The lucky draw at the ongoing 12th Leo International Expo in the city which is offering attractive prizes to visitors is drawing huge crowds. The lucky draw, to be continued till November 12 is carried out on the basis of the entry tickets of the visitors. Three lucrative prizes are being offered to the winners daily. The prizes include a 190 litre branded refrigerator, a semi-automatic branded washing machine and a branded microwave oven. On October 28, Ainu Deori, M Rampuria and Esha Kaur were the lucky winners.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NE lags behind in rural skill development institute scheme
Even over three years after the Union ministry of rural development launched of the ambitious Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) project to help unemployed rural youths, the northeast is lagging behind the rest of the country in the implementation of the scheme.
Under the scheme, RSETIs were to be established in every district of the country by different banks to impart skill development training to rural unemployed youths. Respective state governments were to provide land to the banks for setting up RSETIs. In 608 districts across the country, 549 RSETIs have been established so far.
On Tuesday, representatives of banks, rural development officials and members of existing RSETIs from different northeastern states gathered in the city to discuss the problems behind the slow progress in implementation of the scheme. At a two-day meeting here, organised by National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, the participants also thrashed out solutions to overcome these problems.
Under the scheme, RSETIs were to be established in every district of the country by different banks to impart skill development training to rural unemployed youths. Respective state governments were to provide land to the banks for setting up RSETIs. In 608 districts across the country, 549 RSETIs have been established so far.
On Tuesday, representatives of banks, rural development officials and members of existing RSETIs from different northeastern states gathered in the city to discuss the problems behind the slow progress in implementation of the scheme. At a two-day meeting here, organised by National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, the participants also thrashed out solutions to overcome these problems.
Government hits back at Aasu over 'lies' in document
The state government on Wednesday hit back at All Assam Students' Union (AASU) for describing the government's white paper on the foreigners issue as a "white lie."
On Wednesday, government spokesman and power minister Pradyut Bordoloi asked the students' body to point out the "lies" in the government's white paper. "This is a white paper on the foreigners issue and not the status paper on implementation of Assam Accord," said Bordoloi. He added that the Aasu might be confused on these two points.
"We have published a white paper based on government facts and figures. We have also incorporated so many government classified documents in the white paper, which were inaccessible to the people."
The government spokesman said other than the Congress, no one has ever been sincere about the foreigners' issue. "We have published the white paper where we have also included the future road to solving the problem. No one can deny this."
On Wednesday, government spokesman and power minister Pradyut Bordoloi asked the students' body to point out the "lies" in the government's white paper. "This is a white paper on the foreigners issue and not the status paper on implementation of Assam Accord," said Bordoloi. He added that the Aasu might be confused on these two points.
"We have published a white paper based on government facts and figures. We have also incorporated so many government classified documents in the white paper, which were inaccessible to the people."
The government spokesman said other than the Congress, no one has ever been sincere about the foreigners' issue. "We have published the white paper where we have also included the future road to solving the problem. No one can deny this."
2 held for rice smuggling
A CID sleuth, acting on a tip-off on Wednesday, busted a gang involved in smuggling rice supplied by the Food Corporation of India for mid-day meals and BPL families.
The sleuth caught two youths in the case and seized at least 200 bags of rice from a truck near the Boragaon LP School here. Each bag contained 50kg of rice. The youths were identified as Munin Deka (24) and Mujakir Hussain (19), both hailing from Bihata Chariali in Kamrup district.
"There is a huge food smuggling racket going on in the state, especially of rice allotted to various cooperatives for distribution in schools for mid-day meal and to BPL families. There are gangs from Baihata Chariali, Nalbari, Changsari and some other parts of lower Assam that are involved in selling this rice in the black market of Meghalaya," said a CID official.
The sleuth caught two youths in the case and seized at least 200 bags of rice from a truck near the Boragaon LP School here. Each bag contained 50kg of rice. The youths were identified as Munin Deka (24) and Mujakir Hussain (19), both hailing from Bihata Chariali in Kamrup district.
