The Northeast Notebook

Trading credit Trade between north-east India and Myanmar received a major boost last week when official delegates from both sides met at th...

Trading credit

Trade between north-east India and Myanmar received a major boost last week when official delegates from both sides met at the Manipur border town of Moreh.

Initiated in April 1995, trade between the two countries through Moreh on the Indian side and Tamu on the Myanmarese side has increased over the years, providing employment to many. Among other things, the two sides also decided to introduce letter of credit facilities so as to do away with the current barter system.

New code for old laws

The Law Research Institute attached to the Guwahati High Court has launched an ambitious project to document and codify the various customary oral laws and practices of the different tribal communities of the region. Applicable under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, these laws, once codified would help legal practitioners understand them better and speed up the process of justice.

Banking on low ratio

The Tripura government has criticised nationalized banks for their failure to improve the credit-deposit ratio in the state. Chief minister Manik Sarkar said in Agartala last week that while 17 nationalised banks had 223 branches in the backward state, the credit ratio was just 29 per cent against the national average of 58 per cent. Sarkar has also threatened to withdraw all government deposits from these banks if they did not improve their CD ratio.

Court seeks report on harassment

The Guwahati High Court has sought a status report from the Assam government on steps taken to implement the Supreme Court8217;s directives to protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace. The order followed a case filed by a government employee complaining that she was transfered to a distant district town following her refusal to respond to an officer8217;s sexual advances. The court has also appointed a lawyer to examine whether sexual harassment of women in state government offices was a common occurence.

Jewel in the Brahmaputra

Majuli, the world8217;s largest river island located in the heart of the Brahmaputra, is set to become a big tourist destination. While last week the Tourism Department launched its first training course for creation of a pool of tourist guides and service providers, the Jorhat district authorities have initiated a programme to project the island as a destination for domestic tourists in the north-east. Apart from being the largest fresh water island, Majuli is also home to several 16th century Vaishnavite monasteries that are storehouses of culture and art.