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Budget session of Arunachal Assembly to begin from March 21 Itanagar, Mar 6: The Budget session of the sixth Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh will begin from March 21 next.

Governor J P Rajkhowa in an order on Saturday summoned the session from March 21 which, would end on March 26 next, an assembly communique informed.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul would present the budget for the financial year 2016-17.

Besides question hour, several important government bills are likely to be introduced in the six-day session.

After Pul and his 29 supporters merged with the PPA on March 3 last, the Congress would play the role of Opposition.

11 BJP MLAs and two Independent members are extending outside support to the Pul’s Government.

(IANS)

BJP takes out a pad-yatra in Tinsukia Tinsukia, Mar 6. With the election dates inching closer by every day, election fever seems to grip the easternmost town of Assam. The saffron party took out a "pad-yatra" here today.

The rally was kicked off from Tamulabari field at around 11.00 am and went through major areas of the town. BJP MLA from Doomdooma Dilip Moran leaded the pad-yatra.

He was accompanied by BJP district president Bhaben Sarmah and hundreds of other leaders and party workers. The aim was to make a direct connect with the voters, BJP sources suggested. (Correspondent)

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Answer Scripts burnt case: One Pul directs Dept of Mines and Minerals to picked up by CID team in Jorhat develop projects and check revenue leakage ET Bureau Itanagar, Mar 6

CID and police personnel during their inquiry visit to at Sankardev Seminary High School in connection with char of answer-scripts of HSLC examination in Jorhat. Pic - UB Photos Bijoy Handique Jorhat, Mar 6

In connection with the burning of HSLC Exam answer scripts, Chowkidar of the Sankardev Seminary School was picked up by the police as a ten member CID team led by Raja Mar Tandon SSP CID, Government of Assam arrived to the HSLC evaluation centre at Sankardev Seminary School and the team investigated for ten hours here today.

The ten member team under the leadership of M.R. Tandon recovered few items suspected to have used during the crime by miscreants who might have entered through the roof into the room where 68,000 of answer script were stored.

The investigating team inter-

rogated the headmistress Ms. Binu Gogoi Borbarua, the office staff, and entire teacher’s staff and even took finger marks to accelerate the investigation. The team even interrogated ASEB team including SDO, junior engineer, wireman, lineman, and even personnel from the State Disaster Recovery Force (SDRF) and Fire and Emergency Service team as to what they have seen and found at the time of dousing the fire that spread in the answer script.

The team will tally the finger prints at Guwahati and the accused will be bought to book, informed a highly placed official sources here.

During the investigation which lasted for over ten hours, no public or media person were allowed to enter the school premises nor anyone from the in-

vestigating team utter a single word. It is also learnt that the investigating team confirmed the involvement of the third force and use of inflammable substances has been confirmed and it was a well plan sabotage case which has got a long tail and a history behind the game plan to make headmistress of the school scapegoat, informed sources here.

Meanwhile, SEBA secretary Kamal Jyoti Gogoi said that decision has been taken to give the highest marks. He said the students can sit for re-examination and in case they don’t want to sit for re-examination they will be given the highest mark which they achieved among the other five papers they have appeared for, and more updates and final decision will be taken only after completion of the investigation.

Congress goes for alliance with UPP to tackle Hagrama's BPF in BTAD areas A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 6

In an attempt to the BPF heads on in its own territory, the Congress today formed the first alliance in the state today and said that it will contest the Assembly polls in an alliance with the United People’s Party (UPP) in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). As per the “understanding” as of now, Congress has decided not to contest four seats in Kokrajhar West, Kokrajhar East, Sidli and Chapaguri, in BTAD and leave it for the UPP, he added.

The nine constituencies are Gossaigaon, Barama, Tamulpur, Paneri, Bijni, Mazbat, Dhekiajuli, Udalguri,

and Kaliagaon. Speaking on the occasion, UPP President UG Brahma said his party has always been fighting against the corruption by Bodoland People’s Front, which has formed an alliance with BJP for the Assam Assembly polls this year. Meanwhile immediately after forming the alliance, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Anjan Dutta dropped a bombshell and said that many leaders who are not happy with the BJPBPF-AGP alliance will be joining the Congress very soon. “Many leaders from AGP, BJP and AIUDF are talking to us for joining the Congress. Some big leaders of these parties will join us on March 8,” said Assam Congress president Anjan Dutta.

AGP-BJP-BPF alliance creating dissidence A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 6

The AGP-BJP-BPF alliance seems to have increased the troubles manifold for the political parties, as after the announcement, dissidence have erupted all across the state in these parties.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today laid down modalities to improve the revenue generation and to check leakage of revenue in the state. In order to create a strong resource base and to gear up the investments in the investment sectors in the state by harnessing the rich economic potential of the state, he called a high level meeting with the officials of the Mines and Minerals in CM Office, and directed them to strengthen Mines and Mineral Check Gates in every district. He strongly insisted to check revenue leakages citing that quarries (sand and boulders) are being extracted rampantly. He directed the departmental officers to issue strict instructions to the permit holders to extract only allowed quantity as specified in the permit in addition to conducting surprise checking.

He also directed them to conduct intensive survey to identify Mineral and Mine Blocks across the state and assured to provide them all support for the survey. He, how-

ever cautioned that that Survey result should be visible bringing change in the record books and must be reflected in terms of increase quantity and deposit ratio. While telling the department to ensure efficient delivery of services, CM said to equip the department with more vehicles and motorcycles.

Citing Tax & Excise vital for regulating tax as a sole revenue component of the state Govt, CM urged the Department of Tax & Excise to strengthen this revenue component and to check revenue leakages. He instructed to issue directives to the Tax & Excise Officers to be stationed in their respective posting places and make rounds of Border Facilitation Counters to ensure checking of revenue leakage. He further said that High Mast Light in every Check Gate would be installed to increase visibility during night hours in order to make sure that no vehicles sneak without producing valid tax documents.

Reiterating vast potential of Tourism in the state with scopes for expansion of ecotourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism etc., Pul emphasized on developing basic

Modalities for Revenue Generation CM assured funds and vehicles to the dept to conduct intensive survey to identify Mineral and Mine Blocks across the state Emphasized development such as basic amenities like restaurants, hotels, motels, rest rooms, parking lots, wash rooms, drinking water to expand tourism Assured fund to develop small hydels with the generating capacity from 10 KW to 500 KW amenities like restaurants, hotels, motels, rest rooms, parking lots, wash rooms, drinking water etc to make our state more tourist friendly. He further said to beautify entire stretch of the tourist circuit besides keeping it spotlessly clean.

In the Power and Hydro Power sector, CM encouraged the departments to develop small hydels with the generating capacity from 10 KW to 500 KW in order to provide

power to interior blocks so that it is made self-sufficient.

He assured to make available the committed liabilities fund such as for maintenance in the beginning of the year.

But he categorically instructed first to have videography and photography of the asset to be maintained for strengthening the accountability and monitoring mechanism.

He also stressed on tapping the huge hydro-power potentials of the state by developing Mega Projects to make the state self-sustainable and selfsufficient. He asked the Department to sensitize the local populace of the state about positive aspects of hydro power projects and the prospect of area development which would pave way for betterment of the state in future.

Keeping in view of the favourable climatic conditions for agricultural and horticultural crops in the state, he advocated putting in feasible plan to tap this huge resource. AgriHorti sector is also a massive revenue generating sector apart from ensuring economic growth of individual farmers, he quipped.

Dibrugarh MLA gets life threat A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 6

The BJP MLA from Dibrugarh, Prasanta Phukan received an annonymous letter threatening him of dire consequences if he contest in the upcoming assembly polls.

Written in Assamese, the typed letter only mentioned Dibrugarh Nagarik Samaj at the bottom of the letter. A few days back, the same annonymous out-

fit had pasted posters against the BJP MLA in the town apart from starting a malicious leaflet campaign. According to source some people don’t want Phukan to contest in the election and may be this incident may the handy work of those people. Phukan is the two-time legislator from Dibrugarh Phukan said that he received the threat letter by post following which he met the superintendent of police today morning and made a verbal complain.

"I generally go around the town in a bicycle or motorcycle without any security. But today I took my vehicle along with my personal security officers. With the elections nearby, I don't want to take any chance," Phukan said at his Rupnagar residence here.

The BJP MLA riding a bicycle or bike without security is a common sight for the people here.

It may be mentioned that on May 1, 2001, the BJP candidate

from Dibrugarh Jayanta Dutta was shot dead by unidentified gunmen alongwith two others including the Dibrugarh district BJP general secretary Biren Phukan and a party worker Prasanta Gogoi. Three policemen and five bystanders were also injured in the attack. Another deadly attack was carried out at the AGP office in Dibrugarh resulting in the death of a local AGP leader Thaneswar Borgohain and a police constable.

Arunachal Govt to release one Crore Rupees to erect Bhupen Hazarika’s statue in Itanagar A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 6

Bhupen Hazarika and his melodious songs still reverberate and echo in the hills and valleys of the Arunachal Pradesh and 99% of Arunachalees can speak and

understand Assamese as Assam has always been a parent and a big brother of Arunachal Pradesh, said Kalikho Pul who yesterday met the Assam Governor in his residence at Raj Bhawan.

As a mark of respect to the great soul, Bhupen Hazarika

who is also a symbol of bond between the two state, CM informed that Arunachal Government would immediately release one crore to erect Bhupen Hazarika’s statue in the state capital region and in all the vital entry points of Assam-Arunachal border .

“We shall make a garden

where legend Bhupen Hazarika’s statue would be erected alongside other eminent personalities, artists etc. of the state” he revealed to the Governor.

Contd. on Page 4

Training for Self-Help Groups under Rural Livelihood Mission concludes at Roing Two students spot dead Ph. No.08471896580/

Contd. on Page 4

in an accident at Moran along with two other persons was seriously injured. The people gathered send them to Demow Model Hospital and later shifted to Assam Medical Collge.

In a violent road mishap two students died on the spot and 3 persons were injured near Sepon Tinali, Dibrugarh district at N.H.37 today around 3:30 pm. According to an eye witness, at around 3:30 pm a Mahindra Scorpio car coming from Demow and going to Moran lost control and hit a bicycle where two students namely Kundan Paik(16) son of Jogen Paik and Samaru Gaur's daughter Deepali Gaur were riding .Both were inhabitant of Khagorijan tea estates.

cmyk

The driver of the Scorpio

The scorpio which hit a bicycle leading to a spot dead of two students

According to police sources the car's owner is Kaushik Borgohain son of late Horesh Borgohain dweller of Demow Modhupur.

After the gruesome accident people have protested against the accident and sat by the NH37 blocking it for three hours. The protestors alleged told that it took the police two hours to reach the accident spot.

Self Help Groups of Cheta and May-II villages of Roing with the government officials and resource person ET Bureau Roing, Mar 6

The Block Development Office (BDO) Roing in collaboration with AMYAA, a NGO organized 3 days intensive training for Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Cheta & May-II Vil-

lages of Roing Block at Anchal Samity Hall, Roing from 4 to 6 March. Roing, CD Block is one among the 7 intensive Blocks in the State selected for first phase implementation of Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSRLM). The 3 Days training comprised of Book Keeping, Financial Inclusion and Livelihood Op-

tions.

On the first day of the training Indra Malo, Commissioner RD, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Dishi Miuli Malo, retired Director ICDS, Sipi Elapra Linggi, ZPC Lower Dibang Valley along with other dignitaries graced the start of the training. G. Manyu BDO,

Suruti Linggi APO (DRDA), R. K. Paul Chawang, Jinku Linggi and Menam Meto, Staff of AMYAA NGO facilitated the 3 Days training programme.

Contd. on Page 3

cmyk

ET Correspondent Moran, Mar 6

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

PAGE 2

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Today is reserved for your hobbies and obsessions. Doing the things you love will give you a high, and it will reflect in the way you treat your loved ones, says Ganesha. Your mind may not be at work, but your seniors may thoughtfully allow some concessions Taurus Communication may be poignant with your loved ones today, says Ganesha. Your unpretentious character will seek to safeguard the feelings of others from being hurt. You will learn that total agreement is sometimes twice as seductive in love's intimacies, feels Ganesha.

Gemini Today, resolving issues will be a tough task, but you will be able to accomplish it nonetheless.

It may take time, but don't lose hope. Persistence and hard work will be rewarding. The grind will increase your understanding of the things happening around you. You will be able to understand those around you better. You may also take your sweetheart on a shopping spree.

Cancer Your relationship with your lover may get a little messy today. But it has little to do with the lack of love, and more with too much of it. The two of you will get extremely emotional, and if your sweetheart has the same sun sign as yours, the situation may get ridiculously emotional.

However, if you do manage to control your emotions, this is going to be a wonderful day for your love life.

Leo You may want to carry some aspirin with you today, suggests Ganesha. For, there are strong indications that you shall be up against a lot of stress and tension at work. This headacheinducing factor aside, you have the uncanny knack of beating your opponents at their own game. This will superimpose your position of awe and respect at the workplace, as people realise the stuff you are made of. Go get em' tiger!!

Virgo Settling and resolving issues will be a long-drawn process today, says Ganesha. However, keep at it because the results will be well worth the efforts you put into it. You will feel more capable to look at things from others' perspective today. Loosen your grip on your wallet, as you may end up taking your sweetheart on a shopping spree.

Libra Possibilities are you want to run away today… at least when it comes to work. You would love to take a break and perhaps tour. Call it re-energising yourself, but the trip shall allow you to learn many things about life and work. So, it's well worth the effort. Let your ingenuity flow freely, and stump people with your pledge and promise. Just make sure it's not the moon you are offering to others; some things no one can deliver, says Ganesha.

Scorpio Today will consist of varying highs and lows at work and in confrontations, predicts Ganesha.

At work, you may end up quarrelling with your peers. You will be reasonable in your views and still you will find yourself on the receiving side of the argument. Evening will compensate for the tough day as you kick back and relax in the company of loved ones.

ST issue : Chutia Jati Sanmilan, Assam vows to teach BJP a lesson in Assam Assembly Poll ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Mar 6: "The tribalisation issue of the six ethnic communities of Assam was one of the subjects of the Parliamentary Poll manifesto of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP).

The party promised to initiate necessary steps for granting Schedule Tribe(ST) status to Chutiya Community too, along with the other five communities of the State.

But the party took u-turn from the promise and betrayed us in the past twenty months after it constituted government in the center. So, we decided to teach BJP a good lesson through Electronic Voting Machine in the forthcoming State Assembly Poll"thus announced today Khagen Rajkhowa, the Acting President of All Chutiya Jati Sanmilan, Assam, in a Press Conference held at North Lakhimpur Press Club.

ET Correspondent Tezpur, Mar 6: In a significant achievement, Prof. Mihir K. Chaudhuri, Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University has been conferred upon D.Sc (honoris causa) by the Vidyasagar University in their eighteenth convocation which was held on March 3.

and disappointments against BJP-led Union Government with regard to the tribalisation issue.

However, the tribal status demanding agitation by the community was older more than thirty years older and the neither State nor Union Congress Government took any steps to grant the community tribal status, the community is seen no strict on the Congress Party.

Sagittarius Today is most likely to be a day of mixed fortunes for you, predicts Ganesha. At the workplace, you may have a hectic afternoon, burdened with more work than you can handle. In the evening, a loved one will understand your needs, and try to bring back cheer with a home-cooked meal for dinner.

The organisation expresses their grievances

Capricorn Whether or not your business will prosper will depend on how decisive you are, says Ganesha.

Besides, it's time to test the potential of subordinates you have appointed, and see if they can deliver their best. And if they meet your standards, you can expect quick returns by the end of the day.

Rangia Army apprehends a weapon supplier and a NDFB(S) Cadre

Aquarius You may not want to, but you have to pay the bills! Okay, so you can't even remember what you bought, and are cursing the loony credit cards. However, this may persuade you to be a bit more organised. There is no harm in taking ideas from others, suggests Ganesha.

Pisces A turning point in romantic liaisons is likely today, says Ganesha. In love, as at the office, you will discover that there is no substitute for hard work. However, evening promises bountiful pleasure to make up for all the sweat and tears.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 7-3-16 (MONDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Songs) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 2-00 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Jaagaa Grahak Jaagaa" 2-30 P.M-Western Music 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme) 8-00 P.M-Play-"Dwitiya Parba" 8-30 P.M-Assamese Talk 9-30 P.M- Mandakini 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P

Advt.

Advt.

LOST

LOST

1. Class XII School Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School.

Chngkham 2. Class XII Fail Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School.

Chngkham.

3. Class XII Transfer Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School.

Chngkham Lost in Lajpat Nagar Delhi on dated- 24/08/2015 Time- 10:30 am.

Name. Ronjita Chakma S/ D/W/O Tuntu Moni Chakma. Roll no- 360 420 4 Address- H no. 4642, Ashok B Uddha Vihar, Old Power House Road, Rajghat, New Delhi11000

1. Class XII School Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School. Chngkham 2. Class XII Fail Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School. Chngkham.

3. Class XII Transfer Certificate Govt. Higher Secondary School. Chngkham Lost in Lajpat Nagar Delhi on dated- 24/08/2015 Time- 10:30 am.

Name. Tanuja Chakma S/ D/W/O Tuntu Moni Chakma. Roll no3604200 Address- H no. 4642, Ashok B Uddha Vihar, Old Power House Road, Rajghat, New Delhi11000

Tragic accident took place at Margherita ET Correspondent Margherita, Mar 6: A tragic accident took place today where the driver of a Bolero pick up van driver died on the spot which was going from Margherita to Deomali, Arunachal Pradesh.

The deceased driver has been identified as Munna Ahmed of Margherita. The Bolero Pick up Van bearing Registration Number AS 23 AC 7468 fall from road to a downwards area.

Margherita Police have sent the dead body for post mortem and took vehicle in there Custody.

ET Correspondent Rangia, Mar 6: Based on specific information, Army Camp Boko and Police launched a joint operation today and apprehended one Weapon supplier from Bholkmari (South Kamup) who was reported to be supplying weapon and ammunition to NDFB(S) and MULTA terrorists organization.

The weapon supplier has been identified as Mokshed Ali, 42 years Bholkamari village under Chhayagaon Police Station in South Kamrup District. The apprehended weapon supplier was also reported to be involved in arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti national activities and also has been working with extremists for many years.

One 22mm Pistol, one magazine along with four

Award conferred to Tezpur Vice Chancellor

pistol ammunition were recovered from the apprehended individual. Individual was handed over to the Chhaygaon Police today.

The arrested a cadre of NDFB(S) from village Dungria who has been identified as Khomin Boro, 30 years, S/o Mr Thupsa Boro, resident of Village Dalbari, Barama Police Station, District Nalbari (Assam).

The apprehended cadre has been involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti national activities.

