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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. 1

Issue 224

Entrepreneurship Development In Assam Page 8

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, January 20, 2016

As India Gears Up For A Startup Revolution, Here Are 14 Points We Shouldn't Overlook

Price -

5.00

Pages- 12

1.8% growth in Wipro's Q3 net profit

Rahul accuses Dattatreya, VC of abetting Dalit scholar's suicide

Page 10

Page 6

Page 9

PM Modi kicks off BJP Campaign in Assam, Nabam Tuki government to stay says Congress old fashion to ‘blame others’ for now in Arunachal Pradesh Kicking off the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaign in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted his government’s ‘Act East Policy’ and promised to bring stability and development in the state, something that the Congress failed to do in the last 15 years.

Delhi sends Re 1 and it becomes 15 paisa till it reaches the village,” he said.

Listing out some new schemes for the state, Prime Minister Modi stressed on the importance of progress.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said that the grand old party had failed to bring any progress to the state for the past 15 years and was now expecting him to

“If development has to happen then the first requirement is infrastructure, be it roads, railways, waterways,” said Prime Minister Modi.

MODI’s VISIT TO ASSAM IN BRIEF IN KOKRAJHAR I have a three-point programme for Assam and that is development, development and development.

People (congress) who ruled here for 15 years are asking for the account of work I have done in 15 months Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Yuva Mahashakti Samaroh at Khanapara today. Pic - UB Photos

IN GUWAHATI

begin from Assam

IN IIT – GUWAHATI

The Second Green Revolution should start from the east and if that happens, it will

Centre’s ‘Act East policy is for the development of the entire northeast region

Unveiled the plaque for the foundation stone of the campus for IIIT Guwahati

“I have come to help you realise your dreams and I want to assure you that you have made a place in my heart. I have a three-point programme for Assam and that is development, development and development. If development has to happen then the first thing this area needs is infrastructure.

ET CAPSULES

Leopard terror in Golaghat Golaghat, Jan. 19: People of Dabidubi and Greater Khumtai areas in Golaghat have been under continuous terror of a leopard for the last several days . A group of around 4-5 leopards have created terror among the local people by killing more than twenty cattle's. The killed cattle's carcass parts were seen in several places. Today local people of these areas came out with sharp weapons in search of leopards. Fire crackers were also used. But till now no clue of the leopard gang is found.

Local people alleged that they informed the forest officials but yet the concerned department is unable to take fruitful measures. (Correspondent )

Arunachal State Hospital, to be renamed Itanagar, Jan 19: Arunachal State Hospital, Naharlagun will be renamed as Tomo Riba State Hospital on 25th January 2016 in a renaming program by the Chief Minister Nabam Tuki. The renaming was decided way back in March 2015 by Tuki Government to inspire the coming generations and remind them of his invaluable contributions to the state and the nation and this year it was approved by the Government.

Tomo Riba was the President of the Peoples Party of Arunachal and was the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from September 1979 to November 1979.He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament of India from the Arunachal West constituency of Arunachal Pradesh in 1996 and has passed away in 2000.

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It has become a fashion not to give account of their work but blame others

bring things in place in 15 months.

“People who ruled here for 15 years are asking for the account of work I have done in 15 months. Is this fair? It has become a fashion not to give account of their work but blame others. Rajiv Gandhi used to say the correct thing,

“The Central Institute of Kokrajhar will get deemed university status in one year. I assure you that soon the airport will be developed for the use by the Indian Air Force and civilians and the Kanchanjunga Express train route will be extended,” he added.

‘Second Green Opportunity for India to play Revolution’ should begin from leading role in Assam: PM Modi world: PM Modi A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Jan19

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Jan19

While in Guwahati for the campaign the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that if the second Green Revolution happens in India, it will begin from this state only.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is demographically the youngest country in the world, with young dreams full of energy, adding that there is both a challenge and an opportunity for India to once again play a leading role in the world.

Addressing a youth rally here, Prime Minister Modi said that Centre’s ‘Act East policy is for the development of the entire northeast region.

“We have to make the income of farmers twice that of what its now. The Second Green Revolution should start from the east and if that happens, it will begin from Assam,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that the state needs to scale to new heights of development, adding that speedy development was the need of the hour.

“Foreign investment that is coming into country will be used for infrastructure development and jobs here. Today the World Bank, Indian Monetary Fund or any other or any rating agency in one voice they say that India is among the top leading economies of the world,” Prime Minister Modi said.

Contd. on Page 4

Prime Minister Modi unveiled the plaque for the foundation stone of the campus for IIIT Guwahati today . In his address on the occasion to students of IIT, NIT and central universities of the North-east, the Prime Minister said the 21st century is the century of knowledge. He said in history, whenever knowledge has been the driving force of the world, India has provided leadership.

The Prime Minister said,"Today, most global economic surveys say India is the fastest growing major economy.

He said the Union Government has focused on youth with a well thought-out series of initiatives."

He mentioned the Government’s efforts towards skill development, the Make in India initiative, and the Start-up movement.

The Prime Minister especially mentioned electronics and defence equipment manufacturing as priority areas.

“Ajmal’s business has increased after BJP came into power in Delhi” - Anjan Dutta to why the Centre had withdrawn the special category status for Assam accorded in 1969 and changed the funding pattern of various schemes from 90:10 ratio.

Juthika Das Barpeta, Jan 19

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President and MLA Anjan Dutta today once again came down upon the BJP and the AIUDF alleging that there is a nexus going on between the parties for quite some time.

Dutta was interacting with the media, at the Barpeta circuit house, here, before taking part in a party meeting at Baghbar along with MP Gaurav Gogoi.

While rejecting the theory that there will be an alliance between the Congress and

APCC president Anjan Dutta and MP Gaurav Gogoi with others addressing press conference at Barpeta Circuit House. Pic- UB Photos

Badruddin Ajmal led AIUDF, Dutta said there is an understanding between the BJP and the AIUDF due to which Ajmal’s business has grown

after Modi took over in New Delhi. Dutta also stated that the APCC has sought the answers to ten questions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi like as

Dutta also demanded that the Centre should revert its decision if it is serious about the development of Assam. Dutta also further alleged that the Centre has stopped 12 ongoing developmental projects which only proves that the BJP government is detrimental towards the development of Assam.

Contd. on Page 4

have a house session to have a floor test with a new pro tem Speaker and decide the new leader while it decided the issue of disqualification of rebel Congress MLAs which has sparked off the constitutional crisis there.

ET Bureau New Delhi, 19

The Congress government led by Nabam Tuki in Arunachal Pradesh will stay for now, till the Supreme Court decides all issues involving an attempt by the opposition BJP and some rebel Congress legislators to overthrow the government there.

"Who is governing Arunachal?" the court asked.

"If there is a law and order problem who deals with it?"

Lawyers for the ousted Speaker Nabam Rebia told the court that Tuki continued to be the Chief Minister and he would.

Nabam Tuki The bench was also told that no consequences would follow if no house session is convened beyond six months.

However, the ousted speaker of the Tuki government sharply resisted a court suggestion to

1dies, 3 injured in Diphu blast ET Correspondent Diphu Jan 19

One person died while three received fatal injury when a highly powerful explosive devise detonated inside a hut in Diphu town, the official headquarter of Karbi Anglong district today around 1.30 PM. The dead and the injured are children between the age group of 4 to 12 years, after the blast the injured were taken to Diphu

A day long vocational training and assessment camp was organized by Prerona (the spastic society of Eastern India) sponsored by Ministry of Labour and Employment (Government of India, New Delhi) and in collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC)-Guwahati.

Altogether 400 handicap girls, boys, men and women were present on the occasion.

Handicaps, spastics coming from Arunachal Pradesh, Northern Nagaland,and from districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat were assessed and registered for their training for various vocational

"This is not a situation in which article 356 (President's rule) can be imposed," the ousted speakers counsel Fali Nariman said drawing protests from the lawyer of the Deputy Speaker.

NSCN(IM) nabbed

civil hospital where Sulima Begam 4 year died. Abdul Hanif 8, Makubul Rahman 6 and Holokjan Begam 12 have been sent to Guwahati Medical College.

The incident took place inside a densely clustered psalm located near Diphu crematorium; according to local people two simultaneous detonating bangs shiver the vicinity.

Tenyang Kungkho

Contd. on Page 4

Assessment & Rehabilitation for handicaps from states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland ET Correspondent Jorhat, Jan 19

His lawyers pre-empted any attempt to impose presidents rule in the state telling the court that they do not want a floor test till the issue of disqualification was settled.

courses that will simultaneously undergo at Golaghat, Bokakhat and Sivasagar.

It is an initiative taken by Ministry of Skill Development and has been entrusted to Department of labour and Employment also to make this people self-employed in due course of time, informed Ms Saira Rehman-the coordinator of Prerora.

The courses are Incense stick making (dup making), orchid making, mobile repairing, dress making and computer training etc. For the courses Ministry of labour and Employment-Government of India four member team has rushed from New Delhi to monitor and assess the spastic handicaps for their self-employment.

ET Correspondent Margherita, Jan 19

In a Major Breakthrough Based on specific intelligence 14 Assam Rifles under the aegis of 25 Sector launched a cordon search operation in General area Ngoiting of Arunachal Pradesh and nabbed SS(Lt) Tenyang Kungkho alias Saka Tutsa a dreaded Hardcore area Commander of NSCN(IM) today early morning.Tenyang Kungkho alias Saka Tutsa has been involved in extensive extortion and was arrested from his residence with a Chinese made 9mm loaded pistol with 3 round, 1.2 Bore Barrel gun including 6 Cartridges and other incriminating articles like Village Tax collection slips.His arrest is a big blow to NSCN(IM) operation in upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.The nabbed NSCN(IM) area Commander SS(Lt) Tenyang Kungkho alias Saka Tutsa have been handed to Changlang Police Station having registering a case against him and further investigation is going on.

Jorhat Ratna title to Chandrayan Space Scientist Dr. JN Goswami Bijoy S. Handique Jorhat, Jan 19

road map for planetary exploration in the coming decades.

He guided ISRO's Planetary Science and Exploration project from PRL during its formative stage (2004-07). He set up a high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer laboratory for planetary research that has several firsts to its credit.

At a glittering function space scientist popularly known as the Chandrayan Space Scientist Dr. Jitendra nath Goswami was conferred the title “Jorhat Ratna” by Jorhat Sahitya Sabha a unit of Asom Sahitya Sabha the apex literary body of Assam.

The ceremony was held at the Sri Sri Pitambor Dev Goswami auditorium while the meet was presided by Indrajit Baruah-the president of Jorhat Sahitya Sabha.

A citation, momento, japi, seleng and a pile of books was handed over to the space scientist dr. Jitendra Nath Goswami by the Vice-president of the literary body Dr. Parag Kumar Thakur while President of Science Literary

Scientist Dr. Jitendra Nath Goswami awarded with ‘Jorhat Ratna’ by Jorhat District Sahitya Sabha in Jorhat. Pic - Nekib Ahmed Association Dr.(Ms) Aditi Baruah attended as the guest of honour.

Dr Goswami is involved in the planning and execution of Chandrayaan-1 mission to the moon and also in defining a

Dr Goswami received INSA Medal for Young Scientists (1978). He received the NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award (1986), SS Bhatnagar Award (1994) and Kamal Kumari Award in Science and Technology (2003). He was elected the President of the Astronomical Society of India (2007). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore,

National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad, European Association of Geochemistry, Meteoritical Society, Geochemical Society and a Member of International Academy of Astronautics.

Jitendra Nath Goswami did his BSc from Cotton College, Guwahati and MSc from Gauhati University. He then joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) for his PhD work on studies of cosmic ray records in Apollo and Luna samples.

He moved to the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) as a Research Associate in 1973 and obtained his PhD (1978).

He was at the University of California, Berkeley as a PostGraduate Research Physicist (1975-76) and spent extended time in various capacities at

the University of California, San Diego; Washington University, St Louis; Lunar & Planetary Institute, Houston and at Max-Planck Institute, Mainz. He is currently the Director, PRL, and the Principal Scientist of the first Indian Planetary Mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-1.

The research contributions of Dr Goswami cut across the fields of earth, planetary and space sciences and solar-stellar relations. His experimental studies placed a stringent constraint of less than a million year for the collapse of the proto solar cloud leading to the formation of the sun and some of the first solar system solids that bolstered the hypothesis of a supernova-triggered origin of the solar system. Along with his colleagues he provided conclusive evidence for

the short-lived nuclide 26Al as the heat source for early melting of planetesimals and established that accretion, melting and differentiation of planetesimals took place within the first few million years of the solar system.

His research led to major advances in our understanding of the early Archean evolution of the Indian shield. His earlier work led to identification of the source and origin of the anomalous cosmic rays, makeup of the proto solar cloud in term of inputs from various stellar sources and processes, composition and energy spectra of ancient and contemporary solar energetic particles, evidence for an active early sun, etc. He has guided about twelve PhD students and several post-doctoral Fellows.

cmyk

ANI Kokrajhar, Jan 19

Our government has made an ‘Act East Policy’ and we will join this area with the mainstream of development in the country,” he said while addressing a rally here.

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries You will desire absolute freedom in whatever you do today. A lot of entertainment is on the cards for teenagers, like window shopping or going for a movie. Kids may demand a treat from you. Generally, family affairs dominate today.

Taurus Your unfailing punctuality, your insistence on following time schedules is due to be noticed and appreciated today. Your colleagues and superiors will be singing praises as soon as you arrive for work. If you are in an artistic or a creative profession, such as designing, journalism, multimedia, you have a remarkably eventful and gratifying day ahead. Creative people and professionals having the same sun sign as yours are also in for a great day.

Gemini You will spend the day safeguarding sentiments of others and it is in your own interest. For most part of the day, probably the entire day, you will be away from your family, mostly on a trip for business or leisure purposes. Today, having a successful career will be only thing on your mind.

Cancer You are a master of deception, and your sugar-coated comments play a pivotal role in your methods. Today, you will be able to smell trouble from a distance, and will know when to take a U-turn. Your methods may not make you very popular with the so-called moral brigade working with you, but you may think that this is the easiest way to the top.

Leo Most of your time will be spent at the work place. You will excel in all your tasks today.

Professional relationships will be marked by co-operation. You will have cordial relations with your colleagues. It is an auspicious and progressive day for business.

Virgo Emotions that have been locked in the inner recesses of your heart might just surface today.

You may develop an emotional attachment with your material possessions. If you don’t find your surroundings conducive, you will feel extremely restless.

Libra Lights, camera, and action! Be prepared as the limelight is focused on you on this very motivating and inspiring day, enabling you to attract excellent public praise. Today is an encouraging day to set in motion innovative projects, especially for those who desire to be their own masters and embark upon fulfilling self-financed ideas.

Scorpio Being a workaholic may divert your attention from your family and you may have to bear the consequences. It’s time to sort differences with your spouse. But, all this while, you need to be calm and patient. Watch your words in case of any arguments.

Sagittarius Good Samaritans around you may give unsolicited, but valuable advice. Take it as a hint, and consider it for your betterment. Take your decision after following the advice, and this may definitely yield benefits.

Capricorn You’ll kick start the day in high spirit which will take everyone by surprise. You will shift gears at work so that you can perform more efficiently and productively. Such a change will boost your confidence as you will see the positive results for yourself. Most of the day, you will work like a busy bee, but at the end you will listen to music or be with your friends to relax your mind.

Aquarius Bursting with new ideas, you want to make the world a better place! You will give your best in a team and will come up with great schemes and solutions. At gatherings and social dos, you will remain your charming self, impressing people with an amazing social grace.

Pisces Home is where the hearth is, in which the troubles you need to deal with today are smouldering. Running away from your problems will simply have you out of breath; it would be wiser to take a stand and find solutions to petty conflicts without losing your perspective. Make no mountains out of mole hills.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 20-1-16 (WEDNESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-50 A.M-Naam 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Surar Satsori 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Karpumpuli 7-35 P.M-Ujjwal Bhabishyat 8-00 P.M-Parikrama 8-15 P.M-Talk In English 10-00 P.M-Classical Music

Sd-/H.O.P

SITUATION VACANT A reputed Higher Secondary School situated in Namsai District of Arunachal Pradesh urgently requires Applicants for the following Post.

1. PGT (Political Science) - Candidate must be at least MA, B.Ed Preferable.

2. TGT (English) - Candidate must be at least BA with B.Ed. 3. Chief Warden & Hostel WardenCandidates must be fluent in English, Graduate Preferable.

Eligible and Interested candidates May mail their CV at admin@zcs.org.in or Contact at +918794726020, +918794719341.

125th year closing ceremony of Golaghat Veteran Government Bezbaruah Higher Secondary School Journalist awarded

ET Correspondent Golaghat, Jan. 19 : The one of the oldest and prestigious institution of higher education in the state Golaghat Government Bezbaruah Higher Secondary School is going to celebrate its 125th year clos-

ing Ceremony tomorrow with a day long programme It was stated in a press release by the the publicity secretary of the 125 th Year Celebration Committee Sameerjyoti Medhi. Tomorrow the programme will start with flag hoisting. A

souvenieur entitled' Bezbaruan 125' will be unveiled in the programme .

Noted laurels Dr Nilima Saikia , Dr B K Goswami, Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat Anarul Haque, Inspector of Schools Dr Subhalakshmi Rajkumari,

with several other distinguished persons will be present in the day long programme . Secy of the celebration committee cum Principal of the school Dilip Tamuly has invited all alumnis, ex teachers and well wishers to the programme .

Cenetary celebration of Chatgari Government Middle Vernacular School concludes Shajid Khan Tangla, Jan 19 : The three day-long centenary celebration of Chatgari Government Middle Vernacular School came to an end on Monday.

The programme which was started with the hoisting of the flag by,Manmohan Das president of the centenary celebration committee at 9 am. Following which 100 flags were hoisted by social personalities,buisinessman some of them are Santius Kujur MP Rajya Sabha,Jayanta Chakravorty and Professor Dept. of English Tangla College. Tribute to the departed souls was paid by Santius Kujur.

Cycle stand,drinking water plant,plantation of trees.A procession was taken out followed by naam kirtan.

At 1.45 pm Science exhibition was held by students of two private English schools .A cultural permanent stage was inagurated by D.N Hazarika SDC Kalaigaon

A rally of the three day-long centenary celebration of Chatgari Government Middle Vernacular on Monday. Pic - Shajid Khan revenue circle. On the second day diyas were lighted on the ocassion of Silpi Divas.Followed by a drawing competition among childrens. Bonjar Daimiri EM BTC inagurated the library.

