26th sept

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Vol. 1

Issue 114

Singpho Youth Organisation irked

by SC's conferment of citizenship on Arunachal Chakmas and Hajongs Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Sep 25

At a time when AAPSU has announced statewide protest over the Supreme Court's recent verdict on citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs, the Singpho Youth Organisation of Bordumsa in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh among other communities also expressed strong resentment over the verdict and has decided to oppose the same tooth and nail.

According to Ongla Umbon

and Thingnong Umbu, the President and General Secretary, respectively of Singpho Youth Organisation Bordumsa, a huge procession by the aggrieved people has been planned in Bordumsa township to show their disappointment over the decision of the Country's Apex Judicial Body regarding the conferment of citizenship rights to Chakmas and Hajjongs within 3 months from the date of issuing the verdict.

The organisation would also submit memorandum to ADC

Price -

Dibrugarh, Saturday, September 26, 2015

Bordumsa to this effect. It may be recalled here that the Supreme Court’s judgment asking the Centre and Arunachal Pradesh government to immediately confer citizenship on the Chakma and Hajong refugees who have been living in the frontier state for nearly half a century, has already triggered opposition from various corners of the state with the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) already announcing a protest rally.

5.00

Pages- 12

Every Thursday & Sunday

Eid-ul-Azha Celebrated Across India

Also read Chakma, Hajong win battle of wits: not end of the world for Arunachal

OP-ED Page - 9

Contd. on Page 3

Hundreds of Muslims thronged mosques and eidgahs in Jorhat today to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha. Pic - Nekib Ahmed

Youths in Tirap district a changed lot; Courtesy the Dibrugarh enters Thansen Wangchadong Memorial Football Tournament Lima Book of Records The first ever Thansen Wangchadong Memorial Football Tournament being held at khonsa has brought back the spirit of sports after many years among the general public of Tirap , especially the youths. The tournament has given wonderful opportunity to many young and talented players from the villages to display their football skills at the district headquarter and at the same time the district

ET CAPSULES Tug-of-War competition from Oct 9 Golaghat, Sep 25: District Tug-of-War Committee Golaghat is going to organise a Tug-of-War competition at district level from 9th October, 2015. The winners will be awarded cash prizes. For details, Secretary Pranjal Dutta may be contacted.

(Correspondent)

Special prayer Jorhat, Sep 25: In Assam’s Jorhat district on the occasion of Id-ulZuha, an hour long special prayer meet was held at Jorhat Idgah at the historic tank Rajmau Pukhuki (tank), for the Haz stampede victims at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning. Imam Abdul Latif led the special prayer service for the victims and for those who were injured for speedy recovery. (Bijoy Shankar Handique)

Photographic Adda Golaghat, Sep 25: Golaghat Photographic Society is going to organise a programme named as Photographic Adda on 26th September at Prashanti Tourist Lodge from 10:30 am. The Guest Of Honour will be Mr Jayanta Dutta AIIPC ASIIPC PPSA. On behalf of the organizers, Anubhav Gogoi and Chinmoy Bhuyan have extended invitation to attend the event. (Correspondent)

Teacher commits suicide due to non-payment of salary Dalim Phukan Morigaon, Sep 25

Hemanta Kumar Bordoloi, a teacher of Nabheti Madhya Ingraji Vidalalaya in central Assam committed suicide due to non-payment of salary for the last 18 years by the education department of Assam government.

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Contd. on Page 4

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sep 25

sports authorities are getting the opportunity to scout the talented players from the district. The talented players from the tournament will be sent for further trainings and representation at the state level.

The tournament was inaugurated by Honorable MP shri Ninong Ering and Honourable MLA Gabriel.D. wangsu on the 19th of September in presence of huge crowd.

The plantation record claimed by Dibrugarh district administration has been ac-

The tournament brings almost all the youths of Khonsa to witness entertaining matches at the Nehru Stadium everyday of the tournament.

Indian Air Force recruitment rally for Arunachal youth ET Correspondent Itanagar, Sep 25

The Indian Air Force is conducting its sixth recruitment rally for the youth of Arunachal alone on 26-27 Sept. 2015, at Dera Natung College Itanagar, from 6:30 am–10:00 am.

Speaking to the media today, Squardon Leader VPV Baliga said, “This rally is being organised by a section of the Air Force which is responsible for recruiting airmen from the seven states of the North East. Since 1932 when the Air Force was formed, there has been remarkable change in the organization in the way which we are operated. We select people based on quality at the same time to ensure that the entire country is democratically well represented. Benefits in the IAF are phenomenal. Benefits like

Photo for representation purpose. Image source: SSBVISION

Youths who have completed 10 and 10+2 standards can walk into D.N. college campus with their original educational documents, attested copies including photographs on these respective dates. pension, medical, leave, etc. are endless. IAF provides enormous opportunities in or-

APCC concerned over bad condition of Trans-Arunachal Highway ET Correspondent Itanagar, Sep 25

Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today expressed concern over the road condition of the transhighway in Arunachal Pradesh. It said that the ministry for roads, transport and highways after it has taken over the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) project from the Border Road Organization JAC opting for consultation first before accepting any invitation The JAC Churachandpur has today said it will first consult all the tribal apex bodies before responding to any invitation for talks that has

minutes on both sides of the Moran Naharkatia Road on 7th July'15. "Soon the district administration will receive the certificate," said DC MS Manivannan.

Six jihadis nabbed in Assam, arms seized ET Correspondent Guwahati, Sep 25

Contd. on Page 12

cepted and confirmed by Limca Books of Records. The Dibrugarh district administration made the Limca Book of Records by planting 22,084 saplings within 2 hours 22

has not repaired or constructed the trans-highway roads in Arunachal Pradesh. Neither the BRO nor the concerned ministry has shown much interest in repairing or maintaining these roads, it alleged in a press release. The road from Potin to Pangin via Ziro and Daporijo is in a dilapidated state, it added.

Contd. on Page 3

Why Opacity Is Asia's Biggest Military Threat Asia has an opacity problem that increases the risk of conflict virtually everywhere. Whatever U.S. military and diplomatic solu-

der to develop yourself personally as an airmen.”

Since 2010 when the first

recruitment rally was conducted in Arunachal, a total of 1458 candidates have appeared for the selection test and 222 have already joined the Indian Air Force, said Baliga. Youths who have completed 10 and 10+2 standards can walk into D.N. college campus with their original educational documents, attested copies including photographs on these respective dates.

On 26th Sept. 2015, the rally would be for non-technical candidates who would be expected to have cleared their 10+2 with English subject scoring minimum 50% and on 27th Sept. 2015, the recruitment rally would be for the technical candidates; candidates are expected to have obtained 50% in English, Physics and Maths.

Contd. on Page 3

In a major success against the terror outfits operating in the northeastern states, a joint team of Assam police and security forces on Friday arrested six Islamic terrorists in the state’s insurgency torn district Chirang.

Forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the arrested militants. The seizure includes four guns including two AK-47 assault rifles and explosives.

Last Friday, the Assam Police busted a training camp believed

ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Sep 25 Due to alleged irresponsibility on the part of the Assam Government and the concerned department, thousands of Scheduled Caste (ST) students have been deprived of their scholarships for a period of at least ten years. It is alleged that the issue has been pending on account of inefficient ways of Ministers of Scheduled Tribe (Plain) Development Dept. of the state. It is known that scholarships were being disbursed through the aforemen-

A District Health Society meeting to review the achievements made and future course of actions to be undertaken under National Health Mission was convened today at Seppa under the Chairmanship of Shri Sandeep Kumar Singh, DC East Kameng. Dr. N. Geiyi, DMO, while exVolkswagen's credit rating may be downgraded over pollution scandal Standard & Poor's threatened recently to downgrade Volkswagen's credit rating over a worldwide pollution cheat-

REGION

EDITORIAL

BUSINESS

been extended to them by the Government as the present crisis involves all the hill tribes of Manipur. They also condemned the repeated attempts by certain sections of the people to divert the issue at hand by isolating a particular tribe through the media houses.

tions are brought to bear in the region as part of the ongoing policy of rebalancing to Asia, they should be guided by a simple heuristic: reduce, or at least don't exacerbate, the opacity of a dimly lit environment.

ing scandal. A day after fellow rating agency Fitch had placed VW's credit on "rating watch negative," S&P said it had similarly put Volkswagen's long- and short-term corporate credit ratings on "CreditWatch with negative implications."

tioned department with the view to foster academic development of the ST students. But the allotment of these scholarships stopped during the office tenure of Former Minister Bharat Chandra Narah. The concerned students have not got the scholarships since 2000 till date. So the deprived students today organized a meeting in the Conference Hall of Lakhimpur Commerce College in order to discuss the sensitive issue thoroughly.

The meeting chaired by Nirmal Payeng and anchored by Madhav Mili, deliberated upon several

proposals to demand immediate release of the fund for the scholarships. Moreover ‘Tribal Student Scholarships Demand Committee’ was constituted in the meeting comprising 51 members.

The Committee will initiate a strong agitation at the Lakhimpur DC Office before the commencement of the Durga Puja. It is to be noted that Nirmal Payeng was chosen as the President of the Committee while Abhijit Deury, Madhav Mili and Monoranjan Sonowal were selected as Working President and Joint Secretaries.

AJYCP takes out protest rally at Margherita

DC reviews execution of National Health Mission pressing satisfaction on good performance, especially in the immunization programme, has requested the fellow staff to cooperate and coordinate for better implementation of any health programme. Cautioning against any negligence, he sought to take disciplinary action against anyone found indulging in dereliction of duty.

grants and indigenous Bodo tribals in 2012 and immediately after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, leading to over 100 deaths.

In December last year police had arrested one Sahanur Alom, an important Jamaat-ulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative from a village near Sarthebari in Barpeta district.

Alom, one of the prime accused in the Burdwan (West Bengal) blast, was a key person who had allegedly engaged in propagating jihadi ideology and carrying out recruitment in different districts of Assam.

ST students deprived of scholarships, to initiate protests

New Born Care Unit is functioning in full swing in the District hospital of East Kameng Seppa, Sep 24

to have been set up by a jihadi outfit in a village in Chirang district and recovered eight crude hand-made AK-47 rifles that were concealed in a pit. Four persons were apprehended in this connection.

Top Police officials suspect that some Islamic terror groups had started recruiting Muslim boys in the Bodoland districts of Chirang, Kokrajhar and Baksa with an intention of triggering fresh violence during the run-up to the 2016 state assembly elections. The three Bodoland districts had witnessed major clashes between Muslim mi-

oi

ET Correspondent Margherita, Sep 25

Assam Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chaatra Parishad, Tinsukia District Committee and Margherita Regional Committee today jointly took out a "Democratic Protest Programme" in connection with soil erosion which occurred during the rainy season.

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

AJYCP activists ‘gherao’ the house of MLA Pradyut Bordoloi. Pic - Arjun Mishra

Tata Trusts lends helping hand to 'Rang De' to fight poverty Bengaluru, Sep 25

Tata Trusts said it has extended its support for a period of four years to Rang De — an internet-driven microlending platform, to fight poverty. The initiative aims to offer af-

fordable micro-credit solutions to nearly a quarter of a million families, over the next five years, it said. They will be given access to Contd. on Page 4

PROPELLING THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY Ø The initiative aims to offer

affordable micro-credit solutions to nearly a quarter of a million families, over the next five years.

Ø They will be given access to improved livelihoods, education, health and sanitation facilities.

ØRang De will scale up the team and increase their crowdfunding network with an additional 12,000 social investors. Ø Rang De has raised over 38,000 loans totalling over Rs 40 crores, funded by over 8000 individual "social investors" and 25 plus corporate partners

cmyk

Dr. Chanwang Mongchan Khonsa, Sep 25

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Amendment Bill passed disappoints KHADC CEM Dmuising Khongjirem Shillong Sep 25: Soon after the Meghalaya Assembly passed today the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 barring holding dual posts of office of profit, The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Mr. Pynshngaiñ N Syiem said that he would take a final call either to resign from the post of the MLA or MDC after consultation with his supporters and his family members.

I want to consult with my family members and the supporters of my constituency before taking decision”, he told newsmen here on Thursday. “I know this is a very critical period for the Khasi indigenous community since there is an attempt to disturb the prevailing practices and customs which were there since time immemorial”, said Mr. Syiem.

He said that he would not want to leave the ongoing movement against the

move of the State Government to make laws on subjects belonging to the Council especially on the empowerment of the Rangbah Shnong (headmen) half way.

“I understand that this is the toughest time of my life.

But as a leader I am ready to sacrifice in the interest of my own people”, said the KHADC CEM who is also the Congress MLA from Mawsynram.

Mr Syiem also said that he will consult the lawyers on the possibilities of filing an appeal before the court against the passing of this bill. He expressed disappointed that the Government was not listened to his argument to enforce such legislation at this juncture.

“During the district council election, the MLAs were not barred to file the nomination papers and now after being elected have become victims. The enforcement of the bill should be after the end of our term,” Syiem said. The State Government has bulldozed just to pass the bill just because they are in the majority, he said.

DC reviews current scenario of power supply Pasighat, Sep 25: A meeting was convened by the Deputy Commissioner Isha Khosla yesterday in the office conference hall to discuss the current power scenario in Pasighat and its adjoining areas as well as the latest status of the ongoing construction works of 132 KV tower line from Aalo to Pasighat, low voltage and fluctuation and renovation/restoration works of hydel projects. The meeting was attended by the SE Power Transmission Rokom Bado, EE Transmission, EE Power, AE Hydel, EE High Way and admin officers. SE Bado highlighted the works undertaken by them. He however said that incessant rain is causing problems for smooth progress of the work even as the department is putting in its best efforts to complete the works as per the schedule.

According him, construction of 132 KV tower line from Aalo to Pasighat is being carried out by the engineers and staff and Pasighat division has al-

Noted social worker Annaprabha Bora no more ET Correspondent Doomdooma, Sep 25: Former president of Doomdooma Mahila Samiti, Annaprabha Bora, 83, has passed away due to heart failure. Condolence messages have been conveyed by various organisations to the bereaved family. She was a resident of Bezbarua Sarani at Doomdooma.

She is survived by three sons and a rich number of relatives.

Truck-car collision on Yamuna Expressway leaves 3 dead, 3 injured ANI Agra, Sep 25: Three people died and three others were injured after a truck collided with a Maruti 800 at the Yamuna Expressway late night.

There were six people in the car who belonged to Agra's Belanganj. They were driving their car on the wrong side of Yamuna Expresswaywhen a truck speedily came and rushed into it. Three of them died on the spot, while three others, who got injured, were rushed to S.N Hospital.

most completed the work.

Rumgong division is to complete 23 towers and Aalo has to complete 7 towers but incessant rain is posing problems. EE Power informed that transformers are being installed and necessary wirings are being done. After installation of transformers, low voltage/fluctuations and power cuts will be minimized. He urged the BSNL authority to improve the mobile service in between Rina and Pasighat to improve power distribution system. A.E. Hydel informed that only Unit-1 of Rina hydel is in good condition and generating power properly. An estimate for maintenance of Rina Unit-2 has been sent to the government for approval. Chairing the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the works departments to ensure quality of works besides following the guidelines and time line by the contractors. “They should expedite works so that people are not suffering anymore,” she said. (DIPRO)

Central Govt. official abducted on duty Tura, Sep 25: A Central government official travelling from remote Rongara village to district headquarters Baghmara in South Garo Hills District has been taken hostage by an armed group on Thursday morning. The abduction comes a day after a State government forester was taken away by an uni-

dentified group of men from the forest beat check gate at Khera on the WilliamnagarSongsak road. His whereabouts remain unknown.

The Central official Bikash Singh had boarded a Sumo leaving Rongara for Baghmara during the early part of Thursday morning.

Halfway through the journey

they had just crossed Panda reserve forest, a midpoint between Rongara and Baghmara, at around 8:30 am when two men in camouflage and carrying arms emerged from the undergrowth and ordered the driver to halt. All twelve passengers were ordered out of the vehicle and made to

List Of Phone Numbers Of Nursing Homes Tinsukia City Hospital & Research Centre Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Gnb Road Near Bujhuri-786125, Assam Pin Code :786125, Phone Number :0374-2333349, Fax :0374-2350026/2339974

Dr.Bawaris Nursing Home Jeevan Jyoti Nursing Home Category: General Hospital Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Parvathiya Road Hospital Address: Parbatia,Opp Hindi Girls High School-786125, Assam Tinsukia-786125, Assam Pin Code :786125 Pin Code :786125 Phone Number :(0374)2339756 Phone Number :0374-2336319 Fax :0374-2335334 Fax :0374-2350131

Pinewood Hospital Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Subothoni Road Moniam Dewan Nagra-786125 Pin Code :786125 Phone Number :0374-2300730 Fax :0374-2339730

Help-Line APST BUS SERVICE Ph: 0360-2212338, 0360-2351490 NIGHT SERVICES Name of Routes Departure Distance(km) Bus Fare 1) Itanagar- Shillong ( Daily service) 5:00 pm 510 460/2) Itanagar-Nyapin(Mon, Thu, Sat) 2:00 pm 325 400/3) Itanagar- Aalo (Daily service) 2:30 pm 325 350/4) Itanagar-Daporijo (Daily service from Nlg)12:00 noon 432 470/5) Itanagar - Yingkiong (Alternate day) 01.00 pm 436 550/6) Itanagar - Seppa (Alternate day) 12:00 noon 385 420/7) Itanagar - Khonsa (Sun, mon, wed, thur) 1:00 pm 677 620/8) Itanagar - Namsai (Daily service) 1:00 pm 655 580/9) Itanagar - Koloriang (Alternate day) 2.30 pm 334 400/DAY SERVICE 10) Itanagar - Guwahati (Daily service) 6.00 am 395 350/11) Itanagar - Pasighat (Daily service) 6.00 am 270 250/12) Itanagar - Tirbin (Mon, thu & sat) 5.30 am 328 330/13) Itanagar - Bomdila (Daily except Fri) 6.00 am 346 320/14) Itanagar - Aalo (Daily service) 5.30 am 325 350/15) Itanagar - Sagalee (Sun, Tues & Thur ) 7.30 am 121 135/16) Itanagar - Pakke Kessang (Mon, Wed & Fri)7.00 am 160 200/17) Itanagar-Mengio (sun, tue &Thur) 6.00 am 198 230/18)Itanagar-Kimin/ H-Camp (Daily except Sat)12.00 noon 94 80/19) Itanagar-Gerukhamukh (Daily except Fri)12.00 noon 134 120/20) Itanagar- Balijan (Daily except Sun) 12.30 pm 105 105/21) Itanagar - Sonajuly (Daily except Sun) 01.00 pm 70 80/22) Itanagar - Jote (Daily except Sun) 07.00 am & 01.00 pm 22 30/23) Itanagar- Lakhimpur (Daily Service) 3.30 pm 64 70/-

Bordoloi Avenue, Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2302219, 2302225

G M Hospital

Shrishti Hospital & Research Centre Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2300024, 2302099

AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005

Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital

Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital

Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2302100, 2302099

Near Indian AirLines City Office Paltan Bazar Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2303476

Assam Medical College

Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2302872, 2302051

Graham Bazar, A.T. Road Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2322547

Jalan Nagar, Dibrugarh - 786 002 List of Phones numbers: Emergency Room : 0373 - 2300627 Labour Room: 0373 - 2300022 Drug Deaddiction Centre: 0373 - 2302952 Community Medicine: 0373 - 2302994 RIA Centre: 0373 - 2302093

Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital

Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic

Aastha Hospital

Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2303448, 2303458, 2301904

Sankardev Hospital Mancotta Road, Chowkidinghee Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2327717, 2327715, 2326960

not ruled out involvement of either the GNLA or ASAK or petty criminals in the daring abduction. The remoteness of the BaghmaraRongara route which has a large reserve forest at Panda and is close to the border with Bangladesh has been an idle operating ground for both militants and criminals

alike. On March 10 this year, heavily armed GNLA militants believed to number over three dozen ambushed a police vehicle coming from Rongara towards Baghmara. Four police personnel, including a police sub-inspector, had lost their lives in that ambush. (Agencies)

ASTRO FOR YOU Today, you may be stumped by some mysterious and wonderful event. That, or you may encounter an unexpected yet advantageous incident. It may not exactly be path-breaking, but it is sure to make you take stock of things. Also, you may find it difficult to meet deadlines today. Nevertheless, let people know how important your work is.

