December, 02 2016

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HOW THESE BEAUTIFUL NUNGSHIBA DOLLS HAVE BECOME A MEANS OF EMPOWERMENT FOR NAGA WOMEN

ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. II

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Assam Sahitya Sabha row

Paramananda Rajbonshi surrenders in Jorhat ET Correspondent Jorhat, 1 Dec: The scandalous drama of Assam Sahitya Sabha Chief Secretary Paramananda Rajbonshi concluded on Thursday evening, as he surrendered at Jorhat Police Station.Rajendra NathDutta, on his five- page long suicide note mentioned the names of Paramananda Rajbonshi and Biren Goshwami as the main cause behind his

suicide.

On the same day his wife Kunjalata Dutta filed an FIR against Paramananda Rajbonshi and Biren Goshwami, who is the current head assistant of Jorhat District Sahitya Sacha. A case had been registered against him c/ 2553/16 under IPC 306.Rajbonshi pleaded for bail but the sessions court of Jorhat denied his bail plea.

NSCN ( R ) Kingpin nabbed at Changlang

Issue 134

Dibrugarh, Friday, December 2, 2016

Judicious use of agriculture water helps farmers reap bounty in rural Karnataka

The two senior cadres have been the kingpins of commercial insurgency scavenging on the hard earned money of the locals in Tirap and Changlang Districts by unabated forceful and ruthless extortion. This breakthrough in addition to causing a major leadership upheaval in the outfit could severely dent the extortion nexus and bring relief to the harassed population in the two districts. SS Capt. Eli Ketok has charges pressed against him at Khonsa and Kanubari Police Stations. Both the cadres are being handed over to Changlang Police Station for Judicial custody.

These apprehensions have struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area. The operations have tightened the noose around these groups and have brought relief to the local population. Assam Rifles once again truly stood by their motto “Friends of the North East".

5.00

Pages- 12

How to Study for College

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Sonowal hails Naga-Assamese relationship Stresses for and Nagaland- Assam cooperation for regional development A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Dec 1

Acknowledging the age old ties between Naga and Assamese people as the common bond of harmony for the two states, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that both Nagaland and Assam must work hand in hand to usher in rapid development of Northeast region. While speaking at the inaugural function of Hornbill Festival here today Chief Minister Sonowal reiterated that Nagaland Government has done a commendable job in building Hornbill Festival as a perfect platform to encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland.

While attending the Festival as a Guest of Honour at the invitation of his Nagaland counterpart T.R.

ET Bureau Changlang, 1 Dec : Delivering a major blow to the NSCN (R) the Changlang Bn. of Assam Rifles under the aegis of DAO division apprehended the Area Commander, Khonsa district, SS Captain Eli Ketok along with one cadre SS 2nd Lt. Winjung Jugli of NSCN (R) and Rajapio Mr Junghap Jugli from Lunglong village today. Extortion plagued locals in Changlang and Tirap woke up to just another sunny day on 01 Dec oblivious of a life turning event witnessed the previous night as in the wee hours of the morning, security forces in Changlang acting on a specific input achieved a major breakthrough apprehending SS Capt Eli Ketok (Town Commander Khonsa), SS 2nd Lt Wingjun Jugli and an OGW from Lunglong Village in Changlang with two Pistols, three magazines and 18 live rounds along with an extortion register documenting their misdeeds.

Price -

Zeliang, Sonowal said that through Hornbill Festival Nagaland has opened its doors to the world providing the tourists with an opportunity to experience the food, songs, dances and customs of Nagaland. “The Festival has established Nagaland’s identity with rich cultural heritage and it offers a unique colourful experience to outside visitors”, Sonowal said.

While referring to the historic ties between Naga and Assamese people, Sonowal said that Prince Godapani who took shelter in Naga Hills while hiding himself from Lalukhula Burphukan, stayed for some time in some Ao Villages, proceeding to Phom and Konyak areas and married a Konyak girl named “Watlong”, popularly known as Dalimi in Assam. “During even the Burmese invasion of Assam, the Ao Nagas, true to their tradition stood solidly

HISTORIC TIES BETWEEN ASSAM & NAGALAND

“

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal received a warm welcome at the Hornbill Festival by the Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang.

by the side of the Ahoms and these incidents prove close relationship between the Assamese and Naga people.”

Sonowal said.

Saying that Assam and Nagaland share a common

goal towards people centric development Chief Minister Sonowal said that both states must work together for mutual growth in the true spirit of “Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash” and take full advantage of Prime Minister

Prince Godapani who took shelter in Naga Hills while hiding himself from Lalukhula Burphukan, stayed for some time in some Ao Villages, proceeding to Phom and Konyak areas and married a Konyak girl named “Watlong”, popularly known as Dalimi in Assam.

“During even the Burmese invasion of Assam, the Ao Nagas, true to their tradition stood solidly by the side of the Ahoms and these incidents prove close relationship between the Assamese and Naga people.

Modi’s Act East Policy to drive Northeast towards faster growth trajectory. “In order to tackle issues like illegal migration, life and security to the people of both the states resolving border issues both Nagaland and

Assam would have to give impetus to increased people to people contact and facilitate confidence building measures,” Sonowal added.

The Chief Minster also said that to initiate a process of increased cultural exchanges between two states as decided at the discussion held between him and his Naga counterpart at Kaziranga in October, a 28 member cultural troupe from Assam participated at the Festival to showcase Assam’s culture and tradition. “I am hopeful and confident that the cultural mosaic of Hornbill Festival will further boost our age-long ties and foster peaceful coexistence,” Sonowal said.

Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zelinag in his welcome address said that peace is prerequisite for development and close coordination between Northeastern states will lead to faster development of the region.

East Siang Unit of CoSAAP vouches for stringent punishment to Shil and Kaman Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Dec 1

Strongly condemning an attempt of tarnishing the image, reputation and giving mental harassment to one of its executive members, HK Roy, an IPR official under DC Office, Pasighat, by one Tapan Shil of Donyi Polo Studio, Pasighat and his associates Prafulla Kaman, correspondent of Arunachal Times, the Confederation of Service Association of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP), East Siang Unit has demanded for stringent punishment to the duos from Pasighat police this evening.

In a letter to OC, Pasighat PS this evening, President of East Siang Unit of CoSAAP, Takeng Samior vehemently condemned the act terming it a cowardice act. In his complaint letter to the police, Samior opined that "exposing a crime should be treated as committing a crime".

Expressing solidarity with Roy, he has appealed the Pasighat police to initiate stern action against those involved in this shameful act and to book them under appropriate law possible and made to face the law of the land. The President also appealed the police authority for safety of Roy in Pasighat and neighboring Assam.

While, Adi Baane Kebang Women Wing, East Siang Unit, President Yalem Taga Burang has expressed deep anguish and pain on the attack on Roy and urged the Pasighat police to arrest both Kaman and Shil immediately and also to ensure safety and security of Roy and his family members. And ABSU (E) President Lungang Ering has also lodged a complaint in the Pasighat police station and asked the police administration to nab Shil and Prafulla Kaman immediately.

Contd. on Page 3

Nagrota attack: My last call, he said. And it was Army jawan Chittaranjan Debbarma, from Khowai district of West Tripura, managed to make a last phone call to his family before dying in a gunfight with the terrorists who attacked the Army camp at Nagrota, Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday, his wife said.

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According to Namita Debbarma (32), the wife of the slain jawan, Chittranjan Debbarma (36) of 51 Engineering Regiment and six more Army personnel were killed during the eight-hour gun battle at the military camp near the Army's sensitive 16 Corps headquarters in

HE LAST CALL FROM A SOLDIER Army jawan Chittaranjan Debbarma of West Tripura, managed to make a last phone call to his family before dying in a gunfight, his wife said.

Debbarma and six other army personnel were killed in a gunfight with the terrorists who attacked the Army camp at Nagrota, Jammu & Kashmir.

Nagrota.

She told a local TV channel that Chittranjan had called her at around 7.45 am on Tuesday but a relative had picked up the phone as she was not there at the time. "Chittranjan told his relative they were in the midst of a militant attack and this was probably his last call to his family. He (the relative) clearly heard the sound of gunshots and grenade blasts over the phone but after a few minutes the mobile phone automatically got disconnected," Namita told the local TV channel.

Contd. on Page 3

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ET Bureau Agartala, 1 Dec

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

P2 Aries An electrifying attraction to someone you may have just met could cause your mind to dwell on sex and romance today, Aries. If you can, set up a romantic evening with a love partner. If this isn't possible, go to an emotional play or movie that moves you to tears. Movies may be of particular interest to you today, since you might be reading about how they're made.

Taurus Family members could be upset over different frustrating events in their lives, and these moods could spill over to you. Today it would be best to leave them alone to work things out in their own way. They aren't likely to respond to sympathy. Take this opportunity to tend to some of your concerns that you may have postponed. This way, the silence in the house can work for you.

Gemini Unguarded words on the part of a younger person might lead to upset. If the words are directed at you, don't take them seriously. The person doesn't know any better. If the words are directed at someone else, don't be tempted to lash out at the person who said them.

Cancer Profligate spending over the past week or two may have you feeling less confident about your money situation today, Cancer. Perhaps you've lent some money to a friend and you doubt their ability to repay.

Aspirants from 7 districts participate on first day of Army Recruitment Rally ET Bureau Aalo, 1 DEC : Hundreds of aspirants from seven districts of the state, representing Papum Pare, East Kameng, West Kameng, Tawang, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Upper Subansiri took part on the first day of the Army Recruitment Rally held at 1 Bihar Regiment Ground today.

The recruitment rally is being organized by Branch Recruiting Centre, Jorhat, under the supervision of Colonel R K Singh, Colonel M K Singh and Colonel M Upadhaya.

The recruitment rally was flagged off by Aalo Circle Officer Oni Padun.

Colonel Singh said that

many seats are lying vacant for Arunachal people and appealed to all fit and eligible candidates to fill up

the existing vacancies.

He also informed that aspirants from East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang, and

Siang districts, who did not get the opportunity to fill up the online registration forms could also come for regis-

tration and fitness test.

He wanted locals of Arunachal to fill the posts of officers in the Indian Army to motivate others to join as well.

Commanding Officer 1 Bihar Regiment, Colonel D K Panwar and Major M K Khati, civil administration, medical team, police and teachers are also actively involved to provide all necessary support and assistance during the recruitment rally.

The candidates first have to go through a 1.6 km run, followed by other physical and medical tests to be selected for the written examination, scheduled to be conducted at Jorhat after a month.

World AIDS Day observed across the state Awareness rally to celebrate World Aids Day held at Miao

Leo Your ambition and will to succeed may be at war with your feelings today, Leo. Perhaps you've been working so hard that you aren't spending enough time with friends and family - and they miss you. Children and young people may be very much on your mind. Perhaps you doubt your ability to fulfill your responsibilities. Be objective when considering the situation. Don't let your emotions run away with you.

Virgo Today, Virgo, you might uncharacteristically decide to sequester yourself away from the world. Perhaps you're tired or feeling a bit under the weather and only wish to kick back and read a good book.

That's fine. Everyone needs a little solitude from time to time. The only concern here is that if you stay too secluded, you might miss an important communication. Resist the temptation to turn off the phone!

Libra A quarrel over money could interfere with a friendship today, Libra.

Perhaps someone hasn't repaid a loan and the lender now needs it. Perhaps a member of your household is unable to pay their share of the bills. Don't let yourself get drawn into quarrels or recriminations.

Scorpio Spiritual and metaphysical studies may take up a lot of your time today, Scorpio.

You might want to dig into the world's major religions or try to make it through works about spiritualism or the occult.

Sagittarius You might long for a vacation today, Sagittarius, and you could toy with the idea of a journey by air. Your mind may turn to spiritual places such as India, Egypt, Israel, or Ireland as you wonder how it would feel to stand in the sacred places in those countries.

Don't just toy with the idea. You're probably overdue for a vacation, and such a trip would suit your mystical nature.

Capricorn Someone you've known for a long time may move away or otherwise vanish from your life. He or she may move to a distant state. You'll probably stay in touch by phone or email, but it will never be the same, at least not for a long time. You will feel better if you meet some new people.

Aquarius There might be some tension between you and your romantic partner that might have you feeling a bit depressed. The key to patching this up is honest communication. Remember that honest doesn't necessarily mean brutal. Confrontations now can only widen the rift.

Pisces Today your biorhythms may be a little low, Pisces, so you aren't likely to be feeling very sociable. You're more likely to want to bury your nose in your projects instead of being your usual outgoing self. This is OK, but take care that you aren't so reclusive that you miss receiving some sincere compliments.

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Dec 1 : World AIDS Day was observed on December 1 across the state of Arunachal Pradesh, with the theme ‘Hands Up, For HIV Prevention’.

In the state capital, a massive awareness rally consisting school and colleges students, NGO volunteers from Arunchal Yuva Shakti, I Love Arunachal, Community Care Center VIHAAN, Oju Welfare Society, Arunachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association and Citizen Against Garbage also took part in the rally of more than 1500 people, which was flagged from Tennis Court Itanagar by Director of Health Services Dr Moji Jini and APSACS Project Director Dr Riken Rina.

Later, an awareness meeting was conducted for the students and the volunteers at Vivekananda Hall of Rama Krishna Mission Hospital, where Dr Jini urged the participants to take actively participate in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS. Appreciating the youth for joining the rally in hundreds, Dr Jini urged them to motivate others also to know about HIV so that people can stay away from the disease.

Attending the programme as resource person, Dr Rina stressed on the ABCs of HIV prevention, where he explained that ‘A’ stands for Abstinence, ‘B’ stands for ‘Be faithful to your partner ’ and ‘C’ stands for ‘Condom usage’.

He also highlighted the services available with APSACS for HIV prevention and control in the state.

In the evening, a road show was also organized

by Link Youth, supported

by APSACS at Akashdeep and Bank Tinali, Itanagar, where Deputy Director (IEC) APSACS Tashor Pali highlighted the importance of World AIDS Day and urged the youth to stay safe from HIV/ AIDS. He also explained the four routes of HIV transmissions and how it can be prevented. While urging youth to create a chain of information on HIV, he also asked people not to discriminate people living with HIV.

Cinema

Aurora Cinema

Dibrugarh, H.S Road BAHNIMAN KAHAANI-2 (ASSAMESE)

1st show at 10:00 AM

KAHAANI-2 2nd show at 01:00 PM

3rd show at 04:00 PM

BAHNIMAN

(ASSAMESE)

4th show at 07:00 PM

ET Bureau Miao, Dec 1 : In an effort to spread awareness among the students on AIDS and HIV, Newman School Neotan in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh held an awareness rally, celebrating the World AIDS Day on 1 December 2016.

Rev. Sr. Mini Cyriac CM, the Health Coordinator of East Arunachal Pradesh addressed the students on this occasion. Explaining the students on the causes and symptoms, she told the students to take good care of oneself and others to prevent from getting infected with HIV. You should not be afraid but should spread awareness among your parents, relatives and friends about the spread of AIDS and HIV, she said. “You should hate HIV but not the people with HIV because they need more care and love”, she told the students.

The students also put up a

small dance drama to drive home the message of accepting and loving the HIV patients. They went around the villages with red ribbon on their sleeves and placards with messages on caring for the HIV patients.

Fr. Felix, the Principal of the School, explaining to the students the meaning of red ribbon said that it is not enough to pin up a red ribbon today. “We must strive to remove the social stigma attached to HIV. In most cases the cause of HIV is not the virus but ignorance. We must be aware first and also help others to become aware of this”, he told the students.

In the wake of sharp rise in the HIV cases in North East India, especially in Nagaland and Manipur, one hopes that awareness among the students will help prevent its spread in Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of North East India.

Peace is the essence of Buddhism: Karmapa

ET Bureau Bomdila, Dec 1 : On his last day at Bomdila, His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje called upon the people of the district to maintain peace and tranquility for a better world order.

Citing that the teachings of Lord Buddha have great bearings in the materialistic world, he said, “Merely propagation of peace only would not serve the purpose, it should come from within. The practice should not be limited to the monks and the monasteries only; rather it should be followed and incorporated by all sentient beings, for which education is a must.

Assuring to come back and interact with the people in a more personalized and larger scale in the days to come, the Karmapa expressed his gratitude to MoS (Home Affairs) Kiren Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu for facilitating his visit to the state.

He also paid tribute to late Tsona Gontse Rinpoche for his yeomen services and prayed for his swift re-birth.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in his address to the people of the district said that the visit of the Karmapa to the region and the state was a matter of great pride and honour. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doing away with the restrictions imposed in the previous eras and for facilitating the Karmapa’s visit to any part of the country and elsewhere.

He also advocated that with this new development, the gap between the spiritual guru and the followers would be bridged.

With the subsequent visit of the Karmapa, new initiatives like construction of monasteries and learning institutes could be taken up to further the spiritual ambience and temperament in the region.

MLA Japu Deru and D C Sonal Swaroop also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier in the morning, the Karmapa visited Thubchog Gatse Ling Monastery (Lower Gompa), where he was received by Guru Tulku Rinpoche and partook in various monastic rituals.

The day before, His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa visited the Kalchakra Gompa, Thupsung Dargye Ling Monastery and the Lieung Gompa at Dirang en-route to Bomdila from Tawang.

Among others, the programme today at Buddha Stadium Bomdila was attended by Speaker TN Thongdok, Parliamentary Secretaries Phurpa Tsering and Kumsi Sidisow, MLA Japu Deru, MHA advisor Amitabh Mathur, Chairman DoKAA Jambey Wangdi, DC Sonal Swaroop, RCS Rinchin Tashi, DIG (APP), DIG (SSB), Commander BRO and Director CIHCS Dahung.

BRO organizes medical Camp at Tezu ET Bureau Tezu, 1 Dec: A Medical and Health Camp check up was organized by 48 BRTF/Project Udayak of Border Roads Organisation in association with Health and Family Welfare Dept, Dist Lohit on 26 Nov 2016 at Village Bekhuliang, Sunpura of remote village of Lohit Dist. Honble MLA of Sunpura, Lohit Dr Mohesh chai has graced the occasion and applauded the efforts and services rendered by BRO in all round development in the area under the leadership of Col C Rajashekar Commander 48 BRTF. He conveyed his gratitude for organizing such health camps in different remote locations by BRO on regular basis.

