Tag: Top Stories

By: Dee Abonmai XL
The observation of the first Fathers` Day was started by a mother. Her name was Mrs. John Bruce Dodd. She lived in the town of Spokane, Washington in America. How then did start this Fathers` Day?

It was in the year 1909 when she attended a church on Mothers` Day in the month of May. When she heard her Pastor preaching about the love of mothers, she remembered her father`s love. Her mother died when she was young. Her mother died leaving six children for their father to look after. Even without her mother, her father raised all the six children like a good Christian family. She painfully remembered how her father struggled to feed and raise all the six children. Sitting in the church she decided to give due honour to her father and all the father of the world.

Mrs Dodd went to the president of the Spokane Ministerial Association and said. “Every year we remember our mothers on Mother` Day, therefore, every year you must select a special day for the fathers, and the churches must observe the day of honour and praise for the fathers.”

The Spokane Ministerial Association accepted suggestion and selected the 3rd Sunday of June as the Fathers` Day. It was the day of her father`s Birthday.         *;

When the Mayor of Spokane heard about the Fathers` Day, he immediately ordered the proclamation to observe the Fathers` Day, he immediately ordered the proclamation to observe the Fathers` Day. Later on, when the Governor heard that Spokane Church will be observing the Fathers` Day on the 3rd Sunday of June, he too declared in all the States to celebrate Father`s Day.

William Jennings Byrant was an outstanding man in America. He suggested in the Senate that Fathers` Day should be observed as a National Holiday. Therefore, in the year 1924, Fathers` Day was announced as a national holiday in America. President Calvin Coolidge, the 30th U.S. President proclaimed the 3rd Sunday of June as Fathers` Day and said “Every family pays respect and honour to Dad.”

Since then, people all over the world, especially Christians celebrate Fathers` Day with great enthusian. Mrs John Bruce Dodd was delighted when her wishes were fulfilled by all the families in America. After some year when people asked Mrs. Dodd about her feelings she replied, “I think Fathers` Day should include family attendance at church, a small gift for dad, and sharing with him some kind words you have always wanted to tell him.”

This is a great day for all fathers as churches organize special services to honour father. As we celebrate Fathers` Day with special gifts, meals, flowers and prayers, it is a challenge to every father to check their all round contribution to their families and society. Happy Fathers` Day!

A Responsible Father
(1 thess2:8-12)
Vicky Huffman wrote about her childhood relationship with her father in her book, plus living; “My father through no fault of his own, wasn`t there when I was born. He was an Air Force Pilot, away fighting World War II. The war nearly over when I arrived, but he didn`t come home until I was two years old. He had crashed overseas and was hospitalized with burns for many months.

When he did return, we got off to a slow start. I was shy around a man because I had been around so few; he had never been around a baby. I was a little bit spoiled, and he expected his new found daughter to behave like a miniature soldier. Our relationship soon settled into a pattern that lasted for many years; he gave orders, and I took them. I lived in fear of bringing down a cold military style wrath on my head. But I think he was just as fearful. He seemed to believed that showing emotion was a sign of weakness and would cause him to lose control of his family.

After I was married I finally put my fear of my father behind and tried to have a close relationship with him. But by then, thousands of miles kept us from having no more than annual visits. There never seemed to be enough time to demolish the concrete will between us. We chipped away at it up untill the time of his death from cancer a few years ago but it ever really fell.

I know my father loved me my mother told me he did . It would have been wonderful if he had told me himself more often. May be he didn`t understand how much I needed to hear those words.

Studies have been done on people raised in all kinds of environment. Some were abused or physically deprived. Some were emotionally deprived. I was never abused or deprived of any physical comfort, but I was deprived of the love relationship that a child wants and needs from a father.”

Father, can you see the broken relationships here in this story? The work of making a home does not rest upon the mother alone. Fathers have an important part to play.

The father is the head of the household. The wife looks to him for love and sympathy, The children look to the father for support and guidance. The father is to stand as a man with manly character and with his passions spirit in the home . Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discourage”(Col3:21).

The Father`s duty to his children cannot be transferred to the mother because she has enough burden to bear. You as a father should not excuse yourself from your part in the work of education your children for life. You must share in the responsibility. Your kind, cheerful and encouraging words will prove more effective than the most healing medicines. Remember, your personal characteristics are passed down generation after generation.

Two contrastion cases in point are worthy of our attention. “The father of Jonathan Edwards was a minister and his mother was the daughter of a clergyman. Among their descendants were fourteen presidents of college, more than one hundred college professors, more than one hundred clergyman, missionaries and theology professors, and about sixty authors. There is scarcely any great American industry that has not had one of his family among its chief promoters. Such is the product of one American Christian family, reared under the most favourable conditions.

The contrast is presented in the juke`s family. Their entire record is one of pauperism and crime, insanity and imbecility. Among their twelve hundred known descendants three hundred ten were professional paupers, four hundred forty were physically wrecked by their one wickedness, sixty three habitual thieves, one hundred thirty were convicted criminals, fifty five were victims of impurity only twenty learned a trade and ten of these learned it in a state prison, and this notorious family produced seven murderers. Overall their family cost the state of New York millions of dollar.”

What qualities and character traits are you passing down to your children? Are you actively involved in knowing your children, guiding them towards maturity? Father`s spend time with your children! Upon returning home from your business. Work, office you should find it a pleasant change to spend some time with your children.

Ellen G. White says; “The father of boys should come into close contact with his sons, giving them the benefit of his larger experience and talking with them in such simplicity them see that he has their best interest, thier happiness, in view all the time.”

Fathers, spend as much time as possible with your children. You will never know your child unless you take control of your schedule and plan time just to listen and disposition that you may know how to train your children in harmony with the word of God. Never should a word of discouragement pass your lips. Do not bring darkness into the home . Be pleasant, kind and affectionate toward your children; but not foolishly indulgent. In proverbs 13:24 Solomon reminds all the fathers, ” He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him discipline him diligently.”

Too many fathers rely on punishment alone to displine their children.

But by doing that, they`re neglecting to give their kids the assistance they need in understanding and applying God`s word into their lives.

Father, combine affection with authority, kindness and sympathy with firm restraint. Give some of your leisure hours to your children; become acquainted with then associate with them in their work and in their sports and win their confidence. Cultivate friendship with them, especially with your sons. In this way you will be a strong influence for good.

Fathers, how well-prepared are you to shape your children`s wills with the wisdom of God`s word. Are you training them in the way they should go or punishing them for going on the way they should? Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Pro 22:6).

How sad it is that many fathers have cast off their God given responsibility to their children, and are willing that strangers should bear it for them!

Fathers, you have your own responsibilities that no one can bear for you. As long as you live, you are accountable to God to keep His way. Fathers, who make the word of God their guide and who realize how much thier children depend upon them for the characters they form, will set an example that it will be safe for their children to follow.

