600 million Aadhaar card by 2014

Washington, April 23, 2013 [PTI] --- Nearly half of India's population would have the Aadhaar card by 2014 and nearly one in three Indians by the end of this year, Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani said here today.  The ambitious project - which has issued unique identification numbers to more than 380 million people, which is large than the population of several large countries in just a few years - would still take a few more years before every Indian resident is issued with this unique number and the card having the biometric information of the individual, Nilekani told a Washington audience.  Delivering the Eighth Annual Richard H Sabot Lecture 'Technology to Leapfrog Development: The Aadhaar Experience' organised by Center for Global Development - a Washington- based think-tank, Nilekani said UIDAI has leveraged the state of the art technology of the present days to provide unique identification number to every resident of the country.  "Today we have enrolled 380 million of the 1.2 billion people. Our daily processing is about a million people a day. Our goal is to reach 400 million this year and 600 million by 2014," he said, adding there are between 25,000 to 30,000 enrolment centers in the country.  Noting that this unique identification number is now becoming "an internal passport and gateway" to various services for Indians, Nilekani said by working with various regulators they have ensured that this ID is sufficient to get their services. It enables one to get services quick and hassle free, he said.  "People see this as a gateway to many services," he said, adding over the next few years he expects this to be used for different kinds of services including the ambitious direct cash transfer scheme of the Union government.

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"Rape is like domestic terrorism" - Preity Zinta

Apri 23, 2013 [Times of India] --- Preity Zinta, the bold onePreity Zinta showstops for Surily at WIFWI'm scared of Delhi: Preity ZintaPreity Zinta shed glam image for cricketED quizzes Preity Zinta for FEMA violations in IPL-II. Known for her feisty spirit, Preity Zinta is very perturbed by the growing incidents of rape in the country. She attributes it to the fact that Indians have very short memories which is what leads to escalating crimes against women including rape.  The actress who is on a high after her team won the IPL match against Pune Warriors in Mohali on Sunday, is however critical of the social apathy towards crimes against women in the country.  After Nirbhaya, Preity reacted sharply to the brutal rape of the five-year-old girl in Delhi as she took to venting on social media and could not contain her angst even when she was conversing with people. She says, "We have this whole thing in India about reacting for a very short period of time. We have such short memories. When an incident happens, we react, create jams and protests and we forget about it all and go home and sleep."  Not stopping at that, Preity terms rape also as a form of terrorism. "This (crime against women) is also terrorism, it is domestic terrorism and these culprits unleash terror on women," she vents. Yet, Preity doesn't think the lapses for the escalating crimes are the onus of the government or the police alone. "Half the time we blame the police for lack of action. But that's not true.  The awareness for stopping these crimes has to come from within each one of us. We as citizens have to wake up to the fact that we have to take action to stop this. This really bothers me a lot. And somewhere even we as women have to take responsibility for saying this is enough," she adds.

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Two minor girls raped in Uttar Pradesh

SITAPUR/DEORIA, April 23, 2013 [PTI/TH] --- A five-year-old was among two minor girls raped in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, police said here on Tuesday. A 14-year-old Dalit girl was abducted and raped allegedly by one Meraj (22) in Leharpur area in Sitapur district on Sunday night, they said. Police said that an FIR was lodged after which Meraj was arrested on Monday. In Deoria district, a five-year-old girl was raped allegedly by a 15-year-old in Bhatparani area on Sunday evening, police said. The victim's family members informed police about the incident on Monday after which the teenager was arrested, they said.

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Justice Verma passes away

New Delhi, April 23, 2013 [The Hindu] --- The former Chief Justice of India, J.S. Verma, who recently chaired the panel that came out with recommendations on improving women's security, died on Monday following multiple organ failure. He was 80. Justice Verma was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital in neighbouring Gurgaon on Friday with a serious liver condition. His condition deteriorated rapidly. Justice Verma, who became the 27th CJI on March 25, 1997 and retired on January 18, 1998, was appointed chairman of the three-member committee to suggest legal reforms to deal with sexual assault cases in the wake of the December 16, 2012 gang-rape case in Delhi. The committee, which included the former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Leila Seth, and the former Solicitor-General of India Gopal Subramaniam, submitted its report within just 29 days following wide consultation with all stakeholders. It recommended the death penalty in the rarest of the rare rape cases and opposed lowering the age of a juvenile from 18 to 16. It also called for enhancing the minimum sentence for rape from seven to 10-year jail.

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Nine-year old gangraped in Assam

Cachar (Assam), April 22, 2013 [ANI] --- A nine-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by two unidentified persons in Assam's Cachar on Monday police said.

The victim who lives in Karimganj had gone to pay a visit to her grandfather in Pechachora village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Kallain police station of Katigora sub-division when two unidentified persons with covered faces abducted her.

The girl was then taken to a house on the Kallain Tea estate and gangraped before being abandoned.

Tea garden labourers found the girl and rushed in a critical condition and moved her to a local hospital. She was later shifted to Silchar Medical College Hospital.

