i Assam

Hidesign factory plan for Guwahati

2011-12-11T20:58:00.001-08:00

AKANKSHYA CHALIHA

The Hidesign store in Guwahati.
India’s premier leather brand, Hidesign, has set its sights on the Northeast and is looking to open a factory in Guwahati.
“Though we are yet to identify the place, looking at the business prospects I am indeed very keen on opening a factory in Guwahati,” Hidesign founder and president Dilip Kapur said in Guwahati recently.
The company currently has three factories — one in Pondicherry and two in Himachal Pradesh — from which the products are distributed worldwide.
The retail partner of Hidesign in the region, Design Wale, a local business firm, is ready to go the extra mile to promote quality leather bags here.
The entrepreneurs behind Design Wale, Kangkan Chakravarty and Mehtaj Zaman Ahmed, are optimistic about the custom factory. “It will take some time, as these things do not happen overnight. Moreover, since we are based in Guwahati, the factory will be opened here. But, it will happen for sure,” Chakravarty said.
The factory is, however, not the only deal struck by Design Wale with Hidesign. Three standalone stores in Dimapur, Gangtok and Shillong are also in the pipeline.
“It has been only 13 months, and the Guwahati store is performing better than our expectations. This has encouraged us to further explore the Northeast market and open independent stores. The three chosen cities are heading towards urbanisation, yet retain their past glory and heritage — the same concept that drives Hidesign,” Kapur said.
The company will open its doors for the Dimapur crowd in January next year, followed by stores in Sikkim and Shillong in a phased manner.
Barring these three, Hidesign will also have a section for themselves at the Sohum Emporio in Guwahati. “I have already visited Sohum Emporio and checked the space. It will take us two months to develop the store,” Kapur said.
With an annual domestic turnover of Rs 110 crore, Hidesign has 63 boutiques across the country, with additional outlets in departmental and specialty stores.
Despite prices being on the high side, Hidesign never fell short of what it did best — lure people.
“When we decided to open a boutique in Guwahati, we did not conduct any market survey like our contemporaries do. We worked on our instincts. The Northeast is full of impulsive buyers, which gave us the confidence to open more stores here,” Ahmed said.

Govt explores cultivation in Karbi Anglong district

2011-12-11T20:56:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI: Taking a cue from Tripura, Assam government is exploring ways of involving members of United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) in rubber cultivation in Karbi Anglong district.

The Karbi outfit had signed a peace accord with the Centre last month. Over 300 cadres, including leaders of UPDS, are to lay down their arms at the Karbi Anglong Sports Association ( KASA) stadium at Diphu on December 14.

State soil conservation minister, Ardhendu Kumar Dey told TOI on Sunday that he has already discussed rubber cultivation plans in the district with UPDS leaders. Dey said with UPDS joining the mainstream, rubber plantation could be the best option for economic rehabilitation for members of the outfit.

"In Tripura insurgency was successfully contained by ushering in rubber cultivation. The economic benefits from rubber cultivation can also be replicated for members of insurgent outfits in Assam. In fact, I had talks with leaders of UPDS for taking up rubber cultivation in Karbi Anglong," Dey said.

Rubber cultivation in Karbi Anglong was prevalent many years ago, but the spell of insurgency affected its promotion for over a decade in the district.

Rubber Board member, Siby Monipally said, "Rubber plantation has proved to be the most dependable source of income. This sector is going to uplifting economic activity in Karbi Anglong in a big way."

Mrinal Chowdhury, Rubber Board's field office in-charge at Diphu (Karbi Anglong district headquarters) said, "The situation has changed in Karbi Anglong now. Former militants who have joined the mainstream are showing interest in taking up rubber cultivation. More than 50 members of militant groups in Karbi Anglong have already started rubber plantation for economic benefits." At present, about 2,500 hectares in Karbi Anglong district is under rubber plantation.

"With the improvement of law and order situations now, we are all set to usher in plantation economy through rubber in Karbi Anglong," Chowdhury added.

The state soil conservation department has targeted to cover 50,000 hectares in the state under rubber plantation in the next five years.

"Assam's potential area for rubber cultivation is two lakh hectares. Right now we have set the target of bringing 10,000 hectares under rubber plantation each year and in five years we are going to cover altogether 50,000 hectares," Dey said.

The potential yield from 50,000 hectares is estimated to be 375,000 metric tons of rubber latex in five years, expected to generate an income of over Rs 10,350 crore.

Assam govt will help state's film industry: Gogoi

2011-12-11T20:46:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Dec 12 : Assam government will assist in bailing out the state's ailing film industry, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today. "Films being a powerful and effective means of communication can be gainfully utilised in a number of ways as an instrument of creating public awakening and to promote oneness by enlisting public cooperation in the task of nation building," Gogoi said here at the mahurat of an Assamese feature film 'Baandhaon' being directed by celebrated film maker of international repute Jahnu Barua. The film is being produced by Assam State Film (finance and development) Coporation, which was lauded by Gogoi. Barua, thanking the corporation for its help, demanded that it should help in promoting at least three Assamese feature films a year. The shooting of the feature film is scheduled to begin next month, he added. State Cultural Affairs Minister Pranati Phukan also spoke on the occasion.

Monkey menace hits Guwahati zoo, authorities mull sterilization

2011-12-10T21:49:00.001-08:00

Monkey menace has reached alarming proportions in a zoo in Guwahati, Assam, as they harass the visitors and leave them injured.

Despite the fact that the zoo has a dense forest within its fold, the monkeys seldom stay there. Instead, they cross over to the visitors' zone.

The monkeys have destroyed zoo property and attacked people in the past. An environment of fright and chaos has gripped the zoo.

Pinku Borkuch, a visitor to the zoo, said that this had become a perennial problem in the zoo premises.

He added that many a time the monkeys have shown aggression towards children and have harmed them, leaving them injured.

"The monkeys here as you can see are roaming freely. They come here because during winters they don't get much to eat up in the hills. Here they snatch fruits or chips etc from the hands of the visitors. So, if they steal from the hands of a child then the child can get hurt or get an infection from it. If you try to chase them away they counter-attack," added Borkuch.

The primate problem had become such a big headache that the zoo authorities and Dr. M.L. Smith, a vet at the zoo, were considering sterilizing them to prevent rapid multiplication of the population.

Smith also said that capturing the monkeys was a herculean task and was far from easy.

"Our steps to control this menace are in the initial stage. We want to surgically sterilize the monkeys so that their breeding rate comes down. Also, catching these monkeys is not easy, especially catching them for a second time. So, this is in a trial and error stage as of now," added Smith.

The zoo authorities have already started the sterilization process and they are bringing the monkeys one by one, under the scalpel to perform vasectomy and tubectomy on them. So far, five monkeys have been operated upon.

The monkeys operated upon will be marked to identify them from the rest. Apart from this, the authorities have also decided that all the enclosures in the future would be built in such a way, that the monkeys cannot breach them.

The monkey population in the zoo was estimated to be over 500.

Taiwan offers help in wildlife conservation

2011-11-25T19:48:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI: Wildlife conservation in the state is all set to get a foreign fillip with the Taiwan government coming forward to assist in conservation activities by funding NGOs in the field.

The Taiwan government has already been supporting eight conservation programmes in the state since 2007, at a cost of US $ 48,000. Taiwan will now fund Aaranyak, a Guwahati-based NGO, to the tune of US $ 6,000, for a project titled 'Monitoring of greater one-horned rhino in Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary'. Besides,it will provide US $ 5,000 to another NGO, Rhino Foundation for Nature in North East, for compilation and production of a monograph on 'Mammals of North-east India review'.

Taiwan ambassador to India Wenchyi Ong will be here on Wednesday to hand over the cheques to the NGOs on behalf of Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture of Taiwan. "As a token of support and friendship, Taiwan wishes to make a small contribution to the daunting task of conserving wildlife in the region," Ong said.

Assam tribal girl wants action on attackers, on hunger strike

2011-11-22T07:26:00.001-08:00

Tezpur (Assam), Nov 22 : Four years after she was stripped and brutally assaulted in public and forced to run for her life by hoodlums during a procession in Guwahati, tribal girl Laxmi Orang today began a three-day hunger strike here demanding punishment for her attackers.

"I am yet to receive any official intimation on the action taken against the culprits. My fast is to demand for action against the guilty," 22-year-old Laxmi told reporters at the Tezpur
Nehru Maiden, the venue of her agitation.

She had lodged a complaint after the incident at Beltola area of Guwahati on November 24, 2007. In the rally, the processionists, including her, were demanding Scheduled Tribes status for Adivasis residing in Assam and enhancement of daily wages of tea garden labourers.

The government had instituted a CBI inquiry into the charge of physical humiliation and a few persons were taken into custody.

However, Laxmi said she has not yet received any official intimation on the action taken against the culprits.

The protesters were also demanding that duty hours of tea garden labourers should commence from 9 am instead of the present 7 am and continue till 4 pm as usual.

Laxmi and her supporters further demanded rehabilitation, with compensation, for the Adivasis affected in ethnic violence and now sheltered in Kokrajhar rehabilitation centres for years.

IIIT to be set up in Assam

2011-11-21T03:24:00.001-08:00

Guwahati: An Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) would be set up at Mirza near here in Assam on the lines of IIT, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said on Monday.

The project has been conceived in public-private mode with central government and Assam government and leading industry partners as stake holders, Gogoi told reporters here.

The IIIT is in response to the union HRD ministry's decision to set up 20 new IIITs across the country in addition to the existing four institutes of international standard in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Gandhinagar and Delhi, he said.

"With world-class infrastructure for academics and research in the field of information technology and sciences", Gogoi said, "emphasis would be on industry-interface research and development relevant to Assam, besides skill development benefitting the youths of the state to be employable here and elsewhere".

The Centre would have a share of 57.5 per cent, Assam government 35 per cent and the rest 7.5 per cent would be together held by the Tata Group, Oil India Ltd and Amtron" he added.

The first board of governors of the IIIT would be decided in consultatiojn with S Ramadorai, Former TCS chief and present advisor to the Prime Minister in the national skill development council.

Ramadorai said, "We want to start classes in August 2012 and students can join the Institute after class 12. We will also focus on undergraduate researh. We will also concentrate on local domains and needs and how to bridge the two".

Assam objects to Centre's suggestion on supra status to Nagas

2011-11-19T20:38:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Nov 20 (PTI) After Manipur, Assam todayobjected to the Centre's reported suggestion to grant a 'suprastate body' status to Nagas settled across northeasternregion. "There is even no hint of creation of a supra state.Before granting it, the government of India will certainlyconsult us before taking such a step. But if it is createdthen we will certainly oppose it," Assam Chief Minister TarunGogoi told reporters here. "There is no basis till now for granting a supra statebody. Officially there is no such information. Our officershave inquired about it and have received no information," hesaid. He said maybe it was Naga rebel group NSCN-IM that wasfloating the idea of the 'supra state body'. "There will be problems if a supra state body is created.Can problems be solved simply by creating autonomous councilsfor different communities...more problems will instead becreated," he pointed out. Elaborating, he said many Assamese, Bengalis and Tamilsresided in Delhi but would supra state bodies be created forthem there. Government spokesman and minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hadyesterday said the Assam government would take no steps whichwould affect the geographical boundary of the state, which hadonly some Zeme Nagas in North Cachhar Hills district who wereonly encroachers. Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh hadwritten to the Centre seeking clarification on media reportsthat the government was considering granting a 'supra statebody' status to Nagas living in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur andArunachal Pradesh to enable them to preserve their culture,identity and customary laws under one body.

Naga supra state body: now Assam raises objection

2011-11-18T06:09:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Nov 18 (PTI) After Manipur, it is the turnof the Assam government to raise objection to the Centre'sreported suggestion of granting a 'supra state body' status tothe Nagas settled across the Northeastern region. "The Assam government will take no steps which willaffect the state's geographical boundary," governmentspokesman and minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma told reportershere today. "Some of Assam's areas were under the occupation ofNagaland," he said. The border dispute between Assam and Nagaland has beencontinuing for decades. "There are no Naga areas in Assam and only some ZemeNagas in the North Cachhar Hills district. The few Nagas whostay in other parts of the state are 'encroachers' and notinhabitants", the spokesman said. Zeme Naga community is one of the three sub-groups ofZeliangrong tribe. The government would not take any step that mightaffect the hopes and aspirations of the people of Assam, Sarmasaid. Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh hadwrote to the Centre seeking clarification on media reportsthat the government was considering granting a 'supra statebody' status to Nagas living in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur andArunachal Pradesh to enable them preserve their culture,identity and customary laws under one body.

State not to allow inclusion of its territory in Nagalim

2011-11-17T22:11:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI: The state government will oppose any move by the Centre to give Nagas in Assam the right to infringe upon the state's territory in any manner.

There are reports of the Centre working with the NSCN(IM) on an accord with a provision to give Nagaland a special status under which Naga councils would be set up in Naga-dominated areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Though the state government is yet to receive any formal communication from the MHA on this issue, a senior state government official said, "The state government will not agree to any move by the Centre to allow Nagaland to make any kind of infringement on Assam territory."

However, government spokesman and health and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "There are no Naga-inhabited areas in Assam and any such move by the Centre will not affect the state."

State home secretary G D Tripathy told TOI, "We have not received any communication from the home ministry on the formation of Naga councils in Assam territory. We have also checked with the home ministry and it has denied any such move."

A source close to chief minister Tarun Gogoi said he is likely to meet home minister P Chidambaram on November 26 on the Naga issue. Gogoi had earlier opposed the territorial integration demanded by the NSCN(IM) and extension of the ceasefire to Naga-inhabited areas in the state.

The Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts of the state bordering Nagaland on the east have a substantial Naga population and the NSCN(IM) has been demanding the carving out of a greater 'Nagalim' by joining with Nagaland these Naga-inhabited areas of Assam as well similar areas in Arunachal Pradesh on Nagland's north and Manipur on its south.

The All Assam Students' Union also raised its voice against the reported move by the MHA to give Nagaland control over parts of the state. The students' body's general secretary, Tapan Kumar Gogoi, demanded both the Centre and state governments clarify their stands and issue whitepapers on the issue.

Manipur, too, has a sizeable Naga population and has been opposing tooth and nail the integration of Naga-inhabited areas in the state with Nagaland. The NSCN(IM) and the Centre signed a ceasefire agreement on August 1, 1997 and dialogue started in 1998.

Assam struggles with barbaric beliefs

2011-11-17T02:15:00.001-08:00

By Kaushik Deka

Witch-hunt, animal and human sacrifice, black magic etc. continue to mar Assam's social landscape.

Witch-hunts, occult practices and an age-old tradition of animal sacrifice. Assam's social landscape continues to be locked in an uneasy coexistence between the modern and the barbaric. Over 10 people have been killed in witch-hunts this year. Black magic practitioners, called bej or ojha, still hold sway in wide swathes of tribal-dominated areas in the state. And faith often becomes a fig leaf to victimise opponents and settle personal scores.

On October 8, in Jaraiguri in Kokrajhar district, Bigiram Narzary, 60, and his wife Urbushi Narzary, 55, were stoned to death by people who alleged the couple was responsible for a number of deaths in the village in the past few months. On October 9, a seven-year-old child was reportedly sacrificed inside the camp of the 121 Border Security Force (bsf) Battalion at Paharinagar in West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya. The body was mutilated, the stomach cut into pieces and incense sticks forced into the forehead. Police said two bsf jawans and a tantrik from Mankachar, Assam, were involved.

Most witch-hunts reported this year were from Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Sonitpur districts. The practice is also prevalent in Kamrup (rural), Goalpara, Chirang, Baska, Lakhimpur and Karbi Anglong districts. The districts are marked by rampant illiteracy, poor accessibility and a severe lack of basic infrastructure, including in health care, education, sanitation, and potable water. Inevitably, locals fall back on ojhas and bejs to heal and, often, bring the dead back to life.

On October 9, Akkas Ali from Juria in Nagaon district was declared dead by doctors of snake bite. His family invited several ojhas who claimed they could revive him. In a similar case in Guwahati on September 20, ojhas attempted over three days to revive a 45-year-old woman, Sarala Devi, who died of snake bite. Her body was finally placed in a raft and set afloat on the Brahmaputra. "Someday, some ojha might find the body and bring her back to life," says a relative.

Branding someone a witch is often an excuse to settle scores, or gain at another's expense. "Some alleged witch-killings are nothing but the handiwork of the land mafia," says a police officer in Sonitpur district.

On June 22, police in Sonitpur found four bodies dumped in a ditch in Monabarie Tea Estate, Asia's largest. The bodies of Binanda Gaur, 46, his wife Karishma Gaur, 36, daughter Naina, 15, and a neighbour Manglu Mour, 14, bore multiple injury marks and the faces were burned with acid. Karishma and Naina had been declared witches by the plantation workers. Tiku Orang, one of those arrested, admitted they were instigated by a man named Surat Modi to accuse Binanda and his family members of practising witchcraft, causing plantation workers to fall sick. But Binanda's wife and daughter were the real targets. Both were raped before being killed.

Official reports say from 2001 to date, 61 people have been victims of witch-hunts, including 39 Bodos and 22 Adivasis. Altogether 86 cases have been registered and chargesheets filed in 54 cases. But there has not been a single conviction yet. Those conducting witch-hunts often get away because there are no witnesses or it's difficult to pin the blame since a group of people are acting in unison.

A rise in animal sacrifices is another facet of superstitious practices in the state. There are over 100 temples in Assam where the practice is prevalent, including the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Numbers tell the story. At Bilweswar temple in Nalbari district, 20 buffaloes were sacrificed in 2010, but 32 have already been slaughtered this year. In Ugratara temple in Guwahati, the number increased from three to 13 over the corresponding period. Sources say 500 goats, 200 ducks and pigeons were sacrificed at Devi Doul in Sivasagar during Ashtami Puja this year. "Honestly speaking, it's impossible to stop this practice. All we can try is to reduce the numbers," says Bibhab Talukdar, head of Aaranyak, a Guwahati-based ngo.

Several pressure groups and ngos are combating witch-hunts to little effect. In June this year, the All Bodo Students Union launched an awareness campaign in Kokrajhar. "Such campaigns will never be effective if the root causes of the menace-lack of education and health care-are not taken care of," says Indranee Dutta, director, Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development.

In 2001, Kula Saikia, the then dig (Western Range) of Assam Police, initiated a project called Prahari in Kokrajhar to intensify the drive against witch-hunting and run campaigns among the village chiefs and elders. The project has been virtually grounded for the last two years. "It had worked wonders in tackling the menace and must be revived," says Thebla Basumatary, a Kokrajhar resident. "It's not correct to say that cases of witch-hunting have risen. Due to Project Prahari and media spotlight, cases are being reported now," says Saikia.

The Assam State Women's Commission has initiated the process towards a law to deal with witch-hunting on the lines of those in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. A three-member committee, that includes Saikia, was constituted to prepare a draft to be submitted to the government. It has met twice so far.

Assam gas project cost rises to Rs.8,920 crore

2011-11-16T03:41:00.001-08:00

New Delhi : The government Wednesday revised upward the cost estimate of the Assam Gas Cracker project to Rs.8,920 crore from the earlier Rs.5,460.61 crore due to rise in prices of input and other costs.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the revised cost.
The project, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013, will be funded by capital subsidy of Rs.4,690 crore. It will also have Rs.2,961 crore debt and Rs.1,269 crore equity.
The cabinet had in April 2006 approved the earlier estimate.
However, the project has suffered from time and cost overruns due to various reasons including time escalation, increase in infrastructural requirements and construction cost, labour unrest, prolonged monsoon and inadequate availability of skilled manpower at the site.
The project is considered crucial for the development of Assam and other states in the northeast.
"The project is in its fifth year of execution. Requisite land for the complex has been acquired and necessary land development is also in the completion stage," an official statement said.

