Pass percentage 63.01 in Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH, May 30: Only one student in Dibrugarh district managed to secure a place in the top ten positions of HSLC exam, the results of which was declared yesterday. Jangam Pradip of Moran Jatiya Vidyalaya scored 556 marks and was placed in the tenth position. However, seven other students, Anchit Sureka of Salt Brook School, Tanaya Sarma in Little Flower School, Nirman Jyoti Bhuyan of Salt Brook School, Shyamoli Hazarika of Assam Petrochemical Limited High School in Namrup, Shreyosi Sarma of St Xaviers’ School in Dibrugarh, Prayashee Barua of St Xaviers’ School in Duliajan and Jyoti Prasad Doley of Khowang HS School, did find mention in the top twenty.
The pass percentage in the district was 63.01. Of the ten thousand four hundred and nineteen students, who sat for the exam, six thousand five hundred sixty six passed. One thousand one hundred ninety three secured the first division, one thousand three hundred seventy four in the second division while three thousand nine hundred ninety nine in the third division. THE SENTINEL

Police launches operation against cyber cafes

JORHAT, May 30: Following a tip off that a couple were watching porn and indulging in an indecent act within an enclosure of a cyber cafe here, the police launched an operation yesterday to cleanse the cafes of pornographic material and set guidelines for viewing of material in such cafes.

A police source said that, complaints had come on and off that cyber cafes had increasingly become dens of dissolution with youngsters finding easy access to pornographic material via the internet. The police have asked all cyber cafes to remove the enclosures made of sliding wooden boards or curtains so that visibility is ensured. The owners have also been asked to keep a record of those visiting the cafes and jot down names and addresses. Last year, the police had also conducted a similar raid on the cyber cafes and arrested two schoolchildren viewing sleazy on a computer in a cafe.

The police source said that, immoral activities among the youths here had increased by way of drinking and drug use. Jorhat was no longer a clean and safe place. Children just out of school usually blackmailed their parents to buy them costly motorcycles which were driven at breakneck speed and mobiles to show off to friends. They were also usually loaded with money which they splurged in hotels or in buying costly clothes or gadgets. On a number of occasions in the last couple of years, youngsters were arrested for indecent exposure and necking in public.
The police have appealed to the parents to keep a close watch on their children and not to spoil them. THE SENTINEL

Demand for ban on drugs, gutkha and dendrite

DIBRUGARH, May 29: The Sanmmilita Jatiya Mancha, Asom, has announced a series of programme in support of their demand for a total ban on drugs, gutkha and dendrite. They stated these easily available substances not only wreck the lives of the young generation but also destroy the social fabric.

In a statement issued to the press, president of the Mancha, Lakhinath Gogoi and its secretary, Chandan Phukan, stated that a motorcycle rally would be taken out from Dibrugarh on June 5 and will culminate at Doomdooma in Tinsukia district.

The organization’s regional units of Chabua, Tinsukia, Barekuri, Kardoiguri and Doomdooma will participate in the rally.

The illegal trade of drugs has been growing in the district with school and college going students becoming addicts. THE SENTINEL

Youngest minister wants to be voice of North-East

NEW DELHI: Embarking on the national stage as the youngest member of Manmohan Singh's council of ministers, 28-year-old Agatha Sangma promises to be the voice of the far-away North-East.

"It is good news for the North-East and definitely for Garo Hills," she says about her becoming a minister.

A lawyer by training with a degree in environment management from Nottingham University, UK, her name is a testimony to her father, former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Sangma's passion for Agatha Christie's mysteries.

The bespectacled young MP from the remote region won applause by taking her oath in Hindi. But the North-East will always remain the backdrop to whichever stage she is on.

In an essay she wrote for a Times Group publication before the election, Agatha recalled the travail and hurt of Monika Devi, the athlete from Manipur, who had been disqualified in a dubious dope test hours before she was to take the flight to Beijing for the Olympics.

For the athlete, who had won laurels in international meets without the facilities her counterparts elsewhere enjoyed, the denial was traumatic, Agatha wrote.

A perceived indifference to the issues of the North-East in Parliament surprised Agatha when she first came to the Lok Sabha winning a by-election from Tura in 2008. "During the discussion on the Assam blasts in the House only the North-East MPs were present, as if it was an issue only for that region," she said about her experience as a first-termer in the House. She made her first speech in the Lok Sabha on that occasion.

Agatha, however, is keen to come out of the shadow of her father. She makes it a point to tell others that Purno Sangma, an important figure on the national scene in the nineties, has never given her tips on politics nor has he sought to groom her.

"I hope I will be able to create my own space," she says. Her other promise is to work for the empowerment of women and youth. Environment is one of her major concerns.

Agatha is dismissive of the charge that her political innings has begun from the family borough of Tura, the constituency which had returned her father many times.

"At the end of the day, I will not win with the four votes of my family; I will win with the votes of the people of Garo Hills," she points out.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Youngest-minister-wants-to-be-voice-of-North-East/articleshow/4590382.cms

Assam Higher Secondary results 2009

TINSUKIA, May 27: The result of the Higher Secondary final examination declared yesterday by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council was as a whole quite satisfactory in Tinsukia district this year. In Arts, Science and Commerce streams– the pass percentage is 67.20%, 75.82%, and 63.18% respectively. In the Arts stream, out of 3,998 who took the examination, 2,687 came out successful. While 186 students got first division, 518 in second division and 1,983 secured third division.

In the Science stream, out of 191 candidates who appeared in the examination 145 came out successful. While 18 got first division, 81 secured second division and 38 got third division. In the Commerce stream, out of 823 candidates who have appeared in the examination 520 came out successful. While 68 got first division, 140 second division and 312 got third division.