Today, passionate and possessive are the two words that will define your relationship with the people you love. You may choose to take pains for the sake of others, which seems to be highly fulfilling. Your good spirit will sky-rocket by evening. Make sure to change your disadvantage into your advantage.

You are likely to make a list of your daily chores that take most of your time.

Then you will find a way to outsource these activities or eliminate them from your routine altogether. You will also devote a lot of your time to meditation.

Health of a family member may give you some anxious moments.

Today, you will be at the centre of all your plans. Your responsibilities at home are likely to be unnecessary digressions for you, with your help-yourself-only attitude. However, you may feel that you are not getting enough returns of your hard work. Be more responsible at home, and your family’s love and affection will make up for the insufficient returns.

Sometimes, it takes courage to be honest and admit to your failures. Doing so only goes a long way in establishing your credentials as a real person. So understand that, while it is only human to make mistakes, it takes more than that to accept them. Also, today is a good day to reconnect with old contacts. Make the effort to do so. It should not be so difficult considering your skills in public relations.

A sudden bend in the journey of life is important to understand it better. Excellence will drone on throughout the day today. Top on the list are money matters and your loved ones – not necessarily in that order! Much of your time may be spent in appeasing the Gods.

Get a bigger wallet, since it is very likely that today shall prove to be a moneymaking day for you. It might be through some sort of a partnership deal that this may happen,. Destiny lends you a helping hand and guides you in your goals. But it is your sentiments that may darken your thoughts today. Don’t stress yourself out too much, and try and keep your expectations under control.

The hen that laid the golden eggs laid only one egg a day!

A cascade of let-downs will dent your confidence and shake your determination. But don’t let these failures affect you as they are temporary. At work, your subordinates may force you to take drastic measures.

Friendship with a few like-minded people is likely to develop today. You shall spend a large share of your time discussing issues like attitude, beliefs and values. Those with you will enjoy sharing their ideas and opinions, and casting them in a new mould.

The wait for some good news may have been too long, but it will surely find its way to you today. Your focus will remain fixed on work, and you may feel like you are finally starting to like your job. This, in turn, will lead you to take some well-informed decisions about your future. And if the good news comes at the right time, you will probably be saved the effort of finding a new job.

Today is an important day in the larger scheme of things. You may finally decide to buy a home, change your job, or marry! Sudden and unexpected profits are on the cards too. Reputation and rewards are all yours today. This acknowledgement helps you remain committed.

You are human enough to make mistakes, and humble enough to admit them, and it is this honesty that people admire in you. Your affectionate nature will see you excel at tending to the needs of your family members today.

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

List of hospitals in Dibrugarh with contact details & phone numbers, Assam Aditya Diagnostics & Hospitals

stand in a line on the road after which the armed men singled out Singh and a cloth merchant identified as Kamal Saha. They took the two men captive and allowed the rest of the passengers to board the vehicle and leave for Baghmara. The identity of the kidnappers remains a mystery although police have

Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital Dibrugarh

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

26-9-15 (SATURDAY) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha 6-15 A.M-Classical Music, Artist-Vilayat Hussain Khan 6-50 A.M-Lokageet 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto 8-35 A.M-Surar Satsori 9-05 A.M-Antara 11-30 P.M-Live Phone-in Programme of KKHSOU 12-15P.M-Teachers' Broadcast 12-30P.M-Hindi Film Songs 2-00 P.M-Kunhipaat 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-30 P.M-Mishing Geet by Babul Kr. Pegu 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Quiz Programme-Sponsored by Sasoni Junior College) 7-45 P.M-Daakpakhili 8-00 P.M-Ekalabya (Sponsored Prog. of K.K.H.S.O.U) 9-30 P.M-Radio Serial

Dr Damani's Nursing Home Near Circuit House, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2300928, 2302873

Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

3rd Arunachal Film Festival Kicked off at Sky Digital Cinema, Itanagar Short film “Youth Fireflies in between”, a documentary “Little monk in Tawang” and a feature film “ Itanagar 0 Km” were screen ET Correspondent Naharlagun, Sep 25 : “Cinema is a powerful medium to transform the society for prosperity”, said Government Spokesman and Parliamentary Secretary IPR Bamang Felix. Inaugurating the three day long 3rd Arunachal Film Festival 2015, which kicked off in a colourful note at Sky Digital Cinema, Nirjuli this evening, Felix was very optimistic that with the guidance of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who is giving the much needed impetus for development of film industry in the state by allocating Rs 1 crore this year’s budget as financial assistance to local film-makers, would further boost up the sector.

A much excited Parliamentary Secretary told the gathering that, “ We are the leader of film making in the North East” as the government is working on framing a film policy for promotion of film making sector and with the coming up of the Film and Television Institute at Jollang, the filmmaking in the state will get the required incentive and the state would go a step forward in the arena of art and cinema. He, however called upon the film makers to showcase the inter-dependence aspect of the tribal society and depict the pan Arunachal image.

Information Commis-

Aalo, Sep 25: Jan Suvidha Office was launched at interior Monigong Circle by Sang Khandu EAC Monigong amid cheers on 21st September. With the installation with V. Sat, Monigong which remains cut off in every monsoon will be linked with the rest of the region through netShort film “Youth Fireflies in between”, a documentary “Little monk in Tawang” and a feature film “ Itanagar 0 Km” were screen

sioner and Sahitya Academy Recipient Y D Thongchi, who happened to be one of the Jury members of short films this year was in all appreciation for the young talented film makers who had ventured into making films. He further emphasized on making films on various other social sectors like games & sports, music etc and called upon the budding film makers to propagate cinema in proper way.

Planning and IPR Secretary Sonam Chombey while highlighting on the background of the Arunachal Film Festival said that the sector has progressed with leap and bound with its humble beginning. Chombey informed that the state is hosting the North East Film festival where local

films of national repute would be screened during the 30th year of statehood celebration on February next.

to facilitate interactions of the local film makers to bring out modalities for further promotion of the sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Director IPR CM Longphong said that in order to promote film making sector, the state government has been conducting film festivals since 2013 on annual basis with an objective of encouraging the local film-makers by screening their films and felicitating outstanding productions.

Earlier, Felix inaugurated the three day festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp amidst the presence of dignitaries, members of Arunachal Film Fraternity and enthusiastic film lovers. The 3 day film festival will showcase many exciting films besides having technical session

The first day festival screened - short film “Youth Fireflies in between”, a documentary “Little monk in Tawang” and a feature film “ Itanagar 0 Km”, while on the second day, short films namely – Shackles, M3 Money Men Mad and Nawa Ga HWME, My Quest, The Dream and many more would be screened besides, animation film- Tani Vrs Hailyan Mikhii, documentary – an Exodus and feature film – Main Indian Hum Indian would be screened and on third day, short film – the bag and two feature films – Mwngkar and Gyumrie would be screened.

people have lost their lives during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca," Gogoi tweeted. "My sympathies are with the bereaved families and I pray for the eternal peace of the deceased," he added. A total

of 14 Indians died in the stampede yesterday, and another 13 injured in the second worst tragedy to hit the Haj after 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were killed in a stampede. There are also couple of

Assamese pilgrims among the injured. The exact number would, however, be known after confirmation by Saudi authorities, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

HUAM protests against handing over land to Assam Rifles at Ri-Bhoi D a m u t s k h e m Khongjirem Shillong, Sep 25: The Hynniewtrep United Awakening Movement (HUAM) has registered strong protest over the intention of the village dorbar to grant No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Assam Rifles authority for setting up educational institution and military hospital at the jurisdiction of Umran Diary dorbar in Ri-Bhoi district.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday at Shillong Press club, HUAM President Gilbert Kharraswai said that the intention of the Assam Rifles authority to bring about development in the name setting up schools

Special Correspondent Jairampur, Sep 25: A one-day training programme on Biometric Enrolment for generation of AADHAR Card under National Population Register was conducted yesterday at the Additional

Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Jairampur for the Jairampur, Nampong and Rima-Putok Circles of Changlang District. The training was imparted with the help of powerpoint presentations/

and military hospital cannot be accepted since many problems would crop up once the army is stationed there.

“We have experienced in the past in Shillong city and other places, they (army) used to fool people; when they got the station, problems cropped up”, said Mr. Kharraswai adding, “Who knows after getting land, they would use it as camp and for military exercises”.

According HUAM President, the Umran Dairy village dorbar is yet to grant NOC to the Army authority after several civil organizations, women organizations of the village strongly objected to this move.

He said that the army proposes to buy the land of about 200 acre belonging to one big businessman by the name Nehlang Lyngdoh a former legislator and the agreement has already been done.

The Umran Diary village is situated along the Guwahati-Shillong national highway which is 16 km from Nongpoh, the district headquarters of Ri-Bhoi.

“The presence of army camp has become a reason for fear and worry among the people of the village especially women as they are always in the habit of creating problems for the people”, Kharraswai said.

Stating that army will

never care for the civilians, HUAM President said that military hospitals or schools never allowed access to the civilians and they are only meant to serve their families and army personnel.

There is no option of compromising with the intention of the Assam Rifles to acquire land, he added.

In the wake of steep opposition from different sections of people, the Umran Dairy village authority has decided to convene a meeting on February, the next year's dorbar to reconsider scrapping the agreement signed earlier with the army authority.

work connectivity. This Suvidha will provide minimum services issue of Scheduled Tribe and Permanent Residential Certificate for the people of Monigong and Pidi Cicrle.

Nyaken Ori, D.I.O. West Siang installed computers and machinery for Jan Suvidha office and im-

NPR schedules were explained to the trainees/enumerators. ADC, Jairampur, Shri Kento Riba and SDO, Nampong Shri K Tikhak and 37 enumerators from the three Circles participated in the training programme.

ring Member of the District Council (MDCs) and member of the state legislatures (MLA) to hold dual post, HSPDP MLA-cum-MDC Mr. Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit resigned as the MDC t o d a y.

Mr

Basaiawmoit is the second MDC to resign after the DCA Minister HDR Lyngdoh resigned on Thursday.

The Nongkrem HSPDP MLA-cumMDC submitted his resignation letter as the MDC to KHADC

chairman Manstudy Nongrem. When contacted, Basaiawmoit said, “From the beginning, I have made it very clear that I do not have a problem with the amendment bill passed by the Assembly. Everyone is aware that i had

parted four-day training to all Computer-cum-Account Assistants of Panchayat.

The successful launch of Jan Suvidha is an outcome of the help by Mechuka MLA, P.D. Sona who provided a fund of five lakhs rupees from MLALAD and got successfully executed through W.R.D depart-

ment. For construction of the Jan Suvidha counter, procurement of a 5kw D.G. set for power supply and other supportive appliances and administrative support from D.C. Aalo, Pige Ligu and former Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Mechukha, Ravi Dhawan were done.

(DIPRO)

Singpho Youth Organisation irked by SC's conferment of citizenship on Arunachal Chakmas and Hajongs Contd. from Page 1

The major apprehension of the AAPSU as well as the other groups in the state is that the Chakmas and Hajongs, once granted citizenship and settlement rights in Arunachal Pradesh would one day reduce the indigenous tribal communities to a minority apart from taking away all opportunities currently available to them.

According to Singpho Youth Organisation, the Chakmas and Hajongs had fled from erstwhile East Pakistan due to persecution in the early 1960s, first entering Assam and then shifted by the government to Changlang in the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

The representatives of Singpho body said, "While there was not much opposition to them in the early period because NEFA was an extremely backward area with little education and no elected body, from 1990 onwards the AAPSU built up an agitation demanding their ouster from Arunachal Pradesh as NEFA came to be known, first as a union territory in 1972 and then

as a state in 1987. Interestingly, while AAPSU built up an agitation, it also got indirect support from the state government which told the apex court that it could not permit 'outsiders' to settle in the state as it had limited resources and that it had the right to ask the Chakmas to leave. It had also told the apex court that settlement of these people would disturb the state’s ethnic balance and destroy its culture and identity".

An APPSU leader remarked, "The Chakmas and Hajongs illegally migrated to our country and such order from the apex court has hurt the sentiments of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh," thus termed the order as arbitrary.

It may be added here that the Supreme Court on 17th September directed the central and Arunachal Pradesh governments to confer citizenship rights on the "eligible" Chakmas and Hajong people coupled with steps to protect their lives and liberty and guard them against any discrimination.

Allowing the petition by the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas

(CCRC) of Arunachal Pradesh, a bench of Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in their judgment said: "We direct the government of India and the state of Arunachal Pradesh to finalise the conferment of citizenship rights on eligible Chakmas and Hajongs."

Directing the compliance of its direction within three months from the date of issuance of the verdict, the court also directed both governments to "ensure compliance of directions for protection of their life and liberty and against discrimination in any manner."

The court said that the exercise for the grant of citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs people may be "completed at the earliest preferably within three months from today".

Stating that it found merit in the contention of the petitioner CCRC, Justice Goel, pronouncing the judgment, said: "It stands acknowledged by this court on the basis of stand of the government of India that the Chakmas have a right to be granted citizenship subject to the procedure being followed."

"It also stands recognized by judicial decisions that they cannot be required to obtain any Inner Line Permit as they are settled in the state of Arunachal Pradesh", the court said.

Referring to history to drive the point home that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India since ancient times, the court said that was "well known that the Chakmas and Hajongs were displaced from the area which became part of East Pakistan (now in Bangladesh) on construction of Kaptai Dam and were allowed to be rehabilitated under the decision of the government of India."

Referring to the earlier decisions of the apex court, Delhi and Gauhati High Court, the judgment said, "they need to be protected and their claims of citizenship need to be considered as per applicable procedure".

It further said that "they could not be discriminated against in any manner pending formal conferment of rights of citizenship.

Their status also stands duly acknowledged in the guidelines of the Election Commission of India."

Indian Air Force recruitment rally for Arunachal youth Contd. from Page 1

For a diploma holder, the same criteria would apply.Candidates with birth dates as on 1st Feb. 1996 – 31st May, 1999 can apply. They would have to sit for written, adaptability, physical, personal interview and medical tests as per schedule which would be informed during the rally. Baliga said, this recruitment rally is exclusively only for the youth of Arunachal Pradesh.

He also said that Arunachal Pradesh and three other northeastern States including Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura have the minimum representation

Indian Airforce Officers briefing media at the press club, Itanagar. of the youth in the IAF. On the contrary, Manipur and Assam have much representation which is more than is expected. This rally is aimed to penetrate into areas and States where

Ardent resigns as MDC of KHADC D m u i s i n g Khongjirem Shillong, Sep 25: Soon after the Assembly passed the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 bar-

slide shows by a team of officers from the office of Director of Census Operation, Shillong and Engineers from ITI Limited, Palakkad.

The purpose and procedures of NPR and Unique Identification Data and AADHAR NUMBER and filling of

Jan Suvidha Office launched at Monigong

Gogoi expresses grief over Haj stampede ET Correspondent Guwahati, Sep 25: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday expressed grief at the loss of over 700 lives in the Haj stampede at Mina. "This is a great tragedy, so many

1-Day training on Biometric Enrolment for generation of AADHAR Card and NPR conducted

contested the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) election in 2014 when there was no law then to prevent sitting legislators from contesting for the post of MDC”.

He also said that he had also contested

the MDC election due to the pres s ure from his supporters in the constituency.

“Now with this amendment bill everything is clear. I am happy to tender my resignation”, B a s a i a w m o i t added.

there is least presentation of youths in the Arm Forces of India.

“We want maximum youth from Arunachal Pradesh to join the Arm Forces in general and Indian Air Force in par-

ticular, and this rally will continue every year in this State,” Baliga added. S. K. Pandey Warrant Officer Adjutant 11 ASC from IAF was also present during the media briefing.

APCC concerned over bad condition of TransArunachal Highway Contd. from Page 1

The work is not at all moving due to the negligence of officers representing the ministry

which are deputed here, the press release stated. It further added that the ministry is solely responsible if anything untoward incident occurs on these roads.

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

No culture should think itself better than MAC Collaborative Multi Theme the other: Prof. Arup Kumar Baruah Livelihood Programme inaugurated Nityananda Pattanayak Nagaon, Sep 25: “Assam is a mosaic of cultures. Its composite culture will be richer if proper space is given to each. No culture should think itself better than the other. Any big brotherly attitude will deface beauty of the multicoloured culture of our society”, said Arup Kumar Baruah, retired Professor in the department of Pol. Sc. at NEHU on 22nd Sept. last while delivering Anandaram Dhekial Phookan Memorial lecture at Anandaram Dhekial Phookan college, Nagaon on the subject “Assamese Middle Class and Ethnic Problems of Assam”.

Elaborating his views Prof.

Baruah said greater Assam was never a cultural reality. In pre-independence era the British had formed political Assam by forcibly bringing together Nagaland, Meghalaya, etc. and annexing them to Assam for the rulers’ advantage. But ethnic tribes belonging to these geographical spaces never felt at ease with the Assamese people. So whenever they got chance and opportunity they defied this sense of greater political Assam and made attempts to get separated to assert their distinct cultural, political aspirations identity.

Prof. Baruah further said

middle class sentiment is always there to derive benefit with less labour. Their interest does not tally with the interests of the ordinary people of the society. Common people in a society or in a territory are not excited with feelings of sub-nationalism. They are toiling mass. Their main concern is with livelihood, not with language or religion. It is the middle class who instigate them to fight on the question of language or state property. He said character of middle class in Assam has not changed for last one hundred years. Of and on Assamese middle class manifests the same traits that have been seen

since the advent of Bengali middle class to the state.

These traits are emulated by middle class of ethnic groups when these groups appeared in their respective groups during the last thirty years. May it be Bodo agitation for a separate state or Karbi movement against outsiders or occasional rise of other ethnic groups to cleanse their land are all result of this middle class sentiment which is fed by middle class game plan. At this critical juncture, he said, the only solution will be to give respect and space to each and every small culture and allow them to bloom so that the cultural garden of Assam will take a beautiful and unique look.

IFAW- WTI conduct teacher’s workshop for 37 educators of Kokrajhar and Chirang Special Correspondent Kokrajhar, Sep 25: Thirty-seven school teachers from the fringe villages of Greater Manas attended the Animal Action Education (AAE) workshop conducted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) at Central Institute of Technology (CIT) in Kokrajhar, the capital city of Bodoland in Assam. The one day workshop conducted on 23rd September 2015 was supported by Elementary Education Department and was organised in association with Assam Forest Department and Bodoland Territorial Council.

