western Pacific leatherback turtles.  In support of the
effort, the European Union awarded nearly 2 million euro the WWF South Pacific
Programme in December.

SOURCES: Vanuatu News Online, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, SPREP, IOSEA
READ MORE:
http://www.wwfpacific.org.fj/current/news/press_releases/bsse/05-10-26_turtles_b\
sse.cfm
http://www.news.vu/en/news/environment/060103-2006-The-Year-Of-The-Sea-Turtle-Va\
nuatu.shtml
http://www.ioseaturtles.org/yot2006
http://www.sprep.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

(2) BLEACHING THREATENING REGIONAL CORAL REEFS

Researchers report that record high sea surface temperatures are threatening the
health of coral reefs in the South Pacific, Timor, and Tasman Seas. 
Reef-building corals have symbiotic algae living in their tissues that supply
the coral with energy and color pigments.  When stressed by high water
temperatures, corals lose their symbionts and eventually may die.  Hundreds of
square kilometers of reef can turn white (or "bleach") overnight.  Coral
bleaching is a serious concern: researchers in Thailand are finding that
bleaching, rather than the December 2004 tsunami, are the worst threat to reefs
in the Andaman Sea.

This week, Australian scientists warned that 30 to 40 percent of the corals on
the Great Barrier Reef could die within a month due to bleaching.  In an attempt
to prevent such an event, researchers are building floating structures to shade
the reef.  Laboratory experiments suggest that reducing direct light exposure
helps corals to withstand thermal stress; whether the finding holds true in
nature remains unknown.

SOURCES: The Canberra Times, The Xinhua General News Service, The Cairns Weekend
Post
READ MORE:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/18/content_3371137.htm
http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=8748
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html
http://www.physorg.com/news9643.html


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

(3) CHALLENGES OF POST-TSUNAMI RECOVERY

A new report following up on the December 2004 tsunami warns that some aid
projects are endangering the long-term stability of communities they seek to
assist.  The WorldFish Centre's paper points to the influx of new small fishing
boats as a particular concern.  In the Aceh province, some 11,000 boats have
been provided to replace approximately 8000 destroyed in the disaster.  The
increased fishing effort could exhaust the already-depleted inshore fish stocks
and result in "economic misery."  The group recommended that relief money
instead be used to restore marine habitats, enforce sustainable fishing quotas,
and support job diversification to reduce communities' vulnerability.

SOURCE: BBC News, WorldFIsh Centre
READ MORE:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/DPAS-6KBCM8?OpenDocument
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4552914.stm
http://www.worldfishcenter.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

(4) CONCERNS OVER SEABIRD DEATHS

Over the last four months, there have been unusual seabird deaths reported on
the Tuamotu atoll of Rangiroa in French Polynesia.  Although the cause of these
deaths is as of yet unknown, it is of grave concern: seabirds are suffering
nesting failures and massive die-offs worldwide.  In some cases, the root cause
is human overfishing of the birds' prey species.  In others, the entire food
chain is collapsing because of prolonged weather anomalies linked to global
warming.  Red tide toxins, chemical pollutants, and entanglement in fishing gear
are other factors contributing to the decline of seabird populations.

SOURCE: Pacific Magazine, Greenwire, The Scotsman
READ MORE:
http://www.pacificmagazine.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=19498
http://www.news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1964752005
http://www.falklandsconservation.com/seabird_deaths.html
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2997


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

(5) NEW RESOURCES FOR JOURNALISTS AND SCIENTISTS

SeaWeb is proud to announce the launch of our new website,
http://www.seaweb.org,  on Tuesday, January 17.  The site provides a variety of
valuable resources, including:

- SeaWeb Programs - For information linked to our program work - from
sustainable seafood to marine photography - click on
http://www.seaweb.org/programs.  The Asia-Pacific Program has information on
journalist scholarships, ocean expert communications training opportunities,
links to regional resources for media and researchers,  and much more at
http://www.seaweb.org/programs/asiapacific. - The SeaWeb Media Center - Check
out breaking ocean news, press releases and our media kit at
http://www.seaweb.org/mediacenter.php

- Media Briefings - Every few weeks, we send out concise ocean briefings around
crucial marine conservation issues to help you develop compelling news stories.
Sign up at http://www.seaweb.org/mediacenter/media_briefings.php

- Additional Resources - You can find ocean-related reports, articles, books and
even radio content through our Resources section at
http://www.seaweb.org/resources.php

- Ocean Update - To stay on top of ocean news developments worldwide, sign up
for our free monthly newsletter, the Ocean Update, at
http://www.seaweb.org/secure/account-register.php. The newsletter is distributed
to thousands of media, scientists, NGOs and others interested in ocean
conservation.

Finally, please visit http://www.marinephotobank.org.  The Marine Photobank is a
free resource of ocean conservation imagery. You can download photos from
galleries covering an array of issues ranging from marine pollution and trash to
coral  reef  degradation. You can even contribute your own photos.  Membership
and use are free for non-commercial purposes.  Stay posted for the new website
in February which will have twice as many photos and an assortment of new
features.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

  (6) UPCOMING EVENTS

1st Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. 
Canberra, Australia.  January 16 - Jan 20, 2006. For more information:
http://www.sdgateway.net/events/default.asp?EventID=3458

3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands.  January 23-28, 2006.
Paris, France.  For more information: http://www.sidsnet.org/calframe.html

Deadline for applications to the East-West Center's Asia Pacific Leadership
Program. February 15, 2006.  University of Hawai'i at Manoa. For more
information: http://education.eastwestcenter.org/aplp/index.htm

The 13th Ocean Sciences Meeting.  February 20-24, 2006.  Honlulu, Hawaii. For
more information: http://www.agu.org/meetings/os06

Post-Disaster Assessment and Monitoring of Coastal Ecosystems and Biological and
Cultural Diversity in the Indian Ocean and Asian Waters.  February 20-24, 2006.
Phuket, Thailand.  For more information: http://westpac.unescobkk.org



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------

To subscribe or unsubscribe, email apinfo@....  In the subject line,
write: SUBSCRIBE PACIFIC or UNSUBSCRIBE PACIFIC.  In the body, please include
your full name, position title, country and affiliation.

© 2006. Sections of this newsletter not cited to other sources may be reproduced
at no charge, with proper acknowledgment and citation as follows: Source: Asia
Pacific Ocean News, SeaWeb http://www.seaweb.org


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

....

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14056964

Happy-go-lucky Shompens take tsunami in their stride
By Subhra Priyadarshini in Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar Islands)
Sunday, 25 December , 2005, 09:54

Shompens, one of the last surviving aboriginal tribes in the
tsunami-battered Andaman and Nicobar islands have no clue about the
whereabouts of nine of their kin after the tsunami.

But the devastation last year at the archipelago seems to have left
not much impact on these happy-go-lucky nomads.

They still do not like to spend nights away from their forest
dwellings, keep bringing forest produces to cooperatives formed by
the local administration and are content with whatever they get in
barter, largely unaware of the media glare they were subjected to
post-tsunami.

Nine of the total 331 shompens are suspected missing in the tsunami
in the Great Nicobar Island, But all this talk about psychological
trauma and anxiety does not apply to this peace-loving primitive
tribe living in deep forests.

The tsunami was of no consequence to them, says Vivek Pandey,
Assistant Commissioner of Campbell Bay, the headquarters of the
island.

Sitting in his office in the southernmost landmass of India, just 125
km from Sumatra, he rattles off figures -- four shompen tribals
confirmed as missing by acquaintances and five others who have not
visited their relatives since the tsunami.

Tribal welfare officer Shabnam, the sole contact person between the
administration and the shompens, knows the missing by their names.

Ketos and Akuan, teenaged boys from the Kopen Heat area went missing
in the tsunami, so did 22-year-old Choin from Chingeh and Chuaala, a
small girl child of about five, from Pilobhabi, she says marking the
areas where last reported in red on a map.

Five others -- four from one family -- and a 29-year-old man Qoitai
also remained untraced an year into the tsunami.

The precision with which every small detail about the tribals has
been recorded on track sheets speaks volumes about the close vigil
they are kept in.

We have to be very careful about them as they mean a lot to the
islands exotic legacy, says Shabnam.

For instance, everyone in the Shompen Shelter in Campbell Bay knows
the story of Mug, his wife Eung and their two children Kosum and
Kurat, residents of the Pillobhabi island, was last seen at a place
called 37 kilometre East West Road.

Mug's brother Katayo told us that they were regular visitors to his
place before the tsunami but never came back after that, Shabnam says.

Pandey is happy with the way the shompens are taking to him, despite
his brief maiden posting to Campbell Bay since August.

They come to me in groups for their regular allocation of rice,
pulses, salt and matches, many of them properly clothed and not naked
like they earlier used to be. It is amazing that they have no visible
after-effects of the disaster.

He is also ecstatic about a young girl, the first among shompens to
have studied upto standard five at a local school. She is married and
has a kid. But we are willing to fund her education as she will set
an example among aboriginals.

The tribals are now gearing up for Christmas, a festival they
celebrate with the Nicobarese in the island. Look at the dhoop
(forest incense produce) they brought us last night. We pay them Rs
100 per kg as against the market price of Rs 50. This keeps them
going.

The water-logged island is, however, yet to shake off the effects.
The 35 km road which connects it and stretches to the southernmost
tip Indira Point is only navigable on 15 km.

Major Kailash Nagarajan, who has been supervising the rehabilitation
work in the island post-tsunami says reconstruction of this island to
its original state will take about 10 more years. Just the jetty will
take another year to be functional. The logistics of this remote
place are a severe setback.
--

First People of the Kalahari have been given The Right Livelihood
Award, known as the alternative Nobel prize, in recognition of their
'resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands, and
for upholding the right to their traditional way of life'.

We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and
determine their own futures.

Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK

Tel: 020 7687 8700
Fax: 020 7687 8701
http://www.survival-international.org


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Myanmar sends ship to show it's opening up

Posted online: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 0128 hours IST

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85699

PORT BLAIR: Ending decades of self-imposed maritime isolation, Myanmar has
sent a warship out of its territorial waters for the first time in 40 years.
In a clear signal that it is willing to open up, the military dispensation
in Yangon has dispatched UMS Anawyahta to Port Blair at the Navy's
invitation for the Milan 2006 exercises.


An indigenously-built missile corvette never before seen by most maritime
forces, the Anawyahta has made a big impression at the Navy formation here
as has its crew led by Commander Ko Ko Kyaw.
A senior officer with the formation here said: "It is a very smart and
impressive ship. We noticed that it is very well managed too."
The ship's visit to the Andaman Islands comes just a week before Navy Chief
Admiral Arun Prakash is scheduled to visit Yangon.
The Myanmarese Navy delegation here will for the first time be engaging
meaningfully with its neighbours, including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore,
Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The warship will also participate for the first time ever in multilateral
exercises over the next few days.
Myanmar's presence here is significant considering the rapidly evolving
assessment of Coco Island, a Myanmarese territory just 20 nautical miles
from Landfall, India's northernmost point in the islands.

Dear All,

I am in support of an open discussion, but I feel that in issues of this
nature, there has to be some restraint on the part of participants. A
moderator may have to use his/her discretion (as an editor of any good
newspaper would do) in deciding if it is responsible to publish
misinformation (based on hatred toward the West or "gut feeling")that could
contribute to public apathy.

Abraham


-----Original Message-----
From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of ramohan
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 7:27 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu

Bird flu et al, I have been on this group for the last two months and found
the chatter among the members entertaining.

I do get a bit confused at the diversity of views casual and serious
expressed and am never sure which one is more accurate or to take seriously.
At least I know that a lot of people are interested enough read and respond
to the messages however confusing or entertaining the outcome maybe. I
suppose just as different government and their supported research
institutions present differing arguments, many of us tend to do the same
when we express our point of view.

So for me the question is should this be a total open dialogue system or we
are better off with a moderator??

Ram Mohan
   -----Original Message-----
   From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...]On Behalf Of Abraham M. George
   Sent: 01 January 2006 00:00
   To: andamanicobar@...
   Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu


   I strongly suggest that everyone refrains from putting out non-scientific
   conclusions on how bird flu might spread.  Please allow science to dictate
   these matters. Those of us who are not part of the many expert teams
   (national and international) currently doing extensive research are simply
   not qualified to make recommendations. It is a dangerous and irresponsible
   game to play. Let us go by what WHO has to say, if we shouldn't trust our
   own governments or foreign countries such as the U.S.

   Abraham


   -----Original Message-----
   From: andamanicobar@...
   [mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of DuleepCMatthai
   Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 5:28 AM
   To: andamanicobar@...
   Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu

   Dear LtCol S.R.Banerjee,

   I strongly suspect that you are right in assuming that wild birds are not
   conveyors of bird flu.

   My Seasons Greetings to you and all others at WWF India in Kolkata.

   Yours sincerely,
   Duleep Matthai,
   "Savita"  Bungalow,
   Bhikhabhai Marg
   Vallabh Vidyanagar - 388 120
   Gujarat
   Res. Phone Exch. : 02692 - 236474/237102
   Personal Phone : 02692 - 573333
       "       Telefax :   "       - 235678
   E-mail : duleepcmatthai@...

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: "Shakti R Banerjee" <SBanerjee@...>
   To: <andamanicobar@...>
   Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 1:14 PM
   Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu


   >
   >
   > Dear friend,
   >
   > The bird flu is unnecessarily being given publicity by the media.Let
them
   > highlight on the domestic bird.But the wild birds do not pose any danger
   at
   > all.
   >
   > Regards
   >
   > LtCol S.R.Banerjee(Retd)
   > State Director
   > WWF-India,West Bengal State Office
   > 1st Floor,Tata Centre
   > 43 JL Nehru Road
   > Kolkata 700071
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   > Yahoo! Groups Links
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >





   Yahoo! Groups Links








----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
   Yahoo! Groups Links

     a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/andamanicobar/

     b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...

     c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




Yahoo! Groups Links

State-level Committee to monitor possibility of movement of birds infected
by Avian Influenza
A&N Admin Press Release, January 10, 2006

Incidence of avian influenza virus (bird flu) has been reported from the
South - East Asian countries, which has affected the domestic poultry but no
confirmed evidence is in place as yet. There is evidence of migration of few
individuals of three bird species namely Barheaded Goose, Great Black headed
Gull and Great Cormorant between China and South Asia. This raises the
possibility of movement of infected birds into India. Therefore, there is an
urgent need of greater vigilance and surveillance in all wet lands and
habitats that provide grounds to the migratory birds and to areas where
there is a possibility of interaction of migratory birds and poultry, more
so in backyard poultry.
In order to keep vigil over the migratory birds acting as vectors for avian
influenza, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration has been pleased to
constitute the state level committee to monitor the possibility of movement
of infected birds with the Chief Wildlife Warden as Chairman, Director of
Health Services, Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services as
members and the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife as member secretary.
      To monitor the movement of migratory birds in our territory and to keep
close vigil it is enjoined upon all concerned including PRI members,
fishermen and general public to provide information/reports regarding
movement of migratory birds noticed if any immediately to the nearest forest
office/veterinary hospital or the member secretary (Deputy Conservator of
Forests, Wildlife, Haddo, Port Blair, Ph: 232816, 235866).

Dear Friends,
In the context of MILAN 2006, todays' Indian Express carries two very
interesting and significant news items, one of which is posted here.
The other one is about the participation of Myanmar in the exercise. I'm
trying to locate and post that as well.

Pankaj

Centre approves Navy's Malacca plan

SHIV AROOR

Posted online: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 0127 hours IST

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85698

PORT BLAIR, JANUARY 10: Finally asserting its claim to security along the
Malacca Strait the Centre has approved the Navy's plans to approach
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia with a new multilateral plan
that safeguards Indian interests along the stretch.
Navy officers will make this operational proposal to senior delegates from
the Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia navies here tomorrow as part
of the Milan 2006 multinational exercises involving these countries and four
others from the region.
Deputy Chief Vice-Admiral J S Bedi is scheduled to arrive here over the next
two days to give the Naval Headquarters' stamp of authority to the proposal.
"So far we have only had bilateral cooperation. We are now looking at a
multilateral platform of cooperation for the Malacca Strait. We are also
present in the area and can provide support. In our discussions tomorrow, we
will specifically discuss this as it is an important area that needs
cooperation," the Naval component commander here, Commodore Arun Julka,
said.
The move comes after a four-year freeze by New Delhi on all matters
concerning the Malacca Strait - the busiest sea lane of communication and
trade in the world - after Naval warship INS Sharda was deployed to escort
US freight carriers through in April 2002.
At the exercises which begin off the Haddo Wharf here tomorrow, the Navy
will simulate a patrol along the Strait followed by the presentation of
detailed concept papers on how the Navy's 15 warships permanently based
under the integrated Andaman & Nicobar command - eight landing crafts, four
amphibious landing ships and three fast attack craft - may be pushed south
to join its four neighbours for security in the sensitive sea lane.
Maneouvres will include search and rescue, replenishment at sea and
cross-deck landing operations.
Commander Siow Chee Khiang of the Singapore Navy's 3rd Flotilla, Captain
Pradit Sirikupt of the Thai Navy's 3rd Area Naval Command and senior
officers of the Indonesian and Malaysian navies will receive the proposal.
Officers here said the government's studied freeze so far on the issue had
been to clear the way for individual access pacts with each individual Navy
in the Indian Ocean Region since security in the Strait is already under
dispute.
The government's position was well-reflected in Navy chief Admiral Arun
Prakash's comments six months ago that the country would not impose itself
on the issue.
But with individual bilateral understandings now cemented and two patrolling
pacts signed with Thailand and Indonesia, the government felt it was time to
revisit the issue in a comprehensive manner.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS
January 10, 2006
CS inaugurates trng. for Nicobari youths on capacity bldg.
Need for revival of agriculture, livelihood highlighted
Staff Reporter:
Port Blair, Jan 09
    A six month duration training on certificate course on sustainable
development for the Nicobari youths, both girls and boys, got underway at
the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, CARI, Sippighat today. Being organised by the Tata
Institute of Social Service (TISS), in collaboration with the A&N
Administration, KVK-CARI and Action aid India, an NGO, the training
programme was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Shri D S Negi.
    Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said that
the training will help in building capacity among the youth, who in turn can
play a vital role in the revival of agriculture infrastructure, livelihood
etc. which suffered heavy loss during the tsunami disaster. "There is need
to increase the productivity with the available land by taking up multi -
cropping system", the Chief Secretary said, adding that, "a paradigm shift
in mind set is required to meet the future goals".
    Shri Negi reiterated that the sustainable development of these islands
will be carried out, keeping in mind the very fragile ecology which exists
here. He said, there is immense potential in the agriculture sector and this
can be tapped by taking up high value agricultural schemes. He urged the
participants to diversify their agri-activities towards floriculture. Citing
the example of Sikkim, which explored floriculture in a big way and
contributing much towards the economic development of the State, Shri Negi
urged them to concentrate more towards activities like floriculture, which
according to him, has a large demand in the domestic market.
    Later, Shri Negi planted a coconut sapling, marking the inauguration of
the training programme.
    In his address on the occasion, the Development Commissioner, Shri Janak
Diggal informed that the main objective of the training was to develop
overall personality and equip them with leadership qualities, so that they
(youth) can participate in the development process right from planning to
execution.
    The Development Commissioner further informed that the TISS had conducted
a survey in Katchal Island last year and informed about the lack of capacity
building among the youths. This training has been devised in such a manner
so that the existing capacity among the youths to take up developmental
activities can be fine tuned, he added.
    Speaking on the occasion, the Director Social Welfare, Mohd. Abid
informed that the training programme will help build a cadre of Nicobari
youths to work towards the development of their respective area and this
course is a step towards achieving the goal. A MoU was signed between the
Administration and TISS, taking the confidence of the Tribal Council to
conduct the training, he added.
     In his address, the Director TISS, Prof Parsuraman informed that the
training component includes 4 months of theoretical courses and two months
of field visits. The core objective of the training is to develop village
and island development plans covering all sectors such as agriculture,
fisheries, livestock, livelihood options, employment, education, health,
disaster preparedness etc and also to implement and monitor rehabilitation
of lives and livelihoods of the people affected by tsunami.
    Earlier, the Director CARI, Dr. R C Upadhayay welcomed the chief guest
and others present on the occasion. The Nicobari youths presented a
devotional song on the occasion. Altogether 41 youths drawn from various
pockets in the southern group of islands are participating in the training
programme.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS
January, 10, 2006
ITF draws large crowd with cultural shows

Port Blair, Jan 09
    The Island Tourism Festival has become a source of mega entertainment for
the people of the town as well as from far off islands with cultural show at
different places. The variety entertainment programme depicting the rich
cultural heritage of India with folk dances of different States being
presented by the cultural troups from East Zone Cultural Centre, South Zone
Cultural Centre and Song and Drama Division are lauded by the large
gathering at different venues.
    Now the islanders are enthusiastically waiting for the musical nite by
Babul Supriyo noted playback singer to be hosted as part of the Island
Tourism Festival - 2006, which will be held at the Netaji Stadium on January
11 and 12 from 5 pm. A troupe of 20 artists including musicians, dancers led
by 'Babul Supriyo, the 'Kaho na pyar hai' fame singer along with other
singers like Purnima, Arnab Chakraborty, Devyani Bharve with Anchor Sudipto
Balav will perform.
    The involvement of local artists with their variety entertainment
programme including orchestras at different venues have not only generated a
competitive spirit but also provided them an opportunity to perform in front
of home crowd.
    Beside the main venue of ITF, cultural programmes are being staged daily
at Ambedkar auditorium, Bhatubasti School ground, Amphitheatre. The cultural
programme was also planned at Milan-2006 command area today for the first
time.
    The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports has been organizing the
Cultural programme at Inter-Islands simultaneously with ITF. So far cultural
shows were presented at Baratang, Rangat, Billiground, Mayabunder, Havelock
and Diglipur. For the first time musical evening planned at the historic
Ross Island has attracted large gathering who enjoy the evening by
witnessing and dancing to the pulsating tunes of the musical programme.
    A colourful city parade by the personnel of the visiting foreign naval
ships in the Milan-2006, aerobatic display by the fighter aircraft Sukhoi
(Su-30), water Skiing / Para Jumps and display by the Army Dare Devil
Motorcycle team are the other programmes in store for the islanders to be
held on January 12 which surely are going to mesmerize the islanders.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS
January 10, 2006
Milan - 2006
More foreign ships, delegations arrive
Port Blair, Jan 09
    More ships from the neighbouring countries have arrived here today to
participate in the mega event -Milan 2006. Among those which arrived today
include Bangladesh Naval Ship BNS Gomati commanded by Commander Md Harun Ur
Rashid, Indonesian Naval Ships Sultan Thaha Saifuddin and KRI Pati Unus KRI
commanded by Major Didik Kumlawan ST and Lt Commander Ridwan Prawira SH
respectively and Thailand Ship HTMS Khamronsin commanded by Lt Commander
Pusit Kirdnaimongool.  Delegations from Indonesia and Thailand headed by
Captain Aswad Se and Captain Pradit Sirilkupt respectively also arrived.
    Commander Md Harun Ur Rashid, the Commanding Officer of BNS Gomati, the
Myanmar delegation headed by Commodore Myo Myini Than and Commander Ko Ko
Kyaw commanding UMS Anwyahtar, Indonesian delegation headed by Captain Aswad
SE and the Commanding Officer KRI Pati Unus Lt Commander Ridwan Prawira SH,
Major Didik Kurniawan ST the Commanding Officer KRI Sultan Thah Saifuddin,
the delegation headed by Commodore JSK Colombage and the Commanding Officer
SLMS Sayura Captain RC Wejegunaratne, the Australian delegation headed by
Captain Daryl Bates called on Lt General Aditya Singh, AVSM the
Commander-in-Chief Andaman Nicobar Command and Commodore Arun Kumar Jhulka
the Naval Component Commander and Naval Officer -in-Charge and discussed the
issues of bilateral interest.
    A familiarisation trips for the personnel from the visiting foreign ships
were undertaken today. Later in the evening, the delegations, officers and
men of the foreign ships visited National Memorial and witnessed light and
sound show. A variety entertainment program and film show was also organized
in honour of the visiting guests at Milan ground.

Weekly News 9 January 2006
----- Original Message -----
From: TRINET
To: info.trinet@...
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 8:41 PM
Subject: weekly news 9 Jan 06




Weekly News 9 January 2006

This week's news round up is organized under various headings as follows.
Click on the item to go directly to the section you would like to read.

