Monday, September 1, 2008

KUKI ENTREPRENEURS IN GUWAHATI

This evening, Nengcha and I were successful in tracking down the much hyped "ELIZABETH All About Eve" the latest and fourth venture enterprises by Guwahati Kukis. Situated at the ever growing upmarket area of Beltola this speciality women garments showroom by Pui and Gary offers for the fashion-conscious citizens, latest designer women apparels, kids wears, latest gizmoz/Nikel, and some very innovative stickers.

With the launch of ELIZABETH, Kukis in Guwahati now can boast of four different enterprises (there are three general shops in Sachal VIP area).

Congrats to all the future Birlas and Tatas of Guwahati Kukis.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

GUWAHATI TRIBALS AND SOME CRUCIAL SAFETY TIPS

GUWAHATI TRIBALS AND SOME CRUCIAL SAFETY TIPS
Mangneo Lhungdim®

There is an alarming increase of motivated crimes – robberies, robbery related physical assaults including rape, drugging cases in train and bus journeys, etc. The trend unmistakably suggests such crimes are being perpetuated against a particular ‘vulnerable’ target group of persons or communities. And the Chin-Kuki-Mizo groups perfectly come within this bracket.

The recent case where a pastor from Manipur was drugged early in the morning apparently by the rickshaw driver in connivance with the tea stall owner at Paltan Bazar, the two Kuki youth coming back from Diphu found unconscious at Guwahati railway station, the day-light gold snatching incidence of Beltola last Friday, the unfortunate and gory ambush at Dr. Niangngaihlians’ residence behind Down Town hospital, the lucky escape from near death of my cousin Hemkhomang Lhungdim (a lecturer with Changlang College AP) at Mariani Railways station, and many such more unknown/unreported cases every day.

On average 100-150 CHIKIM persons from the twin hills districts of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram commute to & from Guwahati for various reasons related to hospitalization, scholarship/study related business, religious/NGO duties, government duties, etc. around 25% are always first-timers and more than 85% do not speak/understand Assamese, Hindi or English. Around 15-20 % is with family or relative. (Sources: roughly estimated from Downtown Hospital, CBCNEI Guest House register)

There is also an increasing population of the above conglomerate residing in Guwahati rather as a push factor from the uncertainties of law & order situation in Manipur. The student-family population ratio in 1998-99 probably was 75:25 which, today has reversed virtually to the opposite. Guwahati is one major destination for similar migration involving other communities from different other parts of the country and across the border has not made the city a safer place to live in.

Vulnerability of adjusting to fast track metro life Guwahati:
Guwahati today as the fastest growing cities in South Asia is struggling to keep pace with changes that come along as collateral with metro-culture. While the so-called locals (read Assamese) would subtly resent the assimilation, the changing face of the city, the divides between Assamese and non-Assamese seem to have been exploited to the hilt by gangsters, goons and some small time criminals in the city by targeting the ‘non-Assamese speaking’ communities and particularly those hailing from Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Though law and order is the responsibility of the police a person/community needs to take all precaution in crime prevention by identifying vulnerable aspects and doing something about these vulnerabilities.

While not writing off the primary responsibility of an individual for his/her personal security/safety, the various students and welfare organizations need to come together on few common issues and challenges including on this occasion. No body may come with a ready-made solution to the issue but by sharing solidarity and concerns there are few advantages; first, it provides solace to the victim family/individual, secondly it is a show of strength to the would-be perpetuator/criminal and lastly, it provides all concern an opportunity to prevent similar crime committed against her/him.


SAFETY OF RAIL PASSENGERS

During the period January to September 2006 in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. According to entry No. 2 of the State List of the Constitution of India, ‘Police’ (including Railways and village Police), is a state subject. Registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are, therefore, the statutory responsibility of the State Police. The State Police have a separate wing called Government Railway Police (GRP) for dealing with all matters relating to law and order on the Railways. So, Railways have to depend largely on state police (GRP) for control of crime on Railways. Regular coordination meetings are being held by RPF and Railway officials with their counterparts in GRP and police of concerned states to highlight this problem and find out effective strategy to tackle the menace. To effectively supplement the efforts of the State Governments in controlling crime on the Railways, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff are being deployed to escort many trains and also on access control duties in the passenger area to augment the efforts of the State Governments. RPF has also been empowered to deal with minor offences affecting train operations such as alarm chain pulling, roof travel, touting, ticket less travel, unauthorized entry into coaches earmarked for ladies etc. (except sabotage related offences under Sections 150 to 152) with the amendment to the Railways Act, 1989 w.e.f. July 2004. During the year 2006, RPF have apprehended 49 offenders responsible for looting of passengers after drugging them and forwarded to the concerned GRP for further legal action.

The following preventive measures are also being taken to combat such menace: -

• Repeated announcement is made at Railway Stations to create awareness amongst the passengers not to take any food / drink / tea from unknown passengers.

• Wide publicity in the local and leading newspapers as well as TV is also being given.

• Signages in local language are being displayed in trains as well as on station platforms.

• Pamphlets are also being distributed among the passengers to create awareness.

• Close coordination with GRP and local police are being maintained to exchange information regarding criminals indulging in such act.

• Photographs of habitual offenders are pasted at Stations platforms in Rogue’s Gallery.