G Plus Vol 3 Issue 37 by G Plus

Income tax department invites people to disclose undeclared assets

PG 09

Dr. Menaka PP Bora first Indian artiste to win Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coveted Leverhulme Fellowship Award PG 12

Pinki Saikia

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

New Chic on the block

Page 24

VOLUME 03 | ISSUE 37 JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

PRICE `10

Child Friendly Schools and Systems Toolkit launched

06 District Administration makes it mandatory to issue cash memos in shops After the National Monument Authority nod, the ropeway project was halted due to fund crisis; the new government puts the project on priority and asks GMDA to complete it by June 2017

04 Student apprehended in Aadhaar Card fraud

10 Ward watch

The new government has made it mandatory to pay royalty to the govt while buying sand, which has put an end to the sand syndicates. However prices still remain unregulated in the city

14 Pukhuripar Road

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Lead Story

Ropeway project to be finally completed by June 2017

Rahul Chanda

South Bank Terminal 80mts

T-2(R)

North Bank

T-3 Umananda 662mts

620mts

T-2

420mts

T-5

T-4

T-1 Urbashi

Proposed

Abandoned Schematic View of the New Ropeway Profile

ccording to media reports, the Gauhati High Court had recently directed the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to submit the status of the ropeway project connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati. Since a long time Guwahatians have been eager to know about the status of the ropeway and if at all the project will ever be completed. With these questions in mind G Plus looks into the scenario and finds out if the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ropeway dream will ever be fulfilled.

The history The ropeway was conceived by the Govt. of Assam as an infrastructure project to introduce an additional all-purpose transportation arrangement between the two banks of the Brahmaputra River. The project was taken up way back in 2003 by the Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (M) and accordingly tenders were invited for a passenger ropeway with a boarding and de-boarding station at Umananda Island. The project was subsequently assigned to GMDA in the year 2006 by the government with an administrative sanction of Rs. 27.73 crores. The government had also asked GMDA to engage IIT, Guwahati or RITES Ltd. as consultant for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and for Project Management Services. RITES Ltd. prepared the DPR in 2006. The alignment was finalised passing over Umananda Island connecting the

south bank inside Forest Campus near DC Office with the north bank at the hillock behind the Dolgobinda Temple with due consideration of the heritage status of Urvasi and Umananda Islands. In the year 2008, M/s Samir Damodor Ropeways Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the construction work on turnkey design and execution basis at an estimated cost of Rs. 28.17 crores through competitive bidding. The foundation stone of the project was laid on 4th December, 2009 by the Chief Minister, Assam and thereafter the construction was started.

The hindrance The ropeway was scheduled to be commissioned in by May, 2011, but

could not be carried forward because of stoppage of work by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in February, 2011 and not allowing permission for tilt rectification of well foundation No-2 from Urvashi Island citing introduction of new ASI Act, 2010. By November, 2011 all imported equipments (valued at Rs 7.5 Cr) had arrived. An amount of Rs. 22.00 crores had already been spent till then. The work progress was 72% in February, 2011. ASI declined to issue permission to construct the anchor block at Urvasi Island. As a result the tilt correction of T-2 well foundation became remote and was abandoned by a committee chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Assam. RITES Ltd. was asked

to prepare an alternative proposal by shifting the well location of T-2. The committee under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Assam had directed to form a technical committee under the chairmanship of The Commissioner and Special Secretary, (PWD & NH Dept.) to examine an alternative proposal submitted by RITES Ltd. RITES Ltd. prepared the alternative proposal and submitted the same to the technical committee for scrutiny and approval. The alternative proposal proposed abandoning of Well-2, construction of a new well at an alternate location, changes of the heights of other pillars, etc. The technical committee, after examining the proposal, found that the pillar at Umananda cannot be avoided and

The ropeway project was assigned to GMDA in 2006 with an administrative sanction of Rs. 27.73 crores GMDA was asked to engage IIT, Guwahati or RITES Ltd. as consultant for preparation of DPR and for project management services RITES Ltd. prepared a DPR in 2006 The alignment was finalized passing over Umananda Island connecting the south bank inside Forest Campus near DC Office with the north bank at the hillock behind the Dolgobinda Temple with due consideration of the heritage status of Urvasi and Umananda islands In 2008, M/S Samir Damodor Ropeways Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the construction work on turnkey design and execution basis at a cost of Rs. 28.17 crores through competitive bidding

Adib zamali/G Plus

After the National Monument Authority nod, the ropeway project was halted due to fund crisis; the new government puts the project on priority and asks GMDA to complete it by June 2017

A view of the Umananda temple where the ropeway will have one of its stations

The foundation stone of the above project was laid on 4th December, 2009 by the Chief Minister, Assam and thereafter construction started

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Lead Story

By November, 2011 all imported equipments worth Rs. 7.5 crores had arrived An amount of Rs. 22.00 crores had been spent till then 72% of work was completed till February 2011 A proposal was submitted for NOC by GMDA on 15th July 2014 to the competent authority NMA rejected the NOC application they had received through the competent authority on 13th October, 2014 The competent authority informed GMDA that the application was rejected on 31st October 2014 In April 2015, National Monument Authority granted permission to GMDA to go ahead with the project GMDA approached the then Congress government for additional funds to resume the work on the project but failed to get any response The new government, after taking charge, put the project under 100 days priority list An additional Rs. 27 crores will be required to complete the project in all respects GMDA source tells G Plus that the project will be commissioned by June 2017

hence advised GMDA to take permission from ASI before scrutiny. The revised proposal was submitted to The Director Archaeology, Assam and ASI for approval highlighting T-3 tower at Umananda hillock. The Director Archaeology, Assam declined approval for construction of T-3 pillar at Umananda Island. The GMDA then requested the then chief minister to intervene to get the permission.

The green signal In April 2015, the National Monuments Authority recommended grant of permission to the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) for undertaking construction of the ambitious Guwahati-North Guwahati passenger ropeway over the Brahmaputra river with its trestle number T-3 on Umananda island, within the regulated area of the archaeological monuments of the Urvasi Island, near the Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (DC) office at Panbazar. The National Monuments Authority took the above decision on the second day of its meeting held on 10th April, 2015. This decision of the National Monuments Authority was believed to have removed a major hurdle in executing the ropeway project. Moreover, on 18th February, 2015, the Superintending Archaeologist of the Guwahati ASI Circle stated in a letter to the State Archaeology Director that a joint inspection conducted by the ASI, State Archaeology Directorate and the GMDA officials found that the metal ropes of the ropeway would pass at a distance of 60.43 metres from the nearest sculpture of Urvasi Island and at 16.51 metres from the lime concrete water marker pillar of the British period adjacent to Urvasi Island. So, the question of damage to the monument in the event of an accident did not arise. The Superintending Archaeologist also maintained that the GMDA has relocated the pillar (T-2) well beyond 300 metres of the Urvasi Island. So the ASIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objection raised earlier during

Adib zamali/G Plus

The ropeway was scheduled to be commissioned by May, 2011, but could not be carried forward due to stoppage of work by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in February, 2011 and not allowing permission for tilt rectification of well foundation No-2 from Urvashi Island citing introduction of new ASI Act, 2010

The South Bank station site of the ropeway

the time of erection of the jack to rectify the tilt in the trestle (T-2) near the Urvasi Island was addressed. But even after the NMA nod in April, 2015 the work on the ropeway was not resumed and has remained that way till date such that even Gauhati High Court had to ask for the status report. So what is the status now?

Present status A highly placed source in GMDA, talking to G Plus, said that the new government has put the ropeway on the priority list and the ropeway will be commissioned by June 2017. The source said that after the NMA nod the GMDA approached the government for the funds in 2015 but the then government did

not give any response. The source said that the new government, after taking charge, has put the project on the 100 days priority list and instructed GMDA to complete the project at the earliest. GMDA had already floated a tender for construction of an alternate well foundation approved by the ASI near the south bank terminal station. The project will require another Rs. 27 crores to be completed in all respects. The work order has already been issued to Samir Damodar Ropeway Pvt. Ltd. to expedite the remaining work. The source said that if everything goes fine the project will be positively commissioned by June 2017. So finally the status is clear that Guwahati will get the ropeway by next year. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

In The News

Juthika Baruah

District Administration mandates issuing of cash memos in shops Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal issues instructions to verify price hikes in essential commodities A committee has been formed with 20 officials to visit different markets in Guwahati

Adib zamali/G Plus

Cases have been filed against 25 wholesale and retail traders for violating Essential Commodities Act, 1955

The price rise of essential commodities in the various markets of Guwahati has been assessed by the district administration on the instruction of the Chief Minister

he Guwahatians see a ray of hope with the inspection carried out by the Food and Civil Supplies Department on the price hike of essential commodities as the Chief Minister has issued instructions to find out the reason of price rise and take stern action against the traders violating the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The district administration has also filed 25 cases against unscrupulous wholesale and retail traders who failed to follow the Act and the provisions of the legal metrology. As per the direction of the Chief Minister, Deputy Commissioner M. Angamuthu visited the grocery, fish, fruits and vegetable markets of greater Beltola area and checked the prices of essential commodities like pulses, wheat, edible oil, etc. The DC also instructed all the Circle Officers and the Deputy Director of Food & Civil Supplies to ensure that the traders had valid trade licences. He instructed that no traders will be allowed to run their business without valid GMC license and moreover, they will have to issue cash memo on

every purchase. It is also ordered by the DC that proper calibration of all weights and measure equipments should be maintained and the traders should also maintain proper disposal. On the first day of inspection at Beltola Bazaar 170.99 kgs of pulses, 1975 kgs of rice, 237 (1 ltr) packets of edible oil and 50 kgs of salt was seized and 10 cases were filed at different police stations under various sections of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Provisions of Legal Metrology. The district administration has also formed a 20-member committee to visit all the markets. The committee visited 14 markets and two officials each have been deputed for the markets like Uzanbazar, Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazar, Machkhowa, Ganeshguri, Beltola and Lakhra while for the other markets one official each has been deputed. Moreover, being the month of Ramazan, the prices of fruits and other commodities usually touch a skyrocketing price for which people have to face problems. At the time of Iftaar

people mostly purchase fruits and therefore the administration has instructed to check the price of the items necessary for Iftaar so that every class of people could purchase the items. The Chief Minister also asked to submit a report on every market with the photographs. “I visited the Beltola market today (Tuesday) and checked the prices of essential commodities like pulses, vegetables, fruits and fish. I found that the prices were under control. However, we will take steps to prevent traders from deceiving customers,” said Deputy Commissioner, M Angamuthu. He added that all retailers must have valid trade licences issued by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). “The traders must also produce valid cash memos and price lists. We have also sought calibration of all weights and measures,” said Angamuthu. The administration’s teams are headed by additional deputy commissioners and comprise other officials like representatives of the food and civil supplies department and police.

During the inspection in Fancy Bazar, under the leadership of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mukta Nath Saikia and Food and Civil Supplies Department, 480 kgs dal have been seized. J. Islam, the Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, while commenting on the variation of prices in different areas, said that the price has been fixed by the chamber of commerce which has been sent to them and accordingly they sent the list to the government. The price also differs according to the quality of the products. He said that enforcement teams have also been formed and they will check the soaring prices of the essential commodities including potatoes, onions and other stuff and said that the price has been stable from some days. India is the largest producer, largest consumer and the largest importer of pulses in the world. In India pulses are grown on around 24-26 million hectares of area producing 17-19 million tonnes of pulses annually. India accounts for over one-third of the total world area and over 20% of total pulse

170.99 kgs of pulses, 1975 kgs of rice, 237 (1ltr) packets of edible oils and 50 kgs of salt have been seized at Beltola Bazaar Altogether 496.58 kgs of dal, 3799 kgs of rice, 818 ltrs of edible oil and 69 kgs of salt have been seized from the markets of Guwahati

production in the world. India primarily produces Bengal gram (chickpeas), red gram (tur), lentil (masur), green gram (mung) and black gram (urad). For majority of vegetarian population in India, pulses are the major source of protein. Pulses and pulse crop residues are also major sources of high quality livestock feed in India. The hike in price of essential commodities has left the people in a dilemma as pulses, wheat, flour etc. are the ingredients which people can’t live without. “Assam is only a consuming state but not a producing state and most commodities are being imported from other places. Drought-like conditions in such places increase prices. The production of pulses has lessened and the places from where these commodities come are facing a drought like situation. When the price increases from where it comes, the price will also gradually increase here,” said the Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

In The News

New Saraighat Bridge to be completed by September T

he new Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra River is expected to be completed by September 2016 as the Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, has instructed to accomplish the project within this new deadline to ease out the traffic over the existing bridge. Commenting on the issue, Sonowal said that if needed, the workers should work day and night to ensure that the construction work is completed by September. The Chief Minister said that the bridge should have been completed in 2010. Students, patients and the general public have been facing immense hardships due to the traffic congestion on the existing Saraighat bridge. Concerned officials further said that the delay of the project is affecting heavy escalations on the financial aspects. From the initial estimate of Rs. 238.14 crores, the project cost now has jumped to Rs. 346 crore, a rise of nearly 50%. Speaking to G Plus, an official source of Gammon India said, “The work of girder is almost complete; it will take just another two months. The remaining work of railing and crash bearer will be completed within September. One of the most important features is that the Jalukbari Rotary will be signal free which will have five flyovers, bridge, one underpass and slip road. The signal free crossing means that the vehicles coming from all the four directions will not collide with one another and can run in their own direction without being stopped.” According to the source the design was made by IIT, Delhi and SPAN but there was a mistake in the design of the bridge where after it was handed over to Mott Mc Donald Company Pvt. Ltd. for redesign. “The total length of the bridge is 1,493.58 metre and and was designed to have a single girder which has now been redesigned with 13 girders. The cantilever construction method has been used and will form the continuous girder. The speciality of the bridge is that it is 40 metre downstream from the existing Saraighat Bridge and there is a gap of only 24 metre between the two bridges which can be risky. But with the new technique and special protection the risk has been overcome,” the source informed. A common way to construct concrete cantilever spans is to counterbalance each cantilever arm with another cantilever arm projecting in the opposite direction, forming a balanced cantilever; when they attach to a solid foundation, the counter balancing arms are called anchor arms. Thus, in a bridge built on two foundation piers, there are four cantilever arms, two of which span the obstacle, and two anchor arms which extend away from the obstacle. Because of the need for

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has issued instructions for the bridge to be completed by September given that the completion date of 2010 has been missed by a long margin Adib zamali/G Plus

Juthika Baruah

Status of the Bridge Date of commencement

22/10/2006 Total Cost

309.56

Rs. crores

Expected date of completion

September, 2016

Total length

1,493.58 metre

The new bridge over Brahmaputra is expected to be completed by September 2016 The Jalukbari rotary will be a signal free crossing The distance between the existing bridge and the new bridge two bridge is 24 metres Baihata Chariali, Sipajhar, Mangaldai and a few other places will become satellite townships of Guwahati juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

more strength at the balanced cantilever’s supports, the bridge superstructure often takes the form of towers above the foundation piers. The construction process of the bridge gave rise to innumerable technical problems which resulted in delays as each and every problem posed high-risk situation and had to be solved accordingly. The source also went on to explain that the gap between the new bridge and the existing bridge is merely 24 metres and the construction wells that have been can still trigger off mudslides which might hamper the existing bridge. The source further informed that there is an oil pipeline between two wells which extends till Barauni and this also poses a risk for if the pipe cracks then the spillage will affect entire Guwahati and North Guwahati. Therefore the construction company had to take special protection in constructing the wells. “The DPR suggested that there would be reinforced earth in the main carriageway from grid separator to the approach which can be risky with the high seismic force. Therefore, shocked transmission units have been fixed to lock the

seismic force. The design also suggested that the well should go up to -11 levels which is not safe and we have decided to take it down to -16 level. A signal free crossing has also been set up where there are three loops and ramps. The vehicles passing from each side can pass without hampering any other sector of the traffic,” the source added. On completion of this project, a major link in the state will be enhanced and upgraded. Places like Baihata Chariali, Sipajhar, Mangaldai and a few others will become satellite townships of Guwahati, reducing the pressure on the city itself. Besides, a new green Guwahati can be created on the northern bank with a population of two lakhs with provisions of green industrial, commercial, educational and IT hubs which will get the city truly ready for the Act East Policy. Sources said the traffic burden on the Saraighat Bridge would be drastically minimized when the new bridge over the Brahmaputra becomes functional. “The travelling distance between Guwahati and the North bank will also be reduced when the bridge becomes functional,” sources said.