A team of two doctors along with paramedical staff equipped with laboratory services and essential medicines provided the much needed medical services to the villagers. A team of doctors consisting of pediatrician, Dental surgeon and Homeopathic physician from General hospital Tezu were made available by liaison with Health and Family welfare department Lohit dist to make the camp successful and beneficial to the villagers by providing multi dispensary medical services at the door step of the villagers. A total of 110 patients including elderly people, mothers and children were benefitted from the camp.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

P3

World AIDS Day 2016: Guide NGO and National Health Mission come together to dispel myths about HIV/AIDS Mithun Baruah Tinsukia, 1 Dec: World Aids Day was today observed at Tinsukia Civil Hospital and Ledo Mini PHC by Guide NGO in collaboration with National Health Mission. The programme began with the flagging off the awareness procession from Tinsukia Civil Hospital to Tinsukia Railway Station. After that the members of Guide NGO travelled to Ledo from Tinsukia by local train where they distributed leaflets and asked questions to

A Procession was taken out for World Aids Day from Ledo Mini PHC to Ledo Bazaar by Guide NGO. Photo by Mithun Baruah

the passengers about HIV Aids. Dr Pulak Paul of Ledo Mini PHC flagged off the

procession from Ledo Mini PHC to Ledo Bazaar. During the procession, the

members of Guide NGO spread awareness about HIV/AIDS by dispelling

myths and stereotyped misconceptions associated with HIV/AIDS. Guide NGO Program Manager, Karuna Das and Prakash Sharma and former Project Director Papu Sah were also present at the awareness drive.

“Through awareness camp and discussion, the stigma on AIDS can be brought to light; thus misconceptions about it can be dispelled and this is how we can make our Society and Country Aids free,” Prakash Sharma, Project Manager of Guide NGO pointed out.

IN DIBRUGARH

A rally taken out on the occasion of World Aids Day in Dibrugarh on Thursday.

Photo by Manoj Pandey

Lab. staff and Swach Bharat Mission Nagrota attack: Foreign tourists face cash (Gramin) workers demand immediate My last call, he crunch amid demonetization said. And it was release of their remuneration Contd. from Page 1

"I tried once again to call Chittranjan, but there was no response from the other side. We tried several more times to connect to Chittranjan, but we failed," said one of Chittaranjan's brothers-in-law.

ET Correspondent Naharkatia, Dec 1: The laboratory staff and Swach Bharat Mission (Gramin) workers under contractual basis in Dibrugarh region have expressed their grave concern over the non- receipt of their remuneration for the last four months commenc-

ing from August 16. Demanding the immediate release of their remuneration, all the Laboratory Staff and SDM(G) workers under contractual basis , have already launched a sit in demonstration from yesterday on Nov 30 at different quarters of Public Health Engineer-

ing Departments (PHE) of Dibrugarh (Head), Naharkatia and Moran(Subdivisional) for infinite time.

Sources revealed that they too submitted a memo earlier on November 28 to the Member Secretary, DWSU cum Executive Engineer (PHE) regarding the issue.

In the evening, Army headquarters in Jammu & Kashmir informed them that Chittranjan Debbarma had been martyred during a gunfight with Pakistani militants. All the family members broke into tears and the message spread through Kairingbari village in Padmabil block, under Kalyanpur police station in Khowai district.

He is survived by his

Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Concludes 2-day visit to Assam ET Bureau Guwahati, December 1: Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, Dr Kamalesh Kumar Pandey concluded his two day visit to the state today after holding an interaction with the representatives of various civil society organisations working in the disability sector and with persons with disabilities. ?The Chief Commissioner reviewed various schemes, programmes implemented in this sector by the State Government. He also took note of the different types of activities carried out by the representing organisations across the state. Around 20 civil society organisations from various parts of the state took part in the interaction with the Chief Commissioner held at the Con-

ference Hall of CM’s Block of the Assam Secretariat. ?The Chief Commissioner also asked the participating organisations to place their grievances at the proper platform to seek early resolution. In case of seeking grievance redressalfrom the State Government they were asked to contact the office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, at Basistha, Guwahati. And for those seeking redressal from the Central Government they were asked to contact the office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India.

The Chief Commissioner stressed that it was mandatory for persons with disabilities to obtain a Disability Certificate so as to avail the benefits of various Government schemes meant for them. He highlighted the

East Siang Unit of CoSAAP vouches for stringent punishment to Shil and Kaman Contd. from Page 1 He made fervent appeal to the every member of the society extend cooperation stating that every member of the society should denounce such deplorable acts.

While narrating his ordeal, Roy said that both Shil and Kaman tried to assassinate my character for no fault of mine.

“After receiving Rs. 10,000/on cash and drawing another Rs. 30,000/- through cheaque, Shil was to return my earlier cheaue of Rs. 40,000/-. But instead of returning my cheaque, Shill tried to withdraw the money with dubious intention, when that cheaque bounced; he filed police complaint against me where enquiries were made from police upon me”, added Roy with sadness. “Taking it as a chance, Prafulla Kaman had also exposed it in facebook

news with the heading ‘FIR lodged against IPR office’ and had written all hatred against me alleging all short of defamatory words. But later Shil confessed his misdeed in a Kebang (local meeting) and revealed that, it was Kaman who masterminded entire episode who has been in a look out to harm me”, quoted Roy. When SP East Siang, Pranav Tayal was contacted over the complaint, he said that, he has already marked the OC, Pasighat PS for stringent punishment to both perpetrators and assured to take legal action. On the part of Paisghat PS OC i/c ABS Ahmed, he confirmed the receipt of complaint from CoSAAP and assured to initiate a case against both Shil and Kaman. When contacted for their comment, Shil’s phone was off, while Kaman couldn’t be contacted.

new schemes designed by the Central Government, informed about the scholarship programme introduced for the benefit of persons with disabilities. ?Interacting with the civil society organisations, he stressed on the need for creating social awareness for inclusion of people with disabilities over and above the various schemes meant for skill development, livelihood training and education. ?On Wednesday, the Chief Commissioner held a meeting with senior Secretaries of all departments of the Government of Assam to learn about the backlog vacancies for PWD in the various departments and to learn about steps taken to fill these vacancies. ?Later, the Chief Commissioner met Chief Secretary

to the Government of Assam, V.K. Pipersenia and apprised him about his meetings and highlighted the problem areas and the steps to be taken to address these issues. He asked for improving the staff strength of the office of the Commissioner for PWD, Assam for smooth functioning of the office. The Chief Secretary told the Chief Commissioner that the Government will soon start a Saksham Assam, Enable Assam programme to uplift the conditions of people with disabilities and ensure their social inclusion. ?Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Assam, Palash Ranjan Gharphalia and Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Nazrul Islam were also present at the interaction.

wife, aged parents and two children. His daughter Inlek Debbarma (13) studies in Class 7 at Kok English Medium School at Baijalbari, and his son Kutlai Debbarma (8) is in Class 3 at Don Bosco School, also in Baijalbari area of Khowai district.

His elder brother, Arun Debbarma, is a retired Armyman. The younger brother, Amardeep Debbarma, is a Group D employee of the Tripura government.

Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, in a condolence message, said his government expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. "We all stand with his family in this hour of crisis," Sarkar said.

Books released at Golaghat Literature Festival and Book Fair ET Correspondent Golaghat , Dec 1: In the ongoing Golaghat Literature Festival and Book Fair at Samannay Pathar in Golaghat three books under the banner of Progya Publication were unveiled yesterday and a poet summit entitled " Seuj Nadir Gaan" was held .

The first book “Xahitya Xubaxh" written by Associate Professor from Sarupathar College Pranab Dhekial Phukan was unveiled by noted poet , writer Premo Gogoi, a quarterly magazine " Nandanik" was unveiled by Dr. Jyotirekha Saikia and upcoming poet Ronaldo Taid's latest collection of poems was unveiled noted educationist and poet Mahendra Nath Hazarika . The programme was conducted by Progya Assam General Secretary Partha Protim Saikia and editor of Nandanik Sharat Gogoi . Several distinguished personalities were present in the programme.

ET Correspondent Golaghat , Dec 1: Cashcrunch triggered by demonetization of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes is not only causing inconvenience to people in the country, but foreign tourists visiting here are equally troubled as they are unable to use smaller denominations. Today a twelve member team of tourists from Poland heading to Nagaland to attend Annual Hornbill Festival are facing acute inconveniences due to cash-crunch.

"Arriving here in India, and being in Guwahati, we

found ourselves in a very tricky situation. Most of the times, ATMs are either out of cash or out of operation.

We are not able to do any small transactions and especially as a tourist we public convenience and you want to give tips; we couldn't do any of that,” said a Polish tourist. Most foreign tourists were also unaware of the government decision and its intricacies. The tourists from Poland staying at Nambor Guest House in Golaghat today in the morning who were about to head to Nagaland found them-

selves in a precarious conditions devoid of changes of lower denomination as most of ATM s only dispense thousand denomination notes. Later the proprietor of Nambor Guest House and Senior Journalist Apurba Ballav Goswami came to the rescue and arrange denomination of lower values to the tourists.

They also faced a problem exchanging currency as with both banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) shut; there was an acute shortage of 100 rupee notes

Ex-Servicemen rally to be held to address grievances ET Bureau, Likabali, 1 Dec: An Ex Servicemen (ESM) rally will be conducted at Likabali Military Station on 04 December 2016. The aim of the rally is to interact with ESM, address their grievances, if any and disseminate information on various welfare schemes of the Central and State Governments and the Armed Forces.

General Officer Commanding 56 Infantry Di-

vision will grace the event. ESM, Veer Naris, Widows and Next of Kin of ESM from Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Pasighat, Along and Daporijo Districts are expected to attend the rally. Prominent military and civilian dignitaries have been invited to attend the event. A large number of stalls are planned to be set up to facilitate ex- servicemen to resolve their problems related to pension, CSD

facilities, health issues, rehabilitation, re-employment, assistance from banks etc. Felicitation of Ex Service Men & War widows is also planned as part of rally.

Doctors of Military Hospital will conduct free medical check-up of ESM, Veer Naris and widows. The rally aims to provide opportunity for formal and informal interaction and address grievances of ESM, Veer Naris and Widows.

REACTION

Complaint lodged against Deforestation at Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary ET Correspondent Golaghat, Dec 1: One of the major Biodiversity spots in the state the Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary is now under severe grip of deforestation. Recently in media reports the pathetic condition of this forest area was exposed.

Deforestation in the Nambor forest has sparked off an alleged illegal nexus which is potentially posing a great threat to the biodiversity

of the region.

After this media reports an organisation named Sadou Asom Durniti Nibarak Prakriti Suraksha Samiti came forward and lodged a complaint at Golaghat Police Station against cases of Deforestation in the Nambor forest. The organisation demands immediate action against the nexus involved in deforestation and to protect the biodiversity.

Members of All Assam Muslim Students' Union, Sivasagar Unit today burnt the effigy of state Health and Education Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma for his decision to make Friday a working day in all Madrassa of the state. Photo by Firuz Ahmed.

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72 encroachers held in Manas

Enrolment on GST Common Portal begins in the state

Barpeta, Dec 1: A group of 72 encroachers in Manas National Park were taken into custody today when they were about to construct shelters inside the park in Assam's Barpeta district, a forest official said.

The encroachers were setting up their shelters at Kahitema beat under

Bansbari Range in the Park by bringing people from other places for making houses and encroach forest land, said Hiranya Sarma, Project Director Manas Tiger project.

Manas National Park authorities with the help of police from Barpeta Road were able to stop the encroachers, Sarma said.

Girl from Tezpur selected for Sriya Miss India Contest

ET Bureau Guwahati, 1 Dec: Along with the rest of the Country, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set to be implemented in Assam from the next financial year. ?The GST will subsume the five Taxation Acts administered by the Taxation department namely, Assam VAT Act, 2003; CST Act, 1956; Assam Entry Tax Act, 2008; Assam Tax on Luxuries (Hotels Lodging Houses & Hospitals) Act, 1989 and Assam Amusements & Betting Tax Act, 1939. The implementation of GST envisages issuance of single GSTIN to the dealers and all the dealers who are presently registered un-

der these five Acts are required to enrol themselves for the GSTIN. ?The existing dealers will have to enrol on the GST Common Portal www.gst.gov.in w.e.f. 30th of November, 2016. The GSTN has already provided the provisional login ID and Password for dealers whose PAN is already verified and who are registered under the above mentioned Taxation Acts and their Provisional Login ID and Passwords are available in the website www.tax.assam.gov.in of the Taxation Department, Assam. The dealers whose Login ID and Passwords are presently not allotted will be provided in the next phase

of enrolment and thereafter these dealers will be allowed to enrol on the GST Common Portal. ?The dealers, who have not updated their Mobile Numbersand Email IDs, are required to update the same in the online utility developed for the purpose on the w e b s i t e www.tax.assam.gov.in. The existing dealers who have updated their Mobile Numbers and Email IDs on the said website will be provided their provisional GSTIN user ID and Password automatically through their Mobile Numbers and Email IDs.The existing dealers who have not updated their Mobile Numbers

and Email IDs but are registered for e-services in www.tax.assam.gov.in will be able to receive their provisional GSTIN user ID and Password when they login into the above portal for accessing e-services. The existing dealers who haveneither updated Mobile Numbers, Email IDs nor registered for e-services on the said website will have to collect the provisional GSTIN user ID and Password manually from his jurisdictional authority by submitting a signed application form in the prescribed format. ?It may be mentioned that on receipt of the Provisional ID and Password from the

Post-havoc created by tiger, drone pressed into search operation Shambhu Boro, Tezpur, Dec 1: The state Forest Department Wednesday night used drone from Indian Army to trace the tiger that created panic a couple of days back in Dolabari area under Mahabhairab Police outpost here. Earlier the tiger had mauled one Rabia Khatun (56) at Dolabari

area on NH 37 (A) and injured one Safiqul Islam on Monday morning. The forest Department sources here informed that state Forest Department had sought the use of drone from the Misamari based Indian Army for tracing out probable location to find out the tiger which had gone missing leaving only

traces of foot prints at Kolibari Tapu on the bank River Brahmaputra on Wednesday.It is worth mentioning that according to the Forest department sources for the first time in Northeast India the forest department has used sophisticated drone to search an animal’s location. “A discussion is on between

the Ministry of Defence and Assam Forest Department for permitting flying of drone at the Kaziranga National Park in some specific area to find out the animals’ route,” the sources said. P.Shiv Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Northern range told that it was used on the request of the department.

Retd Brigadier seeks legal opinion on results of APSC exams Tezpur, Dec 1: Mirdusmita Borah, resident of Saikia Chuburi, Mazgaon, has been invited to participate in the Sriya Miss India contest to be held in Jaipur from December 18. Mridusmita, a HS Final Year Student of Darrang College while interacting with this correspondent said that she has been selected for the prestigious Sriya Miss India Contest after winning the “First Runners-up” position in North East Celestial Diva. “In this competition she was crowned as “Miss Perfect body” and also

the “best traditional costume” award was bagged by her,” She said.

She came to limelight when she was judged as second runners-up with best cat walk in 2014 in the the Mega Sonitpur Hunk and Diva Contest.

Mridusmita, daughter of social worker and cultural activist, Prasanta Kumar Bora and Aijoni Bora was interested in modelling and dance performances since her school days.

She also won “Miss North East” title organized by North East Style Magazine in 2015.

ET Bureau Guwahati, 1 Dec: The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), which had become defunct after the arrest of three of its six members on various charges of corruption, on Thursday resumed functioning with acting Chairman Brigadier (Retd) Ranjit Borthakurseeking legal opinion on what to do with results of several examinations conducted during the past few months.

“Since three of the members who had also conducted inter-

Assam, a good market for Maharastra’s Onions

ET Bureau Guwahati, 1 Dec: The Maharashtra government is contemplating an idea to get market for one of its biggest crops, onion in Assam, Bengal as well as in Bangladesh.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has sent a proposal to his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal to make market available for the state's onion. Assam has already registered a demand of eight metric tonnes of onion.

Both the states are likely to demand a special goods train to carry onion. Maharashtra has appointed a special officer to coordinate the trade with Assam.

Minister of state for Agriculture Sadashiv Khot, who recently visited Assam and Bengal, to overview the trade opportunities, said that it will benefit the farmers. "There is

a huge demand for onion in Assam and Bengal. At present, they purchase onion from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. I am sure the top quality Maharashtra onion will be welcomed in Assam and Bengal," he said.

The onion market in Maharashtra is always under the dark clouds of uncertainty over prices. If the prices soar

it makes headlines across the country. The farmers are demanding minimum guarantee prices for their crop.

"We need to spend at least Rs 600 for production of one quintal onion," says farmer Chandrakant Unhale from Satana. "If the government gives guarantee to sell the crop for at least Rs 800 per quintal we will never suffer a loss."

Stayzilla ties-up with Assam Govt to promote tourism and homestays ET Bureau Guwahati, 1 Dec: Aggregator of homestays Stayzilla, after tieing-up with five state tourism departments across India, has now partnered with Assam Tourism Development Corporation for the joint promotion and development of Homestays in the state.

With this association, Stayzilla becomes the first aggregator to associate with governments in the East, the company claims.

Under this agreement, Stayzilla will lend its expertise to Assam Tourism Development Corporation to conduct verification procedures and jointly boost homestays and unique stay experiences within Assam.

Also, Assam will be one of the first state tourism bodies to launch a model Rural Homestay scheme providing financial incentive for development and standardization of new Homestays in Assam.

This partnership will also enable verification and training of these New Homestays being developed right from the start. Stayzilla’s team in the North East, headed by Regional Office of Kolkata, will be part of the Service and Quality Assurance Committee under ATDC. With a plan to open 200 Homestays within one year and with a maximum financial assistance of upto 80% of pre-

scribed limit, these Homestays will conform strictly to the high qualities and standards set

by ATDC. All homestays registered with the Tourism Board will receive technical support in the form of inventory management and software applications to ensure seamless booking procedures, from Stayzilla.

The Tourism Board & Stayzilla will also jointly conduct educational and training sessions for registered homestays on best practices such as online usage, content management, operations and expense management. Stayzilla team will also be involved in imparting Hospitality and Skill Training to all the New Homestays under the ATDC scheme.

views of candidates for as many as 14 different examinations are currently under arrest.

The APSC obviously cannot declare the results. We have to seek legal opinion as well as the opinion of the state government in this matter,” said Borthakur, a former Army Intelligence officer who has been member of the APSC since 2013. Borthakur was appointed acting Chairman on Wednesday.

“The image of the APSC suffered “very badly” in the past one month after three members

including Chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul were arrested in quick succession since November 4. The other two arrested members are Samedur Rahman and Basanta Kumar Doley, both former college professors. My immediate tasks include rebuilding the image and regain the faith of the people,” Borthakur said.

Results of as many as 14 examinations that included selection of college lecturers, BDOs, food inspectors and other officers have remained stalled due to the arrest of

chairman Paul, Rahman and Doley and assistant controller of examinations Pabitra Kaibarta in the past month.

Moreover, three examinations have been postponed because of the arrests, Borthakur said.

“How can we declare results of those examinations where these three persons were also on the interview board?”

Borthakur asked. While the credibility of the APSC had suffered, rules also say that all the members have to sign on the final selection list, he added.

