Volume 31, Issue No 4. January 2004 _ ____ _ / \ / ___| / \ / _ \ \___ \ / _ \ / ___ \ ___) | / ___ \ /_/ \_\ |____/ /_/ \_\ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ |n| |e| |w| |s| |l| |e| |t| |t| |e| |r| +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+ Table of contents: + Editorial Desk + Probaaxi Oxomiyaa (NRA) and Their Role + How NRAs can be of help to Assam + What NRA can do for Assam? + The Contribution of the NRA + How NRA can be helpful to Assam? + Micro-finance for Development of Rural Assam + Suggestions for Non-Resident Assamese + The Brahmaputra Water Resources Utilization & Concerns and a Proposal for Assam + Why elephants never forget + Career Guide ---Useful Links for the JobSeeker: --- >Resume Tips --- >Interview Tips ---Career Guidance and Advice + Useful tips for students: 21st century hot areas of interest: + An Ode to Heritage at Delhi ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Editorial Desk Recently All-Assam Student Union (AASU) announced that it is planning and taking initiative to form a new organization in Assam called "Asomiya Sena" for a different kind of agitation called "Jangi Andolan". At this moment, it is difficult to predict the outcome from forming such an organization. But if we see the last 20+ years history, it comes to our mind that the focus of this organization, if formed, should not be usual, but should be extraordinary, i.e., constructively energized. Day by day, the usual organizations, new and old, are making the Assamese community NARROW and more COMMUNAL and many cases their existence is counter productive. We don't want to see AASU as the breeding ground for any more political or non-political run-of-the-mill organization. In a democratic county, everyone has the right to have and enjoy freedom, but at the same time everybody should obey and work hard together for peace and progress of the country as well as for his or her own betterment. We shouldn't forget this main objectives while doing other things. Students should enjoy their youthful life and participate in extra-curricular activities. However, it is primarily the time to learn, not to teach. Once this age is over, it will never come again. Each and every student has a long way to go in their life and should be prepared to achieve big things and strive for future excellence. If AASU has something big to do beyond studies, it can work to create a better educational environment in each and every corner of our society. Don't use the students in high school and college for a usual "Jangi Andolan" with political overtones. AASU should spearhead the making of a law to protect the interest of the students so that they cannot be used by vested interests. Let AASU pursuade students to concentrate on their studies without wasting valuable time. We strongly support AASU to have a militantly constructive agenda to produce IAS, IPS, IFS officers, good doctors, good engineers, good entrepreneurs, good leaders who have good vision. If the proposed "Asomiya Sena" undertakes goals outlined above, it will be a wonderful force in Assam; otherwise, it will be counter productive for the growth and prosperity of the society in long run. - By Vavani Sarmah, Secane, Pennsylvania ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Probaaxi Oxomiyaa (NRA) and Their Role Individuals with roots in Assam reside around the world, in tens of countries and territories. There is considerable interest in solidifying and formalizing the rapidly evolving relationship between the Overseas Assamese communities, Assamese individuals residing and prospering in the rest of India, and Assam. Compared to other NRIs (Non Resident Indians), the Overseas Assamese are only a handful. So, these few hundred or few thousand Assamese working abroad cannot change the face of the state. It may only be possible by the people living in Assam itself. However there is growing involvement of NRIs (Non Resident Indians) with their individual states. Here Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Kerela have achieved significant success. But it will not be easy in Assam as political and social environment is lacking. Assam, despite its vast potentials in terms of export in tea, reserve of natural gas, petroleum, timber, hydropower, but above all the highly intelligent educated youth of 21st century, is slipping fast down slippery slope. It is a global trend that the modern youth of today will drift to places where there are equal opportunities, places where their human worth is recognized, and environment where they can fulfill their full potentials. In fact right now there is not only brain drain to more affluent nations of Europe, America, Japan and Australia, but to our other neighboring states of India. It was quite extraordinary that medical personnel from Assam been recruited to run Medical Colleges in Nepal. This is called brain drain. The most powerful and the richest nation in the world, the USA has become rich and strong not because of its natural wealth but because it is the haven for the best brain. In fact Assam can be compared to some of the poorer African states such as Uganda. Uganda like wise is one of the richest and most fertile nations in the African continent, but just like Assam has been ravaged by the political and social turmoil. Health Care Despite the fact we have three Medical Colleges in Assam, the people are not satisfied with the standard of health care particularly in specialist care. As a result those who can afford go to places like Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. We ought to reverse this trend. Some of our doctors think -- one way to improve the standard of treatment in Medical Colleges and District hospitals is to provide facilities and opportunities to specialist doctors such as Cardiologists, Surgeons and Urologists, etc., from abroad to practice in Assam. I know quite a number of Assamese specialist doctors in UK who given the opportunity are quite keen to offer their services in Assam. A few of them are willing to give their services free. This kind of overseas doctors service is already in practice in other parts of India with great success. To receive treatment in a private hospital, as we all know is very expensive. As a result patients who cannot afford have to be content with the sub-standard treatment of the State hospitals. One way is to solve this problem (may be in a very small way) is to set up a 'Charity Fund' for these needy patients. The NRA and the wealthy people in Assam could contribute this fund. The committee should consist of people from Assam as well as NRAs. Tourism Kaziranga: As we all know nowadays tourism is a big industry. Here, in the UK, we see endless advertisements for tours, tourist spots in other parts of India including wild life sanctuaries dotted all over India. Assam has so much potential where tourism is concerned; this field has not been properly explored. We do not see any mention of Kaziranga, National Park anywhere in the UK. The Government of Assam could put pressure on the Tourism Board of India to give adequate exposure of tourism in Assam in the UK, USA and other European countries. River Cruise: We have mighty Brahmaputra, to develop with a view to starting a cruise in style of the Nile cruise in Egypt. We could successfully develop this project and advertise in India and abroad, inviting companies like P & O cruise. We should be able to pull in a lot of tourists from home and overseas. We feel the need for a well-organized Conference of the NRA and the successful Assamese in other states of India, and make it more than a talking shop. It must be the first-step towards securing tangible results. And whatever our role is to be in this great project -- always remember the title "Assam Calling". This conference will be our wake up call. - by Rini Kakati, London. