The Northeast Notebook

Scripting an end THE Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup KYKL, an underground group in Manipur that had last month vowed to clean the educational syst...

Scripting an end

THE Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup KYKL, an underground group in Manipur that had last month vowed to clean the educational system, has now urged scholars and intellectuals to bring an end to the unending controversy over the script to be used by Manipuris.

Though the state government had two decades ago decided on the Meitei script at the primary school level, Manipuri is still being written in Bengali script.

Bringing life to Manas

AFTER signing the Bodo accord this March, the Assam government has turned its attention to other matters. It will work on restoring the Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that was devastated during the militancy years. State forest minister Pradyut Bordoloi said more funds have already been allocated for the project.

Learning for a living

IN a bid to make destitute girls self-sufficient, inmates of three state-run homes in Tripura are being taught various skills. The social welfare department has given the girls not just basic education but also various vocational skills that range from batik printing, tailoring and embroidery to computer applications and beauty courses.The authorities are now arranging Rs 20,000 for each of them so that once they become adults, they can launch their own careers.

Naga MLAs join AIDS campaign

NAGALAND MLAs have been given some additional homework. In order to give its campaign against AIDS more thrust, chief minister Neiphui Rio has asked MLAs to get acquainted with all aspects of HIV/AIDS.

Groups of MLAs will participate in orientation workshops on the disease before they can teach people its dangers. Nagaland has a high incidence of HIV, second only to Manipur in the northeast.

Identity cards for former rebels

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THE Manipur government has come out with a set of dos and don8217;ts for the former rebels of the state in order to reduce confrontations between them and the security forces.

State police, meanwhile, has been instructed to issue identity cards to surrendered militants while parents and guardians of such youth have been asked to give an undertaking to the authorities under which they will be held responsible for the behaviour of their wards.