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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. 1

Issue 230

Dibrugarh, Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Price -

To My Patriotic Brethren - "Is This What A Republic Stands For?"

14% drop in April-December natural rubber output; imports down 7%

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Pages- 12

President of India approved conferment of Padma Awards to persons Page 6

Unprecedented Political Crisis in Arunachal Pradesh

We will take up Arunachal Issue in Parliament, In the Courts and on Streets: Congress Congress moves SC over President’s Did Centre Gogoi slams move for violate federal rule in Arunachal Pradesh President's rule in integrity?

"The constitution is being blown to bits here. Tomorrow is 26th January and one day before it the BJP Government has called for President's rule in Arunachal.

They don't believe in Parliament not in the judiciary. We will go against such a government in Parliament, court and the public on how they are destroying democracy," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here.

Speaking to the media after meeting the President of India the Congress lawyer and former Union minister Kapil Sibal said that there is a big irony that the governor who created the crisis is the one wanted President’s Rule in the state. How can it possible that Governor being responsible for this unprecedented political crisis has written to the Centre or the President to impose president Rule.

The lawyer of the Governor himself has said that there won’t be further move until this case is sub judice. In spite of that the Governor has suggested the Centre to impose President Rule.

This is sheer case of cheating even the court of law.

Earlier today, the Congress delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee to convey him of the 'onslaught' by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to destabilise border-states, especially Arunachal Pradesh.

The President was briefed by the delegation on the proceedings of the court and presented him with a memorandum, asking him to look into the matter.

The Congress alleged that this was a conspiracy plotted by the BJP, RSS and the newly reelected BJP chief Amit Shah.

"They have devised strategies and used elements to ensure that there is constant disturbance in border-states to ensure that their government can be formed there.

There is a conspiracy behind this and we will fight it out in the Parliament and the court," We have submitted a tape recording which will prove that they have devised this crisis in the state.

Congress lawyer and former Union minister Kapil Sibal said.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and others met the President to-

ET CAPSULES

R-Day prog in Dibrugarh Dibrugarh, Jan 25: On the occasion of Republic Day, "BHARAT MATA PUJAN SAMITI " ward no. 13 & 14, Dibrugarh is organizing a daylong programme at Bani sadan school premises. The programme will commence from 7.30 am with the flag hoisting ceremony followed by art competition for students and various cultural programmes and games. The organisers will also felicitate some teachers who have contributed a lot for the masses, informed Pranajit Adhikary, Organising Secretary of the event. (Staff Reporter)

Minor missing

cmyk

Dhubri, Jan 25 : Alil Ullah Mollah, 5 of Aratgaon under Sukchar police station of South Salmara Police district was reportedly missing for last two days. An FIR was lodged in the police station and police suspecting it to be a kidnapping case launch operation to rescue the Mollah. (Correspondent)

ARUNACHAL GOVERNOR AT FAULT?

Congress delegation including Tuki and Padi Richo met President Pranab Mukherjee

“The lawyer of the Governor himself has said that there won’t be further move until this case is sub judice. In spite of that the Governor has suggested the Centre to impose President Rule. This is sheer case of cheating even the court of law”. Kapil Sibal day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi held a meeting with Tuki and other leaders over the issue.

Continuing the attack on the Centre over recommending President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the grand old party will fight this 'attack on the constitution and the people's mandate'.

"Modiji you talk about federalism but murder democracy.

You talk about cooperation but use every means to coerce. Imposing President's rule in Arunachal is a blatant bid to topple a duly elected Govt. The Congress Party will fight this attack on our constitution, on our democracy, on the people's mandate," Rahul said.

The Congress had earlier dubbed the government's move to recommend President's rule as 'unconstitutional' and alleged that it exposed the dictatorial tendencies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Union Cabinet yesterday recommended President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The recom-

mendation has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval. (ANI) The Congress party on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging Union Cabinet's recommendation for imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

"We have filed the petition before the apex court registry," Congress leader and senior advocate Vivek Tankha said.

He said the petition has been filed by the state Congress chief whip Bamang Felix and an urgent hearing has been sought.

"We are waiting to hear from the deputy registrar who will place the petition before the Chief Justice of India," another lawyer said.

The petition challenges the report and the recommendation of the Union Cabinet for promulgation of President's rule.

In an unscheduled meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Sunday, the Union Cabinet has recommended the imposition of

According to the memorandum and report submitted by the Congress to the President of India, Centre seems to have acted on a report from Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa who on 18th December 2015 recommended the President of India the issue of a Proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution imposing President’s Rule.

President’s rule in Congressruled Arunachal Pradesh and has sent it to President Pranab Mukherjee for assent. Some media reports, however, indicate the President signed on the dotted line on Sunday night.

Earlier in the day, the Congress party decided to urge President Pranab Mukherjee to thwart any attempt to impose central rule in the state.

The filing of the fresh plea assumes significance as a fivejudge bench is examining constitutional provisions on the scope of discretionary powers of the governor.

An earlier plea filed by Nabam Rebia, who was allegedly removed from the post of speaker by rebel Congress and BJP MLAs in an assembly session held at a community hall in Itanagar on December 16, has listed out legal questions, including the governor's power to convene the assembly session without the aid and advice of the government for adjudication by the apex court. (With input from ANI)

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Jan 25

If the Supreme Court rules in favour of the interpretation that the makeshift sessions were invalid, there will be a Constitutional breakdown because Article 174 states that six months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session. The next session should therefore have taken place at the latest

by January 21, 2016.

On the other hand, if the court holds that the 16 December session was valid, then it seems the Tuki government is in a minority and is therefore not allowing a vote of confidence.

The Union Government is blaming that Arunachal Government has violated Article 174 which states that six months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.

Congress Party leader Kapil Sibal gave a befitting rebuttal that the Centre is wrong in its interpretation.

“The Governor is saying is that the 16 December session was valid and evens the Guwahati High court has ordered a verdict in favour of that”. “Now if the session of 16 December is valid, why the centre is saying that we have violated Article 174 of the Constitution? And if the 16 December session is not valid, why the Governor has summoned it illegally?” Kapil Sibal argued.

The Centre's hands will also be strengthened by reports of gherao and blockade of Raj Bhavan by some Congress MLAs which amounts to a Constitutional breakdown since the Governor is a nominee of the President. Reports also indicate that there was flouting of Article 167(b) of the Constitution as the Tuki government was not responding to the Governor’s letters. (With input from agencies)

Arunachal Pradesh A staff Reporter Guwahati, Jan 25

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday condemned the union cabinet's decision to recommend President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, saying it is against the spirit of democracy and cooperative federalism. Addressing a press conference at his residence, Gogoi said it is not appropriate to recommend President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh as there had not been any serious breakdown in law and order in the hill state.

"The political crisis is on in Arunachal Pradesh for last few days. However, it is sub judice as the matter is in the Supreme Court and the apex court had already referred the matter to a Constitutional Bench of the court and hearing is continuing.

The next date of hearing of the court is not very far and the Cabinet should have waited at least for the next date of hearing," said Gogoi. Gogoi blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre for the whole issue, saying they (the BJP) have been trying to do it everywhere -- Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and everywhere in the region.

"This indicates the dictatorial attitude of the NDA government at the Centre," said Gogoi. The union government had recommended imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday amidst the continuing political crisis. The Centre's decision has further exacerbated the crisis as a constitutional bench is currently hearing the case in the Supreme Court.

Kiren Rijiju rules out BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh PTI New Delhi, Jan 25

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, today said BJP has no intention to form the next government in the state saying it was upto the MLAs to decide the future course of action.

"The Union Cabinet has recommended the imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh for the next six months.

The question of BJP forming the government does not arise at all.

It is the MLAs who will decide what to do in future," Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, told PTI tonight.

The Minister of State for Home said it has become untenable for Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to continue the government

after the Gauhati High Court order against him and considering the fact that there was no assembly session in the state for six months at a stretch.

"Majority of the MLAs are against Nabam Tuki. How can he continue. There was complete breakdown of Constitution," Rijiju said.

Asked whether BJP would seek for fresh election in the state, he said the Union Cabinet has not recommended for dissolution of the assembly but for suspended animation.

"All options are open. The President's rule was imposed for six months only," he said.

Asked whether he would like to go back to the state politics, Rijiju said he was not interested.

ET Bureau Itanagar Jan 25

The BJP has run into yet another PR disaster, this time over the Cabinet's decision to impose President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

Hardly have the embers died over Rohith Vemula's suicide that the Centre now finds itself sucked into the vortex of another controversy that has quickly formed the latest coalescing point for its national and regional rivals.

Calling it a "travesty of constitutional mandate, subjugation of federalism and trampling of democracy", a smarting Congress has threatened to move the Supreme Court while Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his "strong condemnation". ”The entire crisis in Arunachal Pradesh is due to the Union ministers.” The partyaccused Governor JP Rajkhowa of interfering with state’s functioning. He should be recalled immediately.

We condemn this and this is against the spirit of cooperative federalism,?” said JD (U) leader KC Tyagi said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the recommendation to suspend an elected government in Arunachal Pradesh, was illegal and unconstitutional.

“Constitution doesn’t allow you to suspend an elected government and enforce the President’s rule in any state,” the Aam Aadmi Party chief said. “It is against the Constitution,” he added.

He had earlier called the Union Cabinet’s recommendation to impose President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh as “murder of Constitution on the eve of Republic Day”.

In the arena of political debates where punchlines and over-thetop reactions are suited to high octane TV debates, it is difficult to explain the nitty gritties of Constitution or legal jurisprudence.

What one remembers is Rohith Vemula's grief-stricken mother rejecting the ex-gratia offered by the government or the optics of Centre overthrowing a democratically elected government.

Arunachal Pradesh development will be another addition to a string of BJP's PR disasters.

Gandhian Ratul Baruah to set up ashram in a The socio-ethno-cultural extravaganza of the singphos one acre land for housing widows and destitute symp slated on 12th february 2016 at bordumsa Bijoy Hondique Jorhat, Jan 25

Ratul Kumar Baruah of Kenduguri here not only preaches the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi but still follows Gandhi’s life and style and also urges many to follow Gandhi. A member of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Baruah has also decided to donate more than an acre of ancestral land to set up an ashram for bachelors like him, widow and destitute women. To be named Ananda Attar Kutir after his father Ananda Baruah, the Gandhian has plans to make his home self-sufficient.

Adjoining the land would be the headquarters of the ashram named after his mother Putali Aai. In an interaction with this correspondent on the eve of Republic Day, Ratul Baruah said, this would be a tribute to his parents and would also be following in the footsteps of

Mahatma Gandhi who had done so much for the downtrodden.

“I have chalked out the project in which destitute and widow women can weave gamosas. It is shameful that lakhs of gamosas are now being made in the south and brought here to be sold in spite of almost every household in the villages having looms. Even former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had mentioned that we should not give away what is ours,” “Gandhi himself took to the looms and wove cloth from cotton thread, we can do the same as we too have rich traditions in handloom weaving with varied motifs,” Baruah added.

Founder of Mahapurusa Madhavdev Foundation in 2014, Baruah said on Gandhi Jayanti and for Republic Day special prayer meeting will be held, the foundation would launch for the poor people with the help from the government. Baruah said the foundation would also begin a gram jatra

(a movement) because looms exist in our villages but the thread that is given under various government schemes finds its way into the open market through middlemen. “Our aim is to ensure that these thread gets converted into gamosas, which are always in demand for different purposes,” he said.

“The movement will also raise awareness on breast and uterus cancer,” he said. Baruah, who was earlier the president of Manab Jyoti Samaj, said for the past 15 years it had organized different events on Gandhi’s birth and death anniversaries, Quit India Movement day and also distributed blankets to the economically backward class apart from holding health and anti-tobacco awareness camps without government aid.

The foundation would also follow the ideals of a classless and casteless society which both the Mahatma Gandhi and Madhavdev had preached.

Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Jan 25

Expected to be a mega edition of the ethno-cultural festival of the Singpho community, the socio-ethno-cultural extravaganza, the 32nd Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi (SYMP) has been slated to be held from 12th to 15th February here at the Permanent Manau Shadung at Singpho Cultural & Heritage Centre Bordumsa in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh in the North Easrtern part of India.

The three days long annual events of the SYMP agenda of the folk dance festival of

Singphos tribe would include hoisting of Singpho flag, singing of Singpho national song, offering tributes to the legendary heroes and offering prayers to supernatural elements, beside performing various forms of Singpho's socio-cultural and ethnic dances including the famous

folk dance ora- ora ora- ora in and around the permanent painted pillers locally called Sadung.

According to Jowtong Samon the foreign delegates Secretery of the organising Committee,various competitions, fashion show, Singpho

games, one act play based on significant themes on Drugmenace' would mark the celebration.

The programme would also showcase the rich and varied forms of singphos delicacies including Sat Makai (Tupula bhat), Cha (local wine), bamboo shoots (Ping), Wa Shun Ping (bamboo shots prepared with pork) and several other traditional edible prepared with special and flavoured herbs so as to apprise and treat the guest and visitors with the delicacies wrapped with spontaneous love and warmth imbibed deeply in among the hilly tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

Contd. on Page 3

cmyk

A Staff Reporter New Delhi, Jan. 25

Reactions from Political Parties: The BJP is headed towards yet another PR disaster

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries You will want to catch up with old friends that you have been neglecting for some time. The stars suggest that you will enjoy yourself. Your excitement will brighten up your activities.

Taurus This day you will tend to be too bossy, too harsh on your subordinates or employees and end up making them miserable as well as hostile. Their insubordination could corrode the respect you get and, in addition, make things unworkable.

Gemini Routine work bores you, and today you will go all out to break free from the shackles of boredom. The results, however, may not be as dramatic. You will have to depend on your children, if any, to rescue you from the tyranny of routine.

Cancer The day looks set to be so good that you may end up inviting jealousy and envy from people around you. The stars are favourable for matters pertaining to heart. In short, a great day for boosting love and relationships.

Leo With a favourable alignment of the cosmos, you are set for a day where your business proposals will be the hardest thing to overlook. Take bold and cautious steps as you launch your enterprise.

Virgo You will realise the importance of family matters today. You have great skills when it comes to negotiations, and you will use them in settling disputes amicably.

Cheque distributed to the beneficiaries of Telahi Development Block in Lakhimpur ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Jan 25: Initially, a total of 128 cheques were distributed to different beneficiaries of Telahi Development Block under Chief Ministers Special Schemes in a Ceremonial Program organised at the Community Hall located in the Madhya Telahi Gaon Panchayt Office premises today.

It is to be noted that 548 Self Help Groups(SHG) for 5000 rupees, 294 beneficiaries of Old Age Pension for two thousand four hundred rupees, 371 beneficiaries of ID-less IAY for twenty five thousand rupees, 186 Rural Artisan for five thousand rupees, 53 beneficiaries of Natural Calamity victims for five thousand rupees and two bundles of tin have been

Guest delivered a speech on the relevant subject and he formally inaugurated the distribution of the cheques.

Cheque distributed to the beneficiaries of Telahi Development Block in Lakhimpur already selected for the mentioned schemes under Telahi Development Block. Out of them cheques for 30 SHGs, 30 OAP beneficiaries, 30 IDless IAY beneficiaries, 30

Rural Artisan and 8 Natural Calamity Victims were distributed today.

The meeting held on the occasion was presided over

by Gopi Das, the President

National Voters day observed in Diphu

Libra Today you will use your mental competency to complete all your work on time. You may not give complete attention to your family as you will be spending time in the office or at work.

Scorpio You might just blow your fuse today. Anger will melt all sense and sensibilities. But if logic does prevail eventually, things may just improve as the day passes.

Sagittarius It’s time for some entertainment. Movies, picnics and dining out is on your mind. Invite your beloved and enjoy quality time with each other. Also, you will spend time with you family and friends, and attend a music concert together.

Capricorn If trouble happens to knock at your door today, your guardian angel will come to your rescue. Unlike many others who waste life running after impossible goals, you will be content with your achievements.

Aquarius Today, you’re up against those who want to get back at you. But not for nothing are you the king! You needn’t worry, as few can match your prowess.

Pisces Staying afloat needs about as much effort as swimming. Cryptic as this may sound, what it means is you need to constantly reinvent yourself if you wish to keep going.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz)

‘National Voters Day’ observed in Tinsukia. Pic - Arjun Mishra Sushanta Roy Diphu January 25: With rest of the nation Karbi Anglong district administration also observed the national voter’s day at Diphu.

Hundreds of young girls and first time voters attended the government function along with government employees engaged in election related works. Juga Krishna Rajbangsi, Election Officer explained the significance of observing the day as well as the real power of a voter in nation building particularly in a democratic country.

“In order to encourage

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

more and more young voters in the politics of India the Election Commission Of India is observing this day on January 25 since 2011 which is also the Commission's foundation day. Government is also trying to increase the enrollment of the young voters who are in fact the cream of the society and the effort is showing result” Rajbangsi said. Mukul Gogoi, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer while presiding over the meeting called upon the stage number of girls and first time voters for expressing their views “I shall vote for

someone who talks less and work more” Sushma Chetri, a voter of 18 years said. “I want to see my nation build up, I shall vote for development” said Miss.

Phangchopi.

Certificate of appreciation was given to the young voters of whom 90% turned out to be girls, the administration also awarded the Block Level Officers and other government employees who are working with the electioneering process round the year. The ECI’s this year’s theme is “ no voter to be left behind”.

“Criminalisation of politics is still a threat to our democracy”, DC, Darrang

26-1-16 (TUESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-50 A.M-Tokari Geet 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 Hindi Film Song) 9-20 P.M-Live Broadcast of Republic Day Parade and Cultural Pageant from Rajpath 12-15 P.M-Teachers' Broadcast 12-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Ei Path Hoise Bikashor" 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 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raaijor Anusthan 8-00 P.M-Bijnan Jeuti -Talk-"Bongshanukromik Cancer" by Dr. Gayatri Gogoi 8-20 P.M-A Radio Report of Celebration of Republic day at Choukidinghee Field, Dibrugarh 9-30 P.M-Sahitya Kanan

Sd-/H.O.P

ET Correspondent Mangaldai Jan 25 : Synchronizing the foundation of the Election Commission of India 66 years back , the sixth edition of the National Voter's Day has been observed today with a view to sensitize people about their constitutional right in forming a corrupt free efficient government .

Befitting the occasion a public function was organized by the Darrang Election Department at the district library auditorium here. Addressing the people present mostly youths and women , Deputy Commissioner, Darrang , Manoj Kumar congratulated voters

of the district for being an integral part of the greatest democratic country of the world.

He said " It is the beauty of a citizen of a democratic country and everyone attaining the age of 18 years should enjoy this beauty ."