One 7.65mm Pistol along one magazine and three live rounds were recovered from the apprehended cadre. Khomin Boro has been handed over to Police Station Tamulpur today.

As a reply of the query of the media person in this regard, Rajkhowa said that Congress Party did not promise them to grant tribal status through election manifesto what BJP did. So, the organisation was compelled to initiate strict steps against BJP. On the other hand, the organisation demanded the political parties to offer party candidature to

those whom the organisation recommends to contest in the Assembly Poll. The Press Conference was addressed by Vice President Lakhi Prashad Saikia, General Secretary Kula Kamal Baruah, attended by Organising Secretary Pavan Chutiya, Organising Secretary Chitta Ranjan Das along with several designators of the organisation.

This distinction has been conferred upon Professor Chaudhuri for his sustained and significant contributions to science and technology and also notable contributions in institutions’ building. The degree was presented to Professor Mihir K. Chaudhuri by the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal Keshari Nath Tripathi.

Partying between leaders may wane Congress prospect ET Correspondent Diphu Mar 6: After declaration of poll notification, political ambiance of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council area has frenzied swiftly, although it was anticipated that the BJP will have to confront discontent within the party on the issue of awarding party ticket for the coming legislative assembly election but at this moment it is Congress where strong lobby center politics have surfaced.

Both in Howraghat and Diphu numbers of party member have pleaded for Congress ticket defying the tacit rule of the party i.e. not to upset the arranged applecart.

It was assumed that the seating MLA of Diphu Bidyasing Engleng will be awarded Congress ticket unconcealed but allegedly at the command of Khorosing Engti, the incumbent Hill Areas Development Minister and MLA of Howraghat John Millick has applied for party ticket from Diphu. Ex MLA Monsing Rongpi has also

sought party ticket for Diphu LA segment at the will of Khorosing Engti.

Presence of multiple strong applicants within the party is viewed as a bad portent for the seating MLA. “This has been done to split Congress vote by the powerful lobby loyal to Khorosing Engti, he is utilizing extra leverage to minimize Bidyasing Engleng’s winning chance” alleged a diehard supporter of Bidyasing Engleng.

Congress is facing analogous situation in Bokajan where seating Congress MLA Klangdun Engti, sone of seating MP Biren Sing Engti is facing tough situation in obtaining party ticket which should have been a cake walk for the MP’s son.

In this LA segment also purportedly the powerful lobby devoted to Khorosing Engti has projected deputy chairman of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Surya Rongphar as claimant of party ticket for Bokajan LA seat. In identical manner the all powerful congress leader of the hills Khorosing Engti

the seating MLA of Howraghat is facing similar situation. Khorosing Engti who claimed that he will be the unopposed Congress nominee for Howraghat LA seat is now an annoyed person to find youth congress leader Madhuram Lakthe to be a strong pretender of ticket. The daring act of Madhuram Lakthe has been viewed as the lever action of seating MLA of Diphu Bidyasing Engleng as a counter against Khorosing Engti who is jeopardizing his winning chance.

Karbi Anglong district Congress committee has practically alienated into 3 factions loyal to seating MP Birensing Engti, Khorosing Engti, Hill Areas Development Minister and MLA of Diphu Bidyasing Engleng.

Swift partying between the leaders has perplexed the second line leaders of the party and the grass root workers who are already facing cataclysm at the sudden rise of influence of BJP in every nook and corner of the hill area.

Two day national seminar on “Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihood ET Correspondent Tezpur, Mar 6: The Department of Business Administration, Tezpur University organised a two day national seminar on “Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihood through Financial Interventions and Skilling India with Special Reference to the North Eastern Region” on March 4 and 5 in the Council Hall of the University.

The UGC-SAP seminar focussed on the issues, opportunities, and challenges of creating sustainable rural livelihood in the NER; exploring the possibilities of developing an integrated sustainable rural development model incorporating financial access and skill development with a value chain and to share, discuss and document the cases and success stories of various formal and informal agencies engaged in microfinance, skill development and livelihood.

The inaugural function of the seminar was started with the welcome address of Prof. Debabrata Das, Coordinator and Head, Department of Business Administration, followed by the inaugural speech of Pro Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University Prof. Manabendra Bhuyan. In his speech, Prof.

Bhuyan appraised the subject-matter of the seminar as the most relevant to the societal and policy perspectives of the north eastern region.

The seminar was attended by a gamut of researchers and social activists including, Mr. Chandrasekhar Ghosh, founder and Managing Director of Bandhan Bank, Mr. Vijay Mahajan, a renowned social entrepreneur of international repute and CEO, BASIX Social Enterprise Group, Dr. Amiya Kumar Sharma, Executive Director, RGVN, Prof. R.M. Pant, Director, NIRD&PR, Prof. E. Nixon Singh, Mizoram University,

Mr. D. Sattaiah, Chief Operating Officer, BASIX Social Enterprise Group, Dr. Miftahul Islam Barbaruah, Vet Helpline India (P) Limited, and many other prominent personalities.

In his speech, Mr. Chandrasekhar Ghosh stressed the fact that livelihood development is a grass root practice; it cannot be effective in a top-down approach of financing. He reiterated the need of approachability of rural mass towards formal financial sector. Giving example of Bandhan bank, he ascertained that the capacity for livelihood must be generated by the banking sector.

Mr. Vijay Mahajan stressed upon the need for the proper accountability of Governmental schemes and policies put in force in order to ascertain which policy exactly works for the rural society. To attain breakthrough for addressing unemployment issues as well

as sustainable development issues of the region he stressed on the importance of Green and Digital Prosperity for the North East.

Green prosperity is certainly possible if North East very efficiently utilizes the available natural abundance for developing green sectors like organic cultivation, horticulture, tourism, etc.

He also highlighted the importance of making North East digital to connect it to the entire nation and of course the world.

Prof. R. M. Pant highlighted the importance of proper communication and information mechanism for the success of the various government schemes targeted for the sustainable development and overall upliftment of the various segments of the society, especially the rural masses.

In the two-day seminar a total of 25 papers were presented by different re-

searchers and practioners from the NER in different themes including ‘Rural Livelihoods- Policy, Challenges and Issues’, ‘Sustainable Livelihoods through Natural Resource Management’, ‘Appropriate Technology and Rural Development’, ‘Sustainable Livelihood through Skilled Human Resources’, ‘Ensuring Financial Resources for livelihood’, and ‘Support and Resources for Livelihoods.’

The valedictory session of the seminar was chaired by Prof. M.K. Sarma, former Dean, Department of Business Administration, Tezpur University.

The seminar was organised with financial assistance from Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, BASIX Social Enterprise Group, Hyderabad and Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML), Guwahati

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

PAGE 3

'Mithun Mela' first of its kinds in Pasighat Representatives from all faiths farmers. Mithun is integral part of socio-economic life and pride of Arunachalees, he added.

Director, ICAR-NRCM Abhijit Mitra, apprized about the mandate of the Institute and stressed about the scientific Mithun rearing. Prof. A. K. Pandey, Dean, CHF, Pasighat also spoke and shared his views.

Pasighat, Mar 6: The first ever ‘Mithun Mela’ cum Farmers Awareness Program was jointly organized by the Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Nagaland and College of Horticulture & Forestry, CAU, Pasighat at Takilalung village, few kilometres away from Pasighat.

The fair was formally inaugurated by the Loksabha MP Ninong Ering in presence of Pasighat MLA Kaling Moyong, ICARNRCM Abhijit Mitra, Dean of College of Horticulture and Forestry Prof. AK Pandey, DVO Dr. Jikom Paron and farmers and Mithun rearers of the state.

Altogether 300 Mithun farmers attended the mela and the robust looking Mithuns exhibited at the fair attracted hundreds of curious visitors.

Different ICAR Institutes namely Regional Station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Kolkata), Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Insti-

tute (Kalyani), ICAR-NRC on Pig (Guwahati), and ICAR-NRC on Yak (Dirang) displayed the technologies and package of practices developed by these Institutes. College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF), CAU, Pasighat and Veterinary & AH, Pasighat also put up their respective stalls in the fair.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Ering appreciated the organizer and hoped such fair would bring awareness in local communities. Scientific Mithun rearing would not only improve the livelihood of the farmers but also help in rejuvenation of the forests cover, asserted the MP. He

Shahid Kapoor thanks Arunachal Pradesh for 'much love' New Delhi, Mar 6. (ANI): Shahid Kapoor, who has been busy shooting in Arunachal Pradesh for his upcoming flick 'Rangoon,' seems to be super impressed with the state.

Mira Rajput was also seen in a super stylish printed shorts and a long shirt.seems she was there to

receive her hubby.aww!

End of the last month, pictures of Shahid-Kangana from the set of 'Rangoon' were also out where there duo were seen posing for a selfie with a fan girl.

Shahid, who will play a soldier, was seen in his moustache look, while Kangana

was looking simply glamorous in her new hairdo.

Saif Ali Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor starrer ' Rangoon,' a love story set during the World War 2, gathered a lot of attention since the director Vishal Bhardwaj announced the film's strong star cast.

The film is slated to release this September.

Chidambaram painting proceedings against Karti as 'political witch-hunt': BJP New Delhi, Mar.6 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit back at former finance minister P. Chidambaram for defending his son Karti, accusing him of trying to paint the lawful proceedings as a 'political witchhunt'.

Guest of Honour KalingMoyong also expressed his happiness on the initiatives of ICAR-NRCM, CoH and DoV&AH in creating awareness among the

Lankan Navy arrests 29 Indian fishermen, impounds three boats Chennai, Mar. 6 (ANI): In separate incidents on Saturday night, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 29 Indian fishermen and impounded their three boats.

Recently the 35-year-old actor shared an Instagram video showing the crowd's cheer and excitement for the 'Haider' star. Captioning the video Shahid wrote, "So much love. thank you Arunachal."

Two days ago, Sasha with his Rangoon co-star Kangana Ranaut, was spotted at the Mumbai airport on their way back to the city, donning head-turning chic clothes, says a leading webmagazine.

also stressed about setting up a Mithun centre in Arunachal Pradesh, having the largest Mithun population in India.

to mean because he is Chidambaram's son, no action should be taken?

No investigation should be done?... There is perhaps some kind of fear that may be that something is not correct in the deals of Karti Chidambaram and, therefore, paint it as a political witch-hunt so "It's a strange comment that before the truth coming from P. comes out," he added.

Chidambaram because if my memory serves me Rubbishing allegations correctly, the questions of amassment of wealth on Karti Chidambaram's by Chidambaram, P. role for involvement in Chidambaram today hit some alleged scam come out at the Centre and back during the UPA said that he was the real time when he was the target and not his son. minister," BJP leader He said that the news reNalin Kohli said. port, which was containing wild and reckless al"At that time, he said be- legations against Karti, fore the Parliament that was a planted story. law would take its own course. Now when the "Karti runs a legitimate law is proceeding for the business, apart from matter that had arose at managing inherited that time, is that suppose property. He has been an

income tax assessee for many years. He has duly and regularly filed his income tax return, including a statement of assets and liabilities, every year. The assessments have been completed upto AY 2013-14 by the Income-tax department," he said in a statement.

Karti has reportedly amassed a huge amount of wealth through his dealings between 20062014, when his father P. Chidambaram was a cabinet minister in the UPA regime.

According to reports, the investigators of the case have found the details of Karti's investments during their probe of the alleged acquisition of telecommunication company Aircel by Malaysian company Maxis.

According to DVO, Pasighat Dr. J Panor all 58 Mithuns exhibited in the fair were vaccinated and 150 Pigs were distributed to the villagers. Scientists of ICAR-NRCM demonstrated the method of microchip based animal identification and apprised the farmers towards the benefit of feeding mineral mixtures, and adopting health care and vaccination of their Mithuns for better economic returns. Ear tagging demonstration was also part of the fair. Interaction cum open discussion between scientists and farmers was conducted and at the end, the owners of the best three Mithuns were awarded with cash prizes and mementoes.

(DIPRO)

According to officials of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna, 20 fishermen were arrested and their three boats were impounded held by the Island Navy near Puttalam in Palk Bay late last night on the charges of violating the maritime boundary and poaching into the Lankan waters. Another boat with nine fishermen was caught near Mannar in a separate

incident.

The Sri Lanka Government said that the arrested fishermen along with the fishing vessels have been handed over to the officials of the Department of Fisheries at Thalaimannar and Kalpitiya Police for legal action. The fishermen will be produced before the Puttalam and Mannar Magistrates tomorrow for further legal action.

The Training on Book Keeping was animated by R. K. Paul as the main resource person. The participating 80 SHGs members from 20 SHGs were taught on how to maintain books of records as per the format of NABARD. Through exhibition and discussion the SHGs were helped to gain both knowledge and practical skills on the maintenance of Cash Book, Loan Book, Saving Book, Minute Book etc. Record maintenance being one of the most important factors of SHG function the resource person instructed every SHG members to learn the correct entry of the registers.

The second day training on Financial Inclusion was attended by K. Deori BM, APRB, Devesh Kumar Asst. Manager, HDFC, S. Shekhar BM, BOI, and Purna Gogoi SCC, Apex Bank as resource persons.

The Bankers gave their inputs from the banking perspectives and highlighted the various insurances and loan schemes that SHGs can avail for their benefits. They spoke on Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakhsha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and other related schemes. They gave strong emphasize on saving concept and encouraged every SHG members to have their personal Saving Bank Ac-

Bishnu Rana Tezu, 6 Mar : Representatives from all faith such as Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu joined together in a seminar on ‘Peace & Universal Brotherhood Day for transformation of society’ to spread message of eternal peace and promotion of universal brotherhood to mark the 80th Maha Shivratri here today at the Centre Hall under the ageist of Brahmakumaris Rajyoga Meditation Centre Tezu.

Molowi from Muslim says Islam always speaks about love, cooperation and compassion and is against intolerance and fighting. Bhante Oria Mannou says Buddha always discoursed about nonviolence, peace and love.Sikh representative also spoke about “Om Kar Satya Nam” (God is light which is truth), we are all children of one God and never ever hate, hurt or

discriminate rather love, care and respect each other for peaceful coexistence of various religion, he says.

Nakul Chai former Minister as a chief guest on the occasion cited the best example of Shiva mandir premises where all faith including Buddha, Sikh, Shiva and Hanuman Mandir exists without any misunderstanding.

While quoting Mishmi a peace loving tribes, he said the tribe respect every faith and till day no disputes occur in the township. He lauds the spiritual organisation like Brahmakumaris to organise more such programme in Anjaw to promote peace and universal brotherhood. Also other spokesperson from Mishmi organisation and other credence spoke over the theme.

While highlighting the Spiritual importance of Shivratri, BK Jayanti in – charge Brahmakumaris Rajyoga Meditation said until we recognise ourselves as SOUL and Supreme SOUL (God) as our father the difference will continues. He also cited five vices (Sex, Greed, Anger, Attachment & Ego) as main cause of all hatred, suffering and impatient all around which can be get rid of by simple method of Rajyoga.

Earlier, in the morning a Peace Rally was flagged off by Soste Billai Gambura Telluliang which traversed through township. A tableau exhibited depicting all faith was also followed to promote peace and brotherhood during the Rally.

Overall 150 brother & sister and general public participated in the Rally.

Galo Students' Union of JNC in Pasighat organizes advance Mopin

With the latest arrests, there are 64 Indian fishermen and 84 Indian boats in Sri Lankan custody now.

Training for Self-Help Groups under Rural Livelihood Mission concludes at Roing Contd. from Page 1

join together in Tezu to spread peace and brotherhood

count opened in the Banks and to start the habit of saving their money. They also highlighted various Governments sponsored subsidized schemes that matured SHGs can apply from time to time.

They clarified the queries and doubts raised by the participants related to loans, loan interest, repayment module etc.

The third day training was on Livelihood Options. Dr. Deori (veterinary), S. Tamang ADO (Agri.) and K. Janu EO (fishery) were the main resource persons of the training. The resource persons took sessions based on their specific thematic topics. Thus the SHGs were sensitized and oriented on how they could improve their incomes by taking up income generating activities under Animal Husbandry, Agriculture farming and Fish cultivation. The participants were taught on the technicality, breeds, and types of taking farming under farm and non-farm sectors based on business models. The resource persons encouraged the SHGs to explore the immense land resources available at their disposal and to take up various income generating activities.

The participating 20 SHGs from both the villages expressed their sincere determination to take active participation at the grassroots, work hard to strengthen their groups and cooperate in the successful implementation of the ArSRLM in their respective villages.

Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Mar 6: With the festivity of Mopin around, the Galo Students’ Union of Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat here has organized an advance Mopin festival celebration at 2 Mile Saturday which was attended by students of Galo community with traditional fervor where DFDO Marngu Kadu, ZPM Takir Kakki and Chairman ‘Ayang’ (NGO) Aini Taloh attended as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and Special Guest respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, the guests while lauding the students’ community for or-

ganizing such a advance Mopin celebration appealed the youths to keep up the spirit of brotherhood through the festivity. Aini Taloh, Chairman of an NGO called Ayang, doing voluntary blood donation camp informed that, through such festival celebration organization one’s age old tradition and cultures are being preserved. She advised the students to celebrate festivals and upkeep the traditions, but things has be in limit, be it merry making, drinking of apong (local made rice beer) or riding bikes. Taloh, former President ABKWW East Siang is a pioneer in whatever she does and lends her

helping hand like that of providing blood to required patients as she holds the record of donating blood in every three or four months of interval.

Mopin is a festival of Galo tribe living mostly living in East Siang, West Siang and Siang district. It is celebration of the harvesting season held in the Galo months of “Lumi” and “Luki” corresponding to March-April.

Others who attended the advance Mopin were YR Darang MS General Hospital, Pasighat, Hari Loyi & Kento Kadu both Asst. Prof. in JNC.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church celebrates Women’s Day Celebration ET Correspondent Roing, Mar 6: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Roing celebrated the International Women’s Day today along with the rest of the country.

The President, Women’s Association Catholic Church Roing, Oyin Boko welcomed all the dignitaries and the guests on the occasion in the function held at the church premise to mark the day. The function attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Roing, Ruchika Katyal IAS and Guest of Honour Lomi Linggi, the president of the NGO, the Enjalu Menda Women Empowerment Forum Roing.

ing these potentials for the betterment of herself and the society at large.

In her message, Ruchika Katyal IAS, ADC stressed the need for educating the girl child and also giving them ample opportunities to empower themselves in the society. She also highlighted the hidden potentialities of a woman and the need for utiliz-

Meanwhile, president of the Roing based womens' only NGO, Lomi Linggi highlighted the activities undertaken by Enjalu Menda Women Empowerment Forum and; called for the women to take active part in building and

creating a peaceful society.

Fr. Clement Quadras, SVD, the Parish Priest beautifully brought out the role of women in every sphere of life and said, the society is incomplete without women.

