From our Staff Reporter

SILCHAR, July 7: In a major development, the 72 Field Regiment of the Assam Riffles, during an operation at Bangairibge jungle in the Baro Bekra, which is a Bishnupriya Manipuri area under Jiribum PS of Manipur, recovered a US carbine, eight olive-green uniforms and two Chinese grenades.

Sources said that the weapons recovered belonged to suspected UNLF militants of Manipur. The operation continued for seven hours with no reports of any casualty.

Courtesy: The Sentinel (July 8, 2009)

We were feeling shy and insulted. …We were so happy and surprised that my friends hoisted me, says Sonica Rajkumari, a student of SPA Vijaywada, exuberantly detailing her experience while participating in the NOSPLAN event organized in New Delhi.

(The article is continuation of her previous post: Small but Beautiful)

The event NOSPLAN was of 4 days and it used to start at 9 a.m with breakfast till midnight. On 2nd day of NOSPLAN we had dance competition between colleges at 11p.m. As per schedule we had dilli darshan from 3-7p.m. We had to stay back in college to practice the steps we learned last night. My batch mates were too excited about dilli darshan as they always wanted to see Delhi and its historical places. Anannya had a firm decision of going to Delhi darshan and decided not to dance. Reshma, Anuja and me wanted them to practice. I felt if we cancel dancing we would definitely regret later as every college would be performing and we would not be the part of it, also our college was attending the event first-time. Rayees also wanted to go, his brain was fighting whether to stay back and practice or go to dilli darshan. For him it was the golden chance that comes once in one’s life to explore the capital city Delhi. I tried to persuade them to practice. They were deciding whether to go or not. On the other side students were calling to head towards the bus. As Anannya was the dance partner of Rajeev, who already took her name out of the dance, Rajeev also decided not to dance. At last all decided to go to dilli darshan and it was decided that our college is not going to perform in the dance competition.

Unlike them Reshma, Anuja and me decided not to go for the dilli darshan. Anuja and Reshma were being there for the first time and me though I stay in Delhi but except C.P, market of Karol bagh, District Centre of Janakpuri and where I live I haven’t been anywhere. Now it was clear that we are not dancing.

My all batch mates left and headed towards the bus. Before getting onto the bus Rayees told “leave it ya, come Sonica we will practice, your face has become dull. I am not going.” My face turned to bright again. As Rayees was not going so as Amber, Jack, Ajay and Bhawna also stayed back. Others Ansu, Mithun, and Rajeev also stayed back. Rest went to bus.

We started practicing in a class room. I started teaching steps to Jack in a simple and clear way as he was also dancing for the first time. Rajeev, Ajay and Bhawna also decided to perform. Rajeev practiced on some classical music. Ajay and Bhawna practiced on the Punjabi song ‘jat ho gaya ishq wich dil jogi’. Mithun helped us in fusing the three songs with the classical number in first, followed by a Punjabi song and then our song ‘phir milengey chaltey chaltey’ in his laptop. We practiced till 8 p.m. We didn’t change our clothes, which got wet while practicing as there was no time to go to Nizamuddin and change cloth. From 8 to 10 pm we had dinner so we went to have dinner. I ate only soup and slices I didn’t eat rice otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to dance.

We simply washed our face with facewash and combed hair tidily whereas other colleges were in nice and matching costumes with nice makeup. We were feeling shy and insulted.

Dancing competition started, followed by singing competition. Many colleges performed dance on some filmy and Punjabi track. They actually rocked the stage, everyone was whistling. We got more nervous by seeing all that. I thought without practicing much and costumes, students of the colleges would surely throw vegetables on stage. Thinking all that we told our problem to the host that we practiced only for four hours plus we were in casual daily-wear cloth. She also got surprised hearing that and told us as we were performing first time in NOSPLAN so no problem, performing is the most important then becoming 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Then she put our colleges name at the end of the performance list. I knew we all are going to forget the step on stage. On the other side I was continuously saying to my dance partners and to myself also that just to enjoy on stage, no problem if we forget the steps but don’t be expressionless, a smiley expression will overcome bad dancing.

All colleges’ performance was over now it was our chance. Rajeev’s song was first so he went first. In the starting time all were showing down thumb but as the song progressed all started screaming and applauding it was such a powerful classical music. His song followed by Ajay and Bhawna Punjabi number. All students rose and started dancing. After that Reshma, Rayees, Anuja, Jack, Amber and me danced on ‘hum hain rahi pyar ke phir milengey …’ as usual we all forgot some steps. Still People were continuing singing and dancing. I think only in our performance audience stood up and danced.

Singing competition results were announced first. Our college came 2nd on that. And then dancing competition results, the host started from back. We were expecting our name in 6th, 5th or at least in 4th. As soon as results from back to 4th was announced we started shouting as our college name was not in 4th position. Now we knew that we were in top three. Yup! We were in 3rd position. We were so happy and surprised that my friends hoisted me.