Government Updates
Events
One Year Update   General   Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Housing and Infrastructure
Livelihoods
Women
Other Countries

Government:Updates
Tamil Nadu: Tsunami Related Activities as on 15th December
(http://www.tn.gov.in/tsunami/tsunami-relief.htm ). The update also gives a
link to abstract of tsunami interventions details of government orders.
Pondicherry: Village wise summary on rehab works on 9 Dec 2005:
http://www.pon.nic.in/tsunami/rehabilitation29122005.pdf

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Note circulated during PM's meet on 4 Jan 2006
providing overview of relief and rehab.
http://www.and.nic.in/post-tsunami.pdf

Top
Events
Down To Earth holds exhibition on Tsunami: Down to Earth is holding an
exhibition of photographs taken on the eve of the first anniversary of the
Tsunami in Asia. These photos are from the worst affected villages from the
south Indian regions of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. The photographs are by
Pradip Saha and are of a rebuilt landscape and people who are still living
along the coast line.  10th January, 2006 at 5.30 pm at the Amphitheatre of
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India. Includes an illustrated account of
life after Tsunami by Annie George of NGO Coordination and Resource
Committee, Nagapattinam and screening of 'Children of Tsunami', a 50 minutes
video produced by Television Trust for the Environment Asia Pacific (TVEAP)
http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/125172/1/

Auroville - workshops on EM Technology, sanitation and hygiene (18th Feb)
and Eco Restoration (20th Feb). For more information write to
cnussele@..., Coordinator, Knowledge Resource Centre, Auroville
Tsunami Rehab Project, Auroville, TN.
Top
One year update
Community led Disaster to Development Programme: Report for the period
January to December 2005. Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), Mumbai In
partnership with Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Madurai Peoples
Science Institute (PSI), Dehra Doon.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/ssp/113647469116.htm

Sri Lanka: Rebuilding the fishing industry and people's hopes: After the
tsunami devastated villages along the coastline of the Indian ocean, CBM was
able to start relief measures early, both for the affected people with
disabilities and for the general population. The reason: CBM has long
established relationships with local partner organisation, that were already
in place, when the catastrophe happened on December, 26th. Almost a year
later, the aftermath of the disaster can still be felt by the local
population: The tsunami caused severe injuries and disabilities to those who
survived. To go on with life is especially difficult for people being
traumatized by the tsunami. Many have lost children or other relatives and
friends. A sewing workshop and other small businesses help the jobless and
traumatized people of Kudawella. The need, that occurred after the tsunami
recently and the typhoon on the Philippines in 2004, has effected an
addition to CBM's canon of mandates: Mental Health Services have become a
component of Community Based Rehabilitation work.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6KSFLA?OpenDocument

Top
General
India makes waves over tsunami warning system: India has agreed to share
seismic data from four of its monitoring stations as part of a tsunami
warning system for the Indian Ocean. But its offer has left many
unimpressed. The warning system will use a maze of deep ocean sensors and
tide gauges surrounding the fault that ruptured on 26 December 2004. India's
offer, announced at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordination
Group (ICG) in Hyderabad last week, is limited to data on earthquakes with a
magnitude of six and above, along the coast of Indonesia and Pakistan.
Signals from nuclear tests would be much weaker than this. "For the purpose
of tsunami warning we think our offer should be quite satisfactory," India's
science secretary Valangiman Ramamurthy told Nature.
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051219/full/4381060a.html

After the Tsunami: Lessons from Reconstruction: Reviewing the experience of
the first year could offer indispensable lessons for governments responding
to future disasters. One key lesson learned by both Indonesia and Sri Lanka:
establishing a national reconstruction agency separate from existing
ministries was essential. After a disaster, information is the most valuable
and often the most elusive asset. An agency must build an IT system to help
gather information accurately and quickly from donors and affected
communities. It became evident that, to function effectively, a
reconstruction agency must define its role clearly, establish a lean
organization, and quickly demonstrate its value to the reconstruction
effort. The experiences of BRR and Tafren suggest the features a
reconstruction agency needs to coordinate a rebuilding effort effectively.
Yet even if the agency does everything right, certain external conditions
must be in place if it is to complete its mission. Many different
stakeholders should be partners in the reconstruction effort, which will
only be successful if all participants play their proper roles. One year
out, there are numerous achievements and, sad to say, disappointments as
well. Reviewing both is at once a laudable exercise in accountability, and a
guide to designing and evaluating such complex projects in the future. To
read the full article, click on this link:
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/links/20233
http://www.onphilanthropy.com/tren_comm/tc2006-01-06.html

TNVHA( Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association ) also observed the Tsunami
Anniversary with 7 NGO (OFEER, PEDA, SEED, TREE, Progress Trust, BEST and
RIM) participating representing 3000 Women, youth , children, community in
the Human chain procession started on 28.12.05  by 9.30Am at Sinthamani
Amman Koil , Pudupettai and ended at Tharangampadi  Bus terminus by 11.30
am. By email from Mr G Sankar, Project Coordinator, TNVHA.
Top
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Much to be done to restore livelihood of tsunami affected people in isles:
PM: Action needs to be taken on many fronts so that peoples' livelihoods are
completely restored and the A & N Islands grow in tandem with the rest of
the country, this was stated by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh at a
press conference held at the lawns of the Raj Niwas here this evening.
Addressing after visiting some of the tsunami affected places, Dr Singh said
that some issues will be taken up by the government for betterment of the
tsunami affected people. The Prime Minister said that some flexibility is
needed in the construction of permanent houses. The government will examine
alternate options while retaining the structural design of the houses, Dr
Singh added. Dr Singh underlined the need to conduct a survey of employment
needs of the youth to identify areas where employment generation requires a
boost. Recruitment of teachers, anganwadi workers etc needs to be speeded up
by the local administration, he added. The Prime Minister said that tourism
has immense potential in the islands. The government will examine the
possibility of making Port Blair an international airport which, he said,
will help in promoting tourism.
Port Blair, Jan 4, 2006 http://www.and.nic.in/thursday.htm

Andamans beg tsunami aid brigade to leave: A surge in job-seekers sailing to
the Andamans for a slice of the post-tsunami aid pie could alter the
archipelago's demography and further squeeze its indigenous peoples, experts
warn. "An even bigger problem is the (presence) of the NGOs (non-government
organisations), who are spoiling the work culture," said Samir Acharya,
founder of the Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology, a social action
forum. chorya called for urgent remedial measures in the Andamans, which
boasts India's third highest literacy rate after Kerala and Mizoram states.
"The government need not encourage people to come to the Andamans and the
NGOs working here should have a very clear-cut exit policy to allow
inhabitants to collect their lives together," said Subhash Misra, UNICEF's
chief coordinator in the island chain. Others too echoed demands that NGOs
and their staff catch the first boat to mainland India, 1,300 kilometres
away. "Our population has crossed 650,000 from an initial 300,000, and this
is putting a terrible strain on the Andamans' carrying capacity," said Madhu
Krishnan, chairman of the Islanders' Organisation Front, an umbrella forum
of local NGOs. The archipelago's Tribal Welfare department chief Shibbi
Awaradi also voiced concern, warning that the islands' indigenous people
"must not become victims of unscrupulous people".
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C06%5Cstory_6-1-2006_pg\
4_22

Special package for tsunami reconstruction work in Andamans: Centre has
approved a special package of Rs 3,452 crore towards the reconstruction work
in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where killer tsunami waves caused
extensive destruction over the next four years. The package, which forms
part of long-term measures, includes the reconstruction of 8,566 permanent
houses of 450 square feet each and community infrastructure at a cost of
about Rs 738 crore, officials said here adding that the designs for the
permanent shelters have been drawn up in consultation with local population.
While a sum of Rs 176 crore has been earmarked for restoring the livelihood
of the fishermen by reconstructing infrastructure, over Rs 405 crore has
been kept for reclamation of land affected by salinity and inundation as
well as replacing lost livestock. Reconstructing shipping infrastructure
like jetties, cargo handling equipments, break water would cost Rs 1043
crore and restoration of damaged power and information and communication
technology infrastructure would be taken up at a cost of Rs 300 crore, they
said. A sum of Rs 233 crore has been kept for construction of social
infrastructure like a school building and primary health centres. Protection
of environment especially in coastal areas would be taken up at a cost of Rs
232 crore, they said.
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=346305

PM pulls up Andaman administration: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday
pulled up the Andaman administration for the tardy pace of the
reconstruction programme in the tsunami-hit archipelago and assured the
islanders of the Centre's intervention to get rid of the bottlenecks. On his
visit to the archipelago, the PM, dropped clear hints of giving people's
representatives a greater say in the management of the islands' affairs.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1357584.cms

Top
Housing and Infrastructure
Rs.7.80-cr. scheme for tsunami victims: Nagercoil: Under an emergency relief
scheme, the World Bank will provide basic amenities at settlements
constructed for tsunami-affected fishermen at nine panchayats in Kanyakumari
district, at a total cost of Rs.7.80 crore. The District Rural Development
Agency had sent an Rs.7.80-crore proposal to the World Bank for taking up
work to improve the livelihood of fisherfolk. The proposed works include
laying approach roads to the housing colonies, construction of recreation
centres, community halls, computer training centres and children's parks. It
has been decided to spend Rs.41.83 lakh in Leepuram panchayat, Rs.42.95 lakh
at Kovalam, Rs.1.97 crore at Manakudy, Rs.40.68 lakh at Pallamthurai,
Rs.1.90 crore at Muttom, Rs.33.25 lakh at Simon Colony, Rs.35 lakh at
Enayamputhenthurai, Rs.1.67 crore at Painkulam and Rs.32.83 lakh at Thoothur
panchayats, said the project officer, DRDA, P. Selvarajan.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010607990300.htm

NGOs offered help to build houses for tsunami victims: Kancheepuram: The
district administration has called upon nine non-governmental organisations
which have not initiated any step towards construction of permanent dwelling
units for the tsunami-affected people in Kancheepuram district to approach
the government departments/civic body for the necessary approvals. Pointing
out that assistance for getting no-objection certificate, plan approval and
drinking and sewer connections for the proposed colonies would be extended
by the district administration, Collector R.Venkatesan, in a press release,
stated that some of the 18 NGOs who had signed memoranda of understanding
with the State Government had already taken up construction works in certain
areas. Over 1,000 houses were under various stages of construction at
Devaneri, New Edaiyur Kuppam, Salavan Kuppam, Kadapakkam, Vilambur Kuppam
and Mamallapuram. Welfare schemes for the Adi Dravidar and Schedule Caste
people worth Rs.2.84 crore, with a subsidy component of Rs.1.83 crore, had
been implemented in the district. In all, 6,288 members of 431 Adi Dravidar
women SHGs had been provided with a revolving fund of Rs.10,000 each,
through THADCO.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010615800400.htm

Expedite construction of permanent houses for tsunami-hit: Collector:
Nagapattinam: J. Radhakrishnan, Nagapattinam Collector, on Monday appealed
to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to speed up the construction of
permanent houses for the tsunami-affected families. Mr. Radhakrishnan said
he was happy that the quality of construction was good and pointed out the
NGOs were doing their best to provide basic amenities in the construction
site including protected drinking water, street lights, good roads and
sanitation facilities. He said in all 17,461 permanent houses were being
built of which nearly 450 houses had been handed over to the tsunami victims
at Samanthanpettai, Vanagiri, Akkaraipettai and Pandagasalai. Nearly 14,000
houses were under various stages of construction and foundation stones were
being laid at several places, he added.  Mr. Radhakrishnan said the
construction of permanent houses would be completed by April or May this
year. Of the 303 hectares required totally, about 280 hectares had been
acquired and handed over to the NGOs free of cost. The Government had spent
nearly Rs.180 crore for providing relief and rehabilitation of tsunami
affected families, compensation and subsidy to fishermen for purchase of
boats and Rs.30 crore for purchase of land for construction of permanent
houses.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/04/stories/2006010414800300.htm

Out here, tsunami-hit children haven't returned to school: A lack of
transport has disrupted the education of an estimated 400 children,
displaced by the tsunami and resettled at Ernavoor.  Their problems have
been compounded since November 2005 when even a private NGO's initiative to
provide free bus services could not be continued. According to director Paul
Sunder Singh, the NGO had hired three buses for ferrying more than 300
children from the first temporary settlement at Kargil Vetri Nagar in
February 2005 to avoid disruption of education. The services were renewed
when the families moved to Ernavoor in October. Mr. Paul says "we were
unable to procure buses once the festival season set in and the demand
peaked. The transport companies say buses will not be available till
Pongal." They were also unable to shift 120 students to the nearby
Corporation primary school due to lack of infrastructure to accommodate
them. Karunalaya is now trying to get hold of buses while the district
administration officials are planning to approach MTC for running special
services or for providing free bus passes.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/04/23hdline.htm

Kalam opens Village Resource Centre: Nagapattinam : President A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam on Thursday inaugurated a Village Resource Centre established here by
the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, through video-conferencing from
Hyderabad. This is one of the eight VRCs in the country inaugurated by Mr.
Kalam through video-conferencing at the Farmers Virtual Congress session in
Hyderabad.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010615710700.htm

Top
Livelihoods
Agriculture
Social Security Scheme for farmers a hit in Tirunelveli: Within a short
period of it's launching, the Farmers' Social Security Scheme has become a
hit in the district since as many as 689 agriculturists have received
financial assistance to the tune of Rs.2.46 crore under various categories.
Identity cards were issued to 1.75 lakh farmers so far after scrutinising
their identity so that the disbursal of welfare measures to farmers and
their family members would be a trouble-free affair.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010607950300.htm

Fisheries
Tsunami communities reborn - Rebuilding livelihoods better than before: A
booklet brought out by the FAO profiles the rebuilding of livelihoods in
fisheries and agriculture in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and
Thailand. In interviews with the men building new fishing boats and the
women planting new trees in the orchards where their loved ones died, a
story of rebirth and hope emerges, with the generosity of both the national
and international public playing a major role.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6KR484?OpenDocument

Varsity, Fisheries Department to study fall in catch: NAGERCOIL: Tamil Nadu
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANVAU), along with the
Department of Fisheries, will study the sudden fall in catch in the Arabian
Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, especially after the tsunami.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology has denied any major change in
the sea after the tsunami. However, fishermen continue to complain about the
fall in catch.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/04/stories/2006010407500500.htm

Top
Women
Disasters Dramatize Women's Poverty Can Be Lethal by Ritu Sharma: With the
first anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami just behind us, we are all left
facing the new year with the aftermath of that year of disasters--from Sri
Lanka to the United States to Pakistan--still all around us. One sad
constant across each event was the huge toll these catastrophes took on
women. Women comprised the majority of those killed by the tsunami; in some
areas survivors were male by a ratio of 3 to 1. When the wave hit without
warning, women could not run fast enough since they were carrying children,
caring for elderly relatives or were hobbled by their long, flowing clothes.
Women had a harder time climbing trees and many simply did not know how to
swim. Poverty is the main reason that women are so vulnerable to disasters
in the first place. Even in the poorest communities, though, women reinvest
any extra income they have in the health care, education and nutrition of
their families. Investing in women, and giving them a prominent voice and
role in reconstruction, is the most effective way to help a community
recover from calamity.
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2587/context/archive

Rising above Rivalry: Thirty years ago, Indira Nagar was part of the
neighbouring village of Pudhupettai. Due to caste issues, the people living
in the area of the village that is now Indira Nagar did not intermarry with
those living in the area that is now Pudhupettai. To mollify residents
disturbed by the internal division, the District Collector divided the
villages in two. Pudhupettai remained Pudhupettai and the hamlet of Indira
Nagar came into being. However, its nascence was not thoroughly recorded on
public records and, as a result, in the post-Tsunami relief and recovery
effort, SHG members have utilised all the resources available to them to
obtain relief and recovery support. Women's SHGs have not only led the
community effort to obtain its fair share of support, they have also taken
the initiative to invest in community learning. A team of women with
experience in rebuilding after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake visited Indira
Nagar to share their experiences; SHG members were impressed and decided
that they wanted to learn more. With the support of an NGO they traveled to
Maharashtra to learn about how women are organising to improve access to
basic services. When they returned, they shared their learnings with other
community members.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/ssp/113647723840.htm

When the going is rough, Women get tough! The village of Rasapettai is
located along an isolated stretch of sand and is only reachable by boat. The
Tsunami on December 26, 2004 affected 1,508 people, that is, nearly 75 per
cent of the village population. While the loss of life was relatively minor,
two girls were swept away by the giant waves. Only one house was destroyed,
but 150 were damaged. Half the water supply, provided from a bore well
through hand pumps, was contaminated due to saltwater intrusion. Before the
Tsunami, three women's SHGs existed in the village; however, they were not
well organised and did not meet regularly. Now, 29 SHGs are functioning and
women have received seed money to expand their small fish selling businesses
and petty shops. However, fishing is slow, as the men hesitate to go out to
sea at any sign of rough waters. Thus, not only have women's incomes from
their husbands decreased, the quantity of fish they are able to sell at the
market is also less. Before the Tsunami, women obtained information about
current events and important government programs from the television and
from their local village leader. Now, they obtain information about relief
and rehabilitation schemes directly from the District Collector. They either
call his office or go in person to claim the entitlements they have been
promised. While the response has been slow, they have found strength in
their roles as group members and feel confident in exercising their rights.
The security they feel as group members also attests to the value they place
on their social network following the Tsunami.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/ssp/11364767026.htm

Tsunami puts fisherwomen in driver's seat: Some young women of
Vizhundamavadi, a tsunami-hit village near Nagapattinam, have now become
'auto drivers'- driving the bigger ones called 'load auto' to carry fish to
markets and from home to home. The marketing of the fish is usually carried
out by women of the fishing community. They carry the fish in big baskets to
the nearby towns on foot. Most of the women would walk several kilometres a
day carrying fish baskets on their heads, even during the harsh summers. But
after tsunami, People's Development Association (PDA), a Madurai based NGO,
which has taken up tsunami rehabilitation activities in the district, came
up with the idea to teach them driving and form SHGs to buy load vehicles to
carry the catch. Initially, women were reluctant to learn driving. But no
sooner some 20 young women showed their willingness, PDA arranged regular
driving classes for them. However, out of the 20 women, only four could
complete the course. Interestingly, the fishermen society, which would have
probably objected to the idea during pre-tsunami times, has fully backed the
initiative.
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan32006/update12018200613.asp

Top
Other Countries
Thailand
Five Tsunami Memorial Designs Shortlisted: Years from now, the tsunami that
struck the Andaman beaches will be remembered in the form of a
multi-million-baht memorial to be built in Khao Lak Lamru National Park. The
tsunami memorial committee said yesterday that it had shortlisted five of
the 379 entries received from 43 countries since the government announced
the design competition in September. The designs - from China, the United
States, Finland, Spain and Australia - were chosen by a special jury for the
final selection stage. "This memorial will not just be a concrete building,
it will represent complexity, love and sadness. It will comprise a knowledge
centre featuring information on natural disasters, especially tsunamis,"
said Apinan Poshyananda, chairman of the competition panel and
director-general of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture under the
Culture Ministry.
http://www.huahintoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=629

Committee formed to arbitrate tsunami land disputes: The government will
soon form a review committee to settle disputes over plots of land affected
by last year's tsunami in Phang-nga. Interior Minister ACM Kongsak Wanthana
said the committee, which he will chair himself, will settle all land
disputes of 167 families in the coastal province's  Takua Pa and Thai Muang
districts within a one-month period. The disputes had emerged before the
tidal waves wreaked havoc on landholdings at Baan Nam Khem, Thap Tawan and
Baan Nai Rai communities, said ACM Kongsak, who planned to visit the areas
later this month. The interior minister suggested dwellers and landlords who
had earlier claimed ownership of the coastal lands come to terms with one
another with the help of his committee -- otherwise the disputes would be
prolonged and require being settled in courts where legal settlements would
be a time-consuming process. Land deeds will be issued for those who have
agreed to compromise with others over the disputed plots of land, he said.
http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=5649


Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka bounces back one year after tsunami: Sri Lanka's tourism industry
has rebounded strongly following the devastating effects of the December
2004 tsunami. In the first nine months of last year, official figures
indicate that visitor arrivals reached 405,585 - an 8% increase over the
same period in 2004. What's more, the peak tourist season from November to
March promises to see another record year, with projections indicating that
visitor arrivals will exceed the 500,000 mark for the third consecutive
year. A US $320 million dollar tourism recovery plan initiated by the Sri
Lanka government included an extensive infrastructure and construction
programme, investment in community development and duty waivers for the
industry. The Bounce Back Sri Lanka Programme also included a $10 million
marketing recovery programme, aimed at placing the country back in the minds
of travellers and travel trade professionals.
http://www.itp.net/business/news/details.php?id=19184&category=

Replacement of boats, engines destroyed by tsunami is chaotic - FAO: Sri
Lanka took 12 months to replace the first of its 187 multiday fishing crafts
destroyed by the Asian tsunami. But, smaller boats are oversupplied due to
too many players being involved. Of 4480 FRP boats destroyed, 4321 such
vessels were replaced end-December and 2264 more FRPs are pledged for
replacement by NGOs. There is also a gross oversupply of traditional craft
(TC) 11,158 TC destroyed; 8636 replaced and 3037 more pledged by NGOs. Far
more smaller fishing craft have been replaced, than existed before the
tsunami, FAO Consultant, Leslie Joseph said. In the Galle, Matara and
Hambantota districts of the island's south, of the 868 boats delivered, only
272 (31 percent have gone to genuine beneficiaries. Of 1860 TC delivered,
only 757 (40 percent) have gone to genuine beneficiaries. Sri Lanka's
replacements of boats and engines damaged and destroyed by the tsunami is
chaotic, Joseph, who carried out the FAO report, just released said.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/08/new24.html

Top

Disclaimer:
This news update is provided by TRINet for the benefit of those working in
tsunami rehabilitation
purely for information purposes only.
Please send your comments to info.trinet@...
Visit us at: www.trinet.in

Move to give A&N Islands legislative assembly
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85474



SUDHI RANJAN SEN


Posted online: Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 0150 hours IST



NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands may soon get a
legislative assembly with the Union Home Ministry setting in motion the
process.
Official sources said though a long standing demand, the move got a fillip
after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Andaman's people on January 3
that he would take up the issue with the Cabinet.
The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has a 22-member municipal
council. In 1979, the Janata Party government had granted them a Pradesh
Council but it was scrapped by the Congress government in 1994 and
administration reverted to the Centre.
Goa and Delhi, as Union territories, had their assemblies. But for the
Andamans to get this status, the government will have to amend the
Constitution and move subjects other than the police to the new assembly.
The demand has been hanging fire as the Defence Ministry has severe
objections. It has argued that the islands are of strategic importance and
should be administered by the Centre.
A&N MP Manoranjan Bhakta told The Indian Express that the objections of the
Defence Ministry were baseless. ''Punjab and the Northeast states also have
immense strategic importance but they have legislative assemblies and
statehood," he added.
Bhakta added that with Delhi as the decision-maker, developmental projects
are stuck for years, since a file takes often takes months to reach Delhi
and return to the islands.

A&N: PM visit sets delayed rehabilitation project rolling
       http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85477



             SANTWANA BHATTACHARYA


       Posted online: Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 0152 hours IST



       NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6: It took a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
Anadaman-Nicobar for the island's tsunami-rehabilitation project, pending since
March last, to get rolling. Urban Development Ministry has decided to call
tenders early next week, and ground work is likely to begin by January-end.

       Aim of the project is to build around 8,500 houses at an estimated cost of
Rs 6 lakh each for those who lost home and hearth in the tsunami of December 26,
2004. But it got the nod of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) only on
December 12, last.

       While national-level NGOs would build around 4,000 houses, CPWD and
NBCC-would build the rest. While regretting the delay during his interaction
with the locals and the island authorities, the PM made it clear that though the
government was willing to allow ''flexibility in construction'', basic
parameters had to be properly engineered

       Senior UD officials also said that though the project report, with designs
of the houses, was readied in March last by the CPWD in consultation with the
island's authorities, the Tribal Council, NGOs and experts, the final approval
was delayed as parleys between the Planning Commission and the Home Ministry
dragged on over details such as how many houses to build and where, and with
what specifications.

       Adding to the confusion was a Parliamentary delegation visiting the
affected areas of the island in July last. While the MPs returned with feedback
that the locals were unhappy with the housing project designed by the government
agencies, NGOs jumped into the fray to have a go at the construction themselves.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tsunami: coral reefs can recover quickly

http://www.hindu.com/seta/2006/01/05/stories/2006010500031600.htm



IN THE aftermath of last year's cataclysmic tsunami, Dr. Gregory Stone of the
New England Aquarium co-led an expedition to survey the damage caused to
Thailand's coral reefs.

As reported in a recently released technical report available on the New England
Aquarium website and in December's issue of National Geographic, the
expedition's results indicate a quick recovery for most of the reefs.

These affected coral reefs are a critical resource for millions of people in
that region as they are invaluable for their biological diversity.

Important role


The dive tourism industry is a major part of the region's economy and locally
caught fish are a primary source of protein in the diet of the people in the
region. The coral reefs there are among the most beautiful in the world.

An international team of eight scientist-divers, led by Dr. Gregory Stone of
Boston and Dr. Gerald Allen of Australia, travelled to the coast of Thailand
approximately three and a half months after the tsunami struck in order to
rapidly assess the extent of damage to reefs.

After more than 500 dives at 56 sites, though the team found plenty of damage,
there appears to be reason for optimism. Of the reefs assessed, 36 per cent
showed very little to no damage, while 50 per cent showed a moderate amount of
tsunami-related damage. Only 14 per cent of the surveyed reefs had suffered
severe damage.

And near the earthquake's epicentre off Indonesia - far from the survey - the
seafloor was heaved up by an estimated 16 feet , lifting some coral clear out of
the water.

Large bays, which can intensify the waves, were hit especially hard, with table
corals big enough for a family dinner scattered and broken, and massive coral
heads toppled and smothered in silt.

It was discovered that the damage to reefs varied with water depth and local
geography. To deep-water reefs in the open ocean, the tsunami posed little
threat, where its fast-moving waves were only a few feet tall.

In large, shallow bays, the most damage was suffered, where the strength of the
waves was amplified. Coastal development often worsened the damage. It was found
that pounding of the reefs by debris added to the devastation.

There is some good news. The vibrant and diverse habitats typical of the region
- the reefs - are expected to recover quickly.

Recolonisation by larvae


According to fish expert Gerry Allen of the Western Australian Museum, there are
still plenty of fish around in the reefs. Damaged coral formations can continue
to grow, and even dead reefs may, in time, be recolonised by coral larvae.

The scientific team concluded that the rare devastation of the tsunami was less
of a long-term threat to the coral reefs than ongoing human-caused damage such
as over-fishing, poorly planned coastal development and global warming. - Our
Bureau


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Manmohan announces livelihood plans for Andaman and Nicobar
BY Aarti Dhar
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010604441400.htm





Ban on Government recruitment to be lifted
Action plan for agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, rural development
drawn up
Short-term package for reclamation of agricultural land announced




I
PORT BLAIR: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has said it will
provide at least one daily wage job for a year to each family affected by
the tsunami.
About 6,313 families have been identified for the scheme after a
door-to-door survey was conducted.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday announced lifting of the ban on
recruitment in the Union Territory to fill the 650 vacant Government posts.
He said there would be an increase in the number of anganwadi workers.
The administration has also drawn an action plan for agriculture, animal
husbandry, fisheries and rural development. The tsunami caused extensive
damage to agriculture land, affecting about 6,000 farmers. At least 11,010
hectares are estimated to be damaged, of which 1,730 hectares is under paddy
and other field crops, 9,107 hectares under plantation crops and 400
hectares under root crops.
Short-term package
The Centre has approved a short-term package for Rs. 235.82 crore for
reclamation of soil and rehabilitation of agriculture. An additional Rs.
3.72 crore has been provided for implementation and monitoring of the
package. The time period for the short-term package is two years, while a
long-term package of Rs. 257.90 crore is under the Centre's consideration.
Much debris still needs to be cleared before initiating reclamation and
re-cropping measures for plantation crops. The proposed cost of site
clearance of 9,107 hectares is Rs. 9.99 crore at the rate of Rs. 15,000 per
hectare.
While clearance work has started in the major islands, transportation of
heavy machinery to Katchal, Kamorta and Teressa has been hindered by damaged
jetties. Most of the debris is being cleared manually.
Salt and sand have been deposited on the topsoil in most affected areas.
Scraping of salt is being taken up at a cost of Rs. 25,000 per hectare. Only
about one-third of the affected rice and plantation area has been considered
for the operation, at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.85 crore.
The survey work has been completed, and major scraping work will be taken up
during 2006-07. The leaching process will also be carried out to drain
insoluble salts. The areas will be then identified for application of
gypsum.
A package worth about Rs. 26.28 crore, proposed for animal husbandry
activities in the tsunami-affected areas, is awaiting Central approval.
Under the employment generation and livelihood programme, 10,000 affected
families will be assisted in rearing poultry, ducks, goats, pigs and cattle.
This is in addition to a huge package announced by the Centre to
rehabilitate fishermen.
The December 26, 2004, tsunami left 436 dead and 3,077 missing in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Infrastructure was badly damaged and economic
activities were crippled.
Printer friendly page

Dear Friends,
This is the text of the Note circulated on January 4, 2006 during the Prime
Minister's Press Meet related to the situation in the islands.
It can be considered the most updated A&N position on the situation in the
islands. Its there on the webside of the A&N administration at
http://www.and.nic.in/post-tsunami.pdf

Pankaj

POST TSUNAMI RELIEF, REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION MEASURES IN ANDAMAN &
NICOBAR ISLANDS
THE DAMAGE
Dead and Missing 3513
Islands affected 38
People affected 50,000
Houses fully damaged 10,000
Agricultural land affected 10,000 Ha
Roads damaged 354 Kms
Infrastructure badly damaged 24 jetties, 85 schools, 34 PHCs, 37 MW Power &
Water Supply in 257 Villages

IMMEDIATE RELIEF MEASURES
􀂃 207 Relief camps opened with 46,000 people; 14,000 people airlifted to
Port Blair 5,700 people evacuated to mainland; 2000 MT relief material
transported to different islands.
􀂃 Ex-gratia disbursed to next of kin of all dead/ missing persons and
orphans at the rate of Rs 2.00 lakh; Widows and Unmarried girls above 18
years of age have been paid ex-gratia at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh.
􀂃 9565 Intermediate shelters constructed for more than 45,000 Tsunami
affected families in a period of four months to ensure that they had a roof
over their heads before the onset of monsoon in May. 15,000 MT materials for
construction of shelter were transported to different islands despite severe
logistic constraints.
􀂃 60 fair price shops opened in different islands. Special Relief ration
cards issued.
1
􀂃 Child Helpline service, Trauma counseling services set up.
􀂃 Traditional houses built / repaired for Onges / Great Andamanese.
􀂃 Under the Rajiv Gandhi Relief Package for Tsunami affected areas Rs.
821.88 crore was immediately sanctioned. This included payment of ex- gratia
as well for revival of economic activity. In addition, an enhanced
Compensation package for Crop loss at a cost of Rs.70.28 crore has also
been. sanctioned. This consists of compensation of Rs. 90,465 per hectare
for loss of plantation crops ie. coconut and arecanut and Rs. 22,231/ha for
loss of paddy/vegetables.