Assam policeman aims for Guinness Book record ET Bureau Guwahati, 1 Dec: A policeman from the Assam Police pulled a 32-tonne railway wagon for about 50 metres with a rope tied to his long pony-tailed hair, to find a place in the Limca Book of Records. Ratneshwar Neog, a constable from the Special Branch of Assam Police, who is currently in Visakhapatnam to take part in the 65th All India Police Volleyball Cluster Championship- 2016. He is part of the yoga team from Assam Police and had held the senior officers and other policemen spellbound when he pulled a 10-tonne police van during the opening ceremony of the games on Monday.

Ratneshwar said that he started practising yoga from the age of seven under the tutelage of famed yoga guru Azad Hazarika.

“It was he who motivated me to grow my mane and do the feat of pulling vehicles.

When in Std. VIII, I saw him pulling a jeep with his hair and that was when I decided to try the stunt,” said Mr. Ratneshwar.

He joined the police force in 2001 and accomplished his first feat by pulling a Maruti Gypsy and a Tata 709 van.

From then he has not looked back and in 2010, he pulled a 10 tonne Tata-1210 truck.

But he got his major break in 2012, when he pulled a 32-tonne railway wagon for

a distance of 50 metres that earned him an entry in the Limca Book of Recrords.

Ratneshwar now aims at breaking the Guinness Book record and that has been his dream since long. The record is for pulling a 12.2-tonne truck. “I have already pulled a 32-tonne wagon, but I do not have the funding or the resources to invite the Guinness Book people. I am looking out for a sponsor for the last three years, but have not been unable to get one and neither has the State or the department come forward to help me”, he said.

Ratneshwar had accomplished many feats such as pulling a 16.2-tonne bus for 1 km and a 2-tonne jeep for 5 km and both the feats find a place in the Assist World

Records.

‘Yoga gives inner strength’ According to him it is yoga that gives him the inner strength to achieve the tasks.

“Yoga is all about way of life and it is the ultimate form of exercise that gives both mental and physical strength. Despite the busy schedule, I still find time to practice at least two to three hours per day and I have introduced both my children to the ancient tradition,” he said. Apart from pulling trucks with his hair, he also gobbles down broken glass pieces. “The world record is for stuffing 120 gm of broken glass pieces in 1.27 minutes and I am now clocking 1 minute. But my attempt will be for 240 gm of glass pieces in 34 seconds. And I am working on it,” he said.

Taxation Department, the dealer needs to Login on the GST Common Portal and proceed for enrolment. The procedure for enrolling of the GST Common Portal is available on the said Portal in the user Manual, FAQs and video based tutorial.

This information is also available on the Taxation Department website. The Tax payers have also been informed to get themselves acquainted with the provisions of Model GST Law and Draft Registration Rules which are available in Taxation Department website and in case of any difficulties or inconvenience they can contact their jurisdic-

tional officers or GST cell at Kar Bhawan, Dispur, Guwahati. After enrolling on GST Common Portal, if the dealer has any issue in respect of completing registration process, then such dealer needs to call on the Help Desk Number 0124-4688999 or can write a mail on h e l p d e s k @ g s t . g o v. i n which is provided by the GST and is available on the GST Common Portal www.gst.gov.in. Dealers facing issue of obtaining the provisional login ID and Password from Taxation Department have been requested to contact the Nodal Help Desk No.0361-2232619 and 0361-2232661.

Teacher Training Colleges sought winter break.

ET Correspondent Tezpur, Dec 1: The B.Ed Colleges across the state under the Guwahati University have sought the winter break that is normally availed by the degree colleges in the state. The institutions, imparting training programme to the deputed teachers besides other fresh students have been availing the winter breaks over the last many years along with other holidays maintained by the academic calendar of the Guwahati University.

However, the B. College Association expressing their total dissatisfaction over the delay in announcing the break said that the Guwahati University authority should consider the issue without any delay as based on the matter schedule for the various co-curricular activities is set. “If the degree Colleges can

avail the winter break why not the B.Ed Colleges that are run under the same university?,” they questioned and urged the University authority to grant the break and demanded the authority concerned to deal with the issue sincerely for granting the winter break so that the trainee teachers and the teaching staffs of all the B.Ed Colleges of the state can parallelly avail the break with degree colleges as per the norms of the Guwahati University.

Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with our correspondent regarding the matter, Registrar of Guwahati University, Suresh Nath informed that the matter is under consideration and the decision of granting winter break to the B.Ed colleges will soon be taken accordingly.

Directorate of information & public relations organised health check up camp Dispur, December 1: The Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Assam has organised a free health check-up camp to create health awareness among its employees with the initiative of All Assam Janasanyog Employees Association at its office premises today at Dispur. ?Health practitioners from three disciplines of Allopath, Homeopath & Ayurveda participated in the camp. Dr. Bishnuram Baishya, Skin Specialist, Dr.Sangita Chetia Chaudhary, Medical & Health Officer, Capital State Dispensary, Dispur, Dr. Surya kr. Sarma, BAMS, Dr. Utpal Bordoloi, Dr. Dharmendra Das, Dr. Abdus Suthahan Ali

Ahmed, Dr. Mirel Kuddus Ahmed, Dr. Nargis Anowara, Dr. Mahbubul Bari extended their services where large numbers of officers, employees and staff enrolled themselves for check-up. ?The Director, Addl. Director, Joint Directors and Dy. Directors of the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Assam also took part in the camp and took remedial measures from the Doctors present in the Camp. ?Later, the Association felicitated the Doctors and health workers with the traditional Assamese Gamosha in a thanks giving meeting held at the end of the Camp.

Assam Governor Conveys his Asom Divas Message ET Bureau Guwahati, December 02: Governor of Assam Shri Banwarilal Purohit greeted the people of Assam on the eve of Asom Divas. In a message today Shri Purohit said, Chaolung Sukapha was a great leader and a brave warrior under whose guidance a solid process of unification and assimilation of various ethnic groups in Assam was set in motion.

Asom Divas or Sukapha Divas is observed to commemorate the advent of the first king of the Ahom king-

dom in Assam after his journey over the Patkai Hills. Chaolung Sukapha, the founder of the Ahom kingdom reigned from 1228 to 1268 AD who set up the 600-year-old Ahom kingdom in Upper Assam.

The Governor hoped that the young generation would uphold Sukapha’s ideals to take the state along the path of progress and prosperity in the days ahead. He also urged upon the people of Assam to emulate the great hero and keep working for peace and progress of the State.

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Former Tripura chief min- DUDA organizes valedictory programme ister Samir Ranjan Barman cum distribution of machines/tools bereaved, wife expires Agartala, Dec 01: Former chief minister Samir Ranjan Barman has lost his wife Maya Rani Barman (71) last night.

The mortal remains of Mayarani were brought to Agartala today by flight and consigned to flames in Bat-tala crematorium.

Late Mayarani Barman was a school teacher who resigned her job in the late seventies but she continued to be the main inspiration behind the former chief minister. Mayarani had fallen seriously sick in the year 2008 and was confined to bed. Despite the best possible treatment given she did not recover.Her condition sharply deteriorated on November 28 and she was taken to a Calcutta nursing home by an air ambulance by her husband and

Manik Sarkar and other dignitaries visited Barman's home and paid their last homage.

MLA son Sudip Roy Barman. But her condition continued to deteriorate and she breathed her last on Wednesday night. She is survived by three sons and a married daughter .

After Mayarani's mortal remains had been brought to

her Agartala home, the chief minister Manik Sarkar and other dignitaries visited Barman's home and paid their last homage. She was subsequently taken to Battala crematorium and her sons performed the last rites. (Agerncies)

No mayhem on salary day in Tripura Agartala, Dec 01: The crowds at banks and ATMs in Tripura on Thursday, the first salary day after demonetisation, was not as massive as feared by many.

Bank officials in Agartala said a large number of employees withdrew some money in advance from their accounts fearing a huge rush on the first of December.

"We have received and made available in ATMs a reasonable quantity of currencies of different denominations to ease the difficulties of salaried employees," UCO bank official Sekhar Paul told IANS. Government employees stood in queues at banks and ATMs since early in

the morning to withdraw money. Some employees rushed to banks and ATMs after marking their attendance in offices.

The cash crunch continues to be serious in semiurban, remote and rural areas of northeast India where most banks do not have adequate currency or where ATMs lack notes of various denomination.

Buyer and traders, especially small businessmen, are continuing to facing difficulties due to cash shortage in banks and markets.

A senior official of the Tripura government's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Amit Roy Chowdhury, said: "We are suffering a lot since the

demonetisation."

United Bank of India Chief Regional Manager and Deputy General Manager Mahendra Dohare told IANS: "Bank employees have devoted everything to help customers.

"The situation in the entire northeastern region is gradually improving," Dohare said in Agartala.

In Mizoram, the first consignment of new Rs 500 currency notes along with Rs 100 notes arrived two days back, easing the cash crunch somewhat.

The State Bank of India's Assistant General Manager Pradeep Kumar Sen said in Aizawl: "The new 500 rupee notes are available in banks and ATMs since Wednesday."

(IANS)

State records trend of deaths during HIV treatment

Dimapur, Dec 01: A valedictory programme cum distribution of machines/ tools was organized by DUDA for the successful trainees under BADP capacity building programme 2015-16, Wednesday, at Nagaland Tools Room and Training Centre (NTTC), New Industrial Estate, Dimapur.

Speaking at the programme as chief guest, DUDA &LMCP advisor Thongwang Konyak extended his greetings to the gathering.

He encouraged the trainers to uphold what they had learned from the training and utilize it for the welfare of the society and within the area. Mentioning that it was difficult for the border area public to reach to the towns, he encouraged the students to help them through their learning and share their knowledge.

He maintained that under BADP area there were 13 blocks of which Konyak,

Mon area included six blocks, Tuensang, Khiamniungan area included three blocks, Kiphire Pongro area included two blocks and Phek, Pochury area included two blocks.

He further looked forward that more and better programme would be taken up especially for farmer's livelihood.

Briefing about the trainings under BADP, NCS director DUDA, KS Anden Konyak mentioned that the programme has not only created skilled workers but also entrepreneurs and job creators. This injection of skilled labour with the spirit of enterprise has started the process of economic development and has created a valid demand to expiate the infrastructure development in the border areas. He also mentioned about the courses sponsored by BADP under capacity programme.

TET-qualified teachers start receiving letters of appointment

Director of Elementary Education Uttam Kumar Chakma Agartala, Dec 01: Setting aside all speculations, the TET-qualified teachers have started receiving letters of appointment directing them to join services latest by 16th instant. More than 96% of TET-enabled teachers will be posted in schools under the Autonomous District Council (ADC), specilly under the tribal-dominated Dhalai district. Disclosing this, the director of elementary education Uttam Kumar Chakma said that altogether 493 TET-qualified teachers have been issued letters of appointment and out of them only 7 are primary teachers while the remaining 486 are

secondary or higher secondary level teachers out of whom 266 are female teachers. A maximum of 100 teachers have been posted in different schools of Dhalai district and 70 have been posted in north Tripura district. The west district accounts for the least number of appointees while other districts have got sixty or a little more teachers each. At present there are altogether 4332 schools in the state and most of them suffer from shortage of teachers. The appointment of TET-enabled teachers will partially make up the deficit.

(Agencies)

'No NE terror camps in Bangladesh' Image for representation purpose.

Shillong, Dec 01: An alarming trend of HIV patients during pre-Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) has left experts baffled.

Official data shows 142 patients died in the pre-ART stage and as many as 218 died during the therapy.

An official source told The Shillong Times on the eve of World AIDS day that the number of people living with HIV or PLHIV, registered with the ART Plus Centre at Shillong Civil Hospital stands at 2,388, as per the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) data till October 2016.

Patients who stop ART are referred to as lost to follow-up. The source said there are 192 cases of lost to follow-up and every effort is made to trace them as there has to be strict adherence to ART. The number HIV-affected children registered is 119 and 66 of them are living on ART. However, a major step by the Government of India in treating TB-HIV co-infected patients may help improve the scenario in Meghalaya. The govern-

ment will replace the intermittent regimen by daily regimen for the management of TB Daily FDC (Fixed Dose Combination), which will now be made available for implementing daily regimen for TB-HIV co-infected cases in the State.

The roll out of FDC-based daily regimen for TB-HIV co-infection and also IPT (Isoniazid preventive therapy) for PLHIV will be officially announced on Thursday, which will be a milestone for both the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programmes and the AIDS Control Society in Meghalaya.

TB and HIV co-infection is when people have both HIV infection and also either latent or active tuberculosis. When someone has both HIV and TB, each disease speeds up the progress of the other.

In Meghalaya, collaborative efforts between Central TB Division and National AIDS Control Organization started in 2001 and nationwide coverage in 2012. Screening of all TB patients for HIV and pre-

sumptive TB among PLHIV are tested for TB and co-infected cases are put on treatment under the programmes.

In 2013, National Framework for HIV/TB collaborative activities in India was developed.

As per sources in MACS, there is approximately 353 numbers of HIV-TB coinfected patients on ART. There are 58 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTCs) and three mobile ICTCs in Jaintia Hills, Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts and Garo Hills district. There is only one ART Plus Centre (Civil Hospital, Shillong) and Link ART Centres are at Civil Hospitals in Jowai, Tura and Nongstoin.

Meanwhile, as part of the observation of World AIDS Day, an array of programmes - an AIDS logo competition will be held, faith-based organisations' convention, blood donation camp, 'We Are One' - a concert for World AIDS day, candlelight vigil - will be held on Thursday. (Agencies)

Shillong, Dec 01: There is no organised terror camp of Northeastern insurgent groups in Bangladesh following a massive crackdown on the outfits in the neighbouring country, the Border Security Force (BSF) has said.

BSF Meghalaya Frontier IG PK Dubey said the Northeast insurgents have hideouts in the neighbouring country but no terror camps. He added that ULFA chief Drishti Rajkhowa is frequenting from one place to another in Bangladesh.

On the Garo Hills militancy, Dubey said even GNLA chief Sohan D. Shira is under pressure following the CI operations by the State police. However, he added that the local Garo population in Bangladesh is not divulging details about Sohan and his activities to the Bangladeshi authorities and this has handicapped the agencies a little.

Asked if outfits like GNLA and HNLC are carrying out recruitment drives in border areas, the official admitted that they did try to recruit over ground workers in Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills.

Reacting to a query about jihadi activities in Bangladesh and the consequences in the North East, Dubey said Bangladesh does not agree that jihadi activists on its soil have ISI links.

"There is tremendous pressure on the jihadi activists in the neighbouring country and Bangladesh intelligence agencies are actively working in this regard," he added.

When asked about the demonetisation impact on the activities of the militants and smugglers, he said the outfits are facing monetary problems and so are not recruiting cadres. (Agencies)

US Ambassador to visit Nagaland Dimapur, Dec 01: Coinciding with his North Eastern states tour, US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma would be arriving Nagaland on December 1 to attend the Hornbill Festival.

As per the original itinerary, Verma was to attend the inaugural programme at Kisama as one of the guests of honour.

However, due to technical reasons, the plan had to be changed at the last minute, a US embassy official told media.

The Ambassador would however join the citizens at the 'Night carnival' on Thursday evening after visiting the World War II memorial cemetery.

Other dignitaries who would be

Richard Verma attending 10-day Hornbill Festival include-- Assam CM, Sarbananda Sonowal; chief justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Ajit Singh; Bihar MP Pappu Yadav and others.

(Agencies)

DUDA & LMCP advisor along with the successful trainees and officials at the valedictory cum distribution of tools programme.

Konyak while saying a country would not be upgraded without skill upgradation encouraged the trainees saying that people who worked hard were the most respected persons.

He further maintained that out of the 30 trainees, 23 students had opted for job placement provided by

NTTC and seven students opted to work as entrepreneurs in their home town.

Maize shelling machine was also launched during the programme which was the first of its kind in Nagaland. It may be mentioned that till date more than 5300 villagers have been befitted through the

programme under BADP sponsored by the ministry of Home Affairs, department of Border Management, government of India.

All the training courses are normally either for self reliance livelihood or job placement oriented. The department also provides minimum tools, machines, kits and appliances for all successful trainees to enable them to start self reliance.

From 2017-18, under the BADP capacity building/ skill development programme, the department is planning to give special emphasis on livelihood for farmers of Indo-Myanmar border block villages with an objective to improve socioeconomic condition of these most interior international border area villagers. Altogether 30 trainees have been trained under BAPD programme.

(Agencies)

Solid waste managament project for cleaner Dimapur Dimapur, Dec 01: Municipal solid waste project, the second of its kind in the state after Kohima, was launched at Dimapur on Thursday.

The project will be implemented from December 15 at DMC dumping zone, United Naga Block (UNB), Burma camp Dimapur.

Newwaves Bio Fuel India limited, a Hydrabad based company which is the implementing agency promised to make Nagaland a destination for organic farming.

The project also focuses on production of bio fuels out of the solid waste that could be used to promote organic farming, skill development and drinking water management programme.

According to parliamentary secretary municipal affairs, economics & statistics, R.Tohanba, the initiative by Government of India on integrated waste management would be greatly beneficial to citizens of Nagaland particularly Dimapur.

Tohanba, who inaugurated "integrated waste management with production of bio fuels, organic farming, skill development and waste & drinking water management" under Make in India here Wednesday, was of the viewed that the project would be helpful to Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) in larger way to segregate the waste in proper manner. It would also contribute in revenue generation, which in turn

R.Tohanba with department officials and others after launching the Municipal solid waste project in Dimapur.

will assist DMC to take up more development programmes in beautification of Dimapur town, the parliamentary secretary said. He assured the company that the state government would extend all logistic support to ensure that the works on the project begin at the earliest.

Tohanba further stressed on creating mechanism to create awareness with scientific approach on waste management to reduce the adverse impact on environment and health.

DMC administrator Atokhe Aye welcomed the implementation of the technology in Dimapur, when DMC has been deploying all its limited manpower and machineries to make the city a cleaner environment. He thanked the state government for the initiative in introducing the technology in Dimapur.

In the absence of new

Wife sentenced to life imprisonment for killing husband in Tripura Agartala December 1: A tribal house-wife Rajkumari Jamatya (35) was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 thousand for killing her husband Bikram Jamatya on the night of July 4 2013. In default of payment of the fine Rajkumari will have to serve two more months of imprisonment. The sentence was pronounced yesterday by the district and session judge , Gomati, Sabyasachi Dutta-Purkayastha.

According to information available from court in Udaipur, on the night of July 4 2013, Rajkumari's husband Bikram Jamatya, a habitual drunkard, had returned home late in the night and , in stead of moving into his living hut, he had gone to the nearby cottage of his

cousin Kalisa Jamatya in the Lalsiri village under Birganj police station in Amarpur subdivision.

Rajkumari had gone to Kalisa's hut to persuade her husband to return but Bikram , under the influence of liquor , prepared to beat up Rajkumari . Having lost patience Rajkumari took up a bamboo club and severely hit Bikram on the head . As a result Bikram died on the spot.

