G Plus Vol 5 Issue 13 by G Plus

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Volume 05 | Issue 13 Jan 20 - Jan 26, 2018 Price `10

Chick on the block

International NGO to check air pollution in Guwahati

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Rs 2 lakh reward for identity of hit-and-run culprit

Family members & friends of Bhupinder Singh addressing a press conference

Nehal Jain

ith the sluggish progress in the police investigation on the hitand-run case in which one restaurateur named Bhupinder Singh was mauled to death by a speeding vehicle, the family members of the deceased have chipped in with a cash reward of Rs 2 lakhs for identifying the culprit. On the night of Uruka, January 13, Singh was run over by a white Innova car in the usually crowded Jayanagar area of Guwahati. Singh, 35, who hailed from Diphu in Karbi

Anglong district, was the manager of Nagameez restaurant in Guwahati. A complaint was lodged by the family members of the deceased at the Basistha police station on the night of incident. A week later, i.e. on Friday last, the family members arranged a press conference to announce the cash reward. “A week has passed and the police have not been able to get any lead on the culprits yet. So, we had to take initiative. If anyone finds any inputs, please inform the police or the family at 9706060065. The identity of the informers Continued ON page » 3

City’s poor cellular services due to lack of space, inadequate towers

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Is LGBI airport’s terminal expansion a ‘cosmetic renovation?’

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Lead Story

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

International NGO to check air pollution in Guwahati Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

he Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has partnered with Clean Air Asia (CAA) to bring down air pollution in the city. Guwahati has been chosen to implement the air action plan initiative under which several measures will be undertaken by the GMC to improve the air quality index. CAA is currently in the process of preparing a detailed action plan to implement the project. The GMC had conducted a workshop on January 9 and 10 where discussions and deliberations by experts were held on various aspects related to reduce pollution in the city. “A draft road map will be made with concrete propositions to curb air pollution in a holistic manner in Guwahati. The GMC will then sign an agreement with CAA based on the road map,” said

municipal secretary at the GMC, Debajit Baruah. The draft would be finalised by the end of the month and the agreement for the initiative would be signed between GMC and CAA in February, adding the agreement could be clinched within this month. Baruah added that one of the major priority areas for GMC includes checking pollution emitted by vehicles plying in the city. “For this, the civic body will write to the state transport department asking them to ban vehicles which are more than ten years old from plying.” Officials said that they were also looking to collaborate with the state pollution control board to constantly monitor the emission levels from various industries located across the city. Experts working in this field are of the opinion that even though Guwahati’s pollution levels have not reached an alarming stage yet, it is imperative to take measures

Air pollution by a city bus of Guwahati | G Plus Photo to maintain a good air quality index especially keeping in mind the fragile ecology of the place. CAA works in the field of bettering the air quality

Dearth of data on air quality: officials

ncredible but true, there is lack of data on air quality of Guwahati upon which to frame future strategies to check the menace of pollution now becoming a bane for many cities in the country. “There is only one continuous monitoring station for PM 2.5 which is why people do not have access to data related to air quality index. The extent of pollution cannot be fully understood unless there are multiple meters set up in the city to measure PM 2.5 particles,” she added. Currently, only the head office of Pollution Control Board of Assam at Bamunimaidam has installed the meter to measure PM 2.5 particles. The other five National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMO) stations in the city measure PM 10 particles. PM 2.5 are fine particulate matters suspended in the air measuring two and a half

microns or less. Presence of high levels of PM 2.5 in the air reduces visibility and causes the air to appear hazy and can pose serious health-related risks among people including respiratory issues. Officials informed that since there is only one meter to record PM 2.5 particles in the city, mobile apps on air quality index don’t have data related to Guwahati as there is no continuous data being uploaded. CAA authorities are first planning to make the statistics available “either by setting up a low cost sensor network or motivating the government to conduct more monitoring.” Once they get the data, the officials would then conduct some public engagement works like making people aware of the reasons for poor air quality and the action needed by all stakeholders against it. While implementing the

air action plan, the authorities would also look at the primary sources of air pollution. “Besides heavy traffic, there are many other issues including dust and existence of small and medium scale coke industries around the city which constantly emit toxic fumes,” said an official of CAA. n

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in Asian cities and began its operations in India two years ago. India director of CAA, Prarthana Borah told G Plus, “We have done an assessment of 30 cities across India based

on the guidelines as prescribed by the central pollution control board of India with regards to air quality levels. Guwahati is one such city which does not n meet all their criteria.”

CPCB asks state to take preventive measures

few months ago, alarmed by the rising air pollution in a few cities and towns of the northeast, the Central Pollution Control Board of India (CPCB) had asked the state authorities to take preventive measures in four cities including Guwahati. These cities did not meet the national air quality

standards and their PM 10 levels were recorded as higher than permissible. The authorities are also planning to increase the number of monitoring stations in the city. According to a report by the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), air quality monitoring station at Bamunimaidam revealed the presence of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) well above the prescribed limit since 2008. The presence of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen was, however, within the permissible limits at all the monitoring stations. The report goes on to say that Guwahati has one of the highest black carbon pollution levels in the country which is due to rapid urbanization and poor environment quality control. n

In The News

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Rs 2 lakh reward for identity of hit-and-run culprit Continued from page » 1 will be kept secret. We are ready to reward Rs 2 lakhs for any valuable leads,” Payal Oshan Goswami, sister of deceased said. Alleging police negligence, she said, “It’s very unfortunate that the police have failed to nab the culprits. The murderers have been roaming scot free and we demand immediate action. Despite tall claims of the police officials of trying their best to trace the car, due to the delayed process, we feel that the culprits have evaded by now. So, we are now calling upon the public to help us find the car and arrest the culprit.” The hit-and-run case has snowballed into demands for justice from several organisations and individuals. They have taken up protest

rallies and organised candlelight marches in various parts of Assam including Guwahati, Diphu, Tinsukia and Jorhat. When contacted, Officer-incharge (OC) of Basistha police station, Chidananda Bora told G Plus, “We have not been able to trace the car or the people in the car yet. Bhupinder's family members who filed the FIR could not give us much detail. We’ve spoken to eye witnesses and recorded their statements. Our investigation is on, but as of now, we have no updates.” The OC further informed that the CCTV footage could only capture the side view of the car, which is making it difficult for the police to get hold of the culprits. The only information that police could get from the footage is that the car belonged to AS-01-GE series and it sped away towards Beltola Tiniali. The police have so far verified

17 white Innova cars belonging to the series but there has been no lead yet. “We have informed all the police stations in the state to provide us any case regarding the car involved in the incident,” Bora added. Eye witnesses told the police that the victim, who was hit by a white Innova car, succumbed to his injuries before the ambulance arrived at the site half an hour later. Eye witnesses told G Plus that Bhupinder was stuck in a traffic jam at Jayanagar Chariali, when he spotted a white Innova that was partially responsible for holding up the traffic. He then asked the driver to shift the car to ease the traffic, following which a verbal argument broke out between Bhupinder and the occupants of the car. Witnesses said that the car was occupied by a

File photo of Bhupinder Singh male driver and two female passengers. “The male driver seemed to be in his late 20s, had a fair complexion and a lean body,” one of the witnesses said. The females, who were suspected to be inebriated, were heard goading the driver to hit Bhupinder with the car. Then the man behind the wheels took the car in reverse, hit him and dragged him on for

around 50 meters before hitting an electric pole. As Bhupinder lay on the street, the car sped away from the scene. Although it is suspected to have been a deliberate murder attempt, police has lodged a case of hit-and-run in this context. Singh is survived by his mother and sister. n

42 govt offices to be used for Aadhaar enrolment in the city Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

he state government has identified at least 42 government establishments in the city that are to be used as biometric information collection centres for Aadhaar, the enrolment process of which is supposed to start by the second week of February. The state had, in November last year, floated tenders for data collection agencies and at least 270 agencies were supposed to be set up in the city.

A city resident displaying his Aadhar card The Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD) of the government of Assam, Ranjan Chakraborty, however clarified that due to the Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) directive, the number of centres has been reduced

due to lack of resources. “Once the enrolment process starts, we are expecting to enrol at least at least 2,400 persons daily in the city,” Chakraborty said.

17 bank branches in Ghy facilitating Aadhaar enrolment

At least 17 branches of banks have already started Aadhaar enrolment in the city. The enrolment process through banks has started in Kamrup (Metro) district through branches of banks. The branches belong to both government and private banks such as State Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Dena Bank, Axis Bank, Canara Bank, IDBI, Corporation Bank and ICICI Bank. An official in the SBI Dispur branch said that so far at least 1,500 persons have already enrolled with their details. “The branches have already started distribution of the forms and the customers have also started submission. The process is being monitored by the district administration,” the official said. “The load has increased after the data collection works have started. A lot of people have come in who have accounts with the bank for enrolment. However, tardy as the enrolment process may be, later, it will help in banking services,” the official

said. The official said that once the details are linked, the banks can keep track of the loan de-

faulters or offer better service to people who are entitled to various schemes through the banks. According to sources in the

UIDAI office at Beltola here, the number of banks authorised to collect biometric data will be increased soon. n

Concern

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Prank calls choke helplines Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

he officials at the 108 Mrityunjay emergency ambulance helpline have to wade their way through numerous prank calls every day while handling one of the most important emergency services in the city and the state. Authorities said that at least 65% of the total calls they receive in a day turn out to be “ineffective.” This essentially means that they are prank, hoax and abusive calls or silent calls. As a result, the telephone lines remain blocked for genuine callers. Out of a total of more than 8,000 calls received by the helpline per day in Assam, at least 5,000 turn out to be fraudulent calls and only close to 3,000 calls are genuine, said an official of the GVK emergency management and research institute (EMRI), which

manages the ambulance service in the state. The authorities feel that if it weren’t for these prank calls, they would have been able to attend a lot more genuine emergency cases and in turn, could saved more lives. “It brings down the efficacy of the service to a great extent.” Dhurjoti Prasad, communications officer at GVK EMRI, said that while some people call and ask for LPG cylinder bookings or for mobile recharge, a lot of men also call the helpline just to speak to the female executives. “They usually remain silent if a male executive answers the phone and will call repeatedly until a female picks up and speaks to them,” he informed. However, the helpline executives have been trained not to waste time on such calls and disconnect them after a few seconds to make way for important cases. GVK EMRI officials said

Representative image of a call centre that handles toll-free calls that at times callers even go to the extent of giving a wrong or fake address to the helpline executives. “Sometimes we assign the ambulance for a particular address but once it reaches the spot, they find that there is no emergency or patient at the place,” said an official. According to the data provided by GVK EMRI officials,

the total number of calls received between April and November 2017 for 108 Mrityunjay ambulance was 3,12,741 and 5,552 lives were saved. Further, 89,757 pregnancy cases were attended to and 3,536 deliveries were assisted during this period. Additionally, the 108 ambulance service attended 54,724 critical cases last year

till November. Further, after receiving several complaints of late arrival of ambulances, the state health and family welfare department had introduced a fleet of 95 new ambulances in December to replace the older and aged vehicles. Another health helpline, Sarathi 104, which provides free counselling and medical services to patients over the phone, faces similar problems of fraudulent callers. Sarathi is a round-the-clock helpline with qualified doctors and health professionals handling the calls. “We do receive a considerable number of prank calls every day which cause a lot of inconvenience to our officials,” said Nilim Bora, Consultant (Planning) at National Health Mission (NHM), Assam. He added that one of the reasons for several hoax calls could be that it is a toll-free number. n

Dealing with pranksters

uthorities have adopted a multidimensional approach to tackle such callers in order to maintain a smoother functioning of the helpline. In a few cases of repeat offenders, the helpline operators at the GVK EMRI take it upon themselves to educate and counsel the callers. “We note down the number of repeat offenders and call them back to educate them about the significance of the helpline and how their calls are causing major hassles to us,” said Prasad.