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| How NRAs can be of help to Assam Over the past few years a lot has been written and discussed on this issue of 'How NRAs can be of help to Assam". Today, there are many Assamese people are in almost every state in India, and in almost every country of the world. Most of them are successful professionals. The rest are students, or own businesses. Living far away from home, many of these Assamese have set up associations. For many years, the main activities for these associations have been to celebrate Bihu and get-togethers or other annual meets. Now, in addition to these, these associations are trying to focus on helping or solving problems in Assam. There have been small successes, and then there have also been some frustrations. The frustrations mainly stem from several factors. Let us touch on these briefly: Most NRAs are professionals, whether they are in Mumbai or in the West. As such, their capacity to invest time and money is limited. Compared to other ethnic groups, Assamese NRAs are fewer in numbers. They are not able to capitalize on the benefits that larger groups, like Gujaratis have. NRAs are also concerned about how effectively the funds they collect for a particular project are put to use, and also not misused. Numerous times, NRAs might fund a small project, but do not receive any feedback. Sometimes NRAs also feel that there is a lack of interest from people back home to help in the solutions. Then there are some non-NRAs who feel that Assam's problems cannot be solved by remote control. A different approach may be called from now on. For the successful completion of any project, there are a number of things we would need to recognize. Here are some thoughts. Let us first identify some of the problems that Assam faces today. All of these are important, and are in no particular order. In fact, the list also contains some of the classic cause and effect problems. For example, if corruption were to be eliminated, then many of the other problems would probably not exist. (a) Annual Floods. (b) Rampant corruption. (c) Poor infrastructure (includes road conditions, telephone connections, transportation, garbage collection, and erratic electric supply). (d) High rates of unemployment and population growth. (e) Health care facilities and cleanliness issues. (f) Insurgency & immigration problems. (g) Agricultural and farming needs. These include cultivation, irrigation, produce storage, agricultural prices etc. Apparently, as one can well visualize it would be a Herculean task to solve each and every one of these. But NRAs, with the help and guidance of people back home, can make sizeable dents. Let us look at some possible solutions: Annual floods: This is one of the major problems that we seemingly have little control. There are two parts to floods. (a) Minimizing the havoc and (b) Helping those affected after floods. All throughout Assam's history, we have almost always concentrated on the latter. Why? There are human lives and properties at stake; it is easier, and politically expedient. Only in recent years has some effort been taken to minimize the effects of flooding. To minimize the effects of flooding, NRAs can help by: (a) Engineering a massive campaign to appraise the appropriate departments and agencies in Assam, New Delhi, and also some world bodies. The thrust of this campaign would be to have these agencies come up with some permanent solutions to minimizing flood damages. This kind of campaign requires long term commitments from NRAs and people in Assam and a lot of political will. It also requires some of the expertise that NRAs have (engineers & architects), corresponding with various agencies, and at the same time seeking funds for the projects that may ensue. A lot work is already being done by international agencies like UNDP and USAID in Assam. For example, in Dhemaji, UNDP has been helping with the flood situation and also providing valuable statistical data. See the link http://www.dhemaji.com/ I have also provided another link that has examples of community efforts to control floods. See link below: http://www.responsiblefloodcontrol.org/responsible-flood-control-who-we-are.html A few more relevant and interesting links are listed below. http://www.indiacore.com/ic-conf/10-feb2004-cpu-water-india/topics.html http://www.ipc-ateneo.org.ph/social_envtl_safeguards/discussion.php?aid=13 http://www.inweb.gr/documents/IFNet(INBO).pdf Assam will always have floods. But we can always find ways to minimize the effects of the devastation. I would suggest NRAs and others concentrate on long-term solutions to minimize flood damages. Helping the affected people in post flood situations is always required and NRAs can help setup a super fund earmarked just for such emergencies, instead of going on a collection spree at the last minute. Such a super-fund must also entail details about well-thought out delivery systems, making sure there are no leakages or mal-distribution of funds or essential materials collected for flood victims. Corruption: NRAs can also help set-up public awareness and empowerment anti-corruption units or watchdogs throughout the state. What will these units do? These units would be active in exposing corruption in State Government and public institutions. They would be active in taking out media ads as how common people can call in or write about erring officials or corrupt systems. It should not stop there, officials responsible for departments that are corrupt must be asked to explain what steps they intend to undertake to make the situation better. The units would then have to see if the situation has become better or solved. Inept departments or agencies must be brought under the microscope, until they become efficient. NRAs can fund these units to a large extent. The people in Assam manning these units may have to volunteer their services. NRAs can help fund ads for public awareness campaigns against corruptions. NRAs can also help in writing to newspapers in Assam or even nationally to give the appropriate exposure and focus. Each instance of corrupt practice should be treated as a business project, and that is possibly one of the best ways to solve or eliminate corruption one at a time. The largest and biggest corruption problems have to be tackled first. Then we can go down the list. Some good targets to start with are: Flood Control Department, PWD, Director of Public Instruction, Department of Transportation, State and City contracts awards, and ministers. If NRAs are committed, we can make a difference. There are good people in all the above, but they are in a minority. Infrastructure: NRAs can help with some of the big problems plaguing the state. BSNL (the Central Telecommunication Unit) is responsible in providing good and steady services. Similar problems exist with the upkeep, repairs, and building of new roads. Train and air links from major cities to the rest of India have improved over the years. But there is always room for improvement. NRAs can help by pressuring agencies like BSNL to improve services and increase capacity. Writing to the Delhi, and the local Assam offices of such departments, and also publicizing gross ineptitudes may accomplish this. The ASEB it seems has become totally independent. Electricity is the lifeline of a state's development. When erratic or insufficient, tremendous losses result. This is one major area that NRAs must concentrate. The first aspect in dealing with this is getting rid of the inefficiencies and corruption. Long-term needs should deal with finding ways to increase mega watts. Electricity production in Assam and NE is among the lowest in the country. Something as important