Telangana echoes in Assam hills, lends support to Bodos

2011-11-15T21:41:00.001-08:00

In a show of unity, the Telengana joint action committee and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on Tuesday publicly lent their support to the movement of tribal Bodos in Assam for the creation of a separate state. Spearheading demands for the creation of smaller states, 22 groups nationwide decided to come under one platform to give fillip to their movements.

The two Andhra Pradesh groups asserted that their movements were based on similar lines, and hence their support to one another. “The Bodos’ demand is legitimate because they, like the people in Telengana, have been deprived of their rights over the years,” Jaya Vindhyala, president of PUCL, said on the sidelines of the rally organised by All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) for the creation of a separate state. The Bodos have been demanding a separate state for long by slicing out parts of Assam.

“The BSP, NCP, JD (U) and JD (S) have all endorsed the creation of smaller states. We don’t understand why the government is silent,” Vindhyala said. She added their visit to Assam was to unite their movements.

“We will soon form a federation of the groups demanding smaller states. Our national agenda will be to defeat the UPA and NDA,” Prof Gali Vinod Kumar, convenor of Telengana JAC, said.

“There are growing demands everywhere for the creation of smaller states. But the UPA as well as NDA instead of addressing them are playing games,” Kumar alleged.

He warned that if the government fails to address the demands by the winter session of Parliament, they will intensify their agitation. Kumar said the groups demanding smaller states have also kept open the option of foraying into electoral politics by 2014 to realise their demands.

The ABSU threatened indefinite blockades on three national highways and railway routes if the “central government continues deceiving us”. The Bodos are demanding a 50-50 division of Assam.

Hazarika's funeral creates world record

2011-11-15T00:41:00.001-08:00

Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika's funeral has created a world record with the highest number of people paying tributes to him over two days though Michael Jackson memorial service holds record as the most watched funeral on television.

According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, more than five lakh people attended the funeral of 'The Bard of the Brahmaputra' and 30 lakh people watched it on television.
Hazarika died on November five in Mumbai and his body lay in state at the historic Judges Field for two days from the night of November seven for people to pay their homage before cremation on November nine.
The Wikipedia has a list of notable funerals representing historical funerals, based on both the number of attendants and estimated television audience.
The Michael Jackson memorial service on July 7, 2009, holds a record as the most watched funeral ever with 2.5 to 3 billion viewing it the world over.
More than two lakh people paid tributes to Princess Diana of Wales in September 1997 in London and Althorp, United Kingdom while 2.5 billion viewed it on television.
The list includes, among others, the funerals of Elvis Presley, Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King Jr, Joseph Stalin, Joseph Tito, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Montazeri, Benigno Aquino, C R Annadurai and Aryton Senna.

Assam achieves third highest rate of progress in HDI

2011-11-14T06:55:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Nov 14 (PTI) Assam has achieved the thirdhighest rate of progress in Human Development Index (HDI)among all major states in India, according to India HumanDevelopment Report, 2011 of the Planning Commission. Assam registered 32 per cent progress in HDI for1999-2000 and 2007-08 and if it maintains the current rate ofprogress for another decade it was likely that its overallhuman development would be ahead of other states, the reportpointed out. HDI reflects three main components of development -education, health and per capita income. The report said Assam has shown the highest rate ofprogress in income index and third highest rate of progress inhealth index but is lagging behind the national average in theeducation index. With a hunger index of 19.83 (as in 2008) and rankedfourth, Assam is doing better than the so-called developedstates with high per capita income namely Tamil Nadu,Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat, the report added.

Bomb threat hits rly services on Lumding-Silchar section

2011-10-27T04:17:00.001-07:00

SILCHAR: Train services on the Lumding-Silchar section of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) remained cancelled from Tuesday evening till 7 am on Wednesday due to a bomb threat on the tracks.

A senior police officer in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao district, said authorities of NFR division at Lumding got information that there was a bomb planted on the tracks somewhere between Harangajao and Maibang stations in the section. Immediately after this, movement of all passenger and goods trains was stalled at different points on Tuesday evening to avoid any untoward incident and a massiver search operation was launched along the 71-km stretch between the two stations, he added.

Haflong police station OC Shanku Sargiari said Assam Police, along with the Army, GRP and RPF, launched an operation along the stretch of the railway track with the help of sniffer dogs for the bomb. The operation continued throughout the night. But at the end, nothing was found, said a relieved OC.

Due to the action of the authorities, the Lumding-Silchar Cachar Extress, Agartala-Lumding Express and some freight trains were stopped at different destinations throughout the night. The move, however, caused harassment to the passengers.

The officer said the trains were allowed to start for their destinations only at 7 am on Wednesday after ensuring that there was no bomb anywhere on the tracks. He added that precaution was necessary given the recent law and order situation in the hills district. "We are no more ready to take any risk. Therefore, people should bear with us," said the officer.

He added that security measures have been tightened throughout the Barail Hills range following a few incidents of killing, torching of houses and attack on trains by suspected militants since the first week of this month.

Centre assures Assam of adequate funds for development

2011-10-27T03:47:00.001-07:00

The Centre has assured Assam to provide adequate funds for proper implementation of rural development schemes in the state. This was disclosed by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh after reviewing the on-going schemes in Nagaon district in Central Assam on Wednesday.

He said, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, has accorded highest priority for upgradation of infrastructural facilities in rural areas of the state.

The Minister asked the state government to prepare appropriate schemes aimed at benefiting the rural needy people, employment generation and uplifting the economy. He assured that funds for the schemes will not be a problem.

He also visited some on-going rural development projects under Indira Awas Yojana and Mahatma Gandhi NAREGA in Samaguri Assembly Constituency in the district.

Delhi turn to work on Manas pact

2011-10-26T21:45:00.002-07:00

ROOPAK GOSWAMI

Guwahati, Oct. 26: New Delhi is yet to respond to Thimphu’s comments on a draft memorandum of understanding on wildlife cooperation between India and Bhutan over a year ago to protect Manas on both sides of the international border.
A source said Bhutan has given its comments on the MoU, but there has been no response from New Delhi.
“A senior park official from Royal Manas Bhutan visited Manas National Park a couple of days back and said his government had given its comments on the draft and has agreed to the trans-boundary concept. It was now waiting for India to go ahead,” the source said.
There have been discussions between conservation agencies on the trans-boundary issues which are also supporting the cause and called for expeditious action from the host country. A number of training programmes has been organised in Bhutan to educate officials on wildlife issues.
At present, India has a memorandum of understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China.
The source said the draft memorandum of understanding has to be vetted by the ministry of home affairs and external affairs.
At present, collaboration and cooperation between the managers and staff of Manas National Park and Royal Manas National Park is very strong but it needs to be formalised.
The Indian and Bhutanese park management and staff regularly visit each other to exchange information and can move freely across the border for this purpose.
Though there was joint camera trapping of tigers in both Manas National Park and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, the report has still not come out.
However, officials said before talking on trans-boundary issues — which is required as it will help wildlife conservation on both sides — it is important to put Manas National Park into proper shape.
There are a number of problems that still haunt Manas like the absence of control over the buffer areas. For instance, the field director of Manas has no control of these areas, which causes management problems.
The buffer area forests fall within the jurisdiction of the forest chief of Bodoland Territorial Council, whereas the core area is under the control of chief wildlife warden, Assam.
The joint IUCN/Unesco mission which visited Manas early this year has strongly encouraged both India and Bhutan to do a joint feasibility study on a trans-boundary expansion of the existing property to include larger areas of this landscape on both sides of the international border.
While Manas National Park has been declared out of danger, forest officials said it was time for Bhutan to nominate Royal Manas as a World Heritage Site, which will help both the sides. India has already given its support for helping Bhutan to nominate Royal Manas as a World Heritage Site.

Save-Sharmila team threatens hunger strike

2011-10-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

Supporters of the campaign in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos
Guwahati, Oct. 27 : The activists of Kashmir to Imphal Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, who reached Guwahati today, said they would sit on a hunger strike if they were not allowed to meet the Iron Lady of Manipur in Imphal.
The campaigners will leave for Imphal tomorrow to meet Sharmila, garner public support there and put pressure on New Delhi to meet her demand of scrapping the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.
“Our group comprises social and human rights activists from states outside the Northeast and we would like to meet Sharmila tomorrow. However, we have heard that no one is allowed to meet her. If we are not allowed to meet her, we will sit on a token hunger strike, which is the non-violent way of protesting, on October 28,” Faisal Khan, leader of National Alliance for People’s Movement, told The Telegraph after a meeting at the Asam Sahitya Sabha here.
The nationwide campaign started in Kashmir on October 16 and has traversed 10 states and travelled about 4,000km to gather public support against the act, which is termed “draconian” by its opponents.
The save-Sharmila campaign is a joint initiative of the people’s movement, Asha Parivar, Gandhi Global Family, Jagriti Mahila Samiti, Khudai Khidmatgar, Yuva Kosish, Mission Bharatiyam and a few other NGOs. Irom Sharmila has been on fast since November 2000 demanding scrapping of the army act from Manipur.
The group is demanding positive steps to hold talks with Sharmila, send an all-party delegation to Imphal, a team of the National Women’s Commission, National Human Rights Commission as well as a special medical team from New Delhi to examine her health condition.
The activists, speaking at the meeting here, accused the Centre of doing injustice to Sharmila by neglecting her demand to scrap the act.
“The people of Manipur have been fighting for long in support of Sharmila and her demand. However, their cry against the ‘black law’ has not been paid any heed by the government at New Delhi. Hence, we decided to form a platform of people from the rest of the country to put pressure on our political class at the Centre to meet Sharmila’s demand,” Khan said.
Santosh Upaddhay, an activist from Bihar who works with jail inmates in his home state, said, “I have been working in jails and I have seen that family members are allowed to meet inmates inside the jail. Unfortunately, Sharmila has been fighting for people of her state and yet is not allowed to meet anyone. This is nothing but violation of her fundamental rights. When the people of Manipur are against the draconian act, we believe that the Centre is doing injustice to the people.”
The campaign made stops at Ludhiana, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ranchi, Patna and Calcutta before reaching Guwahati.

Security placed on high alert following fresh attack by militants in Assam

2011-10-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

Oct 16, 6:49 PM
In Assam, security has been placed on a high alert following fresh attack by militants in Dimasa tribe inhabited villages in North Cachar Hill district on Sunday. Additional forces are being deployed in the vulnerable areas of the hill district.

According to official sources, armed miscreants torched 16 more houses in Gaijen village, around 25 kilometres away from the Halflong Police Station this morning. Three persons, including two women were injured in the militants’ attack in the village. This was the second attack on the Dimasa villages during last 48 hours in the district.

AIR correspondent reports, the Police suspect the involvement of the newly formed underground outfit- Hills Tiger Force in the attack. Earlier on Friday, the miscreants had torched eight houses in Choto Longri village in the district.

The district authorities, organised peace meetings involving students and society leaders in the Dimasa, Kuki, Hmar and Jemi Naga tribes inhabited areas of the district to maintain communal harmony.

Ulfa deposits 57 weapons with Centre ahead of peace talks

2011-10-15T22:21:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The Centre has finally managed to convince the pro-talks Ulfa led by Arabinda Rajkhowa to deposit its weapons ahead of the peace negotiations scheduled for October 25. However, the faction has deposited just 57 assorted weapons, a number believed to be far smaller than the outfit's actual arsenal. A suspension of operations agreement was signed by the Centre on September 3.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said, "Initially, there was some objection from Ulfa leaders to depositing the weapons, but the government has convinced them to do so. It is a uniform policy followed with all outfits that before talks start they should deposit their weapons, stay in designated camps and not resort to any extortion."

Gogoi said the first round of talks between Ulfa and the Centre since the tripartite ceasefire agreement was signed last month will be held in New Delhi on October 25. A memorandum of settlement would also be signed with the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), another militant outfit of the state, on October 24 in New Delhi, the chief minister informed.

He added, "However, there are forces like the Maoists, ISI and anti-talk groups who are trying to derail the peace process that we are carrying out with militant groups. They know that once the process is completed, the state will make development in leaps and bounds."

Giving details of the deposit of weapons with the Centre, state home secretary G D Tripathi told TOI, "They have so far deposited 57 weapons but they might still have some weapons with them. We will be getting the rest of the arms as well."

The senior home department official added that the 57 deposited weapons are currently stored in the house of a pro-talks Ulfa leader, but are under the joint custody of the local police and the Ulfa leader. "They are under a double-lock safe custody, with keys to one lock with the local police officer and the other with the Ulfa leader. Very soon, we will be shifting these weapons to the camps where the Ulfa cadres will be staying while the peace talks proceed," Tripathi said.

The pro-talk Ulfa cadres will have to stay in designated camps, which they want to be named as Assam Naba Nirman Kendra. The home secretary said, "There will be nine such camps in the state and the camp at Goalpara is ready to be handed over to the cadres. When the cadres of that area move into the camp, we can shift the deposited weapons there."

The Ulfa faction had so far been refusing to deposit their weapons like other outfits that are holding peace talks with the government. The Ulfa leadership was demanding an "honourable" walk-in into the discussion without depositing weapons, but the Centre finally convinced the outfit to agree to its demand.

The home secretary said the Rajkhowa faction has also submitted a list of the cadres of the pro-talks Ulfa, who number 297.

Maoists tiptoe into Assam

2011-10-15T22:14:00.001-07:00

Jorhat, Oct. 16 : At least 18 Maoist rebels were apprehended in Tinsukia district alone in the past month, including one arrested yesterday from Sadiya along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. This has triggered speculation among security forces that the Leftist rebel group is trying to fill the void created by Ulfa in Upper Assam .

“What is worrying is that most of these arrested persons are ethnic Assamese youths. A few of them have received training in Jharkhand and Manipur,” a senior police officer in Tinsukia district said. The officer said at least five youths who were arrested had received training in Jharkhand and two were trained by the NSCN (I-M) in Manipur.

Police also apprehended another Maoist rebel, Dibakar Das, from Sapekathi town in Sivasagar district yesterday. The police said Dibakar, who hails from Kothikhuda village in Sapekathi area, admitted to having links with the Maoists and he, along with one Aditya Bora, had been carrying out a recruitment drive recently.

Dibakar was arrested on the basis of information provided by two Maoist rebels apprehended from Sonari last month. Sources in the police headquarters said earlier it was suspected that an Adivasi militant organisation of the state had links with the Maoist rebels but in recent times it has come to light that Leftist rebel outfit has also managed to lure local youths. Many of them have joined the outfit.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said in Guwahati today that he had been iterating time and again about the Maoists trying to expand their network to Assam. “They are active and the developments definitely prove they were trying to get a toehold in the state,” Gogoi said.
Top

Oust Paresh, CM to Myanmar

2011-10-15T22:02:00.003-07:00

GUWAHATI: Myanmar's assurances that it would not allow its territory to be used for insurgent activities against India has prompted chief minister Tarun Gogoi to demand Ulfa hardliners' commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah's ouster from the neighbouring country.

A spokesman of the ministry of external affairs on Thursday, during a briefing on the ongoing visit of Myanmar president U Thein Sein to India, said in New Delhi on Friday that India has received assurances that Myanmar territory will not be allowed to be used for insurgent activities against India and both sides will remain in close and regular contact in this regard.

"This is very good news for the northeastern region and for Assam in particular as Ulfa and some other NE militant outfits are based in Myanmar. We know that Paresh Baruah is there too. Like Bhutan and then Bangladesh, I think Myanmar too should oust the Indian militant outfits and Paresh Baruah from its territory," Gogoi said here on Saturday.

He said though Myanmar is not an immediate neighbour of the state, having a good relationship with the country would not just improve the security situation in Assam but also help develop the economy of the region under India's Look East Policy.

"The hotbed of insurgency in the state is at the junction of Sadiya (upper Assam), Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. This area is interconnected and provides easy access to militants to sneak in and out of Myanmar," Gogoi said.

The chief minister added that the NDFB and Ulfa wreaked havoc in the state in throughout the 90s from their headquarters in Bhutan. After the 2003 Bhutan offensive, the two outfits shifted base to Bangladesh and then to Myanmar when Bangladesh clamped down on them, he said.

Recently, Myanmarese forces attacked camps of Indian militant outfits though no casualties were reported on either side. The Indian militants are sheltering at a unified camp in the Taga area of Kachin region in Myanmar, which is close to Indian territory. This camp houses the mobile military headquarters of Baruah's Ulfa faction and also serves as the base of eight other outfits from Manipur, including the NSCN(K).

"Ulfa has about 80 to 90 members in the unified camp. Top leaders of Baruah's group like Jibon Moran, Michael Deka Phukan, Bijoy Das and Sujeet Mohan are hiding at the camp. However, we are not sure about Baruah's presence. Ulfa has three other camps in Myanmar - the Arakan base with about six cadres, the Naga base with about eight inmates and the 28th battalion headquarters with just three rebels," said Gogoi.

Security sources said that besides Ulfa and NSCN(K), Myanmar is also the base of militant outfits including the PLA, the UNLF, Prepak and the KYKL from Manipur.

Indo-Myanmar pact to tackle insurgency in north-east: Gogoi

2011-10-15T22:02:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Oct 16 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister TarunGogoi today said the Indo-Myanmar agreement would benefit thesecurity of the north-eastern region by tackling the menace ofinsurgency in the area. "The accord between visiting Myanmar president TheinSein and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is good news forthe north-east region from the security point of view", Gogoitold reporters here. "Insurgent outfits like ULFA, NSCN and other groupsfrom the region have set up camps in Myanmar. Like Bangladeshdid, we are now hopeful after the accord that Myanmar willalso oust them from their territory for peace, security andstability in the region", Gogoi said. "Assam's uppermost tip Sadiya, adjacent ArunachalPradesh and Myanmar are the bastion of the militants. Thiswill be tackled by the agreement to enhance effectivecooperation and coordination between the security forces ofthe two countries," he added. The opening of the Stilwell Road, built during WorldWar II in 1942 and passing through Burma would benefitCentre's Look East Policy by intensifying trading activitieswith South Asia to bring about overall socio-economicbetterment in the area, the CM said.

Ulfa hardliners slam Rajkhowa for peace talks

2011-10-15T03:07:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The fight between Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and military boss Paresh Baruah is public now. Ahead of the first round of discussions by Ulfa's pro-talks faction on its charter of demands with the government, Baruah has slammed Rajkhowa for seeking an agreement with the government through talks.

An email statement by Baruah's faction stated, "If Rajkhowa goes against the ideologies of Ulfa and proceeds for signing any kind of agreement with the Centre, Ulfa, as a whole, will not accept that."

The anti-talks faction's publicty in-charge, Arunodoy Dohotiya, in the email said, "We do not believe in any kind of accord with the government about which Rajkhowa is speaking in public. There can be no agreement on sovereignty. It is earned through sacrifice. Ulfa was born to restore Assam's sovereignty."

Rajkhowa, on the flip side, defended his group's peace initiative and accused Baruah of acting against the greater interest of the people of the state. Rajkhowa, who was produced in the designated court on Friday in connection with four TADA cases, said outside the court, "Paresh Baruah has nowhere said that he is seeking a military solution. Let him make his stand clear on the peace process."

This was Rajkhowa's first appearance in the court after he was released from jail on bail to facilitate the peace process in January last. Rajkhowa's statement outside the court followed an email statement from Baruah's faction, which rejected the peace process.