After slain Bikram's cousin Kalisa had filed a FIR , Rajkumari was arrested and chargesheeted for murder by sub-inspector Gautam Jamatya . In the trial nineteen witnesses said in the court that Rajkumari had actually murdered her husband Gautam .

The judgement in the case was pronounced yesterday . (Agencies)

technologies, the waste generated from Dimapur has become unmanageable leading to health and environmental hazards. However, Atokhe was hopeful that the new innovative would be successful and assured to extend fullest support.

Earlier, the activities under taken by company were highlighted by chairman Poonam Singh.

Managing director of Newwaves bio fuels India private limited, Khrishna Prasanth gave a brief report of the project and said that the technology has been transferred from UK and USA and the same has been approved under Make in India.

He further emphasized on the importance of Swachh Bharat, the dream project of Prime minister. Short speech was also delivered by commissioner and secretary, municipal affairs, Menokhol John. (Agencies)

Hornbill Fest overshadows Statehood Day Dimapur, Dec 01: Ever since Hornbill Festival was first launched in 2000, coinciding with the Nagaland Statehood day on December 1, the focus has shifted towards celebrating Hornbill as the 'Festival of Festivals' rather than the Statehood Day. This was also highlighted by one of the cabinet ministers, during the NPF CEC meeting in Kohima on Tuesday.

The minister suggested that Hornbill Festival celebration should begin from December 2 and then December 1 be observed as Statehood Day. It may be recalled that on December 1,1963, the second President of India Dr S Radhakrishnan formally declared Nagaland as the 16th state under the Indian Union at the Kohima Local Ground.

Except on the 50th anniversary of Nagaland Statehood, at the Hornbill Festival, where the president of India Pranab Mukherjee made a speech on the occasion, the celebration has not been observed in a deserving way to pay tributes to those pioneers who worked under challenging times to make Nagaland state a reality.

(Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

Today's quote

“

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Provocation at Nagrota The death of seven soldiers in the terrorist attack on an Army base in Nagrota provides graphic evidence of the high cost being borne by the armed forces amidst escalating violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack comes just two months after militants stormed an Army camp in Uri, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers. Early on Tuesday morning, three terrorists entered the camp in Nagrota, near Jammu city and not very far from the headquarters of 16 Corps, one of the largest and most important corps of the Indian Army. It is important to investigate how heavily armed terrorists reached the 166 Medium Regiment premises in a securitised area, despite several road blocks on the road to Nagrota. Wearing police uniforms, the terrorists reportedly scaled a wall and stormed the base, where many military families were staying. Seven soldiers, including two Majors, were killed as they fought to prevent a hostage situation. At least four unarmed officers, the wives of two officers and two children were among those who were at risk of being taken hostage. According to Army officers, the two women also showed exemplary presence of mind, and blocked their doors with household items.

With the latest incident, at least 89 security personnel have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2016. This is the highest figure in almost a decade, or since the gains of the 2003 ceasefire on the India-Pakistan border began to be consolidated.

Since the surgical strikes of September 29 in response to the Uri attack, India has lost 27 security personnel. In fact, the attrition rate among the security forces has been going up steadily vis-à-vis the terrorists. Decades of experience in fighting insurgencies and the diverse tactics adopted to reduce security force casualties have in recent months been challenged by the terrorists' focus on security installations, aimed at causing maximum casualties among the forces. The violence level within Jammu and Kashmir is a result of several factors: the unrest in the Valley, the state of India's relations with Pakistan, and the situation along the border, both the International Boundary and the Line of Control. On all three fronts, much needs to be done. India-Pakistan bilateral relations have nosedived in recent months.

And while New Delhi does not have the luxury of choosing unilaterally between relative peace and a lingering state of low-intensity conflict, there needs to be an appraisal of the costs that have come with the breakdown of the 2003 ceasefire - for instance, crossfire is routinely a cover for Pakistan in assisting terrorists to cross over to Indian Territory. Creating peace is a complex process. Drawing up a plan to minimise loss of life will be a good place to begin.

India's missing girl children It is a cruel irony of a fast-growing India that there are fewer and fewer girls as a ratio of total births, as a result of complex factors that include parental preference. New data from the Civil Registration System of the Registrar General of India point to the hardening of the pattern, with a fall in sex ratio at birth from 898 girls to 1,000 boys in 2013, to 887 a year later. This depressing trend is consistent with evidence from the Census figures of 2001 and 2011.

What is shocking is that the overall data mask the horror of particular districts and panchayats falling well below the national ratio, especially in the zeroto-six years assessment category. The scourge has, in some cases, prompted the Supreme Court to take note of the situation, and the National Human Rights Commission to ask for an explanation from State governments. In the understanding of the Centre, which it has conveyed to Parliament, girls stand a poor chance at survival because there is a "sociocultural mindset" that prefers sons, girls are seen as a burden, and family size has begun to shrink. The BJP-led government responded to the silent crisis with the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, which focusses on the prevention of sex-selective abortions, creation of opportunities for education and protection of girl children. Now that the scheme is set to enter its third year in January, there should be a speedy assessment of its working, particularly in districts with a poor sex ratio where it has been intensively implemented.

A wider assessment needs to be made on why States such as Tamil Nadu with a strong social development foundation have slipped on sex ratio at birth (834), going by the CRS data for 2014. The cradle baby scheme was started in 1992 in Tamil Nadu to raise the survival chances of girl children by encouraging mothers to give them anonymously for adoption. Yet, the latest numbers, together with the persistence of the programme after 24 years, and 260 babies being abandoned in just one centre over a six-year period, make it clear that national policy has achieved little in real terms. Clearly, there is a need to go beyond slogans and institute tangible schemes. Enforcement of the law that prohibits determination of the sex of the foetus must go hand in hand with massive social investments to protect both immediate and long-term prospects of girls - in the form of cash incentives through registration of births, a continuum of health care, early educational opportunities and social protection. Half-measures cannot produce a dramatic reversal of the shameful national record.

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Judicious use of agriculture water helps farmers reap bounty in rural Karnataka Pampapathy, a middle have been taught to use aged farmer belonging to the water judiciously in their Halasamudra village located fields, and have also been in the Boodagumba 'taught' that use of excespanchayat at Karatagi in sive water in cultivation is Karnataka is among the sat- not a good idea at all. isfied farmers in the localThough reluctant in the beginning, farmers were ity.

He is convinced happy as after a few Amarjyoti Borah rounds of he has learnt that meetings judicious use of the water and awareness campaigns by the which he gets through irri- organized gation in his 3 acre agricul- SAMUHA team with the tural land will also benefit help of the organisation's his other 2 acres land lo- network of paid volunteers, cated a bit far which doesn't majority of whom are farmreceive adequate irrigation ers.

Pampapathy has benefitwater, as well as cultivable land belonging to other ted immensely. After he farmers in the vicinity. Be- started using less water in sides, through this he is also his 3 acres of land, water helping several other farm- also started to reach his ers whose land falls at the other plot of land besides tail end of the irrigation the lands of other farmers.

He, like the other farmers project and earlier used to get very little water. there, gets water from the This happened after Tungabadra area's Right SAMUHA, a Karnataka Bank Canal. Earlier assumbased organization working ing that more water is good on various sustainable and for paddy, he used to keep development related issues, over 5 inches of water in his started an initiative under a field, but now keeps just the S A M U H A - H i n d u s t a n measured amount as adUnilever Foundation (HUF) vised to by the SAMUHA project. team.

"It is a wonderful feeling, Under this project, SAMUHA piloted a pro- and I have hugely benefitgram called FIC-Field Irriga- ted as now I have started to tion Channel to transform get good produce from my the situation by adopting 2 acre agriculture land as better methods such as ef- well," he said.

He added that earlier he ficient management of water, non-pesticide manage- was dependent on the rain ment in paddy crop. for cultivating on that plot SAMUHA is presently of land, and with rainfall beworking with 491 farmers coming erratic as a result of covering an area of 1340 impact of climate change, acre at the Deodurg taluk, his production was very and another 41 farmers cov- minimal. However, now it ering 51 acres of land in the has gone up almost 40-50 percent.

Karatagi taluk.

He also added that his Under the project, farmers

cost of cultivation has also gone down.

Citing an example, he said that in the year 2015-16, he had spent just Rs.17,590 per acre against the conventional cost of Rs.28,128 acre in the village.

"Earlier I was never able to get more than 4 quintals of Bajra from my 2 acre of land which doesn't come under irrigation, however last year in the Kharif season I had cultivated Maize and the production was over 30 quintals despite poor rainfall," he added.

Officials of the SAMUHA-HUF project explained that excessive use of water in the agricultural fields are actually not good for crops, and farmers who have used their suggestions have benefitted immensely.

The officials explained that the suggestions are very simple.

"We encourage them to use less water, and for this we have measured the minimum water level which should be there in the field.

We constantly make them aware that water above that level could infact bring negative results," said SS Ghanti, a senior official of Samuha.

Ghanti also said that this has brought down the incidence of pest attack on crops, and farmers are now using less fertilizer and many are even shifting towards Non Pesticide Management (NPM) farming.

"The major pests in the region where we are working (Deodurg and Karatagi) are Brown Plant Hopper (BPH), Stem borer, Leaf

folder and Case worms, and with farmers using measured water, pest attacks have come down," said Ghanti.

Ghanti also added that Pampapathy is just one example, and now many farmers have come forward to use the guidelines offered

by SAMUHA. Pampapathy has become the model to many of the farmers in the locality for efficient and productive way of using water for better crop productivity, and since last year many have started following him.

Many also acknowledged him for using water judiciously in his field as farmers at the tail end of the irrigation project now gets water.

One such farmer is Hanumantha, a resident of

Hemanuru village at Deodurg. He has benefitted to a great extent and the production from his field has gone up by almost 50 to 60 percent.

Sharing his experience he said that his 2 acres of cultivable land is located towards the tail end of the irrigation project, and for that he always used to receive less water than those 'ahead', and has always thought that he was very unlucky for this reason.

"After listening to the SAMUHA officials many farmers in the upper part of the project realized that not excessive but only measured quantity of water is required in cultivation, and for this now I and several other farmers at the tail end gets water, and the production results have been more

than impressive," he said.

He said that having to support a huge family of nine members, he always faced difficulties as the production was poor from his field.

"The upper farmers have been using less amount of water after being guided by SAMUHA to adapt to improved cultivation methods that requires less amount of water. Now, the surplus water is reaching tail-end farmers' fields. This year we didn't counter this issue," he said.

He also added that earlier he was dependent solely on rainwater, and whenever there was a bad monsoon he would face problem.

"Though the monsoon was weak last year, we were able to get a voluminous cotton crop with canal water.

There was no shortage of water this year," he said.

SAMUHA officials terms it a huge success, and have said that the success has been due to adequate awareness generation, and have also said that now several more farmers both in the upper end and the tail end have started approaching them for support.

"We plan to get as many farmers on board as possible, and this could be a solution to multiple problems like water shortage, pesticide attack. Till now we have got positive response from the farmers," said Ghanti.

Ghanti also said that the farmers from Karatagi have got an additional net gain of Rs 11,659, over the Conventional paddy in Kharif 2015.

Amarjyoti Borah is a Water Fellow

Writing a new Pakistan playbook The time has come for India to define the nature and scope of its conflict with Pakistan.

We should do so before it defines us and perpetuates the India-Pakistan 'hyphenation' Arguably, this is one of the darkest periods in India-Pakistan relations. The moot point is whether the two neighbours are meandering towards an existential crisis, given their history of troubled relations. It would seem so, as every time an attempt is made by India to reduce tensions, matters only seem to spiral downwards.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did reach out to his counterpart Nawaz Sharif even before he took office by inviting him to his swearing-in ceremony, but nothing has gone right since then. Terror attacks on Indian targets, both military and civilian, have only increased. A surge in hurling of invectives by both sides has also occurred. Both India and Pakistan have tweaked protocol to expel not one or two diplomats at a time but in far larger numbers. Recent incidents in the region are reminiscent of the Cold War era in the West; on one occasion in the latter half of the 20th century, the U.K. and the then Soviet Union had expelled as many as a hundred diplomats from their respective countries.

More 'give' than 'take' In the past too, Indian Prime Ministers had reached out to their Pakistani counterparts, hoping to find a solution to problems that eluded their diplomats. The Indian side - with the benefit of hindsight - at times had been over-generous (the Simla Agreement in 1972

between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, for example). Such initiatives were hailed when made, but reviled in the absence of any real progress. The Pakistani side has been more consistent, using such occasions to extract maximum benefits for itself, with little 'give' on their part.

Yet, India has persisted on this path. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were recent practitioners of this 'art of the possible'.

The debris of successive setbacks: Lahore (1999) and Agra (2001); Shimla and Sharm-elSheikh (2009), as well as more recent initiatives, have not quite dampened enthusiasm on our part for diplomatic negotiations at the very highest levels. On assuming office, Mr. Modi energised this kind of 'topdown' diplomacy and himself took the lead. His example was followed at the level of the Foreign Minister, National Security Adviser and the Foreign Secretary. All this only underscored the calibrated approach that India had followed for many years - balancing diplomatic moves with an occasional retaliatory step, even if the policy did not produce results.

Weak international support In the wake of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai (in which 166 people were killed) there was intense pressure on India to adopt a more robust and aggressive policy. India desisted from doing so, in the belief and hope that the international uproar that followed - what was de-

scribed as "an action just short of war", and the identification of Pakistan as a 'terror state' would bring that nation and its leaders to their senses. This has not happened. Instead, what we have seen more recently is a marked escalation in terrorist attacks from across the Line of Control and the International Boundary.

It is apparent, therefore, that despite India utilising all diplomatic means at its disposal, Pakistan has remained unmoved and has rejected all overtures. Questions are hence beginning to be raised as to whether this policy of 'more of the same' should continue.

Meanwhile, the persistence of the India-Pakistan conflict seems to be giving certain 'meddlesome outsiders' an opportunity to purvey the view that a war between the two neighbours is imminent, and that it could lead to a nuclear conflict. Such speculation is totally unwarranted, but is nevertheless gaining some traction.

The world does recognise that India is a victim of Pakistan's 'Terror Infrastructure Limited'. Nevertheless, the same world, including the UN, refuses to formally declare Pakistan a 'terrorist state'. Even the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which India has been pursuing in the UN for nearly two decades, is yet to see the light of day.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's provocations are increasing.

Since the beginning of this year, several terror attacks have occurred, starting with Pampore (in February) to Uri (in Sep-

The hedgehogs It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold.

The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm.

This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen.

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disap-

pear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

tember) and now Nagrota.

Worse, Pakistan has resorted to mutilation of the bodies of Indian soldiers killed in terror attacks. India has hence been forced to take retaliatory steps, including intense bombardment of Pakistani positions. Looked at from any angle (in one fiveday period in November, there were 27 ceasefire violations), it would appear that the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement lies in tatters.

The road from here Where do we go from here?

The road ahead is far from clear.

It is proving even more difficult to decide on the future steps. Everyone agrees that a change of strategy and approach is called for, but no one is certain what the strategy should be. We are indeed at the crossroads, and the time has come to define the nature and scope of our conflict with Pakistan. We should do so before it defines us. Perpetual conflict would play into Pakistan's hands and only perpetuate the 'hyphenation' of India-Pakistan. We have assiduously tried, and with difficulty succeeded, after years of effort in erasing this kind of 'hyphenation'. A change in strategy is needed if we are to get out of this modern-day 'Chakravyuha'.

Given the way Pakistan is structured, anyone negotiating a peace deal with India runs the risk of committing hara-kiri. At the same time, since peace is not at hand, any kind of a compromise on India's part - even a kind of grudging compromise - needs to be ruled out. Pakistan, for its part, would be only

too happy to continue with its current 'zero-sum' approach, but India should not fall into this trap.

Pakistan's military, identified by one and all as the most pervasive anti-India elemental force in Pakistan, remains opposed to any understanding with India - perhaps even on Pakistan's terms - as that would remove a key rationale for it to remain the dominant element in the country's affairs. With regard to foreign policy and national security affairs, the Pakistan Army has only recently tightened its grip. General Raheel Sharif's exit as Chief of the Army Staff and replacement by General Qamar Javed Bajwa does not presage any shift in policy.

No peace any time soon Two other aspects militate against an India-Pakistan rapprochement, as of now. One is the rising influence of radical extremist ideas and ideologies inside Pakistan. This is evident from the boldness with which terrorist outfits such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Pakistan, the Lashkar-eJhangvi and elements of the Islamic State have recently carried out attacks inside Pakistan. This is becoming the 'new normal' in Pakistan, further shrinking the space available for any India-Pakistan détente.

The other is the continuing turmoil and escalating unrest inside Jammu and Kashmir.

This is giving Pakistan an opportunity to mobilise international opinion against India on the issue of violation of human rights. Pakistan's Prime Minister could even afford to

utter the word 'intifada' with respect to Kashmir in his UN speech on this account. With separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir also voicing concerns about civilian deaths, and how this was endangering peace and stability in the region and beyond, Pakistan sees an opportunity to put India on the back foot.

One predicament India faces is that even as the U.S. and certain other nations have distanced themselves from Pakistan - given its penchant to use terror as a 'strategic instrumentality' against India and Afghanistan - it is not facing isolation. It is being befriended by not only China but even Russia. China sees Pakistan as not merely an ally, but a crucial partner in achieving success for its One Belt One Road initiative. Several countries of Asia and some in Eurasia have similarly fallen in line, but Pakistan's location is crucial for the success of the Chinese initiative. This is certain to increase Pakistan's recalcitrance towards India.

With the world facing an unusual degree of turbulence and a cluster of crises, achieving coherence in foreign policy is proving difficult for most countries. India faces even more difficult obstacles. It cannot afford more flip-flops in policy, or indulge in knee-jerk reactions. As the dominant power in South Asia and one of the world's leading democracies, India must find a proper answer to what could otherwise become a serious existential crisis of monumental proportions.

Viva Fidel!

Whatever our travails, our generation and the ones before us were fortunate to live in the decades in which there were great leaders, visionaries who combined their ideals with action and who changed the world they inherited. My own generation lived in the time of Mao, Tito, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Castro was the last of them all. And, he was the greatest of them all. At 90, he died old and frail, but undefeated and unbroken, standing up till the very end to the world's mightiest power that ceaselessly tried and unendingly failed to snuff him and his tiny great nation out. For the millions who mourn his death, he stood for something very basic - the ability and the will to stand up to a force infinitely larger and more powerful than oneself. And that he managed to do so till his last breath - unflinching and unblinking - makes him a real-life David that the world has seldom seen.

