GPlus Vol 4 issue 45 by G Plus

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City’s LGBTQIs hold head high after Right to Privacy

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Ban on Triple Talaq does not mean end to easy divorces

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IRS scam raise doubts Assam IT baffled as Blue about more fake call Whale Challenge trots state centres in city Police say there might be more fraudulent call centres existing in the city; IT expert says city police needs to work with US officials to stop the sham Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

n the backdrop of the police busting two fraudulent call centres that had defrauded many US citizens of millions of dollars, there might exist some more call centres operating from Guwahati which may be perpetrating similar IRS (Internal Revenue Service, which is the USA’s tax collection agency and administers the Internal Revenue Code enacted by the US Congress) scams. This is according to the police even as the investigation is on and the police have not yet been able to nab the IRS scam kingpin Rajesh Khan even after a city police team visited his hometown, Ahmadabad in Gujarat for the purpose. City Police Commissioner, Hiren Nath, talking to G Plus said, “It cannot be ruled out that there might be some more such call centres in the city.” Just a few days after Guwahati police busted two call centres in Basistha area, the Meghalaya police arrested nine persons including two women in connection with another IRS scam on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The fraudsters have based themselves on northeast soil to dupe people of the foreign country. Police sources said that the scam runs into multi crores of rupees and criminals might also be operating from the small towns of the northeast. What exactly is the scam? How did the northeast, especially Guwahati

become a base? Who all are involved and what is the modus operandi? G Plus tries to extract some exclusive details. How northeast became the base

A senior police official involved in the investigation of the case (718/17 under section 120(b)/384/419/420 of IPC read with Section 66 (D) of IT Act) registered in Basistha Police Station, talking to G Plus in anonymity, said that some agents who were working in one of the busted call centres had complained that they had not received their salaries for quite some time and they doubted that something illegal was taking place at the call centre. The police immediately raided and two call centres were busted in the Basistha area. The police arrested eight persons viz. Yogesh Mall, Kanha Gujar, Ketan Kaushal, Bipul Chouhan, Raju Yadav, Mevada Punit, Shivam Garg and Rana Prasad Kalita. The police said that after thorough interrogation it came to light that many similar call centres were busted in Ahmedabad and Mumbai earlier and one Raja Baidya (currently absconding) used to work in one such call centre in Ahmedabad. Police said that Rana Prasad Kalita, hailing from Nalbari, was very close to Raja Baidya as they knew each other from before. Rana had even worked in call centres outside Assam. Raja approached Rana to set up the fraudulent Continued on page 2

The sinister Russian game has claimed one Assamese life – that of a teenaged student studying in Puducherry. G Plus explores what exactly the game is all about and what makes one keen or eligible to play it Avishek Sen Gupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

he Assam government is falling flat in its attempts to thwart the Blue Whale Challenge game from further proliferation among teenagers – a game that has claimed

more than 100 lives world-wide including a youth belonging to Dhemaji in Assam on Friday last. The Information Technology (IT) department of Assam had contacted the internet service providers (ISP) and search engines to block the app, but the Assam Police

has still raised concern on the game gaining popularity in the state, that according to Google Trend, ranks fourth Continued on page 3

Hajela rubbishes APW allegations, says many don’t want NRC list After APW levelled allegations of a multi-crore rupee scam by NRC authorities, Nodal Officer and State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela feels certain people in the state don’t want the NRC to be completed Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

aking a defensive stand, the state’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) coordinator Prateek Hajela, talking to G Plus said, “There are many people in the state who do not want the NRC process to be completed.” He was reacting to the allegations which were levelled against him by a non-government organisation, Assam Public Works (APW), which said that a multicrore rupee anomaly had taken place

File photo of Prateek Hajela

Continued on page 4

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Lead Story

IRS scam raise doubts about more fake call centres in city

Basistha police raid at the call centre | G Plus Photo

Continued from page 1

business in Guwahati, and accordingly, Rana managed to rent apartments at AD Tower, Basistha, and Capital Tower near Nakshatra Hotel. All these businesses were aided by one Rajesh Khan based in Ahmadabad and he is the kingpin of the entire scam. The official said that when Ketan Kaushal was interrogated he said that when he worked with Rajesh Khan very closely in Ahmadabad, he observed that Khan had links with Sagar Thakkar alias Shaggy who was arrested by Mumbai police earlier. The official said that since places like Ahmedabad and Mumbai are under strict police vigil now, the fraudsters are targeting Guwahati and the northeast. The official said that the city police was planning to raid the call centres in Shillong and before they could do so, the Meghalaya police did it as both the fraudulent call centres in Shillong and Guwahati had links. Police will get some further details once Raja Baidya, who is currently absconding, is arrested. Police also raided another call centre located at

Ulubari which was also linked with the scam and seized 44 hard discs; the hard discs have been sent to National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL). The police officer said that they did not find anyone at the Ulubari call centre and the place looked evacuated post the Basistha call centre raids. Modus operandi The police officer said that the arrested persons were based at the second floor office (RK Group of Enterprise) at AD Tower and they were Information Technology (IT) experts. Commissioner of Police, Hiren Nath, explained the modus operandi saying that the fraudsters used to identify numbers of tax defaulters in US from a website thatsthem. com; the Basistha call centres had around 4,000 such phone numbers. Through IT mechanism, the IT experts used to send text messages from here which the identified numbers in United States (US) used to receive as voice messages. They had a scripted voice message where the identified person was informed that he had some tax related issues and

to resolve it, he had to call a particular number. When some such customers returned the call, they got connected to the call centre located in Basistha (near Nakshatra hotel) where there were agents assigned to receive such calls. Nath said that these agents were mainly from Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur. They were educated and trained to speak in fluent American accent. Nath said that these agents posed as IRS agents and asked various questions initially and the questions were very well scripted. When the victim was convinced that he or she indeed had some tax related issues, the fake IRS agents negotiated with the victim and convinced them to purchase some gift cards. The victims purchased the gift cards and provided the 16-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the card to the fake IRS agent who was located in Guwahati. The agents then provided this number to the IT experts based in AD Tower Basistha who further transferred the number to the people sitting in Ahmedabad. Nath said that the police investigations have led to this conclusion so far and

beyond this how such numbers got converted into money or anything else will be known once the investigations are completed. The investigating officer said that the city police had sent a team to Ahmadabad to locate Rajesh Khan who also happens to be a liquor baron and is a known personality, but they were not able to find him. The officer said that now that Guwahati and the northeast have been identified as bases, there might be many such call centres still functional in Guwahati and other cities in the northeast region. The Shillong call centres were raided and a person called Kiran Damai was arrested. He is the person who used to provide agents to even the call centres located in Basistha and that is how they are related. The officer said that even some politicians in Assam and Meghalaya might be involved in the scam as the police are looking into that angle as well. Other facts

An information technology expert, who is also a consultant to the Assam Police, talking to G Plus in anonymity, said that call centre frauds in India are not new. But the concern is that such fraudulent activities are gradually seeping into the northeast and the government will not be able to monitor all IT scams or cyber crimes unless the state police and the US work together to identify all such activities in the region. He said that there are so many websites and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IT department and experts will, in no way, be able to block all such websites. But if both the countries together verify all IT related businesses then things could be clearer. Commissioner of Police, Hiren Nath, said that the investigation is going on and if required the officials in the US will be contacted. Meanwhile, another city-based businessman who used to work in a Gurgaonbased call centre for a company called Phone Connect Card, said that he used to sell Phone Connect Cards which used to have 16-digit PINs, but the PIN was used to play party poker in

the US which is a banned website even in the US. He said that the day he smelled something fishy he left his job. Similarly, the IT expert said that there are many ways and tricks of duping customers there and everything can be monitored if all the citybased information technology businesses are thoroughly checked. He said that these crimes will spoil the lives of many youths of Guwahati and the northeast if not checked before things spiral out of n control.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Concern

Assam IT baffled as Blue Whale Challenge trots state “The patients are kept under constant observation. All of them suffer from depression and are showing suicidal tendencies. They are refusing medication and are attempting to move out,” Ramen Talukdar, superintendent of GMCH said. Bori too, according to his batch mates, had attempted to commit suicide once and has numerous cut marks on his body suspected to be self-inflicted. “He used to remain very reclusive and didn’t want to participate in group activities such as sports or cultural programmes. It has been only two months as he had joined in July, but he kept himself confined to his room and avoided going outside,” a batch mate who did not wish to be named said. File photo of deceased Sashi Bori

Continued from page 1

highest in terms of its search and download worldwide. The infamous Blue Whale Challenge has been making headlines both nationally and internationally due to the rising number of teenage suicides by its players around the world. To be part of the challenge, one has to be accepted by an administrator who, reportedly, allows only troubled teens to ‘play.’ “We have reached out to the internet service providers or the mobile service providers and asked them to block the app. We have also asked Google to block the download links for the app. We asked the police department and the other concerned citizen forums to raise awareness among the youths to choose life over suicidal tendencies and make parents aware and keep close watch on their children,” Assam Information Technology Minister, Keshab Mahanta told G Plus. However, a source in the cyber cell of Crime Investigation Department of Assam Police revealed, “The app has already been blocked by Google and now it is spreading in a forwardbasis. People are forwarding the app among themselves and based on the profile of the person who shows signs of depression, the administrator of the app is

selecting the members. Google or Android does not have any jurisdiction over it anymore.” The Cyber Cell of Assam Police has opened up WhatsApp number 7086055100, which according to the Pallab Bhattacharyya, Additional Director General of Police, Special Branch, has received at least four valid cases of the app being used. “Google Trend has given the report based on the data collected in the last one year. However, we learnt about this game very recently. Such high download and search rate in Assam signifies that the youths of the state were aware of this suicide game for much longer than we are. Even though the reports are flooding in recently, there probably have already been more deaths earlier of which we are not aware,” Bhattacharyya said. “Some such harmful games like ‘Blue Whale’, ‘A Silent House’, ‘Sea of Whales’, ‘Wake Me Up at 4:20 AM’ etc. involve emotional and psychological conditioning of the players. Such horrendous games that are based on brainwashing teenaged victims mostly have so far claimed more than hundred lives worldwide including in India. As most cases involve teenaged victims between 13-19 years of age, Assam Police hereby advises all parents, teachers, guardians and members of civil society to be vigilant about

such cases,” the Assam Police notification mentioned. “Some of the early noticeable signs and symptoms of such dangerous game addictions are depression, violent behaviour, isolation, self harming, late night/ early morning internet surfing, secret chatting etc. Any such case suspected may be urgently brought to the notice of doctors and reported to Assam Police,” the notification added. The victims

Four youths of Guwahati are affected by this challenge while a Dhemaji youth, Sashi Bori, studying at Pondicherry Central University at Kalapet Puducherry, allegedly committed suicide as per the “last stage instruction” of the administrator. The first instance in the state came to light when the parents of a Class X student admitted their son to the psychiatric ward of the Gauhati medical College & Hospital (GMCH) when he showed abnormal behaviour and had carved a whale on his left arm with a blade. Bhattacharyya said that at least five such players have been identified by the police department through their sources while parents of four others notified the police through the helpline. “They are undergoing treatment at the GMCH,” Bhattacharyya said.

Modus Operandi The game that first surfaced in Russia in 2013 spread like wildfire and has allegedly caused casualties in at least 19 countries including India. It appeared in the Google Play with the name F57, but in 2015, due to the game’s nature, was taken off the application store of Google and blocked from Google searches. The first time India felt the game’s presence was in July this year when a 16-year-old youth committed suicide by jumping from a multi-storeyed building in Kerela. This followed similar incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and now Assam. The users have to register for the game and provide personal information to the administrator. They are provided with 50 tasks to be completed over the course of the next 50 days. The participant is given one challenge a day and has to provide photographic evidence of having completed it to the administrator to move to the next one. Several of the tasks in the challenge include cutting oneself and carving messages on hands and legs. Other dangerous tasks include standing on the ledges of high buildings, bridges, piercing oneself with needles and watching disturbing videos sent by the administrator. The final task is to jump off a high building and commit suicide. If the users don’t fulfil the task, they are

blackmailed by the administrators of their details being revealed to parents and friends. “The game targets those who have previous cases of depression. Person suffering from it are prone to hating themselves and are on the verge of committing suicide. They need to be nurtured with care and attention so that they revive from the condition. The game, on the other hand, creates an illusion of fame among the users through which they get a sense of achievement by completing the tasks. But in reality, due to the nature of the game, they only aggravate their sense of insecurity,” Prasenjit Deka, a city based neurologist said. “There are stages of the game in which the users are asked to talk with fellow users and inflict harm on themselves. Since they are already depressed and suicidal, they develop a sense of heroism in doing so and when they talk to the other depressed members, they feel that they belong to the group and the game is their final journey in the world. It prays on the psychology of belonging,” Deka added. The solution

Dhrubojytoi Deka, a citybased cyber expert who claimed to have played the game up to Stage 3 said that he had hacked into the game and had decoded the modus operandi of the match. When G Plus contacted him, his claims might have been the only consolation available at this time of distress. “The threats provided by the administrators of the app are not real most of the times. They only have access to that information which the users provide. Apart from that, all the threats are null and do not hold any ground. It operates like any other fraudulent agencies do. They make false claims and make false threats. The users fall prey to those but there is no reason to believe those,” Deka said. He also claimed that the government too can block the game from being used in this region. “The state Information Technology Department’s or the Gauhati High Court’s order to all ISPs and Google can stop the Blue Whale game from running on the mobiles of Indians. There are certain internet codes through which an app operates in a region. If those codes were put in by the ISPs, the app will not be able to access internet. Google (India) can also block the app from accessing any information from Android data base,” Deka said. n

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Governance

Hajela rubbishes APW allegations, says many don’t want NRC list Continued from page 1

during the ongoing updation process of the NRC under the coordinator. The APW had addressed a press conference on Tuesday demanding a high-level probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the alleged scam. G Plus looks into the exact allegations and how the NRC coordinator reacted to the same.

The allegations

APW said in a statement that it had filed a case with the CBI on 25th August last against Prateek Hajela, the nodal officer in the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) alleging his involvement in a scam concerning around Rs 248 crores meant for updating the document. It further said that it has lodged complaints with the offices of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Registrar General of India, Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Supreme Court also with the same allegation. APW alleged that of the Rs 900 crores allocated by the Union Government for updating the NRC, an amount of around Rs 248 crores has been siphoned off by Wipro and the Integrated Systems and Service (ISS) in the name of supplying skilled manpower for computerizing the data. APW said that this has been possible only by the consent of Prateek Hajela, the Nodal Officer appointed for the NRC updating process. APW president, Abhijeet Sharma, talking to G Plus, said that Hajela issued a work order to Wipro on the basis of a single tender to supply data entry executives (DEE) at the rate of Rs 14,500 per head per month. Wipro, in turn, outsourced the work to the Integrated Service and Systems (ISS) at the rate of Rs 8,000 per head per month. He said that the ISS is now paying each of the DEEs at the rate of Rs 5,000 per month. He said that the amount paid to the DEEs is far below the amount fixed by the Minimum Wages Act for the skilled labourers. There are 9,000 DEEs involved in the NRC updating process according to him. He said that thus Wipro and ISS have siphoned off an amount of Rs 2,47,95,00,000 till date. The counter

Prateek Hajela, talking to G Plus said, “Wipro has been engaged for the data entry works through the

DEEs at work in the NRC updation process at an NRC office | G Plus Photo

popular system of outsourcing.” He said that many companies had come during the pre-bid process and finally Wipro was selected. He said during the pre-bid process companies like CMC, Oracle, HP, Accenture, Ricoh, IL&FS, AMD, Sifi and Wipro had come for the bid. Hajela said that the state government’s target was to start the NRC work as soon as possible and with an efficient workforce. Hajela said that if they had to recruit the workforce a huge amount of money would have been spent on that and they would even have had to the executives accordingly. He said, “Wipro had engaged the data entry operators by entering into agreements with each one of them based on mutually acceptable monthly remunerations.” He said that such rates are not determined by NRC authorities and arrived at on the basis of open market principles. Citing an example, he said that when a vehicle is hired from a travel agency, the customer does not ask how much the driver is paid. He just has to get the service from that transport company. Similarly, NRC just wanted efficient work which Wipro is providing without fail and even the executives have also been trained by Wipro. He said that the Supreme Court is monitoring the entire NRC updating process closely and has fixed 31st December as the

deadline before which the updated list has to be out. Slamming APW he said that if they were so concerned about the labour laws, they could have approached the labour department instead of addressing a press conference. He said it is nothing but an attempt initiated at blocking the NRC work and it’s not only APW, but there are many people in the state who do not want the NRC process to be completed. He said that he is in constant touch with the Supreme Court and it is the Court which wants the NRC process to be completed. He further said that he is not concerned about where APW goes (as APW said they have filed a case before CBI and written to the PM) as he is not involved in any scam and his target is to complete the NRC before 31st December. Regarding Wipro, he said that he alone did not give the tender to Wipro as there was a high-level committee which decided on it. He said that 90% document verification, 100% field verification has been completed and very soon the family tree verification also will be completed. Why do certain people not want NRC to be completed? Why are people against NRC?