He further observed that the democracy is not free from threat as long as there exists criminals in politics. He appealed all the voters especially the young voters to exercise their democratic rights in a very careful manner for their own future benefit.

The function anchored by radio announcer Pranjal

Sarma was also addressed

by Dr Budhin Ch Hazarika , Principal Kharupetia College , Imran Hussain , Associate Professor , Sipajhar College , Rahul Das , Election Officer , Mangaldai and Aroon Barua among others.

Ceremonial distribution of certificates to selected new voters from each of the four assembly constituencies of the district and a short voter awareness drama also marked the occasion .

Circle officers of Mangaldai , Dalgaon and Sipajhar revenue circles Prashanta Barkakoti , Dr Ashraful Amin and Manali Jain respectively also attended the function .

of Telahi Anchalik Panchayat and Telahi BDO Rangalal Sinha elaborated the purpose of the meeting.

Lakhimpur District Development Commissioner Dibakar Doley, as Special

Congress leader Dr. Joy Prakash Das, Lakhimpur District Congress Vice President Suprabha Medhi, Principal of Panigaon OPD College, Suresh Dutta delivered lecture in the meeting.

Vice President of Lakhimpur Dist Congress Committee Mukul Borah, General Secretary Bidya Doley, Office Secretary Anuradha Devi, District AGP Member Nirmal Sonowal, Madhya Telahi Councillor Pinky Sonowal, the presidents and secretaries of seven Gaon Panchayats under Telahi DB were among those who were present in the program.

Youth Conclave in Lakhimpur organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra on January 27 ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Jan 25: Covering Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sonitpur districts of North Assam, a Youth Conclave is going to be organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra(NYK) of Lakhimpur on January 27.

The Conclave will be held at the Tyag Khetra of North Lakhimpur Town with a motto of 'Skilled Youth and Empowered Assam. It was today declared by Tapash Kumar Pramanik, the Lakhimpur District Co-ordinator of NYK, in a Press Conference held in North Lakhimpur Press Club. He expressed that around 1800 to 2000 youth delegates of 16-29 age group would take part in the Conclave. Rani N Dwivedi, the Member of the Board of Governers, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, too, addressed the Press Conference.

"These serial programs of Youth Conclave have been organised on the theme 'Skilled Youth and Empowered Assam' from 21st29th January in six places covering 27 district of Assam. The youths of Assam are attempted to make aware of the National

Flagship Programs and the schemes of the Govt. of India so that they can take the advantage of this schemes as well as educate the common people of their respective areas".

She added that Skill Development of the Youths and the Prime Minister's Mudra Bank Yojana would be the priority based topic in the Conclave in Lakhimpur. It is to be noted that the Inaugural Function of the Conclave will commence from 10.30am on the day.

It will be followed by Information session on flagship Programs of Govt. of India with Power Point Presentation and Felicitation to Youth Achievers.

Cultural Programs and Concluding Function will be held at 2.45pm. Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Youth Affair and Sports will take part in the Conclave as the Chief Guest while Dilip Saikia, the Vice Chairperson of NYK will attend the program as Guest of Honour. Shashi Kanta Pandey, ayouth social activist from Maharastra along with several designators of Lakhimpur NYK attended the Press Conference.

Youths are the resources of our country says Sonowal A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 25: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated Youth Conclave organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra at Barpathar field near Dibrugarh University in Dibrugarh. The conclave sponsored by Ministry of youth affairs and sports Government of India and supported by National service scheme, Assam.

While speaking on the

Occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said that Youths are the resource of our country and they should encourage by their parents and family members.

He said the youths of our country have to build up and skilled themselves in any field and for that discipline and dedication is necessary. “All you have certain strength. So developed the strength any use it for your better future,’’ Sonowal added.

While interacting with Sarbananda Sonowal, some students spoke about village libraries in Assam.

Sonowal said Assam have abundant natural resources which should be use for the development of the state. “We have to export small things from outside.

Therefore, we have to developed the small things in our state whit the help of skilled youths of Assam,’’ Sonowal said. Sonowal

also necessary. “The students should maintain both the things equally then only they can empowered themselves,’’ Buragohain added. VC said that our ancestors who have build Rang-Ghar, Siv Dhol without any formal. He said the youth to develop themselves only through skilled development.

announces to open 14 skilled development centers in Assam. He spoke about the free education of tea tribes people. He said in Navodaya Vidyalaya free education would be provides for the children’s of tea tribes people.

Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, Alok Kumar Buragohain said that everybody should run for higher education but skilled development is

Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MLA Prasanta Phukan and MP Rameshwar Teli with 12th SAF mascot Tikhor at "Youth Conclave" sponsored by Ministry of youth affairs and Sports, Govt of India and organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Assam at Borpathar play ground in Dibrugarh. Pix by UB Photos

Vice-Chancellor, Alok Kumar Buragohain, MP Rameswar Teli,

MLA Prashanta Phukan and Bishnu Dutta Sharma, Vice president, Nehru Yuva Kendra were present during the function. About 3000 students from different colleges and youths from five districts attended the conclave organized with the theme "Skilled youth - empowered Assam".

Later, some youths were felicitated in the programme.

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Dead condoles

Khonsa, Jan 25: The officers and staff of DC's office and its adjacent offices assembled in the premises of DC's office, Khonsa on 25th January, 2016 to place on record the profound sorrow on sudden & untimely demise of Late Bomriat Tesia, UDC of DMO's office, Khonsa on 23rd January

mid night at his govt. quarter.

The meeting observed 2 minutes silence to honour the departed soul and pray the almighty to shower strength to the bereaved family at this hour of irreparable loss. (DIPRO)

Initiative of Organic Farming in West Kameng District

National Voter's Day celebrated in Roing upon the students to avail this right when they attain 18 years of age and to participate in the election process. He also highlighted about the importance of voting and the voting right.

Roing, Jan 25: The 6th National Voter's Day was celebrated in a befitting manner with the theme "Inclusive and Qualitative Electoral Participation" at Anchal Samiti Hall, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley District today.

Attending the National Voter's Day Celebration as the Chief Guest, the first woman everester from the North East, Tine Mena exhorted the youth to vote fearlessly and without the influence of money. She said, "today the youths are being lured away easily with money and bikes during election and it is the need of the hour to change the way we think and act during election". Being the future of the nation, today's youth need to be careful and think wisely as a responsible citizen to elect a good

National Voter's Day celebrated in Roing. leader for the over all development of the area, she added.

Nomin Lego, age 93 years of Yibuk Village, who is the oldest surviving voter under 43rd Roing ST Assembly Constituency (as per record available in the election office) attended the programme as the Guest of

Honour. He called upon the voters to maintain the secrecy of voting and to vote on their own discretion without the influenced of others. Mr Lego who has seen the state in its nascent state in his youth days said that the situation has changed a lot today but we must continue to uphold the democratic process by ex-

National voter's day observed at khonsa Initiative of Organic Farming in West Kameng District.

Bomdila, Jan 25: To promote and encourage farmers to adopt organic farming, Department of Agriculture, West Kameng conducted five numbers of training cum field demonstration on organic farming at Dirang (18th Jan) ,Thembang (19th Jan), Nafra (21st Jan), Thungri (23rd Jan) and Kalaktang (24th Jan) Under BADP 2015-2016. The activities were in line with the Vision of Deputy Commissioner and District Agriculture officer,West Kameng to make the district as organic district in Arunachal Pradesh.

In all the training venues Mr. L Zimba, DAO, Bomdila described importance of organic farming for sustainable cultivation and bad impacts of inorganic cultivation in present context and in long run in the region. He also appealed the trainees to follow the motto 'cultivate healthy, eat healthy and feed healthy by adopting organic farming'.

Resource person Dr N. D. Singh PC KVK, Dirang d e m o n s t r a t e d vermicompost production and elaborated scientific soil health management.

Sri Tushar Ghosh, PDM of Camson Biotehnologies Limited taught about certified organic inputs to replace chemicals. ADOs of respective circles trained the farmers on various aspects of certified organic farming. 100 numbers of farm-

ers attended each training.

Sri D. Riba, ADC, Dirang; Sri Jam Tsering, ZPM, Thembang; Sri Leki Dungru, Chairperson, ASM, Nafra attended the training in their respective circles to motivate the farmers in adoption of organic farming. Sri A .K .Singh, DC, West Kameng personally attended the training session at Thongri and Kalaktang along with ex- minister Sri D K Thongdok & PRI members.

The Deputy Commissioner shared his vision of harmful chemical free fully organic district and asks the farmers to learn the techniques of organic agriculture from such trainings. He also advocated complete ban on chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the district when farmers are fully trained and ready.

Further, he asked DAO to exercise all field staffs to make the training a result oriented. Sri D. K Thongdok mentioned health hazards, soil infertility problem with localized examples. He also suggested exposure visit of farmers to Sikkim for hands on experience of organic farming.

All Farmers were provided sprayer, organic fertilizers, pest control products, gloves, seeds, crate as supporting material for organic farming.

Khonsa, Jan 25: The National Voter's Day was observed at Khonsa on 25th January along with the rest of the country with various programmes. Addressing a huge gathering of students, government officials and election staff at government secondary school, Khonsa Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha while, describing India as the largest democracy said that no effort should be spared to make it the best democracy in the world.

While throwing light on the advantages of democracy, the Deputy Commissioner said that unlike in many countries wherein there was no democracy, Indian citizens who had attained 18 years and above were free to elect the leaders of their choices.

He however, lamented over the glaring fact that the much-glorified Indian democracy was not free from mal practices like use of money and muscle power,

interference of religion, race, caste, community, language and clan adding that unless these vices were done away with at the earliest then no free and fair elections would be possible.

Jha said that the main objective of holding the national voter's day on 25th January every year by the Election Commission was to create awareness among the voters regarding the need for free and fair elections in the country. He further told the participants that education was sine qua non to make democracy more vibrant and effective adding that during the elections the contesting candidates should fight on development issues and not on religion, race, caste, community, language etc.

He later administered the voters' pledge to the participants and distributed Epic Cards and prizes to the winners of essay, extempore speech and

drawing and painting competition conducted as a part of the national voter's day.

Earlier, in his welcome address EAC and ERO Techu Aran while dwelling at length on the significance of the national voter's day, urged the people to refrain from getting influenced by unfair means during the elections.

He said that all the citizens of the country should be aware of the electoral processes and elect honest, educated and sincere candidates to represent their grievances in the State Assembly and the Parliament. The HM of Town Secondary School Tagin Akhang and a host of others spoke on the occasion. Altogether 1500 Epic Cards were issued all over the district on the day.

In the morning the Teachers and students took out a procession in the Khonsa Township to create awareness among the voters.

Cleanliness Drive organized at Roing

ercising our voting right with a responsibility.

Ravi Dhawan, DC cum DEO in his speech said that the Indian Democracy is one of the most vibrant democracies in the world where every citizen irrespective of caste, creed, colour and positions have the right to vote. He called

drive was carried out under the banner of "Clean India - Arunachal and Go Green" with the motto "Let's keep our town green and clean".

To facelift the Roing township for the auspicious occasion of ensuing Republic

Day, District Administration also conducted a mass cleanliness drive on Saturday last in and around the Roing township in which Govt officials, teachers, students and Bazaar committee actively participated.

Ruchika Katyal, ADC cum ERO, 43rd Roing ST Assembly Constituency, HoDs, Administrative Officers, teachers and students participated in the National Voter's Day Celebration at Roing. (DIPRO)

Aalo Jan 25: The 6th National Voters Day was observed in a befitting manner at Aalo Club today. A large number of students, teachers and Booth Level Officers took part in the programme.

The programme was attended by Shri Tamik Talom ADC Aalo.

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest Shri Jumdo Diyum, DPO Aalo advised the students who attained have attained 18 years of age to enroll their names electoral roll to take part in the democratic process and spread the message of Universal Franchise in the nook and corner of the district. He disclosed that 84 crores out 145 crores are enrolled as voters. EEAC Election, Shri

National Voters Day in Aalo.

Kiren Ningo and AERO Murnya Kakki also highlighted the objectives behind observing the day.

Earlier, a massive social ser-

National Voters' Day celebrated at East Kameng District Seppa, Jan 25: National Voters' Day celebrated at Seppa, C/ Tajo, Bameng, Seijosa and various places of East Kameng district.

They took participation in different activities organized during the programmes, viz., quiz competition, painting, musical chairs, essay Roing, Jan25:The Department of Tourism, Roing in collaboration with the various Govt Departments and AMYAA (NGO) conducted a cleanliness drive at Roing Bazaar Area with the support of District Administration today. The Cleanliness

Dr Mary Nanom Taloh, CO (Election) highlighted the objectives behind the celebration of National Voter's

A Roing based NGO, AMYAA led by its Secretary Paul Chawang presented a Skit Play on the topic "Vote for a Stronger Democracy" on the occasion.

National Voters Day in Aalo

Besides govt. officials, students from various schools have participated in the respective programmes.

Cleanliness Drive organized at Roing.

Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer also administered Voter's Pledge to the voters on the occasion wherein the voter's pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any other inducement.

Day. On the occasion, the chief guest felicitated the new voter's with the EPIC/ Voter's Card while the guest of honour gave away the prizes for Essay Competition which was conducted on the occasion of National Voter's Day on the topic "Importance of Adult Franchise in Democracy".

competition, 100 meter race, etc.

The students and publics were sensitized about the universal adult suffrage, the ethical voting, the voter's eligibility, the right age to enroll in the electoral roll and others.

Shri Sanjay Borthakur, PC, KVK, East Kameng District was the chief guest of the programme held at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Pampoli. (DIPRO)

vice involving all genres of people was organized in sectors, colonies, Govt. Offices and market places of Aalo township to give the message of Clean Indi.

6th National Voters Day observed Pasighat, Jan 25: The 6th National Voters' Day was observed in a befitting manner here at the Smart City Office conference hall. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Isha Khosla exhorted the voters to become a responsible citizen of the country. She said, vote was the most effective tool in the hands of the people to participate in the democratic process of the country. Administering oath, Khosla called upon the voters to exercise their voting rights in a free and fair manner and to cast their votes without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement. She gave away EPICs to few new voters on the occasion. (DIPRO)

Sanitation campaign under SBM held at Ledum

The socio-ethno-cultural extravaganza of the singphos symp slated on 12th february 2016 at bordumsa Contd. from Page 1 According to Singoho sources,the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi festival also known as Manau poi is the 32 years old (as on 2016) national festival of the Kachins-a term for Singphos residing in Myanmar.

Shapawang Yawang is the forefather of the Singphos while the word poi denotes 'festivals' and Manau means 'dance'. Thus, the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi stands for Dance festival in honour of Shapawng Yawng which has been annually celebrated between the12th to 14th February.

Meanwhile, the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poifestival which is said to have a great socio-cultural significance for the people of the Singphos community was marked by colorful events including tra-

ditional dances, folk songs, and display of Gongs was indeed a moment to experience the customs, traditions, usage, ethos, etiquetes, and folklores and get in tune with the varied and unique dance forms.

Moreover, relishing the meals with numerous delicacies popularly known as Sewa bhat(Tupula Bhat) and Wa Shunn(traditional pork items) blended with hospitality has been a worth adding feature of the festival throughout the celebration period.

Meanwhile, following the hoisting of the flag of the 32nd edition of SYMP, the people of the community would offer their ritual prayers to Shapawng Yawng -the legendary first Singphos of the world which was followed by PoiBau Manau- an open dance dedicated in His praise.

During putting up of the Shadung GIDHING GUMDIN

MANAU the dance signifying unity is performed to proclaim praise, unity and prosperity. At the end of the dance, PADENG MANAU the war winning dance, SHUT MANAU the celebration dance, KUMRAN MANAU, the farewell dance etc are performed.

However talking to the Sentinel, Sindunong Singpho the President of the organizing committee told that the Singphos are the descendents of SHAPAWNG YAWNG who was first born on this earth and called himself as Singpho.

Tingli Yawang, the son of Shapwng Yawng, in order to get blessings of his father Shapawng Yawng and the creator of the world "Mathum Matha"celebrated the first Manau poi as praising of Gods (Bhikan Gundan Poi).

Later, the festival came to be known as "Shapawang Yawng Manau Poi" in the memory of

their ancestor "Shapawng Tawng" Historically, the word "Jingpho" pronounced as "Singpho" by the local people to give their identity but according to mythological tale the term "Jingpho" is a combination of two different words.

"Jing" and "Phaw". The word 'Jing' means drum and 'Phaw' means opened. The compounding is "Jingpho".However, a legend among the Singphos reveals the story that before the existence of human being in the world, a certain man like figure came down from the heaven and exploded into two parts.

Out of the explosion six brothers came out and they were named as GAM, NONG, LA, DU, TANG and YAWNG respectively. However, one instantly died in the explosion.

The last brother: YAWNG is

the forefather of Singpho or Jingpho. To remember their forefather the Singpho celebrated the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi. However, the people of the singphos community inhabiting the banks of the Dehing River would also organize exhibition stalls showcasing various traditional handmade items including the ethnic handlooms during the celebration.

According to Singphos, the underlying message of this festival in this way inspires the development of the society and state as a whole enhencing thus the bond of unity and fraternity among all irrespective of caste, creed, religion and community across the hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh thus, contributing to the overall prosperity of the state.

However, the festival would conclude on the 15th February with a daylong concluding agenda.

Sanitation campaign under SBM held at Ledum.

Pasighat, Jan 25: It has never been easier to make friends than it is right now, mainly thanks to social networking sites that sometime connect good people for societal development. A Whatsapp group known as BROS (Bilat-Ruksin-OyanSille) embraced the social media to bring meaningful development in agriculture, horticulture, health and hygiene and education sectors.

PHED Pasighat division and BROS jointly organized a sanitation campaign at Ledum village on Jan-23 last.

They conducted a massive cleanliness drive cum sanitation campaign in the area

under "Awareness Campaign on Swachch Bharat Mission (Gramin)". It was formally inaugurated by the Ruksin ADC T Pada in presence of the local MLA and Parliamentary Secretary (Industries) Tatung Jamoh, Jt. Director (Panchayat) T Pada, Rtd. DSE T Taloh, PHED engineers, senior and prominent citizens and villagers.

In his brief speech, ADC Pada said hygiene is a concept related to cleanliness and health. Appreciating the efforts of BROS, he said the members were doing commendable service for upliftment of the society. A

hygiene practice is always considered as preventative measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of diseases Pada stated adding that poor hygiene could cause skin complaints and infections, and be a source of discomfort.

AE (PHED) Kaling Taki on the occasion highlighted various achievements of his department briefing about total sanitation and its benefits. He threw lights on low cost toilets and government's supportive initiatives in this regard and distributed field-testing-kits to both the gram panchayats of the area. (DIPRO)

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Moran organizations hold demonstration in Doomdooma

Moran organizations hold demonstration in Doomdooma.