Authorities informed that there have even been instances when a particular person has called the helpline around 1,500 to 2,000 times in a single day. In such cases, they are forced to take the help of police. “We give the telephone numbers of repeat offenders to the police and in a few cases pranksters have also been arrested in the past,” said an official. “We have also found that the people making such calls include people having psychological disorders and also some troublemakers who

have nothing better to do with their time,” he added. At times, the officials also resort to blocking the phone numbers of prank callers

temporarily. However, this only remains a temporary solution as they can’t block any number permanently since the person might have a genuine

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emergency in the future. Another mechanism used by the officials to filter out these prank callers is by asking a few questions to every caller for verification purpose. These include their address, landmarks, name of the nearest police station and type of emergency among others. In 2017, the emergency service received an average of 78 road traffic accidents per day and 14 assault cases. Further, a total of 20 calls for drug related or poisoning cases and 75 acute abdomen cases were received everyday by the call centre. n

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Sunny

Mostly Sunny

26°/14° C

26°/15° C

24°1/4° C

23°/13° C

SATURDAY Mostly Sunny

25°/16° C

Governance

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

District education authorities crack the whip on irregular teachers Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

he Kamrup (Metro) district education officials have served show cause notices to at least five teachers during the past

Training and capacity building of teachers

he education department has also decided to build the capacity of teachers by conducting a three-day non-residential teachers’ training on “learning outcomes” this month. Under this, resource persons will be appointed who will cover every subject in order to improve the quality of teaching in schools, said district programme officer, Suranjana Goswami. The officials also said that after the first phase of evaluation of schools under Gunotsav, it was found that 61 primary schools were running on single teachers in the district. However currently out of these, 42 schools have been provided with one additional teacher. Additionally, in order to fill vacant posts of teachers, 168 primary teachers were appointed in the district after the first phase of Guntosav, taking the total primary teachers in Kamrup (Metro) to 2,847 in 708 schools. In December 2016, state education minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had set a target of recruiting over 13,000 teachers to fill maximum number of vacancies all over the state in 2017. The state government recruited around 14,000 teachers in 2017 according to education department officials. The recruitments were conducted in two phases in which 8,000 posts of additional teachers were filled in the first phase and another 6,000 teachers were recruited during n the second phase.

one month for being irregular, informed officials. District elementary education officer (DEEO), Buli Gogoi Bhuyan, said that they have increased their efforts to continuously keep a check on absentee teachers, especially those who are repeat offenders.

“It is the students who ultimately suffer from the absenteeism of teachers and the quality of education in such schools gets affected,” said Bhuyan adding that the authorities conduct regular checks in different schools across the district and irregular

teachers are given a warning first. Officials said that there are a few authorized leaves which the teachers can avail after which their salary is cut as per the number of holidays taken. “If the teachers still continue to remain absent, we then issue

show cause notices to them following which they are ultimately suspended,” said Bhuyan. The state education department has of late been laying a lot of emphasis on providing quality education to all children, especially in government schools. n

City

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

City’s poor cellular services due to lack of space, inadequate towers Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

espite several initiatives by the Centre to boost cellular connectivity in northeast with focus on Guwahati, the city still lacks seamless network coverage, users complained. According to the minister for information technology, government of Assam, Keshab Mahanta, about 67 per cent of the state’s urban areas and about 50 per cent of the state’s rural areas have network coverage. The leading cellular network providers such as BSNL, Airtel and Vodafone, however, claim that they have 100 percent coverage in the city. “The network providers claim total coverage in the city, but we tend to lose network at several pockets and the hilly areas. Just providing network

will not serve the purpose. Business establishments need high speed internet network to operate,” Raktim Das, a citybased entrepreneur said. Call drops, slower internet and network congestions too continue to be common problems plaguing the city. Vodafone often has total data blackouts that last from 20 minutes to as long as 2 hours in several areas. “From 4.30 pm, I failed to receive network till 6 pm a few days back. I then had to go to work but the network was still very weak,” Hiteshwar Ramchiary, a resident of Noonmati, said. Navina Laishram, a resident of Hatigaon, added, “The Airtel network often fluctuates and it becomes difficult to operate on internet.” The central government has laid out several plans to provide total coverage to the entire northeast by 2020 and has earmarked an investment of Rs 1,500 crores for this region. The

Lack of towers hurt mobile services

everal cellular network providers in the city lack proper infrastructure to provide 3G and 4G ser-

vices. Bharti Airtel, the country’s largest private cellular network provider, is short of around 100 towers or cell sites than the current requirement in the city, said an employee of the Airtel northeast sector, on condition of anonymity. “We have 280 cell sites comprising our own and shared towers. We however require 100 more to provide hassle-free network throughout

We have around 302 cell sites in the city, most of which are shared with other providers. However, we don’t have any cell site for providing 4G services here,” Gaurav Singh, Vodafone official, Assam

the city,” he added. Vodafone, another cellular network provider, does not have its own 3G towers. “We have around 302 cell sites in the city, most of which are shared with other providers. However, we don’t have any cell site for providing 4G services here,” said Gaurav Singh, an official of Vodafone, Assam. On the bad network, the Airtel spokesperson who declined to give his name, said, “The owners of the places where we have our towers do not allow us to install extra hardware to upgrade them. However, Airtel has been upgrading the cell sites through a software update.” Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India, Rajan Mathews, said, “The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) did not give the service providers licence to install new towers. The authorities even instructed us to remove several towers. We can upgrade the existing towers but there is still a need for installing more towers.” n

A cell tower located atop a private residence in the city | G Plus Photo projects include data coverage in gram panchayats through Bharat Net, the Phase II of which was launched this week and a Memorandum of Understanding

Sidelight: Guwahati master plan 2025 The master plan for Guwahati Metropolitan Area, 2025 has divided the city into 10 zones - residential, retail commercial, wholesale commercial, industrial, public and semi-public, composite use-I, composite use-II, recreation and open space, transportation and eco-sensitive zones. The public and semi-public zones cover 10.99 per cent area, composite use-I covers 2.48 per cent and composite use-II zone covers 2.56 per cent of the city. The plan has identified 36,806 square hectares of land to be developed as a metropolitan area, of which 3,606 square hectares fall under public and semi-public zones while 814 square hectares and 841 square hectares are under composite use-I and composite use-II zones respectively.

was signed with the BSNL for laying optic fibres. The centre has also planned to lay cellular towers along the national highways.

The network providers have complained that it is the lack of cellular towers for which they cannot provide seamless n network in the city.

No space for mobile towers

obile service providers are facing a space crunch to install cellular towers in the city. “The Guwahati master plan has left only 16.3 per cent area to install mobile phone towers. This restricts tower installation to just a few areas of the city. Hence, it is not possible for mobile operators to provide good connectivity to the entire city,” Rajan Mathews, the Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India, told G Plus. Sazzad Alam, the development officer of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which prepared the draft master plan, said, “As radiation levels are a factor while installing cellular towers and it falls in the wireless transmitting category, only the public and semi-public, composite use-I and composite use-II zones have been allotted for the purpose.” (See box for Guwahati master plan 2025 details) The district telecom committee - headed by Deputy

Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) Dr M Angamuthu - has been unable to process requests from several operators because of the shortage of space. “There are several new tower installation requests pending with our committee and more than 200 other requests to regularise the existing towers. Based on public grievances, we had to cancel licences of more than 70 existing towers,” said Sharmistha Bora, extra assistant commissioner, Kamrup (Metro). The committee requires a clearance from the Disaster Management Department, GMDA, GMC, Fire & Emergency Services and Pollution Control Board to clear proposals for construction of cellular towers in the city. “Though a new applicant gets clearance from most of the departments, they mostly fail to get it from the GMDA because of lack of space. Moreover, the existing towers also fall in the zones where the master plan does not permit them to be installed and hence those have to be relocated,” she said. n

Crime

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Arrested coal mafia exposes coal syndicate Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

he arrest of Kuldeep Singh, said to be one of the main men of a thriving coal syndicate, has opened the lid over a much bigger coal smuggling nexus thriving in the AssamMeghalaya border near the city’s Khanapara locality. This was revealed in a joint press conference organised by the chief minister’s legal adviser, Santanu Bharali, along with city police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath, tax commissioner Anurag Goyal and additional DGP Kuladhar Saikia. The city police, based on the confession of the apprehended Singh, had yesterday night, seized 18 overloaded trucks, Rs 16 lakhs in cash and arrested eight more people connected to the syndicate. “During the interrogation, Singh had revealed the name of many influential people. They

are under our radar now. For the sake of investigation we will not be able to reveal the names. But the police are dealing with this issue very sternly,” Saikia said. According to Goyal, the tax department made a crackdown on the coal syndicate after the arrest and has raised fines worth Rs 18 lakhs within a day from overloaded trucks carrying coal.

During the interrogation, Singh had revealed the name of many influential people. They are under our radar now. For the sake of investigation we will not be able to reveal the names. But the police are dealing with this issue very sternly” Kuladhar Saikia, ADGP

Singh was, on Wednesday, arrested by police from the Survey area of the city. He had gone into hiding after another broker, Sudip Pal, was arrested by the police recently. A police team led by Basistha ACP Moushumi Kalita, laid a trap and arrested him. Singh was associated with a coal syndicate operating on the Byrnihat-Khanapara stretch. Transport companies in the Basistha area operate around 500 trucks on the route and ferry coal from Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. According to Singh’s confession, the modus operandi was that he would provide safe passage by bribing various departments such as police, tax and transport in return for collecting money from coal truckers to allow a safe passage on the stretch. “For example, if ten trucks cross the gates, challans are produced for only a few. The personnel at the gates are managed by the brokers in collusion with transport

An excavation site for a coal mine officials,” a police source said. Moreover, overloaded trucks are also given a safe passage for around Rs 1,000 per truck. Normally, an overloaded truck has to pay a fine of Rs 2,000 and an additional Rs 1,000 for each tonne exceeding the permissible limit of 9 tonnes. Nearly half a dozen such brokers operate in the area through which the coal

syndicate has been thriving. The police said a hunt is on to nab all the brokers, most of whom have been identified. It may be mentioned that the mining of coal in Meghalaya has been stopped by the National Green Tribunal and a limit has been imposed on the amount of coal that can be transported from the already mined coal. n

City

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Is LGBI airport’s terminal expansion a ‘cosmetic renovation?’ Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

he expansion of space in the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport terminal will not mean an increase in its capacity to handle more passengers. “Through the renovation, the terminal will not have much of capacity enhancement. The expanded terminal will be used to make the departure lobby a bit more luxurious and to ease the departure crowding a bit. More space will help organise the crowd. For the global investor’s summit, the airport needs to be ready,” Rajesh Kumar, public relations officer (PRO) of Airport Authority of India (AAI), Northeast Region office at Borjhar said. According to the authority, the renovation works are being done to make the airport ready to welcome the global investors who will be participating in the “Advantage Assam” event. The ongoing terminal con-

struction work in the airport is supposed to be completed by January 29 just a few days ahead of the summit. The terminal consists of the departure lobby, waiting lounge, check-in counters and boarding lobby. The ongoing expansion work which began in December last year has however caused a chaotic situation both outside and within the terminal, some passengers alleged. The LGBI airport is one of the seven airports fully owned by the AAI and is one of the top eight revenue earning airports out of the 125 airports managed by the authority. Last Wednesday, new VIP reserved lounges were opened at the airport. The PRO informed that the extended terminal would be centrally air-conditioned with luxurious lounges and four-star quality features. He added that the parking space would be shifted to the left of the terminal and the current facility will be converted into the drop-off bay. “While there is one bay available at the airport,

Expansion work being undertaken on a war footing in preparation for the Global Investors’ Summit | G Plus Photo there will be three drop-off bays at the current parking area.” The airport is spread over 1,275 acres of land and the current terminal occupying around 2,03,050 sq

ft is capable of holding 1,200 domestic passengers and 100 international passengers at any given moment. The airport takes a load of about 850 domestic and 40-

50 international passengers at any given moment on an average daily which increases to 1,250 domestic and 60-70 international passengers during the peak-hours. n

Passengers’ woes continue

Passengers facing a harrowing time at the airport drop-off point | G Plus Photo

any passengers feel that LGBI airport should focus more on expansion of capacity to prevent overcrowding instead of luxurious lounges. “I’ve had the most horrific experience at the airport. It has only one entry gate for the passengers into the terminal

which is manned by only a few security personnel. It always remains crowded as the checking points are manned by very few personnel,” Santosh Bharali, who was en route to Pune, said. Another passenger complained that similar crowding occurs at the various

check points in the airport. An official at the airport however lamented that there was hardly any scope to expand the current terminal. “In fact, the LGBI airport is staring at an acute crisis of space at least for the next four years. A plan needs to be implemented soon since there are plans to develop the city into an international hub of business,” he said on condition of anonymity. Sunita Sharma, who frequently travels to Kolkata, drew a comparison between Guwahati and other international airports in the country. “The airport in Guwahati does not have international standards. There is overcrowding and chaos everywhere and passengers have a tough time waiting for the taxis as only one drop-off bay is available for the same,” she said. Most passengers have made

a case for more space, increase of entry and exit points and more personnel manning the gates. Further, within the terminal, the queues at the security check point are perennially long and amusingly, is manned by just one CISF personnel which slows the progress of the queue drastically.