as this must be given a high priority and focus. NRAs can help by sponsoring a study group that will identify, investigate, and provide for solutions to help electric production and maintenance. It should not just stop at that, we can also help in making the Center and the State aware of problems and solutions, and bring all this to public attention. Unemployment: Unemployment is a difficult problem to solve. There are many reasons for it, but the problem need not be acute. The major factors affecting employment are: High birth rates, illegal immigration, lack of major industries, and lack of economic stimulus for the start & growth of small businesses. High birth rates and illegal immigration are problems that NRAs can do little to elevate, other than bring attention to the problem in media, and the State and Central Governments. Larger industries are not being setup in Assam because of a bad business climate. Industrialists from Mumbai would be eager set up industries if (a) it's profitable and (b) their investments are safe. The former is not such a big problem, as sufficient demand factors do exist for most products. But the latter is a bigger problem. How do we convince these large industrialists of setting up businesses in Assam? There are several things that can be attempted. The State and City governments must setup a Directorate or a portfolio just to deal with this issue. The state can offer incentives like tax abatements, land, regular, uninterrupted power supply, etc. Such incentives ought to be offered, only, if these industries employ a certain percentage of local people, and are making long-term commitments to the state. Investment risks associated with insurgency, bandhs, and strikes, political fallouts must be minimized or eliminated. NRAs can help by launching media campaigns that focus on the fact that these factors hurt Assam in the long run. We need to create an atmosphere of pro-business in Assam. Small businesses are easier to start, and also employ more people. These must be encouraged and NRAs can help launch workshops that focus on methods of setting up, and running small businesses. Methods and ways of financing can also dealt with in these seminars. NRAs in conjunction with commercial banks and the State government can if possible guarantee loans (up to a large percent) to small business start-ups. The state government would welcome such measures. The minister in charge of such ventures should be included in the process. This, is one area, I think, that NRAs can certainly help. Health and Medical Facilities: This is another area that NRAs may be able to help. Mobile health clinics with the help of local doctors can be set-up. There are many NRA physicians that can help and advice. Assamese doctors abroad and in India should be willing to donate some of their time and expertise and set up these clinics. NRAs can also help by buying vaccinations and other life-saving drugs in bulk for children in rural areas. Further, rural health clinics could be setup. Informational brochures on health issues in Assamese can be designed and here and printed in Assam for distribution. These brochures could deal with a variety of health issues. Along these lines, the media (radio) could be used effectively. Agricultural & farming needs: NRAs can help here in some small way. They can help in areas of seed-procurement, help farmers buy fertilizers, and even tractors. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and FCI can be a big help in such areas. NRAs could approach ICAR to provide NRAs the findings and research the agency has done vis-à-vis Assam. Small farmers can also be helped by providing them information and start-up costs to set up meat, chicken and fish farming. Financial help and providing information regarding of the benefits of cooperative farming can also be done. NRAs can help in providing information on pricing, storage, transportation, and a variety of other needs. Conclusions: There are a myriad of problems, but how can the NRAs help solve all of these? The NRA approach should be to identify and deal with problems that can be solved with NRA help. Some of the problems listed need long term commitments and a lot more funds that NRAs alone can handle. There are some problems that NRAs can make a positive change, and in others we can help only in marginal ways. The main ingredients for any of this to come to fruition are: Volunteerism: Time and commitments from NRAs is probably the most important. Funds: This is also an important factor. Funds need to be collected not just from NRAs but also businesses and others from Assam. This is essential, as this creates a sense of involvement from non-NRAs also. Basically, funds should be project oriented. There also can be different types of funds (long term, short term, emergency funds). Fund collections for cultural activities are not directly involved in the development aspects of Assam. They also tend to siphon off funds away from necessary targets for development. Readers will have to draw on their preferences regarding such donations. Project Oriented: If NRAs are serious, this whole aspect regarding helping in the development of Assam has to be project oriented. There are many skilled professionals who can help here. Each project should have a team of highly dedicated NRAs who are willing to go beyond the normal boundaries of helping out. Expertise: There are many NRAs who are not just professionals, but also experts in their fields. Each one of them can contribute professional expertise and some amount of time towards these causes. Lastly, I would stress that NRAs can be successful only when they take the help, guidance, and tap on the immense resource potentials in Assam. There are many non-NRAs like attorneys, doctors, ministers and others in Assam who can make things happen with much greater ease. NRAs will need to get their valuable inputs, help and expertise in solving problems. I know the problems are immense. These are just some suggestions and an attempt in trying to help in our way of current thinking. I hope some of these suggestions resonate with the reader. I welcome suggestions and feedback, and hope we can all together make some positive changes. - by Ram Sarangapani, Houston, Texas ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| What NRA can do for Assam? Although it took India years, the country has finally realized that, how much NRIs can do for India, its 20 million strong overseas Indians dotting the globe who earn at least US$160 billion annually, which is more than a third of India's national income, can well change the face of its economy. In this respect if we isolate NRAs from our state, Assam, probably is just a drop in the bucket. NRA numbers are very small compared to other Indian communities. However as very recently, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said India doesn't need the riches of NRIs, "it needs the richness of their experience and global exposure". In case of Assam, NRAs can play a significant role by bringing in the richness of their experience and global exposure to our State. There are four areas where NRAs can contribute to our State: 1. As a direct investor in the state, e.g., individual investors from US have set up a hospital recently. NRAs can also introduce potential investors from other countries to Assam. 2. Voluntary contributions such as delivering lectures in symposiums, college - school conferences in our state. 3. Government of Assam can hire NRA expatriates who have excelled in their individual fields. For Example Late Rajiv Gandhi in 80s got Sam Pitroda to head the Technology mission in India. One of the biggest success of that mission was the rapid modernization of Indian Telecom sector. 