Read through the words of Anne Ortlund which is taken from her book Children are Wet Cement.

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By: Basantakumar Wareppa, Human Rights Alert
Mr. Ban Kin-moon, UN Secretary General once says, “Torture is a crime under international law.  The prohibition of torture is absolute and unambiguous.  Torture cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever, whether during a state of war or in response to terrorism, political instability or any other public emergency”.

However, in Manipur, increasing number of custodial torture leading to death over the past months virtually a matter in interrogation as a systematic trend clearly justify torture as necessary pattern to tackle the law and order situation.

Despite of having India’s legal obligation to combat torture, there is continuing pattern of torture. These patterns are clearly in breach of universally accepted norms of human rights particularly International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as the right against torture is absolute and non-derogable. The United Nations Code of Conduct has bolstered this for Law Officials Enforcement.

Every possible effort to address the issue of torture has been made by the torture victims with full support from Human Rights groups appear to have no meaning yet. At present, India has no functional domestic legal framework to address the question of torture. Lacking of legal framework is not only the sole reason but also non-implementation and misinterpretation of the existing little mechanism is other major factors. Implementing agencies often make the victims wrongly interpret/believe the available legal mechanism and such has a serious implication to address this issue.

In one such example, mandatory video filming of the post-mortem procedure for custodial death/encounter killing is presumed to be sought permission from concerned executive magistrate as a require legal step. But as per National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) letter No. 66/SG/NHRC/93 to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories dated 14 December 1993 clearly directed the concerned District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police is to report every custodial death to the Secretary General of the Commission within 24 hours. In another letter to all Chief Ministers of States dated 10 August 1995 that the post-mortem examinations done in respect of the death in police custody and jails should be video-filmed and cassettes be sent to the Commission along with post-mortem report. The Commission has further stated that the process of video-filming will involve extra cost but human life is more valuable than the cost of video-filming which was also reaffirmed in a latter No. NHRC/ID/PM/96/57 dated 2
7 March 1997. The Commission has also cautioned that the failure to report promptly would give rise to presumption that there was an attempt to suppress the incident.

To address the issue of torture, firm stand and determination of the victim could only make little hope. One respected teacher who himself was a torture victim has proof such a little hope. Mr. Gopeshor Singh is a respected member of his community due to his profession as teacher. It may be noted that Mr. Gopeshor was arrested by a team of Indian Army from 57 Mountain Division on 1 September 2007 after issuing an arrest memo as per the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 18 December 1996.

Mr. Gopeshor was handed over to Nambol Police Station after subjected to torture during his detention under military custody the next day. The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), New Delhi has brought the matter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with a subsequent complaint.

After three year of legal hurdle and systematic disturbance, Mr. Gopeshor received compensation of Rs. 25,000/- (Twenty five thousand only) following the specific recommendation by the NHRC vide letter number 24/14/4/07-08/UC dated 9 December 2010. In the recommendation to the Human Rights Cell of Additional Directorate General Discipline and Vigilance Adjutant General’s Branch, Head Quarter, Ministry of Defense (Army), DHQ, New Delhi to award a sum of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) for meeting the expenditure towards payment of compensation to Mr. Gopeshor.

In order to prevent such serious forms of violation of human rights and to make transparency and accountable, the authorities concerned is to follow legally establish procedure for the end of justice. Therefore, the recent bill on the Prevention of Torture which has been passed by the lower house of the Indian Parliament needs to incorporate the essence and spirit of the international human rights standards particularly UN Convention against Torture which the Government of India has already signed.

Note: This article is written dedicating to those survivors of torture to mark the observance of UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 2011.

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Much has been already said of why the guardians of the law breaking the law is far graver than ordinary people doing so. By the same corollary breaking the law by those who are challenging it should come under a much more different yardstick. But this play with words aside, there is an important issue which needs to be clarified. This has to do with one argument which continues to persist in any talk on the need to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, and the felt need by many rights activists to have the Army accountable for whatever acts of unwarranted violence they perpetrate. Without seeming to support the continuance of this draconian act, the argument goes that violence committed against civil population are much more by insurgents, and even by the state police which is not covered by the AFSPA, than by the Army which is empowered by the AFSPA. In other words, it is not the AFSPA which is responsible for the trouble in Manipur and the Northeast, but insurgency and its resultant violence. In a more subtle way, this is also saying that the AFSPA is in good hands and would not be misused beyond understandable limits, and on a comparative scale has not been used to perpetrate violence as much as the state police and insurgents have done, though no such laws empower them. Further it also amounts to saying that violence will continue with or without the law so long as the conditions for violence exist on the ground.

There is much truth in this argument and indeed violence and atrocities committed on the common citizen by the state police and insurgents may be a lot more than those perpetrated by the Army and other central paramilitary forces covered by the AFSPA. However there is one vital difference. Leave the insurgents for the time being, for they function on a different plane of logic altogether, and instead make a comparison between violence committed by the state police and the Army. Since the 2004 climactic moment in the protest against the AFSPA in the wake of the Thangjam Manorama custodial rape and murder case, and the subsequent removal of the act from the seven Assembly constituencies of the greater Imphal area, on the plea that the Imphal area can be handled by the state’s own counter insurgency force, who in local parlance have come to be known as police commandos, it is true that acts of violent confrontation has been confined largely between the police and insurgents, leaving the Army somewhat out of the picture. Plenty of atrocities on civil population also have resulted out of this. The point then is, if the police still can commit and harass civilians in unwarranted manners although not covered by the impunity guaranteed by the AFSPA, should not this much reviled act be given its due and redefined as less draconian, if at all, than it has been made out to be?

This seems like a compelling argument. However, there is a very important point missed here. The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the Army acting in an area declared as “disturbed” under the Disturbed Area Act. This include the power of a non-commissioned officers to kill on suspicion somebody may commit acts of violence, destroy houses again on suspicion it may be used as shelter by people with violent intents inimical to the law, etc. So when the Army perpetrates violence of the nature, it is doing it by the provisions of the law, unlike the police which would be committing similar violence but in disregard of the limits set on them by the law. What the police does is in this sense illegal and if they are not hauled up for it, it reflects on the will and intent of the government in power. In the case of Army acting as per the AFSPA, the acts of violence and impunity does not reflect so much on the government but the law itself. There should be no dispute which of these two scenarios is more sinister. One is a question of breaking the law to perpetrate violence on civil population, the other is of the law not only sanctioning such acts but also giving legal immunity to those who may be challenged as having jumped their already grossly excessive briefs. This certainly would be one of those peculiar ironic twists of circumstance when those breaking the law may actually appear less sinister than those acting by the law. The moot point is, the flaw here is not of those who are executing the law and its provisions, but the law itself which is flawed and in a manner extremely disparaging to the democratic credentials of the country.