The little children of Nani Maria School Roing, coloured the day with their beautiful cultural programme.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

PAGE 4

Rangia election Guwahati Municipal Corporation conducts Nalbari gears up for District gears raid to check illegal trade in drinking water state assembly polls up for election ET Correspondent Rangia Mar 6: Rangia Election District Administration under the leadership of District Election Officer Kailash Kartik N has been geared up for smooth, free, fair and peaceful conduct of the election for 56 Kamalpur and 57 Rangia LACs under its jurisdiction.

All arrangement has been taken for an error free election process in these constituencies.

The total nos. of Polling stations in the Rangia Election District are 387, out of which 30 PS are very sensitive, 120 PS are sensitive while 237 PS are comparatively safe.

There are altogether 187 Polling Station in Kamalpur LAC, out of which 4 PS are very sensitive, 52 PS are sensitive while131 PS are comparatively safe. There are altogether 200 Polling Station in Rangia LAC, out of

which 26 PS are very sensitive, 68 PS are sensitive while 106 PS are comparatively safe.

The numbers of total electors in the Rangia Election District are 325654 out of which 171069 are male while numbers of female electors are 154585 Under Kamalpur LAC , total electors are 157058 (Male82694, Female-74364), in Rangia LAC total electors are 168596 out of which Male 88375 and Female 80221.

This was stated by Rangia district Returning officer Mr. Kartik N in a press meet held at Rangia SDO civil office auditorium in presence of Sub divisional Election officer Mriganka Chowdhury and newly appointed Sub divisional Information and Public Relation Officer Sikha Saikia.

They also seek co operation from all sections of people for free and fare poll.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 6: In a bid to check illegal trade of drinking water, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation on Thursday conducted raids at various places in the capital city.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC)'s op-

of BJP and Uday Sankar Hajarika, Nanda Kishor Maheswari, Pranab Saikia, Biswajeet Hajarika, who were the applicant for party's candidature to contest as MLA candidate of Lakhimpur were present in the meeting along with several local leaders. On the other hand, the three Mandal Committies under the LAC, viz North Lakhimpur Town, Lakhimpur and Telahi and fourteen wards and fourteen GP Committees were also present in the meeting. They refused to accept Utpal Dutta, the possible candidate from AGP for his au-

Civic officials have seized at least 15 pumps used to siphon off water from main supply lines. According to GMC officials, many people, despite receiving

piped water provided by the corporation, illegally drain water from municipal pipes by using pumps. The corporation has been conducting this drive with assistance from city police.

"During our ongoing drive we sealed 15 water pumps that were being used ille-

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 6: Assam Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) on Friday held a meeting with representatives of all political parties in the state for the two-phase Assembly elections scheduled for April 4 and 11. He said the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in force with the announcement of the elections by the Election Commission on Thursday, a government release said. He briefed the parties about the MCC and a booklet on it was distributed to party representatives and they were re-

thoritative behaviour and baseless status. They shouted 'Utpal Dutta Murdabad', 'Sarbananda Sonowal Murdabad', 'Amrit Shah Murdabad' slogans expressing their wrath on the Alliance agreement.

They demanded the party high command to review the decision within twenty four hours; otherwise decided to stand either Uday Sankar Hajarika or Nanda Kishor Maheswari as independent candidate in the Assembly Poll. On the other hand, Utpal Dutta, the existing MLA from AGP is also reluctant to accept the Alliance agreement.

quested to ensure that no violation takes place.

The CEO briefed the representatives on the schedule of the Assembly Election, number of voters in the voter's list and the number of young and first time voters, the release said. Explaining about the preparedness for the upcoming elections, the CEO said Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) would be introduced in all polling stations of 10 constituencies spread across the state.

representatives about the new software of the Commission on the online facility of redressal of public grievances through the website www.ceoassam.nic.in and through its toll free number 1950. Stating that the Commission has also launched an android mobile application Samadhan-Assam, he appealed all parties to cooperate and report any case of malpractice for immediate action, the release said.

VVPAT would be introduced for the first time in 10 Assam

Assam is the first state in India to have officially de-

clared State Child Protection Day to be celebrated every year on 4th March.

Child Protection Day is an important platform to raise our voices against all forms of violence and discrimination against children and to also mobilize and create an enabling space for collective thinking and sharing among all concerned stakeholders and duty bearers, the release added.

The event began with a lighting of the lamp ceremony by children. The inaugural session was presided over by ASCPCR Chairperson, Runumi Gogoi who urged everyone

Legislative Assembly Constituencies, including Guwahati under Kamrup (Metro) district during the upcoming elections, Kamrup (Metro) district Deputy Commissioner M Angamathu told reporters on Friday. The VVPAT machine attached to an electronic voting machine (EVM) would print out a confirmation slip upon a voter casting his or her ballot in the EVM, displaying the candidate's serial number and election symbol to confirm the chosen contestant was voted for.

He also informed the party

Congress' support to students indulging in 'anti-national' slogans a 'ideological hollowness': Jaitley Vrindavan, Mar.6 (ANI): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday termed Congress' support to students indulging in alleged 'anti-national' slogans as ideological hollowness.

Speaking at the concluding session of the twoday national Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha convention here, he defined the Leftist as the one who

believes in dividing and ruling the country through violence.

Taking potshots at the Leftists, he said that a small group out of them was 'Jihadi' while the bigger group was 'Maoist'.

Referring to JNU Student's Union president Kanhaiya Kumar's speech at the university campus after being re-

Assam celebrates 3rd Child Protection Day at Children’s Home in Guwahati ET Correspondent Mangaldai, Mar 6: A programme to celebrate the 3rd Child Protection Day in Assam was organized by the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) in collaboration with State Child Protection Society, Government of Assam; and supported by UNICEF Assam.

The half-day programme and cultural event was organized in a Children’s Home in Fatashil, Ambari, stated in a press release by the UNICEF, Assam Chapter that received here.

gally to draw water from municipal pipes in Santipur area. These people, despite receiving water from us, steal water. We have found that these people rent out part of their residences and as such their requirement of water increases, GMC officials said.

Model code of Conduct for the Assembly Election is in force from March 4

Lakhimpur BJP to contest with Independent Candidate in the Assembly Poll: 24 hours dead line to the party high command ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Mar 6: BJP activists of Lakhimpur District are still expressing their disappointment against the parties agreement on PrePoll Alliance with Asom Gana Parishad(AGP). They have not accepted the party high comman's decision to give up the Lakhimpur Assembly Constituency seat to AGP. These activists today organised a meeting in the Surya Cinema Complex in order to discuss the next steps in the forthcoming Assembly Poll. It was presided over by Ganesh Bhuyan, Ex-Vice President of Lakhimpur District body

eration to solve the drinking water crisis has received a thumbs up from locals.

to pledge to create a safe and protective environment for children in the state.

protective environment for children in the state.

Mukesh Sahay, IPS, Director General of Police, Assam, in his address, urged for adequate sensitization of the police system to enable proper handling of issues of children in the state. He said, “We need to learn to handle issues of children who are in conflict with law and need protection”. Police being an important stakeholder in the child protection system, he stressed that with available resources, techniques and mechanisms we should empower ourselves to create a

Dr. Tushar Rane, Chief of UNICEF Assam, congratulated the State for its commitment towards its children. He also congratulated ASCPCR for the Guwahati Charter of Action on Child Protection which was a milestone leading to the coming together of members and representatives from NCPCR and SCPCRs from across India. He stressed on the vulnerability of children in Assam especially since it is an earthquake-prone state and also experiences annual floods.

He urged all participants to ensure a protective environment and a safe childhood for India’s children.

According to the press statement this was followed by a cultural programme with performances by children from across the State.

The celebration was attended by more than 500 children from various children’s organizations in Guwahati. Senior officials from various Govt. Departments including Department of Social Welfare as well as civil society representatives were present in the meet.

leased from jail earlier last week, the Finance Minister said that it was a fight of ideologies in which the BJP has emerged victorious.

ET Correspondent Nalbari, Mar 6: The Nalbari District Administration has geared up its activities to hold the Assembly election in the district in a free and fair manner. Addressing a press conference held at Deputy Commissioner's conference hall here on Saturday evening the DC Dr Om Prakash who is also the District Election Officer said that the three constituencies of the district Nalbari, Dharmapur and Barkshetri is divided in 19 zones and 75 sectors for the smooth conduct of the poll.

He informed that a total of 4, 74292 voters including 2, 22069 female will be cast their votes in 654 polling stations to be set up by the Nalbari district administration. In all the three Assembly constituencies of the district there are 755 doubtful voters who couldn't cast their franchise.

The district election officer further added that out of the 654 polling stations 101 have been identified as hyper sensitive, 239 sensitive and three polling stations are critical. In the district the photos of 99 percent voters are included in the voters list, Dr Om Prakash stated.

He continued that the district administration for the first time set up an IT centre at DC’s office where the people could lodge any poll related complaints online and the political party or candidates may also apply online for any permission for holding election meeting.

The deputy commissioner assured that the district administration will strictly monitor the violation of poll expenditures of all political parties and independent candidates. He added that the district election branch will depute a magistrate and a video surveillance team to all major political meets and the captured videos will be reviewed by another team at deputy commissioner's office to escalate the real expenditures of the meeting.

Speaking in the press conference, Dr Bedanta Mdhab Rajkhowa, Superintendent of Police, Nalbari said the district has 170 license arms .The police are now collecting the licensed arms of the district. The Nalbari police has required 30 additional companies of Para military forces to ensure the peaceful law and order situation of the district.

Arunachal Govt to release one Crore Rupees to erect Bhupen Hazarika’s statue in Itanagar Contd. from Page 1

The Chief Minister called on the Assam Governor and they discussed covering sensitive issues like the contentious many decades old boundary row between Assam-Arunachal, differences of opinion on Hydro Electric Projects, means and measures to build up strong ties and maintain age-old bonhomie between the two immediate neighbors.

He clarified that benefits of Hydro Power development will equally be reaped

by Assam being the immediate neighbor apart from the development prospects of the affected areas. He also made it clear that hydropower projects would minimize the flood impact of Assam to a great extent which, every year witnesses vast devastation.

On the border row, Pul said that he believed in solv-

ing the differences mutually rather than going to court for settlement. As the two states have been a family sharing good and bad times together for ages together, people of both the sides must maintain the centuries old mutual trust, love and age-old relationship of bonhomie, CM maintained. He requested Assam Governor to help both the states retain the brotherhood relationship they had been maintaining for long. Pul also appealed to the people of both the states, especially those living along the inter-state boundary, to maintain calm and not get provoked by unscrupulous elements that may attempt to take advantage of the situation for vested interests The discussion also rounded up on the prevailing insurgency in the Northeast. Pul opined that the insurgency issue should be dealt with utmost care while respecting the sentiments of the locals or the organizations.

Respective

government’s should provide platforms for the misguided youths to come back to the mainstream and live a normal and dignified life.

All issues and differences should be amicably discussed and solved without resorting to violence, Pul said.

Governor Acharya advised Pul to introduce foreign languages in the Universities and higher studies institutions of the state in view of Arunachal sharing strategic international borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar. By doing so, you will help the country improve the bi-lateral relations, besides opening gates for border trade for economic growth of the region and improving the social as well as economic ties. CM assured to look into the possibilities. He invited the Assam Governor to visit Arunachal to which Acharya humbly accepted and assured to make a trip to the state soon.

AGP-BJP-BPF alliance creating dissidence Contd. from Page 1

While many ticket aspirants who have realized that they will not get tickets have started engineering protests in the party office, many have also hinted at joining other political parties, most likely the Congress.

Former AASU president Shankar Rai, who had joined the BJP has said that he is likely to join the Congress if the BJP doesn’t assure him a ticket soon.

Siv Ratri Mela inaugurate lamp lighting by DC Birendra Kumar Mittal in Sivasagar Pic - Firuz Ahmed

Rai was assured a ticket from the Bongaigaon as-

sembly constituency, but what the alliance having made, the seat is likely to go to senior AGP leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury.

Members and districtlevel leaders of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today ransacked the party’s head office in Ambari in Guwahati.

Protests erupted again in the state following the declaration of a poll alliance between BJP and AGP in New Delhi on Thursday.

AGP will contest 24 seats out of the 126 assembly constituencies. Several district-level leaders of the two partners threatened to field

independent candidates across the state.

Hundreds of AGP supporters from several assembly constituencies today gathered at the party head office in Guwahati to voice their protest against the alliance.

"In the past, the party had benefitted little from the tieup with the BJP. This time, we were quite confident of putting up a better performance on our own. If we fight alone, our regional identity will also remain intact. Moreover, both BJP and Congress have lost the trust of the people," a protester said.

REGION

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

Manipur MLA accuses Naga CM of stoking 'antagonistic feelings'

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang Imphal, Mar 6: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has been accused by a Manipur MLA of "trying to create hostile attitude against Manipur government" amidst a row that has seen a Naga body announce a ban on the latter against stepping into the "Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur".Manipur MLA L Ibomcha filed an FIR against Zeliang on March 2 accusing the Nagaland chief minister of "trying to create hostile attitude against Manipur government and inciting antagonistic feelings among certain tribes in Manipur".

In a statement here, the legislator said while the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech that is subject to reasonable restrictions. Ibomcha has refused to withdraw the FIR and said that the demand by the United Naga Council (UNC) that he

tender an apology to the chief minister was "out of the question". Ibomcha said he would withdraw the FIR if the Nagaland chief minister and the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) apologised. Failing that, "the law will take its own course", he added.During Zero Hour in the Assembly yesterday, Ibomcha had dismissed the ban imposed by UNC against him "stepping foot in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur".The MLA said he can visit any place in Manipur and the ban by UNC has no legal sanction.

Ibomcha also urged the government to ban the UNC for "inciting animosity among the commu n i t i e s of Manipur".The UNC, he said, is a civilian body with its headquarters in Senapati district of Manipur and a branch o ff i c e i n I m p h a l .

(Agencies)

NIC rated as 'one of the best' Information Commissions Dimapur, Mar 6 : With merely 0.7 per cent of the Right To Information (RTI) applications being rejected, the Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) has been rated as "one of the best" Commissions in the entire country.This was revealed

by Nagaland Chief Information Commissioner, Bukchem Phom while addressing the decade celebration of RTI Act in the state on the theme 'RTI: Trust Through Transparency' in Kohima yesterday.Recounting the activities of the Commission in the last 10 years, Phom said the Information Commission in the state has been working under the policy of 'Trust through Transparency' and has involved NGOs such as Nagaland Volun-

tary Consumers Society to undertake a study on how RTI has impacted Nagaland.

Of the total number of 92 public authorities audited, he said two were described as 'highly transparent', 45 as 'reasonably transparent', 43 as'limited transparency' and two with 'poor level of transparency', he said.Nagaland State Commission along with Chhattisgarh has conducted gender break-up records and also the economic profile of applicants through the RTI applicants, he said.As transparency regulator in the state, he said the Commission has been conscientiously enforcing the Act in its entirety in letter and spirit, without fear and favour.

(Agencies)

With merely 0.7 per cent of the Right To Information (RTI) applications being rejected, the Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) has been rated as "one of the best" Commissions in the entire country

State funeral to begin from 11 AM at MP stadium Tura, Mar 6: The mortal remains of Purno A Sangma will leave his home in Walbakgre for the last time on Monday morning.

The casket containing his body will be first taken to the MP stadium, now renamed as the Dikki Bandi stadium, for the state funeral at 11 AM.The state funeral is expected to be completed by 1 PM after which the funeral cavalcade will move to the Sacred Heart Church in Lower Chandmari for a special church service.

Earlier, the funeral programme was expected at the oldest Catholic church in Tura, the Cathedral Parish near Bishop House, but in view of the large number of well wishers and supporters expected to participate in the last rites, the family of Sangma informed that they have requested for holding of the funeral service at the Sacred Heart Church in Chandmari.After the service P A Sangma mortal remains will be laid to rest at the Catholic cemetery next to the Bishop House. (Agencies)

PAGE 5

Improve quality to revive Tripura tea industry: Experts Agartala, Mar. 6 : A one-day seminar on 'Development of Tripura tea Industry - Scope for Speciality Tea' was recently organised here to revive the tea industry which during the last few years has not shown much growth.Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was the chief guest at the seminar, which was organised by the Tripura Government's Industry Department jointly with Laxmi Tea Company, at the Pragna Bhavan here.M. Nagaraju, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce of Tripura, said the main aim of this seminar is to convey the commitment of the state government for the development of the tea industry and the welfare of the workers in the tea sector.

big tea estate.Chief Minister Sarkar in his address said one of the prime reasons behind average less tea production per hectare in Tripura compared to the national average is the non-utilization of allotted land to the nongovernment tea estates for plantation.

catching up to do," he added."In Tripura I could understand the industry is almost 100 years old now but it contributes less than one percent of the total Indian production. So, Tripura would probably gain by following the Assam model," said the chairman of North East Tea AssociationTripura is the fifth largest among 14 tea-producing states after Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

scheme.The tea plantation started in Tripura's Hiracherra Tea Estate in Kailasahar by people of East Bengal in 1916 under Royal Administration.

Maoist Communist Party claim responsibility for peace camp attack

Female HNLC worker held

"In Tripura, there are 52 tea gardens employing more than 12000 families, but despite that the industry has not grown much in the last few years. There is an international glut and Tripura tea is not commanding good price compared to other regions," said Nagaraju."We wanted to identify the causes for the low price of the Tripura made tea and find solution to all the problems and also look at how the land allotted to tea gardens could be productively utilized," he added.Nagaraju further said that the small tea growers are doing well in Tripura compared to the

Imphal, Mar 6 : Insurgents of the Maoist Communist Party (MCP) in Manipur have claimed responsibility for the Wednesday night attack on a "designated camp" of surrendered militants in Imphal east district.Though the "designated camp" was attacked with automatic rifles, hand grenades and other lethal weapons for over 20 minutes, no inmate was injured. A "designated camp" is a place inhabited by insurgent groups that sign Suspension of Operations - or ceasefire - with the state and central governments.

Under Suspension of

"We appeal to the private entrepreneur that if they are not utilizing the land earmarked to them for tea production then the state government shall very soon declare that area as wasted-land and shall be compelled to acquire it. We have already initiated the process and implemented it for few gardens," he said.Out of the total 14,092 square hectare earmarked for tea cultivation in Tripura, only 7,366 square hectare which stands to 52 percent is utilized for the purpose while 48 percent remains unutilized.As a consequence, the average tea yield in the state is 1,043 kg per square hectare compared to the national average of 1,658 kg.Sarkar suggested for maximum utilization of the land earmarked for tea to increase the average yield and for better profit to ensure the tea estates of the state survive in the competitive global market.

Meantime, other experts who participated in the seminar suggested that to revive the tea industry in the state the producers need to improve produc-

Operations (SoO), the government forces and insurgents stop attacking each other and try to create conditions for a peace process and political settlement. The insurgents also start to get a modest amount of stipend from the government.