RESTORATION OF DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE
􀂃 Out of 20 Power Houses damaged, 10 were restored and 18 new constructed.
30 MW out of 37MW capacity destroyed were restored immediately. In 58
relocated isolated settlements, where intermediate shelters were
constructed, power supply was given by extension of lines and generator
sets.
􀂃 Intermediate shelter sites, developed after tsunami, were connected with
fair weather roads. 142 kms roads have been restored and repair /
reconstruction work on 308kms is under progress.
􀂃 Drinking water to all affected areas was restored immediately. Rain water
harvesting structures were provided in intermediate shelters.
􀂃 Shipping schedule was maintained from the day of tsunami. In fact, the
frequency of inter-island and mainland-island ships were increased.
Temporary jetties were constructed in tsunami affected islands.
SOCIAL SERVICES
􀂃 Timely, preventive measures were taken to ensure any outbreak of
communicable disease. In fact the incidence of malaria was lower than the
pre- tsunami period. All health Sub centers made functional immediately.
2
􀂃 Schools were immediately re-established in temporary structures.
Textbooks, notebooks, stationary, uniforms were provided.
LIVELIHOOD PLAN
􀂃 The UT administration has assured at least one daily wage job per
affected family for 1 year. 6313 families have been identified for support
after door to door survey.
􀂃 22 lakh mandays have been generated as on 15th Dec 2005.
􀂃 Efforts have been made to revive tourism. Media campaign launched for
"Brand & Confidence Building". Permission to visit the Islands in lieu of
Home Leave Travel Concession helped in reviving the inflow of tourists.
􀂃 In the agriculture sector, the policy of buy back from farmers for
coconut seedling / seed nut, banana suckers, areca nut & tapioca 'seedlings
resulted in an income of Rs 45 lakhs. In addition, farmers benefited through
procurement of Copra, which increased from Rs 65 lakhs in 2004-05 to Rs.
3.75 crore in 2005-06. Multiple cropping, Organic farming, Vegetable
cultivation introduced.
􀂃 2300 fishermen were affected. Of the 1703 boats lost/damaged, 1392 have
been repaired/replaced.
PMs NATIONAL RELIEF FUND
􀂃 Total package sanctioned for Rs 13.08 crore. Six projects have already
been sanctioned. Child assistance scheme & Scholarship scheme for tsunami
affected children is also under implementation.
LONG TERM MEASURES
􀂃 The Government of India has approved a special package of Rs. 3,452 crore
for reconstruction work to be undertaken in ANI over the next four years.
This package aims at not only rehabilitating the damaged infrastructure in
ANI but also bringing these to international levels. The package includes
the following;
3
􀂃 Reconstructing 8,566 permanent houses of 450 square feet each and
community infrastructure at a cost of Rs.738.00 crore; The designs for the
permanent shelters have been drawn up in consultation with the local
population. Prototypes were set up in islands that were accepted by the
beneficiaries. NGOs have been invited to actively participate.
􀂃 Restoring the livelihood of fishermen by reconstructing infrastructure,
providing processing & marketing facilities and skill development at a cost
of Rs.176.05 crore.
􀂃 Reclamation of land affected by salinity and inundation as' well as
replacing lost livestock at a cost of Rs.404.73 crore.
􀂃 Reconstructing shipping infrastructure e.g. jetties, cargo handling
equipment, break water etc at a cost of Rs.1 043 crore.
􀂃 Constructing/repairing new/damaged roads and bridges at a cost of
Rs.90.65 crore.
􀂃 Restoration of damaged Power & ICT infrastructure at a cost of Rs.300.00
crore.
􀂃 Upgrading drinking water supply and drainage system in Tsunami affected
areas at a cost of Rs.37.02 crore.
􀂃 Construction of social infrastructure e.g. school buildings, PHCs, ICDS
centers etc at a cost of Rs.233.52 crore.
􀂃 Protection of environment especially in coastal areas at a cost of
Rs.231. 7 crore.
􀂃 Rehabilitating tourism infrastructure with special focus on eco-tourism
at a cost of Rs.76.50 crore.
􀂃 Long-term resurgence projects for upgrading other infrastructure at a
cost of Rs.50.00 crore.
􀂃 Project formulation and management at a cost of Rs.70 crore.
45
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT EXTENDED TO A&N ADMINISTRATION
􀂃 Condition of waiting period of 1 year for grant of various retirement &
other benefits to dependents of the missing Government servants was waived
off in respect of cases relating to tsunami victims.
􀂃 Andaman & Nicobar Administration was exempted from the 10% cut on POL
consumption for the Financial Year 2005-06 to facilitate the rehabilitation
work.
􀂃 Financial powers delegated to the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands were
enhanced.
􀂃 Proposal to frame a special scheme for providing employment for the
dependents to the Government servants who have died/gone missing is under
consideration.
􀂃 Proposal to lift the ban orders for reviving certain vacant posts in the
A&N Admn. is under consideration.

(Note circulated during PM’s Press Meet on 04-01-2006)

PRIME MINISTER'S TALKING POINTS
AT PRESS INTERACTION IN A&N ISLANDS
4.1.2006
http://www.and.nic.in/pm1.htm
        I  have  visited  some of  the  affected  places yesterday and today,
saw the intermediate shelters built  for those displaced by the Tsunami and
also interacted with their residents.
       The immediate need last year was to provide shelter to those affected
before the onset of the next monsoon in 2005.  I  am happy that all
intermediate shelters were built in time and no one is homeless.
        Other  relief was also provided - cash grants, free food grains,
compensation for losses, grants for repair of boats, etc.
        Immediate restoration of road and sea communication was also
achieved.
Future
After my visit, I have come to the conclusion that action needs to be taken
on many fronts  so that peoples' livelihoods are completely restored and the
A&N Islands grow in tandem with the rest of the country.
Some issues which our government will take up are :-
1.I feel that  some  flexibility  is  needed in the construction of
permanent houses. The  government  will  examine alternate options while
retaining the structural design of the  houses.
2.There are about 1000 affected families who are currently  not eligible for
permanent  housing  as  they  do  not  have  titles.  We need  to  take a
humanitarian view  of  the matter. They will be provided houses,  may be in
different locations.
3.There  are  still  many  families  whose  breadwinners  are  missing.
Their survivors,  I  am told,  are  facing  problems in accessing bank
accounts, etc. We will provide an  appropriate legislative framework to
ensure that the survivors' problems in this regard are solved.
4.I  recognize  the  need to speed up construction of jetties in the
islands. The funds  are there  in the rehabilitation plan. We  will
delegate powers substantially so that construction proceeds faster.
5.In   some  islands,  particularly   in   Great  Nicobar,  roads   have
been completely  destroyed   and need  to be constructed fast. This is
priority for the residents.
6.To restore livelihoods much more needs to be done.

  We  will  remove  the  restrictions  on  government recruitment so that 650
posts can be filled soon.
  We  will  conduct  a  survey of employment needs of the youth to identify
areas where employment generation requires a boost.
  Recruitment  of  teachers, anganwadi  workers  etc.  needs to be speeded up
by the local administration.

7.Education: There are problems related to higher education in the remote
islands.  I  will  ask  16  National  Open  Universities  to work on opening
distances learning centers in the more remote islands.
8.Being  a  far-flung  territory,  there  is  a  desire  to have a new
district, particularly   in   North   and   Middle   Andaman   at
Mayabunder.  The government is examining this issue seriously.
9.Tourism   has   immense  potential   in  the  islands.  I  will  examine
the possibility  of  making  Port Blair  an  international airport which I
feel will help in promoting tourism.
10.Legislative Assembly: Many people  have  met  me and have expressed a
desire to have a more representative form of government. This is a valid,
understandable desire. We will look into it with sincerity and sympathy.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Jan 4, 2006
Dr. Manmohan Singh reviews rehab. activities is isles, lauds admn. efforts
Port Blair, Jan 03
    Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today reviewed the rehabilitation
efforts being undertaken in the islands, which were ravaged by the
devastating tsunami last year. 'I have come here to see for myself how
things are progressing', he said after laying the foundation stone for a
passenger terminal and a working women hostel, at Haddo wharf here this
evening.
    The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the Administration in restoring
normalcy in the islands after the disaster. Shri Singh, who visited affected
areas here last year, said that the Govt. and the Administration are fully
seized of the problems of the people and therefore, the Govt. at the Centre
has approved a long term tsunami rehabilitation programme which will cost
Rs.2600 crores.
   The Prime Minister assured that there would be no shortage of funds for
the rehabilitation task in the islands.  The Government of India has already
allocated Rs. 2600 crores   Reacting to the member of Parliament, Shri
Manoranjan Bhakta's remarks that plethora of rules and non-availability of
materials hampering speedy progress of works in the islands, the Prime
Minister assured that the issue will be looked into to find a correct and
pragmatic solution so that the valuable time is not lost.  The demand for
giving a greater say to the public representatives in the management of
affairs in the islands would be looked into, he assured.
    Referring to the new passenger terminal proposed to be constructed, the
Prime Minister said that the building will go a long way in facilitating
passengers to and fro mainland who are visiting these islands. This
building, which will be three time the capacity of the earlier one which has
been damaged by tsunami, will have all kinds of modern facilities for
passengers.
    On the proposed working-women hostel, Shri Singh said that the building
will meet the problems of working-women for outlying areas who are working
in Port Blair. This building will be completely funded from the Prime
Minister's National Relief Fund.  Dr. Manmohan Singh described the proposed
passenger terminal equipped with modern facilities as a stepping-stone for
lakhs of people.  As for the 50-bed working women's hostel to be constructed
at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.13 crores, he said that it has been funded
from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to which millions of
countrymen had contributed.  The whole country, he said, is behind the
islanders to help them lead a life of dignity.  "The islands, though far
away from the mainland India, are not far away from our hearts and minds.
All such remote regions of the great Indian Republic are entitled to equal
treatment with the rest of the country," the Prime Minister asserted.
    Soon after arrival, the Prime Minister visited Brichgunj intermediate
shelter where about 600 affected people have been housed.
   Earlier, in his address, the Lt. Governor of A&N Islands said that the new
passenger terminal being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.28 crores
would replace the old terminal that was completely destroyed by the giant
tsunami waves. The new terminal will be three times bigger than the old one.
The damage to the jetties and harbours had caused a loss of Rs. 533 crores.
    Member of Parliament, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta has expressed gratitude to
the Prime Minister for visiting this island and said that with his visit,
the pace of developmental activities will be speeded up.
    The Minister for State for Home Affairs, Shri S Regupathy and Smt
Gurusharan Kaur were among others who graced the occasion.
    The Chief Secretary, Shri D S Negi welcomed the dignitary, while the
Chief Port Administrator, Shri N Dilleshwar Rao proposed the vote of thanks.
   Earlier, the Prime Minister on his arrival was received by the Lt.
Governor. Prof Ram kapse, Minister of State for Home, Shri S. Reghupathy,
Member of Parliament, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, the Commander-in-Chief of
Andaman and Nicobar Command, Lt. General Aditya Singh, Chief Secretary, Shri
D. S. Negi and other defence and civic officials.

Interesting and comprehensive compilation of news reports including from the
A&N islands
pankaj


From: HUMAN RIGHTS & LAW UNIT
To: hru@...
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 2:41 PM
Subject: Tribals Yr. 2005








HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS BULLETIN
January 3, 2006




HUMAN RIGHTS & LAW  UNIT (HRLU)
INDIAN SOCIAL INSTITUTE
Centre for Reseach, Training and Action for Socio-Economic Development and
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In this Issue:


TRIBALS - Year 2005


(News Clippings on Andaman & Nicobar Tribals, Tribals and Naxalite
Challenge, Tribal Development, Tsunami Affected tribals,  Tribal Atrocities,
Tribal Christians, Conversions,  Tribal Cultures,  Tribal Movement,  Tribal
Welfare policies,  Tribals and Mining unit,  Tribals of North-East,  Tribal
Reservation,  Trafficking of Tribal Girls, Tribal Health , Starvation
Deaths,  Assam Ethnic Violence)


1. Endangered tribes may have survived (6)
2.  Future of Andaman's 500 Jarawa tribals uncertain (6)
3. Some good news, a tribe of 50 survives in Andamans (6)
4. Andaman tribes could foresee the disaster (6)
5. Arrows for rescuers say tribals are safe (6)
6. Commission on tribals may be reconstituted (6)
7. Andaman tribes escape without major damage (6)
8. Return our land, demand tribals (6)
9. We are safe, say Jarawas (6)
10. Prosperous Nicobarese worst hit: Govt. report (6)
11. Tribal dev plan revamp soon (6)
12. Tribal students want grant restoration for school (6)
13. Andaman tribals reject govt rehab plan (6)
14. Tsunamis: 1,400 island tribals died (6)
15. Tribal teachers face humiliation (6)
16. Wedlock does not change caste: Court (6)
17. PM's securitymen frisk tribal woman (6)
18. PM's security had no role in tribal's frisking (6)
19. For Jhabua tribals, Sangh dams come with a check: Shivlings first (6)
20. Construction in tribal areas gets Govt green signal (6)
21. Rs. 23 crores for 201 tribal families (6)
22. Forbidden by church, priest looks for God in Jharkhand polls (6)
23. Tribal babies married off to puppies (6)
24. The importance of being Enos Ekka (6)
25. Tribals demand CBI probe (6)
26. Implement welfare policies for tribals (6)
27. Tribals raid police station (6)
28. The battle for bauxite in Orissa (6)
29. A tribe called Brahmin (6)
30. For Rs 20000, cousin sells tribal woman (6)
31. NGO, tribals set to take on administration over rape case (6)
32. Steel company manager  held for torturing tribals  (6)
33. Kishanganga over our bodies, say J-K tribals (6)
34. A different war: Ex-armymen block tribal ritual hunt in Orissa forest
(6)
35. Tribals lose interest in traditional games (6)
36. Lathicharge on tribals kills babies, too (6)
37. Andaman tribes at risk of extinction (6)
38. Indian tribes linked to African 'Eve' (6)
39. Tribals of Nicobar get new makeshift shelters (6)
40. Mizo Jews from Lost Tribe (6)
41. Ghising demands tribal status for Darjeeling hills (6)
42. Protest mounting over failure to book accused in rape case (6)
43. Ministries at war over tribal quota (6)
44. Dark cloud are the silver lining for tribals (6)
45. Tribal uprising against Maoists in Chhattisgarh (6)
46. Tribals allege police harassment (6)
47. NHRC starts probe into police violence on tribals (6)
48. Woman paraded naked, clubbed to death  (6)
49. Concern at abduction of tribal girls (6)
50. Raipur mulls arming tribals against Naxals (6)
51. Two Rajasthan Ministers lock horns over PDS  (6)
52. Tribal girls tie knot in Jharkhand (6)
53. CPI defends AP on 900 tribal deaths (6)
54. IG used to repeatedly call me and talk dirty (6)
55. Maoists issue fatwa against top cops in CD sleaze case (6)
56. Tribals in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam are battling many illnesses
(6)
57. Maoists urge tribals to give up traditional weapons (6)
58. Govt starves top tribal girls' school in MP of funds (6)
59. Quota in Panchayat poll: Tribals, BCs lock horns (6)
60. Karma determined to mobilise tribals against Maoists in Bastar forests
(6)
61. Tribals remain poor despite aid (6)
62. Raman to walk the talk with tribals (6)
63. Tribal force to deal with Orissa Naxals?
64. Tripura tribals trapped in pornography web (6)
65. Naga tribals endorse unification  (6)
66. 4 meals a day? Two is most they get (6)
67. Separate quota for tribals likely in Rajasthan (6)
68. 'No starvation deaths among Sahariya tribals' (6)
69. Mizo tribals create history (6)
70. Tribals aim high with studies (6)
71. Protest against inclusion of Gurjars in ST list (6)
72. Jharkhand Govt to take tribals on a city dekko (6)
73. Tribal burnt alive in Madhya Pradesh (6)
74. Tribals seek autonomous councils (6)
75. Maoists have made us refugees in our own land (6)
76. Andhra tribals to help fight Naxals  (6)
77. Nine hacked to death in Assam ethnic violence (6)
78. Assam govt to probe ethnic violence (6)
79. Tribal clashes hit Assam, 34 killed (6)
80. 120 homes set ablaze in fresh militant attacks (6)
81. Assam violence on, toll 47 (6)
82. Toll reaches 80 as violence continues in Assam (6)
83. Nine more killed; 120 houses torched in Karbi (6)
84. 45,000 homeless, Gogoi under fire (6)
85. National tribal policy in the offing, says Kyndiah  (6)
86. Team to probe deaths of 90 tribals in Assam (6)
87. When the sun sets, tribals in Jharkhand get high (6)
88. A.P. Minister promises fair deal for affected tribals (6)
89. Silica disease hits tribals in Godhra stone crushing units (6)
90. Jharkhand: It's Adivasis vs Adivasis (6)
91. Andhra pushes Chenchu tribals close to extinction (6)
92. Alleged culprits punish victim for filing complaint (6)
93. 'A forest separates STs  from ownership' (6)
94. Jharkhand may offer township to the displaced (6)
95. Over 200 tribals arrested (6)
96. Decline in tribal population points to flaws in census (6)



TRIBALS - Year 2005


(News Clippings on Andaman & Nicobar Tribals, Tribals and Naxalite
Challenge, Tribal Development, Tsunami Affected tribals,  Tribal Atrocities,
Tribal Christians, Conversions,  Tribal Cultures,  Tribal Movement,  Tribal
Welfare policies,  Tribals and Mining unit,  Tribals of North-East,  Tribal
Reservation,  Trafficking of Tribal Girls,  Tribal Health , Starvation
Deaths, Assam Ethnic Violence)


1. Endangered tribes may have survived (6)
New Delhi, December 31: CLOSEST TO nature and aware perhaps of its fury and
the ways to escape it, most endangered tribes of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands have survived the tsunamis.
Among the aboriginals, the Onges, the Jarawas, the Sentinelese, and the
Andamanese are of Negroid descent. They live on the Andaman Islands. The
remaining tribes of Shompen and Nicobarese belong to the Mongoloid stock,
inhabiting the Nicobar Islands. The maximum casualties have been among the
Nicobarese, with a population of 28,653, out of which 656 have died and
nearly 3000 are missing. Also unclear is the fate of the Shompens of the
worst hit Great Nicobar. When counted last, they had numbered 398. As for
the most endangered Sentinelese, 32 out of the 39 recorded by the previous
census have been spotted. They live in complete isolation, driving
outsiders away with bows and arrows. For this reason, the Coast Guard used
floats to deliver coconuts to them from a safe distance. The Sentinelese,
Onges and Andamanese seem to have survived the killer waves because they
live in the deep forests of An-damans. Of the 96 Onges, 94 are safe in a
cluster of Islands in the Little Andamans. Likewise, the 49 Andamanese and
266 Jarawas have survived. Inhabiting middle and south Andamans, the
Jarawas, in fact, have grown in numbers compared to their 240 count three
years ago. (Hindustan Times 1.1.05)


2.  Future of Andaman's 500 Jarawa tribals uncertain (6)
New Delhi: There was no concrete information till late Friday evening about
the condition of the 500-odd Jarawa aborigines tribe inhabiting the Andaman
Nicobar Islands. Of these, at least 260 were reported to have survived the
devastating tsunami by hanging on to the trees. According to the 2001
census figures, there were around 250 Jarawas inhabiting the middle-south
Andaman Islands. By the end of this year their population is expected to
have more than doubled, a senior government official said. The ministry of
tribal affairs on Friday said: "According to latest information, five
primitive tribal communities are reported to be safe, including the
Sentinelese, who live in North Sentinel Island. They were sighted during
the aerial surveys." The   ministry   has   announced that it had released
Rs 2 crore for the rehabilitation of the primitive tribal communities in
Andaman and Nicobar, adding that, if necessary, more funds would be
provided.
The   ministry   further   said   it   had despatched two officers
(including an anthropologist) who will "visit the habitation of these
primitive tribal communities to assess the damage first hand so that a
proper relief package may be prepared for them. (Times of India 1.1.05)


3. Some good news, a tribe of 50 survives in Andamans (6)
PORT BLAIR, JANUARY 2: THE king and queen live. So do their 48-odd
subjects. After days of search, the Great Andamanese- the tiny aboriginal
tribe believed to have been the first !  to come in direct contact  with
the British-have been found. All 50 of them were spotted sitting huddled
together on a hillock on the desolate Strait Island in the Andamans, their
little kingdom for decades together, having miraculously survived the killer
tsunamis last Sunday. "They are alive! I can't tell you what a loss it would
have been had they too been lapped up by the surging waters," said an
elated Tribal Welfare Officer Shabnam. "An entire chapter would have been
erased from history." An extremely tight-knit tribe that rarely ventures out
of the thickly wooded Strait Island or marries outside the community, the
Great Andamanese have fascinated anthropologists and researchers worldwide.
Ruled by a king and queen, the tribe however is in danger of losing its
unique identity with its numbers dwindling and with the modern world
knocking at its doors. Of the 50-odd Great Andamanese living today, about
10 are in contractual jobs with different government agencies. (Indian
Express 3.1.05)


4. Andaman tribes could foresee the disaster (6)
New Delhi, Jan. 2:  Scientists might have problem in understanding the
tsunami disaster but some tribes of Andaman and Nicobar have the foresight
of the natural calamity and managed to leave their villages hours before
the tsunami disaster struck the coastline. JNU researchers, who are in the
island studying the tribals lifestyle, claimed that tribals who were not
part of government sponsored welfare programme suffered less than those
tribals who had been rehabilitated by the state. Professor Anvita Abbi,
Centre of Linguistic and English, JNU, who is conducting a research project
in these islands said that one of her research student Pramod Kumar (still
in Andaman and Nicobar islands) told her that Jarawa tribe were able to
understand and interpret the changing patterns of wave hours before the
disaster struck, last Sunday. "Jarawa tribes then climbed off to higher
places and survived the devastation," she claims. "One of the unnamed
tribal aged between 65 to 68 years had told Pramod yesterday, that his
grandfather has cautioned him on the Tsunami during his childhood. When
this tribal saw the changing patterns of waves, he raised an alarm and saved
his community from the calamity," she says. The historical facts confirm
that there have been similar Tsunami calamity in 1941 in the same area which
had also caused widespread damage and researchers say that these tribals
have developed natural instincts to visualise such disasters. (Statesman
3.1.05)


5. Arrows for rescuers say tribals are safe (6)
NEW DELHI, Jan. 3. - In the first contact between the administration and
the endangered Sentelese aborigines in Sentenel Island in Andaman and
Nicobar, the tribals greeted the Coast Guard helicopters by firing arrows at
them, an indication that outsiders are "not welcome."
The photographs of the Sentenel tribals firing arrows were displayed to
newsmen here by director general of Coastguard Vice-Admiral AK Singh who
said these were shot when the chopper was about 50 metres from ground on the
island. The Coast Guard helicopters' landing on the island was the first
sign that these aborigines, who are threatened with extinction, have
survived 'Sunday's catastrophic tidal waves. Mr Singh said his personnel
had later made a reconnaissance of the island to find that the tribals were
safe on the high grounds. Similarly, Coast Guard teams had come across Onge
tribals, who number about 100, on the great Nicobar islands and found that
most of them were also safe. He said there were similar reports on the
safety of the other threatened aborigines inhabiting various islands.
(Statesman 4.1.05)


6. Commission on tribals may be reconstituted (6)
NEW DELHI, Jan. 3.- After fears of the tribals of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands being severely affected by the tsunami, the Union Cabinet is meeting
tomorrow to consider the reconstitution of the National Commission to study
different features about tribals. The Centre wants the commission to study
issues regarding a host of tribes spread all over the country. They can be
denotified as nomadic and semi- nomadic tribes. They are spread in different
parts of the country including the North- East. The Andaman and Nicobar
Island is host to a large number of tribes including Ongis, Jarewas,
Senitalese and the Great Andamanis. Many of them are small in number, an
initial report suggests. They have survived the tsunami. A host of health
related measures will also be placed before the Cabinet. They include a
scheme sponsored by the Centre during the Tenth Plan period to provide
financial assistance for upgrading and strengthening emergency ward
facilities of state hospitals of town and cities located on national
highways. This would ensure that many people affected would survive as they
would get treatment quickly. There could be many cases of road accidents as
well. (Statesman 4.1.05)


