Panel for study of unemployment problem in Assam

Assam government would soon set up a commission to study the issue of unemployment in the state and suggest remedies to eradicate the problem, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here Friday.

"The commission will consist of experts and besides studying the problem of unemployment in Assam, it will also suggest ways to solve the problem. The commission's report will be out by Bohag Bihu (mid-April, 2013)," Gogoi told reporters.
 

In addition, the commission will also look at the steps taken by the government during the past decade to deal with unemployment and success and failure of various schemes in this regard.

"Besides the issue of unemployment, the commission would also be entrusted with studying details regarding the income generation of farmers and other sections of the society.

"It will provide district wise data on all these factors and is expected to find out what kind of effect unemployment had on Assam's economy and society," Gogoi said.

He said the report would also help expert groups and research firms in their activities.

The Chief Minister also blamed "poor work culture" in the state as a major reason for Assam's relative backwardness vis-a-vis other states.

"The work culture in poor in Assam. We all have to change our attitude and adopt a positive work culture if we want to bring further development," Gogoi said.

Curfew relaxed in Assam's Dhubri town

Curfew imposed in Assam's Dhubri town following clashes was on Friday relaxed for seven hours with authorities describing the situation as being under control.

With no fresh incident being reported following violence on Wednesday and in view of Eid-ul-Zoha tomorrow, the Dhubri district administration relaxed the prohibitory order from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Shops, markets, offices and banks remained open during the curfew relaxation period. However, educational institutions were closed because of Durga Puja vacation.

In view of tomorrow's festival, security measures have been augmented in vulnerable areas, official sources said.

Curfew was imposed in the district headquarters after three persons were injured in clashes between two groups in IG road area in this town.

The incident took place when a group of people were returning after immersing idols of Goddess Durga in the Brahmaputra, the sources said. The situation had turned tense after the stabbing of a Durga Puja pandal decorator by unidentified persons on Tuesday night in IG Road area.

Arrested Rhino poacher confesses to militants' involvement

Since June floods devastated Assam, animals trying to escape the rising waters in Kaziranga National Park have fallen prey to hunters, poachers and speeding vehicles. More than 700 animals have died since then and more carcasses are being revealed as the waters go down.

But there's another threat, particularly to rhinos, that won't recede with the water. It is from the armed militant separatist outfits in the area.

The biggest clue to this came after the arrest of one Lindok Rongpi yesterday, who confessed before a magistrate that he poached six rhinos under the instructions of Songja Timung, self-styled defence secretary of Kuki National Liberation Front, one of the armed outfits from Karbianglong in Assam, now in a ceasefire agreement.


His arrest led the police to Dimapur in Nagaland, the hub of animal-parts trade, only to find that the main buyer, a Chinese named Ho-Chin had fled.

The money militants make by poaching rhinos, they use it to buy arms. Post-mortem of the animals reveal the use of automatic guns which further provides evidence of the involvement of militants, considering professional poachers use .303 rifles, rather than spraying bullets.

Ghats cleaner this year after Durga immersion

The Durga immersion ceremony, which marks the end of the festival, saw a wide participation of people from different walks of life. Denizens of Guwahati paid a tearful adieu to the goddess on Wednesday.

Though majority of the puja committees of Guwahati and Kamrup (metro) district immersed the Durga idols at Kachamari ghat and Pandu ghat in the city, many preferred to immerse the idols in the Sunsali, Chandrapur, Basistha and Sonapur areas.

Significantly Kachamari and Pandu ghats were not left as dirty as last year after the immersion. "We are happy that the puja committees have cooperated with the district administration to keep the environment clean. The river ghats, where Durga idols have been immersed in Kamrup (metro) district this year, are much cleaner than last year," said Mrinal Gogoi, additional deputy commissioner of Kamrup (metro).

He expressed satisfaction that no untoward incident occurred during the immersion ceremony in the district on Wednesday and Thursday.

As many as 282 idols of Durga were immersed at Kachamari ghat of the Brahmaputra in Fancy Bazar here while 49 idols were immersed at Pandu Ghat in the western part of the city.

Jahnu Baruah’s film premiere after 9 years

After a hiatus of 9 years, internationally acclaimed director Jahnu Baruah's Assamese venture "Baandhon" was premiered here in GUwahati on Thursday. The film has been selected by Indian Panorama feature film jury as the opening movie of the 43rd International Film Festival of India in Goa slated from November 20 to 30.

