New District for Nagaland

The inauguration of ‘Peren’ as the 11th district of Nagaland received front-page coverage in most newspapers in the state. Eastern Mirror (12 February) said, “The rice bowl of Nagaland today became the 11th district of the State and the people from all the Zeliangrong areas arrived in thousands to be a part of history as a beaming Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio declared Peren a district.” The report further noted: “Peren, which has been a victim of negligence for long, has most deplorable road conditions and noting this, the Chief Minister assured that proper road construction would be initiated immediately.” 

Meanwhile, the state’s continued attempts to attract investors from outside received prominent coverage in the media reports. Eastern Mirror (6 February) in a lead item reported quoting the Industry Minister Khekiho Zhimomi: “His government has gone all out to promote entrepreneurship through a single window policy, which simplifies the long-dragging clearance procedures involved in the setting up of industry.” The Minister was further quoted having said: “We have with the support of the people created a climate for investment. There is no more fear, no more uncertainty for investors.”

Insurgents Dictate Terms in Manipur

In Manipur, the ultimatum served on the state BJP President by a terrorist outfit, happenings at the winter session of the State Assembly and the educational reforms initiated by the state government were given front-page coverage during the last fortnight. Lead items by the Imphal Free Press on 1 February titled ‘Cabinet meets again on KYKL threats to Chaoba and BJP’ and on 13 February titled ‘Chaoba appeals to KYKL for clemency’ dealt in detail with the developments regarding the face-off between the KYKL and the state BJP president.

Commenting on the lack of attendance in the State Assembly’s winter session, the Imphal Free Press in its 10 February editorial ‘No Spring in Sight’ commented, “We are witnessing the kind of frivolous politics that have become so characteristic of the state. Governance has been thrown into the deep freezer, while the ruling and the opposition parties continually play out their game of government saving and toppling, marked atrociously by mud-flinging and name calling.” 

Commenting on the State government’s decision to amalgamate 92 schools in the state all of which have less number of students’ than teachers the Imphal Free Press (11 February) commented in its editorial ‘Clubbing Govt Schools’, “On the face of it, the State government is keen on shooting itself in the foot, but not so. Disinterested observers who have an idea of how the government schools in the State are staffed and managed would agree that this is a decision long overdue.”

Demand for Tribal Rights in Assam

With the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and the prospects of an early General Election looming large, various tribal bodies in the state have started agitating with the hope of getting some of their concerns addressed by the state government. The vernacular Aji (10 February) in a front-page item ‘25 lakh janajatir Congress barjan’ (25 lakh tribals abandon Congress) reported, “The Rabha Students’ Organisation, the Missing Students’ Organisation and the Tiwa Students’ Organisation have given a call to ban the entry of the Congress leaders into the autonomous council areas of the three tribes. Declaring the Congress party as anti-tribal, these students’ organisations have pointed at the anti-tribal policies of the Congress government.”

Vernacular media in Assam have been accused of publishing reportage sympathetic to the cause of the militants. In an item that highlights popular reaction against excesses of the security forces, the vernacular Pratidin (4 February) reported, “More than 200 people protesting against the excesses committed by the army on people who were alleged to have provided food to two ULFA cadres assembled at Bardirak area under Kakpathar police station and blocked the national highway number 52, thereby obstructing traffic between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Assembled public even shouted slogans: ‘Every Assamese is an ULFA’, ‘Lift the black laws’, ‘Hail to ULFA’, ‘Stop Army excesses’.”

Businessmen’s Help Sought in Tripura

Tripura Times (2 February), in a lead item, ‘Manik calls businessmen to help state government’ quoted the Chief Minister “who made it clear that the businessmen should also come out in full force in support of the state government to develop the State.” The Chief Minister further said: “the need of the hour is for everybody to realise the fact that the state government has initiated a process for the development of the state that will end the days of misery for cross section of the people of the State.”

Commenting on the health services in the State, the Tripura Times (2 February) in its editorial ‘Health infrastructure very bad’ noted: “There are more than 100 dispensaries established by the government in different parts of Tripura for rendering medical facilities to people in the rural areas but all these are practically managed by the pharmacists as no MBBS doctors are posted therein. Of course, there is a dearth of qualified doctors and specialist in this State.”

The decision to release seven per cent of the dearness allowance to the state government employees was another issue that received prominent coverage in the local media. Tripura Times provided prominent coverage to the development in its front-page news item on 7 February, ‘7% DA released to state government employees’, while a follow-up story, ‘DA: Mixed reaction in the state’ was published on 9 February.