Buzz

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Child Friendly Schools and Systems Toolkit launched

Juthika Baruah

The awarded and felicitated schools are: 1952 No Garibhita Lower Primary School, 50 No Borghopa Junior Basic School (Barpeta) 208 No Basugaon Rajacharang Lower Primary School (Chirang) Tengabari Lower Primary School (Darrang)

CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Education Misnister Himanta Biswa Sarma with education dept officials at the event G Plus photo

Bishnupur Kalitagaon Lower Primary School (Dhemaji) Sri Sankardev Lower Primary School (Dibrugarh) 205 No Dalak Lower Primary School (Goalpara) Borjan Middle English School, Panka Senior Basic School, Garjan Navajyoti Lower Primary School (Golaghat) 295 Kuhumjogoniya Lower Primary School (Jorhat) Bongara Panchaniapara Middle Vernacular School, Baruajani Bapuji Lower Primary School, Baripara Lower Primary School (Kamrup) Azara Keotpara Lower Primary School (Kamrup Metro) 1 no Shimultapu Lower Primary School (Kokrajhar)

The state government emphasizes on equity in education and the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar has been instituted and awarded to promote hygiene and sanitation in schools

tate Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the schools of Assam will celebrate the Goon Utsav where 48,000 people will visit schools on the same day at the same time twice a year to inspect them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the Goon Utsav in Gujarat to be observed by the schools simultaneously on one day to showcase how the schools have provided education to the children in terms of hygiene, child-friendly environment, quality of education, etc. so that each and every child could get proper education. In tune with the festival of Gujarat, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has decided to organize the festival in the schools of Assam in a move to upgrade the government schools. The schools will be divided into five criteria and accordingly the schools will be rated. While speaking on the occasion of the launch of Child-Friendly Schools and Systems Toolkit and Award ceremony of Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar, Sarma said, “The toolkit will include the guidelines, rules and regulations of how a school should be made child-friendly in order to provide quality education. The Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar, awarded to 10 schools with 6 other schools being felicitated, will motivate the schools to keep the environment of the school healthy and hygienic which will also bring a development in the children in the future. Children become a victim of differentiation as some children are born in rich families while a section of children are born in poor families for which they are being deprived of proper education. To reduce the differentiation among the

The main parameters on which the schools are assessed are Water safety and maintenance Hygiene practices related to mid day School environment and its maintenance Protective and inclusive facilities Community participation Toilet conditions and usage Meal waste disposal scheme Personal hygiene and awareness Child participation children the government schools need to be developed as the children have equal right to education.” The Minister also reiterated that it is due to parents who are not capable of affording the education of the children that they have to be deprived of the right to education and those children should be helped by the government. It is the government who should be able to provide the quality education to all children attending government schools. It is seen that there are more teachers than required in some schools while many schools do not have a single teacher. In Assam there are 60,000 young teachers and it is their responsibility to provide quality education to the students. The Chief Minister also assured that the state government will improve the quality of education in the state and the CFSS toolkit will help in making schools of Assam child friendly and include access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

In order to promote hygiene and sanitation in schools the Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has instituted the Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has awarded 10 schools selected as Swacch School to create a conducive atmosphere in the state for improving the overall school environment along with the WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) practices among students in the schools while 6 schools have been felicitated. After thorough screening of the schools with a tool of 53 indicators against 9 parameters, 10 schools were awarded with the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2015-16. The Flagship Publication State of the World’s Children (SOWC) has also been launched by UNICEF with a theme ‘A Fair Chance for Every Child and on Equity in Education’ which argues that focussing on education is critical for addressing equity. Countless studies have demonstrated that poor quality education and high levels

of inequity in education compromise young people’s future employment prospects and the country’s economic growth impacting stability and social cohesion. Chief of UNICEF, Dr. Tushar Rane, said that this year’s report takes about a fair chance of the children for giving them equal opportunity as many school students faced disadvantage. “Education is critical in equity debate and children from tea garden and other backward classes feel inequity in education. Assam is the first state to provide child friendly schools and systems toolkit which will focus on equity and quality,” said Rane. The Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission is partnering the UNICEF to initiate the CFSS in 100 pilot schools covering approximately 5,000 children and 200 teachers which will be upscaled across the state to ensure quality education and learning outcome. Every child is born with the same inalienable right to a healthy start in life, an education and a safe, secure childhood with all the basic opportunities that translate into a productive and prosperous adulthood. But around the world, millions of children are denied their rights and deprived of everything they need to grow up healthy and strong because of their place of birth or their family of origin, because of their race, ethnicity or gender, or because they live in poverty or with a disability and to bring an end to the deprivation of the right to education, the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has taken the initiative to bring smiles on the faces of the children. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

City

Govt crackdown on illegal sand trade sends prices soaring

Rahul Chanda

The sand source A city-based sand dealer located at Lokhra, talking to G Plus, said that sand comes to Guwahati from riverside areas like Kukurmara, Boko, Singra, Ghoramara, Kulsi, Hatigarh, Sonapur, Panikhethi, Jambari, Bhalukhita, Maakeli, Nathpara, etc. The dealer said that at present the price has gone up and the exact reason may be known if we visit one of the bali mahals (sand source). A team of G Plus visited a sand source located at Kukurmara (Kukurmara Bali Mahal). According to the manager of the bali mahal, it is owned by a group of partners who have a legal license from the forest department to mine sand which they got after a bidding for a tender. The bali mahal was acquired by paying Rs. 5 crores as government royalty for five years and according to the manager every cubic meter of sand dug from the river Kolohi is also charged a government royalty which goes to the government. Enquiring why the sand price is going up, the manager did not want to answer the question and said he is not aware. Then we went to the river side where many labourers were filling up trucks with sand. A labourer, talking to G Plus, said that his work entails him to go to a place near Ghoramara by boat and mine enough sand to fill up the boat which he then brings back to Kukurmara Bali Mahal from where the sand is taken away by the trucks to be delivered at various places. The labourer gets Rs. 250 per day after working for around 12 hours a day. There are also labourers who take the sand from the boat and fill the trucks - they earn Rs. 400 per day. The G Plus team then met some ghat maliks (riverside owners) who described the whole business on conditions of anonymity. One ghat malik said that many people are involved in the business - boat labourers (goes to different parts of rivers and mines sand), boat owner (provides boats to

Sand price goes up in Guwahati New government closes down illegal bali mahals Sand buyers have to pay tax for every CM of sand they buy Forest check gates cannot take bribe anymore so check gates remain empty these days

Sand being loaded at a Kukurmara Bali Mahal

Adib zamali/G Plus

n the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction industry a recent piece of news came as a major concern for many builders and people who are constructing their own houses. According to some city-based builders, the sand price has gone up drastically and has been fluctuating every now and then. A citybased builder, talking to G Plus, said that two weeks back one cubic metre (CM) of sand used to cost Rs. 900 but now it costs around Rs. 1,800 and the sand dealers keep negotiating for the rates. The builder was concerned about the sand rates and said that the construction industry in the city is already suffering for various reasons; adding to the agony is the sand price rise. From where does the sand come to the city, who are responsible for regulating the sand rates and why are the rates fluctuating? G Plus tries to explore the entire sand business to find out if the business legal or illegal.

The new government has made it mandatory to pay royalty to the govt while buying sand, which has put an end to the sand syndicates. However prices still remain unregulated in the city the boat labourers), ghat owners (provides their riverside land for the sand trade), ghat labourer (loads the sand from boats to trucks), truck drivers (who come to the sand source to freight sand) and the mahaldar (the owner of the bali mahal who owns the license for the trade). The ghat owner then said that after all the cuts to labourers, ghat owners and boat owners, one CM of sand is sold for Rs. 400 to the drivers. The drivers then have to pay the government royalty or the tax to mahaldars for which a challan or a transit slip is issued to the drivers. For 1 cubic meter of sand the drivers have to pay Rs. 500 as government royalty to the mahaldars. So the price of the sand becomes Rs. 900 for 1 cubic metre. But today sand is being sold for Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,800 in Guwahati. Why is there such a huge difference?

The scam The ghat owner then introduced the G Plus team to a truck driver who has been freighting sand for a long time. The trucker said in anonymity that all these days the price of sand was around Rs. 700 to Rs. 900 in Guwahati but now the price has gone up because everything is happening legally. After the new government took charge all the illegal sand mining has stopped and only the legal sand sources (bali mahals) are working. Also earlier, hardly anyone paid the challan (government royalty) and while freighting the sand, money had to be paid at the forest check gates as bribes but the amount was less as check gates used to take Rs. 50 to Rs. 200. The driver said that there are five check

Sand being ferried on a boat from Ghoramara to Kukurmara on Kolohi river

Middlemen in Guwahati further increase the rates ARIEDA submits petition to government seeking action against illegal sand business Sources say in some places illegal sand mining is still practised Illegal sand trucks without challan enter Guwahati at nights

gates from Kukurmara to Guwahati Kukurmara, Bijaynagar, Lankeswar, Amin Gaon and Lokhra and even until two weeks back money had to be paid at all the check gates. However, it was not mandatory to pay tax for all the sand purchased. If anyone purchased 6 CM of sand, the challan was paid only for 1 CM. But now, according to the driver, not even an inch of sand can go out of the bali mahal without paying the government royalty. This has eradicated the corruption happening at the check gates. However, the middlemen in Guwahati increase the rates. The driver said that after transportation and labour cost the sand should be sold at around Rs. 1,200 per CM in the Guwahati market. But the dealers, offering the excuse of challan, are unfairly charging the customers to the tune of Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,800. Enquiring if there is any more illegal sand trade happening in the area, the driver said that many sand sources before were illegal without any license but baido (Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma) has stopped all illegal trade. However, there are still some places where illegal mining is happening and the drivers freight the sand at night time because, with the demise of the sand syndicate, the forest check gates these days are empty and there is no one to catch the sand laden trucks at night. The driver also said that the price of the sand is increased by the middlemen in Guwahati as now the middlemen buy the sand from the truck owners or drivers for Rs. 1,100 to Rs. 1,150 per CM and further sell it to sand dealers for Rs. 1,300 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rs. 1,350. The sand dealers thereafter sell the sand to customers for Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,800. The driver said

the price has to be regulated and added that the illegal bali mahals still provide sand at a slightly cheaper rate. The driver said that bali mahals in areas like Boko, Singra, Kulsi, Paschim Dhuli, Hatigarh, Nagpara, Panikheti, Jambari, Bhalukghita, Maakeli, Nathpara and Sumoria are illegal. The sand from these mahals come at night these days to Guwahati, and legal sand with challans can enter Guwahati at anytime.

The authorities ARIEDA president PK Sharma, talking to G Plus, said that sand and stone chip rates are a matter of concern for all the builders in the city as the business is mostly illegal and it is mainly some unscrupulous public servants and middlemen who are making money in the entire business. Sharma said that there is always a huge fluctuation in the rates and he has already submitted a petition to the present chief minister who will very soon meet all stake holders to regulate the business. A source in the forest department, talking to G Plus, said that now no truck is allowed without furnishing the challan and all the illegal mining has been stopped. All the bali mahals in Sonapur area are not functioning now and near Kukrmara and Ghoramara, only legal mahals are functioning. So it looks like the demise of the illegal sand business has resulted in increased sand price in the city but the rates are still not regulated and the government needs to think of ways and means to legalise the entire business so that the rates are not decided by the middlemen. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

City

oaching institutes have become a trend in the lives of students all over and Guwahati seems to have grown leaps and bounds when it comes to harbouring these institutes. While a few years ago this idea was not as much in favour as it is now, Guwahati at present is a city where students from all over the NE come to seek educational guidance. At the same time, the debate about whether these institutions are really necessary will always remain. In a city where just last month a boy killed himself for not securing a first division, is our government failing to provide better quality education? Are regular schools only here to stand by as silent observers while real education is provided by a smaller private sector that can only be afforded by a marginal few? “We try to include the whole syllabus for all such competitive exams in the regular courses. The need for extra coaching is not really necessary. If a student sticks to the regular course pattern, most of the required topics are actually covered. The examination bodies also set the patterns based on a fixed syllabus.” Mushtaq Ali, NERIM. Most students in the city seek external help with good reason. With the hugely competitive levels these days, even a 90% does not guarantee admission into the top colleges of India. Technical and management schools like the IIT and the IIM are considered to be among the top institutions in the world the reason being that these institutions offer some of the highest paid placements (over Rs. 66 lakhs P.A.). Most students start preparing early and coaching institutes like Aakash, Potential Coachings, Concept Educations, Lalan’s and Perception offer specialized training in these courses. Institutes like these offer Integrated Courses for JEE (Main & Advanced), Integrated Course for Other State Engineering Exams, crash course for NEET phase 2, other state medical examinations, foundation and special crash courses. “Every year, there is a rush of students to prepare for these exams and my sons too enrolled themselves in coaching institutes soon after completing the HSLC,” said Rimjhim Deori whose sons appeared for the Joint Entrance Examinations held in April 2016. “It is a huge burden. Apart from a very high fee structure, they would also have lengthy sessions lasting 8 to 10 hours every day. It is not humanly possible for students to come up with anything productive after that,” said Rimjhim. “There should be quality management. These institutes should be aware that the reason we enrol our kids is because clearly their schools are not doing the job.” Apart from technical courses, there are institutes in the city that also offer coaching for the tough civil services exams. Institutes like Unified Academy, Chanakya, ALS IAS, Nirvana IAS and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Centre for Coaching & Guidance ensure that students who are aspiring to crack the civil services examinations get the right kind of materials and guidance for preparation. While the