ET Correspondent Doomdooma , Jan 25 : All Moran Students Union of Talap-Kordoiguri regional committee , Moran Jatiya Mahila Parishad , All Moran Kala Sanskriti Vikash Kendra and the local people today organized a demonstration at the Revenue Circle Office, here, today in protest of non-fulfillment of their 13 point charter of demands.

The protestors blocked the main entrance of the office for three hours from 12 noon to 3pm. More than 500 people took part in the protest including women.

The protest was called off after submission of a 13 point demand charter to the revenue officer Nayan Jyoti Bhagwati. It is noteworthy that the villagers of the area suffer from flood, erosion,

bad road conditions and such others and require concrete work to solve these problems. Meanwhile, the President of AMSU central committee Tinsukia Arunjyoti Moran and regional committee advisor Devakanta Moran informed that DC office will be gheraoed and road will be blockade at different places if satisfactory actions are not taken to solve these problems.

Dharna against inclusion of Boro Kacharis as ST(H)

2 dead on spot and 7 injured by electrocuted bus accident Khonsa, Jan 25: As per information received from Deomali Police a APST bus bearing No.ARX-0286 was travelled from Margherita to Deomali on 24th January afternoon in which while unloading CGI sheets from bus roofing an electrocutes killed 1 young girl namely Miss Richa lowang alias Ritu daughter of Somchan Lowang and Shri Ngongkey Pungjang aged 25 years Son of Benpong Pungjang both from Phingthing village in a worse condition. Another 7 injuries were shifted to Assam Medical College Dibrugarh for treatment.

The Arunachal State Transport Bus was driven by Ram Singh Son of Lt.Angoo Singh with its conductor Shri Jatbom Ngongwa.The accident took place near Mopaya village 15 kms distance from Deomali Sub-Division at around 12.30 pm noon.

Drama and Mottock Sanmilon calls Magic show 24 hr Upper Assam staged bandh on Feb 5

Shajid Khan Tangla, Jan 23: The culture and festival sensitive people of the town witnessed drama and magic at Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Stage at Chatgari school premises.

Dwarf theatre group by Pabitra Rabha who has gained accolades across the nation staged a drama 'Bhotokare Bhu' which depicted the inner fear of humans. It was followed by magic show by local magician who has also gained fame across the state Ramen Sarma.

A one act play depicting the mythological character of 'Karna' from the Mahabharata was also staged.

National Voter's day observed ET Correspondent Tezpur, Jan 25 : The Sonitpur district administration celebtrates the 6th national voters day along with the rest of the nation with the theme Inclusive and Qualitative Participation. A cycle rally was flagged off by the deputy commissioner , sonitpur , Laya Maddhuri, IAS at Tezpur in the morning. " All the citizens must cast their votes by keeping confidence on the democracy without any fear and provo-

cation , Said Laya Maddhuri , D C , Sonipur in a public meeting held at court chariali by appealing the voters to participate in the electoral process. She distributed voters certificates to some the newly enrolled voters , of which most of them are students. the meeting was attended

by Dr Sanjuka Parashar, SP, Sonitpur, Munidra Sarma,PD , DRDA, and district administrations officials and large section of citizens.

Journalist - Public interactive session held in Golaghat Dharna against inclusion of Boro Kacharis as ST(H).

ET Correspondent Haflong, Jan 25: In protest against the recent announcement by PM Modi to include Boro Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, youth congress committee and national students' union of India (NSUI) staged Dharna in front the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao from 10 am to 1pm on Monday.

They shouted BJP 'murdabad' and condemned the BJP's attitude.

Later they submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Govt of India, New Delhi through the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao detailing their grievances if the ST(H) status given to Boro Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

The memorandum maintained that there were two categories of indigenous tribal people living in Assam - one is the tribes that live in the topographically plain area district such as Bodo Kachari, Mishings, Sonowals, Rabhas, Deuris, Tiwas, Lalungs and Garos etc. categorized as Schedule Tribes (Plains) and enjoy 10% reservation on education and Govt job facilities and another is a number of tribes having lesser populations living in the only twin hill districts of Assam Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao categorized as Schedule tribes (Hills), the tribes under this category are Karbis, Dimasas, Zeme Nagas, Kukis, Hmars, Hrangkhols and jaintias etc. these Hills tribes are granted meagre 5% reservation in education and Govt.

lob for the whole tribes under this category. The Bodos living in both plain hill districts are more advanced in education and economy in compression to the Hills tribes of the two hills districts.

Further, Bodo Kacharies living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts were included into Schedule to the hill tribes who were already scheduled under this category, the most backward hill tribal will be overshadowed and deprived the reservation meant for them and upliftment of the hill tribal will remain stand still they in the interest of the most down trodden hill tribal people therefore opposed the inclusion of Boro Kacharis living in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong district of Assam in scheduled tribe (Hills) status.

ET Correspondent Golaghat, Jan 25: The people of Greater Brahmaputra Region under Dergaon Revenue Circle in the district of Golaghat are still getting deprived of fruitful development. The problem of erosion has been a great challenge to the people of this region. Apart from this they are still lacking in some fundamental needs like health and education. Seeing their pathetic condition of living and to know the ground reality of various problems of the region and to find a way of solution Golaghat District Journalist Association came forward and held an interactive session with the public of this Greater Brahmaputra Region. In the premises of Shankar Madhav High School at Joraguri an interactive session was held yesterday under the leadership of Golaghat District Journalist Association President Apurba Ballav Goswami where hundreds of local people had a chance of telling their suffering and problems face to face with the jour-

nalist fraternity. The session was conducted by General Secretary of Golaghat District Journalist Association Rohit Gogoi and purpose of the session was announced by a journalist of the Greater Brahmaputra area Pranob Chakraborty. Local people raised several issues and appealed the journalist fraternity to have a look into their demands. Electricity to all villages in the region, adequate water supply, construction of bridges on Dissoi River, setting up of a health centre at Joraguri, provincialization of Shankar Madhav School and several other schools, to make embankments to prevent flood and erosion, to provide irrigation to paddy fields and several such other demands were raised by the people. Golaghat District Journalist Association made some proposals regarding these demands and assured the public of this Greater Region that the Association will send memorandums to concerned authorities on behalf of the public to fulfill their demands.

Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Jan 25. All Assam Mottock Sanmilon has called a 24 hours Upper Assam bandh on Feb 5 to protest prime minister Narendra Modi visit.

for a complete Upper Assam bandh on the day he is visiting our soil.

The members also demanded a Rs 2000 crore package for overall development for Muttack community.

In a press meet on Monday the members of Mottock Sanmilon said, Narendra Modi has failed to meet our demand of schedule caste status despite promising the same before lok sabha elections. We have been agitating for a long time to get the status of schedule caste and as part of our protest we call

It must be mentioned that prime minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit upper Assam on a maiden trip on Feb 5. He is supposed to inaugurate the long awaited gas cracker plant, Brahmaputra Cracker Polymer Limited at Lepetkata in Dibrugarh district.

BAYM burns effigies of Ajmal and Debananda Konwar ET Correspondent Demow, Jan 25: Bihator Asomiya Yuba Mancha today burned the effigies of AIUDF Chief and Dhubri MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal in Demow for his alleged inflammatory remarks which he made in a poll rally recently. The organization also burned the effigy of former Congress leader Devananda Konwar who joined the AIUDF re-

cently for allegedly ignoring the Assamese language.

Angsuman Baruah, Jadumoni Kalita and Jadav Gogoi all leaders of BAYM has also warned all politicians to refrain from making inflammatory remarks which may result in communal or ethnic violence. The leaders also demanded Ajmal to withdraw his comments or to face a more stronger agitation in future.

Tinsukia on vigil ahead of R - Day celebrations Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Jan 25: On the eve ahead of Republic day celebration, Tinsukia police is on full alert to thwart any untoward attack. Accordingly, police have set up check naka at town entry points from several direction to keep a check on moving vehicles. Patrol has been increased in town areas and area domination in the remote and border area is also on full swing to keep the militants away or catch them if they have entered in the district.

Superintendent of Tinsukia police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanto said, police has taken all necessary steps to ensure that their is no law and order situation during Republic Day celebrations.

Security has been beefed up in all sensitive areas and around vital installations, he added.

Sources in the police said that they are on toes and ready to deal with any situation and challenge.

Youth Conclave in Lakhimpur organised

by Nehru Yuva Kendra on Jan. 27 ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Jan 25: Covering Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sonitpur districts of North Assam, a Youth Conclave is going to be organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra(NYK) of Lakhimpur on January 27.

The Conclave will be held at the Tyag Khetra of North Lakhimpur Town with a motto of 'Skilled Youth and Empowered Assam. It was today declared by Tapash Kumar Pramanik, the Lakhimpur District Coordinator of NYK, in a Press Conference held in North Lakhimpur Press Club. He expressed that around 1800 to 2000 youth delegates of 16-29 age group would take part in the Conclave. Rani N Dwivedi, the Member of the Board of

Governers, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, too, addressed the Press Conference. "These serial programs of Youth Conclave have been organised on the theme 'Skilled Youth and Empowered Assam' from 21st-29th January in six places covering 27 district of Assam. The youths of Assam are attempted to make aware of the National Flagship Programs and the schemes of the Govt. of India so that they can take the advantage of this schemes as well as educate the common people of their respective areas". She added that Skill Development of the Youths and the Prime Minister's Mudra Bank Yojana would be the priority based topic in the Conclave in Lakhimpur. It is to

be noted that the Inaugural Function of the Conclave will commence from 10.30am on the day. It will be followed by Information session on flagship Programs of Govt. of India with Power Point Presentation and Felicitation to Youth Achievers. Cultural Programs and Concluding Function will be held at 2.45pm.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Youth Affair and Sports will take part in the Conclave as the Chief Guest while Dilip Saikia, the Vice Chairperson of NYK will attend the program as Guest of Honour. Shashi Kanta Pandey, ayouth social activist from Maharastra along with several designators of Lakhimpur NYK attended the Press Conference.

Results of Inter College Youth Festival held at DHSK College A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 25: Miss Pranami Dutta of JB College begged the best singer position at the Inter College Youth Festival held at DHSK College and was awarded Late Dr. Sarat Kumar Boruah Memorial Trophy. Sibsagar College was declared the best team and received Late Dr. Dhirendra Nath Sarma Memorial Trophy for the same.

Pranami Dutta (JB College), Bidyut Jyoti Mohan (PG class of Dibrugarh University) and Bidya Bharali (MDK Girls College) held the first, second and third position respectively in Kheyal competition.

Pranami Dutta (JB College), Ashish Banik (Sarupathar College) and Sudarshan Chutia (Jorhat Kendriya Mahavidyalaya) begged the first, second and third position respectively in Bhajan competition.

Kakojan College, Duliajan College and Sibsagar College held the first, second and third position in mime competition. Daradi Gogoi (Sibsagar Commerce College), Ashish Banik (Sarupathar College) and Mayuri Kachari (Furkating College) grabbed the first, second and third position in Jyoti Sangeet. Baisali Bora (DCB Girls' College), Prandeep Hazarika (PG class of D.U.) and Daradi Gogoi (Sibsagar Commerce College) held the first, second and third position respectively in Bishnu Rabha

Sangeet competition.

Prandeep Hazarika (PG Class of D.U.), Baisali Bora (DCB Girls') and Daradi Gogoi (Sibsagar Commerce) begged the first, second and third position in Parbati Prasad Geet competition. Anurag Kalyan Borgohain (DR College), Debasish Das (Jorhat College), and Madhurjya Baruah (Gargaon College) secured first, second and third position in Tabala Competition. Pran Jyoti Gogoi, Santan Gogoi (Duliajan College), and Lakhyajit Dihingia (NLB City College) begged the first, second and third position in Flute competition.

Boniface Hemrom (Digboi College), Partha Pratim Phukon (Bahona College) and Niranjan Saikia (Bordoloni Central College) clinched the first, second and third position in Guitar competition. In Gazal competition, the first, second and third position were secured by Pranami Dutta (J.B. College), Chayanika Gohain (North Lakhimpur College) and Rishab Dutta (Duliajan College). Amarjyoti Kakoti (Moran College), Tirtha Ranjan Gogoi (North Lakhimpur College) and Nabajyoti Gogoi (JB College) begged first, second and third position in Dhol competition. Aishawarya Ranjan Dutta (Sibsagar College), Manash Jyoti Boruah (Nazira College) and Madhurjya Gogoi

(Moran College) secured first, second and third position in Pepa competition.

Manash Jyoti Borah (Nazira College), Shyamal Hazarika (Digboi College) and Himajyoti Boruah (Doom Doma College) secured first, second and third position in Gagana competition. Raktim Bora (Jorhat Kendriya Mahavidyalaya), Masrin Pallab Dutta (JB College) and Pallab Ray (Digboi College) clinched first, second and third position in Khol competition.

First, second and third position in Elocution competition were secured by Kalyan Jyoti Kalita (Bahona College), Radhakrishnan Dutta (Jorhat Kendriya Mahavidyalaya) and Tulika Hazarika (Noorth Lakhimpur College).

Subrata Baruah (JB College), Rinku Ridit Dutta (Sibsagar College), Dalimi Deka (Doom Doma College) secured first, second and third position in Debate competition. Agnimitra Baruah (Sibsagar College), Amarjyoti Kakoti (Moran College) and Probina Bora (Lakhimpur Girls' College) begged first, second and third position in Assamese Poetry recitation. Lumpini Shayam Pangyok (DCB Girls') and Pranami Kaushik (JB College) secured first and second position in English Poetry recitation. Biplob Das (OPD College), Amar Limboo (Tinsukia College)

Results of Inter College Youth Festival held at DHSK College. and Pranjal Gogoi (Madhabdev College) secured first, second and third position in On the Spot Painting competition.

Biplob Das (OPD College), Afsana Begum (Tinsukia College) and Subrata Boruah (JB College) begged first, second and third position in Collage competition. In Poster Making competition, first, second and third position were secured by Chinmoyee Saikia (DCB Girls' College), Munmi Buragohain (Sibsagar Commerce College) and Bhaskar Bora (NLB City College).

Subrata Boruah (JB College), Ajoy Munda (Nazira

College) and Chinmoyee Saikia (DCB Girls' College) secured first, second and third position in Cartooning competition. Jyotishman Moran (Digboi College), Chayanika Gogoi (Mergherita College) and Ruchika (MDK Girls') begged first, second and third position in Classical Dance competition. In Creative Dance competition first, second and third position were secured by Bitu Boruah (Kakojan College), Jyotishman Moran (Digboi College) and Manoja Lahkar (DHSK College).

Sharat Mech (Moran College), Madhusmita Borgohain (Sibsagar Girls

College) and Amlanjyoti Borah (Madhabdev College) secured first, second and third position in Mimicry competition. Gargi Bhuyan (Digboi Mohila), Kasturi Gogoi (JIST) and Ashish Banik (Sarupathar College) begged first, second and third position in Bhupendra Sangeet competition. Anjan Phukan (Sibsagar College), Rishav Dutta (Duliajan College) and Ashish Banik (Sarupathar College) secured first, second and third position in Jayanta Sangeet competition. Ashish Banik (Sarupathar College), Richa Gogoi (DHSK College) and Prohelika Sarmah (Pithubar

Girls' College) begged first, second and third position in Modern Song competition.

Parinita Bhuyan (DHSK College), Tribujjal Prakash (Sibsagar College) and Anurag Kalyan Borgohain (DR College) secured first, second and third position in Borgeet competition.

Maheshweta Paul Choudhury (Gargaon College), Anurag Kalyan Borgohain (DR College) and Pranjit Hazarika (PG class D.U.) secured first, second and third position in Folk Song (Solo) competition. First, second and third position in Folk Song (Group) were secured by Naharkatia College, DCB Girls' College and Kakojan College. Manash Protim Bhuyan (Madhabdev College), Bhaskar Boruah (Tingkhong College) and Biplob Das (OPD College) begged first, second and third position in Clay Modelling competition. Biplob Das (OPD College), Podashmi Rompi Bharali (Tingkhong College) and Rimpi Sonowal (PG class D.U.) secured first, second and third position in Rangoli competition. DCB Girls' College, DHSK College and North Lakhimpur College secured first, second and third position in Installation competition. In Quiz competition first, second and third position were clinched by DR College, PG class D.U. and Moran College. Sibsagar College, Duliajan College and

Sarupathar College begged first, second and third position in Group Dance competition. In Group Song competition, MDK Girls' College, North Lakhimpur College and HPB Girls' College begged the first, second and third position.

Lakhimpur Girls' College begged the best drama award for their One Act Play 'ARANYA KOTHA'.

'BIBAH PRASTAB' (Moran College) and 'DEOSAL' (North Bank College) were declared the second and third best drama.

Mridusmita Hazarika of Lakhimpur Girls' College was awarded the best director.

Pabitra Borgohain of Sarupathar College was declared the best actor for his role as 'DEOTA' in the One Act Play 'TUMI MUK BEYA PAISILA NEKI DEOTA'. Jyotsna Barua of Sibsagar College was declared the best actress for her role as 'ARATI' in the One Act Play 'RONG BERONG'.

The first second and third position in Cultural Procession were secured by Sibsagar Girls' College, HPB Girls' College and PG Class of D.U. The first, second and third position in GO AS YOU LIKE competition were secured

by Hari Prasad Goswami (North Lakhimpur College), Goutam Protim Saikia (Bahona College) and Pankaj Gogoi (Tingkhong College)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Mizoram to present regular budget

Mizoram Finance Minister Lalsawta today said that he would present a regular budget for the next

I m p h a l , J a n 25:Mizoram Finance Minister Lalsawta today said that he would present a regular budget for the next fiscal even if the annual plan size was known.

Lalsawta said that this year the state plan outlay had not been allocated after abolition of the Planning Commission forcing the state government to prepare budgets without knowing plan

size.

He said that absence of clarity on fund sharing pattern of centrally sponsored schemes (css) between the centre and the states created problems in budget preparations.Lalsawta was compelled to seek vote-on-account for two times covering seven months last fiscal due to the same problems.

(Agencies)

PAGE 5

REGION Bangladesh's growth will inspire NE: CM Shillong,Jan 25: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma yesterday mooted the idea of joint investment in a "comprehensive multi-mode transport" to promote trade and business between the two countries. Speaking as a special guest at the inaugural session of the Bangladesh Investment & Policy Summit 2016 in Dhaka, the chief minister mooted the idea considering that Meghalaya shares 443 km long border with Bangladesh, with the Brahmaputra and other rivers connecting both the sides along with the presence of a number of land customs stations to facilitate smooth supply of raw materials to support the numerous industries in Bangladesh.

