Sitharaman applauds Sikkim for driving organic farming revolution

GANGTO K, FEB 28

(AGENCIES): Union Finance Minister Nirmala

Sitharaman applauded the people of Sikkim for driving the organic farming revolution.

She applauded how the State has risen beyond its attraction to trigger tourism and stepped into the world of enterprise development, with some of its organic products from the remotest of its places finding their mark even in today’s global market, reports India Today NE.

“The ready-for-market products with high standards displayed at the stalls at MG Marg reflect the grit and resilience of the local producers of the State,” she added.

Further, the Union Minister stated that Sikkim has so much to say but yet not much has been heard, hence have visited the state to witness the quiet work which is happening here which is motivating and also an inspiration.

She was addressing the inauguration event of the ropeway from Dhapper to Bhaleydhunga in Sikkim under the PM-DevINE Scheme which was held at Chintan

Bhawan, Gangtok.

In the capital Gangtok during the auspicious launching ceremony in presence of Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), She also shows his satisfaction with the work of NABARD saying “Delhibased body which is working in the farthest Nepal border area is exceptional.

The Union Finance Minister said that institutions like NABARD are agents of change and are doing exceptional work in reaching the government schemes to far-flung areas of Sikkim, including the cluster of villages in the SikkimNepal border and encouraging small entrepreneurs. For

NABARD to come this far and understand the communities of such places and enterprise them speaks about how every institution under the Government of India, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been realising the ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’ policy in the country, she stated.

Addressing the gathering, Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman expressed immense pleasure over the flourishing of progressive yet sustainable growth witnessed in various sectors in the State in its unique demeanour and added that these characteristics still remain understated despite the efficacy.

Narcotics worth Rs 16 cr recovered

On spot interrogation of the driver, it was revealed that the contraband was brought from Dimapur and supposed to be delivered at Barpeta.

In another operation, 5 Kilogram of suspected brown sugar was recovered from a person near C20 CRPF Camp in Bokajan on Monday.

Highlighting various key aspects of the Union Budget 2023-24, the Union Finance Minister said that the government is focused on making cooperatives the pivot of development of the rural economy and added that the Cooperatives Ministry is looking into setting up a national cooperative database which will help in better implementation of national policy on cooperatives. She further informed that the govern-

Sikkim to showcase organic farming, industrialization of Sikkim, and tourism during G20 meetings scheduled to be held from 16th and 19th March said Chief Secretary VB Pathak.

The government has planned for topical discussion on the mentioned three topics as informed by Chief Secretary VB Pathak during the curtain raiser event.

India assumes the Presidency of the G20 for one year from 1st December 2022 to 30th November 2023, it will host over 200 meetings across the country.

The G20, or Group of Twenty, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies. It comprises 19 countries and the European Union. Collectively, the G20 accounts for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade and two-thirds of the world population, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

During the course of the G20 Presidency, India will host 215 odd meetings of various groups of G20 in 56 cities across the country.

It is a matter of great pride and honour that the State of Sikkim has been selected to host two meetings as part of India’s G20 Presidency, during the month of March ment is also planning to set up a massive decentralised storage capacity tailored to the requirements of local cooperatives. She added that small and marginal farmers would benefit greatly from this year’s Union Budget.

2023 – the Business (B20) on 16th March 2023 and Startup 20 on 18th and 19th March 2023. These meetings will be attended by around 80 delegates from G20 countries. In fact, Sikkim is the only northeastern state to be selected to host two separate events under India’s G20 Presidency.

The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community and among the most prominent Engagement Groups of G20.

Secretary Pathak shared “for Sikkim, the B20 will offer a huge opportunity to highlight the economic potential and pave the way for partnerships with business communities from G20 countries. Known for its incredible natural beauty and strategic location, Sikkim offers a wide range of opportunities for multilateral business partnerships in Tourism, Hospitality, Agriculture and Pharmaceuticals. It is a rare forum where we can collectively present our economic strengths to the esteemed delegates from the G20 countries.

Likewise, Startup 20 will provide a platform for Startups in Sikkim to take their endeavours to the next level. Over the past few years, Sikkim has witnessed a visible shift in the mindset of the youth, and thus a rise in the startup culture.

Assam man trampled to death by elephant in Sonitpur district

GUWAHATI, FEB 28 (AGENCIES): A man was trampled to death by an elephant in the Balipara area of the Sonitpur district of Assam on February 28.

Meghalaya overall voter turnout is 85.17 percent

Assam Rifles apprehend NSCN (IM) cadre in Longding

ITANAGAR, FEB 28

(AGENCIES): Based on intelligent inputs, the Assam Rifles and Arunachal Police launched a joint operation on February 28 the security forces tracked down and arrested the suspected NSCN-IM operative from Longding, reports India Today NE.

During interrogation, the militant confessed his involvement in orchestrating the illegal extortion network of NSCN-IM in Longding district on behalf of his handler, Self Styled Chief Administrative Officer Wanham Wangsa.

