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• Expo 2004 showcases North-east advantages
• Kaziranga's lessons in wildlife protection
• Cane, bamboo back in fashion

Expo 2004 showcases North-east advantages (Go to Top)

          New Delh: Accelerating efforts for the rapid socio-economic development of the north-east, the North East Trade Expo 2004 was held here earlier this month. Featuring a variety of exclusive products and services of India's eight north eastern states, the fair, which was organised for the first time in the Indian Capital, was a huge success.

          The fair was held with the express purpose of showcasing new avenues for trade, commerce, business expansion, joint ventures and investment opportunities in the region. "From this time onwards our people will get a lot of exposure. I hope, the government will work more towards this," said one of the participants. "It is developing, and especially these artistic things are very beautiful and people should come and see them," said a visitor.

          Besides the eight north-eastern states, the fair witnessed the participation of Central ministries, chambers of commerce and several units from the private sector. Chief Secretaries of the north-eastern states also attended a seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and it was decided to introduce a number of new initiatives, including the setting up of a Rs.5 billion project along the River Kaladan that runs through Mizoram and Myanmar.

          Nagaland will soon set up a Rs.470 cr cement plant with an annual production capacity of one million tons. Efforts are also on to expand the northeast market through border trade, encourage the growth of the Sikkhim manufactured candles and cheese. "Now in a matter of three months time we are going to ban the use of fertilizers in the state of Mizoram and other states will follow, with the result that only organic food will be available," said A.R Kohli, the Governor of Mizoram.
March 25, 2004

Kaziranga's lessons in wildlife protection (Go to Top)

          Guwahati: Till a few decades ago, India's wildlife was close to extinction because of the lack of control over widespread poaching. Recent studies, however, now reveal a dramatic shift in wildlife sanctuaries vis-a-vis implementation of anti-poaching laws. Take for example, the growth in the population of the Indian single-horned rhinoceros in the world famous Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Close to extinction a couple of years ago, the rhino is thriving within the precincts of the sanctuary thanks to the dedicated efforts of the park officials and staff.

           "At one time, the highest poaching in Kaziranga National Park was 48 in 1992. After that, because of the publicity, poaching has come down. In our country, there is no demand. In this park, poaching is zero, an all-time record," claims Ranjan K. Das, the divisional forest officer at the park. However, he adds that a strict vigil has to be maintained at all costs in the nearly 800 square km wide park. In the 20th century, the population of the one-horned rhino was 200. Today, it is almost 2400.

           There are about 143 anti-poaching camps within Kaziranga and the participation of locals in these camps just goes to show that at least in India, the future of the one-horned rhino is safe and secure. "Just like the dinosaurs became extinct, ignorant villagers used to think of the rhino as just another beast. When the hunters could seize the opportunity, they killed it. It is only now thanks to the wildlife department that people have begun to realize that the animal is an endangered one," said Sunil Mandal, a villager. "We've always helped the forest officials in whatever way they wanted. Everyone, especially the youth, have immediately sprung into action whenever they've heard of anything regarding poaching," said Durlabh Saikia, another villager.

          Kaziranga is today a popular tourist destination. The two-ton animal, dating back to a prehistoric age, is certainly one of India's greatest natural treasures and Assam's Kaziranga National Park proudly recognizes it as such.
March 18, 2004

Cane, bamboo back in fashion (Go to Top)

          Ziro Village (Arunachal Pradesh): Cane and bamboo are back in fashion. The extensive use of these shoots in products varying from classy furniture and regular house-hold articles to stylish hand bags is an indicator of their increasing popularity ..... and to promote this industry, exhibitions are being organised quite often. Catering to the newly-acquired taste and needs of Indians and foreigners alike, are the northeastern states, that boast of a thriving cane and bamboo industry.

          Be it the construction of a house, a granary, a religious altar or just house-hold items, what strikes the eye of a visitor to any of the villages in Arunachal Pradesh, is the extensive use of cane and bamboo in day-to-day existence. And, such necessity compels these people to carefully cultivate the shoot. Takhe Khoda, a villager, said: "In Apatani villages, there will be no houses if there is no bamboo. There will be nothing that is why we take care of the bamboo grooves like our own children. Because if cows enter the bamboo grooves they destroy the shoots and once destroyed it takes as many as 3 years for them to reappear."

           Intrusion of factory made articles have, of late, posed a threat to the village economy dependent on bamboo. In an attempt to ward off this threat, the local authorities have set up a common facility centre at Ziro, with the help of the Development Commission of Handicrafts. The State Forest Research Institute in Itanagar carries out research and field trials on bamboo, cane and other medicinal plants found in the area, to develop and standardise cultivation practices.

           Haj Dodung, Deputy Director Textile and Handicrafts, said: "The number of bamboo growers has increased more and more. Initially utility was only for the purpose of construction. But now it has been improved. We have, with the department of textiles and handicrafts, made its use for other purposes like furniture section, mugs, tea cups, tea coasters from the bamboo that we purchase bamboo from the villagers and their living standards have definitely improved."

         A common factor in the life of people all over the North East region is that they know how to co-exist in harmony with nature that has given them in abundance. The feet of dancers moving to the melody of the clanging bamboo represents their enthusiasm for life... maintaining a link with their roots. March 5, 2004

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