The Rajkhowa faction, in its charter of demands submitted to the centre on August 5, dropped its sovereignty demand and replaced it with a proposal to initiate negotiations "to bring in measures, constitutional or otherwise, of wide scope and that certain urgent political, economic, social and cultural arrangement be undertaken and completed within a reasonable timeframe by the government of India to ensure a peaceful democratic solution to the historic Indo-Assam question."

Mahanta for fresh border demarcation

2011-10-14T00:13:00.001-07:00

Silchar: AGP leader and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Thursday said there should be a fresh survey and demarcation of the 4096-km Indo-Bangla border, including the 267.3-km stretch along Assam.

After visiting the 92-km international border in Karimganj district, Mahanta told the assembly that the land-swap deal, signed between India and Bangladesh during the Dhaka visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and four NE chief ministers on September 6, was asfull of errors and that the interest of Assam has largely been sacrificed.

"The states of West Bengal and Meghalaya were benefited from the deal, but Assam lost its land. There should be a fresh survey and demarcation of the entire border. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi is not giving the true picture to the people of the state about the agreement," Mahanta told reporters in Karimganj on Thursday.

The former Assam chief minister also visited the disputed 2.874-km stretch in Lathitila-Dumabari and Madanpur-Palatol in Karimganj district and talked to farmers who lost their land to Bangladesh as a result of the deal. "The farmers showed me the land documents, which prove that the land in question, which was handed over to Bangladesh, belongs to them. How can the Centre sign such a deal without consulting Parliament. This is against the provisions of the Constitution and a compromise with sovereignty," said the AGP leader.

Mahanta also talked to Indian people who were barricaded out during construction of the barbed- wire fencing along the border.

He said people living on the other side of the border were living an inhuman life. "The government should immediately take measures to rehabilitate them," he said.

Mahanta said his party will raise the issue during the special session of assembly on October 17.

Under the protocol to the 1974 land boundary demarcation between India and Bangladesh, which was signed in the first week of September, 94.6 acres of land at Lalthila and 299.04 acres at Pallathal, which have been in adverse possession of Bangladesh since 1965, have also been ceded away to Bangladesh. The state also lost Boraibari village in Dhubri.

Mahanta alleged that his party lost the last assembly elections because of tampering of EVMs by the ruling party. He demanded that ballot papers should be used during the ensuing elections to ensure free and fair voting.

Asked about the delay in completion of the Lumdinga"Silchar broad gauge project under NF Railway, the senior AGP leader blamed both chief minister Tarun Gogoi and former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev for this. asThe people of this region have been bearing the burnt due to political rivalry between the two senior Congress leaders," he said.

Three killed by lightning in Assam

2011-08-24T21:31:00.001-07:00

Three persons, including a blind couple, were killed by lightning in separate incidents in Assam s Sonitpur district today as the flood situation in the district turned grim. Incessant rains fed the rivers, leading to alarming rise in water levels in Sonitpur and neighbouring districts. The blind couple, Madan Topno and his wife Phulmoni, were struck by lightning in Bindukuri area, leading to their deaths. Another person, Bhuju Kurmi, was also killed by lightening in the same area. Spiraling waters of the Jia Bhoroli, Jorakhor and other rivers have inundated several areas in Sonitpur. Flood waters have also reportedly entered parts of the airport in the district headquarters town of Tezpur. Though the runway is safe as of now, if waters continue to rise, the possibility of flood waters entering the runway has not been ruled out. Flood waters have also entered a training camp of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Tezpur. In Golaghat district, several areas have been inundated as rivers in the district are being fed with water gushing from higher reaches in bordering Nagaland, which has witnessed heavy rains.

Illegal migration issue serious: PC

2011-08-24T21:05:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI, Aug 25 – Admitting that illegal migration is a serious problem, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram today declined to link the undemarcated border with the influx of immigrants from Bangladesh.The Home Minister was responding to Members in the Rajya Sabha this morning during a Question Hour discussion on boundary dispute with the neighbouring country.Chidambaram observed that to call an immigrant as an infiltrator also may not be correct because infiltration is used in a very different context in connection with militancy.The undemarcated border is only 6.1 km and it lies in three segments. There is a good possibility that these matters will be resolved when the Prime Minister visits Bangladesh.Chidambaram said, “As far as illegal immigration from Bangladesh is concerned, yes, that is a problem. People from Bangladesh cross over and enter into India. While large numbers come on visas, a small number does come illegally.However, the Home Minister’s reply led further interruptions with AGP and BJP MPs lodging protests.“We apprehend them on the international border. I have the numbers that are apprehended at international border. In 2008 - 3,175, in 2009 - 2,460; in 2010 - 1,600, and in 2011 up to July – 453 illegal migrants were apprehended,” he reeled out.Amidst interruption by Members, who demanded a half-an-hour discussion, Chidambaram conceded that a large number of people have come across the border and they have not been apprehended.“I concede that. This is a very long border. It is a difficult border. We have a large number of BOPs. We are increasing the number of BOPs by almost 50 per cent. We are trying to strengthen the border, but given the nature of the terrain, the fact that people on either side of the border belong to the same racial and language group, there are great difficulties in identifying illegal immigrants,” he said.‘There are no easy solutions, but we are doing our very best to stop illegal immigration,” he argued.Replying to questions, the Home Minister further clarified that there are no different standards between the western and eastern borders. Between India and Bangladesh, the agreement was that fencing will be erected beyond the 150 yards from the international border.“In some places, we have asked that we should be allowed to erect the fencing within 150 yards.“The misconception should be corrected, that if the fence is erected at 150 yards, the land on the other side of the fence belongs to Bangladesh. It is completely wrong. That land is Indian land. There are gates, there are BPOs,” he said.Treading cautiously citing friendly relations with Bangladesh, Chidambaram disclosed that that India and Bangladesh have identified a certain number of patches for joint inspection. At least 46 patches have been prioritized. In 34 patches, joint inspection between India and Bangladesh has been completed. Work has commenced in 27 cases, and, in the remaining cases, work will commence.“Wherever we want to build fence within 150 yards, we go through a procedure. It is a slow procedure. It is a procedure that requires negotiations with Bangladesh but we are addressing those problems, where the fence has to be put up within 150 yards of the international boundary.”Declining to give any time line for demarcating the boundary, Chidambaram said that on October 8, 2009, Bangladesh had given notice before the International Arbitration Tribunal. India has time to submit its counter memorial.Bangladesh has 51 enclaves inside the Indian territory and India has 111 enclaves inside the Bangladesh territory.As far as the number of people is concerned, the number in both categories of enclaves is not very large. The total number in all the enclaves put together is only 51,590.Earlier, Kumar Deepak Das said that there were many disputed lands on the Indo-Bangladesh border, such as Lathitilla-Dumabari. Some 50 acres of land, including a tea garden, that has been given to Bangladesh for construction of the Bhongir line in the Karimganj area.Making an intervention, Biren Baishya wanted a half-an-hour discussion on the issue.Thomas Sangma said that Meghalaya shares a large part of its border with Bangladesh but he claimed that the border fencing is done with a setback of 150 yards from the border pillars. As a result, India is losing a lot of land to Bangladesh and the neighbouring country is not constructing any border from their side, he pointed out.

Assam Rubber Board to bring 12,500 hectares under plantation

2011-08-24T21:03:00.001-07:00

Supratim Dey / Kolkata/ Guwahati August 25, 2011, 0:31 ISTThe Rubber Board has indentified Assam as a” potential state” to “replicate the Tripura success story” and plans to bring 2 lakh hectares area under rubber plantation in the state in near future. It has a set a target to bring at least 12,500 hectares area under rubber plantation in Assam and 35,000 hectares in North East in the 12th five year plan.Sustained effort from the state government and the Rubber Board had made Tripura, a left ruled state in North East, the second largest producer of natural rubber in India within a short span. The rubber success story helped the state bring down militancy drastically over the years.If Rubber Board officials are to be believed, Assam can overtake Tripura within next 10 years or so, if a sustained effort is being made.“We have seen that the agro-climatic conditions of Assam and North East are suitable for rubber plantation. What has happened in Tripura can also happen in Assam and North East. We are going to be focussed on North East in the next 4-5 years,” said Sheela Thomas, Chairperson of Rubber Board.Tripura has shown that rubber can be very remunerative employment for the people, “if there is a whole hearted effort from the government”, Thomas said.She added that “productivity wise” too Assam “huge scope” for rubber plantation.Citing Kerala’s example, Thomas, however, cautioned that agricultural land should not be converted into rubber plantations as that would then lead to food scarcity in the state.AK Krishna Kumar, Executive Director of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS), who has been very instrumental in helping Tripura script the rubber success story, suggested the Assam government to launch a Rubber Mission, similar to one launched in the neighbouring state, for promoting rubber plantation in a focussed way. Researches are presently underway by the Rubber Board to develop a rubber clone exclusively for the North Eastern states.As per figures provided by the Rubber Board, Assam has 28,102 hectares of land under rubber plantation currently, against its potential of 2 lakh hectares.Tripura on the other hand, has 55,415 hectares of land under plantation as against its potential of 1 lakh hectares.The land under rubber plantation in Kerala, which is the largest rubber producing state in India, is 5,25,408 hectares.With demand for natural rubber growing fast, the deficit between availability and supply too is widening, prompting the Rubber Board to look for suitable areas for plantation.Presently, India’s rubber industry turnover is around Rs. 4,500 crore and the demand is expected to touch 1.78 lakh MT by 2025.

http://watchhp.blogspot.com/2011/08/samsung-could-be-preparing-to-purchase.html

2011-08-24T03:08:00.000-07:00

Guwahati, Aug 24 : Flash floods triggered by heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Assam, with an estimated 900,000 people displaced and nine dead so far, officials said on Wednesday.A government bulletin said 12 of the 27 districts of Assam have been affected by floods, the eastern districts ofDhemaji and Lakhimpur being the worst affected."So far, 9,11,080 people have been affected by the floods in 12 districts and 43 embankments breached," the government statement said.At least nine people have been swept away by the floods in the past one week, seven of them in Dhemaji district.A Central Water Commission bulletin said the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries were flowing above the danger mark in at least eight places.An estimated 250,000 people are now displaced in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, about 400 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati."Most of the flood-hit people are now taking shelter on raised platforms, railway tracks, and in government schools and offices," a government spokesperson said.Torrents of flood waters have breached at least four vital mud embankments in eastern Assam, besides snapping road links. National Highway 52 in eastern Assam has been severely affected.A vast stretch of the Kaziranga National Park has come under water, forcing forest guards to move out of the sanctuary and making animals run for safety."We are taking all possible measures to mitigate the woes of the flood-affected people," Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said.

Rs. 100-crore flood aid for Dhemaji

2011-08-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

Sushanta Talukdar

Tarun Gogoi
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday announced a Rs. 100-crore package for the flood-hit Dhemaji district.
The announcement came during a tour of the district by Mr. Gogoi for a first-hand assessment of the flood devastation in the backward district.
He announced this while talking to the flood-affected people of the district, at Silapathar and Sisiborgaon.

Ex-gratia

The Chief Minister also announced ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh to the kin of each of those killed in the floods.
He said Rs. 25,000 would be given to the families whose concrete houses had been damaged by flood waters, and Rs. 10,000 to the families whose kutcha houses had been damaged.
Besides, the State government would also provide financial assistance to compensate for the loss of livestock and special assistance to students affected by floods.
Later, at a meeting with top officials of the district administration, the North East Frontier Railways and the Border Roads Organisation, Mr. Gogoi directed the departments to initiate measures to reverse the course of the River Gai which caused the devastation, and to restore communication network in the district.
He instructed the district administration to continue providing relief materials to the affected people.
The Northeast Frontier Railway, with support from the Railway Board, on Tuesday dispatched relief materials to the flood-affected people of Dhemaji and North Lakshimpur district.
The materials sent include about 1,700 dhotis, 1,600 sarees, 1,000 children's dresses, and 1,100 polythene sheets for protection from rain.
These are being handed over to the district authorities for further disbursement, stated an official release issued by chief public relations officer, N.F. Railway, S. Hajong.

Manipur observes 119th Patriots' Day

2011-08-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Imphal, Aug.24 (ANI): Manipuris recently observed the 119th Patriots' Day in capital Imphal in the presence of Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh. Floral tribute was paid to the war heroes of 1891. It maybe recalled that Prince Tikendrajit, General Thangal and Kajao Singh were hanged on August 13, 1891 for waging war against the British.The British hanged Prince Bir Tikendrajit and General Thangal at Pheidapung in Imphal in broad daylight before thousands of Manipuris for revolting against them.Government schools and colleges observed the day by singing patriotic songs, recitations and participation in drawing competitions. In Imphal, the event was observed in the Bir Tikendrajit Park.he sacrifice rendered by Prince Tikendrajit inspired India's freedom movement subsequently. Years later, the government of free India, with suggestion from Arun Chandra Guha, included the portrait of Bir Tikendrajit in the National Portrait Gallery inside Parliament. Governor Jagat said that Patriots' Day was a reminder of the heroic acts of Manipuris in different war fronts of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 that showed to the world that Manipuris had the sacrificing and unflinching courage to challenge the then mighty British Empire for the sake of their motherland. He further said that while celebrating the day, the present generation, along with paying our homage and tribute to the heroic forefathers of Manipur, should renew our pledge to work with dedication for the cause of our motherland. Jagat said Manipur should take steps to accelerate development for prosperity and welfare, as a part of India, its citizens had a bounden duty to make the country strong and prosperous. Chief Minister Singh said the patriotism of Prince Tikendrajit, General Thangal and others would serve as a guiding light to the people of the state. The chief minister also appealed to the people to stand united against the perpetrators of disunity in the state and move towards peace and prosperity. (ANI)

Rubber Board focus on Assam

2011-08-23T02:31:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The national Rubber Board is looking to make Assam one of the leading states in rubber production in the country. The board, which is focusing on the future of rubber production in the northeast, said Assam should come up with a comprehensive policy on rubber plantation and production.Tripura tops in rubber cultivation in the region, with 55,415 hectare under rubber plantation. Assam is in the second place with 28,102 hectare under rubber plantation.Tripura produces more than 18,455 tonne of rubber per annum and the volume shows a rising trend. In fact, Tripura has emerged as the second largest rubber producer in the country after Kerala."The need of the hour is to formulate a comprehensive policy for rubber plantation and production in Assam.Tripura could march ahead in rubber production because of a focused policy approach in this sector. We want Assam comes up with a rubber policy as well," a senior Rubber Board official said over the phone from Kerala.The official added rubber cultivation is already happening in Assam. "What we need now is to give it a proper boost. So, a focused policy approach is needed to ensure Assam emerges as one of the top rubber-producing states in the country," he said.Considering the importance of rubber cultivation in Assam, chief minister Tarun Gogoi has called a meeting with officials of the Rubber Board on August 24. tnn The meeting will be a crucial one on shaping a policy-approach to rubber cultivation in Assam, the official said.The Rubber Board's focus has shifted from traditional rubber-producing belts like Kerala and Tamil Nadu to the northeast as far as plantation is concerned.The Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation Ltd (TRPCL) of the Tripura government played a crucial role in weaning tribals from shifting cultivation and making them shift to rubber plantation. "Rubber plantation in the northeast has scripted success stories in Tripura, and we are geared up with training and promotional exercises for popularizing rubber plantation in Assam," the official said.The board has set up a rubber research and training centre at Hahara in Sonapur on the outskirts of the city to train upcoming rubber cultivators in the state.

Ratan Tata calls on Assam CM

2011-08-21T23:14:00.001-07:00

Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata paid a courtesy call on Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at his official residence here.
Tata, who arrived here last night, met Gogoi and held discussions on the progress of ongoing projects of the company in the state, official sources said.
Tata was on a visit to the state to hand over keys of 150 Nano cars to customers at two Tata Motors outlets here.
Speaking on the occasion, Tata said Assam was an important state for the company''s growth activities.
Tata Motors looks at the development of commercial vehicle as a total Indian effort without any collaboration with any foreign company, he added.

8 washed away in Assam flash floods

2011-08-15T07:27:00.001-07:00

Lakhimpur, Aug 15 (PTI) At least eight people, including four of a family, were washed away and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh surface links disrupted by flash floods in Assam''s Dhemaji district today.
The eight were washed away at Sisibargaon by swollen waters of Gainadi, a major tributary of Brahmaputra river, following torrential rains in its upper reaches of Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said.
The rising water level swept away the family of four - a couple and their two children-- who had climbed a tree to save themselves, the sources said adding a search operation was on to trace them.
The flash floods inundated 35 villages in Sisibargaon revenue circle where houses were submerged under 5-feet water, the sources said.
A portion of a railway bridge on Rangiya-Murkongselek metre-gauge track was washed away by the surging waters leading to suspension of train services.
Gainadi has submerged NH-52 disrupting road communication to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, the sources added.

Fire crackers burst on train tracks in Assam

2011-08-15T06:39:00.001-07:00

Goalpara, Aug 15 (PTI) Fire crackers kept inside a tinon the railway tracks by miscreants burst at Darrangiri inlower Assam's Goalpara district early this morning but nonewas injured.The fire crackers exploded around 2 am causing thepeople to assume that an improvised explosive devise(IED) had burst on the B G tracks, district additionalsuperintendent of police Pradip Kumar Brahma told PTI.Denying media reports about a minor explosion of anIED on the railway tracks under Rongjuli police station, thepolice officer said, the crackers must have been planted bymiscreants to create a fear psychosis among the people.Police patrolling was on to prevent subversiveactivities by insurgents in the district in view ofIndependence Day today, he added.

Assam to get Northeast's first integrated tea park

2011-08-14T23:10:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The first integrated tea park of the Northeast will come up at Chaygaon on the outskirts of Guwahati. Around Rs 23 crore will be invested in the project. The pre-feasibility report of the park is already prepared. Sources in Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) told ET: "We have identified 200 bighas of land for the tea park. We have already purchased and acquired 60 bighas. Process is on for procuring the remaining."Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, during his meeting with deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said that though tea is the biggest industry in Assam there was not a single integrated tea park in the state, which could cater to the needs of the industry. "The AIDC has taken steps to set up the tea park, which will create worldclass infrastructure for processing, warehousing, blending and packaging on the industry cluster concept. Tea export from the state will increase substantially with the operation of the park," the sources added.Based on the techno-economic feasibility report, AIDC has re-casted the project cost from Rs 39.67 crore to Rs 23.40 crore. The fund is expected to be generated from the leased out space and assistance to the state for developing export infrastructure and allied activities. Currently, Guwahati has around 14 lakh square feet of warehousing facilities scattered in different locations.Assam's tea production was estimated at 480.2 million kg (mkg) last year, which was down by 19.7 mkg compared to the previous year's production of 499.9 mkg. Tea plantation is expanding fast in non-traditional areas and the park is expected to assist the growers in the non-traditional areas. While Assam and Tripura are traditional tea-growing states, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim constitute the non-traditional areas. The Northeastern region accounts for 55% of the area under tea and 53% of the production. Tripura produces 7.5 mkg annually. The non-traditional areas together produce 2.98 mkg annually.