Referring to a CNN report that Bangladesh's economy was growing at the rate of over 6% in the last seven years and is projected to grow second fastest among the 11 developing countries, the

chief minister said the positive growth story happening in Bangladesh would certainly generate hope and positivity in the North Eastern part of India too.Making a mention about the efforts made by the chief ministers of the North Eastern states to impress upon the Government of India to re-strategize the trade and business relations with Bangladesh for the mutual benefit of both sides, Sangma expressed satisfaction that several bilateral initiatives have been taken up in this direction.He also informed how the new National Highway 127B which would connect north Bengal with the western part of Meghalaya across the Brahmaputra with a 17 km long bridge is expected to serve as a "trade corridor between Bhutan, Nepal, North East India and Bangladesh".

The chief minister also highlighted about the

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma strength of renewable natural resources in the State that would provide immense opportunities to improve the economies on both sides. With the breakthrough of science, many unexplored renewable resources like Ramie (one of the strongest strong natural fibre indigenous to the region) can be harnessed by creating greater value for these natural resources.

He also mentioned that the State government with the support of the

Union government is actively working on a strategy to mitigate the climate change adaptation related problems and highlighted about the various missions Aquaculture, Apiculture and Horticulture - initiated by the Meghalaya government that would not only create livelihood opportunities to the people but also help the State to keep its sustainable ecology.With increased bilateral relations between both the

countries, Sangma felt the need for utilizing the proximity of sea route via Bangladesh to promote the trade and business in North East India. He also offered all possible policy support for the investments in the power sector too.The chief minister also spoke of the possibility of using the Sylhet International Airport for promotion of tourism in Meghalaya and also the possibility of using this facility to promote exports of the highvalue flowers and horticulture products from Meghalaya.He was accompanied by a delegation consisting of MIDC Chairperson Martin Danggo, MTDC Chairperson David Nongrum, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Industries, Peter Ingty, Commissioner & Secretary to the Chief Minister, P. Sampath Kumar, and officials representing Industries, Tourism, Agriculture, Horticulture and Power departments. (Agencies)

Nagaland-Assam Cop's death remains an enigma after one year border MLAs call people to shun violence Kohima, Jan 25: Cutting across all party lines, two elected representatives from Nagaland and Assam joined hands together in a bid to build confidence among the people of two border constituencies for peaceful coexistence. Parliamentary secretary for agriculture (Nagaland), Dr. Benjongliba Aier and parliamentary secretary for power (Assam), Rupjyoti Kurmi held an informal meeting at the residence of the Coordinator of the Border Peace Coordination Committee (AssamNagaland) at Mariani on Sunday.

In the meeting, the elected representatives from Alongtaki and Mariani assembly constituencies appealed to all sections living in the border areas for peaceful co-existence setting aside all sorts of violent activities at "all cost".The meeting of two MLAs was considered significant as the areas had witnessed violent activities for the past couple of years.In the meeting, both the legislators discussed the issues faced by people living in border areas and vowed to educate their own people so that they do not take law at their own hands but to report to the authorities concerned for any kind situation. They also appreciated the role of BPCC(A-N) in restor-

ing peace and normalcy in the area by way of confidence building between the people of the two states since its inception in 2005. The situation in Rankham area, where some tea plantations owned by one Badan Gogoi were reportedly destroyed by miscreants on January 22 was also discussed at the meet.

Both representatives claimed that January 22 incident and the border skirmishes in the past couple of years were the handiwork of some vested interested section of the society, who did not want peaceful coexistence in this border area.

The representatives have also proposed of organizing the "Gabroo Fest-2016" at Gabharo, and extend the celebration covering both the hills and plains areas.

They added that proposed festival would enhance the mission of Border Peace Coordination Committee (AN) as the BPCC (A-N) in creating a cordial and peaceful atmosphere between the people of border areas. The proposed festival would be graced by both the representatives as patrons.The meeting between the two representatives also assumed great significance as the constituencies witnessed border skirmishes for the past couple of years. ( Agencies)

Dr. Benjongliba Aier and Rupjyoti Kurmi interact.

Shillomg, Jan 25: On the first death anniversary of P.J. Marbaniang, officer in charge of Patharkhmah police outpost on January 24, there are still more questions than answers.A year after the mysterious death of the police officer, the relatives still want the truth to be revealed as they have not accepted the findings of the SIT which concluded the officer's death as suicide.

While the mother of late Marbaniang placed flowers at the grave of her late son at the cemetery at Nongrah on Sunday afternoon, the widow and other relatives will hold special prayers both at the residence and at the cemetery on Monday.When contacted on

Sunday, both the mother and the widow of the late officer said they were eager to know the truth behind his death. They are also waiting for the verdict of the Court in the case.The police officer was found lying in a pool of blood on January 24 at around 8:50 PM with bullet wounds on the head, a day after he had detained 32 coal laden trucks which violated the NGT ban on coal transportation.

There is discrepancy related to the death of the police officer as earlier, the doctor at Nongpoh CHC said that the death occurred at 8:50 PM, while the report of SIT, quoting GNRC, Guwahati, said the officer was de-

clared dead at 3:12 AM on January 25 after he was admitted at 12:20 AM at GNRC.Another difference was on the nature of the wound as the doctor at Patharkhmah PHC had observed that the injury was from the back of the head and the doctor stuck to her observation as per the report of SIT. Sources said that while the family including the mother of the victim pleaded for an independent inquiry or probe by CBI, police should have agreed to this suggestion to unravel the truth instead of a police team inquiring into the death of one of its own personnel which is bound to be under public scanner on the question of

how independent the probe would be.Sources pointed out that the police personnel at Patharkhmah did not preserve the crime scene and no action was taken against those who hurriedly washed the place of occurrence.Moreover, the blood socked uniform which the officer was wearing on the fateful day went missing as it was not collected by the police from GNRC.After the plea of the mother of the police officer for a CBI inquiry, the High Court of Meghalaya during the hearing on January 13 asked both the petitioner and the State government to apprise the Court of any order passed by the Sessions Court, Nongpoh related to

the case.

The High Court also referred to its order passed on October 27, 2015, "that several flaws so contended by N. Syngkon, counsel for the petitioner, can be effectively put up before the Court of Sessions at the time of consideration of the charge".

According to the High Court, it was clear under the CrPC that if the concerned Court of Sessions is not satisfied with the charge sheet submitted by the concerned authority for reason that there are several flaws in the charge sheet, the Court of Sessions can pass appropriate order for further investigation or any order which deems appropriate.

(Agencies)

Fight poll from hills: Gurung to CM Sukna (Siliguri), Jan. 25: Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief, today dared Mamata Banerjee to contest from one of the three Darjeeling hill seats in the coming Assembly elections, saying he would then prove a point to the chief minister. " Abhi main unko request karna chahunga ke anewala MLA chunao mein in tino mein se ek seat me unko larna chahiye. Tab main dikhaunga (I am requesting her to contest from one of the three seats from here.

Then I will show her)," Gurung told journalists at Sukna this evening where he had come to attend the final of a football tournament organised by a local sport association.The three hill constituencies are Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. The Morcha won all three seats in the last Assembly elections but right now holds none of the seats.

Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the

Kalimpong MLA resigned from the Morcha but not from his seat, making him an Independent MLA. Chhetri, who has announced that he plans to float his political outfit on January 27, by not quitting the seat violated a Morcha whip to its three MLAs to quit their seats to protest the state's high-handedness.Of the other two MLAs, Rohit Sharma, who was the Kurseong legislator, gave up his seat as the party had instructed.Trilok Dewan, the Darjeeling MLA quit the House seat and the party. Both Chhetri and Dewan said Gurung was dictatorial.In the hills, Trinamul has found few takers because it is not perceived to be a local outfit.

Since quitting the party, Chhetri has started campaigning against the Morcha and was seen on the dais with the chief minister during her recent visit to the hills last week.Asked if he was throwing a chal-

From Left) Bimal Gurung at Sukna on Sunday; file picture of Mamata Banerjee. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

lenge to Mamata, Gurung ridiculed her dream to turn Darjeeling to Switzerland."

Unko itna pasand hai na Darjeeling. Switzerland banayenge, aur kya banayenge. Switzerland to nahi bana, Murdaland ban raha hai (She loves Darjeeling so much. She wants to make it Switzerland and what not. Switzerland is a far cry, this is becoming a wasteland)," he

said."Whenever she visits Darjeeling, she gives us sorrow and pain. It seems her only work is to visit Darjeeling. There is no development in Bengal, and for Darjeeling, it is divide policy. So far, she has done nothing for the hills," he reacted, when he was asked about the formation of development boards of different sections hill communities.Accompanying

Gurung to the outskirts of Siliguri were Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and Rohit Sharma.The Morcha leaders will also attend the organisation's Terai unit's meeting at Dagapur on Monday.

"We will attend our organisation's Terai and Siliguri sub-divisional committee's meeting tomorrow. We are going to reshuffle it. As the Assembly polls are approaching, it is obvious that we have to work on our organisation as well, so that it can function in the plains also," Gurung said.After Chhetri's departure from the party, two of the Morcha's central committee members from MatigaraNaxalbari area resigned from the party.The Morcha chief's recent tour in the plains and reshuffling plans for the party's Terai and sub-divisional unit are being done to keep its support base intact in the plains as well, sources said. (Agencies)

Curfew lifted from Imphal, market plan scrapped Imphal, Jan 25: An indefinite curfew clamped in some parts of Manipur's capital city Imphal since Friday evening was lifted on Sunday night, and the government scrapped plans to set up a temporary market on a busy street. The step followed withdrawal of agitations by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Khumukcham Joykishan and 30 civil organisations.

They had planned a 24-hour public curfew in the town to protest construction of temporary market along the busy Thangal street.

Following the agitations and

clashes that led to the curfew, the Manipur government backed out of its plan to construct the temporary market since the original women's market was damaged in a recent earthquake.

Construction work instead was launched on Monday morning at two places on the eastern side of the Imphal town to provide sitting arrangements to 800 women vendors. Making the announcement on Sunday night, government spokesperson Moirangthem Okendra said the construction work will be completed in 15 days. However, the

displaced women vendors have announced they would forcibly occupy the damaged market complexes from the first week of February if the government failed to arrange alternative site for them by this monthend.

Welcoming the government decision to shift the venue of the temporary market complex elsewhere from the the busy Thangal street, BJP leader Joykishan said he and other civil organisations will extend cooperation. BJP's state unit president Thounaojam

Chaoba said: "The government should call an all-political parties meeting to discuss the issue. The matter cannot be solved by arresting one MLA or thousands of people."Okendra, however, said it is not desirable to have such a meeting.

"The political parties could

lend their support while demanding more funds for relief and rehabilitation," he added. Meanwhile, hundreds of displaced women vendors continue to sell the consumer items by the roadside. This has caused resentment among the street vendors. (Agencies)

Following the agitations and clashes that led to the curfew, the Manipur government backed out of its plan to construct the temporary market since the original women's market was damaged in a recent earthquake.

Speaking as a special guest at the inaugural session of the Bangladesh Investment & Policy Summit 2016 in Dhaka, the chief minister mooted the idea considering that Meghalaya shares 443 km long border with Bangladesh, with the Brahmaputra and other rivers connecting both the sides along with the presence of a number of land customs stations to facilitate smooth supply of raw materials to support the numerous industries in Bangladesh

Manik Sarkar expressed concern over recent attempts to destroy country's secular fabric Agartala, January 25 : Describing India as a beautiful flower garden the Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar expressed concern over recent attempts to destroy it.

He was speaking after inaugurating the annual flower exhibition cum competition organised by Horticulture Society of Tripura at Rabindra Kanan. A large number of participants attended the exhibition with different kind of flowers.

Pointing to the exhibits he said a garden become beautiful when many kind and species of flowers are there. Here he compared India with a flower garden and said it is beautiful because it is decorated with many kinds of people who speaks in different language, practice different religion, belongs to different cast and creed. He said India is beautiful because there are differences in their dress, culture and food habit.He expressed concern over the attempt to destroy the kaleidoscope and said a section is trying to preach that only the Hindus will live in this country and even saying that if the Muslims, Christians, Buddhists or Sikhs are to live here they will have to be Hindu. He said in last 20 months non-Hindus and their place of warships were attacked in various places with a threat to become Hindu and said it is a dangerous trend.He urged the people to come forward to safe guard the social garden with a secular mind. 'We will loss the special interest we draw in the international arena if this fabric is lost', he commented.Though did not name anyone his main target was the BJP, the RSS and its various Hindutva organisations about which he is always critical. He seem to be worried with the growing initiative of the party in power in the centre to expand its organisational base in the country's only left ruled state. (Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

PAGE 6

President of India approved conferment of Padma Awards to persons New Delhi,Jan 25: Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, were announced on Sunday. The awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc..

The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year.

This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 104 persons including 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. 17 of the awardees are women and also includes 17 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and 4 Posthumous awardees Padma Vibhushan include :LK Advani- Public Affairs- Gujarat, Amitabh Bachchan- ArtMaharashtra, Prakash Singh Badal- Public Affairs- Punjab, Dr D Veerendra Heggade- Social Work-

Karnataka,Mohammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip KumarArtMaharashtra, Jagadguru Ramanandacharya S w a m i Rambhadracharya- Others- Uttar Pradesh, Prof Malur Ramaswamy Srinivasan- Science and Engineering- Tamil Nadu,Kottayan K. Venugopal- Public Affairs- DelhiKarim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (Foreigner)- Trade and Industry- France/UK. Padma Bhushan include: Jahnu Barua- ArtAssam, Dr Vijay Bhatkar- Science and E n g i n e e r i n g Maharashtra,Shri Swapan Dasgupta- Literature and EducationDelhi, Swami Satyamitranand GiriOthers- Uttar Pradesh,N Gopalaswami- Civil Service- Tamil Nadu, Dr Subhash C KashyapPublic Affairs- Delhi,Dr (Pandit) Gokulotsavji Maharaj- Art- Madhya Pradesh,Dr Ambrish Mithal- Medicine Delhi, Sudha Ragunathan- Art- Tamil Nadu, Shri Harish SalvePublic Affairs- Delhi,Dr Ashok Seth- MedicineDelhi, Rajat Sharma- Literature and EducationDelhi, Satpal- SportsDelhi, Shivakumara SwamiOthersKarnataka, Dr Kharag Singh Valdiya- Science and EngineeringKarnataka, Prof Manjul Bhargava (NRI/PIO)-

Delhi's citizens will decide future of odd-even vehicle rationing: Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal New Delhi, Jan.25 : The future of the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme will be decided by the citizens of Delhi in consultation with the MLAs that represent them in the Delhi Assembly, said Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal on Monday.Describing the January 1 to 15 odd-even vehicle rationing scheme as a pilot project of his AAP Government, Kejriwal said that the next step would be to hold 'jan sabhas' across the city to seek public opinion.

He said every Aam Aadmi

Party MLA will organise such meetings in his or her constituency to determine and decide the future course of the road rationing measure.He said that the people of Delhi will be taken into confidence on the issue.He was speaking at a pre-Republic Day related function at the Chhatrasal Stadium here.The Chief Minister unfurled the tri-colour and took Guard of Honour from contingents of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, Civil Defense, NCC, school students which was followed by a cultural programme. (ANI)

Netaji's grand nephew set to join BJP Kolkata, Jan. 25 : Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassified files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the late freedom fighter's grand nephew Chandra Bose is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).With the assembly polls in West Bengal round the corner, Chandra Bose is expected to be projected as the BJP's prominent face in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) bastion.Talking to the media prior to his meeting with BJP president Amit Shah, Chandra Bose accused the Congress of trying to wipe out the late freedom fighter's ideology.

"Let me first join then I will tell you exactly why I joined

and why I would like to contribute. There is lot of reasons for it and declassification (of files) is one of the reasons... The BJP now believes in the ideology of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, which was wiped out by the Congress government. We want to revive the legacy of Subhash Bose," he said.As per reports, Chandra Bose is likely to campaigning against TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the polls.The BJP is hopeful of making a significant dent in TMC-ruled West Bengal, which is set to go to polls in May this year.The TMC stormed to power in 2011, putting an end to the 34-year-long Left rule in West Bengal. (ANI)

President of India approved conferment of Padma Awards Science and Engineering- USA, David Frawley (Vamadeva) (Foreigner)- OthersUSA, Bill Gates (Foreigner)- Social WorkUSA Melinda Gates (Foreigner)- Social WorkUSA, Saichiro Misumi (Foreigner)- Others- Japan Padma Shri includes: Dr Manjula AnaganiMedicine- Telangana, S Arunan- Science and Engineering- Karnatak, Kanyakumari AvasaralaArt- Tamil Nadu, Dr Bettina Sharada BaumerLiterature and Education- Jammu and Kashmir, Naresh Bedi- ArtDelhi Ashok Bhagat- Social Work- Jharkhand,Sanjay Leela Bhansali- ArtMaharashtra, Dr Lakshmi Nandan BoraLiterature and Education- Assam,Dr Gyan Chaturvedi- Literature and Education- Madhya

Pradesh, Prof (Dr) Yogesh Kumar ChawlaMedicine- Chandigarh, Jayakumari ChikkalaMedicine- Delhi Bibek Debroy- Literature and EducationDelhi, Dr Sarungbam Bimola Kumari DeviMedicine- Manipur, Dr Ashok Gulati- Public Affairs- Delhi Dr Randeep GuleriaMedicine- Delhi,Dr KP Haridas- MedicineKerala Rahul Jain- Art- Delhi, Ravindra Jain- ArtMaharashtra, Dr Sunil Jogi- Literature and Education- Delhi, Prasoon Joshi- Art- Maharashtra Dr Prafulla Kar- ArtOdisha, Saba AnjumSports- Chhattisgarh, Ushakiran Khan- Literature and EducationBihar, Dr Rajesh Kotecha- MedicineRajasthan Prof Alka KriplaniMedicine Delhi,Dr Harsh Kumar- Medicine-

Delhi Narayana Purushothama Mallaya- Literature & Education- Kerala, Lambert Mascarenhas- Literature and EducationGoa, Dr Janak Palta McGilligan- Social Work- Madhya Pradesh, Veerendra Raj MehtaSocial Work- Delhi Tarak Mehta- ArtGujarat,Neil Herbert Nongkynrih (Art), Meghalaya, Chewang Norphel- Others- Jammu and Kashmir,TV Mohandas Pai- Trade and Industry- Karnataka, Dr Tejas Patel- Medicine- Gujarat, Jadav Molai Peyang- OthersAssam, Bimla PoddarOthers- Uttar Pradesh, Dr N Prabhakar- Science and Engg- Delhi, Dr Prahalada- Science and Engg- Maharashtra, Dr Narendra Prasad- MedicineBihar,Ram Bahadur Rai- Literature and Education- Delhi Mithali Raj- SportsTelangana, PV Rajaraman- Civil Service- Tamil Nadu,Prof JS Rajput- Literature and Education- Uttar Pradesh, Kota Srinivasa Rao- ArtAndhra Pradesh,Prof Bimal Roy- Literature and Education- West Bengal Shekhar Sen- ArtMaharashtra, Gunvant Shah- Literature and Education- Gujarat, Brahmdev Sharma- Literature and Education- Delhi,Manu Sharma- Literature and Education- Uttar Pradesh, Prof Yog Raj Sharma-

Medicine- Delhi, Vasant Shastri- Science and Engg- Karnataka, SK Shivkumar- Science and Engg- Karnataka PV Sindhu- SportsTelangana, Sardara SinghSports- Haryana, Arunima Sinha-SportsUttar Pradesh,Mahesh Raj SoniArt- Rajasthan, Dr Nikhil Tandon- Medicine- Delhi, H Thegtse Rinpoche- Social Work- Arunachal Pradesh, Dr Hargovind Laxmishanker TrivediMedicine- Gujarat, Huang Baosheng- Others- China, Prof Jacques BlamontScience and EnggFrance,Late Syedna M o h a m m a d Burhanuddin- OthersMaharashtra (Posthumous), Jean-Claude Carriere- Literature and Education - France, Dr Nandrajan 'Raj' ChettyLiterature and EducationFrance, George L HartOthers- USA, Jagat Guru Amrta Suryananda Maha Raja- Others- Portugal, Late Meetha Lal MehtaSocial Work- Rajasthan (Posthumous) Tripti Mukherjee- ArtUSA,Dr Dattatreyudu Nori- Medicine- USA, Dr Raghu Rama Pillarisetti (Medicine), USA,Dr Saumitra Rawat- Medicine- UK,Prof Annette Schmiedchen (Literature and Education), Germany, Late Pran Kumar Sharma alias Pran- ArtDelhi (Posthumous), Late R Vasudevan- Civil Service- Tamil Nadu (Posthumous) (Agencies)

TN students' suicide: 'My daughter was murdered', claims victim's father Viluppuram, Jan.25 : The father of one of the three girls, who committed suicide in Tamil Nadu, has raised suspicion over his daughter's death and alleged that she was murdered.Filing a petition in the Madras High Court, the father also alleged that the postmortem was done without his permission, and, therefore, demanded that it should be done again in Chennai.