The main objective of the workshop was to spread awareness about keynote species existing in the forest habitat of Greater Manas landscape in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) amongst school children. Children from Class I to IX were targeted through the teachers, who play a crucial role in spreading the message of wildlife conservation among school children.

School children are the future of a nation and if love for wildlife can be inculcated in them at an early stage, then they grow up to be responsible citizens who will in the future protect the natural heritage of India.

People living around Manas National Park have historically had a close association with Asian Elephants and this year’s workshop theme on elephant conservation was greatly appreciated by the teachers.

In the technical session of the workshop, Subhamoy Bhattacharjee, Assistant Manager, Awareness for Conservation department of IFAW-WTI discussed the need for such a workshop with teachers. The film “El-

ephants Never Forget” was shown to the school teachers for their better understanding of this species.

The film show was followed by an interactive session on “Teacher’s Role in Wildlife Conservation.”

Many issues related to conservation from planting a sapling to ivory smuggling were discussed.

Ms Kanan Basumatary, Principal of Deborgaon Higher Secondary School and Member to the Panel, Greater Manas Conservation Fund of Greater Manas Conservation Project, and Advisor, All Bodo Women Welfare Federation chaired the workshop as Chief Guest.

In her keynote address she said, “Wildlife and bio-diversity needs utmost care and attention in this fast growing world. If we do not understand the need of a tree or forest we will be at a loss in the future and our own wildlife will be in crisis. So, to keep a balance among the wildlife and human habitat there is need for awareness and this is possible through the teachers who are actually the torch bearers of society. I wish that with this workshop, the honourable teachers who are my colleagues too, can play a significant role for increasing children’s awareness on wildlife conservation.”

Sanatan Deka, Field Officer and Project Lead of IFAWWTI, a sociologist who has been working with the communities in Greater Manas Conservation Project

(GMCP) gave an overview of IFAW-WTI ‘s work in Manas for the conservation of wildlife and bio-diversity in the Himalayan foothills connecting neighbouring Bhutan. IFAW-WTI has been working hard to bring back and secure the natural heritage of Manas.

Dr. Manasi Buzarbaruah, Assistant Professor of Central Institute of Technology (CIT), who attended the workshop as Guest of Honour appreciated the effort of IFAW-WTI and its contribution to wildlife conservation in northeast India. She also mentioned her voluntary involvement during first rhino translocation to Manas National Park by IFAW-WTI. “I hope IFAWWTI will come out with some new innovative activity packs like this Animal Action Education pack suiting the requirements of the people of Manas especially children,” she said.

Kamalakanta Basumatary, a senior teacher of Panbari High School stressing on the need of wildlife conservation said, “Sometimes we face real difficulties in making people and children understand why we need the elephants, rhinos, tigers and such other animals, so it’s important to make the children understand that these are the keystone species and the indicators of well balanced biodiversity”.

Rongjuli Musahary, Head mistress of Ballamguri M. E. School thanked IFAWWTI for organising such informative workshop on wildlife conservation in

Assam conservationist Goutam Narayan first Indian to get Harry Messel award ET Correspondent Guwahati, Sep 25: Conservationist Goutam Narayan has become the first Indian to get Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership in recognition of his pivotal role in leading the Pygmy Hog Conservation programme in the NorthEast.The award was announced during the IUCN Species Survival Commission Leaders' meeting held in Abu Dhabi last week, a release issued by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) said today. The award citation mentions that Narayan has been awarded "in recognition of his pivotal role in leading the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme in

north eastern India since 1995, thus saving a whole genus from extinction and his long service to the Wild Pig Specialist Group." The Harry Messel Award recognises exemplary service to IUCN Species Survival Commission, especially from individuals who have made a specific contribution to species conservation on the ground or through their leadership. The award, instituted since 2004, is usually given at an interval of two to four years with 18 individuals and an organisation receiving the award so far. The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) is a collaborative project of the Assam Forest Depart-

ment, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, IUCN-SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group (WPSG), and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and is administered

by Eco Systems-India, a local trust for biodiversity conservation.

Dr Narayan began his career in 1980 at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) under eminent ornithologist Dr Salim Ali and in 1995, joined Durrell Wildlife and established PHCP in Assam with the then WPSG chair William Oliver to save the critically endangered pygmy hogs that were reduced to a single population and were on the verge of extinction.

BTC. “After attending the AAE sessions, I discussed with my fellow teachers to organise a wildlife painting event in our school very soon. This type of training will help not only the teachers and but also attract the school children towards wildlife. Their love for nature can be nurtured through this programme,” said Ms. Mosahary.

The task of conducting AAE workshop covering the fringe schools of Manas landscape in BTC is not an easy one. Most of the schools are so remote that it takes almost a day for a teacher to attend any event in the capital city. Many of the areas have no roads and the recent flood wave has washed away the connecting bridges and roads.

“Thanks to the co-ordination, hard work and persistence of IFAW-WTI team of Sanatan Deka, Field Officer and Project Lead, Amitabha Choudhury Assistant Project Officer, Subhamoy Bhattacharjee, Assistant Manager and Subiram Basumatary along with Mukul Kalita of Assam Forest Department that organised the AAE event now that these remote schools around Manas will have access to an internationally developed learning programme that is so much tuned to their daily life with elephants in the wild,” concluded Rupa Gandhi, the country lead of IFAW- WTI Animal Action Education.

Animal Action Education (AAE) project run by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) – Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) aims to educate and raise awareness about animal welfare issues among youngsters and reach out indirectly to their parents, educators and everyone in the society. The project has its presence in 18 countries worldwide and reaches out to five million young people.

Teacher commits suicide due tononpayment of salary Contd. from Page 1

The teacher remained untraced for the last 3 days. Later his dead body was found in a pond nearby his house today.

Hemanta Kumar Bordoloi who was serving in a government aided Middle School mentally broke down as he did not receive government salary for the last 18 years.

Reportedly, only financial assistance from government side was provided to construct the school building but no remuneration was paid to the teachers of the school.

Vinod Kr Singh Silapathar, Sep 25: The community which survived by means of traditional methods of livelihood like fishing, agriculture and weaving gained political status with their elected members representing them in the Mising Autonomous Council two years back in October 2013.

The elected body under the strong leadership of Dr Ranuj Pegu as chief executive councilor and Parmananda Chayengia as chairman of the council started their mission by generating livelihood mission for the Mising community using modern technology.

Horticulture programme in the MAC area was started last year and today Tata Trusts through centre for micro finance and livelihood is monitoring the projects in Assam and in association with MAC inaugurated the project MAC Collaborative Multi Theme Livelihood Programme.

The project was inaugurated by Parmananda

Chayengia chairman of the council at Gogamukh in the presence of the head of the different department. CML associate of Tata Trust is monitoring 34 ongoing projects in Assam, Manipur and Tripura through which livelihood will be generated among the Mising community in the field of agriculture, handloom textile and fishing through modern technology.

Dr Anil Pegu programme Manager CML elaborated

on the components of the project in the MAC area.

He said that since Dhemaji and Lakhimpur Districts are flood prone and have low lying areas, Boro Paddy cultivation can be undertaken which may be harvested before the flood season; the only need is training the farmers and helping them with modern technology. Dr Ranuj Pegu said that though the council areas have many problems but lots of opportunities are

there through which the standard of life of the people can be uplifted by uplifting livelihood and this is possible only through the helping hand of big organizations like Tata Trust having modern technologies. He further said that all the project will have cluster and co-operative societies of farmers through which the fund invested by Tata Trusts and MAC in association Govt. can be well utilized.

GNLA inducting non-tribal Tezpur University and Meghalaya police Academy of Media Stud- ETcriminals: Correspondent have been kidnapped in the reSep 25 : Garo National cent past in the same manner, ies jointly bag 1st position Shillong, Liberation Army (GNLA) has Raju said. The Meghalaya police ET Correspondent Golaghat, Sep 25: The All Assam Debate Competition on the topic "Media is the root cause of social disturbance in Assam" held at Hatikhowa, Tezpur University and Academy of Media Studies jointly bagged the first position, Dibrugarh University stood 2nd while Guwahati ICA stood 3rd in the competition organised

by Golaghat Purvanchalik

Mahavidhyalay and Dronkanta Saikia Memorial Trust. Thirty-two educational institutions participated in the competition with 50 participants. Earlier, the flag was hoisted by Anil Sharma and a meeting was held which was presided by Dr Kajal Saikia. The judges in the competition were Dwipen Dutta, Dinesh Gogoi, and Mrinal Kumar Saikia.

been recruiting non-tribal "criminals" to entice non-tribal businessmen from Assam and kidnap them for ransom, Meghalaya police said on Friday. One of the recent inductee is Ali, a cook at Thapa Police Camp who had decamped with a self-loading rifle, Inspector General of Police (Operations) G H P Raju said. He said Ali, who joined GNLA, was useful to the outfit as he used to entice unsuspecting businessmen from Assam, who came to buy betelnuts, broomsticks and other agricultural produces, and then kidnapped them for ransom. At least three such businessmen from Assam's Goalpara district

also released a photograph of Ali posing with the self-loading rifle.

The police claimed Ali was an active member of the GNLA. Although two other older militant outfits in the Garo Hills region have signed a peace pact with the central and state governments, the GNLA was yet to respond.

The GNLA is an outlawed militant outfit co-founded by a senior police deserter Champion Sangma and Sohan D Shira, a militant, in 2010. The outfit is active in all the five districts in the Garo Hills region and is involved in kidnapping, extortion and killing of both civilians and security forces.

AJYCP takes out protest rally at Margherita Contd. from Page 1

The "Democratic Protest Programme" started from North Margherita Rangamanch and concluded at Margherita constituency MLA Pradyut Bordoloi's residence. They gheraoed the campus and submitted a memorandum. Reportedly, Youth Congress and Block Con-

gress workers among others restricted the AJYCP activists from further leading the programme. Kon Gogoi, publicity secretary AJYCP, Central Committee said that Pradyut Bordoloi who was earlier a powerful cabinet minister of Assam has not taken any initiative to control flood and soil erosion problem in the Tinsukia District and

Margherita constituency areas with people of Makum Killa, Alubari, Ledo Maulang, Jagun and many other areas suffering a great deal during the rainy season.

AJYCP activists shouted many slogans such as "AJYCP Long Live", "Pradyut Bordoloi Murdabad", "Assam G o v e r n m e n t Murdabad," "Narendra Modi Murdabad" etc.

AJYCP Tinsukia District Committee Vice President Sanjib Ulup, General Secretary Simanto Das and AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee President Salil Neog, General Secretary Kanchan Bora and more than 300 activists of AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee were present today at the Democratic Protest Programme.

New Born Care Unit is functioning...

Contd. from Page 1

He highlighted the objectives of the meeting. Acknowledging the fact that ANMs are right and trained persons, and on-field soldiers of the department, he requested them to spread the health related issues and information to the masses. He requested the ANM and ASHA facilitators and others concerned to make report of any kind of medico-related cases occurring in their area of duties. He informed that all the diagnostic processes are done free of cost at district hospital, except the X-ray and ultrasound tests. Acknowledging the wholehearted support of the ADC Seppa, Smti Pooja Jain, he further informed that the New Born Care Unit is functioning in full swing in the district hospital.

Dr. K. Lapung, DRCHO has highlighted about the physical and operational status of CHCs, PHCs and Sub-Health Centers of the district. He highlighted about the achievements made under various health programmes in the district.

He made a quarterly comparison of HMIs and MCTS and informed that the figures are depicting

improved reportage system and better health delivery.

He informed about the IUCD insertions and removals undertaken and distribution of contraceptives to the public under family planning programme. He presented the data of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), RTI/STI, child immunization, family planning, maternal health and delivery cases of the district. He informed about the future activities to be undertaken as per ROP under NHM in the remaining financial year such as training of ASHAs, ASHA facilitators, and ANMs, training on safe abortion, minilab training, PPIUCD insertion training, orientation workshop and PRI training, RCH camps, female sterilization camps, QAC meeting and district convergence meeting. He further informed about the disbursement of incentives to ASHAs and briefed about the availability of various kind of incentives to ASHAs. Dr. N. Bodi, District TB Officer has briefed about the function of the RNTCP cell and given the total number of cases tested and undergoing treatment under DOTS. He further highlighted about the working of the newly created OST

cell and presented the number of patients undergoing treatment under the facility.

Dr. K. Gyadi, Medical Superintendent has highlighted about the District Surveillance Unit and briefed about the objective of the unit. He informed about the recent occurrence of suspected cases of Dengue and JE in the district.

He further briefed about the working of the NCD cell of the district hospital and the facilities available therein.

He presented the number of patients under various category of non-communicable diseases reported to the NCD cell. He informed about various free facilities available in the district hospital such as pick up and drop back transportation, routine immunistion, higher center referral, 3 days diets, drugs and consumables for pregnant ladies, free transport facility for death bodies within Seppa township, and free diets for in-patients. During the meeting, the financial achievement under NHM was also presented.

Smti Pooja Jain, ADC Seppa has requested the health fraternity to don a proactive role, and directed the DMO, MS and DRCHO to shot notices to default ANMs and ASHA facilitators directing them to re-

port on time. He urged the OST cell in-charge to utilize the cell fully and advised for convergence of awareness programme related to drug abuse with the education department and others.

Maintaining no nonsense during performing duties, Shri Sandeep Kumar Singh, DC has strictly cautioned against dereliction of duty and asked the DMO and DRCHO to submit a list of low performing ASHA names. In order to achieve the target fixed under various programmes, he has suggested for organization of more extensive outreach programmes after due consultation with the concerned MOs. He directed the DRCHO to revised the target fixed after due consulatation with the concerned MOs and by taking note of the actual population of the area. He further directed to furnish the opening and closing balance of the DHS account to him for audit. Emphasizing more on reportage system, he has directed the DMO to compile all formats required for reporting and furnish them to MO concerned for compliance. He urged the ANMs, ASHAs and health fraternity present to work sincerely.

(DIPRO)

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

JAC opting for consultation first before accepting any invitation Imphal, Sep 25 : The JAC Churachandpur has today said it will first consult all the tribal apex bodies before responding to any invitation for talks that has been extended to them by the Government as the present crisis involves all the hill tribes of Manipur. They also condemned the repeated attempts by certain sections of the people to divert the issue at hand by isolating a particular tribe through the media houses. "While appreciating your invitation (for discussion) a joint consultative meeting convened by the JAC has resolved that as the present crisis pertain to the hill tribals of Manipur, all tribal apex bodies including ATSUM, Hmar Inpui, Kuki Inpi Manipur, United Naga Council, Zomi Council, JACs of different districts of the State, and other tribal bodies within

and outside Manipur would be consulted first, and a reply will be given to the State Government on the collective decision at the earliest," said the JAC today. The Chief Minister's office reportedly sent the invitation to the JAC late yesterday.

The JAC has also issued a separate statement to assert that it is a non-communal

Jharkhand MLA wants probe into tender for health centres Ranchi, Sep 25: A legislator from the ruling BJP on Thursday sought to put his own party's government in a spot by demanding a vigilance probe into the finalisation of tender for the construction of seven primary health centres in Palamu region of Jharkhand. Tenders were floated for the construction of seven primary health centres (PHCs), and the construction work was handed over to a particular person though only one tender was filed, Bhartiya Janata Party legislator Satyendra Tiwari told reporters. He said that as per the law, a tender should be floated again in case only

one tender is submitted.

"We will raise the issue with Chief Minister Raghubar Das and demand a vigilance probe. It was done at the behest of the health minister ( R a m c h a n d r a Chandravansi). If the state government fails to institute a vigilance inquiry, I will file a public interest litigation in court," Tiwari said. Denying the charge, Chandravansi said, "We will look into the issue.

Action will be taken if anything wrong comes to our notice. The legislator wants to become a minister and it is the reason he is raising such issues."(Agencies)

Electoral roll revision Imphal, Sep 25: People who would attain 18 years by January 1 next year would be allowed to enrol themselves in the electoral roll during the special photo electoral roll revision which would be held soon under the aegis of the Election Commission of India. As per ECI instruction, special photo electoral roll revision would be held in all districts and sub-divisions of the State, said CEO O Nabakishore. With a view to make the special revision a grand success

and ensure maximum enrolment of young voters, the CEO held a meeting with media persons today.

Errors in the details of citizens already enrolled in the electoral roll can also be corrected during the special revision. An awareness campaign would also be held ahead of the special revision, Nabakishore said. A draft electoral roll would be released in October before the final electoral roll is released on January 11 next year, added the CEO. (Agencies)

Crude bomb explodes in abandoned house Kolkata, Sep 25: A crude bomb exploded in an abandoned house at Titagarh in North 24 Parganas district, the police said. However, no one was injured.

The bomb might have been fallen from a height and exploded in the abandoned house located on M M Bagchi Road, police said. Investigation is on to find out who had kept the bomb there. (Agencies)

committee jointly set-up and endorsed by all the tribal apex bodies, philanthropic and student organisations to spearhead all issues at the aftermath of the violent reaction witnessed after the State Assembly passed three "anti-tribal Bills." It said the JAC is compelled to clarify the many concocted allegations levelled

from two different places in the district, Bastar Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav told the media. On a tip-off about the supply of a large consignment of explosives from Odisha to Bastar, a police team intercepted an SUV and another vehicle near Dispur village under Darbha police station limits, Yadav said. During their checking, bags of gelatin weighing around 750 kg

prayers the President of India so that he will have the strength and wisdom to not give his assent to the three unconstitutional and antitribal Bills. Meanwhile a nine member team of Zo Reunification Organisation (ZoRO) from Mizoram has today paid their respect to the nine martyrs and extended monetary assistance to the JAC. They hailed the unmatched unity witnessed amongst the Zo-descendants in Manipur after the Manipur Government passed three anti-tribal Bills on August 31. They also claimed that ZoRO was asked by the United Nations to submit a map of the land that originally belongs to the Zo people and are optimistic about a declaration from the world body to restore the long desire self-rule of the Zo-descendants.

(Agencies)

Kohima, Sep 25: On September 21, the 37 Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Headquarters 6 Sector Assam Rifles conducted an operation in general area Purna Bazar and apprehended one armed NSCN (IM) cadre. The operation was launched based on specific information regarding presence of the armed cadre and his indulgence in extortion/ arms peddling activities in the area of Purana Bazar.

During the operation, house of the cadre was

searched, which led to recovery of one Point 38 Colt Revolver. The apprehended NSCN (IM) cadre has been identified as Awang Wangsu (28 yrs), Rajapeyu, NSCN (IM), resident of Unity colony, Purana Bazar - B, Dimapur. Possession of weapon by underground cadres is in contravention to the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR). The apprehended cadre along with recovered weapon were handed over to the Dimapur East Police Station. (Agencies)

Wednesday floods tolls up to multi crore damage Kolkata, Sep 25: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) estimates that one lakh people were affected and property worth Rs.15-20 crore damaged in Wednesday's heavy rainfall which inundated several areas in the town. "We are assessing the damages and will send the reports to the Darjeeling district magistrate. According to our initial assessment, around one lakh people have been affected and property worth Rs.15-20 crore have been

damaged," Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya said after a meeting with members of the mayor-in-council (MMICs), and the borough chairmen at the SMC on Thursday. Bhattacharya visited some affected areas on Thursday. According to the irrigation and waterways department, Siliguri received 118 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am on Thursday.

