DIMA HASAO TERRITORIAL AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL SIGNED-HISTORIC DAY FOR DIMASA TRIBE

GUWAHATI: Monday's tripartite agreement among the two factions of the Dima Halom Daogah (DHD) — DHD (Nunisa) and DHD (Jewel) — the Centre and the state government is aimed at bringing back peace in the troubled hill district of Dima Hasao. But security agencies think the rivalry between the two factions, which has been one of the causes of bloodshed, is unlikely to subside.

"The rivalry will not go away. The two factions will now be fighting each other to take control of the autonomous council," a source said.

Security agencies are also critical of militant outfits like DHD (Jewel) — which has been charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the CBI of siphoning off development funds to buy weapons and stage war against the country — now seeking general amnesty by signing peace accords. "Peace talks are an effective way for militants to getting out of legal entanglements and this has been the case with many militant outfits in peace process," the source added.

Security agencies also pointed out that a third factor that has a major stake in maintaining peace in the hill district. "One-third of the population of Dima Hasao district comprises non-Dimasa tribal groups, which include Nagas, Kukis and Hmars, principally. All these groups owe allegiance to different militant groups like NSCN, Kuki and Hmar outfits. The memorandum of settlement (MoS) provides for equal benefits to the non-Dimasa tribal groups," the source said.

In the past, the district has seen several bloody ethnic clashes between the various tribal groups residing here. Considering the delicate situation in the district, the MoS has made adequate provisions to keep all sides well balanced.

According to the MoS signed with both the DHD factions, the Rs 200-cr economic package announced will benefit all the communities in the district while increase in the strength of the territorial council will ensure suitable representation of all sections. Besides, the provision for setting up village-level councils for devolution of powers to the grassroots will benefit the non-Dimasa tribals as much as the Dimasas. The MoS specifically states that the heritage sites of non-Dimasa indigenous tribals are to be preserved and maintained.

Dima Hasao Autonomous Council whole heartedly welcomed the signing of Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between DHD (J), DHD (N), the State Government and the Central Government.

The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council whole heartedly welcomed the signing of Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between DHD (J), DHD (N), the State Government and the Central Government.
The 8th of October 2012 has become a Red Letter Day for the District of Dima Hasao as the successful tripartite talk between the DHD (J), DHD (N), the State Government and the Central Government at New Delhi had completed. 
The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council welcomes the leaders and the community of DHD (J) and DHD (N) with great satisfaction for successful completion of talk their long pending demands.
It was a matter of great privilege and satisfaction that the State and the Central Government had taken great initiative in restoring peace and normalcy and to solve the long pending problems of the people of the district of Dima Hasao and to take high level decision on signing of MoS for the betterment of Dima Hasao District. The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council extends heartfelt and sincere thanks to the State and the Central Government for taking such immense initiative.
The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council was hopeful that in coming future the district of Dima Hasao will notice a peace, tranquillity and harmony amongst all the different ethnic tribes and hope the Central and the State Government will always forward their helping hand for the development of the District of Dima Hasao, stated Sri Kalijay Sengyung, EM, DHAC in press meet held on Tuesday at CEM’s conference hall, Haflong

Dima Hasao on alert after DHD accord

GUWAHATI, OCT 9: Authorities in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have been put on high alert following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Centre and the factions of Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) in New Delhi on Monday.

The security preparedness is in view of the growing tension between the dominant Dimasa tribal people and non-Dimasas in the Assam hill district. The latter apprehend curtailment of their rights with the new agreement paving the way for Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council.
On Sunday, barely 24 hours before the peace deal, miscreants lobbed two grenades in district headquarters Haflong. A Dimasa student leader was later shot at, following which the district administration clamped indefinite curfew.
On Saturday, Northeast Frontier Railway had suspended train services between Lumding and Badarpur after suspected Naga militants fired at a running train near Haflong.
“We have deployed forces in sensitive places besides clamping indefinite curfew,” Dima Hasao district police chief Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said.
Meanwhile, Indigenous People’s Forum – an umbrella organisation of Nagas, Kukis, Hmars, Hrangkhals and six other non-Dimasa tribal communities – has asked the government not to constitute the new territorial council. It fears the territorial council will lead to victimisation of non-Dimasas.
These tribes as well as non-tribal communities had been at the receiving end of the armed struggle by both Dilip Nunisa and Jewel Garlossa factions of DHD during their armed struggle for a separate Dimasa state.
The Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland is learnt to be backing the non-Dimasas, particularly a Dima Hasao district falls within the map of ‘Greater Nagalim’.
Intelligence officials said a major militant outfit has been trying to float a militant outfit catering to non-Dimasas to oppose the Dimasa hegemony in the new territorial council.

