ATMA blocks conduct demonstrations & trainings across the state

DIMAPUR: With an objective to empower and skill farmers, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) blocks conducted various demonstrations and trainings across the state.

Angjangyang block:

ATMA Mon, Angjangyang block conducted demonstration programme on January 28 at Vegetable farm school Changlang village. Demonstration was done on the topic, “cultivation practices of bitter gourd” by resource person, ATM. Leiwang Konyak. A proper depth of sowing and spacing of bitter gourd was demonstrated to the farmers. Altogether 10 farmers were benefitted and seeds were distributed to them.

ATMA Mon: ATMA

Mon, Chen block conducted demonstration programme at Chen village in Mon on January 25.

Resource persons BTM Nusakho Nyekha and ATM Taichin Yana demonstrated on the various methods of plant propagation, pest management in vegetable crops using bio control agents and rodent management in field and storages. At the programme, the resource persons also interacted with the farmers and instructed the importance of various activities including sanitation and irrigation in the field.

ATMA Mon, Mon block also conducted a demonstration programme on “Nursery bed preparation of Rabi crops” on January 24 at Totok Chingha. Resource person Khriezelhou Seyie ATM demonstrated on preparation of raised nursery bed and set up a net for shade purpose. He emphasized and encouraged line sowing method in -

Ramdev backs Assam CM’s ‘motherhood age’ remark

DOOMDOOMA, JAN 29 (AGENCIES): Yoga

Guru Ram dev on Sunday expressed his support for the statement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the “appropriate age of motherhood”.

According to Yoga Guru, the best age for fertility in women – from a h ealth and Ayurvedic perspective – is between 25 to 30 years. At this age, youthfulness is considered to be at its peak and the chance of genetic disorders is considered to be rare, he said.

According to Ramdev, from health, Ayurvedic, and Sanatan perspective, the “best age for fertility is 25 to 30 years”. He acknowledged that many people marry at the age of 30-35, but claims that life cycle disorders occur when people marry at older ages. He argues that the statement made by the Assam CM regarding the appropriate age for motherhood is not illogical or politically motivated, but rather “based on science”.

For the uninitiated, Assam Chief Minister Sar ma on Saturday stated that women should embrace motherhood at the “appropriate age” otherwise it will lead to “medical complications”.

His comments come in the backdrop of the state government deciding to bring stringent laws and evoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to check child marriages and underage motherhood, a report by Eastmojo stated.

“Thousands of hus - stead of broadcasting to get quality seedlings for healthy and vigorous crops.

ATM, Manlen Longcha also explained about the advantages of trellising tomatoes and demonstrated on construction of different trellis structure using easily available biodegradable resources for supporting tomato plant. A total of 10 participants attended and seeds of mustard, okra and tomato were distributed to the participants.

Longkhim block: ATMA Tuensang Longkhim block on January 27 conducted demonstrations growing of coriander using hydroponic system, irrigational method in farmland and application of yellow sticky trap at Yangli with ATM, Odilemla and BTM, Arenla as resource persons. The resource persons, Odilemla gave detailed information on importance of water for proper growth of plants and modern irrigational methods in farmland were discussed while Arenla on the benefits and potential of yellow sticky trap to monitor day flying insects.

Sangsangnyu block:

ATMA Tuensang, Sangsangnyu block conducted demonstration programme on bee keeping, pickle making and compost making on January 27 at Tuensang Village with resource persons, Ayenmongba (progressive

Northeast

BJP releases list of 48 candidates for Tripura polls

NEW DELHI, JAN 29 (PTI): The BJP on Saturday announced its first list of 48 candidates for the Tripura Assembly polls, fielding Chief Minister Manik Saha from Town Bordowali and Union minister Pratima Bhoumik from Dhanpur again.

Party leaders Anil Baluni and Sambit Patra named the candidates at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here.

Patra said the party will soon announce its candidates for the remaining seats. The state assembly has 60 seats.

farmer), Muziselu Ringa (BTM) and Ajungla M Aier (ATM). Ayenmongba highlighted on the basic advantages of bee keeping and also a brief description on the different chambers of a bee box. A hands-on demonstration on setting up a bee box was also done.

The farmers also participated on chilli pickle and compost making which were led by Muziselu Ringa and Ajungla M Aier. Phomching block:

ATMA Mon, Phomching block conducted frontline demonstration at Tangnyu village on January 25. The participants were given demonstration on the topic” cultivation practices of long yard beans”. ATM, Diezelhounuo Chucha told the participants that the soil for long yard beans must be well drained, fertile and the texture which is suitable is garden loamy. 12 participants attended the demonstration programme. Seeds of various vegetables were also distributed among the participants. The programme was chaired by BTM, Nunghothung Odyuo.