Rajat Rakhit Mohnaghat, Dibrugarh, ASSAM

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

WOMEN

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This Pioneering Doctor Discovered the First Case of HIV in India 30 Years Ago When Suniti Solomon, the groundbreaking HIV researcher who documented the first cases of the infection in India in 1986, passed away on July 28, 2015, The New Yorker wrote: "As HIV swept across the world, in the mid-nineteen-eighties, no country possessed a more menacing mix of conditions, predilections, and the kind of poverty likely to hasten an AIDS epidemic than India. Many researchers predicted a crisis unlike those in any other nation. But it never happened - in part because India had Suniti Solomon, the AIDS-treatment pioneer who died on Tuesday, at the age of seventy-six."

Sanchari Pal This is story of how Dr. Suniti Solomon's pioneering work in HIV startled the medical fraternity and pushed the government to act 30 years ago.

As a part of the research project, Dr. Solomon looked into the blood samples of 100 sex workers sheltered at a government home in Mylapore in Chennai. To her astonishment, she found that six of the 100 tested positive for HIV-among them a 13 year old girl who was forced into the sex trade. The samples were first sent to Christian Medical College in Vellore and later to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA to be tested independently. Both the institutes reconfirmed the findings - Dr. Solomon had made India's very first HIV diagnosis.

Dr. Solomon's findings sent shock waves through the medical fraternity in India. They knew that 6 out of 100 was very bad news, given the size

A soft spoken lady, Dr. Suniti Solomon had always been someone who never hesitated in taking courageous decisions.

Displaying the sort of pluck that she would be known for in the last three decades of her life, she decided to marry eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr Solomon Victor, at a time when inter-community marriages (Suniti was a Marathi-speaking Hindu while Solomon was Tamil Christian) were still ostracised in India.

After spending a few

years as a medical resident in pathology in Chicago's Cook County Hospital, Dr. Solomon returned to India to pursue her post graduation from Madras Medical College. She specifically chose microbiology because it included the subspecialty of immunology, which she believed would become increasingly important in the fight against infectious diseases in the future.

After her MD, Dr. Solomon joined the Institute of Microbiology in Madras Medical College

as a professor. At that time, many international medical journals were writing a lot about the HIV outbreaks in the world. An avid readers of these journals, Dr. Solomon realised that there was urgent need to find out if the HIV infection was present and spreading in India, even as the Indian government kept ducking the issue. So, to find if the little-known retrovirus was spreading in India, she initiated a research project at the Madras Medical College in 1986.

Dr Solomon was one of the first to talk openly about HIV in India and the stigma which accompanied it; she considered the latter to be just as, if not more, dangerous than the virus. She started the first HIV awareness (along with sex educa-

of India's population. When the findings were read out in the state legislative assembly, the Indian Government was forced to sit up and take notice. A series of research and training camps for medical and paramedical professionals on HIV infection were quickly put into place. A treatment regimen for those affected was also designed.

Dr Solomon knew that while the government had been made aware about the HIV threat, it would take time for their action plan to become active on the ground. Realizing the urgency of the situation, she set up India's first HIV voluntary counselling and testing centre at Madras Medical College herself. This centre would later

tion) programmes in schools and colleges braving the backlash from a conservative society. She also began publishing papers on HIV epidemiology, prevention, care, support and related gender issues.

Recalling those days in a

develop into Dr. Solomon's non-governmental organisation named after her father, the Y R Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE).

Dr. Solomon was also a member of the National Technical Team on women and AIDS and a member of the advisory board of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative-India, member of the Scientific Committee of the National AIDS Research Institute, Government of India, and a member of the Asia Data Safety Monitoring Board of the Division of AIDS, NIH, USA. A fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), New Delhi, she also served as the President of the AIDS Society of India.

2009 interview with India's Mint newspaper, Dr Solomon said, "My husband was a little worried and didn't want me to work with HIV-positive patients, most of whom at that time were homosexuals, those who self-injected

drugs and sex workers. And I said, look, you have to listen to their stories and you wouldn't say the same thing."

Known as "the AIDS doctor of Chennai", Dr Solomon soon became a household name in Tamil Nadu in the area of HIV prevention and people from distant places would come to her for HIV testing and counselling. She set up an office in her own house so people who wanted to avoid attention of passers-by could discreetly walk in for consultation. In an interview to the Times of India, Noori, one of the oldest HIV survivors of India, said about Dr. Solomon, "She didn't just break down science for us. She

taught us to live."

Realising that HIV-positive people needed drugs, she also started a pharmacy. Later, she also started a recuperating centre for serious patients who had been refused admission at public hospitals at the Voluntary Health Services (VHS) campus in Taramani.

She also trained and mentored like-minded junior doctors in the daily treatment and care of HIV-positive patients.

In 2012, Dr. Suniti Solomon was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Service on HIV/AIDS by the state-run Dr MGR Medical University here. Since its establishment, the YRG centre has cared for more than 20?000 patients with HIV from across south India and currently treats 100 outpatients a day with 15?000 patients on regular follow-up. The non-profit organisation also educates other doctors about HIV and works to reduce the stigma about people living with HIV. In 2009, the Ministry of Science and Technology conferred the 'National Women Bio-scientist Award' on her. In 2001, she was given a similar award for her pioneering work on HIV/AIDS by Tamil Nadu's state run medical varsity. In 2012, Dr. Suniti Solomon was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Service on HIV/AIDS by the state-run Dr MGR Medical

University here. The Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society had also given her a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was awarded a DMS (Honoris Cusa) by the Brown University in USA in 2006 and several other honours like the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for education and humanitarian services

While her work was initially disapproved by those around her, over the years, Dr. Solomon earned national and international recognition for her pioneering work, and along with it, the funding for her NGO.

For close to three decades Dr. Solomon used science to save and make lives, and lost hers to liver cancer in 2015. A doctor who dared to deal with HIV at a time when many physicians were reluctant to enter that field, Suniti Solomon worked tirelessly for the cause not just inside labs but outside as well. On World Aids Day, we salute this pioneering physician who didn't just make the discovery that helped the country begin its fight against HIV/AIDS, but also dedicated her life to battling the virus and the discrimination associated with it.

How These Beautiful Nungshiba Dolls Have Become a Means of Empowerment For Naga Women Astate defined by its lush mountainous terrain, picturesque village settlements and rich cultural heritage, Nagaland is also recognised for its finesse in fashion and handicrafts. In keeping with tradition, an

In 2011, Zuboni Humtsoe had just graduated from college. With her father seriously ill and her family undergoing a severe financial crisis, Humtsoe knew that she would have start earning immediately to be able to be contribute to her family's income. Sitting on the cold benches of the hospital, a determined Humtsoe promised herself that she would make her own destiny and not wait for anybody. While most of her relatives advised her to try for a government job, Humtsoe decided to follow

all-girls entrepreneurial team in Nagaland has started a unique venture called Nungshiba Handicrafts.

Not only does this initiative provide an opportunity to

her passion and set up a small business with the tiny capital of ? 3500 that she had saved from her college scholarship.

Passionate about art, fashion and photography, Humtsoe has always wanted to do something different. Taking inspiration from beautiful Japanese dolls, she decided to use left over fabrics to make beautiful handcrafted dolls that they would marketed under their brand, 'Precious Me Love' or PML. The idea behind this was to up-cycle fabrics and reduce carbon

emerging home-grown designers to market their handicrafts, it also helps them make a decent livelihood by selling them at their outlet.

Their most popular product?

The beautiful handcrafted Nungshiba dolls!

footprints while simultaneously empowering more local women in the process.

Over the years, Humtsoe worked really hard, taught herself, experimented, innovated, and kept herself open to feedback and criticism.

She also surrounded herself with genuine and positive people who inspired her to push herself and never give up. With time, everything started falling into place.

Today, PML sells everything from vintage clothing and fashion accessories to a variety of tribal handcrafts. However, their

signature products remains the traditional Nungshiba dolls. The dolls have been named Nungshiba (which means 'love' in Manipuri) in honour of PML's first crafts designer, Babita Meitei, a Manipuri.

Inspired by the beautiful tribal women of Nagaland, each Nungshiba doll is carefully designed and takes a day to make with two expert crafts women working to-

From their humble beginnings, PML has steadily grown to become one of the fastest growing online fashion brands from Nagaland. Today, PML employs 10 girls, including a differently-abled girl. The team includes Zuboni Humtsoe, the Marketing and Creative Head;

gether tirelessly. The end result is beautiful handmade dolls that wear unique mekhlas (traditional wraparounds worn by the Naga women of each tribe) with intricate pattern of beads and hand-stitched designs.

Humtsoe says that they take special care to ensure that each each Nungshiba handcrafted doll is special, unique and a joy that will last forever.

her sister Lozano, the Creative Director; Alen Konyak, the Logistics Manager, Wondeno Ezung; the official photographer; Lothungbeni Humtsoe, the Stylist and Sales Manager; Babita Meitei, the Handicrafts designer; Emilo Enny, Assistant Handicrafts Designer; Inali,

Julie and Zuchan, the Nungshiba doll-makers.

extension of her dreams, her personality and her ambition.

Recalling how tough it was initially to run her business with

the little money she had, she says that it had been tough journey but she was glad that she had made it.

When asked how it feels to be invited to present talks on her success story and to have encouraging strangers writing to her from across the world, in an interview to the local media Humtsoe says, "Never in my wildest dream did I think that it would turn out to be a serious career path. Who would have thought that a simple business run through Facebook would reach this level!

When I look back I feel like crying. I won't lie, it's been the most difficult but also the most rewarding and amazing experience."

A woman who has no qualms to admit that she knows what poverty feels like, Humtsoe also adds how proud she is of her hardworking team, explaining that while she still cannot pay them as much as she would like to, all the girls are happy and satisfied with their work at PML. The entire team follow a

work culture in which everybody is an equal and they all work, eats and play together. To foster a sense of oneness in the team, the girls also avoid speaking in their native tribal languages.

mission, as she states, is to build long-lasting relationships with her customers and clients by providing exceptional quality and customer services. She is also working to make PML a platform that offers a plethora

A talented entrepreneur who wishes to be a philanthropist one day, Humtsoe wants to build PML into a brand that celebrates fashion, feminity, creativity and freedom. Her

of opportunities for the local youth - PML has been regularly featuring and promoting talented young models, photographers, stylists, seamstresses, and doll-makers from Nagaland.

Rebelling against family pressures and financial hurdles, the women at PML are proof that there is no limit to what you can do or achieve when you

believe in yourself and your dreams. As Humtsoe, an inspiration to many women in Nagaland, says, "You can do anything or be

anybody you want to be, but you have to believe and never give up. Always remember no dream is too big and no dreamer too small."

Humstsoe describes PML as an

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

P8

NATION

Demonetisation:PAC to call RBI Bhikku-In-Charge of Bodh Gaya center Ven. K Guv in Jan to review eco impact Medhankara Thero transferred to Sarnath New Delhi, Dec 1: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today decided to call RBI Governor and top Finance Ministry officials next month to review the economic situation following the demonetisation of high value notes.

The decision to call RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das was taken unanimously by all the members of the Committee, headed by senior Congress leader K V Thomas.

"In the PAC meeting today, we took an unanimous decision that in first or second week of January, we will call the RBI Governor, Economic Affairs Secretary and Finance Secretary to review the economic situation after

Image for representation purpose. demonetisation," Thomas told PTI after the meeting.

The exact date will be decided depending on the availability of the RBI Governor, he added.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the

demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

According to various estimates, the GDP growth this fiscal is expected to witness a decline due to demonetisation, but the range varies from 0.5-2 per cent.

After releasing GDP

numbers for July-September, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian had yesterday said: "What we have for the first half are actual numbers. It shows good consistent performance. For the second half, we will have to see, there is a lot of uncertainty. We have to analyse it before we say something."

The Indian economy grew 7.3 per cent in the second quarter of 201617, up from 7.1 per cent in the previous threemonth period, as per the government data.

Last week in the Rajya Sabha, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said the demonetisation step was a "monumental management failure" which would lead to 2 per cent drop in GDP growth.

(PTI)

Bodh Gaya: The Joint Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India and outgoing Bhikku-In-Charge of Bodh Gaya center, Ven. K Medhankara Thero will move to Sarnath center of the Maha Bodhi Society of India in the same capacity and will be replaced by Ven. H Saddhatissa Thero, who was until now Bhikku-In-Charge of Lumbini center.Most Venerable K Medhankara Thero had been BhikkuIn-Charge for three years and also served as Assistant Bhikku-In-Charge for ten years in Bodh Gaya centre.

Among other major transfers Ven. Y Rahula Thero has now been appointed as Bhikku-In-Charge in Kolkata, Headquarters of the Maha Bodhi Society of India. The Maha Bodhi

Ven. K Medhankara Thero . file photo Society of India also appointed Ven. B Nanda Thero as Bhikku-InCharge at Lumbini center.

The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded by Anagarika Dhammapala in May, 1891 for the pur-

pose of resuscitation Buddhism in India and of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Buddha Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara.

Having its Headquarters in Kolkata its main attention has been paid in the restoration and revival of the glory and sanctity of Bodh Gaya. For this he founded the Society's first center at Buddha Gaya.Then centers were established in Sarnath, Sanchi, Lucknow, Orissa, New Delhi, Chennai Ajmer, etc.

Under the guidance of Ven. P Seewalee Thero, the present General Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Buddhagaya centre is extending a commendable service to the Society and the Buddhist community around the globe.

AP administration finally Mamata flight issue: Digvijaya suspects 'govt followTMC writes to Cen- ers' behind Twitter account hack shifts to new capital Amaravati, Dec 01: A new chapter began today for Andhra Pradesh as its seat of administration shifted completely to the new capital region of Amaravati.

A day after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu moved into his office chamber in the Government Transitional Headquarters (GTH) at Velagapudi, the Cabinet meeting was held here for the first time this afternoon, marking a new beginning in government administration in the state.

There were many false starts since June 29 when the AP Secretariat was to shift to Velagapudi from Hyderabad as construction of office buildings in the GTH dragged for

months.

In fact, Block-1, which houses the Chief Minister's Office had to be demolished and rebuilt to make it totally vastu-compliant.

It is only since October 3 that the Secretariat departments started relocating to Velagapudi one after the other, even as several internal works were still being carried out.

Chambers of many ministers, Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to the state government were ready only early last month, but the Chief Minister's Office remained incomplete till two days ago.

With the Chief Minister finally settling in his new office, the government

will now completely function from Velagapudi.

It will be at least two more years before the real Secretariat is built in the Administrative City in the capital.

Meanwhile, construction of the Legislature complex (temporary) is going on at a brisk pace opposite the CMO block in the GTH. The government has set December-end as the deadline to complete the construction of the building in all respects.

"Once the building is ready, we will hold a brief session of the Legislature here in January," Legislative Affairs and Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.

(PTI)

Defeat BJP to avenge demonetisation, Kejriwal tells UP

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Meerut, Dec 01: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the people of Uttar Pradesh to vote against the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections to avenge the hardships caused by note ban.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also told a rally here that demonetisation was the "biggest scandal in independent India" and it was actually meant to help the super rich.

Towards the end of his 35-minute speech, Kejriwal said Narendra Modi would not have become the Prime Minister but for the massive support he got in the Lok Sabha polls of 2014 from

Uttar Pradesh.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won 71 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats while an ally took another two.

"It is now your responsibility" to ensure the BJP's defeat in the assembly elections due early next year, Kejriwal said.

"People must avenge every minute they have spent standing in queues at banks and ATMs" following the November 8 ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and the cash crunch they were now battling, he said.

The AAP leader alleged that papers seized by the Income Tax department following raids on two

corporate houses in 2013 and 2014 showed that huge bribes were paid to Modi when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister.

He urged Modi to have the allegations investigated to clear his name.

"The BJP has made several allegations against us but we always told them to get these investigated. But why is Modiji scared? It makes us wonder if the allegations are true."

Kejriwal said the reason the demonetisation took place was to force people to deposit in banks all the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes so that the government could waive off Rs 8 lakh crore worth of loans of corporates.

He said that demonetisation was not meant to curb black money but to benefit the biggest corporate houses.

"Modiji says demonetisation is aimed at ending corruption and black money. But it is actually a scheme to turn black money of Modiji's friends into white," Kejriwal said. "We have been cheated, people have been cheated."

(PTI)

Haryana to promote digital payments Chandigarh, Dec 1: To promote digital payments in the state, Haryana government has launched a massive awareness campaign, beginning with the seminars of opinion makers in all the districts tomorrow.

All Deputy Commission-

ers would organise the seminars, which would include Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the district, an official spokesman said here today.

The seminar would also be attended by Chairman and Members of Zila

Parishad, Chairman of the Block Samitis, Mayor or President, Municipal Committee, representatives of prominent social organisations, voluntary bodies, prominent educational institutions, District Manager and senior officials of the banks.

(PTI)

tre, demands probe

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's.

Kolkata, Dec 1: TMC today wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju, demanding a through inquiry by his ministry to unearth the truth behind Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's flight being made to hover over the Kolkata airport despite the plane reportedly running low on fuel.

"We have written a letter to Raju, demanding a highlevel probe into the incident by the Civil Aviation Ministry to unfold the truth and reasons for the dillydallying attitude of the Air Traffic Controller, NSCBI airport," TMC vice- president Mukul Roy told reporters.

"We hope the inquiry report will be given to us within a fortnight or a month from the date of

receipt of the letter," Roy said.

A political row has erupted over Banerjee's IndiGo flight from Patna to Kolkata being made to wait despite the plane reportedly low on fuel with TMC members raising the issue in Parliament today.

The party has demanded that it be ascertained if there was any conspiracy to kill the West Bengal Chief Minister.

"This is nothing but a conspiracy to kill our chief minister as she has raised voice against demonetisation and is touring the country to organise a mass movement against the antipeople decision. We think a proper inquiry should be held to unearth the truth," Roy said. (PTI)

The Congress has filed a complaint with the Cyber cell of Delhi Police on the hacking of Gandhi's account New Delhi, Dec 01: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday suspected role of "followers of the government" behind hacking of Twitter accounts of the party and its vice president Rahul Gandhi and demanded a probe in it.

Latching on to the development, Singh also raised questions over demonetisation and wondered if bank accounts will be safe when people move to plastic money as the Centre has been asking them to do in order to combat black money.

"We suspect some of the government's followers only have hacked the official account of Congress. Congress' account is being hacked, why not of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's)? Rahul Gandhi's account is being hacked, why not that of Narendra Modi or Amit Shah? This should be probed," Singh told reporters on Parliament premise.

Hitting back, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Congress will blame BJP even if its leaders experience stomachache.

Naqvi, though said the government will take "relevant" steps when Congress files complaints.

"As far as Congress party is concerned, it will blame BJP even if its leaders have

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. stomachache. We can't comment on that, we don't have solution for it," the minister said.

When asked about Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stating that prompt action has been taken in the matter, Singh appeared unimpressed and contended the government is still not aware of who are the people behind the hacking episode. "...Then what digital world the Prime Minister is talking about? That all should use plastic currency. Can the Prime Minister assure the 120 crore people of the country that if one's account is hacked and money is stolen from any place, China, Europe, America...Will Modiji com-

pensate for that?" he asked.