7. Andaman tribes escape without major damage (6)
New Delhi: Tsunami has not been as big an anthropological disaster for
primitive tribes of Andaman & Nicobar as was being feared, maintains the
tribal ministry. Jarawas, a heritage tribe, numbering around 270 are
reported safe. But 3,000 Nicobarese are missing, sources said. Ahead of the
Wednesday's crucial meeting in the cabinet secretariat on relief and
rehabilitation, tribal ministry has prepared a detailed note on the
condition of six tribes inhabiting A&N Islands. Since the Jarawas, who
inhabit the middle and south Andaman Islands, have been at the focus,
ministry maintains that they have not been affected at all. Ministry also
maintains that days before tsunami, government as part of a national policy
on Jarawas had exclusively reserved 1,028 square kilometres of forest area
for them. So far, the worst affected have been 26,000 Nicobarese, who
inhabit the Car Nicobar group of islands, mainly a plain area. But Great
Andamanese, part of the Negrito group, who live in Strait Island in Andaman
were not so lucky. Though only 50 in number their habitation has suffered
"substantial damage." They have been brought to Port Blair and tribal
ministry plans to undertake an intensive rehabilitation project for them.
Onges, another tribe of Negrito group, inhabiting Dugong Creek, Hut Bay and
South Bay in little Andaman are reported safe. (Times of India 5.1.04)


8. Return our land, demand tribals (6)
JAIPUR, JAN. 5. Dalits and tribals from southern Rajasthan, who reached here
today on the completion of a 10-day-long march from Chittaurgarh, demanded
that their land encroached upon and illegally occupied by the so-called
higher castes be set free and restored to them in accordance with the
provisions of the Tenancy Act. Agricultural land measuring thousands of
bighas belonging to Bheel tribals and Dalits in Chittaurgarh, Baran and Kota
districts has been either transferred to the influential people of higher
castes allegedly by subterfuge or declared as Government property by misuse
of the legal provisions during the past two decades. The tribals claim that
the provisions for restoration of land rights were hardly ever implemented.
About 400 people traversed a distance of 327 kilometres on foot in ten days
to reach Jaipur today to highlight their plight and demanded at a "Jan
Sun-wai" (public hearing) that the illegal transfer of land owned
by .Scheduled Castes and Tribes be stopped forthwith and their land rights
be restored. Among others, noted social activist and member of the National
Advisory Council, Aruna Roy, president of the Rajasthan unit of People's
Union for Civil Liberties, Than Singh, and Brah-madev Sharma of Bharat Jan
Andolan, addressed the Jan Sunwai and emphasised the need to protect the
land title of tribals and Dalits. A survey conducted by two non-Government
organizations in Chittaurgarh district has revealed that 1,389-bigha
agricultural land of 415 Bheel families in 92 villages is currently in the
possession of higher castes through mortgage or transfer of title. The total
value of the land has been estimated at Rs. 10 crores. (The Hindu 6.1.05)


9. We are safe, say Jarawas (6)
JIRKATANG, JAN. 6. Carrying bows and arrows, members of the ancient Jarawa
tribe emerged on Thursday from their forest habitat in the Andaman and
Nicobar islands for the first time since the tsunami tragedy. In a rare
interaction with outsiders, the larawas said all 250 of their tribe had
survived by fleeing inland. "We are all safe after the earthquake. We are
in the forest in Balughat," said Ashu, an arrow- wielding tribesman. Even
though the Jarawas sometimes interact with local officials to receive
government-funded supplies, the tribe seemed wary of visitors. "My world is
in the forest," Ashu said in broken Hindi through an interpreter in a
restricted area at the north end of South Andaman island. "Your world is
outside. We don't like people from outside." There are only an estimated
400 to 1,000 members alive today from the tribes of Jarawas, Great
Andamanese, Onges, Sentinelese and Shompens who live on the islands. Some
anthropological
DNA studies indicate that the generations of tribes may have spanned back
70,000 years. They originated in Africa and migrated to India through
Indonesia, anthropologists said. Government officials and anthropologists
believe that ancient knowledge of the movement of wind, sea and birds may
have saved the indigenous tribes from the tsunami. Seven Jarawa men -
wearing only underwear and amulets - emerged from the forest to meet
government officials to say they had all managed to flee to the forest when
the deadly waves came. They said they survived by eating coconuts in the
aftermath of the tsunami, which killed 901 people and left 5,914 missing on
the Andaman and Nicobar islands. (The Hindu 7.1.05)


10. Prosperous Nicobarese worst hit: Govt. report (6)
New Delhi: The tsunami waves hit the numerically large and more prosperous
Nicobarese, the largest ST population living in the Car Nicobar plains,
sparing much of the remaining tribal population in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands. Still looking for the 3,000 missing Nico-barese and sending relief
to the remaining, the Union home ministry has based its estimates, made
public on Thursday, on the 2001 Census figures and reports from the
islands. It is still in the midst of surveying the damage in terms of life
and property. The others - Andamanese (43), Jarawas (240), Onges (96),
Sentinese (39), all primitive tribes of people who belong to the Negrito
group and Shorn Pens (398), who are of Mongloid extract - are either not
affected or reported safe.
The Census figures show that the STs, numbering 29,469, constitute only 8.27
per cent of the total 3,56,152 population as on March 1, 2001. The actual
numbers have registered marginal increase in the last three years. The
islands in the popular perceptions are the home to several tribes, some of
them endangered. But they have undergone demographic changes, particularly
since Independence, when people from the mainland and refugees from the
erstwhile East Pakistan settled there. Only about ten per cent of the STs
live in the Andamans district, while the remaining 90 per cent live in the
Nicobars. Of the total Andamanese population of 43, (24 men and 19 women),
inhabiting mainly Straits Island in Rangat tehsil, nine were found to be
living in Port Blair town. Their habitats have suffered substantial damage
and they require rehabilitation.
The internationally famous Jarawas, numbering 240 (125 men and 115 women)
have settlements in six villages of Andamans district. They live in the
jungles and on highlands and are also reported safe. (Times of India 7.1.05)


11. Tribal dev plan revamp soon (6)
New Delhi: ADMITTING THAT the three-decade-old Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)
strategy has failed thoroughly, pushing these communities in the arms of
the Naxalites, the Centre is contemplating a major overhaul of the existing
developmental schemes in tribal areas. A high-level standing committee set
up recently by the PMO is likely to come out shortly with "viable and
effective alternatives" with the objective of assuaging the feeling of
neglect and alienation among the tribals and checking the growing Naxal
influence among them. According to official sources, the PMO's tribal panel
will hold its second meeting this month to discuss, among other things, the
Naxalite challenge in tribal areas and the corrective measures. Home
Secretary Dhirendra Singh, a member of the committee, is likely to brief
the panel on the issue, sources confirmed. In its first meeting last month,
the panel had set the nation's top mandarins in self-introspection mode on
how the Governmental failures had resulted in a deep sense of exclusion
among tribals who had, therefore, increasingly opted for Naxalism and oth3r
forms of insurgency. While its Chairman, Dr Bhalachandra Mungekar, told
those attending the first meeting of the PMO's panel that "the Prime
Minister is not quite convinced with the efficacy of the ongoing
development schemesunder the TSP", PM's Special Advisor MK Narayanan -
another member of the committee - felt that there had always been a direct
link between under- development of tribal areas and their propensity to
being attracted to join Naxalite groups. (Pioneer 8.1.05)


12. Tribal students want grant restoration for school (6)
VIKAS NAGAR (DEHRA DUN) JAN. 9. The 300-odd tribal girl students of Ashok
Ashram, the oldest central Himalayan Gandhian institution, here have urged
the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to intervene and restore the annual
grant from the central Tribal Welfare Department which was stopped abruptly
at the behest of the Uttaranchal Social Welfare Department.
"If the grant is not restored this school which topped in the Uttaranchal
High School Board examination by securing cent percent results last year may
have to fold up for want of funds", the students said. This institution
established in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi boasts of being the cradle for
education among the extremely poor Jaunsari, Bhoxa, Tharu and Bhotia
tribals of the region. It has played a vital role in curbing trafficking of
women and rescuing girls from red light areas in the major cities of the
country. Today, it provides education with an ashram type atmosphere where
the students and teachers are provided food, clothes and other necessities.
(The Hindu 10.1.05)


13. Andaman tribals reject govt rehab plan (6)
New Delhi, January 14: DESPITE THE havoc caused by the killer tsunami, the
aboriginals of Andaman and Nicobar have refused government help in
reconstruction. The Andaman and Nicobar administration has informed the
Union Home Ministry that the aboriginals were willing to accept only
"construction material" but insisted on reconstructing everything
themselves. This issue was discussed at length on Friday during a review
meeting on relief and rehabilitation chaired by home minister Shivraj Patil.
Both Patil and home secretary Dhirendra Singh felt the "privacy and
reluctance of the tribes to mix with the outside world must be respected".
These tribes include the Onges, Jarawas, Sentinelese, Shompen and
Andamanese. "The aboriginals have been extremely reluctant to take any help.
Even food had to be sent to them on floats from a safe distance," a senior
ministry official said. However, the ministry feels that since Andaman and
Nicobar islands fall in seismic zone V and is extremely prone to
earthquakes, the administration must ensure that the endangered tribes get
good quality houses. The Home Ministry has asked the local administration to
try and establish contact with the aboriginals through intermediaries who
can involve the tribes in re-construction. If the tribes are still opposed
to any interference, the ministry will provide them just the construction
material. "Everything - right from the design of houses to construction -
will be done according to their requirement and specification. The idea is
to make sure that these tribes don't suffer in case of another calamity,"
the official said. (Hindustan Times 15.1.05)


14. Tsunamis: 1,400 island tribals died (6)
New Delhi, Jan. 14: The government on Friday said that the total of 1,400
tribals have lost their lives in the tsunami devastation which struck the
Indian coastal towns and Andaman and Nicobar Islands on December 26 last
year. "The aborigines of A&N Islands are however, safe. Though some tribes,
including the Nicobaris, Sentinelese and Shompen, had been hit by the deadly
tsunami waves, all primitive tribes, including Ongei, Sentinel and Jarwa in
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are safe. There is no question of
extinction of any tribe," the Union tribal affairs minister P.R. Kyndiah
said. Addressing a press conference here after coming back from A&N
Islands, Mr Kyndiah said, "The natural instinct of the local tribes also
helped them find safe shelter just before the tsunami waves struck." The
Nicobaris tribe were the worst hit with 26,156 of the total population of
42,068 taking shelter in camps, the minister said, adding in Andaman, out of
a total of three lakh, 37,264 were now living in camps. "We have now
fine-tuned and streamlined the entire relief operations in the Islands," he
said adding the main concern of the central government and local
administration was to rehabilitate the affected people before the onset of
monsoon which usually starts at the end of April. Mr Kyndiah said a total of
1,400 tribals had lost their lives while about 5,000 were still missing, of
whom 4,354 were from Katchal Island alone. (Asian Age 15.1.05)


15. Tribal teachers face humiliation (6)
Bhubaneswar, January 25: THOUGH A number of teaching posts reserved for the
ST community lie vacant in Orissa due to lack of suitable candidates, the
few who are selected by the government face hostile receptions in schools,
especially in the coastal districts. The culprit: caste discrimination.
When two tribal teachers joined a school in Jagatsinghpur district recently,
they were asked by locals to write their names correctly on the blackboard
as proof of their professional competence. The teachers - Kalandi Padhan and
Purna Chandra Padhan - refused to do so after which they were warned not to
set foot on the Odisho Balipatna Primary School again. Orissa's school and
mass education minister Nagen-dra Pradhan told HT: "The government has taken
a serious view of the incident. I have ordered the district inspector of
schools to direct the headmistress of the concerned school to accept the
joining reports of the two
teachers". The teachers have told the district inspector of schools that
they were assaulted, harassed and were forced to sit on the floor after
running into trouble with one Mrutyunjay Das, who claims to be the
president of a local parent-teacher association. (Hindustan Times 26.1.05)


16. Wedlock does not change caste: Court (6)
New Delhi, Jan. 30: Recognition of a forward caste woman to be one among the
Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community on the basis of her marriage
cannot entitle her to contest an election from a constituency reserved for
SC or ST, the Supreme Court has ruled. A bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti,
Justice G.P. Mathur and Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan said "to permit a
non-tribal under the cover of a marriage to contest such a seat would tend
to defeat the very object of such a reservation." This ruling was given by
the bench while upholding an Andhra Pradesh high court order setting aside
the election of Sobha Hymavathi Devi to the Assembly from a reserved
constituency in the state. (Asian Age 31.1.05)


17. PM's securitymen frisk tribal woman (6)
New Delhi: A controversy is brewing over male security personnel allegedly
frisking a tribal woman who had gone to meet PM Manmohan Singh at his
residence, 7 Race Course Road, as part of a delegation. Though the Special
Protection Group (SPG) has denied the incident, the tribal welfare director
at the Centre said he has got a complaint and was looking into the matter.
Karikka, 34, a member of the primitive Chola Naikan tribal community which
numbers about 280 and lives in caves in Kerala's rain forests, went to the
Prime Minister's house on January 27, with her husband Mathan, to meet
Singh. They were taken by the tribal welfare ministry with other tribals
from all over the country to meet the PM on the occasion of the Republic Day
celebrations. Mathan was cleared by the security persons. But when Karikka's
turn came, she was checked by the male security persons, said a tribal
welfare officer of the Integrated Tribal Welfare Project who accompanied
the tribals. The securitymen found a piece of arecanut and tobacco, which
the tribals chew, from Karikka. The securitymen then sent messages around
and Karikka was not given permission to go with her husband to meet the PM.
(Times of India 31.1.05)


18. PM's security had no role in tribal's frisking (6)
New  Delhi: The PMO on Monday denied that the Prime Minister's security had
any role in the reported incident of frisking of a tribal woman by male
security personnel. The PMO also clarified that there was no function either
at the PM's residence or his office on January 27 for meeting Republic Day
participants. A PMO spokesperson said the PM had, however, gone to the Teen
Murti House lawns to meet R-Day participants. "But the PM's security - the
SPG - had no role there," he said. "Security for that function was handled
by Delhi Police. It's wrong to say that PM's security was involved or that
this happened at the PM's residence." (Times of India 1.2.05)


19. For Jhabua tribals, Sangh dams come with a check: Shivlings first (6)
JHABUA, FEBRUARY 7: DEEP inside Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua, where  the  Sangh
Parivar  battles   Christian missionaries for the attention of tribals, a
new factor has been thrown into the equation: check dams. On March 8,
Shivratri day, Vanvasi Kaiyan Parishad, a Sangh affiliate, will launch its
Shivganga project to set up talavs (ponds), check dams and stop dams in 131
tribal villages. On the surface, it looks like another well-intentioned
scheme to manage rainwater better. But this one comes with a catch. Each
village that launches the project must first instal a Shivling-so what if
the local administration says these villages already have enough talavs and
dams. Says Mahesh Sharma, general secretary of the Parishad: "The Ganga
flowed through the jata (mane) of Lord Shiva. We want the rainwater to stop
here and the jata of Lord Shiva will stop the water from flowing out of the
villages." However, the project organisers are silent on whether Christian
tribals will be allowed to reap its benefits. (Indian Express 8.2.05)


20. Construction in tribal areas gets Govt green signal (6)
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 13: FOR the first time, the Ministry of Environment and
Forest has allowed construction activity in tribal areas and villages on the
fringe of forests. The Ministry has issued a fresh set of guidelines
allowing a variety of "developmental" construction activity. In a letter
dated January 3, sent to state principal secretaries (forests), the Ministry
has asked them to clear construction of schools, hospitals, minor irrigation
canals, rainwater harvesting structures, overhead electric and communication
lines, power sub-stations, vocational training centres and even police
stations and outposts in "tribal villages/forest fringe villages." The,
letter lists 11 construction activities. The only stipulation is that the
forest land diverted for these activities should be less than one hectare
and should not involve felling of more than 50 trees per hectare. But it
does not limit the number of projects, paving the way for a slew of
construction activity. The forest land will be handed over to government
departments and then proposals will be invited from agencies. "The
government is committed to delegating more powers to the state government
for developmental activity for the larger good. If necessary, in
consultation with state governments and subject to judicial pendency, we
will also look at amending the law," said Environment Minister A Raja.
(Indian Express 14.2.05)


21. Rs. 23 crores for 201 tribal families (6)
BANGALORE, FEB. 17. To prevent the people living in the reserve forests of
the Western Ghats in the State from being lured by naxalites, the State
Cabinet decided to enlist the support of the Centre and take up on a war
footing their rehabilitation. Briefing presspersons on the decisions taken
at the Cabinet meeting held here today, the Minister for Information, B.
Shivaram, said the Cabinet, however, refrained from taking a decision on
posting the Special Task Force to comb the hill ranges of the Western Ghats
and track down naxalites. The Chief Minister, N. Dha-ram Singh, had recently
announced the constitution of two special police squads to comb the hill
ranges and the plains. The Cabinet also did not taken a decision on the
names of two senior police officers to head the special squads although the
Chief Minister had categorically stated that each squad will be headed by an
officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police. At the Cabinet
meeting, it was decided to obtain the support of the Centre which has said
that it will contribute for the rehabilitation of the people residing in the
forests. Of the nearly 1,300 families residing in forest areas in and around
the Kudremukh National Park, 201 families have given their consent to settle
down away from the forests and the cost of their rehabilitation has been
estimated at Rs. 23 crores at the rate of Rs. 11 lakhs a family. These
families will be allotted agricultural land with a house to reside. The
children of those families will be provided education and each family will
also be eligible for free health-care facilities. (The Hindu 18.2.05)


22. Forbidden by church, priest looks for God in Jharkhand polls (6)
SHIKARIPARA, FEBRUARY 17: FOR. Albinus Murmu, this fight is for God though
the Church is against it. So leaving behind his white robe and the serene
comfort of the cathedral, the priest, wearing kurta-pyjama and a sleeveless
overcoat, is out on the street, campaigning. "Have a new passion, new joy,
confidence to do something new. Only we can change the fate of Shikaripara,"
read posters carrying life-size photographs of the Independent candidate
from Shikaripara in Santhal Parganas. The 35-year-old priest-who till the
other Sunday spoke to his parishioners at the church in Dumka only about
Jesus and the Holy Bible-is seeking votes from them. The Roman Catholic
church is not happy. Father Julius Marandi, the Bishop, has suspended him,
confirms Shikaripara-based St.Rita's Church in-charge Sylverius Kujur. But
Albinus, the philosophy graduate, stands like a rock. "Nothing moves without
the will of God. I am contesting because of His will," says Albinus. "The
Bishop asked me not to contest. I told him I will pray and decide. I did
just that." (Indian Express 18.2.05)


23. Tribal babies married off to puppies (6)
Jamshedpur,     Feb.     24: Every dog has its day - and what  better than
tying the knot with a human? Two baby boys and two baby girls were married
to puppies at Kuluptang village in Saraikela-Kharswan district, inhabited by
tribals, to ward off the evil eye. District officials said that "kukur
vibaha" or dog's marriage, performed on the last day of Maghe Parvan, an
important festival for tribals, had been a long-time practice with villagers
in many Jharkhand districts. For the tribals the marriage is no different
from any general marriage, as 54-year-old Sonamuni, who blessed her
three-year-old granddaughter Priya in one such marriage, yesterday said. All
customs which are normally associated with a marriage were discreetly
followed. After a proper bath in the nearby river, the children are taken to
Jaherasthan, a place of worship of the tribals, in a procession accompanied
by a  and in which  neighbours and relatives dance with abandon before
solemnising the marriage with a puppy of the opposite sex. Sushila, mother
of one-year-old son Durga, who was among the four infants, said that if the
first tooth of a baby boy or girl came out in the upper jaw, it was
considered inauspicious for the child and the family. In such cases, "kukur
vibaha" is "one of the ways to ward off the evil," she claimed. (Asian Age
25/2/05)


24. The importance of being Enos Ekka (6)
Ranchi, March 4: JHARKHAND PARTY legislator Enos Ekka - one of the NDA's 41
prized MLAs who were whisked away to Rajasthan - may be enjoying Rajasthani
hospitality at the moment but his supporters back home say he has been
abducted and want him back. Close on the heels of Jharakhand Party chief
N.E. Horo threatening to sit on dharna if Ekka was not 'recovered1 soon, the
people of Kolebira (Ekka's constituency) have written to President Abdul
Kalam about the "abduction". "We fear for the life of our legislator. We are
unable to contact him. We urge you to direct the administration to produce
our legislator," the letter reads. A new 'Enos Bulao Manch' has been set up
to aid efforts to locate the MLA. The manch will meet on Saturday to launch
a campaign for Ekka. So what is the importance of being Enos Ekka? He holds
the key to government formation. His decision may tilt the balance either
way. (Hindustan Times 5/3/05)


25. Tribals demand CBI probe (6)
NEW  DELHI,  MARCH  16.  Alleging that the Kerala Government and the Central
Bureau of Investigation were trying to kill the tribal movement, members of
the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha today demanded quashing of a CBI report on the
Muthanga incident. "In 2001, the then Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony,
had signed a land agreement with the adivasis. We thought it was a historic
moment that marked the success of the adivasi movement in South India. But
in complete violation of the so-called accord, nothing was implemented. And
so the adivasis decided to resume their protest," said a leader of AGMS,
C.K. Janu, at a press conference here today. Recalling the Muthanga incident
in 2003, she said: "The adivasis had organised a peaceful protest at
Muthanga. But the police arrived there and started firing indiscriminately.
Many were put behind bars even though they had not done anything."  (The
Hindu 17/3/05)


26. Implement welfare policies for tribals (6)
NEW DELHI, APRIL 10. Carrying forward its pledge to organise continuous
struggle by the scheduled tribes against all forms of exploitation, social
oppression and discrimination, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today
decided to force the Government to implement welfare policies for tribal
people. The ongoing party congress adopted a resolution demanding that the
Policy Document prepared by the previous National Democratic Alliance
Government be scrapped and the eviction of tribals from the land they were
living on for ages be stopped. The focus was part of the programme adopted
by the last party congress through a 13-point tribal people's charter of
demands. The party noted that its capacity to emerge as the representative
of the toiling scheduled tribes was illustrated in Tripura and West Bengal.
The resolution demanded that the land from which the tribals were alienated
through fraudulent means be restored to them through fresh enactment and
that the loopholes that permitted such fraud be plugged. It also wanted the
Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act of 1988 to be amended, the
implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation package for those displaced
before undertaking any development project in tribal areas, the enforcement
of the Samata judgment of the Supreme Court and amendments to the Fifth and
Sixth Schedules of the Constitution to provide more autonomy to these areas.
It wanted the Government to provide wage employment, institutional credit,
universal school education, health facilities and social welfare schemes in
the tribal areas and the implementation of reservation policies for all
categories of education and employment. (The Hindu 11.4.05)


27. Tribals raid police station (6)
6. WARANGAL,  APRIL 11.  Scores   of Tribals in Maripeda mandal went berserk
and raided a police station, accusing the police of beating to death a
tribal youth here today. According to information reaching here, the police
summoned one Cherupula Srinu of Jarpula thanda on the charge of a theft on
Sunday night. After making enquiries, they let him off. Feeling insulted for
being accused of theft, he reportedly consumed pesticide and died in front
of the police station today. The tribals reached the police station and
staged a dharna keeping the body in front of the station. They burnt used
tyres and threw stones at policemen. They allegedly forced their way into
the station and beat up the policemen. Two constables were reportedly
injured. Meanwhile, the police suspect that a Kakatiya University employee,
Ramdas, had allegedly provoked the tribals and have launched a manhunt for
him. (The Hindu 12/4/05)


28. The battle for bauxite in Orissa (6)
THE  BATTLELINES  are  drawn, rather   unequally, in   Kashipur, southern
Orissa, one of the poorest regions of the country. About 70 per cent of
India's bauxite reserves are located here, some of it signed away by the
Government  to  mining companies.  The State is determined to intensify its
industrial character and any hitches are dealt with summarily. For over 10
years, the Paraja and Kondl Adivasis of Kashipur and the surroundint regions
of Rayagada district have oppose  the bauxite mining project by Utkal
Alumina. Consequently, the region has witnessed state terror in all its
forms. Non-governmental organisations supporting the Adivasis were
blacklisted by the State Government in 1998 for waging a "proxy-war" against
the State and their funds cut off. Since last year, the State has revived
the use of force to curb the people's struggle and support groups are being
formed in various parts of the country, including Mumbai. Meetings are being
initiated by students and activist groups to highlight the agitation in
Kashipur and more recently, in Lanjigarh. Support for the struggling
Adivasis has come from as far away as Canada where Alcan Inc.'s major
smelting operations are located. Alcan Inc. has a 45 per cent stake in Utkal
Alumina's Rs. 4,000-crore, hundred per cent export-oriented alumina project.
Last week, a press release by a Montreal-based group, "Alcan't in India,"
which has been organising protests against the Kashipur project, said that
another demonstration was planned on April 28, when Alcan's annual meeting
will be held. Employees of two of Alcan's smelters have passed resolutions
supporting the opposition to the mining. It said that workers would refuse
to smelt any alumina from Alcan's operations in Orissa. Past protests
against the project were met with lathicharges and even firing, in which
three persons were killed on December 16, 2000. An inquiry commission,
headed by Justice P.K. Mishra, which probed the firing at Maikanch, held the
police and the district administration guilty but stressed the need for a
bauxite project for the uplift of the region.  (The Hindu 20/4/05)


29. A tribe called Brahmin (6)
Darjeeling, April 18: Subash Ghisingh has officially demanded that all
Gorkha communities, including Brahmins, be declared Schedule Tribes. In a
letter to Run war Singh, the chairman of the National Commission of
Scheduled Tribes, days before he left for Delhi to attend a tripartite
meeting to end the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council impasse, Ghisingh demanded
ST status for "other Gorkha tribes". He wrote on April 9 selective granting
of the status to some tribes had "created confusion, controversy and ill
feeling" among the hill people. The Government of India had through a
notification on January 8, 2003, granted ST status to the Tamangs and
Limboos, which led to demands from other hill communities, for the same
status. The Lepchas and the Bhutias were earlier granted the ST status.
Ghisingh has, however, gone a step ahead and demanded that all other
communities be declared Scheduled Tribes in India. These communities, along
with the Tamangs and Limboos, will constitute about 90 per cent of the hill
population. The GNLF leader pressed for his claim saying all the Gorkha
tribes shared their culture and religious beliefs and were counted among
"bonbo" worshippers (people who consider stones, rivers and trees their
deity). Sources said during his recent week-long stay in Delhi, Ghisingh
raised the demand with the departments concerned. Over the past few years,
the DGHC has been holding the annual Bonbo National Tourist Festival in the
hills. Observers said the demand has the possibility of putting all other
issues raised by his rivals in the backburner and could also sway mass
support in the coming days. (Telegraph 19/4/05)