In Manipur, at least 18 insurgent groups have signed the SoO with the state and central governments. There are still dozens of other outfits that continue to wage guerrilla warfare against security forces (and sometimes other armed groups) in support of

Improve quality to revive Tripura tea industry tivity, effect cost-reduction, adoption of better management practices and most important start production of quality tea, including organic tea, as demand for it is on rise.

Manoj Jallan, the chairman of North East Tea Association, said, "Basically the word quality has to find place in your mind first of all. You have to realize the ground reality today. It is quite different what it used to be 20 years back.

Gradually the demand for quality tea and nonquality tea is further widening. The demand for good tea is going up and the demand for mediocre tea is going down."So in case Tripura continues to be a laggard as far as quality is concerned I don't find a future for Tripura tea. So it has to move up the quality ladder and quality will come. You have to look up for the entire package starting from the planting material to the soil preparation, to quality planting, good cultural prac-

tises, good plucking, good transporting and of course good processing," he added.

He also said that like Assam, Tripura should also try to emphasise on small tea growers for quality production along with socio-economic development of the state.Jallan further said that whatever growth the industry has witnessed after 1990 has entirely come from the small growers segment.

"In Assam, today estimated one lakh small growers are there producing about 250 million kg of tea which is about 40 percent of what is being produced in Assam.

When we speak about the Northeast, well Assam today produce about 52 percent of the total Indian productions and if we add the other tea growing state of the Northeast we can add another 3 to 4 percent so it will be about 54-55 percent. So the other states have to lot of

their demands.The attack on Wednesday took place despite the camp being located within 500 metres of a police station, a police commando camp, as well as Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles camps.

The attackers were able to leave the spot without being confronted by the security forces.

sume intoxicants, bully the villagers and workers nearby and extort money from the people under different names," a spokesman of the MCP said in a statement here on Friday.The inmates of the camp denied indulging in extortion or any other objectionable activity.

Police fear that other designated camps could also be attacked in future. "The MCP will not pardon those who are defaming MarxismLeninism-Maoism.

There are reports that the inmates of the camp con-

They said they were somehow getting by on the meagre government stipend. The government was now planning to shift the camp to a more secure place in Bishnupur district.

There is reportedly a mutual agreement among

Indefinite Imphal-Moreh road blockade called off mitted to Irrigation and Flood Control department (IFCD) minister Ngamthang Haokip and other senior government and police officials of Chandel district by the Committee, according to a police officer.

Imphal ,Mar 6:The indefinite Imphal-Moreh road blockade in Manipur, called in connection with the killing of a school teacher since March 2, has been called off with immediate effect by members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), JAC Convenor Mangboi said.

Pointing out that the JAC has arrived at an "understanding" with the state government, Mangboi said the agreement was reached after a joint meeting with members of JAC and representatives of the state government yesterday.

Indefinite Imphal-Moreh road blockade called off

A 7-point memorandum

addressed to the Chief Minister was also sub-

The indefinite blockade was imposed by members of the JAC after the school teacher, Ts Haokip, succumbed to injuries after being beaten up by suspected NSCN (IM) militants at Aimol Satu village and the alleged failure to nab the accused involved in the incident.(Agencies)

At present, there are 52 operational tea estates (out of 58) in the state.Some 12,000 families are directly employed in the tea estates while since 1994 another 4,346 small tea growers, including 2,483 tribals, are cultivating tea in The Tripura Govern- 3406 square hectare ment, in collaboration area.The small tea growwith the Tea Board of ers expressed that the India, plans to boost pro- seminar would be a boon duction by new planta- for them and help in tions, rejuvenation, skill quality improvement for development, providing the produces and for betbetter irrigation and tech- ter profit."This seminar nical facilities."In will help in increasing Tripura we do have a tea production of Tripura scheme for organic and along with its quality organic planting has 25 which has been the main percent more subsidy point of discussion. then the normal subsidy.

Today if we want to capThere is very good ture the market we have scope for the Northeast to produce quality tea in the organic tea and lot and various resource perof people are converting sons have discussed on and the quantity of or- this issue. This will ganic tea produce in the surely benefit and boost country is on the in- the small tea growers tocrease," said Tea Board wards producing quality Director Sounderajan tea," said Harisankar He informed that the Debnath, Secretary 12th Plan Scheme of the Small Tea Growers of Tea Board has got a lot Tripura.Tripura's annual of schemes for both big tea production is around growers as well as small 8.66 million kg and congrowers and particularly tributes just one percent for the small tea growers of the national producnew planting subsidy has tion. Of late, the state been announced along also started producing with setting of factory by some 4.45 milli ion kg of SHG beside skill devel- green tea along with oropment under the HRD ganic tea. (ANI)

the insurgents to attack those who had come overground after signing the SoO. The SoO signatories also have their grievances - ranging from mistreatment by the police and the meagre stipend to poor chances of finding gainful employment. Besides, the central government has not taken steps to start talks with the former insurgents.

Starting peace talks with former insurgents becomes difficult when most of the insurgent outfits still refuse to sign the Suspension of Operations, officials here told medias. (Agencies)

Shillong, Mar 6: Following the arrest of two overground workers of the HNLC on Friday, police picked up a woman linked with the outfit here on Saturday. According to police, the female overground worker, identified as Wandalin Diengdoh (40) of Lower Mawprem, is the sister of senior HNLC cadre Phrangkupar Diengdoh alias Hep Metal who has been in hiding in Bangladesh for a long time. The two HNLC workers arrested on Friday were forwarded to Court and remanded to police custody for seven days. (Agencies)

Fair held to revive indigenous literature and culture in Tripura Tripura, Mar 6 : A threeday long indigenous literature and cultural fair was organized at Khumlung in West Tripura District. The event was organized by Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) with an aim to keep alive the culture and traditions of tribal communities in Tripura. During the event, various tribes like Reang, Chakma, Noatia, Uchui, Jamatia, Santal, Orang and others displayed their lifestyle, culture, heritage, food habits and festivals.

A group of artists performed a traditional song with flutes and drums to enthrall the audience.

Tripura Chief Minister

Manik Sarkar inaugurated the event.

During the event, books and handicrafts stalls were also put up where they displayed a variety of items like cane and bamboo products, ornaments, shawls, indigenous household tools and decorative items. Women also demonstrated different kinds of weaving, Knitting and cotton yarning and spinning. The Northeast region boasts of a rich and varied culture. Such events not only bring together people on one platform but also help in spreading awareness about the indigenous cultures. (Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

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Bank of Baroda forex scam: CBI conducts searches at 10 locations New Delhi, Mar. 6 : The Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted searches at ten locations in the office, residential premises of certain persons at Delhi and other places in an on-going investigation of a case relating to alleged violation of banking norms in overseas remittance of foreign exchange.It was found during investigation that around 8500 foreign remittances transactions were made from approximately 59 Bank Accounts of various firms, companies against import of goods and software from Hong Kong and Dubai. The investigation revealed further involvement of around 11 private persons.

During searches, cash of approximately Rs.40 lakh, rubber Stamps of about 44 different companies, 15 PAN Cards and various incriminating documents including pen-drives & hard discs connected to the case were recovered.In addition, foreign currencies of China, US, Europe, UAE, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka were also found during searches. The documents recovered are being scrutinized.A case was registered by CBI on 9 October last year against 59 current account holders and unknown bank officials and private persons on a complaint from Bank of Baroda.

It was alleged that 59 cur-

Will reward Rs. 10 Lakh for killing corrupt officials: Pappu Yadav

Pappu Yadav Darbhanga, Mar. 6 : Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadavhas stirred a controversy, asking the Dalits and people from the backward community to pick up arms for fighting atrocities and shoot the corrupt officials.Yadav brazenly stated that he would reward those who beat the corrupt officials to death in public.

"If the government is not taking action against bureaucrats and ministers who are looting the poor then the Dalits should shoot the politicians responsible for deaths like that of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. The Dalits should fight against all those who are

responsible for Vemula's death," Yadav said."Those who bring the tapes of corrupt officials would be rewarded Rs. 25,000 and those who beat them to death in public would be awarded Rs. 10 lakh from my side," he added.

The Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) leader had earlier during a discussion on the Aircel-Maxis deal in Parliament demanded that corrupt politicians and bureaucrats should be hanged as punishment for indulging in corruption.His comment -- that all politicians are corrupt - drew sharp reactions in the House, leading Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu to intervene. (ANI)

The election is closely being watched in Brussels as Slovakia is due to take over the European Union's rotating presidency from July, giving it a bigger role in the EU policy discussions over the bloc's migration crisis.

Fico had pledged not to accept the EU-agreed quotas on relocating refugees, who have flooded into Greece and Italy from Syria and

rent account holders and unknown bank officials conspired to send overseas remittances, mostly to Hong Kong, of Foreign Exchange worth approximately Rs.6000/crore in an illegal & irregular manner in viola-

tion of established banking norms under the garb of payments towards suspected non-existent imports.Searches were conducted at around 53 locations including Bank of Baroda, Ashok Vihar Branch, Delhi; various

CBI had arrested then Assistant General Manager and another officer (Foreign Exchange), both working in the Bank of Baroda, Ashok Vihar Branch, New Delhi in October last year for their alleged involvement in facilitating the foreign remittances by violating the laid down procedures of Bank of Baroda and thereby facilitating the accused persons in money laundering.A chargesheet was filed against said two then officers of Bank of Baroda during December 2015.Further investigation is continuing with reference to the role of other accused persons including bank officials as well as alleged 59 account holders and private persons. (ANI)

Gujarat terror threat: Four NSG teams deployed, combing ops underway Ahmedabad, Mar. 6 : Following intelligence

by Pakistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Nasir Khan Janjua to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval of terrorist infiltration into Gujarat, four National Security Guard (NSG) teams have been deployed across the state and are in standby."We got the input yesterday after which all the police across Gujarat was alerted. There are continuous combing operations and several check posts have been set up.

We are searching for suspects involved in different activities and every possible protective measure is being taken," Gujarat Director General of Police PC Thakur told the media here.He added that four NSG teams have been deployed in the team so far in which three squads are in Ahmedabad and one in Somnath.

Appealing to the people of Gujarat that they should not panic, Thakur assured that the security forces are ready to

counter the situation.Earlier, the Pakistan's NSA informed that these are fidayeen from the Lashkar-ETaiba and Jaish-e Muhammed cadres.The NSG teams are on standby and a high-level alert has been sounded across the state.

Important monuments and pilgrimage centres like Somnath temple, Dwarka Temple, Akashardham, power plants, defence, dams like Sardar Sarovar Dam

and security establishments have also been put on alert.The warning from Pakistan comes after five abandoned Pakistani boats found in the past three months in Kutch.An abandoned boat was found by a BSF patrolling team off Koteshwar coast in Kutch on Friday.Meanwhile, another suspicious boat has been found near Porbandar today and two foreign nationals have been arrested in the matter. (ANI)

'Anti-minority' gov. wants to shut down AMU: Congress

New Delhi, Mar. 6 : Accusing the 'anti-minority' BJP-led government of being on a mission to lockdown major hubs of learning across the country, the Congress on Sunday said that the ruling dispensation was trying to shut down the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as it was primarily a Muslim varsity."This government is anti-liberal, anti-progressive and anti-minority. So, therefore, what they are doing with AMU and what they did with JNU or what is happening inside the IIMC or what happened in FTII is a pattern and trend to beyond.Slovakia, which change the fundamental has a tiny Muslim minor- narrative of India which ity, has not seen any large will have to be opposed numbers of refugees pass strongly," Congress through its territory. leader Manish Tewari told ANI.Asserting that Fico's failure to form the the treatment meted out government could likely lead a group of centreright parties to form a broad but possibly unstable anti-Fico coalition, a repeat of the 2010 election.Fico's bet on immigration fears might Jaipur, Mar.6 : Pakistan's High Comhave brought votes to missioner to India, others.

Abdul Basit, has stressed that there According to reports, the far-right radical group of should be uninterrupted talks between the two central Slovak Governor Asian neighbours for Marian Kotleba won 8.2 peace and regional percent of the vote, stability.Basit was adnearly three times more dressing a function in than what the opinion Rajasthan's Jaipur city polls had predicted. when the statement was made, dawn quoted RaBoris Kollar, who headed dio Pakistan as a new anti-immigration reporting.Asserting that party of businessman, Kashmir was the root also surprisingly crossed cause of all issues bethe five percent threshold tween the two nations, to win seats. (ANI)

Slovak PM Fico wins election faces challenge to form govt.

Bratislava, Mar.6 : Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has won the country'sparliamentary election but faces a tough challenge to form the majority.Fico, a leftist leader took 28.7 percent of the vote on Saturday, far ahead of others but less than around 35 percent predicted in opinion surveys, results from 91 percent of voting districts showed.

Bank of Baroda forex scam

companies/firms and other accused persons.It was also alleged that the amount remitted in each transaction would be kept at less than USD 100,000. All the remittances were made to Hong Kong.The amount was remitted as advance for import and in most of the cases, the beneficiary was the same.

Most of the foreign exchange related transactions were carried out in newly opened current accounts wherein heavy cash receipts were observed but the branch did not generate Exceptional Transaction Report (ETR) and did not monitor the high value transactions.During course of investigation,

eral (Retd.) Shah said that they apprised Prime Minister Modi of the role AMU is playing in the country."The Prime Minister has assured us that he will look into our requests and we have faith that he will take positive actions," he added.

Congress sai 'Anti-minority' govt. wants to shut down AMU to AMU vice-chancellor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah by the Union Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani was not surprising, he added that the Bharatiya Janata Partyled government's agenda was to humiliate the people and try and shut down centres of learning.

However, the AMU vicechancellor, who led a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday over questions being raised on the varsity's minority status, expressed hope that the latter would take 'positive action' in the matter.Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Lieutenant Gen-

The opposition parties had earlier issued a joint statement, condemning the Central Government's questioning the minority status of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim Universities.The issue of restoration of minority character of AMU is at present pending with the Supreme Court but what has triggered off the protests is the Centre's recent decision to reverse the UPA regime's stand of supporting the university in the apex court on this issue. (ANI)

Abdul Basit calls for 'uninterrupted' talks between India, Pak Basit said that an environment of cooperation must persist for resolution of disputes.

The Foreign Secretarylevel talks between the two countries was supposed to take place last year but was deferred following a militant attack in the Pathankot air base in January this year.The Pakistani authorities cracked down on militant group Jaishe-Mohammed (JeM) following India's accusation that the group was

Abdul Basit calls for 'uninterrupted' talks between India, Pak responsible for the attacks.Soon after the Pathankot attack, Paki-

stan set up a six-member Special Investigation Team to follow up on the leads India had provided.Pakistan has assured India full cooperation in investigation the matter.Pakistan's adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, last week said that a team would visit India in the next few days to probe the Pathankot attack while expressing hope that the Foreign Secretary-level talks would be scheduled soon after. (ANI)

Govt. committed to double farmers' income by 2022: Rajnath

Rajnath Singh New Delhi, Mar. 6 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that the Centre is committed to double the income of all farmers by 2022, much ahead of time frame set by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking in his valedictory address on the concluding day of the international conference on Rule of Law for Supporting the 2030 Development Agenda, Sustain-

able Development Goals, Rajnath said that the Centre has adopted a zero tolerance policy against hunger and that India will successfully end hunger by 2030.The Home Minister also said that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge and top most priority for India.He said that the government is exploring new ways to empower women by providing equal opportunity in political, economic and public life. (ANI)

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that the Centre is committed to double the income of all farmers by 2022, much ahead of time frame set by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

Put Vijay Mallya behind bars: Manish Tewari New Delhi, Mar. 6 : Backing the petition filed by defunct Kingfisher Airlines seeking liquor baron Vijay Mallya's arrest, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Sunday said that the businessman should be put behind bars and that an audit should be conducted on his parliamentary records."Why don't they put Vijay Mallya behind bars just the way the Sahara chief was sent? He should be made to pay his dues and such people shouldn't be allowed to escape the rigours of law. After all, it is the public money which they have to pay back. There are hundreds of employees whose past wages Mallya has to pay," Tewari told ANI here.He also asserted that eventually there needs to be a strict 'zero tolerance policy' towards wilful evaders like Mallya.

Pointing a finger at similar people who have managed to 'wiggle their way into the Rajya Sabha',

Tewari added that their parliamentary records should be audited."Their parliamentary records should be audited and it should be put in the public space as to what they have contributed to Parliament during their long stays," he said.Earlier, the Karnataka High Court ordered issue of notice Mallya and his defunct Kingfisher Airlines and nine other respondents on a petition filed by bankers, including SBI, seeking his arrest and impounding of his passport for defaulting on loans.Thirteen bankers, including SBI approached the high court seeking arrest of Mallya and impounding of his passport along with two other pleas after they moved the DRT to take up their pleas on a priority basis.

Meanwhile, employees of defunct Kingfisher Airlines have written an angry letter to Mallya saying that he has "blood on his hands." (ANI)

PM Modi to address National Conference of Women Legislators New Delhi, Mar. 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday address the valedictory session of National Conference of Women Legislators here.The conference, hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra mahajan, is being attended by former President Pratibha Patil, Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Najma Heptullah and Maneka Gandhi, Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, among others.

President Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday pitched in for a revival of the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, aimed at giving 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

and state assemblies."How can there be empowerment of women without proper representation," he said.The President also lauded Prime Minister Modi for the "Beti bachao, beti padhao" initiative."The PM is giving more than an hour (to the inaugural function where he was not even scheduled to speak) without participating in it; that shows his total commitment," he said.

(ANI)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

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NEIGHBOURS

Pakistan should have adopted Punjabi as national language: Hafiz Saeed Lahore, Mar 6: Hafiz Saeed, chief of Jama'atud-Da'wah (JuD), a front group of banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has questioned Pakistan's decision to adopt Urdu as its national language in a country where majority of people speak Punjabi language.

Speaking to a group of his supporters in Lahore last night, Saeed said he felt the government did not adopt Punjabi in 1947 because the written text is in Gurmukhi language and that would have questioned the twonation theory on which Pakistan was created.

Saeed whose base is in South Punjab is pushing for a review of Urdu as the official language.

Saeed, who is based in Johar town near Lahore, is pushing for Punjabi to

Teesta deal to be finalized soon, hints Bangladesh Dhaka, Mar.6: India and Bangladesh will soon be signing the Teesta water-sharing treaty as the agreement has reached its final destination, said B a n g l a d e s h official."We are confident that it will be signed soon. The agreement is ready.

The ball is on India's court now," daily star quoted Gowher Rizvi, the international affairs adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as saying. Rizvi was addressing a panel discussion on the last day of the two-day Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue held here.