Noting some countries have professional hackers who target establishment of other countries, another senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal demanded the government must assure people it will be ahead of "such hackers" and that accounts of public will not be hacked.

The official Twitter accounts of Indian National Congress and party vice president Rahul Gandhiwere hacked and some messages laden with expletives and profanities posted on it, the party said.

The Congress has, meanwhile, filed a complaint with the Cyber cell of Delhi Police on the hacking of Gandhi's Twitter account.(Agencies)

Opposition protests continue; LS adjourns New Delhi, Dec 01: The government and the Opposition on Thursday, yet again failed to break the deadlock over discussion on the demonetisation issue under provisions that entail voting and the noisy scenes prompted the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.

As the House assembled at noon after a brief adjournment, the Opposition demanded discussion on the issue of demonetisation.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the Opposition wants to hold discussion on the issue.

"You should give consent for discussion under Rule 56. This is a big issue, scam and scandal. Government employees, poor people are not getting salaries. We want to put forth the problems faced by them. But you want to run away from discussion. People are being murdered in installments.

Every day there is a new firman (order), the country is facing trouble, but the government is at ease," Mr. Kharge said.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took an objection to the

A view of the Lok Sabha during the winter session, in New Delhi. word 'scandal' used by Mr. Kharge. "This is not a scandal. I am ready for discussion. Even yesterday, I said I can relax all rules for discussion on the issue as this is under my jurisdiction.

Let's start the discussion," she said.

However, the Opposition, joined by the JD(U), CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress jumped into the Well, demanding discussion under provisions that entail voting.

Hitting out at the Opposition, particularly the Congress, Parliamentary Affairs

Minister Ananth Kumar said, "We are ready for discussion, but the Congress is not. You (Mahajan) said we can discuss everything, from zero to universe, but Congress only wants to go from zero to zero. They should not dare to stop the fight against black money as the whole country is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

As the deadlock continued, TRS MP Jithender Reddy sought an intervention from seniors like BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab.

Mr. Mahtab said Parliament

functions on rules and conventions and not as per the "whims and caprice." "I request the government to take initiative and talk to respective political parties and start the discussion," he said.

When Ms. Mahajan again said, "Let's start the discussion," Mr. Kharge said this was possible only under provision of voting.

Attacking the government, TMC's Sudip Bandopadhyay, said the black money holders are happy because the government has fixed the "50-50 ratio", while poor are suffering. He was referring to the new amendments in IT Act passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Black money should be properly punished, but what is happening is that common people are suffering. We simply want discussion with voting. Why is the government not ready for discussion," the TMC MP asked.

Opposition members, including those from Congress and TMC, stood in the Well of the House, raising their pitch against the government over the

demonetisation issue.

Members from the Left parties, Samajwadi Party and AIUDF also joined them while those from the AIADMK and NCP were seen standing near their seats.

Interestingly, as Opposition members raised anti-government slogans demanding voting, BJP members started shouting 'Modi Modi' to counter them.

Earlier when the House assembled for the day, Ms. Mahajan took up the Question Hour, but protesting Opposition members turned vociferous with their slogan shouting besides occasionally resorting to howling and clapping.

In the din, the Speaker could take up only two questions and the related supplementaries, before adjourning the House proceedings till noon.

Rahul Gandhi was present in the House during the Question Hour, and most of the time he was seen talking to Congress MPs Jyotiraditya Scindia, Shashi Tharoor and Deepender Singh Hooda.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

How to Study for College

Do you have exams coming up soon? Are you worried about how to study for them?

Maybe you could roll through high school half asleep with your hands tied behind your back, but unfortunately college is a slightly different level.

Once you know how to tackle studying at the college level, you'll be better equipped to ace your exams.

Before a Study Session Make a schedule for all of your exams Arrange them by date so that the one you are having first comes at the top, then your next exam, then the next etc.

Read the syllabus that comes with your classes. Ø By the time finals roll around, your time is precious -- every minute counts.

Which is why scheduling is essential during the weeks (er, days) prior to exams. So as not to go totally bonkers during this stressful time, make a realistic study schedule for yourself, too. Leave yourself time for breaks -- you'll be taking them anyway -- and be sure to prioritize according to which class you'll need to study for the most. ØThe syllabus is one of the most important papers your professor will give you. Hold onto it! Use it when you're studying for your finals as a sort of outline. It may also make it clear what topics your instructor finds interesting and important -- certain topics may pop up more than others and those are definitely the ones to crack down on.

Start highlighting and creating Do you have to study just words? If yes, type them out in a word processor and print them. The words you already know should not be on the list.

Make absolutely sure that you know them before you take them off the list! Ø Go through your notes and highlight major vocabulary words and concepts (in different colors!). Manipulate the material to your liking.

Create charts and index cards to help yourself study. Make cards in different categories -some for terms and/or concepts, some for formulas, and some for specific quotes from reading assignments.

Coax a friend to come with you And if they're in your class, all the better (for themand you). However, make sure it's someone who's serious about studying -- goofing off together won't be very productive. A friend is beneficial if you can stay focused. Ø Take turns explaining terms and concepts to each other.

Odds are if you can explain it to someone else (and they can follow), you have a good grasp on the material and that'll show up on the exam.

Scope out a nice area to study Study in a quiet place that has a nice chair you won't hesitate to spend large chunks of time in. If you find the perfect chair in a not-so-perfect area, move it. It's not glued to the floor for a reason. Ø Or, rather, scope out nice areas (yep, that's plural) to study. Believe it or not, several (again with the plural) studies have found that if you switch up your environment while learning, retention is increased. Somehow, magically, keeping your brain surrounded by new stimuli makes the information more interesting and therefore easier to remember. So if you get antsy, listen to your gut and find a new armchair to sink into.

Gather all your materials (and some goodies, too) When you leave your dorm room or home, make sure you

have everything you need and then some. Grab all your papers, folders, writing utensils and books you need, but make sure to not forget the almost more important stuff: a water bottle, some money (just in case), your headphones, and snacks to munch on. Ø Magically, chocolate is starting to be deemed the new "super fruit." It's high in antioxidants and healthy plant compounds, even more so than most fruit juices. So don't feel guilty about grabbing your dark chocolate bar when you hit the study room. You may actually be doing yourself a favor.

During a Study Session Take frequent breaks It won't help if you'll study continuously for 5 hours.

Your body (and even your brain) needs a break. Eat something and drink a glass of milk or water. Study for 20-30 minutes, have a 5 minute break and then study again for 2030 minutes. You will learn much more. Ø According to the Dartmouth Academic Skills Center, you should study in 20-50 minute increments and give yourself a 5 to 10 minute break between each session. For best results, study throughout one full week.

Listen to music Most people have heard of the Mozart effect. That's where you listen to Mozart and miraculously you get smarter. Not surprisingly, most of it's crap. But there is a thread of something tangible there, and it's in all music.

EDUCATION P9 9 reasons to study Art in high school Teachers are often asked why students should study Art in high school. The common responses relate to creative thinking, broadening the mind and feeding the soul: all of which do little to address fears about ‘soft’ subjects, university entrance, careers and longterm financial well-being.

Employment and salary statistics for graduates of Art and Design degrees are typically dismal: the worst of all degrees. Contrary to popular belief, however, creative subjects are no longer a welltrodden route to poverty; they are an excellent choice for a growing number of students.

in a much wider range of professions. Unless you are aiming for a degree that requires particular specialism (university websites clearly outline recommended and required subjects), it can be beneficial to select a wide range of subjects.

Software Association notes that between 2005 and 2009: The entertainment software industry’s annual growth rate exceeded 10 percent. Over the same period, the entire U.S. economy grew at a rate of less than two percent.

1. The internet has created an explosion While Art continues to of opportunity for digital designers and mul- be a desirable option for students wishing to purtimedia artists sue ‘traditional’ creative The world is filled with careers, such as Architeccomputers, smartphones, ture, Interior Design or tablets and other portable Painting / Fine Art related electronic devices. Al- professions, the internet most all businesses have has seen an explosion of an online presence, with exciting, new roles online advertising in- emerge. creasing by the day. We 2. Fine artists can are connected to the reach a worldwide marinternet for long periods, ket at the click of a seeking information, button socialising, playing, shopping, watching videos and For the first time ever, engaging in other forms of online entertainment. those who make fine art, The demand for web de- sculptures, photographs, signers, app designers, fashion garments and software designers, other hand-crafted prodgraphic designers, digital ucts are able to market illustrators, multimedia and sell these directly to artists, video producers, the public – on a large online publishers, anima- scale – without going

Study in a group Study groups can motivate you to get started when it's hard to motivate yourself -plus, explaining difficult concepts out loud will help you figure out what you understand and what you still need to go over, and getting a group together will allow you to divide and conquer definition of terms and explanations of concepts. And if you can get each member to bring a snack, that's incentive to actually meet! Ø Have each student prepare for the practice session by bringing in a couple of practice questions or prompts (maybe what they find the most confusing). Together, the group will work through the answers, solving each person's most burning questions. However, don't take a group mentality and get off track though! And make sure everyone shares accurate information; otherwise, the whole group will get lead unintentionally astray.

The National Endowment for the Arts notes that: A surge in demand for multimedia artists, animators, and illustrators—especially those who are computer – and technology-savvy—is projected for 2018, due to companies’ demand for advertising in online and digital formats.

An Australian study analysing national census data, found that the number of people working in art-related roles that are embedded within other professions (i.e. visual designers working in other industries) has almost doubled in size between 1996 and 2006.

The Entertainment

lated subject alongside other subjects will not disadvantage you (this is a popular topic of debate in the UK’s Student Room, however the official representatives from twenty six UK universities who spoke to The Guardian confirm that, aside from the stated required or recommended subjects for each degree, no subjects are looked upon favourably when considering an applicant for UK universities).

especially those with a heavy exam load in other subjects or those who struggle with exam anxiety – this advantage is significant.

If you excel in Art, don’t be convinced to take a more ‘useful’ subject – unless you want to or are good at it. If you have ability in a creative Art enhances fine mo- area: grasp it. Let it shine. tor skills, hand-eye coor7. Art marks are not dination, problem solving skills, lateral thinking, solely dependent on an complex analysis and exam critical thinking skills. No Some students panic in matter what career you choose, those who can exams. Some are sick on arrange, present and dis- exam day or suffer tragplay material in a way edies in the weeks leadthat is aesthetically pleas- ing up to assessment.

There are any number of ing have an advantage. reasons why examination 6. Good marks im- performance – achievepress, no matter what ment in a two or three hour block – might not

While the heavy workload can be an initial shock (this article may help if you are struggling to get your art homework done); those who survive emerge with focus, organisational and time management skills that many other students dream of.

James Catterall, leadwere previously rarely ing professor and Chair of possible. Creators of the Faculty at the UCLA original content often Graduate School of Eduhave the upper hand.

through a third-party such as a gallery. Marketing and selling products via an artist website or print-on-demand facility enables artists to ship printed images and products to an audience that would previously never have known they existed.

Instead of institutions or established galleries deciding which artworks ‘make it’, the public votes work into the spotlight through viral sharing on social media.

This doesn’t mean that making a living in these fields is easy. Competition remains tough, with an oversupply of those wishing to work in a creative field. Success will always require skill, commitment, dedication and good business sense.

Nonetheless, the playing field has been levelled. A multitude of individuals are able to make their living in creative ways that

Most Art and Design subjects are not assessed in this way. While some have an examination component, a large quantity of the work that is assessed is completed during class or homework time over the duration of the year. Art students often arrive at exam season with a significant portion (if not all) of their Art marks accumulated and accounted for. For many students –

3. High school students can achieve recognition while studying Part of the joy of a high school Art course is that you don’t just study Art: you make it. Those who are skilful, driven and passionate – and produce high quality, gut-wrenching work – are in a position to achieve recognition even while studying.

With broadband streaming into your living room, youth is no longer a barrier to success.

4. Those with a wide skill set have an advantage, in any career Some people excel at mathematics. Others have strengths in written language. Others excel in creative areas such as Art and Design. If you are lucky enough to excel in two or three of these areas, you are part

Mix it up Not only will your attention span appreciate it, but your brain will more easily take it in as well. Instead of sticking to vocabulary, cover it and then switch to concepts and reading passages.

tion artists, game designers and many other digital careers is undergoing unprecedented growth.

reflect the true ability of a candidate.

5. Studying Art improves performance in other subjects

Ø That original Mozart study was done on young adults, not babies (so you're in luck!). And while the music by no means made the participants smarter, it did increase the brain's alertness for about 15 minutes afterward. When the study was extended, it showed that any music (so long as the participant enjoys it) can stimulate the brain, not just Mozart.

And, in fact, getting up and running around or doing jumping jacks can do the same thing. So whatever it is, find a way to get your brain jogging.

Ø You know how musicians practice with a mix of scales intertwined with actual pieces and rhythm practice? And how athletes never do the same drills two times in a row?

They're doing what you should: using a panoply of skills in one session. Your brain will be more impressed.

Outstanding marks, in any subject, indicate skill; intellectual rigour; strong work ethic and a commitment to fulfilling one’s potential. All of these things are desirable traits in an employee or university applicant.

Most medical schools prefer that you study Chemistry and Biology over Art – but this does not mean that Art is any less valuable: it means that it is less valuable for medical students. For the vast majority of university degrees, taking an art-re-

of a much smaller subset of the population. Those who are multi-skilled are astronomically more useful, well-rounded, hireable and capable of excelling

cation and Information Studies, has studied 12,000 students over twelve years. His research demonstrates that involvement in the arts (both Visual Art and Performing Art) – especially for students from a lowincome background – is associated with higher levels of attainment in both high school and university. Catterall also notes that studying the arts can have other positive benefits such as greater involvement in community service.

(More information can be found in his book Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art – affiliate link).

8.

Coursework teaches you self-discipline Art and Design qualifications have a large workload. Students who take the subject must adapt as a matter of survival.

9. Art makes you happy High school Art programmes begin with observation of the real world: recording, analysis and creation of a visual response to the surroundings. Art makes students look at things anew – even mundane ordinary aspects of the world. The fluffy, ‘feel good’ reasons that are usually given for selecting Art as a subject are given because they are right. Art doesfill the soul.

There is something magical about smearing pencil and paint across a piece of paper and sculpting form with your hands.

Communicating with colour and shape and form awakens the imagination; it opens a door to ‘now’. If you love making art, you’ll miss it when it’s gone. And if you do choose to study Art, chances are, it will be your favourite class of the day.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

Chat with Donald Trump won't save Nawaz Sharif from Panama scandal: Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman In a taunting reference to a letter by Qatari prince, Imran Khan said Pakistan's president Sharif could not be saved from the Panama Papers scandal "even if a Trump letter arrived", Dawn reported.

Islamad, Dec 01: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump cannot "save him" from the Panama Papers scandal, cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan said on Thursday. While it was good news that Trump spoke to Sharif, the chat will do no favour to the premier in the Panamagate case, the Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman tweeted.

Khan was referring to Sharif's telephonic conversation with Trump on Wednesday, during which the Pakistani premier congratulated America's president-elect on his recent victory in the US polls.

Trump told Prime Minister Sharif that he has a "very good reputation". In a taunting reference to a letter by Qatari prince Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, Khan said Sharif could not be saved from the Panama Papers scandal "even if a

Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was referring to Pak president Sharif's telephonic conversation with Trump on Wednesday, during which the Pakistani premier congratulated America's president-elect on his recent victory in the US polls.

Trump letter arrived", Dawn reported.

The Qatari prince's letter was submitted in the Supreme Court in connection with the Panamagate case.

In the letter, the Qatari royal had described his father's business ties with Sharif's family and his in-

volvement in the London apartments that are at the centre of the Panama Papers controversy.

Khan on November 14 submitted the documents containing details of alleged bank accounts held by the Sharif family and loan write-off schemes. (PTI)

Aziz to visit India on Sunday for Heart of Asia meet Islamabad, Dec 01: Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz is set to visit India on Sunday to attend the Heart of Asia (HoA) meet in Amritsar, according to a media report.

The two-day conference is being held in Amritsar this weekend (December 3-4) and Aziz will visit Amritsar on Sunday, Dawn News reported.

Aziz is leading the Pakistani delegation to the meeting of the process that focuses on regional co-operation between Afghanistan and its neighbours for improving connectivity and tackling security threats.

But, no meeting with Indian officials is sched-

uled on the sidelines, the report said.

"For now we don't see any willingness on their part...The ball is in India's court, for they know we are willing but we don't know whether they are willing," an official was quoted as saying.

Pakistan and India had held a meeting in Islamabad at the last HoA ministerial meeting and agreed to start 'Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue' that was to cover all outstanding issues.

The resumption of the dialogue could, however, not take place due to the Pathankot terror attack in January this year.

An official was also quoted as saying that Pa-

Malaysia bridge collapse: Rescue operations stopped, one worker still missing

At least 23 tricked into paying for ZoukOut tickets on online websites in Singapore

Revellers at the annual beach festival ZoukOut. At least 23 police reports have been made by victims who were tricked into paying for ZoukOut tickets online.

reports were made by victims who were tricked into paying for ZoukOut tickets online, according to latest figures released by the police on Dec 1. The total amount cheated was $3,400.

These cases involving sale of tickets online are among the 1,491 online purchase scams reported from January to September this year.

Most victims were tricked while using online community marketplaces such as Carousell, Craigslist, Gumtree and Facebook, police said.

The scammers would ask victims for advanced payments for tickets, either as a deposit or in full, to be transferred to a local bank account before the item can be delivered.

But these scammers would disappear soon after.

Said Mr Goh, who has since got a resale ticket through a friend: "It is a lesson learnt. It is always better to pay for the item when you meet up." Police investigations are ongoing. (Agencies)

Singapore, Dec 01: Hoping to watch his favourite DJs in action at this year's ZoukOut, Mr Benjamin Goh scoured online marketplace Carousell in October for tickets.

The 18-year-old full-time national serviceman thought he had scored a good deal when he found a two-day festival ticket going for $140, about $70 cheaper than its original price.

He paid a $40 deposit im-

mediately. But when it was time to meet up to collect the ticket a few weeks later, the seller became uncontactable.

"I waited for him for an hour at the meeting point.

He blocked me on WhatsApp and when I tried calling his phone, he didn't pick up or it would be unavailable," said Mr Goh, who then made a police report on Nov 12.

In November, at least 23

CPEC changed narrative about Pakistan: Sharif

Fukushima costs to double to nearly USD 180 bn

Islamabad, Dec 01: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project has changed the negative security narrative into an exceedingly positive economic narrative for Pakistan, Prime Minister said today as he reviewed the progress on multi-billion dollars venture.

Sharif chaired a meeting at Prime Minister House to review at length the benchmarks set for numerous energy, transport infrastructure and industrial projects in terms of deliverables with particular focus on development of Gwadar Port along with socio-economic uplift projects in Gwadar.

