GUWAHATI, June 19 – A representative meeting of the Co-ordination Committee of Tribal Organisations, Assam (CCTOA) here today demanded clear-cut statement in the Draft National Policy for the Tribals (DNPT) on the protection of the tribal areas. The meeting demanded incorporation of a new schedule in the Indian Constitution on the tribal languages too.

It also described the opposition from certain organistions to the efforts at including the plains tribals of the State in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution as unfortunate. It expressed its concern over the incidents in Dhemaji district in...

NEW DELHI, June 19 – The Government of India has decided to rush chief interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah to meet NSCN (IM) leaders next week to work out the modalities for extending the ceasefire for another year. The current round of ceasefire expires on July 31. At its first high-level meeting on the Naga issue, chaired by Union Minister of Home Affairs, Shivraj Patil, the UPA Government as expected has decided to carry on with the peace process.

The crucial meeting to review the Naga peace process held at North Block here this afternoon was attended by a host of top officials including National...

Imphal, June 18: With the deadline for the ministry down sizing nearing (July 7), internal squabbling and shoving for a piece of the pie has begun to rock the boat of the Congress led SPF Government. To discuss strategies to effect the downsizing with the minimum damage, a meeting of the senior Congress leaders was held at the Chief Minister's bungalow today. On the other hand the SPF has taken up all the necessary measures to neutralize the game plan of the Opposition on June 21, the last date for the current Assembly session, informed Law and Legislative Affairs Minister L Nandakumar...

Imphal, June 18: People in large number braving the incessant rainfall thronged the Kekrupat memorial complex to pay homage to the martyred souls on the occasion of third anniversary of 'The Great June Uprising Day' today. Besides the common people, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his Council of Ministers offered floral tribute during the observation programme organized by United Committee Manipur at Kekrupat where several speakers called on the people to foster unity among various communities living in the State. A two minute silence was observed to honour the departed souls. The observance...

Kokrajhar, June 18: Trouble is brewing again in the Bodo heartland, this time over Dispur’s alleged apathy towards the tribal community’s language. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) today warned of a mass agitation if the Tarun Gogoi government did not lift the ban on appointment of teachers and provincialisation of venture schools in which the tribal language is the medium of instruction.

“The Bodo language is still at the nascent stage, and the ban on appointment of teachers and provincialisation of schools has affected its very foundation. In the district of Golaghat, there is no provincialised...