Drafted in 2010, the Teesta treaty was supposed to be signed between the two countries in September 2011. However, it was shelved in the last hour following protest from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. India shares cordial relationship with Bangladesh and both countries have been looking to book trade and security along the border with special emphasis in fighting human trafficking. The two neighbors signed the historic land boundary agreement last year to simplify their 4,000km border and to clarify the identities of 52,000 living in enclaves.

(Agencies)

China shuts down 28,000 illegal websites Beijing, Mar.6 : In a bid to curb online pornography and illegal publications, the Chinese Government has shut down 28,000 websites in 2015.The figures were announced by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications reviewing its achievements.The authorities would further focus inspections in areas around schools to uncover shops selling publications such as obscene comics, the office said. (Agencies)

be the main language of Pakistan. Punjabi is also the main language for the JuD and the LeT recruits and there are frequent anti urdu protests by the cadres of the Punjab based hardline groups whose demand is to make Punjabi the National language. Saeed also cited the fact that Punjabi is the main language of the Pakistan Army and that in itself is reason to review the language situation as a mark of respect to the armed forces.

Saeed mentioned that even though he personally is not a Punjabi speaker, the fact remains that Pakistan's larger interests are more important. He added that in these times where each region of Pakistan is getting restless, Punjabi is perhaps the only lan-

Hafiz Saeed guage which can ensure the unity of the nation.

There has been no word from Pakistan government after Saeed made the comments.

The creation of Pakistan was based on religion rather than their language and ethnicity. The twonation theory was the founding principle of the movement to create a

separate country for Muslims. Even after 68 years of its independence, Pakistan continues to have Urdu as its national languagebut it is losing its prominence as a large number of people continue to speak different languages in different provinces.Despite their official adoption of Urdu as their first language, some 44 per cent of

people in Pakistan speak Punjabi where as Pashto and Sindhi are spoken by an estimated 15 and 12 percent of its population.

Only 8 per cent of Pakistanis speak Urdu whereas 3.6 percent speaks Balochi. It should be recalled that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in last September directed the federal and provincial governments to adopt Urdu as official language in the country.

It questioned the use of English as a language which can't be understood by the public at large.In order to preserve

the Urdu language, the government of Pakistan has directed all schools to treat Urdu as a compulsory subject. People in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan region have often hit the streets protesting the government's decision to impose Urdu on them. They say that Urdu reflects a cultural imperialism by the Pakistan establishment. They allege there is a sinister plan by the Pakistan government to suppress their local languages and dialects including Punjabi.

(Agencies)

Saeed, who is based in Johar town near Lahore, is pushing for Punjabi to be the main language of Pakistan.

Myanmar police make US$30m drug seizure Yangon, Mar 6: Police in Myanmar seized more than US$30 million worth of heroin and methamphetamine, a senior investigator told media Sunday , a bust that highlights the country's continued role as a major global drugs manufacturer.

Myanmar sits at the heart of the "Golden Triangle", which also covers parts of Thailand and Laos, and has been a hotbed of narcotics production for decades despite repeated government vows to tackle the scourge."It's worth about 37 billion

kyats (US$30 million)," a senior police official of the anti-drugs squad in Naypyidaw told media on condition of anonymity. "This is the biggest seizure of 2016."

remote and violencescarred border regions despite political reforms that saw Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party win historic elections in November.

Asia."It's scary as drugs trafficking has been increasing and spreading around the country," the senior drugs investigator in Naypyidaw told media.

Police found a smorgasbord of narcotics in a container vehicle on an industrial zone in Mandalay including 82kg of methamphetamine, 24kg of heroin, 6.8 million stimulant tablets and 15kg of opium.

The official said the main suspect was still not apprehended.Myanmar has struggled to stem the tide of narcotics from its

The nation remains the world's second largest opium producer after Afghanistan while cartels increasingly churn out methamphetamine tablets. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has said methamphetamine dominates the global market for synthetic drugs and is expanding significantly in Southeast and East

Last July Myanmar has seized more than US$100 million worth stimulant tablets from a private container vehicle in northern Yangon.

Last month clashes broke out in remote northern Kachin state between local farmers and anti-drug vigilantes who were trying to destroy poppy fields. Both ethnic militias and the Myanmar military or its allies have tapped the lucrative multi-billion dollar trade to finance their long-running wars. (Agencies)

Us defies opposition from india, senators to notify f-16 pak deal

Pakistan will have to bear a whopping cost of $700 million for the eight F-16 fighter jets

Washington, Mar 6: Amid stiff opposition from India and top American lawmakers, the US government has formally published federal notification for the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan."This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia," said the notification, which was published by the federal register on Friday, along with a copy of the February 11 letter, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote to the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

The total cost of these F-

16s is estimated to be nearly $700 million, said the federal notification. It added that the Government of Pakistan had requested for this sale. India has opposed the sale of F-16 to Pakistan, saying it disagrees with Washington's rationale that such arms transfers helsp to combat terrorism.Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said, "In the last five years Pakistan air force has been saving US assistance to be able to finance these F-16s. That is why; the administration has recommended that these should be sold because it is a very critical part of our counter terrorism operation."

(Agencies)

Sri Lanka brings back war-time measures to fight gangs

Police in Myanmar seized more than US$30 million worth of heroin and methamphetamine, a senior investigator told media

Indian envoy takes on opposition over economy pact Colombo, Mar 6:India's High Commissioner Y K Sinha has taken on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Joint Opposition, an informal coalition of pro-Rajapaksa parties and groups, over the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) between India and Sri Lanka.

Referring to reported observations of the former President and members of the Joint Opposition against the ETCA, Mr. Sinha, who did not mention the name of any Sri Lankan leader opposing the pact, told members of the Sri Lanka-India Society on Friday that he was "surprised" to come across Mr. Rajapaksa's statements in sections of the local press on the issue.

It was Mr. Rajapaksa's government that held negotiations with India over the Comprehensive Economic Partnership

public space on this issue without anyone else trying to put the facts."

Emphasising that he had not seen any draft text of the ETCA, he said what he received "two days ago" was a draft text of the framework agreement, which might form the basis for further negotiations.

Indian envoy takes on opposition over economy pact Agreement (CEPA), which had included "trade in services. " He described as "quite amusing" the statements of members of the Joint Opposition, some of whom were Ministers during the Rajapaksa regime, when the CEPA, he said, was negotiated.

Sinha's response was in the context of views expressed in certain quarters that the proposed ETCA would deprive

job opportunities for Sri Lankans in a host of fields including information technology and the Free Trade Agreement, effective since March 2000, had not been beneficial to Sri Lanka.

Qualifying his rebuttal, the diplomat said "I hesitate to get into the political controversy" but he felt "constrained" to join the debate because "I do not think we should let naysayers take all the

He hastened to add that the draft framework agreement "is not necessarily an indication" of the nature and coverage of the discussions to be held in future.

Giving an account of the CEPA negotiations during 2005-2008 (when Mr. Rajapaksa was President), he said the CEPA, "which is [now] a dirty word here," was "almost concluded." Sixteen rounds of negotiations were held, many of which were "detailed."Even the two countries had "tentatively" agreed on a draft.

"At the last minute, the Government of Sri Lanka indicated its inability to sign that agreement," which was subsequently "shelved."

As part of the nowaborted agreement, under Mode 4 [of the General Agreement on Trade in Services] which pertained to "movement of natural persons," Sri Lanka had agreed to open up two sectors - marine ship building and information technology (IT)/ IT-Enabled Services, both of which were "very limited fields," while India would throw open nearly 80 sectors.

Even in the respect of the two fields of the services sector, it was sought to be done at the request of the government of Sri Lanka, which felt that India could help it immensely. "We do not know what the ETCA will do because serious negotiations have not begun," Mr. Sinha pointed out. (Agencies)

Over 100 Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan on 'Maha Shivratri Wagah Border, Mar 6 : Around 120 Hindu pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah from neighbouring India for a pilgrimage and to participate in the 'Maha Shivratri' festivities. Officials of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandak

Committee and Saddiqul Farooq, the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) which looks after the temples and gurdwaras across Pakistan, greeted the pilgrims at Wagah Border. Farooq said that the ETPB had ensured

security, transport, boarding and medical facilities to the visiting Hindus on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's special order.

Farooq said a special tour of old city of Lahore had been arranged for the visiting Hindus on their re-

quest. The pilgrims will stay at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore Fort, before they leave for the historic Katas Raj temple in Punjab province's Chakwal district, some 250 kilometres from Lahore, on Monday to take part in the festivities.

The pilgrims are scheduled to visit a cluster of temples during the era of Mahabharata, an ancient and revered Hindu epic, at Katasraj in Chakwal district of Pakistan to celebrate the festival of 'Maha Shivratri' on March 7. (Agencies)

At least three people have been shot dead and many more wounded in Colombo in the past week in what police said was gang-related violence.

Colombo, Mar 6: Road blocks and random vehicle checks return seven years after war ended in effort to combat surge in drug smuggling and serious crimeSri Lanka's police have re-introduced war-time road blocks and random checks on vehicles following a surge in gang-related shootings in the capital.

week.Another suspect on bail was shot dead at home while a woman was shot and wounded outside the main prison in Colombo Saturday after she visited her jailed husband. Gunasekera said 10 special units were also established to crack down on gang activity that had increased in recent weeks.

More than 100 police stations in Colombo and its suburbs have been asked to erect snap blocks, a common practice during the island's separatist war that ended nearly seven years ago, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. "The objective is to prevent serious crime and drug smuggling as well as to catch those committing serious crime," he said.

Sri Lankan authorities had dismantled road blocks and stopped vehicle checks after the end of the decades-long Tamil separatist war in May 2009.Even the permanent check points at key entry points to the city had been removed several years ago.

Gunasekera said there was a surge in drug smuggling and shootings that prompted the authorities to take extraordinary measures.At least three people were shot dead and many more wounded in Colombo in the past week in what police said was gang-related violence .Unidentified gunmen had opened fire on a prison bus and wounded a suspect who was being taken back to jail after a court hearing in the capital last

The new government which came to power in January last year removed the last remaining check point at the entrance to the former war zone as a sign of normality.

However, the new police measure brought back memories of war-time Colombo when freedom of movement was curtailed due to frequent stops for security checks.At least 100,000 people were killed in the 37-year separatist war which ended after a major offensive by the military.(Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

Reforming Government E-Governance through technology E-Governance has the potential to benefit India's citizens exponentially and maximise the return on the government's investment in it. But e-Governance is not just about improving delivery of services to citizens, businesses and government employees. It is also about blending Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with administrative reforms to make government more efficient, drive down costs and increase transparency in how government departments work. If implemented properly, it can be an asset for the un-served and under-served areas in India and help drive new levels of efficiency to government services in India.

Also for better implementation of e-governance, the Government will need to frame laws which will fully incorporate the established as will as emerging technology. Changing technology has changed many pre-established notions; similarly the technology is growing and changing rapidly. It is important, that the Government makes laws which incorporate the current technology and has enough space to incorporate the changing future technology. These IT laws need to be flexible to adjust with the rapidly changing technology. Currently India has only the IT Act, 2000 which is mainly an ECommerce legislation. India has also modified many laws to include electronic technology, however it is not sufficient to cover e-governance completely.

Overall technological awareness in current Judges is very low. The judiciary as a whole needs to be trained in new technology, its benefits and drawbacks and the various usages. The judiciary may alternatively appoint new judges with new judges and setup special Courts to deal with the matters relating to ICT. The Government can also setup special tribunals to deal with matters relating with ICT. Literacy percentage in India is too alarming. The whole world is moving towards e-governance, but India still lacks in the literacy department. The people need to be educated and made e-literate for e-governance to flourish. Government can only encourage people to go online if it can make people feel comfortable with e-governance.

This can be done through educating the people about the advantages of e-governance over physical governance. This can also be done through raising awareness of the leaders who can motivate the people to go online.

Clean energy could save hundreds of billions in health costs every year Global warming is often go to people living elseseen as a problem for fu- where and in future genture generations, but fo- erations. Understandably, cusing on the immediate this is not at the top of the and substantial health ben- agenda for most voters. efits of clean energy can But focusing on the immechange public perception diate health benefits of of climate change moving to cleaner energy In Paris late has the polast year, the Drew Shindell tential to countries of change the the world pledged to re- way people view climate duce emissions to keep change. In a study , we global warming "well be- found that slashing emislow a 2 degree Celsius" sions from transportation rise in global average tem- and power generation peratures compared with would prevent about preindustrial levels.

175,000 early deaths As an advanced economy, caused by air pollution in the US is expected to lead the US by 2030. We also in making the required concluded that the health emissions reductions, benefits would be valued which would be roughly at US$250 billion per year, 80 percent by midcentury likely more than the cost compared with 2005. This of changing the energy would entail moving a system. large portion of US power Air pollution generation off fossil fuels To explore this issue of and shifting the majority of public perception and cliour vehicles to electric mate change, we exampower. That's a tall order. ined the broad impacts of Most existing energy poli- highly ambitious US clean cies focus on the nearer energy and transportation term, and as yet there is policies that would be conno roadmap to achieve this sistent with the 2°C tar2°C limit - or even less get. aggressive targets for These policies provide cliemissions cuts in the next mate benefits, with US 15 years. vehicle emissions reducPart of the difficulty in tions leading to about turning our pledges into 0.03°C less global warmtangible actions is creating ing in 2030 (0.15°C in enough motivation to 2100) and energy emisdrive a wholesale transfor- sions leading to 0.05°mation of our energy and 0.07°C less warming transportation systems. (about 0.25°C in 2100).

Global climate change is Though seemingly modtypically perceived as a est, these are significant problem that's mostly in considering that they stem the distant future and from emissions cuts in worse in other parts of the only a single sector in a world, so is not prioritized single nation. The bulk of relative to whatever press- these benefits are indeed ing issues are dominating felt elsewhere and many current political dis- decades in the future. course.

However, the policies also In essence, many people greatly reduce damaging believe climate change air pollution at home, as mitigation policies require much of that comes from a change in our lifestyle vehicles, power plants and and paying costs now for industrial energy producbenefits that predominantly tion. And medical studies

If the US moved to electric vehicles, there would be a substantial cut in air pollution and health benefits to go with it /flickr)

show unequivocally that inhaled air pollution leads to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Just seven years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that poor air quality killed around three million per year, but we now know it is the leading environmental cause of premature death worldwide, claiming around eight million victims annually, with 3.7 million deaths from outdoor air pollution.

In our study, we found that clean energy policies in the US could prevent about 175,000 premature deaths by 2030, with about 22,000 fewer annually thereafter. Clean transportation could prevent about 120,000 premature deaths by 2030 and about 14,000 annually thereafter. Importantly, these benefits are realized almost immediately and largely within the US We then put a dollar value on these benefits based on economic analyses that reveal how much society

is willing to pay to decrease the risk of premature death, for example through occupational safety or health care.

These near-term national health benefits have a monetary value of about US$250 billion per year between now and 2030.

These benefits alone likely exceed the costs of the transition to clean power generation and transportation. Adding in the monetary value of the longerterm, worldwide climate impacts, such as damages to infrastructure, agriculture and human health, benefits roughly quintuple, becoming between five and 10 times larger than the estimated implementation costs.

Emissions from burning fossil fuels cause both climate change and air pollution, which is why the benefits are worth so much.

Climate pollutants lead to more smog in polluted areas, expanded ranges of tropical diseases, more intense storms and sea-level rise, among other dam-

ages. The WHO estimates the death toll due to climate change already exceeds 150,000 per year worldwide.

Air pollution is more deadly still. Even in a country like the US with relatively clean air, it kills about 130,000 annuallyand sends another roughly 330,000 to the hospital for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases or nonfatal heart attacks. The huge damages caused by emissions from fossil fuel burning mean that reducing our reliance on fossil fuels can have enormous benefits.

Cost to society By not including environmental impacts in the economy, we are leaving out the most efficient way to create incentives to decrease pollution. Instead, we are passing the bill on to society at large. We are effectively subsidizing an extremely profitable industry and, in doing so, are paying for it with our own ill health.

Our calculations are not the only ones finding such

large damages from socalled environmental externalities attributable to burning fossil fuels. The International Monetary Fund reported last year that fossil fuels were subsidized at a rate of about $10 million per minute worldwide, largely due to their unaccounted impacts on local pollution and global warming. Hence, the true costs of fossil fuels are far higher than their market prices.

Putting a dollar value on these impacts is crucial because even when thousands of deaths are involved, society undervalues chronic, widespread problems. Instead we typically focus on sudden, local events even if their impacts are much smaller.

For example, during the last 11 years, faulty General Motors ignition switches have been linked to about 20 deaths. This led to a recall of millions of vehicles, massive media attention and a congressional hearing. Yet air pollution from the vehicles GM produced during those same years caused about 40,000 deaths. There isn't as neat a line from cause to effect as there is with the ignition switches, so we fail to perceive the far greater damages, forgetting that many "routine" deaths from heart attacks and respiratory diseases are actually caused by air pollution.

Our work demonstrates that the benefits of clean energy and transportation policies in the US are so large that these policies are in our own national interest even without considering the effects of climate change over the long term.

Including the full picture, the benefits far outweigh the costs considering society as a whole. This article was originally published on The Conversation.

Suicide Rate Where there is a will…

One of the most tragic occurrences At least 15 suicides took place every hour in the country during last year, which saw over 1.31 lakh people ending their lives, with government data also noting that Maharashtra saw the highest number of such cases while Chennai heads the list among cities. Data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also said that as many as 69.7 per cent of those who committed suicide had an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh while one out of every six persons who took the extreme step last year was a housewife. According to PTI, Maharashtra saw 16,307 suicide cases in 2014 followed by Tamil Nadu (16,122) and West Bengal (14,310), the data said. The percentage break-up of the three states' share vis-a-vis the suicide tally stood at 12.4, 12.2 and 10.9, respectively.

Among the mega cities, which have a population of over 10 lakh, Chennai reported the highest number of suicides with 2,214 deaths followed by Bengaluru (1,906), Delhi (1,847), Mumbai (1,196) and Bhopal (1,064). The rate of suicide in cities was marginally higher at 12.8 per cent as compared to the all-India suicide rate of 10.6 per cent, the report added. It said that 'family problems' (other than that linked to marriage) contributed to 21.7 per cent of the suicides while illness related-issues were behind suicides in 18 per cent of the total cases reported last year. Data also shows that one out of every six suicide cases was a housewife and the overall male-to-female ratio for suicides during the 2014 was 68:32. The highest cases of suicide, 19.7 per cent, was seen among the selfemployed with housewives accounting for 15.3 per cent of the total, daily wagers 12 per cent, salaried persons 7.4 per cent, students 6.1 per cent and retired people 0.7 per cent. As many as 69.7 per cent of those who ended their life had an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh while 26.9 per cent had an annual income of between Rs 1 to Rs 5 lakh, the report said.

According to a report of WHO, 258,075 people committed suicide in India in 2012, with 99,977 women and 158,098 men taking their own lives.