The airport is also woefully short of trolleys and finding one on arrival at the departure area is almost miraculous. The airport authority however feels that the passengers’ apprehensions are “momentary” as the departure lobby would be streamlined and organised after the ongoing construction is completed. n

A wheel chair bound passenger being taken up the dusty ramp into the terminal | G Plus Photo

In The News

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Workers set to intensify protests with state-wide strike Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

he Assam chapter of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has firmed up plans for a state-wide strike if the government fails to fulfil their long-pending demands. Workers from various and different sectors have been protesting over the past few months in Guwahati. One of their major demands includes proper implementation of the existing labour laws in the state. Members of trade unions informed that even the Minimum Wages Act 1948 has not been implemented properly till date in the city as well as in other parts of the state. The Act states that all skilled and unskilled labourers must be paid minimum wages. “There are still thousands of workers who do not receive

A protest being undertaken by workers under the banner of CITU | G Plus Photo even the minimum wages from their employers and it becomes difficult for them to run their

households. Some of the worst affected labourers in this case are those working in the tea

gardens,” said Tapan Sarma, general secretary of the Assam state committee of CITU.

He added that the workers often get paid less than the minimum wages as set by the government and the authorities are reluctant to take any action. This includes those working in shopping malls or any commercial establishments, construction sector and the staff in the nursing sector. Members of the trade unions informed that even in the organised sector such as railways, transportation and the electricity department, the contractual workers are not getting the benefits as is mandated by the law. They say that the scenario of the unorganised sector is worse. “At least 70 per cent workers do not receive any social security by their employers,” said a member of the CITU. He added that only a fraction of the contractual workers receive benefits from Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme. n

Formation of Assam Labour Welfare Society opposed

epresentatives from different national trade unions held a protest on January 18 outside the office of the labour

commissioner to oppose the formation of Assam Labour Welfare Society (ALWS). They also submitted a memorandum to the labour commissioner voicing their demand. They feel that the role of the labour department will be diluted once the ALWS is constituted. The state government has decided to form the ALWS which was followed by the release of a circular on December 19. The society will have the labour minister as the chairman and the labour commissioner as the member secretary. It will also have 40 additional members which will include MPs, MLAs, presidents of village panchayats, chairpersons of the regional panchayats, presidents of zila parishads and only two representatives from the trade unions. As per the circular, the ALWS will look after all the matters related to the workers and labourers in the state. Once

constituted, the society will also oversee the implementation of the labour act in the state. “It was the responsibility of the government to consult us before taking such an important decision which will impact the welfare of lakhs of labourers in the state,” said Sarma.

The workers have termed the formation of the ALWS as “unconstitutional” and said that it will be in conflict with the responsibilities which the state labour department has been entrusted with. “We have demanded that the government should first hold discussions with

representatives of trade unions and should take decisions according to the outcome of the meeting.” A senior official in the state labour and employment department said that they were looking into the demands of the trade unions and should reach a consensus soon. n

Ward Watch

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Dumper trucks leave behind ‘murky’ tracks at Noonmati Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

lay and soil spilling from overloaded dumper trucks has caused “irreparable” damage to the Maniram Dewan Road in the Noonmati area of the city. Locals complained that the soil and sands spills from the trucks that ply on the road at night and are parked in clusters on the road overnight are making it uneven and difficult to traverse. The road runs from Chandmari to Guwahati Refinery in Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Ward No 22 and meets Mother Teresa Road at Forest Gate. It is at its worst condition near the Assam Jatiya Bidyalaya, one of the prominent schools of the city. The dumpers ferry soil cut from the Kharghuli hills in Chandrapur area to

Soil spilled from dumper trucks clustered on Maniram Dewan road | G Plus Photo retrieve clay, soil and other construction materials and transport those through Noonmati to the various

Locals suspect “land mafia” role

ocals indicate the involvement of land mafias behind the frequent hill cutting in Chandrapur. Fearing the land mafia’s involvement, they do not intervene and one resident, under condition of anonymity said, “We cannot not stop these trucks but we have asked the authorities to take stern action against these overloaded trucks. But so far no action has been taken. This indicates that they are also in connivance with these hill cutters.” The route is also being used by dumpers that mine sand from the government designated sand quarries in Morigaon district. “But soil would not have spilled on the roads if these trucks were not overloaded. The trucks can only transport a certain permissible amount of soil or sand. If found flouting

that limit, the errant trucks are supposed to be towed by the police and can only be released after paying a fine. If that is not happening, there is probably a bigger syndicate involved,” another resident alleged. Meanwhile, several others pointed out that the speeding trucks also made it dangerous for the people there to commute at night. “The trucks are always speeding. It seems they are trying to evade the law or get past this area in a hurry. Due to these trucks, it becomes very unsafe to ride in small vehicles at night as these vehicles do not seem to slow down at all for the approaching traffic,” Biren Deka, a resident who often commutes on the road at night, said. Given all that is happening, it is always a wonder how the authorities keep turning a blind eye to such illegal activities. n

construction sites beyond the locality. “The road was built not even a year back and it was

in perfectly good condition. But due to the spilled soil on the roads, it has become so uneven that it is as good as

an unconstructed road,” Biren Saikia, a resident of Noonmati said. For the record, the Public Welfare Department (PWD) headquarters is just about 2 kms from where the road has got damaged. When contacted, a PWD official said, “Taking off the dumped soil is a cumbersome task. It cannot be done by a machine as it might damage the road. We will need to employ manual labourers to chisel out one cluster dump at a time. It’s both money consuming and a lengthy process.” Talking about the impact that these dumped clusters might have on the roads, the official added, “We warn the local authorities on these issues repeatedly as these might damage the roads earlier than it is supposed to be. These soil dumps will then create holes on the roads that will expand with time as more vehicles travel over those.” n

Councillor fails to control errant dumpers

ajen Das, the councilfrom Chandrapur. they pay the fine and do it again,” lor of Ward No 22 said But to avoid travelling the official added. that despite several that far and paying taxes to Das had urged the residents attempts, he could not the government, they cut the to make themselves aware control these truck movements. Kharghuli hills. The hills about these dumper trucks. “I have taken the issue to the extend over a large area and the “I urge the residents to take transport department, photographs of such traffic police, forest speeding dumpers department and even and share it with Concentrated Area: Noonmati (22B) the PWD, but no soluthe authorities. If tion came up. They the authorities can Ward No: 22 are not supposed to get the photographic Population of the ward: 65,000 cut hills in Kharghuproof and the li, but still it happens registration numbers Voter Population: 16,700 late in the nights. of such trucks, these This not only has rusituations can be Population of Noonmati: 6,750 ined the roads, but thwarted and stern Ward Councillor: Rajen Das has also aggravated action can be taken the erosion problem against the culprits,” in the area. Once the Das said. hill is cut, it is very hard to dedepartment does not have the Given the optimism of the tect from where the soil is being kind of manpower required to councillor in this regard, the brought,” Das said. patrol the entire area. Taking residents might well give th According to the forest deadvantage of the loopholes, they exercise a shot and see if it partment, the quarry site for do it,” the forest official said. yields the desired results just sand and soil has been designat“We have apprehended peoto salvage whatever is left ed at Morigaon, about 27 kms ple on several occasions, but of the road. n

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Snippets

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

NRL wax export to Myanmar to open floodgates for international trade with southeast Asia

consignment containing 20 metric tonnes of wax in two full truckloads was flagged off from Numaligarh Refinery Marketing Terminal to Myanmar by MD I/C NRL SK Barua in presence of senior officials of the company on 13th January last. This development assumes significance since it is yet another effort to bolster Government of India’s ‘Act East Policy.’ Speaking on the occasion, SK Barua said, “This development is the right step towards opening border trade with Myanmar and other southeast Asian countries which is very

critical for the development of the northeast. The India-Myanmar Friendship Road of 100 miles connects Moreh (India) to Kalewa (Myanmar) and the Government of Myanmar is heavily investing in roads and infrastructure on this stretch which would provide access to the wealthy interiors of Myanmar. We feel there is a great potential of revival of international commerce through roads and rails between India and Myanmar.” Myanmar and Bangladesh being the closest countries, additional thrust has been given to establish markets in these countries for NRL products. Last year,

NRL exported two tank trucks of diesel (approx. 40 kilo litres); 100 tonnes of paraffin wax to Myanmar and 8 rake load supply of diesel to Bangladesh. This event also serves as a shot in the arm for the government of Assam ahead of the Global Investors’ Meet to be held in Guwahati on 3rd & 4th February 2018, which attempts to showcase Assam as a potential investment destination for investors within the country and abroad. This is for the first time that NRL has exported wax utilizing the Moreh-Tamu land route after exporting diesel to the country through this route. The distance to Tamu, which is the bordering town in Myanmar, is around 425-430 kms from Numaligarh Refinery. Previously, all the exports to Myanmar were done via sea route through Kolkata/Haldia Port. Till date, NRL has exported around 1700 MT of paraffin wax to Myanmar. With this consignment, the total export of wax from NRL’s wax plant stands at over 6000 metric tonnes reaching 20 different n countries worldwide.

GMC announces Swachh Survekshan cleanliness awards

uwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) announced cleanliness awards as part of the ongoing Swachh Survekshan 2018 initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. Don Bosco School, Pan Bazaar has been awarded the cleanest school in Guwahati followed by Assam Jatiya Bidyalay, Noonmati and Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Silpukhuri. Among the hotels, Vivanta by Taj, Guwahati has been awarded the cleanest following all norms followed by Hotel Palacio and Hotel Radisson Blu. Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Amingaon has been adjudged as the cleanest hospital followed by Ayursundra Superspeciality Hospital, Boragaon and Chatribari Christian Hospital. Amongst the resident’s welfare association (RWA), Infinity Signature Estate at Ulubari has been awarded the cleanest followed by Shine Heaven, Baghorbori and Spanish Garden, Zoo Road. The exercise also covered market

associations for which Kachari Ghat market association got recognised for being the cleanest market followed by Anandaram Baruah market at Chandmari and Uzan Bazar market. Swachh Survekshan is a comprehensive examination undertaken by Government of India to assess development and achievement by cities against defined goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission. GMC conducted an extensive survey across schools, hotels, hospitals, resident welfare associations (RWA) and market associations to check cleanliness across various parameters like waste segregation, toilets, etc. A team comprising medical and health officers visited a list of schools,

hotels, hospitals, resident welfare associations and market associations to assess the cleanliness levels over the last couple of weeks since the announcement of Swachh Survekshan in Guwahati on 27 December, 2017. The occasion was graced by GMC Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Commissioner, GMC, Monalisa Goswami, Joint Commissioner, Deba Kr Mishra and brand ambassadors Kopil Bora and Sagorika Goswami. Speaking on the occasion Monalisa Goswami said, “The whole exercise has been extensive and the recognition process will encourage all stakeholders to maintain cleanliness as per the guidelines helping build a Swachh environment and making our city the cleanest in the country.” The Swachh Survekshan process will examine various works done by the urban local body towards meeting Swachh Bharat Mission goals and then rate the cities across India on the basis of their performance and achievement. n

‘Axom Shrestho Awards’ presented

he Telegraph Axom Shrestho 2018, a firstof-its-kind awards ceremony was held at Vivanta by Taj to honour the people who have made the state proud. The third edition of the awards was presented by Life Insurance Corporation of India, in association with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and supported by Assam Tourism.