Two students brought laurel to the district by attaining position among the top ten position holders of the State in Arts stream. Deepsikha Dutta of Sadiya Government Higher Secondary School attained seventh position and Anne Bhattacharjya of Womens College Tinsukia attained 10th position. Tinsukia’s one of the premier higher educational institute Tinsukia College– out of 597 candidates 425 came out successful. The pass percentage is 71.18%. The percentage in Arts stream is 60.6%, Science 81% and Commerce 78%. In Arts stream five students got first division while total four got star marks in Science and Commerce streams. In Women’s College– the pass percentage was 75.59%. From Tinsukia Commerce College– 64 candidates had appeared out of which one student got first division, four second division and 20 secured third division.

The news of Deepsikha Dutta, student of Sadiya Government Higher Secondary School securing the seventh position in the Arts stream in the State has brought proud moment not only to the school but to the entire Sadiya sub-division, one of the most under developed and remote region of the State. Deepsikha Dutta, daughter of Kumud Dutta and Prathiba Chetia Patra Dutta, both employee of the office of the Sadiya Sub-Divisional Judicial Court has secured 80 in English, Assamese-80, Economics-80, Political Science-90, Logic and Philosophy-95 and Advance Assamese-81, totalling to 426. She is planning to take either English or Economics as major subject and admission in Cotton College. It may be mentioned that, the Sadiya Higher Secondary School is 104 years old which was set up in 1905. The Principal of the School Nityananda Kachari talking to local media told that the success of Deepsikha is not only the achievement of the school, but along with Sadiya the entire Asom. From the school, 122 had appeared in Arts stream and seven appeared in the Science stream of which 114 were successful in Arts and all seven in science got successful. In Arts five of them got first division.

The result of Deepsikha and the school has created festive atmosphere at Sadiya. Anee Bhattacharjee, of Womens College Tinsukia has secured tenth position in Arts stream securing 423 numbers. Daughter of Ramesh Bhattacharya, Head master of Bipin Borah High School and Bandana Bhattacharya and resident of Balugadha, Tinsukia– Anee got 80 in English, Alternative English-82, Logic and Philosophy-94, Economics-83, Political Science-84. She is planning to take English Major in the degree course and take admission at Guwahati. While talking to media, she gave credit of her success to blessings of God, parents, teachers and her own effort and aims to become an IAS officer. She likes to write poetry and stories and watch TV during leisure. THE SENTINEL

Manmohan Singh’s new government

NEW DELHI, May 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s new government took shape on Wednesday with a 78-member council of ministers, including 33 Cabinet ministers and 45 Ministers of State, being named after three days of intense negotiations.

The new government’s 78-strong council of ministers makes place for 19 allies of the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government — seven each from the DMK and the Trinamool Congress, three from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and one each from the Muslim League and the National Conference.

The outgoing government also had 78 ministers, with 23 allies.
While 19 Cabinet ministers, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and NCP’s Sharad Pawar, had been sworn in last week on Friday, 14 more will take oath on Thursday morning along with 45 Ministers of State, seven of whom will hold independent charge.

The new Cabinet ministers include three former chief ministers — Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh), Vilasrao Deshmukh (Maharashtra) and Farooq Abdullah (Jammu and Kashmir). Three leaders from the DMK, the Congress’ ally in Tamil Nadu, also find place — Dayanidhi Maran, MK Azhagari and A Raja.

The others are the Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, Kumari Selja, Subodh Kant Sahay, MS Gill, GK Vasan, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mukul Wasnik and Kantilal Bhuria.

The Ministers of State with independent charge are the NCP’s Praful Patel and the Congress’ Prithviraj Chavan, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Salman Khurshid, Jairam Ramesh, Krishna Tirath and Dinsha Patel.

The 38 other ministers of state are E Ahamed, V Narayanasamy, Srikant Jena, Mullappally Ramachandran, D Purandeswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, Ajay Maken, KH Muniyappa, Namo Narain Meena, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasad, A Sai Prathap, Gurudas Kamat, MM Pallam Raju, Mahadev Khandela, Harish Rawat, KV Thomas, Saugata Ray, Dinesh Trivedi, Sisir Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Mukul Roy, Mohan Jatua, SS Palanimanickam, D Napoleon, S Jagathrakshakan, S Gandhiselvan, Preneet Kaur, Sachin Pilot, Shashi Tharoor, Bharatsinh Solanki, Tusharbhai Chaudhary, Arun Yadav, Prateek Prakashbapu Patil, RPN Singh, Vincent Pala, Pradeep Jain and Agatha Sangma.

Of these, E Ahamed is from the Muslim League; the Trinamool Congress is represented by Saugata Ray, Dinesh Trivedi, Sisir Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Mukul Roy and Mohan Jatua; the DMK’s four-member brigade comprises SS Palanimanickam, D Napoleon, S Jagathrakshakan, and S Gandhiselvan; the NCP’s lone member is Agatha Sangma. The notable omissions in the list of Cabinet ministers are HR Bhardwaj, Shivraj Patil, Arjun Singh, Sis Ram Ola and PR Kyndiah.
In the last council of ministers, there were 30 Cabinet ministers, including eight allies; ministers of state with independent charge comprised seven from the Congress and one from the NCP; besides, there were 26 Congress leaders and 14 from the various allies amongst the 40 ministers of state. THE SENTINEL

Meghalaya MPs are ministers

SHILLONG, May 27: Vincent Pala and Agatha K Sangma, two MPs from Meghalaya, will be inducted in the Union Ministry as Minister of States on Thursday. Vincent Pala, a Congress MP from the Shillong seat, in his interaction with The Sentinel today confirmed that he received a call from the Prime Minister today. He said, “I have been invited by the Prime Minister to join the ministry during the Cabinet expansion tomorrow”.

Although, Agatha K Sangma, an NCP member from the Tura seat, could not be contacted for her comments but her brother and leader of Opposition of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Conrad Sangma, said, “Agatha received a telephone call at her New Delhi residence from the Prime Minister, and she is all set to join the Union Ministry”. By having 100 per cent representation in the Union Ministry, Meghalaya will break all records, and the two MPs are expected to work collectively to bring all-round development in the State. Pala and Sangma vowed to live up to the election promises. THE SENTINEL

Gogoi fails to ensure more Cabinet berths from Asom

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI, May 27: Most of the contenders for berths in the Manmohan Singh-led Council of Ministers from Asom were disappointed today when they found that barring BK Handique who had taken oath along with the Prime Minister as a Cabinet minister, none of them were included in the 78-member Union Council of Ministers.