source:-eastern mirror.

Centre’s pact with DHD likely on Oct 8

 NEW DELHI, Oct. 3 
– A tripartite agreement among Centre, State Government and the two factions of DHD is likely to be signed on October 8 in presence of Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi.
Sources said that the negotiations with Dilip Nunisa faction and rival Jewel Garlossa faction wrapped up and draft agreements have been sealed.
The final accord is now pending before the Cabinet Committee of Parliamentary Affairs for final approval, before the deal is formally signed. The Home Ministry has already cleared the draft proposals with other Central Ministries.

Indefinite curfew in Dima Hasao

HAFLONG: At least ten persons were injured, some of them seriously, as police resorted to blank fire on bandh supporters even as the Dima Hasao district administration clamped indefinite curfew in the district.

Official sources said police resorted to blank fire on bandh enforcers belonging to North Cachar Hills Indigenous Poples Forum (NCHIPF)and North Cacar Hills Indigenous Womens Forum (NCHWF) who had given at a 48-hr district wide bandh which will end at 5 pm today.

The bandh was called to demand bifurcation of Dima Hasao district into two autonmous districts.

There were reports of clashes among police and bandh supporters in various parts of Haflong hill town which is the district headquarter of Dima Hasao district.

FOOTBALL JUGGLER BOY OF DIMA HASAO

Haflong::Baoringdao Bodo, son of Jiban Bodo popularly known as ‘football juggler boy’ of Dima Hasao, will be leaving for London and Japan to play U-14 football tournament representing India on October 1,2012.

Baoringdao Bodo started his football life right from 11 years of age when he was a student of class VII of Haflong DonBosco. Inspired by one his teacher he joined the Sports Authority of India and played U-14 in various places from district level to International level organized by All India Football Federation, AFC etc. He also participated in Subrata Mukharjee Cup Football tournament in 2011 in Sub-Junior (under—14). 

Talking to this correspondent, Baoringdao said he wants to be an International footballer and to play in other countries representing own country India. He disclosed that to achieve such dream to be true ‘discipline’ ‘perseverance’ and of course, confidence is to be maintained. 

People of Dima Hasao offered their best wishes to this ‘football juggler boy’ Baoringdao to be successful in his aim and prayed for his healthy long life. 

Source: assam times

DIMA HASAO bLAST IN ASSAM

Haflong:One person was killed in a powerful bomb blast at Donganraji in central Assam's  Dima Hasao district early tuesday morning, police sources said.
   
The improvised explosive devise (IED) went off at 1 am in the Umrangso market area under Umrangso police station killing the person, the sources said.

Police  recovered the the body parts of the unidentified man scattered in the area. Police suspected the dead man to be a militant who had come to plant the bomb for explosion in the daytime today but the IED got triggered earlier.
   
Investigations are on.

Non-Dimasas of Dima Hasao demand bifurcation of district

Post Bureau, Guwahati (Aug 10): Feeling insecure in their own land, the non-Dimasa tribes of Dima Hasao district are demanding safety from the state government. On Friday, the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), along with the NC Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF), reiterated its demand for political separation of the non-Dimasas of the district from the Dimasas. It was on March 30, 2010 when the name of the NC Hill was changed to Dima Hasao.

The IPF said the Dimasas comprised barely 35 per cent of the total population in the district (as per electoral rolls published by the office of the deputy commissioner, NC Hills in 2008). “We want a separate autonomous district and council for the non-Dimasa tribes living in the district under the constitutional framework or else the minor tribes of the district will vanish one day,” said NCHISF president L Hlima Keivom. He demanded bifurcation of the district into Dima Hasao and North Cachar Hill districts.

