Traders from northeast make a mark at the 28th IITF with local art and craft New Delhi, Dec.1: The recently held 28th India International Trade Fair offered an
opportunity for several participating traders from the northeast to interact with traders from different parts of the country and abroad.
The annual trade fair held here from Nov.14 to 27. It offered them a good opportunity to share information and learn how to market their products.
There were 35 stalls from northeast; 12 from Assam, 3 from Manipur, 4 from Mizoram, 4 from Sikkim, 4 from Nagaland, 2 from Arunachal Pradesh, 2 from Meghalaya and 4 from Tripura.
Northeastern traders are known for their indigenous handloom and handicraft work. They were looking for new markets in the trade fair.
Kakrioneoi of Nagaland, said " Being as part of the trade fair is a great experience. We have been able to promote our products, particularly, the women's products."
Sujata Pathak of Assam, said: "I am a lady entrepreneur. I'm here to do the marketing part. The response is good as far as Assam's traditional items are concerned."
During the course of the fair, every state from the northeast India tried to showcase its best products.
The displayed items included various eco-friendly products from Mizoram, handicraft and agricultural products from Meghalaya, 'Kauna' craft items of Assam. The craftsmen from Nagaland showcased their best handloom products.
Even, the food courts of various northeastern states won appreciation from the visitors.
Tenzing Liyo of Meghalaya, said: "We are focusing on organic products. What we are selling here are all organic products. There are people interested in it and there is a niche market for the products."
Y.Y.Singh of Manipur, said: "In future, we will participate in international trade fair to learn how to market."
With the government at the Centre promoting northeast as the gateway of India, for other Southeast Asian nations, under her 'Vision 2020', the International trade fair has without any doubt provided a platform for northeastern traders to interaction with nearly 7,500 national and international entrepreneurs. (ANI)
Record participation by women candidates in Mizoram election
Aizwal, Dec.1: Women in the Mizo society have always been described as its backbone. But for the first time in the history of Mizoram this fact will be prominently visible in polls on Tuesday (Dec.2).
Over 10 women candidates have filed their nomination, which is the highest ever in the history of Mizo State Assembly. It is likely that people will remember the 2008 Mizoram Assembly elections for the number of women candidates in the fray.
Drawn from diverse backgrounds and from different age groups - these women candidates have initiated an era of women's empowerment and their determination to be an integral part of the decision making process.
Interestingly, there is not a single woman MLA in the current Mizoram Assembly!
The women contestants here have been equally enthusiastic as their male counterparts during the campaign.
Zothankimi, an Indian National Congress (INC) candidate, said: "We are taking more and more active part in politics. I am personally encouraging the younger generation to participate in politics."
Since 1972, when Mizoram became a union territory and a full- fledged state in 1986, there have been only three women legislators - Thanmawii in 1978, K. Thansiami in 1979 and Lalhlimpui in 1987.
Mizo women have shown a keen interest in contesting the state assembly election. They have outnumbered the males in the state electoral list. There are 308,884 women voters as against 302,240 male voters.
C. Lalchhanhima, a local resident, said: "As responsible citizens of India we should cast our vote, I believe it is our right to vote. Whether it's a woman or man, if he or she is capable and worth electing, we must vote for the person without any discrimination."
Rpitjangpui, a local resident, said: "It is a good feeling after a long time that women are coming up to challenge the males."
A single-phase polling will be conducted on December 2 at 1,026 polling stations across the State for the 40-seat Mizoram Assembly.
Campaign for the elections to the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly ended at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The main contest is between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Indian National Congress, the main opposition party, with both entering into electoral tie up with smaller parties. (ANI)
West Bengal marching ahead in development
Kolkata, Dec.11: The industrial growth rate of West Bengal is 1.1 per cent higher than the national average of 10.8 per cent (2006-07), and the State continues to move ahead on the path to development and economic progress, the Singur episode notwithstanding.
According to leading industrialists, the sectors like steel and mining, chemicals and petro-chemicals, power, agro industries and food processing, Information Technology (IT), real estate and retail have been generating a lot of interest in West Bengal.