"I filed a petition in the Madras High Court that the post-mortem should

be done again in Chennai. Without my permission, they did the post-mortem of my daughter. I think she was murdered," he told ANI. Yesterday, four people were detained in connection with this case where three second-year students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy and Research Institute at Kallakurichi near Viluppuram in Tamil Nadu committed suicide.The girls, in their

suicide note, have accused the administration of charging excess fees and 'torture' and blamed college chairman Vasuki Subramanian for their death.The three girls namely E. Saranya and V. Priyanka (both 18 years) and T. Monisha (19 years) in a two-page suicide note said that the students had filed several complaints against Subramanian but to no avail. Citing "torture" by the management, the girls hoped that their suicide would finally force

the authorities to take action against the chairman.

The girls accused the administration of charging 'excess fees' around Rs. six lakh and never giving the bill. They also mentioned that the college lacked proper classes or teachers and there was 'nothing to learn'.The students had been protesting for more than a month over lack of infrastructure, but it was only in the last two weeks that the protest turned vigorous.

(ANI)

French President pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

French President pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat New Delhi, Jan.25 : The visiting French President, Francois Hollande, paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat here this morning.He was accompanied by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar.

Later, Hollande also planted a sapling in the Rajghat premises.

The French President was earlier accorded a ceremonial reception at the

forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.Later in the day, he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House, which will be followed by signing of agreements between both sides in various key sectors.The French President will on Tuesday witness the Republic Day parade at Rajpath as the chief guest.

This is the fifth time that a serving President of France will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day function. (ANI)

The visiting French President, Francois Hollande, paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat

India to set up satellite tracking station in Vietnam New Delhi, Jan.25 : India is all set to launch a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam that will give Hanoi access to pictures from Indian earth observation satellites that would cover China and the South China Sea.Since long Vietnam has been looking for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies as tensions rise with China over the disputed South China Sea, reports Dawn.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will fund and set up the satel-

lite tracking and data reception centre in Ho Chi Minh City to monitor Indian satellite launches which would cost around 23 million dollars.The earth observation satellites will have agricultural, scientific and environmental applications and security experts informed that improved imaging technology meant the pictures could also be used for military purposes.The deepening ties between two countries could irritate China who both has long running territorial dispute with Vietnam.(ANI)

Bihar Govt has nothing to do with Alam's bail: JD (U) Patna, Jan. 25 : The Janata Dal (United) today said it had nothing to do with the bail of its MLA Sarfraz Alam, who allegedly misbehaved with a woman on a train, and slammed media for dal said Bihar Govt asking the government Janata has nothing to do with about it.JD (U) spokesAlam's bail person Ajay Alok said the media should refrain cial process in which itself from asking 'unnec- government has no role. essary' questions regard- This is in the Constituing the case as it was now tion. If those sections up to the court to were bailable then he will decide."This is all judi- get bail from concerned

court. Government has no role in it. Why are you asking government about it?," he told ANI. "Unnecessarily the media is asking such questions. Go and ask why Amit Shah was given bail when he charged with extortion and loot? How did Maya Kodnani get bail?" he added.The suspended JD (U) MLA, who was arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a Delhi-based couple onboard a

Rajdhani Express on January 17, was released on bail late yesterday night.Alam was interrogated for four hours on Saturday during which he admitted to have travelled by the Rajdhani Express, after having denied travelling by it earlier.He, however, denied charges of misbehaving with a woman.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had last week suspended Alam from the party.

(ANI)

Engineering student commits suicide in Vijayawada Vijayawada , Jan.25 : An engineering student of Nova Engineering College allegedly committed suicide in Vijayawada late on Saturday night.22-year-old Puvvala Prem Prasad, a fourth-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, ended his life by hanging himself in his hostel room.

He did not leave any suicide note.Pavan Prasad, brother of Prem, said that only two days back he was with his brother and he seemed very friendly."We don't know what had happened in college or the hostel. We all are in a shock. He was a very hard working boy who aimed for a huge success in life," he said.

Earlier, three female students of Svs Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy and Research Institute had committed suicide in Tamil Nadu due to lack of basic infrastructure in the institute.These incidents came to light after Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar of Hyderabad University, allegedly committed sui-

cide after he and his four friends were suspended by the authorities from the hostel after a fight with the ABVP activists in the campus.The Hyderabad incident had sparked nationwide outrage with the opposition demanding the resignations of Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya.

(ANI)

India to set up satellite tracking station in Vietnam

HRW calls on Lanka to accomplish UNHRC commitments New York,Jan.25: Global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by ensuring that foreign judges and prosecutors play a significant role in the mandated accountability mechanism for wartime abuses.President Maithripala Sirisena said he will not agree to the international involvement as Sri Lanka has more than enough specialists, experts and knowledgeable people to solve our internal issues,reports the Lanka Page web site.

The HRW, however, stressed that Human Rights Council members and observer countries

that backed the consensus in October 2015 resolution should make clear that foreign participation in a war crimes tribunal was already decided by the council and is not subject to renegotiation.The Council pointed out that President Sirisena needs to understand that international participation in a war crimes tribunal was not a vague promise to the UN but a firm commitment to the thousands of Sri Lankans who suffered during the country's long civil war.The 2015 Human Rights Council resolution affirmed the importance of participation in a justice mechanism of 'Commonwealth, foreign judges and authorized prosecutors and investigators'.(ANI)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Opium poppy farmers reject crop ban, war on drugs Khaleda summoned Yangon , Jan 25:"We reject prohibition and the war on drugs," small-scale farmers from 14 countries, including Myanmar, said in a joint statement at the end of a Global Forum of Prohibited Plant Producers held in Heemskerk, the Netherlands, that was organized by advocacy group Transnational Institute (TNI).

member delegation included farmers from opium-growing areas of Kachin, Kayah and Shan states. One male poppy farmer spoke out against eradication, saying, "Those who come to destroy our poppy fields should put themselves in the place of the farmers.

How would you feel if your livelihood was destroyed? They should ask themselves what support they have given us before they came," he said."Income from opium is our main livelihood.

Without it we cannot survive."The farmers said that, in their experience, alternative development programs had largely failed to improve the livelihoods of those living in affected communities.

Opium poppy farmers reject crop ban, war on drugs

Participants rejected outright prohibition and asserted their right to cultivate coca, cannabis and opium poppies for cultural, medical and religious reasons. Conclusions from the conference stressed that forced eradication of the crops went against human rights and caused major economic and social problems."The prohibition of coca, cannabis and opium poppy

generates conflicts, as the people that grow them are criminalised, their human and cultural rights are violated, they are discriminated against and legally prosecuted," their statement said.

Regulation of coca, cannabis and opium production via international treaties interferes with above-

Two Chinese killed in "bomb" blast in Laos - Xinhua Beijing, Jan 25 : Two Chinese nationals were killed and another wounded in a suspected bomb blast in Laos, Chinese state media said on Monday, the latest incident in which Chinese citizens have been killed abroad as the country's economic footprint grows.China's embassy in Laos confirmed the blast, which occurred on Sunday morning. The victims had been travelling in a vehicle on the mountain roads of Xaysomboun province.

"Laos military personnel rushed to the scene and the injured, surnamed Zhou, has been shifted to a hospital in the capital, Vientiane, for treatment," Xinhua said.

Chinese embassy officials visited the injured person and demanded a prompt investigation into the "suspected bomb

attack," .At least one of the Chinese victims was an employee of a mining company from southern China's Yunnan province, it said.Xinhua did not give further details and it is unclear if the individuals were targeted.The remote Xaysomboun region has been plagued by sporadic conflict between the government and ethnic Hmong militants for years.Chinese workers have increasingly come under attack as the country's firms expand operations abroad, often in politically unstable places.In November, three executives from a Chinese state-run railway firm were killed when militants attacked a hotel in Mali, which highlighted China's limited means to respond t o threats abroad.

(Agencies)

Sri Lanka launches investigation into alleged human kidney racket

The illegal kidney trade is common throughout South Asia where poor 'donors' are paid as little as US$500.

Colombo, Jan 25:Sri Lanka has launched an investigation into allegations that a group of surgeons ran a racket trading human kidneys, the health ministry said after the authorities banned all kidney transplant surgery for foreigners.The health ministry has appointed a committee of five experts to run the investigation, it said in a statement. Allegations of the racket first surfaced in Indian media. Most of the alleged recipients of the illegally traded kidneys were Indian nationals.

Trading in human organs is illegal in Sri Lanka.

On Thursday, Sri Lanka's Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said all kidney transplant surgery performed on foreigners had

been suspended until an investigation was completed."If somebody has done business with kidney, that is unacceptable and illegal. What we have heard is that intermediaries have earned an exorbitant amount of money and six doctors have been involved."Indian media, quoting a top police official, said one person detained in the case had facilitated 15 kidney donations at a fee of 100,000 Indian rupees (US$1,480) per transaction, while each donor was given 500,000 rupees.According to the reports, around 60 people sold their kidneys for transplants at four hospitals in Colombo since 2012. (Agencies)

board or traditional usage, it said.An opium farmer from Myanmar who attended the growers' conference extolled the crop's value as a curative, according to TNI."We use opium as a medicine against coughing and dysentery, and [to] cure animals," he said. "It is good to use after being bitten by a poisonous snake."Myanmar's nine-

are to be submitted to a UN General Assembly Special Session, to be held in New York in April, which will discuss all aspects of global drug control policies.Participants expressed support for efforts to end wars in Myanmar and Colombia but called for a more inclusive peace process.Myanmar is the world's second-largest producer of opium after Afghanistan, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

(UNODC). "Poppy is clearly cultivated for economic reasons, with an average of 46 percent of the headmen of poppygrowing villages reporting that farmers cultivate opium in order to make more - or easy - income, while 40 percent specified that farmers do not cultivate opium to make more money per se, but rather to be able to cover family expenses as a result of poverty or lack of 'livelihood assistance'," the UNODC said. (Agencies)

Opium poppy farmers from Myanmar attending an international conference on "prohibited plants" have rejected a ban on growing their crops and urged an end to forced eradication.

The forum's conclusions

New migration policy to be discussed in cabinet today Dhaka, Jan 25:The cabinet is going to discuss new policy on Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Act 2013 with provisions to expand new labour market and consolidate the existing market.The policy was last formulated in 2006 and recognizing the reality and changes that took place in the last 10 years, the new policy incorporated many new things .It is scheduled to be discussed in today's cabinet meeting and expected to get its stamp. The new policy includes components like instructions at the seven fifth-year plan, protection of migrants, analysis of different labour markets and open-

ing of new labour wings at the different embassies.

When contacted, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khandker Mohammad Iftekhar Haider told the Dhaka Tribune that the new policy has many new features.The seventh five-year plan which will be applicable from current fiscal to 2019-20 has specific directives about migrations, he said adding, "We incorporated all those in the new policy."The new policy also talked about protection of migration and dignity on foreign lands, the secretary said.The labour wings will analysis market trend in differ-

ent countries and send report to Dhaka about what type of professions have demand in which countries, he added.When asked about the objection of foreign ministry about the sole authority of Expat ministry to open up new labour mission, he said different ministries have different views about the issue and he welcomed those.A foreign ministry official seeking anonymity said labour wing should be opened after consulting with the foreign ministry.Migration diplomacy is a part of greater diplomacy and opening of new labour mission should be considered in the context of greater diplomatic policy of the

country.

Citing example, he said it is not possible to send labour to the Middle East countries in absence of political relations and such relationship is developed and nurtured by the diplomats."If we want to open up labour mission in Russia or Australia, there would be negative impact on our bilateral relationship," he said.

He said expatriate welfare ministry was merged with its foreign ministry in India recently as they understood that migration is a very sensitive and political issue and the migration policy and its other components should be formulated after consulting with foreign ministry and other. (Agencies)

Pakistan arrests 64 for providing financial aid to terrorists Islamabad, Jan 25: At least eight militants were killed and several others injured in an airstrike by Pakistani military in the country's northwest North Waziristan region on Sunday, officials said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that Pakistani Air Force jets pounded several hideouts of suspected militants in Datta Khel and Shawal towns of North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal area along the PakistanAfghanistan border.

The identities of the militants were not revealed in the statement. However, it was reported that the

killed insurgents included both local and foreign terrorists. The airstrike was part of the ongoing operation Zarbe-Azb in North Waziristan area which has so far killed over 3 , 0 0 0 militantsAccording to an earlier statement by the Director General of InterServices Public Relation, the army's media wing, operation in Shawal town is the last push against militants as the nearly 18-month-long offensive has entered its final phase after most of the areas in North Waziristan have been cleared of the militants. (Agencies)

At least eight militants were killed and several others injured in an airstrike by Pakistani military in the country's northwest North Waziristan region

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that Pakistani Air Force jets pounded several hideouts of suspected militants in Datta Khel and Shawal towns of North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal area along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border

in sedition case

Khaleda zia

Dhaka, Jan 25:A Dhaka court has asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on March 3 in a sedition case filed for her recent comment about the number of Liberation War martyrs. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Rashed Talukdar passed the order today.Earlier in the day, lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi filed the case with the court.

The case was filed after getting approval from the Home Ministry. On Sunday, the Home Ministry gave approval to file the case.During a discussion on December 21 last year, Khaleda Zia said

there were doubts about whether three million people really got killed during the 1971 Liberation War. She also alleged that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to become the prime minister of undivided Pakistan rather than leading the nation to independence.These comments sparked massive criticism. Two days later, lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi served a legal notice to the BNP chief, asking her to issue an "unconditional apology."Having not got any reply, last week Mehedi filed a plea with the Home Ministry seeking clearance to file a sedition case against Khaleda. (Agencies)

Sri Lanka to move key state offices out of Colombo Colombo, Jan 25:Key government agencies including the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office and President's house will be moved to outlying areas from the centre of the city, as part of building the Megapolis in the Western Province, Minister Patali Ranawaka said."We have identified at least 33 government offices that will be shifted during the next 10 years," Minister Ranawaka told members of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka."This includes President's House, Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister's office and Prime Minister's residence."

Manning Market in Colombo's Pettah area would be moved to accommodate a transport

hub shortly.A relocation administration is to set up. Under the Megapolis plan 113 state agencies including 50 Departments, 32 Authorities and Boards, 31 ministries are expected to be moved. Battaramulla, Kaduwela and Kottawa would be key locations.Among other agencies that are expected to be moved in the first phase are prisons headquarters, Mahweli Authority, Department of Survey, Labour Secretariat, Department of Motor Traffic, CID office add the Postal Department.

Other agencies include, Sri Lanka Telecom, Ceylon Electricity Board, National Housing Development Authority and Ministries of Transport and Disaster Management. (Agencies)

JI to launch drive ISIS warns Malaysia, Indonesia of attacks against corruption over arrest of members

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 25 :Islamic State (IS) terror group has threatened Malaysia and Indonesia with new attacks over the arrests of its members in these multi-ethnic but Muslim- majority countries, days after the Indonesian capital was hit by bombings that killed eight people.In a strongly defiant video posted in Makay language, the MalaysianIndonesian unit of IS, called the Katibah Nusantara, warned that its numbers would only increase with the arrests of its members.

"If you catch us, we will only increase in number

but if you let us be, we will be closer to our goal of bringing back the rule of the Khalifah (caliph).

"We will never bow down to the democratic system of governance as we will only follow Allah's rules," the video reportedly said according to The Star newspaper.

The video was reportedly posted on an IS website, signifying Katibah's increasing recognition within the terror group.Malaysia Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division head Ayob Khan said the threat and direct chal-

lenge to the government reflected Katibah's brazen stance. "It further proves that IS, especially the Katibah group, views our country as secular and as such makes the Government and the people as its targets. This is no doubt in retaliation against our security forces' actions against them," he said. He said the counter terrorism division would be more vigilant as attacks could occur at anytime."Prior to this, we only saw videos posted on Facebook or other social media sites but this particular video is a clear indication that Katibah is

among the major foreign factions in IS," said Ayob Khan. Katibah first came under the radar of intelligence agencies two years ago when it was called Majmu'ah al Arkhabiliy. The warning comes just days after Indonesian capital Jakarta was hit by bombings and gunfights, claimed by IS, that killed eight people and injured dozens other on January 14.Both Malaysia and Indonesia are Muslimmajority countries, with diverse populations of ethnic Malay, Indians, and Chinese.