Advocate of Gauhati High Court, Anita Verma, talking to G

Plus said, “I have been following the NRC proceedings in the Supreme Court very closely, where directions are to publish the list before 31st December 2017. Many obstructions are still in the way; political parties, past and present, are not too keen on the (NRC) list. In fact, I feel it would be detrimental to those interested if the NRC list is published. This NRC process is being monitored by the highest court of the country and we are looking forward to the list being published in the month of December.” But again, APW said that the organisation had filed a writ petition (274/2009) before the Supreme Court on July 20, 2009 alleging that there were 41 lakh Bangladeshi voters in the 2006 Assam voters’ list. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered updating the NRC in Assam under its supervision. Meanwhile, there are other bodies who have filed cases in the Supreme Court saying that the citizenship should be provided on the basis of people who came to the state before 1951 and not 1971. This case is still going on and the verdict is awaited by all. Hajela might be justified in saying that he just wanted efficient work and the work was outsourced. APW, on the other

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hand, is again raising a reasonable question that people are being exploited. But if the Supreme Court is monitoring the work then it should also decide who is right and who is wrong. The citizens of India based in Assam are just concerned whether the NRC will n be updated on time or not.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

City

City’s LGBTQIs hold head high after Right to Privacy petition submitted by the Naz Foundation and others came up for hearing in the Supreme Court. The three-member bench headed by then the Chief Justice of India TS Thakur said that all the 8 curative petitions submitted will be reviewed afresh by a five-member constitutional bench. “The battle for love went on for more than a quarter century

to Privacy will have greater implications on the LGBTQI in this part of the country, which has one of the highest presences of same-sex seekers on online dating sites. “The Northeast, especially Manipur, Mizoram and Assam, has many lesbian, gay and bisexual couples who hesitate to come out in the open for fear of being shunned by the society. They are otherwise very active on dating sites. All the odds were stacked up against them, but the Right to Privacy gave them the power of maintaining their sexual orientation and bar the government agencies from interfering. For the first time, at least, the law is on their side. Now probably they will come out in the open,” Ghosh further added. Pragati thinks the judgement is a stepping stone for a more “liberal” India. “It is hard to

and the Right to Privacy finally is the ray of hope that we all had been banking on. We are more than overjoyed with this judgment but this is not end of the struggle. The section is yet to be decriminalised. Although our chances are really strong this time, we shall not celebrate until it is done for good,” Pragati, an LGBTQI activist who hails from Guwahati and is currently pursuing her Masters from the Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai, said. But the organisations however said that the Right

change people’s perceptions. It is a long procedure and will take a few more decades to change. But once the government recognises the LGBTQI rights by amending Section 377, it will slowly impact the population. This might just be the judgment that will propel India to become a more liberal country and secular in its truest sense where not only the religious and the caste minorities, but the miniscule population of those who were so far being judged for their sexual orientations, will also have equal n rights,” Pragati added.

G Plus delves into the city’s LGBTQI community and its reaction to the Supreme Court’s judgement of declaring Privacy as a Fundamental Right Avishek Sen Gupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

“D

o they know the meaning of love?” was the first reaction of a rather disappointed Dipankar S Kashyap, a designer from Assam, now based in Delhi, when the Supreme Court, in December 2013, had reinstated the Section 377 that criminalises private consensual sexual activity between two adults of the same sex. Three years and seven months later, on 24th August to be precise, the Supreme Court recognised privacy, that included an individual’s sexual orientation too, as a fundamental right. And Kashyap was more than elated to say, “Wow! Finally, they understood.” The judgment observes that, “Privacy enables each individual to take crucial decisions which find expression in the human personality. It enables individuals to preserve their beliefs, thoughts, expressions, ideas, ideologies, preferences and choices against societal demands of homogeneity.” The judgment – in the way it defines privacy and dignity of an individual – has far reaching implications on the rights of Lesbian-GayBisexual-Transgender-QueerIntersex (LGBTQI) individuals as it believes privacy to include “the preservation of personal intimacies, the sanctity of family life, marriage, procreation, the home and sexual orientation.” Justice DY Chandrachud stated that the right to privacy cannot be denied even if there is a minuscule fraction of the population which is affected.

“One’s sexual orientation is undoubtedly an attribute of privacy.” “It was a particularly sultry Thursday in Delhi and while I was browsing through my mobile phone at my residence in Malviya Nagar, I saw the judgment. I felt a sigh of relief. And immediately it reminded me of the gruelling journey that the LGBTQI went through all these years to reach here. I felt the judgement make an impact when four days later I attended a show, Miss Transqueen India 2017 – a fashion show for transgender people - and I could literally see what Rabindranath Tagore once envisaged with his poem, ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’,” Kashyap said. It was a gruelling legal battle indeed. It all started in 1991 when the New Delhibased “AIDS Bhedbhav Voridhi Manch,” India’s first AIDS activist movement, raised the issue for the first time and asked to repel this colonial-era law enacted in 1860 by the British government in all its colonies in South Asia and Africa that categorised “unnatural sex” and anal sex as act of “sodomy.” Another Delhi-based NGO, Naz Foundation, took it forward by filing a petition in the Delhi High Court in 2001, which, in 2003, the Court refused to consider. The foundation appealed to the Supreme Court which, in turn, asked the Delhi Court to reconsider following which the court started the hearing in May, 2008. Relief came in a historic judgment in July 2009 when the High Court finally amended the section and decriminalised consensual

“

It is just a matter of time that hearing of Section 377 will start and the Court will not have any grounds against amending the section” - Abhijit Ghosh, member of Xukia

same-sex sexual activity in private spaces between two adults. The joy however, was shortlived as in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court judgement and recriminalised it citing, “Right to privacy is not a fundamental right” and amending a law for “miniscule” population was not viable.

File photo of an LGBT parade in the city

“The grounds over which the three-member bench of the Supreme Court had overturned the Delhi High Court judgement have now been nullified by the Right to Privacy becoming one of the fundamental rights. It is just a matter of time that the hearing of the Section 377 will start and the Court will not have any grounds against amending the section,” Abhijit Ghosh, a member of Xukia, the only LGBTQI organisation in Assam, said. On 6th February 2016, the final hearing of the curative

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

In The News

Ban on Triple Talaq does not mean end to easy divorces

Guwahati High Court judgement passed by Justice Baharul Islam invalidated the talaq. Similarly, in a 1983 case, the High Court again invalidated the talaq due to lack of reasonable cause.

are some women who gather the courage to approach the court and file a case against their spouses. In a recent case registered at the Family Court, a woman reported that she’d gone to her father’s

Continued existence of the Talaq-e-Hasan and Talaq-e-Ahsan practices still allows Muslim men to secure easy divorces; the ban on just Triple Talaq is not truly a great occasion of celebration Nehal Jain

jain.nehal@g-plus.in

he Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict on Triple Talaq, striking it down as unconstitutional by 3-2 majority; Justices Kurian Joseph, UU Lalit and RF Nariman delivered the majority verdict that the practice of instant Triple Talaq was unconstitutional whereas Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice Abdul Nazeer ruled that the practice is constitutional but simultaneously asked the government to ban the practice by enacting a law. Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, a senior advocate at the Gauhati High Court shed some light into the verdict that is being termed historic, stating, “The judgement is a reflection of Islamic law and showcasing of the verdict so grandly by the Indian media is wrong.” He informed that with Triple Talaq being set aside, there still remain two other forms of divorces (Talaq-eHasan and Talaq-e-Ahsan) that can be performed at the instance of the husband. Then there are also methods of mutual divorce (known as Mubarat) and divorce at the instance of wife (known as Khula).” While people all over the country are rejoicing that Muslim women have gained freedom, the truth remains that they still have a long way to go. Advocate Choudhury elaborated this remark saying, “According to a study conducted by the Centre for Research and Database in Development Policy, only 3 out of 1000 divorces in the Muslim community account for Triple Talaq. The most common method followed in Islamic talaq is Talaq Hasan and it accounts for 36.2% of the total divorces. According to the study, 24.7% of the Islamic talaqs are performed

What are Talaqe-Hasan and Talaq-e-Ahsan? Talaq-e-Ahsan: Under this form, once the husband pronounces talaq, there has to be a three-month iddat period to factor in three menstrual cycles of the woman. This time is meant for reconciliation and arbitration. During this period, if any kind cohabitation occurs, the talaq is considered to have been revoked. Talaq-e-Hasan: The word “Talaq” is to be pronounced three times in the successive periods after menstrual cycles. The husband has to make a single declaration of Talaq and then wait for another menstrual cycle to pronounce another declaration. The first and second pronouncements may be revoked by the husband. If he does so, either expressly or by resuming conjugal relations, the words of Talaq become ineffective as if no Talaq was made at all. But, if no revocation is made after the first or second declaration then lastly, the husband is to make the third pronouncement in the third period. The Talaq becomes irrevocable and the marriage dissolves.

by Kazi or Darul Kazi, 21.1% are performed following legal procedures where the courts are involved, 16.9% talaqs are done by NGOs, police or panchayat officials, while the remaining 1.1% falls under the head of “other reasons” for talaq.” He further informed that if anyone does not adhere to the court’s verdict, there should be legal procedure against them. A new law should be formed to address this problem and if a law is to be framed, opinion from all Muslim stakeholders must be taken – be it the jurists, maulanas, law departments or intellectuals

belonging to the community. While political reactions have been pouring in on the verdict, G File photo of the Supreme Court of India Plus spoke to some of the women On being asked as to what can house for a while and when she lawyers from Guwahati. They have welcomed the verdict as a historic be expected from the law that is to returned, her husband had already one and this is what they had to come in, Saikia said, “What should married another woman claiming ideally come in as law should be that he’d sent a letter addressed to say. Meghali Kalita, a divorce in accordance with the Quran. her announcing talaq. In another lawyer at Family Court, Guwahati Important decisions like that of a case registered 6 months ago, the said, “This is a historic judgment in divorce should be made by mutual woman had been sent an e-mail India’s legal history. The verdict is consent – a husband should not by the husband that carried an a huge step forward for all women be allowed to just declare talaq at announcement for their talaq. Triple Talaq was mainly and not just Muslim women – his own whim. Once the couple you cannot segregate women decides to go forward with practiced in rural areas and small anymore.” She further added that divorce, the community should villages where the women aren’t the judgement, which is being be called upon to intervene with well informed and easily become hailed as historic, must be credited appointment of arbiters from victims of patriarchal injustice. to the efforts of Shayaro Bano and the two families to attempt Baharun Saikia said that it’s now the four other Muslim women reconciliation. Further, there must the duty of NGOs and individuals who challenged the controversial be two waiting periods of three to spread the information of the months before the divorce is final SC verdict among the population practice. When asked, Baharun Saikia, in order to give the husband time in such areas. With Triple Talaq being set an advocate of Gauhati High to reconsider his decision.” On the other hand, Meghali aside, now Sunni Muslims, among Court, told G Plus that she has herself been a victim of male Kalita said that that the new law whom the practice was prevalent, chauvinism. Married in 1999, should give some power in the will not be able to take recourse to Saikia received two talaqnamas hands of the women. The law can this mode as it would be “void ab in 2009, stating that her husband have an amendment for Restitution initio” (illegal at the outset). They wanted to divorce her because of Conjugal Rights that has, until are now left with two other modes she didn’t go by the Sharia. Being now, been part of the Hindu of securing divorce — Talaq-ea liberal and educated woman, Marriage Act, or it could give the Hasan and Talaq-e-Ahsan after the apex court set aside she knew the law and the Talaq-e-biddat. her rights. So she filed a cruelty that case against her husband he Talaq banned by SC, wasThe happening against in the Gauhati High Court. The case had been Talaq-e-biddat, accounts for women in the name of Triple Talaq, wherein pending in the High only 0.03%, according to a they were thrown out of Court until the Supreme house like a pair of Court’s judgement was study. This means that out the shoes, is expected to now announced and all cases of Triple Talaq became of 1000 cases reported, only come to an end. Supreme Court null and void. 3 are that of Talaq-e-biddat alsoThestated that if in As on 22nd August, when the historic Triple another six months the or Triple Talaq. Talaq verdict was law doesn’t come in, announced, there were the SC injunction will more than a dozen pending cases wife a right to claim maintenance continue and asked the political of the same at the Gauhati High under Section 125 CrPC. parties to clear their differences in Court. Each one has become There have been many cases of bringing the laws that will make null and void and awaits the the misuse of the practice of Triple society a better place to live in and enforcement of a law. Talaq that have been reported in grow for the future. Talking to G Plus about cases the Gauhati High Court as well as For now, the Supreme Court’s of Triple Talaq in Guwahati, Saikia Family Court. While most such verdict is loud and clear: Triple informed that in a 1981 case, the incidences go unreported, there Talaq is NO MORE. n

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Ward Watch

Landslide-affected Chandrapur Road becomes nightmare for locals

Concentrated area – Chandrapur Road (24D)

G Plus checks out the dilapidated Chandrapur Road which otherwise has tremendous tourism potential being the shortest route to Guwahati’s closest wildlife sanctuary, Pobitora

Population of the ward – 20,000

Ward No. – 24

Voter Population – 10,300 Population of Chandrapur Road – 6,250 Ward Councillor – Paresh Kalita

Pathetic condition of Narengi Chandrapur road | G Plus Photo

Avishek Sen Gupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

emoteness panned out hard on the backs of the Bonda residents as the condition of the only road which is already dilapidated and connects the region to the rest of the city aggravated this monsoon due to floods and landslides. About 23 kms from the Kamrup (Metro) District headquarters, Chandrapur Road, Assam State Highway Number 3 in Ward No 24 is the easternmost road of the city. It connects a collection of villages, now suburban areas in Guwahati, such as Amgaon, Panikhaiti, Kharguli No 2, Taribagan, Seuj Nagar and Bonda. The locals believe that Bonda dates back to the time of the Vardhan Dynasty (350 - 650 A.D) when Guwahati was known as Pragjyotishpura. It was one of the villages that fell on the way to Mayang, now in Morigaon District, that is known as the “land of black magic.” During the Ahom Dynasty (1228–1826), locals claim, several persons from Bonda and the neighbouring villages had enlisted in the royal

army to fight in the Saraighat battle. But no archaeological evidences to support those claims have been found till date. The road not only connects Chandrapur - a village in Kamrup Metro which doesn’t fall under Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) - with Narengi, but also had the potential to cash in on tourism as it is also one of the routes to Morigaon’s Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary which has the world’s highest density of the onehorned rhino. Tourists currently take the longer route via National Highway 37 and turn left into Morigaon because of the better road. “Pobitora attracts a lot of tourists from Guwahati and the rest of the world who eventually go there through Guwahati. This route, despite being the shortest, is the least treaded because of the condition of the road. Hopeful of a booming torrent of tourists, I had opened up a restaurant here. But now, like the road, my restaurant is also in shambles covered with dirt,” Imdadul Haq, a resident of Amgaon said. Proceeding towards Pobitora, the road separates Ward No 24 on its right with Ward No 22 to its left. Ward No 22 has the

Brahmaputra River flowing by it with small lagoon-like water bodies along the banks. Ward No 24, on the other hand, consists mostly of slopes of the Kharghuli hills which are prone to landslides due to the heavy encroachments on the hills and floods due to water running down the hills which eventually goes into the Brahmaputra flowing through the lagoons. A seven-year old girl died this monsoon, while two persons were washed away by flash floods in July in Bonda. “These kinds of disasters have been routine affairs for this region and the people have learnt to live with the circumstances. We have asked the government to evict those who are living illegally but no steps have been taken so far. Every year new houses throng the hills and many are under construction. A few are so unsafe that one can see from the road and tell that if the land slips under the building, it will also fall. Yet, people continued cutting down more areas to construct buildings,” Rakesh Hazarika, a resident of Seuj Nagar said. The Chandrapur Road also took a toll due to landslides and floods over the year. During monsoon, more often than not,

earth and rocks slide down the hills onto the roads blocking and damaging the pitch-cover at places while floods carrying heavy rocks with heavy torrents had inundated and damaged the road resulting in lake-like pits on the roads at several places making it almost impossible for the e-rickshaws, the most used public transportation in that region, to ply. “Before this monsoon, the road condition was bad, but commutable. Uber and other app based cabs used to refuse to come, but we used to get shared-taxis and e-rickshaws. This monsoon, the road condition has become dilapidated to such an extent that those too now refuse to ply on this route further distancing this region from the rest of the city,” Violina Das, a fifth semester student of Assam down town University, said. Besides holding the prospect of being a tourist route, the road leads to the Bonda Industrial area where there are at least 21 industrial units and a road to two major private educational institutes - Assam down town University in Panikhaiti and PEWS Institute of Nursing at Amgaon. “At least a thousand students live in this locality in various paying guest establishments, hostels and rented houses. For their various needs, they have to commute to the city. A better road would have made life easier for them,” said Purabi Saikia, owner of a house where students stay on rent at Amgaon. Furthermore, due to the landslides and flood problem, the road also lacks streetlights after a point which puts the security of the commuters in jeopardy. “We have to wind up all our work and return to our rooms within 7 pm. Otherwise, the road gets deserted and dark,” Poonam Chetri, a student in Assam down town University said.