The State is a gateway not only to north-east India besides other States like Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, but also to countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
The growth and development is obvious in and around the capital city of Kolkata. Major real estate players like DLF, UNITECH, Singapore-based Keppeland, Purvankara, Emaar Group, are all competing for a pie of the new satellite township coming up at Rajarhat, near the airport.
Besides housing estates, several budget and star hotels and conference centres, cultural centres, shopping malls, multiplexes are being built across the city.
Smaller towns like Durgapur, Haldia, Asansol, and Siliguri across the State are developing. The steel sector, recently received a boost with the foundation stone laying of the proposed Rs. 35,000 crore-Jindal Steel Plant in Salboni, in West Midnapore District, approximately 240 kilometres from Kolkata.
The other sectors that have witnessed a lot of activity are metals, mining and plastic.
With a sustained agricultural growth of over 8 per cent, the State is also finding investors in the agro-industries and in food processing.
"There is great focus in potato, other vegetables and fruit cultivation and processing. The entry of wholesale giants like Metro-Cash-And-Carry signals well for this segment," says Dr. Rajeev Singh, Secretary General, Indian Chamber of Commerce.
According to the city-based industrialist Sanjay Budhia, Chairman of the Patton Group, Kolkata finds investors because of facilities like low-cost housing compared to other metros, good sanitation and basic amenities, best clubs in the country, culture and a literate working class.
Sanjay says investors from Japan and Korean get bowled over when they see the great golf courses the Tolly club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC).
In the hotel industy, Kolkata has witnessed entry of big players. The Apeejay Group is putting up a 300-room five star hotel spread over a 3.3 acre plot on the Eastern Bypass worth Rs 1.36 billion, as is the Emaar Group.
The Bengal Shrishti Infrastructure Development is building a hotel in Rajarhat worth Rs. five billion. The Hilton group has also made enquiries.
According to Samit Ganguly, Director for Sales, Hyatt Regency, Kolkata, has a corporate-driven hotel market, which is growing despite seasonal downslides.
West Bengal today is the third largest economy in the country. Its IT sector, which set off much later than other parts of the country, is growing fast with big names like Wipro, TCS and IBM finding a place in the IT hub at Sector V already.
The State, according to industry leaders, is on the right track. It has garnered new projects worth two billion dollars in the last four years. The government has offered the right incentives and even during the recent global meltdown and recession, not many see much reason to worry.
However, all emphasize that there is need for an environment for industrial growth.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's government in West Bengal has shown the political will towards taking the State forward industrially. However, the state's merit as an investment destination and for industrial development would ultimately be decided on the basis of its work culture and the public will to see projects through
A septuagenarian saving the legacy of Meghalaya's traditional instruments
Shillong, Dec.1: Garo tribe of Meghalaya is known for its rich tradition and culture for ages. The indigenous musical instruments have long been integral to general life here. But of late modernity has over-shadowed their place and importance.
With the western culture-ruling youngsters' minds here, the traditional instruments have taken a backstage. They are losing their special place in general life here.
Seventy-year-old Ch. Rapheal Marak, one traditional musical instrument maker, here is trying to prevent extinction of this legacy with bamboo made musical instruments.
Marak learnt the art of making traditional musical instruments from his ancestors.
Today, he earns his livelihood through this craft and makes non-seasonal musical instruments such as 'Chigring, a bamboo string musical instrument, Otekra, a flute made of bamboo as well as other string instruments.
Rapheal Marak, instrument maker, said: "I would like to teach the young generation how to keep up our musical instrument. There are indigenous musical instrument. I want the younger generation to learn how to make them."
Marak has also performed in various parts of northeast and across the country. He has received several trophies and citations from the state government.
His endeavor now is to pass on his skills to the younger generation so that the art may continue to live on after him.
Banda, a local resident, said: "With the influence of western culture, these traditional instruments are being replaced with western instruments like guitars and drums. With the help of such people they would be able to guide and teach the younger generation how to make these musical instruments. I believe it would pass on from generation to generation." (ANI)
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