It was followed by a seminar on the topic "Development of Human Resource in present Education system"

where Thaneswar Malakar ,Director Sarva Sikha Mission,Idrish Ali Former Vice-President Assam Sahitya Sabha spoke up.

On the third day an open session was held which was inagurated by Sadhana Hojai DC Udalguri.

Khampa Borgayari EM BTC was the chief guest of the ocassion. Other distin-

guished guest include Arupa Patangia Kalita, Sahitya Akademi Award winner,Ramen Deka MP Lok Sabha, Kamali Basumatari MLA Panery LAC and many others. The third day-long programme came to an end with the cultural night were popular singer Dipen Baryah and Vreegu Kashyap enthralled the audience.

ET Correspondent Golaghat, Jan 19 : The Utpal Kalita Memorial Award was given to veteran sports journalist of Golaghat Rupak Dutta . A ceremony was held on Sunday at Chandranath Khound Bhawan , Dergaon in Golaghat district under the aegis of Dergaon Press Club.

Rupak Dutta who has been serving as a journalist for more than four decades specially in the field of sports journalism was awarded with Utpal Kalita Memorial Award . The award consists of a cash of ten thousand, seleng , sofura and books along with a letter of appreciation . In the award ceremony another award was given to a veteran artist. Veteran artist Joyram Ligira was awarded with Kedar Rabidas award . In the programme officials of Dergaon Press Club , All Assam Journalist Union Golaghat District Committee president and secretary , officials of Dergaon Sahitya Sabha and several other distinguished guests were present.

Inauguration of emergency Good Start, a new school in management exercise Dibrugarh with unique features in Tinsukia

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 19: Good Start – a new school was inaugurated in Dibrugarh on Jan. 18. The school with a motto to impart teaching following the Montessori way of teaching is located in the posh Milannagar – P - Lane area of the town. “We have started the school in loving memory of our dear father Late Chandra Kumar Khati for whom teaching was a passion. He dedicated his life towards the service of mankind as a devoted, sincere and loving teacher”, Sharda Khati, Director of the school said. Sharda Khati who holds Montessori Training Diploma from the reputed institution “Calcutta Montessori Centre”, Kolkata has an experience of 20 years in teaching.

What was more interesting to note is the fact that all the rooms of the school is designed and painted in a unique way to catch the attention of the children. Pictures of animals, cartoon and comics character are sure to attract the children.

The school authorities have also ensured that the children get chance to play more along with their learning. Equipment for playing has been installed in the school campus which has

A class room of the school . Pic - ET photo been secured with proper walls. A doll house which has lot of dolls is sure to hold captive the children in the school. Dr. Dibya Jyoti Kalita, a young medicine specialist who got his child admitted in the school said that he was very much impressed with the unique features of the school. “At a tender age, we should not put work load upon the very young minds. The curriculum worked out by the school authorities exactly suites that”, Kalita said.

Within a few days of announcement of the opening of the school several students have turned up to take admission in the school.

The school will be having four stages or classes - Stage

I :Play Group(2 ½ - 3 ½ yrs); Stage I :Play Group(2 ½ - 3 ½ yrs); Stage III : LMH(4 ½ -5 ½ yrs) and Stage IV : UMH(5 ½ -6 ½ yrs). Apart from routine classes, the school also provides the children with opportunities to enjoy singing, dancing, music, story-telling and simple drama and help them develop their skills through offering a vast range of materials and activities for the purpose. For admissions and other queries interested guardians may contact: Mrs. Sharda Khati, Director, Good Start, P – Lane, House No. 14, Milan Nagar – West, Dibrugarh. Mobile – 07578868994 or 07086618103.

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 19: Emergency Management Exercise (EMEx) was inaugurated by Puru Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Tinsukia on Monday at District Library. Five hundred people besides officials of District Administrations, NDRF, SDRF and other resource person attended in the meeting.

The exercise is being conducted by District Disaster Management Authority, Tinsukia in collaboration with Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) and in association with various line department, agencies, etc.

The Emergency Management Exercise (EMEx) is a capacity building exercise spreading over five days (18th -22nd January 2016) is intended to test

the response mechanism in the town of Tinsukia.

The exercise is designed to harness the strength and capabilities of different departments/ institutions/ organizations that are responsible for carrying out the emergency response in an event of any natural or manmade disaster.

This is a rigorous event with eight parallel tracks undergoing at different venues in Tinsukia during the first three days of the event attended by five hundred participants in total various line departments.

The fourth day would be a table top exercise at Tinsukia Commerce College on 21st January 2016, followed by a field drill at various locations on 22nd January 2016 and a debriefing session called "hotwash" will be conducted on the same.

AJYCP submits deadline letter to Margherita Sub Divisional officer ET Correspondent Margherita, Jan 19: Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba C h a a t r a Parishad(AJYCP) Margherita Regional Committee submitted a memorandum to Honourable Margherita Sub Divisional officer(Civil) on January 12 regarding the issue notorious Coal mafia B Ganesh. For many years have been engaged at illegal Coal business and constructing a coke coal industry which is going to complete very soon. Kanchan Bora General Secretary of AJYCP Margherita Re-

gional Committee said that after seven days of the submission of memorandum to Margherita Sub Divisional officer(Civil) no step have been taken against the notorious Coal mafia B Ganesh.

There are 22 Coke Coal Bhatta at Ledo which is a very smaller area under Margherita Administration but these 22 coke coal Bhatta owners are Violating the rules and regulations of Pollution Control Board where B Ganesh Coke Coal Bhatta is also polluting the Environment alleged Kanchan Bora General

AJYCP Margherita holding demonstration in Margherita.

Secretary of AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee.To show protest against the failure of Margherita Administration to stop the Coke Coal Bhatta of B Ganesh Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chaatra Pariahad

Margherita Regional Committee today staged sit in demonstrate at North Margherita Rangamancha Premises for three hours.

Salil Neog and Kanchan Bora both President and General Secretary of

AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee said that today we have submitted a deadline letter to Margherita Sub Divisional officer (Civil) that if within 72 hours Margherita Administration does not take any

necessary action against notorious Coal mafia B Ganesh and his illegal Coke Coal Bhatta and other illegal Coke Coal Bhatta Owners then AJYCP would intensify strong agitation against the Margherita Administration. Margherita Police Station Officer in Charge Debojit Mahanta said that the illegal Coke Coal Bhatta of Shiyal Line Ledo Falls under Ledo Police Outpost so further Instruction shall be given to Ledo Police outpost Incharge to take necessary action against B Ganesh and his coke coal Bhatta.

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Rtd. teacher, social activist of Lakhimpur Debendra Nath Borah passes away

Debendra Nath Borah

ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Jan 19: Popular retired teacher of North Lakhimpur Government Higher Secondary School, one of the social activists of the district, Debendra Nath Borah breathed his last at 7.22pm last night in his own residence at village Medhichuk under Telahi Mauza of Lakhimpur District. He was ninety two when he died. Born in 1924, he educated from

Jorhat Normal School and secured third position within the State in the examination. Then he started his service life as a teacher in Indira Gandhi High School in the district.

Then he joined in Chatia Normal School in Sonitpur District. Working for ten years there, he transferred to Banhgora Government High School as the Head Master of the School. Later he joined in North Lakhimpur Government Higher Secondary School in 1968 and got him retired from the school on July 31 in1987.

After retirement, he engaged himself in social activities and carried out several major responsibilities for the betterment of the educational environment of different schools and colleges. He was survived by three sons with three daughters-in-low and three daughters with three sons-in-low along with a host of relatives.

Review meeting on “Clean Arunachal Campaign” held A Staff Reporter Itanagar,, Jan 19: A review meeting on “Clean Arunachal Campaign” was held at Office building of Planning department Itanagar under the Chairmanship of Secretary Planning and IPR&P Sonam Chombay today. The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary GA Ikar Dirchi, CEO cum ADM Talo Potom, Deputy Secretary Budget P. Aich, Director IPR C.M.Longphong, Director State Plan Pallab Dey and Deputy Director UD H.R.Singh.

For the Clean Arunachal Fortnight, a total of 15 zones have been identified in capital complex where Naharlagun / Nirjuli / Banderdewa will be divided into six zones and Itanagar is divided into nine zones along the Highway inclusive of the markets, Govt Offices, Central Govt & PSUs and residential colonies where each zone will be headed by Zone Commander and zonal officer.

All the ward councilors

shall participate in the campaign. Similarly, concerned District administration shall also chalk out action plan for their respective district to make the campaign a huge success.

On the completion of Clean Arunachal Fortnight, all the 15 zones will be inspected by jury board members that

will choose and declare the award for best zone. The jury board members will be constituted by the State government to access and choose the winner from the 15 zones and the award along with commendation for which will be given away during the upcoming Statehood Day celebration.

The Clean Arunachal Fortnight with a motto of “My City, My pride! I’ll clean it” will be observed across state from February 1st to 13th, 2016 next. Participation of NGOs, youth and other organization in the demand for a better future of our city is must and to make the noble venture of Clean Arunachal Campaign success, maximum participation from all quarters is requested so that the dream of clean and green Arunachal is realized and fulfilled. So it’s time that we all join the movement now! It’s our time, let’s get ready!

There has been overwhelming response on Clean Arunachal Campaign from all quarters till now and inquiries have been pouring daily in the inbox of diprarunx@gmail.com. Any NGOs, Ward Councilors, individuals, stakeholders, govt employees etc who wishes to join the noble venture can inbox at diprarunx@gmail.com or leave a message or whatsapp at 9402275039 and 9089751006.

INHUMAN ACT

A forest department personnel holds the carcass of the leopard which was killed by a section of the villagers at Chengelijan, Sasoni near Naharkatia in upper Assam's Dibrugarh district.

Pix - Debojit Sonowal.

Manipur organises women polo tournament Dialogue holds key to good relations: Rijiju Aasu body formed after to commemorate Statehood Day 15 years Imphal, Manipur, Jan. 18 pating in the tourney. collaboration with in 1939 and has conducted (ANI): Manipur comRajasthan in this regard. memorated Statehood Day by organising an International Women Polo Tournament here on Sunday.

Manipur attained statehood on January 21, 1972.

The tournament is being organised by the All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) at the polo ground here from January 17-26.

Apart from four teams from Manipur, a team from the United States also partici-

“Women’s Polo is just coming together really good in the U.S. I am happy to see people started liking to play here. I think everyone should be treated equal.

Women have good chances of playing polo as men do,” said Carley Persano, a player from the U.S. squad.

Polo has been at the forefront of Manipur Tourism’s campaign to attract tourists, starting with the fraternal

“Since Manipur is the birthplace of Polo, we have a lot of potential for women team. So we have organised this event and we want support from the tourism department and the ministry of Tourism in India,” said Secretary of All Manipur Polo Association Tansen Konjengbam.

AMPA organised the first polo tournament in Manipur

37 events till date.

Manipur Tourism’s campaign includes sponsoring the Manipur Polo International Tournament (Men’s) as part of annual Manipur Sangai Festival every year from November 21-30.

The tournament will conclude with an exhibition match of women polo players, including one Manipuri woman polo player, in Jaipur between the Indian and the US teams.

Army built library building for students of remote area ET Correspondent Mangaldai Jan 19: With a view to generate reading habit and thus uplift the education standard of students in remote areas of Assam, Army Camp based at Chapai, here once again came up with a helping hand to students of Dimakuchi village close to the Indo Bhutan border in Udalguri district by donating a well built infrastructure along with modern furniture and fixtures for library. In this connection a public function was organized recently in Dimakuchi college where the project taken up under

Op Sadbhavana was ceremonially donated the newly constructed building to the local students by the officer from Army Camp Chapai, stated in

a press release by the army camp here today.

Speaking on the occasion the Army officer hoped that newly constructed library with

necessary furniture will fulfill the long standing need of the poor students of the locality dominated by insurgency activities in recent time and thus help the students to improve their power of knowledge for a bright future career. The function was attended by good no of students, teachers, guardians and local leading citizens. and enhance the education standard by providing them place to sit and study weaned away from the path of hatred and violence and prevent them from falling prey to the propaganda of insurgents.

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said Samvad or dialogue holds the key to good relations and that for the 21st Century to be the Asian century, democratic societies must work together to preserve and promote non-conflicting traditions and democratic values.

emphasized the power of change and conviction through a democratic process.

This provided a strong cultural base for society's development and acceptance of diversity," he said.

'We need to resolve our difference through peaceful dialogue, through better Samvad as we would say in India. We need to seek greater convergence in our mindsets. We need to distill the wisdom inherent in our Asian heritage to show us the way forward," Rijiju said while speaking at the Symposium on 'Shared Values and Democracy in Asia' in Tokyo.

"Today, when the world is witnessing increasing levels of polarization in conflict situations, democratic societies must work together to preserve and promote non-conflicting traditions and democratic values," he added.

"India is today the world's fastest growing large economy and its economic and social transformation under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is strongly rooted in our democratic ideals," he said.

Rijiju said that there is enough room for all countries of Asia to prosper together. At the same time, a multitude of identities and interests have prevented us from achieving better results.

He said that the principles of democracy have been an integral part of India and Oriental civilizations and their spiritual traditions.

"The origin of democracy and democratic values in these societies can be traced back to the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism and Shintoism and other philosophies which emphasized the collective good of society, he added.

He also said that both Hinduism and Buddhism encouraged differing thoughts and viewpoints.

"They advocated dialogue and

He emphasized that for democracies to flourish, it is essential that Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam come together.

Rijiju said that he is confident that the 21st century will prove to be the Asian century.

"The world is looking up to Asia not only to provide the engines for global economic recovery but also for ideas and leadership critical for harmonious global relations," he said.

Rijiju further stated that Asia should be capable of meeting global challenges emerging from conflict-prone ideologies and societies.

This symposium is a follow up to the Hindu Buddhist Global Initiative for Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness held in New Delhi on September 3, 2015 and is a part of the Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative conceived during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to Japan in August-September 2014.

The symposium is organised by the Nikkei Inc and coorganised by The Tokyo Foundation, The Japan Foundation and the Vivekananda International Foundation (India) in collaboration with International Buddhist Conference and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.

Prior to the symposium, Sujan

R. Chinoy, Ambassador of India to Japan and Hiroyasu Ando, President of Japan Foundation hosted an exclusive reception for the participants and a select gathering from all sections of the Japanese and the diplomatic community on January 18, 2016.

The Minister of State (Home), Ambassador of India, President of the Japan Foundation and Secretary General of International Buddhist Organisation addressed the gathering at the reception that was attended by, interalia, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia. M. L. Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana, the first leader of any State in India to visit Japan in 2016, also graced the reception.

The Chief Minister is accompanied by a large business delegation to further promote and enhance the existing strong economic engagement that Haryana State has with Japan.

The Symposium was attended by renowned Asian political, social, academic and religious leaders from a number of Asian countries, apart from India and Japan, including Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and China.

Kiren Rijiju met the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the official banquet hosted by the Prime Minister for the participants, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, after the Symposium. Shri Rijiju will also travel to Nara, as part of the Symposium, to visit the Todai-ji Temple, which has a long association with India, where the consecration or eye-opening of the towering statue of Lord Buddha was performed by an Indian monk, Bodhisena, in 752 AD. He would also meet the Governor of Nara Shogo Aria at Nara.

Kabir Mondal, Dhubri, Jan 19: South Salmara-Mancachar SubDivisional unit of All Assam Students Union was formed today after 15 years as the student body lost its ground after its six-years movement against foreigners. 31- members body was formed with Firoz Al Faruque Khandakar as president and Sarful slam Pradhani as secretary.

Fir against extortion letter by gnla Kabir Mondal, Dhubri, Jan 19: Asma Kahtun of Kalapani village under Mancachar police station of South SalmaraMancachar police district lodged an FIR in the police station against the intimidation over phone by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant demanding Rs. 10 lakhs.

A week ago, four GNLA militants broke into the house of a teacher, Abul Kasem Molla and served extortion letter to his wife, Asma Kahtun demanding Rs 10 lakhs from Molla and if demand not met then they have to face the dire consequence, police said.

She alleged in the FIR that due to phone calls since last week, they scared and shifted other place and passing miserable life.

HOLY MARCH

Glimpses of cortege procession at doomdooma during priestly ordination of deacon blasius tete sdb by rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph aind sdb , dd at catholic church doomdooma. Pic - Manoj Kumar Ojha

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Inclusion of Bodo tribe in to ST (H) opposed ET Correspondent Haflong, Jan 19: Various Tribal Organizations of Dima Hasao District today strongly opposed against the move of the Central government of inclusion of Bodo tribe in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong into ST (H) category terming the steps of government would shake the integrity among the people of two districts which clearly depicted the negligence of this twin Districts by the Central government.

This was echoed by Kailen Daulagupu, President, Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom, Agnes Gorlosa, President, Dimasa Mothers’ Association, Pramith Sengyung, Vice-President, Dimasa Students' Union (DSU),Central Committee, H.Q. Haflong, Sanjee n

Langthasa) Reception committee All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU), Neijaylal Khelma, President, Khelma Students’ Association (KSA) in press meet held at the office of the Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), Haflong on Tuesday.

They stated that a meagre 5% quota was reserved for ST (H) in Assam which is enjoyed by more than 16 tribes. The Boro Kachari who was the second largest population in Assam was already categorized as ST (P) and enjoyed a quota of 10% reservation in all spheres. If Boro, who were economically, politically, educationally advance would be included in ST (H), they would be enjoying 15% of reservation. As a result, the real backbone & weak indigenous group

living in two hills district would be outnumbered, oppressed and overshadowed.

Hence the inclusion of Bodo Tribe in ST (H) category shall be accepted only if the government of India accepts the long pending demand of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong for separate Statehood.

They also mentioned that a memorandum on non-inclusion of Bodo tribe in ST (H) category was submitted on 25th August 2015 jointly by Dimasa Students' Union (DSU), AllDimasa Students' Union (ADSU), Hmar Students' Association (HQA), Hrangkhol Students’ Association (HkSA), Khelma Students’ Union `(KSU) to Sri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Minister of States for Home Affairs.

Seminar on Classroom Management in the 21st Century held

Dinesh Goyal Doomdooma, Jan 19: A oneday seminar was organized for the staff of Don Bosco School and Don Bosco Junior College, Doomdooma, today.

Forty teachers participated in this unique seminar on Classroom Management in the 21st Century.

“Teachers should play the role of mentors rather than mere instructors” said Fr. Tarcisius Toppo the principal in his welcome address.

The program was organized

“Ajmal’s business has increased after BJP came into power in Delhi” Anjan Dutta

in collaboration with Oxford University Press and facilitated by Rev. Fr. Paul Pudussery CSC from Don Bosco University, Guwahati.