Assam Assets surpasses its targets

2011-08-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: Oil and Natural gas Corporation Limited (Assam Assets) has announced that it has surpassed all targets in the first quarter of the current fiscal after over achieving the MoU goal of oil and natural gas production in the last financial year that has remained elusive for the last 25 years.Assam Assets manager BK Baruah said it is the achievement of the entire team which has worked relentlessly to achieve the targets which, at times, seemed impossible. "However, we have to understand that we have greater challenges ahead because of the monsoon. So, we have to prepare ourselves accordingly with a foolproof production plan during the monsoon season to accomplish our target in this quarter as well," he said.He added, "After a long time, we have tasted success which remained elusive for years. Let it not wither away as we go forward with our mission of bringing our past glory back to Assam Assets' crown. And for this, we need very calculated moves and a multidisciplinary team concept."A spokesman of the company said Assam Assets, which is one of the oldest assets in ONGC with a very high rate of reserves depletion, has been able to surpass all targets in the first quarter of the current fiscal except for gas sales which suffered a minor setback due to the lack of consumers.During the first quarter, oil production has been overachieved at 105.2 per cent (0.302 million metric tone) against the planned output of 0.287 MMT. Similarly, gas production rose by 102 per cent at 118.29 million metric standard cubic meters (MMSCM) against the planned production of 115.96 MMSCM.The spokesman said, "But what remains most significant is the performance of the drilling services which has surpassed its target at 120 per cent. While the planned target was for five wells, the actual number of wells drilled stood at six."Apart from its quest for excellence in the field of petroleum production, Assam Assets is not lagging behind in its social commitment. It has adopted the policy of inclusive growth as a responsible corporate citizen and played an important role in strengthening the fabrics of society with meaningful contributions in welfare and sustainable development activities involving all stakeholders, the spokesman added.

AASU plea for Assamese

2011-08-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

Union submits demands to Gogoi

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos
Guwahati, Aug. 11: The All Assam Students’ Union today moved Dispur to make Assamese a compulsory subject in all schools in the state, including Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Submitting representations on policies and demands for improvement of education to chief minister Tarun Gogoi and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the AASU said all students, whether studying in government or private schools, must learn Assamese as a subject.
AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya told reporters here that the students’ organisation had asked the state government to come out with a language policy for school and college education in the state.
Bhattacharyya said the policy must make Assamese a compulsory subject for all schools situated in Assam, including the CBSE-affiliated Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, which now function in English and Hindi.
He said in many other states of the country, the Kendriya Vidyalayas had introduced vernacular languages, according to the rules of the Union government.
“It has been observed that while students from the government schools learn both vernacular and English languages, their counterparts in English medium and private schools do away with the vernacular language. Such discrimination cannot be accepted. All school students in the state must learn both Assamese and English with equal importance,” Bhattacharyya said.
The students’ union has also demanded the government to appoint quality teachers to enable vernacular medium students to have a strong command over English.
Bhattacharyya said though the government has made it compulsory to learn English from Class I, it has not yet appointed quality and adequate number of teachers for the purpose.
According to him, the representations submitted today highlighted 15 policies and 63 demands to bring about much desired changes and improvement in the state education sector. Besides demanding that educational institutions should be free from all political interference, the AASU representations have sought a systematic introduction of the pre-primary section to make primary education more attractive and dynamic.
“The pre-primary section for the group between three and five years should concentrate on textbook free education and healthy physical and mental growth of children by introducing them to an educational environment with total freedom. The pre-primary section must be introduced in the line of kindergarten and nursery sections of English medium schools,” Bhattacharyya said.
Opposing the sudden imposition of NCERT books at the primary level, the students’ union told the chief minister and education minister that literal translation of NCERT books must be avoided and textbooks containing local history and geography should be introduced for students.
He said the government must come out with strict regulations to monitor the functioning of private schools in terms of fixing the students’ fees and salary of teachers. Among other demands were the introduction of a scientific and modern evaluation system by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam, reintroduction of commerce as a subject in SEBA curriculum, setting up of engineering college and law college in every district and a one-time grant of Rs 100 crore to Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University.

Assam tea production rises by 24% in June

2011-08-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

Aug 11, 4:56 PM
In Assam, tea production rose by 24 percent in the month of June, 2011. As per the recent report, the state produced 63 million kilograms in that month from 51 million kg in the year-ago period.
AIR correspondent reports, encouraged by the rise of quality tea production, the tea industry has decided to urge the government to declare tea as a national drink.
Assam produces over 51 per cent of the total tea of the country and contributes 13 percent to the total global tea production. The annual turnover of this industry in Assam is five thousand crore rupees and it employs 10 lakh workers.
On the other hand, Indians consume the highest volume of tea in the world. 80 per cent of the total tea produced in the country is consumed in the country itself. Around 85 percent of the Indian households drink tea.

Demand in LS for creation of Bodoland state

2011-08-11T05:06:00.001-07:00

New Delhi: A demand for creation of a separate Bodoland state, carved out of Assam, was raised in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.Maintaining that the UPA-II has promised to create a separate Telangana state, Independent member S K Bwiswmuthiary demanded that the government take immediate measures for creation of a separate Bodoland state in line with Telangana.Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he urged the entire Parliament to support the demand of indigenous people for creation of Bodoland within the constitutional framework."The UPA-II has announced a policy decision for creation of separate states like Telangana. The demand for bringing about a lasting solution to the Bodoland problem has been long overdue and urgent steps should be taken to resolve this issue," the Kokrajhar MP said.CPI(M) member Mahendra Kumar Roy raised the issue of tea garden workers in Siliguri who went on a three-day strike recently to demand higher wages. He sought the intervention of the Union Labour Ministry in the matter, saying no resolution has been found despite negotiations.Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) wanted central assistance in creating mega food parks in Bikaner, while his party colleague sought establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Nawada for the children of railway workers there.

Assam police make photo-identity proof mandatory for Internet Cafes

2011-08-09T21:20:00.001-07:00

PANKAJ SARMA

FOLLOW RULES
Guwahati, Aug. 9: Cyber cafe owners who fail to a record of the photo-identity proof of users or allow them to surf websites that contain pornographic or obscene material may run into trouble.
In a bid to tighten the noose around cyber cafes, Assam police will be implementing the IT (Guidelines for Cyber Cafe) Rules, 2011, in the state.
A senior police official said penal action would be initiated against errant cyber cafe owners, found to be violating the provisions of the recently framed rules. According to the rules, cyber cafes shall not allow any customer to use its services without submitting a photo identity. The intending user may establish his identify by producing a document that shall identify the users to the satisfaction of the cyber cafe.
Such documents may include identity cards issued by any school or college, credit cards or debit cards issued by a bank or post office, passports, voter identity cards, permanent account number (PAN) cards, photo-identity cards issued by the employer or any government agency and driving licences.
The source said there were more than 250 cyber cafes in the city but most of them were not following the rules, which were notified by the Centre in April this year.“The CID will convene a meeting of the associations of cyber cafe owners to make them aware of the rules. A separate meeting of officers-in-charge of police stations will also be held to brief them about the rules,” the source said.
In the absence of any monitoring, most cyber cafes were not following the rules that made it mandatory for them to maintain a log register containing a detailed record of all customers, including their name, address, contact number, age, gender, signing in and signing out timings, type and detail of identification document and the computer terminal identification number.
Cyber cafes would have to prepare a monthly report of the log register, showing date-wise details of usage of the computer resource and submit a copy of the same to the police. The cafes will also have to keep the records for at least a year and owners must ensure that the log was not tampered with.
“Since the rules have been notified and it clearly mentions that cyber cafes shall take sufficient precautions to ensure that their computer resources are not utilised for any illegal activities, we are now going to strictly enforce these rules. The owners will be held responsible and implicated for the illegal acts of their customers under the relevant provisions of the IT Act,” the source said.
The rules also stated that cyber cafes shall display a board, clearly visible to the users, prohibiting them from viewing pornographic sites as well as copying or downloading information that was prohibited by law.
“All the computers in the cyber cafes would have to be equipped with the commercially-available safety or filtering software so as to avoid access to websites relating to pornography, including child pornography or obscene information,” the source said.
“In case of minors, even if they are carrying identity cards, they will be permitted to use computers in a cyber cafe, but won’t be allowed inside cubicles if not accompanied by guardians or parents,” he said.
It also stipulated that the screen of all computers installed other than in partitions or cubicles shall face “outward”, that is, they shall face the common open space of the cyber cafe.
However, some cyber cafe owners feared that if they had to implement the rules, they may have to lose customers as many would feel that their privacy was being compromised.

Assamese welcome NDBF's unilateral ceasefire declaration

2011-08-08T22:02:00.003-07:00

Guwahati, Aug 9 (ANI): People in Assam have welcomed the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) faction's ceasefire declaration. On July 27, the NDFB declared a unilateral ceasefire with the government with effect from August 1 for an indefinite period. The ceasefire will help in giving a boost to the peace process in Assam and pave the way for talks between anti talk NDFB and the government.The declaration came after an eleven-member delegation of the Bodo National Conference (BNC) met the jailed chairman of the outfit, Ranjan Daimary, at the Nagaon central jail on July 20. "Ranjan Daimary is coming forward for talks with the government. It is a good thing. Paresh Baruah should also do so. We the people of Assam want all the militant groups to come forward for talks," said Binanda Gogoi, a local. "We welcome the decision of NDFB to declare unilateral ceasefire with the government. We believe that they have respected the sentiments of the entire Bodo society. We now hope that now the government will also reciprocate back," said Anjali Diamary, sister of Ranjan Diamary NDFB is responsible for blasts, extortions and killings in the Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Darrang, Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari and Sonitpur districts.n 2008, it engineered serial blasts in Guwahati that left over a 100 people injured. (ANI)

Tea industry to seek IIT-G help to overcome labour shortage

2011-08-08T22:02:00.001-07:00

Supratim Dey / Kolkata/ Guwahati August 9 :To overcome the problem of labour shortage, which has been “pinching” it hard of late, the tea industry of Assam will soon knock the doors of IIT-Guwahati to help it introduce more mechanisations into its activities.The tea industry has zeroed in on two-pronged approach to overcome the labour shortage problem, said Bidyananda Barkakoty, Chairman of North Eastern Tea Association (NETA). Besides introducing more mechanisations into its activities, the tea industry will soon approach the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) ministry to set up a skill development and training institute in Assam to impart skill based training both among blue and white collar workers.“Shortage of labour is going to be a major challenge for the tea industry. We have already started to feel the pinch. Absenteeism has already been an area of concern,” Barkakoty said.He said that though absenteeism among labourers was affecting tea production, shortages in many gardens had been felt even without absenteeism. “We have taken up the issue with Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) at several meetings,” added Barkakoty.The tea industry wants machines indigenously designed and developed based on the local conditions.“Research and Development (R&D) on mechanical harvesting, pruning and other field operations is the need of the hour. There are some existing machines made in Germany, Japan, China and other foreign countries. If the machines can be designed and developed indigenously based on the local conditions, then the cost of machines will come down to a considerable extent and will be more user friendly. We will seek the help of IIT Guwahati in this regard,” said Barkakoty.He also stressed that tea, being a labour intensive industry, skill development at all levels had been lagging behind, thereby adversely affecting production, productivity and livelihood enhancement.

Now, development the watchword in Assam's Baksa District

2011-08-08T22:01:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Aug 9 (ANI): With militancy on the decline in the northeast, development and progress have become the new watchwords in states such as Assam. An example of this is Baksa district in Bodoland territorial council, which is witnessing a rapid change through the introduction of a centrally sponsored scheme that has ensured the regular supply of electricity to the people.The four-member Dhanwar family has been living in the Borgaon village of Baksa District for years. They earn their livelihood from paddy cultivation. They are happy as their village is now witnessing development through many central schemes that have been implemented here.The regular supply of electricity has made a major difference - especially for children who are now able to in the night. This has happened under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural electrification scheme. "We got the connections just a month ago. It will be good for my children as they can now study late in the night," said Bolo Dhanwar. "The government has provided electricity connections. It has been very helpful. Earlier at least five to six liters of kerosene was needed but now only 1-2 liters is required," said Daisam Boro. The electrification scheme was launched in 2007 and was implemented by the Assam electricity Board and the Power Grid Corporation of the region. The scheme also covers many areas of Jorhat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Morigaon, Golaghat, Darrang, Kamrup, Lakimpur, Nagaon, Bongaigoan, Dhemaji, Dhubri, North Cachal Hill, Karbri Anglong, Tinsukia and Goalpara. 1,89,816 houses were electrified in 2009-10, 3,52,237 in 2010-11 and 50,163 homes have been electrified till now. "We have completed the first phase almost 23 to 26 districts. We have almost completed in Assam especially three districts Tinsukia, Goalpara and Jorhat," said S K Handique, Managing Director, ASEB Apart from electrification, other developmental projects like road construction have also being launched in the Baksa district. The district is nearly 100kms away from Guwahati and consists of many villages that are mainly inhibited by Bodos, Santhals and some other tribes. (ANI)

Assam tea workers’ return to their roots

2011-08-08T22:00:00.001-07:00

In what has been seen as an alarming development in the 180-year-old plantation industry of Assam, a large number of tea plantation workers are leaving their jobs and going back to their ancestral homes outside Assam.Fearing that this reverse migration of tea garden workers may aggravate the shortage workers further, the chairman of North Eastern Tea Association Bidyananda Barkakoty revealed, “Reverse migration is taking place in some areas. About 300 families have left the tea estate and gone back to Telangana.”Disclosing this alarming trend of reverse migration at biennial general meeting of the association at Golaghat on Saturday, Mr Barkakoty said, “Shortage of labour is going to be a major challenge for the tea industry. We have already started feeling the pinch. Absenteeism has already been an area of concern. We have taken up this issue with Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) at several meetings.”He also clarified that absenteeism and shortage of labour, though inter-related — are two different issue. “Shortage of workers in many gardens are felt even without absenteeism,” he added.Mr Bidyananda Barkakoty, however, declined to divulge the name of the tea estate, but confirmed that migration of tea garden workers from Assam to Kerala had also been noticed.To overcome the problem of shortage of manpower and absenteeism, the NETA chairman stressed the need of adopting a multi-pronged strategy of mechanisation and setting up a human resource development (HRD) institute.“The changing lifestyle and modern living standards require an overhauling of the traditional management style,”Mr Barkakoty said.

Aasu slams NHPC's quake-proof claim on Subansiri dam

2011-08-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Students' Union (Aasu ) on Sunday came down heavily on the NHPC's claim that the Lower Subansiri hydro-electric dam has been designed in way so that it can withstand any high seismic activity. The students' union alleged that the NHPC officials were trying to distort truth for their personal gain.

"The NHPC has tried to avoid the real scenario. We will like to ask them to sit with experts of Gauhati University and IIT Guwahati here," Aasu president Shankar Prasad Rai, adding, "NHPC has been silent on the cumulative downstream impact on the people living on the downstream areas if the Lower Subansiri hydro-electric dam and 168 other hydro-projects come up in Arunachal Pradesh."

In 2006, Rai claimed, "NHPC had admitted that it was not going ahead with the project without a proper study on the dams' downstream effects."

Last week, senior NHPC officials had claimed that the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project has been designed after a detailed investigation and studies on tectonic features of the dam site.

Flood fury on, 20 Jorhat villages hit

2011-08-08T00:20:00.001-07:00

JORHAT: The flood situation in the state remained grim for the third consecutive day on Sunday. Besides Lakhimpur district, more than 20 villages in Jorhat district have been affected by a fresh wave of floods since Sunday morning. The floodwaters also submerged a part of NH 37 in Jorhat, posing a threat to communication with the three upper Assam districts of Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.

Deputy commissioner (Jorhat) Ramesh Chand Jain said, "The fresh wave of floods at Teok, Mudoijan and Kakojan rivers affected about 400 families under Teok revenue circle in the district. Moreover, floodwaters also submerged several parts of the NH 37 in Teok area since this morning." The floods also hit about 800 families in Jorhat West revenue circle today. This wave of floods has affected more than 13 villages in Solmara area in the district so far, he added.

On the other hand, the flood situation in Lakhimpur district remained stable on Sunday as there was no report of fresh floods since Saturday evening. "The water levels in Dikrong and Durpang rivers are now steady and no report of fresh floods has been received since Saturday. In many places, the water levels are receding and nature's fury is showing sign of abating," said Lakhimpur DC Anwarwiddin Choudhary.

"However, the waterlogging problem in several areas under Nauboicha, Bihpuria and Narayanpur circles caused some impact in a few villages in the district so far," he added.

About 50,000 people of more than 60 villages under Bihpuria, Narayanpur and Nauboicha circles in Lakhimpur district have been affected by the second phase of floods since Thursday afternoon. Many people in the district became homeless while the deluge caused widespread damages to roads, cropland and properties flooded by Dikrong, Chingra and Durpang rivers.

This apart, erosion caused by the Boginadi River took a serious turn on Saturday, affecting more than 500 families. "The erosion remained unabated and a vast area was engulfed by the river on Sunday," a district administration official said.

Death of a campaigner: corrupt Indian officials blamed in killing of activist

2011-08-06T04:12:00.001-07:00

Arup Kalita's body was found this week, his skeletal remains finally recovered from the shallow depths a pond in the small village of Kukurmara in India's north-eastern fringes.

Arup Kalita, left, and his belongings that were found with his remains Photo: UPEN DEKA/BISWAJIT DAS

By Dean Nelson,

Kukurmara, Assam:
His mobile phone, motor bike keys, driving licence and trousers were all discovered along with his bones.
How he got there was no surprise to his grieving family. They knew the 29-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was dead when he when he disappeared in August last year. They had heard he had been beaten, tortured and then his corpse dumped into the pond where it was apparently trampled deep into the mud below by an elephant.
But what may be surprising to some is the location of his resting place – in the official grounds of Assam's forestry department.
His family and supporters say that location is the key. All believe he has paid the price for India's failure to tackle corruption at all levels.
Mr Kalita's apparent murder makes him the 18th anti-corruption crusader to be killed in India since 2008. Others include several campaigners who used Right to Information legislation to uncover corruption in government aid schemes for India's poorest, one of the country's leading crime reporters who exposed Mumbai's 'diesel mafia,' and a civil servant who was burned alive by oil smugglers.
Campaigners say the killing in Kukurmara, and the difficulty in getting it investigated, highlights the need now to create a powerful new watchdog to hold India's rich and powerful to account, from village officials to government ministers, on local and national levels.
Indeed even as Mr Kalita's body was being uncovered the Indian government was facing serious allegations of corruption in the award of mobile phone operator licences and contracts for last year's Delhi Commonwealth Games. One former minister is currently in jail, along with the head of the Commonwealth Games Organising committee and the daughter of the ruling Congress Party's main coalition partner.
The corruption Mr Kalita believed he had uncovered though, and which his family believe led to his death, was on an altogether smaller scale. But it did, in his view, threaten the forest environment in Assam's Kamrup West, where illegal logging is devastating the state's protected jungle.
Mr Kalita was a leader of the local All-Assam Non-Tribal Students Union which had been campaigning against local sand smugglers. The smugglers, who transport sand dug from a local river bed without paying taxes, were damaging local farmers' fields by spilling sand on crops and driving over planted plots.
His sister Manju Kalita Das told The Daily Telegraph he had visited the local Forest Department in August last year to complain about the sand-mining but was criticised by officials and local sand-diggers who were in the office.
"They said 'we also have stomachs and families to feed. We want this business to run, why are you making these complaints?' They feared they would lose their livelihoods."
His fellow student union leader Dhiren Mali, who was with him said he had been warned by a senior official of "grave consequences" if he did not abandon his complaints. "The official said 'I will teach you a lesson,'" he added.
Mr Mali said the union resolved to step up its campaign and a few days later received a tip that trucks of illegal timber were being covered with sand to smuggle them out of the district. They tracked the trucks as they headed towards the Kukurmara Forest Department office and raced ahead to urge officials to intercept them and arrest the drivers.
"The Forest officials said 'why have you come here?' Then they started hitting us, punching us in the head. I couldn't see Arup and when I was finally rescued by police they said Arup was OK," he said. He never saw his friend again.
Mr Kalita's cousin Pradip Kalita said he had been told by a police officer that they been unable to force their way in when they arrived on the scene but had heard Arup screaming and believed he had been tortured.
He said neighbours and forest dwellers nearby told him they had seen the department's elephant wading through the tiny pond stamping its feet shortly after the commotion and suspect it had been used to crush his body into the mud.
A spokesman for the Forest Department department declined to comment, but Police Superintendent A.J Buruah said an investigation is continuing and results of a post-mortem are pending. One forestry official has been arrested and four have absconded since the body was found.
He said some officials had claimed there had been a "scuffle" and Mr Kalita had slipped into the pond and drowned as he fled his assailants. "We'll find the cause of death, I want to give them [Mr Kalita's family] justice," he said.
The family has no doubt what and who caused their brother's death. "He has made so many accusations, so obviously they regarded him as an enemy," said his sister Manju. The family point out that it took a High Court order to force an investigation into the death and this was only carried out after a further demand.
Both family and supporters feel Mr Kalita's death is indicative of a failure to tackle corruption in India more widely.
Prashant Bhushan, one of India's top lawyers and anti-corruption campaigners, agreed. "It is a blue collar mafia and it is increasingly resorting to violence. It is bound to happen if you allow corruption to go unchecked, then the mafia resorts to violence against anti-corruption activists."
Her mother, who was too distraught to comment, wailed her son’s name from her bed as her daughter listed their demands. They want £14,000 and a government job for one of their relatives as compensation. “And we want the culprits to be caught and given exemplary punishment,” she added.
Former Chief Conservator of Forests M.C Malakar said Mr Kalita’s complaints on corruption and official collusion in timber smuggling had some basis in fact. Illegal logging is destroying the state’s forests, he said, and some officials had “joined the criminals.”
“The situation here is volatile. There is an insurgency and criminals have taken advantage. It’s difficult for our officials to go into the forest. There have been assault cases, and some officials might have joined the criminals. Timber has been stolen…officers have been suspended and action taken against them,” he said.