The industrialists at the Bonda Industrial area too expressed dissatisfaction as it has become cumbersome for them to bring in raw materials and transport finished products. “Had the roads been repaired, it would have brought down our transportation costs to a great extent. As compared to other industrial areas, we have to bear a higher transportation cost and sacrifice a great chunk of profit,” Roopak Sharma, an industrialist in the area said. Councillors says

While the residents are suffering on a daily basis, the councillor, Paresh Kalita, cites that the road being a state highway is outside his jurisdiction. “I can understand the people’s problem, but it is outside my jurisdiction. The Public Works Department (Roads) is supposed to take care of this road. We cannot interfere in its functioning. I have raised this concern to the department at several instances and the PWD department had tried to repair the road quite a number of times too. But every time it does so, the road again gets dilapidated the next monsoon. This monsoon, however, was particularly bad. I have informed the department and our concern has been noted. Tender process will probably start soon,” Kalita said.

PWD says

When contacted, the PWD (Roads) said that the department is mulling a permanent solution. “The real problems here are the floods and landslides. As long as these continue, no matter how many times the road is mended, it will break again. There already are several plans to control the flash flood problem. Once that is sorted, we will take care of the road too,” an official of PWD, under condition of anonymity, said. n

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Governance

It’s easy to do business in Assam now, claims Agnihotri The state government said that the Centre will soon announce the new North East Investment & Industrial Promotion Policy after which many industries will be set up in the state firms which were established long The present scenario NEIIPP was announced in 2007 Patowary recently claimed and it remained in force for 10 back and the experiences that they had faced earlier and not at that if a survey is carried out now, years. This ended in March 2017 present. So it, in no way, reflects Assam will be among the top five and very soon the Centre will the present scenario. Commerce states. Similarly, his considered announce the new policy. He said and Industry minister, Chandra close lieutenant, Commissioner & the state government is talking Mohan Patowary, talking to Secretary, Industry & Commerce and requesting the Centre to media said that the survey was Department, Govt of Assam, announce the policy soon as many industrialists conducted from are waiting for it. He April 2015 to April said furthermore 2016 and as soon shutosh Agnihotri says that the perception as the present government came to that the perception of Assam of Assam is changing in the minds of power in May 2016, is changing in the minds of investors and in the Assam ‘Ease of January 2018 the Doing Business’ Bill investors and in January was passed in the very state government will first assembly session organise “Advantage 2018 the state government in June 2016. Hence, Assam,” an event to will organise “Advantage the survey report was invite top investors based on data prior to Assam” on the lines of “Vibrant of the world. He the implementation said it will be on the of EODB in Assam. Gujarat” which will be an event lines of the “Vibrant The state government format and to which top investors of the Gujarat” also claimed that the state government Patanjali got all will invite the world will be invited. clearances for its CEOs of all top Rs 1,000 crore unit companies besides in the state within six days and Ashutosh Agnihotri claimed that top industrialists and many more. commercial production started it is easy to do business in Assam He said an extensive publicity in less than 100 days. Reacting now. He said that the government campaign will be done in and to this, an industrialist talking is pitching Assam as the centre outside the country that would to G Plus in anonymity said, of the South East Asian market. include road shows and other “We started working since 2015 He said that last year the World publicity stunts. to set up an industry in upper Bank conducted an ease of doing Talking about start up Assam and finally got clearance business survey and Assam was businesses not getting an in November 2016.” He said ranked 24th. He said this time the opportunity as all the contracts talking about any government in position will improve as the World are going to the experienced power, setting up a business takes Bank assessment has 340 criteria firms, the MD said that the time as all the departments are and the Assam government has government will soon resolve this still not working in an integrated fulfilled more than 80% of these. issue as a new start-up policy is manner and the clearances from He said that the government is being drafted and within a month all the departments take time. He talking to investors on a regular or so the policy will be taking care said that it is easy to do business basis and many investors are of start up businesses. for people who have high profile interested. On being asked what Well, the government might links and Baba Ramdev is one new industries are coming to claim that doing business is easy of them. So, while the research Assam, he said, “They are waiting in the state but the upcoming report may be based on past or for the new North East Industrial World Bank assessment will present experiences, what is the & Investment Promotion Policy clarify where Chandra Mohan (NEIIPP).” He said that the old Patowary and his claims stand. n scenario now?

File photo of Ashutosh Agnihotri (R)

Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

anaging Director (MD) of Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), Ashutosh Agnihotri, talking to G Plus, said that the Centre will soon announce the new North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) when he was asked how many and which new industries are coming to the state. He said that many investors are just waiting for the new policy and once it is announced the new industries will start getting established. A G Plus team had visited the MD to seek his views on why the state was performing pathetically in ‘ease of doing business’ (EODB) contests. A section of the national media had reported two days ago that a joint NITI Aayog- Infrastructure Finance Development Company (IDFC) survey report said that the national average taken to set

up a business is 118 days, whereas in Assam, it takes 248 days. G Plus thought of investigating and finding out the actual scenario. Survey report valid or not?

The G Plus team visited AIDC and talked to the MD of the corporation, Ashutosh Agnihotri who, dismissing some of the critical findings in the surveybased report, said that the research document did not represent the government’s views. The research report said that the national average for power shortage was 46 hours per month, and Assam’s duration of power shortage was 156 hours per month. On this, Agnihotri said that there is no power shortage in Assam and APDCL is decently supplying power to the industries. Agnihotri said that the report itself states that it is meant to be a research document and its contents do not represent the views of the Government of India or NITI Aayog. He said that the research might have been done talking to

Sonowal assures upliftment of indigenous Sikhs

ssam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday acceded to accord micro minority status to the Sikh community in the state and provide various facilities for social, economic and political upliftment of the Sikh community in Assam. The decision was taken after a Sikh delegation led by the Delhi MLA and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara

Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on Tuesday met Sonowal demanding a Sikh Development Council in the state for the Assamese Sikhs along with special status facilities. The delegation also presented him a memorandum demanding special status and facilities for the microscopic minority Sikh community in the state.

Attending the meeting, Sonowal agreed to implement the Anand Marriage Act in the State at the earliest for registration of marriage of Sikh couples, starting a pilgrimage tour for the Sikh community to their places of religious importance in the country including Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. It may be noted that there are nearly one lakh members in the Sikh community in Assam, out of which, 15,000 are the Assamese Sikhs mostly concentrated around Nagaon. While acknowledging the

role of the Sikhs in forming the greater Assamese society, the Chief Minister assured the delegation of taking up all of their demands on priority basis to empower the community. “The Chief Minister has agreed to most of our demands including approved allotment of 10 bighas of land for setting up social welfare projects in Guwahati and Nagaon and also approved setting of three skill development centres in Nagaon as early as possible. He also accepted the demand for renovation and restoration

of historical Gurdwaras in the state and asked the delegation to provide a list of the same,” Sirsa, the MLA of Rajouri Garden (Delhi Assembly Constituency) said. He also assured that all the problems being faced by the minority community in the state will be looked into and their resolution will be ensured at the earliest. Sonowal lauded the efforts of the delegation which had brought to his notice the problems being faced by the community and assured all help to it. n

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Concern

Hospital’s apathy pushes baby into a battle for life On ventilation since 2 months at Pratiksha Hospital after wrong treatment at Apollo Hospital, six month old Snigdharaag needs to be shifted to AIIMS, New Delhi and the parents have been denied help by the state government for an air-lift

The victim child on ventilation at Pratiksha Hospital

Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

he health department has launched many schemes for the convenience of the public but is its activity and responsibility limited only to launching the schemes or do they have any responsibility towards the economically weaker people who seek help in times of emergency and who cannot afford the treatment that is required? One Snigdharaag Bhuyan, a six month old baby who is suffering from lung and spinal cord infection, was admitted to Pratiksha Hospital and has been on ventilation since the last two months. “Initially, my son was suffering from fever and he was admitted to the

Biswanath Chariali hospital. But as his health deteriorated day by day we consulted Dr Prakritish Borah at Apollo Hospital and he was admitted there on 20th June. He was detected to be suffering from pneumonia. Gradually, his health got worse by the day and he was put on ventilator. As we are not financially sound we sought help from Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He immediately responded and asked the hospital authorities to allow concessions during the period of the treatment,” said the mother of the child, Madhusmita Saikia Bhuyan, while speaking to G Plus. Besides pneumonia, he was suffering from other ailments which the doctors couldn’t diagnose. As such, his treatment remained incomplete

and as the Chief Minister had asked that concessions be given, they could not charge the

hen contacted by G Plus, the health department even refused to give any statement as to whether they would at all help the child or not. regular high fees from them. Resultantly, they suddenly discharged the patient the next day saying that he was

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completely cured. “We took him home but after one day he again fell sick. We rushed back and admitted him to Pratiksha Hospital where we were told that the food which he took went directly to his lungs and he was also suffering from an infection in the spinal cord. He was put on ventilator here as well but the doctor said that he needed to be taken to AIIMS in New Delhi for advanced treatment as soon as possible,” the mother said. She further said that according to the doctor the baby couldn’t be taken on a normal flight; rather he needed an air ambulance which costs around Rs 14-15 lakhs and the doctor advised that it is best if he was taken as soon as possible. “We are not financially sound and therefore sought financial help from the health department so that we could save our child but the health department denied any help to us. We feel very helpless as we do not have enough money to take him by air ambulance,” said Bhuyan. She further said that in AIIMS, New Delhi, a child who is less than a year old gets free treatment but the parents are so helpless that they can’t even take the child due to financial constraints. They have also repeatedly written letters to the Prime Minister’s Office but they haven’t received any reply from there so far. The Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam, Samir Sinha, has been given the responsibility to follow the case but he has expressed helplessness in this regard saying that the health department does not have any protocol to follow such cases. When contacted by G Plus, the health department even refused to give any statement

as to whether they would at all help the child or not. The health department has come up with schemes like Operation Smile and free operation for children having congenital heart disease. But what will those helpless parents do whose children suffer from other diseases and cannot afford the treatment? The parents of Snigdharaag also tried to contact the state health minister but they have not received any positive revert from him either. They alleged that had the child belonged to the Jalukbari constituency, the minister would have definitely helped but as they come from another place they haven’t received any help from the minister. In order to save the child, well-wishers and family members tried to offer financial assistance to the parents so that they can take the child to New Delhi for advanced treatment. The students of JB Law College, Jorhat have also collected funds n to towards this.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

City

New ASTC buses to provide secure commute to women by year end After the unsuccessful launch of city buses for only women in 2014, ASTC will now come up with buses having advanced technology which will be fully secure for ladies

File photo of ASTC buses parked at ISBT

Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

overnment schemes and projects are like rays of hope for the public. Unfortunately, more often than not, utilisation of the schemes gets paralysed after a certain period of time. Similarly, the city bus service for women which was started in 2014 to enhance women’s safety was closed just four months after commencement of its operation. Blame it on lack of planning or competence on the part of officials, there are ample numbers of schemes which had started with a bang and ended with a whimper. The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC)

has again come up with a new project keeping safety of women in mind which will be launched by the end of this year. “This time we will not launch any city buses for women; rather we have taken a different project for women’s safety in the buses. Buses with advanced technology which will have 24 hours’ CCTV camera and punching system will ply on the city’s roads. Women will also be provided with cards with which they can swipe to board the buses,” said Managing Director of ASTC, AP Tiwari. Tiwari said that the project will be undertaken on a public private partnership (PPP) mode. State government projects worth crores of rupees have gone in vain after a certain period which

has caused huge losses for the government. Replying to this, Tiwari said that this project will be implemented successfully. “We have taken time to launch the project and it will not be a failure. This will help women in not facing any weird situation in the buses while travelling,” said Tiwari. An official of ASTC said that the people here are not aware of the services for which the projects do not see success and the government has to bear huge losses. “Most of the people use private vehicles. We want to give the best services to the people but if the people do not want to avail the services we are helpless. In other states and cities people opt for public transport but here people use private vehicles for

which the traffic flow is also increasing day by day,” the official said. Meanwhile, commenting on other ASTC bus services in the city, the official said that the buses which were launched for women were safe and comfortable with well-equipped CCTV, panic button and with GPS system so that people can complain in case of any emergency. He said that people don’t want to travel in AC buses in the winter although the temperature can be adjusted. People do not understand the concept for which such projects do not last long. Even the night city bus service which was launched to provide the facility to service holders who have to work late nights has been a flop as the service had to closed down just a few days after it was launched. The project was launched after serious concerns were raised over the security of women in the capital following several incidents of crime against the fairer sex. Women have to face many untoward incidents while travelling in city buses and many incidents like rape and eveteasing also take place in the city buses for which safety measures are very important and keeping that in mind the government has launched this new service. Sources said the private operators had stopped their services saying they were not getting enough passengers and that the project was not viable while the commuters alleged that the frequency of the buses is less and people do not have time to wait for a single bus for one hour or so. The fact remains the government run bus service cannot be stopped despite lack of passengers but at the same time, running the buses has an expense to it and the women’s bus which was started to ply in the city every half an hour or an hour did not attract enough passengers probably due to lack of awareness. “As we didn’t get good response from the public we had to stop the service. We would have been happy if the buses would have

yy yy

run successfully because females travelling in the normal city buses face many problems. They also have to face many untoward incidents but then the city women somehow did not accept the service that was dedicated to them,” said an official of the transport department. Talking to G Plus, a commuter, Geetashri Devi said, “I work in a private company and always travel by public transport. I would have been happy if I could travel in the women’s bus which would have not only been safe but also comfortable but I didn’t notice a single bus on the road during that time. And if the transport authority had fixed any timing for the buses, it should have been clearly mentioned. I had no idea at what time the buses were available and on which routes the buses ran. If the time and routes had been specific most of the women would have availed it as almost every female faces some problem or the other while travelling in the city buses. Now that the ASTC will start the new project for the safety of women by pressing buses with advanced technology into service, I hope the service would be better and the frequency of such buses is good so that we can only choose n to travel by those buses.”