"There is a huge food smuggling racket going on in the state, especially of rice allotted to various cooperatives for distribution in schools for mid-day meal and to BPL families. There are gangs from Baihata Chariali, Nalbari, Changsari and some other parts of lower Assam that are involved in selling this rice in the black market of Meghalaya," said a CID official.
Assam to levy extra charge on power
Brace yourself for steeper electricity bills for the coming three months as the power distribution company will be levying an extra charge of 27 paise per unit for November, December and January. The additional burden will be levied as Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPA) charges, which is currently 76 paise per unit. The effective FPPA to be levied for the coming three months will by Rs 1.03 per unit.
The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had wanted a hike of 36 paise per unit in FPPA, which was rejected by Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) and settled at 27 paise per unit. The hike will garner additional revenue of Rs 111.24 cr for the company.
Power minister Pradyut Bordoloi clarified that the hike has not been imposed by the state government but by the AERC. "The hike has been necessitated as a fuel surcharge following fluctuation in fuel price and the rate of power purchase. The calculation is done on a multi-year basis."
The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had wanted a hike of 36 paise per unit in FPPA, which was rejected by Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) and settled at 27 paise per unit. The hike will garner additional revenue of Rs 111.24 cr for the company.
Power minister Pradyut Bordoloi clarified that the hike has not been imposed by the state government but by the AERC. "The hike has been necessitated as a fuel surcharge following fluctuation in fuel price and the rate of power purchase. The calculation is done on a multi-year basis."
NGO seeks probe into fake financial institutions in state
In a letter to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the North Eastern Economical Development Society (Needs) on Wednesday demanded the state government to conduct a thorough investigation into the workings of all NGOs and financial organizations in the state by December 31.
Amardeep Paul, founder of Needs, said several fake NGOs and financial institutions have come into existence in the city and are committing fraud. "In the name of special schemes, innocent people are being cheated of their herd-earned money. We want the government to look into the workings of all NGOs in the state and find out their authenticity," he said.
Tanya Bhattacharya, a Needs activist, said, "We are a genuine organization, yet people are apprehensive in trusting us because they feel most of the NGOs are fake. Our purpose is to bring about transparency in the workings of the various organizations."
Amardeep Paul, founder of Needs, said several fake NGOs and financial institutions have come into existence in the city and are committing fraud. "In the name of special schemes, innocent people are being cheated of their herd-earned money. We want the government to look into the workings of all NGOs in the state and find out their authenticity," he said.
Tanya Bhattacharya, a Needs activist, said, "We are a genuine organization, yet people are apprehensive in trusting us because they feel most of the NGOs are fake. Our purpose is to bring about transparency in the workings of the various organizations."
Assam Govt's White paper on influx raises political storm
The white paper on the foreigners' issue in the state has literally kicked off a political storm with opposition parties and All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) charging the government with playing down the "seriousness" of infiltration from Bangladesh.
With infiltration once again taking centrestage in the aftermath of clashes in Bodoland, the state government attempted to make its stand clear on the problem by projecting a "comprehensive" view on the issue. The document even attempted to project the genesis of the problem, its present status and possibilities in the future.
Asserting that the government is committed to detecting and deporting immigrants from Bangladesh, chief minister Tarun Gogoi emphasized that the state is facing more problems in health, education and unemployment. This stand, however, did not go down well with the opposition parties, especially BJP and Aasu. BJP said the state government rather attempted to play down the threat posed by unchecked infiltration to the identities of indigenous people in the state. The saffron party also questioned the government on the whereabouts of thousands of immigrants detected by tribunals.
With infiltration once again taking centrestage in the aftermath of clashes in Bodoland, the state government attempted to make its stand clear on the problem by projecting a "comprehensive" view on the issue. The document even attempted to project the genesis of the problem, its present status and possibilities in the future.
Asserting that the government is committed to detecting and deporting immigrants from Bangladesh, chief minister Tarun Gogoi emphasized that the state is facing more problems in health, education and unemployment. This stand, however, did not go down well with the opposition parties, especially BJP and Aasu. BJP said the state government rather attempted to play down the threat posed by unchecked infiltration to the identities of indigenous people in the state. The saffron party also questioned the government on the whereabouts of thousands of immigrants detected by tribunals.