The Prime Minister said that CPEC is Pakistan's strategic economic initiative that has been significantly attracting the world in general and regional countries in particular.

"The CPEC has changed the negative security narrative into an exceedingly positive economic narrative for Pakistan," he said.

The successful implementation of the projects under the umbrella of CPEC is a manifestation of the strong and time-tested friendship between China and Pakistan, he said.

Sharif also said that the success of CPEC has been substantiated by the massive and further expanding foreign investment in Pakistan.

"There is a compelling reason for international investors for investments in Pakistan because of the success story of CPEC initiatives," said the Prime Minister.(Agencies)

Tokyo, Dec 01: The estimated cost of dealing with the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis has doubled to some USD 180 billion, a report said today, underlining the challenge Japan faces in overcoming the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

The Japanese government now estimates that total costs - including compensation, decommissioning and decontamination - could reach 20 trillion yen (USD 178 billion) or even more, public broadcaster NHK reported today.

The figure, which it obtained from unidentified governmentsources, is nearly double the previous estimate of 11 trillion yen made three years ago.

An official at the economy, trade and industry ministry, which oversees the nuclear sector, could not confirm the report.

But he said the government was working to finalise the latest estimate of total costs, while an expert panel is discussing how to share them with Fukushima operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) and others.

"Discussions will con-

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INTERNATIONAL

tinue into next year," the official said.

A massive undersea quake on March 11, 2011, sent a giant tsunami barrelling into Japan's northeastern coast, leaving more than 18,500 people dead or missing, and sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

It was Japan's worst postwar disaster and the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

The cost of decommissioning Fukushima, to be borne by TEPCO, will likely quadruple from the earlier estimate to eight trillion yen while decommissioning and compensation costs will also rise by trillions of yen, NHK said.

TEPCO faces a massive task of clearing highly radioactive spent fuel rods from its badly damaged reactors, and the entire decommissioning process is expected to take up to four decades.

It also has to pay compensation to residents, while the government will incur part of the costs for decontamination and building storage for contaminated debris. (Agencies)

An overhead pedestrian bridge collapsed near Mid Valley Megamall in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Dec 01: The search and rescue operations at the collapsed bridge near Mid Valley Megamall have been stopped, although there is still the mystery of one missing worker.

City Fire and Rescue Department deputy operations chief Ruhisha Haris said K-9 teams were deployed but could find no signs of a body at the site.

The bridge collapsed on Wednesday (Nov 30).

"Since there are no signs of a dead body, as confirmed by our K-9 unit, I ended our operations at 11am," he said when met at the site shortly after.

However, the mystery of the missing construction worker still remains.

"We first received information that the worker might have been

trapped‌ because a colleague saw him under the bridge a few minutes before it collapsed.

"A headcount by the developer also revealed a missing worker, but they were unable to give us a name," he said.

Mr Ruhisha conceded that the body may have fallen into the river, but said the chances of that were slim.

"I don't discount it, but the worker was last seen on the road under the bridge, so it is unlikely," he said.

He added that firemen would still be stationed at the site in case a body is found during the cleanup.

"The investigation into the cause of the collapse will be taken over by the Public Works Department," he said.

(Agencies)

China could further ease childbirth curbs: Govt think-tank Beijing, Dec 01: China might further relax, or even scrap, restrictions on childbirth to avoid a "low birthrate trap", an influential government think-tank has said, as the country debates how to avert a demographic timebomb.

China's birth rate, one of the world's lowest, is fast becoming a worry for authorities, rather than the achievement it was considered at a time when the government feared over-population.

Beijing formally allowed all couples to have two children in October last year after decades of enforcing a strict one-child policy for the vast majority of the population.

But the two-child policy is not the "end point" for adjustments to regulations on childbirth, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said in a report.

"As lifestyles change, people marry and give birth later, and the willingness to give birth increasingly drops," the top think-tank said in its yearly Green Book on population and labour released on Wednesday (Nov 30).

"In order to avoid falling into a 'low birth rate trap', our nation may in the future be required to further loosen its restrictions on giving birth, or even abolish them," it added.

The government's easing of family planning restrictions, which originally began in 2013, aims to alleviate demographic strains on the economy, such as a rapidly aging population and a shrinking workforce.

Despite allowing all couples to have two children, officials maintain curbs are necessary, because of the pressure China's large population exerts on resources and the environment.

In March, asked to predict when China might end restrictions on childbirth, Li Bin, head of the National Health and Family Planning Commision, replied, "There is no timeline".

Adjusting the controversial policy, first introduced in the late 1970s to limit population growth, may help boost consumption and slow society's aging, but it has also brought new obstacles.

Many of the 90 million families eligible for a second child are lukewarm to the prospect, especially young couples living in big cities who face a heavy economic burden.

Following the changes, hundreds of parents who lost an only child, often seen as the primary means of support in old age, protested in Beijing in April to demand more compensation from the government.

(Agencies)

Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz . kistan had not formally reached out to India for a bilateral meeting in Amritsar.

Pakistan's High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit, while participating

in BBC Urdu's 'Facebook Live' interaction on Wednesday, said Pakistan was ready for unconditional resumption of dialogue if India is ready.

External Affairs Minister

Sushma Swaraj is not attending the HoA ministerial meeting.

"Since Sushma Swaraj is not attending, it's difficult to have a meeting with anyone else," the daily quoted a Pakistani diplomat as saying.

"The Pakistani side believes that the way out of the current stalemate in ties is India giving up its intransigence," the daily said.

"India has to make up its mind. They are not willing to discuss Kashmir," the official said.

India has been noncommittal about holding bilateral talks with Aziz but has made it clear that "talks and terror cannot go hand in hand". (PTI)

Trump offers to play any role in addressing Paks problems Islamabad/Washington, Dec 1: Donald Trump lavished praise on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offered to play "any role" in helping Pakistan address its problems, a Pakistani statement said, even as the US Presidentelects transition team just described their discussion as "productive".

Sharif called Trump last night to congratulate him as the two leaders discussed various issues.

"I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honour and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January, that is before I assume my office," Trump told Sharif, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Prime Ministers Office.

Trump also told Prime

Minister Sharif that he has a "very good reputation", the statement said.

"You (Sharif) are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long," Trump was quoted as telling Sharif.

Trump said Pakistan is an "amazing" country with "tremendous opportunities", the statement said.

"Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people," the President-elect said.

Sharif also invited Trump to visit Pakistan.

In his reply, Trump said, "he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people."

"Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pa-

kistanis I have known are exceptional people," said Trump.

However, Trumps lavish praise for Sharif and his offer to play a role in addressing Pakistans problems found no mention in the readout of the conversation between the two leaders issued by Trumps transition team.

"President-elect Trump and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spoke today and had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future," the transition team said.

"President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif," the transition team said.

(PTI)

FBI: Islamic State group may have inspired OSU attacker No direct contact between Somali-born student and terror group but on Facebook he professed support for jihadists Ohio, Dec 01: A Somali-born student who carried out a carand-knife attack at Ohio State University may have been inspired by the Islamic State group and a former al-Qaida leader, investigators said Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials said it's too soon to say if the rampage that hurt 11 people on Monday was terrorism and that they were not aware of any direct contact between the Islamic State and the attacker.

"We only believe he may have been inspired" by the group and Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born cleric who took a leadership role in al-Qaida before being killed in 2011, said Angela Byers, an FBI agent leading the investigation.

The FBI said it was looking to verify whether rantings posted on Facebook about US interference in Muslim lands on the morning of the attack were made by the assailant, Ohio State student Abdul Razak Ali Artan.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson echoed the FBI, explaining that there were no direct links to terror groups.

Even though Artan professed support for radical Islamists on his Facebook page and an Islamic State-linked news agency claimed he was an IS "soldier," Johnson said the probe had so far not revealed any direct communications between Artan and such groups.

"At this point we see no direct links to any terrorist organization," Johnson said.

"The indications are right now that this was an act of someone who was self-radicalized."

Officials have not declared the assault a terror attack, but on Tuesday the IS-linked news agency Amaq said the rampage was inspired by IS calls to action.

"He carried out the operation in response to calls to target citizens of international coalition countries," Amaq quoted

Ohio State University attacker Abdul Razak Ali Artan in Columbus an insider source as saying, according to a translation by the SITE group that monitors extremists.

A Facebook page believed to belong to Artan - and since taken offline - included complaints against the United States.

"I can't take it any more.

America! Stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah," he wrote, according to copies of the Facebook page saved by US media.

"If you want us Muslims to stop carrying (out) lone wolf attacks, then make peace," the post reads. "We will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims."

Police did say that Artan bought a knife before the attack but do not know if that was the weapon he used.

The 18-year-old was fatally shot by a police officer shortly after driving into pedestrians and then slashing others with a knife.

Ohio State students on Wednesday continued to offer messages of support.

All four panels of a twosided board in the student union were filled with messages in the morning. Writ-

ers using markers have contributed Bible verses, famous quotations and wellwishes to both the victims and police.

A number of students stopped by to check out the board by the information desk in the union. Around them, a tour guide led prospective students and their parents out into the drizzle.

Three of the 11 people injured in the attack remain hospitalized and are expected to recover, according to the Ohio State medical center.

On Tuesday evening, a leader of a Somali community association in Columbus said Artan drove his siblings to school as normal beforehand.

Artan's mother said she didn't know anything was wrong until police showed up at her door, said Hassan Omar, pres i d e n t o f t h e S o m a l i Community Association, relating an in-person conversation he had with the mother Monday afternoon.

Nothing seemed different about her son, who she said was enjoying his education, Omar said.

"He woke up and he went to school," Omar said.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

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BUSINESS

Reliance Jio extends free voice & data till March 2017 AAI to fill nearly 2,100 posts Mumbai, Dec 01: Industrialist Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio on Thursday announced to extend the freebies including free voice call, and data services till March 31, 2017 through "Jio Happy New Year" offer, a move seen to rapidly double the Jio subscribers to over 100 million from 52 million now.

"I want to announce today... that starting 4th of December, 2016, every new Jio user will get...

Jio's Data, Voice, Video and the full bouquet of Jio applications and content, absolutely free, till 31st March 2017. We are calling this the "JIO HAPPY NEW YEAR OFFER," said Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Jio has become the fastest growing technology company, not only in India, but in the history of the world, he claimed. "In the first 3 months since its birth, Jio has grown faster than Facebook, WhatsApp or Skype. In 83 days, Jio has crossed 50 million customers on its 4G LTE ALL-IP wireless broadband network!" said Mr. Ambani adding that on average, a Jio customer is using 25 times more data than the average Indian broadband user.

Jio has signed-up over six

A look at some of the announcements: Get a Jio SIM home-delivered and activated in 5 minutes through eKYC. Jio now fully supports mobile number portability.

Jio has signed up over 6 lakh customers every single day for the past 3 months.

Reliance Jio has grown faster than Facebook, Whatsapp in first 3 months, become fastest growing technology company.

All existing customers will get extended benefits of Jio offer till 31 March 2017 on current SIMs.

From December 4, every new Jio user will get Jio's data, voice, video and the full bouquet of Jio applications free till 31, March 2017.

The company crossed 50 million customers in less than 90 days of launch.

Over the past months, the call block rate has come down from over 90% to nearly 20%, as of Wednesday.

Millions of touch points for JioMoney will be deployed.

lakh customers every day for the past three months due to fast-track Aadhaarbased eKYC roll-out nationally that allowed SIM activation in less than five minutes.

Jio has successfully rolled out eKYC across two lakh outlets in India, equal to total number of ATMs and plans to double it to over four lakh by March 31, 2017.

Besides, activating Jio Sims, these outlets are equipped to provide customer service and Aadharbased services because the digital infrastructure will have capability for supporting a variety of

offerings into the future.

Mr. Ambani blamed the "anti-competitive" behaviour of his telecom competitors for call drops faced by Jio user. "In the last three months, nearly 900 crore voice calls from Jio customers to the networks of our three largest competitors were blocked. The benefits of Jio's superior voice technology have been denied to Indian customers due to such anti-competitive behaviour of incumbent operators," he said.

Thanking the government and regulator for enforcing the license conditions, Mr. Ambani said, "While

we have started getting Points of Interconnect, we continue to monitor this capacity so that the Jio voice calling experience remains superior. Over the past months, the call block rates have come down from over 90% to nearly 20% as of yesterday. We are working with all our fellow operators to ensure that in the coming weeks, this will come below the specified grade of service, which is 0.2%."

For enterprise and high end customers, Reliance Jio has introduced home delivery of Jio Sims that can be activated in 5 minutes through eKYC using

MyJio application available in top 100 cities by December 31, 2016.

Mr. Ambani accepted that the company faced a few issues with data speeds on its network as about 8% of Jio towers have experienced congestion due to abnormally high data usage, leading to lower data speeds.

"While 92% of our base stations, and customers, have been experiencing consistently high data speeds, we are not satisfied. We are working to de-congest these 8% towers, so that impacted customers go back to experiencing true-4G speeds.

On the whole, Jio is not only delivering 4 times more data than all other Indian telecom operators combined, but also much faster throughputs than any other mobile network in India," he said.

Signalling that there will be restrictions on data usage, Mr. Ambani said, "80% of Jio users use less than 1 GB of data a day while the other 20% of users consume disproportionately higher amounts of data, leading to the congestion.

So, in the JIO HAPPY NEW YEAR OFFER, we have fine-tuned our Fair Usage Policy to ensure that all users get a fair share of Jio's network capacity."

GST, currency change to be game Indian staffing industry likely to grow 12 pc this year changers for economy: Arun Jaitley Arun Jaitley said, "More money will come to the banks which will be used fruitfully for the betterment of the economy."

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Bhubaneswar, Dec 01: Rejecting apprehensions that the Indian economy would suffer due to demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday termed as "game changers" the pulling out of high-value old notes as well as

Goods and Services Tax, which is proposed to be rolled out from April 1.

"I do believe that both (GST and demonetisation) will be game changers. This is because GST will ensure higher taxation as far as the Centre is con-

cerned and also higher taxation for states. It is an efficient system. It blocks leakages. It will certainly help the consuming states like Odisha," he said.

Jaitley was speaking at the "Make in Odisha" conclave here.

On the hue and cry over the demonetisation exercise, he said: "As far as currencychanges are concerned, once the demonetisation process is completed and the economy gets back to full stream, the size of the GDP will significantly expand, tax base will expand."

He added, "More money will come to the banks which will be used fruitfully for the betterment of the economy." (PTI)

Kindle to support e-books in five Indian languages Mumbai, Dec 01: Amazon's e-book reader, Kindle will now support content in five Indian languages, including Hindi, Gujarati and Malayalam, a move that will help the USbased firm tap into the niche but growing 'digital regional content' market in India.

"We are adding thousands of digital books in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati and Malayalam, including the largest digital selection of best sellers, hundreds of exclusive titles and free classics to the Kindle Book Store," Amazon Kindle Director (Content) Sanjeev Jha told PTI. Readers can access these books on Kindle eReaders as well as the free Kindle apps for Android and iOS, he added.

"Subscribers of Kindle Unlimited will also have access to the Indian language content. The

new language selection is in addition to over three million books that are already available on the Kindle Book Store," he said.

Kindle already supports languages such as Chinese, German, French and Japanese among others, apart from English.

While Amazon does not share country specific growth numbers, Mr. Jha said India is among its fastest growing markets globally for Kindle.

Amazon will make available bestseller titles like Ishq Mein Shahar Hona by Ravish Kumar (Hindi), Rajaraja Chozhan by Sa Na Kannan (Tamil), Mrutyunjayby Shivaji Sawant (Marathi), Ek Bija Ne Gamta Rahiye by Kaajal Oza Vaidya (Gujarati) and Aarachar by K R Meera (Malayalam).

The exclusive titles include

Banaras Talkies by Satya Vyas, Ki.Mu.Ki.Pi by Madhan and, Draupadi by Kaajal Oza Vaidya and titles like Mayapuri by Shivani will now be available in digital format for the first time.

"We are bringing features like font size adjustment, ability to add notes and highlights, and automatic save and sync of your furthest page read across all your devices," he said.

According to industry reports, the print book market in India is estimated to be worth about USD 4 billion.

India ranks third in English language publishing, after the US and the UK. India, which is one of the fastest growing smartphone markets globally, also has a significant number of people reading e-books on their phones. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Dec 01: India's staffing sector, with estimated total revenue of Rs 27,000 crore, is expected to register 12 per cent this year, says a report.

According to Indian Staffing Federation, an apex body of flexi staffing industry, the sector which comprises 15 leading firms that account for Rs 270 billion in revenues is projected to grow 12 per cent this year and 10 per cent the next year.

"In India, the staffing industry clearly does not have a challenge of addressable market and it is gratifying to witness the rapid growth being shown by each of the organised staffing firms to tap into this opportunity on one hand and enabling rapid job creation on the other," ISF President Rituparna Chakraborty said.

The report noted that the top three firms including two home grown firms

TeamLease and Quess along with Swiss headquartered Adecco together account for 20 per cent of the total market share in India.

The five largest staffing companies in India, based on 2015 revenue include TeamLease with a revenue of Rs 1,986.9 crore, Quess Rs 1,959.4 crore, Adecco Rs 1,500 crore, Randstad Rs 1,348.5 crore and Manpower Group Rs 799.1 crore.

Chakraborty further said "demonetisation and implementation of GST in recent times shall definitely be a force multiplier to the growth of staffing in India."

The staffing industry provides a platform for recognised employment, work choice, even compensation, annual benefits and health benefits for temporary workforce that constitute a sizeable segment of India's total workforce.(Agencies)

Sensex halts 4-day rally, slumps 93 points Mumbai, Dec 01: Market benchmark Sensex fell 93 points to end at 26,559.92, while the NSE Nifty broke below the 8,200-mark today after investors preferred to liquidate their positions at higher levels.

After opening higher, the 30-share BSE barometer hovered between

26,769.32 and 26,540.82 before ending at 26,559.92, showing a fall of 92.89 points, or 0.35 per cent.

The 50-share Nifty index fell 31.60 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 8,192.90 after shuttling between 8,250.80 and 8,185.05.

(PTI)

No change in foodgrain prices

Maruti sales rise 12 pc to 1,35,550 in Nov New Delhi, Dec 01: Country's largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today reported 12.2 per cent rise in total sales for November at 1,35,550 units, as against 1,20,824 units in the corresponding month of 2015.

The company's domestic sales stood at 1,26,325 units, up 14.2 per cent from 1,10,599 units in November 2015, MSI said in a statement.

Sales of mini segment cars, including Alto and WagonR, increased by 8.1 per cent to 38,886 units as compared to 35,981 units in

the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement.

The auto major said sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz, Dzire and Baleno increased by 10.8 per cent to 49,431 units in November this year as against 44,626 units last year.