"Waters of the Mahananda River in Siliguri were flowing above the danger level (115.975 meter)- 116.300

meter till 9 pm on Wednesday. But the level receded to 114.200 meter by 9 am on Thursday," sources from the irrigation department said. The SMC has, meanwhile, cancelled leaves of employees of the conservancy department.

Bhattacharya alleged that no government department had alerted them on the heavy rainfall and was also non-cooperative towards the civic body. Meanwhile, Trinamul Congress (TMC) activists led by the leader

of the opposition at the SMC, Nantu Paul, staged an agitation against alleged inaction of the SMC in tackling the situation. They demanded the resignation of mayor Bhattacharya. Paul on Thursday left his official car, citing 'complete failure' of the mayor in running the civic body. The TMC activists put up posters against the mayor near his chamber.

Bhattacharya, however, tore them down."If they can put up two posters we can put up 50 such posters. But it is

Agro award for Sikkim additional chief secretary S.C. Gupta was also present on the occasion.

"This honour is bestowed upon the State of Sikkim, which intends to be declared as Organic Farming State and cover targeted seventy four thousand three hundred and three hectares organically certified agriculture land as per the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) guidelines."

(Agencies)

Gangtok, Sep 25: The Sikkim Agriculture department was conferred with the 'certificate of excellence in evergreen revolution' during the 41st Skoch Summit on 'Transformative Government' yesterday at New Delhi, informs an official release. On behalf of the Sikkim government, the award was received by Principal Resident Commissioner Govind Mohan and Food secretary Khorlo Bhutia. State

not a solution to a problem. We do not believe in such politics. This is not a time for mud singling. We want cooperation," he said. North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb visited ward 6 under SMC to take stock of the water logging situation.

Deb said he has informed CM Mamata Banerjee of the situation. It may be mentioned that Bhattacharya has been elected councillor from ward 6. "With funding from

the municipal affairs department and the North Bengal Development Department, we had introduced a modern hydraulic tripper, pay loaders, 'nallah' de-silting machine, sewer suction machine and other equipment to provide better services to the people but those equipments are not being utilised properly.

We plan to introduce a comprehensive drainage project in the area, and will write to the SMC for its approval," he added. (Agencies)

Donkey show in Bihar's BJP office Patna, Sep 25: A BJP leader in Bihar, who was denied a ticket to contest the assembly election, on Thursday marched to the party office along with a group of donkeys, saying those running the show were behaving like asses. Vijay Nath Tiwari was keen to contest the polls from Chanpatia assembly constituency but he was denied a ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party. "It shocked me when the party high command gave the ticket to another person in place of me," he said. Asked why he used a group of donkeys to protest, Tiwari said: "It appears to me that an army of leaders like asses are running the show to decide tickets in the party. It was a symbolic protest." Many angry BJP workers and leaders from Raghopur, Karakat, Bakhtiyarpur and Bhagalpur protested in front of the party office on Thursday after they were denied tickets. On Wednesday, a group of BJP members turned violent and broke the main gate of the party office and tried to ransack a room. Security was tightened after the incident. The BJP has so far declared candidates for 153 of the 160 assembly seats it will contest. (Agencies)

B'desh native nabbed, sent to jail Agartala, Sep 25: A local court in Dharmanagar sent a Bangladeshi national to jail on Thursday under the Indian Passports Act. The arrested man was identified as Sabuj Ahmed (25), son of Ruab Ali, a resident of Bhawanipur village in Moulavi Bazar district under Juri police station in Bangladesh, police said.

Ahmed was detained by the BSF at the border village of Yakubnagar in Dharmanagar in North Tripura on Wednesday. He was suspected to

Haul of explosives recovered in Bastar

Raipur, Sep 25: A huge haul of explosives weighing 1,750 kgs, suspected to be delivered to Naxals, was seized from two separate places in insurgency-hit Bastar district Friday, police said. Seven persons have been arrested in this connection, they said. Two consignments of explosives, including 1,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and 750 kg gelatin, were recovered

against it and the various false propaganda spread by certain sections of the people in the State, particularly from the valley district but nevertheless maintained that such cheap propaganda will not subdue the tribal unity.

'Churachandpur district may be the epicentre of the protest movement, however,

the issue as well as the movement is no longer confined to the State let alone Churachandpur district, but has received National and international response,' said the JAC that claims the full backing of Hmar Inpui GHQ, Zomi Council GHQ, and Kuki Inpi Churachandpur besides the endorsement of United Naga Council, Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur and Hmar Inpui. To substantiate their claims the JAC attached a joint declaration made by the three apex bodies on September 2, 2015 and another declaration of the four apex tribal bodies made on September 5, 2015. Reaffirming their commitment to continue their democratic struggle until the collective desire of the tribal people is achieved, the JAC has as well made a public appeal to all the tribals requesting them to uphold in their

NSCN (IM) cadre arrested

were seized, he said. Subsequently, another stock of explosives (ammonium nitrate in nature) weighing around 1000 kg was seized from a hut in forests between Machkot and Tiriya villages under Nagarnar police station limits, the SP said. Prima facie it appears that the illegally transported and stocked explosives were meant for Naxals, the SP said. However, investigations are on keeping in view every angle, he added. Seven persons have been arrested so far in connection with seizure while an SUV, a car and a motorcycle were also seized from them, he said, adding that their interrogation may reveal crucial details about the supply of arms and ammunition in the Naxal-affected region, he said. Cases have been registered in this regard, the SP added. (Agencies)

have links with a Bangladeshi fundamentalist group. "So far, it has been established that he is a Bangldeshi who was trying to sneak into India and the court sent him to jail," said SP (North) Abhijit Saptarsi. Police sources said he was suspected to have links with a terror group, an associate of the Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Taiba active in India and Bangladesh.

Cash worth Rs 12,000, a motorcycle, three mobile handsets, several ATM cards, an Indian PAN card, bank pass-

book and Bangladeshi SIM cards were found on him.

During interrogation, Ahmed said he had been regularly travelling between the two countries for the last two years without valid documents. He had frequently taken shelter in the house of Renu Miah, a resident of Sakaibari in Dharmanagar. Meanwhile, the chief judicial magistrate of West Tripura district on Thursday extended the police remand of three NLFT

cadres - Panendra Tripura, Bishnuram Tripura and Rajesh Debbarma - for 10 days. They had been arrested last week for allegedly being involved in subversive activities. Police are keeping a tab on 10 other persons, including civil service officers, professors, engineers and teachers, based on the confession of the arrested militant who claimed they had links with NLFT and had planned to launch an attack during Durga Puja. (Agencies)

Mizoram NGOs for deleting Brus from voters' list Aizawl, Sep 25: Mizoram's NGO Coordination Committee, comprising five major civil societies, on Thursday urged the Election Commission to take steps to ensure that those Brus who refused to return to Mizoram from their camps in Tripura are disfranchised in Mizoram voters lists. A statement by the Committee said the people of Mizoram had repeatedly pleaded with the Brus, who were bona fide residents of the state, to return and the government had also made a plethora of arrangements for their repatriation.

However, the Brus were

not willing to return to Mizoram and wished to remain in Tripura, the statement said and demanded that their names be deleted immediately from voters' lists of Mizoram. The EC recently decided to conduct hearing in the six Bru relief camps in Tripura for special revision of electoral rolls. The NGO Coordination Committee consists of Young Mizo Association, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl or Mizo women association, Mizoram Upa Pawl or elders association, Mizo Zirlai Pawl or Mizo students federation and Mizo Students Union. (Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

PM Modi to meet world leaders on sidelines of UNGA summit ANI New York, Sep 25: After holding a meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with the world leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit in New York, the United States.

Prime Minister Modi will be meeting Jordan's King Abdullah II, Bhutan

Nation pays homage to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his birth centenary

ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: Nation has paid homage to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his birth centenary on Friday. Various functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion. Main function of birth anniversary celebrations, which has been organised here, is to be attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan as the Chief Guest, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would be the Guest of Honour at the function.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, French President Francois Hollande, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Tha, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Prime Minister will, however, meet U.S. President Barack Obama at 11 am on September 28.

Dalai Lama's 'sexist' remark draws mixed reactions from women activists ANI Dharamsala, Sep 25: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's 'sexist' remark in an interview to the BBC has drawn criticism from many in India while others dismissed it as being taken out of context. During a visit to London earlier this week, the spiritual leader waded into controversy when he told a BBC journalist during an interview that if his successor were to be a woman, she should be "attractive" or it would be of

ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the NDA Government is committed to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's 'Antyodaya' goal of empowering the poor of the country. "Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya always aimed for 'Antyodaya', which meant development should reach the last person of society. We are fully committed towards this goal. We aim to remove poverty and strengthen the poor in the country," Singh said at a function to celebrate the 99th birth anniversary of Upadhyay. "One way is that

Poor law and order maintenance responsible for J-K unrest, says Praful Bakshi

ment of putting our culture at the stake, Sharma said, "If BJP thinks that by lowering the age there was a threat to our culture, then it should save the culture in Goa, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, while the responsibility of saving culture in Delhi rests with us." Giving example of Maharashtra, Goa, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh in this regard, the minister said a similar law should also be enforced in Delhi to check harassment of businessmen and the youth. People from the industry told me that there was rampant corruption due to the existing law guiding the boozing age, said Sharma, adding that the people of Delhi should

Obama, Putin to discuss Ukraine crisis next week in New York at UNGA ANI Washington D.C., Sep 25: The White House has confirmed that US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would meet during the latter's visit to New York to attend the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA) next week. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said

that the meeting would take place at Putin's request and Obama considers Ukraine crisis to be the top agenda.

Russian officials said that the meeting would take place on Monday in New York but according to Earnest, the date has not yet been fixed. There are also speculations that Obama will discuss Russia's military buildup in Syria with Putin.

Chhattisgarh Police arrest seven, seize explosives meant for Maoists ANI Chhattisgarh, Sep 25: Chhattisgarh Police on Friday confirmed reports of them seizing 1750 kilograms of explosives from

to that would be to request people of that stature to not make off-the-cuff remarks like this," National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam said.

However, Tibetans-in-exile in Dharamsala claimed the Dalai Lama meant attractiveness from within. "An 'attractive' female Dalai Lama, according to His Holiness and according to how I perceive as, he is putting it out to be someone who has the right moral values, a virtu-

the government provides facilities to the poor for a long time, and the other way is to make them independent, so that they stand on their feet," he added. Rajnath also said the government never tried to bribe people to garner support for itself. "The prime minister accepted ' Antyodaya' from his very first day in office, when he said that my government is devoted towards the poor of this country," he added.

He further said that is why the government was not handing out subsidies. Instead it has started new schemes like the Atal Pension Yojna, the Jeevan Jyoti Yojna, the Jan Dhan Yojna to empower the poor.

has always been happening.

Pakistan waits for an occasion like this, whether, there is an happy occasion, auspicious occasion, or joint meeting between the PMs, or any other important development which will bring India and Pakistan close, then this Pakistan Armysponsored or ISI, or Talibansponsored activity in the

Delhi minister stands by his demand to reduce boozing age ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: Defending his support to the demand of lowering the liquor consumption age from 25 to 21, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Sharma on Friday said the present rule regarding boozing was far from ground reality and seemed to be framed to "harass" both restaurateurs and the youth. "If we change the present rule, police won't be able to harass the restaurateurs and the youth," said Sharma, adding after a certain age, the youth should have the freedom to exercise their choice and the government should not interfere into it.

Reacting to the BJP's allegations that for the sake of money the Delhi Govern-

little use. His remark has drawn criticism from Indian women activists, who say the Dalai Lama's statement comes when women have already been facing prejudice in the modern society.

"People in public life have enormous influence, whether it's the Dalai Lama or any senior politician or anybody. When you make a statement, even if it is said half-jokingly and not in a very serious demeanour, it unfortunately has repercussions. So my only reaction

NDA Govt. committed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay's 'Antyodaya' goal, says Rajnath

ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: Commenting on reports of sporadic violence in Srinagar, the waving of Pakistani flags and incidents of stone pelting, security expert Praful Bakshion Friday said such events were taking place because of the state administration's inability to maintain law and order. "It

the state's Bastar District.

They also confirmed the arrest of seven persons, who reportedly were ferrying the explosives to Maoists.

PAGE 6

have a similar freedom as the people of other states.

To a question that at a time when governments are putting all out effort to check alcoholism and drug addiction, how justified is his demand, Sharma told ANI, "I just want to a law which is close to the ground realities and prevents businessmen and the youth from harassment."

6.6 magnitude quake hits Indonesia's easternmost province ANI New York, Sep 25: An earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude has hit waters off Indonesia's easternmost province, injuring dozens of people and causing damage to the buildings. The earthquake was centered 28 kilometers north of Sorong, a town in Indonesia's West Papua province, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Hundreds of people fled their homes in panic in Sorong and at least 39 people were hurt, mostly with broken bones. Hundreds of people were evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities surveyed the damage.

Kashmir Valley takes place in the form of Pakistani flags, stone pelting and slogans etc.," Bakshi told. "So, what we are seeing, we will continue to see, because, our law and order situation in Kashmir is not very appropriate to stop it," he added.

Bakshi further said that Pakistan is taking advantage of India being a soft state

and of India's soft approach. "So, either India improves its approach, or, continue facing it," he said Terror flags and Pakistan flags were raised before namaz in Srinagar's Eidgah area on Friday. There were reports of stone pelting as well. Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters from the area.

ous person, someone who is not just female because of the sex aspect of it but is female because of all the good attributes that come along in being a female and that's what is an attractive female Dalai Lama: someone who attracts everyone because of the virtues that the person holds. So I definitely look at it through that angle," said a woman member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Dhardon Sharling. Another Tibetan parliamentarian, B. Tsering

said the Dalai Lama had often said women should take part in political leadership because of their compassionate nature. "He has often said that if I am born as a female then the reason is that females are more compassionate. He even has said that political leadership should also be taken over by women because they are less corrupted, they are more compassionate and they are more virtuous as he believes," said Tsering.

Congress charges BJP with supporting mining scam in Rajasthan ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: The Congress Party on Friday alleged that the Vasundhara Raje led BJP-Government has allocated mines illegally to vested interests in Rajasthan. "A guideline was issued on October 30, last year which said that mines can't be allocated. But the auction process was not followed, as all 653 mines were given away by the Rajasthan Government on a first come first serve basis," Congress leader Sachin Pilot told media here. "On January 12, a gazette notification was issued, and on the same date the Raje government allocated 137 mines," he added. Pilot maintained that alleged scam was

the biggest since independence. "The papers show that the almost ten officers have signed the documents on a single day itself," claimed Pilot. Pilot criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) for saying that it was curbing the corruptions.

"The Congress Party demands a CBI investigation to be monitored by the Supreme Court," he added.

True Muslims should not visit 'Maa Durga' pandals, says woman BJP MLA ANI Indore, Sep25: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Usha Thakur said Friday that true Muslims should not visit any Durga pandal as the Quran prohibits idol worship. "The Quran says that the worshipping of

idols is prohibited. Therefore, any true Muslim should not go to any Durga pandal," Thakur told media here. Thakur said Durga Puja and Garba are not sources of entertainment, but a reflection of the faith Hindus have on their goddess.

PM Modi to address UN summit ANI New York, Sep 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a statement at the United Nations General Body summit (10:15pm IST) regarding the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Post-2015 Development Agenda that has

been set after around three years of open global consultations to address some of the pressing issues that the world is facing today, including ending extreme poverty; social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability; transformation of economies for jobs

and inclusive growth; building peaceful and prosperous societies; forging a new global partnership, etc. The proposed sustainable development goals (SDGs) are prepared and are expected to be adopted by UN member states. The current UN development agenda is

centred on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were established following the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, which comes to an end in 2015. The SDGs will replace the millennium development goals as the new global goals to be accomplished by 2030.

Congress leader quits Ramleela committee over inviting PM Modi for Vijayadashmi celebrations ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: Congress Party leader J P Aggarwal on Friday quit as the chief patron of the Ramleela Ground Committee over an invite extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Vijayadashmi celebrations this year. "We have a tradition of calling Prime Ministers for this function, no matter which party they belong to. This year we wanted to call Prime Minister Modi," said O P Katyal, the president of the committee. "J P Aggrawal objected to it because he belongs to the Congress. But, after committee members overruled him, he decided to leave the committee," he added.

Katyal asserted that Aggarwal wanted only Congress Party leaders to be present at the function.

"We insisted that we should be calling the Prime Minister, and now, it is up to him whether he wants to come or not," he added.

Last rites of Swami Dayanand Giri performed in Rishikesh ANI Rishikesh, Sep 25: The last rites of Swami Dayanand Giri, who was also a guru of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were performed here in Uttarakhand on Friday.

Prime Minister Modi had yesterday condoled the demise of his guru, saying it is a personal loss.

"Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal Peace," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "My thoughts are with the countless people inspired

by Dayananda Saraswati ji.

He was a power house of knowledge, spirituality and service," he added.

Saraswati passed away at his ashram at around 10.20 p.m. on Tuesday night. He had been critical for the last three days. His last rites would take place on Friday.

Prime Minister Modi had met his guru during his visit to Uttarakhand on September 11.

Yasin Malik, Umar 'Real' Russian President Putin calls Farooq put under house Sir Elton John, agrees to meet arrest in Srinagar ANI guys, adding that the come- discuss LGBT rights in RusLondon, Sep 25: Russian President Vladmir Putin has now officially called Sir Elton John for a meeting to discuss any issue that interests the musician. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Putin called John and said he knew that the musician was pranked by those telephone

dians were harmless. Peskov said that the President Putin was aware of John's popularity, adding that the Russian President was ready to meet with him and discuss any question that interests him in the future. Earlier, the 68-year-old musician claimed that President Putin called him and the two will meet to

sia. Rejecting John's claim, Peskov had said that the president did not have a conversation with Elton John and they had not received any requests from him for a meeting. Later, it was revealed that two Russian comedians played a 'harsh prank' on the musician in a telephonic conversation.

Kumbh Mela: Last Shahi Snan begins in Nasik

ANI Nasik, Sep 25: The last Shahi Snan of the on-going Simhastha Kumbhamela has begun at Kushavarta in

Tryambakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra.

Royal procession of Shaiva Sadhus and Mahantas started from Neel Parbat early this

morning. Around 10,000 sadhus and mahantas, including Naga sadhus, participated in the procession.

Pancha Dashanam Akhada, which led the procession reached Kushavarta at 4 o'clock and started the Shahi Snan, which is expected to continue till midday.

After that, Kushavarta will be opened for other devotees. Devotees have already started taking holy bath at other ghats on Godavari in Tryambakshwar.

ANI Srinagar, Sep 24: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were put under house arrest hereon Friday to prevent them from leading rallies on the occasion of Eid tomorrow. According to reports, several other top separatist leaders, including Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, have also been kept under house arrest to prevent them from

leading rallies on Eid . Meanwhile, internet services have also been shut down in view of apprehension of misuse of data services by anti-national elements on Eid.

14 Indians dead, 13 injured in Haj stampede, says Sushma

ANI New Delhi, Sep 25: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Friday revealed that 14 In-

dians have died and 13 are injured in Haj stampede.

"Our Consul General Jeddah reports loss of 14 Indian lives in stampede.

We have 13 injured in hospital," tweeted Swaraj.