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Light Rain

T-Storms

Rain

30°/25° C

29°/25° C

SATURDAY

Rain/Thunder

30°/25° C

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Governance

First time in Assam history, state and not Centre extends AFSPA by six months In force throughout the state since 1990, the AFSPA has been extended by 6 months at the behest of the state government. G Plus checks out the justification of the state government’s decision in Tirap, Changlang and Longding Districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Mon District of Nagaland. Due to these threats, AFSPA becomes important,” Bhattacharyya said. Two major outfits of the

United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW) which was formed in April, 2015, United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland – Songijit (NDFB-S) are still active. On August 5, 2016, NDFB(S) militants shot dead 14 civilians and injured 19 others in a busy local market on the outskirts of Kokrajhar town, while on August 12, 2016, ULFA (I) cadres also shot dead two Hindi-speaking persons in Tinsukia District and orchestrated five and two IED explosions in Tinsukia and Charaideo Districts respectively. In a gazette notification, the home ministry said the law and order situation in Assam has continued to be a matter of concern due to the violent

incidents by underground outfits and during January-September 2016, different militant groups were involved in 66 incidents of violence in Assam which resulted in killing of 29 people. The central government had first imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act — AFSPA — in Assam by declaring the entire state as “disturbed area” on November 27, 1990 when insurgency led by ULFA was at its peak. The then Prafulla Kumar Mahanta led AGP government was subsequently dismissed by the Centre and the President’s rule was imposed. Though the Act is in force in the entire state, the Army has been gradually withdrawn from some districts as the situation n improved.

ENGAGEMENT NOTICE OF HOME GUARDS VOLUNTEER IN KAMRUP DISTRICT Applications are hereby invited directly or by general post from the intending Home Guards volunteer of Kamrup District (Rural & Metro) for engagement under various Agencies in Kamrup District. Eligibility and other condition applicable for Home Guard volunteer are as per rules laid down in Assam Home Guards (Amendment) Rules, 2015. File photo of an army convoy traveling through Assam

Avishek Sen Gupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

ssam cites “insurgency threat still looms large” and for the first time since the 27 years of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) being promulgated in the state, the state government and not the Centre, has extended the Act by six more months. According to a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the entire state of Assam and the 20 kms wide belt in the state of Meghalaya bordering Assam shall continue to be “disturbed area” under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 up to six months beyond November 3, 2016, unless withdrawn earlier. The controversial Act which had been in the state since November 27, 1990 and is the reason for 58 counts of human rights violation by armed forces, second highest after Jammu & Kashmir that has 92 complaints, was last extended for a month on August 3 this year and was supposed to end on August 31. The Act that gives special powers to the armed forces to deal with militancy has a provision that if the state feels the terrorist threat is strong, it can extend the Act according to its own terms.

“In the last extension of the enforcement of the Act on August 3 the centre had decided not to take any decision on the matter in the future because the situation in the state did not warrant it. That is why Assam, for the first time in its history, has asked for six months’ extension starting from September 1,” Pallab Bhattacharyya, Director General of Police, Special Branch said. It may be mentioned that the state government had earlier suggested the Centre to review the continuation of the Act in some areas of the state based on which the Ministry of Home Affairs had sought recommendations for withdrawal of the Act from Assam as well as Arunachal Pradesh. “But based on our intelligence reports, the threats are still strong. The Myanmar-based anti-talks ULFA (I), led by Paresh Baruah, is still a force capable of creating trouble and are making constant efforts to regroup, re-strengthen and intensify their efforts for recruitment/ infiltration of new cadres into the state. It is also engaged in coercive extortion targeting businessmen, tea garden owners, contractors, commercial vehicles, timber smugglers, transporters and even government officials and politicians. They are regrouping

I . Number of post: 210 2. Place of Deployment: Kamrup District (Rural & Metro). 3. Educational Qualification: (i) Minimum class VIII Pass. (ii) Home Guards volunteer certificate from Kamrup District. (Mandatory willingness certificate obtained in 2015-16 from the competent authority for a period of three years) as per Assam Home Guards (Amendment) Rules,2015 4. Desirable Qualification: (1) Driving License Holder (2) Computer proficiency certificate. (3) Extracurricular activity certificate if any. (4) Any skill development certificate. 5. Age limit: 55 years maximum (preferably below 35 years). 6. Important Dates (a) Starting Date for submission of application: 01-09-2017 (b) Last date of submission of application: 26-09-2017 7. Wages: (i) Rs. 235/- per day for Basic trained Home Guards volunteer. (ii) Rs. 250/- per day for Advance trained Home Guards volunteer. *The above mentioned wages are fixed and additional perks may be given by different agencies subject to fulfilment of performance and skill of the volunteer. 8. IMPORTANT NOTE: *Home Guards volunteer will be shortlisted on the basis of First come First serve for the above mentioned tentative vacant post. The final list of candidate will be prepared based on the period of volunteers whose services is not utilized for more than One years , character and antecedent, overall fitness, smartness and turnout of Home Guards volunteers. No TA/DA will be admissible. Intending Home Guard volunteers are requested to enquire their status in relation to the engagement at these help desk number 99577-20295, during office hours. * The job of Assam Home Guards volunteer is purely voluntary in nature and no volunteer can claim any appointment / engagement under regular Govt. Establishment by virtue of his/her performance as a home Guard Volunteer during his/her deployment tenure. Hence volunteers are advised not to come under the influence of any false propaganda in relation to their engagement and thereby discourage and disown any touts who may be trying to do so. * No Home Guards volunteers can dictate any terms regarding choice of deployment post. All the valid order of deployment from the competent authority are to be strictly followed and disciplinary action will be initiate for not compliance of such order . *The undersign reserves the right to change/modify/accept/reject any application without any information to the volunteers.

Sd/- District Commandant Home Guards

Kamrup::Assam Janasanyog: 1376/17

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

City

No takers for ALPC slaughterhouse; hygienic meat still scarce While bulk of the city still consumes unhygienic meat, the ALPC run slaughterhouse with state-of-the-art technology has remained practically defunct for the last three years due to resistance from meat sellers

The meat processing unit at the ALPC slaughterhouse at Panjabari | G Plus Photo

Avishek Sen Gupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

he list of government facilities lying defunct in the city is quite long, but the Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation (ALPC) run slaughterhouse located at Panjabari, will probably top the list. While the city had almost made peace with consuming the unhygienic and unscientifically slaughtered meat after it saw more open meat stalls still thronging despite relentless crackdowns by the district administration through May and June, a stateof-the-art slaughterhouse, capable of providing scientifically slaughtered and even processed meat, is lying practically defunct. In the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s instructions to ensure painless and scientific slaughter of livestock in 2014, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) had, in the same year, initiated the process of implementation of the Slaughter House By-laws, 2012 in Guwahati. Following a case (Writ petition Civil No. 881) in the Supreme Court, the apex court first started to mull into ensuring painless and scientific slaughter of livestock which finally took shape into the draft of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules,2017 in January this year and is awaiting implementation. The draft has provisions for animal slaughter in the government or private slaughterhouses where the

livestock will be first paralysed by stunning and then hygienically and scientifically slaughtered. As per Rule 5 of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (Regulation Slaughterhouse) Bylaws, 2012, “No person be permitted to slaughter any animal and process any meat intended for human consumption at any place other than a recognised slaughterhouse notified/licensed by the Corporation.” Three years after the bylaws, the facility only caters to the need of two ALPC outlets and 20 odd other outlets. The reason cited for the facility not being used by the city’s meat sellers is that this will increase the cost of the meat, but the ALPC authorities believe a much grimmer nexus is in play. G Plus engaged itself in finding out on how scientific this facility is and if it is really plausible for the meat sellers to use it. The facility

Established over a sprawling 25-bigha plot of land, the ALPC slaughterhouse was inaugurated in 2012 by the then Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi. It consists of four core units – separate slaughter spaces for goat, pig and chicken and one meat processing unit – while there are separate sheds for keeping the livestock a night before slaughtering. The facility is capable of slaughtering 1,500 goats, 100 pigs and 4,500 chickens per shift each. However, it is currently processing only 10% and 50% of its capacity of goats and chickens respectively and pig slaughter is being done occasionally on the

basis of contracts. The plant has the basic machines such as restrainers or trap, stunners, revolving hangers, chillers and blast freezers, the size of which vary depending on the size of the slaughtered animal. There are three chillers for goat, four for pig and two for chicken. “Those machines that are available in India were procured, while the rest were procured mostly from Germany and China. The entire set of equipments for pig slaughter was procured from Holland. The meat processing unit has all the equipments meant for dicing, mincing, compressing, cooking the meat and then packaging the products. The entire unit, back in 2012, cost about Rs 10.5 crores. It’s a shame that these units are not put to proper use,” Purna Nanda Konwar, administrative officer of ALPC told G Plus. The ALPC also has facilities for storing the meat into the chillers at lower temperatures to avoid decomposition. Procedure

The livestock meant for slaughter are first kept in the sheds where it stays for some time and then these are taken for slaughter. Konwar said, “The animals are brought here and kept in the sheds. Then these come into the plant through a narrow path so that only one animal can pass at a time. The animals have to go through the restrainers and trap so that they cannot move and there they are rendered unconscious through the stunner. The stunners pass electricity through the animal’s brain.” Once the animal is unconscious, it is slaughtered in the Halal or Chatka procedure and then hung on the hangers. “The carcass is hung so that all the blood drains out through the neck. It is then taken to a separate stand where the de-hiding is done manually for goats. Poultry goes through another machine where its feathers are taken out while the pig goes into another machine where it is put into a tub filled with hot water and the machine takes off the body hair. The poultry and the pig also go through another phase where the remaining hair/feather is burnt by flame thrower,” Konwar said.

The carcass is then moved and it is cut open. For pig, the job is done with a machine saw, but for others, manually. In the process, the slaughterers clean the innards of the carcass and send it off for inspection. “We have veterinary doctors to check the carcass and if he/she finds any infection or complication in the meat, it’s separated from the lot and sent to the chillers and inspected once again later,” Konwar said. The carcass is then sent to the blast freezer where it is treated at a temperature of -5 degree Celsius to kill the germs and then handed over to the sellers, Konwar said. Scientific measures

During the slaughter procedure, the animals go through several scientific tests and parameters. “They are checked by veterinary doctors in two steps; once when the animal is alive and once again after these have been slaughtered and the innards taken out. If the livestock is unhealthy or shows any sign of infection, it will be rejected at the first stage. But if the infection is inside, then it will be sent for chilling after slaughter. The animal will be kept there for about eight hours for pig, four hours for goats and two hours for poultry and then rechecked. When the animal is drained off its blood, the germs or viruses have no medium of spreading and hence, die in the cold temperature within that period of time. If not, the meat will be rejected,” Konwar said. Konwar, who is also a meat expert and a former veterinary doctor, said that apart from avoiding a painful death to the livestock, the stunners aid in the satiability of the respective livestock too. “Before an animal is slaughtered in the open, it sees other animals being slaughtered and when its turn comes, it panics which leads to release of adrenaline hormone that actually ruins the taste of the meat. If it is stunned, it doesn’t release any hormone and thus the taste of the meat is maintained,” Konwar said. He further said that the meat that we eat is actually the muscles of the livestock. “What we call meat is actually just muscles and fat of the livestock. It takes time

for the muscles to convert to meat. That is why the blast freezing and chillers are necessary. Even if hygienically slaughtered, open slaughtered meat will not taste as good as those slaughtered in a slaughterhouse,” Konwar added. All of these facilities however add a charge of Rs 70 per kg as an added cost for availing the facility, but the rate is currently under negotiation and might go down to Rs 40-50 per kg, Konwar said. “Since it is a government facility, the question of profit doesn’t arise. But to man the facility and if the cost of electricity is added, we have calculated that a total of Rs 70 per kg will add to the price of the meat. We are however, ready to renegotiate to Rs 40-50, as the city will not be able to bear this high bump in the price. I think it will be a beneficial bargain as in return, people will get meat from healthy livestock which will not be tampered with in any way and will be slaughtered hygienically,” n Konwar said.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

City

Janata Bhawan fire raises questions on secretariat’s safety preparedness With fire alarms & extinguishers not working in the secretariat premises, fire department orders probe into the incident Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

he recent fire in the premises of F Block, Janata Bhawan, has raised serious concerns about the safety preparedness of the most important building in the state. After the fire was doused, an irked official who works in the finance department, talking to G Plus in anonymity said, “The fire alarm in the building was not working. The fire extinguishers in the building are not working. Also, the water canon located outside the F Block building was not working.” A major fire broke out at the Assam Secretariat ‘Janata Bhawan’ in Guwahati. According to sources in the Bhawan, no loss of life or injury was reported. The fire broke out in two rooms of the ‘F’ block (1st floor) at around 12.30 pm when Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was chairing a cabinet meeting in the

The F Block of Janata Bhawan which caught fire | G Plus Photo

adjacent CM’s Block. The fire caused a panic situation in the secretariat premises but the employees returned to their work in the various departments after it was doused, they said, adding that people were safely evacuated.

How aware are you about Bhogeswar Baruah? The man behind ‘Abhiruchi Sports Day’

ive decades ago, a relatively unknown Indian athlete by the name of Bhogeswar Baruah became the first Assamese to win a Gold Medal in an international sports event. Today, he is a popular household name in Assam. Bhogeswar Baruah came from a poor household of Sivasagar in Upper Assam. After he joined the Army, he participated in many interstate as well as national level

sports meets. He made numerous foreign trips for international meets. Baruah was even selected for the Olympics trials held at Patiala and New Delhi in 1966. Bangkok played host to the fifth Asian Games between 9th and 20th December, 1966. On 14th December, a jam-packed crowd in Suphachalasai Stadium witnessed an Assamese rise to the occasion. In the men’s 800m race event, Bhogeswar Baruah

Fire service sources said that five fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the blaze under control. Though the cause of the fire was not immediately known, it is suspected that it might have been caused by a short circuit in the air-conditioning. bagged Gold for India, setting up a Games Record in the process. For his remarkable achievement, he received the Arjuna Award (for the year 1966) and also became the first Assamese sportsperson to

achieve this major honour. Since 1984, Baruah’s birthday on 3rd September has been celebrated as “Abhiruchi Sports Day”, a state-wide festival in Assam held in his honour. Every year on this special day, thousands of school children join the mass jogging event in Guwahati, with Baruah himself leading the occasion along with a host of invited guests and

The fire first broke out in the room of Finance (Budget) Director, Purnendu Sharma, who was working on his computer and the finance department source said that the peon alerted the director who immediately left the room. The building employees were trying to use the fire extinguisher installed there but none of the extinguishers were working. The finance department source said the fire alarm in the building also did not ring. The water canon installed outside the building was also not working. In the process the fire department was informed and 5 fire tenders were pressed into service for dousing the fire. The Fire & Emergency chief, AP Rout, said that the fire was very soon doused completely. The room adjacent to the director’s was also partially damaged. The finance department sources said that the computer, furniture and a few files were damaged, but the details of the files which were damaged are yet to be known.