The organisation is a conglomerate of minor tribes of the district like the Bietes, Hrangkhawls, Hmars, Kukis, Karbis, Vaipheis, Zeme Nagas, Jaintias, Khelmas and other non-Dimasa ethnic groups. “Though non-Dimasas comprise 65 per cent of the total population, they are without rights,” alleged NCHISF secretary Luna Singson.

Speaking on the problems faced by non-Dimasas in the district, Keivom said that apart from imposing taxes by the government, separate taxes had been imposed by Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

Moreover, they get low priority in welfare schemes of the education, health and other departments, he alleged. “We have to pay taxes for using river water, timber from forest, stone boulders and others as per the demand of the DHD, and this is Ridiculous,” Keivom said. “We want the areas inhabited by the non-Dimasa tribes to be to be bifurcated from Dima Hasao,” demanded Keivom.

The NCHISF secretary said that though they were protesting against the decision of the state government to change the nomenclature of the district since 2010, Dispur allegedly was turning a deaf ear to their cry.

Post Bureau, Guwahati (Aug 10): Feeling insecure in their own land, the non-Dimasa tribes of Dima Hasao district are demanding safety from the state government. On Friday, the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), along with the NC Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF), reiterated its demand for political separation of the non-Dimasas of the district from the Dimasas. It was on March 30, 2010 when the name of the NC Hill was changed to Dima Hasao.

The IPF said the Dimasas comprised barely 35 per cent of the total population in the district (as per electoral rolls published by the office of the deputy commissioner, NC Hills in 2008). “We want a separate autonomous district and council for the non-Dimasa tribes living in the district under the constitutional framework or else the minor tribes of the district will vanish one day,” said NCHISF president L Hlima Keivom. He demanded bifurcation of the district into Dima Hasao and North Cachar Hill districts.

The organisation is a conglomerate of minor tribes of the district like the Bietes, Hrangkhawls, Hmars, Kukis, Karbis, Vaipheis, Zeme Nagas, Jaintias, Khelmas and other non-Dimasa ethnic groups. “Though non-Dimasas comprise 65 per cent of the total population, they are without rights,” alleged NCHISF secretary Luna Singson.

Speaking on the problems faced by non-Dimasas in the district, Keivom said that apart from imposing taxes by the government, separate taxes had been imposed by Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

Moreover, they get low priority in welfare schemes of the education, health and other departments, he alleged. “We have to pay taxes for using river water, timber from forest, stone boulders and others as per the demand of the DHD, and this is Ridiculous,” Keivom said. “We want the areas inhabited by the non-Dimasa tribes to be to be bifurcated from Dima Hasao,” demanded Keivom.

The NCHISF secretary said that though they were protesting against the decision of the state government to change the nomenclature of the district since 2010, Dispur allegedly was turning a deaf ear to their cry.

14-day Dima Hasao bandh suspended

HAFLONG, March 7 – The 14-day Dima Hasao bandh that began from 5 am today called jointly by the Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), Dimasa Women Society (DWS) and Dimasa Mothers’ Association (DMA) has affected the normal life at Haflong. Since the morning today, the business establishments including market, schools, government and semi-government offices remained closed. All the vehicles remained off the road. The ASTC also suspended its services.
The organisations are demanding to take back TET from the district of Dima Hasao, to hold fresh process of eligibility test by the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council and to protect their rights and livelihood.
Several members and office-bearers of these organisations submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao in presence of Executive Member, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council Kalijay Sengyung and Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta, etc. After a prolonged discussion and with the request of EM, Sengyung and DC Dilip Borthakur, the leaders of these organisations however, agreed upon to suspend their 14-day-long Dima Hasao bandh temporarily up to March 13. The organisations also warned that if the Government fails to fulfil their demands within March 13, they would be compelled to launch agitation for which the organisations could not be held responsible.

