In 2006-2007, a bamboo species will flower over vast swathes of Mizoram, Tripura and Assam. When bamboo flowers, it dies; usually a famine follows. How prepared, asks nitin sethi, is northeast India this time? Can they turn dis

Idioms or one well grounded interpretation?

The incidence of stomach cancer in India is lower than that of any other country around the world. However, in Mizoram, one of the north-eastern state of India, a very high age-adjusted incidence of stomach cancer is recorded. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out to identify the influence of tobacco use on the risk of developing stomach cancer in Mizoram. Among the cases, the risk of stomach cancer was significantly elevated among current smokers [odds ratio (OR), 2.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.4-8.4] but not among ex-smokers.

Hydropower is northeast India s biggest resource. But the manner in which the Subansiri Lower Project SLP is being implemented forces nitin sethi to ask: how should this growth potential be tapped?

This paper is based on the empirical findings from the Supervision Mission of a project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The mission visited the two project districts from 3 May to 17 May 2004 and conducted assessment on the on-going programmes in Karbi Anglong District of Assam and Ukhrul District of Manipur. One of the main objectives of the Supervision Mission which the author of this paper is supposed to examine is the socio-cultural dimensions of poverty.