30. For Rs 20000, cousin sells tribal woman (6)
Bhopal: IN YET another tale of greed and lust from the hinterland, a
22-year-old tribal woman was sold to three men in return for Rs 20,000 by
her own cousin at Arolia village in Ujjain district.
The trio kept the hapless young woman captive for two days during which she
was assaulted and raped repeatedly. The shocking incident came to light when
the victim was admitted to hospital after complaining of stomach ache.
Police have registered a case under Sections 366, 376 of the IPC and 2, 3, 5
of the SC/ ST Act (Prevention of Atrocities) and launched a manhunt for the
accused. According to district police sources the details of the rapacious
deal emerged when the victim, Radhabai, recounted her tale of woe to stunned
hospital staffers who called in the cops. In her statement to the police
Radhabai disclosed that Shantibai, her paternal uncle's daughter, had met
her last fortnight and invited her to come and stay with her to help with
household chores as she was unwell. An unsuspecting Radhabai willingly
assented. After spending 10 days at her cousin's place the victim was asked
by Shantibai to accompany her to the latter's sister's house at Nagdi
village. Following an overnight stay Shantibai and two others took the
victim to Jawra where she was handed over to one Laxman Singh of Nandavta
and his two accomplices in return for Rs 20,000. She was also made to sign
an affidavit testifying that she was married to Laxman Singh. The victim was
then taken to Nandavat village where she was kept locked in a room and
repeatedly raped by the trio over the next two days. On the third day when
she complained of intense stomach pain Radhabai was taken to Jawra
Government Hospital by Laxman Singh and his father.  (Pioneer 3/5/05)


31. NGO, tribals set to take on administration over rape case (6)
Bhubaneswar:  THE ALLEGED gang rape of a 16-year-old tribal girl under Sarat
police station of Mayurbhanj district has snowballed into a major
controversy with local tribals backed by an NGO gearing up to take on the
administration. The president of Awareness, Mr Kailash Mishra, who has taken
up cudgels on behalf of the tribals, on Friday threatened to intensify the
agitation against the administration's alleged inaction in the matter unless
police take immediate steps to arrest the culprits. So far, only one person
has been arrested in connection with the incident. The young girl, who
narrated her story before mediapersons here on Friday, foil into clutches of
the culprits while returning from the local haat in a van. Instead of
dropping her near her house, the miscreants, who are alleged to enjoy the
patronage of some influential people in the area, took her to a deserted
house where she was raped repeatedly .While the culprits drank and ate, the
girl was kept starving. Her ordeal continued the next day when she was once
again sexually assaulted. One of the alleged miscreants was finally caught
when he came to drop the girl at the Chanakata turning where she would have
boarded the bus to return home. Displaying exceptional courage in the face
of adversity, the girl first pounced on the man and then raised an alarm
attracting passers-by, who came to her rescue. After the man was handed over
to the police on April 21, an FIR in connection with the gang rape was
lodged at Kaptipada police station. However, other accused hi the case are
yet to be arrested. The local administration showed realised the gravity of
the situation only when the tribals and the activists of Awareness
demonstrated before the Sarat police station on April 29. However, Mr Mishra
alleged that the police instead of taking steps to arrest the culprits, have
been harassing the members of his organisation active in the area. At the
same time the incident is being used as an excuse to drive a wedge between
the tribals and non-tribals of the area. (Pioneer 7/5/05)


32. Steel company manager  held for torturing tribals  (6)
RAIPUR, MAY 8: A FACTORY manager and a guard of a Raigarh-based steel
company have been arrested on charges of torturing two adivasis, allegedly
accused of stealing raw material. Daily wage earners Shyam Lal and Shadanand
were allegedly forced to squat on hot iron plates for a confession. Police
said on April 28, Rameshwar Steel's factory manager Dinesh Gupta and
security guard Remaul Kujur forced the victims to sit on burning iron plates
for more than half-an-hour after they pleaded innocence. Eye-witnesses said
the youths were also forced to stand bare feet on the plates. While SP
(Raigarh) P.S. Thakur claimed that neither the the two victims nor factory
workers informed the police, reports suggest that their complaints were not
entertained initially. "They didn't even go to the hospital despite serious
physical burns", he says. Reports say the youths had reported the matter to
local police at Gharghora police station but their complaint was not
entertained. It was only a day after Chief Minister Raman Singh's
gram-swaraj (rural campaign) started in the district that the issue received
government attention. Now the SP says: "Police has arrested the manager and
guard on charges of torture and atrocities against tribals. This incident
comes barely a week after four security guards of a leading industrial
group - Jindals - were accused of killing a villager.  (Indian Express
9/5/05)


33. Kishanganga over our bodies, say J-K tribals (6)
SRINAGAR, MAY 8: AT A time when India and Pakistan are ironing out
differences over the Kishanganga project, 25,000 Dard Shin tribals of Gurez
valley, fearing displacement, have pledged they will resist attempts to
destroy their homeland and identity. "Work on this project will start only
on our dead bodies. The Government cannot decide the fate of our people
without consulting us," said Nazir Gurezi, representative of the Dard Shin
constituency in J-K Assembly. "This project will submerge our homes,
dislocate us and come as a blow to our unique culture and shina language."
J&KPower Minister Mohammed Sharief Niaz said, "They (Dard Shins) have to be
dislocated. It is essential. We will adjust them somewhere else." Asked
about the impact of the project on the tribe and environment, he said, "If
we think in these terms, then we will have to shut down all our projects."
The 330-MW project proposes construction of a dam on the Kishangana or
Neelam river. The proposed 103-metre reservoir threatens to submerge most
parts of Gurez Valley, which includes 25 villages, sk summer high altitude
habitats for shepherds and eight camping sites. The first phase of the
project would displace around 10,000 tribals. On its part, the J&K
Government has claimed that the plan incorporates an "attractive" relief and
rehabilitation package for the tribes. "There is no question of displacement
of the tribes without proper rehabilitation," said Basharat Ahmad Dhar,
Commissioner & Secretary, Power. "The Government will look for an alternate
site, where a new colony with all facilities will be set up." Dhar also
confirmed receipt of a no objection certificate for acquisition of the land
from the forest department. (Indian Express 9/5/05)


34. A different war: Ex-armymen block tribal ritual hunt in Orissa forest
(6)
Bhubaneswar: COME APRIL, the sun-bleached hills of Simlipal are vulnerable
to a different kind of threat - one posed by humans. It is the time of the
ritualistic Akhand Shikar, an ancient tribal tradition, showcasing the skill
of the ethnic lot as traditional hunters. Hundreds of tribals from all over
the state and even neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand storm the hills,
armed with bows, arrows and countrymade guns, killing whatever comes their
way. The ritual goes against the spirit of wildlife conservation and the
pitch has been rising for a blanket ban on the hunt. A dedicated band of
ex-servicemen and green activists has succeeded in doing what the combined
might of the forest department and the police failed to do over the years.
Acting in close cooperation, they have turned Akhand Shikar, in the
Similipal forest into a non-event this year.
Akhand Shikar, a month-long event beginning mid-April each year, is the
scourge of Similipal, declared a biosphere reserve a few years ago. Tribals
brandishing guns and bows and arrows march into the reserve forest killing
animals at will. The hunters had been defying a longstanding ban and
entering the sanctuary by dodging police cordons and forest guards. Fed up
with its failure to stop the practice, the government enrolled a team of
ex-servicemen to guard the sanctuary during the shikar period. Assisted by
the Sabuja Vahini, a green group, the former army-men have turned the
sanctuary into an "impregnable fortress" with hardly any major incident of
hunting reported from the area so far. Sources said a few stray attempts by
the hunters to penetrate the security cordon were effectively repelled.
(Pioneer 10/5/05)


35. Tribals lose interest in traditional games (6)
ADILABAD: The hot summer evenings in the tribal villages of Adilabad
district are progressively becoming dull. One reason could be the declining
interest of tribals in their traditional sports and games. During the tribal
marriage season, which ends with the month of May, every evening was
enlivened by the joyous cries of youth indulging in some sporting activity.
"We used to play 'khus-khus gugdi' (crow of a cock) 'chirra gonne' (gilli
danda), 'meskalval' (locating eggs), etc. in our childhood. These days I
hardly find anybody playing the traditional games. Sometimes, youth can be
found playing kabaddi and vol-leyball in the villages," observes Thodsam
Chandu, the in-charge of the TB control programme at the Government
Headquarters Hospital.  Malli Gandhi and V. Lalitha, researchers from the
Regional Institution of Education, Mysore, (NCERT), in 2002 conducted a
detailed study of the extra-curricular activities of tribal students of
different Ashram Pathashalas under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency
(IT-DA), Utnoor. They recommended inclusion of a few sports events in the
curriculum of tribal schools. Over the years, the loss of interest in
traditional tribal sports has left its mark on the tribal way of life.
Few are left who have knowledge about the rules and philosophy of the many
sports and games events. (The Hindu 11/5/05)


36. Lathicharge on tribals kills babies, too (6)
Sukinda (Orissa), May 16: At a time when human rights activists across the
globe call upon security personnel to be compassionate towards the common
people, the Jajpur district police in Orissa has acted quite the opposite.
Its "barbarous" and "uncivilised" act has left four tribal people, including
two children, dead. Many more people who were injured in the alleged police
lathicharge are in critical condition. At least 5,000 tribal villagers in
Kalinganagar area in the district, who on last May 9 protested non-payment
of dues for land acquisition by the state government for the construction of
steel plants, were brutally assaulted by the police. The fury of police
atrocities could be gauged from the fact that some old men beaten up
severely have been rendered paralysed, backbones of some others were broken
into pieces and two breastfed infants, separated from their mothers by the
violent police, breathed their last in their thatched cottages. "The police
chased me to assault and snatched away my daughter from me. 1 ran to the
jungle to save my life, but my one-year-old daughter Jema died as she had no
food and water," said Jingi Kalundai of Gadapur. So was the case with
Sumitra Kalundia, who lost her three-year-old son, Raul. An on- the-spot
inquiry revealed that the conflict between the police and the tribals began
on May 9, when the latter gathered at the foundation laying ceremony of
Maha-rashtra Seamless Steel Company at Kalinganagar and demanded the
district authorities present there to give "appropriate" compensation for
their land. Investigation revealed while the state administration has sold
land at Rs 3.50 lakhs per acre to various steel companies coming to
Kalinganagar area, it has paid only Rs 37,000 to the evicted persons,
causing widespread resentment among the tribals. Besides, the rehabilitation
package has not been properly implemented. (Asian Age 17/5/05)


37. Andaman tribes at risk of extinction (6)
May 16. - The Andaman & Nicobar tribes are in great danger now than ever
before due to inbreeding among them, director of Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology, Dr Lalji Singh, said. "Many animals are critically
endangered due to inbreeding. What holds good for animals holds good for
humans too. The tribes in these islands are a great risk of extinction, he
told a press conference. The six tribes in the 572 islands are regarded as
the "windows to the past" in the sense of how the world's population evolved
after the first batch of migration out of Africa and towards India 50,000
to 70,000 years ago. The Great Andamanese is 20-member strong, Onge - 98,
Shompens - 180, Tarawa - 200 and Sentinelese - 250. The only tribe with
relatively substantial numbers are  Nicobarese  - 22,000. The tribes are
hunter- gatherers and need natural habitats like forests to exist. Dr Singh
said during his interaction with Onges they expressed happiness at going
back to the jungles instead of living in settlements organised by the
government. The Sentinelese are primitive, hostile and strongly dislike any
interaction with the world'. After the 26 December tsunami there were fears
that.they were wiped out, but fortunately several of them survived. Dr Singh
led a path breaking DNA study of these tribes, barring the Sentinelese, to
lend weight to the "out of Africa" theory. The five-year study showed that
the tribes do not share genetic similarities with mainland Indian tribes,
but with the African population.
"The evolution of the tribes may be due to the initial penetration of the
northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean by modern humans in their out of
Africa migration. Therefore they are the windows to the look into the past
and hence they need to be persevered," he said. (Statesman 17/5/055)


38. Indian tribes linked to African 'Eve' (6)
Hyderabad, India, May 19: Two primitive tribes in India's Andaman and
Nicobar islands are believed to be direct descendants of the first humans
who migrated from Africa at least 50,000 years ago, according to a study by
Indian biologists. A team of biologists at the Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology in Hyderabad studied the DNA of 10 Onge and Great
Andamanese people in the Indian Ocean archipelago who lived for tens of
thousands of years in "genetic isolation" from other human contact. The
findings suggest the tribes are descended from the "oldest population of the
world and were among the first batch of modern humans to migrate  from
Africa," said professor Lalji Singh, director of the centre. The tribals
have similar physical features to Africans and their DNA suggests that they
have close links with Africa. Mitochondrial DNA, which is passed maternally
and found in every human cell, can be traced to a single female ancestor who
lived about 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. It is believed the descendants of
this "Eve" that all humans claim as their ancestor began migrating out of
Africa in batches some 70,000 years ago. The tribals' DNA is extremely close
to the so-called African root gene of the single female ancestor, Prof.
Singh said this week. This made it likely that they migrated from Africa via
a sea route 50,000 to 70,000 years ago and have lived "in genetic isolation"
since in the Andaman Islands, said Prof. Singh. (Asian Age 20/5/05)


39. Tribals of Nicobar get new makeshift shelters (6)
New Delhi: The Nicobarese tribals hit by the tsunami wave last December have
made it to their new temporary shelters, beating the monsoon by a hair's
breadth. All the 9,500 temporary shelters were ready in time for monsoon,
which arrived last week. 98% of the refugees have moved into their new
abodes. Those taking time to move are staying in vacant military barracks
located on elevated ground. The one room-kitchen sets with toilets outside
are precursors to permanent houses with residential quarters on the first
floor and the ground floor reserved for cattle. But many refugees want the
temporary shelters altered marginally and made permanent, since they are
estimated to have a life of 10-15 years, official sources said. With these
shelters in place, the first stage of relief and rehabilitation is over. The
Andaman and Nicobar administration, supported by the Centre, is now
embarking on an 18-month programme of repairing roads and jetties.
Government has taken the stand that in view of security considerations on
the islands, it would not receive any foreign fund nor allow any foreign
agency to carry out the relief and rehabilitation tasks. After a phase of
criticism at home and abroad, this point of view is better understood now.
However, this places an added responsibility on the Centre that must fully
fund the rehab task. This is being done in the form of compensation money
that is already distributed through cheque payments. (Times of India
21/5/05)


40. Mizo Jews from Lost Tribe (6)
Kolkata,May 31:For almost a thousand-odd years, certain tribes in
north-eastern India have held that they belong to that elusive group called
the "Lost Tribes of Israel." And now, in a startling discovery, a scientific
study into the genetic origin of these tribes have established them as two
of 10 lost tribes. The study conducted at the Central Forensic Science
Laboratory in Kolkata proves that Indian Mizo tribes Kuki and Hinar are
indeed descendants of two lost tribes. The test results have been put up in
a scientific online journal "Genome Biology." Sources on condition of
anonymity briefed that to determine the genetic lineage, scientists at the
CFSL conducted DNA analyses of five tribal groups: Kuki, Hmar, Mara, Lai and
Lusei. The study, spanning six months, focused mainly on three parameters:
autosomal DNA testing (cells obtained from the body other than reproductive
cells), mitochondria! DNA testing (to determine the maternal heritage) and
Y-chromosomal testing (to determine the paternal heritage). The genetic
profiles were then compared with other related world populations to trace
the lineage. The study clearly suggests that the Kuki tribe owes its origins
to a few Jewish women. However, "the subsequent genetic admixture with the
surrounding population diluted the present day gene pool or some significant
epidemiological events might be the cause of this finding." Sources added
that the Mizo group claimed their Jewish origins by citing purely oral
traditions and a number of social customs practised exclusively by the Jews.
The Hmars' argument was strengthened by its observance of only three
festivals in a year - Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Paul Kut - all traditional
festivals of the Jewish.  (Asian Age 1/6/05)


41. Ghising demands tribal status for Darjeeling hills (6)
Siliguri: GORKHA NATIONAL Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subhas Ghising has
demanded tribal status for Darjeeling Hills if his original demand for a
separate state of "Gorkhaland" could not be conceded by the government. "The
declaration of Darjeeling as a tribal area will foster greater unity among
the Gorkhas. This will also be a step forward for Gorkhaland," Ghising, who
is currently caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council,
after its term expired on March 25, told reporters at Rohini last evening.
On March 23, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee told the
Assembly that Ghising would be the sole administrator of DGHC after the
expiry of its term. The decision had been taken to avoid any confrontation
in the hills in view of the situation hi neighbouring Nepal, he had said,
adding that it had been taken in consultation with the Centre. Ghising,
heading the hill body since its inception in 1988 had demanded that he be
made the caretaker of DGHC after the expiry of its term. After the
Darjeeling Accord was signed in 1988, Ghising had refrained from raising the
demand for Gorkhaland. The state government on March 14 passed the
Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (Amendment) Bill, for appointment
of an administrator to the hill body or for constituting a board of
administrators till the next elections. (Pioneer 7/6/05)


42. Protest mounting over failure to book accused in rape case (6)
ATTAPPADY (PALAKKAD): Protest is mounting over the failure of the police to
arrest the accused in the alleged rape and murder of Maruthy (35), a tribal
woman of Padavayal in Attappady, two weeks ago. The police have so far
questioned three suspects, but have not arrested anybody. The post-mortem
report has found 142 injuries in her body. Deputy Superintendent of Police
V. Chandran, head of the Special Mobile Squad set up to inquire into
atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Agali
police sub-division, said they had questioned three persons suspected to be
involved in the crime. But no arrest has been, as there is no definite
evidence of their involvement. Women activists, including poetess
Sugathakumari, Kerala Mahila Sanghom president Meenakshi Thampan and Anweshi
president K. Ajitha, have visited the victim's house and demanded that Chief
Minister Oommen Chandy take steps to book the culprits. Ms. Sugathakumari
told The Hindu that she had drawn the Chief Minister's attention to the
increasing incidents of murder and rape, particularly of tribal women, in
Attappady. Inaction against such crimes has resulted in its alarming
increase, she said. The CPI(ML) Red Flag had taken out a march to the Agali
police station last week demanding action on the issue. CPI(ML) Red Flag
area secretary M. Sukumaran said party activists would march to the
headquarters of the Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS) during
its governing body meeting on June 24, demanding action against incidents of
rape and murder of tribal women. The party has put up a board specifying the
number of rape cases in Agali town. (The Hindu 20/6/05)


43. Ministries at war over tribal quota (6)
New Delhi: It's a tribal war of a different kind. As social justice assumes
a new meaning, the reservation conflict between the elite tribes and their
marginal brethren has intensified like never before. The battle promises to
become a full-fledged war with two Union ministries - law and tribal
affairs - locked in a battle of constitutional interpretation over
reservation to STs in states and UTs which don't have an ST list of their
own or where a particular tribe is not accorded the scheduled status.
Currently, STs get reservations in jobs and educational institutions in the
Central government and the states where they are listed. The first shot has
already been fired. Law ministry has given its opinion that STs of one state
can be treated as STs in UTs even if they are not part of the ST list.
Chandigarh and Pondicherry have already issued notifications granting
reservation to STs of other states. It has not been extended to the states,
and tribal ministry is in no mood to let that happen. It argues such a move
would only benefit the elite among tribes. For instance, empowered tribes
like Meenas of Ra-jasthan and Khasis of North-East would corner all the jobs
in UTs like Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Lakshadweep. Though tribal
ministry officials refuse to come on record, law ministry sources say the
former has decided to take the matter to the Cabinet. The subtext of the
battle is political. With individual states unable to satisfy the job hunger
of the tribal elites in their territories, the demand to treat STs of one
state or UT as ST for the entire country has swiftly /gained ground. In the
last Parliament session itself, Moolchand Meena of Congress moved a Bill in
the Rajya Sabha seeking to address the demand. A similar Bill for SCs was
moved by Silvius Condpan in the Rajya Sabha. (Times of India 22/6/05)


44. Dark cloud are the silver lining for tribals (6)
Chaibasa (Jharkhand): Singha Bodra and his family of eight are out on their
charpoys, ready for the rain as it announces its arrival with uproarious
thunder. It sounds nice, he says, letting a smile play on his wrinkled face
turned to the sky. After a long dry spell left their farms arid and killed
relatives and livestock, there is a soothing darkness of clouds over
Chaibasa and people are hoping, and praying, as never before. "Will it
rain?" Lelito, his 12-year-old daughter, asks. "Say it will, father." Singha
laughs, half happy, half fearful. On Sunday, by 10.10 pm the winds start
blowing with some ferocity, herding dry leaves into a dry courtyard. "Should
get inside?" another ' daughter, Sunita, wonders. One of the more well-off
Adivasis in Tambo village, Singha's small space in front of his thatched
house now gets crowded with more people. Let's taste the first few drops, he
says with the authority of a patriarch. The rain has taken too long in
coming. The fields are parched, and so are the the people. Perhaps, the Gods
will show their kindness after all. Around 10.30, the wind turns cool. It is
pregnant with promise. Suddenly, a small boy, who chests out of his mother's
grasp and sprints to the centre of the clearing, announces grandly that he
can smell the rain. He can't. Not as yet, but he has heard his father say
that. It is said that in the old days, Adivasis could smell the monsoon days
before it poured into their fields.  (Times of India 22/6/05)


45. Tribal uprising against Maoists in Chhattisgarh (6)
Raipur:  More and more villages in Chhattisgarh are joining what is being
called "tribal uprising" against the Maoists active in 11 of the 16
districts in the state. Armed with traditional weapons like bows and arrows,
the people of nearly two dozen villages held a meeting in Nelgura of
Dantewada district and declared that they would not allow the ultras to
exploit them. The tribals said that they had been ruined by the Maoists
violence which had not only disrupted the development work but had also
brought them to the verge of starvation. The people of these villages were
of the opinion that the end of the Maoists was a must.Another meeting was
held in Bhairamgarh and was attended by Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma,
who announced that it was high time that people fought for their existence.
On the other hand, people of seven villages of the Kanker district organised
a meeting at Mardapoti and resolved to uproot the elements which disrupted
development work in the area. In Dantewada, 16 meetings have so far been
held by people of hundreds of villages, against Maoists."Villagers are now
disillusioned about the Maoists," Inspector General of Police of Bastar
range MW Ansari told The Pioneer. He said that the villagers now felt that
the ultras were not guided by any ideology and that rowdy elements had also
crept in their ranks. Besides, due to extremists activities, the development
work had suffered. The economy, too, suffered due to the ban on collection
of tendu leaf. There was a sense of insecurity among the people due to the
Maoists, Ansari added. The Pioneer 29/6/05)


46. Tribals allege police harassment (6)
RAJAHMUNDRY: Tribal people from six villages in Devipatnam mandal have
represented to the project officer of the Integrated Tribal Development
Authority of Rampachodavaram that the police are filing cases against them
basing on reports of non-tribals, who are enjoying their lands. Headed by
ITDA legal advisor P. Trinatha Rao, the tribals from Indukuru,
Chinnaramanaiahpeta, Gangapalem, Gonduru, Peda Bheempalli and Poodipalli
villages of the mandal handed over a representation to the project officer,
Solomon Arokhyaraj, on Monday. They said that they had been cultivating
their lands for the past 15 to 20 years in their villages, whereas
non-tribals encroached upon some of their lands and gave `false' reports to
the police. The PO aid he would speak to the Rampachodavaram DSP and ensure
that no false case was booked against tribals. (The Hindu 5/7/05)


47. NHRC starts probe into police violence on tribals (6)
Bhubaneswar, July 10: The NHRC has started investigation into unprovoked
violence by police at tribals of Jajpur district and their confinement in
jail for almost a month. A team of police officers on May 10 arrested a
group of tribals on charges of assaulting government officials and security
personnel during a protest at the foundation-laying ceremony of a steel
plant at Kalinganagar. The police arrested 25 women along with their 14
children. The children included a 15-month-old boy and two young girls. At
least 25 charges, like attempt to murder, arson and causing grievous injury
to government officials on duty were framed against them. Taking suo-motu
cognisance of a news report published in this newspaper on May 17, 2005,
under the headline, "Lathicharge on tribals kills babies too", the NHRC had
directed its special rapporteur A.B. Tripathy to inquire into the matter and
to submit his report within two weeks. As reported earlier, the tribals fled
to the nearby forests to avoid the police after the indiscriminate arrests
on May 10. Many women could not carry their children with them and left them
at home. Due to extreme heat, and lack of food, two infants of Gadapur
village - Raul and Jema - died. Gardi Gahapai, an ailing old man of
Gobarghati village who was left alone at home by his wife Nitima, also died
due to lack of care. Giving details of her ill-treatment by the police to
the NHRC team at Kalinganagar on Saturday, Parvati Gagarai, a tribal of
Chandia village under Sukinda Assembly segment in Orissa's Jajpur district,
said, "I was sleeping in my small thatched house on July 9 night. Some
policemen forced enter into my house and dragged me out. Before I could make
out anything, a police threw me into the jeep. I was just wearing a blouse
and petticoat. The police did not allow me to wear my sari. I was taken to
the police station semi-naked and later sent to the jail. I spent at least
eight-days in jail without proper clothes. After my relatives supplied me
sari and other clothes, I could breathe easy." The vesrions of Pellang
Gagarai and their other village women was similar. These illiterate women
who were released on bail after 23 days custody, are ignorant about the
reason for their arrest. (Asian Age 11/7/05)


48. Woman paraded naked, clubbed to death  (6)
Raipur : A 55-year-old tribal widow Phulwati Gond was paraded naked and then
killed by the villagers who charged her with practicing witchcraft.The
incident took place in the village Taramtola under Ambagarh police post in
Rajnandgaon, over 100 km from the State Capital. The police have registered
a case and arrested over two dozen persons, including women. Local district
police sources said that Phulwati who lived in the village with her sons and
daughters-in-law was suspected as practicing witchcraft. The village people
believed that she made them her victims.People of the village held a meeting
and despite repeated plea by Phulwati that she did not practice witchcraft,
she was taken to a pond by the villagers where she was striped and beaten
up. The villagers even tried to kill her by downing her in the pond. But
they could not succeed. Then she was brought back to her village and was
clubbed to death. The villagers tried to burn her dead body in the night.
However, her son Ranjan Gond informed the local police which foiled the
attempt.Ranjan said that whenever anyone fell sick in the village, the
people held his mother responsible. All this happened after villagers held a
meeting and on the instruction of the village panchayat Phulwati Bai Gond
was branded as a witch. It may be mentioned here that for the last ten years
56 killings on the charge of practicing witchcraft have taken place in
Chhattisgarh. (Pioneer 12/7/05)