source: Assam tribune

Assam Rifles carries out development Project in Dima Hasao District

Assam Rifles carries out development Project in Dima Hasao District

Haflong, March 8,2012 – In continuation of its Civic Action Programes, the Haflong based 25 Assam Rifles under Headquarter 23 Sector Assam Rifles handed over Solar Street Light at Village Hegbung and also provided assistance to the only High School in Ditokchara Village in terms of giving them desk and benches and also Syntax tanks.
Gaon Burah of Village Hengbung and all villagers were present for the occasion. Gaon Burah of village Hengbung expressed gratitude to 25 Assam Rifles  and requested them to have more such goodwill projects in their village. The principal, teachers and students of high school Ditokchara were extremely grateful to the Assam Rifles unit for their support towards upliftment of their school.

The gesture carried out by 25 Assam Rifles under aegis of the Directorate General Assam Rifles has helped in building the basic infrastructure for the village and also for the high school. The effort will not only boost the relations between Security forces and civilian but also generate goodwill in future

 

Assam lagging behind in giving 100 days of work

GUWAHATI: Assam has to do a lot more to improve the rate of implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) by ensuring 100 days work for the beneficiaries.
According to figures compiled by the Union ministry of rural development, 1008364 households demanded employment under MNREGA during 2011-2012 up to March. Though 1002870 out of 1008364 families were provided employment, only 9131 availed 100 days of work, the ministry said. The average "persondays" of work per household in the state for the current fiscal is 22.53.
In Dima Hasao district, 5551 out of 5572 households were provided jobs. But none of them had 100 days work for the current fiscal. Dibrugarh district could provide 100 days of work to only seven out of 24656 households who were provided with employment under the Act. A total of 25014 families in Dibrugarh sought employment during the fiscal.
Nine out of 25090 households availed 100 days work in Karimganj district. Dhubri and Golaghat districts could provide 100 days of work to only 10 households each against 25048 and 22844 respectively.
Among the 27 districts, the highest number of households provided with 100 days work is Kokrajhar. Out of 48570 families, which were provided employment in Kokrajhar district, 4319 got 100 days work. Karbi Anglong stood second among the districts in providing 100 days works to 1159 households. In the remaining 20 districts, the number of households getting 100 days works ranged between 943 in Dhemaji and 19 in Cachar.
Last month, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh reviewed the implementation of various rural welfare schemes, including MNREGA, in the northeast. Ramesh, during a function here, has specifically emphasized on proper utilization of funds under MNREGA.
Ramesh said each of the 2200-odd panchayats in the state get Rs 1 crore under MNREGA. The union minister also reminded the state government of MNREGA scams emerging in different parts of the country, and asked for strict monitoring of funds.
source: TOI

Concern over Railway apathy

Frequent late running of trains like Barak valley, Cachar Express, Agartala Express and Hill Queen along with unjustified detention of these trains in several stations caused serious concern among the travelling passengers of entire southern Assam, Tripura and Manipur, alleged the people of Dima Hasao district.
These trains running from Lumding – Silchar and Lumding – Agartala and vis-à-vis, most of the times become late due to unauthorised detention in undesignated station for the reasons best known to the operating authority of the N F Railway. On February 29 the Down Agartala express was cancelled and the Up Agartala express was 19 hours late. The Barak Valley which left Silchar at 8.30 am reached Lumding at 11.20 pm covering a distance of only 219 km causing immense inconvenience to the travelling passengers. This train was detained first at Katakhal for one hour, from Badarpur it left at 12.30 pm then it was detained at Maibang, Mupa and at last at Manderdisa just before the Lumding station for more than 45 minutes. 
People alleged that the sufferings of the travelling passengers have never been counted by the railway authority neither the minimum facilities for the passengers were being provided rather these passengers were being subjected to face uncertainty and utter inconvenience, sometimes harassment. In fact, the railway authority has always been undermining the safety, security and punctuality though these were the motto of the railway as it says.
The condition of Hill Queen, a train which runs in-between Lumding- Lower Haflong to connect with the Jansatabdi is more concerning. Actually this train was introduced to get connection of Jansatabdi at Lumding but due to such unjustified detention in several stations, the passengers of this train often missed Jansatabdi and face untold sufferings.
 When the Assistant Station Master at Manderdisa Sri J. Ahmed was enquired about the cause of such detention of the trains, he disclosed that he has been serving there for 7 years along with all these problems ‘see my telephone is not working, there is no alternative means of communication with Lumding, the HQ. If you have some thing to say, why don’t you talk to Lumding or the HQ? Nothing could be done if you talk to me. Ahmed further disclosed that during his 7 years of stay at Manderdisa he has been facing such problems many a times. He could not assure when the people of this area could be relieved of such sufferings.