In the entire process, the fire department ADGP has ordered an enquiry into the incident and has also asked the fire department officials to find out which fire extinguishers are working and which are not. Even the file alarm is being inspected. G Plus contacted the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to know if they conduct any fire emergency drills in the premises of Janata Bhawan and the source there said the same is done every year. But on asking an employee of the PWD department, it was known that in the last two years no such drill had taken place in the secretariat. The fire extinguishers, fire alarm and other fire safety instruments installed in the secretariat are also expected to be inspected every year. As per the fire department sources’ contention that they inspect such things every year, the question arises as to why the fire-fighting equipments were not working when they were n required to.

administrative officials. On one such occasion, Milkha Singh was quoted as saying, “You are very lucky. I am called the ‘Flying Sikh’, but I doubt even my neighbours know when my birthday is. And here in Assam, your birthday is celebrated with so much grandeur. I really envy you.” Balendra Mohan Chakraborty, the organising chairman of the event claims that Baruah is the first sportsperson in the country whose birthday is celebrated as a public occasion. Although Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary on 26th August is celebrated as “National Sports Day” in India, it started only in 1986. The Assam Olympic Association (AOA) appointed Bhogeswar Baruah as the Chefde-Mission of the 33rd National Games, Guwahati (2007). With a view to scout, spot and benefit young talents, Baruah established a sports academy in Sivasagar a couple of decades ago. The institution started well but had to be shut down after three years due to lack of proper economic backing. Expressing

Manas Pratim Kahsyap

his views to the media, Baruah said, “I always wanted to share my experience as a sportsperson with young people. I thought I could help them excel in sports and with that intention I started an academy at Dimow, Sivasagar in the early 1990s. But after operating for three years, it had to be closed down due to lack of funds. I even requested the government to help me but, unfortunately, no one paid heed to me.” “We’ve never been short of sports persons with the potential to shine on a global platform. In fact, I would say, the northeast can produce world-beaters, and this has been proved in some areas. In Assam too, there are several talented players and they have achieved glory, but only due to their individual efforts. The system needs to be changed to help these players reach their goals”, Baruah added. The author of the column is an Editor of Sportsmaddy, the first of its kind sports blog in Assam. n

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

G Talk E

Eviction - rehabilitation = 0

ne commodity where scarcity ensures that demand far exceeds supply undisputedly is land. Cause-effect syndrome irrelevant, Guwahati is facing the brunt of this lop-sided situation. For all the hype around the city being the la-la land of opportunities - a relatively safe haven against natural calamities like floods and erosion elsewhere in the state, the descent of thousands of illegal settlers onto the wetlands, hills and wildlife sanctuaries around the city has created a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention of the powers-that-be. Take the case of the recent Amchang eviction. The exercise was definitely necessary what with the sanctuary being threatened into oblivion by the rampaging illegal settlers. These settlers were from flood affected parts of the state like Lakhimpur and Dhemaji who had lost their land to erosion; their land simply devoured by the swirling waters. They had all left their homesteads to come to Guwahati – the city of opportunities – instead of the other towns with land a-plenty that they could have chosen. And needless to say, they had, all these twenty years, got the political patronage that they required to mess up the sanctuary. Yet, the welfare state that India is, and with all tenancy laws tilted towards favouring tenants for the sake of providing people their rightful place of shelter, the Amchang eviction

was a despairing sight. The sight of tamed elephants being pressed into service to bulldoze the dwellings of people who are as indigenous to the state as you and me hardly came across as social justice on display. I understand that these people were not tenants. They were encroachers or illegal settlers. But aren’t they human too? Eviction makes news; rehabilitation doesn’t. So what do the authorities do, if at all, about rehabilitating such evicted people? After all, these were genuine land owners at some point who have had their sad slice of luck in their lives. Just evicting them doesn’t mean that their existence is wiped out from the face of this earth. The situation warrants that the government does more than just engage in news making eviction exercises. It needs to undertake an assessment of the total count of such landless people in the state so that adequate rehabilitation measures can be taken up. And all this has to be done sooner to avoid more such Amchangs! After all, life goes on and one’s home being upstaged is but a minor hiccup in the long journey of life. Remove them from the forests, they will target the hills or the wetlands defeating the very purpose of the eviction exercise in the first place. Eviction and rehabilitation has to be be two sides of the same coin! Swapnil Bharali Editor

In times of crisis Pt. II

believe Indians have out done themselves for the umpteenth time in surviving yet another crisis. Indians as a species of people have always been the smartest of the lot; the creators of back door entrances. After 99% of demonetized currency found its way back in the system, we managed to prove to the Government that the essential premise for having the demonetization exercise, failed. Neither did you manage to address terror funding nor did you manage to flush out black money and there were no fake notes worth quantifying, seized. It was just a matter of a few hours after the Government’s notification came in and we called our family members in banks and made requisite arrangements. I am wondering if the Government failed to think of that. So the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his defence added that this step was to expand the tax base and get some more discipline in place. But then again, the highest tax payer in Guwahati is still the highest tax payer in Guwahati without a 22 year old case looming over his head and the middle class is feeling tax burdened. So you know the money is still there. I think we are bigger schemers than the Government. We managed to send digitization back to pre-November levels. Whether it is tax evasion or whether it is the GDP fall, we are only stepping backwards because we are too busy scheming instead of genuine ideation. The only place we’re growing is in the population sector; because what else can you do when you don’t know the difference between recreation and procreation. But I guess you’re going to have to be careful with that too now. No more than two kids or you know sarkaari naukri nahi milega.

SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

The identity crisis of Assamese

ssam’s natural bounty and pleasant climate have attracted human settlement eternally. Changing in shape and size through history Assam has had its share of migrants and settlers. The Ahoms gave up their own language and culture, assimilated, won over tiny fiefdoms, subjugated and united the preexisting settlers/ residents starting the concept of Assam - more in upper Assam as the Koch kingdom thrived in lower and western Assam. The British rule from 1826 to 1947 changed Assam forever. The various good things in communication and infrastructure apart, the biggest damage that the British did was to import manpower from parts of the country which were never a constituent even during the Mogul reign. First came the Bengalis; Hindus as clerks and Muslims as cooks/other semi-skilled manpower. The tea boom brought the railways and river transport. People from South Bihar, Orissa, MP and Bengal came as tea workers while North Biharis came as coolies. Initially there was not much social tension, but with progress of time, a section of these imported settlers started dominating. The cultural and linguistic imperialists, on most occasions, were the Bengalis ably aided by a new class of British educated Assamese gentry. The Assamese script got subdued; the language was threatened. Even Bihu got banned only to be lifted soon. Another lot of settlers were the Marwari traders who saw huge opportunity of trade and commerce. The beginning of organized revolt against British rule, especially those spearheaded by the Congress and Muslim League, also saw a rise in Assamese sub-nationalism along with intense nationalism. The dominance of Bengalis, exploitation of Marwari traders – all became a magnet for attracting Assamese ire against the post Ahom-age settlers. The singular factor which changed Assam’s demography is the import cum influx of East Bengali turned East Pakistani turned

r With sinister design

Bangladeshi settlers. They were also cheap, non-skilled and hard working as a labour force. Their growing numbers gave politicians the opportunity to consolidate their vote banks. The religious and community minded leaders saw the opportunity to enhance their own tribe with an eye on political dominance. With social conflicts, political and economic resurgence, the locals felt threatened especially given the experience of Dimasas in Cachar or Tripuris in their land. There were sporadic eruptions by locals against the imports but these were diluted by the independence struggle. Come 1947, India’s independence saw the migration of a huge number of refugee settlers to Assam which continued unabated ever after 1951 due to economic reasons. The Bangladesh liberation war saw another huge influx of refugees of all faiths changing the demography drastically. The Hindu Bengali settlers started eating into jobs; the Muslims began to assert politically while also capturing land. Trade and commerce was already mostly in the hands of North Indian settlers. Locals began to feel the pinch and the xenophobia, fanned by vested leaders, grew. The massive Assam agitation came about, initially against Muslim infiltrators, but later against all foreigners. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord raising hopes that all post1971 infiltrators would be deported. The Congress governments at centre and the state did precious little to detect and deport Bangladeshis. The AGP governments remained clueless. The rising unemployment and corruption, scarcity of land, dominance of outsiders in business, created a generation of young frustrated locals. This, in turn, gave rise to the bloodiest chapter in Assam’s history perpetrated by ULFA and various tribal extremist groups. The rise of UMF first and AIUDF (along with Ajmal’s image) threw the worst possible scare amongst the locals. The fear of the language and culture being wiped suddenly graduated to a fear of being

O p i n i o n Dr Navanil Barua

wiped out of home and hearth by a religious pogrom. The rise of Muslim fundamentalism worldwide, the plight of Kashmiri pundits and the fall of ULFA coincided to infuse a sense of religious scare among the otherwise secular populace. This was exploited to the hilt by rightist communal Hindutva forces in Assam and they spread their tentacles. The Bengali, Bihari, Marwari settlers also helped consolidating this fear for their own petty interests. All this culminated in BJP coming to power in Assam. A lot of hopes were raised regarding the vexed problem of infiltrationinduced demographical change. Unfortunately, the BJP seemed least interested in solving the issue. It rather played the communal card of polarization to further its Hindutva agenda. The increased belligerence of the Hindi and Bengali speakers on one hand and the intense efforts of assimilation by the Muslim Bengali settlers confused the locals. The Silapathar incident by Hindu Bengalis and the Nagaon incident have now frightened the locals with apprehensions of losing language and culture to settlers. The BJP going back on its word of deporting Bangladeshis, the intended bill to further deluge Assam with fresh Bangladeshi settlers, the imposition of alien cultures in the name of Hindutva etc, are now waking up locals from its dream of an Assamese-dominated utopia. Even the fissiparous tendencies amongst various local ethnic groups engineered by motivated and illintended agencies seem to lose steam. Are we staring at a fresh wave of Assamese sub-nationalism or insurgency? Or has the Hindutva mantra already weakened Assam’s ethnic morals? Time will answer n that.

Letter to the Editor

ome sections of people wanted to take maximum advantage of the recent Nagaon incident. With the passing of days it has come to light that the whole incident at the tractor dealership office in Nagaon was the outcome of some business related matters. As soon as the video footage of the incident got circulated on social media sites namely Facebook and WhatsApp and later was telecast by various news channels, some sections of people with sinister designs tried to add controversial colour to it. For the sake of high TRPs, even some of the news channels added fuel to it by repeatedly telecasting the same video clip just to incite the people. These channels air opinions without verifying facts which can lead people to the wrong direction. A particular community of doubtful nationality tried their level best for a conflict between Hindu Asomiyas and Hindu Bengalis to reap benefits for their community. Definitely such a conflict would have pushed some vital issues of the state like NRC update, illegal migration of Bangladeshis, etc to the back burner. Thankfully the indigenous populace of the state, barring a few, have understood their game plan and didn’t let the issue spread further. Gaurrav Chowdhury, GNB Road Guwahati

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Op-Ed

Crime against women and security issues - II Jyotirmay Chakravarty joined the Indian Police Service in 1986 and has been working in the State of Assam as well as outside. He was Guwahati’s first Commissioner of Police.

ender discrimination is rampant in societies that are patriarchal and feudal by tradition and practice. Women of those societies get conditioned to thinking in the same way as the men do, and accept their inferior position as just and natural. Societies in Assam show higher level of gender equality compared to other states of north India, but discriminations still exist. Annual figures of crimes against women in Assam reveal that the number of cases of domestic violence and abuse is about as large as the sum of all other crimes against women taken together. The stark reality, therefore, is that women as a class are nearly as vulnerable to abuse in their own homes as they are outside. This reality shows up in our behaviour towards women in public. India is going through a phase of activism, where the law, like a pendulum overshoots the position of balance and swings from one extreme to the other. There have been reports of mischievous and malicious use of legal provisions under sections 498A, 304B of the Indian Penal Code, and of unfair implications of sections 113A (presumption as to abetment of suicide) and 113B (presumption as to causing of dowry death) of the Evidence Act. Some restrictions have now been imposed on arrest of accused persons charged with domestic violence. In the new definition of rape after the 2013 amendment of IPC, the age of legal consent for women has been increased from 16 years to 18 years. The POCSO Act has also raised the age of consent for both male and female persons to 18 years and has criminalised any act of sexuality with and by persons below 18 years irrespective of whether it is with consent or by force. This means that no man or woman now can have legal sex until he or she turns 18. Do these laws address the psycho-social aspects of sexuality? Now we see the reverse swing in the form of judgments upholding marriage between the accused and the victim as a mitigating factor to condone sexual abuse of a child and, in a way, to legalize child marriage. Opinions vary as to whether the men in society should be chivalrous towards ladies in the classical sense. But it certainly is a matter of shame for the society when women are dishonoured in public. The unfortunate attitude of holding the woman victim responsible, at least partly if not wholly, for the situation she is facing, increases her misery and compels her to suffer the abuse in silence. Recently, several hundred young graduates and postgraduates were asked in an interview why incidence of rape and molestation appears to have gone up in Assam. Many of them, men and women alike, stated that indecent wearing of clothes by women was one of the reasons. This opinion, howsoever discriminatory it may sound, reflects the reality of society’s perceptions. Women-folk of some tribes living in tropical areas do not wear clothes above the waist, but there is no obscenity there. Problems arise when exposure of the skin or the form is made to look sexually suggestive. Photographs and videos of this nature are in abundance in commercial films and advertisements. These visuals and pornographic matters that are now easily available in the internet tend to depict women as a commodity. Unless measures are taken to countersensitize young people, respect for women in the society may suffer serious damage because of such visuals. It is not necessary that the victim of molestation will be the one who is scantily dressed. The fact that most victims of rape are well clad women does not disprove the damaging effect that sexually suggestive visuals and porn materials make in the

mind of people. On the other side of it, self-proclaimed guardians of public morality with their strong gender bias and lack of enlightenment are hardly competent to judge as to what constitutes indecency. Our society will take more time to accept the ways the modern woman expresses herself through her dress. Women’s lib has still not percolated down to the lower strata of our society. There is a need, however, to blend new ideas with the good, strong and liberal elements of our own cultures and traditions. In spite of many negative factors, tremendous positive changes have taken place in our country during the last few decades in areas of rights and liberty of the female sex. But women must be able to exercise the rights without fear and without a threat to their modesty, dignity and personal safety. Safety measures that police and civic authorities have initiated in various States of India are outlined below: Enforcement and surveillance:

Special squads and teams are deployed in addition to normal Police Patrols with specific objectives to make the cities safer for women. CCTV surveillance in public places through PPP.

zone can be created in every city bus. It should be mandatory for city-bus drivers to drive into a police station if so demanded by a woman passenger facing molestation. Sensitize the police and train women on fitness, strength building and self-defence tactics. Make objective assessment of the threat periodically through neutral agencies and initiate appropriate safety measures. Safety advisory:

Tactics that will be useful, especially in cities, wherever there is a real threat: General rule:

1. Desolate and dark places: highly unsafe – risk is high. 2. Heavily crowded places: risk is of minor offences like groping. 3. Moderately crowded places: safest.

‘Dial 100’ facility for police assistance is available for all sections of people but public awareness is still low. The need of a separate helpline for women in distress is often felt.

4. In order to avoid being stalked by a vehicle, walk on the right side of the road.

‘Dial 1090’, also called the ‘Women power line’, has been in use in UP and MP. Again, level of awareness on the part of women is low.

6. Always move away quickly if threatened by more than one man. This rule should be followed by men also, because the criminals may be armed.

Anti-Romeo squads (with apology to Shakespeare) and anti-eve teasing squads have been deployed in several states. But sometimes they get into the questionable practice of trapping ‘potential’ offenders using women police officers as decoy. Anti-Romeo squads sometimes stray into moral policing.

7. Shout and scream if feel threatened, but without actually panicking.

Use of technology:

Mobile phone applications have been launched in several states: ‘Himmat’ in New Delhi, ‘I am Safe’ in Haryana, for example. A woman in danger can get connected to Police control and also to some of her chosen friends or relatives through the application. Her location is tracked through GPS and help is rushed. Mobile based systems have limitations. There are privacy issues as well. Making GPS mandatory for public transport, especially for taxis and city buses, will enhance safety for all commuters. Other measures:

Safe places: certain houses or shops in a locality are marked as safe for women by police in consultation with local residents. Street lighting: Absence of street lights is a major safety hazard and provides a tremendous advantage to criminals. Special ladies’ coaches in crowded local trains and the Delhi Metro brought great relief to women commuters. Ladies-only city bus is not a workable idea. Instead, a ladies’

5. If followed by a car, take a prompt about turn and walk in the opposite direction.

8. Training on fitness and martial arts gives confidence. But there is no need to get unnecessarily adventurous. It is not prudent to get into a physical fight with a male offender unless there are good chances of help arriving soon. 9. If a car is being used to commit a crime, smash the front or the rear windscreen with a stone and move away quickly. 10. Mark some ‘safe houses’ along the route that you frequently use. 11. Speak from a safe distance if persons in a car are asking for information or direction. 12. If you drive alone, keep the car doors locked and windows rolled up; do not take the car to a desolate place to park. 13. Note down the registration number of the cab you take, send it home and let the driver know. Every public transport must display its registration number in the passenger cabin. 14. If two or three of you are together, resist and scream together and do not let anyone get isolated. 15. Carry chilli powder or pepper spray. Keep it handy and act swiftly if physical assault is imminent. 16. Last but not least, never let the perpetrator have the psychological advantage. If you could not gather enough will to protest on the first occasion, prepare yourself to do so if it is attempted again. Take the offender by surprise.