Injury marks have been found on her neck and police suspect that the rapists had attempted to kill her after raping her.

A massive search operation has been launched for the absconding rapists.

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Myanmar engaging in ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslim

Bangkok, April 22, 2013 [PTI] --- Myanmar has waged a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims, a leading human rights group today said, appealing to India to press its eastern neighbour to put an immediate stop to the abuses.  "Burmese authorities and members of Arakanese groups have committed crimes against humanity in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State since June 2012," Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.  The 153-page report titled "'All You Can Do is Pray': Crimes Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Burma's Arakan State" describes the role of the Burmese government and local authorities in the forcible displacement of more than 125,000 Rohingya and other Muslims.  "The Burmese government engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya that continues today through the denial of aid and restrictions on movement," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at the HRW.  "Now that it is clear that crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing are being perpetrated in Arakan state, New Delhi must press upon the Burmese government to put an immediate stop to the abuses against the Rohingya and hold the perpetrators accountable," Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW South Asia director, said in a statement.  Ganguly also urged India to ask Myanmar to "amend the Citizenship Act to eliminate discriminatory provisions that have placed the Rohingya at risk of becoming stateless".  The HRW said that following sectarian violence between Arakanese and Rohingya in June 2012, government authorities destroyed mosques, conducted violent mass arrests, and blocked aid to displaced Muslims.  The "mobs attacked Muslim communities in nine townships, razing villages and killing residents while security forces stood aside or assisted the assailants," it alleged.  The rights group said it has uncovered evidence of four mass-grave sites in Arakan State – three dating from the immediate aftermath of the June violence and one from the October violence. "Security forces actively impeded accountability and justice by digging mass graves to destroy evidence of crimes," the HRW accused.  "The government needs to put an immediate stop to the abuses and hold the perpetrators accountable or it will be responsible for further violence against ethnic and religious minorities in the country," Robertson warned in a statement.

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Delhi Rape Case: 2nd accused nabbed in Bihar

New Delhi, April 22, 2013 [PTI] --- The second suspect in the brutal rape of a five-year-old girl here a week ago was arrested from Bihar early today even as protests continued while police barricaded streets near Parliament to prevent December-like anti-rape protests.  Investigators tracked down the second suspect Pradeep, who was named by first accused Manoj Kumar, from his maternal uncle's home in Barahiya village in Bihar's Lakhisarai district late last night.  A Delhi Police team with the help of Bihar Police Special Task Force arrested Pradeep from his uncle's residence, where he was hiding, Bihar Director General of Police Abhayanand said.  "He will be brought to the national capital today after getting a transit remand from Darbhanga court," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told PTI.  Three Metro stations -- Race Course Road, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan -- close to Parliament, India Gate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence were also closed anticipating anti-rape protests like the one witnessed in December last after the gangrape of a girl in a moving bus.  The issue figured in the Lok Sabha with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde assuring agitating members that an inquiry has been ordered into alleged police lapses.  Protests were witnessed at Parliament Gate, Police Headquarters and Jantar Mantar for the removal of Commissioner Neeraj Kumar. However, the numbers were not as large as the December protests.  Manoj, who was arrested on Saturday from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, had told police during interrogation that one of his friends was also involved in the crime.  The girl was raped on April 15 in a building in east Delhi's Gandhinagar locality where the victim and accused Manoj lived and she was rescued 40 hours later on April 17.

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5-year-old MP rape victim suffers brain damage, critical

Nagpur, April 22, 2013 [PTI] --- The five-year-old rape victim from Ghansaur town in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, who was admitted to a private hospital in the city, has suffered brain damage and continues to be in a critical state, hospital authorities said today.  "The girl is in a critical condition and has been kept on a ventilator. She has suffered brain damage and the supply of oxygen to the brain has stopped," Dr Ashok Tank, who is attending on her, said.  According to Madhya Pradesh police, the girl was allegedly raped by a 35-year-old Firoz Khan on April 17 in Ghansour town, after which he dumped her at a farm.  The girl's parents found her unconscious the next morning and she was taken to Netaji Subhash Chandra Medical College and Hospital in Jabalpur. However, the girl was brought to Nagpur by an air ambulance and admitted to Care Hospital in Ramdaspeth area shortly before midnight on April 20.

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Delhi University online registration to include SC/STs

NEW DELHI, April 22, 2013 [TOI] --- The Delhi University online registration process is likely to be extended to SC/ ST and persons with disability (PWD) in the 2013-14 academic session. Even though the physical common admission form will be available for pre-admission registration to various undergraduate courses, the focus seems to be on the online registration this year. According to university officials, the application process - both offline and online — is expected to be simpler and student-friendly. Though online registration was introduced last year, it had a rough start and less then one fourth of the total applicants preferred the online mode. Many students faced issues regarding selection of courses and colleges. Moreover, it was limited to general and OBC category candidates. But the nine-member expert committee on admission, which submitted its report to the university earlier this month, recommended the continuance of the online registration and also extending its services.