Till recently, the expectation from various quarters in Asom was that at least two more MPs from the State would get berths in the Council of Ministers. What is even more astonishing is that while Asom with as many as seven MPs in the Lok Sabha and three MPs in the Rajya Sabha (excluding Manmohan Singh) from the Congress got only one ministerial berth, Meghalaya with only two MPs (one from Congress and the other from NCP) got exactly two ministerial berths, thanks to the intense and tactful lobbying by the leaders of the neighbouring State who seem to be much ahead of their Asom counterparts. Both Vincent Pala and Agatha Sangma of Meghalaya got berths in the Council of Ministers, and Agatha Sangma has the distinction of being the youngest minister at the Centre.

Many senior Congress leaders from Asom like Pabon Singh Ghatowar, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Congress’ lone woman MP from the Northeast Rani Narah and SK Bwiswmuthiary of BPF were in the race.

Talking to The Sentinel, an offended BPF president Hagrama Mohilary said: “We have to discuss the matter at the party forum. We are a pre-poll ally of the Congress. During the last UPA meeting, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that members of the pre-poll allies of the Congress would be accommodated in the ministry. But she couldn’t keep her commitment.” THE SENTINEL

Girls rule the roost in Arts & Commerce, but boys outshine them in Science

GUWAHATI, May 26: While girls have outsmarted boys in the Arts and Commerce streams in the Higher Secondary final examinations, 2009, boys seem to have yet again registered a strong claim that science is a male domain by occupying most of the top slots in the Science stream result sheets that were declared today.

According to the HS results declared today by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), 23 of the 29 students who occupied the top ten positions in the Arts stream are girls. The first position went to Chayanika Baruah of Kakojan College, Jorhat. In the Commerce stream, 16 girls are among the 23 students who secured the top ten slots. The first, second and third slots have been occupied by girls of Gauhati Commerce College that has as many as 11 position holders. The three girls are Binisha Agarwalla, Aruna Bawri and Kabita Kalita. In the Science stream, as many as 12 of the 18 students who occupied the first ten positions are boys. The first position went to Manoj Swargiary (an institutional private candidate from Pathsala), the second position went jointly to Kaushik Roy of Shishu Pathsala HS School, Dhubri and Prabal Barman of Cotton College, Guwahati and the third position to Jay Prakash Das of Salt Brook Academy, Dibrugarh.

In the Arts stream, of the 1,40,419 candidates who took the examination, 95,473 came out successful, the pass percentage being 67.99 against 65.33 last year. While 6,323 students secured first division, 17,179 secured second division and 72,971 secured third division.

In the Commerce stream, of the 11,682 candidates who took the examination, 8,424 came out successful, the pass percentage being 72.11 against 69.96 last year. While 1,338 students secured first division, 2,541 secured second division and 4,545 got third division.

In the Science stream, of the 12,531 students who took the examination, 10,052 came out successful, the pass percentage being 80.23. While 3,030 students secured first division, 5,396 secured second division and 1,627 secured third division. THE SENTINEL

Weather vagaries hit farming activities hard

CORRESPONDENT
MIRZA, May 24 – The rise of atmospheric temperature has hit the farming community hard affecting the much-needed tilling for sali cultivation.

“We have to stop ploughing due to the intense heat in the morning hours”, a group of farmers said, adding that 12-hr ploughing at a stretch under the sun has become a difficult task.

Dependent on rainfall, the cultivators while interacting with this correspondent, expressed the apprehension of poor productivity in the wake of the vagaries of weather.

Jagalia Pathar, a huge farming track currently under ploughing, has not received the required showers for regular tilling.

Irregular rainfall has caused difficulties in tilling as the land has become too hard to plough, farmer Biren Kalita, an Arts graduate, pointed out. Kalita rued that the growing decline of paddy output has adversely affected the farmer’s vocation.

The farmers, used to reaping rich harvests 10 years ago, met the costs of daily necessities by selling the extra output.

The rising costs of agricultural inputs coupled with the vagaries of weather is an indication of hard days to follow, the farmers maintained.

Notably, for the production of 1 kg of rice, the requirement of water is estimated at 5,000 litres followed by 1,368 litres for an equal quantum of wheat.

The National Commission of Agriculture, in its report, has held rainfall fluctuations accountable for the output variability.

Since the agricultural sector, the backbone of the country’s economy, is the largest consumer of water, the matter of growing water needs should be taken seriously. A few farmers, taking the decline of productivity into account, are in favour of the balanced use of fertilisers. “The quality of farming land has suffered due to the large-scale application of fertilisers,” another graduate farmer Chandra Konwar said. He stressed the need of keeping the soil quality intact for the well-being of the farming community.

The Jagalia river flowing through Jagalia Pathar, the virtual lifeline of nearly 20,000 farmers, has become shallow. The river, once rich in fish stock, needs dredging.

The woes of the cultivators of some 50 villages like Bagan, Loharghat, Borduar, Na-Kotha, Goalhati, Khamar, Maravitha, Dighalkuchi also need immediate redress.

The farmers have faced water crisis with the water level of Batha river going down.

The water needed for seed planting for sali crops was available from the Batha river. The indiscriminate sand quarrying has affected the supply of the river water.

After harrowing the ploughed track, the soil has turned sticky, a condition not suitable for transplanting the paddy seedlings, the farmers of Na-Kotha said.

Immediate redress of the woes of farmers is the need of the hour before the situation takes a turn for the worse. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Health camp

Staff correspondent
DIBRUGARH, May 24 – A free health camp was organised by the Association for Social Health, Assam (ASHA), a non governmental organisation at Nirmali Girls High School, Nirmali Gaon here.