source:assam times{DIMA HASAO}

Dima Hasao to move Centre against highway firms

Nagaon, March 1: The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council will move Delhi with allegations about non-maintenance of existing roads by the companies engaged in construction of the East-West Corridor.

A council source said today a team from the council would meet senior officials of the Union transport ministry in the second week of March to apprise the latter about how the companies were violating construction guidelines.

This will be the second time the council has raised allegations against the companies since work started on the road project in 2004.

As alleged, companies are not interested in routine maintenance of the existing roads, which are being used to transport construction material on 10-wheeled trucks.

“We have two broken bridges on the existing NH 54(E) and both should be repaired before rains start. The dilapidated highway should also be repaired within the dry season. We have been asking the companies time and again to do so, but they are not at all interested,” the council source said.

A 154km stretch of the corridor runs through the troubled hill district. Construction is divided into seven packages and six construction companies have been engaged. Of the six, two companies — Punj Lloyd Ltd and HCC — are the oldest, being engaged in 2004.

“We have noticed violation of guidelines by the old groups. Punj Lloyd has reached 70 per cent physical progress, but their work is not satisfactory at all. Companies engaged in construction in two packages — Harangajao-Jatinga (AS 21) and Jatinga-Nrimbanglo (AS 22) — are creating hardships for the people by not maintaining the existing roads used by them,” the council source said.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) sources, however, said the companies were maintaining the roads and bridges on a routine basis and that there was no apathy or negligence as alleged. “Of the six companies engaged in the district, four are newcomers. After four companies surrendered work because of security reasons three years back, the new companies were entrusted work very recently. The council should give them some time to go about their duties,” an NHAI source said.

The source added that an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain latest maintenance position and companies would be questioned if found guilty.

In 2008, the council moved the Union transport ministry against the companies who had left the district without finishing the construction. The council authorities had asked Union transport minister Kamal Nath to look into the issue, as the companies had left the district leaving the existing national highway in pitiable condition.

The ministry later entrusted the maintenance (with financial support) to the council’s PWD (Maibong division) till the new companies took over. “If they want, we can take charge of the maintenance. But we will not tolerate it if they paralyse road communication till the construction ends,” the council source added.

Centre permits gauge conversion construction through Barail Sanctuary

The Union ministry of environment and forests gave its nod to continue the construction of the 214-km Lumding-Silchar broad gaugeBarail Sanctuary in Dima Hasao district recently. The Dima Hasao DFO had stopped the construction of the project in 2008 as the railway department did not have the permission of the ministry for construction through the sanctuary. The ministry of environment and forest gaveits nod last week and conveyed its decision to its Assam counterpart and the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities.

According to the order signed by the conservator of forests (C) of the Shillong-based northeast regional office of the concerned Union ministry, the Railways can now go ahead with the construction work across an area of 3.6 hectares through the sanctuary. The state government also sent a copy of the order to the chief conservator of forests, Dima Hasao, in Haflong.

According to the clauses of the permission, NFR has to pay a sum of Rs 3,048,136 to the Assam forest department before going on with the project so that the Assam environment and forest department can carry out afforestation in 7.2 hectares of land of the Barail reserve forests, in line with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

Sources say that the nod for construction will go a long way in ensuring that the work for the broad gauge project, the foundation for which was laid in 1996, is completed by December, 2013 and commissioned by January, 2014 in accordance with the NFR plan. NFR had earlier announced that the project will be completed by 2006 and then 2009 and again by 2012. The project has been a victim of 'logistical problems' in the past years, sources said.