The participants were given sessions on various issues related to socio-political context of India and their impact on the young students. Through the program teachers were able to evaluate their career choices and the level of motivation with which they are working. At the end of the day, the par-

ticipants realized their responsibility as educationists and they reinvented themselves as mentors of students. Fr. Hans Igness the Headmaster in his concluding speech profusely thanked the resource person for the valuable and thought provoking sessions.

He also invited all the teachers to walk the extra mile with the students to motivate, challenge and rejuvenate them in view of maximizing the best in them.

Don’t run after breaking news, says ex-editor ET Correspondent Jorhat, Jan 19: Don’t run after breaking news, and check all the breaking news hundred times before going to the reality, said manorom Barua, former editor of Dainik Janambhumi Weekly, here at the 2nd West Jorhat Book Festival organized by West Jorhat Journalist Association at Sangbad Bhawan field.

Manoram Barua who attended as the guest of honour said that printing news is more reliable than breaking news. Breaking news last for few seconds but printing news last for several years.

He said days had come for Field Journalist to work hard, sincerely and effectively with full dedication and devotion for the betterment and growth of the society.

The workshop on the topic “Role of journalist to save Assam from extinction” was attended by Pankaj Kumar Baruah-Deputy

General Manager of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd.(NRL) as the chief guest directly blamed the people of the country and Assam for being lazy and we all are crabs as we don’t allow others to do or to grow, that is why we are in the verge of extinction.

Throughout the country and Assam we could see corruption but when we see the

Bhupen Goswami, the general secretary of Journalist association of India called upon the journalists more

active and prompt.

He said correct reporting is very essential at this hour due to several unwanted reasons, the pattern of reporting and movement for a pure journalist is needed to be thought of at this hour.

Welcome address was delivered by Jogesh Oja the president of Journalist association of Jorhat while Nabajyoti Baruah and

Rocktim Ranjan Saikia introduced the guest at the dais.

Among other present were Diganta Buragohain-News editor Dainik Janambhumi, Niranjan Mahanta, senior journalist Amar Asom, Bijoy Shankar Handique, senior journalist Prasar Bharti, Jorhat, Debojit BaruahThe Sentinel Jorhat.

Financial aid of Rs 15.42 crore under CM special package distributed ET Correspondent Mangaldai Jan 19 : Cheques of financial aids with a total amount of Rs 15 crore 42 lakhs and 84 thousand under Chief Minister's Special Package have been distributed here today to several thousands of selected beneficiaries in Darrang district. The financial aids included Rs 5,000 each to 1,000 women self help groups under each of the four assembly constituencies , Rs 25,000 to each of the 1,000 homeless families of each constituencies , Rs 10,000 to each of 833 nos of widow under each assembly , Rs 5,000 to each of artisans as well as pretty traders and old age pension of Rs 200 per month among others. In connection with it a ceremonial function was organized by Darrang district administration in association with DRDA,

Darrang at district library auditorium where Basanta Das , Minister for Water Resource , Fisheries etc was present as the chief guest . Speaking on the occasion Minister Das elaborated on various schemes taken up by the state government under the special grant targeting poor beneficiaries in each of the assembly constituencies across the state which have been launched centrally by the Chief Minister at Guwahati on Monday. The function presided over by Deputy Commissioner, Darrang , Manoj Kumar was also attended by Ranjit Kalita, CEO, Darrang Zila Parishad, District Congress President , Debobrata Dutta among others. Earlier Madhusudan Nath , Project Director , DRDA, Darrang highlighted the objectives of the scheme .

Congress leaders take part in unique party rally on boat

PM Modi kicks off BJP Campaign in Assam, says Congress old fashion to ‘blame others’ ‘Second Green Revolution’ should begin from Assam: PM Modi

Contd. from Page 1

Dutta also came down heavily upon state BJP President and union minister Sarbananda Sonowal stating that Sonowal will have to reply to the various question posed by the APCC. “The people of Assam is looking for the answers, if Sonowal has the courage he should come up with the replies on behalf of Modi”, Dutta said.

Dutta, however, stated that some leaders of the AGP has offered a proposal for alliance, verbally, which is not final yet. The APCC president also claimed that within a very short period many BJP members will join the congress under the leadership of one RSS leader. Later, Dutta and MP Gaurav Gogoi took part in a party rally which was held in boats and interacted with grass root level workers at Baghbar.

Party leader Abdul Khaleque and other Congress leaders of Barpeta were also present.

same man, same person in London or America they do all fine and super, so he urge upon the journalist fraternity to wash off their corruption from the country only than there will be more and more development in the country.

Contd. from Page 1

He also said that if the northeast had developed the way the other parts of the nation have, then the youth from this region would not have to leave their families.

APCC president Anjan Dutta interacts with party workers from a ferry at Baghbar LAC in Barpeta.

Pic - UB Photos

the rally had lined upon numerous country made and mechanized boats which were anchored to be floating by the side of the mighty Brahmaputra.

Addressing the people, the APCC president Anjan Dutta explained about the change of the river Bramhaputra and also about the change of climate in our area which is not only for The local organizers of Assam, Baghnar, but for

all over the world.

“The world have to face some problems due to climate change”, Dutta said. As for example in some places people have to experience excessive heat and too much cold which was not the order of the day earlier.

In his speech, Dutta also told that the flood and erosion problem is a burning issue for

Assam. “The devastation created by floods and erosion is a great loss for us every year.

We will have to find appropriate solutions to these issues”, he said.

He also stated that erosion is taking away atleast 80 square kms of area every year. In Bahari in Baghbar itself atleast 8000 hectres of fertile agricultural land has been lost due to erosion.

velopment,” he added.

The Prime Minister is presently in Assam on a two-day visit to the northeast region.

“Youth of our nation want employment and that is why my government emphasizes on de-

The elections in Assam, presently ruled by the Congress, will take place in May.

1dies, 3 injured in Diphu blast Contd. from Page 1

Juthika Das Barpeta, Jan 19: Adopting a new and unique way to attract the voters and the party workers from the grass root level, senior state Congress leader and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Anjan Dutta and Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi took part in a party rally at Baghbar in boats.

He also stressed that his government at the Centre emphasized on the agenda of development.

The bangs of the blast fling all 4 children at a distance crushing their limbs and head, Aijul Talukdar father of the children was not present in the house when the happening took place. According to police the detonator was concealed inside a toy which by some means reached the children and today when one of the children was winding the key of the toy the discharge went off.

An immediate neighbor

of the victim family believes that the toy came from a scrape dealer’s store.

“Police investigation has initiated we know from where the toy was procured, we are also investigating the actual nature of the detonator” Debojit Deury Superintendent of Police Karbi Anglong said to this correspondent.

Conscious citizens are not ruling out the possibility of involvement of Muslim fundamentalist group behind the whole

gamut.

Today’s occurrence at Diphu coinciding with the blockade of national highway passing through Karbi Anglong district in protest of granting schedule cast( Hills) status to the Bodo people residing in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao autonomous district and the Prime Minister’s Assam visit is generating to mixed bag of wild political rumor the whole district. Till filing of this report no one has been arrested in this connection and situation is calm.

Strike by civil society group disrupts life in Imphal

Strike by civil society group

Imphal, Jan 19: City life was severely hit after a civil society group called a 12-hour general strike today, protesting against the construction of a temporary market here.The strike was called for the second consecutive day by the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation (TAKDO) and the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba, Manipur.

Earlier on Monday, over 30 people, mostly women, sustained injuries in clashes during the strike called in the Manipur capital in a protest against the objectionable behaviour by women vendors against a BJP legislator after he stopped reconstruction of market complexes destroyed in the earthquake.Heishnam Jamuna, secretary of TAKDO said: "Some of us met with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to request his help for the construction of the temporary market at a suitable location."However,

he was very belligerent.

Throughout the brief meeting, he maintained that the government had decided to construct the market at the roadside and the construction work shall be completed on schedule. So we decided to go ahead with the general strike."Shops, banks, schools and other establishments were closed and there was no traffic in the Thangal market area here.Security measures have been beefed up, as police fear more confrontation since the government is going ahead with the construction of the temporary market. Activists are blocking the plying of vehicles even at the periphery of the town.Meanwhile, government has firmed up to carry on construction in the temporary market.Works Minister K. Ratankumar said: "This is not the only temporary market. Another one will also be constructed at the eastern side of the pologround."

(Agencies)

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Startups showcase organic power in Sikkim Gangtok , Jan 19:Young entrepreneurs who have started new ventures in Sikkim to harness the potential of processed organic products in the state, shared their experiences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.The Prime Minister interacted with 29year old entrepreneur Vivek Cintury, founder of Nature Gift and IIM graduate Anurag Aggarwal, co-founder of Parvata Foods, among others after inaugurating an exhibition on organic products here.The event comes days after the launch of Startup India programme on January 16."Modiji asked about my products. I shared how I started this new venture taking loan from the Prime Minister Employment Guarantee

Fund," Cintury, who has showcased his products in the exhibition, said.

Cintury's startup firm Nature Gift was set up in 2013 and now has a processing capacity of 200 tonnes for ginger, turmeric, buckwheat and millets.

He sells processed organic products not only in Sikkim but also supplies to companies like Lucknowbased Organic India, Jaipur-based Vision Organic, among others.Industry body CIIAhmedabad and Village Capital USA and other five investors have invested Rs 65 lakh in the company for branding and creating market linkages, he added.Another startup firm Pure Sikkim also showcased its organic products at the

Young entrepreneurs have started new ventures in Sikkim to harness the potential of processed organic products in the state

exhibition.Modi, who spent an hour at the exhibition visiting stalls, spread over five acres, also interacted with farmers and scientists.

He walked through stalls displaying organic vegetables, organic crop production technologies, medicinal and aromatic plants, besides spices and fruits along with value

added products from indigenous crops.Modi also saw new farming practices like vertical farming, low cost plastic tunnels and shelters for round the year vegetable production and low cost housing for livestock.The Sikkim government showcased the state birds and animals made of organic cereals, fruits and vegetables.

visit to Sikkim today, Singh took a review of the various projects of the Ministry of DoNER in the State from the senior officers of the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC).

Later, talking to media persons, Jitendra Singh said that the people of Sikkim were extremely grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having launched the "Organic Farming Mission" which will be a role model for other States to follow. Though being a very small state, he said that Sikkim is very progressive and develop-

PM Modi visits Organic Products' Exhibition

Narendra Modi Gantok, Jan. 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Organic Products' Exhibition today.

The Prime Minister also interacted with local organic farmers.

Sikkim is the first state of the country with the status of 'organic state'

where most of its farmland has been converted into certified organic land. Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi also released a logo 'Sikkim Organic' for state's mission mode organic programmes.

(ANI)

process.

The state grows local mandarin, kiwi, turmeric, buckwheat, rajma, vegetables, flowers among others. It has identified six products - large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, buckwheat, tea and Cymbidium - for sale outside Sikkim.

However, the state government is facing the challenge of limited supply of certified seeds and planting material, huge documentation formalities for organic certification, higher cost for collection and transportation of produce in hills.

The state also lacks post harvest and value addition infrastructure, quality control facility for organic manure and testing facility to check biofertiliser and pesticides residue.

(Agencies)

Harsh Vardhan inaugurates NE's first IIG in Shillong Spices Board to set up Shillong, Jan 19: Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, on Monday inaugurated the first Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) of the North East christened as Shillong Geophysical Research Centre of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) for detailed research on earthquakes in the region.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vardhan said that with the setting up of the IIG, the changes in the electrical field and the variation in temperatures occurring at different times including modulation in very high or low frequency can be observed consistently for years and can be related to occurrence of earthquake with time.

Observing that the Northeast is vulnerable when it comes to occurrence of earthquakes, the Union Minister said that the cen-

Dr Harsh Vardhan Inaugurates NE's First IIG in Shillong tre will be of great help to the people of the region in terms of avoiding the damage caused by earthquakes.

"The research centre is not for prevention of earthquakes but for avoiding the damages caused by them," he clarified.Located at the Wilton Hall Estate, Upper Shillong, the Shillong Geophysical Research Centre which has been set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore is the third such centre in the country.The

setting up of the Centre here assumes significance in view of the frequent tremors occurring in the region with the latest one being earlier this month when a 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Manipur and other parts of North East.Referring to a common question on whether earthquakes can be predicted, he said, "With the type of research that they are going to do (in the centre), there will be a time in the foreseeable future when we should be able to predict an earthquake."

Meanwhile, the Union Minister informed that the Centre is thoroughly committed to take science forward in a proactive and d y n a m i c manner.Meanwhile, Dr. D S Ramesh, Director of IIG said, "It is indeed a historic moment and we are proud to inaugurate our third regional centre."He informed that the Union Minister has sanctioned special grants worth Rs. 5 crore during this financial year towards the establishment of the regional centre.

(Agencies)

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated the first Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) of the North East christened as Shillong Geophysical Research Centre of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) for detailed research on earthquakes in the region

DoNER to support major projects in Sikkim: Jitendra Singh Gangtok, Jan. 19 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has assured the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling that Ministry of DoNER is committed to support major development projects in Sikkim and will also coordinate with other Union Ministries to expedite the projects under their purview.Before concluding his three-day

The state also displayed its creativity and showcased huge statue of Lord Ganesha using local organic oranges, sleeping Buddha made of bananas, Kanchenjunga mountain range made of organic ginger.Modi is here on a two-day visit.

Sikkim has become the first state in the country to adopt 100 per cent organic farming. It grows organic products in 76,392 hectare.The Prime Minister on Monday gave a certificate to Sikkim government commending its efforts for converting itself into a fully organic farming state in a span of 12 years.

About 64,726 farmers were also certified for their farm land. A total of 14 NGOs as service providers and six accreditation agencies are involved the

ment-oriented, which is evident from the fact that during the 11th Five Year Plan, it recorded an impressive growth rate of 22.8%.Referring to various projects being supported by the Ministry of DoNER, Jitendra Singh disclosed that under "Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources" (NLCPR), 183 projects have been completed in the State at the cost of Rs. 487.91 crore, while in addition, 41 projects worth Rs. 721.89 crore are ongoing.Similarly, under the North Eastern Council (NEC), 54 ongoing projects have been approved for the State of

Sikkim at a cost of Rs. 321.33 crore for which, an amount of Rs. 218.54 crore has already been released.Giving details of some of the landmark projects in the offing, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned the Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, which is expected to be ready in 2017 at a revised cost of Rs. 605.59 crore. Another unique project, he said, is that of 45 km long Sevoke-Rangpo railway line at the cost of Rs. 4190 crore which will have the distinction of having 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. This railway line will offer an exclusively picturesque and

Jitendra Singh scenic journey while passing through the foothills of Kanchenjunga

mountain range and Teesta River Valley, he added. (ANI)

People of Sikkim were extremely grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having launched the "Organic Farming Mission" which will be a role model for other States to follow: Jitendra Singh

Strike by civil society group disrupts life in Imphal Imphal, Jan 19 : Normal life was hit hard after a civil society group called a 12-hour general strike today, protesting against the construction of a temporary market here.It is the second consecutive day the strike has been called by the Thangmeiband Kendra D e v e l o p m e n t Organisation (TAKDO) and the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur.

Earlier on Monday, over 30 people, mostly women, sustained inju-

ries in clashes during the strike called in the Manipur capital in a protest against the objectionable behaviour by women vendors against a BJP legislator after he stopped reconstruction of market complexes destroyed in the earthquake.

Heishnam Jamuna, secretary of TAKDO said: "Some of us met with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to request him help construct the temporary market at a suitable place."However, he was

very belligerent.

Throughout the brief meeting, he maintained that the government had decided to construct the market at the roadside and the constructions shall be completed on schedule. So we decided to go ahead with the general strike".Shops, banks, schools and other establishments were closed and there was no traffic in the Thangal market area here.

Security measures have been beefed up, as police fear more confrontation

since the government is going ahead with the construction of the temporary market.Activists are not allowing plying of vehicles even at the periphery of the town.Meanwhile, government has firmed up to carry on the construction works in the t e m p o r a r y market.Works Minister K. Ratankumar said: "This is not the only temporary market. Another one will also be constructed at the eastern side of the polo ground." (Agencies)

e-platform for cardamom sale in Sikkim Gangtok, Jan 19: The Spices Board of India will set up an electronic auction platform in the next six months in Sikkim for the sale of organic large cardamoms to help farmers fetch a better price.Sikkim produces about 90 per cent of the country's total output of 4,500 tonnes of large cardamom."There is huge demand for large cardamom. The Board has decided to establish an e-auction platform in the next six months which will help farmers fetch better prices," the Board's Chairman A Jayathilak told media on the sidelines of an exhibition on organic products here today .

At present, Sikkim farmers are selling the spice on the physical auction platform, set up by the Board in 2010-11."In hilly areas, collection and transportation of the produce is a problem. Once the electronic auction (platform) is set up, farmers can check prices on

website and accordingly take decision. They need not take their produce to the market," the official said.This will also help farmers get a higher price in view of rising domestic and export demand for the organic spice product, he said.Currently, the auction price of large cardamom is ruling all time high at Rs 1,700 per kg here. "Farmers will get higher prices than this via electronic auction," he added.The Board is also planning to send SMS alerts with price details to the farmers registered with the Board as part of the Digital India programme, he said.

It will also hold a meeting of the state farmers with leading exporters tomorrow to promote export of ginger, turmeric and dalle chillies, among other organic products.India is the world's largest spices producer and exporter.

The country's spices exports had touched a record USD 2.4 billion in the last fiscal. (Agencies)

Tripura tribal party demands for separate tribal state Agartala, Jan. 19: A newly formed tribal party Tipra State Party (TSP) agitated here demanding for separate tribal state.

Hundreds of TSP supporters under the banner of Tipra Land Movement brought out a procession from Vivekananda Stadium in Agartala in demand of the separate 'Tipra Land'.

The supporters expressed that the separate tribal state is necessary for the existence of the tribal people, who at present are at the threat of extinction."The main aim of the Tipra State Party is demand for formation of separate state taking the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and as per the Article 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution. This is because we may have got the ADC under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution but it has filed in fulfilling the desire of the local tribes," said Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, President TSP. "Due to the division of Indian, a big number of the tribal population was later born in Bangladesh, and

which has turned the local tribals into minority and facing the threat of extinction. They can become majority only if under the Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution they are self controlled," he added.The protesters viewed that the existence of identity of some 12 lakh tribal of the state is at stake.