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By Anil Bhat
A recent news report in this daily about security agencies alerting the Assam police that Paresh Baruah, now heading Ulfa’s anti-talks faction, has sent 35 armed cadres to launch offensives in oil-rich Upper Assam districts and target the leaders of the pro-talk faction of Ulfa, again bring into focus some factors, which are not favorable for peace in Assam.

The report also cites authoritative security sources mentioning that among the 35 armed cadres, few are new recruits, who may try old Ulfa tactics of abducting officials of oil companies operating for Oil and Natural Gas Commission and Oil India Limited which have been resisting the Ulfa’s extortion demands and may also blow up oil pipelines to create fear psychosis. In 1991, among many persons abducted by Ulfa, were a bureaucrat and Russian engineer Sergei Grishchenko, who was later killed.

In a feature by this writer titled ‘Disarming pro-talks militants’, published in this daily on 22 April 2011, it was brought out that the “pro-talk” leaders released of the from jail moving about freely and ULFA’s symbol of the rising sun becoming visible in villages had boosted Paresh Baruah’s efforts to recruit volunteers to make good the loss of at least two battalions. This has been confirmed by the security sources saying that the anti-talk faction of Ulfa has also recruited nearly 100 new cadres sent to Burma for arms training.

It is also significant that Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has also admitted that the anti-talks faction of Ulfa has been carrying out recruitment and extortion in Upper Assam districts.

In 1991, Ulfa supported the Hiteshwar Saikia led Congress to power not just to do down AGP, but to save its own leaders from the Army. Reportedly, there was an internal agreement between Hiteshwar Saikia and Paresh Baruah through the mediation of Rewati Phukan, a top industrialist and Paresh Baruah’s good friend and co-player when both represented Assam in football.

In 2001, Congress led by Tarun Gogoi sought Ulfa’s support from. ULFA did everything to bring Congress to power, including selection of candidates, attacks on pool booths, grenade blasts in Janata Bhawan etc. with a hope of establishing talks between the outfit and the Government.

This time around Mr Gogoi’s new year’s gift to Rajkhowa and co. of releasing them from jail, also seems to have paid up.

Taking the advantage of elections and peace-process that had slowed down the operations of the security forces, the pro-talks leaders freely moving around and creating awe amongst youth has resulted in the anti-talks Ulfa succeeding in roping some unemployed youths to join the outfit.

Security sources have reportedly admitted that free movement of the pro-talk Ulfa leaders and cadres might create some confusion for the security forces so the state government has been advised to confine them within the boundary of designated camps. While home ministry is reported to be firm on its policy of starting talks with the insurgent groups only after the surrender of arms and restricting cadres in designated camps, Ulfa has ‘reservations’ on both matters. Whereas home ministry has reportedly proposed three designated camps for about 250-300 Ulfa cadres, they want nine camps. About surrender of arms, the Ulfa leadership has been insisting on keeping the arms ‘under joint custody’. Government must certainly not allow any negotiating group to keep its arms and all surrendered leaders and cadres must be kept under close watch in designated camps.

On the possibility of anti-talks leader / leaders joining the pro-talks group, there have been two versions reported in media. One was that the Centre was arranging a meeting between a top pro-talk leader and Ulfa’s ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia, currently lodged in a jail in Bangladesh, ostensibly to get his consent for the dialogue. This version, if true, is quite hair-brained. The other version is that two top anti-talks leaders may soon join the peace-process. Refusing to reveal their names, security sources however hinted that the process to deport them from Bangladesh back to Assam will start soon. While government must not allow any pro-talks leader to go to Bangladesh to meet Chetia, extraditing any leader/leaders under Paresh Baruah would be a clever move which is bound to affect him adversely.

Meanwhile, Ulfa’s gory past, which includes mass graves and countless attacks on innocent civilians, is reported to be catching up with it. Victims of Ulfa’s terror are demanding a say in the talks. They are seeking justice for those killed by Ulfa. Speaking to media, one victim said, “The Government and those involved in the peace talks need to know what our problems are, and what we`re thinking and must involve us directly.” While CM Gogoi has assured them of a ‘fair hearing’, it remains to be seen how he is going to provide the victims with any relief or justice, given how hard he worked at freeing from jails those guilty of heinous murders, colluding with Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and implementing all kinds of acts of war/destabilization, like massacres, sabotage, causing demographic changes, circulation of fake Indian currency etc.in Assam. So far, political expediency has been the main uncompromised priority.

The Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA), an intellectual umbrella body of civil society organisations of Assam, recently handed over a charter of demands to the pro-talk Ulfa faction, listing issues which could be discussed with the Centre. SJA Chief Convener Dr Hiren Gohain, a Sahitya Akademi winner, handed over the charter to Arabinda Rajkhowa in the presence of top leaders of both the organisations in Guwahati. Pro-talks leaders will discuss the charter and may redraft it to include any more of their own demands before submitting it to the Centre. Expresspmg the hope that the talks between Ulfa and Centre would lead to positive results, he is reported to have said, “I am hopeful that the talks will be fruitful as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear that the Indian constitution is flexible and necessary changes could be made to fulfill the aspirations of the indigenous Assamese.” The document has included various burning issues facing the state and the indigenous Assamese population. The SJA chater demands Constitutional amendments to give Assam, and thereby its people greater control over their own future by strengthening the State`s power to control the revenues generated, the natural resources, and the planning process and ensure a secure demographic situation as well as accelerated and balanced development. Gohain said, “If the government of India and the ULFA honour the Charter in letter and spirit and do not undersell it, we may look forward to untroubled peace, true development, and vigorous growth of democracy in the region.” SJA noted that the present calm does not at all mean the return of peace. Rajkhowa told media that the outfit would press for a time-bound dialogue with the Centre and would not like the talk process to drag on for long. The next and substantive session of talks between the ULFA and the Centre is expected to be held towards end-June.

According to an Assamese daily, Paresh Baruah’s decision not to join the talks could be so that he can impact pressure on the talks. It is understood that if the entire brass of ULFA leaders and cadres comes out to open, they will be under complete dominance of the Government. Talks under domination from one side on the other might then lead to no fruitful results. The other possibility is that Paresh Baruah wants to wait and watch where the lateral talks lead to. The hardliner faction has already announced their conditional support to the talks where they have asked:

Consider ULFA armed revolution as a democratic-aspiration movement of natives of the land, keeping in mind the inception of their movement in context of time and situation.

Grant Assam a special status under the Constitution of India by an amendment under Part XXI that deals with Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions. This should enable Assam to draft a publically acceptable Constitution/Legal Document of its own.

Endow the state government with the right of self-governance and adjudication over any matter relating to socio-political-judicial issues that concern the interests of entire group or community domiciling in Assam.

There should be an official national anthem for Assam as the Indian federation will not be in a position to change its own national anthem, which grossly discriminates Assam by excluding from the most-audible federal representation.