Coaching Centers and their effectiveness

Bipasa Saikia Kashyap

Coaching centers in the city have come a long way from just being simple tuition centres. They have emerged as an entity, a well maintained industry and today most students looking forward to cracking major examinations like the UPSC, the JEE and CAT seek their help. However, though bigger cities like Delhi and Mumbai have emerged with a somewhat average kind of coaching system, it is often debated whether smaller cities like Guwahati has enough by way of infrastructure to deal with such a system. Also, does this increase in privatizing the education system not question the education ministry’s policies that are definitely failing to provide students with all of the necessary guidance? TOP ENGINEERING AND MEDICAL COACHING INSTITUTES: Aakash Coaching Institute Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 60,000 and above. Foundation courses Rs. 1 lakh and above, scholarships available Address: 4th Floor, Tribeni Commercial Complex, GS Road, Ulubari, Guwahati - 781006 Contact: +91-361-2463882, 2464974, 2463919 Results: 1426 students cleared the JEE 2016 Web: guwahati.aakash.ac.in Potential Coaching Institute Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 50,000 and above. Foundation courses Rs. 1 lakh and above Address: 160, Above Vijaya Bank, 4th Floor, Rajgarh Road, Ulubari, Guwahati - 781006 Contact: +91-9678085780, 9207046780 Results: Potential boasts of maintaining a 72% success rate in JEE (MAIN) 2016 Web: potentialcoaching.in Concept Educations Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 50,000 and above. Foundation courses Rs. 1,60,000 and above Address: 2nd Floor, Orion Place, Opp. Grand Starline Hotel, Christian Basti, Guwahati Contact: +91 98594 02993, 0361 – 2450078 Results: Over 252 students cleared the JEE (MAIN) 2016. AIR 312 was from Concept Web: concepteducations.com/guwahati Modulus Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 50,000 and above. Foundation courses Rs. 1,60,000 and above. Scholarships not available Address: Prithvi Centre Lachit Nagar Ulubari, Guwahati-7 Contact: +91 8486310511 Web: modulusghy.com Perception Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 50,000 and above. Foundation courses Rs. 1,60,000 and above. Scholarships available Address: 3rd Floor, Mc Donald Tower, Bhangagarh, Guwahati – 781007 Contact: +91-8811011112 Web: www.wiseperception.com Lalan’s Coaching Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 50,000 and above Address: RG Baruah road, Guwahati, Assam Contact: +91 9864450664, +91 7896033056 E-mail: lalanscoaching@gmail.com Web: lalanscoaching.com TOP CIVIL SERVICES COACHING INSTITUTES Chanakya IAS Fee: Normal course of 1 year is Rs. 60,000 and above Address: HR Path, Zoo Road, Guwahati, Assam Contact: +919650299662, +91 8811092481, +91 8811092483 Results: Chanakya IAS boasts of producing three IAS toppers in 2015 Nirvana IAS Academy Fee: Above Rs. 30,000 Address: Nowjan Road, Jurpukhuri, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam Contact: +91 9678003828, +91 9706954114, info@nirvanaias.com, nirvanaias.com Results: Students have often made it to the top 500 and some even to the top 100. All India rank 18 of 2011 and 78 of 2012 were from Nirvana IAS Brilliant Tutorials Fee: Normal course of 1 year is R. 45,000 (approx) and above Address: Manik Nagar, RGB Road, Ganeshguri, Assam Contact: 0361-2201871, www.brilliant-tutorials.com Results: Brilliant Tutorials maintain a reputation of producing top results every year. Their courses include all engineering and civil service exams Triumphant Institute of Management Education Fee: Normal course of 1 year Rs. 30,000 and above Address: Near Adabari Masjid, North Jalukbari,Near Jalukbari, Guwahati University, Guwahati, Assam Contact: 0361 266 9985, +91 9435550377, www.time4education.com Results: T.I.M.E. provides training for CAT, GATE, Bank Exams, CSAT, CMAT etc. Quality of education is above average

Adib zamali/G Plus

fee structure for the crash courses varies from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000 the year-long courses can cost anything between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 1.25 lakhs. These institutes proclaim the quality of their faculty members. Rupankor Kalita, an engineer aspiring for the civils was earlier enrolled in Chanakya, Delhi but he moved back to its Guwahati branch because in his opinion, the classes there were overcrowded. “Another reason I chose to enrol myself in the Chanakya Academy in Guwahati, was because of its faculty. However, the kind of education they are providing is still very sub-standard. To crack these exams, these coaching institutes actually have a very minimal role, in my opinion. It is true that when I was in Delhi my classes were overcrowded but there the quality of education was somewhat better. Even then, students there would say that the quality of education was sub-standard. Here, there are fewer students but there are a lot of other problems like the unnecessarily high fees and the poor quality of materials. Other than possessing

a few really good faculty members, these institutes actually play a very minimal role in cracking these exams.” According to one of the faculty members, every year more than 50% of the students who crack these exams do so without seeking any kind of coaching. “It is just a myth that coaching institutes are the sole key to cracking these examinations,” said Rajiv Bandhu, a Ph.D. student of Hindu College, University of Delhi who also offers coaching. “The faculty members are carefully selected. Also, after years of offering coaching, teachers usually come to know about the paper patterns. The syllabus for these exams is vast. We help with selective study.” Whether coaching institutes are absolutely necessary for aspirants of the most competitive exams in the country or not remains a debate but what cannot be ignored is the number of students who are actually turning to these institutes for augmenting their regular education. bipasa.saikia@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Income tax department invites people to disclose undeclared assets

he Income Tax Declaration scheme under the “Income Tax Act 1961” started on 1st June 2016. It had received the assent of the President on 14th May 2016. The Income Declaration Scheme, 2016, incorporated as Chapter IX of the Finance Act 2016 provides an opportunity to all persons who have not declared income correctly in earlier years to come forward and declare such undisclosed incomes. G Plus checked out if anyone from Guwahati has declared any undisclosed assets in the last one month. An income tax department source said that no one from Guwahati declared any such property in the past month. One reason could be that the awareness level about the new scheme is still less. A general awareness meeting on the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 was convened on 1st July, 2016 at Hotel Viswaratna for the assessees under the territorial jurisdiction of the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Range-4, Guwahati. The meeting was attended by C. L. Denzongpa, IRS, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, NER, Vinay Kumar IRS, Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Guwahati and D. Loyi, IRS, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Range-4, Guwahati. The meeting was attended by people from different areas like AT Road, Fancy Bazar, etc. and also by the members of different trade bodies in Guwahati. Some of the bodies who attended the meeting are the Federation of Industries, NER, Chamber of Commerce, Kamrup, Tax Bar Association, Guwahati, Guwahati Motor Traders Association, North East Garment Traders Association, Hardware and Sanitary Merchant Association and Guwahati Builders Association. Vinay Kumar explained

the purpose of the meeting which is to spread awareness about the scheme and its importance.

The scheme The scheme provides an opportunity to persons who have not paid full taxes in the past to come forward and declare the undisclosed income, pay tax, surcharge and penalty totalling 45% of such undisclosed income declared. The scheme shall apply to undisclosed income whether in the form of investment in assets or otherwise, pertaining to Financial Year 2015-16 or earlier. Also the declaration is in the form of investment in assets, the Fair Market Value of such asset as on 1st June 2016 shall be deemed to be the undisclosed income under the Scheme. However, foreign assets or income to which the Black Money Act 2015 applies are not eligible for declaration under this scheme. Assets specified in the declaration shall be exempt from Wealth tax. No Scrutiny and enquiry under the Income-tax Act or the Wealth tax Act shall be undertaken in respect of such declarations. Immunity from prosecution under the Income-tax Act and Wealth Tax Act is also provided along with immunity from the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 subject to transfer of asset to actual owner within the period specified in the Rules. Non-payment of total taxes, surcharge and penalty in time or declaration by misrepresentation or suppression of facts shall render the declaration void. The circumstances in which the Scheme shall not apply or where a person is held to be ineligible are specified in section 196 (Chapter IX) of the Finance Act, 2016. Non declaration of undisclosed

shall remain in force for a period of 4 months from 1st June, 2016 to 30th September, 2016 for filing of declarations and payments towards taxes, surcharge and penalty must be made latest by 30th November, 2016. Declarations can be filed online or with the jurisdictional Pr. Commissioners of Income Tax across the country. However, it has ruled out possibility of harassment under other legal provisions since no information provided under the scheme will be shared

G Plus News

with other tax or law enforcement agencies. A city based CA who attended the meeting, talking to G Plus, said that the scheme has two major issues: firstly the tax charged is too high (45%) and also if a case is already going on over the property, that property cannot be disclosed. The CA said that people would like to declare their undisclosed assets if all court cases against that property is dismissed.

Janasanyog/108/16

income under the Scheme will render such undisclosed income liable to tax in the previous year in which it is detected by the Income tax Department. Other penal consequences will also follow accordingly. The Central Government has further notified 30th September, 2016 as the last date for making a declaration under the scheme and 30th November, 2016 as the last date by which the tax, surcharge and penalty mentioned in the act shall be paid. The scheme

Business

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Concern

Student apprehended in Aadhaar Card fraud

KALYAN DEB

While the concept of Aadhaar Card remains unclear to many, fraudsters take advantage to dupe card holders

Adib zamali/G Plus

student of higher secondary first year has been arrested for allegedly making fake Aadhaar cards in several parts of the city for the past month, police said. The Bhangagarh Police arrested the accused Suresh Tiwari for making fake Aadhaar cards in the city. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended Tiwari after receiving a complaint from one Bilaluddin Ahmed late night on 26th June. A case under sections 420, 467, 468 of the IPC has been registered against him. Police also recovered fake Aadhaar card making equipments including computer, printer, scanner and other materials from the accused. It has also been informed that Tiwari has been indulging in preparing fake Aadhaar cards for the past one month. Meanwhile, it is also suspected that there might be other fraudsters or gangs that may be active in the affair. However, Suresh’s involvement with any gang was dismissed. “We are undertaking investigation regarding the matter. Since one case has come up in such a matter, there are possibilities of others being active. We will get a more concrete picture after further investigations on the matter,” stated an official of Bhangagarh police station. Although this is one-of-a-kind incident that has come to light in the city, similar fraudulent practices are a common occurrence in several parts of the country. Meanwhile, online fraudsters are preying on the vulnerabilities of this identification tool and siphoning off the hard earned money of people via illegal methods. Considering that majority of these Aadhaar card holders are new and first time bankers, they are falling easily for these tactics, and losing their money. As per reports, it was revealed that 4050% of those who are scammed, are not even aware of this new method of cheating. The Modus Operandi As per investigations, there are two different ways these fraudsters are duping Aadhaar card holders. In the first case, a tele-caller will call a card

holder up with a script offering them to link their Aadhaar number with their debit cards for better customer service. Gullible customers happily provide them with the details they are asking and very smartly, the fraudsters will extract details of CVV number and expiry dates (which are only known to the customer). Immediately thereafter, these fraudsters generate a One Time Password (OTP), which is received by the victim instantly. Now, the OTP will act as a further trust factor for the victim (especially the ones who have never done OTP-based transactions), and they will share that as well as they think that the OTP will be used for linking their bank accounts with their Aadhaar card. Once the OTP is generated and shared, the fraudsters use various e-commerce portals to purchase as many products as that 5 to 15 minute window that the OTP validation provides. By the time the victims realize this, their bank account is debited by thousands of rupees. The other way to trick bank cus-

tomers is to ask for their alternate number; and an OTP is sent to that in order to make the victim believe that indeed their bank accounts and Aadhar card is being linked. Aadhaar initiative in Assam After almost six years since the programme started, a billion Indians (93%) have now been issued with a 12-digit identification number called Aadhaar. No more than 0.3% (8,994) of 2.9 million LPG consumers in Assam are linked to Aadhaar as on December, 2015. As of 4th April 2016, 1,000,856,739 Indians (not necessarily citizens) received Aadhaar identities, according to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). With the Aadhaar identity increasingly linked to variety a government payments, Assam will find it difficult to implement many of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s technology-driven social-security programmes. Held back by disputes over citizenship and unease over migration from Bangladesh, the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and

Manipur do not mirror the speed of Aadhaar’s nationwide spread. Unlike other parts of the country, AADHAR cards for residents of Assam will be linked to National Register of Citizens, which is the database of citizens, as the state is facing the problem of illegal immigration. Aadhaar operations in six north-eastern states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are done by the Registrar General of India under the Directorate of Census whereas, Tripura and Sikkim are operated by UIDAI. The Aadhaar number is proof of residence only and not citizenship. The NRC is a register with information of all Indian citizens, first prepared after the 1951 Census. It contains the names of citizens, based on electoral rolls up to 1971 and the 1951 NRC. Following the creation of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) in 1971, illegal migration into Assam has risen, with violent agitations since the 1970s over the issue. So, unless the names of citizens are recorded in the

updated NRC, Aadhaar enrolment has been quietly slowed – even though Aadhaar is not meant for confirmation of citizenship. As many as 1,41,733 doubtful/ disputed voters were reported in Assam by the Election Commission of India in April last year, according to an April 23, 2015 Lok Sabha reply. People who cannot produce proof of nationality are marked “disputed” or as “D” voters by the Election Commission. The unique identification project is an initiative of the Planning Commission to provide identification for each resident across the country. The brand name of this 16-digit number of the unique identification number (UID) is Aadhaar. The objective is to issue every resident a UID linked to the resident’s demographic and biometric information, which they can use to identify themselves anywhere in the country and to access a host of benefits and services.

kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN 03 July

MON 04 July

TUE 05 July

WED 06 July

THU 07 July

FRI 08 July

Heavy Rain

Numerous showers

Partly Sunny

26 / 36 °C

25 / 36 °C

26 / 37 °C

26 / 34 °C

24 / 31 °C

SATURDAY

02 July

Widely scattered tstorms

27 / 36 °C

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Snippets

BRICS Youth Summit 2016, commences at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok

Government formally hands over land for AIIMS at Changsari G Plus News

T O

ne of the world’s biggest events, BRICS Youth Summit 2016, has started at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Guwahati from 1st to 3rd July. The theme for the summit is “Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges.” During the course of the summit, the topics to be covered in

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thematic debates are Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Youth Volunteerism, Social Inclusion, and Youth Participation in Governance. The role of youth in enhancing intra BRICS relation has been recognized during the past summits. The democratic profiles of the youth, combined with the eco-

nomic vibrancy, is expected to be an asset in consolidating potential exchanges between the BRICS nations. The programme for the summit also includes widespread cultural events, interactive sessions between the diplomats and local youth, and site-visits across the region.