According to the protestors, during the rule of the Maharaja the ratio of tribal was 95 percent but at present the government ratio is 31 percent while the non-government calculation based on the practical ground is much less.The fast deduction in the ratio of the tribal section of the population is at the threat of existence and so we are demanding for separate tribal state like that of Telengana and hope that in the coming future the central government is going to fulfill their demand which is very much constitutional.Later a five member's team submitted a memorandum of demand to Governor Tathagata Roy. (ANI)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

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Rahul accuses Dattatreya, VC of abetting Dalit scholar's suicide Ink-attack on Kejriwal: Hyderabad, Jan. 19: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Government at the Centre over the suicide of a Dalit scholar in Hyderabad University and accused Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya and varsity's Vice Chancellor of abetting the suicide of the scholar. Rahul, who interacted with the protesting students of the University of Hyderabad, said that the varsity had used to its power to 'crush' the students instead of allowing them to express themselves.

"The idea of a university is that young people from the country can come

here and express whatever is in their hearts...

He must feel that this is an institution where I can say whatever i want without punishment without pain. What has happened is that some youngsters have felt that they wanted to express certain ideas that they have," he told students here.

He said that Rohith Vemula, who hanged himself to death on Sunday, was put through so much pain that he ended his life. "The institution, instead of operating fairly, instead of letting them speak, has used its power to crush them. The vice-chancellor and the minister in Delhi have not acted fairly. And the result is that, a student who had come here to learn, was put in so much

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi pain that he had no other option but to end his life.

The conditions that led to his suicide were created by the vice-chancellor were created by the VC, the minister and the institution," he added.

Rahul also expressed his solidarity with the students and met Vemula's kin at the University Meanwhile, the students

of the University continued their protest in the varsity premises demanding action against Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao, Minister of State for Labour and Dattatreya and ABVP leader Susheel Kumar.

Vemula, along with four other Dalit students, were allegedly expelled from hostel following a

tussle with students affiliated with the student wing of the BJP, Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Vemula, who belonged to Guntur district of Amravati, was doing his PhD in science technology and society studies for the past two years, before the scholar allegedly got involved in a tiff between two student

groups in August last year.

The students demanded the revoking of the suspension of the five Dalit research scholars. They also demanded Dattatreya's apology for interfering in University matters and branding the students of University of Hyderabad as casteists, anti-nationals and extremists. (ANI)

"The idea of a university is that young people from the country can come here and express whatever is in their hearts... He must feel that this is an institution where I can say whatever i want without punishment without pain. What has happened is that some youngsters have felt that they wanted to express certain ideas that they have,"

Pakistan government Blame game continues over Dalit scholar's suicide Jan. 19: The HRD Ministry must will act against JeM Hyderabad, The war of words be- not be targeted in this the Bharatiya case. Nevertheless, we chief: Satyapal Singh tween Janata Party (BJP) and are focusing on the mat-

Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh

New Delhi, Jan. 19: Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh on Tuesday said he is confident that Pakistan will act against the terror infrastructure on its soil. Singh was responding to the Pakistan government that has been claiming action against Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) which orchestrated the January 2 Pathankot terror attack.

"After the climate change in Indo-Pak relations, we should not immediately come into a conclusion that Pakistan is not going to take any action. Lets us wait for some time and we are sure that Pakistan government will act against the terror infrastructure mainly in Pak occupied Kashmir and its leader Maulana Masood Azhar," Singh told here. "Looking into the long history of Pakistan's action or so called support to the ter-

rorist group, it is very difficult to believe immediately what action Pakistan has taken against Jaish-emohammad, and its leader and cadres," he added.

Meanwhile, India has prepared a dossier detailing Azhar's fund raising mechanism and the document will soon be handed over to Pakistani authorities to nail the terrorist.

The dossier has details about JeM's overseas funding and information about key its operatives including Rouf Azghar Azhar.

The banned terror group, JeM, functions openly all over Pakistan including the PoK. Apart from that details about India's most wanted men Jamat-udDawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba's top commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim are also included in the dossier.

JeM generally conducts big congregations twice a year at Haripur and Bhawalpur in Pakistan.

The outfit has huge infrastructure including offices and landed property in the name of local trusts/ NGOs and charitable organizations. It runs a chain of educational institutions in different names and has built a huge hospital at Muzaffarabad. (ANI)

BSF in current strength not enough to guard International Border: Vohra

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra

New Delhi, Jan. 19: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Tuesday said the Border Security Force (BSF), in its current strength is not enough for guarding the International Border and called for the need of a separate cadre. "The Indo-Pak international border is not wellguarded and Border Security Force (BSF) in its current strength is not enough for guarding the International Border," said Vohra.

Delivering a key note address at the raising day function of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Vohra said there is

need for a separate cadre, National Security Administrative Services in the country. He added there is also a need to have standard operating norms that define role of state police, Special Forces and army in dealing with terror attacks.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said there is a need to empower the NIA, adding that terrorism is not only a challenge to the country, but also a global one. Singh added infrastructure must be approved and technology also should be upgraded.

Earlier, Rajnath had chaired a meeting on internal security which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and BSF Director General D.K. Pathak were also present in the meeting.

(ANI)

the Congress Party escalated over the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide at a Hyderabad university on Sunday.

Here is who said what on the Dalit scholar suicide in Hyderabad.

Met students of the Ambedkar Students Association, Hyderabad University. These students were protesting against the unjust expulsion and social boycott of Dalit students on campus: Rahul Gandhi's tweet after meeting students.

Don't want to make political statement. My condolences to family of deceased. Government doesn't intervene in the administration of universities. Two-member fact finding team will submit report on this: Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.

ter at hand. A fact finding committee is doing its job and investigating the incident. Action will be taken only after we get the report: Minister of State (MoS) for Human Development Upendra Kushwaha.

The war of words between the BJP and the Congress Rahul Gandhi has acted negatively on everything. Party escalated over the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula Only because of this attitude the Congress is Modi government consti- gated for his outspokensuffering. We are trying tutionally duty bound to ness honesty, frugality to heal the wound and the uplift Dalits. Instead and love for the nation.

Congress Party wants to Modi ji's ministers got My condolences to his gain political mileage out five Dalit students friends and family: Conof it. This won't happen: ostracised and sus- gress leader Ahmad Minister of State for Par- pended. It's not suicide. Patel. Leaders like liamentary Affairs and It's murder. It's murder of Bandaru Dattatreya posMinority Affairs and se- democracy, social justice sess an old mindset and nior BJP leader Mukhtar n equality. Modi ji should are a result of anti-Dalit sack ministers and attitude of the BJP. The Abbas Naqvi.

Deeply saddened at the aplogoize to the nation: intolerance of the ruling tragic death of Dalit stu- Delhi Chief Minister government was earlier dent Rohit Vemula in Arvind Kejriwal. visible against the liberHyderabad. Government Deeply disturbed to hear als but now it seems they must ensure fair probe about suicide of Rohit are trying to suppress the and action against those Vemula. Circumstances Dalits also: Congress responsible: Bihar Chief which led to this must be leader Sandeep Dikshit.

Minister Nitish Kumar. independently investi- (ANI)

Delhi Police rubbishes AAP's allegation

Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi New Delhi, Jan. 19: The Delhi Police on Tuesday refuted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s allegation that they were part of the alleged conspiracy behind the ink-attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying they are committed to provide security to every citizen of the national capital.

"Delhi Police is committed to providing security to every citizen of Delhi.

We are also committed to provide protection to those who have been given security. The question of entering into any conspiracy to cause any harm does not arise. We always think about security of a person. Even that day appropriate security was given," Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi told reporters here.

Delhi's Deputy Chief

Minister Manish Sisodia had earlier claimed that the BJP scripted the attack on Kejriwal with the help of Delhi Police, which work under the Centre. With reports emerging that Kejriwal's PA had asked the police personnel to step down from the dais a short while before ink was thrown at him, the AAP had squarely blamed the police for the incident.

The incident took place at an event on Sunday when Kejriwal was expressing his gratitude to the people of Delhi for making the odd-even formula a success. The woman Bhavna Arora, who belongs to the Aam Aadmi Sena, rushed close to the dais and threw ink at Kejriwal.

She was immediately detained by the police.

(ANI)

J. Dey murder: CBI gets nod to interrogate Chhota Rajan

Kushwaha defends HRD Ministry, says 'don't politicise' Dalit scholar's suicide New Delhi, Jan. 19: Minister of State (MoS) for Human Development Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday said it was wrong to pin the blame on the HRD Ministry for the suicide of a Dalit scholar in Hyderabad and added that the matter should not be politicised, as apt action would be initiated based on the recommendation of the fact finding committee.

"The HRD Ministry must not be targeted in this case. Nevertheless, we are focusing on the matter at hand. A fact finding committee is doing its job and investigating the incident.

over the scholar's suicide, he said that parties have the right to go and visit the university and interact with the students but 'politicising' the mat-

"The HRD Ministry must not be targeted in this case. Nevertheless, we are focusing on the matter at hand. A fact finding committee is doing its job and investigating the incident. Action will be taken only after we get the report" ter was unfair.

"If an individual goes there to show his concern, then it should not be seen in a political light

Minister of State for Human Development Upendra Kushwaha

Action will be taken only after we get the report," Kushwaha told.

Taking a passive stand over the 'politicisation' row that has erupted

also defended Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, who has been charged with abetting the suicide of the Dalit scholar, say-

as there is nothing wrong in it and they have the right to do so. But I don't think that this incident should be politicized," Kushwaha added. He

ing that it was unfair to level any allegations against him until he was proven guilty.

"You can't demand his resignation and it is unfair to do so until all the facts come out after the investigation," he said.

Dattatreya has been charged with abetting the suicide of the Dalit scholar and he has also been booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act following allegations that he orchestrated the suspension of Rohith Vermula and four other Dalit students from the University hostel.

The Centre has formed a

two-member probe committee as the incident triggered protests in Hyderabad and the national capital on Monday. However, HRD Minister Smriti Irani maintained that the government will not intervene in the case.

Rohith, a second-year research scholar from the Science, Technology and Society Studies Department, and others were suspended from the hostel last year following allegations that they attacked Sushil Kumar after a screening of the controversial d o c u m e n t a r y 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai'.

Earlier this month, the five students were thrown out of the hostel amid allegations they were denied access to campus facilities, except their classrooms and respective workshops, on recommendation by an executive committee of the university. The 28year-old hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district was found hanging at a friend's hostel room around 7: 30 p.m. on Sunday. (ANI)

Gangster Chhota Rajan Mumbai, Jan. 19: Gangster Chhota Rajan will be interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation for ten days in connection with the 2011 journalist J. Dey murder case. A Mumbai court gave CBI the permission to interrogate the gangster and his hearing has been adjourned till February 5 Former journalist S. Balakrishnan, who is associated with NGO Desh Sabha Samiti and participating in the bidding of a property of Dawood Ibrahim, backed the development and expressed confidence that the truth will prevail. "It's a very good development that the enquiry is being handed over to CBI. We had filed a PIL requesting for the same in Bombay High Court and at that time it was dismissed," Balakrishnan told.

"He was a good friend of mine, I used to respect Jayde. I was shocked by the way he was murdered and why it happened is still undisclosed," he added. Rajan, a former key aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim,

was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25 after he arrived from Australia, and was later deported to India.

He is facing around 70 cases in Maharashtra, which includes the J Dey murder case. Dey, a veteran crime reporter, was shot dead in Powai by motorcycle-borne shooters on June 11, 2011 allegedly at the command of Rajan.

Four persons on two bikes fired at Dey, who was also riding a bike.

After the attack, he was rushed to nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. The first charge sheet in 2011 names arrested accused Satiah Kaliya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani, Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia.

Rajan was allegedly upset with two articles written by Dey and therefore ordered his killing. Vora allegedly instigated him, owing to her own professional rivalry with Dey. (ANI)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Suicide bomber targeting police in Pakistan kills 11 Pakistan, Jan 19: A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle struck a crowded police checkpoint on the outskirts of the Pakistani city of Peshawar today, killing 11 people in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

Another 21 people were wounded in the blast, which took place on a road leading to neighboring Afghanistan, police official Iqbal Khan said.

A suicide attack targeting a police checkpoint in Peshawar is on the edge northwestern Pakistan of Pakistan's volatile seven civilians, includtribal regions, a stronghold of the Taliban and Khan said the dead in- ing two children and a journalist, other Islamic militants. clude four police and local

I will quit if I fail to simplify investment process' Dhaka, Jan 19: Promising to resign if he fails to simplify the investment process, Expatriates' Welfare Minister Nurul Islam has called on Bangladeshi expatriates living abroad to invest in the motherland.In a sign that NRBs were being wooed into taking a bigger financial stake in the country, the government on Tuesday awarded Commercially Important Person (CIP) status to 10 non-resident Bangladeshis.Speaking to journalists at his office at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment on Tuesday, Nurul assured wouldbe foreign investors of Bangladeshi origin that the process would be made hassle-free.

(Agencies)

Court reserve judgement on bail plea of officials of AKD securities Karachi, Jan 19: Federal Anti-Corruption Court on Monday reserved its verdict for today (January 19) on bail application of three office-bearers of Aqeel Karim Dhedhi (AKD) Securities.Three accused including Iqbal, Tariq and Fareed, who were arrested by the FIA, had filed a petition for grant of bail with the Anti-Corruption Court in case related to AKD Securities. The court, after hearing arguments of both the parties, reserved the decision till today (Tuesday).

During the last hearing, the FIA had presented challan of EOBI shares case before the court. The court was told that AKD Securities had inflicted heavy loss to the national exchequer in the selling of EOBI shares. While the names of nominated 22 accused were mentioned in the challan.

It was stated in the challan that three accused were arrested, two were on bail while two accused had passed away. (Agencies)

Mahboob Shah Afridi, who was president of Tribal Union of Journalists in the neighboring Khyber region.A local Pakistani Taliban commander, Maqbool Dawar, claimed the attack, which took place as a local police chief arrived at the checkpoint.

Dawar said it was in response to the killing of his comrades by security forces.

Nisar Khan, who was waiting to cross the road, said the checkpoint was choked with traffic at the time of the attack. He

said the huge blast left vehicles in flames and that he saw wounded people in pools of blood crying out for helpMilitant violence has declined since Pakistan launched a wideranging military offensive in North Waziristan, a tribal region along the border with Afghanistan, in the summer of 2014.But the Taliban have still managed to carry out major attacks, including an assault on an army-run school in Peshawar in December 2014 that killed over 150 people, mostly children. (Agencies)

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle struck a crowded police checkpoint on the outskirts of the Pakistani city of Peshawar today, killing 11 people in an attack claimed by the Taliban

Myanmar's powerful army picks lawmakers as transition moves forward Yangon, Jan 19: Myanmar's army chief Min Aung Hlaing nominated military officers, who hold a quarter of seats in Parliament, to their posts, state media said on Tuesday , another step by the army in what has so far surprised many as a remarkably peaceful transition.Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept the historic Nov 8 election, but Myanmar's military, which ruled the country for 49 years before giving way to semi-civilian government in 2011, remains a powerful political force.

Myanmar's second-incommand, deputy com-

mander-in-chief Soe Win, reiterated on Monday (Jan 18) the army's willingness to keep its powerful position in politics during a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting in the capital of Naypyitaw."Vice Senior General Soe Win explained... the plan to cooperate with the next government and the leading role of the Tatmadaw in national politics," the state-owned Myanmar language daily Kyemon reported on Tuesday (Jan 19). Tatmadaw is the Myanmar term for the military.The 25 per cent of seats in the national Parliament gives the military

an effective veto over changes to the 2008 juntadrafted Constitution that bans Ms Suu Kyi from becoming the president because her late husband was British and her sons are not Myanmar citizens.

Three key security ministries - defence, border affairs and home affairs also remain under the control of the commander-inchief.The newly appointed military lawmakers will attend their first session together with representatives chosen in the November election on Feb 1.In the national bicameral Parliament, 166 military MPs will serve. Another 220 will serve in 14 state

Myanmar military officers attend the opening ceremony of the Union Peace Conference in Naypyitaw, Myanmar

and regional assemblies.

They hold positions ranging from captain to majorgeneral, according to the list published in the state media.Major-General Tauk Tun is the most senior military lawmaker selected for the lower

house and Major-General Than Soe for the upper house.The NLD-led government will take power in March following a presidential election carried out in the national Parliament in February.

(Agencies)

Mohamed Nasheed arrives in Colombo to fly to UK for medical care Colombo, Jan 19: Mohamed Nasheed, the former Maldives president serving a 13-year jail sentence on terror charges, has arrived here on his way to London for urgent medical treatment, his party said today. Nasheed, 48, arrived last night in Colombo and will be leaving by a Srilankan Airlines direct flight to London later today, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) sources said.

Nasheed was supposed to leave on Sunday after a deal brokered by diplomats from India and Sri Lanka as well as Britain,

Mohamed Nasheed, the former Maldives president

but his departure was delayed as the government imposed new conditions on his trip. The government was insisting that he nominate a family member to stay in the capital Male to guarantee his return. Nasheed initially re-

fused the government request to leave a family member behind who had to sign as a guarantor for his return, but finally agreed to the offer. According to Maldivian government, Nasheed had signed an undertaking to return after his treatment and his brother has agreed to act as guarantor. Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was sentenced to 13 years in jail in March over the arbitrary arrest of chief criminal judge Abdullah Muhammed during his presidency.

He was elected in 2008,

ending three decades of rule by former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Nasheed resigned as the Maldives leader in February 2012 after weeks of protests over the judges arrest on corruption allegations.

The former president had appealed his prison sentence after backtracking on his earlier decision and opted to go to the Supreme Court instead. In his appeal, Nasheed had sought a lesser penalty under the new penal code that came into effect in No-

report analyzes witness testimony that identifies as a key suspect the commanding officer from Myanmar's army, which was camped in the v i l l a g e . " T h e government's priorities were clear in the Kaung Kha case - protect the military at all costs," Moon Nay Li, the association's general secretary, said in a Jan. 19 statement.Two ethnic Kachin teachers -Maran Lu Ra, 20, and Tangbau Hkawn Na Tsin, 21 - were living in Kaung Kha village in northern Shan State, sent as volunteers by the Kachin Baptist Convention, where they were raped and murdered on Jan. 19, 2015.

In a video shown last March, the two women's

Former students of the two Kachin teachers raped and murdered in January 2015 were seen outside the Kachin Baptist Church in Kaung Kha village

bloody and battered bodies were seen lying sideby-side on a bamboo bed, their pajamas pulled down.The Baptist convention conducted its own investigation into the two teachers' murders. The Kachin community believes that none of the local villagers were respon-

sible for the crime.The Rev. Samson Hkalam, the convention's secretary, said that police inconsistencies hindered the official investigation."Police can't bring the soldiers, who were camped in the village, in for questioning.