MSI said sales of its compact sedan Dzire Tour declined by 10.3 per cent during the month under review at 3,017 units. Sales of midsized sedan Ciaz also declined by 1.4 per cent to 5,433 units during the month.

Sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara,

Ertiga, S-Cross and compact SUV Vitara Brezza, however, surged 98.1 per cent to 17,215 units in November this year, from 8,688 units in the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vans -- Omni and Eeco declined by 1.6 per cent to 12,238 units in November this year as compared to 12,432 units in the same period of the previous year.

Exports during the month under review declined by 9.8 per cent to 9,225 units as compared to 10,225 units in November last year, MSI said. (PTI)

No change in foodgrain prices

Chennai, Dec 1: Prices of all commodities remain unchanged for the fourth day today in the wholesale foodgrain market here.

Following are the wholesale rates of various agricommodities (rates in rupees per quintal, unless

stated otherwise): Thoor Dal Rs 10,700, Urad Dal Rs 10,200, Moong Dal Rs 7,200, Gram Dal Rs 11,800, Sugar Rs 3,900, Wheat Rs 3,000, Maida (90 kg) Rs 2,700 and Sooji (90 kg) Rs 3,400.

(PTI)

Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to fill nearly 2,100 posts across segments by 2016-17 as it looks to increase manpower for various projects.

To a query on whether retired employees of AAI have been re-employed on contract basis, the minister replied in the affirmative. AAI has re-employed 35 consultants on contract basis," he added.

New Delhi, Dec 01: Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to fill nearly 2,100 posts across segments by 2016-17 as it looks to increase manpower for various projects. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said the recruitment drive by AAI is to augment its manpower for timely completion of various development projects at several airports.

AAI has commenced the

recruitment drive to fill approximately 2,100 posts by 2016-17 in different cadres such as ATC (Air Traffic Control), CNS (Communication, navigation and surveillance, engineering, HR (human resources), finance, operations and planning, he said.

To a query on whether retired employees of AAI have been re-employed on contract basis, the minister replied in the affirmative. AAI has re-employed 35 consultants on con-

tract basis," he added.

The state-owned AAI manages 125 airports, including 11 international aerodromes, and also provides air traffic management services. In a separate written reply, Sinha said AAI has undertaken work for expansion and modernisation of Chennai airport.

The terminal building capacity is to be increased to 30 million passengers per annum, apart from having multi-level mechanised car parking to handle 2,000 cars, among other amenities. These works are "estimated to cost Rs 2,587 crore", he noted.

Besides, AAI has started work for expansion of Rajahmundry airport in Andhra Pradesh for operation of wide- bodied aircraft there by May 2018. This is expected to entail a cost of Rs 181.45 crore.

"The government of Andhra Pradesh has handed over 857.09 acres land free of cost to AAI for expansion of the airport," the minister said.

(PTI)

No tax on ancestral jewellery, purchase from disclosed income New Delhi, Dec 01: Amendments to the I-T laws do not seek to tax inherited gold and jewellery as also those items that are purchased through disclosed or agriculture income, the government said on Thursday.

The Lok Sabha earlier this week passed the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, which proposes a steep up to 85 per cent tax and penalty on undisclosed wealth that is discovered by tax authorities during search and seizure.

Dispelling rumours that jewellery would be covered under the amended law, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the government has not introduced any new provision regarding chargeability of tax on jewellery.

"The jewellery/gold purchased out of disclosed income or out of exempted income like agricultural income or out of reasonable household savings or legally inherited which has been acquired out of explained sources is neither chargeable to tax under the

existing provisions nor under the proposed amended provisions," the CBDT said.

During search operations, conducted by I-T department, there would be no seizure of gold jewellery and ornaments to the extent of 500 grams per married women, 250gm per unmarried women as also 100gm per male member of the family, it said.

"Further, legitimate holding of jewellery up to any extent is fully protected," it added.

The Bill, which is currently under consideration of the Rajya Sabha, will amend Section 115BBE of the Income Tax Act to provide for a steep 60 per cent tax and a 25 per cent surcharge on it (total 75 per cent) for black money holders.

Another section inserted provides for an additional 10 per cent penalty on being established that the undeclared wealth is unaccounted or black money, taking the total incidence of levies to 85 per cent.

CBDT said: "Tax rate under section 115BBE is pro-

HIGHLIGHTS No tax will be imposed on jewellery/gold purchased out of disclosed income.

The Amended I-T Act will also not apply to tax ancestral jewellery and gold.

No seizure of gold jewellery up to 500 gm per married lady, 250 gm per unmarried lady and 100 gm per male in I-T searches. posed to be increased only for unexplained income as there were reports that the tax evaders are trying to include their undisclosed income in the return of income as business income or income from other sources.

"The provisions of section 115BBE apply mainly in those cases where assets or cash etc. are sought to be declared as 'unexplained cash or asset' or where it is hidden as unsubstantiated business income, and the Assessing Officer detects it as such."

(PTI)

Gold hits 6-month low, loses another Rs 350

Image for representation purpose.

New Delhi, Dec 01: Gold extended its slump for the second day and shed another Rs 350 to hit a six-month low of Rs 29,000 per 10 grams in the bullion market on Thursday amid weakening global trend and considerable fall in demand from jewellers at the domestic spot market.

Silver went below the Rs 41,000-mark, tumbling by Rs 735 to Rs 40,700 per kg on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said sentiment was downbeat, largely in keeping with a weak global trend as the dollar

surged to its highest in at least a decade against a basket of currencies on strong economic data and signs that the US Fed is inching towards increasing rates, eroded the metals' appeal as safe-haven assets.

Globally, gold fell 1.25 per cent to $1,173 an ounce in New York yesterday.

Silver too dropped by 0.81 per cent to $16.48 an ounce.

A falling demand from jewellers and retailers in the domestic bullion market due to paucity of funds too weighed on sentiments, traders said.

The government on No-

vember 8 had scrapped 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee notes to crack down on black money, leading to a cash crunch.

"Buying activity remained at a low ebb even at prevailing levels", said Rakesh Anand, a Delhibased jeweller.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity slumped by Rs 350 each to Rs 29,000 and Rs 28,850 per 10 grams, respectively - a level last seen on June 1. The precious metal had lost Rs 100 in Wednesday's trade.

Sovereign traded lower

by Rs 50 at Rs 24,350 per piece of eight grams.

Tracking gold, silver ready dropped by Rs 735 to Rs 40,700 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 835 to Rs 40,000 per kg.

On the other hand, silver coins, held steady at Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces in scattered deals.

(PTI)

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

P12 Goa win nine-goal thriller against Chennaiyin Assam trail by 158 runs against Match Awards Club award: FC Goa Fittest Player of the Match: Siam Hanghal

Winning Pass of the Match: Sanjay Balmuchu

Swift Moment of the Match: Sahil Tavora

ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Jerry Lalrinzuala

Hero of the Match: Rafael Coelho Goa win nine-goal thriller against Chennaiyin footed effort came off the inside of Kattimani’s left-hand post. The Super Machans did regain the lead in the 14th minute when Thoi Singh came in from the right and shot at goal from an angle. Kattimani could not do enough to keep it out of danger and Anirudh Thapa was at hand to pounce on the loose ball, which hit the post and then deflected off Arnolin into the net.

Goa then got a penalty when Coelho, who had dribbled his way through, was brought down in the penalty box by Harmanjot Khabra, and Joffre converted the resulting spot kick to hand Goa’s second equaliser in the 21st minute.

Chennai got the lead for the third time in the half as Daniel Lalhlimpuia put Dudu through on goal and last match’s hat trick-hero for Chennaiyin showed great composure to round off

Nilbhaskar scored 2. Ram Captain Danish Das and Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 1: Host Raushan Sharan played a Atul Kumar Singh reAssam trailing by 158 paitent knock of 53 off mained unbeaten on 12 runs in the first innings 123 balls with eight and 11 for Assam at the of the Vijay Merchant U- boundaries. Ankit contrib- end of today’s play.

16 trophy against uted 53 off 75 balls with Gaurav Saikia scored 18.

Jharkhand at Jharkhand Dibrugarh District Vijay Merchant U-16 trophy bowlers bowled Sports Associain some good areleven boundaries. Sahil eas and took wicket a tion stadium here today.

Electing to bat first in a Raj contributed 19 runs. regular interval. Captain batting friendly wicket For Assam , Rituraj Pankaj Yadav took three Jharkhand were bowled Biswas and Captain for 19 in 10 overs and out for 209 in 67.5 overs. Denish Das scalped three Sushant Mishra scalped In reply, Assam were re- wicket a piece conceding one wicket. duced to 51 for four in 45 and 49 runs respec32 overs at stumps on the tively. Bishal Rudrapaul Assam team: first day of the three day took two for 46 in 16 Bishal Rudrapaul, overs. affair.

The wicket which was Assam spinners have gave Rituraj Biswas, Jay suited for batting but both away some extra runs to Singh, Nihar Deka, Atul the openers of Jharkhand the visitors by bowling Kr Singh, Denish Das could not score runs some lose deliveries. (C), Dhruv Raaj Borah, Praseer Gaurab Saikia, Manab against the meager attack Seamer Changmai and Niraj Dutta jyoti Barman (W), Niraj of Assam.

Praseer Opener Harshit Namdev bowled in a good line but Dutta, scored 31 off 68 balls, their bowling could not do Changmai, Pritish Raha hitting four boundaries much to the Jharkhand Roy, Nipumani Kumar, Nibir Deka, Bishal Bsfore and his partner batting.

Fatorda, Dec 1 : FC Goa edged Chennaiyin FC 5-4 in a goal-fest at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda in front of almost 15,000 spectators on Thursday evening.

It was the highest-scoring game in the history of the league as FC Goa bowed out of the 2016 Hero ISL on a high.

Jerry Lalrinzuala gave Chennaiyin the lead through a free kick just four minutes into the game, while Rafael Coelho equalised two minutes later. A Gregory Arnolin own goal saw Chennaiyin go up 21 in the 14th minute before Joffre scored from the spot seven minutes later to make it 2-2. Dudu scored Chennaiyin’s third goal of the night in the 28th minute before Goa got their third through Sahil Tavora in the 68th minute. Goa then took the lead for the first time

through Coelho in the 76th minute. The Super Machans got their equaliser through John Arne Riise’s penalty in the 88th minute. Tavora then scored the winner for the Gaurs in the 94th minute.

Chennaiyin FC took the lead through a lovely left-footed free kick by Lalrinzuala. Although the free kick was not far from the box, he managed to get it over the wall and curl it into the net with some skill. The lead, however, lasted only two minutes as FC Goa midfielder Joffre put in a defence-splitting pass for Coelho in the sixth minute and Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit Singh got a hand to the Brazilian’s shot but could not keep it out.

Chennaiyin almost regained the lead four minutes later as Dudu’s rasping left-

Saina wins, Kashyap and Manu-Sumeeth lose in Macau Open

Indian women post 52-run win over Sri Lanka No Modi or Kohli; Indian

Saina Nehwal PTI Macau, Dec 1: Top seed Saina Nehwal rallied to register another narrow victory over Indonesia's Dinar Dyah Ayustine to reach the quarterfinals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here today.

Former World No. 1 Saina bounced back from a game down to see off Ayustine 1721 21-18 21-12 in a match which lasted over an hour in the women's singles competition here.

London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina will next take on China's Zhang Yiman.

However, it was curtains for P Kashyap and men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy.

Kashyap, who is on a comeback trail, put up a gallant fight before losing 13-21 20-22 to Lin Yu Hsien of Chinese Taipei in a 45-minute duel.

Third seeds Manu and Sumeeth also fought hard before going down 20-22 19-21 to Singapore's Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya.

In the women's singles match, Saina blew a 11-7 lead in the opening game to see Ayustine move ahead and pocket the game. However, a determined Saina dished out a more dominating performance in the second game as she zoomed to a 11-3 lead at the break.

Ayustine slowly and steadily bridged the gap after interval and drew parity at 18-18 but the Indian ensured there was no hiccup as she bounced back into the contest.

In the decider, it was the Indonesian shuttler who held a slender 4-2 lead early on but Saina turned the tables at 5-5 and moved ahead, opening up a 118 lead at the interval.

Saina then reeled off four points to extend the lead and eventually sealed the match with another four-point burst.

Indian women Cricket tream.

PTI Bangkok, Dec 1: Mithali Raj hit a half-cen-

tury while Ekta Bisht (3/ 8) and Preeti Bose (3/14) shared six wickets be-

Kattimani and score.

Chennaiyin should have really got a two-goal advantage in the 42nd minute, as Dudu laid the ball for Lalhlimpuia with Kattimani out of position, but the Indian’s shot was headed off the line by Arnolin. The score-line remained 3-2 in favour of Chennai at half-time.

FC Goa started the second half on the up as they went in search for a third equaliser.

However, the first chance of the half fell to Chennaiyin’s Siam Hanghal in the 61stminute but his shot from just outside the box was deflected away for a corner.

Goa continued putting pressure on the visitors and finally made it count in the 68th minute as Coelho, who tried to put in a cross from the right, saw the ball loop towards Tavora courtesy of a deflection, and Tavora helped it into the net. With that, Goa got

themselves on level terms for the third time on the night.

The Gaurs finally grabbed the lead for the first time in the 76th minute, when Coelho was put through on goal with a long ball from Trindade Goncalves and the Brazilian beat Karanjit exquisitely to score Goa’s fourth for the night.

Goa then gifted Chennaiyin a penalty when Raju Gaikwad handled the ball in the box while dealing with a long-ball from Riise. The marquee man himself stepped up and smashed the ball into net with his left foot to make it 4-4 in the 88thminute.

Goa had the last say though as Tavora cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable shot in the fourth minute of injury time that went in off Karanjit’s left-hand post to make it 5-4 towards the home team.

That was how things ended, although the result did not improve Goa’s position (eighth) in the standings.

Jharkhand in first day

tween them to steer India to a comfortable 52-run win over Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup T20 tournament here today.

Opting to bat, India posted a modest total of 121 for four in their allotted 20 overs and then managed to restrict Sri Lanka to 69 for nine to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament so far.

Opener Mithali gave India a solid platform with a quickfire 59-ball 62 that included six hits to the fence.

Smriti Mandhana (21) and Veda Krishnamurthy (21) also chipped in with useful runs, although they failed to accelerate the run-rate.

Chasing a modest target, Sri Lanka never looked like in the race as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Preeti and Ekta wreaking havoc, running through the islanders' middle order.

Only two Sri Lankan batswomen could reach the double digit mark, with Dilani Manodara topscoring with 20.

Brief scores: India Women: 121 for 4 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 62, Smriti Mandhana 21, Veda Krishnamurthy 21).

Sri Lanka Women: 69 for 9 in 20 overs (Dilani Manodara 20; Ekta Bisht 3/8, Preeti Bose 3/ 14).

Tinsukia Railway beat Cosmo Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 1: Tinsukia Railway Divisional sports club defeated Cosmo cricket club by 92 runs in the A-division cricket league tournament organized by Tinsukia district Sports Association at Tinsukia district Sports Association stadium today. Altogether, five teams participated in the tournament.

Electing to bat first, Tinsukia Railway piled up 215 for nine in stipulated 35 overs. Abhilash Gogoi top scored with 57 runs and Hillol Dutta chipped in with 30.

For Cosmo Cricket Club, Arun Singh and Narayan Giri claimed two wickets a piece conceding 23 and 30 runs respectively.

In reply, Cosmo Cricket Club managed to score

123 for eight in 35 overs.

Bikash Singh scored 44 and Mithun Das contributed 28 runs.

Abhishash Gogoi and Bimal Goswami shared three wickets each by giving away 11 and 29 runs respectively. Tinsukia Railway Divisional Sports Club bagged three points.

Tomorrow, Tinsukia Cricket Club will lock horn with Saptrashi.

sportswomen top Yahoo's newsmakers list for 2016

Glenn Maxwell Eyes Comeback During India Series REUTERS Sydney, Dec 1: Allrounder Glenn Maxwell was disappointed not to get an Australia Test recall during the recent overhaul of the squad but wants to use the one-day series against New Zealand to press his claims for next February's tour of India.

Australia awarded debuts to three batsmen for the third Test against South Africa at Adelaide Oval last month after losing the first two matches in the series on the back of a string of batting collapses.

Although the prodigiously gifted Maxwell is better known for his all-out attack in shorter formats, he thought his recent performances had shown the sort of application that might have earned him another chance at Test level.

"I thought I might have been a chance," Maxwell told reporters on Thurs-

Glenn Maxwell day.

"The way I batted in my first game back at the MCG against the reverseswinging ball against Queensland, I thought that was a really good sign of the improvements I've made in my defence, technique and the way I leave the ball.

"But the way the selections have gone I'm probably looking at the Indian series now. I think I've probably missed the boat

for the home summer."

The 28-year-old, who played the last of his three Tests in 2014, was dumped from the one-day squad for their tour of Sri Lanka having struggled to score any meaningful runs and said the time away from the national set-up had helped him refocus.

"I changed a few things slightly technically and slightly mentally as well, more so the way I look at the game and the way I start

my innings," Maxwell, nicknamed "Big Show", said.

"I think that's going to be a big change heading into this one-day series about starting my innings and making sure I get into the game, and not sort of throw it away too early."

Being back in the one-day squad was his first opportunity to show the selectors those changes to his game, he added, but he would be doing his best to make it as hard as possible to continue to leave him out of the Test side.

"Whether that comes from white ball cricket or any sort of cricket I'm playing whether they come down and watch me at Fitzroy-Doncaster and see how I'm going in club cricket it doesn't matter," he said.

"I'm going to be trying to make as many runs and taking as many wickets and show them the improvements I have made."

Dipa Karmakar and P.V. Sindhu

IANS New Delhi, Dec 1: Indian sportswomen who won laurels and dominated the headlines during the Rio Olympics pipped all other contenders in 2016 to emerge as the top newsmakers in the country, Yahoo announced on Thursday.

"The list of top newsmakers is usually ruled by politicians and Bollywood stars but in 2016, it saw the entry of P.V. Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar and wrestler Vinesh Phogat," Yahoo said in a statement.

These sportswomen also pipped cricketers in the "most searched sportsperson" category,

with Sindhu and Karmakar at number one and two spots, respectively.

Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli were the only cricketers who made it to the top 10 list.

However, Indians' allconsuming obsession with cricket continued with 'IPL 2016' becoming the most searched newsy term, followed by Rio Olympics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi again emerged as the "most searched politician", followed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"The Unnamed Soldier" who remained perenni-

ally at the forefront of national consciousness emerged as the "personality of the year".

"From thwarting a terrorist infiltration into the Pathankot Air Force Station to facing September's militant attack in Uri that led to a precise and surgical retaliation from India, or being in the midst of the controversy surrounding the One Rank-One Pension scheme, the soldier was in the news all year long," Yahoo said.

For the fifth consecutive year, former adult movie actor Sunny Leone reigned supreme among the "most searched female celebrities" in showbiz.

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