4. Philanthropy - NRA organizations from overseas must take a very active role in this regard and coordinate with NGOs or the Government of Assam for the utilization of money sent from overseas. Barring a few individual initiatives, there has not been an organized and credible medium for NRAs to fund social work in our State Now the big question is how serious is Assam Government about involving NRAs? The seriousness needs to be shown with deeds, not just with words. How soon can Assam govt. make its decision-making process transparent for NRA involvement? And, how consistent are the policies? The first step would be for the government to set up a cell under CM's office which will be single point of contact for the NRAs to work with the Government of Assam and its people. Recently, we met Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi here in New Jersey; I was quite impressed with his enthusiasm to get help from NRAs. He is planning to come to USA again in the summer of 2004 for the annual Assamese get together. NRAs from USA can take this opportunity to understand exactly how the contributions can be made working in tandem with the Government of Assam or NGOs, etc. There is also a talk of NRA convention in Guwahati in the near future. There are all encouraging signs. But all these gestures, all these efforts, will come to naught if the government does not actively ensure that the initiative does not fizzle out to become yet another 'me too' thing just because states like Andhra, Maharashtra and Punjab are trying to woo their respective NRI communities. - by Ram Dhar, New Jersey ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| The Contribution of the NRA Some time ago I read an email about the contributions of NRA towards their motherland. After reading it, it made me think about what has been done and what can be done. In the article it was pointed out what the other NRI does towards their motherland and what the NRAs are doing. I must admit that, reading the letter, if I compare to the other states, it would appear that the NRA are doing very little to the motherland. Why are they are doing so little? There are a few things that come to mind. One of them is that, unlike the other states we, the NRAs, are only a handful of people. The second point is that unlike the other NRIs, we have been here for only a couple of decades. Furthermore, most of the NRAs are professionals rather than the business community (like the NRI from many other states in India). However, this should not be an excuse to shake off our responsibilities and duties towards our motherland. Even though the NRAs are few in number, they are all professional and highly qualified with well-established jobs. They have vast amount of experience in their respective fields, which would tremendously help towards the growth and development of Assam. So, what can be done? Think small. In Europe and America most of our compatriots live far apart. It is not practical for people to meet on a regular basis. Therefore, I feel that we should work with small groups and take up some real achievable goals. I say this because if we take up too large a project, we have to involve a good number of people, a big fund and involvement of the Government. So, it comes as no surprise that oversized projects often fail. I can think of the following projects, which can be done easily with small numbers as well as small funds. - Adopt a school A small school in a village could be adopted to improve the condition and standard by giving books, living condition, sanitation, school dinners, etc. - Adopt a library Many libraries in Assam including the district libraries in major towns have fallen standards. We can adopt one of them to raise the standard by providing books, reference materials, journals and IT facilities. - Adopt a village To improve hygiene, sanitation water supply, etc. - Adopt a road A small stretch of road can be improved and looked after by providing lights drainage and maintenance. - Plant a tree (or more) Each NRA can plant a tree in their respective place and maintain it through their family or friends. - Establish a small forest In Assam we are losing innumerable number of rare and valuable trees each year. We can replace them by planting and establishing a small forest and maintaining it. - Adopt an animal We can adopt an animal in a Zoo. - Provide and maintain a public toilet To educate the population to use the toilet facilities properly and to realize the benefit of this service. These types of schemes have to be organized in conjunction with local voluntary organizations so that they can look after, maintain and liase with us on regular basis. I personally found that the help of organizations like Rotary Club and Lions Club are valuable. Apart from this people from various professional backgrounds can organize lectures, surgeries, and meetings during their visits to Assam and give their advice to do things in a better and organized way. We can also offer expert advice to various established government and non-government organizations in respective fields. These are some examples of small but effective and achievable ideas. By thinking small we can achieve a lot. - by Dr Nripen Barkataki. Dr Barkataki is a General Practitioner in England. He has done MBBS from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, and MD from Delhi. He is an active member of the Rotary Club, Seaham. He is the Assistant Secretary of the Assam Association of the UK. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| How NRA can be helpful to Assam? Assam has experienced turbulent years during the last few decades which has yet to show any respite. However, globalization has entered this state and the government is facing financial shortfalls. There is massive unemployment in the traditional sectors, but interestingly there is a huge shortfall of skilled manpower in the professionals sectors. But due to their own limitations and absence of acumen, colleges and universities are neither generating many skilled students nor are capable of offering proper guidance. These students and younger generations are the worst sufferers due to absence of appropriate guides or personal heroes during this crucial period. The NRA with their vast experiences and visions can fill up this critical gap and steer the younger generation. But how? The INTERNET has turned the world into a global village where Assam is very much part of it, especially after the introduction of a Community Information Center in each block of the North East equipped with high speed VSAT connectivity. Many rural people are more or less Net savvy. With a large number of rural youths spread over every nook and corner of Assam accessing the Internet, each message from the NRA can be facilitated to reach each village of Assam directly. The NRA should utilize this media fully. These messages may be on the present education systems of the US, the UK, or Australia, campus life, various activities pursued by the younger generation of boys and girls while studying such as journalists, web designers, sales personnel to encourage them to be involved in similar activities. Each Community Information Center may be converted into an intellectual hub in each rural block. The existing http://assam.org portal may be revamped with these additional contents and concepts. If possible, there may be a submission facility, where people can submit their query and may be answered by a pool of NRA. Secondly, it is well-known that the NE is the natural habitat of several native rare medicinal plants. These are priceless local resources to offer to the vibrant global markets. The NRA can help identify the products that may command attractive price or draw western attention. Though the Indian domestic market is large and attractive for the North East products, but the global market is highly prestigious and rich, even if it may not be financially practical in the initial stages. Moreover as steps have been made to sell a few North East products through e-commerce portals, the NRA can help in this initial learning process by issuing a few small token orders, e.g., for gamosas, so that it will help us learn the process of exporting, the associated economics, demand, packaging, certificate issues, licensing, quality control, and quality management. It will help improve the infrastructure development to produce world-class products and to overcome the numerous obstacles in entering the global markets. We hope that within a short period, Assam can expect to generate world-class entrepreneurs and the global markets may be replete with high quality North East products. - by Dibyajit Dutta. Shri Dutta is District Informatics Officer at North Lakhimpur office of National Informatics Center, Assam. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Micro-finance for Development of Rural Assam Assam was one of the most industrialized states in India in 1947 - 5th to be precise. Since independence Assam has slipped in economic growth compared to most other Indian states. In 1993-1994 Assam was ranked 13th in terms of per capita income and in 1999-2000 Assam slipped to 14th rank. In terms of yearly growth rate, Assam at present is the slowest economy amongst other Indian states at 0.78%. New Delhi's neglect, Bangladeshi infiltration and growing insurgency in the region are amongst the major reasons the people of Assam attribute the dismal economic performance of the state since Independence. Though these may the reasons for the sluggish growth, Assam can no longer afford to play the blame game and wait for a miracle to bring a dramatic change to our economy. If there is no dramatic change in sight then what is the future of Assam? Who is going to bring a change in Assam's economic woes? Every now and then contribution of Non-Resident Assamese (NRA) towards the growth of Assam is raised. Does the Assamese Diaspora have many entrepreneurs who are willing to come to Assam and invest under present political and infrastructure scenario? No is perhaps not a surprising answer for many. The negative answer is not because NRAs are not concerned about Assam. It is because the Assamese Diaspora does not have many, if any, business entrepreneurs. It is mainly made up of hard working technocrats. So how can this Diaspora help Assam? NRAs cannot turn Assam's fortune overnight as the Non-Resident Indians did to help India get over its forex problems in the early 1990s. However, the Assamese Diaspora can definitely contribute in a small way in making projects that can help rural Assam improve its living standard. One such project is micro finance of village entrepreneurs. Assam is predominantly an agrarian society, and any improvement in the income levels of our rural community can go a long way in slowly and steadily improving the economic situation of Assam. The model followed by Grameen bank in Bangladesh can be used with some modification to suit the Assamese condition. The micro finance model followed by Grameen bank encourages voluntary formation of small groups of five people to provide mutual, morally binding group guarantees in lieu of the collateral required by conventional banks. At first only two members of a group are allowed to apply for a loan. Depending on their performance in repayment the next two borrowers can then apply and, subsequently, the fifth member as well. The credit is used to finance a project identified by the borrower and could be any project like weaving, bamboo work, poultry, goat fattening, mat making, etc. Intensive scrutiny of the projects, peer pressure, and easy repayment conditions insure viability of the micro finance. The bank apart from providing credit help the creditors to find market, provided them with valuable technical guidance to insure success of the scheme. The Grameen Bank micro finance project has contributed more than 1% of Bangladesh's GDP since 1994 and has resulted in substantial improvement in living standards of individuals who have availed of the service. A similar scheme if applied to Assam will definitely help our rural community a great deal. In what way can NRAs contribute in such a micro finance project? This can be achieved by adoption of a small village by an NRA association, who will provide micro finance to villagers (specially women) based on the Grameen Bank model. This would require assistance of incorruptible figureheads, presently staying in Assam, who have experience in the banking sector as well as people who have good experience in rural development. It would also require employment of youths who will act as rural workers for such a project. The project will need to start with financial help of the parent NRA association that is adopting the village, but has to be planned in such a way that in the long term the project could sustain itself. The contribution needed to start such a project should be around US$25000 to US$35000 over a three years period. A few NRA associations have shown interest in such a project. Proper transparency of the implementation of the scheme and regular reporting will definitely increase the faith in such a scheme. NRAs have an opportunity as well as duty to be part of such a project. They should grab the opportunity and show their love of their motherland - the beautiful Assam. - by Afreen Rahman, New Zealand. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Suggestions for Non-Resident Assamese Good to be back in the 'Net' after more than nine years. Some of you may remember that I had received my Ph.D. in the US in 1994, taught in Tezpur University for some time and since 1997 have been working with NEDFi. Anyway, it's great to see your enthusiasm to do something for Assam. My suggestions are: 1. Assam is not short of funds for development activities. A lot of funds meant for the region go unutilized. Even after the Non Lapsable Pool was created at the Center, the money remains unutilized. A lot of unnecessary studies are being done by NGOs who have no real interest in the state. Therefore, we need your help in formulation of good projects for the state. You can develop a project for the area that you come from (e.g., drainage project for Golaghat town to be funded by the Minsitry of Urban Affairs etc) and send it to the relevant department in Assam for forwarding to the Center. For doing the liaisoning work a set up may be needed. My wife and I have started a Trust called T. Sarma Institute fro Change (TSIC) with office near Gauhati Club. You all could use its services -free of cost. 2. The bureaucrats here are the laziest bunch you all will ever come across. Exceptions are there. Therefore we need your help to keep sending reminders to them pointing out the lacunae, the delay or fund-misappropriation, etc. Even letters to the editor from an NRA makes a lot of difference. The people in power have become indifferent. "If Congress forms the government this year, next it will be the AGP whether there is any performance or not" is the general feeling. You all could help here by congratulating the good and castigating the bad, or even asking some difficult questions. NGOs in places like Bangalore have been doing such activities. 