At least 419 students and teachers of the school underwent health check ups. Medicines as prescribed were also distributed free of cost. The medical team included Dr Mrinalini Das, assistant professor of Pediatrics, Dr Pragjyoti Deka of Pediatrics Department, Dr Sarat Hazarika, assistant professor, Medicine, Dr Rupshi Seba of Medicine Department, Dr Papori Saikia and Dr S K Bhattacharjya. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Young Scientist Award to Neeraj Garg Baruah

Guwahati, May 22: Neeraj Garg Baruah of Asom have been honoured with the prestigious Young Scientist Award by the Delhi Council of Science and Technology, Govt. of Delhi, recently . He is the student of The Energy & Resource Institute (TERI) of New Delhi. It is in recognition of his development of the NANO-GIS Concept which involves the use of nanotechnology based nanowire sensors and geospatial technology for real time air pollution monitoring system. The hall mark of the system will be the extreme sensitivity and specificity as it will be capable of detection at the molecular level. Also, the system envisages real time updation of the air quality data on the internet for increased public awareness and participation. He is the son of P C Baruah, former professor Assam Engineering College and Bipasha Baruah of Dakhin Sarania.
He has been awarded with a grant of Rs 3 lakh and support of eminent scientists in the concerned domain to developing the prototype of the model. The project will be carried out at TERI and National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi.

Neeraj completed his schooling from Maria’s Public School and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khanapara and he has done his graduation from Hindu college, New Delhi with Physics as honours subject. THE SENTINEL

Kamakhya Temple's security neglected

GUWAHATI, May 22: Asom has been rocked badly several times by the acts of terrorism in recent times. The religious places like temples could be soft targets for the anti-social elements where hundreds of people flock together.

Yet the security system in these regions does not seem to be sufficient enough to tackle the anti-social elements. One of the major crowd pullers, Kamakhya Temple, is an example where the visitors as well as the local people feel insecure. A caretaker of the temple who does not wish to be named say they do not feel secure with the arrangements of security system at the temple premises. He further added there are only three security personnel to control four to five thousand visitors daily. No adequate checking is done in the parking areas near the temple, he accused. Moreover the river Brahmaputra could be an easy route for the terrorist groups to carry out their operations. The caretaker informed this reporter that they have installed closed circuit cameras and hired private security guards but that is not enough to give foolproof security to this historical site.

As the Ambubasi festival is to be held from June 22, the citizens have expressed their concern over the security of the Kamakhya temple. ASSAM TRIBUNE

World Bank team meets Nagaland officials

NEWMAI NEWS
KOHIMA, May 21 – A World Bank team led by Joint Secretary, DoNER, Jayashree Mukherjee met Nagaland Chief Secretary, administrative heads and heads of development departments at a hotel in Kohima Wednesday, to discuss a development project funded by the World Bank.

Mukherjee, in her introductory speech, said that the project, which is funded by the World Bank, is to enhance agriculture products in the areas for the improvement of the daily lives of the poor. The project is implemented in Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura in the Northeast and Peren and Tuensang district have been selected in Nagaland. She added that the project is focusing on skill-building, marketing and enhancing livelihood security of the poor so that the people will no longer stay poor.

Earlier welcome speech was delivered by Chief Secretary Lalthara, IAS and the programme was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary, Planning and Nodal Officer for NERLP, I Himato.

Red Cross Day observed in Dimapur

DIMAPUR, May 19 – ‘Your World, Our Move: Come together for Climate Change’ was chosen as the theme for this year’s observance of World Red Cross Day. Nagaland joined hands with their counterparts globally to observe the day and to create awareness recently.

With growing human activities like Green House effect, land use, fossil fuel, gases, pollution there is immense threat to the climate condition of the world that we live in today, Nagaland Governor K Shankarnarayanan, said in his message as the State president of Nagaland unit of Indian Red Cross Society.

The theme is the most appropriate and befitting theme, the Governor said. As the Red Cross movement has been in the forefront towards humanitarian services, the global concern about climate change and its effects is definitely the biggest concern for the movement. He also emphasised that this catastrophe can be prevented by restricting adverse human activities against the nature.

Dr KS Sashidhar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland made a power point presentation. He expressed concern over global warming and climate change and explained about the impacts of these two factors in the next few years.

Dr Sashidhar disclosed that climate changes have been noticed worldwide, temperatures have risen by 0.6C over the past 40 years and predictions that it will go up by 2-6 C. He also added that Co2 concentration in the atmosphere have risen by 40 per cent over the past two centuries. In 2005, the Co2 concentration increased by 2.6 ppm in volume making the biggest annual jump ever recorded.

He explained that these changes are attributed to three main causes, Green House Gas emissions in industrial nations is very high; emissions are also rapidly increasing in the developing or emerging nations and rampant razing and burning of tropical forests.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, about North East India, Dr Sashidhar disclosed several studies have predicted significant changes in the weather-climate and water regimes of the Himalayan region in the coming decades because of impacts of global climate change.

The consequent social, economic, livelihood and environmental implications in the eastern Himalayan region are also of immediate concern to scientists and policy makers, he pointed out.

About his observations of changes in Nagaland, Dr Sashidhar said that it is found that summers are becoming warmer and there is a considerable increase in number of pests like locusts and mosquitoes; ill distributed rainfall with longer dry months between October- March; shortage of drinking water; delay in sowing of crops and non germination and onset of pests and disease on crops and vegetables.

To fight the climate change, he suggested that one needs to understand the impact of climate change on forests, biodiversity and livelihood, follow conservation practices, give emphasis on energy conservation; promote renewable energy sources; abate air pollution, afforestation and wasteland development and have fuel substitute policies. The use of CFL bulbs and uses of bicycles can be the small contribution from the youths towards the conservation, he said.

Dr Sashidhar said the direct visible impact of the climate change is the long dry spells of rains and its un-uniform distribution is slowly creating more hardships to the people. Giving examples of the change of weather conditions at Kohima and Dimapur in the last few years, said the phenomenon of climate change is affecting the lives of the people of the northestern region even. Deforestations, burning of jungles and other aspects are the main cause. Among the preventive measure he suggested for the people of the region to plant as many trees as they can.