India's suicide rate was 21.1 per 100,000 people, according to the report. The most suicide-prone countries were Guyana (44.2 per 100,000), followed

by North and South Korea (38.5 and 28.9 respectively). Next came Sri Lanka (28.8), Lithuania (28.2), Suriname (27.8), Mozambique (27.4), Nepal and Tanzania (24.9 each), Burundi (23.1), India (21.1) and South Sudan (19.8). More than 800,000 people die by suicide every year - around one person every 40 seconds, according to the report.

How one village policymakers and were changed the future of quite resigned to their fate thousands of being illiterates.

Henoukhong is just an hour's drive from "All we knew was farmManipur's Capital ing, looking after livestock Imphal but somewhere and running tiny businesses. in the educaNayanjyoti Bhuyan T h e r e was no tion development plan of the scope for our children's State, this village was future," says Dale Haokip, completely ignored. a 70-year- old farmer of Mind you, Henoukhong Hainoukhong. is not remote because the Asian Highway In a State fairly good on heading to Moreh on the the literacy index, Manipur-Myanmar bor- Hainoukhong stood out. der passes through here Successive governments and the village is close ignored their demands for to the district headquar- a school. Lack of formal education led to various ters of Chandel.

Henoukhong's villagers problems - unemploygave up on Government ment, a dysfunctional soadministrators and ciety, petty crime, etc.

Then luck smiled on Hainoukhong in 2011.

Reach-M, which had been working in the area for about two decades, saw both a challenge and an opportunity here. It decided to take the issue of a school to the community itself. It held a series of formal and informal meetings with village elders and the idea of a school was born.

Reach-M took a detailed proposal to ActionAid, Guwahati, which felt this to be an excellent opportunity to give access to education to a village that had slipped out of the development map.

"The community was so enthusiastic that after

our first meeting, they took it upon themselves to organise further meetings to discuss the starting of a school. By the time we visited them again, they had identified the community land and even put aside construction material," says Thongpao Haokip of Reach-M. The building was constructed in no time and a school management committee was set up.

Education volunteers were engaged by Reach-M and within a matter of months, years of deprivation ended.

By the end of 2012, the school building had suf-

ficient classrooms and volunteers/ teachers for classes up to lll.

This woke up a Government which had been in slumber all his while. Officials of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) visited the village, interacted with the community and realised what a success story it was. All because of the sheer will of a village that wanted a better future for its children. in 2013, SSA decided to adopt this school under its schemes and provided grants and facilities. In addition, it made detailed plans to expand educational infrastructure in such areas in close collaboration with the com-

An Exercise - CounterProductive

Symbol of BJP and AGP (Photo: goassam)

Sir, The reaction among the rank and file of the BJP and AGP was a foregone conclusion once any alliance between the two is finalized. Particularly in the wake of the finalization of the alliance between the two parties, the reaction among the grass-root workers became explosive.

The reaction among the BJP workers is more explosive - as manifested by the workers of sivasagar, Boko, Naharkatia, Bongaigaon along with some other constituencies as telecast through the electronic news channels. We understand that in absence of an alliance also with any political party BJP's position was already awkward there being fierce scramble for ticket seekers. The alliance proves like adding fuel to the fire. The most interesting point to note is that two constituencies won by the BJP namely Kamalpur and Patacharkuchi in the last

assembly polls are handed are over to AGP at the behest of the BJP President Amit Shah. Perhaps Amit Shah fails to read the writings on the walls, one who is reluctant to listen to the voice of the rank and file. The state BJP leadership, despite being aware of the situation ahead fails miserably to drive home the point that once the alliance is finalized with AGP the situation may turn for the worse. It is obvious, the leadership incurs displeasure with the grass-rootworkers. It is apprehended, in certain constituencies there is every possibility of contest by disgruntled BJP workers and if it happens the alliance with AGP may cost the party in ample measure.

The alliance being counterproductive.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

munity. It succeeded in convincing the Manipur Government of developing the area as an educational hub for the long term.

The incredible initiative taken at Heinoukhong helped not just one village but the whole region.

( Nayanjyoti Bhuyan is an independent journalist based in Guwahati.

His focus area is rural reporting, specially, on the rural poor and marginalized sections of the society. ) Courtesy: nezine

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, Dibrugarh786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

p O

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

ed

Book Review: Mother Where's My Country?

Journalist Anubha Bhonsle weaves together the life of Irom Sharmila and the passage of the infamous AFSPA to unravel the reality of Manipur, a state whose history is mired with blood, says Hoihnu Hauzel Book: Mother Where's My Country?

Author: Anubha Bhonsle Publisher: Speaking Tiger 256 pages Anubha Bhonsle aptly describes the uneasy state of Manipur as one that's "neither at peace nor at war", a state where dark forces are driving the people beyond any tolerable limits of survival and existence. Spotlighting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the book, which was written over nine years, also brings alive the story of Irom Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since 2000, when she was 28.

While Bhonsle gives readers a never-heard-before account from the life of Sharmila, today hailed as the Iron Lady of Manipur, and her unwavering protest for the removal of AFSPA, she also chronicles the arrival of the act and the dangers it brought with it. Perhaps what's not really discussed is the bigger danger if AFSPA is lifted without proper solution.

Would it embolden the already bold and fearless underground outfits who take it upon themselves to rule?

While beautifully weaving to-

That corruption is rampant in the state is no news. And people who lived a life at the cusp of desperation would have paid a bribe of a few lakhs to get a police post, says Bhonsle.

But if truth be told, it is not just for police jobs. Every government job is up for sale at a price, and the beneficiary politicians are busy building castles of brick and sand in the many metro cities of India. Once on the job, the new recruits are in a frantic rush to make their money any which way. The vicious circle of corruption will not end easily.

gether Sharmila's life and the situation that led to the imposition of AFSPA, journalist Bhonsle methodically chronicles and unravels the stark reality of Manipur - how the otherwise beautiful landscape is now overshadowed by powerful and dangerous jumble of "fraction-ridden underground outfits that are fighting the state and, often targeting civilian citizens either with guns or demand notes".

The narration is detailed and presents a sense of reality and history of Manipur. Nothing seems right in this once princely state ruled by a king.

Not even the manner in which it was merged with the rest of the country. And what happens when the youth are driven out of their home state and forced to venture out - true not just of Manipur, but the entire northeast region. They are never quite at home, misfits in their own country and singled out in a modern, intolerant India for their physical appearance.

Bhonsle documents the gruesome acts of security personnel and the many incidents of rape and torture. But she also brings to the fore the story of thejawans, many of whom die wretched deaths in ambushes.

The history of the state is mired with blood. The ethnic fights that once scarred the land have not yet been fully rel-

A glimpse of what happens to some Assam Rifles personnel after their stints in the region is interesting. They return as wealthy men and their wives are happy with their collection of sparkling Burmese rubies.

"The government had excused itself from the business of governance", the author writes.

Even the people have begun to meekly accept anything and everything as normal. How else can one explain the fact that the people of Manipur are used to living with "just four hours of electricity" in a day, in this time and age.

Cover page of Mother Where's My Country?

Phpto: senthilkumar egated to the background. The dynamics of war and enmity

among the people are continually changing.

Is whales 'committing suicide' a natural process or a man-made phenomenon?

With so many whales Environmental activists getting washed ashore, now suggest that human Jayadev Calamur tries to impact of pollution, shipunderstand whether ping noise and, in some whales 'committing sui- cases, military sonar have cide' is a natural process led to a rise in the freor a man-made phenom- quency and severity of enon beaching events. ScienNational Geographic re- tists say the mammals port in November 2015 may beach themselves said that for a numscientists Jayadev Calamur ber of discovered reasons, 337 dead whales in south- including illness, old age ern Chile's Patagonia - and drowning when high the biggest single whale tide blocks a whale's stranding event known to blowhole (through which science. they breathe).

"Because of the remote- In an interview with Sciness of the area and the entific American, roughness of the seas, Darlene Ketten, a rescientists have not been search scholar from able to examine the Woods Hole Oceanowhales directly, but aerial graphic Institution in

netic field," she said.

Another reason for whales getting washed ashore is the military sonar, but Ketten says that while environment groups have published releases, there is no hard evidence that sonar plays a role.

Closer home, Dr P Santhanam of the Department of Marine Sciences at Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli says that whales beaching may be due to anomalies in the magnetic field. "Rough weather, water pollution (such as oil spills, eutrophication, algal blooms) and environmen-

A whale diving (Photo: best9.files.wordpress.)

and satellite photography identified 305 bodies and 32 skeletons in an area between the Gulf of Penas and Puerto Natales, toward the southern tip of the continent," the report said.

In the past few months, news of whales being washed ashore has been reported the world over.

There have been cases reported in various parts of India, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

The beaching of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals is not a new phenomenon. Beaching instances have been reported as far back as during the time of Aristotle.

Maine, US, said that statistically, only 50 per cent of all such cases worldwide have been determined.

"In some cases it is obvious, like a ship strike leaving an animal in poor condition. In the north-eastern United States, pneumonia is a common cause of stranding.

We see other diseases and trauma, such as shark attacks on whales or dolphins or attacks by members of the same species. Poisonous 'red tides' will also affect marine mammals. Some cases have been speculated to be related to anomalies in the mag-

tal toxins are other possible causes put forth by researchers. Heavy underwater activity like earthquakes or volcanoes can also disturb whales, resulting in their distress movement towards the coast," he explains.

vironmentalists have suggested that pollution, noise from shipping vessels and, in some cases, military sonar have led to a rise in whale stranding and the severity of such events.

"The use of man-made sonar may interfere with a whale's brain waves, causing the animal to lose its sense of direction and beach itself. Low wavelength sounds (of human origin) disrupt the whale's sonar, which also makes it difficult for them to navigate and can result in their ending up on the beach. Man-made conditions like a ship causing injury to whales or its wreckage or pollutants like sewage, industrial waste and oil spills have also been found to be a reason. Rising noise pollution in the sea is also a possible reason that causes distress movement. And the presence of plastic in the sea could choke the mammals," Dr Santhanam explains.

How it affects the ecosystem When a whale dies, its body drops down to the ocean floor and is a great food source to all sea creatures in the lower depths of the ocean.

Whale faeces too serve an important purpose in the ecosystem. The nutrients contained within the faeces help stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, which are organisms that take in carbon from the air and supply oxygen, providing a cleaner, healthier atmosphere for all plant and animal life to breathe in.

Dr Santhanam says that as much as 400,000 tonnes of carbon is extracted from the air due to these whales each year. In addition to feeding carbon-fighting phytoplankton, the fact that whale faeces stimulates the growth of phytoplankton means that it also helps feed other species feeding on phytoplankton Man-made problems for their survival.

Marine biologists and en- Courtesy:dnaindia Santhanam also adds that whales naturally move against the waves. So during ebbing, when the water recedes from the shore into the ocean, whales may get caught in a situation when there is no water left to swim in, resulting in getting beached along the coast.

What's even more darkening is the unspoken nexus between outfits and politicians. This dangerous symbiosis is the root cause of why there will never be peace. Courtesy:dnaindia

Page 9

New study reveals how underemployment affects your future career prospects The study offers compelling evidence that taking a job below one's skill level is quite penalising, regardless of one's gender.

Many studies have highlighted that underemployed people experience lower objective career success and lower subjective career success, but little is known about the lasting effects of taking a job below one's skill level.

To make ends meet in the short term, many workers may accept part-time positions, seek work from temporary agencies or take jobs below their skill level, but a University of Texas study revealed that accepting a job as such can be severely penalising when applying for future employment because of the perception that someone who does this is less committed or less competent.

Researcher David Pedulla said that even though millions of workers are employed in part-time positions, through temporary agencies and at jobs below their skill level, less attention has been paid to how these types of employment situations influence workers' future hiring outcomes.

Pedulla submitted 2,420 fictitious applications for 1,210

Image for representational purpose (Photo: static.dnaindia.) real job openings in five cities across the United States and tracked employers' responses to each application. All applicant information was held constant, including six years of prior work experience, except for gender and applicants' employment situation during the previous year. Job histories involved full-time work, part-time work, a temporary help agency position, a job below the applicant's skill level ("skills underutilisation"), or unemployment.

The study found that about 5% of men and women working below their skill level received a "callback" or positive employer response; about half the callback rate for workers in full-time jobs

at their skill level. Similarly, less than 5 %of men working part-time received callbacks.

However, part-time employment had no negative effect for women, and temporary agency employment had little effect for either gender.

The study offers compelling evidence that taking a job below one's skill level is quite penalising, regardless of one's gender. Additionally, part-time work severely hurts the job prospects of men, Pedulla noted, adding that these findings raise important additional questions about why employers are less likely to hire workers with these employment histories.

The study appears online in the American Sociological Review. Courtesy: dnaindia

Here's how to make sure your Facebook and Google accounts get deleted after you die Follow a few simple steps to make your Facebook and Google account get deleted after you're dead.

Deleting your online account from beyond the grave can be hard, you're going to have to posses someone's body, then get to a computer and god forbid the Internet connection is out. Well thankfully there are easier ways to get your online accounts deleted after you die‌ well some accounts anyway.

Facebook On Facebook you can delete your account after you die or set a legacy contact: Someone who can manage your account when you die.

Set it up: To set up a legacy contact, In Facebook go to Settings > Security > Legacy Contact and then choose a friend or family

things convenient is that all accounts associated with your Google account like YouTube, Gmail, Blogger and AdSense will also get axed.

Image for representational purpose (Photo: bbj.hu/images) member's Facebook account.

To delete your account after you die, In Facebook go to Settings > Security > Legacy Contact, then make sure you check the 'Account Deletion' box and then click 'Delete After Death'. You will then have to enter your Facebook password (your account

will be deleted once Facebook is notified of your passing.)

Google Google has a neat tool called Inactive Account Manager that lets users decide what will happen to their Google account when it's been inactive for a certain predefined period of time. What makes

Set it up: you will see a "setup" button somewhere in the middle-left of the screen. You will need to provide Google with a working phone number for alerts and notifications. You will then have to choose a 'time out' period: 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months or 18 months (If you have been inactive for the selected period of time then Google will send you a message before you account gets timed out).

Next from 'Optionally delete account' turn on 'Delete my account'. Finally, click 'Enable' to turn on Inactive Account Manager. Courtesy:dnaindia

NASA Commander Scott Kelly lands on Earth after a year in space Astronaut Scott Kelly has landed safely in Kazakhstan at 11:26 p.m.

Eastern time (EST) in smooth weather after spending 340 days in space on the International space station.

Astronaut Scott Kelly has landed safely in Kazakhstan at 11:26 p.m.

Eastern time (EST) in smooth weather after spending 340 days in space on the International space station Flight engineer Sergey Volkov got off the shuttle first, followed by Commander Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko.

The purpose of Scott Kelly's year long journey on the ISS is so that NASA can study the long term effects that space has on a human body.

Commander Kelly will undergo a series of test like climbing a ladder and getting up from a seated position in order to determine how well he has adjusted to gravity.

Kelly and Kornienko have been aboard the space station for 340 days, about twice as long as previous crews. Their flight sets a record for the space station and for the longest U.S. space mission.

Throughout their nearly year-long stay in space, Kelly, 52, and Kornienko, 55, have been the subjects for dozens of medical experiments and science studies designed to learn more about how weightlessness and the high radiation environment of space impact the human body.

The research is intended to help the U.S. space agency and its partners develop plans for eventual human missions to Mars that will last at least two years.

Kelly, along with his identical twin brother Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut, also are participating in genetic studies,

Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA rests in a chair outside the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft just minutes after he and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 (AFP photo)

the first to assess if genetic changes take place during long spaceflights.

Kelly's 340-day mission eclipses the previous U.S. record-long spaceflight of 215 days set by former astronaut Michael LopezAlegria aboard the space station in 2007.

The world's longest missions were made by four Soviet-era cosmonauts aboard the now-defunct Mir space station, including a January 1994 to March 1995 flight span-

ning nearly 438 days by record holder Valeri Polyakov, a physician.

The International Space Station, a joint project of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, followed Mir and has been permanently staffed by rotating crews since 2000.

About the size of a fivebedroom house, the $100 billion station flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth (With Reuters inputs). Courtesy:DNA

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

BUSINESS

Price hike in Hyundai, Honda and Mahindra

Nabard may price tax-free bond at 7.29-7.64%

Mumbai, Mar 6: Major car makers Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda increased prices of their cars by up to Rs. 82,906, following introduction of new levies in the Union Budget.

Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India has already hiked product prices in the range of between Rs. 1,441 and Rs. 34,494.

Mercedes-Benz will become costlier by up to five lakh and passenger vehicles from Tata Motors will cost up to Rs.35,000 more. Hyundai Motor India said the increase, effective from March 1, will be between

Rs.2,889 and Rs.82,906 depending on the model.

Its Senior Vice President (Sales and Marketing) Rakesh Srivastava said: "The change in price value equations could alter the overall demand, from with-in the segment to across the segments and fuel types." While the price of base variants of Eon will to up by Rs.2,889, i10 will be costlier by Rs.3,848; Grand

by Rs.4,286; Xcent by Rs.4,726; Elite i20 by Rs.4,886; Active i20 by Rs. 5,857; Verna by Rs.5,677; Creta by Rs.27,192; Elantra by Rs. 45,044 and Santa Fe by Rs.82,906. Likewise, Honda

Squadrun to enlarge global footprint

Luxembourg seeks venture opportunities in India

New Delhi, Mar 6: Squadrun, a Delhi-based crowd-sourcing start-up that helps users get additional income by performing back office tasks on their mobiles, is planning to raise between $3 million and $5 million to upgrade technology and fund its expansion to markets such as the U.S. and Canada. The company, which outsources work such as data curation and catalogue quality check to freelancers through its mobile application on behalf of consumer-focused Internet and technology firms, is currently backed by investors including Slide Share, Zomato, Topper and Google's Rajan Anandan.

Once a user downloads the application, they get a few 'qualifier missions' to identify the type of task they are capable of performing. "There is a matching algorithm that understands what the task is and gives it to the right user. Once the task is done, there are certain quality checks. Our output is usually over 98 per cent accurate," Apurv Agarwal, founder, Squadrun, told The Hindu. The user-base comprises mainly housewives, college students and employees earning up to Rs.22,000 a month. Some tasks are also performed by young professionals who have free time. Squadrun has a 45,000-strong mobile workforce of which 4,200 are active users performing at least one task a day. These users take up around 4,00,000 units of work, wherein one picture being categorised or a call being made makes for a unit. The company makes sure that its users earn Rs.150 an hour on an average, Mr. Agarwal said. The exact remuneration depends on the complexity of the task being performed.