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Two N-E Girls Terminated From Job Without Prior Notice

Both were asked to give resignation letters after they were fired by their employer

New Delhi, April 19, 2013 [NEH] --- Two Northeast girls working at Magique Restaurant in Saket, Delhi were terminated from their job without prior notice. The two girls were forced by their employer to give resignation letters, but the duo denied as they did not resigned by themselves.

The North East Helpline general secretary Dr. Alana Golmei and media incharge Bruce K. Thangkhal today visited the two victims at their residence in Delhi.

According to the two victims, Colney (27) and Boisy (21), they were working as hostess respectively in Magique Hospitality Private Limited, at the Garden of 5 Senses, Said-Ul-Ajaib (near Saket Metro), Delhi. Colney has been working in Magique since 2008 and Boisy since 2012.

Colney told the NE Helpline that she took leave on March 27 and 28, 2013 with permission from her general manager Premjit Kumar. However, when she informed the restaurant manager Puneet Saxena through phone, she was refused and being told to resign from the job immediately, as well as when she went to the workplace on March 29, 2013.

“Mr. Puneet Saxena, the restaurant manager shouted at me infront of many people, saying that, “I don’t want to see your face any more and the company doesn’t need you anymore, so give me resignation letter right now,” Colney told to NE Helpline. “I also informed our general manager Mr. Premjit Kumar but he turned down my request and said you must obey the order of Puneet Saxena since he is the restaurant manager”, Colney added.

While Boisy, who has not taken any leave nor absent from her job since the day she joined, was told directly to resign from her job by Suresh Sharma, HR manager on March 28, 2013.  “Suresh told me, “the company management had already decided, so you have to give your resignation letter,” Boisy informed the NE Helpline.

“I begged politely and requested him that I will not resign and he should give me at least one-month prior notice. I’m also having a family to support, I can’t simply leave the company. But if they are terminating me, they should give me a termination letter,” Boisy told NEH with tears in her eyes.

The appointment letter produced by Boisy shows that the contract is for one year but she was terminated before completing her contract period, with still seven months to go. According to her letter, Boisy joined Magique on October 5, 2012. Colney said she joined Magique on November 3, 2008.

Though Colney has been working for the last five years, and is one of the senior-most hostesses and highest paid employee in Magique, has met the same fate with her colleague, Boisy.  The duo said that their managers were harassing them to submit resignation letter.

"Since we were terminated by them they should give us a termination letter and other necessary compensation as per the law of the company", the duo said.

Boisy, from Manipur and Colney, from Mizoram are now jobless since they were terminated from their job by Magique last month.

When NEH general secretary Dr Alana Golmei talked to Mr. Premjit Kumar, general manager of Magique, he responded that Colney has not been terminated and she is still on job. Boisy's contract period was over but Colney can continue her job if she wants, Mr. Premjit Kumar said.  However, Colney said she was afraid to join it again after such ill-treatment fearing that their managers would harass her in some kind or the other.

"Most of our North East boys and girls, who are working in restaurants, BPO, spa, bar, etc are subjected to all kinds of harassment by their managers and employers. We have received so many complaints of such harassments. It's time we take strong action against such managers," said Dr Alana Golmei.

North East Helpline urged to the concerned authorities to intervene in the case of two Northeast girls, who were terminated by Magique Hospitality Pvt Ltd without any reason. The Helpline sternly demanded the employer to compensate the two victims with a three months salary as per law at the earliest. The duo has been subjected to continuous pressure from the employer demanding resignation letter.

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Manipuri Meitei Culture and its Impact on Women