This kind of case can be solved easily but it raises

Nazmul Huda: Khaleda should take rest, quit Dhaka, Jan 19:Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA) Chairman Barrister Nazmul Huda has opined that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should retire from politics.Nazmul Huda, a former standing committee member of the BNP, quit the party a year ago and formed the BNA.He said: "Khaleda Zia has been burdened by her family. And it is such a big responsibility to run a

party like the BNP. She should take rest and quit politics."He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the Bangla Tribune, a sistern concern of the Dhaka Tribune, on Sunday.Diarchy prevails in the BNP because of Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman, Huda claimed.

The BNA chairman continued that the party was itself responsible for its present

misery and Khaleda herself ruined the atmosphere of dialogue with the government.Barrister Nazmul Huda was known to be a close aide of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and was one of the party's 12 founding standing committee members.He was elected to parliament on the BNP ticket several times and served as a minister in several BNP governments.

He held important posi-

tions in the party but his relationship with the party became strained over time.

Recently he formed the BNA, an alliance of 31 political parties.Huda continued: "I think if Khaleda retires, her son Tarique will likely take charge of the party properly. The existing dual rule and indecision are behind the current poor state of the party. The BNP leadership has failed despite its successes under

Beijing, Jan 19 : China accused the Philippines today of deliberately trying to scare people by saying China had warned a small civilian plane carrying Philippine officials it was trespassing as they inspected an island in the disputed South China Sea.The Philippines said the incident happened on Jan. 7 to an aircraft inspecting Thitu Island in the Spratlys, where Manila plans to set up surveillance equipment this year, as their aircraft flew near a Chinese man-made island.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei repeated that China has sovereignty over the Spratlys and that the Philippines had illegally occupied eight islands there since the 1970s, including Thitu, and had been building on them.

"The Philippines' comments are just frightening words to scare people, deliberately exaggerating regional tensions with treacherous intent, and its plots will not succeed," Hong said, when asked about the warning to the Philippine aircraft.

The Philippines plans to install a $1 million satellite-based system on Thitu to track commercial flights over the South

China Sea, after China landed its first test flights this month on a reef it built in the Spratly islands.

Hong said that any activities by the Philippines on the islands it occupies were illegal.China's increasing military presence in the Spratlys has stirred fears it could lead to an air defence zone, which would escalate tension with other claimants, and the United States, in one of the world's most volatile areas.China claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to have huge oil and gas deposits, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the sea, through which about $5 trillion in trade passes every year.The Philippines and Vietnam protested against China's test flights on the Fiery Cross Reef this month."The concerns about the recent activities of China along with the reclamation activities and construction of airstrips in the disputed territory is shared by other countries as it adds to the tension in the region," said Herminio Coloma, Philippine presidential communications secretary.

It "causes concern about the freedom of freedom of navigation and overflight in the area", Coloma added.

(Agencies)

Sartaz blames US for regional instability Islamabad, Jan19: Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said that United States (US) policies were responsible for instability in South Asia, urging the Obama administration to analyze its role and that of its allies in the region.In retaliation to the United States President Barack Obama's recent remark that instability will continue for decades in Pakistan, Aziz said 'Pakistan's answer to in-

stability is the strengthening democracy in the country.'

Aziz asserted that US created 'holy warriors' in our tribal areas during the 'Afghan Jihad' and then left them as soon as the war was over. Aziz added that since 2013, Pakistan has been pursuing a policy of non-interference and is not taking part in other nation's wars. Aziz further said that Pakistan has also taken a strong stance against terrorism.(ANI)

vember. The Supreme Court had also been asked to nullify the charges lodged against him in the lower court and the subsequent sentence. India, the US and the European Union had all expressed concern over Nasheed's imprisonment and conviction.

His conviction drew widespread criticism over the apparent lack of due process in the 19day trial. The current President Abdulla Yameen was elected in controversial polls in 2013 and is the halfbrother of Gayoom.

Hong Kong, Jan 19: China the Guangdong security de(Agencies) has confirmed that a miss- partment asking to meet ing Hong Kong-based Lee.Hong Kong's Chief Exbookseller, one of five men ecutive Leung Chun-ying, whose disappearance fu- who has been lambasted in elled fears of an erosion of the city for what critics say questions on why this the city's freedoms, is on the has been a weak response to case fails to bring the per- mainland, the city's govern- the crisis, said Tuesday the petrators to justice," the ment said.The news will add government was seeking a Rev. Samson told to fears of pro-democracy meeting with media.The Myanmar lawmakers, activists and Lee."Hopefully we will army has been accused of some residents who believe know more about the case using rape as a weapon in mainland authorities are of Mr. Lee," he told reportits decade-long wars with kidnapping critics to try to ers. ethnic minorities. The silence dissent. Lee Bo,who On Sunday Lee's associate Women's League of works for a publishing Gui Minhai, who disapBurma, an umbrella orga- house that sells books criti- peared in Thailand, apnization of women's cal of Beijing, was last seen peared on Chinese state groups in the country, at a book warehouse in television. A weeping Gui collected more than 100 Hong Kong on December said he had returned to allegations of rape 30.He was the fifth em- China to "take legal responagainst Myanmar army ployee of the Mighty Cur- sibilities" for killing a colsoldiers between 2010 rent publishing house to go lege student in a car acciand 2014.But the military missing in recent dent 11 years ago.Rights publicly issued a threat months.Three were in China campaigners dismissed last January to local me- when they vanished, but the Gui's apparent confession, dia not to implicate sol- disappearance of Lee from calling it a "smokescreen" diers in the Kaung Kha Hong Kong and of another to play down concerns that crime, and police have man from Thailand has he was being detained by reportedly dismissed the raised fears of Chinese au- mainland authorities for his possibility that troops thorities operating interna- work.Hong Kong was recould be responsible. tionally. turned to Chinese rule in (Agencies) A Hong Kong government 1997 after 150 years as a spokesman said today po- British colony. Under a "One lice had received informa- country, two systems" agreetion from Chinese authori- ment, the semi-autonomous ties that Lee was in China. city is guaranteed freedoms the leadership of its The spokesman said the let- that are not available on the founder Ziaur ter was issued by the public mainland.However camRahman."Huda said the security department of paigns for greater democBNP has taken several bad Guangdong province which racy have been stymied and decisions because one de- borders Hong Kong, but it many activists fear Beijing is cision came from Khaleda did not specify where the imposing its authoritarian and another from Tarique, missing man was.Hong stamp on the freewheeling who lives in the United Kong police have written to city. (Agencies) Kingdom.Tarique Rahman Lee Bo, who works for a publishing is the senior vice chairman house that sells books critical of of the party and the chairperson cannot ignore him Beijing, was last seen at a book because he is highly valued warehouse in Hong Kong on Deby the party, Huda said. cember 30.

(Agencies)

New report alleges military involvement in Myanmar murders Karachi, Jan 19: A new report investigating the rape and murder in northern Shan State of two Kachin Christian teachers alleges that a high-ranking military officer was involved in the cover-up of the crime carried out by soldiers.The Kachin Women's Association of Thailand and the Legal Aid Network released the report "Justice delayed, justice denied" on Jan. 19, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of the two teachers' deaths.

The report makes claims to expose an alleged cover-up of the military's involvement in the case.

The report also states that the investigation into the murders has been onesided, which led to delays and a denial of justice.The

China says Manila exaggerating tensions with aircraft claim

Missing Hong Kong bookseller is in China: City government

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Entrepreneurship Development In Assam Childhood Cancer Mortality Case different from other regions It's long been known that cancer survivors - people alive five years after diagnosis - face a higher risk of premature death, and doctors have made efforts over the decades to reduce those deaths. The analysis of 34,033 patients whose cancers were diagnosed before the age of 21 and who survived to the five-year mark found the odds of death from any cause, including due to a recurrence or progression of a cancer, declined for children treated in the 1980s compared with those treated in the 1970s. When treatment was initiated in the 1990s, the death rates were lower still. For survivors diagnosed in the 1970s, the odds of death at the 15-year mark were 10.7 per cent. With treatment in the 1980s, the rate declined to 7.9 per cent. For the 1990s it was 5.8 per cent.

But the case is somewhat different in Northeastern states of India. Childhood cancer has a high fatality incidence in developing countries, including India. In the Northeast, which has a high prevalence of several types of cancers, the Aizawl district of Mizoram has the highest childhood cancer incidence of 107 (in boys) per 10,00,000 population. Imphal West of Manipur records the maximum incidence in girls (69 per 10,00,000 population). In Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district, the incidence in boys is 62 per 10,00,000, and in girls 45 per 10,00,000. Approximately 200 childhood cancer patients are treated at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) every year. Incidence of childhood cancer is defined as the number of new cases detected in the age group of 014 years per 10,00,000 population per year, in a defined geographic location. Incidence of childhood cancer in India, as per Population Based Cancer Registry of ICMR, is highest in Chennai for both boys and girls (boys - 159 per 10,00,000 and girls - 112 per 10,00,000).The proportion of childhood cancer relative to cancers in old-age group varied between 0.5-5.8 per cent. In boys, the relative proportion is lowest in East Khasi Hills (0.8 pc) and highest in Delhi (5.8 pc). In girls, it varied from 0.5 pc in East Khasi Hills to 3.4 pc in Ahmedabad Rural. Childhood cancer mortality is as high as 80 per cent in countries like India, whereas the incidence is around 20 per cent in developed countries. Worldwide, it is estimated that childhood cancer has an incidence of over 1,75,000 per year and a mortality rate of approximately 96,000 per year. The most common cancers in the children are leukemia (34 pc), brain tumours (23 pc) and lymphomas (12 pc). Other less common childhood cancers are Wilms tumour (5 pc, kidney), Rhabdomyosarcoma (3 pc, many sites), Retinoblastoma (3 pc, eye), Osteosarcoma (3 pc, bone cancer), Ewing sarcoma (1 pc, many sites), Germ cell tumour (many sites), Hepatoblastoma and Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Cancers in childhood constitute one of the most important groups of tumours, not only because of the age of occurrence, but because of different causative factors from those commonly seen in adult cancers.

Childhood cancer is defined as cancers in the age group of 0-14 and in some centres cancers up to the age of 19 are also included as childhood cancer.

Causes of childhood cancer vary from familial and genetic factors to environmental exposure and exogenous factors, while in a majority of the cases individual causes remain unknown. The high fatality incidence of childhood cancer in developing countries warrants that the public, doctors and parents are educated on the warning signals. Management of childhood cancer is a complex issue which needs the support of doctors, family members, teachers, friends and well-wishers.

Ink Incident Allegation on Kejriwal being involved in the scam.

A woman splattered ink on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal when he was addressing a thanksgiving rally following the success of his government's odd-even road-rationing formula at Chhatrasal Stadium had alleged a 'big CNG scam' behind the oddeven formula, and accused Kejriwal of being involved in the scam. The woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, came close to the lectern when Kejriwal was delivering his speech and threw ink at him. And later she was booked under several charges, including obstructing a public event. The woman has been identified as Bhavna Arora, who belongs to the Aam Aadmi Sena, a splinter group of AAP formed by party rebels.

Reacting sharply to the incident, an agitated deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia slammed the Delhi Police, calling the incident a "major security lapse" and wondered whether it was "sitting in readiness to stage an attack on Kejriwal." This is not the first time Arvind Kejriwal has been attacked in public. In 2014, he was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Sultanpuri area of Delhi. On March 28 2014, Kejriwal was hit on his neck by a man claiming to be a supporter of Anna Hazare in Haryana. The AAP leader and some of his colleagues were victims of an ink attack in Varanasi in March 2014, where he had challenged Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections.

An egg was also hurled at his car outside the famous Vishwanath temple on the same day. Calling an incident of ink throwing as ink attack gives the impression that some kind of crime has been committed as in case of an acid attack. Ink-throwing gets status of an attack, which is suggestive of some kind of an act intended to cause hurt and violence. The IPC or CrPC does not have any provision to bracket it as attack and accordingly, book the person under existing provisions of the law who throws ink on another person of whatever stature.

Pranjal Bezborah In the present era it is being realized that entrepreneurship contributes to industrial development of a country or a region in several ways, viz. assembling and harnessing the various inputs, bearing the risks, innovating and imitating the techniques of production to reduce the cost and increase its quality and quantity, expanding the horizons of the market, and coordinating and managing the manufacturing unit at various levels. In fact, the rapid industrial development of a country or a region crucially depends upon the number of abilities of entrepreneurs. Industrial development cannot be achieved without the development of entrepreneurship. Depending upon the emphasis one becomes the by-product of the other. Entrepreneurship, therefore, is regarded as the ultimate determining factor of the industrial growth of a country or a region.

Entrepreneurship is normally considered as a dependent variable because certain forces are likely to influence it. For instance, the forces like individual, political, social, cultural, economic, environmental and support systems always influence entrepreneurship. Thus individuals take initiative and establish enterprises to generate entrepreneurship in a society. In a similar manner, environmental forces consisting of political, social, cultural, economic and many other forces directly influence entrepreneurship. The third influencing force is the support systems. The support systems influence entrepreneurship development in various ways.

Such support systems include financial, commercial, industrial, institutional, research and training supports.

Entrepreneurship is also assumed to be an independent variable because an individual is capable of influencing many factors, specially the socio-psychological factors like norms, behaviour, attitude and value. It is on the basis of these socio-psycho-

logical factors, an individual is likely to motivate himself and acquire the necessary skill for the purpose. Of the various motivational factors achievement motivation, personal efficacy and coping capability are by far the most important.

The achievement motivation techniques are widely followed in developing entrepreneurship. The various research findings also speak in favour of this technique. Personal efficacy on the other hand is required to develop a sense of being effective and to have control over others. The coping capability however enables one to cope with the situation by adopting coping strategies. Thus an entrepreneur is to create himself through development of his self. That is perhaps the criterion of entrepreneurship development. This being the entire process of entrepreneurship development, the dynamics of such development always speaks of the individual's effort, the environmental impact and the support systems.

In this context, it may be said that the opportunity envelope for setting up a productive activity can be opened only when certain factors like education, training, professional experience, financial help, Governmental support etc., in different combinations are considered to be of some help to the prospective entrepreneurs. It appears therefore that the primary task for entrepreneurship development is to search out the potential entrepreneurs through implementation of appropriate schemes.

There is a myth that entrepreneurs are born and not made. There is also a myth that every individual has the potential of becoming an entrepreneur. Sometimes these myths play a crucial role in developing entrepreneurship. The spontaneity and continuity of the development process would however depend on the class of people to be trained in entrepreneurial career. The value system in daily life also determines the nature of

such beliefs. In the context of Assam, these beliefs have a strong influencing effect on the choice of activities of the people.

The entrepreneurship development as such is encircled with several myths. This is particularly true in the context of Assam. Some of the myths about entrepreneurship development that have confronted us in framing up the line of action of the entrepreneurship development process are - i)Launching of programme on ED will help to develop entrepreneurship; (ii)EDP will help all people to develop as entrepreneur; (iii)For selection of trainees for EDP some psychological tests are necessary; (iv)EDP packages should include motivational module; (v)Every individual has the potential power to develop as an entrepreneur.

A few of these myths appear to be contradictory.

Under the circumstances, all these myths may have resulted into adverse spiral effect if the concerning myths are not tested properly before application. Alternatively, some of these myths may be of practical help to develop entrepreneurship. Although Assamese people, in general believe in myths yet Assamese tradition has always accepted continuity and change. They have accordingly adapted certain beliefs and rituals to suit the changing environment. It appears that tradition and modernity are in existence in Assamese society on a continuing basis. There is always flexibility in Assamese society, particularly in accepting new ideas flowing from elsewhere.

It is true that a sizable proportion of the unemployed youths in Assam is in the middle class category. It is equally true that those youths are normally more inclined towards securing jobs for themselves. The middle class youths, in most cases, do not prefer to accept any business proposition, possibly because of fear-psychosis against failure. But middle class in any society is considered as 'change agents'. As a good majority of the unemployed educated youths is in the middle-class category, they are expected to take up the much-desired challenging job as entrepreneurs. But certain factors are likely to influence the behaviouristic characteristic pattern of the middle class people in

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Assam. It is from these points of views, the normal characteristic features of the middle class people may be of the following order: 1. The cultural and social norms vary widely; 2. The middle class people are extremely tolerant; 3. They prefer to live in a joint family system; 4. It is customary for middle class people to offer physical and financial support to their parents and relatives who need such support; 5. The middle class people prefer to give good education to their children; 6. They are mostly conservative in outlook; 7. They do not like to take up any adventurous move; 8. They have the urge for saving for their future; 9. They are honest; 10. They like professionalism only with the object of getting suitable job; 11. They always try to follow a 'safe path'; 12. They always try to avoid risk and uncertainty; 13. They are flexible, adaptable and tolerant to changed environment.

All these characteristic features naturally indicate that middle class people are normally tradition bound, possibly because of the vast conglomeration of the belief systems.

But in spite of this phenomenon, tradition and modernity are observed to have existed in Assamese society. They are thus flexible and adaptable to changed environment. The limited job opportunities among the middle class unemployed youths have however compelled them to shift towards establishing their own business units.

In this context, it may be

pointed out that middle class is the backbone of our society. Naturally, they need to change their outlook. With that let us hope that their hidden entrepreneurial talents get adequate exposure.

In a situation like Assam where a peculiar dichotomy like 'poverty amidst plenty' exists, the possible avenues may perhaps be in favour of exploitation of local natural and human resources. But that would require industrial and business entrepreneurial effort. The limited growth impulses that may be created by such effort are likely to produce the desired spread effect with multiplier after-growth. Truly, one of the important aspects of economic development of a backward economy like Assam is perhaps development of entrepreneurship. This is because of the fact that development through exploitation of entrepreneurial skill would require low capital investment. This is also likely to generate more employment opportunities. Further, entrepreneurship development would help improve the material well being of the less fortunate. But any such entrepreneurial effort would demand trained entrepreneurs.

Such trained entrepreneurs could however be produced through organization of entrepreneurship development programme (EDP). But the ultimate success of the EDP rests on the involvement and participation of the local people.

The creation of utilities and subsequent generation of employment opportunities through work for self would be possible only when there would be addition to the value of local raw-materials. This

type of holistic self-supporting development is necessarily the function of a closely related systems and linkages where there will be no exploitation of people. But the basic point to remember in this connection is exploitation of adequate number of entrepreneurial talent. This is perhaps the pre-condition to the optimum use of natural and human resources through industrialization.

After all, the skill and initiative of the prospective entrepreneurs are by far the most important determinants of success or failure. The challenge against uncertainties must be met through urge, inspiration, innovativeness, intuitiveness, acquisition of knowledge etc. The prospective local entrepreneurs are to take the challenge.