(literature), Krishna Ray (theatre), Matri Mandir (social work), Payal Chadha (fashion), Ashish and Jahnavi Phookan (entrepreneurship), Pulak Banerjee (music) and Javed Parvez (tourism). The awardees were unanimously nominated by a jury, comprising state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, academician Dayananda Pathak, senior journalist and president

Twelve achievers, who have made a mark in fields such as cinema, theatre, sports, literature, arts and culture, dance, music, fashion, education, social work, entrepreneurship and tourism, were felicitated at the function. The awardees comprised Tayabun Nisha (sports), Kishori Mohan Pathak (education), Pulak Gogoi (art and culture), Jatin Goswami (dance), Nipon Goswami (cinema), Lakshahira Das

of Sports Journalists Federation of India, Subodh Malla Baruah and executive director of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Dipankar Ray. The event was graced by Assam PWD minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Science and Information Technology minister Keshab Mahanta, Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah among many other emin nent dignitaries.

Shilpgram Mahotsav 2018 gets underway

hilpgram Mahotsav 2018, organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), got underway on Wednesday, January 17. The Mahotsav is being organised on the occasion of its 12th Foundation Day to showcase the cultural heritage of the northeast. Apart from the NE zone, artistes from other zones also have been invited to participate in the festival. Children’s talent presentation, magic show, painting and drawing workshop, folk dances and music, drama, mime show, classical dance etc., would be the highlights of the Mahotsav. The four-day Mahotsav will

be a national-level festival of arts, music, dance, theatre, food, crafts and children’s activities at its complex at Panjabari. This year the festival is being held on a grander scale in order to

draw a wider media and public participation from and beyond the region. North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) is an autonomous organisation set up by the Government of India with an aim to safeguard and promote culture. n

Snippets

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

IIT-G to host 10th edition of UDGAM – Annual Entrepreneurship Summit

dgam, IIT Guwahati’s annual entrepreneurship summit is hosting its 10th edition from the 19th to 21st January. Keeping up with the motto of spreading entrepreneurship in the northeast and providing a platform for the students and start-ups to connect, the summit includes several events such as: ‘Hack in the East’: a twenty four hour hack-a-thon aiming to solve ongoing problems in the northeast employing

disruptive innovations. ‘Disrupt’: provides a platform for student entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas to a panel of the industry’s finest. ‘Intern Fair’: is an opportunity for startups to find the best talent and for the students to intern and work on an idea that they believe in. ‘Social Business Conference’: engages on the nuances of building and sustaining social entrepreneurship in India. ‘Workshops’: gets one industry-ready as prominent

skill builders which include the likes of Startup India that teaches the art of starting-up. Udgam’s dazzling line-up of star entrepreneurs includes Ankur Warikoo, the charismatic CEO of Nearby (Groupon), Richa Singh, the founder of arguably India’s finest online counselling platform that has brought positivity to numerous lives, Saurabh Arora, CEO founder of Airwoot, the most intelligent AI help desk! The keynote speakers at the summit are Saurabh Arora, Crypto Expert and Pioneer in Blockchain and Founder, CEO at Airwoot at Fresh desk, Manish Sugandhi, co-founder at GrabonRent, who is also an Alumnus of IIT-G and Ankur Varikoo- CEO and co-founder of Nearbuy. The summit also includes personalities such as Amit Mishra, a pro networker and strategist, Abhay Tandon, a startup mentor and evangelist, Roy Riddhinil from NE8x and many more sharing their mantras in Udgam 2018. n

Rhino mating attempt at Assam state zoo turns fatal

female rhino at Assam state zoo succumbed to injuries after her mating attempt with a male rhino went wrong. The two year old male rhino, Gaobura, seriously injured Shanti, the one and a half year old female rhino, during a mating attempt on Friday. Shanti succumbed to severe backbone injury and multiple bruises after the attempt. Both Gaobura and Shanti were brought to the Assam state zoo last year. “The male rhino forcibly tried to mount the female and in the process injured her backbone. The female expired because of the fracture on her backbone,” stated officials of the zoo. Zoo officials said that soon after the mishap, Gaonbura was separated from the other n female rhino.

NEUFC to provide night buses, special discounts for fans

ortheast United FC have taken key decisions to boost its fan following and engagement for the upcoming matches in the season. Taking stock of key feedback received from the supporters, the management has opted to provide 50% discount on ticket prices for students who are willing to watch NEUFC home matches at the Sarusajai Stadium. Interested students can produce a valid student ID card (school/college) at any of the four ticket counters and avail a direct 50% discount on each ticket for all the upcoming home matches. Additionally, in a bid to support the fans who would travel to Sarusajai late at night, the NEUFC management and Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) have further boosted their partnership by agreeing to provide adequate number of buses outside the stadium to help supporters reach their home destinan tions after the matches.

G Talk

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Road rage repercussions

hile the city police have often come in for praise with their crack crime branch solving the city’s crime cases rather promptly, a recent case of extreme road rage, where an innocent was brutally killed by a youngster driving an Innova car, seems to have them stumped. The big car apparently has disappeared into thin air and most interestingly, none in the vicinity of the incident managed to get a clear shot of the vehicle’s registration number. Cases of this level of extreme road rage are rather uncommon in Guwahati and so, this comes as a real shocker. And sadly, more than anything else, this single incident has cast aspersions on these certain youngsters who have been raised in a manner such that they seem to have no idea of the value of a human life. It does not require a great deal of brainstrain to realize that these youngsters are part of the same living space that you and I share – Guwahati - and this is enough to send shivers down the spine. And to further make the scenario more fearsome are the emanating rumours that the strapping youngster had two young

female companions who were inciting him to actually “kill” the “bastard” who had dared to cross paths with them. While the police have their tasks cut out in apprehending the culprit (which hopefully will be the case by the time we go to print), it is the overall picture of education and upbringing that stands stark and grim today. Savvy youngsters and their commuting paraphernalia have often been major issues of discussion among Guwahatians. G Plus has, time and again, reported on the easy availability of intoxicants and influencers in the city which are huge inciters of such rash acts of criminality. This being the fact of the situation and our times, it is just imperative that children are raised better and imparted a proper education both at home and school. Spoiling them with expensive material gifts gets them nowhere but into trouble. The road rage of the youngster in question has resulted in a murder. The day he gets caught (which eventually will happen) his life will be over. Bad repercussion from bad education indeed! Swapnil Bharali Editor

Assam’s on ground Health check

recent comparative report that the health minister had published on his much followed Twitter timeline, paints an optimistic outlook for the health sector in the region and the city. According to the report, neonatal, IMR, perinatal mortality rates and other indicators have all seen a declining trend and this is some positive news coming in from the sector. However, I think that these figures lack an on ground assessment about how the health sector is actually faring. These are regular trends that would have decreased with the passage of time, largely because the network and access to healthcare and medication will only have grown after three years. The delivery systems put in place, the advancements in technology and the easier access to it all plays a crucial role in decreasing these numbers. But then again, no one is discrediting the department and the doctors who work day in and day out. However, what the ministry must assess are things that are ‘real time’ – how much does a person have to wait before being attended to? How ambulances are functioning for 24 hours? What is the bed and patient ratio in government and private hospitals? Guwahati is the hub for availing advanced healthcare in the entire northeast; are we ready to take in more patients? How can we make access to healthcare cheaper and more efficient? These are some of the questions that need to be answered instead of just a Twitter post patting the government on its back. However, there are some fantastic initiatives and projects coming in and around the city which makes us optimistic, and leaves us actually hoping for the best! Sidharth Bedi Varma

Majuli - an opportunity unrecognized?

ajuli evokes an outburst of emotions in most Assamese. For some, it’s a tale of unending woes of flood and erosion. For others, it’s a seat of neo vaishnavite movement in Assam. While some see it as a place of pilgrimage, others think of it as a centre of Mishing culture and lifestyle. A set of people see Majuli as a test case for expansion of Christianity. And for some, Majuli means a place to make money by all possible corrupt means. In between all these stereotypes, I feel the real ethos of Majuli is lost. The opportunity Majuli has offered to its inhabitants seems very poorly appreciated or executed. Majuli, as we all know, is considered the largest river island in the world. There could be debate on that but let’s assume without debate that it is and we keep harping the same. I say so for the simple reason that it has been Majuli’s USP and we need to keep the USP intact for tourism purposes. Majuli is accessed mostly by a ferry ride from Nimatighat in Jorhat. It’s about 45 minutes downstream and one and a half hours of upstream travel and presents a majestic view of the river throughout the journey. The island can also be accessed via road from Dhokuwakhana in Lakhimpur district over a bridge. Buses to and from Guwahati use that route, which is very tedious and long. Perhaps very few in Guwahati are aware of the volume of tourist flow to Majuli. A very significant number of tourists (approximately 25,000/year), from both India and abroad, visit Majuli every year. Majuli

makes for an exotic destination for them. The numbers are likely to grow and can even rise up to phenomenal levels only if we plan and play it right. And if we don’t, Majuli would have lost an opportunity of a lifetime. I venture to write about my impressions of and suggestions for Majuli based on my innumerable trips to a variety of tourist islands all over the globe. First and foremost, why do you need tourism in Majuli? The answer is simple. Majuli needs money to sustain its economy and general improvement of living standards, keeping pace with the rest of the world. Tourism offers a new, sustained and healthy way of infusion of cash into the local economy.

In this two-part article, the writer tries to explore the various ways in which Majuli can be turned into a world class heritage tourist destination. This is the first part. Before we design newer ways of attracting and sustaining tourism, we need to have a very clear understanding of what the present tourists seek in Majuli and also what newer and different varieties of tourists shall seek in future. The present lot of tourists seeks exclusivity, nature, tranquility, living culture and heritage which the island can offer in abundance. However, if you see the present scenario, it can at best be described as average. With the present offerings to tourists, Majuli cannot hope for a quantum jump in the number of tourists. To start with, for an average tourist to visit Majuli, he has to land in Jorhat directly or come from Kaziranga. To reach the island, he has to adjust to ferry timings. The road to Nimatighat is so narrow that he has to take individual or group transport in sleek vehicles. If we can make electric vehicles available, it

rParking on B Baruah Road

O p i n i o n Dr Navanil Barua

makes traveling easier, with the added advantage of environment friendliness. The 12 odd kms from Jorhat town to Nimati needs to be widened and maintained throughout the tourist season. Parking areas, black topping or board walks need to be constructed. Along with that, a good tourist centre for travelers to rest and refresh is a must. The toilets have to be adequate in numbers and spic-n-span in hygiene. The ghat needs to be spruced up to look attractive. The ferries that transport passengers across Brahmaputra are very unattractive. Instead, a separate ghat with spruced up ferries and a small restaurant on board can be used. It shall be costlier to dissuade the daily traveler from spoiling its class and beauty. In addition to ferries, there could be catamarans, yachts for the discerning ones. The welcome should start from the river itself. AV presentations on different aspects of Majuli can prepare the tourist well. Piped music like Oinitoms, Ligangs, Bargeet, Deori Bihu etc can be added attractions. On the other side, we need similar roads, boardwalks and good transport to welcome the tourists. Moreover, a traditional welcome at least for group tourists could add to the value. The most important factor to boost tourism in Majuli is the condition of surface transport. The soil being sandy, soft and loose without a rock base, roads crack up very easily. In spite of that, we need far better roads than now to make travel inside Majuli comfortable. Majuli is incomplete without the Satra hopping and Jadav Payeng’s man made forest. These experiences must be enhanced and seen as revenue generating opportunities. Additionally, new dimensions can be added to Majuli to make the stay worth the while. (To be continued in the next week’s edition) Dr Navanil Barua is a neurosurgeon by profession and a socio-political activist by choice; he is a resident of Guwahati.