Dr. M. Tineshowri Devi Assistant Professor Department of Social Work Assam University, Silchar moirangi@yahoo.com Introduction The concept of Culture is developed by beliefs, faith, practices, customs, way to live, language, food habits, etc. The Cultural growth gave identity to the societies. Through the generation it has been noted that women are the one who carry the culture to generation to generation at different forms and at different level. Women of Manipur has come under the influences of cultures at various times and contributed to the growth of civilization. Women in Manipur seem to enjoy greater mobility and visibility than women of other communities in the country. According to census 2011, the sex ratio of Manipur is 987 against all India with 940. Looking at the literacy rate women of Manipur is much higher with 59.70 than the national level 54.28. Thus, it is often cited to portray a picture of equity between men and women in the region and has given rise to the presumption that discrimination against women is not a major concern in the area however, the region under the shadow of conflicts has witnessed a resurgence of patriarchal values, norms which have brought after the Hinduism that affect the Meitei people at large but the impact on women and girls is far greater because of their sex and status in society. Meitei Women of Manipur in Pre-Hindu period Manipur presents a unique cultural, ethnic, linguistics and religious profile of India. Before the advent of Hinduism following the event of oath taking known as Nongkhrang Iruppa in 1724 A.D during the reign of King Pamheiba, the Meiteis professed their traditional Sanamahi religion. While the Sanamahi, (the traditional God) trait prevailed over majority of the people in the valley of Manipur particularly among the Meitei. Looking at the conditions of Meitei women in Manipur, there was a reflection of high status seen among women in pre-Hindu period. During the pre-Hindu period, though the patriarchal concept was there, women status was equally better with counterpart men. In 1715, during the Garib Niwaz (Pamheiba), in Manipur there used to have four kinds of court over and above the king court (Kuchu) which is the highest. The courts were: (i) Courts concerning religious matters, (ii) Court concerning secular matters, (iii) Court for females, (iv) Military courts.  (Singh, 1978).Women had their own courtship (no.iii) where the women related issues and family matters were resolved at the Maharani court. Only women who are in courtship took the decisions, if in case, they could not solve the matter then only the matter was being referred to King. In pre-Hindu period society, women played a major role in religion. This role is evident from the dominance of women in the goddess cult and in 'Umang Lai Haraona', umang 'forest' lai 'diety' haraoba 'to please' (a festival for worshipping Pre-Hindu deities). In this role of priestess is considered much more important than that of the priest (Parrot, 1980). It was also seen that not only were women who believed to have the power to communicate with spirits and supernatural beings, but women were so central that when a priest performed the rituals of Lai Haraoba the priest usually dressed himself as a priestess. The concept of purity and impurity was not seen much before. So women perform all the deities' duties. In earlier Meitei society, the title used by women, the first one refers to clans and the later family names or linage. In a patriarchal society, the women's family name or surname is lost at marriage, as the social norms require them to adopt the name of husband after marriage. It's mentioned that the retention of the family name after marriage is one of the rights of being a male i.e., only men have real names. But in Meitei custom, after the marriage woman does not have to lose her family name. eg. Miss Naorem, Rani Devi marries Mr. Irom Shanta Singh, then her name would be Naorem Ningol Irom ongbi Rani 'Naorem (menaing-Rani married to Irom' where Irom is the family name of the husband). It was also seen to have been the Meitei custom for husbands and wives to address one another using their respective personal names. Women played a very important role, with their participation going away beyond managing economics of the house. When the male head of a family is killed or imprisoned, the mother has to fill in the gap caused by the patriarch's absence. She has to work to bring up the children. It is a necessity that cannot be overlooked. In the old days, since Manipur was often at war to keep off invaders and protect its borders, the number of families with women as the heads was comparatively high. This resulted in women coming out of the house to earn livelihood. Internal trade was carried on essentially by women in the various open bazaars (market) in the valley. In the market all selling and buying are done by women. And a great number of markets were established during the period of Meidingu Senbi Khagemba (1592-1652) in different places. The women from different places come to this market and all the essential commodities are made available here. The power of the market women of Manipur were demonstrated on various occasions. The first Nupi Lan-1904 (Women War) as well as Nupi Lan of 1939 are glaring example. It is not only an economic centre but also a political centre as well. In order to developed trade with the people from the hill, a Hao Keithel (Tribal market) was developed at Imphal. The most important bazaar in the valley was the Khwairamand Bazar or Sana Keithel at Imphal. The women's market of Manipur is the only market of women in the north-east region of India and probably could be the only in the world. Meitei women of Manipur after Hinduism At the beginning of 18th century, Hinduism entered to Manipur during the reign of Gharib Niwaz (1709-1748). The fact is Vaishnavism practiced by Meiteis in Manipur consequently became a peculiarly Manipuri Vaishnvism in form, adopting aspects of olden culture and modified by it.  