A detailed investigation relating to the crimes committed and attributed to either belligerent parties i.e. Federal authority of India and ULFA be it the Kakopathar massacre of 2006 or the blast in Dhemaji. This is to be done through the good offices of International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission (or any credible international organization) that are in a position to deal over issues of international and non-international armed conflicts.

This group is currently actively involved in managing many ‘businesses’, including procuring arms for Naxal-Maoists through contacts with ISI and Chinese intelligence operatives, among many other nefarious and anti-India activities.

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var addthis_product=’wpp-252′;var addthis_options=”Google+1″IMPHAL, July 31: For the holy occasion of Ramzaan, All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) has expressed its warm greeting to all the…

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IMPHAL, August 21: The ITI contract employees welfare association (ICEWA), Imphal has urged the authority concerned to clear the nine months pending salaries of the employees by end of August failing which it warned to launched democratic actions in the form of cease work strike in all the industrial training institutes.

In a statement the employees association revealed that the contract employees of different industrial training institutes (ITI’s) of Manipur, have not been getting their salaries for the last nine months.

Despite repeated claims and request for early payment of the same the matter has fell into deaf ear, the authorities keep mum on the subject, it said.

It decried that with a meager amount of basic pay the employees are finding it very hard to meet their both ends and drawn the attention of the government on the problems encountered during this nine month long span.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/iti-employees-threaten-stir-on-pending-salary/

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Agencies): The Centre may have opened dialogue with some underground outfits, but according to an estimate of the Home Ministry, there are 79 insurgent groups including splinter factions, which are active across six North Eastern States.

A detailed list of the militant outfits furnished by Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran in the Lok Sabha reveals that Manipur has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of 50 active militant outfits in the region including 22 valley-based and 27 hill-based outfits.

One militant outfit, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) has 12 factions, while Kuki National Front has four factions.

While Assam has five active militant outfits including ULFA, NDFB, DHD,UPDS and KLO, neighboring Meghalaya has overtaken the State and now boasts of nine insurgent outfits. In neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, apart from the two factions of NSCN, another militant outfit, National Liberation Front of Arunachal has reared its head in the State.

Another interesting revelation is that barring Sikkim, rest of all the North Eastern States are now affected by militancy.

Mizoram, which was given a peace bonus by the Planning Commission last year, now has three militant groups including Hmar Peoples Convention (HPC D), Hmar National Liberation Front and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).

Nagaland and Tripura have six and three militant outfits respectively.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that there have been inputs suggesting liaison of top leaders of some of the insurgent groups in the Northeast India with the neighboring countries like China and Myanmar.

The Government of India has raised concern with China from time to time on the issue through the diplomatic channel, Ramachandran added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/79-militant-groups-active-in-northeast/

NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (IANS): Congress president Sonia Gandhi returned home Thursday after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment in the US but it wasn`t clear when she will resume her public life.

The 64-year-old flew into the capital at 3 a.m., said party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. `Her health condition is fine,` Dwivedi said.

Gandhi went to the US in early August. The nature of her ailment was never disclosed.

Congress leaders said they were not sure when she will return to active politics. `She will take the advice of doctors,` one of them said.

Congress sources feel she would be forced to rest — at least for a while.

The Congress did not hold its customary media briefing Thursday.

Although Gandhi had named a four-member panel including her son and general secretary Rahul Gandhi to oversee the country`s oldest party when she was away, the Congress felt her absence during the Anna Hazare fast.

Besides Rahul Gandhi, she had named Dwivedi, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and her political aide Ahmed Patel to take charge of the Congress.

Barring Rahul Gandhi, who was in regular touch with her mother, the other three remained mostly low key when Hazare`s campaign against corruption led to nationwide protests, forcing the government to bend.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/sonia-back-in-delhi-after-surgery/

BANGALORE, September 22 (agencies): India`s youngest-ever captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi lost his battle with a lung infection and passed away at a Delhi hospital today evening. Pataudi, who captained India in 40 of his 46 Tests is survived by his wife, yesteryear acting superstar Sharmila Tagore and three children, including film stars Saif and Soha Ali Khan.

“His condition has deteriorated since Wednesday and he is unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximum treatment. He continues to remain in the ICU (intensive care unit),” news agency IANS quoted Neeraj Jain, senior consultant and chairman of pulmonolgy (chest medicine) at Sir Gangaram Hospital in central Delhi, as saying earlier today.

The 70-year-old Pataudi was admitted to the hospital in August with acute lung infection. The condition does not allow normal passage of oxygen to both the lungs. The patient breathes out more carbon dioxide during infection.

“This disease….had been static since the last three months. It worsened very acutely over the last four weeks,” Jain told IANS adding a possible lung transplant was discussed.”

“The possibility of lung transplant was discussed very early as soon as his condition worsened. But he was not a suitable candidate for it,” he added.

Pataudi, who became India captain at the age of 21, only a few months after losing the sight in his right eye following an accident, scored 2793 runs including six centuries in 46 Tests at an average of 34.91. And, it was under his leadership that India won their first overseas Test against New Zealand in 1967.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/former-india-captain-mak-pataudi-passes-away/

IMPHAL, April 26: The Non Gazetted Employees Welfare Association JN Hospital, Porompat, Imphal has served an ultimatum to the Chief Minister today demanding better service conditions and retirement benefits failing which the association has threatened to launched various forms of agitations on or before May 4.
According to a release of the association, it has submitted several representations to the concerned authorities regarding their demands including improvement of service conditions and retirement benefits etc in respect of the staff Nurse, Paramedical staff and Grade-IV employees of JN Hospital, who had been transferred to the JNIMS Imphal East.
It has further mentioned that, in this regard a general body meeting of the association was held on April 21 this month with L Chandrakumar Singh, president of the association in the chair. The said meetinghad unanimously resolved to launched various steps of agitations, unless the demands are considered favourably by the state government on or before May 4.
As decided during the meeting their steps of agitation will start with the wearing of black badge for dive days from May 5 to 9 next month.
It has further stated that the black badge wearing demonstration will be followed by non cooperation movement from May 10 to 12, sit in protest there after till May 16.
The association will follow up the sit in protest by cease work strike until the demands are fulfilled, the release added.

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IMPHAL, March 24: Police commandos have arrested at least six militant cadres from different parts of the state while conducting separate counter insurgency operations since yesterday.

A statement issued by the Superintendent of Police Imphal West district, has stated that a team of the district police commandos along with women police constable arrested three cadres of the proscribed KCP (MTF) including two women yesterday from near Shija Hospital at about 7 am in the morning.

