AGARTALA, March 11: The deadlock in the autonomous district council over the resignation of its chief executive member Debabrata Koloi continued even as the Governor, Lt. Gen. (retd.) K.M. Seth passed an order last night empowering the chief executive officer of the ADC to carry on the administration under rule 158(2) governing the Tripura tribal areas autonomous district council. Earlier, the Governor accepted Koloi's resignation and directed ADC chairman Hirendra Tripura to convene a special session under rule 173 to elect a new incumbent and reconstitute the executive council. The Governor...

SHILLONG, March 11: Meghalaya, home to three matrilineal tribes - the Khasi, Garo and the Jaintia - is as unwilling as any of its neighbouring "patriarchal" states to give its women the benefit of 33 per cent seat reservation in all the decision-making bodies. "Blanket reservation will do more harm than good , both for the women's uplift as well as to the political processes," Chief Minister E. K. Mawlong told The Telegraph when asked to comment on this much-debated issue. The Chief Minister reasoned that for reservations of this sort to succeed there should be enough qualified women to fill...

IMPHAL, March 10: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has urged the Centre to provide a rehabilitation package for surrendered militants. Koijam, on his recent trip to New Delhi, informed Samata Party leader and Union defence minister George Fernandes about the state's unemployment problem and lack of funds for rehabilitating surrendered militants. As there are no private industries and enterprises, the state's over three lakh unemployed youth depend on the government for employment, Koijam said. Requesting the defence minister to set up a "Manipur regiment" in the Army, Koijam asked him...

SHILLONG, March 10: Social workers in Meghalaya are concerned that violence against women in rising in the State which is the only matrilineal society in the country, giving a wide range of economic and social powers to the fair sex. Women's issues and problems in the State were once again highlighted at an official function here on March 8 to celebrate the International Women's Day. The chairperson of the State Social Welfare Advisory Board, T Phanbuh set the tone of the meeting by asking the Meghalaya Government to urgently set up a State commission for women. Urging Chief Minister EK...

AIZAWL, March 10: Exuberant dancers performed to the tune of traditional music as Mizos all over the world celebrated 'Chapchar Kut' or 'summer festival' on Friday, reports PTI. In Aizawl, the 'Kut' function was held at the Assam Rifles ground where Art and Culture Minister Aichhinga who was named as 'Kut Pa' or 'Father of the Festival' appealed to the people to protect the customs and traditions of the ethnic Mizos. Aichhinga said that no nation or tribe can have self respect and survive unless they protect their cultural values and traditions. He urged the people to maintain peace and...