Further, since Vaishnavism represented a more progressive ideology, it had attracted the attention of many people though it certainly did not grow unopposed. He destroyed many traditional Lais (Local Dieties) and also burnt many books on ancient literature. The event is still remembered today as the 'Puya Meithaba'. Along with it Garibniwaz took up a numbers of measures to spread Vaishnavism in Manipur. He ordered to discontinue all the ceremonies and rituals of the old Meitei faith and they were substituted by the Hindu ceremonies and rituals. With the advice of the Santidas Mahanta, the king destroyed the image of Sanamahi, the greatest deities of Umanglais (family) of the Meiteis. Some of the points are highlighted below about cultures, rituals and customs that are affecting directly and indirectly the women status of Manipuri Meitei in Manipur society. 1.       Marriage: Meitei marriage system is very ancient and is believed to have started before 300-400 B.C. Now this tradition has been followed with certain modification of Hindu religion. 'Luhongba'-It is a formal marriage ceremony. Formal rituals are made elaborately at the residence of the bride. Ancestral deity, local deities, sanamahi are worshipped on this day. Both the bride and groom are ritually sanctified on this day. In the marriage there is a ritual called kainya dhan piba (giving away our daughter), only men (father, brother, uncle or relatives) will perform it where any women (mother, sister or relatives) will not be allowed to perform the duty.  In a meitei society, women take the back seat in every public functions like marriage, feasts at home or even at death. There is a concept called ahalna phamen phamgadabani (elderly will take the main front seat for any functions) unfortunately, this ahal (elderly) does not include the elderly women. Meitei family is patriarchal and patrilocal. Newly married couple usually live with the groom's parents. As a tradition, sons inherit their parent's property equally while girls inherit nothing. When a girl marries, she gets some property in the name of awunpot, which literally means 'gifts given at the time of marriage'. Unmarried and divorcees (women) are allowed to have a piece of land in their natal home to construct a house to stay. Avoidance relationship is also maintained only between the elder brother-in-law and the bride. So, bride is not supposed to say or call directly and cannot even touch him by mistake. This practice shows kind of discrimination and oppression towards the bride. On the marriage day, the husband dines before his wife and she is made to dine from the left-outs of her husband's plate. The pattern has been changed by taking a spoon of food from the used plate and to continue the dinner from her plate. However, the underlying theme is that woman remains subjugated and but remain male chauvinism. The life of a daughter-in-law (mou) starts the very day a woman attains "mou-hood". She has to get up early in the morning; no matter it is summer or winter.  She is also expected to do all the household chores just to please her husband and in- laws whether she is capable of doing it or not. It is kind of obligatory.  It is a kind of oppression and another form of domestic violence towards women. The condition of a working woman / "mou" is even worst whether she is contributing her energy to the economy of the family. No matter what position she holds in the workplace but in the family and society, she remains as "mou".  She is still expected to carry on all kinds of household chores even after a tiring day's work outside and expected to give all her earned money otherwise she will be called as lazy mou and blame her in each of her step.  At the same time she is constantly under vigil and attacked at every minor mistake she commits and in-laws will be happy gossiping about the mou to neighbours, locality and relatives. She is subjected to the filthiest, dirtiest verbal abuses and even sometimes heinous physical abuse. She still has to endure all the pain and carry on with her duties. It is seen that the wife is not allowed to eat with her husband by sharing the same curry or any other eatables. At the same time women's left out cannot be eaten by husband. During her menstrual cycle of 5 days, she is not allowed to enter to kitchen, prepare food and even touch utensils. She cannot even touch her husband's food items. During this period she is not allowed to do any puja. In other times, she is equally prevented from the mentioned activities unless she has taken a bath. All these activities, if conducted, are treated as desecration. This concept of purity and impurity is mainly influenced by the ideology of Hinduism. In other words, the 'untouchable' still prevails in our Meitei society in a disguised form. It is quite prevailed that being a male should not collect a phanek (wrapper round worn by women) from the clothes line that shows the men's chauvinism. There has been a mixed of religion and other social institutions. When a woman is suppressed by the custom, the act is being prejudiced and the reason put forward is mostly on the man's fate. In other words, her breaking of the defined tradition will lead to the husband's ill luck. 2.      Child birth: The concept of purity and impurity especially to women are seen mainly at child birth. If a child is born in a family, then instead of sharing the good news, it will spread to all the clans that there is yum mangpa, (impure of houses), where the particular clan will not do any form of puja for 12 days.  Once the baby is born, mother will also not be allowed to enter to kitchen and other places of house for almost 45 days. But there won't be any restriction in food. According to Universal immunization programme, it is said that there should be exclusive breast feeding upto 6 months. But in Manipur, the culture of first feeding (chak-umba) is still prevailing that if the child is baby girl, chak-umba will do after completion of three months, but for boys it will be held after five months.  It shows that since childhood girls are often neglected by the social norms. Among the meitei society, son preference is strongly seen, if a mother happens to have two girl children, parents, in-laws, and relatives will pressure the mother to go for another baby preferring son. 3.       