Guwahati Jagannath Rathayatra Festival - 2016

he process of setting up of AIIMS at Changsari, Assam has formally begun on 28th of June, after the Government handed over the land for the institute in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. To build the prestigious institute of medical care, the Assam CM handed over a plot of 571 acres to Arun Kumar Panda, Additional Secretary, Union Health and Family Welfare. The state government had also declared setting up of All India Institute of Ayurveda at Raha, during the function. Commenting on the occasion, the CM said, “This is a historic day for

people of Assam as a long- pending dream is about to come true. People have struggled a lot democratically for this institute in the state. AIIMS would not only improve the healthcare scenario in the State but also give a boost to health education. Though people of different parts of the State are agitating for setting up of the AIIMS in their respective areas, the State Government had very little say in the selection of the site as the location was chosen by an expert committee set up by the Government of India.” Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that AIIMS Changsari would have 18 super speciality departments with nearly 500 beds.

Papon conferred with prestigious IIFA award

nternational Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is organising “Guwahati Jagannath Rathayatra Festival - 2016” with a colourful program from 6th July to 14th July as per schedule observed at Jagannath Puri in Odisha. The Rathayatra is most important and unique as the theme of the whole festival is aimed at initiating the real peace formula to the society at large and to promote peace and social harmony in greater northeast. This Rathayatra Festival which is celebrated all over the world was started by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. This year the ‘Guwahati Jagannath

Rathayatra Festival - 2016’, a nineday festival will begin on 6th July and will be concluded on 14th July with the Ulta Rath (Return Journey) of Lord Jagannath. On 6th July, the Rathayatra procession will start from the playground of Ulubari Higher Secondary School (Near S B Deora College) and will culminate at proposed Jagannath Temple cum Cultural Complex at Jayanagar, Beltola after passing through, G S Road, Ganeshguri, Dr. R P Road, Last Gate, Beltola-Basistha Road and Beltola Tin Ali. During this 9-day festival, the main attraction, apart from Bhajan-Kirtan, Arati and Harinam Sankirtan, will be “Srimad Bhagavad

Katha” at the premises of Jagannath Temple cum Cultural Complex at Jayanagar, Beltola from 7th July to 13th July. The Bhagavat Katha will be delivered by His Grace Ramakant Das, a senior devotee of ISKCON, Vrindavan. On eve of Rathayatra Festival, a 3-day (3rd to 5th July, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm) program of nagarkirtan in different areas of the city is being organised, where about 15 foreign devotees of different countries are expected to participate besides the local devotees and congregation members. For further details, kindly contact: 0361-2525963/2450100, 9864060997 or at the office of the ISKCON Temple, Ulubari, Guwahati.

amed Assamese star Angarag Papon Mahanta bagged the title of Best Male Playback Singer at the 17th edition of the International Indian Film Awards 2016, held at Spain. Papon was awarded the coveted award for his rendition of the song ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ from the movie ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. The IIFA Award is considered to be the most prestigious award in Bollywood. Commenting on the achievement, Papon said, “It is always nice to get appreciated for your work. But getting recognition in a prestigious event like IIFA is something really special. I will always cherish the moment.” The IIFA is the 5th award that Papon has bagged for the same song.

Previously he had won the Best Singer (Male) Award at the 22nd STAR Screen Awards, 8th Mirchi Music Awards, TOIFA and Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA), for the song.

All India Radio celebrates 69th establishment day

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he All India Radio Guwahati celebrated its 69th establishment day on 1st July. The radio centre was started as Shillong-Guwahati station of All India Radio. The station located at Guwahati is now a fullfledged regional station airing a range of programmes from news bulletins to entertainment. Commenting on the occasion, SN Pradhan, Director, News, AIR Guwa-

hati said “The AIR has come a long way since it was established in 1948. The good thing is that it has been able to retain its popularity and credibility. While we have added innovations including internet-enabled ones to enhance our appeal, especially among the tech-savvy young generation, the humble radio still remains the sole source of information to many living in remote areas.”

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Snippets

G Plus News

Dr. Menaka PP Bora first Indian artiste to win Britain’s coveted Leverhulme Fellowship Award

r. Menaka PP Bora, a national awardee of Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Puraskar has won the highly prestigious and coveted Leverhulme Fellowship Award 2016 from British Government for 3 years to develop her artistic-academic career in India, UK and USA. The first Indian artiste to be awarded for her contribution to performing arts, Menaka will be researching the contemporary cross-cultural role of Assamese performance traditions in India and global contexts with special reference to launching a global archive centre for Assamese arts at key world renowned British institutions including Oxford University’s Bodleian Library, British Library, British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum among others. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Menaka PP Bora has been promoting ‘Assamese arts as a Global Brand’ for international audiences through her dance performances, film screenings, BBC TV and Radio appearances and talk shows in recent years. She is the first Assamese artiste to be invited by the British Museum to promote Assam on a global scale and deliver a unique lecture and performance series on Assam in connection with the famous Vrindavani Vastra in March 2016 at the British Museum. Vrindavani Vastra is a textile that was woven by skilled weavers under the supervision of 16th century saint

and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. The exquisite tapestry has been in possession of the British Museum since the early 20th century. The motifs and designs depict the childhood of Krishna and heroic deeds of Vishnu. She said that the literature of Assamese culture has died and she has tried to bring back the culture by presenting it globally. “Quality and standard is necessary to present in a global scale which is missing in our youths. It is because people don’t get involved in

it and the taste of it should come from inside. One needs to go deep into it to bring the feelings while performing,” she added. Over the years, Dr. Menaka PP Bora, the daughter of the legendary Indira PP Bora has played a pioneering role as the young cultural ambassador of Assam and India through her global dance tours including a recent tour sponsored by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India to Australia and New Zealand with

artists from Barpeta Sattra in Assam. She has promoted Sattriya dance as a contemporary classical dance after research work as a GLOBAL DANCE & MUSIC in the UK, USA, France, Vietnam, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand among others. She has an MA in Transnational Communications and Global Media and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Goldsmiths, University of London. She is an elected Fellow of The Royal Asiatic Society. She has performed as

POWERGRID to set up a Capacity Development Centre in Oncology at Dr B G Plus News Borooah Cancer Institute

n order to create human resource in the field of Oncology in view of rising incidence of cancer in Assam and north-eastern states, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has decided to establish a Capacity Development Centre in Oncology at Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati. In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati and Power Grid Corporation Limited was signed at Shillong on 29.06.2016. The MoU was signed by Shri A. K. Borthakur, Dy. General Manager (HR) on behalf of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. As per Population Based Cancer Registry of ICMR, incidence of cancer is highest in the State of Mizoram followed by Arunachal Pradesh, East-Khasi Hills District and Urban Kamrup District. About 23,000 cancer patients are detected every year in the State of Assam and there are about 60,000 – 65,000 prevalent cancer patients at any given point of time. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute is the only comprehensive cancer centre catering to the need of the NE Region. In India, there is shortage of about 10 lakh doctors and

Army conducts 3 days relief exercise in the city

T 20 lakh nurses. To overcome the shortage of doctors in the field of oncology, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute has tied up with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai to start 2 Years Post Graduate Oncology Fellowship Programme in 5 disciplines of Oncology from 1st July 2016. 55 students have joined the Institute on 1st July 2016 in various paramedical courses in Oncology. These courses will be conducted by Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences, Assam and Gauhati University. It is hoped

that these initiatives of Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute will contribute to human resource generation in the field of oncology leading to better patient care in future. POWERGRID Capacity Development Centre in Oncology will contribute significantly to fulfil the objective of the Institute for human resource general. To encourage young students to pursue a career in Oncology, the Institute has started from 1st July 2016, two weeks summer training in Cancer Epidemiology, Palliative Medicine and Molecular Genetics of Cancer.

a soloist in prestigious festivals and venues including The Edinburgh Festival, Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts in NYC and appeared as a Guest Speaker on BBC Radio’s ‘World music’ programmes, Radio New Zealand and SBS National Radio in Australia among others. She produced, managed and presented the first ever 5-city national British tour of Sattriya dance, Sattriya Dance Series in 2007 where she promoted Sattriya culture in key mainstream British arts venues and museums in London, Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. In 2008 Menaka launched an innovative project entitled ‘Dance in Museum Project’ for interpreting South Asian material culture (Indian textiles, sculptures, musical instruments, paintings, artefacts, Sanskrit and Assamese manuscripts) through site-specific Indian classical dance and Sattriya dance in particular. According to Menaka strict discipline should be maintained in order to perform quality dance. “Last year when I visited the city, the ICCR had provided a dance troupe and we took artists from Barpeta Sattra. ICCR had given a four-month program where we trained the artists as to how the Sattriya dance should be performed. There were 15 shows in Australia and New Zealand and for one month we provided the training to the artists,” she said.

G Plus News

he Indian Army carried out a flood relief exercise in an urban setting of the city from 28th June to 30th June. The objective of the rescue operation was to get all the stakeholders together and provide assistance to people who face problems during abnormal flood in the city, provide medical aids, set up relief camps, supply of relief materials to the flood affected people. Commenting on the initiative, a defence official said, “In the past few years, large number of unexpected floods has occurred in many parts of the country, paralyzing the life of the people of those areas. Guwahati has always been the epicenter of unexpected floods from rainfall every monsoon. Keeping in mind the rapid urbanization, population pressure on the existing infrastructure and lack of proper drainage system in the city, it is likely that floods would only augment problems for the city people each year.” As reported by a regional media house, the flood relief operations practiced during the 3-day course would act as a knowledge resource for execution of flood relief actions, nationally along the length and breadth of the country”.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Snippets

Pioneering procedures at GNRC AASU protests saves life of patients with rare against oilfield heart complications auction

G Plus News

64 year old male patient came to the emergency department of GNRC hospital, Dispur a few days back in a critical condition as he was having difficulty breathing, was unable to maintain adequate oxygen levels and suffered from severe giddiness. He was referred as a case of massive pulmonary artery thromboembolism commonly known as PTE which means clots in the main artery of the lung obstructing adequate blood flow and oxygenation. He was from a Hojai hospital wherein he was admitted 3 days back and was treated with high doses of blood thinning medication for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) but his condition continued to deteriorate and as he was suspected to have developed Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) he was sent to GNRC for better care. Here his diagnosis was confirmed by CT angiogram and treatment options and risks explained to the party by the first ever audio-video counselling facility of this region. It was suggested that he undergo emergency pulmonary thromboembolectomy which would be the first ever procedure of this region and had a high mortality risk but in view of the patient’s condition could be life saving. Once the consent was obtained several departments including radiology, cardiology, pathology and blood bank besides the primary treating department of cardiovascular & thoracic surgery swung into action and the patient was successfully operated upon as an

S Heart surgery team led by Senior Heart Surgeon and Chief Consultant Dr Sunil Dawka performs first ever Pulmonary Thromboembolectomy in Assam emergency procedure to remove the large blood clots that had travelled from his leg and abdomen to his heart and lungs occluding blood flow and oxygen uptake. This high risk surgery was performed by GNRC heart team led by Chief consultant Dr. Sunil Dawka and consisted of cardiac anaesthetist Dr. Prasanta Borah and Perfusionist Krishnakant Trivedi with supporting OT staff. Dr. Dawka in a press note issued

to the media said, “Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a common and potentially lethal problem seen in patients with Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). PTE is now being increasingly diagnosed and treated at tertiary care hospitals in India and world over thanks to increased awareness and modern advanced technology for patients at risk. However PTE has a far higher mortality rate than myocardial infarction (Heart attacks).”

Hotel Palacio reiterates its worldclass offerings and services

upporting the Central Government’s decision to auction 12 oilfields of the State, the State Government on 29th June asserted that the auction would improve the economic condition of the state. Meanwhile, the oil industry sources have expressed their concerns and doubts if any global company would come forward to bid for the oilfields of the state. Commenting on the whole issue of the auction of 12 oilfields of the state, Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the move of auction would call for investment of around Rs. 5,000 crores, bringing a major

G Plus News

acceleration in the economic growth of the State. The minister further revealed the fact that the oilfields to be auctioned have not being used for more than two decades. The bidding companies would only get the right to extract oil from the oilfields, while the land rights would stay the same. However, opposing the Centre’s decision of the auction, AASU commented that under no circumstances would they allow privatization of oil resources of Assam. The AASU also said that the Centre should either entrust OIL or ONGC or the Assam Government with the job of exploration of oil from the 12 oilfields.

Chief Minister meets South Korean Ambassador G Plus News

G Plus News

onveniently located and well connected to the all major hubs like State Legislative Assembly; Express Gateway to the northeast, shopping malls and multiplexes, Hotel Palacio threw its doors open to the media on 30th June with a formal lunch ceremony. Palacio is located in Khanapara and at a 30 minutes’ drive from Guwahati International airport. The hotel incepted in November last and has successfully achieved the target of delivering a quality management, ambi-

ence, food and professionalism that was based on their customers’ opinion. Palacio is a premium business class hotel of Paramount Group that has its interests in automobile (Poddar Car World) and real estate (Paramount Estate Developers). The Chairman of the Group, Anup Poddar, was happy to share the fact that the well-appointed guest rooms and suites are tastefully designed carrying through the hotel’s neo classical feel. The hotel is built to cater a modern and refreshing service

to its guests, pampering them with royalty. The Palacio offers the best blend of business and pleasure assuring its guests a perfect sojourn. With opulent rooms, exclusive lounge, fine dine restaurant and characteristic services, it is sure to elate your senses. The decor on the business floors offer guests comfort and convenience catering to every guest’s tastes creating an enriching experience. Guests are sure to enjoy the friendly service and relaxed ambience at the food and beverage outlet “Legacy” that offers a blend of Indian, Oriental and Western cuisines, with an extensive buffet spread for breakfast and lunch with a choice of international drinks to choose from. The Palacio also offers a state-ofthe-art conference room, board room, a royal banquet hall and swimming pool. It houses a world class Deck & Lounge for the niche clientele named as “NYX” to meet the needs of very special events serving world class drinks. The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Suresh Agarwalla, updated that very soon the group will also launch a world class hospital in Guwahati, the construction works of which is currently on in full fledge.

he Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Hyun Cho had a meeting with Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal at the Assam Secretariat on 29th June. During the course of the meeting, a spectrum of sectors such as economy, culture, tourism, tea, food processing etc. was discussed. The CM informed the Korean Ambassador about the highyielding tea gardens of the State, and how these could be utilized to raise the economy of the region. The CM further spoke to the Ambassador about the heritage of the State, which could be used as

a potential resource to accelerate the tourism sector of the state at a global level. During the meeting, Sonowal also laid emphasis upon the ‘youth exchange’ programmes between Assam and Republic of Korea, to keep a constant communication between the students and youth of Assam and Korea alike. Commenting upon the occasion, Hyun Cho shared his interests in Assam and invited Chief Minsiter Sonowal to Korea, which the Chief Minister agreed and acknowledged the Ambassador’s gesture of visiting the State.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Ward Watch

WARD NO

Concentrated Area: SC Road, Athgaon Ward number: 8 Sub-division: 8 Councillor: Sunita Bhilwaria Phone number: 9435706657 Area sabha member: Rajib Mitra Phone number: 97062548259

Adib zamali/G Plus

Problem: Poor road condition, water logging

KALYAN DEB

ith commercial establishments all around and surrounded by commercial hubs such as Fancy Bazar, Machkhowa, Fatasil and Bharalumukh, the Athgaon area houses many residences. SC Road, among several others in the area, has a majority of households apart from the dominating commercial establishments. The area has four lanes that are not just inter-connected but also connects nearby areas. Almost all the places of SC Road are on the path of high development with tremendous scope for the real estate growth. The locality is apportioned into four different lanes which lies adjacent to SC Road and are also interconnected with each other. However, the condition of By-lane 3, which is popularly known as Athgaon Pukhuripar, conflicts with the developed scenario of the area.