Letter to the Editor

he parking on B Baruah Road needs to be shifted to the stadium/B Borooah College side rather than the existing situation. The stadium side has lesser by-lanes and entry points and can accommodate a larger number of parked cars. This would go a long way in easing the congestion on the road as cars, hoping to find parking spots, would be able to locate the same more easily. The current side has too many establishments and gates that reduce the number of cars that can be parked. NG Khan, B Baruah Road, Guwahati

In Focus

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Amborish Saikia

Guitarist

mborish Saikia, a famed guitarist from Guwahati who has made his mark in the international circuit with his music, believes that music runs in the blood of northeast Indians. Born in Nagaon, Amborish shifted to Guwahati early in his childhood to complete his schooling from Disneyland High School. After matriculation, he pursued higher secondary from Faculty Higher Secondary School, North Guwahati. Post higher secondary, he enrolled himself in Gauhati Commerce College and further got his MBA Degree from IMT, Ghaziabad with Operations as his major subject. Belonging to a family of musicians, Amborish was introduced to the world of music at a very early age. “Everyone in my family, especially on my mother’s side, knows how to sing, play an instrument or are good listeners of music. So music was always there in the air! I started learning to play the guitar when I was in class 5 or so. I also learnt to play the tabla,” Amborish said in a candid interview with G Plus. As a child, Amborish also played table tennis, cricket and learnt karate, swimming, etc.

To provide a brief background of Amborish, he has been part of bands like Euphoria, Gibson, Megadeth and Machine Head, to name a few. He has also performed live in multiple countries such as USA, UAE, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Nepal and featured in popular TV shows like MTV Unplugged and VH1. Walking us through his career and musical journey, Amborish said, “I started teaching guitar when I was in Class 10. Apart from that, I formed a band named Voodoo Child along with my friends in 2002 and that’s when I started playing professionally. In my journey, I have been associated with many bands and performed with various artists. To name a few, I formed a band called Casino Blue and won the best band category in an all India music competition held in Mumbai beating around 230 bands. I had the privilege of being an opening artist for various international bands such as Smokie, Megadeth, Machinehead etc. I also have been endorsed by popular guitar giants Gibson (USA).” Amborish is most popular for being the lead guitarist of Euphoria, a popular Indian rock band

put up by Palash Sen. The turning point in Amborish’s life came when he was doing a show with his band Voodoo Child at Delhi in 2010. It was during a show at Delhi, when members of Euphoria band spotted him and gave him the opportunity to join their band. He took up this opportunity, and since then there has been no looking back. He’s been associated with Euphoria ever since. The popular guitarist started performing with KK as a session guitar player in 2014 and has been associated with the Bollywood artist ever since. He has also done gigs with Papon, the heartthrob of Assam. He’s currently associated with the Abhishruti Bezbaruah Project, bands like Late Too Soon, Mo n The Shooting Stars and he’s also working on an upcoming Assamese project. Talking about his experience of performing at various national and international platforms with various artists, Amborish says, “Every place and every stage has its own uniqueness. When I see the crowd enjoying the show and dancing to my tunes, I feel like I’m experiencing the best moment of my life!” While most guitarists shift to Mumbai to explore new oppor-

tunities, Amborish stays in Guwahati and travels to other cities and countries every time a project comes up. He is probably the only musician who stays in Guwahati and travels to places. He says, “My biggest achievement as a guitarist is the immense love, respect and support that I’ve received in my journey.” Northeast India is all about music. In fact, music forms an integral part of the lives of the people here. Talking to G Plus, Amborish shared his thoughts on the current scene of rock music in northeast India saying, “I have always been proud of the northeast and its musicians. This part of the country has undoubtedly produced the finest musicians. Rock music seems like a synonym to northeast – people of this area really do relate to the music and understand it well.” Indeed, this region has produced some of the finest rock bands of the country, some of which are doing astoundingly well in Bollywood as well as individual sectors. Amborish has a long list of famed artists he wishes to work with including the likes of Yanni, Pink Floyd, Jason Mraz and John Mayor. Amborish Saikia, who has made a mark in the national and international music scene as a

versatile guitarist, recently started his own music institute in Guwahati. Named as the Institute of Guitar Fundamentals, the institute provides an opportunity for musicians to learn the different nuances of guitar. Speaking to G Plus about the inception of the institute, Amborish said, “The main purpose of opening the institute is to share the knowledge and experiences that I have gathered in my journey to others and to guide them in their musical ventures.”

Is the delay in the city water supply project truly due to lack of public cooperation as alleged by Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Programme (AUIIP)? Manash Pratim Bharadwaj People of Guwahati have patience the way they have tolerated all the drama of laying pipes over and over again and removing them and again relaying them since the last few years only in the hope that they will get pure drinking water piped directly to their homes. Have you seen the condition of the lanes and by-lanes (not to speak of the main roads only)? People have dug the hell out of the roads and it’s impossible to even walk properly on them, forget riding a two-wheeler or driving a four-wheeler. So please stop passing the buck and instead try to complete the project strictly by 31st December 2018. Debodeep Chaki What about the minimum cooperation expected from the government? Better roads after completion of task. In one area, during rainy season, people died from electrocution. Is this the way the government is cooperating? NO! It is easy to allege that lack of cooperation from common people is leading to delay but are they even doing the minimal work that they need to do for the society? This is the 21st century and people still have to rely on water suppliers. Anurag Chakraborty It is wrong to blame the people of the respective areas in order to hide your own incompetency. No one takes into account the problems that the residents faced while the pipe laying works was being undertaken in different parts of the city. Such things are not new to us.

Vikash Khemka Brahmaputra flowing by the city and yet people have to shell out hefty sums of money on drinking water every day. What a shame! A complete nexus exists between the department and these water suppliers. Why such laid back attitude? With so many developments coming up why such things still prevail in a city like Guwahati? It’s the responsibility AUIIP to solve these issues as soon as possible. Rajdeep Mazumder Such a lame excuse. The public of Guwahati are so tolerant. These departments lay pipes and then they make roads after removing the pipes and then again new pipes are laid. This is continuing over and over again. In my locality, the pipes were laid and when the road was made, they were removed. The pipes are yet to be laid. Firstly, they don’t have a proper planning and secondly, they hardly work with sincerity. Dubori Deka I feel that the government swung into action quite late and should have terminated the errant contractors long ago. There should be a time limit given to the contractors after which they should be terminated in case of non-performance. The government must also conduct a proper background check before hiring contractors for any type of public works and especially in projects which directly have an impact on the lives of the residents.

Feature

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Natundanga: A culinary tourist destination near KNP

Nehal jain

Indulge yourself in ethnic culinary experience the next time you visit Kaziranga National Park

first-of-its-kind ‘Ethnic Culinary Tourism Enterprise’ has been set up on the fringes of Kaziranga National Park to add the flavour of authentic ethnic cuisine amidst the wildlife experience. Visitors of Kaziranga National Park can now indulge in ethnic culinary experience amidst the peaceful surroundings of a Karbi village where they can savour the taste of authentic dishes like Dry Fish Powder (Hukoti), Dry Fish (Oakreng), Pha-ok Pen Hanserong (Pork cooked in roselle leaves), Pha-ok Pen Kimung (Pork cooked in bamboo tubes) and Go-ok Pen Kemung (Chicken cooked in bamboo tubes). What is interesting about traditional Karbi food is that they’re prepared without oil and spices – sesame seed powder replaces oil and naturally grown herbs like Lopong leaves are used instead of spices. The Karbi community is dependent on bamboo and that is reflected in their cooking.

an “Ethnic food and hospitality training programme” where the villagers were provided training to prepare their own food in a much more organised manner. They were taught to maintain hygiene, prepare menus keeping a consistency in the quantity served. They were also trained in providing service and hospitality to the guests. The “Ethnic food and hospitality training programme” was designed by Mitali Gogoi Datta, a Guwahati-based food blogger and Assamese food expert. She first visited the village in November to taste the food and know the traditional culture of the village. She found that the food was bland and it would be very difficult to bring tourists to eat such plain food. But she did see potential for improvement. So she came back to Guwahati, researched about Karbi food, learnt to cook those dishes properly by taking cooking sessions from a city-based restaurateur who serves Karbi food and then went back to Natundanga to provide

Natundanga is important from the conservation perspective as it lies in a crucial connectivity zone – the Amguri wildlife corridor that links Kaziranga with Bagser Reserve Forest, Nagaon, and also the adjoining forested areas of Karbi Anglong. Natundanga is one of the four identified corridors that connect Kaziranga to Karbi Anglong. It provides a second home to Kaziranga’s wildlife, especially during floods. WWF recognized that the contribution of local communities is essential to attain a model of conservation in the area. It formed eco development committees (EDCs) to attain a model of conservation that is inclusive and successful.

hygiene and hospitality. On the second day, the EDC members themselves prepared the menu under Mitali Dutta’s supervision, on the lines of the training received the previous day. The officials from the Kaziranga National Park and district administration, Assam Tourism and members of the nearest EDCs were invited for the food tasting, as this was a good way to give the Natundanga enterprise some exposure, as well as a demo on how to conduct themselves around tourists. The government officials were highly impressed by the hospitality shown by the villagers. They said that the enterprise has massive potential provided it is publicised and

Mitali G. Datta provining training to the women

Karbi people cooking their traditional cuisine on bamboo The culinary tourism enterprise is a collaborative approach by World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India, Kaziranga National Park and EcoDevelopment Committees in Natudanga, a Karbi village situated in Nagaon district of Assam. With the aim to perceive food as a means to make the villages selfsustainable, WWF organised

the village women the proper training. “Local cuisine is often much sought after by tourists as it adds freshness and provides a wholesome experience to a traveller in a foreign land. Food is the best way to showcase one’s culture and I believe that there is massive potential to promote ethnic culinary tourism in Natundanga,” said Mitali.

Talking to G Plus about the initiative, Dr Pranab Bora, senior co-ordinator, WWF-India said, “The local communities that inhabit the fringes of the Park play a very big role in conservation. But, only if the villagers are economically stable, will they continue to protect the ecosystem. If the economic situation of a village isn’t good, they tend to destroy the natural ecosystem by causing harm to the wildlife and adapting to detrimental acts of poaching and deforestation as a source of earning.” A group of 18 members of Natundanga EDC participated in the training programme. The first day of the event involved intensive training on preparation of commercially saleable Karbi food, with an emphasis on taste, presentation,

marketed correctly. Moreover, they saw a direct linkage between the success of the enterprise and the continued success of conservation as the financial stability of Natundanga EDC will go a long way in securing their support for conservation.

Mangal Teron, President of Natundunga EDC, and a man of few words exclaimed, “I’m very hopeful that WWF-India will continue to extend their support and guidance to further develop the culinary tourism in the village.”

Food is the best way to showcase one’s culture and I believe that there is massive potential to promote ethnic culinary tourism in Natundanga” Mitali G Datta The village had tried to take up a similar initiative back in 2010, but without proper guidance and support it had crashed. The then enterprise received no footfall from tourists and the spirit of the womenfolk broke. But this year they’re hopeful that the enterprise will be a success due to the guidance provided by WWF and the support shown by the district administration and Kaziranga National park authorities. Moina Togbipi, a local Karbi woman, said, “Earlier, we didn’t know about preparing menus and we weren’t really confident about preparing Karbi food for tourists. However, now we feel confident and proud of our food. We’re eager to prepare ethnic food for tourists who n come to visit Kaziranga.”