(Concluded)

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

In Focus

Dr Dilip Ghoshal

Homeopathy doctor and filmmaker

orn in Guwahati, Dr Dilip Ghosal is a multi-faceted personality who strides across two worlds – that of medicine and films. Son of Late Debo Prasad Ghosal and Mrs Pabitri Ghosal, Dr Ghosal belongs to Zamindar Bansha community of Purbhasthali, West Bengal. Having done his schooling from many places including Dhubri, Coochbehar and Guwahati, he went on to study B.Sc. in Chemistry (Honors) and further got a diploma in Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (DHMS) from Gauhati University in 1999. Dr Ghosal is a renowned homeopathic doctor who practices in Assam as well as West Bengal. He’s

been practicing medicine for around 20 years and aspires to do so till his last breath. Dr Ghosal is the perfect example of a self made individual. When he was a student of DHMS, he used to rely on borrowed books due to lack of finance and used to go to college on foot, wearing chappals. When he first started practicing as a doctor, he used to sit in a dingy office and charge merely Rs 20-25 per patient, which included the cost of medicine. Today, he is a name to reckon with. Talking to G Plus about his journey, Dr Ghosal recalled, “When I rejected an offer to work as a bank official and chose to pursue education in homeopathy, I was called different names. Hardly anyone showed trust in my decision. Some of my family members said that they didn’t want to be associated with me because they didn’t think anyone could do well in the line of homeopathy. But I decided not to let criticisms affect me. And I’m glad to have made a mark in the field of homeopathy.” Currently having personal chambers in three cities – Siliguri, Kolkata and Guwahati, Dr Ghosal

has been working extensively to establish homeopathy as a more recognized form of practicing medicine. Dr Dilip Ghosal has been bestowed with many prestigious awards including ‘Best Physician Award 2007’, along with a gold medal for his outstanding work in the field of homeopathic medical science by the All India Homoeopathic Science Congress. But he considers the appraisal from his patients to be his biggest reward. Apart from practicing homeopathy, Dr Ghosal is a filmmaker by passion. Owning a large number of cameras and other equipments, he has made many documentaries revolving around the old temples of Assam and the vast stretches of forests in the area. Talking about his interest in the field of filmmaking, he said, “Filmmaking is my hobby. I started with making documentary films out of self interest in the field but have grown with the experiences.” His most recent film, ‘Lokabandhoo’, is a biopic that depicts the life history of Dr Bhubeneswar Barooah, the

legendary Assamese physician, social worker and philanthropist. The film made headlines for the laurels it brought to the state; it was premiered at the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival and got selected for a film festival in Canada. Upcoming films by Dr Dilip Ghosal will revolve around the lives of Bidhan Chandra Roy, former chief minister of West Bengal and Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. On 24th Oct, 2001, Dr Ghosal prepared an exhibition on Assam in Siliguri. Organised and funded solely by him, the exhibition depicted traditional Assamese costumes, accessories and craftworks from various parts of Assam. His work gained acclamation from many including Kirti Nath Hazarika, expresident of Asom Sahitya Sabha. He is also a proud member and donor at an orphanage, Sparsh o Spandan, in Siliguri that serves to protect and prevent orphaned, disabled, helpless children from abuse and exploitation through an environment of ‘shelter home’ and rehabilitation centre (especially for the categories of cerebral palsy, mentally retarded children) and ensuring child rights through participation by promoting safe childhood. Coming back to his work in homeopathy, Dr Ghosal has cured diseases as small as fever to as big as

brain tumour and cancer. While most people think high fever cannot be treated by homeopathy medicines, Dr Ghosal has successfully treated such patients. Not only that, he has also successfully treated diseases like kidney failure, chikungunya, dengue, and blindness. Talking to G Plus, Dr Ghosal said, “Most people blame science for their deficit of knowledge. When they’re not confident about treating a disease, they just go on to say that there’s a deficit in science. This is where they go wrong because when you study excessively, you’ll know that homeopathy can treat any disease just like allopathy, with the exception of surgery.” On being asked about the current scenario of homeopathy in the state and whether the demand to study homeopathy is going down, he informed that the demand has in fact risen. He elaborated by saying that while admissions to Assam based government homeopathy colleges used to earlier be on the basis of marks, it’s been two years that the colleges have started holding entrance examinations due to the excessive number of students seeking admission. As end remarks, he said that there’s a lot of scope for homeopathy. The demand for the alternate system of medicine continues due to the many successful treatment stories.

Are Guwahatians doing enough to make Swachh Bharat Abhiyan truly effective?

While GMC is currently doing a great job in keeping the city clean by opening contact lines and an app for citizens to post photos of dumped garbage, citizens feel that they themselves should take more responsibility for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to be truly successful Prasun Shome No mission/scheme will be effective unless the citizens are willing to abide by it. And when it comes to civic sense, unfortunately Guwahatians are the worst. There are many other small towns in Assam/NE that have better civic sense/cleanliness than Guwahati. Tezpur tops my mind when I speak of its citizens doing their duty earnestly in keeping the town clean and green. Gyanam Saikia Nope! Till the “educated” citizens of the city keep tolerating school going kids throwing empty chips packets, smokers throwing butts, gutka guys spitting on the streets and throwing their precious wrappers “not in dustbin” a “healthy habit”! I don’t think it will be possible for our honourable PM to personally collect wastes person to person and fulfil his dream of a Swacch Bharat. You know, our PM is no super human! Devraj Dey Not yet...For the proper implementation of Swachh Bharat, mohallas or clubs should take serious initiatives. GMC should also start a competition on the same for all the municipal wards. Awards as well as rewards will always boost up the people. Guwahati city badly needs Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan to remove the sands and silts which are deposited in many parts of vital roads. Pankaj Bansal It’s we who will bring the change. The government has done enough in terms of creating awareness and publicity. Now it’s our turn to make it a success. Swachh Bharat App , I don’t know how many of we are aware of this app apart from WhatsApp. But if we really want to bring the change then let’s start using it and let’s not litter here and there.

Nitish Nath Stopping people from throwing garbage can never be fully implemented. But what can be effective is citizens taking initiative and at least submitting written complaints to concerned departments through the notice of Swachh Bharat department. We Assamese can only gossip, can’t take action where it really matters. You don’t have to write a letter; just download Swachh Bharat app, click the picture, upload it on that app instead of Facebook along with location name. Sisir Kumar Not much. Only thing that has changed noticeably is that a new “tax” has been added in the name of door-to-door garbage collection. No proper plans for garbage disposal or giving a penalty for those who dump garbage on the road or drains. Only once or twice a year all the govt officials join in an advertising event with brooms and wipes but the rest of the year it’s still “paint the city red” day.

Devarun Chaki A big no but the authorities aren’t the only culprits. The citizens including me are very much responsible for this serious failure. But yes, the authorities top the list of people who are responsible for this lapse.

Saurav Tambi Does Athgaon fall within Guwahati? Do the GMC people know where Athgaon is except when taking donations? No public toilet, no parking nothing here!

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Trotter

17 year old girl exposed as being mastermind behind Blue Whale suicide game

teenager is accused of being behind the sick craze which has encouraged dozens of vulnerable children to take their own lives. The unnamed Russian girl, who has now been arrested, issued threats to her victims to murder them or their family members if they failed to obey orders to complete tasks she set them. A 21-yearold man was also arrested near Moscow and has been accused of inciting young girls to take their own lives. According to Russian state investigators, the female ‘death group administrator’ played the game originally, but did not end up taking her life, instead choosing to become an ‘admin’ on the deadly site, to help others to commit the fatal act. Colonel Irina Volk, of the Russian Interior Ministry, said,

“This administrator was sending particular tasks – often lifethreatening – to each of several dozen members of the group. In contrast to similar groups, teenagers in this group were blackmailed with death threats against them or their relatives for not completing the tasks.” She would allegedly set victims 50 tasks in 50 days aimed

at “creating psychologically traumatising situations” with the final stage demanding that the victim commit suicide. This included encouraging them to watch horror movies, waking in the middle of the night, and selfharming. The 17-year-old suspect was arrested in the Khabarovsk Krai region in south-eastern Russia. Ilya Sidorov, 26, was arrested earlier this summer for being the mastermind behind the sick game. It is believed he had allocated the admin roles but investigations are still going on. During raids, officers are said to have found a notepad with the woman arrested listing “weak points” to target regarding each vulnerable teen she was speaking to in order to “manipulate” them. (Source: Metro)

9 year old girl has a condition so rare that it doesn’t have a name

9 year old girl suffers from a condition so rare that it doesn’t even have a name. Katie Renfroe was diagnosed with megalencephaly at birth - a growth development disorder characterised by the overgrowth of the brain. However, this diagnosis does not explain the other symptoms that Katie experiences and doctors have said her mystery condition is so rare that they are unable to identify it. Angie Renfroe, Katie’s mother, has been waiting for a full diagnosis of her daughter ever since her birth and doctors

have started to discuss the possibility of naming the unknown condition after Katie. Angie, who lives in Florida with her family, said, “Katie is very rare; she has not been diagnosed with anything and they’re still trying to find out what she has. We found out when I was about six months pregnant with her that she was going to have megalencephaly.” When Katie was born, the family travelled to Hollywood, Florida to visit doctor Roman Yusupov – a specialist in paediatric genetics and paediatric cleft and cranio-facial disorders.

But unfortunately, he was unable to diagnose Katie and has continued to monitor her progress since then. He said, “I have never seen anything like it. She is truly unique and perhaps one in a million. As Katie’s condition remains undiagnosed, her future prognosis is unknown. (Source: BBC)

Calendar dedicated to celebrating plus-size women

he #BeInYourSkin2018 calendar is a creation of plus-size blogger Brianna McDonnell, who runs The B Word. It’s a 12 month wall calendar featuring 18 plus-size bloggers and models, with each month showcasing a glorious image from a photoshoot with different plus-size women. “The #BEinyourskin Plus Size Editorial Wall Calendar is a celebration, it’s a daily reminder that plus size, fat, curvy, thick, chunky bodies are good bodies and can be seen in an artful, editorial, fashion way,” says Brianna. Brianna told that the calendar was a natural progression from the #BEinyourskin 31 day body

confidence challenge she runs on her blog and social media each year. “My followers always love it, wanting the challenge year round and begging for some sort of merchandise,” said Brianna adding, “I love styling and art directing editorial photoshoots with plus-size women. So this was a way to create something for my following and to do something I love.” Brianna chose her models by reaching out to the

plus-size community, handpicking women who inspire her. She said, “We all knew these images would impact change. They would help a girl somewhere feel more confident and powerful, so no one was nervous. We were inspired and ready to give our best.” The resulting images are pretty glorious. Rather than corny poses or overly photoshopped shots, the calendar shows plus-size women in fashion photos that wouldn’t be out of place in a major magazine. The calendar’s about showing, celebrating and appreciating plussize bodies, to show people that you don’t need to fit one restrictive ideal to be beautiful. (Source: Metro)

Woman gets life in prison after pet parrot grasses her up for murder

lenna Durham, 49, spent months in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to her head after shooting her husband Martin five times and then turning the gun on herself. Durham, of Sand Lake, learned of her sentence on Monday after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder and a felony firearm charge last month. There were no witnesses to what happened on May 12 last year – except the grey parrot. Since that day, he has been repeating, “Don’t f***ing shoot! Don’t f***ing shoot!” Martin Duram’s ex-wife, Christina Keller, has said that after the slaying, the pet parrot, Bud, repeated “don’t shoot” in Martin Duram’s voice. Keller took ownership of the bird after Martin Duram’s death. They allegedly had a row about gambling debts and unpaid bills before Glenna seized the gun and blasted her husband before shooting herself in the head. During the hearing, neighbour Connie Ream said she was the one to find the

couple after hearing gunshots. At first she thought Martin was hunting but when she checked on them, saw two bodies motionless on the floor. Another witness said the house looked ‘ransacked’ with things scattered everywhere. But police found a note at their home to their three children that read: “Please forgive me, you’re one of the best things I ever did — Love mom.” (Source: Metro)

7 year old boy rescued from washing machine after getting stuck while playing hide and seek

7 year old boy had to be rescued by firefighters in a bizarre incident in the city of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine. The boy, whose name has not been released, was playing hide and seek with his sister in the family’s flat. He thought he had found the perfect hiding place when he crawled into the drum of the washing machine. But once inside, he found he could not get out again and ended up shouting for help. None of his family was able to pull the youngster out of the washing machine. So they called emergency services for help. Four fire-fighters arrived and after surveying the situation, came up with the idea of covering the boy in sunflower oil.

It paid off as the youngster suddenly slid out of the machine, almost unassisted. Earlier, they used a plastic fan to give him more air as he was feeling claustrophobic in the confines of the washing machine. Once free, the rescuers checked him over and once they were satisfied that he had not been hurt, handed him over to his relieved mother. The firefighters later paid tribute to the boy’s courage in shedding barely a single tear during the entire ordeal. One of the rescuers recorded the unusual rescue operation – which took about 20 minutes – on his smartphone and the clip is proving popular on videosharing websites. (Source: Mirror)

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Reviews Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar Director: R. S. Prasanna

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Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

‘S

hubh Mangal Saavdhan’ is a remake of the Tamil film ‘Kalyana Samayal Saadham’ made in 2013. The story revolves around Mudit Sharma (Ayushmann Khurrana) and Sugandha (Bhumi Pednekar) who fall in love and plan to get married. But the twist in the tale comes when the groom discovers that he suffers from erectile dysfunction. Is it possible to create a Hindi film around the ‘touchy’ subject of erectile dysfunction without being downright crass about it? Turns out that it is; and quite a funny one at that. This is because the lead pair has an affable chemistry between them - an absolutely essential element when dealing with such a private ‘Gents problem’ (as the film calls it). The whole premise would fall flat without them playing so well off of each other. However, Seema Pahwa deserves a special mention. She has nailed down the traditionally modern mother in the recent past (as seen in ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’), and can clearly continue to make her career based on that oxymoron. But, much like Mudit’s character, the film is unable to perform when it matters the most - the climax. For some reason, the screenplay resorts to an unconvincing turning point towards the end, followed by a few more absurd sequences, including a seemingly forced cameo before going flat out overboard.

0361 2656968

Saavdhan 10:30 AM 03:15 PM 05:45 PM 08:15 PM Annabelle:

Baadshaho 11:00 AM

Creation 01:00 PM

05:00 PM 08:15 PM Haunted House 12:00 PM 04:00 PM Shubh Mangal Saavdhan 02:00 PM Forest Adventure & Aero Bike 03:00 PM 08:00 PM

PVR Cinemas Dona Planet 08800900009 Baadshaho 09:30 AM 12:20 Shubh Mangal

Shubh Mangal

Gold Mine 10:30 AM

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Cast: Ajay Devgn, Vidyut Jammwal, Emraan Hashmi, Esha Gupta, etc Director: Milan Luthria

aadshaho takes us to the emergency era of 1975, when there was political unrest in the full country. Mastermind Bhawani (Ajay), who is madly in love with Gitanjali (Ileana) promises her that he will win her pot of gold back. So he lovingly handpicks his crew—a lock picker, Tikla(Sanjay), a daredevil all-rounder, Daliya (Emraan), a ‘I-know-to-use-a-gungirl’, Sanjana (Esha) who along with him, form the quartet that set out to outsmart the army guys taking the armoured truck from Rajasthan to Delhi. It’s the haraami v/s army clash. For a heist-thriller to work, the moves and movements of the crew should have been calculated and executed to precision. Instead, here you have buffoonery and indulgent character introductions. Ajay burns the screen with his intensity; Ilena plays the Maharani with hidden facets effectively. Emraan’s takeaway is his shimmy with Sunny Leone and Vidyut’s got the moves. Sunita Radia’s lens captures the expanse of the desert so deftly certain shots stay frozen in your memory. The song Mere Rashke Qamar brings back the magic of the voices of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. If you’re an action junkie who has no loyalty to any particular actor, this could be your big-ticket ride.

