Page 11 - Assam

Durga puja artisans struggle with budget cuts, rising costs in Assam

The deft hands of 67-year-old artisan, Tapas Pal, move with ease as he moulds the clay to give shape to divine forms at his workshop in Pandu area here but budget cuts, after two years of COVID-19 crisis, are leaving the idol-maker and his ilk dispirited. Pal is worried that this year, too, business may see no revival amid rising prices of raw materials and shortage of labourers, with several organisers having curtailed their spending. "We faced immense difficulties in the last two years due to the pandemic-induced lockdown. Last year, the administration's directive to mark the occasion with small-sized Durga idols had adversely affected our earnings," Pal told PTI. "Prices of raw materials -- clay, hay, wood and even costumes and jewellery -- have skyrocketed post pandemic but organising committees are not prepared to pay more," he lamented. Artisans in the potters' colony in the western part of the city are still burning the midnight oil to ensure that idols of Goddess Durga and

Police arrest 25 PFI activists from 8 districts of Assam in fresh crackdown

Twenty-five Popular Front of India (PFI) activists were arrested from different districts of Assam in a fresh crackdown against the outfit on Tuesday, police said. The highest number of 10 PFI activists were held in Goalpara, five in Kamrup (Rural) and three in Dhubri, followed by arrests in Barpeta, Baksa, Darrang, Udalguri and Karimganj, they said. Earlier, 11 people were arrested by the Assam Police from various parts of the state and Delhi, after a nation-wide clampdown against the organisation since September 22. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that his government has been urging the Centre to ban the outfit for allegedly creating an eco-system for terror activities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed that documents seized during the nation-wide raids conducted at offices of PFI and its members contain highly incriminating materials targeting prominent leaders of a particular community.

Deliberated on development goals till 2026 at 'Chintan Shivir': Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said detailed discussions on development goals for the state till 2026 were held during the 'Chintan Shivir' for ministers and top government officials. During the three-day programme, they also deliberated on possible steps that would be taken up to meet the development targets in the next four years, he said. Talking to reporters at the end of the programme, Sarma said, "During the Chintan Shivir, we discussed on targets (of development) for 2026 and resource mobilisation to achieve the goals," he said. Notably, the BJP-led coalition government in the state will complete its tenure in the middle of 2026. Based on the deliberations here, action plans with time-bound implementation models will be prepared by various departments, he said. "Various departments made detailed presentations on their proposals in the programme. Action plans will be prepared soon and uploaded on the department websites so that time-bound implementation c

Night safari in fashion around the world: Himanta on Kaziranga row

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that night safari at wildlife sanctuaries was in fashion globally as he sought to dismiss the controversy over his jeep ride along with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) after dusk. Speaking to reporters at the end of the three-day 'Chintan Shivir', Sarma claimed that no law in the country, including those for the protection of wildlife, prohibit entry into forest areas after sunset. "Going to wildlife sanctuaries at night is in fashion across the world. Places like Singapore have been doing it," he said. The controversy over the jeep safari with the Sadhguru is, in fact, creating a negative impression about the state and its people as it shows Assam inviting an esteemed guest and then creating a fuss over it, he said. With Sarma by his side, Sadhguru drove the vehicle on Saturday evening to tour a part of the national park along with other dignitaries. Sadhguru was here for the inauguration of the ..

Change mindset to ensure Assam goes up development ladder: CM to officials

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday urged his cabinet colleagues, legislators and bureaucrats to change their mindset and work towards a vision to ensure the state goes up the development ladder by at least two levels by 2026. It is time for Assam to re-emerge as a developed state, Sarma asserted while inaugurating a 'Chintan Shivir' here. Assam cannot live anymore with the scar that its place in the country's development journey can be counted only from the bottom, and not the top... We have to live with dignity and not always approach the Centre for assistance, he said. There are many development indicators that can be changed in the next two to three years if we work collectively and resolutely, and we have to decide on how Assam can go up by at least two levels by 2026, the chief minister said. Sarma said there was no need to frame visions for the next 50 years as no one knows who will live till then to see its implementation or review it. We are in a hurry an

Assam govt consistently asking Centre to ban on PFI: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said his government has been consistently requesting the Centre to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for allegedly "creating an eco-system for terror activities". The state police have so far arrested "11 PFI activists" as a part of the nationwide crackdown on the radical Islamic outfit, he said. "The Assam government is consistently asking the Centre to ban the PFI. we are convinced that the organisation needs to be banned, Sarma said on the sidelines of a programme here. The state government, however, has given its inputs on the outfit to the Centre, he said. In a massive crackdown on the PFI, multi-agency teams spearheaded by the NIA arrested 106 leaders and activists of the radical Islamic outfit on Thursday in near-simultaneous raids in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. Sarma said the police are investigating whether there are links among the outfit and the radicalisation modules in som

Assam CM inaugurates 2nd ultramodern radiotherapy unit in Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated the second ultramodern radiotherapy unit in the cancer care centre of Health City Hospital in Guwahati.Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta was also present on occasion."I am sure this will be significantly helpful for patients suffering from cancer & related ailments. Our government is working hand in hand with the private sector to prevent cancer cases in Assam & North Eastern region," Himanta Biswa Sarma told the mediapersons.Commenting on the rapid rise of cancer patients in Assam, the CMD of the hospital Dr Bhabananda Das said that Assam accounts for the highest number of cancer cases among all the northeastern statesSarma, all ministers and senior secretaries of various departments of the state government will attend the three-day Chintan Shivir that is all set to begin today.During the brainstorming session, the state government will discuss the ongoing activities of the departments. The plans and ...