"For example, at Snapdeal, the sellers upload about a million products in a day. Each product needs to go through 12 different data operations before it goes live, and many more even after it goes live such as correct image, correct description, open tags that helps in search, correct categories, etc. These are the kind of tasks Squadrun users can help the company with. The users, in turn, can get additional income," he said.

Squadrun, which generates about Rs 10 lakh monthly revenue, helping it break even, is looking at expanding business to other markets such as Canada and the U.S. and is looking to raise $3-5 million in the next month or so," he said. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Mar 6: Luxembourg said it is looking for investment avenues in India for its companies and invited domestic firms active in automobile, pharma and IT sectors to set up ventures in the European country. "We are here to learn more about opportunities for Luxembourg companies to invest in India, which has shown strong economic growth and even overtook China last year in economic growth," Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Etienne Schneider said.

He was speaking at the seminar on `Luxembourg: A prime Business Hub in Europe', organised by CII here. A small country with less than 5 lakh people and strong GDP, Luxembourg is

HIGH JUMP IN PRICES

Hyundai Motor India said the increase, effective from March 1, will be between Rs.2,889 and Rs.82,906 depending on the model

Image for representational purpose only(Photo: tipofindia)

Honda Cars India hiked the price of its entry-level car Brio in the range of Rs.4,000 to Rs.6,000, premium hatchback Jazz between Rs.5,000 and Rs.19,500 and mid-sized sedan City from Rs.24,600 to Rs.38,100.

Maruti Suzuki India has already hiked product prices in the range of between Rs. 1,441 and Rs. 34,494.

Mahindra & Mahindra announced an increase in prices of its passenger vehicles by Rs.5,500 to Rs.47,000, effective April 1.

Cars India hiked the price of its entry-level car Brio in the range of Rs.4,000 to Rs.6,000, premium hatchback Jazz between Rs.5,000 and Rs.19,500

and mid-sized sedan City from Rs.24,600 to Rs.38,100. Additionally, its multi-utility vehicle Mobilio will now cost Rs.21,800 to Rs.37,700 more. Utility

major Mahindra & Mahindra announced an increase in prices of its passenger vehicles by Rs.5,500 to Rs.47,000, effective April 1. (Agencies)

Major car makers Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda increased prices of their cars by up to Rs. 82,906.

Image for representational purpose only (Photo: static.dnaindia) strategically placed at the heart of Europe, making it a convenient logistic centre for companies. He congratulated the Modi Government for carrying out reforms which have boosted investment in infrastructure projects and created job

opportunities. Schneider invited Indian companies for setting up joint ventures in sectors like automobile, pharma and IT in his country. Luxembourg offers the investors friendly economy and lowest corporate tax.

Global depository receipts

of nearly 150 Indian companies are already traded on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, he said. During his visit to India, Schneider called on Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and discussed the proposed JV between state-run SAIL and ArcelorMittal, a multinational steel manufacturing firm headquartered in Luxembourg.

Schneider said Luxembourg steel industry had played a key role in his country's formative years and that some companies are leading players in the modern steel and green technology space. In last one decade, the country has diversified into sectors like financial, informa-

New Delhi, Mar 6: Nabard, which is in the process of launching its maiden tax-free bonds worth Rs 3,500 crore, is likely to set coupon rate for its 10 and 15-year issues at 7.29% and 7.64% respectively, for retail investors. For institutional investors, the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is offering rates of 7.04% and 7.35% for 10 and 15-year issues, according to sources.

The rural-focused development lender plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore this year, of which Rs 1,500 crore has already been

tion communication technology, space, satellite and logistics, he added. "If I had to draw a first conclusion from this week's visit, I can say with great confidence that I see a lot of potential for increased cooperation between Luxembourg and India," Schneider said. "We tend to see ourselves as bridge builders and I am keen to start building additional bridges between our countries and our people."

"The strong macro-economic environment and stable, predictable and transparent policy regime makes India an attractive destination for investors from Luxembourg," said Ashank Desai, CII Member (Western Region) at the meet. (Agencies)

Sebi to bring changes to pump-prime commodities market Mumbai, Mar 6: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) plans to bring about sweeping changes in the manner the commodity derivatives market functions in the country. The stock market regulator is planning to allow the launch of options contracts apart from allowing institutional entities like banks and foreign investors to trade in certain commodities to begin with.

The newly-formed commodity advisory committee is scheduled to meet to discuss these issues, which are part of the agenda structured by the capital market watchdog. Sebi whole-time member Rajeev Kumar Agarwal will head the meeting. According to sources, while Sebi wants to allow the launch of options contracts in commodities, it

wants to restrict such contracts to commodities that are traded significantly. The meeting comes a week after finance minister Arun Jaitley announced in the Budget that Sebi would work towards allowing new products in the commodity derivatives market. The regulator believes that banks should also be allowed to trade in the commodity market. Sebi feels that since banks deal in physical gold on a daily basis, they should be allowed to hedge their exposure in the derivatives market.

Banks could bring further depth in the segment that could lead to greater corporate hedging as well, according to the regulator. Since banks are primarily regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Sebi will take up the issue with the cen-

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Photo: static.dnaindia) tral bank. Sebi also wants mutual funds to be allowed in the commodity market.

"Sebi knows that mutual funds already have exchange-traded funds that invest in gold and so have direct exposure to the gold prices. Hence, Sebi feels that mutual funds should be allowed in specific com-

modities with specific regulation," said a person familiar with Sebi's view. Apart from banks and mutual funds, Sebi is in favour of allowing non-resident Indians (NRIs) to invest in commodity derivatives segment, but wants such entities to be initially restricted to non-agricultural com-

modities. Sebi is also concerned about the issues regarding spot polling on agricultural commodities and wants to enhance the transparency in the procedures before new products and entities are allowed to participate in the segment. Sebi is also mulling allowing pension funds and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) - a long standing demand of the industry - but wants to allow them with certain restrictions in the initial phase in non-agriculture contracts.

"Say, for taking exposure beyond the permissible limits, FPIs will have to prove their exposure in the underlying commodity," said a source requesting anonymity as a final decision has not yet been taken on the matter. (Agencies)

Ready-to-eat meals for passengers launched by Indian Railways New Delhi, Mar 6: With a view to giving passengers a wider range of options for their meals on trains, the railways has introduced "ready-to-eat" food items for them. While an e-catering service has been introduced on select trains and stations, passengers now also have the option of ordering pre-cooked food,

said a senior official. Guidelines on "ready-to-eat meals" have been issued to all zones wherein Mail/Express trains that have pantry cars have been asked to serve pre-cooked food as an 'add-on' option under the ala-carte category, he said.

While steps have been taken to ensure that good quality and hygienic food is

served to the passengers, there are provisions for imposition of penalties in case of deficiencies in service, he said.

North Western Railway, the nodal railway nominated to select reputed ready-to-eat companies, has empanelled four firms -- Gitwako Farms, BTW India, Gits Food Prod-

PAGE 10

ucts and Aryan Food Products to provide the precooked meals.

ready been empanelled as vendors/aggregators for providing good quality food to passengers.

The e-catering service is at present available on 1,350 trains that do not have pantry cars and at 45 stations across the country. Reputed players like KFC, Dominos, Haldiram, Bittoo Tikki Wala, Food Panda etc., have al-

A helpline number at 138 has also been started for passengers to lodge complaints or provide suggestions regarding the food and catering services, the official said. (Agencies)

fered to retail investors investing up to Rs 10 lakh and the balance Rs 1,400 crore will be mopped up from qualified institutional buyers, corporates and HNIs. Image for representational purpose only (Photo: jobsdrive)

mopped up through private placements to institutional investors. The balance Rs 3,500 crore will be mobilised through a public issue which will open for subscription on March 9. Around Rs 2,100 crore will be of-

The lead managers for the issue are SBI Capital Markets, ICICI Securities, Edelweiss Financial Services and AK Capital.

Nabard, which for the first time is raising funds through tax-free bonds, will be using the proceeds to finance irrigation projects. The interest paid on these bonds will on annual basis.

(Agencies)

New baggage limits likely to be insufficient Mumbai, Mar 6: The Baggage Rules 2016 raising the monetary value of items brought into the country by children from Rs.6,000 to Rs.17,500 (about $260) may not be enough even to buy toys from either the U.S. or Europe, as they risk crossing that limit. In the Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed replacing the current Baggage Rules, 1998 with an updated Baggage Rules, 2016. "The Customs Baggage Rules for international passengers are being simplified so as to increase the free baggage allowance. The filing of baggage declaration will be required only for those passengers who carry dutiable goods," Mr. Jaitley said in his Budget speech. The new rules increased the limit of the value of the items 'all passengers up to 10 years of age after a stay abroad of more than three days' can bring back into the country to Rs.17,500 from the earlier limit of Rs. 6,000. Similarly, the limit for adults was raised to Rs. 45,000 from Rs. 25,000. The Baggage Rules are a legacy of India's colonial past having been put in place by the British in 1939.

"These rules were brought about to mainly to control foreign exchange. The first foreign exchange control act was enacted by the British in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War. The British custom is that they make an act and it authorises the government

to make detailed rules to enforce it. The Baggage Rules were a consequence of this. They were aimed at stopping people from spending money abroad and selling foreign goods in India without paying the related duty," Former Finance Secretary Ashok Desai told . The rules should have been removed in the early 1990s when India removed its controls on foreign exchange, he said."This is to do with what is the level that a person can bring in without paying duty. And a person is permitted to bring in more after paying the duty," M.S. Mani, Senior Director, Deloitte India, said. "The baggage rules are not really implemented any more. But the rules themselves can only be removed if Customs Duty is removed as well," Mr. Desai said explaining that removing the baggage rules while the Customs Duty was in place would encourage people to carry foreign goods into India duty-free and sell them.

"The limits may be different but every country has them.

There can be a debate on what that limit should be but the rules themselves are important. Possibly there is a need to enhance the limits in India," Mr. Mani said.

Currently even four perfumes bought in the U.S. can add up to Rs. 1 lakh, thereby exceeding the limit and thus attracting Customs Duty. (Agencies)

i-exceed to raise $10 million for development Bengaluru, Mar 6: Bengaluru-based i-exceed Technology Solutions is planning to raise close to $10 million over the next four months to meet its future plans. S. Sundarajan, iexceed Technology Solutions' Executive Director, said, "We have initiated talks with potential investors to raise $8 million to $10 million. At the most, it could be from one or two investors.

The fund will be used to ex-

pand our product and solution offerings. Over the last four years, we had raised $2.5 million." Appzillon, a mobile application development platform (MPAD), provides a comprehensive development and management environment for apps that can be accessed from smart phones, tablets and browsers. Over the last four years, i-exceed has been serving 25 overseas clients and five in India. (Agencies)

Tax allowances to aid start-ups mobilise capital New Delhi, Mar 6: To help start-ups mobilise capital at affordable rates during the initial stages, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) will soon take up with the Finance Ministry a proposal to grant Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption for those investing their capital gains in regulated/notified Venture Capital (VC) and angel funds.

The budget had proposed CGT exemption

TAX EXEMPTION PROCESS To help start-ups mobilise capital at affordable rates during the initial stages, tax concessions have come over to help them.

DIPP will soon take up with the Finance Ministry a proposal to grant CGT exemption for those investing their capital gains in regulated/notified Venture Capital (VC) and angel funds.

The budget had proposed CGT exemption for persons investing their capital gains only in regulated / notified Fund-of-Funds (FOF).

FOFs, as per the DIPP's Start-up Action Plan, are professionally managed funds that will not invest directly in start-ups, but contribute to the capital of VCs registered with capital markets regulator SEBI.

for persons investing their capital gains only in regulated / notified Fund-of-Funds (FOF).

FOFs, as per the DIPP's Start-up Action Plan, are professionally managed funds that will not invest directly in start-ups, but contribute to the capital of VCs registered with capital markets regulator SEBI. These VCs, in turn, provide the needed early stage funding for startups. CGT is the tax-onprofit made by a person

through sale of a capital asset (such as an investment or real-estate).

Official sources told that according to the Finance Ministry, the FOFs that would be notified for the purpose of CGT exemption would only be those either recognised or owned by the government, including the Small Industries Development Bank of India's FOF and the CANBANK VC fundsmanaged 'Electronic

Development Fund', that is supervised by the Electronics & IT Department to push the 'Digital India' initiative.

The sources added that the Finance Ministry did not want VCs and angel funds to also be notified (as funds in which persons can reinvest their capital gains to avail CGT exemption), saying this could lead to misuse through 'Related Party Transactions' (RPT).

RPTs are transactions such as sale / lease of property between the company and its related parties, including directors, key managerial personnel or their relatives.

The sources said that DIPP would hold a meeting with the Finance Ministry to take up the issue of allowing SEBI-registered VCs and angel funds to also be 'notified' for the purpose of CGT exemption. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

Features

PAGE 11

ENVIRONMENT Amazing Hoolock Gibbons Alligators act as protector of NorthEast India of breeding birds' nests The biodiversity in states in North East India can be quite enthralling for nature lovers and scientists alike. From a wide range of birds to primates and predatory mammals and reptiles, these states have plenty of attractions for Arnab those into wildlife. While the one horn Rhinos of Assam and wild elephants are prime attractions in this region, the Hoolock Gibbons species are no less enticing and important.

The only primate of India: Hoolock Gibbons While there are many species of primates all over India, the only ape species found in the country are the Hoolock gibbons. They are categorized into two sections- western and eastern Hoolock Gibbons.

These gibbons choose tropical evergreen rain forests and semi-evergreen forests as natural habitats.

Nuances of Hoolock Gibbons These apes are found in natural habitats only in Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh though the neighboring states also have scattered population. The eastern Hoolock Gibbons is found mostly in districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sadiya subdivision of Assam. Western Hoolock Gibbon is seen in nearly all states in north East India.

Similar to other apes,

Hoolock Gibbons have long arms and these are way longer than their legs. They lack any tail.

The adult male gibbons have a blackish coat and the area around eyes have white tuft. Female Hoolock GibGhosh bons have a tan brown coat.

The animals are also known for their loud emotive calls. Grown up Gibbons can be up to 90 cm long and average

ally pluck those fruits using their legs. Their existence is also important for forest ecology preservation.

Loss of habitat Since the Apes prefer staying in trees most of the time and do not use land unless absolutely necessary, their habitats have become narrower over the years. Factors like cutting of forests for urbanization, setting up of rail routes, roads and industry in north

north east Indian states has prompted the governments and wildlife entities to adopt protective measures. These include: *The Government of Assam made Hoollongapar Reserve Forest in Jorhat upgraded to Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary-making the regional protected area for conservation of the apes. *WWF India is committed to take endeavors to conserve animal species in

Hoolock gibbons, the only ape species found in India (Photo: walkthewilderness)

weight is 9 kg. Their average lifespan in the wild is about 25 years or so.

The gibbons tend to be quite monogamous.

The gibbons depend on their elongated arms for switch movement across tree branches. They can move and jump really fast. The apes hardly come on the ground.

Hoolock Gibbons are herbivorous and they like gorging on various fruits in their habitats. However, they also eat leaves, flowers and stems of selected plants at times. They usu-

eastern India have threatened their natural habitat.

The number of Hoolock Gibbons, as a result, has steadily declined over the last few decades. Rampant poaching has also contributed to diminishing population of these apes. The western Hoolock has been enlisted as endangered species in IUCN Redlist and the eastern variant is considered Vulnerable.

Conservation efforts for Hoolock Gibbons The declining population of Hoolock Gibbons in

North East India including the Gibbons. * A NGO based in the North East, ENVIRON has launched an education program, to ensure better conservation of Hoolock Gibbons in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. This project has support from US Fish and Wildlife Service. * In several zoos of North East India, captive breeding of these apes is underway to help boost their population. Courtesy: Nelive.

Dropped chicks may also provide source of food for alligators in Everglades Breeding birds that nest above alligators for protection from mammalian predators may also provide a source of food for the alligators living in the Everglades, Florida, according to a study published in the openaccess journalPLOS ONE by Lucas Nell from the University of Florida and colleagues.

For many bird species, nest predation is the greatest threat to raising chicks. Long-legged wading birds, like herons, egrets, ibises, storks, and spoonbills may choose nesting sites above resident American alligators, likely to take advantage of protection from nest predators such as raccoons and opossums. While the benefits to the bird species of having alligators nearby are well-documented, few studies have explored the effect on the protector, the alligator.

Specifically, some previous research has shown that wading bird nesting colonies could provide substantial food for alligators in the form of dropped chicks, which are chicks ejected from the nest when a bird lays more eggs than they can raise. In this study, the

Discovery of stone tool-use behavior of chimpanzees Newly discovered stone tool-use behaviour and accumulation sites in wild chimpanzees reminiscent to human cairns Chimpanzees often use tools to extract or consume food. Which tools they choose for which purpose, however, can differ depending on the region where they live. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have thus initiated the 'Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee' and, since 2010, have collected data on chimpanzee behavior, demography and resource availability across Africa following a standardized protocol. This is how the researchers encountered a thus far unknown behavior: In West Africa chimpanzees throw stones at trees resulting in conspicuous accumulations at these sites. Why exactly the animals do this the researchers do not yet know, yet the behavior appears to have some cultural elements.

Chimpanzees have been studied for almost 60 years at a few long-term field sites, which are mainly located in East and West Africa. They are proficient tool-users, using sticks to fish for termites, to dip for ants, to extract honey, and even using stone or wooden hammers to crack open nuts. Outside the foraging context male chimpanzees sometimes throw branches and stones during displays,

or leaf-clip to solicit sex from females. This research has therefore been fundamental for providing insights into natural chimpanzee behavior and most importantly into the differences between populations.

However, at the same time it has also become clear that chimpanzee behavior observed at such a small number of sites is unlikely to be

chimpanzee behavior, demography and resource availability have been collected since 2010 at 39 different temporary research sites across Africa. "The PanAf project represents a new approach to studying chimpanzees and will provide many interesting insights into chimpanzee demography and social structure, genetics, behavior and

of non-invasive sampling methods, including remote camera traps.

After discovering conspicuous piles of stones next to trees at four research sites in West Africa, the field teams placed camera traps next to them. For instance, at the site of the Chimbo Foundation in Guinea Bissau some impressive videos were recorded which

Chimpanzee using stone to extract or consume food (Photo: dailymail) representative of other chimpanzee populations.

In an effort to overcome this limitation, researchers of the Department of Primatology at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have initiated the 'Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee' (PanAf) to better understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of behavioral diversification in chimpanzees.

Following a unique standardized protocol, data on

culture," says Hjalmar Kuehl of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research.

"The Pan Af is only possible due to the numerous collaborations with chimpanzee researchers, field workers and national wildlife authorities in 14 countries across Africa." Since chimpanzees were not habituated to human presence at these sites, the researchers rely on a wide spectrum

confirmed the researchers' suspicion that chimpanzees were responsible for these stone piles and were regularly visiting these trees.