This sort of economic modernization would necessitate a new set of values and changes in social outlook. The new set of values and changes would however depend on the response of the people.

Therefore the immediate task will be to motivate people, particularly the young generation. To be more specific, if we like to minimize our employment problem by generating more employment opportunities, we are to exploit the entrepreneurial skill of the young generation and for that we are to change the middle class value concept so that the young men of middle class family are more and more interested in developing themselves as new entrepreneurs.

Prof. Pranjal Bezborah is a professor in the,Department of Commerce, Dibrugarh University. Email id: pranjalbezborah@yahoo.com

Magh Bihu & Bhela Ghar

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Sir, Akhil Gogoi and some other intellectuals of Assam criticized the Bihu organizers for converting Bhogali into Rongali Bihu, alleging that Bhogali is relegated to backfoot, Rongali with all its relevant symptoms come to the fore. But we are of opinion that it is only a change keeping abreast of the Present day culture.

Like Puja Mandaps, the Bhela Ghars too, start wearing several innovative shapes, from the Titanic to Rangghar or some other places or monuments. But the Titanic got lost in the Atlantic in 1912. So, there is nothing that one should object to the Titanic getting burant the next morning, what we mean, those palaces or objects that have been the things of the past, having been destroyed can be burnt down. But we strongly object to the burning down of such monuments or palaces that could stand the wear and tear of time, eulogizing the past glory getting burnt down.

For instance, the Rangghar that served the purpose of an amphitheatre during Ahom swargadeu's (King) period. Naturally, the sentiments of the people of Assam get embedded in this monument. So is the case with the Taj Mahal. Can anyone of us afford to see these dear monuments being burnt? The organizers ought to be selective in giving shape to their 'Bhela

Ghar' without hurting sentiment of anybody.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

Congratulations Bijit Kanoi of Class 7, Kendriya Vidyalaya has won the Best Letter of the month for his letter “An appeal to all Picnic lovers� published on 13/01/ 2016. A cash prize of Rs 200 can be collected from Amit Nagori, Contact No:9435151340.

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh-786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

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Page 9

d e As India Gears Up For A Startup Revolution, Here Are 14 Points We Shouldn't Overlook

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Mahesh Peri So, the Big Bang reforms to nurture and kick-start the start-up ecosystem are done. I am a firm believer that even one problem solved is one problem less to deal with. I am very happy that the Prime Minister has tried to put together and address all issues of start-ups at one go. He also created a buzz where the government departments and banks would be more inclined, supportive and empathise with Start Ups. And the Prime Minister rightly talks of lesser government involvement to help enterprises grow faster.

Many of the issues that were dealt with are about 'ease of doing business's compliances, licenses, patents and IPRs. We have to make them easy and transparent, any which way; with, without and in spite of startups. I was eagerly awaiting the Prime Minister to make announcements on

the substantive ones-Service Tax, M&As, Labor Laws, Income tax, Capital gains. He spoke more about mentorships, incubation centres, hubs, research centres, tests and events, all of which the government should have a limited role in. And I do think we could have done much more for start-ups and the risk-taking entrepreneurs behind them.

The big one everyone is talking about is the tax holiday for 3 years. Unless I am very wrong, it is a meaningless concession. In a country where not more than 2% startups survive, not even 1% make profit in the first 3 years. And as far as inspector raj goes, no inspector comes for inspection till they know you are earning a lot.

Here are my comments on the complete list of announcements: 1. Compliance regime based on self-certification.

This is for ease of doing business and must be

done for all businesses and not just start-ups.

From idea to kick starting operations anyways takes 6 to 18 months.

2. Startup India hub.

Government-controlled and government-operated. It contradicts Modi's call for lesser government. They could have given those funds to organizations such as TIE, NASSCOM etc. to create those hubs and run them.

3. Simplifying the startup process.

Greater ease of doing business is needed not just for start-ups but all businesses.

4. Patent protection.

It is an announcement of intent and not a policy initiative. Will have to wait and see how corruptionmired government offices make this happen.

Besides, Patent and IPR procedure must be made transparent, not just for startups but for everyone.

5. Legal support.

Government intervention.

Creates another layer.

Why make a complicated

Narendra Modi

process and give legal support?

6. 80% rebate on patent applications.

Nothing substantive. The cost of filing an IPR are between Rs. 1,600 and Rs. 12,000. Saving of Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 10,000.

7. Relaxed norms of public procurement.

Again an announcement of intent, not a policy initiative. This has nothing

to do with startups. The vice-like grip and the nexus that exists in government procurement should anyways be broken.

8. Faster Exits.

This is where the government could have made a bolder move. We should enable the profitable ones to merge with the lossmaking enterprises. Very recently, We were trying

to buy a company which had genuine synergies with our business. It had been in existence for 8 years and was losing money with 45 people on its rolls. When evaluating, the merger would have made sense, if the tax losses were also utilised.

The price we arrived at was much more than the gains because of tax losses. But the uncertainty

of allowing the M&A by tax authorities killed the deal. We should make M&A simpler, easier, and gainful even in taxation.

We could have saved 45 jobs, a company and still made the entrepreneur earn something for his pain and effort. Alas, it was not to be.

9. Funds of funds of Rs.10,000 crore.

This is a government scheme. You could have run it through banks as many already have such schemes.

10. Capital Gains Tax. This is a big move although we should await the fine print in the budget provisions. The capital gains tax currently favours investments in listed entities. Investing in startups carries higher risk and higher tax. This is a ridiculous situation when you are trying to encourage innovation and startups. If they indeed change capital gains tax and bring it on par with the existing capital gains tax, it will be a big move that

can drive funding towards startups.

11. Tax exemption.

This is high in optics but doesn't mean much. It is like giving sun-shades to the blind. In an ecosystem where not even 1% of startups survive after 5 years, not even 1% of that 1% earn a profit in the first 3 years. Tax holiday for whom? And what is it about starting after 1st April 2016?

12. Fair Market Value formula.

It was a source of harassment. An irritant has been removed.

13. Startup fests.

The government should keep away. All you need to do is remove the service tax on startup events and luxury tax on venues and you will see these taking off.

14. Launch of Atal Innovation Mission, incubators, research parks, bio-clusters etc.

Alas, the government at it again. Did I hear someone talk of lesser government involvement?

Review: A Book That Gives An Insider Account A Banaras Hindu University Student Reveals The Politics Behind The Sacking Of A Professor Of Surviving Under North Korea's Dictatorship Abhinita Mohanty When Jang Jin-sung was trying to escape North Korea, little did he know he would be able to live to write a saga of Kim's secret regime. For this former top party cadre and employee of United Front Department (responsible for inter-Korean espionage), staying alive was a miracle.

Jin-sung's book 'Dear Leader' manages to spill some beans on the most secretive countries of the world. But what is different about this book? There are too many books, documentaries and 'The Guardian Articles' on the opacity of North Korea.

We are familiar with the term 'hermit nation' that has been bestowed on North Korea for keeping itself isolated from other countries (except, perhaps China in recent years). The opaqueness of the communist regime has been scary. It has perfectly suited the dictators to build an enigma around them. A Google search will also show why things as ordinary as wearing blue jeans or accessing the internet are banned in the country.

North Korea has been ruled by the 'Kims' for 60 years. It has earned the wrath of the international community and the UN for gross violations of human rights, politically motivated purges

and investing in nuclear weapons and military when more than half of its population starves.

What Jin-sung's book does is strike a chord with the ordinary readers. You do not have to be an expert or a 'tweed jacket' academician on North Korea, in order to comprehend the book. It is not another work echoing the complications of the political climate of the country or the intricacies of its international relation. It is also not an 'as expected' repetition of the lack of basic rights in a dictatorial regime.

In his book 'Dear Leader', Jang Jin-sung offers a personal journey, a humane story of one man who is forced to escape the country leaving behind his family. Translator Shirley Lee has done a remarkable job in bringing those emotions to the English version of the book.

The author was in his twenties but was already writing propaganda poems praising the then 'Dear Leader' of North Korea Kim-Jong-il, father of the current autocrat Kim-Jong-Un. Jin-sung was an insider and almost had the privileged access to the compound of Kim-Jong-il and his minions. He was literally living in the same propaganda, parts of which he was assigned to create.

He eventually deciphered these facades of propa-

ganda and saw the state machinery as solely created to serve a dynasty of dictators.

He came face to face with the ground situation when he visited his hometown. "It cost 10 won to wash your face with soap and water and five to wash with water alone."

In a nation ruined by famine and economic degeneration, this was a common occurrence. Rations are state controlled and the highest is given to party worker cadres. So grocery follows the pecking order of the day. "Three days rations‌applied to the ranks of ministers‌..ordinary Koreans got monthly rations."

Jin-sung's native place Sariwon even has a Corpse Division. "They get rid of corpses‌.all sorts of people move through the station, so they come here to beg until they die." Sung felt guilty for not knowing.

The author was rich and unaware of the plight of his folks. "I could not believe they were eating rice by grain, instead of in servings." Jin-sung's 'Dear Leader' did not care and ate his rice balls.

"Freedom is freely given to anyone born in a free land, but others have to risk their lives for it."

The book does quite well in chronicling the personal ex-

perience of the author. To call the book merely poignant is to bedim some of the hard facts. As he crafts his own story in an amazingly visual and tempestuous manner, Jin-sung tucks in a chapter or two on KimJong-il's manipulative strategy and conniving diplomacy. "North Korea uses dialogue as a tool of deception rather than of negotiation."

The book briefly discusses the Sunshine Policy of diplomacy. It was aimed at improving the relationship between North Korea and South Korea through strategic cooperation. Kim-Jong il twisted it to extract higher economic benefit for his party.

'Dear Leader' is not for those who are looking to be an expert on the economy of North Korea, the significance of this country to its neighbour and the world, its relationship with other countries or its history. It is for those who want to know what it is to live there as a citizen, work in the roots of its impregnable secrecy and pushing the limits to gain your freedom. Above all, it is the voice of one man and the voice of many which have been suppressed.

A lot has changed since Jinsung escaped. Kim-Jong-il's son Kim-Jong-un now rules North Korea but the denial of democracy continues and some another story waits.

Last Words Of Dalit Scholar Rohith Vemula, Whose Suicide Has Sparked Nationwide Protests Editor's note: On the night of 17th January, Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide. He was one of the five Dalit scholars who had been expelled from the University last year after an altercation with a rival student group. A student from the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad hadallegedly falsely accused them of assaultin a tiff that took place when Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) had organised a protest against the disruption of the screening of 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai' in Delhi University. After spending two weeks sleeping in the open to protest, Vemula and other students had started a hunger strike early Sunday to demand the cancellation of their suspension.

In his suicide note, Rohith apologises to the ASA for disappointing them and asks for forgiveness. He also requests that his "friends and enemies" are not bothered after his death.

"Good morning, I would not be around when

you read this letter. Don't get angry on me. I know some of you truly cared for me, loved me and treated me very well. I have no complaints on anyone. It was always with myself I had problems. I feel a growing gap between my soul and my body. And I have become a monster. I always wanted to be a writer. A writer of science, like Carl Sagan. At last, this is the only letter I am getting to write.

I loved Science, Stars, Nature, but then I loved people without knowing that people have long since divorced from nature. Our feelings are second handed.

Our love is constructed. Our beliefs colored. Our originality valid through artificial art. It has become truly difficult to love without getting hurt.

The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility.

To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust. In very field, in studies, in streets, in politics, and in dying and living.

I am writing this kind of let-

ter for the first time. My first time of a final letter. Forgive me if I fail to make sense.

May be I was wrong, all the while, in understanding world. In understanding love, pain, life, death. There was no urgency. But I always was rushing. Desperate to start a life. All the while, some people, for them, life itself is curse. My birth is my fatal accident. I can never recover from my childhood loneliness. The unappreciated child from my past.

I am not hurt at this moment.

I am not sad. I am just empty.

Unconcerned about myself. That's pathetic. And that's why I am doing this.

People may dub me as a coward. And selfish, or stupid once I am gone. I am not bothered about what I am called. I don't believe in after-death stories, ghosts, or spirits. If there is anything at all I believe, I believe that I can travel to the stars.

And know about the other worlds.

If you, who is reading this letter can do anything for me, I have to get 7 months of my fellow-

ship, one lakh and seventy five thousand rupees. Please see to it that my family is paid that. I have to give some 40 thousand to Ramji. He never asked them back.

But please pay that to him from that.

Let my funeral be silent and smooth. Behave like I just appeared and gone. Do not shed tears for me. Know that I am happy dead than being alive.

'From shadows to the stars.'

Uma anna, sorry for using your room for this thing.

To ASA [Ambedkar Students Association] family, sorry for disappointing all of you. You loved me very much. I wish all the very best for the future.

For one last time, Jai Bheem I forgot to write the formalities. No one is responsible for my this act of killing myself.

No one has instigated me, whether by their acts or by their words to this act.

This is my decision and I am the only one responsible for this.

Do not trouble my friends and enemies on this after I am gone."

Anand Singh The unceremonious sacking of Prof. Sandeep Pandey, a Magsaysay awardee, who was a visiting faculty at the department of chemical engineering at Indian Insitute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IITBHU), has the students seething with anger. This anger was on display on the evening of 8th of January, when a group of students were supposed to take out a demonstration to protest against this what one student termed as 'the brazen display of naked intolerance by the University administration.' In response, the administration decided to cordon off the entire IIT intersection by deploying a posse of security personnel in their full battle gear. This was intended to be an ostentatious display suppressing the democratic rights of the students at the University campus.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned stand-off, there was nothing hidden surreptitiously within the academic armoire of Prof.

Pandey which might have rendered him susceptible to being sacked, let alone being raised a finger at. He was a visiting faculty at one of the departments of IIT BHU for the past two and a half

years, his contract due to end in July. The premature termination of his contract, for which no convincing reason was produced by the University, has left open the ground for speculation.

According to a report published in The Hindu on the 6th of this month, the Magsaysay awardee has alleged that he has been removed on account of ideological differences with the university top brass. However, it has been made clear by the administration that he (Prof. Pandey) had been engaged in anti-national activities, and that he was a 'Naxalite.' Both the allegations seem to be premised upon a xenophobic intolerance, stemming from the fact that Prof. Pandey had been an outspoken critic of the University, and had recently locked horns with the administrative apparatus demanding that 40 employees whose contracts were terminated be made permanent. This was bound to make him unpopular with the current dispensation.

"What we are witnessing at the University of late is in close synchrony with the events across the country.

If ideological difference warrants the ouster of a renowned academician from his post, then there is some serious reason to fuss about,"mourned Santu

Google Images Patra, a student at the institution.

There is more to the story though than is visible to the common eye. Avinash Kumar Pandey, a final year masters student at the Department of Political Science, declared in a Facebook post on the 12th of this month that he had lodged a complaint with the Vicechancellor against Prof.

Sandeep Pandey around 2 months ago. He later goes on to thank the VC for acting decisively on his petition. That the incumbent VC of BHU is an RSS man is a foregone fact. What strikes as a surprise is that Avinash himself declares in his Facebook profile that he is associated with the Sangh.

A report had been published in a local news website citing the concerns of the said student. The administration

appears not to have authenticated the veracity of the complaint before taking a decision to dispense with his services.

BHU has long been known to be a bastion of the RSS, something which I have dealt with an earlier article.

Nevertheless, sacking a professor citing trumpedup and unverified charges is a new phenomena at this institution. Within a university campus, ideological differences run rife and are even welcomed. What is extremely unfortunate is the fact that an esteemed professor is branded a Naxalite, with no apparent proof to back the insinuation. Anuja Shanker, an alumnus of the university who works with the Times of India echoed similar feelings when she said: "There had been little space for ideological dis

Nasty Bedfellows Ananya S Guha The ending of this year has not exactly been propitious.

Apart from Elections in Bihar which seemed a major focus of political parties issues got tangled with politics. But that is India, politics is evinced everywhere from the home to the institution. But what was significant is that how writers and intellectuals protested vehemently against a country they said was being obliterated. Its history, its polity, its society and above all its stolid pluralism which was the making of centuries historical assonance, dissonance and then what they believe a flourishing cultural synthesis. This was being sullied by feverish attempts to rewrite history, change historical and cultural contexts, inheriting all these from Anglo interpretation of history and colonial texts. Not this was new Way back in the 1990s similar attempts were made and NCERT text books for school students were attempted to be revamped.

Historians like Romila Thapar and Bipan Chandra were the culprits. Why? Because they were 'Marxist'

Historians and such specious arguments continue till today and have climaxed into a Hindu orthodoxy versus a liberal force, which takes into account the historical shaping and moorings of a great country which gave birth to at least three religions, with two more seeking pastures here, the resultant mix- a cosmopolitan country with an intermix of race, religion and culture.

But wait what were and are these rationalists saying?

They were saying as Romila Thapar pointed out that in whatever rule there was always a syncretistic flyover which was a watchdog to India's cultural dimension, its progressive history and its attempts towards cultural assimilation, whether it be in the form of the flowering of the Urdu language, the Sufis or the Baul chant.

Similarly extending this we can say that in North East and in the South Christianity emerged as a major cultural voice to educate and take a kind of assimilative role further. So, although there was diversity, it was rich, although there was diversity, there was assimilation, and that led to secu-

larist ideals palpably designed by the founding fathers of the Constitution.

But the question is: why remake history? Why turn a blind eye to historical truths, imperatives and compulsions? The votaries of a one nation, one religion country have not seen the past, so they cannot simply understand the present or the future. They are befuddled as to how history works out as a phenomena over centuries, through interaction, dialogue, food habits, customs and even language. So when the writer protesters raised their voices they meant exactly this - read and you will find out, if a person is rationalistic and is against religious superstitions that does not by any means says that he does not love his religion or is anti-religion. What about Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohun Roy? Simply because the British patronized then, they are given a clean chit?

The modern Kalburgis had to pay the price of confronting rabid fundamentalists.

The sad part about all this uproar was that there was no debate. Voices were suppressed or gagged and the Dadri incident was one hor-

rific example of human atavism, which many people brushed off lightly. We should hang our heads in shame because this is not a shining example of a shining country. It is the worst form of aberrant behaviour. Even history will be ashamed to record it. And then so much irreverent and vitriolic fun was made of great intellectual stalwarts like Romila Thapar and other writers. Instead of being proud that she is one of the most eminent Historians in the world today, we are abusive in extremely hurting tones. Shame on us. And the same treatment was meted out to Nayantara Sehgal. But let this be a warning, you can invoke the past, but you can't quarrel with history. History has its own logic, destiny and uprising. History can make and remake with the help of land and geography.