Call for fixed doc timings, MR Union
The Centre of Medical and Sales Representatives Union (Northeast region) today urged the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital authorities to provide medical representatives with a suitable time to visit doctors and ensure they are not abused or manhandled by any hospital staff.
On the other hand, the union also admitted that certain medical representatives do bribe doctors with expensive gifts and condemned those involved in such activities.
The medical representatives today came forward to clear their stand following an altercation between doctors and medical representatives on October 19 at GMCH over alleged disturbance caused by representatives at a particular outpatient department while doctors were attending to patients. The incident resulted in the doctors boycotting the entry of medical representatives on the hospital premises.
On the other hand, the union also admitted that certain medical representatives do bribe doctors with expensive gifts and condemned those involved in such activities.
The medical representatives today came forward to clear their stand following an altercation between doctors and medical representatives on October 19 at GMCH over alleged disturbance caused by representatives at a particular outpatient department while doctors were attending to patients. The incident resulted in the doctors boycotting the entry of medical representatives on the hospital premises.
AIIDC officer, trader chargesheeted
The CBI today chargesheeted former managing director of Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (AIIDC) Nur Mohammad and coal trader Naveen Kumar Singhal alias Naveen Kumar Gupta in a case related to diversion of coal meant for small units of the state to the open market.
An official source said the anti-corruption branch of the CBI in Guwahati filed the chargesheet at the special CBI court here today.
“The scam, which took place in 2008-09, amounts to nearly Rs 3.4 crore,” the source said.
The CBI had carried out raids at the residences and offices of the two accused in September last year.
An official source said the anti-corruption branch of the CBI in Guwahati filed the chargesheet at the special CBI court here today.
“The scam, which took place in 2008-09, amounts to nearly Rs 3.4 crore,” the source said.
The CBI had carried out raids at the residences and offices of the two accused in September last year.
Rigorous imprisonment for internal auditor
The court of special judge, Assam, M. Mazed Ali, today sentenced Manoj Saikia, an internal auditor at the office of sub-divisional planning officer in Golaghat district, to rigorous imprisonment for three-and-a-half-years in a corruption case.
The court found Saikia guilty under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Saikia. He will have to undergo imprisonment for further six months in the event of failure to pay fine.
Saikia was allegedly caught by the project director of district rural development agency (DRDA), B.C. Phukan, while taking bribe from secretaries of five gaon panchayats under the Gomariguri development block in Golaghat district on August 25, 2008.
A case was registered against him at Merapani police station.
Saikia had allegedly taken Rs 2,000 each from the gaon panchayat secretaries.
The court found Saikia guilty under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Saikia. He will have to undergo imprisonment for further six months in the event of failure to pay fine.
Saikia was allegedly caught by the project director of district rural development agency (DRDA), B.C. Phukan, while taking bribe from secretaries of five gaon panchayats under the Gomariguri development block in Golaghat district on August 25, 2008.
A case was registered against him at Merapani police station.
Saikia had allegedly taken Rs 2,000 each from the gaon panchayat secretaries.
More than 200 stage dharna for rehabilitation
The Janajati Suraksha Manch today staged a sit-in on the premises of the deputy commissioner’s office, seeking fulfilment of demands related to the relief and rehabilitation of those affected in the recent violence in Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang districts.
Over 200 people, including from the affected villages, participated in the dharna, staged from 11am to noon.
A memorandum with a 14-point charter of demands was submitted to the Kokrajhar deputy commissioner.
Additional deputy commissioner Dinesh Boro accepted the memorandum on behalf of the deputy commissioner.
Over 200 people, including from the affected villages, participated in the dharna, staged from 11am to noon.
A memorandum with a 14-point charter of demands was submitted to the Kokrajhar deputy commissioner.
Additional deputy commissioner Dinesh Boro accepted the memorandum on behalf of the deputy commissioner.