49. Concern at abduction of tribal girls (6)
NEW DELHI: Worried over the increasing incidents of abduction of minor girls
from tribal areas, concerned citizens on Tuesday demanded a more proactive
role by the police and administration. ``There is an increasing trend to
abduct minor girls from tribal areas and sell them off in other areas for
marriage or as sex workers. Over the past few months four incidents have
come to light in Chindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. But this is not justa
regional problem, but a national issue", actress Nandita Das told a press
conference here. Describing a recent incident, social activist Mercy Mathew,
said a 15-year-old girl was abducted in March, but the police did nothing.
"I went to the police" but they took about two months even to register the
first information report. In fact, they took about two months to register
it. "We organised a public meeting, approached the women's commission and
spoke to the Superintendent of Police. Only when the pressure came from all
these quarters did they listen to us.'' Ms. Mathew said, "We finally traced
the girl in Agra." She had been sold for Rs. 60,000 for marriage. There were
people in Chindwara who lured the girl with promises of a good life. "The
police did question the local culprits but did not carry out any
investigation against those in Agra.'' Ms. Mathew listed three other cases
of abductions. ``It is horrifying to villagers of the region that people can
take away their girls and sell them. These girls are sometimes shown blue
films, drugged and gradually prepared for prostitution. There is also demand
for girls for marriage in some regions due to rampant female foeticide and
infanticide," she said. (The Hindu 13/7/05)


50. Raipur mulls arming tribals against Naxals (6)
Bhopal/Raipur: The Chhattisgarh police plans to arm the adivasis to resist
the Naxal menace. Chhattisgarh director-general of police O.P. Rathor told
this newspaper over telephone on Thursday that more than 40,000 square miles
spread over 10 (of the 16) districts was now under the operational sphere of
the Naxalites. The situation was akin to a low-intensity war which had never
abated over the years. Quite apart from the rising casualties and loss of
property, there had been a steady erosion in the morale and confidence of
the police. Desperate situations, said Mr Rathor, called for desperate
remedies. A stage had now come when there was no alternative to training
local tribals to defend themselves - with firearms, if necessary. So far,
bows and poison tipped arrows was all they had by way of weapons. Gram rakha
samitis had accordingly been formed in 130 villages in Bijapur and Dantewara
districts on an experimental basis. Backing them would be police clusters,
each covering 4-5 villages. Twelve ground-level meetings had already been
held in this connection, with another scheduled for July 24 at Bhairamgarh
(near Jagdalpur). To scuttle the master plan, the Naxals have already killed
16 people in separate incidents in the last few weeks. What was encouraging,
said Mr Rathor, was that the tribals were cooperating despite the attendant
dangers. So much so that 97 adivasis who had joined the Naxalites will
officially surrender in the presence of chief minister Raman Singh at the
meet. The current campaign, however, is not the first one. A similar
programme in 1992-93 had to be dropped after the Naxals butchered 70
tribals. (Asian age 22/7/05)


51. Two Rajasthan Ministers lock horns over PDS  (6)
JAIPUR: Two senior Ministers of the Rajasthan Government have locked horns
over alleged blackmarketing of wheat meant for distribution among the tribal
population in Udaipur. One of them, Kirorilal Meena, Minister for Food and
Civil Supplies, has written to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje complaining
against Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria's "attempt'' to shield those
involved. As such there is no history of old rivalry between Dr. Meena and
Mr. Kataria, both of whom share a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh background. It
may be a case of trespass as the geographical territory involved is Udaipur,
Mr. Kataria's home turf while the concerned department is Dr. Meena's. Dr.
Meena, who led raiding parties to the godowns of the Rajasthan Cooperative
Federation and private mills in and around Udaipur in June this year wrote
to the Chief Minister a week back complaining to her about the recent
transfer of police officials who were actively involved in the raids. The
Minister complained that the transfers of four police personnel, including
that of the Station House Officer of the Hiran Magri police station,
Udaipur, effected by the Home Department, were in reaction to the unearthing
of the black marketing racket. "Action against the police officials has
comes as a morale boost to the mafia,'' he wrote.  In his letter, Dr. Meena
accused Mr. Kataria of "giving protection'' to those involved in siphoning
off the subsidized wheat meant for distribution under the Antyodaya, BPL and
PDS categories. (The Hindu 28/7/05)


52. Tribal girls tie knot in Jharkhand (6)
Ranchi  : Challenging social norms and disregarding social stigma, two
tribal girls of Jharkhand got married in a ceremony arranged and managed by
their respective family members. While several countries have legalised
same-sex marriages, in India the custom is still considered taboo. Despite
this, an entire village here turned up to witness this rather unconventional
wedding. Interestingly, neither the villagers nor the family members of the
girls appear to have any issue with the marriage. According to reports, the
wedding of the girls was solemnised last Thursday in Bharbaria village of
west Singhbhum district, 160 km from Ranchi. Nitima Biruwa played the groom
while Laxmi Bari sat in as the bride. The latter has been staying with
Nitima for some time now. Nitima's impoverished family, unable to bear
Laxmi's expenses, had suggested she move out but the strong bond between the
two girls prevented Laxmi's departure. When Nitima's brother Birsa Biruwa,
came to know about the relationship, he assumed a vital role in getting the
two married. He negotiated with the villagers and his mother and procured
their consent for the wedding, after which the mother contacted Laxmi's
family members who accepted the proposal. "Seeing the extent of their love
we decided to arrange their marriage. We did request my sister to keep away
from Laxmi but that did not work so I decided not to play the role of a
villain. I wanted to ensure that they live happily together with the consent
of the society so that they do not face any problem in the future," said
Birsa. For past Laxmi has been living with Nitima, a matter that had become
the subject of major discussion among the villagers. Even Laxmi's brother
Ghanhayam Bari, who has accepted the marriage, said, "Initially it sounded
an unusual proposal but I later accepted it considering their bonding and
love."  (The Pioneer 28/7/05)


53. CPI defends AP on 900 tribal deaths (6)
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: The state unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) came
up with a surprising defence of the AP government following the- deaths of
900 tribals reportedly due to malaria. The CPI state council, which met here
on Monday, said, it is a "usual phenomenon" and that "Thousands of deaths
have been occurring every year during the season." The death of tribals is
growing into a major issue. AP health minister K. Rosaiah, who has denied
that there has been a large number of deaths, said that eating stale meat is
the reason for the deadly health problems. A petition regarding the deaths
has gone to the National Human Rights Commission, asking that malarial
deaths be treated as starvation deaths But, on Monday, newly elected stale
secretary of the CPI Dr K. Narayana said, "As soon as monsoon rains
commence, mosquitoes start breeding and the tribals fall prey to it. This
has been happening since ages." He suggested that the government provide
protected drinking water supply in the agency mandals as a permanent remedy.
Dr Narayana said that the Telugu Desam had no right to blame the  government
for the deaths, as tribals had died during the TD regime too. "I and my
party cadres walked for more than 170 km two years ago and submitted a
detailed report to then government detailing the deaths and the health
problems," he said in his first press conference as secretary at Makhdoom
Bhavan. He was accompanied by his team of nine secretariat members. (Asian
Age 2/8/05


54. IG used to repeatedly call me and talk dirty (6)
Noida: A 22-year-old tribal woman, who was allegedly raped first by a Ranchi
police deputy inspector general (DIG) and then by Ranchi inspector general
(IG), claims IG P S Natrajan raped her for over seven months and "used to
call me repeatedly and talk dirty". She even revealed that her second
husband used to help the IG in "forcefully raping" her. "The IG often used
to call me at least 10 times a day. Sometimes he called up at 2 or 3 in the
morning. Finally, a week back, he called me to Ranchi's Kalinga Apartments,
where the "Sansani" team caught him in the act. Madhu Priya Ganguly, a
teacher at the local Cambridge School, was living in the flat," the victim
said. . In a tape-recorded interview to a TOI^ correspondent in Noida, the
woman revealed that Ranchi SP (city) Suman Gupta had recorded her statement
here on Monday night. "I was grilled from 11.30 pm to 2 pm, and Gupta took
the SIM card of my cellphone with her, as it would help establish the IG's
repeated calls to me." She declined to reveal where she was living at
present, saying she was changing addresses frequently for "security
reasons." According to the Ranchi resident, she was married to a Naxalite in
1997, when she was only 13 and had studied up to Class VIII. Three years
later, she obtained a divorce, as she was ill treated by her in-laws and
husband. But, the husband was given her son's custody by a court. To try to
get the son back, she said, she went to DIG Parvez Hayat, who raped her. He
falsely promised to get her the child's custody and get her employed in the
police. Less than two years ago, she married again. Later, when she
complained against "exploitation" by Hayat, Natrajan was handed the inquiry.
And, for the last seven months, he had allegedly been raping her, the
daughter of a Jharkhand government chowkidar in her Ranchi home. (Tiimes of
India 3/8/05)


55. Maoists issue fatwa against top cops in CD sleaze case (6)
Ranchi  : Maoist ultras have issued a fatwa against suspended Inspector
General of Police PS Natrajan and Deputy Inspector General of Police Parvez
Hayat for their alleged exploitation of a tribal girl in the State. A
Communist Party of India-Maoist press release says the organisation has
issued a death sentence on the two cops. The release issued by sub zonal
commander Rabindraji says the two cops be hanged to death for their
dastardly act. "The top cops are rapists and symbolise police torture on a
woman in the name of anti-extremist operation. The real face of the police
has surfaced," the release said. It further states, "Women are exploited by
the police after they are branded extremists. We appeal to the people to
kill persons of such character at public places to reform society."Natrajan
and Hayat are accused of sexually exploiting a tribal girl.An FIR has been
lodged against both under various sections of the Indian Penal Code,
including rape, in Ranchi and Palamau. The FIR against Hayat was lodged in
the Sadar Police Station of Palamau district on Wednesday evening. Hayat is
currently on central deputation. The report was lodged on the basis of the
statement made by the concerned girl and a case registered under IPC 376
(rape), 506 (threatening) and 3/XII of the SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act,
1989. According to the woman's statement, Hayat had sexually exploited her
on the pretext of giving her a job in the police department in 2002. He was
DIG of Palamau range at that time. Natarajan was suspended after a regional
news channel carried video footage showing him in a compromising position
with a woman. The police has launched an operation to arrest the suspended
IG. (Pioneer 5/8/05)


56. Tribals in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam are battling many illnesses
(6)
HYDERABAD: "We fall like leaves, unnoticed. We bury our younger ones more
often between May and July. We are born to die, not to live," says Korra
Singaiah of Urumu hamlet in the Visakhapatnam agency of Andhra Pradesh.
Fevers, including malaria, are raging in the hamlet, situated more than
3,000 ft above sea level in the agency area bordering Orissa.  The Telugu
Desam, the main Opposition party, claimed that more than 1,100 people died
in June-July due to malaria and other communicable diseases. The Government
promptly denied it, saying the toll had not crossed double digits. "The fact
remains that we are burying more children and women every year," says T.
Balaraju, who had come to attend the weekly shandy in Araku mandal. "The
entire population of the agency is shivering under the impact of fever."
Tribals get affected easily and repeatedly due to their anaemic status and
unhygienic living conditions. They don't have safe drinking water," says
Krishna Sastri, a medical officer at the Araku Community Health Centre.
Till three years ago, anti-malarial operations were undertaken twice a year.
"The spraying operations have been handed over to contractors, and their
work is not supervised. This is one of the reasons for the severe viral
backlash this year," says Venu (name changed), a post-doctoral medical
student, who has worked in the area. While the jury is still out on the
cause of the deaths this year, District Collector Praveen Prakash says:
"Only seven persons have died due to malaria so far. In Champaguda village
of Araku mandal, for example, a political party claimed that 44 have died.
On verification, it was found that only one person died."  (The Hindu
8/8/05)


57. Maoists urge tribals to give up traditional weapons (6)
Raipur : Concerned over increasing support to what is known as salwa judum
(people's movement) in local parlance, Maoists have asked tribals to
surrender their bows and arrows. The traditional weapon associated with the
tribals is considered the most deadly weapon as it hunts down its target
without making any sound. The Maoists in fact see them as more deadly then
automatic firearms. Aware of the capability of this traditional weapon,
Maoists have asked people in the Konta region of Bastar to give up their
arms, intelligence sources said. The fear among the left wing ultras is that
the tribal people who have launched an anti-Naxalite movement (jan jagaran
or salwa judum) may use bows and arrows to target Naxalites. Armed with
their traditional weapon, tribals trained in the use of bows and arrows, are
widely participating in the jan jagaran movement in their resolve to uproot
Maoists from their areas. More than 220 such meetings have already taken
place in Bastar region. What is, however, more important is that over two
dozen people have been killed by Maoists during this period. The slain
people had not only attended the people's movement meetings, they were also
actively spearheading the campaign. Undeterred by the killings, the meetings
are continuing.The Maoists latest diktat on surrender of arms has triggered
severe resentment among the tribals. This, while the police is devising
various strategies to take on the ultras, including arming the locals and
trained them in the use of modern arms. (Pioneer 9/8/05)


58. Govt starves top tribal girls' school in MP of funds (6)
Bhopal : The future of 100 tribal girls studying in Ma Sarada Kanya
Vidyapith seems to be bleak as the school has not been able to receive fund
since the past 8 years. Established under a scheme of the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs "Educational complexes for tribal girls in low literacy pockets",
the school owes a debt of over Rs 9 lakh to the locales for its expenses.
Launched in the year 1995 in 134 districts having a literacy rate lower than
10 per cent across 11 States, funds are provided to organisations to
establish and run such schools. The hitch in the release of funds began
sometime in the year 1997-98, when out of the total grant Rs 1.84 lakh was
held up and this was repeated in the year 2000-01 and then again in the year
2003-04.However, the crisis deepened last year when the entire amount of
grant was held up. Till date, the school has funds worth Rs 13.25 lakh
pending with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.Interestingly, the school has
been declared the best school of the district and the block. Secretary of
the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Sevashram trust that runs the school, Dr Pravir
Sarkar said: "We have been running from pillar to post trying to find out
what went wrong and the reasons for the hitch in the release of funds.
Despite the support of the Collector and Principa Secretary Tribal Welfare,
the problem has not been sorted out as of yet. Now they say that the funds
would be released with that for the year 2005-06 so we are just waiting."
Neither the Tribal Welfare Commissioner nor the Anuppur Collector was
available for quote.However, the additional District Magistrate Anuppur said
that the funds had been delayed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs only and
there was no liability on the part of the State Government in the matter.
(Pioneer 11/8/05)


59. Quota in Panchayat poll: Tribals, BCs lock horns (6)
Ranchi  : The tribal-backward honeymoon in the State seems to be truly over.
The two are now headed for a split because of a clash of interests.  Three
years ago, tribals and backwards came together over the domicile issue to
drive away the Dikus (outsiders). The issue had led to considerable social
unrest in the State, outsider- insider clashes claiming at least 10
lives.Three years down the line, the State seems headed for another clash.
This time both the issue and the social equation are different. Panchayati
elections have now become a bone of contention between the tribals and the
backwards. In short, there is infighting between the "insiders". The two
communities are baying for each other's blood on the issue of reservation.
The backwards, who constitute about 40 per cent of the State's population,
are demanding dereservation of seats reserved for tribals who constitute 27
per cent of the population. Tribal leaders and scholars want the election to
take place under the Panchayat Raj Extension to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) of
1996. Non-tribals, particularly the backwards, have called for a bandh on
August 24 to oppose the reservation of Panchayats. The decision to this
effect was taken at a meeting on Thursday night in Ranchi. The meeting was
held under the banner of Jharkhand Pradesh Panchayatiraj Adhikar Manch
(JPPAM). "The bandh will be peaceful and anyone who creates trouble during
the strike will not be spared," said Ram Rahal Chaudhary, an ex-BJP MP and
convener of JPPAM. He said "The State Government needs to amend the
Scheduled Area Act only where the tribal population is less than 50 per
cent." At present 112 of the 212 block in the State fall under this Act
where posts of mukhiyas and village heads are reserved for the tribal
community. (Pioneer 20/8/05)


60. Karma determined to mobilise tribals against Maoists in Bastar forests
(6)
BASTAR: Mahendra Karma knows that he is high on the Maoists' hit list. But
that does not deter him from making determined efforts to mobilise tribals
against the Maoists. Undaunted by the growing threat perception and killing
of his followers, Mr. Karma would spare no effort to organise more and more
Salva Zudoom (peace initiative) rallies in the interior villages of Bastar
forests which have been under the control of Maoists for the past two
decades. ``Salva Zudoom is not driven by a political objective. The
predominant feeling among tribals is that they want to live their own lives.
They are vexed with the Maoist violence and they say they do not want to be
dictated to by anyone. People are angry at the naxalites and Salva Zudoom is
born out of this anger,'' Mr. Karma told The Hindu . The Maoist reprisals in
which 32 people were killed do not seem to prevent the tribals from
participating in Salva Zudoom programmes. Armed with bows and arrows and
other traditional weapons, more tribals have been attending the rallies.
``The reason is simple. The Maoists have destroyed the ethos and norms of a
tribal society in the name of revolution. People have been forced to toe
their line under the barrel of a gun. But remember, a tribal is a fiercely
independent person living in an independent society. That's why they are
revolting against the Maoists,'' Mr. Karma explained while on his way to
attend a peace rally at Kodoli. Mr. Karma, elected to the Chhattisgarh
Assembly from Dantewada constituency, is the Leader of the Opposition too.
His open opposition to the Maoists has come as a boon to the BJP Government
led by Raman Singh. The tribal leader does not mince words in questioning
the naxalites as to why they were killing people if they had established
their total control in Bastar. ``What's the use of any ideology, if it
cannot tolerate dissent?'' (The Hindu 24/8/05)


61. Tribals remain poor despite aid (6)
New Delhi, Aug. 26: The government spends Rs 7,000 crore on various schemes
for the uplift of the country's tribal population, which is estimated to be
about 8.43 crores. Despite the huge amount, tribals in most states continue
to live in dismal conditions. Among the worst performing states are Orissa,
Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Concerned by
the inadequate spending of money, the National Commission for Scheduled
Tribes has sought details from all state governments of the development work
being carried out for the uplift of tribals.  The Union ministry of tribal
affairs spent Rs. 7,409 crore (2004-05) for the uplift of scheduled tribes.
The maximum amount (Rs 914 crore) was spent on rural development of tribals
areas in the country. Besides, the government spent Rs. 488 crore in Plan
funds in 2004-05.  Talking to this correspondent, chairman of the National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes Kunwar Singh said, "Where are the funds
going? It's really difficult to understand. When the Central government is
spend such a huge amount the condition of tribals should have improved. But
there is no improvement at all." The commission has asked all state
governments to furnish details of projects related to development of tribal
areas, he added. "I would also like to say that the government should amend
the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 so that tribals can get ownership rights
on the land where they live. Provisions of the FCA should be suitably
amended to allow development activities to be taken up inside the forests,"
said the commission chairman.  (Asian Age 27/8/05)


62. Raman to walk the talk with tribals (6)
Raipur : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, his ministerial
colleagues, Opposition leader and the legislators will go on a week long
padyatra next month in Maoists-affected areas of the state. The programme is
aimed at giving boost to the ongoing salwa judum- the tribal movement
against the Maoists. Though the route for the padyatra has been kept a
secret due to security reasons it is likely to be in Bhairmagarh and Bijapur
of the Bastar region. The yatras will be led by State Home Minister Ram
Vichar Netam, MP Kedar Kashyap and Opposition leader Mahendra Karma.Several
other leaders will also join the yatra. According to sources, three to four
teams will go on padyatra and cover about 20 km every day. The Chief
Minister will join it on concluding day. Officials have been directed to be
present during yatra and address problems faced by the people. In a related
development government has set up a committee headed by the State Chief
Secretary to extend support to the people who have risen against Maoist. The
committee will be headed by Chief Secretary AK Vijayvargiya. The committee
will work out the logistical details. The committee held its first meeting
on Wednesday and decided to visit eight relief camps in the Maoist-affected
Dantewada district. 3,000 people have taken shelter in the relief camps
after the salwa judum began two months back. Both the padyatra and the
support extended to the people are aimed at proving Government's confidence
in the tribal populace and in their movement against the Maoists. (Pioneer
27/8/05)


63. Tribal force to deal with Orissa Naxals?
Bhubaneswar: The state government is planning to use tribals to fight
tribals. Pushed into a corner by the unrelenting pugnacity of Maoists, many
of whom here    are tribals    from around the Red belt in the western
districts, the government   is   now mulling an all-tribal battalion to take
on      the      ultra. Sources     indicate that the idea, mooted by the
home department,   has   a two-pronged aim to wean away tribals from   the
Maoist hold with a whole-some breadwinning opportunity in uniform and to
reduce   logistical   problems that keep cropping up in the deployment of
forces for duty in rebel-affected areas. "We are planning to raise the
second India Reserve Battalion with tribals recruits. The plan has already
received Centre's nod," a senior official said. "The battalion, comprising a
force of 1,000 recruits, will be based in a tribal-dominated area and shall
be deployed    exclusively    to quell the threat posed by cadres of the
People's War in the south and Maoist Communist Centre ultras in the  western
districts. Tribals are familiar with the jungle and hilly terrain and will
be very effective in neutralising    the    Nax-alites," said another senior
official. Orissa  has  an eclectic    mix    of tribals   native   to the
state with one _ of the highest averages of resident  tribal       entities.
(Times of Indiia 29/8/05)


64. Tripura tribals trapped in pornography web (6)
Agartala: They had once taken up arms to liberate Tripura. But after two
decades of blood, sweat and tears, the once incorruptible hardcore militants
have stooped to the level of running a racket in making pornographic films
and selling them in the market. Even more shocking, they are forcing their
own cadres to act out the scenes in these films, if reports are to be
believed. A local website www.tripurainfo.com on Friday spilled the beans on
the militants' porn CDs that are being circulated in the state, mostly in
tribal-dominated areas. The news has sent shockwaves across Tripura, with
DGP G M Srivastava ordering a probe. The website's editors have filed an FIR
providing details of the contents of the incriminating CDs. The website said
the films were being dubbed into Thai, Burmese and other regional languages,
ostensibly for sale in international markets. Its editors said they "were
aware of some pornographic film CDs featuring tribal youths in jeans and
frocks being circulated". "We had also been tipped off by at least three
surrendered militants who confirmed the existence of such CDs which featured
tribal boys and girls from the underground. They also admitted that the
militant lead-ers were sexually abusing the girl recruits." (Times of India
29/8/05)


65. Naga tribals endorse unification  (6)
Kohima : Thousands of Nagas on Wednesday publicly endorsed demands by the
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN(IM)) for unification of all
Naga tribal inhabited areas in the northeast. More than 50,000 Nagas
attended a pro-unification rally organised by the Naga Hoho, the apex tribal
council, in state capital Kohima. "The response was overwhelming with the
rally concluding with an open declaration reaffirming the commitment for
integration of all Naga inhabited areas in the northeast," Naga Hoho general
secretary N Krome said. The rally was attended by several ministers and
lawmakers from Nagaland and the adjoining state of Manipur, besides rebel
leaders from groups like the Isak-Muivah faction of the (NSCN-IM) and the
Naga National Council (NNC). "Unification of Naga dominated areas in the
northeast is not a demand but a historical right of the people," Mani
Charenamai, an MP from Manipur, said at the rally. Significantly, four Naga
MLAs from Manipur also participated in the rally although a majority of the
people in Manipur and the State Government have been vehemently opposing
demands for unification. Rally organisers claimed hundreds of Naga tribal
people from the adjoining states of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh
attended the congregation. The rally assumes significance as peace talks
with the NSCN(IM) has been deadlocked in recent months with New Delhi
virtually rejecting the group's demand for unification. (Piioneer 1/9/05)


66. 4 meals a day? Two is most they get (6)
Dharni, Melghat (District Amravati), Sept. 1: Lack of employment during the
monsoon months is one of the biggest causes of malnutrition among the
tribals of Melghat region. This reporter ventured beyond Dharni, a taluka
headquarters into the small hamlets in the interiors in Melghat, one of the
most adverse and inhospitable regions in Maharashtra. As we made our way
through lush greenery on one side and forests on the other side of the
narrow road, we reached Bairagad, 37 km from here, with a population of over
1,000. Dhansingh Vike, a local tribal said, "The employment guarantee
schemes end with the summer in the month of May and the next three months
are difficult to survive for us." He explained how it difficult it is to
work in the fields during the agricultural harvest season. "Our bodies have
to do the most strenuous work from dawn to sunset and we need more nutrition
but cannot afford it due to poverty." The government has started various
schemes so that tribals get nourishment during the monsoon months. These
include the public distribution system (PDS) and the popular consumption
loans scheme (CLS). But the tribals for whom this scheme is meant are
harassed by PDS officials.Babu Kasdekar of Chatvabod said, "Many of us get
ration cards only after our children are identified as malnourished. Even
after getting the ration card, we find it difficult to purchase foodgrains
as we cannot afford it." His neighbour Hiren said: "They are giving us
rations which we should have got in May now, when we cannot afford it. If it
was given in May, we could have purchased it and it would have saved our
children." (Asian Age 2/9/05)


67. Separate quota for tribals likely in Rajasthan (6)
Jaipur : There is a move afoot to create a separate quota within the
prescribed Scheduled Tribe reservation for some adivasi groups residing in
the southern part of Rajasthan. Adivasis of Udaipur, Dungerpur, Banswara,
Chittorgarh and Sirohi, constitute about 44 per cent of the total tribal
population in the State. They are mostly from the Bheel, Grasia, Dholi,
Dungary, Rawal, and Tadavi communities. Among other reasons, their weak
economic status has ensured that their presence, despite the ST quota, in
Government services is negligible. For the past several years, these tribals
have been pressing for a separate quota within the ST quota so that they can
avail job opportunities in the Government sector. According to well placed
sources, the Government is considering constituting a committee of ministers
to look into this demand. Minister of State for Tribal Area Development
Kanakmal Katra for the past several months has been persuading the
Government to focus attention on the tribals' demand. Currently, the
influential tribal community of Meenas, mainly concentrated in the Sawai
Madhpour and Karauli districts, hold a virtual monopoly in Government
services under the 12 per cent reservation for STs. "This has to change and
reservation benefits must be extended to other tribals of the State as
well," Mr Katra says. Recently, the Gujjar community, currently listed in
the Other Backward Classes category, organised a huge rally in the State
capital to press for their demand that they be included in the ST category.
To oppose this Gujjar demand, several Meena leaders, including some
Ministers, met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje last week. They say Gujjars
cannot be considered STs because they have never resided in the forests like
a true tribal community. Some Meena leaders are of the view that if Gujjars
are included in the ST category, their present reservation quota under the
OBC category be transferred to ST reservations. (Pioneer 6/9/05)