Charter proposes steps to protect indigenous people

2011-08-05T20:34:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI, Aug 5 – ULFA may have dropped the demand for sovereignty, but its charter of demand is varied and high on preservation of the identity of the people and protection of indigenous culture and right to engage in specific relationship with foreign countries for promotion of mutual trade, commerce and cultural relationship.

The charter of demand called the framework of charter for negotiation to resolve the issue between Assam and India and signed by chairman, Arabinda Rajkohwa gave a brief account of the history of Assam and how British snatched away sovereignty of the people of Assam after the Yandaboo Treaty of 1826. “The people of Assam have suffered historic neglect and disdain at the hands of Government of India, There is, therefore, real grounds for a struggle to uphold Assam’s inalienable rights, which had also led to the rise of ULFA,” it said.

The people of Assam today feel insecure in their own national homeland and have been left far behind. To achieve such objectives, ULFA proposes that negotiations be initiated between India and the ‘people of Assam’ to bring in measures Constitutional and otherwise of wide scope that certain urgent political, economic, social, cultural arrangements be undertaken and completed within reasonable time-frame by Government of India.

The 12 broad groupings under which negotiations are proposed to start include grounds for ULFA struggle and their genuineness, status on missing ULFA leaders and cadres, constitutional and political arrangements and reforms including protection of identity and material resources of the local indigenous population of Assam.

Illegal migration, its effect and impact and required remedies including sealing of international borders, river patrolling and development of a native force to man the borders, ethnic issues and problems and constitutional restructuring including settlement of border disputes and removal of encroachment, restoration, protection, preservation and spread of indigenous culture of Assam in all its variety are some other aspects.

The ULFA has also called for financial and economic

arrangements including of all royalties on mines and minerals including oil, land and natural resources including right of natives to the land, flood control and management.

The economic demands included industrial growth, development of infrastructure, removal of transport bottleneck, development of entrepreneurial skill, availability of credit, infusion of capital leading to industrial take-off.

The outfit has also called for right to engage in specific relationship with foreign countries for promotion of mutual trade, commerce and cultural relationship.

Railways facing terror threat in State

2011-08-04T00:50:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, Aug 3 – Railways, the economic lifeline of North-east India, is once again under threat from extremist groups in Assam, following which some trains have been cancelled or short terminated in the last few days. Smooth running of trains will be affected in the State till Independence Day, a period during which extremists have targeted railway assets in the recent past.

Well-placed sources in NFR, who would prefer anonymity, revealed that apart from improving security standards of NFR, the State Government has been informed about the need for better protection of railway assets from time to time. However, no fool proof system has been developed to thwart the designs of subversive elements.

What surprises many is, even though the State Government keeps reiterating about an improvement in the law and order situation of the State, lives of passengers in trains and railway employees are still at risk from armed extremists in a number of stretches. It is such fears that prompted the NFR to cancel trains running in the Metre Gauge section under Rangiya Division.

Stretches in the Rangiya Division have been considered vulnerable by the NFR because of threats which can emanate from a number of extremist groups. The threat perception is such that the NFR is not willing to take any risks even though it is aware that stoppage of train movement in the MG section will impact on goods and passenger transport in Assam and in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, which may also increase the cost of commodities carried by trains.

This year, the threats from extremist groups, appear to have increased with some attempting to put pressure on the State and Union Government to meet their demands, or to assert their presence in a somewhat desperate way.

As the NFR continues to receive complaints from aggrieved passengers each time it cancels or short terminates trains, its officials point to the high degree of threats, some of which are new. “The Ghograpar blast was first attributed to the NDFB anti-talk group. But it was later found to be the handiwork of a hardly known group…the problem is most extremists treat the railways as a soft target,” said a senior NFR official based in its Maligaon headquarters.

Another, emerging challenge for security personnel is availability of better technology and knowledge and their use among some extremist groups. It is believed that mobile phone connectivity is one of the means which extremists have relied on to plan and target train assets. In the recent derailment of a train in Kokrajhar district, it is established that a gas cutter was used to remove rail track, a dangerous precedent, NFR sources admit.

Centre engaged in back channel talks with Bodo militants

2011-08-03T05:11:00.001-07:00

P. Chidambaram, Union Home Minister. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram on Wednesday disclosed that the Centre was engaged in back channel talks with the jailed chief of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Ranjan Daimary in Assam, and reiterated the Centre’s resolve to hold dialogues with any group that shuns violence.
“We are talking with Ranjan Daimary. He is in prison and we are talking with him through the back channel,” Mr. Chidambaram informed the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
He said the Union Government was in touch with Mr. Daimary and hoped that once the talks start, there would be progress. “One faction of the NDFB was in favour of talks with the government, but the one led by Mr. Daimary was not. The Centre is committed to engage in political dialogue with any group, which is ready to shun violence,’’ he remarked.
NDFB was formed under Daimary’s leadership in November 1994 to demand a separate Bodoland in Assam. The outfit broke into two following the Assam bomb blasts in 2008 in which Mr. Daimary was named as the mastermind. The hardline faction of NDFB, which project itself as the real NDFB, is led by Daimary.
Mr. Chidambaram said the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was amended for the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which took office in May 2005. Bodo language has also been included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. About 846 ex-Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) cadres have also been recruited in central police forces and the approval for appointment of 400 ex-BLT cadres as Special Police Officers (SPOs) has been given to the State government.
On the query whether the recent Supreme Court judgment on SPOs would affect this decision, he said: “I don't think so.”
A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed between the Union Government, Assam Government and the Bodo Liberation Tiger in 2003 for setting up the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam and the inclusion of the Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, among others.
“The government is committed to implement MoS in letter and spirit. The implementation of MoS is being reviewed in the Home Ministry periodically,” he stated.
He said the Assam Government had late last year recommended the inclusion of the tribes living in Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills districts and Scheduled Tribes (hills) living in the plain districts of Assam in the list of Scheduled Tribes (Hills) along with Bodo Kacharis. “As per approved modalities of the government, the proposal of the Assam Government needs consultation with the Registrar General of India and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes,” he added.

EMFA appeals for restrain on Facebook comment

2011-08-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Guwahati, Aug 03 (PTI) The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) today appealed to the people not not to target the field reporters and camera persons of a local news channel for its editor''s alleged derogatory remarks on an ethnic community in the Facebook. "The reporters and camera persons should not be targeted personally as they are only performing their duties under the guidelines of their respective new channels", EMFA President Nava Thakuria said in a press release. The EMFA also urged the management of the media group to resolve the issue amicably at the earliest for the greater interest of journalism. The Editor-in-chief of the channel had claimed that a fake account was created in his name where such remarks were made and he had already registered a case with the cyber crime STF in this connection. The All Assam Tai Ahom Students Union and several other organisations took out a torchlight procession in Dibrugarh district last night demanding arrest of the editor and a CBI probe into his alleged remarks.

Train passengers facing harrowing time due to cancellations

2011-08-02T19:20:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, Aug 2 – Scores of train passengers across Assam had a harrowing time after a number of trains were cancelled, rescheduled, or short terminated for the second consecutive day by the NF Railway. The movement of around 20 trains has been affected today.

People were stranded in many stations, including hubs like Guwahati. Hapless passengers from various stations have complained about the inadequate facilities provided to them. The NFR has also been criticized for being slow in dispensing train status information to those awaiting travel.

Sources in NFR said that the trains were affected by the removal of rail track by miscreants near Kokrajhar and due to serious security concerns. With intelligence inputs suggesting possibility of more subversive acts by extremist elements, the NFR is unwilling to take any risk.

Although the running of trains was affected for the second day, NFR officials are tightlipped on when normal resumption of services will take place. “It might take a few more days before the normal schedule is restored in all the sections,” said an NFR official. The NFR has recently been informed about threats to its assets and recent incidents like the one near Kokrajhar and the bomb blast near Ghograpar have reinforced such fears.

In a press note, the NFR informed that apart from the cancellation and rescheduling, all MG passenger train services in Rangiya Division have been cancelled with immediate effect.

Trains cancelled in Assam over security concerns

2011-08-02T06:48:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Aug 2 : Security concerns following sabotage of railway tracks by insurgents at two places in western Assam ahead of Independence Day celebrations led the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railways to cancel or short-terminate several trains today.

'Due to security reasons over Assam areas and accident between Fakiragram and Kokrajhar, several trains will remain cancelled / partially cancelled / short terminated," NF Railway sources said.

Militants had damaged tracks at two spots near Kokrajhar yesterday, causing derailment of a goods train.

A little known Bodo outfit had later claimed responsibility and warned of more such attacks in the run-up to the August 15 celebrations.

Among the trains affected are mostly passenger trains running between Alipurduar and eastern Assam.

Night running of trains are routinely stopped across Assam on the eve of any national day celebration as militants repeatedly target the trains.

Assam Police website last updated in 2010

2011-07-31T23:47:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, Aug 1 – At a time when the State Government is harping on e-governance, the Assam Police website cuts a very sorry figure in keeping the people informed.

The Assam Police website has a news flash segment where one can expect to find the latest news. But if one tries to get information, he or she will be hugely disappointed as the last news updated in the segment was on observance of vigilance awareness week and that was uploaded way back on November 8 last year.

The news before that available in the news flash segment was that of October 6 when police rescued a few kidnapped persons.

Similarly, there is a Press release segment in the website where the releases issued by the Assam Police should be available. But the last release uploaded in the website was that of mourning the death of former DGP HS Chittaranjan and the same was uploaded on October 6 last year.

If one tries to keep himself informed by visiting the Assam Police website, he would feel that nothing has happened in the State for the last 10 months. The media also is facing problems in getting information because of the failure of the Assam Police to keep its website updated.

Interestingly, as a part of its modernisation drive, steps have been taken to computerise all the police stations in a phased manner but from the failure of the police to keep its website updated with latest information, it remains to be seen whether the police stations would be able to make best use of the computers to be made available to them.

Students, peasants join hands against mega dams, NRC delay

2011-07-31T23:41:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: Randip Saikia, a farmer from Lakhimpur took, time off from his chores on his paddy field on Saturday to attend a public rally in the city, called by All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), including 25 other students' and ethic groups, against a mega dam construction and dithering on the updating of the NRC.

Randip was one among 10,000 peasants who gathered at the city's Lotashil playground on Saturday morning to warn the state government against continuing with the ongoing construction of the Lower Subansiri Mega Hydel project. The joint movement announced to block the barges carrying the nine turbines for the Lower Subansiri.

Earlier, chief minister Tarun Gogoi had said that the state government would take the barges at any cost to the dam site. The barges carrying the dam logistics are waiting for a clearance for a year as Aasu and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity have blocked the barges from reaching the dam site from time to time.

"Aasu has been asking the state government to halt the ongoing construction for a long time but it's sad that the state government has paid no attention to our demands. We are not against power generation, we are only against the construction of the mega dam. Even the expert committee constituted by state government has scrapped the idea of a mega dam in the region," said Aasu advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjee.

The study conducted by the expert committee constituting Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University and IIT Guwahati, had highlighted the seismic vulnerability of the dam along with many other design related faults.

Aasu also slammed the state government's reluctance in updating the National Registrar of Citizenship (NRC). "The government is trying to guard a section of the population by not updating the NRC. It is only concentrating on the vote bank politics, ignoring the greater interest of the state and the Assamese community," said AASU president Shankar Ray.

Echoing Aasu's demand, the Takam Mising Parin Kaubang (TMPK), a tribal group, asked the state government to start updating the NRC immediately.

"The government put a halt to the NRC update due to the violence in Barpeta district. That's why we demand the state government to start the NRC update from Dhemaji district this time. But the update should be started immediately to solve the influx problem of the state," said TMPK leader Ranoj Pegu.

In July 2010, four people were killed and 70 were injured during a clash when police open fired on a 5,000 strong crowd of protesters led by the All Assam Minority Students Union (Aamsu) in Barpeta who were demanding the cancellation of the updating process of the NRC, undertaken in Barpeta as a pilot project by the Central government.

Meanwhile, Rabha Students' Union demanded that the NRC should be updated on the basis of the cut-off year of 1971."The historic Assam Agitation happened to solve the influx problem of the state, followed by the signing of Assam Accord. But neither Delhi nor Dispur is acting efficiently to implement the accord. The NRC should be updated on the basis of 1971 as the cut-off year. Anyone who came after this period should not be considered as the legal citizen of the state," said Raghunath Rabha of Rabha Students' Union.

Priceless art

2011-07-30T23:25:00.001-07:00

Sudha Jain
Muga: A silk for all seasons & reasons
Verdant tea gardens, the melodious strain of Assamese folk music and beautiful women draped in eye catching, golden hued, delicately designed traditional muga ensemble, dancing to the tune of Bihu geet — this almost encompasses the beauty of Assam.
There is some magic about the muga silk mekhela chadar that enhances the beauty and charm that Assamese women are known for. Muga silk, a symbol of Assam’s rich culture and a treasured possession in every Assamese household, is considered the lifeline of the people of Assam.
Besides being famous for the one-horned rhino and its tea, Assam is also known for the golden silk known as muga. The state produces three unique varieties of silk — the golden muga, the white pat and the warm eri. Muga is cultivated, reeled and woven to make exclusive muga silk saris, kurtas and mekhela chadar. It is a non-mulberry silk, obtained from semi-domesticated silk worms, and is found only in Assam.
However, being the proud owner of this priceless silk comes with a price! A muga sari may cost anywhere between Rs 10,000 and 20,000, and sometimes even more. It is indeed very expensive, but once we acquaint ourselves with its production process, we will discern why this is so. Muga is produced by a silkworm known as Antheraea Assamensis, which is raised outdoors and is fed on two trees: som (machilus bomycina) and soalu (litsaea polyantha).
The worm feeds on trees, eats voraciously and strips them of their foliage. Consequently, there is a mass retreat of these worms from the tree, down the trunk. The worms are then collected and transferred to another tree until they are mature enough to spin the fibres.
When they are ready to spin their cocoons, they are collected by keepers and placed in small containers made of dry twigs. The silkworms then yield a beautiful golden thread called muga, which in Assamese means ‘gold’. The cocoons are then boiled in a solution of soap and soda, and are reeled in reeling machines. A muga sari is woven in two months and about 6,000 to 10,000 cocoons are used to yield a sari of about 1 kg. It is no wonder then that muga is one of the most expensive silks in the world!
In spite of the silk being this exquisite, the interest of the weavers is steadily and unfortunately dwindling. Assam is the only state in India where the weaving industry is spread out. There are around 9,500 sericulture villages in Assam. Muga threads obtained from all over the state find their way to Sualkuchi, 32 km from Guwahati. Sualkuchi, also called “the Manchester of the east”, is one of the world’s largest weaving villages.
Bhaskar Datta Goswami, a leading muga manufacturer in Assam, says, “In 1926, when Mahatma Gandhi visited Assam for the Congress Mahasabha, Sualkuchi came into the limelight, and has since developed as the weaving centre. The entire population here was engaged in weaving delicate silk fabrics.
Weaving a muga sari was a matter of pride for Assamese women. Even women from affluent families were known to weave their own muga saris. However, interest amongst the present generation is slowly waning. With the advent of television and a growing interest in other well-paying occupations, weaving has taken the back seat for young Assamese girls. Now men are more involved in this craft.”
“Furthermore, although the demand for muga silk is huge, its production is gradually declining. The adverse effect of global warming comes to the fore here. Good quality muga is cultivated in temperatures ranging from 32 to 36 degrees celsius. But now, owing to deforestation and demographic pressure, the temperature here has risen to 38-40 degrees Additionally, during 1993’s ‘Operation Bajrang’ (a government initiative to fight insurgents), when the Assam insurgency was at its peak, police entered the forest areas, driving the keepers to the villages. The environmental benefits of silkworm culture in forests was lost as people migrated to villages, leading to low production. Further, the industry is still unorganised and untapped, in spite of it being quite old. There has also been no initiative from the government to improve and popularise this precious industry. The income of these weavers does not match the amount of hard work and labour that they put into the weaving of muga fabric.”
But there is hope yet. Assamese designer Bandita Das says, “Muga silk has evolved over the years and we have found new ways to present it. Earlier, it was only used for making mekhela chadar, but now steps are being taken to popularise it amongst the youth. Muga silk is now used to make skirts, kurtas, ties and bags, and it is heartening to see the younger generation asking for more.” The silk is in demand in Japan for the manufacture of kimonos and ties, as well as in countries such as the US, Greece, Germany, France and South Africa. With the increasing demand in foreign shores, hopefully, the lot of these weavers would improve too.
What makes muga very special is its glossy, fine texture and its durability. Due to low porosity, the muga yarn cannot be bleached or dyed and it retains its natural gold colour. The silk can be hand-washed and its shine increases with each wash. Muga saris are passed from mother to daughter, down the generations. The gift of a muga sari is a gift that transcends time. Muga is a fabric for all seasons and is eco-friendly as it is chemical-free.
Says Bhaskar Datta, “With better textile machines available, muga cocoons are now being bought by manufacturers in Bangalore and Bhagalpur and the threads are reeled in a mechanised and systematic way. However, the gap between demand and supply has to be bridged. Steps should be taken to bail out this invaluable industry from its losses. Perks and better pay to these weavers will go a long way in addressing the problem and giving a boost to the industry.”

Anti-dam protests grow louder in Assam

2011-07-30T23:24:00.003-07:00

By Prasanta Mazumdar

GUWAHATI: Anti-dam protests grew louder in Assam with the tribal organisations, opposed to big dams, warning the ruling Congress government in the state to be prepared to face any eventualities.

As many as 25 tribal organisations, led by influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), took out a massive rally in Guwahati on Saturday in protest against the construction of Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project (LSHP).