Let us hope that in 2016 our country's leaders and all the powers that be understand this simple fact: tarnish history, obliterate it and you are not only not forgiven, but obliterated. Don't forget Bihar in a hurry! And yes the moral of the story- don't for heaven's sake mix religion with politics. They are nasty bedfellows

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

1.8% growth in Wipro's Q3 net profit Bengaluru, Jan 19: Country's third largest software services firm Wipro recently posted 1.8 percent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 2,234.1 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The companyhad posted a net profit of Rs 2,192.8 crore in the year-ago period. The Citybased firm saw revenues rising 7.1 percent to Rs 12,951.6 crore in the said quarter from Rs 12,085.1 in the same period last year, according to a filing on the BSE. Its IT services revenues stood at Rs 12,310 crore (USD 1.86 billion), an increase of 9

percent year-on-year, it said. The company had already warned of a muted performance in this quarter on account of furloughs and Chennaifloods. It had said it expected to meet the lower half of its guidance range of USD 1,841-1,878 million. For the fourth quarter, Wipro expects its revenues from the IT services business to be in the range of USD 1,875 million to USD 1,912 million.

"We delivered revenues in line with our guidance. We saw a pick-up in large deal closures led by global infrastructure services," Wipro Member of the

First class from Delhi-San Francisco flights to be removed soon

Image for representational purpose. www.wikeimages.com Kolkata, Jan 19: Owing to low occupancy, national carrier Air India has decided to do away with the first class cabin on its Delhi-San Francisco non-stop flight barely a month after it began operations on the route.

Air India officials said the airline will change the configuration of its B777-200LR aircraft to add more economy class seats which has higher demand. "The passenger load factor in the first class cabin is only 2025 per cent, while there has been a pickup in the demand for business class seats by 30-35 per cent since the launch. We have decided to add more seats in the economy cabin," a senior AI

official said. At present, the aircraft has eight first class seats, 35 business and 195 economy class seats on this route. The new configuration will see 298 economy class seats. The first class cabin was used by chief executives of top business houses and witnessed a low demand, an official added.

The airline operates all the three B777-200 LRs on the Delhi-San Francisco route.

Air India began operations on the route in December making it the first direct flight between India and the U.S. west coast, covering the distance in 17 hours. The Air India also flies non-stop daily flights to Chicago, New York and Newark. (Agencies)

ONGC arm gets $1.7bn loan refinanced at lower interest Dehradun, Jan 19: Buy when there's blood in the street. For ONGC Videsh, this advice from 18th century British nobleman Baron Rothschild - of the Rothschild banking family still holds true. At a time when depressed oil and commodities prices have left companies gasping, the overseas acquisition arm of state-run ONGC has made a killing by replacing a $1.7billion loan with cheaper credit and longer payback time. The refinancing would result in a saving of $37 million in interest outgo in five years and give ONGC Videsh two additional years to clear the loan by 2021.

"The deal reflects India's economic strength and investors' faith in the inherent value of ONGC Videsh and its projects," company MD Narendra Kumar Verma said confirming the development. The company had taken the five-year loan to

fund its acquisition of 16% stake in the Area-1 block of Mozambique's Rovuma basin in 2014. The loan was in addition to bonds the company issued to fund the deal, India's largest overseas investment in the oil sector. ONGC Videsh had secured the loan at 1.95% interest and is getting it refinanced at 1.5%. The repayment of this loan would coincide with redemption of its euro-denominated bonds raised for the Mozambique deal. The company would enjoy an advantage due to a Rs 700-crore foreign exchange gain made on the euro bonds. The euro had an exchange rate of $1.36 when the bonds were issued, while it stands at $1.09 at present. A stronger dollar would reduce the amount of outgo during redemption since most of ONGC Videsh's revenue is in the US currency.

(Agencies)

Board and CEO T K Kurien said. He added that customers want to simplify operations and optimise their IT spend and that the company is wellpositioned to take advantage of this trend. Wipro Chief Financial Officer Jatin Dalal said the impact on revenues from the Chennai floods were minimized significantly by execution of Business Continuity Plans (BCP). "The additional expenses incurred in deploying BCP impacted operating margins for the quarter," he added. The IT services segment had a headcount of 1,70,664 as of December 31, 2015. It added 39 new

RISE IN PROFIT The City-based firm saw revenues rising 7.1 percent to Rs 12,951.6 crore in the said quarter from Rs 12,085.1 in the same period last year.

Country's third largest software services firm Wipro recently posted 1.8 percent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 2,234.1 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

The company-had posted a net profit of Rs 2,192.8 crore in the year-ago period.

www.wikeimages.com

Wipro's IT products segment delivered Revenue of Rs 6.5 billion (USD 98 million) for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

customers during the quarter. "We are focussed on driving market share growth in our core businesses through integrated domain and technology

services, while investing for the future in building differentiated Digital capabilities," Wipro CEODesignate Abidali Z. Neemuchwala said.

Wipro's IT products segment delivered Revenue of Rs 6.5 billion (USD 98 million) for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. (Agencies)

Image for representational purpose.

Somnath Temple to deposit gold in Gold Monetisation Scheme Ahmedabad, Jan 19: The said Lahiri. According to Somnath Temple Trust is him, the trust is having all set to become Gujarat's around 35 kg of gold, first temple to deposit its which is either in the form idle gold in the Gold of pure gold or ornaMonetisation m e n t s .

Scheme as First of its kind Now, the its trustees manageincluding Prime Minister ment will segregate the Narendra Modi have given pure gold from the whole their nod to invest the yel- lot to finalise the quantum low metal reserves in the of gold which can be descheme. The trust has posited. "We don't have a around 35 kg of gold and huge amount of gold. will deposit the gold Majority of the gold is used which is not in day-to-day for decoration on day-touse of the temple. The day basis in the temple. decision was taken during Thus out of that 35 kg of the recently held meeting gold, we will separate pure of trustees at Modi's resi- gold which can be deposdence in Delhi on January ited under the scheme," 12, said the trust secretary said Lahiri. Other trustees P K Lahiri, who is also one of the Somnath Temple of the trustees of the trust include former Somnath Temple, situated Gujarat Chief Minister in the Gir-Somnath dis- Keshubhai Patel, who is trict. "During the meeting, also the chairman of the all the trustees have agreed trust, veteran BJP leader to the proposal of depos- L K Advani, Harshvardhan iting the gold, which is not Neotia and JD Parmar. All in day-to-day use of the these six trustees were temple, in the Gold present during the meet.

Monetisation Scheme," BJP president Amit Shah

A view of the famous Somnath Temple in Gujrat. www.wikeimages.com

was appointed as the seventh trustee during the meet on January 12.

Gujarat has three main temples -- Somnath Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhoomi, Dwarka district and Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district. All of them are run by their respective trusts, which are governed by Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board. However, apart from the Somnath

Titan MD, Bhaskar Bhat.Source: media2.intoday.in look and feel designer. So, if the company comes up with products such as wedding trousseau in zari and gold, it would be a great fit. The only other brand in that league which comes to my mind is Manyavar that makes sherwanis and wedding wear for men." The sari category in India has no branded names, said Arvind Singhal, founder and chairman of retail consultancy Technopak.

"You may find a range in

Fabindia or Shoppers Stop. The industry is largely unorganized and is huge in terms of absolute value. The last big sari brand was Vimal," he said. However, new entrants may find it challenging to source products such as saris. "They are produced in different regions of the country.

Titan would have to work hard to get the right people to design and source these products.

Biba and W are other

0.8% decline expected by Mindtree in Q3 earnings Bengaluru, Jan 19: IT services provider Mindtree says its marginal growth in revenue during OctoberDecember third quarter (Q3) will see a 0.8% decline as furloughs this year may be slightly higher than last year. Dollar revenue is likely to increase 1.22% to $182.5 million (nearly Rs 1,229.14 crore) compared to $180.3 million (nearly Rs 1241.32 crore) in preceding quarter and 1.5% in constant curr e n c y.

Revenue growth may be driven by the digital business that accounts for close to 37% of revenue.

Analysts see the moderate impact of Chennai floods on earnings. Mindtree has been confident of

beating National Association of Software and Services Companies' (NASSCOM) full year revenue growth

guidance of 12-14% (in constant currency) for the industry. It registered a 16.4% growth in dollar rev-

EXPECTED TURN DOWNS Ø IT services provider Mindtree says its marginal growth in revenue during October-December third quarter (Q3) will see a 0.8% decline as furloughs this year may be slightly higher than last year. Ø Dollar revenue is likely to increase 1.22% to $182.5 million (nearly Rs 1,229.14 crore) compared to $180.3 million (nearly Rs 1241.32 crore) in preceding quarter and 1.5% in constant currency. Ø Revenue growth may be driven by the digital business that accounts for close to 37% of revenue. Ø Mindtree registered a 16.4% growth in dollar revenue in the second quarter (Q2) and 4.8% in the first quarter (Q1). Ø Earnings before Interest and Tax (EBIT) may increase 1.8% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 188 crore and margin may contract 12 basis points to 15.67% in the quarter ended December 2015.

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Department of Posts (DoP) plans to open 1,000 ATMs and bring all 25,000 departmental post offices under core banking system by March this year. It has already rolled out core banking system (CBS) in 12,441 post offices along with 300 ATMs, a DoP official said. By March this year, 1000 ATMs will be rolled out across the country, he added. DoP has 25,000 departmental post offices and 1,30,000 rural post offices across the country. CBS will enable customers to operate their accounts, and avail banking services from any post office on CBS network, regardless of where they maintain their account.

Regarding rural post offices, the official said all 130,000 post offices would be provided with

Image for representational purpose. www.wikeimages.com

solar powered, biometric hand-held devices by March 2017. Supply to these devices to about 20,000 rural branch post offices shall be completed by March 31 this year. To promote financial inclusion, the DoP is also going to set up payment bank

by March 2017. It is going to finalise consultants for the payment bank by the end of this month. (Agencies)

After FSSAI eases approval norms FDI in food likely to rise by 25%

Temple, no other prominent temple in Gujarat, which has the capacity to deposit their gold, have shown interest in the scheme.

While Dwarkadhish Temple body is yet to give a thought to the scheme, Ambaji temple authorities have outrightly rejected any possibility of depositing their gold in the scheme at present.

(Agencies)

Saris to be offered by Titan under Tanishq brand Mumbai, Jan 19: After making watches for years, Titan plans to launch saris to take on ethnic wear retailers such as Fabindia. The Tata Group company that mainly sells watches and jewellery is readying a strategy to introduce premium ethnic wear and accessories under the Tanishq brand, said people familiar with the matter. A Titan company spokesperson did not reply to an e-mailed questionnaire. In an earlier discussion, Titan MD Bhaskar Bhat had said that the company plans to focus on retail for growth.

Retail contributes around 90% to Titan's Rs 12,000crore business. Tanishq is the premium jewellery brand of Titan. "It is a seamless brand extension," says brand expert Harish Bijoor. "Titan has invested huge sums to make the Tanishq brand

1,000 ATMs to be opened by Postal Dept

by March this year

enue in the second quarter (Q2) and 4.8% in the first quarter (Q1). Even the company had already toned down expectations with respect to margins at the start of the year, saying margins in FY16 will be suppressed due to continued investments in digital and facilities.

Earnings before Int e r e s t a n d Tax (EBIT) may increase 1.8% quarter-onquarter to Rs 188 crore and margin may contract 12 basis points to 15.67% in the quarter ended December 2015.

(Agencies)

women-only brands selling ethnic wear that have done well here," he said.

Apart from jewellery and watches, Titan also operates in categories such as eyewear and multibrand watch retail through Titan Eye Plus and its Helios stores respectively. Earlier this month, the company struck a 49:51 retail JV with Montblanc, part of the Swiss luxury jewellery and watch company Richemont Group.

Titan, which plans to open around five Montblanc boutiques across the country by March, is also planning to launch Swiss watch brand Favre Leuba, which it acquired for around Rs 14 crore in 2011. "We will introduce the watches soon but it will not be positioned as a luxury brand," said Bhat. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Jan 19: Foreign direct investment in the food processing sector is likely to go up by at least 25% as FSSAI streamlines regulations to ease product approvals, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has said. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had laid down quality standards for only 370 products. The regulator's approval was a must for all other products. Now that the approval process has been relaxed, products with ingredients that are approved by the regulator may not require any approval, which will lead to more innovation and product launches and promote traditional food, said Badal. "Our contention has all along been that proprietary food products, for which standards are not defined in the Food Safety and Standards regulations, but have approved and standardised additives should not require productby-product approval. This approach espoused by the Food Processing Ministry has now found favour with the regulator," Badal added. Proprietary food means an article of food that has not been standardised under the food safety and standards regulations. FSSAI has also issued a notice for operationalisation of standards for proprietary food, under which the definition

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. www.economictimes.com

has been changed. The proprietary food has now been defined as an article of food that has not been standardised under the regulations but which contains approved ingredients and additives. From now on, such products may not require regulatory approval. However, the notice mentions that proprietary food does not include dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and genetically modified food products, among others. And the onus for the safety of food products will be on food business operators.

The regulator has also uploaded a list of more than 8,000 permitted food additives, the food items in which they can be used and the recommended maximum level. "With these new regulations in place, the industry's concerns regarding product approvals will be addressed to a large extent. And I am optimistic that in coming months, there will be an increase of 25% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the food processing sector," Badal said. (Agencies)

TECHNOLOGY Apple iPhone 5s Price (16GB) Best Price: Rs. 21,999 Mobile Overview and Key Features The iPhone 5s takes over the role of the flagship iPhone from Apple in 2013. Replacing its predecessor the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5s maintains the same aluminum-clad design but now comes in three colour varieties, including a gold option. The iPhone 5s retains the same 4-inch 1136 x 640 pixel IPS panel. Internally though, there are drastic changes. It is powered by the new A7 chip, which Apple claims can be twice as fast as the A6. It is also 64-bit enabled and has the 'M7' coprocessor dedicated for motion sensing — which can automate actions on the basis of what you're doing. The most unique feature Apple can boasting about the 5s is 'Touch ID' — a fingerprint sensor that's built into the home button. So, instead of having to punch in four-digit

passcodes or alphanumeric passwords, Touch ID can authenticate the user by scanning his or her fingerprint. Although the camera has the same 8 megapixels resolution, the sensor and aperture are larger. Also, there are LED flashes which have two different colour tones, which with the help of software fire aptly to accurately illuminate the subject. It can also record videos in an extremely high 120 fps frame-rate. While the iPhone 5 was an LTE 4G enabled phone, it only supported bands that were compatible in certain countries. The iPhone 5s brings in TD-LTE support, which has been adopted by operators in India and China.

After the 5S, Apple's latest phone has been the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Features

PAGE 11

HORTICULTURE Tied to traditions A peek at the carpet-making craft of Arunachal Pradesh The colours, the motifs pets tell a story from the and the sizes of carpets Jatakamala of Buddhism may make you marvel at besides picking strains the variety found in differ- from Arunachali folk ent parts of India. But tales. Through a story in zoom a bit closer to the his book "A Philosophy practice of carpet making for NEFA" (1959), in the country, and what Verrier Elwin points out this asy o u get are Jayanta Kumar Sarma pect of only two strong influences the craft as an expression in the craft form. While of tribal legends and beone is linked to Tibetan liefs. Elwinparticularly Buddhism, the other has mentions a legend among influences of Persian tra- Sherdukpens, a tribe in ditions, brought to the West Kameng, which talks of "a girl (who) fell country by the Mughals.

Here, one shall focus only in love with a snake, who on the former, the kind was actually a handsome you come across in parts youth in disguise. In his of the Indian Himalayas, snakeform, he coiled himparticularly in Arunachal self on her lap as she Pradesh. As per Buddhist wove; she copied the literature, the art of carpet-making goes back to 500 BC. Among the North Eastern States,only Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have a long tradition of this craft.

Like the tradition continues in present-day Sikkim, so it does in Arunachal Pradesh. Carpet weaving is an important occupation and tradition of the State, particularly in Tawang, West Kameng, Changlang and the Upper Siang districts. Buddhist Tribes likes the Monpa, Kalaktang Memba, Tutsa ,Chegpaand Sherdukpen, and also the Tibetan refugees residing in the State,practice carpet weaving. The rich tradi- markings on her lover's tion of Buddhism is re- body and soon made the flected in their traditional most beautiful cloth that designs, like that of drag- was ever seen". ons, mandalas, etc. It is The carpets of Arunachal noteworthy that many of also portray the opulent the designs in these car- nature and biodiversity of

the region in their colour combinations and designs, such as the variety in flower motifs.

The basic raw material of carpet-making is wool, extracted both from the sheep and the yak. In the olden times, people reared sheep for this purpose.

The wool is typically extracted by cutting the fur of the sheep with the help of traditional scissors called Chaksit. The extracted wool is then smeared with an iron comb-like brush called Yoker and boiled and washed with charcoal before spreading it under the sun to dry.

After drying, the wool is

wool is known as Thirko among the Monpas. The ready yarns are finally fixed into the looms called Thasang (by the Monpas), which are tied around the weaver's waist for easy maneuvering.The traditional looms are made by the weavers themselves. The Monpas use a spinning wheel called Rhunsung and a bobbin called Tumb. The comb is locally called Nei Shew.

Two levers - Lemenshaw and Dishing -- are used in weaving.

The wool extracted from yaks is mostly used to weave course textiles like blankets, jackets, traditional head gear, caps, etc.

Source: gictsk.weebly.com made into fine threads by thrashing it with locally made wooden sticks and fangs to make it two-ply for ease of weaving. The yarns are then bound into balls. In Arunachal, sheep

Traditional tools like the Chakshit and Yokerare used to extract the wool from yaks too.

Interestingly, the Monpas classify the carpets as per their use and the status of

the user in the society, expressed through different designs. They have three major categories of carpets --Khatan,Thrisutanand Maksu-maktan.

The Khatan variety of carpetis used as a seat.

These are designed and named according to the status of the user, such as Singy-norbu, Khangoonma,Meesering, etc. The Singy-Norbucarpet comes with a combination of colours and is designed with the figure of an imaginary snow lion with pearls, meant for the wellto-do. The Khangoon-ma appears in a flower-like design called Kholo, woven in a yellow background and is meant for the lamas,who otherwise never seat on a carpet with motifs of animals, birds, etc. The Meesering variety, which comes with apanoramic view of a lama, tree, deer, bird, mountain and spring, has a splash of colours on a maroon oryellow background.

The Thrisu-tan variety is named after motifs such as Cha-sung, Mupchakhaptaktan, Druk-khaptanand so on.The Chasungcontainsa figure of animaginary bird in flying posewith a border of Koikhuti,azigzag design.The Mupchasportray a pair of peacocks. The Khaptaktancarpet comes witha border of either cross design (Indulucky) or zigzag (Koikhuti). The DrukKhaptak consists of a picture of four dragonsfacing each other

Source: arunachalpra.desh.mobi in the middle with the Khochuri designon the border.