68. 'No starvation deaths among Sahariya tribals' (6)
Jaipur : A Supreme Court fact-finding committee has concluded that there
have been no starvation deaths among the Sahariya tribals in Barran district
in Rajasthan as was being alleged by certain quarters. After touring 10
villages in the area, the six- member committee, appointed by the Supreme
Court, said these deaths were taking place due to failure of the health
system in this tribal-dominated district. About a fortnight ago, Pradesh
Congress Committee general secretary Ashak Ali Tank, alleged that starvation
deaths were occurring in Barran as the Government had failed to provide
sufficient food to the tribals in the area. On the basis of Mr Tank's
report, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, last week asked AICC general
secretary Mukul Wasnik and PCC president BD Kalla to tour the area. In their
report, they claimed at least 78 Sahariya tribals had died due to
starvation. However, in a separate report to the party president, Rajasthan
Mahila Congress president and MLA from the area Mamta Sharma, differed with
the report of her senior party leaders. In her report, she said of the 48
deaths reported from the area recently, a majority of them had occurred not
due to starvation but because of seasonal diseases. The Raje Government,
from the very beginning, has maintained that not a single death was a result
of starvation. Although medical faculties are available in the area, tribals
prefer to go to local "healers" rather than qualified doctors which often
leads to the death of the patient. (Pioneer 23/9/05)


69. Mizo tribals create history (6)
Aizawl : More than 200 tribal people in Mizoram have made history by
becoming the first batch to be formally converted to Judaism, religious
leaders Thursday said. "We are extremely happy to  officially converted to
Judaism. Me and my family can now proudly claim to be Mizo Jews,"
48-year-old Peer Tlau, an engineer, in Aizawl, said. Christian by birth,
Tlau, his wife and two sons, were among 218 tribal Mizos who were pronounced
Jews after they took a holy dip at a 'mikvah' or a ritual bath last weekend
under strict supervision by a team of nine Rabbis or religious leaders from
Israel. "The holy bath by 218 Mizo people at the mikvah was indeed a
historic event as they became the first batch to be formally converted to
Judaism," Rabbi Yehuda Gin, an Israeli preacher, deputed by the Chief
Rabbinate or religious jurist, said. "A bath at the mikvah forms an
important ritual in Jewish tradition. A holy dip is considered mandatory and
the final step towards becoming a complete Jew for any converts," he said.
Sephardic or oriental chief Rabbi in Jerusalem, Shlomo Amar, announced in
March that members of the 6,000-strong Bnei Menashe tribe in the
northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur were descendants of ancient
Israelites or one of the Biblical 10 lost tribes. The recognition by Israel
came in the wake of mounds of applications from northeastern tribals seeking
to migrate to Israel, or the "Promised Land", which they say is their right.
According to Israeli law, every Jew enjoys the "right of return" or the
right of abode in Israel. "Now we can surely make preparations to migrate to
our Promised Land. Nobody can stop us from going to Israel forever," Tlau's
wife Shulamith said. There were at least 600 Mizos who queued up to perform
the holy dip at the 'mikvah', the construction of which was completed
earlier this month. (Pioneer 23/9/05)


70. Tribals aim high with studies (6)
Karimnagar, Oct. 1: A revolution is on in Naxal-affected Garjanapalli - a
revolution in education.This remote village in the Maoist hotbed of
Yellareddypet mandal in Karimnagar has discovered that education is the key
to escape. And they are pursuing education in real earnest. Situated close
to the dense Manala forests, the village, which houses about 1,500 Lambada
tribals, is steeped in poverty. Amenities are woefully inadequate and even
sick people have to be taken long distances by bullock cart to get medical
attention. The village had made news earlier as it had witnessed much
bloodshed and was home to many Naxalite leaders, including the Janashakti
district secretary Ranadheer. However, the villagers decided to change their
own fate. Now, the village is making news for different reasons. Over the
years, village elders have persuaded young men to pursue education
vigorously. The tribals used all possible avenues to get schooling. The tiny
hamlet has produced 300 government employees, including teachers, engineers,
policemen, RTC drivers and conductors. Tirupathi Naik, a recent recipient of
the best teacher award, is one among the 25 teachers who belong to the
village. Similarly, Ramulu, an assistant engineer of APTransco, and circle
inspector Ramreddy are proud sons of the village. Garjanapalli also boasts
105 police constables and 50 RTC employees, mostly drivers. (Asian Age
2/10/05)


71. Protest against inclusion of Gurjars in ST list (6)
Jaipur : Members of the Meena community, a predominant schedule tribe in the
State, held a rally here on Sunday to protest against the alleged move to
include some more communities, particularly Gurjars, in the list of
scheduled tribes. All the 31 MLAs, belonging to different political parties,
were present at the rally to show their solidarity on the issue. The leaders
said there was no justification for inclusion of some more castes and
communities in the ST category, as these communities were enjoying a better
status socially and economically. Last month, Gurjar Mahasbha had held a
rally in the State capital to press for its demand for the inclusion of
Gurjars in the ST category. At present, this community comes under Other
Backward Class (OBC) category. Its leader said that like other ST
population, including Meenas, they earned their livelihood from forest and
were eligible to be considered as ST. After the Mahasabha rally, the State
Government had constituted a committee to consider the demand. This has
evoked sharp reaction among the Meenas. (Pioneer 3/10/05)


72. Jharkhand Govt to take tribals on a city dekko (6)
Ranchi: THE JHARKHAND Government's move to "Chalo tumhe cities ka tour
karaye" (Come with us on a tour of the cities) for tribals who prefer to
live in isolation in the forests is a novel move initiated by Chief Minister
Arjun Munda to integrate the State's tribal population with the mainstream
population. Tribals from different parts of the State will be taken to
smaller and metropolitan cities of India to get acquainted with
development projects. "There are many tribal clans which have not even seen
a town as they prefer to stay in forest areas. Tribals like to live in an
old fashioned manner and are not interested in seeing the world that exists
outside," feels VS Uppadhaya, a retired professor of Anthropology at Ranch!
University, The welfare department has been asked to work on the project
and raise funds for the tribals' Bharat Darshan. Of the 30 tribes in
Jharkhand, nine belong to the Primitive Tribes Group (PTG) whose population
is .rapidly declining in the State. The tour will include both the primitive
tribes and general tribes. "The concept of Bharat Darshan is to show the
tribals the changes that are taking place in the world and how they are
alienated from the mainstream population" said an official of the welfare
department. "A group of 20 people of different tribes will be constituted
who will visit the smaller and metropolitan cities of India. Different
groups will be sent to different parts of the country," he said. The other
story related to this Bharat Darshan project is industrialisation. The State
Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the tune to Rs 1
lakh crore in steel, mining and power sector. To translate the MoUs into
reality, the State needs land and a change in the tribal mindset. (Pioneer
7/10/05)


73. Tribal burnt alive in Madhya Pradesh (6)
KATNI (M.P.): A Gond tribal was allegedly burnt alive by members of an
upper caste family following some personal dispute at a village, 50 km from
here on Thursday, police said. Angry over some differences, one Shivbhan
Singh Chouhan and his seven sons allegedly poured kerosene on Suraj Singh
Gond (40), president of Parent-Teachers Association of a school, and set him
afire at Kataria village in the wee hours, the police said adding, Suraj
died of burns. Inspector General of Police .K. Soni said in Bhopal that
Suraj had objected to Chouhan forcefully taking away some construction
material, following which he was attacked.  (The Hindu 21/10/05


74. Tribals seek autonomous councils (6)
BHUBANESWAR: A two-day All-India Tribal Convention began here on Monday with
speakers demanding the formation of regional autonomous councils in tribal
areas to ensure development. The speakers demanded the stopping of the
transfer of land to non-tribals in Scheduled Areas. They called upon tribal
people to fight for their rights for land and forest produce, and protect
their language and culture. Over 500 tribal leaders are participating in the
convention to discuss the problems facing the tribal people. The convention
has been organised by the All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha and Lok Sangram
Manch. (The Hindu 25/10/05)


75. Maoists have made us refugees in our own land (6)
Dantewara (Chhattisgarh) MORE THAN 450 tribals have taken shelter to escape
the wrath of the Maoists at a Chhattisgarh Government-run relief camp in
Krishi Upaj Mandi near Aram Chowk in Dantewara district, 400 km from Raipur.
The group comprises men, women and children from ten villages of the
district. Most camp residents returned from a salwajudum (peace march)
meeting at Bhairmagarh. It was addressed by Governor KM Seth, Home Minister
Ram Vichar Netam, Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma and other leaders. The
Governor congratulated them for rising against the Maoists and assured
security to them. The same night, on Saturday, more than two dozen Maoists
raided village Gumra, a few kilometers from where the meeting was held in
the district. The Maoists killed a former Sarpanch Manguram. The killing
was a clear message to those people who had dared to go against them and had
joined the salwajudum,' a senior police official pointed out. 'We were
expecting a Maoist attack in our villages and even in the refugee camps,'
said 25-year-old Lakshman of village Pulewaya. Sanaru Karma of Niram village
agrees with him. But, they along with several other young men at the camp
are determined. "We are not going to surrender the Maoist's bullets. We will
set our village free from their terror.' They alleged that Maoists had for
a long time threatened them, killed people, demanded grains and land
produce, had forced (hem to close the market, had not allowed them to
collect tendu leaves (a major source of their earning) if they ever
protested against them. People at the relief camp had several such
complaints. (Pioneer 26/10/05)


76. Andhra tribals to help fight Naxals  (6)
New Delhi, Oct. 27: Andhra Pradesh government plans to fight Naxalism by
recruiting and arming tribals and non-tribals of the Naxal-affected areas
and also raising a joint task force with the neighbouring states, equally
affected by Left-wing extremism, indicated Andhra home minister, Mr K Jana
Reddy. He was replying to questions from the media in the capital on
Thursday on the composition of a battalion of tribal police force. Mr Jana
Reddy explained that the proposed battalion will be raised from specific
"scheduled" areas (under the influence of Naxalism) though it will not
necessarily be restricted to only tribals, but anyone living in the
scheduled area, Mr Jana Reddy added. He also said that this will be a
special battalion but will function as any other state police battalion.
"The objective of social justice also gets covered by this exercise," he
explained. He also said that the special task force of neighbouring states
is already in the offing and or joint operations of the police forces of
states has begun. (Asian Age 28/10/05)


77. Nine hacked to death in Assam ethnic violence (6)
Guwahati : Ethnic clashes between two rival tribal groups in Assam took a
deadly turn on Saturday with at least nine persons hacked to death and upto
130 houses set ablaze. Nine Karbi villagers were hacked to death by
militants belonging to a rival group in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on
Saturday, said a police official. The incident took place at Borsing Bey
village, about 285 kilometers east of Guwahati. "Heavily armed militants
raided the village and chopped off the heads of nine people with crude
weapons. They set on fire at least 20 houses before leaving the area,"
police official A Das said on the telephone from Diphu, the district
headquarters of Karbi Anglong. Police suspects the Dima Halom Daoga, a rebel
group fighting for an independent homeland for the Dimasa tribe in eastern
Assam, to be behind the killings. The killing spree was followed by ravaging
houses. "A group of Karbi villagers attacked a Dimasa village and burnt down
80 houses and soon after there were retaliatory strikes in which 50 houses
belonging to Karbis were set ablaze by a Dimasa mob in an adjoining area,"
the police official said. Civil authorities in Karbi Anglong districts have
opened relief camps to shelter both Karbi and Dimasa villagers whose houses
were burnt down on Saturday. "At present we have given shelter to 1,000 in
makeshift arrangements. Many people have fled their homes fearing fresh
attacks by rival groups," he said. The Karbis and the Dimasas have for long
been engaged in a bitter turf war with both the ethnic tribal groups
fighting for territorial supremacy in the region. "The fight between the
Dimasas and the Karbis are over land rights and in regular intervals we find
the two groups involved in bloody clashes," another police official said.
(Pioneer 10/10/05)


78. Assam govt to probe ethnic violence (6)
GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 11: With ethnic clashes in Assam claiming 30 lives-six of
them yesterday-the state government today announced a probe into the
killings. Most of the killings were executed by militant groups claiming to
be fighting for the rights of the Dimasa and Karbi tribes. Six persons were
killed near Diphu yesterday even as Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and
former CM Prafulla Kumar Mahanta were touring the violence-hit areas. The
state government today announced a judicial probe by retired Guwahati High
Court judge PC Phukan. The report would be submitted in three months. As
most of the killings occurred in remote villages, even the police came to
know of each incident very late. The ethnic violence was triggered on
September 26 with the murder of three Dimasa youths near Diphu, the
headquarters of Karbi Anglong, a district dominated by the Karbi tribe. The
administration initially considered it a law and order problem, but the
violence escalated with Karbis and Dimasas attacking each other's villages.
While five persons were killed in two separate incidents on October 3, three
were killed a day later. On October 8 seven persons were killed in three
villages. Five more died as armed militants attacked five villages belonging
to both communities on October 10. The police blame the Dima Halam Daoga
(DHD) and the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), militant groups
claiming to represent the Dimasa and Karbi tribes respectively for the
violence. ''Villagers are being targeted by the two groups to create tension
between the tribes,'' Karbi Anglong SP Pankaj Sharma said. Police said the
assailants used AK-47 and SLR weapons to carry out the killings. (Indian Exp
12/10/05)


79. Tribal clashes hit Assam, 34 killed (6)
Guwahati, Oct. 17: The ongoing ethnic clash in the hills of Assam took an
ugly turn on Monday when at least 34 people, mainly Karbi tribals, were
hacked to death and their beheaded bodies burnt by unidentified Dimasa
militants in trouble-torn district of Karbi Anglong. The Assam government,
led by chief minister Tarun Gogoi, issued shoot-at-sight orders and clamped
indefinite curfew in the area to prevent any more violence. The Karbis and
Dimasas have been fighting for years over land in Assam, but fresh ethnic
clashes between the two factions started last week. About 69 people have
been killed and more than 20,000 people have been rendered homeless in the
last 10 days of unabated ethnic clashes between the warring tribes. More
than 5,000 houses have also been set ablaze in the ongoing crisis.
"Heavily-armed Dimasa militants stopped two passenger buses and pulled out
22 victims, hacking them to death and then threw their bodies into the
burning buses," a junior police officer at Diphu police station said.
Intelligence sources said two buses were on their way from Zirkingging of
Hamren sub-division to Diphu when militants intercepted them at Pharchim,
about 90 km from Diphu. The militants set one vehicle on fire while
passengers of the other bus were hacked to death before they were set
ablaze, the sources said, adding that the toll was likely to increase after
more bodies were recovered from the burning vehicles. After torching the two
buses, the militants moved to nearby Sarsim village where they killed 12
more Karbis three hours later. The attackers also torched 125 houses in
different parts of the district. (Asian Age 18/10/05)


80. 120 homes set ablaze in fresh militant attacks (6)
Diphu: Fear and panic gripped people in violence-torn Karbi Anglong district
of Assam as militants launched fresh attacks by torching scores of homes
belonging to rival tribal groups. Despite an indefinite curfew and Army
soldiers staging flag marches to contain escalating ethnic clashes that
claimed 72 lives in the last three weeks, violence continued in the
district. A police spokesman said Karbi tribal rebels attacked three
villages on Tuesday morning and set ablaze 120 homes belonging to people
from the rival Dimasa tribe. "There were no casualties in the attack
although many houses were damaged in the fire," Karbi Anglong District
Magistrate DD Tripathi said. There were reports of militants attacking
security forces in at least two places with automatic weapons on Tuesday
night. Details were awaited, as the area where the encounters took place was
very remote. Violence peaked on Monday when 36 Karbi tribal villagers were
hacked to death by Dimasa militants in three separate attacks in what is
being described as "an orchestrated orgy of killings". Army soldiers
patrolled vulnerable areas in the curfew-bound district with police and
paramilitary troopers also deployed in strength to prevent further ethnic
clashes."Strict orders were issued asking security forces to shoot-on-sight
anybody violating the curfew. This has been done to prevent movement of
militants," the district magistrate said. An indefinite curfew was clamped
Monday evening after 36 Karbi villagers were brutally killed in a string of
attacks forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Twenty-two bus
passengers, all of them Karbis, were killed at Jirikinding, a village
located 320 km east of Guwahati. (PPioneer 19/10/05)


81. Assam violence on, toll 47 (6)
Guwahati, Oct. 18: Violence and arson continued to rock central Assam's
Karbi Anglong district where the death toll of Monday's massacre went up to
47. Fresh incidents of arson were reported from some new areas of the
district on Tuesday. Assam chief secretary S. Kabilan visited Diphu the
district headquarters of the hill district where several bullet-ridden
bodies of the victims are yet to be retrieved from the debris of houses set
on fire by the attackers. This came to light when a group of reporters,
while on their way to Diphu from Lumding, found bullet-ridden bodies in
roadside villages which were set on fire. Even 24 hours after the incident,
the civil administration has not been able to reach the affected villages to
retrieve the bodies of the victims. The group of reporters also recovered a
large number of empty cartridges of AK-47 rifles from the villages which
were completely deserted after assailants set them on fire. The police said
that at least 10 houses were set on fire by some Karbi attackers in Manza
area of the district. The authorities have clamped the curfew and ordered
shoot at sight for second night fearing massive retaliation by the majority
Karbis on the minority Dimasas. According to the driver of a bus in which
massacre took place, the attackers were heavily armed but they used sharp
weapons to kill men, women and children passengers of the bus. The driver of
the bus who described himself as to be a Nepali citizen was allowed to go by
the assailants.  (Asian Age 19/10/05)


82. Toll reaches 80 as violence continues in Assam (6)
Diphu : Tribal rebels in the hills of Assam's violence-scarred Karbi Anglong
district are continuing with their death dance with seven more Karbi
villagers brutally massacred, taking the toll in three-weeks of barbaric
ethnic clashes to 80, officials Wednesday said. The police on Wednesday
recovered dead bodies of seven Karbi tribal people from remote Doyangmukh
village, 310 kilometres east of Assam's main city of Guwahati. This is the
latest in a string of attacks in the Karbi Anglong district where violent
ethnic clashes between the majority Karbis and the Dimasas have put the
authorities in shame. "A big group of heavily armed Dimasa tribal militants
late Tuesday attacked the village and killed seven Karbi villagers. Some
died of bullet wounds and at least three of them were hacked to dead using
machetes and spears," a senior police official said requesting anonymity.
The rebels then set ablaze at least 50 homes before leaving the village.
Police suspects the militants to be from the outlawed Dima Halom Daoga (DHD)
that is fighting for an independent homeland for the Dimasa tribe in eastern
Assam. The attack took place even as the Army soldiers with shoot-on-sight
orders were patrolling the entire district which had been put under an
indefinite curfew since Monday night. Police said Karbi rebels backed by
their community members raided at least three villages belonging to the
rival Dimasa tribe and torched up to 200 homes. "There are no reports of
casualties from the Dimasa villages although many people had fled their
homes after the attacks," Karbi Anglong district magistrate DD Tripathi
said.


83. Nine more killed; 120 houses torched in Karbi (6)
Guwahati: VIOLENT ETHNIC clashes continued unabated in Assam's Karbi
Anglong district on Friday when nine militants were killed in a fierce
gunflght and more than 120 houses were torched. The toll in the ongoing
three-week ethnic rioting has reached 89, officials said. Police said
heavily armed militants of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) killed nine rival
Karbi tribal rebels near village Khejurband in Karbi Anglong district, 295
km east of Guwahati. "According to preliminary reports, 12 armed Karbi
rebels were involved in torching of houses belonging to the Diniasa tribe
when they were challenged by a group of DHD militants," a senior police
officer, who did not wish to be named, said over telephone. Nine rebels,
wearing olive green fatigues, were killed. The DHD rebels decamped with
weapons from the dead militants. Police suspect that the victims were cadre
of the outlawed United People's Democratic Solidarity (UP-DS), a rag-tag
rebel army lighting for an independent homeland for the majority Karbi tribe
in eastern Assam. "Witnesses said the rebels killed by their rival group
with automatic weapons were from the UPDS and they managed to burn down more
than 120 houses before the encounter took place," the official said. Both
the DHD and the UPDS are currently observing ceasefires with New Delhi. The
fresh attacks came even as the Centre on Thursday decided to disarm the
rebels of the two warring groups. (Pioneer 22/10/05)


84. 45,000 homeless, Gogoi under fire (6)
GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 23: Over 45,000 tribals, both Karbis and Dimasas, have
fled their villages and taken shelter in 53 relief camps as the situation in
the strife- torn Karbi Anglong autonomous district continues to be volatile.
Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, meanwhile, is busy trading charges with Opposition
leaders on who was behind the trouble. Confirming that the number of inmates
in relief camps has risen from 27,000 last Sunday to a little over 45,000
today, Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner G D Tripathi told The Indian
Express over phone from Diphu that more people had fled the villages out of
fear. The number of relief camps in the district has risen to 53, while 10
camps have been opened in North Cachar Hills and Nagaon district. There was,
however, no report of fresh incidents since Friday afternoon. With the
October 17 massacre of 34 Karbis, who were pulled out from two buses, the
death toll from the month-long bout of ethnic violence stands at 91-80 Karbi
tribals, eight Dimasas, one Bodo and one Nepali.  In Guwahati, while
Opposition parties blamed the Congress government for failing to anticipate
and control the situation, Gogoi has taken on Jayant Rongpi of the CPI(ML),
a prominent Karbi leaders and former MP, and NDA convenor George Fernandes.
As he blamed Rongpi for being ''irresponsible'', the BJP has expressed
surprise at the CM calling Fernandes a trouble-maker.   ''Gogoi has failed
to douse the fire in the hill district and is now indulging in cheap
politics. He is also trying to protect his junior minister (P&D Minister
Himanta Biswa Sharma) against whom there are serious allegations of
hobnobbing with perpetrators of the violence in Karbi Anglong,'' said
Rongpi, adding ''If he is a responsible CM and knows that I am involved (in
the violence), then why does not he ask the police to arrest me?'' (Indian
Exp 24/10/05)


85. National tribal policy in the offing, says Kyndiah  (6)
GANGTOK, NOVEMBER 7: The Centre is in the process of bringing out a national
tribal policy with special provisions for small tribal groups. Addressing a
high-level meeting here today, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and
Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) P R Kyndiah said preserving the
socio-cultural identity of small tribal groups which have a population of
50,000 to 100,000 was one of the prime concerns of the Centre. He added a
national policy with special reference to such groups was being prepared.
Kyndiah, on his first visit to the state after assuming office, was speaking
in the context of allocation of primitive tribe status to Lepcha community
of Sikkim - a demand which the state government has been raising for long.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, his cabinet
colleagues, Assembly Speaker D N Takarpa, legislators and senior government
officials. The minister said the Centre was considering giving Limboos and
Tamangs of Sikkim their political rights, including reservation in jobs.
(Indian Exp 8/11/05)


86. Team to probe deaths of 90 tribals in Assam (6)
Guwahati, Nov. 17: The Assam government has constituted a special
investigation team to probe the lapses that lead to the death of nearly 90
tribals, besides the displacement of more than 40,000 villagers in central
Assam's Karbi Anglong district. This has come close on the heels of home
ministry's indictment to the state administration for its failure in
containing the violence despite early warning. According to security
sources, violence broke out in the Karbi Anglong district on September 26
when three Dimasa auto-rickshaw drivers were killed where as the home
ministry had alerted the state about the simmering tension between the two
militant outfits in the first week of September itself. The state
administration was advised to form peace committee in remote areas of the
hills to avoid clashes between the two ethnic groups. If reports of the home
ministry are to be believed, the state administration remained complacent
even after September 26 violence which resulted in massacre of 34 Karbis on
October 17 at Kheroni. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on October 18
announced that Army had been called out to contain the violence in the
trouble-torn district which had already lead to displacement of more than
20,000 people by that time. Though this was announced, the Army refused to
go to the riot-hit areas on the pretext that their boys were not trained to
cope with such riot like situation.  The security sources said that violence
continued to rock the hills of Assam at least for 20 days. More than 90
people had lost their lives and 1,014 houses were burnt down. (Asian Age
18/11/05)


87. When the sun sets, tribals in Jharkhand get high (6)
Ranchi : "Suraj ast, Adivasi mast" (when the sun sets , the tribals relax )
is a popular saying in tribal dominated Jharkhand. Handia, a local brew, is
made from fermented rice and mahua, the fruit of a tree that grows wild.
Handia is popular among the people, both young and old alike. In
neighbouring Bihar too, the tribals like toddy, or tadi, which is extracted
from the fruit of the palm tree, and handia. It would not be wrong to say
that it "runs in the blood of the tribals". There is, however, a dark side,
poor labourers administer handia to their children so that they can sleep or
they can work undisturbed, and secondly sleeping children do not ask for
food." I give handia to my three-month-old baby to keep him asleep during
the day. I can then work freely as the handia keeps my son under its
influence for several hours," said Sheela who ekes out a living as a
housemaid. Her sentiments were echoed by another housemaid Gudia. She said.
"My son does not ask for food once he has had handia." A large family
coupled with a low income also makes life difficult for these indigent
workers.. "I earn Rs 1,200 per month. I have four children and it is
difficult to serve even two meals a day," Gudia adds. Poverty and occasional
employment makes the life of these poor people very harsh. In Jharkhand 52
per cent of the population live Below Poverty Line (BPL). Labourers are
often forced to migrate to other states in search of jobs. Those left behind
are often without employment. The consumption of handia, however, has
socio-economic sanction." Firstly, handia is inextricably associated with
the tribal culture. It is used even in prayer. And secondly, it's the
poverty. We cannot separate both the points," said VS Upadhyaya, an
anthropologist. (Pioneer 2/12/05)


88. A.P. Minister promises fair deal for affected tribals (6)
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has
promised the best resettlement and rehabilitation package for affected
tribals under the Polavaram irrigation project. "Any decision on
rehabilitation and compensation will be taken only after the consent of
displaced people, particularly tribals," Mr. Lakshmaiah told reporters
after a lengthy three-hour-long meeting with Narma-da Bachao Andolan chief
organiser Medha Patkar at the Secretariat here on Sunday. "There will be no
harassment of villagers by the police," he said. It was the first meeting
between the Minister and the social activist and representatives of the
Solidarity Committee for Anti-Polavaram Agitation and both sides expressing
their views on the project. Ms. Patkar was here on the Minister's
invitation. Responding to a question from activists, Irrigation Secretary
Satish Chandra said the Central Water Commission had given clearance in
principle and the final nod was awaited. Ms. Patkar said without getting all
clearances it was not ideal to go ahead with the project and referred to
ongoing canal works. She also quizzed the Minister about the funding
pattern, R&R package and alleged harassment of villagers by the police. She
insisted that revenue teams should extensively tour villages and interact
with people before finalising the compensation package. Statistics on the
number of families to be displaced was not in tune with those gathered by
people's organisations. (The Hindu 5/12/05)