On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Maongwati Aier exhorted the youths to join the Red Cross Movement to serve the mankind in large number. He said Red Cross is a good platform for the young people to work for the betterment of the mankind.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may2009/ne8

Chamling offers unconditional support to UPA

GANGTOK, May 19 – The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party which has won the lone Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim in the recently concluded elections has decided to continue its unconditional support to the Congress-led UPA which is set to form the government at the Centre.

The party was a part of the UPA since 2004.

The SDF chief Pawan Chamling today told media at his official residence here that the party is offering unconditional support to UPA in the Centre. The SDF has been supporting UPA and will continue to do so, he said.

Earlier today, all the 30 victorious candidates of the SDF assembled here to unanimously adopt a resolution electing the party president Chamling as the leader of the SDF legislature party.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may2009/ne1

AIDS growing as a threat to human life

AGAON, May 18: Under the auspices of the Nagaon Upabhokta Suraksha Samity, an awareness meeting was held recently here at the Nagaon Balya Bhavan to create awareness amongst all sections of people about the dreaded disease of AIDS.

Earlier, the objective of the meeting was explained by Samity secretary Ranapratap Hazarika. The meeting was presided over by its president Raju Borkakoti. DN Sarma while addressing the gathering said that AIDS poses a severe threat to human life and it has already taken the lives of 87 people in Asom since last August, 2008.

Sarma also said that AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a dangerous disease which has taken many lives in Asom and all over the world. He also said in his discussion that even though AIDS has become a threat to human beings, it can be prevented if people become alert and aware of the disease.

He also said that according to the Assam AIDS Control Samity, the highest rate of AIDS patients can be found in Manipur contrary to Asom in NE region. Also there are a huge number of AIDS patients in the Kamrup district, on the other hand in Barpeta, 45 persons have been defected as HIV positive and seven had already lost their lives and there may be more HIV positive and AIDS patients in Barpeta district, as most of the people do not want to disclose it due to various reasons.

Borkakoti further discussed that medical science has declared that it is not an epidemic but, human beings keep away from AIDS patients thinking some untoward has happened to the person resulting which, the patients have to live alone and isolated from society and also some times suffer from depression due to negligence and crave for care and love.In his speech, Borkakoti referred that though AIDS spread in America in 1981, yet it was clearly identified in the year 1983 only. According to reports, out of 50 million, 57 lakh AIDS effected persons are from India alone. However, as per a recent report published by the World Health Organization, the highest number of HIV positive patients are found in South Africa and in second rank is India. It was also stated that the condition of the patients is very deplorable there. While on the contrary, 2,916 persons have been already detected as HIV positive and among them, 805 are AIDS patients.. As per an unofficial report, till 2008, 12 AIDS patients have lost their lives and as many as 57 HIV positive persons have been detected in Nagaon. THE SENTINEL

AUDF massacred Muslim votes of Congress: Cachar district Congress

SILCHAR, May 18: The AUDF wave massacred the traditional Muslim votes of the Congress and that sealed the fate of veteran leader Sontosh Mohan Dev. The Cachar district Congress, in its first round of ‘post mortem’, had reached this conclusion.

But, while sharing their assessment with the media, the district Congress leaders including the Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala, fumbled repeatedly as they failed to clarify the questions of sabotage, as raised by the scribes.

Goala argued that politics of development always faced resistance when wave of religious fanaticism brew up as in 1991 the BJP, riding on the Mandir issue, snatched away nine Assembly seats out of 15 in the Barak Valley. This time too, the AUDF succeeded in whipping up the Muslim sentiments. Admitting this, the State Congress Minority Cell chairman Misbahul Islam Laskar however claimed that it would be erroneous to jump to the conclusion that Dev did not have his share of Muslim votes in this Lok Sabha election.

District president Karnendu Bhattcahrjee admitted that there were lapses in the organizational functioning this time, but Goala nullified the observation, arguing that organizational strength could never stand up in front of communal wave as neither the BJP had any organizational base in 1991 nor the AUDF had any in 2009.

Islam said, in the national level, Muslims had voted in favour of Congress. Then why the picture was reverse in Silchar? Misbahul Islam, who had reportedly sat idle this time to settle score with his one time mentor Dev, said, in Cachar, the resentment of the Muslims was not addressed properly.

He however maintained that the district chapter of his cell had worked sincerely, thus indirectly hinting that Dev failed to address the Muslim cause. Bhattacharjee, who had been the district president for more than two decades said, he would not allow anybody to renew term and before quitting he would definitely see to it that if anybody had stabbed the party candidate from behind he should be punished accordingly.

He said, the message of the wave of development in the State, led by Tarun Gogoi, could not be reached to the mass.

Further the communally polarized backdrop politics of development failed to find any buyer.The press meet was also attended by Parliamentary secretary Ajit Singh who preferred to remain silent. THE SENTINEL

LS election sprung a few surprises at Dibrugarh

From our Staff Reporter
DIBRUGARH, May 18: The recent Lok Sabha election sprung a few surprises in Dibrugarh Parliamentary seat.
Paban Singh Ghatowar revenged his defeat of 2004, beating AGP’s Sarbananda Sonowal by 35,143 votes. The Congress candidate won 3,59,163 votes. A break up of the votes polled shows that 31,199 votes in Dibrugarh LAC, 39,411 in Moran LAC, 36,443 in Lahoal LAC, 43,595 in Duliajan LAC, 39,503 in Tingkhong, 34,539 in Naharkatia, 43,487 in Tinsukia LAC, 38,881 in Digboi LAC and 51,951 in Margherita LAC went in favour of Ghatowar. Meanwhile, the number of votes that went in favour of Sonowal stands as 40,348 in Dibrugarh LAC, 34,047 in Moran LAC, 32,266 in Lahoal LAC, 37,196 in Duliajan LAC, 36,371 in Tingkhong, 36,346 in Naharkatia LAC, 37,825 in Tinsukia LAC, 7,331 in Digboi LAC and 42,567 in Margherita LAC.
A comparison of the figures shows that the AGP candidate was ahead of his Congress rival only in Dibrugarh LAC, which has a BJP MLA, Prasanta Phukon. However, the dismal show in Duliajan and Tingkhong has taken observers by surprise as BJP’s Rameshwar Teli and AGP’s Anup Phukon respectively are the MLAs of the two places. Many attribute it to the disenchantment among party workers over the alliance with BJP. Political analysts point out that Sonowal’s performance in places which have Hindi speaking majority show that the AGP candidate has made inroads into bastions where his party was never been favoured.
Meanwhile, the people are hoping to see accelerated development in their district under the Congress MP.