Woe of the residents Developed as the main lane appears to be the residents of SC Road By-lane 3 suffer due to the dilapidated condition of the road. Despite having commercial and several residential edifices and having a settlement that dates back to the British era the area fails to depict an immaculately developed society. From the very entrance of the area the condition of the road is such

Negligence by authorities, lack of cooperation by locals leaves Pukhuripar Road in disarray that any vehicle, be it heavy or slow moving, cannot surpass the speed of 5 kmph. The road is also not walkable for pedestrians. The condition worsens after the slightest rainfall for which the school going children are the biggest sufferers. “This lane is in such a dilapidated state that it feels as if one is walking through a large drain. The lane is in a perpetual state of despair with the same being waterlogged throughout the year,” a local resident expressed in dismay. Another local resident, echoing similar opinion stated, “The women and children face more problems while going to schools or the markets. The road gets muddy after a few minutes of rain and water gets logged in the lower parts of the roads remaining stagnant until it naturally

dries up. There is no other lane in the Athgaon area that is as substandard as this lane. While most of the families in this lane are quite well-off there is no initiative from them to improve the conditions. Meanwhile, the water logging is caused due to lack of proper outlets. While the drainage system of the main road is at a higher-level it keeps the rainwater from passing through and rather drains out the opposite way through Fatasil flowing into the Bharalu.” Locals also mentioned that the major problem is faced after the logged water clears off and the road gets carpeted with a thick layer of mud. The drainage system that was constructed on the right side of the road fails to contain the rain water and thus the water overflows onto

the road. It was also found that the entrances of several households were built in shape of humps over the road that has resulted in a lowlying bed between every entrance of the houses. Moreover, such way of construction also smothers a major part of the road and narrows it down. In addition to the problem of water-logging the inlet of the road is a bottleneck - the reason mentioned being encroachment by the locals. It was mentioned that a few years ago the road was narrowed down and this has caused great inconvenience to other residents of the locality. It was mentioned that until few years ago the entire stretch of the lane could be seen from the SC Road but since the construction of a few buildings near the inlet of the lane,

the road was narrowed down. People expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of initiatives by the GMC and the councillor of the area as despite several approaches no step has been taken towards addressing the problem. The area also houses a youth club known as Pukhuripar Youth Club that has taken small-scale initiatives on a few occasions in the area. The club, formed in 1949, initiates the well-known Durga Puja of the area and collect donations for the Puja. “Through the fund collected during the Puja we try to mend the road to make it at least walk-able. Apart from that we have approached the councillor several times but no solution could be reached. The area also suffered from a major scarcity of drinking water after which the councillor had installed a borewell in the area that meets the requirement of several households,” stated Narayan Mandal, member of Pukhuripar Youth Club. Meanwhile, it has been informed by the councillor Sunita Bhilwaria that the road has been sanctioned and the developmental work will be completed within this very year. The construction of the road will certainly provide a breath of relief to the residents of the area and will shield them from flood in future. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Courage of Knowledge

Art

Subhrajit Roy

ne of the much discussed and experimented episodes from the epic of Mahabharata is that of the saga of sacrifice of Ekalavya. Ekalavya was the gifted archer who cut off his thumb at the command of Guru Dronacharya, whom he considered as his icon and in front of whose idol he practiced the techniques of archery. Most of the contemporary directors on screen as well as on stage raised the issue of caste discrimination in their respective adaptations and enactments. The oppression of a tribal boy at the hands of an upper caste Guru and the political twist - the Guru playing his part to smoothen the path of progress of his beloved disciple Arjuna - are the regular issues we come across in every production. But this time, in the recently staged “Ekalavya... the journey begins...” by Purbaranga on 24th June, 2016 at the Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati, playwright Hillol Kumar Pathak and director Gunakar Dev Goswami, in a new line of experimentation, tried to bring some flavour of self introspection about what Ekalavya might have gone through after being rejected and deceived by his adopted guru. The story begins with the barking dog that Ekalavya silenced through his magical arrow. But despite being fully aware of his skills, the rejection by his adopted guru made Ekalavya depressed and truly lost. Roaming around the jungles, the protagonist found himself in a stage of dilemma where on the one

hand, his will to become the best archer in the world followed by the process of identity establishment amidst caste discrimination ignited him, while on the other, the guru’s demand for his thumb as the gurudakshina made him physically disabled. But no disability could dissuade him from learning the skills and he acquired all the skills and knowledge from nature itself. Though he worshipped his adopted Guru Dronacharya, Mother Nature was indeed his real guru.

Meanwhile he met a stranger – a woman - who followed him constantly in the jungle and seemed to keep him alert to every wrong step which he might have taken that would have him weakened him and made him deviate him from his goal. Effectively the woman succeeded in not allowing him to slide into depression. The encouragement given by her made Ekalavya reignite his courage for attaining knowledge and kept up his spirit of self-confidence. On asking about her identity,

the only reply which came wafting through was that she was a part of him; she was something within him that he could not identify. She said that one can learn and practice without a guru’s assistance and thus worshipping a guru would not make him any more skilful than he already was; rather the real devotion to that particular skill (which she referred to as Vidya) would enable him to fulfil his desires around that particular subject. Finally, on repeated enquiry about her identity,

she revealed that she was Ekalavya’s “sadhana” (his devotion and hard work). The presentation was a visual treat having many factors that deserved applause. First of all, the script had many strongly appealing facets which kept the audience gripped for an hour. Similarly, the set design by Biraj Chutia, which had a statue of Dronacharya at the centre of the stage, remained one of the prime focuses in the play. The properties were well supported by the light design of Prashanta Kumar Das. The music directed by the director himself and operated by Bikash Mushahary gave the play a divine touch. Costume design by Seujpriya suited well with the plot. The director himself played the role of Ekalavya and justified it pretty well. The other actors in the play were Pankhi Kashyap as Sadhana and Mukut Nath as the dog. Pankhi was at her best in glorifying the character. The chemistry between Ekalavya and his “Sadhana” enriched the play hugely. The exchange of thoughts between these two characters was highly commendable. Coming to the point of directorial touches, it is to be mentioned that he incorporated some elements of Sattriya style in the play which worked very well and were visible in the costume designs as well. Adding more to this, the director was successful in visualising the two characters very distinctively which were mere two embodiments, but had one identity.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

G Talk

Smart city challenges E D I T O R I A L

uwahati, along with 19 other cities, is set to become a smart city with Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launching the Mission from Pune on 25th June last. Without doubt, this is one step towards alleviating poverty. Rural to urban migration is always due to economic compulsions fostered by the hope of a better life in the cities. And invariably it has been proved to hold true. Much as I would seek to list the main challenges that Guwahati offers, I am inclined to believe that these are nothing short of Herculean!

1) Rapid Mass Transit System: Firstly I wonder who decided that those massive 12-wheeler buses that choke the streets of the city were the answer to a mass transit system. Sure, these buses have size but they have only succeeded in reducing the city’s commuting speed. While we are now hearing about the metro/mono rail solution, the factors of seismic viability, water-seepage etc. need to be seriously checked on while implementing the same. 2) Water Supply: Perhaps solutions are on its way but if seeing is believing, then we are yet a long way off. The JICA/GMDA project does not appear anywhere close to completion and is beset with news surrounding murky bribe deals. 3) Municipal activations: Look around and take note of the problems of an oversized street vending population operating in makeshift and non-registered vending zones making pedestrian commuting a hazardous activity, lack of a proper household garbage collection system, identification and implementation of free-wifi zones, car-parking facilities so as to

de-clutter the streets, and, among every other conceivable problem, an out-of-box thought procedure to improve the happiness quotient of the city. 4) Townships: Development of satellite townships to ease out the population-centric mess that is making the city burst at its seams. 5) Sensitizing the citizenry: All of the above would not mean much if the lackadaisical and apathetic attitude of the general citizenry of the city is not sensitized to the forthcoming changes. The current attitude of not being at all sensitive to the fellow citizen, motorist, to traffic rules, cleanliness & hygiene, and this penchant for littering, dirtying and spitting out well-chewed tamul and ghutka debris onto public walls as also urinating in the open, etc. have to be literally wiped out from the minds. This would understandably entail a huge exercise in PR by the government and structuring the same initially will be of prime importance. Implementation and tutoring the public will, of course, have to be a relentless and tenacious follow-up and suitable penalties would need to be worked out. This PR activity needs to start immediately to prepare the Guwahatian for his impending tryst. All things considered, a smart city in the true sense of the term is something that we all can look forward to over the next five years but we Guwahatians would indeed have to teach ourselves in knowing how to live in one.

swapnil bharali EXECUTIVE Editor

The no-good rat race

SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

atural inquisitiveness is what separates a child from an adult. Part of growing up is the urge to understand and ask questions. When a student is forced to opt for an easy way out, it means that there is something wrong in the way the student is being taught and it is stopping a child’s natural inquisitiveness. If the pursuit is for marks and not knowledge, there is a need to revaluate and reassess the things that could be possibly wrong. Ruby Rai, the ‘failed’ topper of Bihar is the point of focus here. With the current education system in place I’m forced to state that I live in a country where degrees matter more than what is being taught, connections matter more than merit and numbers matter more than how the person can be an asset to society. The Bihar topper has now been sent to jail which is altogether another failure of the system as Ruby Rai is a minor and needed to be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act which would have meant that she would’ve been sent to a remand home instead of prison. Going to a prison is a scar that will not heal. My question here is, how was a

student promoted to class 12 if she thought Political Science is a subject related to cooking and how does writing ‘Tulsidas ji pranam’ qualify as an essay? In fact, it is the teacher and the school authorities who need to be questioned instead of the student. Of course, the pressure thrust on students to excel in exams is bound to crack them and they’d resort to everything possible to clear the hurdle, including cheating or resorting to unfair means. Society is responsible for exerting undue pressure on children to pass and excel in exams. An academic test is one of life’s many hurdles and personally, it is not even the most important one. There are many more tests in life; far more daunting, and failing an exam is not the end of the world. The HRD ministry should also take a closer look at how the syllabus can be possibly revised so that examinations do not lead to fraudulent activities or suicide which is also associated to examination pressure. It is not being about a straightA student because in life, if you don’t have your wits about yourself, no amount of knowledge can get you out of a sticky situation.

BREXIT – and a story called Assam from 30 years back

he year was 1985. The month was August. A state called Assam nestled in somewhat subdued turbulence in the northeast of the Indian sub-continent suddenly came into international limelight as a 6 year long student movement led to the formation of a new government that catapulted student leaders onto ministerial berths almost overnight. On hindsight, had there been an article in the Indian Constitution allowing a state to hold a referendum and the people of Assam were given a choice, the masses probably would have chosen to go for one and taken control of their future instead of depending on a piece of paper that has come to be known as the ‘historic’ Assam Accord, meaning nothing to anybody except being referred to by political leaders, time and again, to drive home a point or two. The year is 2016. The month is June. At times when people are talking about globalization, shrinking of the world, single market access, economic superpowers, political stability, reducing inflation, increasing the GDP, creating more jobs, lowering property prices, the people of an erstwhile empire where “the sun never set” decided to break away from 43 years of economic co-operation with 27 other countries and head into an era of uncertainty and political instability with economic unrest looming ahead. So they say. We will discuss the impact but before we go into that lets try to understand that one reason which prompted 1.74 crore voters from the ‘Leave’ camp in the United Kingdom to decide that they are better off not being a part of the European Union. They won by a difference of almost 12 lakh and more votes. Historically, protecting one’s borders have been the reason for many a war. ‘Illegal Immigration’ was the main issue for Assam. ‘Legal but Uncontrolled Immigration’ was one of the main issues for the ‘Leave’ camp. But ‘immigration’ is the common ground between the summers of 1985 and 2016. Being a part of EU, UK has to abide by certain EU administered policies. Free movement of EU citizens to other EU countries with the purpose of settlement and/or seeking jobs was one of those. And this is probably one of the main reasons leading into Brexit. A few eastern European countries became a part of the EU during the 1990s and early 2000s. A few more like Turkey, Macedonia, Monte Negro, Serbia and Albania are bidding to enter. Bosnia and Kosovo are also in the queue. People from the current EU countries have been travelling to the UK with

the hope of better prospects. There have been accusations that they have been (mis)-utilising the UK Benefit system. The impact was palpable. The impact was showing. As per a research, at the current rate, UK population would increase by 80 lakhs in 15 years and 75% of this is because of projected im-

Rrituraj Sharma

migration, both direct and indirect. This meant that there will be immense pressure on the housing system, on the public transportation system, the free health services provided by the National Health Services and the likes. And the ‘Leave’ camp was not prepared to let that happen, not at the cost of their own people getting deprived of these social privileges. There was yet another reason that was less spoken about but yet was a reality known to all – that of movement of refugees directly out of the Syrian war. The EU countries have allowed movement of tens of thousands of refugees; while David Cameron has managed a deal as to how many of them UK would accept. But the British population was seemingly not comfortable with what might change in the future. To add to this, the recent unprecedented terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels seems to have established an indirect connect of refugee movement to terrorism which has also intruded into the minds of the voters in general. On the contrary, what did the ‘Remain’ camp want? They were keen to have the best of both worlds – that of having access to a single market yet not adopt the Euro or the Schengen and be out of the border areas. They didn’t want an unstable economy in the short term, feared the loss of jobs and did not want increase in prices of daily used household commodities in the event of a Brexit. Fair enough, in today’s world, when something is working and working good, why tamper with it and create problems that can lead to uncertainty? But reality dawns. And eventually a majority of UK voters have decided to exit the EU. Yes, the markets have

fallen sharply, the international community has expressed shock, the Pound has weakened and the EU member countries have expressed their displeasure on the outcome to an extent that they have insisted that UK initiates the separation process immediately without any further ado. While Brexit will surely go down in history as one of the boldest mandates given by any country; it’s bold because UK seems to have told the EU: enough of your policies, we want to take control of ourselves and our borders now. We want to have controlled immigration and we want to ensure that our social welfare systems are not stressed out. Above all, we want to create laws that will benefit us and our citizens. A team of eight independent, leading economists have also cited that barring the short term, economic forecasts in the long term shows output growth by 2% and competitiveness rises by 5%. UK, who has been a net contributor to the EU budget, can also divert these funds effectively elsewhere. Being an active ‘Remain’ campaigner, Prime Minister David Cameron had to step down from his office post the Brexit vote. Now the new incumbent along with cabinet of ministers has the ‘not so enviable’ but very key tasks of adopting the right policies that will enable the country to come back on track with regard to economic growth. From an Indian perspective, going forward, since UK has now put a stop to uncontrolled immigration, the work permit rules leading to controlled need-based immigration may get revived. If and when done, this will benefit not only the IT professionals from India but also people from across industries to come and work in the UK. Being an UK resident, I have already exercised my vote in the referendum. But as an Assamese to the core, my mind once again flutters back to that summer of 1985 - that victorious summer of 1985 after which everything seemed to come to a grinding halt. But now with a new and young but very experienced team of ministers and MLAs taking charge out there, I can only hope - just as the ‘Remain’ camp in UK is hoping for themselves - that the government will take control of the reins, implement their promises and in the process bring back political stability and economic growth. JoiAaiAxom. (Rrituraj Sharma is an IT consultant by profession and works for Infosys Consulting. He is based out of London and is the resident reporter for the Assamese Channel Pratidin Time. He can be reached at rrituraj@gmail.com )

Interactive

t is surprising and alarming that large quantities of drugs and illegal substances are being seized by the Railway Protection Force personnel every alternate day. Drugs are such a menace to society it raies the question as to why aren’t more strict enforcement ideas being put in place? And if so much is being seized isn’t it possible that a lot of it gets missed by the personnel too? Also if the railway route can be so porous for drugs, what about the surface route? Any idea what is happening there?