“Our opposition is only to big dams. We don’t want dams that will ravage a civilization,” AASU general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi said.

The LSHP is a central government project which aims to generate 2010 MW of power. It was approved allegedly without any proper study of the geotectonic and seismic conditions.

The northeast is said to be the sixth most earthquake-prone zone in the world. An expert committee, constituted by the state government by drawing scientists from the IIT Guwahati, Dibrugarh University and Guwahati University, advocated that a dam of this magnitude should not be constructed in an area that was tectonically-unstable.

The AASU demanded that the dam work be kept in abeyance till submission of report by the proposed expert committee.

Love for rugby in cricket-crazy world

2011-07-30T23:24:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: With the introduction of colourful, cash-rich Indian Premier League ( IPL) and stars appearing in commercials on TV screens every now and then to promote it, cricket is ruling the country's sports scenario at present. Ask any youngster whether he aspires to bat like Sachin or Viru, you will notice a sparkle in his eyes as the honour and money associated with the game is too hard to resist.

But there are always some people who like to swim against the tide and prove their worth.

Several youths from Assam under the guidance of Assam Rugby Association (ARA) are honing their skills to leave their mark at the national level. While some of them have played the game before, others were into soccer.

Rugby is a style of football that originated from Rugby School in the United Kingdom during the 19th century. Fifthy boys from Jorhat, Baska, Kamrup, Kokrajhar and Nalbari have sweated it out and won the hearts of renowned national rugby player Surendra Jena, who is looking after the conditioning camp. Jena, who represented the country on numerous occasions for the last 14 years, is a rugby development officer appointed by the sports ministry. He is attending the camp at the invitation of ARA.

Work on NE petrochem project in full swing

2011-07-30T22:21:00.001-07:00

Sushanta Talukdar

The first ever petrochemical plant of the northeast region, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd. (BCPL), being set up at Lepekata in upper Assam's Dibrugarh district is set to be commissioned in December, 2013, company Chairman B. C. Tripathi said.

Mr. Tripathi, who is also GAIL Chairman and Managing Director, told journalists that the project activities at Lepetkata, Duliajan, and Lakwa had been progressing in full swing and mechanical completion of the project was expected by July, 2013.

The project cost has been revised to Rs.8,879 crore from Rs.5,641 crore on account of technology, design changes, time escalation, increase in cost due to change in infrastructure site condition and construction cost and the like.

The revised cost has been approved by the Public Investment Board and is now awaiting approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Mr. Tripathi said financial commitment had already been made for Rs.7,340 crore while Rs.2,500 crore had been spent so far and the budget for the current year had been fixed at Rs.3,200 crore. A project committed in the Assam Accord (signed between the Centre, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Assam Government in 1985), the petrochemical plant will have an annual production capacity of 2.80 lakh tonnes of polymer and polymer propylene. BCPL is a joint venture company promoted by GAIL, Oil India Ltd. (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL) and the Assam Government.

Due to revision in the project cost the equity share of GAIL in the project would double to Rs.700 crore, while equity share of other three promoters was also required go up from Rs.100 crore each to Rs.200 crore each. Of the revised cost of Rs.8,879 crore, the capital subsidy is Rs.5,429 crore.
Recruitment

The Chairman said that till date 103 fresh young executives, who had passed out from different institutions of northeast, had been recruited

More than 50 per cent of the produce from the plant would be utilised in downstream industries of the region.

Rajkhowa free-Assam salvo marks Ulfa martyrs' day

2011-07-28T02:05:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI/DIBRUGARH: The pro- and anti-talks of Ulfa marked the outfit's 'martyrs' day" in two different but notable ways on Wednesday.

On this day in 1991, five Ulfa cadres had been killed by security personnel in Darrang district. The pro-peace group observed the day at its Kakopathar designated camp in Tinsukia district in the presence of top leaders like Sasha Choudhury, Chitrabon Hazarika and Prabal Neog.

Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who is set to begin peace dialogue with the Centre, created a flutter by describing the demand for a sovereign Assam as a wish of the people that " will protect Assam's existence". On the other hand, followers of Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, who is against holding talks with the government without the sovereignty issue on the agenda, marked the day with a greande blast and a failed bomb attack.

While speaking at a programme, Rajkhowa said, "A majority of the people of the state have formed an opinion that Assam's existence can be protected only within a sovereign country of Assam." He added, "The people of Assam believe that one or two constitutional amendmends will not guarantee protection of Assam's existence."

This was a rejection of the suggestion made by Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) in its draft charter of demands that sovereignty is not feasible and that the state be given more autonomy through a constitutional amendmend. The SJA is a citizens' group that earlier brokered peace between the government and Ulfa.

On Tuesday that Rajkhowa had received an invitation from the Centre for direct talks. Since his arrest in and subsequent extradtition from Bangladesh in 2009, he had been holding parleys with the Centre's interlocutor, PC Haldar. Earlier, he and other pro-peace leaders refrained from commenting on the sovereignty issue fearing violation of their own agreement to have unconditional talks with the Centre. At Dhubri, police found a powerful bomb at the entrance of a bus stand from where vehicles for Cooch Behar in West Bengal are parked. The bomb, which was diffused by the army, was connected to a programmable time device (PTD) and weighed about 2.5 kg. "A bus passengeer spotted the bomb wrapped in a blue plastic packet around 6 am and averted a major distaster," superintendent of police (Dhubri) P C Saloi said. At Chabua, Paresh's native place, anti-talks militants hurled a grenade damaging a few shops. Police said no one was injured in the attack that took place at about 3.15 am. The grenade hit the railings of DDR College situated near National Highway 37. Police suspected that Ulfa hardliners might have used "linkmen or hired hands" to carry out the attack.

AUlfa cadre, Lachit Khanikar and his accomplice were caught by 8 Garhwal Rifles and police from Kakopathar on Wednesday morning. A pistol and two Chinese grenades were found on them.

Peace panel formed to defuse ethnic tension

2011-07-27T22:02:00.001-07:00

Jorhat, Jul 28 : A peace committee has been constituted and security beefed up to defuse ethnic tension and thwart militant attacks along the Golaghat-Karbi Anglong boundary in Assam.

The 30-member peace committee, comprising the tea community, Karbi villagers and officials of Golaghat and Karbi Anglong administrations, was formed in a meeting held at Kohora police outpost a couple of days back.

The committee has decided to hold a public meeting soon to instil peace between the tea community and Karbi villagers.

Ethnic tension had gripped the inter-district bordering areas following the abduction of a tea leader by Karbi militants from Hatikhuli tea estate in Golaghat district about a fortnight back. Hatikhuli is located along the border of the two districts with a part of the estate falling in Karbi Anglong.

The outfit released the abducted person within a couple of days following a threat from the tea community to attack Karbi villages located on the other side of the boundary, but warned the labourers of Hatikhuli to shun work till the management paid up the money demanded by it.
However, the labourers resumed work under security provided by Golaghat district administration, after suspending activities for a day.

A few days ago, militants attacked and injured a woman employee of Hatikhuli tea estate at its Rangajan division, triggering panic among the labourers who approached the Golaghat administration to take the necessary steps. Following this, the peace committee was formed and additional forces were deputed at the garden and the inter-district border.
The Karbi Anglong administration also beefed up security along the border following the attack.
The assistant secretary of the Bokakhat unit of the Assam Tea Tribes Students Association, Anit Gaur, said the tea community had nothing against the Karbi villagers but if Karbi militants continued to target people of the community, the ATTSA would not sit quietly.
“The Karbi villagers should prevail upon the militants not to target tea garden labourers as they are normal people who work hard to earn a living. We have nothing to say about militants demanding money from the garden management but they should not target the labourers,” he said.
Gaur, who is also a member of the peace committee, said they would appeal to Karbi militants not to harm the tea community, as this would only create bad blood between the two communities.
He said normal functioning at the tea estate had also been hampered as the labourers were working under constant fear of militants who might swoop in at any time from across the border.

Lockout lifted, Cachar garden reopens after nine days

2011-07-27T04:16:00.001-07:00

SILCHAR: Work at the sprawling Kalaincherra Tea Estate in Assam's Cachar district resumed on Tuesday, nine days after a lockout was declared in the garden following a dispute between its management and workers.

The lockout at the estate, owned by the Kolkata-based Lova Tea Co, had rendered 800 workers and 35 employees jobless. The garden reopened following a negotiation reached between the management and the workers unions held on Monday evening.

While the union leaders pledged to help maintain peace in the estate, the representatives of the management agreed to consider the labourers and employees' demands related to work.

The Lova Tea Co Ltd was represented at the meeting by garden manager A R Mourya, while the Intuc-affiliated Barak Valley Cha Shramik Union was represented by assistant general secretaries Dinanath Baroi and Sanatan Mishra among others. Members of the Indian Tea Employees Association were also present at the meeting. Tea Association of India (TAI) chairman P K Mishra took part in the reconciliation bid on behalf of the management.

The reopening of the garden, situated near the Assam-Meghalaya border on the western fringe of Cachar district, came as a major relief for the labourers. Since early in the morning, hundreds of workers were seen heading towards the estate. According to sources, another round of meeting between the management and the workers' union representatives will be held on August 20 to finalize payment of wages and distribution of ration for the lockout period. On July 21, the first round of meeting was held between the management and the unions. But it had failed to reach any consensus.

The management cited security reasons to announce the lockout due after several women labourers were engaged into a verbal dispute with a tilababu of the garden over workload on July 15. The tilababu was accused of harassing a woman worker. On July 16, the workers gharoed the bungalow of the garden manager. The following day, the manager fled the garden.

The three districts in the Barak Valley -- Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar -- has 104 tea gardens. But over 40 gardens are either sick or under lockout.

NHPC hope pill for power-starved state

2011-07-27T02:16:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The power corporation feels that the state has the option of increasing its share of power from the 200 MW Lower Subansiri hydro-electric project.

"At present, Assam's share of free and allocated power from the Lower Subansiri project is about 250 MW. In fact, the state can get more power in future from the project. Negotiation between the Assam government and the Union power ministry is going on over increasing the quantum of power share for the state. We hope that it will yield some positive results," a senior NHPC official said here on Tuesday.

Of the total 2000 MW of power, about 1000 MW has so far been allocated for seven northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh, where the project is being constructed, will get 12 per cent from the installed capacity. At present, Assam's share is 1.25 per cent free power and 208 MW of paid power.

The Assam government has been seeking a hike in the quota of free power to six per cent. Recently, state power minister Pradyut Bordoloi said Assam has been demanding an increase in the quantum of power share from the Lower Subansiri project.

With 50 per cent of the Lower Subansiri project, the biggest so far in southeast Asia, already completed, NHPC officials said the Assam government has pledged facilitating transport of turbines. The machineries are currently stranded in Dhubri because of stiff opposition from anti-dam activists.

"Three turbines have already reached the construction site, but two others are still in Dhubri. The state government has assured us of facilitating safe transport of the two turbines. All the major challenges facing the project such as landslides have been taken care of. We hope to complete the project by 2014," the NHPC official said.

The Lower Subansiri prject has been facing stiff opposition from anti-dam groups such as the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on the ground that it might cause large-scale downstream impact in the form of floods and siltation. Assam is situated in the downstream area of the project.

Despite opposition, work on the project is on and over Rs 5000 crore has already been invested. The total project cost has been estimated at Rs 10,500 crore.

Allaying apprehension of any adverse downstream impact, the official said flood cushion measures would effectively take care of the problem. "During monsoon, we will lower the reservoir level to mitigate the impact of floods," the official said.

A steering committee comprising experts from the Central Water Commission, the Brahmaputra Board, IIT Roorkee, the state water resources department and NHPC has been entrusted with the task to carry out a study on the project's downstream impact.

The panel, constituted by NHPC following a request from the Assam government, will also suggest measures on mitigating downstream impact. NHPC officials said the committee has already covered 130 km up to the confluence of the Subansiri and the Brahmaputra as part of its downstream impact study.

'Rabha council may make life difficult for non-tribals'

2011-07-27T01:55:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The Garo National Council and other non-tribal bodies have expressed concern over the security of the non-Rabhas living in south Kamrup and the Goalpara area of Assam bordering Meghalaya once the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) is formed.

The organizations also want the government to hold election to the panchayats in the area. "We are not opposed to the creation of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. But our concern is that people belonging to the Garo and other non-tribal communities should not face any harassment. We are already facing threats to our culture and language," said Benedict Areng, president of the Garo National Council. "Like in any other part of the country, panchayat elections should also be held in these areas. This can only ensure transparency in the administration," he added.

The council also demanded that the areas inhabited by over 50 per cent of Garos should be left out of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. "In other areas, we should get special facilities, such as the minority status. Otherwise, we will not be in any position to enjoy the basic rights of life," Areng said.

The organization expressed concern over the condition in which people living in the fringe areas along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary. "The condition is pathetic there. People are living a very difficult life there.

The Meghalaya government has, however, provided several facilities to their people. This might have an effect on the non-Rabhas as the people from Meghalaya might show loyalty to their government," said said Chandan Keshav, coordinator of the Ajanajati Garo Sonmilita Sangram Samity.

Encephalitis kills 7 in Assam

2011-07-26T07:50:00.003-07:00

Nalbari, Jul 26 (PTI) Seven persons have died due to encephalitis in Assam''s Nalbari district in the last few days, officials said today.

The victims have been identified as Sultan Mamood, Gajen Deka, Murtunjoy Deka, Sunita Das, Mukuta Ali, Labanya Kalita and Nitumoni.

The disease has assumed alarming proportion in the district and doctors and public health centres, particularly in rural areas, have been alerted, they said.

Altogether 20 districts have been affected with the worst being Sibsagar, where 34 have perished in the past few months, the officials said.

Ghatowar allays big dam fears

2011-07-26T07:50:00.001-07:00

Shillong, July 26 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Pawan Singh Ghatowar today advocated for hydel projects in North-East citing the growing demand for power and said the concerns of the people living in the downstream areas of the dams will be addressed while constructing the mega projects."Experts are looking into all angles before planning a project. The government is concerned about the security and livelihood of the people living in the downstream areas. The government will ensure that these people are well-protected," Ghatowar said amid increasing protesting over big dams in Assam.NHPC-executed Lower Subansiri project has run into rough weather in the wake of mass protests led by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) over apprehensions that it would jeopardise the lives and livelihoods of a large number of people in the downstream areas besides impacting the environment. The government, however, is adamant on carrying forward the project.The Rs 6,400-crore 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Project is situated in Gerukamukh in Assam-Arunachal border and is one of the mega projects being developed in the country.Ghatowar, on his maiden visit to North Eastern Council secretariat here after being inducted as MoS DoNER in the last reshuffle, said power is the core requirement for development and that there was "nothing new in harnessing hydro-power which is being done all over the world"."North-East is the power house of the country and the region has the maximum avenues of for harnessing hydro-power which is eco-friendly and economical. We have to harness the opportunity given by nature in the region. It is a perennial source of power," Ghatowar said.He said the concerns expressed by the protesting organisations are being "looked into".

Floods recede in Assam

2011-07-26T01:35:00.003-07:00

The flood situation in different parts of Assam have improved significantly over the past couple of days. Official sources here informed today that four districts--Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Barpeta and Jorhat--continued to be affected by the floods, though waters in several other districts have receded. A total of seven revenue circle continue to reel under floods, affected a population of 29,712. The highest number of 12361 people are affected in Dhemaji district, the sources said. Two relief camps each are still being operated by district administrations in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur. There are 400 inmates in the two relief camps in Dhemaji, while the Lakhimpur camps house 75 families. Three people have been killed so far in the current wave of floods, though no new deaths have been reported over the last weekend.

Census 2011: Child sex ratio goes down in Assam

2011-07-26T01:35:00.001-07:00

Assam has recorded a concerning decline in child sex ratio in rural areas with a dip of 10 points in 2011 against data of 2001 even as more than 85 per cent of the states population continued to live in rural areas. Releasing the second part of the provisional population total of Census of India, 2011, for the state of Assam, Rabendra Kumar Das, director of Census Operations, Assam, informed that the decline in rural population of the state has been lesser compared to the all India figure. Of the total 3,11,69,272 population of Assam, 2,67,80,516 people lived in rural areas and the remaining 43,88,756 people in urban areas, as per the data released today. While the percentage decadal growth (2001-11) of the total population stood at 16.93 per cent, in rural areas it was 15.35 per cent and in urban areas, 27.61 per cent. Mr Das pointed that the current rural population (2.68 crore) is close to the states total population of 2.67 crore in 2001 census. The state recorded a decline in rural share of population at 1.18 per cent against the all India percentage of 3.35 per cent. Subsequently, the increase in urbanisation in the state was 1.18 per cent against the national figure of 3.35 per cent. The director pointed that the state witnessed improved sex ratio in both rural and urban areas. The sex ratio (females per 1000 males) in rural areas increased from 944 in 2001 to 956 in 2011 and in urban areas, it rose from 872 in 2001 to 937 in 2011. Similarly, the literacy rates have also improved over the past decade, Mr Das said. In rural areas, the literacy rate went up from 59.73 in 2001 to reach 70.44 in 2011. urban areas also recorded an improvement from 85.34 in 2001 to reach 88.88 in 2011. However, the child sex ratio of 0-6 age group (females per 1000 males) saw an overall dip of 8 points. The overall child sex ratio in the state fell from 965 in 2001 to 957 in 2011. Rural areas recorded a concerning decline in this ratio from 967 in 2001 to 957 in 2011. In urban areas, the child sex ratio went up from 943 in 2001 to 955 in 2011. In terms of largest rural population in the state, Nagaon district registered the largest population while Dima Hasao district has the smallest population. In urban population, Kamrup (metropolitan) has registered the highest population and Baksa district, the lowest population.

Census 2011: 86% of Assam's people live in villages

2011-07-25T23:17:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: Assam is getting urbanized, but at a snail's pace. While an overwhelming 86 per cent of the state's population live in rural areas, only 14 per cent are urban residents.

This came to light on Monday during the release of the Census 2011 provisional population total on rural-urban distribution for Assam. The detailed headcount : Out of 3,11,69, 272 people in the state, 26,780, 516 live in rural areas, contributing to the decadal growth of 15.35 per cent. In 2001, the decadal growth of population in rural areas was 16.51 per cent. In case of urban population, which is 4,388,756 in the 2011 census, the decadal growth is 27.61 per cent, a decline from the decadal growth of 38.24 in 2001.

"Percentage share of decline in rural population for India is 3.35 and increase in urbanization is 3.35. In Assam, the decline in rural share is 1.18 per cent and the subsequent increase in urbanization is 1.18 per cent," director of census operations Assam, Rabendra Kumar Das, said.

The census report says Nagaon has the highest rural population with 2, 457, 906 people, while Dima Hasao has the lowest with 152, 302 people. In urban population, Kamrup (Metropolitan) is the highest with 1,044,832 and Baksa is the lowest with 12,173 people.

Percentage of population growth shows that Dhubri recorded the highest of 24.40 rate, while Kokrajhar recorded the lowest (5.19). In rural percentage of growth of population, Dhubri is highest at 27.13 per cent, while Kamrup (metropolitan) is lowest with 2.93 per cent. Nalbari has shown the highest urban growth of population of 200.34 per cent and Sonitpur is the lowest with (minus) 2.65 percent. The latest provisional population totals also show an increase of literacy rate from 63.25 per cent in 2001 to 73.18 per cent in 2011. The urban literacy rate of 2011 is 88.88 per cent as against the rural 70.44 per cent. Male literacy rate for 2011 in urban areas is 91.84 per cent and in rural areas 76.51 percent. Female literacy rate for 2011 in urban areas is 85.71 per cent and in rural areas is 64.09 per cent.