Aboi block: ATMA Mon, Aboi block conducted demonstration programme on the topic, “Package of Practices of Bitter Gourd” on January 25 at Ngangching village. The resource person ATM Linota Chophy gave a hands on demonstration on soil preparation, spacing between plants and using bamboo trellises for supporting the plants and watering at regular intervals. She also spoke on IPM for controlling pest and diseases. Hybrid seeds were distributed to the farmers Tizit block: ATMA Mon, Tizit block conducted a demonstration programme on January 24 at Jaboka village. The resource person Mhachamo Ngullie explained about the stepwise procedure involved in the cultivation of Oyster mushroom and later demonstrated on the same. He also apprised the participants on the nutritional value of oyster mushroom and its potential in the market. A total of 15 participants attended the programme. Mushroom spawns were distributed at the end of the programme. Wakching block: ATMA Mon, Wakching block conducted a two-day programme on January 23-24 at Naginimora and Hotahoti respectively. The participants were demonstrated on the importance of flat nursery bed preparation of zaid crops. The resource person emphasized on the three different types of nursery beds appropriate for different crop seasons. Resource person also demonstrated the preparation of oyster mushroom. Altogether 21 farmers and one farmer friend attended the programme. Resource persons were ATM, Wanshom Konyak and farmer friend, Aye Konyak. Later various seeds and mushroom spawns were distributed to the participants.

M’laya only state denying education to children: Mukul

RONGJENG (GARO HILLS), JAN 29 (AGENCIES): Opposition leader and former Meghalaya CM Dr Mukul Sangma hit out at the National People’s Party and its allies over what he called “denial of knowledge” to children in the state due to the government not recruiting teachers in schools.

He made the statement while campaigning for the Rongjeng candidate of the party, Sengnam M Marak. Marak is a former MLA of the constituency and was in the village of Rongchek Akong to garner support for his candidature for the upcoming elections.

bands will be arrested in the next five-six months as it is a crime to have sexual relations with a girl below 14 years of age, even if he is her legally wed husband,” Sarma said.

Speaking about motherhood, Sarma said, “Women should not wait too long to become mothers as it leads to complications. The appropriate age for motherhood is 22 years to 30 years.”

Bhoumik was a firsttime MP and was elected from the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency. She was the first person hailing from the state to become a central minister.

In 2018, she had lost the election in Dhanpur assembly seat against the then Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

Saha, who replaced Biplab Kumar Deb as chief minister, had won the byelection from Town Bardowali in June last year. Deb was elected to Rajya Sabha in September last year.

According to Eastmojo report, Mukul had earlier touched down at Mawshynrut in West Khasi Hills and Phulbari in the plain belt in West Garo Hills before coming to the village in East Garo Hills to speak on behalf of his party member in the lead-up to voting. He was greeted by a crowd of close to 1,000 in the remote hamlet.

“This is the only state in the country where once a teacher retires, there is no recruitment done. This has led to the closure of schools and children being left without an education. The children we promised quality education have been deprived. This is despite the overall constitutional obligation and the law that has been passed – the right to education. Do you think these kinds of vested people can be given the responsibility to lead the state in the future as well,” asked Mukul. He added that the move of the NPP-led government to shun recruitment was not only unethical and illegal but also unconstitutional.

Earlier during the meeting, the TMC leader stated he had contacted the government on the issue of recruitment of teachers and was told that it would only be undertaken when all recruitment was complete. When he asked for a temporary solution to ensure children were not deprived of an education, the only answer, he stated he got, was that it would only be undertaken after all recruitment was completed.

“Is this a joke to them?

This is the future of our children that we are talking of. Will recruitment not take time? We have seen that this government has not been keen to fill up posts that are already there in the state and this has brought children out of schools. Are these the people you are looking to vote for,” he asked those present.

The small village is one of the remotest parts of the state and Mukul admitted that it was the first time that he had paid a visit, though he had tried once earlier but failed as the chopper developed a technical snag in the run-up to the 2018 polls.

Countering the claims of the NPP who called the promises by the TMC, ‘We

Card’ and ‘MYE Card’ as baaki (credit) cards, Mukul Sangma stated that it just showed their (NPP’s) mindset.

“Their priorities don’t reflect the larger interests of the state. Democracy states that when a political party makes a pledge or promise in an election manifesto, it becomes binding on the part of the political party, if it receives the mandate of the people, to implement and fulfil these promises and pledges. That is the spirit of democracy. These are based on our understanding of governance and its associated challenges. If they want to know how we are going to do it, they should come and join our political party,” said Mukul.