A citizen via email

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

In Focus

With the Prime Minister formally launching the Smart City Mission on 25th June, what suggestions can the citizens offer to make Guwahati smart in the true sense?

Meet

Sanjukta Dutta Designer

tartup Assam in association with Institution of Engineers (India), had organized a meeting on Smart city and Smart village in January ‘16 and we have drafted total solution for the Smart city in Guwahati. The problems of the city are best known by the citizens of Guwahati. For instance, starting with waste management, there should be a proper plan for Guwahati city. People in the administration who are already loaded with the city’s responsibility should take some feedback from local experts who can offer guidance on energy, waste management, Smart city management. For a smart city, we should make the people smart to solve the problems. Social aspects of the people need to be understood and should provide a solution to the problem. Let’s take this seriously if we are thinking of living in a smart city and not just an event to launch.

Pankaj Gogoi

or smart city agenda, top priority should be given to improve and construct new drainage systems and sort out the most flood affected areas in Guwahati. Also for the surrounding hilly areas, proper passage way for rain water must be constructed. After that other major steps can be taken anytime for making Guwahati a smart city.

Bugs Banik

eed to make; 1. Deeper drains, both side of the road. 2. Dividers should be in between of roads, with less U turns. 3. No house should be constructed above road level. 4. Traffic signal made where needed and should be followed strictly. If not, fine should be imposed or DL should be cancelled. 5. Camera at traffic signal with 100% monitoring. 6. No heavyweight vehicle movement in workings hours. Should be only allowed from 22:00 Hrs to 07:00 Hrs. This is my suggestion with 100% no issue traffic jam + water logging.

Bhaskar Jyoti Kalita

an all plastics carry bags, cups, thermocol plates, pouches. Impose heavy fines. Strict traffic rules, remove all roadside and footpath encroachments by the small pan shops and other eateries. Ban spitting in public places, offices. Develop efficient parking and drainage systems.

Ajit Thakur

) Proper and efficient regulation of city municipal corporation; these people are too lazy. 2) The most difficult one - the people, i.e., we ourselves need to change to make our city better 3) Development of village; local MLA should give regular reports to municipal and respective government departments. 4) Budget should be increased, should be transparent and provided by central govt for development.

Pallabmani Das

he roads and intersection designs need to be changed. Diamond intersections at important points would ease out traffic. Water supply and sewage carriage need to be completed all over the city, no more ‘we’ll dig our own pump’ attitudes.

Kaustav Phukan

ow about roads? And the use of the space. The parking of the cars are increasing and so less space to drive the cars which is why the road is there! Proper drainage system and not those that are just there for face value, clogging every other day it rains by garbage. Actually, it’s all our fault. The city can be developed from all the sides but wouldn’t sustain unless we learn to take care of it.

Upasana Kashyap

think they should first measure the level of different places and instead of making larger drains in the higher level region, they should make proper drainage in the comparatively lower level region, as the water settles down in the lower level from the upper level region.

Paramjeet Rana Singh

ducate all Guwahati citizens with civic sense not to throw garbage in the drains. At least it will help a bit to reduce water logging.

Ranjit Timung

journey that began as a class I gazetted officer of the Government of Assam, Sanjukta Dutta showed exemplary courage to leave the job and pursue her inner passion of presenting the ‘Mekhela Chador’ in a more evolved manner. On several occasions her work has left her audience and customers mesmerized. Her stylish, fashionable and exquisite range of customized `Mekhela Chadors’ has not just made her a rage and a most sought after designer in eastern India, but is also rapidly capturing the imagination of discerning clients in various corners of the country and a few countries in the world. Her work has also been added to the wardrobe of the royal family of Britain. Recently the Anagabastra, designed by Sanjukta Dutta where she used Sutradhar motif for Prince William and Teagarden and Bihu motif for Princess Kate, was presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who were on a visit to the State. Born in Nagaon to late Gopal Chandra Dutta who was a director in the agriculture department and her mother who was a teacher, Sanjukta did her early education from Nagaon and went on to pursue her graduation in BE from Assam Engineering College. Soon after completing her education she started working as an Assistant Engineer in the PWD department. After ten years of a comfortable job in the Assam Government she decided to quit and went on to pursue her passion. “It was indeed a tough decision to quit a Grade I gazetted officer’s post but to reach my goal it was not possible to concentrate on designs while working in a 10 to 5 government job,” said Sanjukta adding, “It is my love for Mekhela Chador that ignited the desire in me to become a designer. Moreover, it upset me that Kanchipuram silk is famous all over the world whereas Assam is so rich in motifs n silk but people hardly know about this. That is why I wanted to do something to globalize Mekhela Chador.

After certain analysis I realized that our Mekhela Chador has the same pattern and same style that is used over and over again which makes it monotonous. So I decided to add some flavour to it,” said Sanjukta in a conversation with G Plus. It was on 6th January 2012 when her brand was launched at Sohum Shoppe and her collection was accepted with such zest that on the very first day the entire stock was sold out. It worked as a boost to her confidence and Sanjukta continued experimenting with her designs. Her work turned out to be a roaring success within a short span of a year and that is when she decided to start her own boutique. By this time, Sanjukta’s name had already spread far and wide and she began to receive way too many orders than she could deliver. Be it in Assam Association events in Calgary, USA, Australia, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Delhi and the like, Sanjukta’s fame has today spread across various parts of the world with even foreigners coming and ordering custom-made Mekhela Chadors. To this day she is approached to showcase her Mekhela Chadors at national level platforms such as Mysore Fashion Week and India Beach Fashion Week (where Zarine Khan was her show stopper the last time). Critics like Sathya Saran, former editor-in-chief of Femina, Meher Castelino, former Miss India, Brinda Gill from Apparel and Ethel De Costa of Rediff.com have all covered Sanjukta in their respective publications and sites. She is even approached by non-Assamese brides who wish to wear Mekhela Chadors for their weddings. Within a very short span of time, Sanjukta has developed a global reputation and standing as a designer par excellence. The creativity which flows in her mind and manifests in her creations has carved a niche in the hearts and minds of her clientele which is expected to only increase manifold in the years to come.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Lifestyle

VAASTU SHASTRA

Android N

comes to town

oogle officially announced that the new OS will be named ‘Android Nougat’ (pronounced: ‘nu:ga:). Keeping up with the tradition of naming their OS after sweets and desserts, Nougat is the successor to Android Marshmallow. Interestingly, Nougat is a name reportedly picked up after a lot of discussion and engagement with fans. There were Indians who filed petitions and made demonstrations at Google HQ and suggested Nankatai or Neyappam (probably something to do with Indians not being left out). Leaving names aside, a new OS should mean a whole range of features and improvements. Rightly so, some of the enhancements that Android N will bring with it are: • Split-screen multitasking: Screen can show two different apps simultaneously. It will also be possible that you can fiddle with the sizes of the panels. • Notifications: Direct reply

from Notifications and more unique interaction ideas. • Project Svelte – reducing RAM usage: Project Svelte aims to reduce RAM usage and is focused on optimizing background apps. • Quick Settings: Google has expanded the scope of Quick Settings and added more room for additional Quick Settings tiles that can be accessed from the edge of the screens. • Android TV: Android N will add the ability to record and playback content from Android TV • Android for Work: Android for Work can help set up work and personal profiles. Users can turn off Work mode, which will shut down the work profile and related activities. These are of course the very basic features that will be implemented. It should be interesting to see how many new features will be added on and the audience response to the new Android N. Sidharth Bedi Varma

EFFECT OF COLOURS IN VAASTU

olours have always played a very important role in Vaastu. It is necessary to use colours properly in the house. In India, white is associated with mourning and that is why people wear white during funerals and other related rituals. But in the west, black is the colour of mourning and we can see people dressed in black during mournings. White is the mixture of all the colours. We can see this colour portray mourning at the magnificent Taj Mahal. Most of the temples and religious buildings are made of white marble or white colour. So it is not desirable to have white colour in the entire house.

Some of the rooms should have different colours. If a house has been painted white all over, then there should be shades of other colours in curtains, carpets, sofa, bedcovers, pictures and almirahs to bring in the contrast. Violet is a spiritual colour and it is good for meditation and contemplation. It can be used in the prayer room. Blue is a soothing colour and it also symbolises water. It represents calmness, tranquillity and serenity as well. It has a pain-relieving effect. It should not be used in the south. Red is the opposite colour of blue. It is potent and has a heating effect. Red is a colour of passion and

shirts wait upon you. I asked him how many kilos they sell in a day. Kilos? A look of incredulity swept his face and I squirmed in my seat. They did ‘quintals’ selling 30 lakh rupees of the stuff a day!

Tastes of Hyderabad

hen work brings you to the city of the Charminar, you are happy but if it also happens to be the Holy month of Ramzan, you feel blessed twice. You are a foodie and this city has Cuisines of the Riyasats to offer! If we know Hyderabad for its Biryani only, then we have missed their obsession with ‘Haleem.’ Hyderabadi Haleem is a stew dish of 5 varieties of lentils, pounded meat and wheat all cooked together to a homogeneous mix over many hours with generous amounts of ghee and traditional spices. Originally an Arabic dish introduced to the city

during the rule of Nizams, it has become so popular that it has received GIS (Geographical Indication Status). It is particularly consumed during Iftar as it provides instant energy. So, I traipsed and picked my way through the Old City with the Charminar standing tall and dignified, sentinel to all that is happening around. The slight drizzle cannot dampen your spirit, when in some great foodie company. I already had a taste of ‘Haleem’ as soon as I

landed. I was smitten by it. They say, you have not tasted and eaten real food unless you eat in the food lanes, amongst the people. We headed to ‘Pista House’, the legendary eatery, keeper of Hyderabadi Haleem. So many awards have been given to them that they probably require a separate building to house their trophies. The buzz gets louder and clearer as we get closer to ‘Pista House.’ The building itself is decorated in neon lights, bejewelled and bedecked - beckoning you. Waiters dressed in Pista green

The Biryani itself is legendary. The ‘Garam Masala’ has 13 different spices. They use ‘Pathak ka Phool,’ which imparts a unique flavour and aroma. The meat marinated overnight in spices and then ‘Dum Cooked’ along with elegant grains of basmati rice makes it simply delicious. Chefs cook in copper vessels for long hours to produce the perfect Biryani. The accompanying ‘Mirch Ka Salan’ is unique to Hyderabad. But there are many other dishes one must eat here. I discovered an amazing fish item called Nellore Chapala Pulusu - fish in a spicy tomato and tamarind curry which comes with plain rice pancakes or with steamed rice. And of course, the plethora of kababs and gosht and salans. You can’t leave Hyderabad without eating at Shah Goush or at Paradise Biryani.

desire and it brings elegance. Red can be used in the south. In India, red is associated with celebrations and auspicious events. The brides wear red clothes in marriages and adorn a red bindi or tilak on the forehead. Traditionally, a red bindi was worn only by married ladies but now it is worn by unmarried ladies also for the sake of style. Red clothes are easily noticeable. Couples looking for that extra zing in their relationship should use a bit of red in their rooms and dresses. Green is the colour of nature. It signifies harmony, harvest and fertility. Green has disinfecting and dispelling effects. In India, married women traditionally wore green bangles and broke them when the husband died. Green colour should be used in the rooms at east and north. Orange or saffron is associated with holiness and purity. It has an expelling effect. Saffron denotes strength as in our national tricolour flag. When combined with yellow, orange has a bonding effect. Yellow colour represents knowledge and it stimulates the brain. It can promote appetite and excitement. It is recommended for studies and libraries. A bedroom in the southeast should have light yellow colour. A combination of red, orange and yellow increases potency of a place and children are very fond of these colours. So these should be used in restaurants and amusement parks.

Hemanta Kumar Sarmah Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist

The traditional desserts are Shahi Tukra or double ka meetha, deep fried bread slices, topped with khoya and badam pista. The famed Karachi Bakery is another hallmark of Hyderabad. Leaving the city without a box of their biscuits is sacrilegious! There is so much food to taste and savour. ‘Chutneys’ serves pure vegetarian fare of Dosas, Idlis, South Indian thalis with dollops of ghee and butter and an array of chutney and podi powders. Andhra cuisine is tangy, fiery and spicy - bold flavours at play. The use of sour helps to balance the fiery heat of the chillies. It is lip-smacking delicious. In the month of Ramadan, there is so much celebration of food, it is impossible not to get caught in the passion. Food indeed brings people together and connects all. Kashmiri Nath Foodie, owner at XOXO cupcakes, food blogger, recipe developer and expert on Assamese cuisine

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Lifestyle

Power of

HABITS W

hat is it about exceptionally successful individuals that make them accomplish incredible feats? It’s their habits; their daily routine. Habits are the basis of your success - or maybe your downfall. Habit is something you do regularly without consciously thinking much about it. It is an automatic mental and behavioral activity. Habits make it possible for you to do things without expending exorbitant mental effort. They make everyday life possible - for good or bad. Every successful individual claims that it is their habits that changed their lives, made them super successful and super wealthy. Here are a few common habits of highly successful individuals. 1. Early risers: Successful people wake up early. The earlier they begin

A better

the day, the more time they’ll have to get things accomplished. Because of this, they also get a good night’s sleep. 2. Exercise regularly: Exercise certainly is a part of the day-today regimen of successful individuals. It’ll make you feel good about yourself, and keep the body healthy, the mind alert and teach you discipline. 3. Work Life Balance: Successful individuals do not have work on their agenda all of the time. They set apart time for their family and themselves. Consider it a way of recharging your batteries. 4. Scheduling your days: Successful individuals realize that anything that gets scheduled gets done. They accomplish more than anyone because their entire day is planned. Leaders lead a proactive day. Victims, on the other hand, lead a reactive day. 5. Invest in yourself: Double the investment in yourself to triple your success. Successful people make time to read, learn and stay

LIFE

ahead of their competitors. 6. Eat healthy: You are what you eat. Successful individuals are very careful about what they eat and when they eat it. They prefer high protein nutritious food over tasty food. They prefer light food over junk food. Your body is your temple; so don’t allow just about anything enter it. 7. Focus: Successful individuals practice focus. They don’t allow anything or anyone around distract them. Be it the smartphone, television or something to gossip about. They don’t lose focus until the work gets done. These are just a few of the great habits that are common in each and every person who has made it large in life. Be it the prime minister, the RBI governor, chairmen and CEOs, celebrities or any other highly successful individual, they all share the same habits. So if you have been planning to change the way you lead your life and wondering where to start, start with changing your habits.