Child sex ratio in the zero-to-six age group declined to 957 females per 1000 males in 2011 from 965 females per 1000 males in 2001.

Suspected adulterated kerosene claims three lives in Assam

2011-07-25T23:15:00.001-07:00

Suspected adulterated kerosene oil provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Assam’s Dhubri district has claimed three lives in the last five days.

At least 20 persons have been injured and three killed since July 20 in explosions caused by kerosene bought from fair price shops under PDS in Golokganj and Gauripur areas of the district.

Dhubri civil hospital sources said 20 people had been admitted with burn injuries caused by these explosions and one person has been referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital with serious injuries.

The number of casualties has gone up to three with the death of an injured woman last night.

Alarmed at the rising number of incidents, deputy commissioner (DC) Sunil Dutta has ordered that sale of kerosene under PDS in the area be stopped immediately and also asked people to return the kerosene they had bought in the past few days.
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Sale has been stopped at nine depots between Golakganj and Gauripur, which were provided kerosene by four tankers of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) recently.

Meanwhile, an IOC team has already collected samples of the suspected contaminated kerosene and sent them to laboratories in Hyderabad for testing.

Another team arrived today and will further collect samples. Forensic experts from Kolkata are also expected to arrive shortly, the DC added.

Locals resent Assam Rifles bid to occupy land

2011-07-25T03:22:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, July 25 : The Assam Rifles' plan to occupy a piece of land in a wetland, located in the outskirts of the city, has run into protests by local people who said their source of livelihood would be jeopardised.

The area where the para-military force plans to build a facility is known as Rani Development Block which forms a part of a wetland in Kamrup district.

An officer of the Block Development Office, Ranjan Dutta, said, "If the land is allocated to the Assam Rifles, local people will have nothing to survive on as Rani Block is a green reserve providing them the means of sustenance."

Several NGOs sent representations to the deputy commissioner's office against the move to hand over the land by the Kamrup district administration, particularly after senior minister and government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that wetlands would be protected.

The Assam rifles has already demarcated the area where it plans to set up the facility.

A resident of Rani Block, Bidyut Barman who also heads a local NGO, says that the land planned to be taken over by the Assam Rifles is very fertile and farmers have cultivated the area since ages without using any chemical fertiliser.

Seba to train teachers for better answer script evaluation

2011-07-25T00:00:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (Seba) has decided to train government and government-recognized secondary school teachers for better answer script evaluation, said the newly-appointed chairman Shantikam Hazarika.

Hazarika said the board was focusing more on issues like changing the evaluation pattern and training teachers on evaluation process and computerizing various departments of the Seba office.

"The evaluation pattern of Seba needs to be changed and also most of the work here is done manually due to which we get to see a lot of errors in the mark sheets, admit cards and registration cards. It is necessary to technically upgrade the office. This year too, there were errors in admit cards and registration cards. We would want to ensure that such errors are avoided," he said.

Hazarika added that focus should be on identifying institutes in the remote areas which have shown good performance in the examination and teachers of those schools should be trained along with other teachers of schools, which have not been performing well.

"Rather than concentrating on institutes which are faring poorly, we should encourage institutes of the remote areas, which are performing well. The teachers of those schools can even train other teachers," he said.

LN Sarma, secretary Seba said in the last examination a lot of controversies had arisen in Seba's marking system. "It is important to train the teachers too and we would also train the centre-in-charge of the various examination centers for better handling of sheets and allotting marks," said Sarma.

"There is always an issue that marking system is not proper. It is time Seba takes care of that so that there is no negligence on our part," Sarma added.

ULFA’s decision to declare ceasefire lifts hopes for peace, prosperity in Assam

2011-07-24T23:36:00.003-07:00

Guwahati, July 24: The decision of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa to declare a ceasefire and come forward for talks with the Central Government has raised hopes of long term peace and prosperity in Assam.

The Rajkhowa-led central committee reached this decision on July 13. It has come due to the consistent efforts of the government to get the group to come forward for talks.

The formal peace dialogue is yet to begin. But preliminary talks between Government and ULFA were held earlier this year in New Delhi.

The people of Assam welcome this, as it will speed up the return of peace and normalcy.

" The news that Arabinda Rajkhowa is coming for ceasefire is very good news for Assam. Although the negotiations started 2-3 months ago, nothing concrete has been achieved till now but this announcement will clearly send a positive message to all corners of the state that from now onwards there will be no ULFA led armed struggle in the state," said Nazrul Hoq, a entrepreneur.

"It is a good initiative taken by them. It's a small step toward realizing what is most needed in the region that is peace. So in fact we all are happy that there is ceasefire and peace and development can take place," said Morningkeey Tungzang, a student.

Social sector schemes changing the face of Assam

2011-07-24T23:36:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, July 25 : The government of Assam has launched several schemes and projects for underprivileged people living in remote areas, including providing them with jobs and loans to start a business, or even to build their homes.

The state government in collaboration with centre has initiated the Indira Awaas Yojna scheme in (BPL) to build houses.

The Indira Awaas Yojna scheme is channeled through the Panchayati Raj and the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The selection of beneficiaries for Indira Awaas Yojna is done through the permanent IAY waitlist prepared from BPL lists and approved by the Gram Sabha.

In 2010-11, the Titabor Development Block spent Rs 2.76 crore to construct of 571 houses for BPL families in the region.

In the coming year, over 300 families are expected to benefit from the scheme.

"We do not face any disturbance from any militant group. The work is going on peacefully in the region, said Pratap Phukan, Block Development Officer, Titabor

"We are daily wage labourers. I am happy that I have got this house in the village. We are constructing it. Actually I never expected that I would get such an opportunity under the scheme," said Jonali Manki, beneficiary, Titabor.

The Indira Awaas Yojna is not the only scheme that has been implemented in the region. Other successful centrally funded programs in the Titabor district include are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarentee Act, Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojna, Swarnajayanti Gram Rozgar Yojna, Kalpataru and Indira Gandhi old Age Pension Scheme.

Division bell rings in Congress camp over Bodoland stir

2011-07-24T00:37:00.001-07:00

KOKRAJHAR: The demand for Bodoland has gained fresh momentum with several Congress workers from the Bodo heartland extending support to the All Bodo Student Union's cry for a separate state for the Bodos.

"Thousands of Bodoland Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) workers are supporting the All Bodo Students' Union (Absu) in the latter's movement for a separate state of Bodoland," BPCC chief Rajeswar Brahma said on Saturday. A section of Congress workers in the Bodo heartland has formed the BPCC as an alternative platform to raise the causes of the Bodos. It has, however, not got recognition from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).

"During the movement for Bodoland in the late Eighties, several Bodo leaders, including Absu members, became martyrs in their armed struggle. Considering the legitimate demand for a separate Bodoland in Assam, the Centre signed a peace accord and formed the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution," Brahma said. "The BTC, however, failed to deliver and could not ensure all-round development for the people of Bodoland. Several Congress workers have realized this and pledged to back Absu's movement," he added.

Brahma said, "We were surprised to see some Congress MLAs and ministers recommending creation of a separate Kamtapur state. They do not have knowledge about the BTC geographical area."

He added, "Several Congress MLAs in Andhra Pradesh resigned in support of a separate state. But in Assam, the Congress MLAs are silent on the Bodoland issue. Why is it so?"

According to sources, Brahma's comment may anger the Congress high command. "But BPCC leaders are ready to face any action," he added.

In the meantime, the Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal People-NE zone (ICITP-NEZ), an umbrella organisation of 56 nationalist, indigenous and tribal people's organizations from the northeast, on Saturday iterated its support towards creation of a separate state of Bodoland.

Accusing the Congress government in the state and the BPF-ruled BTC of using money and muscle power, ICITP president Jebra Ram Muchahary said, "The Bodos cannot to achieve growth given the existing political system. The proposed Bodoland state should have representation from all ethnic communities. Otherwise, it will also fail like the BTC."

Nine girls rescued from job agency

2011-07-24T00:19:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: The anti-human trafficking unit of crime branch has busted one of the biggest organized gangs which bought young girls and women from east and northeast India and sold them as bonded labourers to clients in upscale localities in and around the capital. A team headed by additional DCP (crime) P S Khuswah rescued nine minor girls and apprehended one of the accused, Munna Chaudhary, who owns a placement agency in Delhi.

"We got information and on July 13, a team of the anti-human trafficking unit, along with NGO Shakti Vahini, raided the premises of Rajdhani Placement Agency at Rajouri Garden in west Delhi. Three minor girls were rescued. A case under the Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act and sections of IPC was registered. Another six girls were rescued after Chaudhary's arrest,'' said Ashok Chand, DCP (crime).

The 41-year-old placement agency owner was questioned at length. He disclosed that he has been running the agency for the past six years. "He bought minor girls through brokers and agents from rural areas of Assam, West Bengal and Orrisa. After being brought to Delhi, the victims were employed as domestic helps. The minor girls - mostly under 12 years - had no knowledge about their salary . All the girls want to go back. They have been sent to Nirmal Chhaya on the directions of the Child Welfare Committee,'' said additional DCP Khuswah.

Price hike leads to power tariff increase in state

2011-07-24T00:18:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: Price hike of natural gas has led the Assam Power Distribution Company to increase the rate of electricity per unit by 56 paisa with effect from August this year. With implementation of the new price, consumers will have to pay Rs 5.16 for a unit of power.

"Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has been experiencing huge deficit on account of power purchase from various agencies due to hike in price of natural gas used as fuel for gas-based stations. This has forced us to hike the price," said Subhash Chandra Das, the chairman-cum-managing director of APDCL.

"The company is having a deficit of Rs 35 crore a month. Last year, we had a deficit of Rs 152 crore and till now, the total deficit amount is Rs 340 crore," he said, adding that the company was having a shortage of 150 megawatts.

Load shedding during the peak hours, which has been harassing the consumers for several months, however, would continue for the next three months.

"We can save about 30 to 35 per cent of power from the load shedding from 6 pm to 12 midnight in the city areas and we have to continue the process for the next three months. We will take a decision on this and the price after reviewing the whole scenario," he said.

The APDCL had earlier hiked the price by Rs 25 per unit from May this year. While declaring the price hike information, the APDCL chairman appealed to the consumers to bear with them. "The increase in power tariff is not in our hand. We have to depend on the suppliers and I hope the consumers will bear with us," he said.

Guinness record holder comes back home

2011-07-23T01:04:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: Apuraj Barooah, an artist from Assam who set the Guinness World Record for drawing the longest piece of scratch art in London last week, is now back to his native state and wants to start a state-level institute to promote his genre of scratch art.

Barooah developed an interesting new technique, which he calls 'bromide scratch art'. This involves scratching bromide paper (photographic paper) with a razor blade to reveal reds, oranges, yellows and whites beneath the exposed black face of the paper.

"I am proud I could represent Assam in the Guinness World Records. I developed this art form accidentally and now want to popularize it. I want to set up a state-level institute to make 'bromide scratch art' popular among the coming generation and seek the support of the Assam government in this," said Barooah, while addressing the media here.

Barooah, a fan of noted painter Nilpawan Baruah and his singer wife, Dipali Borthakur, is currently working on five new scratch paintings that he wants to dedicate to his wife's five most popular tracks. "My next attempt will be to translate the magical songs of my wife, Dipali, into 'bromide scratch art'," he said.

The scratch artist was asked to draw a sketch that would measure at least 20 metre long and 1 metre wide to set the Guinness World Record. His piece also required a continuous theme. "My first piece was a sketch of portraits of some of the legendary figures of United Kingdom. But Guinness rejected my first piece as it did not fulfill the size criteria. I then decided to start a new one with landscapes and folk dances of 40 countries. I finished my piece in 12 hours and later it was selected for the record," he said.

Barooah's final art piece also included Bihu dance. The winning entry depicted a landscape with folk dancers from 40 countries, including India, UK, USA, Spain, Italy, China, Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, France and Thailand. The finished piece measured 20 metre 30 cm in length, and 1 metre 4 cm in width.

Earlier, in 2009, Barooah also registered a record in the Limca Book of Records when he attempted a 'bromide scratch art' piece with figures of 170 dance forms from various countries in the world on a 120 m long and 6 inch wide bromide paper.

Barooah, who was an accountant in a state government office, left his job to continue his life as a promoter of the unique art form.

115 die of encephalitis in Assam

2011-07-23T00:01:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Jul 22 (PTI) A total 115 people have died due to encephalitis in Assam since January this year even as the government sounded an alert and advised all health centres in the state to be on vigil. While 86 died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), 29 others died due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE), joint director health (malaria) Abani Kumar Goswami said here today. Twenty districts have been affected by the disease and the total number of people affected by AES was 408, while 157 have tested positive for JE so far, he said. The worst hit was Sibsagar district where 34 people had died due to AES and eight of JE while the total of affected persons are 130. The other affected districts are Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Kamrup (rural), Barpeta, Morigaon, Kamrup (metro), Darrang, Nalbari, Nagaon, Baksa, Udalguri, Dhemaji, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hills, Goswami said.

Anti-dam bodies firm to send back turbines

2011-07-22T01:27:00.003-07:00

TEZPUR, July 22 – Tension prevails here following reports of Government possibly using security force to bring back the turbines meant for the Lower Subansiri Hydel project – being ferried in by two Bangladeshi ships – besides construction of an approach road by the NHPC authority for off-loading the huge consignments at Jahajghat.

It is pertinent to mention here that various organizations – AASU, TMPK, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee, etc., – have been agitating in protest against the proposed mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh.

AASU executive member Nitul Bora, when contacted, stated that the AASU, since the very beginning has been voicing protests against the dams for the greater interest of the indigenous people of Assam. We are ready to face any consequences for sending back the turbines, he said.

“We will, at any cost, prevent off-loading of the turbines here at Jahajghat,” he said. “We have already stopped the construction work of the approach road by NHPC authority,” he added.

It may be mentioned here that there was a plan to carry the turbines to the project site by trucks after off-loading them here. This, however, did not materialise due to the strong protests launched by AASU and KMSS activists. They also stalled the construction of the approach road by the NHPC. Moreover, the two ships, which were docked at the Jahajghat then, returned to Dhubri.

The NHPC authority, which tried to off-load the turbines at the Jahajghat on several occasions, could not do so due to the vigorous protests by AASU, KMSS and other organizations.

Following this, the NHPC authority on July 7 wrote to the district administration here seeking help to unloading the turbines.

Following this, the district administration had an urgent meeting at the DC Office, along with leaders of AASU, AJYCP, KMSS and senior citizens. Attending the meeting, DC of Sonitpur Tapan Chandra Sharma, SP AP Tewari and other officials urged the organisations not prevent the authority concerned in transporting the NHPC equipment to their designated place.

Govt allays fear on Subansiri dam

2011-07-22T01:27:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, July 22 – Ruling out any stop in the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project pending submission of findings of different expert committees/panels/groups constituted for looking into a wide range of issues concerning possible adverse impacts, State Power Minister Pradyut Bardoloi today said that it was technically feasible to have big dams in seismically vulnerable areas.

Bardoloi who was addressing the media also asserted that the Lower Subansiri project would have ‘flood cushion’ besides a mechanism for ‘mitigating downstream impacts.’

The NHPC-executed Lower Subansiri project ran into rough weather with mass protests led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) over apprehensions that it would jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of a large number of people in the downstream areas besides impacting the environment.

“It is possible with advanced technology to have big dams even on seismic zones, with India alone having 82 dams on such locations. But we are as concerned as the State’s people about any type of possible adverse effects including downstream and environmental, and following our pressure the Centre has constituted several panels/groups involving Central Water Commission, Planning Commission and an inter-ministerial group to study the entire gamut of issues involved,” he said.

When asked if it was not a contradiction of the Government’s stand in not keeping the controversial project in abeyance pending submission of the findings of all the panels, the Minister replied in the negative, saying that ‘work on the project cannot be stopped.’

Bardoloi said that the Lower Subansiri project could see completion by 2014. “We will facilitate transportation of the turbines to the site at Gerukamukh,” he added.

Making a strong pitch for power generation through big dams, Bardoloi said that the coal- and natural gas-based projects had been adversely hit due to insufficient supply of raw-materials and it was highly imperative to generate electricity through big dams to meet the growing demand for power.

“Today the power deficit in the State is around 300 MW and will jump to 1,000 MW in five years’ time. This makes hydel power the only viable option for substantial power generation,” he said.

Bardoloi said that the State Government had submitted a six-point charter to the Centre on the issue of big dams, urging it to involve international experts in the study on dams, to have a joint ministerial group on downstream impact mitigation, to have a study on the cumulative impact of the 120-odd proposed dams in Arunachal Pradesh, and to ensure that Assam had a fair share of the power generated in the Lower Subansiri project, including free power.

“We are also pressing hard for a joint water resource authority (NEWRA) for the North-East for scientific and sustainable management of the region’s huge water resource but this has not materialized due to Arunachal’s opposition,” he said.

Denying that the State Government surrendered before the ‘big dam lobby’, Bardoloi said that there was no such thing as the big dam lobby and that for the Government, the interests of the State and its people were supreme.

“Let me assure the people of Assam that we will never take any step that could prove to be detrimental to their interest,” he said.

Bardoloi revealed that Assam entered into an agreement with Orissa for getting a share in the coalfield at Mandakini in that State. “We will either use it for feeding the thermal projects in Assam or get a share of the power from Orissa – whichever is more viable,” he said.

It may be mentioned that the first expert committee constituted by the State Government had submitted its report in June last year, terming the present location of the Lower Subansiri dam as unfit for the purpose besides maintaining that no big dams should come up in the Himalayan foothills.

Assam scribes support Tripura journos protests

2011-07-21T00:57:00.001-07:00

The Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) has extended its moral support to Assembly of Journalists, a forum of editors, journalists, press photographers associated with newspaper, news agency and electronic media of Tripura for its ongoing agitation against the authority. The media fraternity of Tripura has stepped up its agitational programmes against the attacks on the journalists covering events of political programmes on July 10 and 11 last by the security personnel in Agartala. According to local media 11 journalists were injured in the assaults of Tripura State Rifles jawans even after the mediamen showed their Photo Identity Cards. The Assembly of Journalists had organised a silent procession in the state capital city and also submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Tripura yesterday . The JFA, in a statement here today, urged the state government, led by senior Left politician Manik Sarkar, to take appropriate action against the guilty security personnel and also extend all possible support to the injured mediapersons for their treatment.

9 Assam girls rescued, kingpin held

2011-07-18T22:03:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI, July 19 – In a major breakthrough in the drive against human trafficking, Delhi Police have apprehended one of the kingpins of the racket, Munna Chaudhary, who is the owner of a placement agency. At least nine minor girls have been rescued.

An Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Crime Branch under ACP MS Bisht and overall Addl DCP (Crime), PS Kushwah on July 13, based on inputs from Assam Police and accompanied by a team of Shakti Vahini – NGO, raided the premises of Rajdhani Placement Agency at Rajouri Garden, Delhi.

At least three minor girls were rescued in the raid. Munna Chaudhary (41) owner of the Rajdhani Placement Agency was arrested and subjected to intensive interrogation. He disclosed that he has been running the placement agency for the last six years. He procures minor girls through brokers and agents from rural areas of Assam and after being brought to Delhi, they are employed as domestic help, sources said.

Chaudhary hails from Paneri in Udalguri district. He shifted to Delhi in 2004 in search of employment. He started Rajdhani Placement Agency in 2005. A team of police officers from Paneri has already arrived in Delhi, in this connection.

Choudhury has been booked under Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act and Indian Penal Code.