Newly constructed building of Tinsukia Law College inaugurated

From our Correspondent
TINSUKIA, May 18: A newly constructed building of the Tinsukia Law College in the campus was inaugurated yesterday by Minister of Power and Industries Pradyut Bordoloi by lighting lamp.
The newly constructed building of the Law College construction has been done by the college through its own fund. Dr Kandarpa Kumar Deka, Vice-Chancellor of Dibrugarh University was also present in the building inauguration meeting. In the inauguration meeting of the newly constructed building held with Parul Sharmah, president of the college governing body in chair, the welcome address was read by Vice-Principal of the college Sanjay Khaitan while Phani Bhusan Sharmah, Principal of the college explained the objective of the meeting.
A website of the college was inaugurated by Dr KK Deka Vice-Chancellor, Dibrugarh University. In the meeting, the annual magazine of the college was also released. It may be mentioned that, the Tinsukia Law College is the only college imparting legal education in Tinsukia District. The College was shifted to the present permanent campus in 1996. THE SENTINEL

Two NSCN (IM) cadres apprehended in Dhemaji

TINSUKIA, May 18: In succession of daring operations carried out by security forces, yet another jolt was given to NSCN (IM) in Upper Asom by the troops of Dah Division resulting in apprehension of two hard core militants. Acting on a tip off, 2 Bihar Regiment and Dhemaji Police apprehended two hard core NSCN (IM) cadres namely– self styled sergeant Gobik Hai and self styled Private Rela Mgondir from Subahi village under Dhemaji district on Sunday.

The Army recovered two German made revolvers of .38 Caliber, two Chinese grenades, a large quantity of ammunition and some incriminating documents from these persons. Incidentally, these cadres were part of the same group of which one sergeant major Yong Zung Gombo was previously arrested on May 7 by Dhemaji Police and Army. The relentless efforts and perseverance on the part of this team led to the capture of two more NSCN (IM) cadres who had escaped previously. These people were present in Dhemaji to recruit fresh cadres and carry out extortion activities and were hiding in the forest near Subahi village since last few days. THE SENTINEL

Accidents increasing in Jorhat-Mariani Road

JORHAT, May 15: Despite a large number of accidents taking place on the important Jorhat-Mariani Road, the government has taken no steps to broaden it or make it less accident prone.
The death of an LIC employee on Wednesday in an accident and the subsequent mob fury and police brutalities, brought to the fore once again the accident-prone nature of this narrow road, which has been constantly neglected.

The Jorhat-Mariani Road better known as the Gar-Ali connects the commercial hub of Jorhat at one end and the Mariani Railway Station at the other and then moves on to Mokokchung in Nagaland, forming an important trade route. The route, however, is bound on one side by the railway track and has a number of educational institutes, offices including the LIC Divisional Office, a couple of petrol pumps, a number of godowns of FCI (Food Corporation of India) and the District Transport Office on the other.

Various kinds of vehicles standing in front of the DTO’s office and educational institutions to pick up and drop the students further narrow-down this stretch but, the greatest chaos is caused by trucks which makes a mad rush to unload commodities brought by the goods trains for the FCI godowns, of which there are four on the stretch between Gar-Ali Market and Cinnamara. These trucks rush at a great speed to meet the goods trains so that they can make a number of trips, not bothering about other vehicles in their way. This year seven accidents have already taken place, despite the weighbridge being removed from the area. Last year, an eight-year-old girl– Salima Khatoon lost her life in a similar accident while she was going to school. A sustained campaign by Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad cadres resulted in the removal of the weighbridge in front of which trucks were parked for about a kilometre and further hemmed the road. Although proposals had been made time and again to broaden the stretch and another smaller road had been proposed to be built on the other side of the railway track so that people residing on the other side or working in offices located there need not cross over the track to come to the road, nothing has been done till date. It may be mentioned that, about five people have also been run down by trains while crossing the railway track. THE SENTINEL

Barring entry of vehicles and pedestrians

DIBRUGARH, May 15: The Traffic Control Department has barred the entry of vehicles and pedestrians on certain streets tomorrow.
The order was passed to maintain law and order tomorrow when the votes will be counted. It might be in force for more than a day depending on the situation. As per the latest announcement, the Mancotta Road in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s residence, District Library and Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School will be off limits for vehicles as well as pedestrians. Entry to Mancotta Road through lanes has been barred as well. Vehicles plying from Mancotta from the direction of Dibrugarh Doordarshan will take the route along the Dr Lila Gogoi Path to enter the town. Parking space has been allotted on the Chowkidinghee playground. The Department announced that exception will be made only for vehicles with passes and called on the public to co-operate. THE SENTINEL

ASEF wants 15% extra allowance in BTC region

KOKRAJHAR, May 14: The Assam State Employees Federation (ASEF), Kokrajhar District Committee demanded before the Assam Pay Commission, 2008, that the State Government employees working within Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area should be provided 15 per cent extra allowance in the revision of pay scale at par with Central Government employees.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chairman of Assam Pay Commission, Bhaskar Baruah, during his visit at Kokrajhar on Tuesday, the secretary of the federation, Kamal Das said that the cost of living in BTC districts is higher than other districts of the State and employees of almost all departments have to bear additional strain, fatigue and responsibility in addition to their normal work in BTC region.