"The PanAf cameras filmed individual chimpanzees picking up stones from beside, or inside trees, and then throwing them at these trees while emitting a longdistance pant hoot vocalization," says Ammie Kalan of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Importantly, the behavior results in accumulations

of rocks at these locations.

Whereas it is mainly the adult males practicing this behavior in the context of ritualized displays, some camera traps also revealed females or juveniles doing it. The behavior has only been observed in West Africa and appears to be independent of any foraging context, in which the majority of tool-use behaviors were previously described in chimpanzees.

"This study reports a new chimpanzee behavior not known previously and highlights the potential of the PanAf project to uncover unknown facets of the life of chimpanzees, our closest living relative," says Christophe Boesch, director of the Department of Primatology at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. "As the stone accumulation behavior does not seem to be linked to either the abundance of stones or the availability of suitable trees in an area, it is likely that it has some cultural elements."

Chimpanzees are often used as a model for the evolution of early hominins. Due to the conspicuous accumulations of stones associated with this newly discovered behavior, it raises questions regarding the interpretation of stone accumulation sites in archaeology. Intriguingly, the authors also suggest that this behavior could shed some light on the origin of ritual sites in hominin evolution.

Courtesy: sciencedaily.

Alligators protecting nests of breeding birds (Photo: images.hngn) authors compared the body condition of ~40 female alligators living with and without longlegged wading bird nesting colonies in similar habitat in the Everglades, Florida. To measure body condition, they took blood samples and measured the mass and length of the alligators.

The researchers found that the body condition of alligators found near wading bird nesting colonies was higher than those in similar habitat without active colonies, independent of a range of environmental variables.

The mean body condi-

tion based on size and shape for colony-associated alligators captured for the study ranked as the 63rd percentile, while that for noncolony females ranked as the 17th. The authors suggest that there appears to be a beneficial interaction between the alligators and nesting birds, where birds nest above alligators for protection, but chicks that fall from the nest may also provide a food source for the alligators.

The authors indicate that further studies are needed to analyze a wide variety of alligators living in a different habitats, but since nesting birds and crocodilians

co-occur in many tropical and subtropical wetlands, the results highlight a potentially widespread beneficial interaction between two ecologically important species groups.

Dr. Nell added, "Our study is the first to demonstrate a mutually beneficial relationship between nesting birds and a crocodilian: nesting wading birds provide nutrition for alligators that, by their mere presence, create predatorfree space for birds.

Crocodilians and nesting birds co-occur throughout the tropics, so these may be globally important ecological associations."

Courtesy: sciencedaily.

Threats to whales, dolphins reduced using new maps Seasonal movement and density can guide military, energy planning Scientists have created highly detailed maps charting the seasonal movements and population densities of 35 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises -- many of them threatened or endangered -- in the crowded waters of the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

"These maps show where each species, or closely related group of species, is most likely to be at any given time of year," said Laura Mannocci, a postdoctoral research associate at Duke University's Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory (MGEL). "This makes it easier to monitor and manage them, and reduce the risk of harmful interactions."

The maps, which are freely available online here, integrate data from nearly 1.1 million linear kilometers of surveys and more than 26,000 sightings collected by researchers at five institutions over 23 years.

"Though protected under U.S. law, many cetacean species still face persistent threats from accidental ship strikes, fishery bycatch, offshore energy development, pollution, climate change and underwater noise from human activities," said lead researcher Jason J. Roberts, a research associate at MGEL. "Our maps give government agencies and other interested parties better tools to help protect these highly mobile animals and guide future ocean planning, including decisions about the siting of wind energy and oil and gas exploration along our coasts," he said.

The work appears in the openaccess journal Scientific Reports on March 3. It is the first time such highly detailed maps charting cetacean populations densities and seasonal movements for these regions have been published in peer-reviewed literature.

By analyzing and modeling how survey data and sightings related to environmental conditions such as water temperature and ocean currents, the researchers were able to create maps that display estimates of species' population densities, region by region, on a monthly or year-round basis, and also track the seasonal movements of 11 species.

Among other insights, the newly developed models confirm the importance of the continental slope as a seasonal foraging habitat for pilot whales and other large delphinoids, and the importance of underwater canyons and seamounts as habitats for beaked and sperm whales, Mannocci said.

The maps also reveal high regional differences in population densities for harbor porpoises and small dolphins, and large seasonal shifts in the densities of migratory baleen whales.

Recent developments have created an urgent need for this type of information, said Patrick N. Halpin, associate professor of marine geospatial ecology at Duke and director of MGEL in Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has proposed opening a large portion of the Atlantic continental shelf to oil and natural gas development, as well as expanding oil and gas leasing in the

Gulf of Mexico, Halpin noted.

The U.S. Navy has begun working on an environmental impact statement to assess the impacts of future training it hopes to conduct in the western North Atlantic. And the National Marine Fisheries Service is re-evaluating the endangered status of regional populations of humpback whales and Bryde's whales in U.S. waters.

"Insights provided by these new maps can be very influential in shaping the outcomes of these decisions because population density estimates are used by U.S. government agencies to enforce the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act," Halpin said. The new models are already being used for regional ocean planning by the Northeast Regional Planning Body and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body.

The maps will be updated regularly as new survey data becomes available, he said.

Roberts, Mannocci and Halpin developed the new models with researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara; NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC); the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW); the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center (VAMSC); and other colleagues at Duke's MGEL. Data used to construct the new maps came from surveys conducted by researchers at NEFSC, SEFSC, UNCW, VAMSC and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Courtesy: sciencedaily.

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, MARCH 7

PAGE 12

India beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets to win 6th title PTI Mirpur, Mar 6: India clinched the Asia Cup trophy for a record sixth time after beating hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets, riding on Shikhar Dhawan’s scintillating 44-ball-60 in a rain-truncated final, here on Sunday.

While Sri Lanka have won the continental title five times and Pakistan twice, India’s title triumph makes them the ahead of their continental neighbours.

Chasing a target of 121 in a match reduced to 15-overs-a-side, Dhawan came good when it mattered the most as he hit nine fours and a six adding 94 runs with Virat Kohli (41 not out) with India winning with seven balls to spare.

In the last two overs, India required 19 runs. If the partisan 25,000 supporters harboured any hopes of a comeback, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20 not out in 6 balls) dashed it with a lethal six over deep mid-wicket off Al-Amin and another terrific blow over deep extra cover before finishing the match with another six.

There were no celebrations from the Indian team as the crowd were

left spellbound in disbelief.

pursuit of the total.

Al Amin struck in the second over when a delivery moved a shade as Rohit tried to slash it. Soumya Sarkar at first slip made no mistake.

The stand-out shot for Dhawan was a slog-sweep off Mortaza that was hit into the deep square leg stand.

As his skipper wanted from his openers in the earlier matches, Dhawan initially tried to play himself in with India reaching 19 in the first four overs.

Things changed from the fifth over, bowled by left-arrm seamer Abu Hider, playing his first match of the tournament. With Mushfiqur Rahim standing up due to his lack of pace and short thirdman stationed, Dhawan played late to collect two boundaries while Kohli was lucky when his lofted drive went beyond mid-off’s reach as he was standing up. In all, 14 runs came off that over.

With Powerplay overs ending, Mashrafe Mortaza got Shakib Al Hasan into action and the Dhawan-Kohli duo took 15 runs off that over. Kohli pulled one while Dhawan played a late cut and an imperious pull-shot as India were well on course in their

cover. Soumya clobbered him straight and also pulled him behind square.

However the seasoned Nehra altered the length in his last delivery which climbed onto the lefthanded Sarkar, who tried to pay across the line. Hardik Pandya standing at mid-off, ran a few steps to his left to take an easy catch.

After 10 overs, India were 71 for 1 and the match virtually ended in Shakib’s next over when Dhawan hit a conventional and a reverse sweep to dash Bangladesh’s hopes. Dhawan’s 50 came off 35 balls.

He was finally out caught at point by a diving Soumya Sarkar off Taskin Ahmed.

Earlier, Indian bowlers lost their way in the final overs after an impressive start as Bangladesh rode on Mahmudullah Riyadh’s fiery 13-ball 33 to post a competitive 120 for five after being put into bat.

The match was reduced to 15over-per side after a spell of thundershowers resulted in a two-hour delay to the start of the proceedings.

The turning point was the 13th over by Nehra (1/33) and more

Shikhar Dhawan with Virat Kohli importantly the 14th over bowled

by Hardik Pandya (1/35. 14 came off Nehra’s over while Pandya was taken for 21 in the penultimate over with Mahmudullah hitting him for a boundary and two huge sixes.

Jasprit Bumrah (1/13) was exceptional at the death while Ravichandran Ashwin (1/14) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/25) also bowled accurately.

But

Bud Cricket Club defeat Cricket Club of Dibrugarh (Blue) to emerge as champions Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar. 6: Bud Cricket Club, Guwahati defeated Cricket Club of Dibrugarh (Blue) by 7 wickets to emerge as champions of the 1st JKM Trophy of Excellence All-Assam Prize-Money Cricket Tournament which concluded successfully at Dibrugarh District Sports Association Stadium here today.

The tournament was organised

by Cricket Club of Dibrugarh.

In the final, played under a clear sky today, CCD (Blue) won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the team was bundled out for 81 in 26.1 overs. Jyotiraditya Chetia scored 16 off 24 balls with three boundaries and Mrinmoy Dutta contributed 14 off 14 balls, hitting two boundaries.

Kalyan Gogoi chipped in with 13 off 11 balls with two boundaries. For Bud, Rahul Singh was the wrecker-in-chief as he came back with a rich haul of six wickets for just 11 runs in 5.1 overs. He was also later adjudged as the final of the match for his sparkling performance. Assam Ranji skipper Gokul Sarma who turned out for Bud also claimed 2 for 15 in his 5 overs. In reply, Bud smoothly sailed to their target scoring 84 in just 15.1 overs and losing only 3 wickets.

Manoj Malo remained unbeaten on 29 off 42 balls, hitting four boundaries and one maximum. Mujibur Ali contributed 17 off 21 balls with two fours and Abhishek Thakuri scored 14 off 16 balls with two boundaries. Amit Sinha, Jitumoni Kalita and

In-form Sabbir Rahaman scored 32 off 29 balls but was more subdued than his usual self as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end until Mahmudullah took the attack back to the opposition camp.

Nehra and Bumrah like every

match, gave India vital breakthroughs in the five Powerplay overs, removing Soumya Sarkar (14) and Tamim Iqbal (13) respectively.

After Powerplay, Bangladesh’s scorecard read 30 for two.

For Nehra, getting Soumya out was a sweet revenge after he went for three boundaries in the particular over. Tamim had first lofted him for a boundary over extra

Mushfiqur Rahim (4) couldn’t properly drag his bat in while going for the second run as Dhoni quickly whipped off the bails off a Virat Kohli throw from the deep.

The crowd was stunned to silence in the next over when their big hope Tamim, who tried to play across the line, and was caught plumb in front of the wickets.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was caught by Kohli at deep midwicket boundary off the very next ball trying to hoick Jadeja leaving the home team in total disarray at 75/5.

Dhoni started the proceedings with Ashwin and brought him again after the end of Powerplay.

BRIEF SCORES

Shakib, promoted after the game was shortened, heaved Jadeja to the cow corner for his first boundary while Sabbir Rahaman played a reverse lap shot in the same over.

overs. (Mahmudullah 33 not out, Sabbir Rahman 32 not out, Shakib Al Hasan 21; Jasprit Bumrah 1/ 13, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/14, Ravindra Jadeja 1/25).

The 50 of the Bangladesh innings came in 7.3 overs. In the same over, Shakib pulled Pandya for a boundary and then played the lap shot through vacant fine leg region.

Bangladesh: 120 for 5 in 15

India: 122 for 2 in 13.5- overs.

(Shikhar Dhawan 60, Virat Kohli 41 not out, MS Dhoni 20 not out; Al-Amin 1/30, Taskin Ahmed 1/ 14).

Team Bordumsa clinches Women’s Day Football Tournament ET Correspondent Bordumsa Mar 6: The team Bordumsa Village clinched the Women’s Day Football Tournament played on knock out basis against the team Rajanagar by 1-0 which finally earned champion title dusting the rival team that equally put up its good show till the last significant minute.

Mrinmoy Dutta took one wicket each for CCD (Blue).

Roshan Basfore of Bud was adjudged as the man of the series award. Dipen Gogoi and Sanjoy Dutta Gupta were the two umpires which Kiron Gharphalia was the scorer.

Former India test opener and Orissa batsman Shiv Sundar Das was the chief guest during the prize distribution ceremony today. Das along with Jugal Kishore Mahanta, the main sponsor of the tournament handed over the glittering champion trophy along with prize money of Rs. 75,

Santosh Trophy: TN held by Goa goalless

A file photo PTI Nagpur, Mar 6: Tamil Nadu were held by Goa in a goalless draw in the league encounter while Punjab defeated Assam by 2-0 in another tie in the 70th Senior National Football Championship here today.

Though the match between Tamil Nadu and Goa was an up and down show but neither team could score in the 90 minute game.

Mahmudullah’s slam-bang approach fetched the hosts 42 runs in the last three overs.

The dangerous looking Shakib paid for his pre-determined sweep shot as he offered simple catch to Bumrah at short fine leg off Ashwin. Bangladesh were reduced to 64 for three.

Tamil Nadu had earlier routed Assam 3-0. It was their second fixture.

In another match, Punjab scored once in each half to blank Assam 2-0.

Punjab's Vijay Kumar scored the first goal in the 11th minute while Pawan Kumar Tiwari scored the second one in the 76th minute.

While Maharashtra is up against Services tomorrow, Jammu & Kashmir play Mizoram.

000/- to the winning team, while Pinaki Das handed over the runner up trophy and prize money to the runner up team.

Speaking on the occasion, the former India test opener expressed his gratitude towatds the organisers for inviting him to Dibrugarh. Congratulating both the finalists team of today’s match, Das also specially presided the Assam Ranji team which managed to reach the semi finals this season. “I am sure that we will soon see players from Assam figuring in the Indian team”, he said. Kamakhaya Saikia,

Working President, CCD (Blue) delivered the welcome speech while general secretary Tridiv Das anchored the meeting. Noted businessman of Dibrugarh town Md. Hafizur Rahman, President of DDSA Jamshed Khan, general secretary of DDSA M.N.Saikia, cardiologist Dr. Mriganka Chaliha and a host of other dignitaries were present during the prize distribution ceremony. Dr. Debajit Dutta, President of CCD expressed his gratitude to all concerned, particularly the sponsors for successful conclusion of the tournament.

Team Bordumsa Village which indeed had a tough time initially facing the team Rajanagar carried away the titleship finally by mere luck after Jara sibo of the winning team scored the decisive single amidst the battling players in the D box.

According to Roitop Singpho, the goalkeeper of the winner team, this year tournament is exceptional not because we won the titleship but because we vanquished team Rajanagar which every year carried away the championship title earlier, while the star of the tournament Jara added ‘ever confident

team Rajanagar scored nil and we proved our metal, we have snatched the crown and team Bordumsa Village has risen from the ashes of its earlier defeat’.

tractive for the on-lookers. The defeat of the runners-up team Rajanagar came like a thunder bolt to the football fans of Bordumsa as team Rajanagar has been known for its superb and It may be added here that excellent performance in the battle between the football earlier. two equally confident teams could naturally at- Meanwhile, according to

the Womens’ Day Celebration committee, prizes to the deserving teams and individuals would be given away on 8th next during the open session of the meeting slated on the occasion of the Women’s International Day at Singpho Cultural and Heritage center.

Lahiri moves up to seventh at World Golf Champs PTI Doral, Mar 6: Anirban Lahiri made another upward move in the third round but was still left dissatisfied as he dropped two shots in last six holes, leaving him at five-under 211 and in tied seventh place at the World Golf Championships here.

On a rather breezy day Lahiri was cruising as one of the better scorers at three-under through 12 and reached as high as fourth yesterday. But a bogey on 13th and another dropped shot on 17th saw him drop to tied seventh, but still two places higher than T-9 after the second round.

Rory McIlroy carded a bogey-free round, his first in 2016, to move into a three-shot lead ahead of the final round at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. At12-under, he was three clear of Adam Scott (73) and Dustin

Johnson (71).

Lahiri, winner of two European Tour titles in 2015, including his home open, the Hero Indian Open, which he defends in a fortnight's time, said, "Yeah, happy with the way I played today. (But) Obviously disappointed (too), left a few putts out there coming in. But all in all a good day. I think the course played its hardest today, so I'm happy with the way I played."

Lahiri added, "This is the third day in a row that we've had a different wind.

So honestly, I have no idea what to expect tomorrow in terms of the conditions.

Obviously the course is getting a lot firmer. I think at the end of the day, it's going to be about not making mistakes. If you don't drop a shot, there are plenty of opportunities for you to make birdie. I'm just hoping I can put a bogey-free round together

Anirban Lahiri (on Sunday)."

The Blue Monster golf course at Doral finally showed it teeth as the wind blew the hardest it has all week. Add to that tucked pin positions, and it meant only a third of the field of 63 left, broke par. Lahiri was one of them.

Talking about his current position, Lahiri said, "Like I said, I got it to 7 (under) and the last six holes, I didn't play my best. So I'm a little disappointed.

Thought I could have pushed harder to get to 8 or 9. But obviously tomorrow, (I am) still giving myself an outside chance, so hopefully I can go out there and play my best."

In windy conditions, Lahiri did not drive as accurately as the first two days and neither did he find as many greens in regulation, but scrambled very well to stay under par.

Playing with former Masters champion, Charl

Schwartzel, for the third day in a row, Lahiri opened with a birdie, but gave that shot away with a bogey on second, when he found himself in the left rough off the tee and again off his second shot and missed a 10-footer par putt. After three pars, he holed a 33-footer from the bunker for a superb birdie on sixth and added another birdie from seven feet on eighth to turn in two-under.

holes to pass the Australian after birdieing the first and fifth holes as Scott dropped a shot on the fourth.

An 11-foot birdie on 10th saw him reach three-under for the day and seven-under for the tournament, at which point he was sole fourth. He bogeyed the 13th, missed a birdie putt from inside eight feet on 16th before missing an even shorter par putt from just over five feet on 17th.

McIlroy, a four-time Major Champion, trailed Scott by two shots overnight but needed only five

Scott (73) dropped to nine under, and was joined in second by defending champion Johnson (71).

England s Danny Willett (72) shares fourth position with Americans Phil Mickelson (70) and Bubba Watson (71).

Spanish pair Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Sergio Garcia returned matching rounds of 67 to share seventh place on five under par, alongside Lahiri.

McIlroy, who has switched to a cross-handed putting grip, added further birdies on the eighth and tenth holes in a four under par round of 68 to move to 12 under par at Trump National Doral to give himself a chance of capturing his third WGC title.

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