Participants of the training programme strike a pose with the organisers

Trotter

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Frozen eyelashes, thermometer burst at Oymyakon, Siberia

t Oymyakon in Siberia - one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on earth - temperatures have reached such record-breaking lows that people’s eyelashes have frozen and thermometers have broken. Reportedly, a new electronic thermometer in the village recorded temperatures as low as minus 62 degrees Celsius. And then

it broke because it was too cold! The thermometer was installed Oymyakon as a tourist attraction. It malfunctioned this week. A picture going viral on social media also shows a woman, Anastasia Gruzdeva, with icy, frozen eyelashes in what looks like a scene straight out of Disney’s Frozen. According to a local daily, some residents of Oymyakon

have recorded temperatures as low as minus 67 degrees Celsius. To put that in perspective, minus 67.7 degrees Celsius has been the coldest-ever officially recorded for a permanently inhabited settlement anywhere in the world, and the frostiest in the northern hemisphere. That temperature was recorded in Oymyakon itself, back in 1993. Many others on social media have also shared pictures of their own ice-covered eyelashes and frozen faces at Oymyakon. The village sits 750 metres above sea level and the length of its days varies from three hours in December to 21 hours in summer. It has about 500 permanent residents. Other problems that come with living in the coldest occupied place on earth include glasses freezing on people’s faces, pen ink freezing and batteries losing power. (Source: ndtv)

driver was not driving parallel to the divider; instead it was coming from a side street and slammed into the median, much like a T-bone crash. The impact sent the car into the air and into the small office building. Horner said a small fire was immediately extin-

guished. Two people were in the car. One managed to get out, while the other one was trapped inside for more than an hour as authorities used a heavy piece of equipment to stabilize the vehicle, Horner said. Both were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Horner said he does not have any more information of the occupants, but Santa Ana police said the driver admitted to having used narcotics. Fire officials used a crane to pull the vehicle out of the building and bring it down, Horner said. The second floor, which is a storage space for files, suffered minor damage, he said. (Source: dailypost)

Indian restaurant delivers curry to France in private plane

he Akash Restaurant from Hampshire, UK, flew their chicken phall curry all the way to France in a chartered private plane. The 500 mile journey for pilot James Emery, an expat living in Bordeaux, France, and his friends, took place recently. Their order included a total of 89 meals, 70 side dishes, 75 portions of rice, 100 poppadoms and 10 servings of mango chutney from their favourite Indian restaurant. On their Facebook page, The Akash Restaurant shared many videos of the curry being flown off to France. “I would complain about the

bland and uninspiring version of Indian food we get in France,” said Emery. Faz Ahmed from The Akash Restaurant said they still honoured the business’s policy of free delivery on orders over 12 pounds, reports a local daily. (Source: hindustantimes)

Portuguese village encourages children to smoke 1 day Flying car gets stuck in dentist’s 2nd floor office a year for Epiphany festival

he phrase “crashing into a building” took on a new meaning when a car in Southern California hit a centre divider, went airborne and ploughed into the second floor of a dentist’s office.

Images taken by the local fire department show the white sedan partially wedged into the building, its rear exposed as it tilted to one side. Capt. Stephen Horner, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, said officials received a call about a crash in Santa Ana, California, at about 5:30 am. The car was travelling at high speed when it hit the concrete median. Horner said the

Japan invents barking train to scare Sika deer from tracks

apanese train researchers have developed new technology they hope will scare animals, specifically deer, away from railroad tracks. The system will mimic barking sounds from dogs and snorting sounds from deer to prevent train-animal collisions on the tracks. Testing from researchers at Tokyo’s Railway Technical Research Institute suggests

it may be successful. Its use in early trials correlated with a 45 percent reduction in deer sightings from the train every 100 kilometres. The tests included 3-second blares of deer snorts and 20-second recordings of dog barks. Japan set its national record in 2016 for trip suspensions and delays of at least 30 minutes because of animal collisions. There were 613 of those cases

that year, 185 more than there were in 2015. The creators hope for a launch date no later than March 2019. “We hope to finish it into a system that works in mountainous areas and elsewhere so railroad companies will want to introduce it,” an official from the institute told The Asahi Shimbun. (Source: dailymail)

cross the globe people have spent the weekend marking the Christian festival of Epiphany with traditions like outdoor swimming, festive cakes and singing. But in a small village in northern Portugal, marking the revelation of God incarnate in part means encouraging children as young as five to try cigarettes. The tradition in Vale do Salgueiro is not thought to exist elsewhere, and while kids have lit up for as long as the population can remember, no-one seems to have any idea where it came from or what it is meant to symbolise. “Only those who live and are raised here can truly understand the meaning of this tradition,” village parish president Carlos Cadavez said. He explained that his 10-year-old daughter Luisa would likely smoke two to three packets of cigarettes during the days of the celebration, a number he did not suggest was unusual in the town. “I don’t ask for people to understand, it is not easy to do so. Anyone might think we are not good,” he said, pointing to a photograph in which a group of children proudly dragged on their

ash-tipped smokes. Jose Ribeirinha, who has written a book on the Vale do Salgueiro festivities, said the village’s relative geographical isolation meant it had likely held on to older traditions. “Normally traditions tend to disappear when there’s many people together,” he said, adding that the village is in an area of Portugal far from Lisbon and known as the “forgotten one”. Recently, the village’s children tentatively tried cigarettes given to them by parents with what appeared to be a mixture of pride and excitement. “Yes, I did give it. I can’t explain why,” Guilhermina Mateus, a local coffee shop owner, said. “I don’t see any harm in that because they don’t really smoke, they inhale and immediately exhale, of course. (Source: globalnews)

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Review

Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Mandira Bedi Director: Kushal Srivastava

T vie Mo view Re

Vodka Diaries

hey say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the title of this psychological thriller is detrimental. It’s worse when you discover that Vodka Diaries does not refer to an alcohol-induced catalogue of suspense and drama, but is in fact the name of a hotel and nightclub in Manali. Yet none of this matters really because Vaibhav Bajpai’s script is in fact following ACP Ashwini Dixit (Kay Kay Menon). So committed is Dixit to his uniform and duty that he often neglects his poet wife, Shikha (Mandira Bedi). But when a series of murders that occur on the same snowy night are all linked

to Vodka Diaries, the mystery becomes too much for Dixit and the idyllic mountain-town to handle. Dixit’s sidekick Ankit (Sharib Hashmi) is also too much for the audience to handle. It’s incomprehensible why he is cracking inappropriate jokes in the middle of a grisly murder investigation. If you have watched enough films of the genre (Shutter Island, Mr. Robot, Fight Club, etc) you can figure out one big plot twist within the first few minutes. It’s no surprise that ACP Dixit is unable to get a grip on the plot either, because the plot of 'Vodka Diaries' was already lost. n

Cast: Arbaaz Khan,Manjari Phadnis,Ashmit Patel,Mahek Chahal,Mukul Dev Director: Pradeep Rangwani, Subroto Paul

irdosh, directed by Pradeep Rangwani and Subroto Paul is an idiotic and cheap thriller that doesn’t have a good plot, and has even less acting. Starring Arbaaz Khan, Manjari Fadnis, Amish Patel and Maheck Chahal, it is the story of an inspector Lokhande, who is investigating a murder. The story, such as it is, isn’t very good, and the performances are so bad that people are likely to get angry as to why the movie was made. Arbaaz Khan, the least talented from the Khan brothers, seriously wants to become the next cool inspector, and he tries, but

he isn’t talented enough, nor is the character particularly interesting. Directors Pradeep and Subroto are clearly inept in making the movie interesting so some of the actions scenes are particularly laughable. So is the dialogue delivery. There are multiple characters in the movie, and none of them are sketched as human begins. They’re just written to serve the poor plot. Cinematography by Arun Prasad is very bad, as it is not able to create a tense environment and instated leans on the clichéd dank and dark shadow like lighting. It’d be best to avoid this one. n

Gadget Review

Samsung Galaxy On7 Prime

amsung has launched the Galaxy On7 Prime in the sub-Rs. 15,000 price segment in India. The smartphone is reminiscent of the Galaxy J7 Prime but differs in a few ways. The highlight of the smartphone is it comes preloaded with ‘Make for India’ Samsung Mall. Samsung claims it to be a revolutionary new way to shop by clicking an image of a product on the smartphone, finding out the best online deals and pay-as-you-go.

Display and design

The Galaxy On7 Prime continues to feature a metal unibody design that looks and feel just as premium as the Redmi Note 4. elow the display, there’s a physical home button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor. On either side of the home button are navigation keys. Like most of Samsung’s phones, the power button is on the right side, and the two volume buttons are on the left side. On the bottom of the

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AM, 01:30 PM, 07:35 PM Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle 10:20 AM, 06:05 PM Mukkabaaz 12:00 PM, 05:35 PM 1921 12:20 PM 12 STRONG 12:55 PM, 04:45 PM, 08:30 PM Nirdosh 03:10 PM, 08:45 PM Vodka Diaries 03:20 PM, 05:55 PM Kaalakaandi 03:45 PM Insidious: The Last Key 08:35 PM

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Gold Cinema Paltan Bazaar 09854066166 Nirdosh phone is a micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Both the variants of the Galaxy On7 Prime are available in two colours: Graphite Black and Champagne Gold.

Specifications

The Galaxy On7 Prime has a 5.5-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution display. This is a regular LCD screen and not a Super AMOLED one. It is powered by a 1.59GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor coupled with either 3GB or 4GB RAM (depending on which model you end up buying). There is also microSD card support, and you have a choice of 32GB or 64GB storage capacities. The Galaxy On7 Prime comes with a pretty sizable 3300mAh battery, which should last a day on a single charge. Unfortunately, the Galaxy On7 Prime doesn’t come with

Nirdosh 11:00 AM, 08:00 PM

Android 8.0 Oreo, running instead of the older Android 7.0 Nougat.

Camera

Targeting millennials, the device has a 13MP rear camera with f/1.9 and LED flash, and a

13MP front camera with f/1.9. The primary camera does not seem to impress, making

Tiger Zinda Hai 05:00 PM

Vodka Diaries 11:00 AM, 05:30 PM Nirdosh 01:15 PM Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle 03:15 PM Tiger Zinda Hai 06:15 PM, 08:00 PM

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some shots unusable. The auto-focus can also be a bit off sometimes, which is another issue with the camera.

Early verdict

While the Galaxy On7 Prime might not be a notable change from the company’s past phones in the mid-end segment, it can be said that the company did a great job by installing something like the Samsung Mall app. Seeing the Galaxy On7 Prime and Samsung Mall together is interesting. However, whether that combination works is another question. n

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Entertainment

“People should have the courage to dream big,” says supermodel Dipannita Sharma

imple, chirpy and beautiful Dipannita Sharma has always been best known for her height. There’s been no looking back for this Axom’r jiyori ever since she was adjudged the ‘Miss Photogenic’ in the Miss India Contest 1998. Dipannita was recently in town not to grace any fashion show, but for the launch of her debut Assamese movie ‘Xoixobote Dhemalite’ by acclaimed director Bidyut Kotoky. The film that stars Victor Banerjee, Dipannita Sharma, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam, Nipon Goswami and Nikumoni Barua amongst others, has been winning awards and hearts all around the globe. The film, as Dipannita shares, gives away the beautiful message ‘Dream Big’ which she holds relevant to each of our lives. Dipannita, who has grown up in Duliajan, Naharkatia and Guwahati, was one

of the first few women of the state to establish herself in the glamorous world of Mumbai. Her journey from being a small town girl to a popular name on the Page 3 industry was not easy. She holds the message of the film close to her heart which convinced her to make her entry into the Assamese film industry. “People should have the courage to dream big. It’s okay if you fall 100 times, the 101st attempt might be the success,” she said. The film is based on the life of children growing up in violent places of Assam in the

1980s, witnessing brutality around them and how it affects them deeply, leaving an indelible mark on their growth. It has an emotional depth that cuts across geographical barriers because the story could very well have been a story of children in a conflict zone from any part of the world. Renowned actor Victor Banerjee plays the role of Dipannita’s father in the movie. On the other hand, Dipannita plays the character of a mother who is simple and full of warmth for her children. She’d be seen in very simple mekhela chadors

Interesting sidelight from “Xoixobote Dhemalite”

The movie which revolves around a universal subject is deep and people can easily connect with the story. Tempted by the storyline, an artist from Dubai, Jani Viswanath went on to fund Rs 10 lakh for the film. Crossing the barriers of language and culture, for the first time ever, an Assamese movie has been able to make such an impact. As Jani wonderfully put it in words, “How does it matter if I am not an Assamese? I am a human being. I see things and stories from a human perspective, not anything else.”