3. In case you are thinking of helping groups in some places - say, your native places monetarily, you may try linking up with NEDFi's micro credit program which has already given loans to more than 175 NGOs in various places. In case you all think that NGOs are frauds, let me tell you that only about six to seven out of them have turned out to be very difficult. The team at NEDFi should be able to guide you to reach good NGOs for your work. NEDFi is also working in developing model villages -fishery villages in Hajo, milk village in Jagiroad, piggery village in Tezpur, etc. Youare welcome to assist in these ventures -more with ideas than money. There are other ideas too. But this should do for now. - by Amiya Sharma. Amiya Sharma is Deputy General Manager (Economist) of the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), Guwahati, India.. He received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in New Jersey. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| The Brahmaputra Water Resources Utilization & Concerns and a Proposal for Assam In recent months, two very important issues concerning Assam and its people have received some media coverage in Assam. The first is India's grandiose $120,000,000,000 (one hundred & twenty billion US Dollar) plan of river-linking which involves, among other things, the diversion of Brahmaputra water near Jogighopa to be mixed with the Ganges. The second issue is the internationally reported Chinese plan to dam the Brahmaputra river just before it enters India's Arunachal Pradesh in order to generate 40,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity and irrigate the arid Gobi desert area with the impounded water. The uproar caused by both these issues has definite merit. The ramifications of both these endeavors, one national and the other international, with respect to the well-being of the Assamese people is indeed very serious and need full understanding regarding pros and cons. The intent of this article is to give an introduction to the issues to evoke wider interest and relevant discussion by the readers. There is more than meets the eye to the controversy surrounding these issues. What it brings forth is a signal for a future crisis of mankind on the planet earth. It is the question of ownership of water resources. Water is the second most important ingredient for human survival, and like air, it has no national boundary. Almost half of the world's landmass is under international river basin systems. With the standard of living ever increasing in the world, the demand for water is increasing at a ferocious pace. Like oil, water resources will weigh heavily in international geopolitics in the future and, if not averted in time, may cause socio-political unrest in various parts of the world. As the demand increases, countries will assert rights to water resources more and more and conflicts will arise. To my knowledge, there are no set international laws that all countries have to abide by regarding the sharing of water resources. But there are literally scores of treaties dating back more than a hundred years regarding negotiated settlements with respect to the use of international water resources. A famous example is the Indus water treaty (September, 1960) between India and Pakistan that was settled after years of efforts facilitated by the then World Bank Chairman Eugene Black. Another example is the Ganges treaty (DATE) on sharing the water resources at Farraka, signed by Prime Minister Gowda of India and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. There are similar examples in other parts of the world. In both the river-linking project of India as well as China's plan to dam the Brahmaputra River, one can discern an aura of arrogance laced with selfish nationalistic chauvinism. China's plan to build the dam was unilateral, without consultation of the lower riparian countries-India and Bangladesh. Similarly, India's river-linking plan, which has caused concerns in Bangladesh, was formulated by India on its own. A joint venture by all riparian countries sharing the common river makes more sense than selfish nationalistic plans that can only cause discontent and suspicion due to perceived unfairness to the lower riparian countries. There is no question that the Brahmaputra is the lifeblood of Assam. The entire Assamese society with its rich culture and heritage is inextricably linked to this river, which is so dearly called "Luit" by the Assamese people. One of the great rivers in the world, the Brahmaputra commences its more than 3000 km journey to the Bay of Bengal, some 96 km southeast of the holy Kailash mountain in western Tibet near the sacred Manash Sarobar Lake in an ice glacier called "Tamchuk Khambab". In its run to the Bay of Bengal, the river weaves through myriad religions and cultures and some of the most inhospitable areas on earth. The highest river on earth, it flows at an average elevation of about 4000 meters in Tibet where it is known as Yarlung Tsangpo. After a run of about 900 km east in south Tibet, and after passing Pei, the river is blocked by the highest peak east of the Himalayas-Mt. Namche Bawar (7782 m). The river suddenly turns to the north and northeast and cuts a course through a succession of narrow gorges and plunges with tremendous force to descend more than 3000 meters. It is at this vantage point where China wants to build a dam over the river and divert the water by closing the natural flow loop. The river then turns south and southwest and enters the Arunachal Pradesh, India. Here it changes its name to Dihang (Siang). Just beyond Pasighat and west of Sadiya, it meets Dibang and Luhit to become Brahmaputra. The river then traverses the entire Assam valley for about 800 km westward and then it turns south to Bangladesh where it assumes the name Jumna. It then joins the river Ganges, another mighty river of the world, at Goalundu to discharge the largest quantity of water into the Bay of Bengal. China's proposal is to divert the Brahmaputra River near where it loops around near Namche Bawar and makes a quick fall of 3050 meters by building a dam to generate 40,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity to make use of this huge available water head. The dam will impound water to be pumped to the arid Gobi region of China to increase agricultural production and to make China a formidable grain exporting country. Chinese officials are reported to have stated that by impounding water it will help alleviate the flood problem in Assam. To the extent that the flow discharge in the Brahmaputra from the Tibetan catchment area is controlled during the high volume season, China's statement is true. However, there are wider ramifications to consider. There must be a definitive daily profile of water discharge from the dam to understand the effect of the dam. Will the discharge pattern choke off Assam during lean seasons or will it flood the region at other times because of willful extra discharge? These are questions that must be asked at governmental levels, and the answers must be factored into the formulation of India's policy; however, currently not enough is known about these questions. There have been reports in the press that the release of the large body of water from China in the recent past has caused violent floods in the Arunachal Pradesh, causing untold miseries and devastation. With a reservoir high up on the Tibetan plateau, China will have the strategic high ground making the lower riparian Assam, India and Bangladesh totally vulnerable to any arbitrary and whimsical act on the part of the Chinese. As a result, India's national security is at stake. Reported use of nuclear detonation to create tunnels to use for water flow to the turbines has all the aspects of environmental hazards affecting the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in particular. Additionally, there is a host of other environmental issues that need to be addressed thoroughly. Global environmental groups will have to be watchful of what China is doing in this context. In a nutshell, China's proposal to build a dam across the Brahmaputra is a matter of potentially very serious consequences for Assam, India