Mob attacks cops after truck runs over college principal
Five police constables were seriously injured while they attempted to control a mob after a speeding truck ran over Samaguri college principal Pradip Kumar Kalita, 48, at Uriagaon chalk under Sadar police station in Nagaon today.
The principal died on the spot.
After the accidents, enraged local villagers tried to torch the truck.
However, they were thwarted by local police, who reached the site and took the truck to the nearby Borghat police station.
Uriagaon, 5km from Nagaon district headquarters, is under Itachali outpost of Sadar police station.
The principal died on the spot.
After the accidents, enraged local villagers tried to torch the truck.
However, they were thwarted by local police, who reached the site and took the truck to the nearby Borghat police station.
Uriagaon, 5km from Nagaon district headquarters, is under Itachali outpost of Sadar police station.
Probe into ex-MLA’s ‘communal’ remark
Dhubri police today initiated an inquiry into an alleged communal statement by former Dhubri legislator Rasul Haque (Bahadur) after a complaint was lodged by the district unit of the Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sanmilan yesterday.
Dhubri police registered an FIR against the former legislator under Sections 135 and 120-B IPC and started an inquiry into the statement allegedly aired on some of the state-run TV news channels, a senior police officer in Dhubri said.
The president of the Dhubri unit of the organisation, Debasish Bhattacharjee, alleged that the statement would add fuel to the fire.
He asked the police to take steps in the greater interest of social and racial harmony.
Dhubri police registered an FIR against the former legislator under Sections 135 and 120-B IPC and started an inquiry into the statement allegedly aired on some of the state-run TV news channels, a senior police officer in Dhubri said.
The president of the Dhubri unit of the organisation, Debasish Bhattacharjee, alleged that the statement would add fuel to the fire.
He asked the police to take steps in the greater interest of social and racial harmony.
Migrants discover new entry route
Infiltrators from Bangladesh have now found a new route for their ingress across the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, raising the hackles of the BSF.
According to a senior official of the BSF in Cachar, a majority of these infiltrators are entering the country through this new route near Umthiang and Kuliang hamlets in East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya and easily get jobs in scores of open cast collieries thriving in that district that shares a border with Cachar district in Assam.
The extent of infiltration of the Bangladeshis in the adjoining state, described by the BSF official as largescale, can be gauged from statistics which state that in October alone, 92 people were apprehended while trying sneak past the security vigil along this border into the country or back to Bangladesh.
According to a senior official of the BSF in Cachar, a majority of these infiltrators are entering the country through this new route near Umthiang and Kuliang hamlets in East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya and easily get jobs in scores of open cast collieries thriving in that district that shares a border with Cachar district in Assam.
The extent of infiltration of the Bangladeshis in the adjoining state, described by the BSF official as largescale, can be gauged from statistics which state that in October alone, 92 people were apprehended while trying sneak past the security vigil along this border into the country or back to Bangladesh.
Assam Accord was “faulty and weak” says KMSS
The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today said the Assam Accord was a “faulty and weak” agreement, which can’t solve the problem of illegal infiltration, as Dispur claimed that the white paper on foreigners issue was a true picture of facts.
The samiti’s statement assumes importance as AASU is demanding deportation of illegal migrants on the basis of the Assam Accord.
KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi today said they are organising a Jatiya Abhibartan (national convention) on November 7 and a mass rally on November 8 in a bid to prepare a roadmap and finding a permanent solution to the foreigners issue.
“We will invite all the political and non-political parties to our programmes, which will be organised in association with the joint forum of Guwahati Mahanagar Unnayan Samitis,” Akhil said.
The samiti’s statement assumes importance as AASU is demanding deportation of illegal migrants on the basis of the Assam Accord.
KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi today said they are organising a Jatiya Abhibartan (national convention) on November 7 and a mass rally on November 8 in a bid to prepare a roadmap and finding a permanent solution to the foreigners issue.
“We will invite all the political and non-political parties to our programmes, which will be organised in association with the joint forum of Guwahati Mahanagar Unnayan Samitis,” Akhil said.
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