The arrested individuals have been identified as one Thonglenmang Haokip, 26, s/o Yanthang Haokip of Dongsum Village, Senapati district, Akim Haokip, 40, w/o Alet Haokip of Dongsum village at present residing at Kangchup Chingkhong and Wahengbam (O) Chaoba alias Asharani alias Asha Devi, 26, w/o W. Tomba alias Shyamkumar of Naransena Maning Leikai at present staying at Langol Ningthou Mathak.

It said that the trio disclosed that they were working under one Tomba since the past one year. A 9mm pistol along with magazine and five live ammunitions, three Chinese hand grenades and three detonators were seized from their possession, it added.

It further stated that in a follow up action another cadre of the outfit was arrested from Langol crossing identified as one Wahengbam Tomba alias Shyamkanhai, 32, s/o W. Heramot of Naransena Maning Leikai Ningthou Mathak.

The individual disclosed that he was working under Tachou alias Ebai who is residing outside the state. He has been assigned to serve demand letters, extortion and kidnapping, it said.

The statement further stated that the same day a combined team of the Imphal East and West district police commandos arrested a cadre of the KCP (Pibarel) at around 6 pm from Singjamei Waikhom Leikai.

He has been identified as one Yumnam Rajen alias Chandra alias Korou, 41, s/o Y. Komol Singh of Langmeidong Mamang Leikai, stated the release.

On spot verification he disclosed that he was working under the command of s/s general secretary of the outfit. One 9 mm pistol having five live ammunitions has been recovered from his possession it said.

On the other hand, another statement issued by the SP Thoubal district police claimed that a team of the district commandos arrested one cadre of the PULF yesterday around 6:30pm while conducting a search operation at Shikhong bazaar.

The arrested cadre is identified as one Md. Warish Khan alias Ibungo alias Shaiba, 20, s/o Md. Etobi of Shikhong Hanuching Manak.

A 9mm pistol with magazine containing two live ammunitions were recovered from his possession, it said.

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IMPHAL, May 31 (Newmai News Network): “In democracy there is no room for violence,” said Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh in a village in Ukhrul district today during a special training programme on ULA and state governments flagship schemes. The chief minister said that gun and bomb culture will not last.

The programme was held at New Canaan village today attended by former chief minister and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaikhangam, ministers DD Thaisii and N Biren.

Addressing the people, Ibobi Singh also said that more power will be given to local bodies such as ADC, IMC and Zilla Parishad so that every development scheme reaches its target. The chief minister disclosed that cabinet had already discused the matter. Ibobi Singh also stated that in order to improve the educational system in the hill districts a committee each will be formed in every ADC constituency where the chairman of the committee will be the ADC member of that constitruency.

These committees will look after the government institutions in their respective ADC constituency. On the success of the Congress in the just concluded Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) poll, the chief minister said the results of the IMC poll was a tell-tale sign that the public have their confidence in the Congress party.

Speaking on the occasion, Rishang Keishing claimed that the Congress is the only party that works hand in hand with the people. Asking the people to have courage in safeguarding ones` rights, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the people should be bold enough to fight back those elements who continue to intimidate the people.

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The rains have halted for a while. It will be back soon in bigger monsoon torrents if all goes as per normal seasonal cycle. But this break can be made used of meaningfully by the government. The least it could do is to fill up the potholes on the roads as well as repair weak spots before the rains return. Now that weather forecasts technology has advanced so much, it can actually plan out its work schedule much better than it could 10 years ago. Investing in renovation works now will save the government a lot more money in the near future, for the potholes and weak spot, if left unattended, would virtually trigger total or at least much more substantial damages of the roads during the monsoon. One wonders why this thought does not occur to the government on its own without anybody having to remind it. Local MLAs which are the eyes and ears, as well as guardians of the constituencies they represent, should have brought up the matter before the government for necessary action. Or is it a case of there being no such system of feedback in the establishment. If there isn`™t any, it is time for the government to introduced one. Let the government also realise that it would not only be saving expenses in the long run, but also doing a great service to the people it is supposed to serve.

We wonder why the government gives so little attention to maintenance of infrastructure. If it were to give the matter of maintenance a fraction of the attention that it gives to laying foundation stones or inaugurating new public infrastructures, so much would have been set right. The enthusiasm for the latter is such that our leaders would even agree to lay foundation stones or inaugurate structures ranging from public toilets to community halls where they would make fiery public speeches with an air of self assumed grandeur of imagined epic proportion. Perhaps as a tactics, a tradition should be introduced where our leaders are encouraged to cut the ribbons even in cases of public infrastructure renovation works and allowed to make speeches. This hopefully will encourage them to think of repair works more seriously and with far greater interest.
Jokes aside, this is a matter of concern, and indeed a big lacuna in the attitude of the government. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can keep in good shape without routine repair renovations. Roads are no exceptions. So why does the government not keep aside a separate budget for this purpose. We would even suggest a different government department with the responsibility of ensuring repair works are executed promptly, catching signs of damages early and fixing them before they get extensive. Let us remind the government once again that such a policy would save it considerably amount of money and quality time rather than put more pressure on its exchequer. It does not have to be recruiting fresh employees. It is just a matter of introducing a new structure to division of work responsibilities in its engineering departments. What seems to be also missing is a system of accountability. If a certain stretch of road or for that matter any government infrastructure is in a bad condition or have not been built as per specifications and standard, there should be somebody to answer. As for this latter proposition, in all likelihood the system already exists. The question is, if this is so, why are damaged roads left unrepaired for months until the damages become so extensive that the public are left with no choice than to resort to public agitation?

Nothing seems to be urgent in the eyes of the government. The only things that perk it up are the periodic mock epics and tantrums from various warring civil society bodies which are supposed to be challenges to the territorial integrity of the state. The war drums and war cabinet meetings recently over the opening of a party office of the Naga Peoples`™ Front, a Nagaland state political party, at Senapati headquarters by the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, is just the latest example. It may be recalled, all the clamours in the end proved to be nothing more than what the great bard William Shakespeare said in those immortal lines: `a story told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.` Instead of wasting its energy on such frivolous matters, we wish it would give more priority to keeping public utilities in good shape. For all one knows, such a shift in priorities would in the end prove to be the solution to episodes such as that of the Senapati fiasco.

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IMPHAL, June 4: The Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE) in a statement has expressed its serious concern regarding the environment of the state today stating that despite many years of efforts exerted through the many government departments, and much expenditure, the natural environment and natural heritage of Manipur’s hills and valleys and the rural and urban areas have deteriorated continuously and rapidly.Noting the theme of the World Environment day “Forest-Nature at your service”, the statement said that humans are committed to safeguard this natural heritage for the well being of the future generation. The environment does not consist of only the forest but it consists of the wetlands and nonliving beings and entities, the hills and valleys, rivers and water ways and all of them should be equally preserved, the statement added.It maintained that the newly drafted Manipur State Policy for climate change will be an empty exercise without a holistic approach that thoroughly examines the issues of rural and urban development strategies, energy and water, communication and transport infrastructure, human habitat, agricultural lands, wetlands and forests.It points out the necessity for the Manipur government and all its implementing agencies to undertake urgent comprehensive assessment of Manipur’s environment and the pertaining ecological issues with the full and meaningful participation of civil society, to ensure every development project and programme is planned and implemented carefully.