Puberty Rituals of adolescence for boys and girls are seen. For boys Nokun thangba/Lokun thangba (Wearing of sacred threads): This ceremony (both traditional and religious) is compulsorily done for boys before marriage. This ceremony is also done by the bamons (brahmins). This is also called Laiming Louba (taking the name of God). After this ceremony, according to the tradition, boys should follow the code of conduct as a male in the society. For girls Laimng Louba: When a girl attains the age of menstruation but before the menstruation starts, the mother will take her to the temple or will do the puja at home. This is mainly done for fertility and health. After this ceremony, girls should follow the code of conduct as a woman in the society. In most of the houses girls who have attained menstruation will not be allowed for doing puja and entering to kitchen. The physiological changes occurring among the girls are not taken as their becoming of maturity rather they are treated as impurity. Thus, girls always remain the center of subordinate and inferiority. If a girl falls sick, girls do not want to go to government hospital because of the gossip within the neighbours and society at large.  Sometimes it creates problems in health seeking behaviour especially among the girls.   If a girl is taken to government hospital with their family members which is far off, neighbours will suspect her that she must have undergone something like abortion.  Thus the girls prefer going to private hospital which is nearby and easily accessible. Thus they are physically, emotionally and culturally deprived (Devi, 2010).    4. Death Before 1724 i.e., during the reign of Garib Newaz, Meiteis used to bury the dead bodies. But after Hindunisation, Meiteis started cremating them. (T.C Hudson, 1908). If a family member died (father or mother), women are not allowed to light the pyre. All the clans will be announced as impure till yumsengba ( cleaning of house with holy puja). In fact, there are two important ceremonies that are performed after the death of a person. They are asti sanchey/ laihun and sorat/lanna thouram. They are briefly explained below: ·         On the sixth day of death, a ceremony called asti is performed. On the twelveth day, i.e., on the previous day of sorat, a small ceremony named 'yumsengba' (cleaning of the house with holy puja) is carried out. It is performed by a bomon (Brahmin). On the thirteen or fourteenth day (for aged people) the sorat is performed. Throughout the process or sorat, women play a very important role in showing the pain and sorrow for the demise. Relatives from near and dear ones keep visiting the deceased family; the women of the family will attain the visitors by lamenting for the whole 13-14 days till the sorat is performed. During the asti and sorat, there will be puja where all relatives will attribute flowers and money to the deceased photos. In this puja all the menfolk (more than 40-50 depending) will be allowed to do the attribute first followed by women folk including the elderly women at the end. This culture again shows the different discrimination against women of all ages. 5.      Dress It is generally believed that, the dress worn by the Meitei men were the kind of dress worn by the king of Manipur when He ascended the throne. Regarding female dress, it is said that phanek mayek naibi, the strip colour phanek with plain edge which was used by panthoibi is being followed by Meitei women till now. This phanek was actually used by the queen when she ascended the throne along with the King. Today, this phanek is seen worn by Meitei women. Meitei women started wearing shirts from the second week of October,1779, when Maha Rasa Lila started dance in Manipur. Because of the advance in civilization, besides phanek women started wearing shirts, skirts, jeans, sarees and salwar kameez where the male counterpart wear shirt and pant. Unfortunately women do not enjoy the taste of different types of dresses because their dresses are being discussed, discarded and restricted to wear by different insurgency organizations. In recent trend, in schools and colleges girls are not allowed to wear skirts so they have to compulsorily change their skirts into phanek. Regarding ornaments, most of the ornaments worn by the ancestors cannot be seen today. However, as far as the dress and ornaments are concerned, most of them are seen in the traditional and religious occasions like Lai Haraoba festivals that are worn by women only. Women are the one who save the culture and at the same time this culture is again giving a very different picture in the status of women in the society. 6. Language Language is such an influential force in shaping a society; it is obvious that those who have the power and strength will have their meaning in a privileged and in an advantageous position.  Most of the abusive language is directed at female sexual behaviour that indicates the inferior position of women in the society. Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be concluded that we all need to give a serious thought to this and focus our concern towards women empowerment as women have an active part socially, culturally, politically in all spheres. So it is therefore we cannot blame only males for the oppression caused to women but also the women themselves. At the same time the role of the male to make sure that the wife has an equal voice within the family and society at large. Let us not forget that a female is no lesser a human being but just our male dominated society over the years having amazingly projected that to be the case, so we all need to fight this gender inequality in customs and cultures especially in Meitei society. References Government of India, census 2011, provisional http://www.lisindia.net/Mani/Mani_cult.html Hudson, T. C. 1908, The Meitheis, London. Low Price Publications, Parratt, S. N. 1980. Religion of Manipur, Calcutta: Firma KLM pvt. Pramodini, N. Gender Differences in Meiteiron linguistics of Tibeto-Burman Area Vol.28.1 Spring 2005. Singh, M. Chandra (ed). 1963. Panthoibi Khongun, Imphal: Manipur Sahitya Parisad Singh, N. Khelchandra. 1978. Ariba Manipuri Longei. Imphal Manipur State Kala Academy. Tineshowri. M (2010), Reproductive Health and Adolescent Girls, Akansha Publication, New Delhi. Courtesy: via email