"The exact number will be known after confirmation

by Saudi authorities," she added. The government had ealier said it was constantly monitoring the situation in Mecca, where a Haj stampede had left 450 pilgrims dead and over 700 injured.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Sharif urges nation to unite as one in Eidul Azha message Karachi, Sep25: PakistanPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the country, in his Eidul Azha message, to converge their spirits of sacrifice and unite as one.

According to The Dawn, Sharif felicitated his countrymen and all Muslims on the occasion of the festival. Eidul Azha is a day of remembrance of the obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim and the reverence of Hazrat Ismael when they set an extraordinary example of sacrifice and selflessness, Sharif said.He said Islam regarded this act of submission to Allah an obligatory practice for wealthy Muslims.

(ANI)

At least 21 dead in China road crash Beijing, Sep 25: At least 21 people were killed Friday when a truck slammed through a highway guardrail into an oncoming bus in China and two more vehicles crashed, state media reported. One of the vehicles in the central province of Hunan burst into flames. The victims' remains had fused together, making initial confirmation of the toll difficult, it added. Another 11 people were injured.

China's roads are notoriously dangerous, with traffic regulations often flouted and long-distance buses overcrowded.The World Health Organization said in May that more than 200,000 people are killed in road accidents in China every year - at least four times official statistics, which are shrouded in secrecy. (Agencies)

China successfully tests new model space rocket Beijing, Sep 25: China today successfully launched a new model of carrier rocket Long March-11 for sending four micro satellites into space from the country's northwestern province. The rocket blasted off from from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu . The solid propellant rocket was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology with the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. The rocket will mainly be used for launching micro-satellites. A statement from the academy said the successful launch of the rocket marked a major breakthrough for the nation in key technology for solid propellant rockets.

The trip was the 211th mission for the Long March rocket family.

(Agencies)

NEIGHBOURS

Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake Hits Eastern Indonesia; 39 Injured

Jakarta, Sep 25: A 6.6-magnitude quake hit in waters off Indonesia's easternmost province early Friday, injuring dozens of people, damaging buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing from homes, hotels and even a hospital.The quake, which struck at 00:53 a.m.

Friday (1553 GMT Thursday), was centered 28 kilometers (17 miles) north of Sorong, a town in Indonesia's West Papua province, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site. It occurred at a depth of 24 kilometers (15 miles).Hundreds of people fled their homes in panic in Sorong and at least 39 people were hurt, mostly with broken bones, said

Petrus Korisano from the local disaster mitigation agency in Sorong. Nearly 260 houses and buildings were damaged.Hundreds of people were evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities surveyed the damage, Korisano told The Associated Press.The panic extended to Manokwari city, 315 kilometers (195 miles) to the west of the epicenter, where hundreds of patients from at least one hospital had to be evacuated, some in wheelchairs or with IVs attached to their arms, said Burhanudin, an official at the disaster mitigation agency in the city, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. Hotels emptied and residents ran into

the streets and higher ground in the Raja Ampat popular tourist destination.An official from Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Budi Waluyo, said the underwater quake had no potential to generate tsunami waves along nearby coasts.

The world's largest archipelago, Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.In 2004, a monster temblor off the shores of Aceh in Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Most of the deaths were in Aceh.

(Agencies)

Sri Lanka likely to dodge international probe into war crimes Colombo, Sep 25: Sri Lanka appears set to avoid an international inquiry into atrocities committed during its lengthy civil war if a new UN resolution is adopted next week. Colombo has lobbied successfully for a watering-down of an earlier motion demanding foreign involvement in any probe into human rights abuses during the 37-year conflict.The draft resolution, which is likely to pass unanimously next week, ref ers to the importance of having foreign experts involved in a potential investigation, but does not make the condition mandatory.The initiative was tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva late Thursday, a week after the publication of a long-awaited UN report that laid bare the horrific barbarity committed by both the Army and the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in the bitter 37-year war. The report said Sri Lanka`s criminal justice system was "not yet ready or equipped" to conduct an independent and credible investigation and called for a hybrid special court to include international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators. But Sri Lanka has resisted a foreign inquiry, which many members of the

island`s Sinhalese majority consider an infringement of sovereignty. The main minority Tamil party the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said the resolution, initiated by the US and co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, was the "product of a difficult consensus"."We are acutely aware that some of the language used in the interests of a consensus will not satisfy all victims of the conflict whom we represent and who have reposed their trust in the TNA. "However, we are of the view that the draft provides a constructive starting point for what will inevitably be a long road to reconciliation," the TNA said in a statement. The

resolution allows Sri Lanka to draw on foreign funding and expertise for a credible domestic investigative mechanism. Washington dropped its opposition to a domestic-only probe last month, and US Secretary of State John Kerry described the draft resolution as an important step towards a "credible transitional justice process" after the decades-log civil war."The United States will remain steadfast in our commitment to walk with Sri Lanka as it takes these important but challenging steps," he said in a statement issued by the US embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka`s former president Mahinda

Rajapakse had been at loggerheads with the US, other Western nations and India, which had censured Colombo over its rights record and failure to ensure accountability for the killings of tens of thousands of civilians.However, the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena has vowed to ensure ethnic reconciliation and promised to prosecute war criminals. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe earlier this week rejected UN rights chief Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein`s call for a "hybrid inquiry" involving both foreign and local judges and prosectors. (Agencies)

Lankan PM Denies Proposal to Pakistan completes Build Bridge on Palk Strait biometric registration of Colombo, Sep 25: Contrary to reports from New Delhi, there is no proposal to build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait, according to the Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Making a statement in parliament on his Indian visit from September 14 to 16, Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said that he was "surprised" to read in a newspaper about a proposal to build a bridge. "This news item has been published without verifying the facts and it could breach the confidence of readers," he said.Lankan Foreign Ministry officials confirmed to Express that neither the bridge or the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was discussed at Delhi at any level.

R a n i l WickremesingheIncidentally, it was Wickremesinghe who had first suggested the building of a bridge across the Palk Strait and even named it the "Hanuman Bridge". That was in 2002

over 41,000 Afghans

,when he was the Prime Minister for two years during the Presidency of C h a n d r i k a Kumaratunga.The Lankan Transport Ministry had prepared a project report and even given an estimation of the cost. But there was hostility to the idea from Lankan nationalists who said that it will lead to an on rush of Indians and Indian exploitative capitalists. The project

was abandoned. Having become sensitive to Lankan nationalism now, Wickremesinghe would rather not have the bridge.

However Indian Minister of Transport, Nitin Gadkari, had said that India is planning to build an India-Lanka bridge at a cost of US$ 5 billion with ADB assistance. It was also said that there will be India-Lanka official level meetings on the project in

Colombo in October.Wickremesinghe told parliament that several other Indo-Lankan projects were discussed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other cabinet ministers. Most importantly, an agreement on economic and technological cooperation will be signed in Colombo in May or June 2016. Modi has been invited to visit Lanka for that purpose. (Agencies)

Four Bangladeshis among Mina Hajj stampede victims Dhaka, Sep 25: Four Bangladeshi nationals are among the Hajj pilgrims killed in Mina in a stampede during Hajj, family members of the victims claimed.The deceased are Firoza Khanam of Jamalpur, Julia Begum, 45, of Sunamganj, Tahera Begum, 63, and her brother Noor Nabi, of Feni.

Bangladeshi Hajj official in Saudi Arabia Md Asaduzzaman said Khandakar Mazharul Islam

of Jamalpur informed them that his mother Firoza Khaman died in the tragic incident.Julia Begum's husband from Sunamganj Badrul Huda Mukul confirmed the death of his wife.Abdul Hannan, president of Feni Journalists' Association, who is a relative of Tahera Begum and Noor Nabi said Noor Nabi's son from Saudi Arabia informed him about the deaths.However, any official confirmation about the

deaths of Bangladeshi nationals in the Mina stampede is yet to be made.Bangladesh officials in Saudi Arabia are waiting outside of Mina hospital for the details of the casualty following the tragic stampede.Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi has opened hotlines at Mina. Any Bangladeshi can reach to the officials through +966537375859 and +966509360082 numbers.At

least 717 pilgrims were killed on Thursday in a crush at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, where some two million people are performing the annual Haj pilgrimage, Saudi authorities said.At least 805 others were injured in the stampede, which took place on Street 204 of the camp city at Mina, a few kilometers east of Mecca, where pilgrims stay for several days during the climax of the Haj. (Agencies)

New MPs commit to work towards National Unity Colombo, Sep 25: The importance of working towards National Unity and Reconciliation was endorsed by a vast majority of Parliamentarians who attended a workshop conducted at the Parliamentary premises earlier this month, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation said today.The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) conducted a session titled "Using Parliamentary Mechanisms In Promoting National Unity and Reconciliation" on the first day of the

PAGE 7

workshop, which highlighted the importance of celebrating the diversity of Sri Lankans.Speaking at the occasion, both, the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake and the UN Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Subinay Nandy, appreciated contribution of ONUR towards the workshop for newly elected MPs.Some of the MPs who spoke following the session conducted by ONUR also emphasized the important role played by the Office and ex-

pressed their commitment to work towards taking the message of National Unity and Reconciliation forward by

way of setting up a Parliamentary Caucus.The workshop, hosted by the Secretary General of the Parliament, was in-

augurated by Prime Minister and attendees included the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Members of Parliament, invited resource personnel and officials of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR).The ONUR is chaired by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and operates under the presidential secretariat. The ONUR intends to engage further with policymakers at various levels in promoting National Unity and Reconciliation. (Agencies)

Islamabad, Sep 25: The biometric registration of over 41,000 Afghan nationals has been completed in Pakistan`s Punjab province under the National Action Programme (NAP), the media reported .According to police sources, the biometric registration of Afghans staying in Pakistan legally began on January 8.The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has already introduced a biometric machine and new passport reading facility at Rawalpindi`s Benazir

Bhutto International Airport after 10 Afghan nationals slipped through the airport for Britain on fraud documents last year. Under the biometric system, fingerprints are obtained to verify the person`s identity. Security officials believed that after the registration through the biometric system, it would be easier to trace illegal Afghan immigrants or those overstaying in the country.

They said the biometric registration of Afghans would help the law enforce-

ment agencies check illegal immigrants as in some cases they entered Pakistan with valid travel documents but later violated the law by overstaying. Security sources said more than 40 slums still existed in Islamabad even after the recent operation to clear the area. None of the Afghan refugees evicted from the sector returned to their country, said the sources, adding most of them resettled in different parts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

(Agencies)

PM Modi meets Sheikh Hasina, reviews progress on bilateral events New York, Sep 25: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi met his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and reviewed the progress of the last bilateral meet and expressed happiness over the manner in which the land boundary agreement had been implemented."It was a very good meeting between the two leaders as they reviewed the progress in bilateral event when they last met. The leaders also expressed great happiness over the implementation of the land boundary agreement," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup told media here."They look forward to the complete implementation of the agreement in the coming months," he added.

Swaroop also said that there was a discussion on connectivity and infrastructure, in particular the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India

and Nepal (BBIN) model for which an agreement has also been signed."There was also a discussion on sustainable development goals, the prime Minister said that we are very happy that the sustainable development goals have enshrined the poverty elevation in their core, which is exactly what was needed,"

he added.Swaroop also said that the two leaders also had a discussion on the United Nation Security Council where Sheikh Hasina said she fully supports India's position in UNSC."There was also a discussion on the reforms on the other institutions of the global governance such as IMF and World Bank," he added. (ANI)

Coca Cola warehouse fire in Myanmar causes 855,000 USD loss Yangon, Sep 25: A fivehour fire of Coca Cola warehouse has caused an estimated loss of more than 1.1 billion kyats (855,000 U.S. dollars) in damage, said an official report Friday. The fire broke out on Thursday morning, leaving one firefighter injured, said the report. More than 400 firefighters with 45 fire en-

gines rushed to the scene before the fire was put out in the afternoon, the report said. There was no one in the warehouse when the fire broke out, eyewitnesses said. The Coca Cola warehouse storing raw materials such as plastic pellets used in making the soft drink bottles is located in the industrial zone in Yangon's Mingaladon

Township. The fire lasted for so long because the muddy scene was not easily accessible despite presence of dozens of fire engines, the report said. Coca Cola re-entered Myanmar and opened its bottling plant in Hmawby Township in Yangon in June 2013 after it withdrew from the country for more than six decades. (Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Why Opacity Is Asia's Biggest Military Threat Deadliest incident in 25 years Over 700 dead in Hajj pilgrimage stampede Known as the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj is an obligation upon every Muslim who has the financial means and the physical ability to perform it. For most, it is the spiritual climax of their lives, with many saving for decades to make the journey. The pilgrimage, conducted over five days, includes detailed rituals such as wearing a special white garment that symbolizes human equality and unity before God; a circular procession around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, surrounded by Mecca's Grand Mosque; and the symbolic stoning. More than 2 million Muslims from around the world were attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year. But in a stampede at least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed near the Islamic holy city of Mecca. Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite. It is the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years. The stampede occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil" in a tent city in Mina. The stoning ritual is done over at least two days. Pilgrims stone the three pillars at Mina - believed to be where the devil was stoned when he tried to dissuade Abraham from obeying God's orders to slaughter his son. According to tradition, the event was a test from God, who gave Abraham a ram to slaughter instead.

The ceremony was the scene of stampedes and hundreds of deaths in the 1980s and 1990s as pilgrims passed a crowded bottleneck area leading to the small pillars on the ground. In 2006, a stampede there killed at least 363 people. After that, the Saudi government erected three massive pillars and completed a $1.2 billion, fivestory bridge nearby where pilgrims can toss stones. It was meant to be a roomier atmosphere and a more efficient way to accommodate the faithful. This year on September 11, just days before this year's Hajj started, a construction crane crashed through the roof of another Hajj destination, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 107 people. At least 238 others suffered injuries when a powerful storm toppled the crane. Also losing one's life during the Hajj season is considered by many devout Muslims as an entry to heaven. Tragedy is no stranger to the Hajj, which draws massive crowds in 100-degree heat. But the cause of the crush was not immediately clear. Saudi Health Minister Khaled al-Faleh said in a statement that authorities were investigating whether it began after some pilgrims failed to follow the sign-posted directions, although he did not provide any evidence to support this theory.

A lot to be desired CBHI report depicts poor condition of govt hospitals Every government hospital serves an estimated 61,000 people in India, with one bed for every 1833 people, new official data shows. In undivided Andhra Pradesh, every government hospital served over 3 lakh patients while in Bihar, there is only one bed for every 8800 people. Every government allopathic doctor serves a population of over 11,000 people, with Bihar and Maharashtra having the worst ratios. The number of qualified allopathic doctors registered with medical councils fell in 2014 to 16,000, or less than half the previous year's number; the data was however provisional, CBHI officials said. India now has cumulatively 9.4 lakh allopathic doctors, 1.54 lakh dental surgeons, and 7.37 lakh AYUSH doctors of whom more than half are Ayurvedic doctors. India's 400 medical colleges admit an estimated 47,000 students annually. The Centre's share of total public expenditure on health has fallen over the last two years, and India spends less of its GDP on health than some of the world's poorest countries.

Among all States, undivided Andhra Pradesh had the highest public expenditure on health in 2012-13. Goa and the north-eastern States spent the most on health per capita while Bihar and Jharkhand spent the least.

Out-of-pocket private expenditure on health has risen steadily over the years, with the cost of medicines, followed by that of hospitalisation accounting for the largest share of the household expenditure. Absolute spending, as well as its share in total non-food expenditure, rises with income levels. Kerala spends the most privately on health. Deaths from most communicable diseases have been falling steadily in India. Despite recording over 10 lakh cases, deaths from malaria are officially down to just over 500 annually; Odisha accounted for over one in three cases of malaria in 2014.

The number of recorded chikungunya cases has fallen since a 2010 outbreak, but Maharashtra accounts for nearly half of all cases. Just over 40,000 cases of dengue were officially reported in 2014 and 131 deaths.

While the number of cases of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease has risen every year to 1.16 crore in 2014, mortality from the disease has been steadily declining. However, 2014 saw a sharp spike in cases and deaths due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, a disease concentrated in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal. Japanese Encephalitis, concentrated in Assam and Uttar Pradesh also rose last year. Pulmonary tuberculosis remains the biggest communicable disease killer in India, accounting for over 63,000 deaths in 2014. Since disease data is largely reported from government health facilities only, it is likely to be heavily underestimated, CBHI officials said. Non-communicable diseases are on the rise with cardiovascular diseases according for a quarter of deaths from non-communicable diseases and cancer accounting for six per cent.

The report also suggests that people in Kerala spend the maximum amount on medical facilities out of their own pockets followed by Punjab. The overall monthly per capita household 'out-of-pocket' medical expenditure per month for rural areas in the country was found to be Rs. 95.18 and for urban areas, it was Rs. 145.71.

Rural Delhi spends Rs. 150 every month on 'out-ofpocket' health care, while Himachal Pradesh spends Rs. 134 and Andhra Pradesh Rs. 125 each month. People in urban areas of West Bengal spend Rs. 193, while Haryana and Tamil Nadu spend Rs. 149. The report also suggested that Sikkim, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland are the states with the highest per capita expenditure on health by the government.

The region's lack of transparency increases the risk of conflict everywhere.

Van Jackson Asia has an opacity problem that increases the risk of conflict virtually everywhere.

Whatever U.S. military and diplomatic solutions are brought to bear in the region as part of the ongoing policy of rebalancing to Asia, they should be guided by a simple heuristic: reduce, or at least don't exacerbate, the opacity of a dimly lit environment.

It's well understood that trust among Asian states is historically absent, while outstanding disputes among them are ever present. At the same time, military modernization is a recurring theme in even the poorest Asian governments, and in many cases military spending is on the rise.

For Asian states, the structure of the regional security environment stunts cooperation, exacerbates political misunderstandings, tempts military accidents, and incidentally creates cover for surreptitious forms of coercion by opportunistic or expansionist states. Central to all of these problems is opacity, whether last month's mini-crisis between North and South Korea, Japanese fighter jets scrambling to protect Senkaku island airspace, or China's many gray zone challenges to the status quo in the South China Sea. In every instance of potential conflict, there exist at least two types of opacity.

One is operational; where

forces are located, what they are doing, and what they are trying to signal is often in question, leaving decisionmakers having to make judgment calls with imperfect information. Is that a reconnaissance drone, or is it armed? Is China blocking Filipino resupply ships with a Coast Guard vessel or a PLA Navy vessel? Is its fire-control radar about to fire, or simply communicating a warning signal by locking on to a Japanese target?

The other type of opacity is strategic; the intentions underlying the decision-making of others is often unclear. Is North Korea developing nuclear weapons as part of an assured retaliation strategy? Is China a revisionist state willing to use military force to upend the regional status quo?

Both types of ambiguity are connected in the sense that reducing opacity about the operational level can also reduce it about the strategic level. The conceptual solution to a problem of opacity is thus transparency.

This may seem counterintuitive to advocates of deterrence. In the literature on coercion, opacity is built into what's supposed to be effective manipulation of an opponent. Thomas Schelling famously wrote of the "threat that leaves something to chance" as a means of preventing an opponent from taking some proscribed action.Strategic ambiguity has long been the de facto U.S.

approach to its commitment to Taiwan. And North Korea's strategy of brinkmanship during crises has depended on exploiting U.S. and South Korean risk aversion to conflict; even though the likelihood of North Korea launching an allout war has been incredibly low, the lack of 100 percent certainty about the possibility strengthens North Korean deterrence (at least in theory).