The release said that, the federation was hopeful of recommendation of Assam Pay Commission would ensure reasonable and adequate living standard through the desired monetary support having parity with 6th Central Pay Commission plus neutralized higher cost of living in Asom of India.

On the other hand, the Sadou Asom Zila Parshasan Karmachari Santha in their memorandum demanded creation of a separate ‘Identical Scale of Pay’ in higher rate for the employees of DC’s amalgamated establishment considering the work load, nature of risk bearing multifaceted works. The president of the Santha, Nirpendra Chandra Ray, in their memorandum stated the demand of ‘Identical Scale of Pay for them which started from 1994. THE SENTINEL

Fire in Digboi Oil Refinery

TINSUKIA, May 13: Two employees, one of Digboi Oil Refinery, were killed in a devastating fire that broke out in the world’s oldest functional refinery this morning. The fire spread into residential areas.

Sources said a major fire was reported in the Indian Oil Corporation-controlled refinery at Digboi in Tinsukia district. The fire was noticed at 6.30 am in the Dilute Coke Unit (DCU). Kamal Saikia, an employee of a contractor and an Indian Oil Corporation Limited employee Basav Bhattacharjee lost their lives.

The fire was brought under control inside the refinery campus, but it went out of the campus through the sewerage drains. As the drains that use to carry residual of refinery products were highly inflammable, a major fire broke out in Muliabari, about three km from the refinery. According to sources, about 35 houses and shops were destroyed by the fire, and till the time of filing this report, fire was out of control. There was, however, no casualty. THE SENTINEL

Lapang sworn in as CM

SHILLONG, May 13: Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government was installed in Meghalaya today with Dr D D Lapang as the Chief Minister.

Lapang was administered the oath of office along with six other members of the new Cabinet by Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary in Shillong today. The six others who took oath today are Dr Mukul Sangma of the Congress as the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Roytre C Laloo (Congress), Martin M Dango (Congress), John Antonius Lyngdoh (UDP), Abu Taher Mandal (Independent) and Ampareen Lyngdoh, who is not an MLA. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Union Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah, AICC secretary Luizinho Feleiro, former Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy and members of the NCP.

Although there are five vacancies in the 12-member State Cabinet, the vacant posts have been intentionally kept to accommodate KHNAM leader Paul Lyngdoh, Independent MLAs Ismail Marak and Limison Sangma and UDP member Bindo M Lanong. Paul Iyngdoh, Ismail Marak and Limison Sangma have been fighting a legal battle with the office of the Speaker, while Bindo M Lanong is yet to resign as the Speaker.

Lapang has become the Chief Minister for the fourth time. His government with the strength of 36 is expected to provide a stable government. The Chief Minister proposed to use tourism potential, industry and power sectors as major areas that can ease the growing unemployment problem in the State. Referring to the government’s intention to accord priority on education, Lapang said the eroding educational system has affected Meghalaya’s status as an educational hub. THE SENTINEL

Asom to witness solar eclipse

JORHAT, May 9: Asom to witness a rare total solar eclipse on July 22. The occurrence will be highly visible at the skies of Sivasagar and Dibrugarh districts of the State, predicted UN Deka, a prominent Astronomer and secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers’ Association, Guwahati, participating as the appointed speaker at a symposium titled ‘Popular talk on Astronomy and total solar eclipse’, held at HRH, the Prince of Wales Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jorhat, on the occasion of International Astronomy Year 2009. He also said that, the event will be very pleasurable and such sort of chock-full episode will subsequently re-occur at the back of 700 years next. However, such a happening of total solar eclipse to be occurred at Pakistan occupied Kashmir in 2034, the Astronomer added. The programme was also attended by Dr Chandrarekha Mahanta, lecturer of Cotton College, Guwahati, and Dr PG Rao, Director of North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, inaugurated the programme. A visual show on light pollution requirement of dark sky and a tribute to “Kalpana Chawla”- Columbia Mission was also held in the meeting chaired by Hirendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Principal of the Prince of Wales Institute of Engineering and Technology. A sky observation programme through telescope was also there in the meeting held on the occasion where BC Bora, Scientific officer cum Curator of Guwahati Planetarium participated as the resource person. THE SENTINEL

Parking lots may prove to be fatal again

GUWAHATI, May 9: The parking lots at different places in the city had been banned by the police administration in view of the terror strikes like serial blasts last year as a measure to check such happenings. As against it, at a time when the terrorist outfits like ULFA seem to be active for more such strikes, surprisingly, the GMC has again opened parking lots at 70 places in the city.

Though the opening of the parking lots has been aimed to facilitate the public, the possibility of bomb blasts is being concentrated with this. The people deputed to the task of checking the vehicles are doing their job superficially. They do not check all the vehicles. In case of the vehicles checked, what they do is check the seats and dicky. Whom they suspect take a photograph with the car. Is this all about checking?

While talking to The Sentinel, Guwhati City Additional SP Debajit Deuri said the charge of parking lots is not with the police now, rather it has been given to the GMC. The GMC is supervising the matter. The police has given certain guideline to the GMC to ensure no terror attack again. On the other hand, GMC Commissioner Monish Thakur said 70 parking lots have been opened for the convenience of the public for two to three months only. The local boys are managing the parking lots for the time being. Later on, the allotment of the parking lots will be done by inviting tenders.

In the survey made by The Sentinel, it is seen that the guidelines laid down by the police administration are not being obeyed at the parking lots. A GMC-deployed person at the Ganeshguri parking lot said if someone is suspected, a photo is taken with the car. He said no metal detector and accessories had been given to them.

What has seen practically is that the vehicles are not checked properly. Only half of the vehicles are casually being checked at the parking lots. No register has been maintained. Questions arise here are who are the suspected? Those who have beards and unusual look and dress? Can’t a person with good look carry on subversive activities? Under such circumstances, it can be said that whatever is being done is nothing but a mockery of the measures of security. THE SENTINEL

Nagaland accuses Assam of occupying school building

Nagaland accuses Assam of occupying school building
CORRESPONDENT


DIMAPUR, May 4 – The Nagaland Government has said that the illegal occupation of Ladaigarh LP School by the Assam Armed Police continues till date despite the fact that two letters have been written to Commissioner, Upper Assam to take measures to vacate the policemen.

