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500 Trees Face a Massacre

Sumar Singh Sawian

It can happen only in Meghalaya, as the forest department has taken a unilateral decision, without any basis to massacre around 500 trees, considered to be a danger to human lives, the cause being that an old eucalyptus tree, because of weak roots over the years, came crashing down during the summer heavy rains, killing three persons. The eucalyptus tree is a native of Australia but somehow was grown in the premises of the Raj Bhavan Shillong. The tree has no fault of its own, as all along the years it was left unattended and uncared for. At this, the blame and responsibility should go to the attendants of Raj Bhavan, looking after the vegetation gardens which also include trees of different species.

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ICSSR-NERC National Seminar

The Indian council of Social Science Regional Research  (ICSSR) Northeast Regional Centre start off its two days National Seminar on ‘Towards Social Justice: Impact of Positive Discrimination on Marginalized Communities with Special Reference to Scheduled Caste Groups in India’ at ICSSR-NERC  Conference Room NEHU Campus Shillong. 

The two days seminar will discuss on various issues relating to Interrogating the ideas of Social Justice and Positive Discrimination, Fighting for social justice, Experiences and lessons from other countries, Social justice, democracy and socialism and Understanding Ambedkar, Positive Discrimination which include Socio-economic development of the SCs in India, Continuity and change in caste system with reference of the Dalits, Caste, class, region, religion, Political parties and electoral politics, the misused of Dalits as vote banks, Dalit movements after Ambedkar. Organizations and emerging leadership, Identity and movements for social justice: Achievements and limitations for the Dalit empowerment: Problems and challenges. 

The seminar will be chaired by Professor Gopal Guru Centre for Political Studies JNU New Delhi, Professor L.S Gassah Honorary Director, ICSSR-NERC.

The aim of this seminar is to highlight these policies of positive discrimination which aim at targeting unequal and undemocratic nature of the caste system and empower the marginalized communities in India. It also aims at questioning and suggesting out the positive and negative aspects of understanding by implementing such policies.

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Environmental Emergency sounded in Manipur

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum

Recent natural disaster testifies that landlocked Manipur is facing the heavy brunt of a severe ecological imbalance. Flashing floods, outbreak of diseases, massive landslides and its most scenic fresh water lake, Loktak gradually becoming unfit for fish are symptoms, that its environment is screaming for help to quick reverse the damages or otherwise, the worst is yet to come.

During the non-stop rains the entire Northeastern region witnessed in the months of May-June, Manipur experienced its worst ever floods in 20 years. What was significant is that the inundation continued for a long time, marooning localities and causing lots of hardship. Usually the flood waters recede quickly but this time it took a lot of time to do so. 

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India Pay Homage to Rishang Keishing

Wungkui Zimik

When the Republic of India had its first Paliamentary elections in 1952, thirtytwo year old Rishang Keishing, a fresh graduate from the prestigious St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College of Calcutta got elected along with Jawaharlal Nehru and others. He was one of the youngest MPs. Sixty two years later in 2014, he was still a member of the Parliament. He retired as world’s oldest MP at the age of 94. He passed away at the age of 97 on Tuesday , 22 August 2017 at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, Imphal. He is survived by his life partner of 67 long years, Mrs Khathingla. They have two daughters and four sons.

Indian leaders from across the party condoled Keishing’s demise. Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee were among the first to send condolences.