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By A Staff ReporterIMPHAL, June 6: Showing solidarity to the nation wide Satyagraha initiated by Yog Rishi Baba  Ramdev against corruption, the members of the Manipur state unit of Bharat Swabhiman Nyas and Patanjali Yog Samiti uder the aegis of state Unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a one-day satyagraha against corruption in front of its office gate here from 8 am to 4 pm Monday. Speaking to the mediapersons at the sideline of the protest, the state secretary general of the BJP Th Shyamo said that the one-day satyagraha was launched in connection with the arrest and eviction of Baba Ramdev from Ram Lila ground, New Delhi forcibly by Delhi police.
Forcibly breaking the peaceful agitation of Baba Ramdev and his followers by the Delhi police with the use of lathi is strongly objectionable, said the BJP Manipur secretary general.
He went on to say that the BJP also demands for the bringing back of black money stashed away by Indians on foreign shores. “Black money account holders are Congress leaders and bureaucrats who are in the payroll of the Congress because of which the Congress led coalition government at the centre is dithering on the demand,” Shyamo said.
Corruption in public place and black money accrued by the corrupt state government are not new things for the people of Manipur which have been exposed more particularly in the selling and buying of the posts of constables and sub inspectors at the price tags ranging from Rs 5 lakh to 25 lakh, he alleged.
L Basanta, secretary media affairs, said that the chairman of BJP-led national coalition of opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), LK Advani had today met the President of India seeking the initiation of a special parliament session to discuss the issue of black money.
The BJP Manipur pradesh strongly condemns the state cabinet decision of not attesting positive feedback to the draft Lok Pal bill which the central government had earlier sent seeking recommendation from the state, he said, adding that this is a covert sign of encouraging corruption in the state by the government. 

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IMPHAL, June 9, 2011: The National AIDS Control Programme is in the process of designing the fourth phase of the programme, which is expected to be launched in April 2012. In response to this, 500 civil society organizations and community groups from across the country have decided to come together and conduct five regional consultations to shape a blue print and design for the programme.
In order to facilitate participation consultations will be held in different regions over the coming week. The first consultations which began in Guwahati today for the North East region will be followed by consultations in Delhi for North India, Pune for West India, Kolkata for East India and Bangalore for South India. The Guwahati consultation was attended by 110 participants from eight states including Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam. The regional consultations will feed into the NACP IV design, especially areas that communities and civil society want incorporated and made integral to the programme.
Commenting on this unique and unprecedented response, Dr. Sundarraman, a social activist involved for the last 30 years on the issue said, “We are not here just to dot the “I’s” and “T’s” of a programme document outlined by officials of NACO.”  Therefore, participants, many of whom have the vast experience of the community and hitherto difficult-to-reach populations, will deliberate on, “what worked for them in the present programme and why and what did not work” and how did we go about fixing it”.
During today’s deliberation, there was general discontentment about the lack of sharing by NACO of the planning process and proposed design of NACP IV. Many of the participants felt that their key role in the present phase of the programme has been completely ignored and their participation sidelined. The common demand of 100 delegates from civil society at the Guwahati consultation was let the fourth phase of the National AIDS Control Programme be a “people’s programme”.
Tomorrow, June 10,  over 95 participants from various line departments such as the Women and Child, health, law, education, DIPR, RNTCP and the AIDS Control Program such SACS, DPACU from the state level government agencies, from across eights North East states, are expected to make their recommendations for the design of the fourth phase program. Five members of the civil society will participate in the regional consultation and provide recommendations emerging from the ongoing community interactions.
 In light of this, the civil society consultation has emerged as a vibrant forum and an opportunity for the communities and civil society to put forward its experiences and expectations from the NACP IV. In one voice the message from all the participants is that a sense of urgency must be made a part of the planning and that the spirit of partnership witnessed in phase 3 must be strengthened to ensure that as the fourth phase program rolls out.
Dr. S.I. Ahmed, Director, AIDS Prevention Society, stated, “We need to ensure that the State AIDS Control Societies, health departments are made more accountable. Inter- sectorial collaborations are important but without ownership at the district level it’s a distant reality. More importantly, we are not seeing any systematic efforts to strengthen community ownership”.  
Bulee, a peer educator with the NGO Lamjingshai, Meghalaya, spoke of how, “Community mobilization is difficult particularly in Meghalaya, which has a matrilineal social setup because stigma and discrimination is high. The larger community, unlike in other states , is yet to acknowledge the existence of the community. Mental health has not been addressed at all. Most of the community members take to drugs due to frustration (lack of recognition). Let’s address mental health issues be addressed before we talk about behavioral change” she added.
Jahir Ulla Ali, Team Leader, Bhorakha Group, Guwahati, pointed out that, “ICTCs do not have MSM counselors who clearly understand the psycho-social issues of the community. Guwahati has only one MSM DIC. Stigma and discrimination is also preventing community members from accessing treatment in general hospitals and other clinics. Mobilization is also difficult due to a lack of MSM specific services.
Mary, a FSW from Manipur opined that, “NACP-IV should go beyond providing basic STI treatment and take into consideration the treatment of other related complications. A number of FSWs are homeless, having been driven out of their homes by their families and are taking shelter in bus stops, market sheds and other public space which is making them even more vulnerable”. Earlier, while speaking on behalf of community groups of the seven states in the North East, Raj Kumar Raju opined that, “If the rich experience of the community is not taken seriously and a comprehensive programmes are not worked out for an array of drug users, including under-served groups like female drug users, during the next phase of programme it would be difficult to halt the epidemic let along reverse it.”  
Taking this forward, Luke Samson, from the NGO Sharan, emphasized that the time has come for community groups most affected by HIV to go beyond providing advice and recommendations and start shaping the operational scope of the programme. He made it clear that while some interventions such as the Needle Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) have to be consistently implemented for regular drug users; other more complex interventions such as Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) required a tremendous amount of designing and planning, especially in the programmes run in community settings.  He added that, “Without a human rights framework any health intervention that is seeking to address such marginal communities cannot work.”
Shashi, SASO, Manipur spoke of how, “IDUs, PLHAs and other communities are suffering in the North East. However, the NACO’s planning process did not even invite a large organization like SASO which is working with the community to the working group consultations”.
A key recommendation that emerged from the civil society representatives was that the fourth phase must be more accommodating and flexible to the ground level situations.
Bazo, Director, Kekhrie Foundation, Nagaland, felt that, “The key focus should be on women and children. We need a response to the stigma and discrimination that people are facing on the ground. PLHAS must be involved as a distinct entity rather than as part of the program delivery.”
Pratishta Chettri, Drishti, Sikkim, West District, narrated the difficulties of implementing programmes for vulnerable populations like FSWs in Sikkim and how it was difficult to overcome the stigma faced by the populations. “They are not able to come out. How do we reach out to them and give services?” She also felt that strategies like the PPP model could not be adopted in the context of Sikkim since very few private providers were willing to come forward.
Bhiku Brahmanand, Secretary, Arunachal Pali Vidya Peet, Lohit, Chowkham spoke of the necessity of ensuring that the skill building process reached out to the more isolated areas of North East.