Jatin Bora’s dream project ‘Ratnakar’

and without a tinge of make up in the movie. With a spark of joy and pride in her eyes, she goes on to say, “I might be a model settled in Mumbai but I am always a simple Assamese girl at heart.” Movies such as ‘16 December’, ‘Dil Vil Pyar Vyar’, ‘Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl’ are some of the successful movies where the model has acted against established actors of the industry. Unlike her experience so far, in ‘Xoixobote Dhemalite’ her role is pitted against children. She calls them “the real actors.” The children were selected after Bidyut Kotoky con-

Development) Corporation, Bora recently announced his second directorial venture with a film produced by himself and Navanita Sharma Bora under the banner of JB Production. The film is titled “Ratnakar…Moromor Notun Akhyan.” The story-screenplay and dialogues of the film have been penned by Abhijit Bhattacharya. Popular Assamese film actress Barsha Rani Bishaya will work opposite Bora himself in the film, whereas the other artists will be finalized soon. The cinematography of the film will be done by Pradip Daimary, music will be scored by Zubeen Garg,

Jatin Sharma and Ajay Phukan, choreography will be done by Deepak Dey, Uday Shankar and Pankaj Ingti. The film’s chief assistant director is Achinta Shankar. Bora said, “After acting in around 50 Assamese and other language films, I want to make my dream project. Earlier, in my first film, I could not give 100 percent effort because of inexperience. But now I am armed with experience. I am confident that Assam will get a good entertaining film.” He also added that the filming will start from April next. The film will be shot at various locations of Assam, Meghalaya and Rajasthan. n

ducted rounds of auditions across the city. The movie has been shot in a beautiful and serene village of Gerukamukh near Lakhimpur. n

Teaser, trailer and music launch of “Ajanite Mone Mone”

Kalyan Kumar kalita

e entered Assamese films with a minor role in ‘Kolahal’ but he officially debuted in Abdul Majid’s ‘Uttarkal’ in 1989. The success of this film made him a star of Assamese cinema. Thereafter, he worked in several commercially successful Assamese films with various directors. Jatin Bora has completed almost three decades in Assamese films and 15 years in Assamese mobile theatre, becoming the most popular hero in the industry. Bora, who began his directorial career in 2006 with a film called “Adhinayak” starring Nishita Goswami, is back with another venture after 11 long years. Presently the chairman of Assam State Film (Finance and

Chandrika Das

he city witnessed the launch of teaser, trailer and music release the film “Ajanite Mone Mone” on December 18 last. Produced by Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Assam and directed by noted film director Upakul Bordoloi under Ratna Productions, the full length Assamese film revolves around the central theme of sanitation. Hrishikesh Goswami, media advisor to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal released the teaser, trailer poster and music of the film at Madhavadev International Auditorium, Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakhetra, Guwahati. The event was attended by dignitaries like Dr Siddharth Singh, Mission Director, Saumya Kumar Baruah, Chief Engineer, PHE (Sanitation), Pratul Choudhury, State Co-ordinator, Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Assam and VB Pyarelal, Additional Chief Secretary, GoA to name a few. “Ajanite Mone Mone” aims to strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission movement by creating awareness amongst the masses and fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards complete Swachhata in India. Talking about the film, director Upakul Bordoloi said, “It is not a documentary. It’s a full length feature film revolving around the central theme of Swachhata Abhiyan. Renowned actors like Sunita Kaushik, Raag Oinitom and Baharul Islam have acted in the movie. Zubeen Garg has lent his voice for one of the songs. The film is slated to release on 9th March 2018 in 45 theatres across Assam.” He also requested everyone to watch the film. n

Fun

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Horoscope of the week Something you’ve desired for a long time could come to fruition this week. Or you might have an opportunity to get moving on a plan or business idea that could be very lucrative. Still, it would help to keep your feet on the ground and not have too many expectations. With lovely Venus entering your sector of far horizons on January 17, followed by the sun on January 19, you could feel moved to research travel options or anything else that lets you unwind.

Connecting with or working alongside others can be a very positive and lucrative experience. With a sparkling aspect between lively Jupiter and intense Pluto, much can be accomplished when you team up with others on your wavelength. And the new moon in your sector of relating can help any endeavor get off to the best possible start. As the week progresses, your attention could shift to business affairs and financial matters, and you might be ready to sort out any key issues.

This week, you might be ready to take a step forward toward a health or work goal that you have been researching for some time. The willingness to do so will certainly be there, and combined with a new moon, you can get things off to the best possible start. This could be an especially busy time, but there is a shift in focus from January 17, when luscious Venus enters your sector of relating, followed by the sun on January 19. This could see you enjoying more social activities.

Romance, creativity, and leisure activities seem to be a major focus. This week, though, a very special aspect could see you acting on an idea whose time has come. This might be a creative opportunity that takes your business or work to a new level, and so it could be very important to you. With a new moon urging you on, this could be one of the best times to make your move. From January 17, health and fitness could also be a priority.

The coming week could see you forging ahead with a major plan on the home front. The new moon in Capricorn can be a great asset in this regard, so it would certainly be worth taking that first step. At the same time, it would be helpful to keep your feet on the ground and be mindful of costs. As the focus shifts to your sector of leisure and pleasure on January 17, you can get great enjoyment from creative hobbies and romantic opportunities.

Your mind may be working overtime, but this could be the reason that so many opportunities are now showing up for you. One could become a priority when benevolent Jupiter aligns with potent Pluto in your sector of communication this week. The new moon in this same zone encourages you to share your plans with others to get the support you need. However, the focus shifts to home and family affairs on January 17. It’s time to indulge in some self-care and pampering.

An idea that may have come to you in a dream or as an intuitive nudge seems to take on greater importance this week. With expansive Jupiter, your guide planet, aligning with powerful Pluto, this can be an opportunity to take things to the next level by thinking about how you can make it a reality. The new moon in your personal financial zone can help you kick-start this process. Communication and interaction become important from January 17, with some sterling encounters opening new doors for you.

The week ahead could be a turning point for you, with a wonderful aspect between adventurous Jupiter and intense Pluto paving the way for positive developments. There is also a new moon in your sign encouraging you to step out and act. As it’s the best moon of the year for you, using it to help you fulfill a dream can bring the rewards you’re hoping for, especially at this auspicious time. From January 17, money and finances could become more of a priority.

Listening to your gut feelings can be the way ahead this week, particularly if you’re about to launch a major project. As positive Jupiter aligns with fervent Pluto, your instincts could play a big part in how matters unfold. Also, there is a very positive focus as luscious Venus and the sun move into your sign on January 17 and January 19, respectively. This can feel like a rebirth and a chance to get going on other projects that have been on the back burner.

Your social life continues to be busy, and you seem to be deriving so much enjoyment from it. This week brings a golden opportunity to bring a dream to life, especially if you collaborate with friends or others on your wavelength. A new moon in your sector of friendship means this could be the perfect time to kick-start such a project. The focus shifts to a more secluded sector of your chart on January 17. The coming four weeks are a time to relax and reflect.

By what name is Dhanpat Rai more famous to us?

If you are having Pork Pandi curry which part of India are you in?

What is the family motto of James Bond?

Which iconic Indian product, now made in Ghaziabad and earlier made in Kasaul, was first launched on December 19th, 1954?

What is the breed of ‘The Dog’, shown here? Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau

3 9 2 4 9

5 2 9 4 6 3 5 4 1 8 2 2 2 8 4 7 6 8 6 8 2 4 6 37 5 4 5 1 4 9 8 34 5 3 9 3 4 26 8 Daily Sudoku: 9 Thu 6 18-Jan-2018 7 medium Daily Sudoku: Thu 11-Jan-2018

very hard

last week solution 5 4 1 6 7 96 38 62 1 3 5 7 3 9 8 6 8 2 7 4 3 7 9 34 61 45 8 2 75 16 87 3 2 9 8 4 3 6 1 2 5 9 7 4 4 5 69 82 51 9 1 2 5 4 9 7 1 7 2 5 6 5 4 43 97 38 2 8 Daily 1 Sudoku: 9 Thu 6 18-Jan-2018 2 8

8 52 49 21

3 48 15 37

9 94 26 65

2 77 51 89

85 94 42 96 71 53 74 82 37 13 69 88

16 28 63 34

67 26 11 95 3 5 7 medium 4

Daily Sudoku: Thu 11-Jan-2018

very hard

Word of the week Pseud noun [sood] A person of fatuously earnest intellectual, artistic, or social pretensions.

Crossword

Earlier it was said to be Ray Manzarek, now it is Adnan Sami What are we talking about?

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

curio-city

1 9

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

1. He is the famous author Munshi Premchand 2. Coorg in Karnataka 3. The world is not enough 4. The fastest keyboards player in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records 5. Old Monk rum 6. Wire Fox terrier

curio-city

Sudoku

You seem to be able to accomplish so much when you join forces with others. This week, a very dynamic aspect involving upbeat Jupiter and intense Pluto could see you taking a step forward that has positive consequences for the future. And with a sizzling new moon encouraging you to leave your comfort zone, things are certainly looking good. A shift in focus to your sector of goals and ambitions on January 17 could mean that you’re ready to take on new responsibilities.

Things seem to be progressing well for you, and this trend continues over this week with a sterling set of influences aiding your journey to success. Now can be an opportunity to make that big push you’ve been dreaming of, especially as the new moon is perfectly placed to aid you in your quest and help your plans blossom. There is a shift to a lighter and more easygoing zone that encourages you to socialize and enjoy mingling with others, which can be beneficial.

Across

Down

1 Raptor — one in favour of aggressive policies (4) 3 Sin City, USA (3,5) 8 Fishing rod attachment (4) 9 Amount (8) 11 Short movement between major parts of a symphony (10) 14 Glacial epoch (3,3) 15 American country gaining independence from Spain in 1810 (6) 17 Bag handles (anag) — Commonwealth country (10) 20 Cross (8) 21 Large ethnic group from eastern South Africa (4) 22 Think deeply (8) 23 Bunch of openers? (4)

1 Atrocious (8) 2 Grappler (8) 4 Awareness (6) 5 From Caracas? (10) 6 Hold tightly (4) 7 Vegetable with very high protein (4) 10 Practical type (10) 12 Paid job with minimal work — insecure (anag) (8) 13 Flared trousers worn with riding boots (8) 16 Selfish type (6) 18 Swindle (4) 19 Square (abbr) (4)

Last week’s solution

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Lifestyle

Meditation and Insomnia

re you having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you wake up feeling un-refreshed? Perhaps you’ve noticed that your ability to function effectively is diminished or that you’re feeling tired and irritable a lot of the time. You may be suffering from insomnia. Short-term or transient insomnia is quite common and usually resolves by itself. However, insomnia is considered chronic if it persists beyond a few weeks. Can meditation help in dealing with both transient and chronic insomnia? The answer is a resounding yes! There is an abundance of evidence that regular meditation can improve sleep patterns, often dramatically. Research indicates that an overly aroused sympathetic nervous system is an important causative factor in chronic insomnia. It follows that practices that reduce nervous system arousal, such as meditation, can be very effective

in relieving insomnia. However, these practices are not intended as band-aid solutions for insomnia or any oth-

er problem. For insomnia treatment, we recommend undertaking self study to identify the factors that are behind the problem. Maybe you are stressed out at work, having relationship difficulties, or are worried about a sick relative. While you may not be able to change external situations in your life, you can definitely change your reaction to the stress factors. Let’s have a look at some of the things you can do.

Practice Sahaj Samadhi Meditation

Sahaj Samadhi meditation is an effortless practice using a primordial sound or mantra. This technique leads to very deep states of relaxation and is a wonderful antidote to stress, tension, fatigue, and negative emotional states. If done for 20 minutes twice a day, morning and afternoon/early evening, it balances the nervous system and provides deeper rest than deep sleep. It is during these periods of deep rest that the body/mind is able to heal itself and reverse the physiological, biochemical, and emotional impact of stress.

Turn on a Guided Meditation

Guided meditations can also greatly help in insomnia cure. Guided meditation CDs are available in the Art of Living Divine Shops. These include Shanti Meditation, Panchakosha Meditation, Om Meditation, and Hari Om Meditation. You could also do a guided meditation online.