Assam Cabinet to increase medical seats for communities demanding ST status

The Assam Cabinet has decided to increase the number of reserved seats by two each for the six communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status in medical education from the academic year 2022-23. The six communities - Tea garden tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran and Chutia - which are currently under the Other Backward Communities (OBC) have seats reserved for students from these communities in the MBBS, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting late on Friday night. The tea garden tribes will now have 26 reserved seats, the Koch Rajbongshis 10, Tai Ahom seven, Chutias six while Matak and Moran will have five each, he said. Three seats will be reserved under the ex-servicemen quota for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) studies. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also decided to increase the upper age limit at entry level posts in medical colleges from 38 to 40 years for general category, 41 to 43 year

Assam govt's 3-day Chintan Shivir to begin today; CM, ministers to attend

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, all ministers and senior secretaries of various departments of the state government will attend the three-day Chintan Shivir

Assam CM, representatives of 6 communities agree to meet on ST status

The Assam government and representatives of six communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status have agreed to a tripartite meeting to resolve the issue, following talks with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday. Held a meeting with representatives of Adivasi, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran and Tai Ahom communities with regard to their demand for ST status. While listening to their concern, also drew their attention to the series of steps taken by our Govt to accord them ST status, Sarma tweeted. The chief minister said they agreed to have more meetings, including a tripartite one involving the government, the representatives and other tribal bodies to narrow down existing differences and create a conducive atmosphere for ST status to the communities. The six communities are protesting against the Centre's decision to grant ST status to 12 communities in five other states excluding them. Protesters had taken out a march under the umbrella organisation Janagoshti Oikyo

Will not hesitate to take any measure for transparent recruitment: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday asserted that his government will not hesitate to take any step to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process in the state, including suspending internet services for up to 20 hours. Sarma was speaking at an appointment letter distribution ceremony for 11,236 posts in 24 government departments here. The Assam government's decision to suspend mobile internet services for four hours each on two days during written examinations for recruitment to Grade 3 and Grade 4 posts last month had drawn flak from several quarters. We are committed to fulfil our pre-poll promise of providing 1 lakh government jobs. About 27,000 appointments have already been given in the last one-and-half-years, and today we are increasing the tally further, he said. We will continue to organise such appointment letter distribution ceremonies till we reach the 1-lakh figure, Sarma added. Referring to the criticism over suspension of internet services, Sar

Why a non-tea player like Carbon Resources is eyeing McLeod Russel

With a crop of 44 mkg across 31 estates in Assam and two in Dooars, McLeod is a Goliath in the world of tea. It has estates in Africa and Vietnam and its total output worldwide is 73 mkg

Number of medical colleges in Assam increased under BJP: CM Himanta Sarma

Taking an indirect jibe at the previous Congress governments in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that the healthcare sector in the state has got a powerful boost under the BJP regime

NIA arrests 1 from Bengal for involvement in Assam's Cachar Maoist case

The National Investigation Agency arrested a Maoist identified as Samrat Chakraborty alias Amit from West Bengal's Mahispata for his involvement in the CPI (Maoist) case of Cachar District of Assam

Bill to amend Assam Police Act passed after Congress, Gogoi stage walk-out

The Opposition Congress and the lone Independent MLA staged a walk-out in the Assam Assembly on Monday as the government refused to forward a bill that seeks to amend parts of the Police Act to a select committee on the last day of the autumn session of the House. The bill proposes to amend sections of the Assam Police Act, 2007, on the establishment, power and functions of the District Accountability Authority. The Assembly later passed the Assam Police (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika introduced the bill in the House on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who also holds the Home and Political departments. Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia said that as per the amendment, a DIG-level officer will head the accountability authority which will deal with cases of misconduct' against officers in the rank of inspector and below. The Congress MLA said a retired judge should head the panel, asserting that it was mandated in a Supreme

River cruise between Varanasi, Bogibeel to begin next year: Minister

India's "longest river cruise service" will begin early next year between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Bogibeel in Assam, traversing a distance of more than 4,000 km, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Monday. The route will connect rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBRP), the minister of ports, shipping and waterways (MoPSW) stated. The service will usher in a novel opportunity for the people of Assam to use inland waterways for promoting their trade, tourism and for cargo transportation, he said, launching multiple projects for the development of the area in and around the Bogibeel bridge in Dibrugarh district. The Union Minister, during the day, laid the foundation stone for the construction of floating jetties at Bogibeel and Guijan, besides inaugurating the Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty which has been built by the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) as part of the development initiatives near the bridge. Sonowal, on the occasion, said

Assam NEET PG counselling 2022 registration process begins; check details

Assam NEET PG Counselling 2022 registration process begins from Monday till Sept 23. Eligible candidates can visit the official website- dme.assam.gov.in

Assam govt concerned as 15 districts most vulnerable to climate change

The Assam government is concerned as 15 districts in the state are among the 25 across the country identified as the most vulnerable to climate change

HC asks Tamil Nadu govt to allow Assam team to inspect elephant Joymala

Earlier this week, the Assam government filed a petition in Guwahati High Court seeking the custody of Joyamala, a temple elephant that the state had given to Tamil Nadu on lease

Congress will launch 'Assam Jodo Yatra' on November 1: Jairam Ramesh

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh announced here on Friday that the party would launch the 'Assam Jodo Yatra', the Assam version of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', on November 1.