as well as Bangladesh, which is also highly dependent on the Brahmaputra water. India's river-linking project causes the same concerns to Bangladesh as China's dam proposal since it is so dependent on the Brahmaputra water. It makes sense to have proper dialogue with Bangladesh with a view to equitable sharing of river water similar to the agreement on Farakka barrage water allocation. I do not think Assam should be too concerned since the water diversion will be at the downstream end of the valley. All it will mean is draining part of the discharge into the Ganges instead of the Bay of Bengal. What is unacceptable is lack of consultation with Assam on the part of the planners creating and exacerbating the suspicion of the Assamese people of exploitive treatment of resources of Assam. Assamese sentiments are intrinsically intermingled with the Brahmaputra water resource. I have a proposal at this point to the Government of India executing the plan. Let us bring the people of Assam into confidence by initiating a discussion with leaders of Assam from all segments of the society in the form of a seminar in Guwahati. Let the Assam Government organize this seminar. Once the people of Assam are brought into confidence, let the people of Assam have a fair share in the employment scenario resulting from the huge projected expenditure on the project. All of the diversion work from Assam can be handled within Assam with appropriate funding with a suitable non-governmental organization set up brought under contractual agreement. Reports have it that the segment involving Assam will cost about $200,000,000. Assam can have a substantial employment boost in the foreseeable future with such work performed by Assamese Engineers. We, the NRA's, can have a very active and beneficial role in providing individual expertise and joint collaboration with specialized US firms. We, the Assamese people, can do it. More in the future. Thanks. - by Dr. Umesh Tahbildar is a P.E.(New York, New Jersey) and the President of Devee Engineering, LLC. off West Windsor, NJ 08550-3524 ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Why elephants never forget One morning all the animals were sleeping. The first animal to get up was elephant. Elephant couldn't remember very well, and this morning he couldn't remember where he put his sneakers. When all the animals woke up they all wanted to change their looks in some way. Leopard said, "I have spots, but I want more spots." Camel said, I have humps' but I want more humps." Ram said, "My horns are big, but I want bigger horns." Turtle said, "I have a hard shell, but I want a more harder shell." Giraffe said, "I have a long neck, but I want a longer neck." Zebra said, "I have stripes, but I want more stripes." All the animals turned and looked at elephant. All the animals asked elephant all together, "What do you want?" Elephant said, "I don't know, I'll have to think about it." Elephant thought and thought but he couldn't figure out what he wanted to do. He sat on a rock thinking about it day and night just waiting for an idea to come to his mind. Soon after a few days he forgot where he left his pogo stick and this gave him an idea. He went to his friends and he told them he wanted to remember things. His friends said, "That's great, we'll go to the animal king to get our wishes first thing tomorrow morning! The next morning elephant's friends told elephant to go to the animal king because they did not want to go there. So elephant went but he was very lazy too so it took him six whole days and nights to get there, and when got to the animal king's house he told the king his friend's wishes but he did not remember them correctly and when he got back to where the animals were, the animals looked funny so they went back to the king's house to make sure they got their right wishes and that is why they say an elephant never forgets. - Niribili (Niky) Sarmah. Niribili is in Grade-III in Amosland Elementary School, 549 Amosland Road, Morton, PA-19070. She hopes children age 6-8 will love to read this story. This story already published by Amosland publication center. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| Career Guide From this issue, the ASA Newsletter is starting this section with useful tips for jobs as well as educational pursuits. We hope readers will be benefited and we will be happy to provide for more specific needs in the coming days. Useful Links for the JobSeeker: Resume Tips ? Resume Writing Center at CareerMosaic.com ? Resume Builder at Monster.com ? JobWeb - Catapult Resume Writing Tips ? #1 Resume Writing Services & Resume Tips Resource ? JobStar Resume Tips ? Resume Tips from the Affiliates Interview Tips ? Interview Tips from Monster.com ? Top 10 Interview Tips from Asiaco.com ? Interview Tips from Meetit.com Career Guidance and Advice http://www.jobstar.org/ http://www.abbycon.com/jobsandcareers/Careers.htm http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.htm http://www.blue-house.com/jobs/ http://www.career911.net/default.asp http://www.careerlab.com/ http://www.careerpower.com/ http://www.careerresource.net/ http://www.careers.org/ http://www.employmentoffice.net/ http://www.forbes.com/careers/careerpartners.shtml http://www.gwu.edu/~career/links.htm http://www.hitechsalary.com/ http://www.hruniverse.com/ http://www.idg.net/content/channel_content/car_theme.html http://www.jobbid.com/ http://www.jobfate.com/ http://www.job-interview.net/ http://www.jobsearchpro.com/ http://www.jobseekernews.com/ http://www.jobweb.com/ http://www.layofflounge.com/ http://www.petersons.com/careered/ http://www.quintcareers.com/ http://www.review.com/career/ http://www.rileyguide.com/ http://www.salary.com/ http://www.searchease.com/resources/default.htm http://www.susanireland.com/ http://www.tsajobsearch.com/index.html http://www.yil.com/goldstarjobs http://encarta.msn.com/eLearning/ Useful tips for students: 21st century hot areas of interest: Biotechnology - The simplest definition of biotechnology is "applied biology." The application of biological knowledge and techniques to develop products. It may be further defined as the use of living organisms to make a product or run a process. By this definition, the classic techniques used for plant and animal breeding, fermentation and enzyme purification would be considered biotechnology. Some people use the term only to refer to newer tools of genetic science. In this context, biotechnology may be defined as the use of biotechnical methods to modify the genetic materials of living cells so they will produce new substances or perform new functions. Examples include recombinant DNA technology, in which a copy of a piece of DNA containing one or a few genes is transferred between organisms or "recombined" within an organism. A set of biological techniques developed through basic research and now applied to research and product development. In particular, the use by industry of recombinant DNA, cell fusion, and new bioprocess techniques. Bioengineering- Rooted in physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and the life sciences. It is the application of a systematic, quantitative, and integrative way of thinking about and approaching the solutions of problems important to biology, medical research, clinical proactive, and population studies. The NIH Bioengineering Consortium agreed on the following definition for bioengineering: research on biology, medicine, behavior, or health recognizing that no definition could completely eliminate overlap with other research disciplines or preclude variations in interpretation by different individuals and organizations. Bioengineering integrates physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge for the molecular to the organ systems levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health. [NIH, Office of External Research, Bioengineering Definition Committee, July]. The application to biological science of engineering principles or engineering equipment. Engineering applied to biological and medical systems, such as biomechanics, biomaterials, and biosensors. Bioengineering also includes biomedical engineering as in the development of aids or replacements for defective or missing body organs. Biomedical - Biomedical studies the activities and applications of science to clinical medicine, "biomedical research laboratory". It connects computer science, medicine, biology and health care, and provides a synergy that goes beyond anything that researchers in any single domain can provide. Bioinformatics - The application of computer technology to the management of biological information. Specifically, it is the science of developing computer databases and algorithms to facilitate and expedite biological research, particularly in genomic. Bioinformatics derives knowledge from computer analysis of biological data. These can consist of the information stored in the genetic code, but also experimental results from various sources, patient statistics, and scientific literature. Research in Bioinformatics includes method development for storage, retrieval, and analysis of the data. Bioinformatics is a rapidly developing branch of biology and is highly interdisciplinary, using techniques and concepts from informatics, statistics, mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and linguistics. It has many practical applications in different areas of biology and medicine. Now-a-days many top universities around the globe offering various courses Bachelor's, Master's etc for all these fields. Each and every university has pre-requisite for admission. However, most university requires the following in common- ? Complete Application ? Application fee ? Official transcripts ? Letter of recommendation ? Personal statement Out of these universities, the "Thomas Jefferson University" is one of the most popular and prestigious university here in United States. Interested students can visit http://www.jefferson.edu/ for admission and other useful information. - Information collected By Arup Mitra and Vavani Sarmah. ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| An Ode to Heritage at Delhi A fund raising event entitled -An Ode to Heritage was staged on the chilled evening of 12th December, 2003 at Sir Shankar Lal Hall at Modern School, Barakhamba Road. The objective was to raise funds for the cultural complex "Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhawan"- built by Assam Association, Delhi at Qutub Institutional Area in South Delhi. Sponsored by ONGC, the event was co-sponsored by OIL, GAIL and BRPL. A few other organizations like Coca-Cola, Divinity, Café Coffee Day, Red FM, Net Carrots, Hindustan Times and NEEPCO pitched in to be the event partners. It was an evening filled with divine energy which only the congregation of music lovers ensembled that evening could feel. The huge oval hall bedecked with choicest flowers and decor was looking like a bride waiting to be garlanded. The jadugars were the Sarod prodigies, sons of the legendary Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan- Amaan Ali Bangsh and Ayaan Ali Bangash accompanied in tabla by the wizard of the Percussion Ustad Zakir Hussain. The hall was packed to the brim, the ragas played in the sarod and tabla lifted the souls to ethereal level. In one session of two hours time stood still. One can see magnetized people swaying to the tunes of the ragas, mesmerized by the genius of the trio. Wah! What an evening that was. The function began on dot at 7:30 PM with the melodious announcement of Rini Khanna. Renowned journalist, Ex-MP and trusted friend of Assam, Mr. Kuldip Nayyar lit the ceremonial lamp. He spoke briefly saluting the rich cultural heritage of Assam, its natural endowment, and rich human resources and prayed for speedy recovery of the state to normalcy. The presence of Sri Tarun Chandra Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam and other dignitaries added color to the show. The event showcased as a continuum of heritage from generation-to-generation in complete harmony. Ustad All Rakha Khan used to perform with Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. In turn his son, Ustad Zakir Hussain performs with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and now his sons who are about three decades younger than him. This carry forward of the classical tradition - which otherwise is witnessing a decline and dwindle was the central theme of the event. As usual there was stampede of sorts after the show to meet the wizards by the press and the public. Ustadji and the young maestros were accommodating enough, relishing a well-concerted show. This is the second such major event organized by the Assam Association, Delhi in last two decades. Earlier, in 1992, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan did a Sarod recital with Actor - Danseuse Hema Malini doing a Bhrat Natyam Recital in second half. During that show substantial amount was raised to kick start construction of the building a decade later. This time around an Organizing Committee headed by President Mr. Bikash Chandra Bora, Ex-CMD of ONGC and Manoj Kumar Das, Organizing Secretary with the help of a close group of dedicated members of the Association managed the event quite professionally with the assistance of an event Manager Mr. Bikram Singh Thockchom, who hails from Manipur. The show was also a landmark in another sense. It was the first ticketed show of classical music in the last many - many years. The paid classical shows in Delhi have long died due to various reasons. Sponsored shows with free passes in this city of VIPs have rang a death bell to respect for classical music. According to Mrs. Subhalakshmi Khan, adviser of the show to the Association, the show has brought back respect for classical music in the capital and now many more organizers will have the courage to come forward with ticketed concerts, where only the audience with genuine love for music will become part of the concerts, not everyone who could grab free passes through connections. For the Association, it was a financial coup. They managed to save a net of about Rs. 20 lakhs, which is critical at this juncture to complete the construction. - Manoj Das, New Delhi. ============================================== ASA Newsletter is a monthly email newsletter, posted during the first week of every month. We invite contributors from all over the world. Your valuable feedback, comments & suggestions; and of course news from your part of the world for inclusion in the coming editions are highly appreciated. Mantu Baishya of Omaha, NE, on behalf of Assam Society of America, is the publisher of this issue of Athe SA newsletter. Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA) also sponsors the newsletter. The editors are Satyam Bhuyan (Ames, Iowa), Ganesh Bora (Manhattan, Kansas), Babul Gogoi (Guwahati, Assam), Jugal Kalita (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Shymanta Saikia (Wichita, Kansas), Santonu Goswami (El Paso, Texas) and Vavani Sarmah (Secane, Pennsylvania). We are seeking a few additional members to sit on the Editorial Board. The responsibilities include writing occasionally, editing submissions, collecting contributions and disseminating the newsletter to a wider audience. If interested, please contact email: asanewsletter@assam.org or asanewsletter@yahoo.com. This newsletter can also be read online at http://www.assam.org/newsletter If you want a printed copy of this newsletter, please contact us at the email address given above -=O END 0=-