Let ‘Yogic Sleep’ lead you to sleep peacefully

Yogic sleep (also called Yoga Nidra), where we systematically take our awareness to different parts of the body while lying down, is also a great boon to insomnia sufferers, especially if practiced just before sleep. Before embarking on a practice, please seek the help of an experienced meditation teacher, who can provide specific advice tailored to your situation.

Do Alternate-Nostril Breathing and Breathe Observation Meditation

Just before sleep, sit comfortably on your bed and take some smooth breaths. Let your left hand rest palm up on your thigh and bring your right hand up to your nose. Gently rest the index and middle fingers of your right hand above and between the eyebrows. Relax your right shoulder and arm. Exhale gently through both nostrils and then inhale through the left while blocking your right nostril with your thumb. Blocking your left nostril with the ring finger gently, exhale slowly through the right nostril. Now inhale through the right and exhale through the left. This is one round. After a couple of rounds, in a very relaxed manner, measure the

duration of your inhalation and exhalation. Adjust your breath so that the exhalation is about twice as long as your inhalation. To achieve this, you may need to shorten your inhalation rather than lengthening your exhalation. It is important not to strain. Let the breath be very smooth and comfortably slow. After about five minutes, finish the ongoing round and relax. Now turn your attention to your natural breath. Give more focus to the outgoing breath. Easily and without effort, be aware of the outgoing breath and the natural pause at the end of the exhalation. Don’t deliberately attempt to change the naturally occurring pattern of the breath in any way. Whenever your mind wanders— which it will—very gently bring it back to the exhalation. Don’t try to concentrate or be concerned if your mind is quite busy. Continue for 5 minutes up to a maximum of 10 minutes and then relax. Lie down and enjoy the peaceful feeling. You can also use alternate-nostril breathing if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.

shri shri ravi shankar

Founder- Art of Living Foundation.

Interior design trends: enhancing beauty of the house Nehal jain

nterior designing is the art and science of enhancing the interiors of a space or building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the end user. And, in certain manners, it is similar to the fashion industry — colors, fabrics, prints, and accessories go in and out of style. As the weather shifts, trends also shift and thus there is no harm in making one or two changes in our houses as well. Here’s what we predict will be “in” and “out”. Of course, remember to choose what you love, regardless of what might be in style.

Let’s roll with what is ‘out’! 1. All-White Interiors

Are you one of those who

crave more color? You’re in luck this season! Interiors are (finally) moving away from the boring allwhite and grey.

2. Marble

A few marble touches here and there is acceptable and pleasing to the eye. But, marble everywhere is a little too much, making us a bit tired of the trend.

3. Copper Home Accessories

In recent years, markets have been flooded with super shiny and obviously fake copper accessories, making the whole concept of copper home accessories outdated.

4. Generic Furniture

Bland furniture sets are out of trend now. Nowadays, people are

mixing and matching furniture to achieve an amazing and unique look.

Now, here’s what’s ‘in’ in the field of interior designing! 1. Velvet

Can you think of anything more soothing than velvet, I can’t! The specialty of this fabric is that it feels luxurious when combined with rough natural textures and smooth metals and ceramics. Visual interest and coziness comes along with it.

2. Brass

Brass is considered as the new copper, especially when incorporated into furniture in an overt way.

3. Dark Paint

Forget classic white and gray. This year, bring along with it some drama! With the changing leaves of the season, dark colors are setting in.

4. Terra Cotta Tile

Terra cotta tiles are making their comeback. And, in one or the other way,

they never left. You can also incorporate the classic earthenware to add warmth and character to your home.

5. Rounded furniture

Are you one those who wish furniture were a bit more squared? To excite you, no more hard edges from now on. These are some of the latest trends in interior design industry. If you like any of these then do incorporate them in your checklist.

Buzz

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Delhi University takes initiative to attract NE students

iming to attract more students from northeast to Delhi University, a special cell of the varsity will reach out to schools in the north-eastern states to educate them about the university’s admission process, scheduled to begin this April. “DU admissions committee has decided to have a special cell for northeast and conduct a drive to meet students and principals in the region to educate them about the process of DU admissions,” Maharaj K Pandit, who heads the committee, said.

“The cell will also monitor nodal officers in every college to assist students from northeast,” he said. The 47-member panel held its first meeting for the 2018-19 academic session in Delhi on Monday, January 15. The university also announced 2 percent benefit in cut-off for Other Backward Class (OBC) women to encourage students from reserved category. “Beyond the reservation policy, there will be 2 per cent extra benefit in cut-off to OBC women candidates,” Pandit said, adding that the proportion of girls studying in the varsity last year

was much lesser than boys in this category. The DU panel head said this was not the case with other categories. It was also unanimously accepted at the meeting that computer-based online test (CBOT) would be held for all postgraduate courses this year, besides setting up a separate tab for Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB) in the main application form. The panel also decided to send advisory to all colleges to have forensic experts to verify certificates of students, to avoid rejection of applications after a long duration. Principals of Kendriya Vidyalayas will also be educated about the admission process, Pandit said. Gurpreet Tuteja, member of the DU admissions committee, said the admission cancellation policy has been streamlined to avoid inconvenience to students. “A student can pay the cancellation fees of his admission online, get a print out and go to the respective college to collect his certificate,” n Tuteja said.

Jyoti Chitrabon begins year-long golden jubilee celebrations

yoti Chitrabon Film Studio started its year-long golden jubilee celebrations on Wednesday, January 17. The studio, set up in 1968, is the only film studio in northeast India. To mark the completion of 50 years of functioning, many events were organised by the film studio. An art competition among children started at 2 pm, followed by an open session from 3 pm on the Jyoti Chitrabon premises to celebrate Silpi Diwas and also to mark the beginning of year-long golden jubilee celebrations. Assam chief min-

ister Sarbananda Sonowal, cultural minister Naba Kumar Doley and people from the film fraternity attended the open session. “Along with other events during the celebrations, we will develop our archive. We have already collected 1,500 rare photographs in the past one month. We are hopeful of collecting 10,000 Differently-abled children performing a dance during a function organized by Sahari Foundation more such photographs this year. We will preserve songs film studio will buy new equipscientifically,” Pabitra Margherments during the year and will ita, chairman of Jyoti Chitrabon provide them to filmmakers at said. a subsidised cost in a bid to enAddressing the gathering at courage them. the inaugural event, MarIn Assam, January 17 is celegherita informed of the brated as Silpi Diwas, the death plans for this year saying, anniversary of cultural icon “We will organise the secJyoti Prasad Agarwala. Eminent ond edition of the Guwahati singers Anima Barthakur and International Film Festival Kula Baruah were conferred this year. Besides, this year with the Silpi Bota award at the we will organise an interfunction. The award instituted national children’s film fesby the state government in the tival. We have sent the promemory of Assam’s cultural doyposal to the government for en Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarthe children’s film festival.” wala carries a citation, a sarai, a Dancers performing on the occasion of Shilpi Divas He also said that the shawl and Rs 1 lakh. n at Jyoti Chitrabon on Wednesday

GU successfully hosts Inter-Varsity Youth Festival after 25 years

auhati University (GU) successfully held the 33rd Inter University East Zone Youth Festival under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, from January 5-9, 2018. Altogether 16 universities participated in the festival with around 600 participants from the eastern part of the country. Previously, GU hosted the festival in 1986 and 1992 and this time, the university hosted it after a gap of 25 years. An organizing committee and 19 sub-committees had been formed for successful completion of the festival under the guidance of Ranjan Kumar Kakati, director of students’ welfare. A number of competitions were held during the event. The overall champion of the festival was Banaras Hindu University, followed by Gauhati University in the second position. Gauhati University shined during the festival. It stood first in various competitions like miming, elocution, folk dance and folk orchestra. In various other

competitive events, Gauhati University bagged the runners-up trophies. The prize distribution ceremony was attended by Dr Nirmal Raman, AIU Cultural Board member, Pt D Verma, Director, Bharatiya Lalit Kala Sansthan, New Delhi, Dr SK Nath, Registrar, GU, Dr Saurav Lakhan Pal from LPU, Jalandhar, and AIU observer for this festival, Dr HK Nath, Secretary, University Classes, GU, Dr Ranjan Kr Kakati, Director, Students’ Welfare, GU, among others. In a message, GU Vice Chancellor Dr Mridul Hazarika congratulated the participants and team managers in general and all the winners in particular for making this festival a grand success. Organising Secretary, Dr Kakati, thanked all the people behind this festival and said that the objective of the festival was not only to provide a platform for showcasing the talents of the youths of the nation but also a medium of national integration and unity for the future generations as well. n

Visitors admiring an exhibition on ‘Quit India’ and ‘Chalo Dilli’, organized by National Archives of India at State Museum in Guwahati on Saturday. The exhibition was curated on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of the Quit India Movement and the Azad Hind Fauj

‘

Frames: Myriad Images – a photography exhibition

Frames: Myriad Images’ - a four day photography exhibition by Sanjib Gohain Boruah, IAS, is being held at the Gauhati Artists’ Guild from January 19-22, 2018. The exhibition will remain open from 2 PM to 8 PM daily till 22nd January. The exhibition has on display more than 50 photographs captured by Gohain Boruah

over the past few years, based on wide-ranging subjects like nature, people and places along with myriad moods and moments. The exhibition was inaugurated by noted litterateur Homen Borgohain in the presence of honoured guests like renowned poet Harekrishna Deka and sculptor artist Biren Singha to name a few. n

Events

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018

Date: January 11, Thursday Event: Veil of Maya LIVE Venue: O2 the open Banquet Veil of Maya, the American metal core band, performed in Guwahati during their massive 4-city India tour. Based in Chicago have definitely taken the hard road to success grinding it out on the road through countless tours over the years, and now that backbreaking schedule is paying off tenfold. This quartet is one of the few very bands that can authentically mix elements of progressive metal, melodic death metal, thrash and hardcore brutality together effectively, all while keeping the listener constantly interested with baited breath wondering just what is coming next. With Lukas Magyar on Vocals, Marc Okubo on Guitar, Dan Hauser on Bass and Sam Applebaum on Drums, together they are Veil of Maya. Guwahatians experienced an electrifying performance by the band, making the audience head-bang and feeling the metal flow through them.

Date

January 12, Friday Event

Acoustic Night with Murchana Venue

Terra Mayaa

al Boat Race Participants taking part in a tradition , at 2018 ival Fest gali Ron ng duri Competition Dighalipukhuri on Friday.

January 19-21 Rongali Festival Srimanta Shankardeva Kalakshetra January 20, Saturday DJ Snea LIVE Terra Mayaa 7:30PM onwards January 20, Saturday Aroma Food Fiesta Aroma Foodcourt 6PM onwards

Date: January 19, Friday Event: Rongali Festival Venue: Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra

Date: January 19, Friday Event: Frames: Myriad Images Venue: Gauhati Artists’ Guild Visitors admiring photographs during a photography exhibition by Sanjib Gohain Boruah, at Gauhati Artists’ Guild on Friday.

The fourth edition of Rongali Festival, which celebrates the vivid colours of Assam, began on Shyamkanu Mahanta lighting the Friday. ceremonial lamp at the inauguration The three-day fest will function of Rongali Festival 2018. showcase the culture of communities of the north eastern state and give a platform to musicians, fashion designers, doodle artists, magicians, housewives who will exhibit their culinary skills, cyclists and more to showcase their talents. Rongali is organised by Trend MMS — a socio-cultural organisation of northeast India — which also hosts the North East Festival in Delhi. The festival, an extravaganza of art, music, food, including various competitions and talks on entrepreneurship, has proved to be a crowd-puller in the past years.

January 20, Saturday Hip Hop Night ft. DJ Favian Topaz 2.0 7PM onwards January 20, Saturday Street Style Saturday ft. Ritzzze Club XS 7PM onwards January 20, Saturday Papon LIVE ITA Machkhowa, Guwahati 6PM onwards

Catching Up

G PLUS | Jan 20 - JAN 26, 2018