The authorities said the construction of the longest tunnel in the section, tunnel 10, with a length of 3,235 metres, has started from both sides and is expected to be completed by October, 2013.

The Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam-Badarpur-Kumarghat gauge conversion project, which is 368.46 km long, was sanctioned in 1996-97. The project, costing Rs 4,073.50 crore, was declared a national project in 2004.

ASDC’sconcern over the non-payment of salaries of the Council employees

Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Dima Hasao District Committee expressed great concern over the non-payment of salaries of the Council employees commonly known as “Normal Employees” of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC) for more than 6(six) months stating that the present Congress-I- ruled Dima Hasao Autonomous Council has failed to make regular payment of salaries of the “Normal employees” and these employees have been facing financial hardship, stated its Office Secretary Jayanta Nunisa today in a press release.
The release also said that the ASDC District Committee doubts the sincerity of the Council headed by Mr. Debajeet Thaosen, Chief Executive Member of DHAC as to whether the latter (Debajeet Thaosen-led Council) has made an earnest effort to convince the Chief Minister of Assam as well as the Authorities of Central Govt that there has been an acute shortage of funds for regular payment of salaries of the  Normal employees in the DHAC and that therefore there is a great need for providing adequate amount of fund particularly for payment of “Normal employees” salaries to DHAC.
“It is to be noted here that until and unless a requisite amount of funds meant for regular payment of ‘Normal employees’ salaries are provided under any provision of rules/norms from the Central Government to DHAC, the perennial problems of financial crisis particularly in respect of payment of Normal employees salaries in DHAC will continue to exist and thereby it will be causing the economic plight of Normal employees from bad to worse. On the other hand, it seems that there is still a lack of taking any measures on the part of the present Council Rulers for ways and means of raising the Council’s revenue/royalty from different sources” concludes the release.

Congress Parliamentary Party hails the newly elected Chairman of DHAC Kur Rongpi

Haflong, February 21,2012 – The Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC) has expressed its deep gratitude to all the members who voted in favour of its nominee Kur Rongpi, MAC from Garampani Constituency in the election to the post of the Chairman, DHAC and congratulated Kur Rongpi on being elected very comfortably, says the CPP spokespersons Kalijoy Sengyung EM and Samuel Changsan MAC in a press release dated 16 February, 2012.

          The CPP added that it may be mentioned here that the whole election process was conducted in a free and fair manner through secret ballot as per the Council Rules, upholding democratic principles. Since the INC Party enjoyed total majority in the Council, the CPP, DHAC had tried hard for a consensus candidate to avoid contest in the election. However, the Dima Hasao DCC(I) put up its own nominee Depolal Hojai, MAC from Wajao Constituency as the candidate in the election to the Chairman, DHAC, thereby blatantly defying the directive of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) which reads : “In face of the election of the Chairman of Autonomous Council it is desired that no Member of Autonomous Council tainted / charge sheeted by the CBI / NIA,etc. or suspended by the Party should be allowed to contest for the post of Chairman of Autonomous Council and none of our Party Members are to support the Candidature of such candidates. All are directed to ensure strict compliance of the above directive.”

          The release further stated that since Depolal Hojai had already  been charge sheeted by the CBI, the Congress Parliamentary Party, DHAC had to abide by the directive of the APCC and put up its own nominee Kur Rongpi, a clean MAC who has not been charge sheeted by the CBI or NIA , in the election to the post of the Chairman, DHAC. It may be mentioned here that the Post of the Chairman, DHAC got vacant after Depolal Hojai resigned from the post as he was charge sheeted by the CBI and his resignation was accepted by His Excellency the Governor of Assam.