The film, which has been produced by Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited, stars noted Assamese actor Bishnu Khargoria in the lead role. It also features popular actors Jatin Bora, Zerifa Wahed and Molloya Goswami. Baruah has directed an Assamese film after a hiatus of nine years.

Due to lack of enthusiasm and avenues to make Assamese films here, Jahnu Baruah had decided not to direct any Assamese film in the near future. It was after much request by the state film corporation that the director agreed to do so.

"The film will get the kind of support from the film goers that the Assamese film industry is looking forward to," said Baruah.

Bodo people's committee opposes Govt's rehabilitation ‘policy’

The Coordination Committee, Bodo National Organizations (CCBNO) on Thursday burnt down the formats prepared by the state government for rehabilitation of displaced landless people in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

The committee demanded that new formats be prepared for rehabilitation of these landless camp inmates who are sheltering at various relief camps after the ethnic violence riots in Kokrajhar.

The CCBNO on Thursday staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the district commissioner's office from 11am to 1pm, opposing the rehabilitation of suspected Bangladeshis who don't possess any land in Bodoland. The president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and chairman of the CCBNO, Kameswar Brahma, warned that the state government would be the solely responsible for any recurrence of violence in the BTAD.

Earlier, hundreds of activists from 20 organizations under the banner of the CCBNO participated in the dharna in front of the DC's office to oppose the state government's alleged policy of rehabilitating illegal immigrants without proper scrutiny of their valid land and other documents.

The Gauhati High Court (HC) restrained BCCI from 'taking a final decision' on IPL tender

The Gauhati High Court (HC) today restrained the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from “taking a final decision” on the tender floated on October 14 for selection of new teams for 2013 IPL tourney.

A single judge of the high court, B D Agarwal also sought a response of the Centre, BCCI and the Assam Cricket Association on a PIL filed by Ghisa Lal Agarwal, editor of a vernacular daily challenging non-inclusion of any team from Guwahati in the 12 teams short-listed for participating in the bids.

However, the court said BCCI may go ahead with the process for selection of teams which would be subject to it final orders.

The petitioner had submitted that Guwahati, despite being the gateway of north eastern states with better infrastructure and facilities, has not been included in the auction process for IPL teams.

It was submitted that exclusion of Guwahati from the new teams is an act of discrimination by BCCI which is recognised by the government of India as it is undertaking public duties and functions in the matter of cricket game.

The court, after holding that there was a prima facie case for entertaining the PIL, issued notices to the respondents for their replies by November 11.

Govt fixes maximum fare for passenger vehicles

The Government of Assam has issued directions to the State Transport Authority, Assam and the Regional Transport Authorities of Assam on fixing of maximum fare realizable for different categories of vehicles. The rates are inclusive of all taxes, an official press release said.

As per the schedule, the Government of Assam has fixed not exceeding Rs 0.79 per passenger per km for ordinary stage carriage; not exceeding Rs 0.86 per passenger per km for long distance Stage carriage, Express buses with limited stoppages; not exceeding Rs 1.06 per passenger per km for long distance Stage carriage, Delux Super Express, All Assam Tourist Omnibus, All India Omni bus (Night Service); not exceeding Rs 1.23 per passenger per km for Executive Class (A/C); not exceeding Rs 1.32 per passenger per km for Hill Areas; not exceeding Rs 0.75 per passenger per km for All Assam Omni tourist vehicles (TATA 407) Mini Bus; not exceeding Rs 0.75 per passenger per km for ordinary contract carriage bus and sub-urban buses.

On the other hand, for petrol operated tourist taxi and local taxi the rate is not exceeding Rs 30.00 for the first km and Rs 16.25 for every subsequent km; for diesel operated tourist taxi and local taxi the rate is not exceeding Rs 22.50 for the first km and Rs 10.00 for every subsequent km; for Tata Sumo Taxi/cab the rate is not exceeding Rs 1.50 per passenger per km and for Vikram Diesel three-wheeler etc with 7 passenger seating capacity the rate is not exceeding Rs 7.50 per passenger per first 3 km and Rs 2.50 for every additional km.

First annual shraddha of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika

The first annual shraddha of singer Dr. Hazarika was observed today. It was performed at Ashwaklanta temple in North Guwahati with full Vedic rituals by his family members including his wife Priyambada Hazarika and son Tez Hazarika.

Various cultural organizations and members from the general public also joined the occasion, which was also observed at the singer’s Nizarapar residence.

Representatives from Dr Bhupen Hazarika Literary and Cultural Forum, Deepak Sangha, and Akhat Athaba Silpa were among those who attended the shraddha ceremony at Ashwaklanta temple.