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Nepali woman gang-raped in Delhi, none arrested

New Delhi, April 18, 2013 [IANS] --- A Nepali woman in her early 20s was allegedly gang-raped in the national capital, police said Thursday. The woman was found in half-naked and semi-conscious condition near Nanakpura flyover in south Delhi around 7.30 a.m. Thursday. The woman was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where she is being treated. According to her statement to police, she was abducted from Kotla Mubarkpur area near South Extension in south Delhi Wednesday night by three unidentified people, who raped and dumped her near the flyover.

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First Irom Sharmila Scholarship awarded to Iymon Majeed from Kashmir

The first Irom Sharmila Scholarship has been awarded to twenty two year old Iymon Majeed from Panjipora village of Sopore district, Kashmir. He is studying for an MA in Political Science at Jamia Millia Islamia. Iymon has been writing about Kashmiri experiences under AFSPA and militarism for various publications. In his application Iymon wrote:

    "I am from the state of Jammu and Kashmir which comes under the Armed forces (Special Powers Act) from July 1990. Nine months later, on 7 March, 1991 I was born in the trouble torn town of Sopore in a small village of Panjipora. Four years later, in 1995, I was stamped with an agonizing experience on my memory. Indian Army commandeered our house and threw us out.

    In the next two years, we changed four houses, with us finally migrating to the main town of Sopore in north Kashmir. When the insurgency in Kashmir started in early 1990’s, Indian state flowed in thousands of its army men into the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming years. Providing lodging for the military in the residential areas was a daunting task before the Indian government.

    Army, then, took residence in the already vacated Kashmiri Pandith homes but also asked the local Muslim population to vacate the houses. My house was one of the hundreds of unlucky houses taken by the army and I became vagrant in my own land. "


The committee received over 50 applications of which 40 were found eligible. The others were BA students or students studying outside Delhi. The applicants came from all the states of the Northeast and Kashmir and from all the different educational institutions in Delhi. The jury short listed four people for interview. This was a difficult choice, as many of the students were meritorious and had suffered tremendously under armed conflict. Of those shortlisted, one had his father killed by militants, and another by the security forces. Several had been displaced, and some had been shot at or picked up themselves. Despite this, they were all pursuing higher education seriously.

The award is based on a combination of financial need, academic seriousness, suffering under AFSPA or similar laws and both present and potential contribution to the democratic struggle against AFSPA and militarism in the spirit of Irom Sharmila. It is a one-time cash award of Rs. 50,000, and is restricted to post graduate students enrolled in any university or institute in Delhi.

The jury consisted of
A. Bimol Akoijam, CSSS, JNU;
Kamei Aphun, Department of Sociology, Delhi University;
Ujjwal Kumar Singh, Department of Political Science, Delhi University;
Nandini Sundar, Department of Sociology, Delhi University, and
Sameer Yasir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir.


IROM SHARMILA SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
iromsharmilascholarship(at)gmail(dot)com 

Source: [e-pao]

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Tripura baby in Gurgaon hospital

New Delhi, April 17, 2013 [PTI] --- An 18-month old Tripura girl suffering from a rare illness that has caused her head to swell to more than double its normal size, has been brought to a Gurgaon hospital for treatment. Doctors at the Fortis Medical Research Institute, where the girl was brought yesterday, said that anything about prognosis could be said only after diagnosing the reasons that had led to Hyderocephalus - a condition in which the head swells due to accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in brain. The hospital offered to examine Roona Begum as her parents in a remote village in the northeastern state are too poor to pay for treatment for the condition, which has resulted in her head swelling to a circumference of 91-centimetres (36-inches). "Hyderocephalus occurs either due to overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid or blockade of its drainage or both, which leads to its accumulation. To ascertain reasons in this case, we have to conduct a lot of investigations before arriving at any conclusion," said Dr Dilpreet Brar, Regional Director of Fortis Medical Research Institute.  "Some investigations have already been done and picture would be clear by evening. However, nothing can be said until proper diagnosis is made," Dr Brar said.

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16 hurt in bomb blast near BJP office in Bangalore, party claims terror attack

Bangalore, April 17, 2013[HindustanTimes]---Police in Bangalore said on Wednesday they were investigating a blast outside a Bharatiya Janata Party office that injured 16 people. Here is the latest information about the explosion:

The blast in Malleshwaram locality occurred at around 10.30 am when the BJP office was crowded with party workers and candidates. The state goes to polls on May 5 and Wednesday is the last day for filing of nominations.

* The explosion occurred on a motorbike parked near the BJP office. "Preliminarily, we felt earlier that it was a (gas) cylinder blast as two vehicles that were on both sides of the motorbike got burnt," Bangalore police commissioner R. Auradakar told reporters. "As the motorcycle is fully burnt, we feel that it could be a blast."
* Auradkar, citing preliminary investigation, an "incendiary bomb" had been put on the bike, which was parked alongside cars.

* "Due to the blast, 16 people are injured--eight policemen and eight civilians. Nobody is critically injured. All are being treated at hospital," said Lalrokhuma Pachau, Karnataka's Director General of Police. A team of the National Investigative Agency and forensic experts are investigating the explosion site.

* Pachau said it was too early to say what kind of explosive had been used or who was responsible for the blast. "At this stage we cannot say what material has been used in the blast. Investigations are going on," he said.

* Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok called the blast was "a clear act of terror" against the BJP. "It is a very clear act of terror--it is targeted at the BJP, our senior leaders and workers," said Ashoka. "100 per cent, it is targeted at BJP workers".

* Ashok pointed out the blast occurred on April 17, the date when blasts near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city injured several people three years ago. The minister since scores of party leaders and workers had been visiting the party office called "Jagannath Bhavan" for the past few day.

* Three cars and several scooters were charred in the blaze that followed the blast. A police bus parked nearby was also badly damaged.

* ABP TV news channel reported the motorcycle which is suspected to have been planted with explosives had a Tamil Nadu registered number plate.

* Of the 16 injured, 11 are police personnel and five are civilians, including three women, Home Minister R. Ashoka said at the explosion site.

* IANS reports two injured women, one of whom has a suffered fracture in her leg, are being treated at the KC General hospital, about five kilometres from the explosion site, told reporters.

* Residents in the area told reporters that the blast shook the windowpanes of several houses.

* Several vehicles were gutted but there was no damage to the party office in the explosion that was initially believed  to be a cylinder blast.

* Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in New Delhi that he has ordered an inquiry into the blast.

* The BJP office is located in the crowded residential locality of Malleshwaram in north Bangalore, about eight kilometres from the city centre.

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Hmar rebel group to hold talk with Mizo Govt

AIZAWL, April 16, 2013 [NNN/TSE] --- The Joint Monitoring Group, which has been constituted to monitor 'Suspension of Operation' (SoO) between Mizoram government and Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) are all set to hold talks on coming Friday at Sakawrdai, Mizoram. The talks will be held at the Tourist Lodge. According to official sources, the Joint Monitoring Group will review implementation of Suspension of Operation by both the parties. The Mizoram government side is to be headed by the SP CID (SB), H. Ramthlengliana while the HPC (D) will be represented by the outfit's leaders including Francis Songate, Lalbeiseia and Sangneihkunga. It may be recalled that the Suspension of Operation agreed to by both the parties in their meeting on January 31 this year is for a period of 6 months. It worth mentioning here that for the first time on February 9, 2011 the SoO was signed betwen the two parties for six months. However, after signing the earlier SoO, the relation between the HPC-D and the Mizoram government experienced a rough weather. In view of that, the SoO was never extended again even after the lapse of the six month period. Since 1986, the Hmar People's Convention (HPC) has been demanding for the creation of Hmar Autonomous District in Mizoram. In spite of the Peace Accord that was inked between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC, there was no concrete solution to address and redress the rights of the Hmar People. "As a result, the HPC (D) has been continuous the same demand in Mizoram to redress the historical and political injustices. Acknowledging the matter, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) has been pressurising the Government of Mizoram to settle the political issues of the Hmars immediately. Following this and to pursue the unfinished agenda, the Government of Mizoram and the HPC (D) signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) on November 11, 2010 for a period of six months. The SoO document was signed by Lalropui, Army Chief HPC (D) and the Home Secretary Shri. Lalmalsawma, Government of Mizoram," HPC-D leader L Sangma Hmar had stated sometime in last October. The Hmar outfit leader had then alleged that the Government of Mizoram had failed to nurture the peace process with seriousness, which resulted in derailing the hard earned peace process. Taking note of this, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs) continued to pressurise the Government of Mizoram to settle the Hmar political problems. The government of Mizoram digressed from peaceful approach and acted untowardly when the HPC (D) on the other hand, is made to engage in finding the channels for political dialogue with All Party Leaders of Mizoram, he stated. While handing out the carrot, the Government of Mizoram arrested the HPC (D) Army Chief Lalropui and Deputy Army Chief Lalbiaknung from Silchar airport on June 16, 2012 by the Mizoram police. Similarly HPC (D) Chairman Zosangber was again arrested from Delhi Airport by the Mizoram police when he was on his way to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of Mizoram has severely failed to respect the peace process that has seemingly built, the HPC-D had rued. In the context of Manipur, the HPC (D) political interest is collectively shared with the United People's Front (UPF), currently under SoO with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur. The UPF demands for an Autonomous Hill States within the state of Manipur. The HPC (D) did not sign the SoO documents in Manipur alone but as UPF, the document is collectively shared and signed along with the UPF members: KNF, KRA (U), UKLF, ZDV and ZRA. The HPC (D) has its designated Camp in Ankhasuo with ninety four (94) cadres enlisted. In Manipur, the HPC (D) will continue to abide by the goals shared within the UPF. "The HPC (D)'s goals and objectives are independent in all its respective context and is free from the other. The SoO terms and conditions in Manipur, has no validity in other States. Therefore, the HPC (D) Manipur Region is not answerable for the HPC (D) of other regions/States as the HPC (D) Manipur Region is particularly confined in Manipur under UPF," L Sanga Hmar had also statedr. For all time to come, the HPC (D) Manipur Region as signatory of SoO in Manipur cannot be made responsible or related to any acts of the HPC (D) of other regions, L Sanga Hmar had added. According to HPC-D leader, after India gained independence, the Hmar peoples are fragmented by different political boundaries, without their consent, and are compelled to negotiate political marginalisation in their respective states – Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. This historical and political subjugation have severely reduced our political entity, distancing us from securing our constitutional rights, stated L Sanga Hmar who is one of the members, Joint Monitoring Group of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement between the Government of Manipur and the Government of India Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC -D). HPC-D leader L Sanga Hmar had also said last year that the urgent need to realise 'our constitutional rights to redress our dignity' as peoples has been the driving force behind the Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) objective to demand for 'Autonomous District Council' for the Hmar peoples in Assam, Manipur and Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. In the pursuit of securing this end, the Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) – Assam Region, has also initiated a political dialogue involving the Government of India and the Government of Assam after laying down arms by 56 cadres of HPC (D) which was hosted by the Government of Assam in the presence of the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at Guwahati on January 24, 2012. The first round of talks of the HPC (D) delegates – Government of Assam – the Central Government was held on September 27, 2012, Sanga Hmar had disclosed.

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