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After nearly two decades of the new push in India’s South East Asia foreign policy, often referred to as “Look East Policy”, which created such a lot of optimism in the region when it was first spelled out, it has hardly left any substantive mark in the Northeast. Nobody can say 18 years is not a long enough time to see at least some visible evidence of its fruits. The question that beggars an answer for those of us in the region at this moment is, what happened? There are of course some developments which can be seen as preparatory measures, as for instance the ongoing construction of the super highway which would connect Silchar to the rest of the super highway network in the country, the upgrading of airports in the northeast, in particular the Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala airports. These airports now even have modern night landing facilities. If the extended deadline is not extended again, Imphal would be in the railway map of the country by 2014. The Silchar highway and the Imphal rail line, it is anybody’s guess, will not culminate either at Silchar or Imphal, but ultimately be extended to link up with the road communication network in South East Asia. Still, even as these preparations are being made, there ought to have been also some parallel activities that ensured the optimism of the policy did not die in the region.

A lot of initiatives however have been happening elsewhere as part of the Look East Policy. Free trade treaties have been signed, multilateral business and policy summits held in various capitals of South East Asian capitals where important decisions were taken etc. Indeed, statistics show a substantial increase in the trade volume between the ASEAN and India during the period. Most of these trades however have been happening by the sea route. The point is, in all these activities, either towards policy framing process or their execution, there has been very little involvement of the Northeast region and its minds. This is unfortunate, although the fault must be shared by the intelligentsia and political executives of the Northeast. They have been simply allowing this very important issue, which are predicted to come to have very important bearing on all of their lives ultimately, to pass by without paying much attention. The guilt must also be equally if not more, borne by our so called enlightened academia. What have they been doing as this very important caravan continues to pass by the region? They should have taken the lead in correcting perspectives.

This is not to say trade under the Look East Policy must be made to happen only through the Northeast. This will not be possible as like water, trade will also normally take the route of least resistance. It must be remembered traders are looking for profit and not philanthropic social service. Hence, the sea route normally would be preferred wherever feasible, as transportation cost as well as effort needed for transportation, is much less by sea. Perhaps this is an indication that the Look East Policy must have two components. One should concentrate on trade alone, and the other to the uplift of the Northeast region through studied opening up of suitable trade potentials. In the framing of the roadmap for the latter, it is vital that the intelligentsia and political establishment of the Northeast are made major partners. As for those in the Northeast who are sceptical about the Look East Policy per se, let them reassess the matter from the standpoint that this opening up is a process which cannot be halted, not only because it is being pushed as a policy, but precisely because it is a natural process as well. Since this is something which would happen with or without our participation, it is better we participate and be in the driver’s seat of the affair so that only the right windows and doors are opened, and those which should not be opened are left unopened. Traditional trade routes had become dislocated and shut on account of another geopolitical shift of political paradigm in the wake of the decolonisation process of a large part of Asia and the drawing of new national boundaries in the mid-Twentieth Century. Natural economic region thereby became fragmented and disjointed. The second proposed component of the Look East Policy designed to have a relevance to the Northeast is precisely about reopening and revitalising these ancient trade routes and economic spheres for the benefit of the region.

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IMPHAL, June 15: The owner of the ill fated Tata Winger which was set on fire allegedly by a UG poser in the early morning of June 13, has this evening clarified that there has been no previous threat or monetary demands imposed upon him or his family members.

Clarifying on the issue, the owner identified as Khundrakpam Loken, of Uyal Makha leikai Thoubal district today convened a pres conference at the Manipur Press Club, this evening.

Speaking to the attending mediapersons, while confirming that there has been no imposition of threat or monetary demands on him or any members of his family, he added that his vehicle was bought with the help of a loan from the MGT motors, in the year 2010.

While quoting his driver, Loken stated that the individual who had set his vehicle ablaze, before identifying himself as a cadre of RPF had simply provided non cooperation from the owner’s side as the reason behind the setting of the vehicle on fire.

He has further requested the concerned party or organization to clarify on the issue.

According to the owner, his Tata Winger has been plying on the Imphal-Dimapur highway since June 11 under one DI counter located at North AOC.

One individual who identified himself as Basanta of Nambol had booked the said vehicle through the DI ticket counter on June 12.

Meeanwhile it may be mentioned that the passenger vehicle was allegedly set on fire by the individualwho identified himself as a RPF cadre early morning of June 13 at Tabungkhok Makha Leikai, under Patsoi police station, Imphal West district.

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IMPHAL, June 19: All 22 members of the State Legislative Forum on HIV/AIDS led by its chairman, speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly I Hemochandra are preparing to conduct an external tour to visit Malaysia and Australia as per the proposed programme of the forum.

According to an official source the forum after organizing various level of conventions and awareness programmes to control the ever increasing problem of HIV/AIDS in the state, has decided that the forum needs more explorations of initiatives that have been taken up by the advance countries regarding the control of further spreading of the dreaded HIV/AIDS,

It has further mentioned that with this objective in mind, the state Legislative Forum on HIV/AIDS has planned to conduct a meaningful external study tour and visit Malaysia and Australia.

The source further mentioned that the state high power committee headed by chief secretary DS Poonia in its meeting have approved to accord sanction for all expenditures which will be incurred in the tour program of all 22 members led by the speaker as a result the state finance department has officially accord sanctioned for all expenditures for the said tour of the forum members.

In the meantime it has been reported that the ministry of external affairs, government of India has already given its clearance regarding the high profile external tour, the source added.

The source further said that the member delegates comprising of all 22 MLA led by the Speaker Manipur Legislative Forum I Hemochandra will flag off their tour formally on June 23 this month.

The source further mentioned that, the joint member of the state legislature on tour will analyse the modalities of various implemented projects that has been undertaken up by the concern governments of Malaysia and Australia in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.

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By Nilofer Rehman
26th June, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed globally. Torture is one of the worst crimes against humanity. The direct implications of torture are both physical as well as psychological. Of these two, the psychological effects are more difficult to cope with by the survivor of torture. The physical injuries can be healed, while the psychological effects take time to heal. The survivors may live their whole lives with the psychological and emotional effects; often the survivors succumb to these effects.