(Agencies)

Karachi, Jan 25: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Senator Sirajul Haq on Sunday announced to launch a massive drive for elimination of corruption and poverty from the society. Addressing a party convention in North Nazimabad area, he said that looted money of Rs 375 billion have been transacted abroad.The JI supremo said that 2018 would be the year of change and masses would get rid of those US allies who robbed the country.

"The JI is a movement with the only purpose to bringing a peaceful Islamic revolution which would also ensure pros-

perity in the country. We want to see the system of God Almighty, which was practiced and showed by the Holy Prophet (PBUH)," he said.The JI leader said that the present government has been failed to resolve the problems of people and instead the burden on common men is continuously increasing through pounding in foreign loans. Instead of eliminating corruption and mismanagement from the national institutions, the government is mulling to sale out the institutions, he alleged and added the JI would not accept privatisation of national institutions.

(Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Northeast: An Analysis into the Economic Factors The 67th Republic Day Anniversary of having become a sovereign state This 26th of January and 1.2 billion people will celebrate the 66th anniversary of having become a sovereign state. But in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack, as many as 10,000 personnel from paramilitary forces have been deployed in the city as part of security arrangements leading up to Republic Day celebrations. Like the curate's egg - good and bad in parts, the year has been divisive in its texture and given us considerable concerns for the future.

Tolerance or its absence was the crayon we chose for the most part of the year and crossed from one month to another on rickety rope-over-bridges which comprised half-kept promises of better days ahead.

The weakening of the rupee only underscored the doubts that the economic sun was hot on full flare.

High-profile murder investigations, a politically-exploited suicide, acts of terror and the soaring price line marked 2015 as a year where nothing much got done, in either the country or, ironically, its parliament.

India has to look back and ensure that 2016 does not replicate the sludgy motions of the past. A nation moved by its own hypocrisy where the rights of women are concerned. The year will be most remembered for the reckoning and the call to face of the not-so-funny mirror. Nothing has demanded so much action and so much reaction from the political and bureaucrat cabals that rule this land than the attacks on women and children. And the ripple effect of that cruelty. The nation's capital is still the rape capital of the world and there is nothing edifying in that label.

But also with the price index rising, the employment rate stagnant and the political will not shored by the promised sense of commitment anvil, India stands as a superpower seeking benediction and a leadership it believed it had. As its state governments engage in petty battles at the federal level, the confusion is an even greater cause for concern. The fight against corruption that became a clarion call sank to a whisper in the nation. The better days stay elusive.

Not many battles were won against the common enemies of mankind: Disease, poverty, unemployment and hunger.

Over the years, innate honesty and the inbred acceptance of hierarchical authority often misinterpreted in modern times as weakness rather than a Teutonic fondness for order, gave Indians a leading edge. They moved swiftly up the ladder, excelling in organising business, in bargaining with logic and steadfastness and always ensuring that they did not cheat their employer. In these formative centuries of the Indian diaspora, the Indian stamina for mental exercise became a hallmark of the community's worth and its favoured status.

UN Global Counter-Terrorism Terrorism and violation of human rights According to the United Nations Global CounterTerrorism Strategy, "The promotion and protection of human rights for all and the rule of law is essential to all components of the strategy, recognizing that effective counter-terrorism measures and the promotion of human rights are not conflicting goals, but complementary and mutually reinforcing". The human cost of terrorism has been felt in virtually every corner of the globe.

The United Nations family has itself suffered tragic human loss as a result of violent terrorist acts. The attack on its offices in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 claimed the lives of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 other men and women, and injured over 150 others, some very seriously. Terrorism clearly has a very real and direct impact on human rights, with devastating consequences for the enjoyment of the right to life, liberty and physical integrity of victims. In addition to these individual costs, terrorism can destabilize Governments, undermine civil society, jeopardize peace and security, and threaten social and economic development. All of these also have a real impact on the enjoyment of human rights. Security of the individual is a basic human right and the protection of individuals is, accordingly, a fundamental obligation of Government. In recent years, however, the measures adopted by States to counter terrorism have themselves often posed serious challenges to human rights and the rule of law. Some States have engaged in torture and other ill-treatment to counter terrorism, while the legal and practical safeguards available to prevent torture, such as regular and independent monitoring of detention centres, have often been disregarded.

Respect for human rights and the rule of law must be the bedrock of the global fight against terrorism.

This requires the development of national counterterrorism strategies that seek to prevent acts of terrorism, prosecute those responsible for such criminal acts, and promote and protect human rights and the rule of law. It implies measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including the lack of rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization; to foster the active participation and leadership of civil society; to condemn human rights violations, prohibit them in national law, promptly investigate and prosecute them, and prevent them; and to give due attention to the rights of victims of human rights violations, for instance through restitution and compensation.

Pranjal Kumar Phukan Abstract The economic development position in northeast India is characterized by trends prevailing in the country as a whole, as well as some features which are unique to this region. To a large extent, colonial interests dictated the development of the economy of the northeast. Economic development of the region followed a specific pattern.

Economic activities got concentrated in select pockets. Together with the perpetuation of traditional practices, select and focused development impeded the efficacy of modernization in the region.

natural fall-out. Economic development of the region followed a specific pattern. Economic activities got concentrated in select pockets. Vast areas, therefore, remain inaccessible and backward even to this day. Together with the perpetuation of traditional practices, select and focused development impeded the efficacy of the process of modernization in the region.

To compound the problem, socio-economic differentials in many cases coincide with ethnic differences. The seeds of isolation and separateness of the northeast from the rest of the counEconomic factors ap- try can be traced to the pear to be the most po- colonial period. Through tent reason for the con- the creation of backward tinued political unrest and tracts, excluded areas uncertainty in the entire and partially excluded region. Irrespective of areas, the colonial adthe stance and the vo- ministration had drawn cabulary/ language used, an Inner Line, marking economic causes the extent of revenue emerge as a common administration beyond theme in all the analyses which the tribal people of of various problems in the region were left to India's northeast. Per- manage their own afhaps the most cursory fairs. Independent India look at this region would followed the same point to the fact that the policy. region lags behind the rest of the country, par- The Inner Line system of ticularly those parts of the pre-1947 period was the country with compa- retained by the post-corable resource endow- lonial system of administration. Additionally, ments. traditional institutions The economic develop- were strengthened ment of the northeastern through the creation of region is characterized Autonomous Councils to both by trends prevailing safeguard land ownerin the country as a whole ship and control of land. as well as some fea- These measures contures, which are unique trolled the population to this region. To a large movement and curbed extent, traditionally from further alienation of land. colonial times the region However, one of the imhas become an exporter portant negative fallouts of primary raw materi- of the Inner Line system als. The post-colonial has been the perpetuamode of development tion of the isolationist also seemed to endorse tendencies in the hilly such a policy. This is evi- and mountainous parts of dent in the way transpor- the region. It has kept the tation and communica- people apart and minition linkages developed in mized the sobering imthe region, which remain pact of modernization. concentrated in the up- Till late 1960s, the acper Brahmaputra valley. cepted norm for conferThe sprawling rural hin- ring statehood within the terlands continued with Indian Union was that traditional agriculture, even when other condiwhile the revenue from tions were satisfied the tea and oil sustained the territory in question must urban centres. A dispar- also have the revenue ity in the various sectors resources to meet its of the economy and vari- administrative expendious sub-regions was the ture and other non-devel-

opmental expenditures.

However, this criterion was given up in the reorganization of the northeastern states.

Starting with Nagaland and ending with Mizoram, which became a state in 1987, the entire region with just 2.55 lakh sq. km has been parceled into7 states.

None of them met the requirement of internal resources meeting the obligatory non-developmental expenditure.

Among the consequences of not raising the revenues internally has been the tendency to multiply administrative units and staff beyond reasonable requirements; and to be overgenerous in the provision of facilities and allowances.

The northeast region spreads over an area of a little less than 260,000 sq. km with a population which is rather low, i.e.

32 million (1991 census).

All eight states are special category states whose developmental plans are almost entirely centrally financed on the basis of 90 per cent grants and 10 per cent loans (GOI, 1997). The funding pattern of development for the special category states accords them a built-in preferential treatment. There is no agricultural surplus and capital formation and entrepreneurial skills are limited. In terms of per capita income and other standard development indicators such as power, road lengths, hospital beds, etc., the northeast ranks below the Indian national average.

Through the 1980s, the economic growth was higher than the national average in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Except for Assam, they were quite comparable to the national economic growth.

Even after more than fifty years of independence, these states have remained outside the mainstream of economic life. Barring the Imphal valley and some pockets elsewhere, agricultural yields are low in the northeast while traditional farming with a shrinking 'Jhum' (shifting cultivation) cycle has become ecologically unsustainable. Assam has seen some earlier development around tea, oil and timber. However, the economy of the region is basically pre-industrial type despite the presence of a number of

Googleimages saw-mills and plywood factories, a few cement plants and some other industries related to oil and coal. Handlooms and handicrafts, once the pride of the northeastern states, are on the decline, but have considerable potential if given contemporary functionality through design, marketing capital and other inputs.

Buddhadeb Ghosh and Prabir De say that four deficits confront the northeast: (a) a basic locational (northeast) deficit; (b) an infrastructural deficit; (c) a resource deficit; and last but not the least (d) a two-way deficit in understanding with the rest of the country, which compounds the others.

This is because all these states began with a low level of economic development. The 1991 economic reforms created severe contractions at the national level in 199192 and the impact was felt in some of the economies of the region.

While the economies in other states recovered fast, those in the northeast slowed down. The trend is clear from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya.

A similar trend in the economic growth rate of per capita net state domestic product (PCNSDP) shows that growth in per capita incomes lagged behind in Assam in 1980 and stagnated in the 1990s. The share of the region in the all India net domestic product is less than 3 per cent and is declining further. This indicates further marginalization of the region in the national economy.12 Another related problem that has been cited is that despite availability of funding there is hardly

ever any back up support system for any individual enterprises.18 In spite of reservation and education, the system has not equipped the average tribal to compete outside the region in the national mainstream. It has turned the tribal society inward and the inherent frustration of such groups-closed in outlook and backward-leads to their distancing themselves from the wider national life. Regionalism and insurrections are once again the natural fall-out.

A recent study emphasizes the rather stark presence of the black economy in this region.

Leakages account for virtually the entire pool of development resources and relief supplies allotted to states afflicted by terror. This study also highlights our common misperception that terrorist activities in the state are in violent confrontation with the government. In fact, they are all part of a complex collusive arrangement where various legitimate power elites facilitate a continuous transfer of resources into the underground economy.

The responsibility for economic development lies with three agenciesthe central government, the NEC and the local governments at the level of the states and union territories in the region.

The main thrust of the central schemes is on the establishment of industries and extension of communication facilities. Many critics say that the NEC was designed as an institution for regional development and it also had a security perspective.

But the security aspect has virtually disappeared while the developmental role has been

limited.25 However, as far as its developmental role is concerned, the NEC aims at creating an infrastructure involving more than one political unit. The development of the common man is more directly the responsibility of the state administration and its planning process. The state governments have, in pursuance of central directives and on their own, floated schemes of development from time to time.26 Conclusion Despite official efforts at policy formulation to cater to the developmental needs of the northeastern states, nothing significant has yet come out during the last several years.

In fact, the steady flow of central funds into the hands of the local elite has indirectly discouraged local initiatives, which could have been otherwise harnessed to raise the financial resources of the different states in the region.

Moreover, in many cases, it has given rise to a political leadership more interested in grabbing funds coming from the centre than in actually using them to uplift the economy of the states. The prevailing economy also, in many ways, through its backdoor channels makes the insurgencies possible and in fact sustains them.

Only by giving them an opportunity to participate in the political process can one hope to put a lid on the current disaster. It is a tall order but since the central government has started expressing its readiness to have open talks with the insurgents, the journey in the right direction might well have begun.

How well our Representatives Fare?

Sir, If we remember right,the Union External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj declared vociferously in Parliament (Lok Sabha) that Dibrugarh would soon get the second Pass-port office. But much water has since flowed beneath the Saraighat bridge, there is no sign of any nor information regarding setting up of the Second Pass-Port office in Dibrugarh. our M.P. Rameswar Teli when contacted gave an evasive reply that the concerned authority did not utter any negative decision to this effect. It pains us very much to note that Dibrugarh is never in the agenda of the Chief-minister who always relegates Dibrugarh to the back foot as far as setting up of new institution is concerned. Thereby, the Chief minister loses his moral right to seek votes from the voters of Dibrugarh, except from sycophants. Both our garrulous M.L.A and silent M.P. miserably failed to rise to the occasion, demanding certain bonanzas to this minerally rich city of Assam. Interestingly, there is not a single Sub-Division in Dibrugarh district, despite hue and cry from those who suffer most. It will be a humiliation to the

people of Naharkatia, if this time also the Chiefminister fails to declare a sub-division for those suffering lot.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

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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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

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To My Patriotic Brethren - "Is This What A Republic Stands For?" Ezra Rynjah Two decades ago, Republic Day seemed like such a strange and distant holiday for me in terms of its meaning and significance. Yes, I remember spending the morning in front of a television at my aunt's, watching phallic objects that could explode being paraded around and followed by swathes of coordinated dancers in over-starched uniforms who only knew one robotic move. I also recall threats against public celebration from local Nationalists who despised such display but dreamed of a chance to exhibit their own phallic objects.

However, growing up, it was always more about bicycles and games and the drawing to a close of the school winter break (only a month remains!).

I never considered it as patriotically as my family apparently did - rejoicing the fact that on the 26th of January, 1950, India as a nation adopted the Constitution - but of course I had more pressing concerns at the time.

Fast forward to today and I honestly can't say that my perspective of this day of celebration has changed. Imagine this: you're walking home from a long day at work and all you want is to get back to a nice hot meal waiting for you at home. What do you get

instead? A bullet in the back of your head is what your patriotic self will get, that's what. Shift to another scene where you've just enjoyed some fresh fruit picked from the forest next to your home and are washing your hands in a gurgling stream nearby. You hear the alarm call of some birds and wonder what the fuss is about when you see a man in a suit accompanied by some goons drawing near with the usual plans to buy your plot of land so he can start a mine.

I must ask if celebrating Republic day would mean anything to you if you were in either situation. AFSPA in Kashmir and Manipur where in-

Image for representational purpose/googleimages nocent people are being murdered in fake encounters, paramilitary forces being deployed in Central India to acquire mineral-rich land- a State that imposes mar-

As Delhi's Winter Gets Harsher, This Is How Slum Dwellers Are Forced To Battle The Cold Hasan Akram Food, clothing and shelter are the three basic needs of life. One cold night, this winter, I got a chance to meet people who are deprived of shelter, as well as the other two as they hardly had either any food or clothing.

These people live illegally on the land that belongs to the U.P government, near Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi. It was pathetic to see them living in tents made of cheap tarpaulin and dried bamboo. Access to electricity was a distant dream for them. Only the periphery was illuminated by roadside bulbs nearby.

I saw a bed linen, spread under the open sky without any shelter of tarpaulin. A teenager, who was warming himself at the

this wall. Did you go there?" Some replied that they knew nothing about NGOs and distribution centres, and some told me that they were not offered any warm clothes. Mariyam, an old woman burst out, "eh, I went to a distribution center in Zakir Nagar.

I begged them for warm clothes. They distributed among all the others but I had to return emptyhanded with tears in my eyes." From here, I came to know that living a nomadic life is cursed enough to be treated as untouchables by the socalled liberal NGOs. They described water to be the biggest problem.

They are not able to find enough water, a thing so essential for a normal life.

Irrigation water is supplied by the Delhi Jal Board for plantation in the nearby park. They beg

lives there on land they do not own. We fear that we may be evicted at any time." Their children do not get an education.

Most of them have been living under fly-overs and in fields for decades.

They have been living on this piece of land for the last 15 years. Mariyam, an old woman, has been displaced from one field to another for last 40 years. She has a young daughter to marry.

In Indian cities, even people of the elite class suffer from a scarcity of jobs and employment.

Then, what better can these downtrodden people hope for. Proper jobs and employment are not available to them.

Their women and elders beg from door to door and their men work as cobblers, construction workers and laborers etc.

story of Saleem, a child who met a car accident, is really heart-breaking.

Aslam, the father of the victim, introduced me to him. His right foot was fractured. Its tibia (bone) was badly damaged. As such, a steel surgery was done on the foot of innocent Saleem. Approximately, Rs.20,000 has been spent for the cure of the fracture in four months.

When I asked Aslam how he managed this huge amount of money, he gave a short reply, "some people helped me." He pleaded me to conceal the secret of the Rs.20000, frightened of an inquiry and investigation. Saleem was hit by a car near the Holy Family Hospital, but the driver managed to escape, leaving Aslam to be exploited and bear the full expenditure.

They face abuse at A mother, with her baby sleeping in her lap, was sitting closeby. She looked beautiful in the shining light by the roadside. I went straight to her and asked her to tell me about her condition, but she gave me no details.

"All come, write and go.

Nothing changes. Some girls had also come earlier but nothing happened." This mother had little hope from journalists and writers.

Googleimages pyre nearby, was to sleep on it with a cheap blanket to cover himself. I exclaimed,"yaar, thandi to bahut lagti hogi! (You must feel extremely cold)." He replied, helplessly, "What else can I do?"

It was most shocking to see their life under the thin tarpaulin in the harsh nights of winter. They do not have sufficient warm clothes, or roofs on their heads to protect themselves from the cruel weather.

They said, "We don't have sufficient blankets."

I asked, "didn't you go to the warm clothes distribution centres? A warm clothes donation centre was organised just behind

the irrigators for irrigation water to drink but are refused. Adil from Fiazabaad says, "They pour water on the earth but do not give it to human beings to drink."

There are 15-20 tarpaulin tents in this area that stretches several acres.

Each tent belongs to a family. Families (including those with more than 50 individuals) live in these tents like nomads.

They have come from villages and small towns but they neither have permanent homes in their native place nor here in the city. Sahil, a teenager who works as a cobbler, said, "We do not even have a small piece of land in our village. Our family

work. They are mistreated by their owners and sometimes are not paid their due. Adil left many jobs due to the behavior of contractors and owners. He served as a mason in the house of one Sunil at Nehru Place.

He worked nine hours a day. He was initially promised Rs. 9,000 per month, but at the end of the month, the owner refused to pay the full amount. He was paid Rs. 4,000 only. Sahil, who works as a cobbler, said,"Yesterday, a shopkeeper slapped me for working in front of his shop."

They all are victims of the biting winter as well as of social abuse. The

The best thing I found among them was their courtesy. When I wanted to write the details, they guided me to a well-lit area and provided me with a stool to sit on. A man begged me for money.

