Imphal, May 31: Even though the "Total Literacy Campaign" launched by the National Literacy Mission under the Ministry of Human Resource Development has begun in full swing in all the State of the country, Manipur has not been able to make much headway with the campaign being properly implemented only in three/four dists of the State, said a source. It may be noted here that the total literacy campaign has been launched by the Central Govt with the primary aim of educating the illiterate persons of the country between the ages of 15 and 35. The main objective of the campaign is to obtain 75%...

GUWAHATI, May 31: The smaller tribes in the State have demanded a series of measures, including creation of autonomous regional councils to safeguard their rights and interests. In a recent memorandum under the banner of the Smaller Tribes Human Rights Organization, which was submitted to the President, they said, an immediate change in the name of Karbi Anglong district is necessary with a view to maintain its multi-tribe character. They suggested the district should be named Diphu.

In view of the frequent ethnic clashes in the hills district, they have demanded village police force as per...

GUWAHATI, May 31: DONER and Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah today said that his Ministry would ensure that funds were released to the north-eastern States timely and the schemes completed on schedule. Kyndiah gave this assurance when he called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the latter’s residence here.

Gogoi apprised Kyndiah of the various problems plaguing the State like floods and erosion, burgering insurgency-related expenditure, modernization of the police force, erosion problem of Majuli, hundred per cent reservation of jobs for locals in fourth grades of Central Government...

DIMAPUR, May 29 – In a startling revelation, damning indictment of the rot of State machinery, the Naga Council Dimapur virtually exposed the total break down of law and order in Nagaland by pointing at the failure by state authorities to check illegal collections by various organizations creating absolute havoc to the fragile local economy. The Council stating that the rampant mushrooming of illegal tax collectors on goods have triggered escalation in prices of essential commodities appealed the government, the NSCN-IM and all concerned to jointly take on such collection systems.

Representat...

TURA, May 31 – The mini industrial township of Mendipather in East Garo Hills, that borders Goalpara district of Assam, has, since some years ago, been a booming trading centre with timber and coal being its main export. It still is though to a lesser extend thanks to the Supreme Court ban on felling of trees. However, the situation seems to be returning to its earlier days if one takes into account the rise in number of illegal saw mills in and around Mendipather.

As per the claims of an organisation, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Mendipather Circle, there are...