Madhur Jayne A practicing chartered accountant and a certified nutritionist. He is the cofounder of a coaching centre for chartered accountancy and commerce students. He is a life coach and trains people on subjects like time, health, lifestyle and people management. Visit www.madhurjayne.com for more details.

An upgraded Guwahati is an updated Guwahati

n an age, where everything is going digital, one should not wait for the next morning to get updated on what is happening around. But let’s not get deterred, an app is always more than a shelter from the storm.

The G Plus App

The G Plus app, weighing as light as 5.1 MB, is your ‘carry-Guwahati-in-your-hands’ asset. The app is designed to keep the people of the city informed with what’s happening in their city. From daily news to events for the weekend, and restaurants where you can treat your loved ones, the app has everything for you.

What makes the G Plus app a must have?

You know nothing about your city if you do not have the G Plus app. What makes an app much more feasible than newspaper is that it is not restricted by space limit. And the G Plus app is your 24X7 update provider.

City news – The city news column of the app is designed to cater to the people with every piece of news of the city. Ranging from education to political, the app brings it all to the people. Features – The ‘features’ column of the app is basically a “people’s story” place. From celebrities, to political figures, artists, and lesser known people of the city,

the column brings to you people who will interest you. Citypedia – Need an ambulance service? Check in the citypedia section of the app. Want to report to the cops about the theft incident next door? You know where to reach the right team. The citypedia column has all the numbers that you might need when the rest of your contacts seem not all that useful. Events – Nobody likes a dull weekend. Hence, the updated list of events in the G Plus app. You now know where to drop by with your partner and where to switch on with your buddies. Movies – Checking movies and theatre details in the newspaper and website is so 2005. Get the G Plus app, know where Salman Khan is making the noise, or the Sci-fi movie is calling the geeks. Why become the one with the question when you can be the one with the answer? Deals – Who doesn’t like it if good things come for small prices? Imagine you get a 16 GB pen drive at Rs. 250, because you have the G Plus app, and you did not miss the deal. Food – Are you the one who swears by the love for momo? Or are you the one who enters the Chinese chains for every meal outside? No matter what your love for food is, we have the most elaborate list of eateries within the city. Next time you dine outside, check for the list in the app. You never know which place becomes your new favourite.

How to get the app?

The G Plus app is available in the Google Play Store and can be downloaded in Android mobiles from http:// bit.ly/1MFpDSl Get the app now! Get amazed on how much you are yet to know your own city. Why stay away, when the city itself has come so close to you?

QUALITY & DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS Different types of protein quality:

To obtain supplemental dietary protein, exercising individuals often ingest protein powders. Powdered protein is convenient and, depending on the product, can be cost-efficient as well. Common sources of protein include milk, whey, casein, egg, and soy-based powders. Different protein sources and purification methods may affect the bioavailability (rate of absorption) of amino acids. The amino acid (building blocks of protein) rate of absorption of a protein source is the best, as believed by sports nutritionists, as the amount and variety of amino acids are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream after a protein is ingested. Furthermore, amino acid bioavailability may also be reflected by the difference between the nitrogen content from a protein source that is ingested versus the nitrogen content that is basically excreted after digestion. Consideration of the absorption of amino acids into the blood, as well as their delivery to the target tissue(s), is of greatest importance when planning a regimen of pre and post-exercise protein ingestion. A protein that provides an adequate circulating pool of amino acids including all the essential amino acids before and after exercise is readily taken up by skeletal muscles to optimize nitrogen balance and maximize muscle protein synthesis.

Methods of measuring protein quality:

The quality of a protein source has previously been determined by the somewhat outdated protein efficiency ratio (PER), and the more precise protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). The former method was used to evaluate the quality of a protein source by quantifying the amount of body mass when fed a test protein. The latter method was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 1991) as a more appropriate scoring method which utilized the amino acid composition of a test protein relative to a reference amino acid pattern, which was then corrected for differences in protein digestibility. The U.S. Dairy Export Council’s Reference Manual for U.S. Whey and Lactose Products (2003) indicates that milkderived whey protein isolate presents the highest PDCAAS out of all of the common protein sources due to its high content of essential and branched chain amino acids. Milk-derived casein, egg white powder, and soy protein isolate are also classified as high quality protein sources with all of them scoring a value of unity (1.00) on the PDCAAS scale. In contrast, lentils score a value of 0.52 while

wheat gluten scores a meagre 0.25.

Different types of protein supplements available:

Commercially, the two most popular types of proteins in supplemental form are whey and casein. Recent investigations have detailed the serum amino acid responses to ingesting different protein types. The differences in the digestibility and absorption of these protein types may indicate that the ingestion of “slow” (casein) and “fast” (whey) proteins differentially mediate whole body protein metabolism due to their digestive properties. Other studies have shown similar differences in the peak plasma levels of amino acids following ingestion of whey and casein fractions (i.e., whey fractions peaking earlier than casein fractions). Applied exercise science research has also demonstrated the differential effects that ingesting different proteins exerts on postprandial blood amino acid responses and muscle protein synthesis after exercise. The data are equivocal relative to which type of protein increases net protein status (breakdown minus synthesis) to a greater extent after exercise. Some research has demonstrated that despite different patterns of blood amino acid responses, muscle protein net balance was similar in those ingesting casein or whey. However, additional research has indicated that whey protein induced protein gain to a greater extent than casein. In contrast, several other studies have shown that casein increased protein deposition at levels greater than whey proteins.

Recommendations:

The recommendation of the International Society of Sport Nutrition (ISSN) which is the world’s leader in providing science-based sports nutrition and supplement information suggests that individuals engaging in exercise attempt to obtain their protein requirements through whole foods. When supplements are ingested, ISSN also recommends that the protein contain both whey and casein components due to their high protein digestibility corrected amino acid score and ability to increase muscle protein accretion. (Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition20074:8 DOI: 10.1186/15502783-4-8, Campbell et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2007) BIBHU MONI SINGHA,

Gym Manager Training & Nutrition Head, SFL Fitness Gym & MMA For further Workout Programs & Diet follow me on Facebook or log on to my website – www.bibhuuniversalfitness. com. You can also watch my videos on my YouTube channel.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Reviews Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Ashutosh Rana, Sanjay Suri Director: Jitendra Tiwari, P. Singh

horgul revolves around, how every now and then, Indian politicians take refuge of the Hindu-Muslim rivalry for their vote-banks. In this story, an innocent friendship between a Hindu boy, Raghu (Aniruddh Dave) and a Muslim girl Zainab (Suha Gezen) becomes fuel for the local politicians to raise an issue. It shows how politicians like Ranjit Om (Jimmy Shergill) and Alam Khan (Narendra Jha) infiltrate people’s minds with jingoistic thoughts, just to get support in elections and how their speeches affect the common yet influential lives of Salim (Hiten Tejwani) and his brother played by Eijaz Khan. Also, how a handful of political figures such as Chaudhary (Ashutosh Rana) who believe in a humanitarian way are not tolerated well in society. When the trailer of Shorgul was released, it seemed to be a highly vocal social drama, dealing with burning issues in UP such as

vie Mo view Re

problem rather than a one sided love affair. The film’s characters sure find inspiration from real-life politicians but it is only their names that sound familiar, such as Alam Khan’s character to Azam Khan and also Chief Minister Mithilesh seems to based on Akhilesh Yadav. Of course, it hardly makes any impact to the film thanks to the flat nature of this script. Jimmy Shergill as Ranjit Om is impressive enough. He puts life into a role that seems to be popular in every Prakash Jha film. It is of course sad that his acting talents are a complete waste for what the film is. Ashutosh Rana is known to be a brilliant actor. He puts up a great act as Chaudhary but unfortunately, the makers do not want you to see him beyond his ‘Moustache’ that is jarringly irritating. TV actors Hiten Tejwani, Eijaz Khan and Aniruddh Dave churn out average performances.

beef ban and suppression of minorities. Unfortunately, the film gets stripped down to becoming just another drama with botched up plot that is confused between becoming hard-hitting and commercial. Dialogues of Shorgul seem to have been inspired from all possible 80s films and are dramatic enough to give you a bad headache. Majority of the dialogues are jingoistic and the mention of bigger issues such as Kashmir, Pakistan are hurled without any context every now and then. The writing is extremely careless and it is a shame that such provocative dialogues against communities are being used for mere drama quotient in a film. The inclusion of a love story is obviously necessary for almost every Bollywood film and so why would Shorgul not have it. It would have been a smart decision had the makers stuck to a Hindu-Muslim, girl-boy friendship becoming a

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Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson Director: David Yates

rom the author of ‘John Carter’! is a tagline that no studio would use to promote a movie, but “The Legend of Tarzan” — another dive into the pulpy output of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs — feels like another perfunctory attempt to breathe new life into a familiar property. There’s never a moment in this new film that comes off like anyone involved was driven or aching to put a new spin on Tarzan; instead, it’s a reflection of public awareness of the character, whose name gets a little registered trademark symbol in the opening and closing credits. If marketing-based decisions didn’t sometimes lead to entertaining movies, Hollywood would be a ghost town, but here we have talented people on both sides of the camera still creating

a movie that’s painfully rote. Screenwriters Adam Cozad (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”) and Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow”) follow the formula of the recent “Alice in Wonderland” movies, setting the story after the action we know from the books while also indulging in enough flashbacks to make half of the film an origin story. Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) has returned to England to assume his title of the fifth earl of Greystoke, but U.S. government agent George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson) compels him to travel to Africa on the invitation of the king of Belgium, who has sunk vast amounts of money into exploiting the resources of the Congo. Like “John Carter” and “The Lone Ranger” before it, this movie packs

in so much generic derring-do that there’s little time to focus on what made the character so memorable in the first place. And on the heels of this year’s “Jungle Book” remake, the wild-animal CGI falls a little short as well. (Let’s not even dig into the film’s racial undertones or white-savior story, much less the suggestion that the only way to stop a bad colonizer is with a good colonizer.) “The Legend of Tarzan” isn’t as singularly joyless as many of this summer’s other current offerings, but it also feels distinctly like a missed opportunity. Even when Skarsgård offers up the character’s famous jungle cry, it sounds more mournful than enthusiastic, and that sentiment seeps into the entire enterprise.

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Artist:

Everyone Has A Story

The Felice Brothers

s some sage once said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and the Felice Brothers clearly seem to have taken that advice to heart. The group has always owed a serious creative debt to the Band, and just as the 2014 album Favorite Waitress was especially beholden to the Band’s Basement Tapes recordings with Bob Dylan, 2016’s Life in the Dark sounds like a thematically similar sequel. Some of the nine tunes on Life in the Dark have a somber, 3 A.M. quality about them, especially “Sell the House” and the title tune, but even at their most introspective, the performances boast a spontaneous, rough-hewn ap-

proach that keeps the material from getting too heavy. And when the Felice Brothers swing into goofy, good-times numbers like “Plunder” and “Sally,” the effect suggests a bunch of urban campers having an acoustic jam around the fire, with plenty of bourbon and smoke to go around. Life in the Dark finds the Felice Brothers playing to their strengths and doing what feels comfortable for them, but it doesn’t seem as if the Brothers are pushing themselves especially hard or taking any chances. There’s always been something special about the Felice Brothers’ touch as per-

u Yo LD TEN SHOU LIS

formers, but Life in the Dark makes it seem as if the magic has faded a bit. The group is no less skillful than before, but it’s harder to hear anything here that sounds especially inspired, and this doesn’t clear out any new ground for the Felice Brothers. Given how good the Felices are at what they do, fans are still likely to enjoy Life in the Dark’s rambling take on American roots music, but casual observers might find their minds wandering by the time the album makes it into its final innings.

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who keeps secrets of her own. Everyone has their own story, but what happens when these four lives are woven together? Pull up a chair in Kafe Kabir and watch them explore friendship and love, writing their own pages of life from the cosy café to the ends of the world.

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G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Entertainment

‘Pain’ a major draw in Bangalore Shorts Film Festival

n our society, human trafficking has become a serious issue with a lot of women suffering every day. Women have been kidnapped and harassed both physically and mentally and finally the victims either lose their mental stability or commit suicide. Nobody realizes how much pain a victim along with her family might have endured and due to lack of evidence as also with strong politi-

he Assamese music industry is flooded with singing talents and Daohang Mochahari is one among them. Daohang, son of late Patras Mochahari and Banashree Mochahari, belongs to Harisinga, Udalguri. He was deeply influenced by music and dance since the age of 5. He started his vocal training in Indian Classical Music at the age of 8 and learnt music at various places in Assam. Daohang started recording professionally in music studios from the year 2010 and at the age of 14 his first Bodo audio album titled ‘Nwng Angni Simangao’ which means ‘You’re in my dream’ was released. In 2011, he released five music videos with five songs from the album ‘Nwng Angni Simangao’ which was highly appreciated by the music lovers. In the same year, he released his second Bodo audio album titled ‘Anjaali’ which means ‘Beloved’ whereas in 2012, the music video of the album ‘Anjaali’ got released and it turned out to be a massive hit among the Bodo people. In the same year, he also released a Bodo gospel audio album named ‘That’s How Heaven’s Gonna Be.’ In 2013, he released two patriotic Bodo singles named ‘Swdwmsri’ and ‘Jwng Bodo Bimani Fisafwr’ and an English single titled ‘Your Love Protects Me’ which were also highly praised by the music lovers. In 2014 Daohang released three Bodo audio songs titled ‘Bese Somaina’, ‘Jiuni Raani’ and ‘Bwi Lwithwmaya’ where in ‘Ji-

cal connections, the culprits are set free by the judiciary. Focusing on this strong issue, a short film was able to get ‘Special Festival Mention’ award in the 5th Bangalore Shorts Film Festival – 2016. The film has been written, produced and directed by one of the most promising actors and directors of Assam, Naba Kumar Das. His previous short film ‘Spotless’ was also highly appreciated by the audienc-

es and was praised in various national and international film festivals. The story of the film ‘Pain’ revolves around a boy named Rajiv Kashyap whose sister was a victim of human trafficking in Assam. She was found after one year and even though she was rescued she had almost lost her mental stability. One day she committed suicide and the accused was set free by the courts due to lack of evidence and his political clout. To avenge this, Rajiv kidnaps the accused MLA and his daughter and molests the daughter in front of the MLA to make him feel the pain of being a victim. Finally what happens to Rajiv is the main theme of ‘Pain.’ The key roles in the film have been essayed by Naba Kumar Das, Lonishree Das, Deepak Kumar Roy, Parn Krishna Mahanta, Gitashree, Pinaz, Jagdish, Dayal, Ranjit, Mridul and Master Mansoom. The music has been directed by Bikash, song composed and sung by Bivhu Mahanta while the background music has been scored by Anindya Kashyap. The cinematography has been done by Bipul Das. The film’s co-producer is Kulen Chandra Das; associate director is Anindya Kashyap and makeup is by Biswa. According to the director, the main reason behind making this film is to make people understand that women are also an important part of this society and people are able to realize their pain and accord the respect that they deserve.