89. Silica disease hits tribals in Godhra stone crushing units (6)
JOJ VILLAGE (VADODARA), DECEMBER 6 : FORTY-YEAR-OLD Raman Bhagwania Nayaka
and his wife Devaliben, who worked in a stone-crushing factory at Godhra,
are lying critically ill at their home in Guda village in Chhotaudepur,
Vadodara, complaining of severe respiratory trouble, frequent bouts of
coughing and weakness. Four members of a family from the same village, the
Nayakas-Bhailalbhai, Popat, Nakat and Ramesh-did not survive. Neither did
Andariab-hai Galia and his two wives, Ramilaben and Amliben. All of them
worked at a stone-crushing unit in Godhra. The villagers say a total of 43
tribals from the village have died in the past three years, all due to
pulmonary infections. All of them reportedly came down with respiratory
complications after stints ranging from two to three months in the 20-odd
units involved in crushing silica stones on the outskirts of Godhra.
According to a survey conducted by the Adivasi Chaitanya Trust, over 160
tribal labourers from the Joj region of Chhotaudepur Taluka have, in the
past four years, died. The killer disease has been identified by Dr
Kiransinh Loth of the Tejgadh Tribal Academy Clinic as pneumoconiosis, or
accumulation of silica dust in the respiratory tract and lungs that causes
inflammation of the lungs and affects their functioning. He claims no
treatment is available for the condition. Surprisingly, no medical papers
about the treatment of the affected were available with their family
members, making it difficult for the district administration to initiate
any action in the matter. (Indian Express 7/12/05)


90. Jharkhand: It's Adivasis vs Adivasis (6)
RANCHI DECEMBER 8: The war to get the support of the tribals is on in
Jharkhand. Days after the Adivasi Adhikar Morcha (AAM) organised a mammoth
rally in Ranchi, the ruling BJP is gearing up to counter it with its own
version on December 10. Billed as the Akhil Bharatiye Shashakt Adivasi Maha
Sabha, the rally is expected to be attended by a galaxy of the BJP's Adivasi
leaders, 19 MPs and 132 MLAs from across the country as well as party
President L K Advani. Former CM Babulal Marandi, who is convenor of the
rally, has already made an emotional appeal to Adivasis to turn up in large
numbers for the rally. ''This time we will make the world know that our
party is the most popular among the Adivasis,'' said BJP state President
Yadunath Pandey. The 32 party MLAs have been assigned with the job of
collecting the bringing the Adivasis to the venue. And they seem to be vying
with each other to prove their own worth. The AAM-which is supported by both
the Catholic and Protestant churches and has the ''moral support'' of the
CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-has given a call for a bandh on the day of the BJP
rally. It has attacked the BJP announcement particularly as the party has
not declared an agenda for the meet. ''By holding the rally in the name of
Adivasi,the BJP is out to cheat us,'' said Bandhu Tirkey, convenor of the
AAM. However, there is no unity among the Adivasi leadership. While the Left
parties are supporting the AAM, the Congress, RJD and the JMM have opposed
the anti-BJP bandh. ''There is no rationale for the bandh now,'' said JMM
President Shibu Soren. (Indian Express 9/12/05)


91. Andhra pushes Chenchu tribals close to extinction (6)
Kurnool: When left alone, tribals live in harmony with nature. It is when
governments try to bring "development" to their midst that they land in
trouble. 'A stark instance of this is the sad state of Chenchu tribals of
Nalla-mala forests. Policies evolved with the noble objective of uplifting
them have failed miserably. They now find themselves alienated from their
land and lifestyle. Chenchus, who inhabit the Nallamala forests stretching
across Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur, Nal-gonda and Mahbubnagar districts 6f
Andhra Pradesh, are in a precarious state because of the new dietary habits
and lifestyle forced on them by the government. " Some tribal experts have
warned that they may be inching towards extinction. "They are the most
pnimitive among the tribes that inhabit the forest and have their own
peculiar customs and traditions," says Mr Bhaskar Sastry, en expert on
tribal affairs. "The government has now made them a dependent and hapless
lot." Since ages, Chenchus have been living comfortably in their own tribal
hamlets called Chenchu .Gudems. They are now havens of disease. "Incidence
of tuberculosis is very high among the members of the tribe," admits an
official of the Integrated Tribal Development Programme. "It is estimated
that 50 per cent of tribals suffer from the disease." The official also
points out that more than 80 per cent of the tribals are anaemic because of
bad diet. Chenchus used to lead a self-sufficient lifestyle with the lush
forest providing for all their needs, until a few decades ago. "The forests
had a multitude of plant species and wild animals until the 1950s," says Mr
V. Raghavaiah, a retired teacher from Pamulapadu mandal.  (Asian Age
10/12/05)


92. Alleged culprits punish victim for filing complaint (6)
BHOPAL: The hand of a 35-year-old tribal woman were chopped off allegedly by
those against whom she had lodged a complaint of rape five days ago, at
Nimri village in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. The injured tribal
woman, Kamlabai, is now under treatment at the government-run Hamidia
Hospital here and the five accused, who were arrested and produced before
the Raisen Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday, have been sent to jail. The
victim has filed a police complaint stating that her right hand was chopped
off and her house set on fire by the alleged rapist as she had refused to
withdraw a rape complaint against them. After being given a compensation of
Rs. 12,000, which includes Rs. 10,000 from the Chief Minister's Fund and Rs.
2,000 from the district administration, an additional compensation of Rs.
15,000 was also sanctioned on Tuesday. A case under Sections 147, 148, 336,
and 436 of the IPC and Section 323 of the SC/ST Atrocities Act has been
registered against five accused - Manmod Mehra, Devi Singh Raghuwanshi, Prem
Narayan Raghuwanshi, Dinesh Raghuvanshi and Ramsevak Raghuwanshi. When
contacted, a senior Police Headquarters source said the rape complaint had
been investigated by the Anusucht Janjati Kalyan Deputy Superintendent of
Police, Prachi Dwivedi, and was found to be "false and without any basis".
(The Hindu 14.12.05)


93. 'A forest separates STs  from ownership' (6)
New Delhi: SHOWING SERIOUS concern over the dismal condition of the tribal
population in India, the standing committee on Social Justice and
Empowerment have brought to the notice of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
that the forest-dwelling scheduled tribes, who , have been residing there
for generations and are dependent on the MFP (minor forest produce) for
their livelihood are still not enjoying ownership rights. The committee
expressed concern over the control of MFP market through direct Government
intervention which is only round 25 to 40 per cent. Most of the MFP market
is monopolised by private tradesmen and middlemen. The committee in its
report said, "The private traders virtually control the supply market
(legally and illegally). As much as 60 per cent of the transactions are
unaccounted." Speaking on the subject a senior official of the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs said, "There is Rs 650 crore worth of minor forest produce
available in the country. Out of that, 60 per cent is going into the hands
of the unorganised sector and the traders. They are dealing with it. Not
even 30 per cent is procured by the Government agencies." It is surprising
that there is no authentic data available on the aspect of area-wise, MFP-
wise, ST\ Non ST-wise income generated by MFP trades. In its report the
committee has said, "Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal have stated that
there are no instances where private traders or middlemen do not allow
tribals to reap the harvest of their MFP's." The committee have suggested
that the monopoly of the MFP market by private traders, legally or illegally
owing to inadequate.control being exercised by the state agencies, should be
curtailed. (Pioneer 19/12/05)


94. Jharkhand may offer township to the displaced (6)
Ranchi : The Jharkhand government will soon announce a "lucrative
rehabilitation policy" to facilitate provision of hassle-free land to
prospective investors in the State for setting up industries. Tribal
organisations have been opposing any form of displacement. A tribal
organisation has reportedly written a letter even to the Prime Minister and
Union Home Ministry, seeking their intervention in the likelihood of they
getting displaced owing to the State;s industrialisation policy. In view
statewide protests, the Jharkhand government is planning to come out with a
lucrative rehabilitation policy. "First, let the opposition protest. We will
fulfill all the demands of the displaced people," Chief Minister Arjun Munda
told The Pioneer. "When the voice of protest slows down, we will announce
our policy. Till now, the Jharkhand government has not formulated any
policy. Most of the displacement took place during the Congress regime. But,
they are now opposing their own policy," he said. "We will give double money
demanded by the displaced people for their land. And before that we will
establish a township and show it to the people. A well-planned township will
be developed where displaced people will given houses. It would have
schools, hospitals and other facilities," the Chief Minister said. "My
government is for people and investment is needed to provide employment to
the people of the State. Those who are opposing the investment are against
the people and they want to keep them poor so that they can run their
political shops." Munda admitted mistakes have been made in the past and
injustice done to displaced persons. "In the past, people's land were taken
and they were not compensated properly. Owing to this, fear has gripped
them. We will remove this fear by announcing a lucrative policy." The
Jharkhand government needs more than 60,000 acre of land to provide land to
investors for industries. The major steel companies that have signed MoUs
with the government are LN Mittal, Tata Steel, Navin Jindal, and Sajjan
Jindal. Essar and other MoUs have been signed with companies in the area of
mining and power sectors. In Jharkhand, more than 20 per cent population
were displaced over the years to set up industries like Tata Steel, Bokaro
Steel Plant, Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi, mining and other
industries.(Pioneer 20/12/05)


95. Over 200 tribals arrested (6)
BHUBANESWAR: Over 200 people, mostly tribals, were arrested on the charge of
poaching in Orissa's Similipal National Park and Tiger Reserve on Wednesday.
Carrying country-made guns, bows and arrows, they entered the 2,750 sq km
area in groups and started hunting animals. The tribals killed two sambar
deer and a barking deer. Forest officials swung into action and a total of
24 country-made guns and over 198 bows and 470 arrows were recovered from
them. The arrested were produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial
Magistrate at Karanjia on Thursday. The tribals, living around Similipal, go
in for "akhand shikar" (traditional hunting) in the park every year in
December and January. The reserve is home to around 100 tigers. (The Hindu
23/12/05)


96. Decline in tribal population points to flaws in census (6)
Ranchi : Tribals in Jharkhand are getting marginalised in their homeland.
Country's census report indicates the tribal population in the State has
declined by 12 per cent in last seven decades. In 1931, the tribal
population was 38.20 per cent and the 2001 census report put their
population at 26.30 per cent. Except 1941, the tribal population has
declined in every census report. In 1941, the tribal population was 36.62
per cent, slightly higher than 1931 census report. The Delimitation
Commission, constituted by the Union government, recently recommended
reduction of tribal Assembly seats from 28 to 21. In the 82-member House, 28
seats are reserved for tribals. A delegation of State UPA met Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Friday and requested him to intervene in the matter. The
million-dollar question is: How the tribal population declined, instead of
increasing? "There are reasons which caused the decline in population. The
industrialisation of Jharkhand led to settlement of people from other
states. Also, during the census process many tribals identified themselves
either as Hindus or Christians," said VS Uppadhaya, a retired anthropologist
of Ranchi University. The State's industrialisation displaced more than 20
per cent population, most of them tribals. Jobs were given to people of
other states. This forced the tribals to migrate to other states. Experts
also pointed out that the population census was conducted at the wrong time.
"The population count has taken place at a wrong time. The census was
conducted when thousands of tribals were working outside the State as
laborers," said Rameshwar Oraon, a Congress Lok sabha MP. The Delimitation
Commission recommendation has caused panic among the tribal leaders. The
tribal leaders point out that earlier the 33 Assembly seats were reserved
for the tribal people and later it was reduced to 28. And, now if the
recommendation is accepted then the seat will further reduced to 21.
(Pioneer 27/12/05)


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Hey these reporters are doing a bad job- first Shompen
who shoot arrows- they never use such a tool, now
Nicobaris who collect Hawabil- though this is not
incorrect, the majority of the nest collection happens
illegally from the Andamans- recently a consignment of
4 bags each weighing 45 kg was apparantly picked up at
Calcutta by the customs- the NIcobaris being ocupied
with ngos and the tsunami admin are not the origin of
this consignment- its from the Andamans collected
patiently over time for such a large consignment. The
NIcobaris have traditional rights in certain area
where the birds nests are found- if interestted
confirm with Dr R Sankaran, of SACON.
Secondly ambergris does not give any smell- it smells
like nothing, is smokable(YOU WONT GET HIGH), and
looks like cowdung in its dried form( there are 3
variants), chicken, pigs and dogs foraging on the
beach also eat the damn stuff if they get there before
a human who knows what'Umber' looks likes - the
secretion is not used for any smell but is used as a
fixative for perfumes(not by the street vendors who
sell 'Atar') all the way upto Paris and thus commands
a huge rate, for more info visit the Navy museum-
Samudrika in Port Blair- theres an interesting framed
aricle on this exudence.
If Hawabil is landing up in soups in Delhi its time
some action happened in those restaurants.
--- Amlan Dutta <amlan77@...> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
>   Please write to the Hindustan Times about the
> following article, enclosed is my letter to the
> Editor,
>
>
>
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1587080,0035.htm
>
>   The next time you order bird nest soup at a
> five-star hotel or splurge on that designer perfume,
> spare a thought for the Nicobari tribals behind your
> luxuries. The lingering smell of the perfume and the
> perfect soup cooked in chicken broth would have
> never reached you had it not been for the wiry
> people of the islands.
>   The Andamans is home to the Hawabil bird — one of
> the many birds whose nests are used in soups — and
> the soup is a delicacy in Thailand, China, Indonesia
> and now, even Delhi's plush Chinese restaurants.
> Strangely enough, the Nicobari people do not fancy
> the dish at all though they do hunt caves for the
> nests — each nest weighs around 25 grams and is made
> from the saliva of the bird.  The nests cost around
> Rs 50-55,000 per kilogram on the international
> market. For a good harvest, tribals have to get at
> least 100 such nests as each weighs only 25 grams.
>   The Nicobari tribals have traded in bird nests and
> ambergris, secreted by the white sperm whale, with
> Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, Indonesia and even the
> Arabs, for years. "The trade finds mention even in
> Marco Polo's accounts," says Samir Acharya, who
> heads the Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology.
>   The heady smell of the perfume is due to the
> resinous ambergris excreted by the whales. Known
> since ancient days as a powerful aphrodisiac, the
> secretion is what gives your perfume that lingering
> smell. "It can make smells last longer even though
> its own smell is bad," says Samir Acharya,. The
> whale spends its winters in the Indian Ocean and its
> summers in Antrartica. It feeds on giant squids. But
> the claws of the squids are too rough for the
> intestine of the whale. To create a film over the
> claws, the whale secretes ambergris.
>   "When the whale dies and its body decomposes,
> ambergris shoots up to the sea level and is
> collected by the tribals. The whale may vomit it
> from time to time as well," Acharya said. The price
> of the secretion is Rs 1.5 lakh per kg on the
> international market.
>
>
___________________________________________________________
> Amlan Dutta <amlan@...> wrote:
>   From: "Amlan Dutta"
> <amlan@...>
> To: <letters@...>
> Subject: regarding Sunday HT 1 Jan article : Whiff
> of Nicobar in your soup
> Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 16:35:31 +0530
>
>     Dear Editor,
>
>   While it must be appreciated that Mr. Mayank
> Tewari has done a commendable job in reporting the
> Tsunami aftermath and its implication, one year
> after the devastation.
>
>   His article "Whiff of Nicobar in your soup" was
> factually quite incorrect, and not the wholistic
> picture.
>
>   Hawabil is actually the vernacular name of the
> edible nest swiftlet & white bellied swiftlet (Genus
> Collocalia, )[ its geneology is arabic "ava - bill"]
> , of this Edible nest Swiftet has a nest composed
> entirely by saliva secretions, while the White
> bellied swiftlet uses saliva as a binding agent for
> its mud / clay nests. The Edible nest swiftlet is
> currently classified as a Schedule I species under
> the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), hence it would
> be a punishable offence to indulge in any trade in
> Collocalia fuciphaga. Demand for edible nest
> swiftlet nests have resulted in mass decimation of
> its population by the islanders, in Andaman &
> Nicobar. The above mentioned article clearly
> empathizes with the tribals and locals alike who
> indulge in indiscriminate nest extraction in the
> island caves (often throwing the nestlings out of
> the nests during extraction), which is deplorable to
> say the least. Sustainable harvest practice in the
> islands is being assessed by Dr. Ravi Shankaran of
>  Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History,
> a leading expert on Swiftlet Conservation issues. He
> has been working (with the collaboration of the
> Andaman Nicobar Forest Department) on ex-situ
> conservation of the edible nest swiftlet for many
> years now, by egg relocation techniques. South East
> Asian populations of the above mentioned bird
> species.
>
>   following are a few links on more insights on the
> edible nest swiftlet conservation and trade
> implications.
>   http://www.american.edu/TED/swift.htm,
>
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0821_020822_swiftlet.html,
>   http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/10/doc/E10-50.pdf
>
>    Yours Sincerely,
>
>     Amlan Dutta, Asst. Programme Officer,
>   Wild Enforcement & Law,
>   Wildlife Trust of India,
>   A-220, A block, New Friends Colony,
>   New Delhi - 65, Tel : 011-26326025/26
>   website: wildlifetrustofindia.org
>   mobile : 9873415025
>
>
>
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends
> http://in.messenger.yahoo.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

Dear Mr Ram Mohan,
This group has been a moderated one from the very beginning, and I have been
doing this job.
In the context of the bird flu discussion it is an important point that you
have brought up, particularly so because there have been a wide range of
opinions, often located at opposite ends of the spectrum. I have thought
about it myself whether there is need to put some kind of a cap to the
discussion, though I am not sure on what basis that could be done.
Must also mention here that there have been some emails (just a couple
probably) posted in this matter that I thought were irrelevant and did not
contribute to the discussion and these were therefore rejected.

pankaj
----- Original Message -----
From: "ramohan" <rammohan1948@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 7:26 PM
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu


> Bird flu et al, I have been on this group for the last two months and
> found
> the chatter among the members entertaining.
>
> I do get a bit confused at the diversity of views casual and serious
> expressed and am never sure which one is more accurate or to take
> seriously.
> At least I know that a lot of people are interested enough read and
> respond
> to the messages however confusing or entertaining the outcome maybe. I
> suppose just as different government and their supported research
> institutions present differing arguments, many of us tend to do the same
> when we express our point of view.
>
> So for me the question is should this be a total open dialogue system or
> we
> are better off with a moderator??
>
> Ram Mohan
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: andamanicobar@...
> [mailto:andamanicobar@...]On Behalf Of Abraham M. George
>  Sent: 01 January 2006 00:00
>  To: andamanicobar@...
>  Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu
>
>
>  I strongly suggest that everyone refrains from putting out non-scientific
>  conclusions on how bird flu might spread.  Please allow science to
> dictate
>  these matters. Those of us who are not part of the many expert teams
>  (national and international) currently doing extensive research are
> simply
>  not qualified to make recommendations. It is a dangerous and
> irresponsible
>  game to play. Let us go by what WHO has to say, if we shouldn't trust our
>  own governments or foreign countries such as the U.S.
>
>  Abraham
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: andamanicobar@...
>  [mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of DuleepCMatthai
>  Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 5:28 AM
>  To: andamanicobar@...
>  Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu
>
>  Dear LtCol S.R.Banerjee,
>
>  I strongly suspect that you are right in assuming that wild birds are not
>  conveyors of bird flu.
>
>  My Seasons Greetings to you and all others at WWF India in Kolkata.
>
>  Yours sincerely,
>  Duleep Matthai,
>  "Savita"  Bungalow,
>  Bhikhabhai Marg
>  Vallabh Vidyanagar - 388 120
>  Gujarat
>  Res. Phone Exch. : 02692 - 236474/237102
>  Personal Phone : 02692 - 573333
>      "       Telefax :   "       - 235678
>  E-mail : duleepcmatthai@...
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Shakti R Banerjee" <SBanerjee@...>
>  To: <andamanicobar@...>
>  Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 1:14 PM
>  Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu
>
>
>  >
>  >
>  > Dear friend,
>  >
>  > The bird flu is unnecessarily being given publicity by the media.Let
> them
>  > highlight on the domestic bird.But the wild birds do not pose any
> danger
>  at
>  > all.
>  >
>  > Regards
>  >
>  > LtCol S.R.Banerjee(Retd)
>  > State Director
>  > WWF-India,West Bengal State Office
>  > 1st Floor,Tata Centre
>  > 43 JL Nehru Road
>  > Kolkata 700071
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Yahoo! Groups Links
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>
>
>
>
>
>  Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
>  Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>    a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
>    http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/andamanicobar/
>
>    b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>    andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>    c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Dear All,

   Please write to the Hindustan Times about the following article, enclosed is
my letter to the Editor,

    http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1587080,0035.htm

   The next time you order bird nest soup at a five-star hotel or splurge on that
designer perfume, spare a thought for the Nicobari tribals behind your luxuries.
The lingering smell of the perfume and the perfect soup cooked in chicken broth
would have never reached you had it not been for the wiry people of the islands.
   The Andamans is home to the Hawabil bird — one of the many birds whose nests
are used in soups — and the soup is a delicacy in Thailand, China, Indonesia and
now, even Delhi's plush Chinese restaurants. Strangely enough, the Nicobari
people do not fancy the dish at all though they do hunt caves for the nests —
each nest weighs around 25 grams and is made from the saliva of the bird.  The
nests cost around Rs 50-55,000 per kilogram on the international market. For a
good harvest, tribals have to get at least 100 such nests as each weighs only 25
grams.
   The Nicobari tribals have traded in bird nests and ambergris, secreted by the
white sperm whale, with Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, Indonesia and even the
Arabs, for years. "The trade finds mention even in Marco Polo's accounts," says
Samir Acharya, who heads the Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology.
   The heady smell of the perfume is due to the resinous ambergris excreted by
the whales. Known since ancient days as a powerful aphrodisiac, the secretion is
what gives your perfume that lingering smell. "It can make smells last longer
even though its own smell is bad," says Samir Acharya,. The whale spends its
winters in the Indian Ocean and its summers in Antrartica. It feeds on giant
squids. But the claws of the squids are too rough for the intestine of the
whale. To create a film over the claws, the whale secretes ambergris.
   "When the whale dies and its body decomposes, ambergris shoots up to the sea
level and is collected by the tribals. The whale may vomit it from time to time
as well," Acharya said. The price of the secretion is Rs 1.5 lakh per kg on the
international market.

___________________________________________________________
Amlan Dutta <amlan@...> wrote:
   From: "Amlan Dutta" <amlan@...>
To: <letters@...>
Subject: regarding Sunday HT 1 Jan article : Whiff of Nicobar in your soup
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 16:35:31 +0530

     Dear Editor,

   While it must be appreciated that Mr. Mayank Tewari has done a commendable job
in reporting the Tsunami aftermath and its implication, one year after the
devastation.

   His article "Whiff of Nicobar in your soup" was factually quite incorrect, and
not the wholistic picture.

   Hawabil is actually the vernacular name of the edible nest swiftlet & white
bellied swiftlet (Genus Collocalia, )[ its geneology is arabic "ava - bill"] ,
of this Edible nest Swiftet has a nest composed entirely by saliva secretions,
while the White bellied swiftlet uses saliva as a binding agent for its mud /
clay nests. The Edible nest swiftlet is currently classified as a Schedule I
species under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), hence it would be a punishable
offence to indulge in any trade in Collocalia fuciphaga. Demand for edible nest
swiftlet nests have resulted in mass decimation of its population by the
islanders, in Andaman & Nicobar. The above mentioned article clearly empathizes
with the tribals and locals alike who indulge in indiscriminate nest extraction
in the island caves (often throwing the nestlings out of the nests during
extraction), which is deplorable to say the least. Sustainable harvest practice
in the islands is being assessed by Dr. Ravi Shankaran of
  Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History, a leading expert on
Swiftlet Conservation issues. He has been working (with the collaboration of the
Andaman Nicobar Forest Department) on ex-situ conservation of the edible nest
swiftlet for many years now, by egg relocation techniques. South East Asian
populations of the above mentioned bird species.

   following are a few links on more insights on the edible nest swiftlet
conservation and trade implications.
   http://www.american.edu/TED/swift.htm,
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0821_020822_swiftlet.html,  
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/10/doc/E10-50.pdf

    Yours Sincerely,

     Amlan Dutta, Asst. Programme Officer,
   Wild Enforcement & Law,
   Wildlife Trust of India,
   A-220, A block, New Friends Colony,
   New Delhi - 65, Tel : 011-26326025/26
   website: wildlifetrustofindia.org
   mobile : 9873415025




Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bird flu et al, I have been on this group for the last two months and found
the chatter among the members entertaining.

I do get a bit confused at the diversity of views casual and serious
expressed and am never sure which one is more accurate or to take seriously.
At least I know that a lot of people are interested enough read and respond
to the messages however confusing or entertaining the outcome maybe. I
suppose just as different government and their supported research
institutions present differing arguments, many of us tend to do the same
when we express our point of view.

So for me the question is should this be a total open dialogue system or we
are better off with a moderator??

Ram Mohan
   -----Original Message-----
   From: andamanicobar@...
[mailto:andamanicobar@...]On Behalf Of Abraham M. George
   Sent: 01 January 2006 00:00
   To: andamanicobar@...
   Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu


   I strongly suggest that everyone refrains from putting out non-scientific
   conclusions on how bird flu might spread.  Please allow science to dictate
   these matters. Those of us who are not part of the many expert teams
   (national and international) currently doing extensive research are simply
   not qualified to make recommendations. It is a dangerous and irresponsible
   game to play. Let us go by what WHO has to say, if we shouldn't trust our
   own governments or foreign countries such as the U.S.

   Abraham


   -----Original Message-----
   From: andamanicobar@...
   [mailto:andamanicobar@...] On Behalf Of DuleepCMatthai
   Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 5:28 AM
   To: andamanicobar@...
   Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu

   Dear LtCol S.R.Banerjee,

   I strongly suspect that you are right in assuming that wild birds are not
   conveyors of bird flu.

   My Seasons Greetings to you and all others at WWF India in Kolkata.

   Yours sincerely,
   Duleep Matthai,
   "Savita"  Bungalow,
   Bhikhabhai Marg
   Vallabh Vidyanagar - 388 120
   Gujarat
   Res. Phone Exch. : 02692 - 236474/237102
   Personal Phone : 02692 - 573333
       "       Telefax :   "       - 235678
   E-mail : duleepcmatthai@...

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: "Shakti R Banerjee" <SBanerjee@...>
   To: <andamanicobar@...>
   Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 1:14 PM
   Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] threat of bird flu


   >
   >
   > Dear friend,
   >
   > The bird flu is unnecessarily being given publicity by the media.Let
them
   > highlight on the domestic bird.But the wild birds do not pose any danger
   at
   > all.
   >
   > Regards
   >
   > LtCol S.R.Banerjee(Retd)
   > State Director
   > WWF-India,West Bengal State Office
   > 1st Floor,Tata Centre
   > 43 JL Nehru Road
   > Kolkata 700071
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   > Yahoo! Groups Links
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >





   Yahoo! Groups Links








----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
   Yahoo! Groups Links

     a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/andamanicobar/

     b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...

     c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]