We shouted so much that it took my voice days to come in normal. The whole night and for the next few days this unexpected happening occupied my mind. We were so proud. It was really something unexpected; I mean you can’t even imagine when you already know that you have nothing. It was a happy ending, the same host came and told- ‘you guys, rocked’

RK Rishikesh Sinha

A recent MSME lobby poll has revealed that access to credit for MSMEs has not improved even after the announcement of the two stimulus packages. Around 70 percent respondents agreed that the two stimulus packages have not helped them much, while 81 percent witnessed slump in their domestic sales in the last quarter of 2008-2009.

In the export front, 74 percent respondents accepted there has been drop in exports in the same duration. To the question: Do you expect the government to announce new packages for MSMEs? Out of 100 MSME participants, 78 percent said they do expect the government will doll out special packages for them.

Like many small and medium enterprises of the country, Bangalore-based Ascent Consulting Services Pvt Ltd has not seen any improvement in the credit facility on ground after the government came out with the two stimulus packages.

“Credit isn’t easily accessible. We don’t have any credit facilities at this moment,” said Subramanyam S, CEO, Ascent Consulting Services.

“Access to the credit for SMEs has not improved up to the satisfactory level. Bankers still hesitate to extend credit facilities, particularly to export units,” points out Dekora Arts, a Moradabad-based export unit.

Crisis in the export sector started surfacing from 2007-end when the value of the rupee appreciated sharply and the export community, in particular, had to bear losses as they were not able to meet their export commitments.

Any glimmer of hope to see correction in the value of rupee almost vanished with the severity and suddenness at which the global economic crisis engulfed them and with the coming of countries-of-export in recession. In the last quarter December to March 2009, Vee Kay International saw 50 % dip in its export sales, said Sharad M Maheshwari.

“It is a bitter truth that export sales of almost all SME units have gone down. Under such circumstances bankers are reluctant to renew the Packing Credit Limits of Exporters as according to them evaluation of limit is sales-based,” said Atul Gandhi of Dekora Arts. The global recession and the non-availability of credit forced Giesecke & Devrient India Pvt. Ltd. to close down its manufacturing unit.

All government promises and rhetoric that came with the two stimuli fall flat to assuage the pain of small and medium enterprises. “Except sweet talks, there is no improvement in lending by bankers. The MSME advertisement for collateral free loans is mere waste of money and it is misguiding the small industries,” complains APL Polyfab Pvt Ltd.

“Bankers and others have not reduced interests in line with RBI reduction and low inflation. Every bank was increasing interest at the time of rising inflation and RBI rates. However the same linkage was not followed by bankers at the time of falling rates,” it said.

To the question: Has access to credit for SMEs improved on the ground after measures (two stimulus packages) taken by the government early this year? Out of 100 SMEs surveyed, 76 % responded that there has not been any credit improvement on ground.

CN Mohan, Managing Director, Simplex Systems Ltd., affirmed that though some banks have rescheduled the loans only to the extent pending interest; however additional credit despite having a good track record has been denied in many cases. Banks still favour only large corporates.

The non-availability of credit, banks indifferent approach to the problems of SMEs, and with falling demand, it exacerbated the sector to the hilt. According to the survey, 81 % said that their domestic sales have been affected in the December’08 – March’09 quarter. And those in the export sectors 74 % said their sales have been hit in the same quarter.

During the same period, Gurgaon-based Precision Interlinings Pvt. Ltd. had registered 26 % dip in its export sales; NTF (India) Pvt Ltd fear that things would get worse. “It is an unpredictable situation,” describes Excellent Engineering Syndicate.

“The government must, if they are keen to see revival of MSMEs which in turn will help generate employment,” stated Goa State Industries Association. “We definitely want the new government to think about the MSMEs and help them in the interest of national economy,” opined Avon Cranes Pvt. Ltd.

Responses received from the SMEs bring forth the overarching concerns eating the sector which has become acute in the global recessionary slump. They called for systemic reforms in the structure of taxation, MSME finance and credit policies and on the market conditionality.

“Taxes should be in line to survive in international market,” said Global Fashions Ltd. “Loans should be given on less interest, CST should be removed, SSI should get exemption from service taxes, more financial help should be given on domestic and overseas exhibitions for promoting SMEs,” demanded JEI Bearings.

Excise exemption limit for SSI should be enhanced to 300 lakhs from the present 150 lakhs, procedures for buying / selling land, plant, equipment, in conjunction with the approvals from various government bodies have to be simplified with the creation of a single window scheme. In addition to it, reforms in the labour and taxation rules are some of the contentious and pressing issues where the MSMEs have called for attention in the trade lobby survey.

To the question what the MSME sector expects from the coming Union budget 2009-2010? “The Government needs to bring not only Aam Admi budget but the Industrial-friendly budget to let industries cope with the global competition. This can be done with low taxation and easy accessibility of finance with lesser red tapism in productivity and marketing,” said Enkaysagar holdings Pvt Ltd.

Expectation of the release of ‘special’ packages for the MSME sector in the Union Budget is high and they have pinned their hopes. Over 78 per cent of the respondents in the survey affirmed that the new UPA Government will definitely come out with a new package. To what extent the Union budget will meet their expectations and will bail out the MSMEs, it is still under guess.