Anuradha Cineplex Noonmati

Saavdhan 11:00 AM 03:45 PM 06:10 PM 08:35 PM Annabelle: Creation

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Gadget Review

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Pragjyoti Cinema Maligaon 0361 2570777

Baadshaho 10:00 AM 12:45

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IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. On the design front, the phone has an anodized aluminium frame and 3D rear contoured design. The Corning Gorilla Glass is on the front and back of the smartphone.

which is the highlight of the new Moto X4. The phone supports dual rear cameras with a 12MP and 8MP sensor. The front camera is 16MP, but Motorola says the Moto X4 isn’t just oto X4, the new another dual-rear camera, and Motorola smartphone, calls this a smarter one, which has been unveiled at can recognise objects as well. IFA 2017. Motorola Moto X4 For example it can recognise comes with dual-rear cameras business cards and then add the with some smart features built- Specifications in. The phone is powered by the Motorola has gone for the information to a user’s contacts. Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 The camera app also gets “Face processor and runs Android processor with this smartphone, Filters” similar to how apps like Nougat 7.1.2. which is clocked at 2.2 GHz and Snapchat, Instagram offer for this is an octa-core CPU. The users. There’s also a new “Quick Design GPU on this phone is Adreno option where Moto X4 comes with a 5.2” 508 GPU and it comes with 3GB Screenshot” FHD (1080×1920) display, which RAM and 32GB storage, though users place three fingers on the is an LTPS IPS one with Corning there is 2TB microSD support screen and capture a screenshot Gorilla Glass on top and a pixel on this phone. The battery is anytime. This is a singledensity of 424PPI. Dimensions 3000 mAh and the company SIM smartphone with the of the new Moto X4 are 148.35 is promising 6 hours of power following sensors: Fingerprint x 73.4 x 7.99 mm, though it is in 15 minutes with the 15W Reader, Gravity, Proximity, 9.45 mm at camera bump and TurboPower charger for this Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Magnetometer, Gyroscope and weighs 163 g. The new Moto X smartphone. smartphone is also sporting an Coming to the camera, Sensor Hub. n

Moto X4 UNVEILED

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Entertainment

Father-Daughter duo presents essence of Love in musical notes

ove is a beautiful essence, and the very existence of the feeling in its truest form, makes the world a beautiful place to live in. Unlike the mainstream identity of love, this father-daughter duo has defined the beauty of love in their relationship through musical notes. Mumbai-based, Guwahatiborn singer-songwriter Prarthana Choudhury’s latest collaboration,

‘Ek Pyar Ka Nagma’ with her father – popular violin player and wellknown academician, Dr Satyendra Kr Choudhury, is fast stealing people’s heartsontheinternet!Interestingly,the song is an outcome of an impromptu jamming session between the fatherdaughter duo and the live recording was only incidental. At a time when processed and fabricated sound is in demand, this duo’s live act stands out

for its raw soulfulness and natural sweetness. The father-daughter duo has delivered this cover-version of the popular Bollywood classic, Ek Pyar Ka Nagma, in their own fresh style. The duo’s chemistry is just magical! “Things change with time, but certain things like the bond between a parent and a child remains the same, irrespective of time and distance. My relation with my father has always been strengthened by music. While half the world is of the notion that love means only ‘couple’, we want to tell that it encompasses people ahead of them,” said Prarthana. Created by Samujjal Kashyap’s ‘Kadambari Creations’, this musicvideo celebrates the special bond that we share with the ‘special’ people of our lives – our parents, lover, spouse, friends, children .... the list is endless! The video portrays the beautiful relationship between a dad and a daughter and shows the duo taking a walk-down-the-memory-lane,

through the song. The impact is soultouching! Born and brought up in Guwahati, Prarthana has lived in different cities of the country. The girl, who began her musical journey as a six year old, has won several accolades in the musical arena. Prarthana, who otherwise is a corporate professional, is also an approved artist of All India Radio. A look back at the educational journey of the artist gives a glimpse of the various awards that the artist has bagged till date. Prarthana bagged the ‘Best Singer of Cotton College’ in the year 2002-03. She also achieved the College Color & Blazer Award of Hansraj College in 2006-07 as recognition for winning the maximum number of prizes for the college during the inter college competition at Delhi University. Prarthana Choudhury was honoured with the ‘Best Female Singer’ Award at the 5th Artist Aloud Music Awards

held in Mumbai in 2016, for her own composition, ‘Kaisi Khudgarzi’. Her latest Assamese single, ‘Mur Monor Aakaxot’ was released by Zee Music early this year. She was invited as a guest artist at the 34th Assam Convention held in the USA, in 2013, and the gala Music Nite organised by ‘Spandana’, a sociocultural organisation, in Muscat. Her latest solo Assamese singles include, ‘Tumi Bujanu Kiman’ and ‘Aamaar Gaaor’ released by Hungama Music. Prarthana is the voice behind the popular Marathi song, ‘Sakhya Saajana’. A renowned academician of Assam, Dr Satyendra Kumar Choudhury has performed all across the state as well as in the USA. He has three solo albums encompassing 27 songs of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, titled ‘Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s Voice in Violin’, alongside songs of ‘Rupkonwar’ Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and ‘Kalaguru’ Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Fun Horoscope of the week

As convivial Mercury, your guide planet, backs into your sector of spirituality, you may find that you’re more in touch with your feelings, especially buried anger. This doesn’t mean that you should express it, but instead trace it back to its source. You also might want to channel this energy into vigorous exercise or hard work. If you do, you might feel fitter or accomplish more than you have in some time. On another note, a home-based project could succeed very nicely now.

The coming week or so could bring opportunities for reunions, whether organized by you or another. This can be a chance to catch up on news and perhaps see more of these people in the future. It’s also possible that an unexpected encounter could encourage a spontaneous attraction. This might become a romance or friendship, but it could fade away unless you nurture it carefully. Regarding a key plan, detailed research and positive action can help you accomplish much.

You might need to revisit an idea, particularly if things aren’t working out as you’d hoped. But with quicksilver Mercury presently retrograde in your sector of goals, it would be just as well not to be in too much of a hurry. Meanwhile, an opportunity could become available, and this may be one occasion when you need to be quick off the mark or you could miss it. When it comes to money matters, allow your intuition to guide your actions.

Are you thinking of going on a vacation? If so, it might be wise to check that you have everything you need. Also doublecheck your passport, tickets, and hotel accommodations. The coming days and weeks could coincide with misunderstandings or delays, but an unexpected detour or snafu could also prove beneficial. If you’ve been busy, you may opt for a spontaneous trip that allows you to explore new territory, and this could prove very revitalizing.

The present astrological backdrop could lead to misunderstandings unless you can make sure that others get your message. You might have more success if you’re prepared to talk things over and find positive solutions through discussion. An electric encounter could see you and another getting along very well, and this could lead to a new friendship or collaboration on a key project if you can maintain this bond. Cautiously stepping outside your comfort zone could be fun over the weekend.

You might need to go over a project you’ve already completed or review the details of a plan. You could find that by doing so things work out much better. Due to lively Mercury’s retrograde phase, you might need to take care in general if you’re to avoid mishaps. You might also be eager to look and feel healthier, especially if you want to impress a certain someone. But don’t do too much too soon. Pacing yourself can ensure you benefit from your efforts.

You could feel moved to review certain changes and consider how things have altered since they were implemented. In this instance, the focus is on a deeper emotional transformation that may be possible if you can let go of people or situations that no longer serve you. This can also be a time of insight, when the answer to a family matter could show up out of the blue and lead to a swift solution. It would still be wise to check the facts before you proceed.

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The Brahmaputra in Asssam is narrowest at which famous place? Which million bucks earning sports person,recently in the news,is very aptly nicknamed ‘Money’? Connect Shyam Benegal’s movie Kalyug with the Shashi Tharoor’s novel ‘The Great Indian Story.’

Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce

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Daily Sudoku: Thu 31-Aug-2017

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Which former Prime Minister of India was the author of the novel ‘The Insider’ depicting the machinations of Modern Indian Politics? Which Hollywood star is playing the role of Leonardo da Vinci in the recent biopic being made?

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A feature or detail of a face, body, or figure, considered with respect to its outline or contour. http://www.dailysudoku.c Quick crossword no 14,761

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1. Mizoram and Chaw 2. PV Narasimha Rao 3. His namesake Leonardo di Caprio 4. Saraighat 5. Floyd Mayweather 6. Both are modern renditions of Mahabharata.

Which of the seven sisters from the Northeast serves this delicious spread and what is it called?

1 7 9 3 85

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61 1 8 9 7

curio-city 1

With Mercury, the planet of mind and communication, moving backward into your sign, the past could figure into the present. You may feel moved to hold a reunion, or you might unexpectedly encounter old friends or even an old flame. You could also be tempted to escape from too much routine and do something a little bit different, such as take a trip or enjoy some time alone. A big idea could prove successful if you put your mind to it.

The coming days and weeks can be an opportunity to go over your accounts and review your spending. You could also benefit from taking whatever precautions might be necessary to keep your personal details safe. Even so, the urge to splurge could be particularly strong over the weekend, and this is something to watch out for. At the same time, an opportunity could appear out of the blue and you might need to be quick if you’re going to grab it.

Sudoku

As talkative Mercury, your personal planet, moves back into Leo and your sector of communication, the coming weeks offer a chance to review recent plans and make any changes. Don’t be too quick to sign contracts or make promises or commitments, as things may not work out as planned during this phase. The days ahead could see you aspiring to bigger opportunities, but take your time and avoid making spontaneous decisions. If you can pace yourself, you might do very well.

As Mercury, the planet of talk and thought, moves back into your home zone, you may be drawn to connect with family and friends you haven’t seen in a while. The coming weeks can be a great opportunity for a reunion that gives you a chance to catch up. You might want to discuss your latest plans or introduce new members of the family to each other. On another note, pooling your resources can enable you to accomplish more than you might alone. It’s worth considering.

last week solution

Although you may have responsibilities, the focus on fun and leisure continues, which could be a bit of a distraction. You may not yet be ready to commit to your routine and getting more done, but you’ll get into your groove over the coming weeks. Restlessness could see you pursuing other options and finding it hard to settle, but a breakthrough may be possible because of this. The services of a coach or teacher could help you reach your full potential.

Crossword Across 5 Terminal cut (anag) — downsizing (11) 7 Children’s card game (4) 8 Dietary fibre (8) 9 Rye whiskey (7) 11 Friendship (5) 13 Academy award (5) 14 Popular newspaper size (7) 16 Conferred (8) 17 Drinking vessels (4) 18 One of the original 13 US states (5,6)

Across

5 Terminal cut (anag) — downsizing (11) 7 Children’s card game (4) Down 8 Dietary fibre (8) 9 Rye whiskey (7) 11 Friendship (5) 1 Harvest yield (4) 13 Academy award (5) 2 Keep going!14 (5,2) Popular newspaper 3 Hit — influencesize (5) (7) Conferred (8) onions 4 White sauce16flavoured with and herbs (8)17 Drinking vessels (4) 18 One of the original 13 5 Expert judge ofUStaste (11) states (5,6)

6 Uncommunicative (5-6) 10 Response (8) Down 1 (7) Harvest yield (4) 12 Most doleful 2 Keep going! (5,2) 15 Chimney cleaner 3 Hit —(5) influence (5) 17 Chinwag (4)4 White sauce flavoured

11 12

14 15

with onions and herbs (8) 5 Expert judge of taste (11) 8/24/2017 6 Uncommunicative (5-6) 10 Response (8) 12 Most doleful (7) 15 Chimney cleaner (5) 17 Chinwag (4)

Solution no 14,760

Puzzlers' Cave™ Crosswords

AB JU RE OB J ECT Last week’s solution F A U R V A

Puzzlers' Cave™ Quick Crossword No. 347 1

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ACROSS person held in order to have demands met slang for MD spot or speck serving tables in a restaurant

DOWN To cut down with an ax not moving or in motion creature from outer space a line determining the limits of an area

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G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Lifestyle

Timing the Market or Time in the Market?

o you know what just the right time to invest in markets is? If at all I come across this question, my instinct calls me to reply, “Any time is a good time.” Equity markets move largely on the basis of sentiments rather than logic.

Timing the market is all about ‘getting in’ and ‘moving out’ at the right time. Mathematically, it should denote equal chances of getting right and getting wrong. The success mantra to investing in stock markets is to buy low and sell high. But investors

Designer Amrita Bora Medhi gives a new look to the ancestral dresses Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

hile the Assamese mekhalachador still remains a trendy attire and very much part of the fashion scenario, the attires that were worn by the ancestors during 40s, 50s and 60s have vanished or are considered outdated. To give those attires a chance at revival, and to breathe fresh life into this tradition of Assamese culture, such outfits are being redesigned by designer Amrita Bora Medhi. Designer Medhi was inspired by her mother who trained her right from her childhood and while she did acquire any degree in designing she felt a growing interest in designing. “My first teacher was my mother from whom I gained knowledge in this field. My mother used to teach me on paper cuttings and slowly I learnt embroidery as well. My mother was expert in knitting woollen stuff but I don’t quite have an interest in that. Rather, I am more interested in cutting and stitching. I have a weakness for the attires that used to worn by my ancestors. Whenever I get a chance to attend any function or occasion, I wear mekhala-chador rather than other attires. Eventually, I felt a growing interest in redesigning the attires which

are no longer in use,” said Medhi. Her interest in the old attires that remained confined to almirah corners and shelves and which were no longer worn by the people grew steadfastly and to keep those attires alive Medhi thought of redesigning them. Her efforts and work have now become very popular among the people. “The purported worthlessness of such mekhala-chadors ignited in me the idea of redesigning them. At first, I thought of redesigning some of these for myself as I had a fear that I will lose those attires for ever if they aren’t redesigned as they had apparently become oldfashioned. Four years ago I wore a mekhala-chador redesigned by me to a function at Rabindra Bhawan and some other ladies noticed it. They liked the job and I got an order of five sets of mekhala-chadors which were not “trendy” at that time to redesign. That was the first order that I received as a designer,” said Medhi. There are many designers in the fashion industry who are very well known but Medhi is the only designer who has revived the old designs of mekhala-chadors which had vanished from the social circuit. “There are ample numbers of designers in the city who have got fame due to their designs but no one has thought that our old traditions should be preserved

across the globe tend to do exactly the opposite. They buy high when the stock is experiencing euphoric buying and sell at low prices when the stock is undergoing panic selling. This is why the best way to create wealth in the market is to spend time in the market, rather than timing the market. By assigning time to your goals, you are no longer affected by daily price volatilities. Further, equity investments are known to pay off well in the long run. If you would have invested an amount of Rs. 1 lakh in BSE Sensex way back in 1979, you would have been richer by Rs. 3.12 crores today, giving you 312x returns in just a period of 38 years. That’s the power of staying invested in equities, reaping the benefits of compounding. When you invest in certain stocks/portfolio, you often have some time frame in mind for the stocks to achieve their targets.

Hence, the daily price movements and the embedded volatility should not affect us. Watching the portfolio on regular basis does one of the two things - makes us overconfident, or fearful. Any of these two will push us to make another move based on emotions rather than logic. The odds are mostly in the favor of us doing something wrong. Therefore, the most suitable way for long term investing is through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), wherein you deposit a fixed sum on monthly/periodical basis to save money and earn some interest. Systematic investments average out your cost of investment over time and equity markets are known to fetch positive returns over longer tenure. You need not worry if a part of your money gets invested at period highs for some time because it does not matter in the long run especially when you are investing across the highs and lows of the markets.