Promising singer

Daohang Mochahari’s gaining popularity

uni Raani’ and ‘Bwi Lwithwmaya’ he had lent his voice with the famous Bodo female singer, Sulekha Basumatary. In the same year, he also released his first Assamese single named ‘Tumar Misikiya Hahi’ which caught the attention of the music lovers. In 2015, Daohang travelled to Mumbai where he successfully completed a diploma in Audio Engineering from ‘Mumbai Music Institute.’ In the same year, he released his first Hindi music video titled ‘Tum Se Hi’ and in the current year he released his second Hindi music video titled ‘Mat Jaana’ and also another English

music video titled ‘Can You Hear Me?’ Both the songs have been featured by all the private music channels of Assam like Ramdhenu, Rengoni and Jonakk and collected positive response by the audiences. The singer shared his feelings by saying that he has taken music as his career and is presently busy with some new projects which will hit the market very soon. He also hopes that the music lovers will accept his present and upcoming projects as enthusiastically as the previous projects and continue to encourage him in his musical journey.

KALYAN KUMAR KALITA

Anurag Bitupan Gogoi

adjudged the year’s best popular actor

opular actor in Assamese video songs, Anurag Bitupan Gogoi has bagged the ‘NEBCUS Media Award 2016’ after being adjudged the year’s best popular actor for his performance in the song ‘Kiring Kiring Mobile Phone’ from the album ‘Debojit Live 4.’ The song has been beautifully rendered by popular Assamese singer-lyricist-music director and composer Debojit Borah. After receiving the award the actor shared his feelings saying that finally his hard work and dedication was recognized. He was also thankful to the northeast’s renowned socio-cultural group ‘NEBCUS’ for giving him such an honor. Anurag, son of Indreswar Gogoi and Reena Gogoi, was born in Soraimoria village of Sivasagar and was attracted to this field since childhood. He started acting in 2012

without undergoing any professional training and portrayed various characters in the ‘Bhaona’ festivals staged in his village. He then moved to television and worked in various mega-serials like Rang Channel’s ‘Paas Porisalokor Paas Sobi’, ‘Xahu Bowari’, ‘Aparadh’, Jonakk Channel’s ‘Ghar Jowai’ etc. He also played an important role in the Bani Das directed Assamese feature film ‘Ahetuk.’ Besides these, he also worked in popular mega-serials like ‘Assam Fights Back’, ‘Ekhoni Nila Sador’, ‘Beharbarir Outpost’ etc. According to the actor, the Assamese music lovers will very soon be able to enjoy some fresh song videos containing his performances and he is also hoping that in future the Assamese audiences will continue to appreciate and encourage him as they are doing presently at every step.

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Citypedia Taurus

Your social life looks very upbeat and interesting in the days ahead. With both Venus and the Sun linking to dreamy Neptune, you could find yourself feeling idealistic. However, if you’re out and about with friends or looking for a date, remember that all that glitters is not necessarily gold. Conversely, someone you initially mistrust could become a supportive friend over the long term.

Cancer

Leo

Gemini

Virgo

You could be swept away in a haze of dreams and fantasies as a yearning to expand your horizons or explore far-flung places takes hold. The only things that could stop you from floating away completely are your responsibilities. With Saturn making an edgy link to Neptune, it seems that you’ll have little opportunity to go with the flow. This won’t stop you from imagining what might be, which could lead to plans for a vacation or a workshop with a mentor.

Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in a more private sector of your chart, encouraging you to work from behind the scenes. While this is unlike your usual style, you might enjoy the chance to stay out of the limelight and recharge your batteries. You may also find that keeping a dream diary or connecting to your deeper feelings is a revelation. Mars pushes forward in your domestic sector midweek, which could mean that a family issue now gets resolved.

Jupiter’s ongoing positive link to Pluto in your sector of creativity means that this is one of the best times to showcase a skill or chat to someone with influence about a project of yours. If you persevere, big things could come your way as a result. Meanwhile, if you’re out and about with friends, you may find yourself drawn to helping with a charity bash or volunteering your time in other ways, either of which you should enjoy.

A touch of realism wouldn’t go amiss this week, particularly when it comes to creating a business plan or discussing a key issue. While it’s great to have an all-encompassing vision, you’ll be likelier to succeed if you can show that you’ve done your homework and have a grasp of the facts. Meanwhile, with Mars pushing forward midweek, money matters may begin to improve.

You may be prompted to volunteer your services out of the kindness of your heart. This week’s selfless blend of energies could see you at the center of activities linked to charity or community drives to help vulnerable people. On another note, moving outside your comfort zone can bring creative ideas into the mix that you might find useful for an art or craft project. And with Mars pushing forward in your sign, vitality and motivation can begin to increase.

Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in your sector of shared resources, which could see you looking for ways to make your money work harder for you. When it comes to investing, it might be wise to get some sound advice, as links to Neptune suggest one scheme may not be all it seems. From midweek, action planet Mars pushes forward in your karmic sector, which might enable you to find closure regarding an uncomfortable issue.

While an idea proffered by someone may seem good in theory, it may not be so in practice. With Venus and the Sun linking to Neptune your personal financial sector, be very careful about getting involved in get-rich-quick schemes, as you could lose more money than you stand to gain. If you’re attracted by an idea, don’t sign until you’ve read the fine print. Meanwhile, with Mars pushing forward midweek, things could look a lot more promising on the career front.

This may be a week in which romantic or creative dreams reign supreme. With Venus and the Sun aligning with Neptune in Pisces, your imagination could offer up some very rich pickings. However, if you want to make the most of a brilliant idea, you might need to take a leaf out of Virgo or Capricorn’s book. With an ongoing practical yet powerful Jupiter/Pluto link, getting some advice from down-to-earth friends could bring your dream to life.

Libra

Capricorn

With Jupiter’s ongoing connection to Pluto in your sign, you could find yourself powerfully motivated to leave your comfort zone and make a bold move. There’s a good chance that you’ve been preparing for this for some time, in which case you should go for it. On another note, a more ethereal blend of energies suggests that the people around you may not be entirely reliable in the days ahead. If you want something done, you might be better off doing it yourself.

GUWAHATI

Scorpio

Aquarius

Sagittarius

Pisces

EMERGENCY NUMBERS RADIO TAXI SERVICES Prime Cabs 0361- 2222233 Green Cabs 0361-7151515 My Taxi 0361-2228888 Cherry Cabs 8876222288

24-HOUR PHARMACIES Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) D Modern Medicos, Maligaon (9864366763) Candid 24x7, Panbazar (2604422) DEAD BODY CARRYING VAN GLP Social Circle 2737373, 9435047046 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 GGUMTA 98640-16740 OTHERS Fire Emergency 101 State Zoo 2201363 GMC Carcass Pickup 9435190720, 9864047222 LPG Emergency/Leakage 2385209, 2541118, LPG Booking (ivr System) 7670024365 Child line Guwahati 1098

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Call Centre – 9678005171

BLOOD BANK

Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Ganga Blood Bank 2454742, 2455029 Lion’s Club of Ghy Central 2546611 Marwari Yuva Manch 2546470, 2547251 Saharia’s Path Lab (24 hours) 2458594

AMBULANCE

Ambulance 102 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Downtown Hospital 9864101111, 9435012669 GLP Social Circle 2737373 GGUMTA (Mirza) 03623-227109 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 Free Ambulance to GNRC Hospitals Toll Free: 1800-345-0011

Sudoku

This week’s blend of energies tied to selfless Neptune could see you helping others even if you have to sacrifice your time and resources. Present influences could also enhance your prospects regarding career and finances, particularly if you’re willing to give shape to your dreams. And with Mars pushing forward in your lifestyle sector, plans and projects that may have appeared blocked can soon get underway.

police station

About Sudoko

A Sudoku puzzle consists of 81 cells which are divided into nine columns, rows and regions. The task is now to place the numbers from 1 to 9 into the empty cells in such a way that in every row, column and 3×3 region each number appears only once.

Comissioner of Police: 0361-2540278 DCP, Traffic: 0361-2731847 DCP, (Central): 94350-49599 DCP, (East): - 94350-83103 DCP, (West): - 94350-27744 Police Control Room: Ph-2540138, 2540113 Azara PS: Ph2840287 Basista PS: Ph-2302158 Bharalumukh PS: Ph- 2540137, 2731199 Borjhar PS: Ph-2840351 Chandmari PS: Ph- 2660204 Chandrapur PS: Ph-2788237, 2785237 Dispur PS: Ph-2261510 Fancybazar PS: Ph- 2540285

Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) B Baruah Cancer Institute (2472364/66) Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd (2451634/678) Chatribari Christian Hospital 0361-2600051, 92070-44374 Downtown Hospital 2331003, 9864079366, 9435012669 Guwahati Medical College (2529457, 2529561) Guwahati Medical College Emergency (2263444) GNRC Hospital 1800-345-0022 (Toll Free) GNRC Ambulance 1800-345-0011 (Toll Free) International Hospital 0361-7135005 Mahendra Mohan

Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 0361-2541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344 Narayana Superspeciality Hospital 088118 88888 Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351)

GMC helpline number for garbage collection

8811007000

last week solution

Aries

This could turn out to be a week in which feelings play a big part. Early on, a delightful Venus/Neptune connection could be great for channeling your imagination into creative pursuits. It can be equally positive for a special date with a loved one. Midweek, your ruler Mars pushes forward in passionate Scorpio, so issues associated with shared finances could show improvement as a result.

Hospital

Fatasil Ambari PS: Ph-2471412 Geetanagar PS: Ph-2417323 Hatigaon: Ph-2562383 Jalukbari PS: Ph-2570587 Jalukbari Out Post: Ph-2570522 Jorabat: Ph-2896853 Khanapara: Ph- 2281501 Khetri PS: Ph-2787699, 2787220 Latasil PS: Ph-2540136 Noonmati PS: Ph- 2550281 North Guwahati PS: Ph-2690255 Paltanbazar PS: Ph-2540126 Panbazar PS: Ph-2540106 Pragjyotishpur Ps: Ph-2785237 Women PS Panbazar: Ph-2524627 Railway Central Hospital Casuality (2671025) Redcross Hospital (2665114) Sri Sankardeva Netralaya 0361-2233444, 2228879, 2228921 TB Hospital (2540193) Wintrobe Hospital 0361-2519860, 98647-77986 IHR-Institute of Human Reproduction 0361-2482619, 098641-03333 Dispur Hospital Reception 97070 20370 82539 99124 361-2235759 (Landline No. / Fax) Hayat Hospital 8011003110

Vigilance and anti corruption toll free number

1800-345-3767

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Event

Days

Events

July 2nd to July 9th

SMiRNOFF EXPERiENCE

JULY 2 7pm XS

feat. “PRIYANJANAA” at OCTAVE Bar, ViVANTA by TAJ

JULY 2 7pm TOPAZ

JULY 2 TERRA MAYAA

THE SUNDOWNER, GenNext at Hotel Palacio

13th XBhp anniversary ride at Khetri Featuring the Royal Enfield Himalayan

JULY 3 GUWAHATI JULY 9 7pm XS JULY 3 7pm TOPAZ

G PLUS JUL 02 - JUL 08, 2016

Catching Up Most shared story of the week It turns out Guwahati’s audience is way too excited about a new food delivery service that caters to the foodies of the night (8PM-4AM). There is an excited batch of school and college students that are ready to hound the services during these hours. The post received 571 Likes and 260 Shares. Here’s hoping only the post is viral and not the food. facebook.com/guwahatiplus twitter.com/guwahatiplus

Guwahati

GYAN

Did you know?

Panbazar Water Treatment Plant

New

Chic on the block

Pinki Saikia About Me

Hello everybody! I am Pinky Saikia. I’m 21 years old & stand tall at 5’ 5”. I’m from the beautiful city of Jorhat, Assam. I completed my B.A. from D.C.B. Girls’ College, Jorhat. As for my accomplishments, I was recently crowned as Miss Upper Assam 2016 at Sivasagar, Assam. Apart from this, I’ve also walked the ramp at several fashion shows around upper Assam.

Mojo

I’m passionate about dancing and singing. I also love to cook and tinker around with decorating my personal space.

Route in the Woods

ot many people know that the location where the Panbazar Water Treatment Plant stands today once housed the Jubilee Garden. The Jubilee Garden was built in 1887 to mark the golden jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. During its era of existence the garden had

witnessed Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Netaji Subhas Bose address the public in the Panbazar. It was in 1962 when the historic garden was converted into a water supply workshop and made way for Guwahati Water Works.

In the near future, I’d love to become a very successful model and hope that someday I get to represent my state and the country. Success is not hard to get, and so I promise to give my very best to anything I do.

Ka m u r of the week

n the month of June when the heat is at its peak, how would a person feel when there is no electricity when one returns home after a daylong hectic schedule? Frequent power cuts and load shedding was a major kamur this week as most of the areas in the city were facing frequent and extended power cut issues.

WHAT DID I JUST HEAR?

video showing a 15-year-old girl being forced to strip and being sexually exploited by the director of her school was circulated on WhatsApp recently. The video was allegedly leaked by the director himself in order to mentally harass the teenager for refusing his advances. More than 20 other girls from the school had been allegedly targeted by him. Jitender Singh Yadav, director of the senior secondary school in Bagwala area of Etah, is at large and is wanted by the police after an FIR. He is said to be a close confidante of a local Samajwadi Party leader.

PIC OF THE The heat is on. Photo: Adib Zamali

WEEK

Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Koushik Hazarika. Phone: 0361 2737737, Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641