The minor girls had no knowledge about their salary and they had no contact with their parents after coming to Delhi. All the girls expressed their willingness to go back to their parents. All the rescued minor girls have been sent to Nirmal Chaya on the directions of the Child Welfare Committee.

Six more girls have been rescued. All the girls are residents of Assam. All of them were produced before the Child Welfare Committee and have been sent to Nirmal Chaya.

Investigations revealed that brokers and agents of the placement agency indulged in trafficking of minor children from Assam and West Bengal and brought them to Delhi. These brokers and agents contacted poor parents of the children and won their confidence and then lured them by promising a better future for their child and money to them in the form of salary. After being brought to Delhi the minors were handed over to the placement agency.

The agents were paid Rs.12, 000 per girl, as commission by the placement agency. The placement agency charged Rs.20, 000 to 25,000 from the employer for providing the girls as domestic help. Thereafter they also collected the salary of the child but it hardly reached the parents.

Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini said Choudhary is a prized catch and one of the top human trafficking operators to come out of Assam and establish himself big time in the national capital. He blamed lack of inter-State coordination for rise of such human traffickers.

Assamese girls forced to work for free, placement agent arrested

2011-07-18T21:52:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: A placement agency owner was arrested for running a human trafficking racket by the crime branch, and nine girls from Assam were rescued. The accused has been identified as Munna Chaudhary (41) and he was allegedly running the agency for six years.

Cops said Chaudhary would procure girls through brokers and agents from rural areas of Assam and bring them to Delhi and get them employed as domestic help. These girls had no knowledge about their salary and never really got to contact their parents after coming here. Post rescue, they all expressed willingness to return home, and were sent to Nirmal Chhaya , said cops. "A joint team of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and NGO Shakti Vahini raided the premises of Rajdhani Placement Agency at Rajouri Garden in west Delhi on Wednesday and the girls were recovered," said DCP Ashok Chand. Probe has revealed that the agency contacted poor families in Assam and West Bengal and lured their children away with promises of better life and regular salary, police said.

Agents were paid Rs 12,000 per girl as commission by the placement agency, which then charged Rs 20,000 to 25,000 from employers engaging the girls as domestic helps. It also collected salaries of the children on their behalf but the money never reached the families.

Flood scene in Assam grim, Kaziranga Park flooded

2011-07-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, July 18 : The flood situation in Assam continued to be grim Monday in the four districts of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Golaghat with over 300 people rendered homeless while the low-lying areas of Kaziranga National Park submerged. The Brahmaputra and most of its tributaries were flowing above
the danger level in the districts, the Central Water Commission said.

With nearly two lakh people reeling under the impact of the first wave of floods and four persons dead so far following incessant rains in the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre had Sunday deployed five teams of the National Disaster Response Force.

The river rising alarmingly towards the danger level was threatening to breach a dyke and inundate a 50-km stretch between Mansiri and Gotaimari.

The flood waters had entered the Kaziranga Park, home to the one-horned rhino, in Golaghat district, officials said.

The rain-fed streams had overflowed submerging some low-lying areas and a few forest check-posts in Kaziranga.

The animals in the park were, however, safe as high platforms were constructed for their shelter, officials said.

In Sonitpur, the Jiabhorali, a tributary of Brahmaputra, washed away 500 hectares along with 25 houses making over 300 people homeless at Tikajan area near Tezpur town, they said.

The NDRF was engaged in rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, where the district administrations have pressed into service motorised boats for rescue and relief operations, they said.

The district administration and forest department were taking necessary precautionary measures and conducting relief operations.

Food items were also being supplied to the affected people by the district administrations.

AASU rally on July 30 to protest against dams

2011-07-18T00:44:00.000-07:00

Guwahati: Over 10,000 activists of the All Assam Student's Union (Aasu) and 26 other students' and ethnic groups of the state are going to take out a rally on July 30 to press the Delhi and Dispur government to stop the ongoing construction of mega dams in the region.

The rally will also raise a demand for update of the National registrar of Citizen (NRC) in the state and on solving the state's flood and erosion problems as soon as possible.

"We have decided to launch a mass rally on July 30 for stopping of the ongoing construction of all the dams in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Moreover, the rally will also press for immediate update of the NRC in the state. We will also seek solution for the state's flood and erosion problem," said Tapan Gogoi Aasu general secretary.

The July 30 rally is expected to witness a gathering of 10,000 activists representing various ethnic groups and the student organizations.

On Sunday, Aasu activists met ethnic groups like the All Assam Tribal Sangha, the Tea Tribe Students' Union, the Karbi Students' Union, Moran-motok groups, Rabha Student Union, the Missing Student Union and others to discuss issues like dam, NRC and flood problems in the state.

Flood in Assam: 200 villages hit, nearly 2 lakh affected

2011-07-18T00:43:00.001-07:00

Tezpur/Lakhimpur: Nearly two lakh people have been affected by the first wave of flood which has hit Assam's twin districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji.
Four people have so far lost their lives in the flood that has inundated nearly 200 villages in the worst affected Jonai sub division, official sources said in Guwahati today.
The district administrations of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji have pressed motor boats into service for rescue and relief operations.
The boats belong to the districts Disaster Management authority but incessant rain has hampered rehabilitation operation.
Flood has also affected neighbouring Sonitpur district with revenue circles of Halem and Gohpur under water of the swollen Subansiri river.
Meanwhile, the swirling water of river Jiadhol has caused flash floods in parts of villages of Kechukana, Lowmunri, Misamari and Naruathan.
Food items are being supplied to the affected people by the Dhemaji district administration.

Students' body raps Sanskrit Board for 'faulty' question papers

2011-07-18T00:34:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The mother of all Indian languages, Sanskrit, seems to be in a pathetic condition in the state. To add insult to injury, the Sanskrit Board, which conducts examination in the language, has set faulty question papers for the Class X and XII exams that were held recently.

The All Assam Sanskrit Students' Union (Aassu), the students' organization representing Sanskrit students in the state, alleged that Sanskrit Board has not done anything for development of the language in the state.

"The students studying Sanskrit in the state are in a very pathetic condition. The Sanskrit Board's utter negligence has led to setting of faulty question papers for the class X and XII exams," said Jugal Kumar Mahanta, the secretary of Aassu.

Disaster response teams deployed in flood-hit Assam

2011-07-18T00:32:00.001-07:00

With the water having touched the danger level in the Brahmaputra in some areas of Assam, the central government has deployed teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the affected areas for rescue and relief operations.

The central government is monitoring the situation in close coordination with the state government, an official release said here Sunday.

The home ministry release said the affected areas include Dhemaji (46 villages), Jorhat (25 villages), Lakhimpur (65 villages) and Sonitpur (three revenue circles) apart from Dhubri.

The release said that the central government has taken necessary precautionary measures by deploying teams of NDRF located at Guwahati in the affected districts.

"These teams are carrying specialized equipment to respond in any eventuality emanating from flood emergencies," the spokesperson said, adding that theteams are equipped with deep diving equipment, inflatable boats, lifebuoys and life jackets.

The release said the home ministry is constantly monitoring the situation in close coordination with the Assam government.

Flood situation in Assam remains unchanged

2011-07-17T00:30:00.001-07:00

Heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for the last two days has affected Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam submerging villages and hitting a population of over 1.50 lakh.
Rain-fed river Brahmaputra, its tributaries and other rivers flowing down from the upper reaches of Arunachal were causing the first wave of floods in Assam submerging 105 villages in Lakhimpur district affecting 1.25 lakh people, officials said on Saturday.
While the rising Humdiri river in Lakhimpur had overrun 15 new villages under Lakhimpur revenue circle overnight, the swollen Subansiri flowing down from the neighbouring state was rising menacingly breaching an agricultural embankment.
At least 20000 hectare of agricultural land had been covered by the flood waters damaging standing crops there, the sources said.
Four persons drowned on Friday when the Ranganadi embankment breached at Kharkati under Lakhimpur revenue circle.
In neighbouring Dhemaji district the deluge caused by the swollen Jiadhol river affected Kechukhana, Ghuguha, Lowmuri, Naruathan and other areas affecting 25000 people, officials said.
The surging waters overtopping the National Highway 52 connecting Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts with Arunachal closing traffic on Friday has, however, ebbed and movement of vehicles was restored on Saturday.
In Sonitpur district, the flood waters of Brahmaputra's tributary Jiabhorali breached a major embankment at Gotaimari, submerging three villages and rendering 25 families homeless on Saturday.
Chatrang river overran Ward number four areas of Gohpur town inundating most of its low lying areas and of Brahmajan and Kalabari areas.
The Jiabhorali and Depota rivers were rising alarmingly and were feared to cross their danger levels soon unless the heavy rainfall ceased.
Meanwhile, the district administrations were on high alert and providing relief materials in the affected areas, officials added. (DD-16.7)

Plea for better HIV drug stock

2011-07-15T22:08:00.001-07:00

Interactive session stresses on shelters and trained doctors

Students participate in an AIDS awareness rally in Guwahati.

Guwahati, July 16 : HIV-positive patients of the Northeast complained about lack of adequate stock of drugs at centres administering anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the region during an interactive session here today.

In the Northeast, Manipur is the only state to have a second-line ART centre, while the rest just have a first-line ART centre adding to the hardships of HIV-positive patients.

The interactive session was organised by World Vision, India, a Christian humanitarian organisation.

According to available statistics, Manipur has an estimated HIV population of 38,016, while the number of registered HIV cases in Nagaland is 11,224. Around 19,000 individuals in Assam are estimated to be infected by HIV, of which only 6,000 have been registered so far.

Although first-line ART centres are available in the northeastern states, the stocks of certain medicines keep fluctuating. In such a situation, doctors often substitute the prescribed medicines with some other drug and later, when stocks are available, the patient is switched over to the original medicine.

Jahnabi Goswami, president of the Indian Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS said, “The state governments of the Northeast should ensure that adequate stocks of ART drugs are available at all times. Suppose a patient has been taking Stavudine. When its stock gets depleted, doctors switch him over to Nevirapine for a few months. Again he is switched back to the original drug after its stock arrives or vice versa. This is dangerous as changing of ART drugs frequently can make a patient develop resistance to a particular drug. Besides, anyone who requires the second-line ART has to travel to Manipur or Calcutta and that proves to be expensive. It is essential that such centres be made available in every northeastern state.”
Reni Jacob, the advocacy director of World Vision, India, said in keeping with WHO recommendations, state governments should phase out the ART drug Stavudine (d4T) from the first-line regiment as it has long-term irreversible side effects. Instead the National AIDS Control Organisation should substitute it with Tenofovir (TDF).
Moreover, lack of appropriate shelters for HIV-affected children and unavailability of trained doctors to treat such patients are major problems in the states.
“I and my three-year-old daughter are living with HIV. Although ART treatment is provided for free in Meghalaya, I face problems finding doctors to treat my child when she develops some sickness. It would be nice if we have doctors who are trained to deal with small children with HIV,” an HIV-positive mother from Meghalaya said.
“We require specific shelter homes for HIV-positive orphans in the region, as most shelter homes refuse to keep them citing one reason or the other. Moreover, when we get a child admitted to school, the school authorities after knowing his positive status refuse to keep him. They give excuses like the child’s academic performance is not good. This discrimination affects the child very deeply,” Goswami said.

Northern Assam reel under floods

2011-07-15T04:54:00.003-07:00

Guwahati, July 14: Rising water levels of rivers, fed by incessant rain in bordering states, have flooded vast areas in northern Assam’s Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts.

About 50 villages in Gohpur in Sonitpur district have been inundated by the waters of Brahmajan river.

Continuous rains in Arunachal Pradesh have led to rising water level in the river.

About 200 families have been affected as flood waters entered human habitation areas through breached embankments.

People have been taking shelter on roads and near railway tracks.

In Lakhimpur district, strong current has led the Kani river to change course, affecting large areas.

National highway 52, running through the area, has also been inundated by flood waters.

68 Rhinos poached in Assam in five years

2011-07-15T04:54:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Jul 15 : As many as 68 rhinos have been poached in Assam in the last five years, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain informed today.

Replying to separate questions in the state Assembly, Mr Hussain said the highest number of rhinos poached in the last five years was in 2007, when 21 pachyderms were killed.

In 2006, nine rhinos were poached, 16 in 2008, 15 in 2009 and seven in 2010, he added.

The minister said the rhino census in 2009 had recorded a total of 2201 rhinos in the state.

He further informed that altogether 2853 forest guards are employed in the state.

Of them, 655 were employed in the nine wildlife divisions of the state and 2198 in the territorial division.

Man-elephant conflict discussed in Assam Assembly

2011-07-15T04:53:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Jul 15 : As the man-elephant conflict continued to grow over the years, the issue was today raised in the Assam Assembly.

Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA Padma Hazarika, bringing a Zero Hour notice on man-elephant conflict, stressed that the issue was more important than flood menace in several parts of the state.

He cited yesterday’s instance of a man being trampled to death by a wild elephant in Sonitpur district, which infuriated the local people and led them to beat up forest department officials who later visited the place.

Hazarika, while underlining the need for more and prompt monetary compensation for damage to life and property by wild animals, also highlighted the need for better coordination between public and forest officials.

He also stressed on the need to enlist help of experts to control and chase away marauding wild elephants and better equipment and vehicles for forest department officials to promptly reach spots where the pachyderms create havoc.

Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, admitting the problem, said the government was adopting various measures to curtail it.

He stressed on the need to protect elephant habitats and ensure adequate food for the pachyderms as a major measure in ensuring that elephants do not enter human habitations.

Hussain added that monetary compensation had been increased and a mechanism for early disbursement of compensation put into place.

Big dams needed for development: CM

2011-07-14T23:56:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, July 15 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today told the Assembly that power generation through big dams would serve the interests of the State by facilitating industrialization and overall development. He further reasoned that with adequate provisions, big dams would help moderate the perennial problems of flood and erosion.

“Big dams are essential for power generation, which, in turn, can expedite industrialization and contribute to the overall development process. They will also help in flood moderation,” Gogoi added.

Seeking to allay widespread apprehensions about adverse effects of big dams, Gogoi said that with better technologies it was possible to build dams even in earthquake-prone areas besides mitigating possible adverse downstream impacts.

The Chief Minister said that even the AGP, which is now opposing mega dams, had advocated those while in power. The permission for the Lower Subansiri dam was given during the AGP tenure in 2000, he added.

Stressing the need for effective utilization of the State’s water resources, especially the Brahmaputra, Gogoi said that it was a huge asset and would boost the development process if adequately harnessed.

He also said that for addressing the issue of erosion, the government would involve the best of international experts.

Asserting that the State had made a lot of progress in the recent past, Gogoi said that its growth rate of 8.1 per cent during the current year testified to the fact. “This is Planning Commission’s statistics, and we intend to perform even better in the days ahead,” he said, adding that Assam compared favourably with many advanced States on several fronts in the recent years.

Citing education as a key area for facilitating growth and development, Gogoi said that the idea behind the renewed thrust on the sector was to overhaul the education system. “Unemployment has to be solved through expansion of quality education…we will be having a number of medical and engineering colleges in different districts,” he said, adding that skill development and capacity building through education was a priority area.

Gogoi said that tea garden areas and chars (riverine) were the educationally most backward, and special focus was needed to bring them at par with the rest of the State.

Claiming that the law-and-order situation improved a lot, the Chief Minister said that the past two-three years witnessed the lowest civilian casualty, with almost all the insurgent groups either engaged in talks or showing genuine interest for a negotiated settlement of their grievances.

Gogoi said that Adivasi People’s Army, which triggered the blast to derail the Guwahati-Puri Express, too had declared a ceasefire.

“We are not for confronting anyone but at the same time we will not tolerate violence. Doors are still open for Paresh Baruah as well to join the peace process,” he said, adding that every group, including the ULFA, was welcome to secure power in a democratic manner, as the government was “nobody’s personal property”.

Claiming that the scenario concerning agriculture and rural development was brightening up, Gogoi said that the number of beggars was on the wane.

Citing woman empowerment as another crucial area, Gogoi said that significant progress had been made on that front with the functioning of the panchayati raj institutions and the growing self-help group (SHG) movement.

Assam govt welcomes Ulfa ceasefire

2011-07-13T23:38:00.001-07:00

Appeals Baruah faction to join peace process too.

Welcoming the decision of the pro-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) to declare unilateral ceasefire for paving the way for talks with the Centre, the Assam government today appealed anti-talk faction led by Paresh Baruah also to join the peace process.

The pro-talk faction of the outfit, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, had declared the ceasefire yesterday and said the decision was taken at the 5th general council of the organisation, held on February 22.

“Ulfa with a view to exploring a lasting peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict, resolves to cease all forms of armed campaign for an indefinite period,” said Ulfa’s statement.

In a statement, the Assam government said: “We welcome the initiative and we will take all steps for facilitating the peace talks.”

The Assam government appealed the anti-talk faction to “come forward for talks” and said it was “committed to keep the doors open for talks with the group”. However, the state government added a caveat that it would not wait “indefinitely” for the Paresh Baruah faction.

“Government of Assam is always ready for talks with any organisation which shows willingness for discussion on all outstanding issues in a peaceful manner. The government of Assam also appeals to Ranjan Daimary faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and militant adivasi organisations to come forward for talks. In this regard, the government of Assam has already initiated discussion NDFB (progressive), Adivasi Cobra (ACMA) and Birsa Commando Force (BCF),” it added.

AJYCP demonstration against mega dams

2011-07-12T22:43:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, July 12 – Members of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) today staged demonstrations at the district and subdivisional headquarters all over the State in support of their demand for abandoning the existing and proposed mega dam hydel projects of the NE region and neighbouring Bhutan.

They also registered their protest against the bid to bring back the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP) turbines to the State. They demanded that the barges carrying the turbines should instead be sent back.

The AJYCP members also sent memorandums to the Prime Minister of the country, demanding immediate steps to scrap all the mega dam projects and sending back the turbine-laden barges from Assam.

In the city, the members of the Guwahati district committee of the AJYCP staged a demonstration near the Panbazar ferry station. Later they sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) district, said a press release.

Meanwhile, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti general secretary Akhil Gogoi, in an open letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, questioned the legitimacy of his claim that the mega dam projects would solve the State’s problem of floods.

He also described the bid of the Government of India to set up 168 hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh as a colonial attempt to exploit the water resources of the region. The State Government should not extend support to the Central Government in this respect, said the KMSS general secretary.

The KMSS general secretary also alleged that the Central Government has been ignoring the rights of Assam over the inter-State rivers flowing through its territory. The environment impact assessment (EIA) studies conducted for setting up the hydel projects in the NE region have not covered the issue of impact of these projects in downstream Assam, he alleged.

The cumulative impact of these projects, together with the Bhutanese ones with the joint capacity of generating 15,000 MW of power, should be properly studied before going for setting up such projects, said the KMSS general secretary.

1,57,465 doubtful voters in Assam

2011-07-12T22:41:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Jul 11 (PTI) There are 1,57,465 doubtful or 'D' voters in Assam and their credentials are being examined legally, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.Replying to a question by AIUDF legislator Sherman Ali Ahmed in the assembly, the chief minister said 5577 of the doubtful voters have been found to be foreigners and necessary measures have been taken to deport them.Gogoi said he had received complaints from some organisations regarding harassment of genuine Indian citizens as doubtful voters and necessary enquiries are being made in this regard.''If any official has been found guilty of harassing genuine Indian citizens as 'D' voters, action will be taken against them according to the law of the land'', he said.Asked whether compensation will be paid to genuine citizens for being harassed as doubtful voters, Gogoi said there was no such provision under the existing law.