The Maksu-maktan carpet is specially designed for horseback. The carpethas two wings and looks likea butterfly, called Gyagamaktanwhen wings are ofirregular pattern, and Wapi-maktanwhen wings are rectangularin shape. A separate rectangular piece of carpet with floral design called Khasuis a part of Maksu-maktan, placed on the middle of thewings.

The carpet is fastenedon a horseback in honour of lamas and gaonburas (village heads).

All these signify that the designs in Arunachali carpets not only portray their beliefs, ethos and ethics but also indicate their utility and that of their users.

Interestingly, colours in Buddhism indicate different symbols. For example, white means delusion of ignorance becoming wisdom of reality; Yellow means delusion of pride becoming wisdom of sameness; Red, delusion of attachment becoming wisdom of discernment; Green, delusion of envy becoming wisdom accomplishment and Blue

means delusion of anger becoming mirror-like wisdom. These colours are, therefore, commonly used in carpet weaving.

The carpet weavers of Arunachal, like many ethnic practitioners of the craft across the world, employ indigenous dying practices. For example, yellow is extracted from the dried bark of a plant locally called Tagapapa.

The small pieces of the bark are boiled in a pan and the wool isimmersed into it.Dark redis taken from the Marchu plant. The wool is immersed in boiling water with dried small piecesof the plantalong with a small quantity of Surka -- a yellowish soil,to get the distinct colour.

Light redis extracted from the powder of the seeds of Gyachu / Sungkan plant. The weavers boil the powder with the woolto get the right hue.Yet another shade of red is obtained from Lani, a creeper. Small pieces of the dried creeper are mixed with Surka and are boiled toyield the colour.

Black is extracted by boiling Pachang, a herb, and also mixed with little quantity of Surka. These

altogether create a unique component of the Arunachali carpet craft.

Carpet weaving is mainly practiced by women in Arunachal. Apart from their domestic use, these carpets have a commercial demand too; but with time, the craft is facing challenges from the easyto-procure and cost-effective synthetic fibrebased floor and wall mattresses. To realise their full commercial potential, the craft is in need of systematic interventions. An even more important need is documentation of these practices with scientific validation for Geographical Indicator Registration.

(Jayanta Kumar Sarma is a freelance consultant in the area of Environment and Development and he has been working with NGO, Educational Institutions, private entrepreneurial farm and government agencies of North-east region. He did his Post graduation in Geography from Gauhati University and Post Master in Natural Resource Management from IIFM.) Courtesy: Nezine.com

The pot is boiling Climate change is showing its adverse effects on Assam's tea production. Research indicates it will only get worse.

Source: sevendiary.com Certain places get identi- In fact, the impact of fied with certain things. changes in temperature When it comes to Assam, and rainfall pattern is alit is certainly Assam tea, ready showing in Assam's known tea prouction. worldwide Chandrani Sinha dThe for its Sepstrong tember 2015 crop was down by colour and taste.

The north-eastern State 0.87 million kg compared produces more than half to 2014. Since yield is diof India's tea production, rectly associated with revthus earning for the enue generation, the country's considerable changing climate is likely amount of revenue from to impact the economic its export. The State alone structures of those reliant contributes 17 per cent to on tea, particularly the the global tea production. small growers, given their However, it looks like not increased vulnerability to for too long Assam's love changes in the system. affair with tea will con- Researchers and tea cultitinue the same way. Re- vators of the State are incent research indicates that creasingly pointing at ristea yields in not just Assam ing temperatures, increase but the entire Northeast of dry periods and alterare expected to decline by ing precipitation patterns. up to 40 per cent by 2050. Rainfall levels are of cenAnd this has directly to do tral importance to tea qualwith climate change in the ity and production. In climate change zones, the region.

effects of season on tea quality includes lowering of total methylxanthine and catechin concentrations during the monsoon tea harvest when leaf growth is higher compared to the dry spring harvest, resulting in dryness and reduction in the thickness of the leaves.

Senior scientist and deputy director of Tocklai Tea Institute of Assam, R.N. Bhagat, apprises this writer of the alarming situation, "In Assam, we have lost around 22.1 cm of precipitation. With this decline and a movement in precipitation appropriation, the tea business is losing the first flush that comes in March-April. Showering of manures is timed with the precipitation design. However, with no downpour, the composts have no effect."

Bhagat's worries are re-

flected in conversations with tea cultivators. "Erratic rainfall and long dry spell are the main problems we are facing these days," says Rajvinder Singh,the manager of Duklingia Tea Estate in Upper Assam's Mariani. He says the long dry spell specially makes the tea bushes prone to pests.

In fact, tea experts at Tocklai says that, they are increasingly coming across new species of pest in tea leaves which is affecting production in the State. Last month, while addressing a workshop organised by the Centre for Environment Education titled, "Adaptation to Climate Change in the Indian Himalayas",Tocklai Tea Research Institute executive N. Muraleedharan said that intrusion of sucking pests, particularly the white fly, had expanded in tea plants due to drying of the soil, an aftermath of environmental change. He said the white fly was to a great extent obscure to the region and samples had been sent to the Forest Research Institute for its clear identification.

Muraleedharan also underlined that bugs like tea mosquito, scale insects, mealy bugs and green hop-

pers have increased, something that was never recorded in tea or other vegetation in the State.

These bugs suck the sap of the tea bushes.

Even increase in the assortment of weeds in the gardens is creating a problem for tea cultivators.

Responding to the situation, a recent study was carried out in Tocklai by UK-based Education Research Initiative with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The study, titled Climate-Smartening Assam's Tea Plantation Landscapes: Defining Socio-ecological 'Safe Spaces' for Future Sustainability, focussed on investigating the extent to which climate variability is influencing tea yield in a high quality producing region of the world as India, which is the world's second largest producer of tea.

"Primary discoveries of a task show that adjustments in precipitation are influencing yields because of water confinements, as opposed to temperature.

In the event that precipitation is sufficient and very much circulated, higher temperatures won't limit yield. Be that as it

may, if precipitation is limited, even ideal temperature can't maintain the yield," saysBhagat. He says a web-enabled decision support system is under development to provide better-informed climate advisory services under the project. The detailed findings of the research, which studied 80 gardens, will be revealed soon in an international conference in the U.S., he adds.

More climate change trouble means less production and more investment in new machines that can handle 17 per cent

of output in just a month's time. It also means the need for advanced storage facilities.

The future looks bleak since Indian tea traders are already saying that they can't consider raising the price of their products even if the production cost does because of the competition in the international market. India's main competitors are Kenya and Sri Lanka.

While the weather conditions of Sri Lanka have been traditionally like that of Assam, the global climate change is turning out to be good news for

Kenya. The African country is presently profiting from the rising temperatures. In the past, its tea industry experienced a cool climate, which was not quite ideal for tea bushes.

( Chandrani Sinha is an independent journalist based in Guwahati. She travels around the region to gather news. She is also an executive member of Guwahatibased youth organization WAY Foundation.)

Source: hindustantimes.com

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

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Maxwell's mature knock a glimpse of things to come: Warner Marine beat Digboi AGENCIES Melbourne, Jan 19: Genn Maxwell's impressive performance against India in the third OneDay Internationalwas just a glimpse of the enormous talent the hard-hitting Australia all-rounder possesses, opening batsman David Warner said on Tuesday.

Maxwell earned the nickname 'Big Show' for his exciting but often irresponsible shot-making and was often criticised for throwing away his wicket while going for boundaries too early in his innings.

On Sunday, however, he revived Australia's run chase with a mature knock of 96 and by the time he was dismissed after an 83-ball blitz the scores were tied at the Melbourne Cricket

Ground.

Australia went on to beat India by three wickets and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

"I think we're yet to see his real talent," said Warner, who has returned to the squad for the fourth ODI after missing the second and third matches for the birth of his second child.

"I think we saw a glimpse of it the other night- a mature innings. He played fantastic. I think it was great that everyone was able to see that and know what he's capable of."

Maxwell, 27, has the game to toy with the opposition bowling attack when in full flow but his risk-taking style has also prompted suggestions he

Match drawn Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 19: The two day match of the J.K Baruah(U 19) inter District cricket tournament between Margherita and Charaideo today ended in a draw at TDAS stadium. Margherita won by virtue of first innings lead and entered into the second round.

Charaideo were bowled out for 224 in 101.1 overs. Raj Agarwal scored 71 off 136 balls

hitting eleven boundaries and Mujibur Ali contributed 32 off 78 balls with seven boundaries. For Margherita, Rajat Khan took four for 66 in 25 overs while Pintu Gowala took three wickets. In the second innings, Margherita scored 61/4 in 30 0vers. Noim Alam scored 27.

For Charaideo, Mihir Gowala and Raj Agarwal took two wickets each.

Genn Maxwell is a Twenty20 specialist.

While Maxwell's Test career is yet to bloom, having averaged just over 13 in his three matches, he played some crucial knocks in the 50-overs format in the last 12

"I think we saw a glimpse of it the other night- a mature innings.

He played fantastic. I think it was great that everyone was able to see that and know what he's capable of."

"It's exciting to see what he did the other day and I'm really excited to keep playing alongside him and following his career," he added.

While Warner enjoyed his short break from the game, he said he could not afford to be away for too long due to competition for places in the team.

months, including his maiden ton in the format against Sri Lanka at last year's World Cup.

also came in for criticism in the early part of his career due to his risk-taking style.

"You've got to come back, you've got to be switched on and you've got to score runs as well," he added.

"That's what we've got to keep reiterating to him, that he's capable of doing that," added Warner, who

"He doesn't need to come out and play that big shot from ball one. But like all of us, we like to hit a

"It's a fickle game. If you're out of form it could cost you a spot for a year or two."

`Top-class` Van Gaal can lead Man U to PL glory, says Rodgers ANI London, Jan.19 : Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgersbelieves that Manchester Unitedmanager Louis Van Gaal can guide his side to the Premier League title.

Rodgers comments came after United claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Liverpoolat Anfield.

"It is a very open league this season. It is a huge win for them. They kept the clean sheet, they probably weren't so bothered about how they played.

boundary in our first 10 balls to get us off and going.

They got the three points and they'll look at where they sit in the table and feel if they get a run of eight, nine, ten wins they can be in with a great chance,"Rodgers was quoted as saying by goal.com.

Describing Van Gaal as a `top-class`manager, Rodgers said that the Dutchman was highly experienced, insisting that he had won big games for some of the biggest clubs in the world.

"When you are at the big clubs it is not just about the winning, it is about the style

in which you play. Obviously that's been the criticism that's been labelled at him. But in terms of management I think he is a topclass manager and has been for many years," he added.

United, which kicked off their Premier League season with repeated poor results , are currently at the fifth spot in standings, having 10 wins from 22 games which they have played.

Van Gaal-led side will now lock horns with Southampton on January 23.

cricket coaching

ET Correspondent Jogeshwar Bhumij and Margherita, Jan. 19: Ma- Javed Khan took two wickrine Club defeated Digboi ets each conceding 14 and Cricket Coaching Centre by 32 runs respectively. six wickets in the 10thNandadhar In reply, MaBordoloi All All Assam Cricket rine club A s s a m scored 145 Cricket Tournament orga- for four in 22.5 overs. nized by Margherita United Jogeshwar Bhumij smashed NGO at Margherita Public 54 off 35 balls hitting five High School ground in sixes and two boundaries.

Tinsukia district today. Al- Diwash Hazarika contribtogether, eight teams par- uted 46 off 29 balls with ticipated in the tournament. two sixes and five boundaries.

Put into bat, Digboi Cricket Coaching Centre scored For Digboi Cricket Coach143 for six in 30 overs. ing Centre, Gobind Dorji Sanjay Nath scored 33 off and Sekhar Gowala took 31 balls laced with five one wicket each. boundaries and Bijen Dutta Jogeshwar Bhumij was adcontributed 33 off 58 balls judged man of the match. hitting four boundaries and Tomorrow, Tinsukia Town one six.

Club will play Duliajan Cricket Academy in the first For Marine Club, semifinal.

Auronodoya triumph Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 19: Auronodoya Unnayan Samity defeated Dibrugarh Lok Sabha Youth Congress (DLYC) by three wickets in the Rajanu Bora Senior Division cricket tournament organized by Dibrugarh District Sports Association at DDSA stadium here today.

Altogether, eight teams participated in the tourna-

ment Put into bat, DLYC were bundled out for 111 in 30 overs. Hemen Das scored 33 off 38 balls Rajanu Bora Cricket laced with two boundaries and one maximum and Akthar Ansari contributed 27 off 51 balls with the help of three fours.

For Auronodoya Unnayan Samity, Tajuddin Ahmed took six for 18 in seven

Murray slams `hypocritical` FIFA still paying betting sponsorship in tennis banned Blatter ANI London, Jan.19 : Expressing views on the recent allegation of widespread match-fixing in tennis, world number two Andy Murray has said that it is hypocritical to allow the betting companies to sponsor tournaments.

Earlier, some secret files exposing widespread match-fixing in Tennis rocked the Australian Open as about eight players, who were found suspicious in the past, were found to be in the main draw of the

2016 tournament.

The Scottish player, who said that he had never been approached to fix matches, insisted that he was not at all surprised by the involvement of players from top 50 in match-fixing.

Suggesting the solution to eradicate such illegal activity, Murray said that there was an immediate need to educate young players and make them aware about dangers of corruption, the

Guardian reported.

The 28-year-old called on the top management of game to be a little more proactive in educating the young players in order to solve the issue from the root.

According to reports, the BBC and Buzzfeed received a cache of documents dating back to 2007 from an anonymous group, alleging widespread suspected match-fixing at the top level of world tennis.

The BBC said that a total of 16 players from the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) over suspicions that they have thrown matches, adding that eight of them are still due to play in the Australian Open.

ANI London, Jan.19 : A revelation has come out that outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter has still being receiving his president's salary despite being banned from world football for eight years.

Meanwhile, Murray kicked off his Australian Open on a winning note as he thrashed German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the tournament.

The disgraced FIFA boss, who was suspended for 90 days on October 8 by the world football governing body, was then handed an eight-year suspension from all football-related activities last month.

Series defeat in Australia 'a learning curve' for youngsters: Shastri ANI Canberra, Jan.19 : India's team director Ravi Shastri on Tuesday said that his side's three consecutive ODI defeats against Australia are a learning curve for youngsters, adding that he hopes they will learn from their mistakes and display a much better performance in the remaining matches.

Backing his side, the 53year-old insisted that they managed to compete pretty well against the world champions in hard Australian conditions.

"It's a learning curve. If they learn from their mistakes, they will stop it. It's a young side. We have three debutants. We have been plagued by injuries. It's an opportunity for youngsters to learn. In Australia, nothing comes easy. It is one of the hardest places to play, to play against the world champions. The fact that they are competing and they have competed right

Ravi Shastri through this one-day series is itself very good," Shastri told the media ahead of the fourth ODI in Canberra.

Shastri, however, expressed his disappointment over the defeat and said that his side

could have won the Melbourne Test.

"I know where we stand today as far as a Test match team. I am sure the bowlers will learn and we can go places. I am disappointed

with the result. Let's be fair, we could have pulled one back, especially in Melbourne. But didn't happen and Australia played well," he added.

The team director stressed that it was extremely difficult for one or two bowlers to bring victory for India and, therefore, called on his bowling department to play as a unit in the remaining two matches.

"The reason why we did well in the World Cup because our all five bowlers fired. When that happens then you have a chance of beating the best side in the world. Obviously they will be disappointed and they have to put their best foot forward," Shastri said.

Earlier, India lost the fivematch ODI series 0-3 following their three-wicket defeat in the third match in Melbourne.

The two sides will now play their fourth match, a dead rubber, in Canberra on Wednesday.

The 79-year-old, as revealed by an international news agency, will continue to be paid until a new president is elected on February 26, the Mirror reported.

The revelation only shows that he would have been

overs.

In reply, Auronodoya Unnayan Samity losing seven wickets eased past the target in 33.2 overs.

Dinesh Gupta remain unbeaten on 23 off 44 balls hitting two boundaries and Deep Ghosal contributed 19 off 32 balls with three boundaries.

Pranjal Ghatowar took four for 26 in seven overs.

Tajuddin was adjudged man of the match.

Shocker! Nadal crashes out of Australian Open in first round ANI Melbourne, Jan. 19 : World number five Rafael Nadal suffered a major blow as he was knocked out in the opening round of theAustralian Open at the hands of Fernando Verdasco on Tuesday.

Sepp Blatter

paid for nearly five months during which he was unable to perform his duties.

In this period, FIFA has appointed African soccer head Issa Hayatou as the acting president.

However, the compensation sub-committee of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee ruled that

it Blatter's bonuses could be stopped, but according to the contract, his salary could not be stopped.

A FIFA spokesman said that until the election of a new president on February 26, Blatter, who is the elected president, is entitled to receive his remuneration according to his contract.

Verdasco smacked 87 winners to claim a 7-6 (8-6), 46, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 triumph over the Spaniard in the opening round contest, that lasted for four hours and 41 minutes, to progress through to the second round of the tournament.

With the win, Verdasco has set-up a second-round clash with 87th-ranked Israeli Dudi Sela.

Meanwhile, eighth-seed David Ferrer also advanced to the next round after outclassing German Peter Gojowczyk 6-4, 6-4,6-2 in the first round.

Cameron demands probe into tennis match-fixing claims AGENCIES London, Jan.19 : British Prime Minister David Cameron has called on the sport's governing body to investigate the allegations of widespread match-fixing that in tennis.

Earlier, some secret files exposing widespread match-fixing in Tennis rocked the Australian Open as about eight players, who were found suspicious in the past, are in the main

draw of the 2016 tournament.

Expressing his disappointment over the issue, Cameron said that it was a serious concern that another sport is facing such allegations, and therefore, wants to see such issue being investigated by the independent authorities, Sport24 reported.

According to reports, the BBC and Buzzfeed re-

ceived a cache of documents dating back to 2007 from an anonymous group, alleging widespread suspected match-fixing at the top level of worldtennis.

The BBC said that a total of 16 players from the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) over suspicions that they have thrown matches, adding that eight of them are still due to play in the Australian Open.

Meanwhile, the Tennis Integrity Unit ( TIU) rejected claims that the evidence of match-fixing was intentionally suppressed or not being investigated thoroughly.

They insisted that the reports submitted by the two organisations were about 10 years ago and added that they would investigate any further update on the issue.

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