          Moreover, in its review meeting held on 16/02/2012, the Congress Parliamentary Party, DHAC unanimously resolved that all the Members who had defied the directive of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and the decision of the Congress Parliamentary Party, DHAC relating to the election of the Chairman, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council held on 15.02.2012, would be removed from the Executive Committee, Honourary Posts of Chairmanship of various departments and nominated MAC, DHAC. The collective decisions of the CPP, DHAC were taken after much thought and deliberations in the greater interest of the INC Party and the people of the Dima Hasao District, concludes the release.

source: haflong times club

Terrorism affects education in NE: Sibal

Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that around 16 million children do not attend schools in the country.  Addressing the convocation ceremony of Tezpur Central University on Friday, he said that the government has taken all possible steps to make them literate within this decade. Assam Governor J B Patnaik said the institution has attempted to strike a balance between global expansion of knowledge and national and regional aspirations. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who attended the function urged the students to work to change the society. The Governor presented degrees and diplomas to 1050 students of the university besides awarding doctorate degrees to 50 students.
source:assam times

ASSAM RIFLES DONATES SOLAR LIGHT TO VILL BORO CHANAM, DISTRICT DIMA HASAO

            In continuation of its Civic Action Programes, the Haflong based 25 Assam Rifles under                  Headquarter 23 Sector Assam Rifles provided solar street light for Village Boro Chanam, district Dima Hasao on 09 Feb 2012.
25 Assam Rilles handed over the Solar Street lights to the Gaon Burah of Village Boro Chanam. All villagers of Boro Chanam were also present for the occasion. Gaon Burah of village Boro Chanam expressed gratitude from the villagers to the 25 Assam Rifles  and requested to have more such goodwill projects in the village from Assam Rifles .

            The gesture carried out by 25 Assam Rilfes under aegis of the Directorate General Assam Rifles Project has helped in building the basic infrastructure for the village. The effort will not only boots rhe relation between security force an civilians but also generate goodwill in future.

Ruolsafak celebrated at Haflong DIMA HASAO DISTRICT {Assam}

Ruolsafak, the major festival of Hrangkhol is being celebrated with traditional fervor and fun fare in different villages like Muolpung, Lungkhok, Zion, Rabi etc of Dima Hasao by the people of Hrangkhol community today (Wednesday)

This community festival is most important for Hrangkhol community. It is also considered to be the harvesting festival as well as the bidding goodbye to the passing year and welcome to the New Year. Previously the day was not fixed, the festival was celebrated accordingly to the conveniences of the village, during the last part of January and the first part of February every year. But since 1998 February, the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council warmly welcomed the festival and declared as the local holiday every year.

In the observance of the festival, both of young boys and girls of the village (kho tanggva) take the leading parts to be a grand success. Under the leadership of Tangva ulien, the youth are most engaged from ahead of the time of the actual celebration. The earnings (Vengasuoilhlo) of the village youth (khotangya) by doing physical labour and the earnings from village women (khonupui) are spent in the festival. In some village, the youth cultivate a patch of jhum land themselves and what ever earning they could get from the cultivated land, is spent for the celebration of this festival. This festival is celebrated for two days continuously. First day, early in the morning, the village priest along with his co-elders performs a ritual rites called Naran pnak/Tarpa phak/ pray to god, scarifying an older cock and hen and cooked it with rice called Nempok.

After eating theis Nempok with rice beer (Zu), the priest announces and declares the festival and its purpose to the villagers. The priest and his co-elder hold fast till noon. Holding of grand feast with the meat, rice beer, dancing and singing are the prime components of the festival. The elder may enjoy apart from the youths. 

On the 2nd Day it is for competition (ruol irsiet) on traditional games and sports, singing and dancing. At the end, at night all get together and have feast, thus Ruolsafak ends for the year.

Source: Assam times

BUSHU DIMA FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED IN THE DISTRICT OF DIMA HASAO ASSAM

Busu Dima, the biggest local festival of Dima Hasao district in Assam, began on Friday and will continue for one week. Despite a chilly Friday morning, the Busu Dima festival, also the post-harvest festival of the Dimasa Kacharis, was celebrated in every town and village of the hill district.

Residents of Dimasa-dominated areas in neighbouring Cachar, Karbi Anglong, Nogaon and Dimapur also gathered ib large numbers to join the Baidima, the name of the dazzling Dimasa dance, on the day of their much-vaunted Bihu.