The Northeast Notebook

Help for AIDS

MANIPUR may be hit the hardest by HIV/AIDS in the region, but help is on its way. A number of NGOs have come forward to provide medical help to the hundreds of people living with AIDS in Manipur. Leading the campaign is Manipur Network of Positive People that has more than 200 members, all sero-positive. The group provides various kinds of service including counselling and treatment facilities apart from fighting social taboos and discrimination.

Arunachal seeks debt waiver

UNABLE to tide over its financial crisis, the Arunachal Pradesh government has requested the Centre to waive its debts and grant special financial assistance to push the state8217;s development activities ahead. Chief minister Gegong Apang, who returned to power last month, has sought at least Rs 530 crore as special assistance apart from expediting release of funds for various schemes that are incomplete because of insufficient funds.

Spatial dilemma

A HOSPITAL expansion scheme in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya have a peculiar problem. Over 300 families who have been living in an unauthorised manner for several years on government land allotted to the hospital have refused to move out. Eviction notices served on the encroachers have failed to yield any response, while the government has also refused to throw them out.

Delhi8217;s Chinese whispers

YEARS after governments in the northeast started complaining that the Chinese propaganda machinery has been invading Indian space in the region and jamming Doordarshan and All India Radio programmes, New Delhi last week announced plans to upgrade TV and radio broadcasting facilities in the border areas.

Chinese television and radio broadcasts are so powerful and influential that people living in the border areas have no choice but to listen or watch them.