Earlier, in a successful counter-insurgency operation launched by the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles with Tirap Police, one hardcore insurgent of NSCN

(IM) was apprehended on February 27 in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.

The insurgent was apprehended by the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles after they received input regarding the likely infiltration of a militant in the vicinity of Noglo village of Tirap district.

‘’Based on the input, the Assam Rifles troops with Tirap Police launched an operation in the border village. During the search of the area, a hardcore militant with a weapon was apprehended by the joint team, when the militant was trying to flee,’’ an official statement said. The apprehended cadre of NSCN(IM) has been identified as Nali Homnyu Nyamtey of Noglo village of Tirap district.

Tallest tricolor flag at historic INA HQ in Mnp tore by strong winds

pled to death, after a wild elephant allegedly took on him at a cantonment in Guwahati.

BOKAJAN, FEB 28

(AGENCIES): In yet another successful operation against drug trafficking, Police in Karbi Anglong recovered 4.1 kilogram drugs worth Rs 16 crore in two separate operations in Karbi Anglong district bordering Nagaland on Monday.

In the first operation, the police recovered 104.63 grams of heroin worth Rs1 crore from the Lahorijan area along Assam-Nagaland border late Sunday night.

“Acting on a secret information, the Dillai Police accompanied by CRPF personnel conducted a checking of vehicles coming from Nagaland and accordingly, at about 9:30 pm, one white colour Maruti Alto 800 car bearing registration number AS 15S 4306 was intercepted and on search of the vehicle, our police team recovered 9 plastic containers stuffed with Heroin weighing approximately 104.63 grams from the vehicle. The contraband was kept concealed in the front dashboard and gear cover of the vehicle,” said a senior police offical.

The driver namely Md. Nur Hussain (24), son of Md.Nur Islam a resident of Barpeta and Md. Junab Ali (27), son of Md.Samad Ali a resident of Baksa were arrested.

Acting on a specific information, a special Naka was set up infront of C20 CRPF Camp Bokajan and at about 3 PM one suspected person was seen getting down from a bus with bags and on thoroughly searching the bags, a total of 5 kgs suspected brown sugar was recovered from his possession.

The arrested person have been identified as 55 year old Sunil Kumar of village Kagji Mahalla under Siwan police station in Bihar.

Bokajan has become a major transit route for drug trafficking from the infamous Golden triangle to Assam and other parts of the country.

The incident took place at Cotton Mill in Balipara’s Chariduar village and the deceased was identified as Debeswar Mech, reports India Today NE.

As per reports, the terrifying incident took place when the deceased went to feed a banana to the elephant.

In another such conflict, a 32-year-old man hailing from Dhing in Nagaon was killed by a rogue elephant who got separated from his herd.

The incident occurred at the Khatangpani range near the Tarani reserve forest under the Doomdooma forest division in the Tinsukia district of Upper Assam.

Besides this, in a tragic turn of events, an army jawan was allegedly tram-

The army jawan was identified as Khamliyong Khap, a native of Dimapur.

An official source from the site had confirmed to India Today NE that the incident took place on February 10 evening at Narengi cantonment of the Indian Army in Guwahati.

“It was an extremely gloomy evening, which is why the tragedy happened,” he added.

The source also claimed that the jawan, who suffered critical injuries in the elephant attack, was taken to the Army Base Hospital at Basistha in Guwahati, where he passed away.

It needs mention here that in quest of food, elephants frequently leave the nearby Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. Elephants in the wild can frequently be seen roaming the Cantonment area.

Correspondent

SHILLONG, FEB 28:

Meghalaya registered a voter turnout of 85.17 per cent for the assembly elections that was held on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Fredrick Roy Kharkongor said on Tuesday.

The voter turnout percentage is a marginal drop from the 2018 assembly elections which was 86.9 percent.

“85.17 per cent overall without postal ballot. If polls were held in Sohiong which is a rural AC with traditionally high voting ,the percentage could have touched 86 per cent plus,” Kharkongor said.

Election in Sohiong Assembly constituency seat has been adjourned following the death of former Home Minister and United Democratic Party candidate, Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh due to massive cardiac arrest on February 21.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, FEB 28: Strong wind that lashed in parts of Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Tuesday afternoon tore the recently tallest tricolor flag in northeast at the erstwhile INA headquarters in Moirang.

The 165 feet tall flag, the tallest tricolor in the entire northeast region of the country was unveiled by Union home minister Amit Shah on January 6 last at the same place where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s INA hoisted the flag back in the year 1944.

The flag of 50 x 30 feet was torn in the middle by the strong wind that lashed in the area today, around 12.45pm, a report said.

Authorities did try their best to hoist a new flag of the same size soon after it was damaged but did not materialize for the day. Official sources said that soon after the incident was reported by the staff of Keystone Infrastructure Private Limited stationed at the complex, the damaged flag was pulled down and they tried to replace it with a new one. The replacement was however stalled over question of the quality of the flag brought for replacement, the report added.