I became extremely generous at that point but had only Rs. 30 in my pocket. I offered him all of it. I told him, feeling ashamed: "I had only thirty rupees with me. If I had more I could definitely give you more." He began returning the three notes of Rs. 10 in a gesture of compassion. He said, "If you don't have money, please keep these with yourself." What kind of people they are! They live in distressing plight but do not forget to think of others. In spite of living such a miserable and pathetic life, their humanity is still alive.

tial law on its own people! Is this what a republic stands for?

I probably seem like a ranting jholawalla at this point to all whose eyes are constantly glued to

any manner of electronic rectangle through which scenes of violence keep assaulting the senses.

But of course there is a reward for becoming so desensitised: Barack

Hussain Obama is coming to visit us for the parade! He seems to have conveniently forgotten that he had denied Narendra Modi a visa for the longest time because of the Premier's alleged responsibility for the Gujurat riots of 2002.

Obama must have noticed that India condoned this violence by electing him to the highest post in the country and if the largest "democracy" in the world does something, who's to argue? I don't see why Obama was so uptight about it in the first place though. Granted that he won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2009 but is also responsible for the drone strikes that are killing innocent civilians in the

Middle East, and the continuing occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. "War is Peace" as any gun-slinging Rambo-impersonator or, now affectionately known as 'Leader of a Nation' would say.

The sad, undeniable truth in all of this is that we have forgotten what a republic stands for. If it is to mean that we are governed in public interest, does the public exclude people under AFSPA? Does it exclude the indigenous who are struggling for survival in Central India? Or does it mean a majoritarian form of governance where the flag of democracy is unfurled only to overshadow the marginalized in our imagination?

When Funds Are Available, Why Isn't The Govt. Tackling This Deadly But Curable Disease?

Abhishek Jha In October 2015, Maneka Gandhi, the women and child welfare minister criticised the Modi government publicly for having made budget cuts in the social sector to direct expenditure towards infrastructure. She was reported to have said that her ministry's budget was slashed by half to $1.6 billion and that it had weakened her plans to fight malnutrition.

have died and 2,277 (19%) defaulted, respectively," the report says.

Delay in receiving grants, shortage of health personnel, and lapses in proper monitoring of patients are also what Prasad told YKA are some of the issues that plague tuberculosis treatment in India.

Therefore, although India

were taken by the patient under observation, Prasad told YKA, is therefore, important.

This then requires the utilisation of funds to set up the system and health workers to work that system.

Funds are not the only problem, the method is too: A scathing criticism of

in India itself "envisages daily regimen for all TB cases" for which the National Expert Committee for Diagnosis and Management of TB has approved a 100 district pilot project according to RNTCP's 2015 report.

The Joint Monitoring Mission's 2015 report too had criticised the RNTCP along similar lines.

"We still have problems because our cut has still not been restored. Literally, it's a month-tomonth suspense on whether we can meet wages," she was quoted as saying.

A similar sort of problem could be plaguing India's fight against tuberculosis.

The 2015 annual status report of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) for instance, states that the RNTCP "entered 12th Five year Plan (2012-17) with a budget of Rs 4500 crore". The Minister of Health and Family Welfare, however, told the parliament in August last year that actual funds allocated for the period 2012-2016 were only Rs. 2263 crore and that the final expenditure by RNTCP was only Rs. 1623 crore.

Malnutrition, which according to Maneka Gandhi we aren't fighting seriously enough, also makes people more susceptible to diseases. A targeted nutrition programme undertaken by the Central TB division, Director of External Affairs at Operation Asha Urvashi Prasad told YKA, could aid the tuberculosis treatment.

The aforementioned RNTCP's status report itself identifies lower BMI as a major attributable factor for poor treatment outcome in the case of Multi-Drug Resistance TB (MDR-TB).

"Cumulative outcomes of 12,125 MDRTB patients have been reported till date out of which 5,796 (48%) have been successfully treated whereas 2,682 (22%)

Googleimages has met its Millennium Development Goals in incidence, prevalence, and mortality rate, it is still ranked 15th among the 22 high burden countries in mortality rate per 1 lakh population in 2014 according to WHO's Global Tuberculosis Report 2015.

A total of 14,45,284 cases of TB were registered under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India in 2014. We have, however, halved our rates of prevalence and mortality rate per lakh population since 1990 according to RNTCP's annual status report of 2015.

The concerns raised by Prasad though remain, as does our burden.

A patient not finishing the DOTS treatment course is a huge cause behind this illness carrying on in the country.

An e-compliance system that uses fingerprints to ascertain that all doses

India's policies for controlling tuberculosis has come from MSF's Out of Step 2015 report, which surveyed the diagnostic and treatment practices for TB in 24 countries.

The WHO recommendation for rapid molecular tests as initial test has been adopted by India only for people at risk of MDR-TB or HIV-associated TB. The "roll-out has been progressing slowly, despite the establishment of clear and ambitious scale-up plans," the report says.

Similarly, Category II treatment regimens containing streptomycin are still recommended in the country"despite their high burden of MDR-TB and despite recommendations for DST (Drug Susceptibility Testing) for those at risk of MDR-TB". Also, for Drug Sensitive Tuberculosis (DS-TB), India still recommends intermittent therapy (three days a week) instead of daily therapy.

The standards of TB care

Prasad from Operation Asha recommends that, apart from correcting the RNTCP's course along the lines that it has been criticised, we need tailored programmes in local communities using school authorities, factory owners, community radios, etc to reach out to people and make them aware of the available treatment.

The stigma associated with TB is another hurdle, Prasad told YKA, that needs to be addressed if the existent government policies are to work. This would require, she said, a strong collaboration with non-state actors as well. When TB is, by the government's own admission, "one of the leading causes of mortality in India", killing "more than 300,000 people in India every year", it goes without saying that the government should work against it with more seriousness.

Courtesy:Youthkiawaaz

BUSINESS

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

PAGE 10

14% drop in April-December natural rubber output; imports down 7% 100 railway stations Bengaluru, Jan 25: India's natural rubber production declined by 14 per cent to 4.4 lakh tonnes, while imports fell by 7 per cent during the first nine months of this fiscal. According to the Rubber Board's provisional data, production dropped to 4.4 lakh tonnes in April-December period of this fiscal from 5.1 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The consumption of natural rubber too fell by nearly 3 per cent to 7,43,260 tonnes during April-De-

cember 2015 from 7,64,685 tonnes earlier.

Imports dipped to 3,27,288 tonnes from 3,51,034 tonnes during the period under review.

As per the data, natural rubber production fell to 58,000 tonnes during last month from 63,000 tonnes in December 2014, while consumption dropped to 84,000 tonnes from 85,820 tonnes. However, natural rubber imports increased to 37,078 tonnes in December 2015 from 34,324 tonnes in the same month of previous

year. Meanwhile, the government last week allowed import through only two sea ports of Chennai and Nhava Sheva in order to curb inbound shipments. "Import of natural rubber of all varieties/forms ... is allowed only through sea ports of Chennai and Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port)," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had said in a notification. Domestic producers have been raising concerns over rising imports and fall in lo-

Advanta - a group company of UPL - is into development, production and sale of field crop and vegetable seeds. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has now cleared the proposed transaction. For this case, CCI considered "market for seeds in In-

dia" as the relevant market. With the approval, the entire business and whole of the undertakings of Advanta along with its assets, debt, liabilities and employees, among others will be transferred to UPL. "The boards of directors of UPL Ltd and Advanta Ltd unanimously approved Advanta's merger with UPL, subject to necessary approvals," UPL had said in a filing in November 2015.

Post-merger, UPL's geographical reach would expand and result in cost savings of Rs. 90 crore annually.

(Agencies)

Over Rs 9,500 crore pulled by FPIs from equities in January New Delhi, Jan 25: Overseas investors have pulled out more than Rs 9,500 crore from the Indian stock markets since the beginning of the month on global growth worries and a sharp dip in oil prices. However, these investors continue to remain bullish on the Indian debt market and invested a net amount of Rs 2,353 crore during the period. According to data available with depositories, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused a gross amount of Rs 53,296 crore into equity markets between January 1 to 22, while they pulled out Rs 63,259 crore during the same period, resulting in a net outflow of Rs 9,963 crore ($1.47 billion). Capital poured in by the FPIs is often referred to as 'hot money' because of its unpredictability, although they continue to remain among the most impor-

tant drivers of Indian stock markets. Market experts attributed the outflow from the stock markets to several negative factors such as crude oil slipping below $28 per barrel (nearly Rs 1,893.64). In addition, muted earnings and widening trade deficit to $11.6 billion (nearly Rs 78,624.8 crore) in December as against $9.1 billion (nearly Rs 61,679.8 crore) in the year-ago period, further battered the market mood. The investor sentiment is also rattled by depreciating rupee and concerns over the health of the Chinese economy, said Vinod Nair, Head of Fundamental Research of Geojit BNP Paribas Financial. In 2015, FPIs had infused a net amount of Rs 17,806 crore in equities and Rs 45,856 crore in bond markets. (Agencies)

DROPPING PRODUCTIVITY India's natural rubber production declined by 14 per cent to 4.4 lakh tonnes, while imports fell by 7 per cent during the first nine months of this fiscal.

Production of rubber dropped to 4.4 lakh tonnes in AprilDecember period of this fiscal from 5.1 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.

cal prices. United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) has said

Imports dipped to 3,27,288 tonnes from 3,51,034 tonnes during the period under review.

As per the data, natural rubber production fell to 58,000 tonnes during last month from 63,000 tonnes in December 2014, while consumption dropped to 84,000 tonnes from 85,820 tonnes.

that cheap imports are harming India's rubber industry and the govern-

ment should introduce safeguards to protect domestic players. (Agencies)

The consumption of natural rubber too fell by nearly 3 per cent to 7,43,260 tonnes during April-December 2015 from 7,64,685 tonnes earlier.

DoT spectrum revenue may top Rs 49,000-crore mark

Advanta-UPL deal gets green nod by Competition Commission Mumbai, Jan 25: Fair trade regulator CCI has approved the proposed merger of seed firm Advanta Ltd with agrochemical major UPL. In November last year, UPL had announced merger of Advanta with itself as part of its strategy to provide all agri-solutions through one single entity.

Mumbai, Jan 25: Even in the absence of a spectrum auction in the current fiscal, the Department of Telecom (DoT) is all set to earn a revenue of over Rs 49,000 crore, exceeding the budgeted target by about Rs 6,000 crore. The government had pegged revenue from communication services for the current fiscal at Rs 42,865 crore, including upfront realisation from spectrum sale and licence fee. "The revenue projection for the current fiscal is over Rs 49,000 crore, of which Rs 37,000 crore have already been received till December," said Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg.

Elaborating, Garg said DoT got Rs 22,332.42 crore as upfront fee from spectrum auction in March, Rs 6,701.92 crore licence fee, Rs 5,754.53

Telecom Secretary, Rakesh Garg. Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com

crore spectrum charges and about Rs 2,246.09 crore through other receipts till December. That apart, DoT has received Rs 5,384 crore from Reliance Communications as spectrum liberalisation fee for 16 circles whereas Vodafone has paid Rs 2,450 crore for the merger of its various subsidiaries. Garg said the

Department will get spectrum charges and licence fee for the remaining three months of the current fiscal, and liberalisation fee for the remaining four circles of Reliance Communications. DoT, Garg said, has asked Trai to give its view on the four circles where market-determined price is not available and once that is clear, the pro-

16) was much below estimates due to a sharp fall in profitability in the second quarter, where net profit declined to Rs 110 crore from Rs 640 crore in the first quarter," Kotak Securi-

ceeds from Reliance Communications will total about Rs 6,000 crore. Reliance Communications had applied to liberalise its 800 MHz spectrum in 20 circles. The government, according to Garg, is likely to conduct next round of spectrum auction around May-June this year. Sector regulator Trai is likely to give recommendations about the reserve price by the end of this month.

Garg said that after Trai's views, it takes about 4-5 months for the whole process to shape up as DoT may require some clarifications. The Telecom Commission also needs to approve the reserve price before the Cabinet gives its final approval.

Telecom Commission also needs to approve the reserve price before the Cabinet gives its final approval. (Agencies)

B'Mahindra First Choice Services' launches its first commercial ANI New Delhi, Jan 25: Mahindra First Choice Services (MFCS), part of the USD 16.9 billion Mahindra Group is India's leading chain of multibrand car service workshops, with a national network comprising 100 workshops across more than 60 cities, today launched its first television commercial 'Free ke baad First Choice.' "We are delighted to announce that we have scaled our multi brand organised service network to 100 workshops across 15 states with a robust spare parts and service supply chain. This campaign is to take the unique positioning of 'Free ke baad First Choice' - MFCS being the destination for car service post free service period," said YVS Vijay

Kumar, CEO, Mahindra First Choice Services Ltd. "The campaign is based on the customer feedback received through various market research conducted in last 3 years. Set in a humorous undertone, the TVC brings out the key message which every car owner is familiar with the pains and perils of getting your car serviced once the paid service period is over," Kumar added. "The consumer gets the feeling of behavior change and implied costs of car maintenance.

The customer looks for honest advice and assured quality of service.

With this campaign we hope that the customers will be able to relate to the concept which is straight out of a real-life situation." said Alok

YVS Vijay Kumar, CEO, Mahindra First Choice Services Ltd. Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com

Kapoor, Head- Marketing and Franchise Development- Mahindra First Choice Services Ltd. "This month long multimedia campaign will be majorly through television, outdoor, radio, online and print. The approximate spends are to the tune of Rs.10 crore and the campaign will break in the coming week, post Republic Day," Kapoor

19% crash in IndiGo's net profit Mumbai, Jan 25: Shares of IndiGo crashed over 19% as analysts cut their profit estimate for the country's largest airline, despite signs that Indian carriers had a healthy December quarter. A day after IndiGo announced a record quarterly profit of Rs 657 crore in October-December, SpiceJet reported a turnaround with a net profit of Rs 238 crore in the third quarter compared to a loss of Rs 275 crore a year ago.

But the stock market focus remained on IndiGo with investors worried about the sharp fall in the second quarter (July-September) profit, a number which had not been revealed earlier.

"IndiGo's nine-month performance in FY16 (2015-

to get wi-fi in one year: Suresh Prabhu

ties said in research report.

IndiGo closed 19% lower at Rs 969 on the BSE, which had a knock-on effect on other airline stocks. SpiceJet stock closed 5% lower at Rs 71 and Jet Airways,

which is yet to declare its third quarter result, fell 6.4% to Rs 617. In the usuallylean second quarter, IndiGo had to resort to cutting ticket prices, which dented its profitability. Analysts at

CRASH DOWN Ø Shares of IndiGo crashed over 19% as analysts cut their profit estimate for the country's largest airline, despite signs that Indian carriers had a healthy December quarter. Ø A day after IndiGo announced a record quarterly profit of Rs 657 crore in October-December, SpiceJet reported a turnaround with a net profit of Rs 238 crore in the third quarter compared to a loss of Rs 275 crore a year ago. Ø IndiGo's nine-month performance in FY16 (2015-16) was much below estimates due to a sharp fall in profitability in the second quarter, where net profit declined to Rs 110 crore from Rs 640 crore in the first quarter. Ø IndiGo closed 19% lower at Rs 969 on the BSE, which had a knock-on effect on other airline stocks.

Kotak Securities as well as Motilal Oswal were also worried about the delay in delivery of A320 Neos, touted as more efficient aircraft. Kotak said the airline had invested in staff and other overheads, anticipating deliveries. The delay along with a weaker rupee resulted in a 36% rise in aircraft rental cost, impacting the airline's performance during the first nine months of the fiscal. The performance during this period prompted Kotak Securities to slash IndiGo's full year profit estimate by 21%. For the next fiscal, the profit estimate has been reduced by 9%. Similarly, Motilal Oswal cut its earnings estimate for FY16 by 25% and by 18% for next year. (Agencies)

added. The contrast is during the paid service, when the service advisor starts behaving like a king, and tries to oversell things which might not be required , thus creating a doubt in the mind of the customer," said Rajan L Narayan, Founder and Principal Consultant, The Lonely Cloud Consulting Company.

Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister of India.Source: www.taazinews.com

Panaji, Jan 25: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that in one year atleast 100 railway stations across the country will have Google wi-fi. "We will start offering Google wi-fi connectivity to nearly 100 major railway stations in one year," Prabhu told reporters at the sideline of an event in Goa. The minister said along with Google wi-fi, his ministry is also trying to ensure a better customer experience for all the travellers who take the Indian Railways at all the stations. Prabhu launched a free high-

speed public wi-fi service in collaboration with technology giant Google at Mumbai Central station here, which became first such station in country to get such facility.

Google has partnered with Railtel Corporation to provide the connectivity to the railway stations across country. In a statement issued Google had said that the four stations where free wi-fi facility would be provided soon are Allahabad, Patna, Jaipur and Ranchi, and other stations will follow very shortly.

(Agencies)

Central govt employees demand 44% hike on 7th CPC recommendation New Delhi, Jan 25: Implementing the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission ( 7th CPC) is not going to be a cakewalk for the government. The brewing discontent amongst the central government employees is threatening to create a storm and disrupt the implementation process. The unions are asking around 44 percent hike on the basic minimum pay suggested by the 7th Central Pay Commission. The 7th CPC had recommended the minimum pay at Rs 18,000 and the maximum pay at Rs 250,000, but the employee unions wants the minimum pay to be hikes from Rs 18,000 per month to Rs 26,000--a rise of around 44.4 percent. The unions are claiming that the pay panel has recommended the lowest hike in basic pay since independence The Central government employees' unions have not only demanded to increase the minimum pay of central government employees, but also want

government to review the salaries of central government employees after every 5 years instead of the current 10 years. They also want the minimum pay to be applied across all the states in the country.

The unions argue that pay scales vary from states to states. The unions have upped the ante on salary hike since the government set up empowered committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary earlier in January to process the recommendations of the 7th CPC. The unions had staged a 3-day agitation earlier in January, and even threatened to strike work for longer period. Considering the impact of the financial burden on the government, the government may not be able to review the salary scale suggested by the 7th CPC. Finance Minister had said that the recommendations of the 7th CPC would add at least Rs 1.02 lakh crore spending in 2016. (Agencies)

TECHNOLOGY

Virtue Smartphone Indian brand Swipe Technologies launches affordable smartphone Virtue at Rs 5,999 Homegrown Telecom Company is into manufacturing of tablets, smartphones, wearables and apps has launched another affordable smartphone Virtue.

The gadget is priced at Rs 5,999 and will be sold exclusively on Snapdeal.

Features of Swipe Virtue 1) The Swipe Virtue comes with a 5-inch 720p HD display with a screen size of 12.7 cm 2) The phone has all metal body and will be available in White colour.