Nagaland Commissioner, H K Khullu said that during the Parliamentary election in Nagaland, the polls were peaceful but in one polling station at Ladaigarh in Longleng district of the State, which has been a polling station since 1972, polls could not be conducted as the building was illegally occupied by Assam Police.

He said that two letters have already been written to Commissioner of Upper Assam and even after directives were issued by the Election Commission to maintain status quo, there was no response from the Assam counterpart. Khulu said that Nagaland Government has been conducting elections in the said polling station without any problem and this time the government was hopeful that Assam would withdraw but they did not and as a result polling could not be conducted on April 16 last.

The Commissioner disclosed that Deputy Commissioner Sibasagar had given a report in 2005 that Nagaland has encroached into Sibasagar district, but the LP School at Ladaigarh was set up by the Nagaland Government and the records are available.

Stating that there has been no positive response till date, Khulu said that the last letter was sent to Assam Commissioner, on April 20 expressing displeasure and for not allowing the elections to be conducted.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may0509/ne3

Manipur village celebrates diamond jubilee

Manipur village celebrates diamond jubilee
CORRESPONDENT


IMPHAL,May 4 – The diamond jubilee of Chiengkawnpang village in Churachandpur district was celebrated with much fanfare and joviality on Friday at Chiengkawn community hall.

“Being brought up in the village, I am very much a part of Chiengkawnpang,” Power Minister T Phungzathang, who was the chief guest, said recalling his schooling in the late sixties in the village.

Praising the multi-cultural composition of the village which is a melting pot of different communities including Gangtes, Simtes, Paites, Thadous and Meiteis, Phungzathang assured the villagers that their demands will be addressed including renovation of the village hall.

Walking down memory lane, Soizalal H Thangjom, a retired government officer, said that the village has made its presence felt even in the international level.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may0509/ne2

Nepal PM Prachanda resigns

KATHMANDU, May 4 – Nepal’s first Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda today announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation sending shock waves through the nation and raising grave questions about peace and stability in the turbulent Himalayan republic. The former revolutionary’s resignation came after two major allies of his coalition government pulled out on Sunday following a long quarrel over the sacking of the army chief, leaving the Prachanda government under the cloud of a no-trust vote in Parliament and likely defeat.

In his brief message, the 55-year-old, who rose from the grassroots to lead a 10-year armed uprising against the government, blamed the political parties, which included the opposition as well as his own allies, as well as “foreign powers” for the lack of progress made by his eight-month government.

Without naming India, he also accused the southern neighbour of interfering in Nepal’s internal matters and said the country would never bow down before foreign masters.

The Prime Minister also charged President Ram Baran Yadav of going against the constitution by reinstating army chief Gen Rookmangud Katawal who, he said, had been dismissed by an elected government to ensure the sovereignty of the people.

The presidential move was a death blow to Nepal’s “fledgling republic”, he said.

At the end of the address, during which Prachanda fumbled and looked ill at ease, he announced his resignation, evoking images of a similar televised address by deposed king Gyanendra three years ago when the monarch stepped down as head of government after widespread protests.

The resignation was welcomed by the opposition Nepali Congress party that Monday had begun calling for Prachanda’s resignation.

“It was a good decision,” former minister and NC lawmaker Prakash Man Singh said. “Since his government became a minority one with the pullout of the Communists and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, there was no moral ground for it to continue.”

The alienation of the Maoists, who won the highest number of seats in the last election, was underscored on Monday when a crucial Cabinet meeting called by Prachanda hours before his resignation was boycotted by the two remaining allies, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and Communist Party of Nepal (United).

Singh said his party had begun consultations with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) for the formation of a new government.

“We are likely to support a UML-led government from outside,” he said.

Fears of violence spread through the nation as public rallies erupted in the capital, Banepa and Birgunj cities.

To pre-empt clashes, Kathmandu authorities prohibited rallies and demonstrations in front of the army headquarters and Shital Niwas, the residence and office of the president.

The fall of the Maoist government raises fresh fears about the fate of the fragile peace process, especially the proposed merger of their guerrilla fighters with the Nepal Army and the drafting of a new constitution by next year.

It also creates a bad precedent of the army and constitutional head of state locking horns with an elected government.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may0509/at01

BTC organizes cultural workshop

UDALGURI, May 3: A 10 day-long workshop on Bodo and Nepali folk culture is going on at Suhagpur Bhangasuklai in the aegis of BTC regional committee of Asom Gorkha Sanmellan and with the help of BTC cultural department. Around 200 cultural trainees are participating in this workshop and a team of resource persons under the leadership of Nabin Khadka, the Chairman of Nepali Folk Cultural Centre, Kathmandu, Rabindra Daimary and Rabishree Boro are imparting the cultural training to the aspirants. In this workshop, a special emphasis is given to ‘Madal’ and ‘Naumati’ (Nepali folk instruments). The workshop which was commenced on April 28 will conclude on May 7. A colourful cultural procession and other demonstrations will also be displayed on the concluding day. The concluding session is expected to be attended by Hagrama Mohilary BTC chief, Khampa Borgoyary BTC Deputy Chief, State Cabinet Ministers– Promila Rani Brahma, Chandan Brahma, Rihon Daimary, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, BTC EM Maheswar Basumatary, Moni Kr Subba the president of Asom Gorkha Sanmellan, president of Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Asom, president Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Kamrup Sahitya Sabha president among others. The main attraction of the cultural night are– Ramchandra Kafle, the famous folk singer of Kathmandu, Tilok Newar, M Newar and famous Bodo singer Bipin Boro. Dipak Nirola, the publicity secretary of the reception committee and also the general secretary of Udalguri district committee of Asom Gorkha Sanmellan requests all section of people to ensure their participation in the cultural procession and other programmes too. THE SENTINEL