But coercion everywhere and at all times isn't a very compelling basis for U.S. Asia policy; even in the unlikely event it's successful it would create an environment in which the slightest perception of U.S. weakness or disadvantage could lead to a collapse of regional order. There are times when opacity of one type or another can serve U.S. purposes, but it inevitably entails more risk than U.S. policymakers are usually willing to bear, making it a tenuous foundation for U.S. strategy toward Asia.

By contrast, and as a general rule, transparency measures stand to benefit the United States and regional stability in several ways.

The first is that military adventurism and outright aggression have fewer opportunities to flourish in a more transparent environment.

Even North Korea doesn't want to be seen as an aggressor, and tends to tailor its provocative behavior in ways that allow it to adopt a reactive and defensive frame for interpreting its actions. Second, if we

assume that nobody actively seeks conflict-which is itself debatable-then the most likely paths to conflict all involve inaccurate judgments or misunderstandings. In a hypothetical environment of perfect information, the probability of inaccurate judgments by definition approaches zero. Third, even if transparency measures reveal a state to be aggressive, a more common view of what's happening where and when may facilitate a convergence of threat perceptions among neighbors over time, making it easier for securityseeking states to band together against aggression, even if

just diplomatically.

The question facing policymakers is simply how to render Asia more operationally and strategically transparent, and when to make exceptions. In this regard, non-state initiatives leveraging satellite imagery-38 North and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, for example-nudge the region in the right direction. So does the Department of Defense's recent Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy, which emphasizes enhanced maritime domain awareness among U.S. allies and partners.

Transparency is no pana-

cea, and opacity isn't always the same thing as uncertainty, a distinctly vexing problem in international relations. Moreover, how the United States and others go about the task of reducing regional opacity matters; U.S. unilateral transparency measures without reciprocity may simple render the United States more vulnerable without changing the regional environment. But I find some modest cause for optimism as long as transparency remains a guiding principle of U.S. policy.

US, India Expand Strategic and Commercial Ties The United States and India wrapped up their first-ever Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

Ankit Panda The first U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue wrapped up in Washington D.C. today. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker met with their Indian counterparts, Sushma Swaraj, the external affairs minister, and Nirmala Sitharaman, the minister of state for commerce and industry. The dialogue resulted in a joint statement outlining a range of new bilateral commitments and initiatives, and builds on the momentum in bilateral ties generated during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's September 2014 trip to the United States, and U.S. President Barack Obama's reciprocal trip to India in January 2015. The joint statement and related statements and speeches from the two days of talks are posted on the U.S. State Department's website here.

The "strategic" compo-

nent of the dialogue was outweighed by the "commercial" side. Though both sides gave lip service to important strategic issues relevant to the U.S.-India bilateral relationship, including regional stability, terrorism, nonproliferation, Afghanistan, and the recent deal over Iran's nuclear program, there was little new.

Both sides addressed the issue of terrorism with a specific joint statement, which, among other things, called on Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice. What's notable in the broader statement, however, is that the U.S. thanked India for its "leadership in evacuating foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from conflict in Yemen" (you can read about India's involvement in Yemen in my earlier report for The Diplomat here). Additionally, both sides highlighted an upcoming India-U.S.-Japan trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 70th

UN General Assembly (Japan is also set to return to the Malabar joint naval exercise this year). The statement also notes the United States' support for India's UN Security Council bid as a permanent member, which remains unchanged since 2010.

On defense, the joint statement noted that both sides "expressed satisfaction" with progress on the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative pathfinder projects, including the ongoing feasibility studies for bilateral cooperation on aircraft carrier and jet engine technology. Overall, the dialogue included few details on defense issues, which will be more fully fleshed out during the next meeting of the leaders or top defense officials. U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter visited India in late May, where he and his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, signed a 10 year defense framework agreement, updating the 2005

document. Most notably, in the joint statement the two sides agreed to jointly train troops in six African countries for UN peacekeeping missions. As the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue concluded, the Indian cabinet announced that New Delhi had approved a $2.5 billion deal to purchased 37 military helicopters from Boeing.

The commercial and energy side of the talks were more comprehensive. The United States welcomed the electoral victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in last year's general elections in India, perceiving the party as one more favorable to continuing India's overall economic liberalization, which it has been. In the most recent talks, the U.S. side emphasized its satisfaction with the Modi government's ongoing reforms. The two sides also announced new initiatives, including a "joint work stream" intended to facilitate

the sharing of "best practices on cross- border trade, and to continue commercial law-related initiatives on issues like insolvency and contract enforcement, and transparency."

At the conclusion of the talks, Pritzker cited the aforementioned helicopter deal with Boeing as a "clear indication of Prime Minister Modi's leadership in improving the ease of doing business in his country."

Parallel to the strategic and commercial dialogue, high-level representatives from both sides discussed issues related to climate change and energy-a priority for both sides in the lead up to the COP21 talks later this year in Paris. During the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Indian Minister of State for Power, Coal, and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal convened the U.S.-India energy dialogue, picking up on a range

of initiatives that had been launched during Modi's September 2014 trip to the United States. Additionally, highlevel representatives also convened a U.S.-India joint working group on climate change.

Both sides came to several agreements on clean energy and enhancing climate change cooperation.

This year's strategic and commercial dialogue falls into a long series of high-level bilateral encounters, including Modi's U.S. trip, Obama's India trip, and Carter's India visit. between the U.S. and India over the past 16 months.

The vast range of topics discussed during this dialogue emphasizes the extent to which the U.S.-India relationship has really seen a profusion in both its breadth and depth in recent years. To book-end a year of breakneck bilateral positivity, Modi is set to meet Obama on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.

My stint at Dhemaji

Sir, Towards the last part of April, 2000, the news about the transfer and posting of the Branch Managers was doing the rounds and I came to learn about mine. I was posted in Dhemaji Branch for a change. Initially I was unhappy despite assurances given by Mr. Jibeswar Takoe, my predecessor. Overcoming my mental hurdle, I joined Dhemaji in May 2000.

Then by degrees, I got acclimatized not only in the atmosphere but also with the work-culture. I found the latter to be in good shape and I was able to make my movement in the field and also endear myself to most of the hard-working agents. Sri Ramesh Hazarika, the then ABM (sales) did everything possible to ensure that the procurement of new-business is maximized. All the development-officers extended their helping hands so candidly that for new-business, I did

never face any ire from my boss at Jorhat.

The members of the staff, AAOs and AO Manik Sonowal made the administration flawless. So, whatever trace of unhappiness lingered initially before my joining the Branch, got evaporated. In fact, I found such a conducive atmosphere in the office and in the field that I cannot help expressing my gratitude to all those with whom I got associated.

One day, perhaps on a particular Sunday, I had a spine-chilling experience and even now when I visualize the sequence of events, I still get horrified. Sri Umesh Borah, a dynamic agent sought my company to visit Silapathar. As the visit involved meeting some families in some small lanes, we decided to go in for Mr. Borah's bike. After procuring a handful of (new-business) cases, as we were coming back, Mr. Borah proposed that we go along the embankment just to curtail the distance. As we were making our return journey after traversing a few kilometers, we were confronted with a herd of wild elephants. Mr. Borah suddenly spotted the herd, could manage to halt the bike abruptly. We were at our wits end as we watched the big tuskers only a few meters away. We remained glued to the spot for about two minutes, when, much to our relief, we saw the herd going down the embankment towards the Brahmaputra; then we knew that we managed to escape from the jaws of death.

However, all in all, so many variegated experiences made me happy beyond measure. So many dear friends, so many good Samaritans I met there at Dhemaji that naming each one of them would be like writing a Mahabharat. I must mention the name of Umesh Borah, Promode Agarwalla, Siba Bahadur Chetri, Jagat Boruah, Babul Dutta who along with some other agents met me at the Guwahati Divisional office, where I worked as a Manager (EDMS). Jibon Dutta, Amarjit Singh Rakhra (Sardarjee) are some of the names I cannot forget.

Incidentally when we notice that the agents who had been in their budding stage at that point of time (2000-2002) and who have been properly groomed by us to make them successful today, our happiness knows no bounds. Sanjoy Singh is one amongst them, then Pallabi Gogoi (subsequently gave up), Parbeen Devi, Binode Singh and some other names I

forgot. Then, I was shattered by one sad news when I was informed about the death of Atul Deori, who invariably met me whenever he visited Guwahati.

The very few friends who still keep in touch with me are Lakhi Pegu, Dhaneswar Pegu and Sonaram Saikia. In fact, it is Sri Sonaram Saikia, who informs me about the latest news of Dhemaji Branch. Incidentally, the cup of tea prepared by Chetia still makes me fill with joy. In the journey of life, we meet so many persons; some such persons can leave an indelible impression in our heart. I take the opportunity to wish 'Life Insurance Agents Federation of India' (LIAFI) on its 9th Triennial conference 2015 of Jorhat Divisional Council (JDC) hosted by LIAFI, Dhemaji Branch unit a grand success. May the aspiration of the Federation be translated into reality. I must express my gratitude to Sri Umesh Borah not only for remembering me but also giving me a chance to interact with my dear agent friends through this write-up. May the flag of LIAFI of Dhemaji Branch flutter high in the sky.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Amolapatty 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

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

T

he recent land people of the state who are mark judgment of the real sons of the soil are the Supreme Court of India fuming and cursing themgranting Indian citizenship selves because they did not to the hitherto refugees; do their homework well Chakmas and Hajongs enough. They made sposettled in some districts of radic sounds here and there the Himalayan state in protest against the settleArunachal Pradesh has ment of the Chakmas and come like a bolt from the Hajongs in the state but inblue for the indigenous cidentally, the protests were people of the state and of confined within the state course, like a sweet music and the GOI was not imfor the Chakmas and pressed upon convincingly Hajongs. We have no other and timely. The ever comoptions placent but comArunachalees ply with Denhang Bosai are left to the Court's lick their verdict as d e e p nobody is above the law of wounds inflicted by the the land. However, this Apex Court's judgment and judgment of the Apex Court the apparent victory of the in favour of the Chakmas Chakmas and Hajongs. and Hajongs who had been Now, the matter is projecting themselves as subjudice and we cannot do the aggrieved and the much about it. However, Arunachalees the aggres- not all is lost for the state sors all these years is not of Arunachal Pradesh. It unexpected at all. The lead- can file a counter affidavit ers of these two communi- appealing the Supreme ties travelled the proverbial Court to revert its judgment extra mile to garner the for which a serious brainsympathy and support of storming by the academinot only GOI but also the cians, legal luminaries, ininternational community. telligentsia and intellectuThey bargained hard, lob- als is sine qua non. Now, bied with grit and tenacity the matter is in the Suand above all, worked their preme Court's court and way to the logical conclu- can be resolved only sion silently. Today, it's the through legal means. There sweet fruits of the consis- is no room whatsoever for tent and persistent effort of protests, rallies and the selfless leaders that the dharnas. Such moves on Chakmas and Hajongs are the part of some members savouring , and why not? of overtly adventurous orThe fruit of hard labour is ganizations will only make always very sweet. On the people laugh at them. The other hand, the indigenous time for such protests is

OP-ED Chakma, Hajong win battle of wits: not end of the world for Arunachal

A file photo of AAPSU protesting against the Chakmas

"On the other hand, the indigenous people of the state who are the real sons of the soil are fuming and cursing themselves because they did not do their homework well enough.

They made sporadic sounds here and there in protest against the settlement of the Chakmas and Hajongs in the state but incidentally, the protests were confined within the state and the GOI was not impressed upon convincingly and timely" long gone. This is the time to utilize the services of the best Lawyers in the country with strong and logical arguments and that too with proper documents.

It is worth-mentioning here that about 57 families of Chakmas and Hajongs who were persecuted in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were settled in Diyun in Miao circle in 1966 by GOI reportedly without the knowledge of

the people of Arunachal Pradesh (then NEFA, directly administered by GOI.) The Chakmas and Hajongs were settled in accordance with the international convention. Now, what does the 'convention relating to the Status of Refugees' say? The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention, is a United Nations multilateral treaty

that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals. The Convention also provides for some visa-free travel for holders of travel documents issued under the convention. The Convention builds on Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries. A refugee may enjoy rights and benefits in a state in addition to those provided for in the Convention (2). Now, again, 'what is the definition of a refugee?' "A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear,

Excluding Others Based On Our Differences Is Denying Us This Truth Christopher Dee We are often told to do good, that some higher power is keeping score of our earthly actions. But we less often ask ourselves: would we still do the same if we were not told to?

Should my belief in Christ, or someone else's belief in karma or Allah or nirvana or evolutionary biology, be the sole driving force behind the desire to do right by our fellow man? If we, for the next few moments, strip away the idea of anything beyond what we can observe, is there still room to argue for kindness, for decency, for inclusion? I think yes.

These questions were initially prompted by my internship with the Amrit Foundation of India.

Amrit's goal is simple: to be inclusive and to level the playing field for people regardless of caste, creed, or challenge. The message comes easily to me; inclusion is a noble goal by my standards. But it is much more difficult to articulate

why inclusion is necessary without evoking the stipulations of a higher power.

Why should we wait for the slower runner, the lower scorer?

The reason for me lies in the fact of our interconnectedness. Look around you: the air you inhale was exhaled by another, and vice-versa. The food you consume, down to its bare ingredients, is the fruit of hundreds of hands.

Look within you: the atoms in every cell were once part of another iteration of life.

Themitochondrial DNA of each living human has its origin in one single individual who lived 100,000 years ago. The very substance of our being has been and will be part of something or someone else. This is a fundamental truth.

Even the way we act is evidence for interconnectedness. Our actions involve others: speech gets a point across, writing explains the world around and inside us, art conveys ideas that words cannot contain. The mere

Page 9

fact of having a name implies that we are called by others. The necessity of involving someone else in any human endeavor is again proof of our interconnectedness.

In short, we are part and parcel of each other.

Exclusion denies this truth.

Every act of exclusion - racism, sexism, and all these other "isms" - feeds on arbitrary divisions. Racial partitions are mere constructs that are blurred when realize the genetic spectrum that describes humanity. Religion and nonreligion, like sexuality, are individual experiences, not categories of right and wrong. By "otherizing" people we draw meaningless lines and deny the fact of interconnectedness.

And each of us has been a victim of exclusion in some way or another. I felt its burn when some classmates questioned explicitly how I as a Filipino, an ethnicity they associated with domestic helpers, could surpass them academically. In this case, ignorance fed ex-

clusion. Even someone who has never faced sexism, racism, or other outright forms of exclusion has felt the sting of rejection, the accidental insult, or even the realization of one's own limits.

By our very nature inclusiveness makes more sense than exclusiveness. Someone with a disability cannot reach her or his full potential if excluded. Extrapolated to the population, we as a species will not be able to reach our full potential if inclusiveness is not lived.

Amrit's mission combats exclusion on the arbitrary lines of disability, particularly, children with intellectual and developmental challenges. The thrust is towards recognizing that a "normal" life (because normal doesn't quite exist) is not the only way to live in fulfillment and dignity. Indeed there are seven billion equally valid and valuable ways to live, and Amrit works to uphold this truth.

Inclusion lays claim to our interconnectedness. Level-

ing the playing field - for people with special needs or anyone marginalized in any way - is a proclamation that we see each other as people. Each act of inclusiveness gives heed to our shared humanity. Inclusiveness affirms that we, like those with whom we share this earth, are intertwined in the weave of life.

Inclusion is easier said than done, I know. But inclusion is an imperative, demanded not just by any religion or humanist philosophy, but by the very fact that we are human.

About the author: Christopher volunteers at the Amrit Foundation of India and is a recent graduate in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University. He is interested in negotiating the junction between medicine and global health as a means of bringing care to those marginalized by society. As a Filipino-Canadian, Chris is interning in India to gain insight into solutions to health problems of the developing world.

is unwilling to return to it‌" (9). Therefore, the Chakmas and Hajongs were settled in Arunachal Pradesh against the backdrop of the religious persecution they suffered in their own country East Pakistan.

The Chakmas and Hajongs cannot be blamed in any manner. They were victims in their own country. The aberration was on the part of GOI. Why Arunachal Pradesh (then NEFA) of all places in India?

Now, coming to the crux of the issue, it goes without saying that it was a Himalayan blunder on the part of the GOI to settle the Chakmas and Hajongs in a place (read NEFA and later Arunachal) wherein even the indigenous people themselves are protected by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act-1873.

The GOI blissfully forgot that even the first Prime Minister of Indian Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was very protective about the indigenous tribes of the Northeast. The greatest tragedy is that after the formation of the Council of Members under PK Thungon and a popular elected government under PK Thungon and later under Gegong Apang, this potentially bur-

geoning issue was not addressed at all. It was kept in a cold storage for too long that provided ample time to the Chakmas and Hajongs to clinch the issue in their favour. In fact, then Chief Minister Gegong Apang worked doubly hard to suppress the sporadic protests and movements carried out by the AAPSU instead of pleading the GOI to rectify the gross mistake made by it. One young student Kipa Kache lost his life during one such protest against the refugees. Bisi Lego of Pasighat, a brilliant college student was seriously injured by the Police during a protest who was cured after many years. But I feel that it is futile to talk about what we did and did not. The matter is in the Apex Court and the intelligentsia of the state should guide and help the state government to give a befitting reply to the Supreme Court that can convince the Apex Court to change its decision. We should all address the serious issue with all seriousness unitedly in the supreme interest of the state. The issue should not be allowed to be handled by associations and organizations that are always on the lookout for some pretext or the other to make hay while the sun shines. They will only dilute the issue. We have seen it in the past. No rallies and protests please.

They will not yield any tangible result. Did the

Chakmas and Hajongs take out rallies? They quietly worked day and night using their brains and wits to outsmart us the sons of the soil. The Chakma and Hajong students suffered for decades to achieve what they have achieved today.

In sharp contrast, In Arunachal, I have an inferiority complex when I see the Five-Star life styles of the student leaders who travel in flashy SUVs. I wonder from where they get the money and for what.

Having said and done the state government that has been given three months' time by the Supreme Court has some strong and valid arguments to counter the judgment; the strongest point being the BEFR ACT1873. In the meantime, the thousands of organizations in the state should and must assist the state government by providing inputs instead of protesting on the streets.

As I said the matter is subjudice and we have to fight legally. All the political parties should come together in this hour of crisis. Whatever the final verdict of the Apex Court, there is absolutely nothing wrong in giving our side of the story. In fact, the law of the land has a provision for this. For now, we can only keep our fingers crossed.

(The writer is DIPRO, Tirap and can be reached at @denhangbosai@yahoo.co.in)

"This Shit Is Someone Else's Problem": Is That What You Think About Swachh Bharat?

Shweta Taneja Early morning as the auto drags along, crisscrossing and honking irritably at the traffic, I notice the pavements that travel along with me. Two cleaners from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP), on either side of a pavement near Ulsoor (I see one after the other), are half-heartedly sweeping with a broom on the debris, leaving the shit behind. It's all colours of shit - black, brown, muddy, dried and still squishy and wet. The cleaners sweep all around it, contentiously pick up the debris and the leaves and the dust that had fallen the day before, leaving behind the droppings of stray dogs and cows that have passed the night before. Conveniently making it someone else's problem.

The middle class in me screams. "Do a good job," I want to say in the righteous voice. "These are public roads. It's your job to clean them. Why are you leaving all the shit behind? Clean properly!"