People who are subjected to torture suffer a severe form of trauma. We all use the word “trauma” in everyday language to mean a highly stressful event. Traumatic events refer to extremely stressful experienced events that can overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. Traumatic events are unique individual experiences of events or enduring conditions in which – the individuals ability to integrate emotional experience are overwhelmed or the individuals experience a threat to life, bodily integrity or sanity. The individual may be overwhelmed emotionally, of his or her normal mental functions and physically. Torture can be faced by males and females, all ages, all races, all classes, all sexual orientations, all religions and all nationalities.

Trauma is an event outside normal human experience. The trauma of torture generally leave us feeling powerless, helpless, paralyzed, intense fear or horror. It tends to be sudden and overwhelming, and potentially life threatening. Though there are different traumatic events one can experience, they show common elements, such as unexpected, the person was unprepared; and there was nothing the person could do to prevent it from happening (beyond physical control).

It is also an individual’s subjective experience that determines whether an event is or not traumatic. These is likely to be due to one or more of these factors – the severity of the events, the individual personal history, the larger meaning the event represents for this individual, skills to deal with the experience, values and belief held by the individual, the reaction and support from family members, friends and/or professionals. Most of us have had at least one traumatic experience in our lives – for example, death of a loved one, serious illness or breakdown of a primary relationship. At such times we may have been very upset, or frightened or sad. But usually the grief passes; the pain lessens over time and eventually become normalized. But sometimes people experience life threatening or life changing situations that are so distressful or cruel that the memory doesn’t fade, not even slightly. For some people the experience is so extreme that they find they can’t get over it to move on with life.

Trauma is different from stress. Stress disregulates our nervous system but for only a relative short period of time. Within a few days or weeks our nervous system calms down and we revert to a normal state of equilibrium. This return to normalcy is not the case when we are traumatized.

There are common effects or conditions that may occur after a traumatic experience. Sometimes these responses can be delayed, for months or even years after the event. The following are symptoms that may result from unresolved trauma – physical (eating disturbances, sleeping disturbances, sexual dysfunction, low energy, chronic, unexplained pain; emotional (depression, spontaneous crying, despair and hopelessness, anxiety, fearfulness, compulsive and obsessive behavior, feeling out of control, irritability, angry and resentment, emotional numbness, withdrawal from normal routines and relationships), cognitive or mental function (memory lapse especially about the trauma, difficulty in making a decision, decreased ability to concentrate, feeling distracted , attention-deficit hyper activities; re-experiencing the trauma (intensive thoughts, flash backs or nightmares, sudden flood of emotions or images related to the traumatic events); and emotional numbing and avoidance (a total blank, avoidance of situations that resemble the traumatic event, detachment, depression, guilty feeling, grief reactions, hyper-vigilance, jumpiness, an extreme sense of being “on guard”, insomnia, obsession with death).

There are also other possible emotional effects of trauma. Some of them are on common personal and behavioral character like substance abuse, compulsive behavior, uncontrollable reactive thoughts like rage, inability to make healthy lifestyle choices, dissociative symptoms like inability to love a dear one, feeling of ineffectiveness, shame, despair, hopelessness, feeling permanently damaged, or a loss of previously sustained beliefs. Trauma can even affect interpersonal relationships like inability to maintain close relationship or choose appropriate friends and mates, sexual problems, hostility, arguments in family members, employees or co-workers, or social withdrawal and feeling constantly threatened.

What one can do to help survivors immediately after a trauma?

One of the best ways to help a traumatized person is simply to listen compassionately and actively; and make the person aware that we are willing to listen. We must make the person believe or reassured that we are willing to help and there are realistic ways to make it okay, that s/he can survive. We should suggest practical assistance. We should not ask if we see that something needs doing, we should suggest that we will do it. This is much more effective than simply saying “If there is anything I can do….”. We shouldn’t criticize the person’s reaction, instead minimize the trauma and suggest it was fate of God’s doing, minimize the person’s feelings or say we know exactly how they feel. We should not interfere with actions the person has chosen to take, unless they are endangering themselves or others.

Recovering from a traumatic experience takes time. We must give ourself time to heal and mourn the losses we have experienced. We should not try to force the healing process. We must be patient with the pace of recovery. We have to prepare for difficult emotions. There are some strategies that can be used by the individual to heal from these worst condition. Some of the strategies are:
· Don’t isolate: – After following a trauma, we may want to withdraw from others. But isolation makes things worst. Connecting to others will help us heal, so we must make an effort to maintain our relationship and avoid spending to much time alone.
· Ask for support: – It’s important to talk about our feelings and ask for the help we need. We much try to take help from a trusted family members, friends and counselor.
· Establish a daily routine: – We must try to stick to a daily routine with regular time for waking, sleeping, eating, working and exercise. We must also try to schedule time for relaxing and social activities, too.
· Take care of our health: – It is important to note that a healthy body increases our ability to cope with stress. We have to get a plenty of rest and exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet. It is also important to avoid alcohol and drugs.

When to seek professional help for emotional and psychological trauma
Everyone heals at his or her own pace. But if months pass, and our symptoms are not letting up, we may need professional help.

It’s a good step to seek professional help if we are:
· Having trouble functioning at home or work
· Suffering from severe fear, anxiety, or depression
· Unable to form close, satisfying relationships
· Experiencing terrifying memories, nightmares or flashbacks.
· Avoiding more and more things that remind us of the trauma
· Emotionally numb and disconnected from others
· Using alcohol or drugs to feel better
In order to heal from the psychological and emotional effects of trauma, we must face and resolve the unbearable feeling and memories we have long avoided. Otherwise they will return again and again, unbidden and uncontrollable. Trauma treatment and healing involves:
· Processing trauma-related memories and feeling
· Discharging pent-up “fight –or- flight” energy
· Learning how to regulate strong emotions
· Building or rebuilding the ability to trust other people
Trauma counseling is also very much effective in handling emotional trauma. Some of the techniques used are Ventilation which includes play therapy, journal/letter writing, art therapy, story- telling, puppetry, dance therapy, etc. Cognitive restructuring like positive thinking, logical thinking, attribution of meaning, and handling grief and guilt can also be used in treating such types of clients.

Counsellors can also use behavioral technique like daily scheduling, anger management, building self esteem, positive self talk, problem solving, and thought management. Relaxation technique like meditation, deep breathing and imagery works Talk therapy is also one of the most important traditional therapy uses by the counsellor.

Supporting victims of torture or survivors of trauma means enabling the persons to come out and deal with the problems, sometimes with the help of trained professionals. Sometimes, it may be too difficult for a survivor to make the first step towards reaching out to others. In such cases, forming self-help therapy can be very helpful. Medical and other health professionals must be aware and alert to the client who has been tortured or traumatized, and obliged to develop the skills to attend the problems appropriately. An enabling policy and professional environment is necessary for this, and the government has a very important role to play.

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