GUWAHATI, June 30: Asom Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala told the Assam Assembly that the Government was not aware of the announcement made by Border Areas and Excise   Minister Gautam Roy that the Patharkandi civic body as a town Committee on August 15, 2008.

Goala, while replying to an unstarred question from BJP MLA Kartik Sena Sinha, also informed the Assembly that the Government was considering a proposal for forming the Patharkandi Town Committee.

Sinha further asked the minister whether the Patharkandi Town Committee would be formed and when it would come into force.

Goala replied that an appropriate decision would be taken by the Government after following the necessary legal process.

Replying to another question, also from Kartik Sinha, whether the government will take steps to make Karimganj a model town considering its importance due to its closeness to the international as well as inter-state border, Goala said there is no such proposal.

Courtesy: The Sentinel (June 30, 2009)

Kabita Sinha is among few of the students who have excelled in their studies in the recently held Class X examination 2009. Daughter of a retired army personnel, she scored over 80 per cent with four letters in the Secondary School Certificate Examination, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education.

Daughter of Mahitosh Sinha and Kalpana Sinha, Kabita Sinha recorded 84.2 per cent. Her parents hail from Sonapur, Jhapirband, Hailakandi, Assam.

Bishnupriya Manipuri is a rich community. It is enriched with art and culture, music and literature, and immense talent. Due to its scattered population and political reasons, the community is still struggling to expose its identity before the society and the world as well. However, with its rich culture and beliefs, we Bishnupriya Manipuris are always brave to face the challenging world and are trying to establish a strong identity for the future.

From my childhood I have heard about many talented Bishnupriya Manipuri personalities and artists from my parents, relatives and friends but I have hardly seen them personally or had read about them and their profiles in books, published magazines etc. except few of them in special functions or occasions. Sometimes, I came to know about some of them in the magazines published in Bishnupriya Manipuri language. But is it sufficient for a talented person to expose his/her talent in a ‘space’ once in blue moon? We can see how the renowned artists are getting good opportunities to expose their art of talent and collecting support from the society & their fans as well as their ability to create a good platform to sustain for a long period.

The truth is that though our community is enriched with talented artists but they are not getting the opportunities to explore their talent in the society which is spreading widely. Even they are hardly encouraged to continue further with their art as a profession or getting opportunities and facilities in the field to sustain successfully. With the passage of time such artists fail to get attention from the society and their talents get hidden within their other own limitations of life.

But time has brought many changes and the culture of Bishnupriya Manipuri is crossing the geographical areas too. Here, I want to refer specially the growing interest in Bishnupriya Manipuri music and the blooming artists of music coming up with new art of talents and adding pride to the community. The success of good artists depends on the society and their fans. Such talented artists & their talent need to be encouraged, projected and promoted to excel in their field. Finally, we can see the green shoots of talented artists are sprouting up and they are scaling new heights.

Abhinash Sinha, son of Shri  Anupam Sinha, a retired Naval Officer and grandson of late Prof. Nagendra Kumar Sinha of Assam Engg College, a native of Narsingpur (Baromuni),Cachar-Assam, has passed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X examination with flying colors securing above 90 per cent.

Student of Kendriya Vidylaya Ambarnath, Abhinash Sinha, secured 93.4 % without attending any coaching classes. He gives the credit of his success to his mother, Shrimati Anita Sinha.

Abhinash Sinha got 91 out of 100 in Mathematics, 91 in English, 93 in Hindi, 93 in Science and 99 in Social Science.

Ashwini Sinha

Photo: Amit Singha

Ashwini Sinha
Photo: Amit Singha

Ashwini Sinha
Photo: Amit Singha

Col. Bijoy Sinha

Photo: Amit Singha

BN Sinha, New Delhi

The most cherished and memorable moment of Rath (kang) for me was when I had been to Patherkandi, my maternal uncle’s place,Tangalokei, Khalopar to be specific, decades back. There was a congregation of seven raths / kangs of seven villages in a same field. And each kang was pulled by both ladies and gents together wearing spectacular attire of different colors in order to be identified by their uniform. Those few hours in the field was amazing, the euphoria among people was unimagianble. And the Joydev which took place in the evening at the village malthep was simply rocking.

I am sure no other place on this earth celebrates joyous Kang/ Rath yatra than the Bishnupriya Manipuri villages situated on the bank of Longai River.

Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai

Throwing of fruit by the priest in the air, youngsters from different areas all dipped with muds fighting and cajoling with each other to catch the pieces of the fruit – are some of the grainy moments still etched in my mind.

Ranjit Sinha, New Delhi

For me the best Rath Yaatra takes place at Khaalopar Loya, my vilage. One can see around the smiling faces of the people of our village and from the nearby places. The environment of merriment that they create now makes me nostalgic and emotional. I don’t have words to express. My participation in the village Kaang Pali is still fresh and ever-refreshing.

I salute those people who organises the “Saptha Rath”. It is with their sheer effort that we the people remember them and the Kaang festival.

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