3) It is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor.

4) Comes with 2GB RAM and 16 GB ROM, and 16GB internal storage further ex-

pandable to 32GB vioa microSD card.

5)Virtue features an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie camera.

6) The smartphone is backed by a 2500mAh battery.

7) The Swipe Virtue is a dual-

SIM smartphone and comes equipped with Wi-Fi, USB OTG, FM and Bluetooth for connectivity.

8) The phone has 1 year manufacturer warranty.

9) The Android 5.1 lollipop enables 2G and 3G connectivity.

cmyk

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

PAGE 11 Positive Zidane ‘very proud’ of Madrid despite Betis draw

ANI London, Jan.25 : Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he is not at all disappointed with his side's performance and added that he is still very proud of them despite settling with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis in their La Liga clash at the Benito Villamarin stadium.

Earlier, forward Karim Benzema netted a goal in the 71st minute of the match to rescue his side from a defeat against Real Betis.

The 43-year-old asserted that his side played well in the second half of the game,calling on Madrid to work harder in order to claim victory in the upcoming matches.

"The good thing is that I saw an improvement late in the game, in the second half. We now have finished our third week together and we are going to keep working," the French manager was quoted as saying by goal.com.

Zidane insisted that Real Madrid were still in a good path and would keep continuing with their line of work.

"You have to take the positives - we lost two points and that's the negative ,but we think this can be taken forward and we can fight for La Liga until the end," Zidane said.

With the draw, the Zinedine Zidane-led side have now dropped to the third spot in the La Liga table and now sit four points off Barcelona and Atlentico Madrid.

Real Madrid will next lock horns with Espanyol on February 1.

CCD beat Jeoti Boult's four-wicket haul helps Moral by 100 runs Kiwis beat Pak in opening ODI ANI Wellington, Jan.25 : Trent Boult claimed a four-wicket haul to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by convincing 70 runs in the opening ODI of the three-match series here at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

In reply to New Zealand's innings of 280-

8, Pakistan were bundled out for 210 runs with four overs remaining despite some resistance by Babar Azam (62) and veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez (42).

For the hosts, Boult finished with four for 40 while Grant Elliott also bagged three wickets.

Corey Anderson, Mitchell Santner and Kane Williamson also chipped in with a wicket each.

Mitchell Santner (48) and Matt Henry (unbeaten 48) were other notable figures for New Zealand.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Henry Nicholls smashed seven boundaries in his brilliant knock of 82 to guide his side to a modest 281-run target for Pakistan.

With the win, the Williamson-led side have now taken a 1-0 lead in the series and will play their next match at January 28 in Napier.

Amla guides Proteas to reach 121-4 at lunch on Day 4 of Centurion Test ANI Centurion, Jan.25 : Veteran South African batsman Hashim Amla scored a half century to help South Africa reach 121-4 at lunch in their second innings against England on the fourth day of the dead rubber fourth Test here at the Super Sport Park.

Bavuma (9) to give his side a 254-run lead against the visitors.

For the visitors, James Anderson claimed three for 21 while Ben Stokes also contributed with a wicket.

Earlier, half centuries from Joe Root and skipper Alastair Cook helped England to reach 342 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 475.

Amla, who smashed six boundaries, is unbeaten at 50 along with Temba

Seven-wicket` Rabada still hungry to learn ANI Johannesburg, Jan.25: South African fast bowlerKagiso Rabada has admitted that he still has a lot to learn on the international stage despite his brilliant display in the ongoing Test series against England.

Rabada produced a magnificent performance as he bagged seven wickets to put the hosts in command on the third day of the

fourth Test against England.

Jubilant with his performance, the 20-year-old insisted that although he got wickets within the short span of time, he admitted that Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel also bowled pretty well, Sport24 reported.

Rabada, who became the first bowler to claim six wickets in international

cricket before the age of 21, insisted that he has to bowl well for a longer period of time.

Talking about the ongoing Test, Rabada believes that his side are in a pretty good position.

Earlier, South Africa suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the third Test in Johannesburg to giveEngland a series win and thereby losing the number one Test ranking to India.

Moeen Ali had also smashed significant 61 before getting dismissed at the hands of Morne Morkel.

The hosts had suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the third Test in Johannesburg to give England a series win and thereby losing the number one Test ranking to India.

ANI London, Jan.25 : Adidas, the German Sportswear company, has reportedly written to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that it is ending its 11-year sponsorship deal with the world athletics' embattled governing body.

The development to end its 23 million euros agreement signed in 2008 came in the wake of the latest doping and corruption scandal that hit the IAAF, the Guardian reported.

Earlier in November, Adidas had reportedly told the organisation that they were

mulling ending its relationship with them, following the publication of first report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission, claiming widespread doping cases among athletes in Russia.

Russia was also suspended for an indefinite period after the WADA alleged statesponsored doping in the sporting superpower, which involves destroying samples and intimidating laboratory staff.

Besides Adidas, IAAF's other official Partners include Canon, Toyota, Seiko, TDK, TBS and Mondo.

reliant on Aguero ANI Johannesburg, Jan.25 : Manchester City managerManuel Pellegrini has insisted that his side are more than a one-man team after Sergio Aguero's brace helped them to deny defeat against spirited West Ham. Earlier, star striker Aguero scored twice to rescue the visitors from the jaws of defeat and to settle with a 2-2 draw against West Ham in their Premier League clash.

Pelligrini said that his side were not just reliant on Aguero and there were many more players in the

Betis in their La Liga clash at the Benito Villamarin stadium.

Midfielder Alvaro Cejudo, in the seventh

minute, smashed a stunning goal to give Real Bentis a lead, the Guardian reported.

After failing to score a

goal in the first half, Real Madrid forward Benzema thumped an equalizer in the 71st minute to make it 1-1 against the Betis.

For Jeoti Moral Sangha, Rahul Mazumdar scalped three for 24 in 6 overs. David Gogoi and Chandrajit Badiya took two wickets each conceding 23 and 29 runs respectively.

In reply, Jeoti Moral Sangha were bowled out for paltry 37 in 14.1 overs. Mosum Hazarika, only batsmen reached double figure with 11 off 9 balls with one six and four.

Arbinanda Basumatary bagged six wickets for 14 in 4 overs. Arbinanda Basumatary was adjudged man of the match.

Murray advances, Wawrinka bows out of Australian Open

Wi t h t h e d r a w, t h e Zinedine Zidane- led side have now dropped to the third spot in the La Liga table and now s i t f o u r p o i n t s o ff

ANI Melbourne, Jan.25 : World number two Andy Murray breezed into his seventh consecutive Australian Open quarterfinals after brushing aside Bernard Tomic in the fourth round of the tournament on Monday.

The 28-year-old Scottish player outclassed his Australian opponent Tomic 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the contest that lasted for two and a half hour

Barcelona and Atlentico Madrid.

Real Madrid will next lock horns with Espanyol on February 1.

With the win, Murray will now play against David Ferrer for the semi-final berth, who demolished big-serving John Isner in straight sets.

Meanwhile, fourth-seed Stan Wawrinka crashed out of the Australian Open after 4-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 36 defeat in the fourth round at the hands of Canadian Milos Raonic.

Earlier, United fans expressed their frustration with a torrent of boos on Van Gaal during his side's 0-1 defeat at the hands of Southampton in their Premier League clash at the Old Trafford.

Describing the 27-year-old as a `top` player, the Chilean manager, however, admitted that it was important for him to be fully fit in order to return to his best form.

City have won just one away game since September 12 and are now three points behind surprise league leaders Leicester City in the second place.

City will next lock horns with Sunderland on February 3.

on Rod Laver Arena.

‘Disappointed’ Van Gaal admits failure to meet Man U fans' expectations

team who had spent more time on the field than the Argentine, Sport24 reported.

Benzema's equalizer helps Real Madrid hold Real Bendis to 1-1 La Liga draw ANI London, Jan.25 : Karim Benzema netted a late goal to help Real Madrid settle with a 11 draw against Real

Electing to bat, CCD scored 137 before being bowled out in 32.4 overs.

Prasanta Mech scored 43 off 36 balls laced with three boundaries and Saurav Baghwati contributed 18 off 25 balls with three fours. Antanu Sharma chipped in with

15 off 30 balls.

Adidas likely to end sponsorship with doping-hit IAAF

Mirza-Hingis storm into Pellegrini insists Australian Open quarters Man City not

ANI Melbourne, Jan.25 : Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis continued their imperious form as they romp into the quarterfinals of theAustralian Open women's double event on Monday.

The Indo-Swiss pair extended their winning streak to 33 by demolishing unseeded Russian-Italian pair of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3 in a match that lasted for one hour and 20 minutes.

Mirza and Hingis, who claimed their 11th straight WTA title at the Sydney International, will now play against German-American pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Coco Vandeweghe for the semifinal berth.

Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 25: Cricket Club of Dibrugarh defeated Jeoti Moral Sangha by 100 runs 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 tournament.

Reflecting on their performances, the 64-year-old said that United had been working hard, but things were not turning out in their favour.

ANI London, Jan.25 :Manchester United managerLouis Van Gaal has expressed his disappointment over his failure to live up the expectations of his fans.

"I'm very disappointed I cannot reach the expectations of the fans. They have, or they had, great expectations of me, and I cannot fulfill them, so I am very frustrated, "the Dutchman was quoted as saying by goal.com.

"You cannot say it is that aspect or that aspect, because there are different aspects that play a role and we are not very lucky with our injuries. But nevertheless, we had to win, and we could have won, but it is not happening," Van Gaal said.

United are currently fifth in the league standings and have dropped 10 points behind surprise league leaders Leicester City. They will next lock horns with Stoke City on February 3.

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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

ET SPECIAL

PAGE 12

th

67 Republic Day “India has no dearth of brave young men and women and if they get the opportunity and help then we can compete with other nations in space exploration and one of them will fulfill her dreams.”

Atal Behari Vajpayee

Day of destiny: Why 26 Jan This Republic Day, India will salute Dogs for the first time: All became our Republic Day? Army about the Indian Army dogs did not have a permanent constitution. So the Drafting Committee was appointed on 28th August 1947 to draft a permanent constitution. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the chairman of the committee.

It took 2 years, 166 days, 11 months and 18 days to complete the constitution.

Pranjal Kumar Phukan Some really inspirational quotes for Republic Day: Jawaharlal Nehru: "Citizenship consists in the service of the country."

Mahatma Gandhi: "You must be the change you want to see in the World."

Swami Vivekananda: "Let new India arise out of peasants' cottage, grasping the plough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper."

BR Ambedkar: "We are Indians, firstly and lastly.

I feel that the constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and in wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that Man was vile.

Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age." No political campaign in history has ever succeeded without symbolism. India's freedom movement was no exception. Its careful adoption of many potent symbols helped unite a large, diverse land to fight for freedom in singular fashion.

January 26 was one such symbolic choice, a selection made to recall a distinct moment in the long march to Indian independence.

That choice of date was made at the 1930 Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, where the Tricolor as we know it was raised for the first time. It was decided there that January 26 would from then on be marked by all freedom fighters as 'Purna Swaraj Day', a call for complete

self-rule. This was an Independence Day before the actual event.

August 15 was not a matter of choice given to the Congress, as events hurtled to make the British transfer power to Nehru's provisional government on that day in 1947. India gained freedom to become a do-

Highlights of 2016 Republic Day Celebrations are: Ø French President Francois Hollande will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2016. Ø The Republic Day Parade will be shorter by at least 15 minutes. Government is planning to hold a 90-

marching contingents will be reduced from 8 to 6. Ø Number of Navy's marching contingents will be reduced from 3 to 2. Ø The Air Force will be putting up a single marching contingent. Ø Six central para-military forces will be putting up 3 marching contingents instead of one contingent individually. Ø The Indian Navy will showcase "Make in India" and hence put up models of the indigenously made aircraft carrier INS Vikrant along with the indigenously made submarine INS Kalvari.

Beating the Retreat Ceremony The Republic Day celebra-

Image for representational purpose. minion then, still formally owing some allegiance to the British Crown - it's why coinage and stamps of that period still retain a bust of George VI. A constituent assembly was formed soon after to rectify that, and a drafting committee was given the responsibility of coming up with a Constitution. It did that job admirably by the middle of 1949, and the assembly approved a new constitution on November 25. It was signed by all members on January 24, 1950 and came into effect two days later, as Rajendra Prasad took office as President of the new 'Republic of India'. Almost by design, it appeared, January 26 had returned to the national consciousness, always to be celebrated as Republic Day. India became independent on 15th August 1947 but it

minute parade instead of the nearly two hour's one. This is done to cut down the number of marching contingents in addition to clubbing together the mechanized ones. The tableaux would also be held for less time. Ø The Action Plan for Start Up India, Stand Up India will be launched for introducing multiple opportunities for the youth of India.

Cleanliness in surrounding areas and for statues of great personalities would also be ensured. Ø The topic "our duties" will be discussed in schools, colleges and other places. Ø Beating the Retreat would have Indian music infused with martial tunes. Ø All tableaux and music bands will be showcased for three days - till January 29 at the Red Fort to allow more people to participate. Ø Number of Army's

tion ends officially with the Beating the Retreat ceremony, which is held on the 29 January every year. The event symbolizes retreat after a day on the battlefield and features remarkable performances by the Indian Air Force, the India Navy, and the Indian Army. Held at the Raisina Hill, New Delhi, Beating the Retreat Ceremony has its tickets available at the same outlets as the Republic Day Parade.

(Author is Regional General Secretary, CaSI Global- CSR & Sustainability certification body headquartered at New York, US. He is recipient of prestigious Peter F Drucker award for his outstanding contributions in the field of management from University of Swahili- A Fully accredited chartered Government University. He can be contacted at pranjal_xlri@yahoo.com).

On this Republic Day, the entire country will rise to salute the contributions of the Indian Army's canine division.

A decision was taken recently to include the Army Dog Squad in the Republic Day parade for the first time after 26 years, following the sacrifice of Mansi, a fouryear-old Labrador, and her master Bashir Ahmed War at the hands of heavilyarmed infiltrators at Tangdhar district in Kashmir last August.

Here are some facts you must know about the Indian Army Dog Squad: 1. The Army Dog Squad has around 1,200 Labradors, Belgian Shepherds and German Shepherds, three of the most athletic breeds of dogs. As many as 36 dogs have been selected to run down the Rajpath on this January 26.

2. The dogs are trained at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College. The institute was established in Meerut, Uttar

Army Dogs Pradesh, on March 1 in 1960.

3. The dogs are trained along with their masters at the college. They are trained to detect explosives, narcotics, mines, track smells, guard and assault.

4. The principle of the Dog Squad and the members of the Corps is "Pashu Seva Asmakam Dharm", which means 'serving ani-

Navy and the Indian Air Force, marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris along with the French Army on the Bastille Day. The same event also saw participation of the Maratha light infantry, which is one of the oldest regiments of Indian Army.

French Army try to take part in a joint exercise, known as Shakti 2016. The eight-day counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise, Shakti 2016 began on January 8, 2016 in Rajasthan. Some soldiers

are likely to fly down from France to form a proper marching contingent.

In a similar event that occurred in France on July 14, 2009, Indian troops drawn from the three services, i.e., the Indian Army, the Indian

Bastille Day, also known as French National Day, is celebrated on July 14, each year to commemorate the Storming of the Bastille, that occurred in Paris, France, on the morning of July 14, 1789.

On Indian Republic Day in 2015, US President Barack Obama attended the celebrations in New Delhi as the Chief Guest.

mines and hidden places.

7. Earlier, the Army had a practice of shooting the old dogs after they were reported to be unfit to serve. A PIL, signed by many NGOs and general public, forced the Supreme Court to ban such a practice. The apex court has also asked the Delhi High Court to come up with a rehabilitation system for the retired dogs.

India Republic Day 2016: Facts About The National Holiday After 200 years of being under the yoke of Great Britain's colonial empire, the Constitution of India took effect Jan. 26, 1950, creating what would later become the largest deAdam mocracy in the world.

Since then, the South Asian country has celebrated the day as its Republic Day, marking the day it gave itself its own governing document, replacing the British-enacted Govern-

political party that wanted a separate Muslim-majority state - stalled.

The British supported the two-nation theory and, eventually, subconLidgett the tinent was divided along religious lines, separated into Hindu-majority India and the Muslim-dominated Pakistan. Religious violence was rife in the area, and thousands died as a result. Gandhi himself was

French army to march down Rajpath on Indian Republic Day 2016 As a part of the Indian Republic Day celebrations this year, French soldiers will be seen marching down the Rajpath, in the presence of the President of France, Francois Hollande.

Francois Hollande will attend the January 26, 2016 celebrations as the Chief Guest.

Since 1950, this will be the first time a foreign army will be seen participating in the Indian Republic Day Parade.

As per the reports, a French contingent comprising 56 personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade, which had taken part in the Afghan war, is already in the coun-

mals is my destiny'.

5. Till date, the dogs and their trainers have received one Shourya Chakra, six Sena Medals, 142 COAS Commendation Cards, six VCOAS Commendation Cards and 448 GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.

6. The Army Dog Squad is part of the Indian Territorial Army. They are primarily used to detect bombs,

Image for representational purpose.

ment of India Act of 1935.

While Great Britain promised India its independence following World War II, the country faced much strife in its journey to freedom. Indian independence leader M.K. Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi as he was popularly known, tried for years to get the British to give the subcontinent the freedom to rule itself, but after the war, talks between Gandhi, the British and the Muslim League - an Indian

states. The president of India unfurls the national flag at the beginning of the parade, and the celebration officially comes to a close three days later, on the evening of Jan. 29 with a ceremony called Beating Retreat.

The Indian flag was adopted in 1947, even before India became an independent country. For many years, it could only be put up by people in their homes

on national holidays, but the national flag code was changed in 2002 to allow people to fly the flag on any day, so long as it is with due decorum.

For the 2016 celebration, French President Francois Hollande is expected to be the chief guest, an honor given to a different head of state every year, India Today reported. Last year's guest was U.S. President Barack Obama.

shot by a Hindu nationalist in January 1948. The government cracked down on extremists, the violence dissipated and in November 1949 the new constitution was adopted.

India commemorates Republic Day with a ceremonial parade in New Delhi, performed by the Indian armed forces and various paramilitary forces, as well as various cultural performances by schoolchildren and the country's many

Printed, Published and Owned by NIKH KHOPI and Printed at PEE GEE(India) Ltd., C/O Asomiya Khabar Pulibor, Jorhat-785006 and Published from T.C Borah Building, 1st Floor, Next to Sankardeva Hospital, Mancotta Road, Chowkidingee Dibrugarh-786001, Assam. Email: editor.easterntoday@gmail.com. For advertisement: advt.easterntoday@gmail.com

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