"Except," says another voice in me, the one that usually makes me squirm, "don't you do the same

thing? It's your shit finally, isn't it?"

For doesn't our garbage, the one we create, the one we discard, become someone else's problem at some point? The moment we dump a coffee cup righteously into a trash can. The moment our maid takes out the black plastic bag from our home, dumping it near a tree or an empty plot. The moment we place a beer bottle on the stage floor where an indie band is performing. The moment we finish a dosa in front of someone else's shutter and leave the plate behind. The exact moment when a child finishes off a bag of chips and casually drops it in front of the waterfall his parents have taken him to.

Coffee cups, tea mugs, underwear, plastic bottles, chewing gum packets, juice cans, smashed beer bottles, all half hidden, glittering under dried leaves. Usually, we can even find out what all is available at a picnic spot, or a kiosk around the corner of the road, just by looking at the garbage scattered in the area.

Leaving A Trail Of Debris Wherever We Travel On roads, on pavements, thrown from the windows of cars, from autos, delicately dropped onto the

grass in the park, left behind after a picnic or a party with friends. For we know, that like our parents did when we were kids, someone is going to pick up this litter. A cleaner in a public space, a hired cleaner in a private space.

The invisible person who you don't see, the one who is of a lower social strata.

The one who cleans, and ironically the one who is considered unclean.

As grown-ups, we feel the state is responsible for the garbage we create, which is why I can righteously think of chiding the two sweepers who are cleaning up the pavement. But what if they also, like me, don't want to own up the garbage someone else, or they themselves, is creating? Like us, they also don't want to look at it twice, ignore it, righteously complain about it aloud, and then move on?

Maybe before I chide anyone, I need to become responsible for the shit I create. I need to know where it travels, once it leaves my home. I need to see the piles of garbage that travel in a truck, to a village in the outskirts and how that village has turned into a smelly cham.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

Jaitley to kick-start a week long credit campaign Volkswagen's credit rating may be New Delhi, Sep 25: Finance minister Arun Jaitley will kick-start a week long credit campaign under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) with the objective to fund the unfunded in the informal sector. Mega credit campaigns are being conducted all over the country by banks from September 25 to October 2 to fund such enterprises and create a sound economic system subsequently by providing bank

credit to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially small and micro entrepreneurs, an official statement said. Finance minister Arun Jaitley would participate in one of such campaigns and would hand over the loan sanction letters to beneficiaries here at an event to be organized

by Punjab National Bank, it added. All public sector banks, regional rural banks and private sector banks have set a target of Rs 1.22 lakh crore during the cur-

rent financial year for disbursement to small and micro enterprises up to Rs 10 lakhs. Mudra Ltd has been established as a subsidiary of Sidbi with an initial corpus of Rs 5,000 crore to provide capital to all banks seeking refinancing of small business loans under PMMY. "PMMY is a significant initiative by the government to secure bank finance to the vast segment of the population occupied in the informal

sector which does not have access to formal bank credit and is forced to rely on informal sources of finance at high cost," the statement said. There are about 5.77 crore small business units in the country in the informal sector which is targeted for availing the benefit under the PMMY, apart from new aspiring micro entrepreneurs. "Once this unfunded or underfunded segment of the economy is included in

IN CREATING A SOUND ECONOMIC SYSTEM Ø Arun Jaitley will kick-start a week long credit campaign under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) with the objective to fund the unfunded in the informal sector Ø Mega credit campaigns are being conducted all over the country by banks from September 25 to October 2 to fund such enterprises and create a sound economic system subsequently by providing bank credit to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially small and micro entrepreneurs Ø All public sector banks, regional rural banks and private sector banks have set a target of Rs 1.22 lakh crore during the current financial year for disbursement to small and micro enterprises up to Rs 10

lakhs Ø Mudra Ltd has been established as a subsidiary of Sidbi with an initial corpus of Rs 5,000 crore to provide capital to all banks seeking refinancing of small business loans under PMMY Ø There are about 5.77 crore small business units in the country

in the informal sector which is targeted for availing the benefit under the PMMY, apart from new aspiring micro entrepreneurs Ø During the current financial year 2015-16, up to September 22, a total of 35.60 lakh borrowers have availed of credit under Mudra to the tune of Rs 24,123 crore Ø Of these, 52 per cent beneficiaries are women and about 50 per cent new enterprises Ø As per guidelines, such loans do not need to be supported by collateral security Ø PMMY loans fall into three categories: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000-Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh-Rs 10 lakh)

the mainstream of bank finance, the lower cost of debt should enhance livelihoods while also bringing them into the growth stream of the economy," it added. During the current financial year 2015-16, up to September 22, a total of 35.60 lakh borrowers have availed of credit under Mudra to the tune of Rs 24,123 crore. Of these, 52 per cent beneficiaries are women and about 50 per cent new enterprises. As per guidelines, such loans do not need to be supported by collateral security.

PMMY loans fall into three categories: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000-Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh-Rs 10 lakh). The current focus of the government is on Shishu category of micro loans which encompass a range of small activities like shop-keepers, fruit sellers, vegetable vendors, mechanics, barbers, cobblers, small manufacturing units and a lot of other small service sector enterprises which borrow from money lenders and informal sources, it added.

(Agencies)

downgraded over pollution scandal

Frankfurt, Sep 25: Standard & Poor's threatened recently to downgrade Volkswagen's credit rating over a worldwide pollution cheating scandal. A day after fellow rating agency Fitch had placed VW's credit on "rating watch negative," S&P said it had similarly put Volkswagen's long- and short-term corporate credit ratings on "CreditWatch with negative implications." The decision "follows VW's announcement that it will take a 6.5-billion-euro charge to third-quarter results to cover the costs of a global recall of 11 million vehicles which show discrepancies between diesel test results and actual road use," S&P said. The credit rating agency said it expected the carmaker to incur "substantial remediation costs to correct the engines of the cars affected and potentially face material fines from regulators.

Criminal

charges in the US may also follow." It saw a risk that fines "could lead to costs exceeding the 6.5-billioneuro charge the company currently has in place," it said. In addition, there was a possibility that the scandal could "significantly affect VW's reputation, thus weakening the group's operational performance, due to lower volumes or additional costs." The resignation of chief executive Mar-

Govt mulls strategies to operationalize unused airports

US media honchos call for speedy digitisation of India Mumbai, Sep 25: Describing India as the "biggest market", America's media honchos have called for speedier digitisation of the Indian system, including early expansion of the 4G network, during a one-of-its kind meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the meeting wherein the focus was on the role that the media and entertainment industry can play in development and generation of employment opportunities in the country, CEOs of the top media houses appreciated Modi for "energetic and dynamic leadership" and expressed optimism about the future of India, a statement said. The CEOs representing 40% of the world's entertainment industry -- were enthusiastic about the digital transformation that is taking place in India through the 'Digital India' initiative. They said that the current strong trajectory of the Indian economy makes it at a unique moment to accelerate growth in this sector. The CEOs present included Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman News Corp and 21stCentury Fox; James Murdoch, CEO, 21st Century Fox; Robert Thompson, CEO, News Corp; Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India; David Zaslav, president and CEO, Discovery Communications and Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment.

Others present at the round table were Michael Roth, CEO, Interpublic Group of

Companies; Shane Smith, CEO, Vice Media; Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP; Jeff Bewkes, CEO, Time Warner; Nancy Dubuc, CEO, A&E Networks; Anthony Pratt, chairman, Visy Industries; William Duhamel, Route One Investment Company and Jeff Ubben, CEO, ValueAct Capital. "All of them said India is the biggest market for them in terms of the phenomenal growth of the entertainment channels, in terms of the youth in India wanting more such content.

They asked for speedier

digitisation of the Indian systems," External Affairs Minister spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters. Shane Smith for instance said that he wanted as soon as possible rolling of the 4G systems. This is the bandwidth that they need for their program contents to be rolled out and to reach people as fast as possible. All the CEOs said that India is already a big market for them and they do not have any issues with the existing norms. "What they wanted was speedier expansion of broad band infrastruc-

ture," he said."The Prime Minister and CEOs observed that the changes in technology and media in recent times have led to an enormous democratisation of knowledge. He said that the world is now in a technologydriven era, where growth of digital infrastructure is as important as growth of physical infrastructure," Swarup said. Suggesting to the CEOs that India represents both the biggest opportunity and the biggest challenge for them, Modi asked them to keep regional languages in mind, as

they develop their content and firm up investment plans for India. Modi spoke of his government's vision for Digital India, the plan to connect 600,000 villages through broadband connectivity. He asked the CEOs to visualise the citizen of the 21st century, and think about what values they will represent and what challenges they will face. Speaking about the role that digital technology can play in human resource development, the Prime Minister emphasised that he saw a key role for digital technology in further strengthening democracy, and in India s development narrative. Modi also gave a number of suggestions in terms of how media and communications companies can be part of India s development story.

One of the idea he floated was that of setting up of a communications university in India, Swarup said. Another aspect that came out during the round table that digital technologies and mobile platforms provided opportunity for democratisation of access to media for inclusion and empowerment and therefor building of more infrastructures would be a critical element of the both process in the coming years, said the Indian Ambassador to the US, Arun K Singh. There was discussion how media could be a partner in India's developmental agenda.

(Agencies)

not have a permanent establishment (PE) in India, said an official statement. In case the companies belong to countries with which India does not have a DTAA, the MAT exemption will apply if they are exempted from registration under Section 592 of

Oil pares losses after tumble on build-up in US gasoline stocks

Seoul, Sep 25: Oil prices pared some losses recently after sharp falls overnight on an unexpectedly large buildup in US gasoline stocks and seasonally tepid demand.

The global benchmark November Brent contract had climbed 44 cents to $48.19 a barrel as of 0151 GMT, after ending the previous session

the Companies Act 1956, or Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013. "An appropriate amendment to the Income-tax Act in this regard will be carried out," said the Finance Ministry statement.

Earlier this month, the government had exempted for-

eign institutional and portfolio investors from payment of MAT on the capital gains made by them before April 1, 2015. The Budget 2015-16 had already exempted FIIs/ FPIs from paying the levy on gains made after April 1.

Government this month ac-

MAT EXEMPTION FOR FOREIGN FIRMS Ø In a big relief to foreign firms, government recently said the Income Tax Act will be amended with retrospective effect to exempt from MAT. Ø Foreign companies that do not have a

permanent establishment in India will be exempt from paying MAT. Ø The provisions of Section 115JB of Income Tax will not apply to foreign companies with effect from April 1, 2001.

down $1.33 at $47.75 a barrel. US crude rose 47 cents to $44.95 a barrel, having slumped $1.88 on Wednesday to settle at $44.48. "A combination of a slightly better supply-side scenario in terms of prices and a bit of an improvement in industrial sentiment globally has brought in some support," said

Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Australia. Data from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed that US crude oil stocks fell 1.9 million barrels in the week to Sept. 18, the second straight weekly drawdown, compared with analyst expectations for a decrease of

Kolkata, Sep 25: The government wants to develop strategies to operationalize unused airports in the country, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said.

"There are around 31-32 airports in India which are not active. There is one in Coochbehar (in West Bengal) also. We want to develop strategies to operationalize them," Raju said after a meeting with

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. He said the problem in some such airports is that the length of runways do not permit jets and this is where smaller aircrafts need to come into play. The chief minister said the state has been assured by the civil aviation minister that the maintenance work of new terminal of Kolkata airport will be completed within a period of 220 days.

There has been complaints of water leakage from the airport, she said adding that the Centre has been requested to complete the work related to Coochbehar airport faster. Issues related to airports in Balurghat and Malda, both in West Bengal, were also discussed in the meeting. Banerjee said the state government want Andal to be second category airport of the state and expand the Bagdogra airport for which land will be needed. Gajapati said they are working on strategies for bringing inactive airports into action as soon as possible. The CM said the state want to increase flights from Bagdogra as they have seen a 40 per cent jump in traffic and direct flights between Kolkata and Europe.

Gajapati said he will ask national carrier Air India if it can start direct flights to Europe from Kolkata.

(Agencies)

Pharma tycoons make it to Forbes rich list as stocks zoom

cepted the recommendations of the justice AP Shah panel that there was no basis for levy of such MAT on capital gains made by FIIs and foreign portfolio investors for the prior period as well. The government had decided to amend the Income Tax Act to clarify the issue with regard to levy of MAT on FIIs and in the meantime CBDT field officers will be asked not to pursue cases against FIIs. Through the amendment the government will clarify that MAT provisions will not be applicable to FIIs/FPIs not having a place of business/permanent establishment in India, for the period prior to April 1, 2015.

(Agencies)

Hyderabad, Sep 25: Over a dozen people from pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry made it to the Forbes list of India's 100 Richest People. Apart from the second richest Indian Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (net worth $18 billion), the list includes vaccine king Cyrus Poonawala (net worth $7.9 billion) who owns Serum Institute of India, who made it to the top ten, Desh Bandhu Gupta (net worth of $5.9 billion) of Lupin, Pankaj Patel ($4.1 billion) of Cadila Healthcare, Yusuf Hamied ($3 billion) of Cipla, PV Ramprasad Reddy ($2.8 billion) of Aurobindo Pharma, Reddy Family ($2.6 billion) of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Samprada Singh ($2 billion of Alkem Laboratories) and Glenn Saldanha ($2 billion) of Glenmark. Forbes in its list said Dilip Shanghvi's wealth flatlined as Sun Pharma reported a 46% drop in net profit due to merger costs linked to acquisition of rival Ranbaxy Industries. The list of 100 people also saw Leena Tiwari of USV Pharma, Mannalal

Agarwal of Ajanta Pharma and Chirayu Amin of Alembic Pharmaceuticals making an entry with net worths of $1.9 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. Both Mannalal Agrawal and Chirayu Amin debut on list after shares of Ajanta Pharma more than doubled in the past year, while that of Alembic Pharmaceuticals rose 66% in the past 12 months on the back of higher revenues and profits. The list includes Rajendra Agarwal

of Macleod's Pharmaceuticals, Habil Khorakiwala of Wockhardt, Ajay Piramal of Piramal Enterprises, Malvinder and Shivinder Singh of Fortis, all with net worths of $1.8 billion. It also lists B R Shetty ($1.7 billion) of UAE-based NMC Healthcare, Dilip and Anand Surana ($1.6 billion) of Micro Labs, Ramesh Juneja ($1.5 billion) of Mankind Pharma and Azad Moopen ($1.5 billion) of Aster DM Healthcare. (Agencies)

533,000 barrels. But gasoline stocks rose 1.4 million barrels, compared with analyst expectations in poll for a 819,000-barrel gain.

A planned shutdown of Britain's North Sea Buzzard oilfield, the biggest contributor to the Forties oil stream which is the largest of the four North Sea crudes used in Brent

benchmark, has been reset to November from October, its operator Nexen said.

Longer-term, a supply surplus continues to weigh on markets. "Despite early signs of a cutback in US shale production, the underlying supply and demand fundamentals remain weak for both Brent and WTI. This, alongside un-

certainties surrounding China and the broader health of global economy, is capping any recovery in prices," said BMI Research, part of the Fitch ratings agency. "We maintain our below-consensus forecast for both grades in 2016 and 2017, as major supply additions in West Africa, North America, the North

Sea and the Middle East will continue to outpace the growth in demand, contributing to a rising overhang of crude in the market." Asian shares got off to a cautious start recently after more dour economic news in China and the United States prompted a bruising selloff the previous day. (Agencies)

I-T Act to be amended to exempt foreign firms New Delhi, Sep 25: In a big relief to foreign firms, government recently said the Income Tax Act will be amended with retrospective effect to exempt from MAT the overseas companies that are covered under double taxation avoidance agreements. Foreign companies that do not have a permanent establishment in India will be exempt from paying minimum alternate tax (MAT) on profits from April 2001. The provisions of Section 115JB of Income Tax will not apply to foreign companies with effect from April 1, 2001, if they are resident of a country with which India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and they do

tin Winterkorn on Wednesday "indicates that there could be a weaker management, governance and risk framework than we had expected." And if it emerged that the problem affected the entire sector, with other manufacturers having also cheated pollution tests, "it may lead to tougher industry-wide regulations and requirements for diesel engines," S&P said. (Agencies)

Features

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Page 11

WOMEN’S Don't pay heed to women at makeup counters trying to sell you "fairer" foundations, girl - embrace your gorgeous skin tone instead.

We give you some fabulous makeup tricks for medium to darker skin tones. Follow this guide to help you accentuate your beautiful colour.

1. Never Use Lighter Foundations (Or Any Other Base Makeup) The right foundation sets the theme for a flawless look. Wearing lighter foundations will never make you look good, trust us; instead they will make you look older and your skin ashy.

One cardinal rule is to buy a foundation and even a concealer that matches your skin tone perfectly - follow it like the Holy Grail. The next time you're buying a foundation, try it on your forehead and jawline and not the back of your hand or wrist to see exactly how it would look on your face.

If you have oily skin, use a matte foundation; and if you have dry skin, use a creamier formula. If you use setting powder, make sure it matches your skin colour too.

2. Choose The Right Blush It's tricky to find a blush that compliments dusky skin well. Bright pinks and mauve pinks look too harsh and unnatural. What you should use are deeper pinks, dark peach, wines and even browns to help

5 Tricks You Need For Shiny, Glossy Hair!

6 Fabulous Makeup Tips For Darker Skin Tones bring some flattering colour to your skin and make it stand out.

3. Add Some Drama To Your Eyes Did you know that a smoky eye looks especially good on darker skin? You lucky thing, it is almost every girl's favourite makeup move after all! Make sure the shades you're using one lighter one and one darker one are from the same colour family - and blend them well. If you love experimenting with eye shadows, your skin tone is great for trying a variety of colours. Make your peepers pop on your next night out with violet, green, gold, copper and blue. Metallic shades look fabulous on you.

4. Brow Power Gone are the days of thin brows; today it's all about thick, defined eyebrows, and no one can rock them better than a dusky girl.

Trust us, they look the best with your skin tone. Use this quick trick to accentuate them: just dab a bit of white eyeshadow under the arch to make them look more defined and dramatic.

5. Red Lips For The Kill Red lipstick was practically made for darker skin tones!

They look the best on you because they add colour and drama without making the rest of your face look superpale. Whether it's an orangey-red or a brick red, you can rock them like no one else. Corals, nudes and mocha shades also look

amazing on you. Going simple and just sticking with a clear lip gloss is a good way to make your gorgeous skin stand out.

6. A Few Things You Should Avoid Frosty lip colours - they won't flatter you or your skin tone.

Bronzers - you already have what they do naturally.

Only use them if you want to look more tanned.

Applying your base with your fingers - a foundation brush or a clean, damp sponge will give you a more natural, flawless-looking finish.

Bright pink - whether it's pink eye shadow or pink blush, be wary of trying bright pink unless you find a shade that really suits you.

8 Tricks To Keep your Kajal Perfect!

No matter what your makeup routine is, if there's only one product us girls can't leave the house without using it's kajal. It brings that certain something to our eyes, even on a no makeup day, kajal just makes us feel like we can take on the day better. You know I'm right! But, it sure does have a knack for smudging. Blame it on oily skin or a humid day. We give you a few tips to keep your kajal from smudging and save you from embarrassing situations.