SIPs offer you potential for higher returns. For example, a monthly SIP investment of Rs. 1,000/- in an equity MF fetching 12% p.a. return accumulates to Rs. Rs. 82,486 over 5 years, offering a staggering 61% additional returns. Further, registering a SIP takes away the liberty of investing at our own will which only helps in investing consistently. Otherwise, in the back of the mind, the investment proposal gets postponed endlessly in expectation of further lower prices when the market is falling, or just waiting for prices to lower when the markets are rising. One must start investing in a diversified portfolio consistently over a period. Being into the equity market, the second best thing to do is to have a plan. The first thing is, of course, sticking to that plan. So, the next time you are stuck into timing the market to invest, you should definitely consider these principles to master the art of investing.

in order to keep our culture alive. Although I thought of wearing those mekhala-chadors myself, it was only after I got my first order that I thought of expanding my business and to make people aware that old attires could still be worn if redesigned well. To place my

Canada which is a 5-6 day programme and each day, a change of attire was obviously required. They found my designs on Facebook and asked me send three sets of mekhala-chadors along with matching jewellery. After I had sent the dresses to Canada they

idea in front of potential customers and to reach out to more people, I opened a Facebook page to display my work. Through this, people have now come to know that the mekhala-chadors of the 40s, 50s, 60s, etc, which are very simple yet elegant, could be used again,” said Medhi. The tradition of wearing mekhalachador is now trending among youths and people want exclusive pieces. The attire has also become popular in other parts of the country and abroad as well. “My customers are mainly from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai etc. Also I have customers from Dubai, Chicago etc. Recently I sent mekhala-chadors to Delhi and Chicago and they loved the old designs that were redesigned. In June there was an Assam Festival in

said that they also wanted traditional outfits for the men folk. Thereafter, I designed waist coats for men for the first time,” said Medhi. “Besides some South Indian ladies, I also received orders from a Marwari community which celebrated a wedding with a 7-day programme and they earmarked one day to dress up in Assamese attire and so I made mekhala-chadors for them,” she added. The rates of the

mekhala-chadors vary as the weavers charge different rates according to the design. “The weavers work hard and it takes a lot of time to weave the dresses and they are usually paid a bare minimum amount. We only make the design but it is the weavers who implement the same and therefore they should be paid well. I have also urged the government to fix a reasonable rate for the weavers as they should be suitably benefitted. I therefore pay them handsomely,” designer Medhi said. Being a designer, Medhi has also urged the state government to ask for proper utilisation of the funds that are being provided to the designers to take part in shows outside the state. “Mekhalachadors are the tradition of Assamese culture and it should not be skewed into other outfits in fashion shows which is disrespectful to our culture. The mekhalachadors are designed as gowns, skirts etc. in many fashion shows. This should not be done. The proper utilisation of the attire should be shown so that people get to know about this magnificent traditional dress of our state,” Medhi concluded.

Pallav Bagaria CEO, Brand New Day – one of Northeast’s leading Mutual Funds Investment Consultancy and Portfolio Management Services pallav@salasarcapital.com

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Feature

AOL playing vital role in conflict resolution, peace and social welfare of NE The Art of Living has been working actively in North East India in various spheres, including conflict resolution, relief activities, education and social welfare, for several years. G Plus feature

he North Eastern region of India comprising seven states – Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim – is much more than a mere political construct. It is a unique civilization in itself with its own rich historical and cultural foundation. The region is also very strategic for the country as it shares 99% of its border with Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. With more than 220

communities and an equal number of languages and dialects, its population of nearly 50 million varies in language, race, tribe, religion and regional heritage. Yet the destiny of the people of the region is bound together geographically, economically and culturally. Despite the diversity, the problems faced by the people of the region are often quite common and similar. The Art of Living, an educational and humanitarian NGO has been working actively in North East India in various spheres, including conflict resolution, relief activities, education and social welfare, for several years. The organization has initiated many social service projects in the region, benefitting millions of people. Disaster relief activities

The Art of Living has been active in disaster relief activities in the North East. The volunteer teams have distributed relief on several occasions in the floodprone areas. On 21st July, 2017, when a

devastating flood hit Assam, The Art of Living team distributed tons of food materials, drinking water, clothes and other essential materials to around 100,000 affected victims in 800 villages. In some places, the volunteers travelled on boats to reach the remote and inaccessible areas. In areas that had no electricity, the team provided solar lamps and water filters as well. Trauma care for riot victims

Trauma relief has been another area in which The Art of Living has been actively involved. In July 2012, Assam saw outbreaks of riots between different ethnicities that displaced over 400,000 people. The Art of Living set up relief camps and provided immediate material aid such as food, water, clothing & shelter homes. Medical camps were set up by a team of Art of Living Ayurvedic doctors. The organization also provided trauma care and reached out to for over 100,000 Bodos and Muslims victims at relief camps.

Electrifying remote villages with solar lights

Inaugurated in Nov 2012, the Art of Living’s “Light a Home” project has so far distributed more than two thousand lamps in some of the remotest villages of North East; some of them requiring 6-7 hours of treks and on foot journey. The organization has also constructed the country’s largest solar battery charging station on

December, 2016, which powers 287 households in the remote village of Mulik Gaon in Dibrugarh District. The project, reaching out and connecting so many households at a time, makes it the biggest of its kind in India. Along with the solar project, two skill development training centers, which will make hundreds of youths employable, are also being established in the same area. School for first generation learners

The Art of Living has 65 free rural and tribal schools across North East, benefitting around 9,000 students. The indigenous schools are not only bringing free education to more than 1,000 first generation school goers, but has also created a space for preserving and celebrating the cultures of the region.

Chemical-free farming to benefit 4,000 farmers

Among the several transformational initiatives of the Art of Living, an organic farming revolution, expected to benefit around 4,000 farmers and surrendered militants, is underway in the North East. The project will see cultivation of Marigold, Turmeric, Chilly and Ginger on a massive scale, on about 2,000 acres of land, with revenues projected at more than Rs. 50 crores per annum. The project is slated to go commercial from Oct, 2017 and will be a complete turnaround for the farmers in the North East.

Re-using temple waste as compost

In a first of its kind, The Art of Living has set up a temple waste management plant in Kamakhya Mandir, Guwahati. The compost plant produces 160 kg of manure per day from the huge amounts of waste flowers and materials in the temple premises. The initiative has helped reduce pollution in the temple and the manure is being used for farming. Several other temples have also joined in the project.

Reforming and rehabilitating militants

North East India is often mired in inter-state, intercommunity, communal and inter-ethnic conflicts. Separatist and militant groups have been active in the region since 1965. These groups are trained in warfare and know

little other than this lifestyle of violence and insecurity. The Art of Living has been active in the sphere of conflict resolution in North East for several years and has so far rehabilitated over 1,200 militants. In 2010, 128 Manipurbased militants laid down their arms and were subsequently rehabilitated by The Art of Living. The group underwent a 90-day intensive behavioral, spiritual and vocational rehabilitation training conducted by the organization. In 2012, over 700 ULFA members participated in The Art of Living programs. They were also provided skill training to adopt a vocation as per their aptitude. “For the first time in my life, I have started thinking properly and more clearly. Now I know what I want to do in my life and the Art of Living has given me the skills through which I can take care of my family,” said Basarat Sahah, a former militant. The fight against insurgency got further impetus with the surrender of 68 armed militants in Manipur on 14th august, 2017. The Art of Living had played a major role in changing the hearts and mind of these cadres, and their sustained efforts paid off when the militants came on ground with a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and announced their decision to return to mainstream society. Strength in diversity: A historic peace conference

In continuation of the various initiatives of The Art of Living in the North East, the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), an international not-for-profit organization founded by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is organizing a historic day-long North East Indigenous People’s Conference – “Strength in Diversity.” The interaction, slated to happen on 7th September at Guwahati, will bring opinionmakers and thought-leaders of the region drawn from all walks of life face-to-face with Gurudev to collectively build a shared vision for addressing the issues facing the region. The world over, Gurudev is known for empowering individuals and groups to move together on the basis of love, equality, human values and compassion. His approach of finding strength in diversity will go a long way in ushering a new era of co-operation in the n conflict-ridden states.

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Snippets

Exotic Tea to make its way to Guwahati Centre to align Rs 1,142 Cr for expansion of Ghy airport; city Tea Auction Centre to get new airport

hite tea, one of the most expensive varieties of tea, will finally make a date with Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) on 6th September. The White Pekoe of Donyi Polo garden of Arunachal Pradesh will be sold at Sale Number 36 at GTAC. The quantity offered is only 5.7 kgs. Only crushed-tearcurl (CTC), green, orthodox and handcrafted teas have been sold at the centre till now. Donyi Polo garden in East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh has created ripples at the auction centre by setting the highest price of Rs 3,101 per kg this month.

The white tea will be sold by Contemporary Brokers. Dubbed the emperors’ drink when it was discovered during the Song Dynasty’s regime in China (960-1279 AD), white tea is known to be one of the most delicate tea varieties as it is minimally processed. It is harvested before a plant’s leaves unfurl fully with the young buds still covered by fine white hairs. Hence, the name white tea. These buds and unfurled leaves from the newest growth on the tea plant are handpicked and then quickly and meticulously dried. The leaves are not allowed to oxidise as long as they are

plucked compared to the process for green or black tea production. This minimal processing and low oxidation result in the production of some of the most delicate and freshest tea varieties available. “We are promoting white tea. We hope to get a good response,” said Satyanjoy Hazarika, Managing Director (Tea) of Contemporary Brokers. Senior manager of Donyi Polo garden, Manoj Kumar, said he is optimistic that the white tea will get good response for its unique flavour. “Pekoe white tea is a highquality tea made from selected clones having silvery pubescence hairs on buds and a tiny immature leaf attached to the bud. Its liquor is very light with note of mellowness and rich in antioxidant,” he said. Secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association, Dinesh Bihani, said the introduction of white tea at the centre will have a positive impact which will inspire other producers to send speciality teas for auction.

Lady fraudster arrested by Ghy Police in connection with lakh-rupee chit fund scams

ne Jui Chaterjee, daughter of Subash Bhattacharjee, resident of Lalganesh, Odalbakra, Guwahati, has been arrested by Guwahati Police on charges of defrauding various people in a supposed chit fund scam. According to an FIR by one of victims (name withheld), a copy

of which is with G Plus, Jui had collected an amount of Rs 50,000, promising a fabulous return of Rs 3,00,000 in just six months. On elapse of the time period, when the victim went to her place to claim the money, Jui delayed the payment on various pretexts and later on fled to Mumbai. News surfaced thereafter that

she had defrauded various people in similar fashion allowing her a lavish lifestyle in Mumbai. The said victim got news of her recent arrival in Guwahati and filed an FIR under Sections 420, 406, 294 and 506, at Dispur Police Station. Jui was later arrested by Guwahati Police and is currently in police custody.

Guwahati to get new Women Entrepreneurs’ Hub

Women Entrepreneurs’ Hub will be set up in Guwahati which will exclusively cater products made by women, declared Industries and Commerce Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary, while inaugurating the threeday exhibition on ‘Traditional Jewellery Designing and Making, Block Printing and Lifestyle Products’ at Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati. Lauding the efforts in crafting exquisite products and designs, the Minister asked the women entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and quality to compete

in the national and international markets, while retaining the traditional motifs. He therefore asked the department officials to rope in professional experts to impart training on fine quality commodities. The Minister also added that

the upcoming Incubation Centre at Ambari, Guwahati will dedicate two floors of the building for products, goods and artefacts designed and made by women. Stating that only micro industries can provide large employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital investments than large industries, Minister Patowary said that an industrial park will be set up at Jagiroad on a plot of 19 bighas with 40 sheds of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) where women entrepreneurs will be given preference.

Union Minister Jayant Sinha (L) in conversation with CM Sarbananda Sonowal (R)

nion Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha on Tuesday said that an amount of Rs 1,142 crores will be aligned for the expansion work of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The Minister also assured that centre will take effective steps to boost the regional connectivity of airlines. While discussing the development prospects, Sonowal said that the centre should introduce flights from Guwahati to various countries of South East Asia. The Centre along with the state government has also decided to construct a twin city and a new airport in the suburb of Guwahati and a

new task force will be deployed involving representatives and experts from both the central and state governments to study the viability to make the project a reality. The Union Minister assured to start helicopter services between Guwahati and other towns of Assam and North East. Sonowal also said that the state government would construct heliports in smaller towns. The subsidised helicopter services will be made available under UDAN-II scheme. Moreover, the Union Minister also assured to start daily flights between Guwahati and Dibrugarh and between Dibrugarh and Pasighat shortly.

Guwahati to have 65 storey Twin Towers!

tate Minister for Industry and Commerce, Chandra Mohan Patowary, during the cabinet meeting held on Thursday, focussed on development of Assam and briefed some key decisions. Here are some of the important decisions taken during the meet: Bill approved for setting up of Majuli University of Culture Bill approved for formation of Assam State Capital Region All Tuls under Sanskrit Board will come under Kumar Bhaskar Barman Sanskrit University and the Board will be merged with SEBA. Curriculum of the Tuls will be prepared and examinations will be conducted by the said university Bills for setting up three new universities, namely Bhattadev University, Madhabdev University and Rabindra Nath Tagore university are approved Assam Employees PRONAM Bill, 2017 approved Assam State Population Bill approved which focuses more on women empowerment 32 bigha land at Beltola in

Guwahati for construction of International Trade Centre has been approved where twin towers having 65 storeys will be constructed Municipal Administration Reform Bill approved and consequently all Municipal Boards will have officers from Administrative Service, Finance Service and Engineering Service New Unit of Assam Petrochemicals Limited which will be the 2nd unit of the company will be constructed with an outlay of Rs. 1,337 crores Enhancement of allowances in Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund approved Instead of compassionate ground appointment, families of the deceased government employees will get the last pay of the employee till the time of his retirement, which will be effective from 01-04-2017 From 15th September onwards, all ministers and senior officers will visit all flood-affected areas and extend necessary support for implementation of Swacch Bharat Mission

G PLUS | SEP 02 - SEP 08, 2017

Catching Up

GYAN

Did you know?

Colony Bazar in Kalapahar

Jiya Sarma

New

Chick on the block

he Colony Bazar in Kalapahar area of the city was the first refugee settlement for people coming to India from the then East Bengal, now Bangladesh, after IndiaPakistan partition in 1947. The area was named Refugee Colony which later became Colony Bazar. Till this date, the area remains a Hindu Bengali-majority area of

Kamur

the city. The area is touted to have the second highest concentration of high-budget Durga Puja pandals next to Pandu. The Colony Bazar fish market is known for its variety of fish and attracts buyers from all areas of the city. Noted historian and poet Amalendu Guha had described this place as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Bengal within Guwahatiâ&#x20AC;?.

of the week

The major kamur this week was the many road accidents as the traffic police and investigation agencies were not able to nab the truck driver of an accident which killed Prag News journalist, Rima Sharma. The city also witnessed various accidents and there is a rising threat among citizens to bar two wheeler riding. According to many two wheeler riders, city buses, dumpers and trucks are ruling the city.

About Me Hello readers of G Plus. I am Jiya Sarma, a 22 year old resident of Guwahati. I am currently pursuing my B.Tech. from GIMT in Computer Science. I am passionate about modelling and acting. I bagged the titles of Miss GIMT, Miss GU, and was also one of the top 5 contestants of Sunsilk Mega Miss Northeast, in 2016. Mojo My passion for modelling found a new boost once I was awarded the titles. Pursuing the passion has now become a joy of life. Route in Woods Being a student of technical background, I thrive to take the best out of my education. However, I would not let my passion for modelling go dim any day. Photography by - Unique Borah Costume - Madhuri Barman (if the white and yellow dress pic) Costume - Moonmee Boruah (for purple dress pic)

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