1. Start Out Clean This one's pretty obvious.

Make sure to wash your face first and keep your un-

Is Your Deo Making Your Underarms Darker?

der eye area clean before you pick up your kajal pencil. If your skin is prone to oiliness try this simple trick of running ice cubes around your eyes to prevent greasiness, plus it will help your eyes look brighter and more alert.

2. Are You Applying It Right?

Most of us start applying our kajal from the inner corners of our eyes working our way to the outer corners. You should actually do it the other way round - start from the outer corners and use short strokes as you make your way inwards.

3. Bring On The Shadow

If you really want to intensify the long-lasting effects of your kajal, bring out your eyeshadow. Make sure your eyeshadow shade is as similar to your kajal as possible, dip a flat brush into it before applying it just below your inner lids.

This will help keep the kajal in place and prevent it from running onto your under eye area.

4. Make A Switch If you feel like your eyes are just too watery and your kajal always smudges, maybe it's time to switch your usual kajal pencil for something else. A gel liner with a brush is great for applying with super preci-

sion and for some intense black that will be totally smudge proof.

5. You Could Cut Corners If your eyes are watery, it's smart to skip the kajal all together on the inner corners, or apply it very lightly there.

Go darker on the center as it can build up in the corners, which is one of the biggest reasons for smudging.

6. Your Nose Ain't The Only Thing To Powder Take an extra precautionary step of dabbing a bit of setting powder around your eyes and especially near the corners. This will help keep oiliness at bay and keep your kajal in place even on a hot, sweaty day in the sun.

7. Always Be Prepared If you know you're prone to getting your kajal smudged often, be smart and carry face wipes or even cotton swabs with you in your purse at all times.

Use them to fix your makeup crisis in a jiffy and to blot away and greasiness and sweat. Also, remember to stop touching your eyes to prevent smudging.

8. Are You Using The Right Kajal?

If you feel like your kajal smudges too often then maybe the problem lies in the kajal pencil and not you or your watery eyes or oily skin. Invest in a good quality one that is long lasting and smudge proof.

Envious of those girls flipping their shiny locks in shampoo commercials?

You can get them too! And you don't necessarily have to crack eggs on your head to do so. With the right kind of products paired with a healthy diet you can actually have those gorgeous, lustrous strands you've always dreamt of.

Presenting all the essentials you will ever need for a gorgeous mane. You're welcome!

1. When It Comes To The Wash You already know that washing your hair too often is actually bad for your hair. We know you're probably thinking how clean hair can ever be bad, but shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils (that provide shine and prevent dryness). It's important to restrict your washes to three to four times a week and use a good clarifying shampoo to get rid of all the dirt, grime and product buildup and leave your locks squeaky clean. Also, make sure to use shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free (harmful chemicals that are super harsh on your strands).

Plus, look for products that are hydrating at the same time.

2. Get Your Serum On Once your hair is toweldried (remember to blot, do not rub) we hope you're us-

ing a good serum to soften your strands. One that provides thermal protection against all your heat styling is an absolute must.

They will protect your strands from the damage caused by your blow dryer or iron and will help lock in the shine once heat is applied. Also, serums that contain essential oil magic like Moroccan or argan oil are totally worth the splurge for bringing a healthy sheen to your mane since they are super moisturizing.

3. Spray On Some Gloss A shine spray is a fabulous product to have in your hair care arsenal for spritzing on a quick coat of gloss whenever, wherever. Spray on a coat of sparkle on dry hair to help your strands reflect light for a gorgeous

sheen. A good shine spray is a mist that is light and doesn't weigh down your locks with loads of grease.

It doesn't matter whether your strands are dirty and unkempt, there's never a wrong time for some extra shine.

4. Get In Deep A deep conditioning treatment is one of those essential habits for healthy hair.

Deep conditioning your hair once a week is fantastic for undoing all the damage caused by heat styling, pollution, dirt and sun damage. It restores all the nutrients lost and keeps your locks healthy and happy. After all, they deserve some pampering after everything we put them through. Get it done at your salon or ask your stylist about the right masks for

your hair to apply at home.

Leave them on for 10 minutes before rinsing off.

5. Get A Hair Gloss Treatment A hair gloss treatment is just the type of miracle we need for lush locks. A gloss treatment is definitely better than a regular colour job as it repairs your hair and undoes damage to some extent. It leaves your hair texture much softer to touch and helps your strands reflect a lot more light, which basically means they'll be shinier than ever. It provides translucent colour, cuts down frizz thanks to intense conditioning and gives you an overall glossy effect. Plus, it fades in 6 weeks so it's not much of a commitment if you're considering trying it out.

5 Classic Looks To Invest In Now Classic wardrobe staples form the base - the canvas - of our personal style.

These are the absolute, nonnegotiable, must-haves that every girl needs in her wardrobe. Your classic pieces take you from day to night, they are comfortable and exude understated chic.

Wear them by themselves with a few key accessories, or glam up for the evening with a statement piece of jewellery to instantly jazz up your look - make these pieces your best buddies!

Stock up on these classics, team them up with different accessories at every out-

ing and you will never have to face a dull fashion moment in your life!!

1. Pristine Perfection A well-cut, superior quality white shirt is one of the best investments you'll make towards your wardrobe. Paired with a pencil skirt for office, or with distressed boyfriend jeans to a movie date or with printed cropped trousers for a girly lunch, this classic will see you through pretty much any situation. Worn here with red palazzo pants, jootis and an oversized printed bag, you can stay super comfy without com-

Face it, we can't even think of stepping out of the house without using deodorant. With the hot and humid weather conditions we live in, you can't really blame us! To avoid any embarrassing body odour problems (it can happen to anyone in this humidity!) we would willingly spritz on our deo twice, even thrice, a day without thinking much about it. That is, till our underarms start darkening‌ Do Deos Really Cause Underarm Darkening?

It's not very likely, but some ingredients in antiperspirants can react with your skin to cause discolouration. The salt in sweat and sebum can also contribute to

promising on style. Add a touch of elegance with this gold and pearl Titan Raga watch that works well with both casual outfits and formal, as well as your Indian wear.

2. Denim Diva Jeans that fit perfectly are hard to find, but once you find a magical pair that tucks in your tummy and slims down your thighs, hold on to them for dear life! Paired with pretty much any top in your wardrobe, a cool backpack, simple hoop earrings and classic aviators, you're all set to rock your everyday

this. In reality this is quite rare, but some people are just more prone to hyper-pigmentation than others and have felt reduced darkness after switching brands. It could also be the fragrance (the ingredients that are used for it) that could cause pigmentation in some people. What you can do is switch brands or use a milder deo.

Also, stop using antiperspirants completely and use deodorant only.

To be on the safe side, a roll-on is a much better option than a spray.

Other Reasons Why Your Skin Could Be Darkening Like we said, the chances of your deo causing this annoying problem are pretty low, and there could be

casual look. Make sure you don't lose track of time with this gorgeous watch!

3. Boardroom Style A monochrome dress is an office staple. Glam it up with this gorgeous watch and a tan handbag. Nothing screams classic more than simple pearl studs. If you'd like to add a pop of colour, use a natural pink lipstick or pair with bright coloured pumps to funk up your look.

4. Brunch Beauty There is nothing quite relaxing like brunches and mimosas on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Pair this elegant peach shift dress with floral heels for a laidback afternoon. For a minimal yet glamorous look, accessorize with this intricately designed watch.

Complete your ensemble with a layered necklace and a baby-blue clutch to hold all your essentials.

5. Party Princess With our busy schedules, there have been times when mornings turn into nights in a jiffy. A little black dress is perfect to take you from day to night in a heartbeat.

The ornamental watch will add a dash of sophistication to your look. Build up the glitz and glam with a statement necklace and some killer heels and red lipstick - it's really that easy!!

another reason why you've noticed dark spots. Shaving your underarms is the number one reason as it doesn't get rid of the hair just below the surface of your skin.

This could give you a dark looking stain on your armpits, especially if your hair is a lot darker than your skin colour. The smartest solution is to put down your razor and start waxing instead to get rid of the hair below the surface of your skin.

Another cause could be because of a buildup of dead skin cells, which could be giving you bumps and dark spots. Remember to exfoliate your body well and don't forget to do so under your arms as well!

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"For me the most successful tour was the tour of Australia. Two years down the line you will know where I am coming from. The result was 2-0 down.

Then we had great World Cup, but the lessons learnt on that tour were hard to learn and that is being put into practice which I am really heartened to see."

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Ravi Shastri

RNIASSENG00425/TC

Youths in Tirap district a changed lot; Courtesy the Thansen Wangchadong Memorial Football Tournament Contd. from Page 1

A file photo from the Inauguration ceremony of the tournament at Khonsa.

The gutkha shops and wine shops which were favorite spots for the Tirap youths have gone down on business for the last few days and their monopoly has broken from the time the tournament began. Instead, the tournament encouraged many shops in Khonsa to start selling sports items which was a very rare sight earlier in the town.

The tournament has brought a reason to dream big in sport and change at-

titudes in the youths of Tirap. In spite of heavy rains between matches, the spirit of the game and the patience of the crowd aren't dampened and very high scoring entertaining matches are on display.

"The football tournament being held in Khonsa after almost a decade has been well appreciated by the public and the district administration, Organizing Secretary of the tournament, Mr. Noah Monku informed the Eastern Today,

the media partner of the tournament. "But it was only possible due to the sincere support from the sponsor, Shri W. Lowangdong and his family. We hope to have many more tournaments in future and keep the spirit of sportsmanship alive. All the Tirapians have been very supportive, without which it would not have been successful" he added.

Shri W. Lowangdong and family thanked the organizing committee and espe-

cially the 1ST Assam Rifles, the referees, the CRPF, the police and the general public for their support and prayed for a successful conclusion of the tournament. With the saying that it's never too late for a noble beginning, the Thansen Wangchadong memorial football tournament at Khonsa is an inspiration for a new beginning for the Tirap which was been in news earlier for wrong reasons due to insurgency for many decades.

Daniil Kvyat tops rain-soaked Japanese GP second practice ANI Tokyo: Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat emerged as the fastest driver, while reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished third in a rain-soaked second practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday. Russian driver Kvyat was 0.023 seconds quicker than Nico Rosberg, with Mercedes team mate Hamilton third ahead of Daniel Ricciardo at Suzuka.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was fifth ahead of team mate Kimi Raikkonen.

Earlier in the opening practice session, Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz Jr. set the fastest

Pele would rather play for Arsenal than Chelsea ANI Rio: Brazil football great Pele has revealed that he would have preferred to play for Arsenal rather than Chelsea if he were in his goal scoring prime. Pele , the three-time World Cup winner, said Arsenal is a good team to play for, and added that he likes teams that play open football. The 74-year-old , who scored a record of 1,281 goals, mostly for Santos, also expressed his love for Barcelona, saying that the Camp Nou team is closest in style to Santos and almost similar in style as Brazil was in 1970.

(ANI)

time amidst heavy downpour. The rookie Spaniard was 0.504 seconds quicker than Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat to lead a session for the first

time in his 14 race career.

Hamilton heads into Japanese Grand Prix holding a 41 point-lead over Rosberg. Meanwhile, four-time world

champion Vettel will aim to sustain the momentum and stamp Ferrari's authority after winning the previous race in Singapore. (ANI)

PCB confirms UAE as Pakistan Super League venue ANI Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the United Arab Emirates as the venue for the next year's Twenty20 PakistanSuper League (PSL). Confirming the news, PCB statement said that a total of 24 matches will be played from February 4-24, 2016 in Dubai and Sharjah, the Express Tribune reported.

Chairman of the governing council of the PSL,

Najam Sethi revealed that the franchise owners would be given option to choose from number of top coaches. The former PCB chairman further said that the PSL has already proposed the tenders for broadcasters, adding that the tendering process for sponsorship will be done in the second week of October. Earlier in August, Sethi had announced Qatar as the venue. But the change of

venue comes after meeting between the top officials of the PCB and the UAE board. The inaugural edition of the T20 cricket tournament will comprise of five teams - Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, and Islamabad.

The glittering tournament will feature international superstars like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Lasith Malinga, Luke Wright, Grant Elliott and Tim Bresnan.

Beckham agrees with Ferguson, admits he wasn't a `world class` player ANI London: Former England footballer David Beckham has admitted that he was not a 'world-class' player following his omission from Sir Alex Ferguson 's list of top players he had worked with. Earlier this week, the formerManchester United manager had stated that he worked with only four genu-

ine world class players during his tenure at Old Trafford, namely Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona. Expressing his views after being left out of Fergusonjust 's list, Beckham said that he didn't mind not being included in the list, and insisted that he was happy to play for one of the greatest managers of all time. He fur-

ther said that he absolutely agreed with Ferguson, saying that there are only few players whom one can actually call 'world-class' and that he was glad to have had the opportunity to play with such players.

Beckham made his debut with United in 1992 and helped them win six Premier League and two FA cup titles during his time with the club. (ANI)

PAGE 12

Shastri brands Australia series as his `most successful tour` despite loss ANI Bengaluru: Team India Director Ravi Shastri has described the Australia series as his 'most successful tour' despite losing the four-match Test series 2-0 earlier this year and insisted that 'hard lessons' learned during the tour will prove beneficial for his side in the near future. "For me the most successful tour was the tour of Australia.

Two years down the line you will know where I am coming from. The result was 2-0 down. Then we had great World Cup, but the lessons learnt on that tour were hard to learn and that is being put into practice which I am really heartened to see," Shastri said during a press conference on the fifth day of Team India camp at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Ahead of the 72-day long series against South Africa,

the former India skipper labelled the tourists as 'stiff opposition' but insisted that passionate young Indian side wouldn't take any backward steps in their approach. "We have to respect the fact that South Africa are number one team in the world. They play well in overseas conditions better than any other side in world cricket.

We know that what we are up against but we will not take any backward steps," he added. When asked regarding Dhoni, Shastri described him as a 'all-time great' and backed the limited overs skipper to succeed during the home series South Africa. Dhoni, who led India to glory in the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup (ODI), returned to take charge of his side after a three-month break.

Maintaining that India's performance is not being

affected by two-captain theory, Shastri said "Dhoni is a seasoned campaigner, one of the all-time greats of world cricket. So he takes over a job he has been doing all this while, so things fall into place. The team has played under him, they played the World Cup under him. It makes no difference to the team. They are playing under a cham-

`Dropped` Adam Lyth vows to make `strong` England comeback ANI London: Opening batsman Adam Lyth has revealed that his aim is to make a strong comeback to the England national side after being dropped for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The 28-year-old left-hander struggled to find his batting flair during England's 3-2 Ashes win over Australia. He scored a miserable 115 runs in nine innings. Lyth insisted that he was still good enough to come back and do well at international cricket. The Yorkshire batsman also expressed his disappointment at being dropped but insisted that he hopes to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger next season. England will face Pakistan in the first of three Tests on 13 October in Abu Dhabi. (ANI)

Meet the 105year-old Japanese sprinter who defied age to set Guinness WR ANI Melbourne: Hard work always pays off and so did it for a 105-year-oldJapanese sprinter who defied his age to script his name in the Guinness World Records book. Hidekichi Miyazaki raised many eyebrows as he set a fresh 100 metres world record in the over-105 age category by clocking 42.22 seconds in Kyoto, one day after reaching the milestone age. However, Miyazaki's unwavering dedication to the sport has to be applauded as he was clearly disappointed at falling short of his own personal best mark. Reflecting on his performance, Miyazaki said that he was not happy with the time, adding that he started shedding tears during the race because he was going slowly. He insisted that he can still go faster than the actual result, adding that his training had been going splendidly and, therefore, he had set himself a target of 35 seconds.

Dubbed as the 'Golden Bolt' for imitating sprint king Usain Bolt's famed lightning bolt pose, Miyazaki said that he would love to compete against the Jamaican. Describing himself as a 'medical marvel', Miyazaki also refused to take retirement and vowed to train harder for next month's Japanese Masters Championships. (ANI)

pion". Earlier this month, India ended a 22-year series drought in Sri Lanka when the Virat Kohli-led side clinched the threematch Test series 2-1. India will play three-match T20 International series against South Africa starting on October 2 at Dharamsala, before locking horns in the five-match ODI and four-Test series.

Mirza-Hingis storm into Guangzhou Open final ANI Guangzhou: Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis produced an impressive performance to storm into the women's doubles final of theGuangzhou Open on Friday. The top seeded Indo-Swiss pair claimed a 6-3, 6-4 win over the duo of Julia Glushko and Rebecca Peterson in a thrilling semi final contest that lasted an hour and 11 minutes. Mirza and Hingis will next face either Chinese pair Xu Shilin- You Xiaodi or Klaudia Jans IgnacikAnastasia Rodionova in the summit clash. The Indo-Swiss pair has won two Grand Slams at Wimbledon and US Open since joining forces earlier this year in March.(ANI)

Gerrard reveals he prevented Suarez from joining Arsenal ANI London: Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has revealed that he was the one who stopped Luis Suarez from joining Arsenal in the summer of 2013. According to media reports, Suarez was desperate to join Arsenal two years ago, but Liverpool refused to accept the bid, forcing Suarez to eventually stay at Anfield for one more season. Gerrard, who is currently playing for MLS club LA Galaxy, said that he also played a key role in changing Suarez's mind. The veteran

midfielder revealed that he convinced the 28-year-old that he didn't want to join the Gunners and also helped him improve his relationship with manager Brendan Rodgers.

Gerrard admitted that none of them wanted the Uruguayan to leave Liverpool, as he was their strongest player and his transfer to Arsenal would have bolstered the rival team. Suarez joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014 in a deal worth 75 million pounds, thus making it the most costly transfer of that season. (ANI)

McLaren hint Jenson Button's retirement towards season's end ANI London: McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale has given an indication that former world champion Jenson Button will retire from Formula One at the end of the season. Neale admitted that Button is a world champion and an important part of his team who has been associated with McLaren from last six seasons. The F1 team, however, has an option to retain Button for the 2016 season, but the latter's contract with the McLaren will expire this month. The 53-year-old further insisted that his team desperately want to stop Button from leaving, but they have to respect the latter's decision who is not interested in staying. It is speculated that Button, after his retirement, would switch to the famous Le Mans-style World Endurance Championship. Button is the Britain's longest-serving F1 racer, who has achieved 15 wins in 278 races. (ANI)

Barekuri FC overcome Milan Sangha A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sep 25: Barekuri Football Club defeated Milan Sangha 2-1 in the Tepitam Buragohain and Puneswari Buragohain Memorial Super Division Football League organized by Tinsukia District Sports Association at TDSA Stadium in Tinsukia today. In the first half both the teams have toiled hard to open their account. For Barekuri FC, striker Pran Jyoti Chutia opened the floodgates for his team by

converting a pass from the right flank in the 61st minute. Pran Jyoti came strongly in the 71st minute and scored his second goal by converting a corner kick.

Barekuri FC players showed great promise in their attacking technique.

For Milan Sangha, Mahendra Moran converted a corner kick in the 74th minute. Milan Sangha have tried hard to bring parity to the scoreline with no success.

Meanwhile, in the 80th

minute, Maina Dutta of Milan Sangha was shown the red card due to unsporting behavior.

Barekuri FC earned three points at the end of the match. In the earlier match, Bodousa Sports Club defeated Milan Sangha by a margin of 20 goals. Milan Sangha has played three matches so far and till now they have failed to register a win. Tomorrow, Tinsukia Railway Divisional Sports Club will lock horns with Bodousa Sports Club.

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